The Duke's Passion

I closed my eyes because I respected and felt Sam's eagerness for me to listen. Even when questions of how I temporarily turned deaf without explanation, I stuck with my words.

However, part of me wanted to see what he was so afraid to show. Deep down, I knew I could accept any side of him — even his worst. 

Slowly, I opened my eyes. It was dark.

As I blinked, I furrowed my brows and looked around. This was not the establishment anymore. It was a chamber and I'm on a bed.

A dark room with only the light from the radiating moon through the window granted me to see. Where am I? Where's Sam? Did I faint?

"My head hurts." I whispered, massaging my temple lightly.

Myriads of questions rose in my head as I assisted myself to sit up.

"Sam?" I called out, my voice shaking. Biting my lips, I flung my legs out of the bed I've never slept on before.

This bedchamber had similarities like ours. Although there wasn't much light to see around, I could tell, as the air felt eerily different.

My eyes caught the faint light from the gap under the door. Hence, I treaded carefully towards it.

I didn't know why I'm tiptoeing and being overly cautious. But I kept wary of my unfamiliar surrounding.

Slowly, I opened the door. It creaked as I did. I peeked my head out, looking from left to right.

No one was around. Where did everybody go? I wondered.

Sam wouldn't leave me alone. Unless he had something important to do. I didn't know how I ended up here.

The last thing I remembered was I agreed to close my eyes. And then… nothing.

"Huh?" I tilted my head to the side as I knitted my brows. I blinked and blinked, hoping this would clear my recollections.

But, nothing. My mind went blank after that and now I'm here.

"How did…" Suddenly, I trailed off as I stood in stunned silence. "He didn't get…"

I gasped as my heart suddenly pounded against my chest. Did Sam get defeated by that man named Arthur?

Upon that thought crossing my head, my knees went weak. They trembled as I held on to the jamb to support myself.

"That's… impossible." I murmured, but my thoughts jumbled inside my head.

Even though I didn't know the capacity of Sam's strength, there's this possibility that his opponent was stronger. My breathing grew shorter as I pounded my fist against my chest.

Get it together, Lil. That wouldn't happen to Sam. I chanted those words like a witch casting a powerful spell.

Being despondent at this moment wouldn't help. I believed in Sam. 

I bit my lower lip as hard as I could to wake myself up. Shaking my head to get rid of unnecessary negative thoughts.

"Yes. That's impossible." I convinced myself, nodding in agreement with myself.

As I swallowed down all negative thoughts clouding my head, I gritted my teeth. Maybe if I look around, I'd find him.

With that thought in mind, I looked outside again. Upon confirming no one was outside, I mustered the courage to step out of the room.

But there's this sudden uneasiness in my heart. I'm unfamiliar with this place. I should wait for Sam inside, right?

For a good minute, I stood here motionlessly. Unconsciously, I was biting the nail of my thumb as I pondered. When I realized what I was doing, I immediately retracted my hand from my lips.

"This won't do," I muttered in distress as I exhaled sharply. "I'll look for him."

I knew if I stayed here, I'd die out of worry. I wouldn't have peace knowing something might have happened to him. 

Even though the chances were low, I would always have this constant worry about his well-being. He's the man I chose to marry, to spend the rest of my life with, and the only person who accepted my silliness.

As I gathered my thoughts, my breathing stabilized. That's right. I wouldn't sit still, especially after having this uncomfortable gap in my memory.

So, because of this determination, I trudged towards the long hallway. There were a few candelabras that lighted the way.

I followed my instinct, treading carefully not to make the slightest sound. As I walk, my hands traced the wall.

I won't lie. The farther I get from the bedchamber I came from, the stronger this uneasiness in my heart built up.

I walked and walked, looking ahead and behind every so often. Turning left or right, following my instinct. Sometimes, I got to a dead end, causing me to walk back to choose another path.

This place felt like a maze. I wonder how huge this mansion as it felt double the size of the Duke of Grimbanne's mansion.

Or did I just get used to Sam's place that it felt smaller? I remember having this feeling when I stepped foot in the duke's mansion.

That's not important. As I shook my head to get the irrelevant thoughts out of my mind, I heard a faint noise not far away.

"Huh?" I raised a brow.

Instinctively, I followed the sound. The hallway towards it was dark without a single candelabra lighting it up. But the end of the hallway brought a faint light.

Hence, I carefully marched towards it. The sound of voices grew distinct and it same louder as if someone were arguing.

When I reached the end of the hallway, I cautiously peeked. However, as soon as I did, I immediately hid behind the wall while covering my lips with my palms.

My eyes went wide as the beating of my heart drummed in my ear. My breathing turned ragged as my shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

What did I just see?

I choked, nearly choked, as I forgot to breathe momentarily. In the great hallway that was barely lit, I saw people… alive and dead; severed and barely intact. Blood was everywhere, as if a massacre took place.

But that wasn't shook me to the core. What startled me and filled me with dread was that Sam had his fangs buried in a man's neck, tearing his head apart upon tossing its body. Blood dripped from the corner of his lips as his bright crimson eyes glinted with… satisfaction.

"I told you not to open your eyes, didn't I?" I froze and held my breath upon hearing Sam's eerily low voice from my side.