The Duke's Passion



850 I am not your enemy

Law's irises went wide, but he couldn't dwell on it for now. He hurriedly looked ahead, finding a spot to land safely. The second his foot touched the roof and got his balance back, he looked down once again.

Much to his surprise, as soon as his gaze landed on where his father was, Samael was already there. The layer of darkness that covered him and the undead earlier was gone. All there was... was Samael, no one else, in that pool of blood on the ground.

"Father..." Law's eyes shook, searching for any undead in the area. But alas... they all disappeared.

His heart thudded against his chest, holding his breath in horror. How was this possible? Just now, this area was full of undead. Thanks to his regular training and sparring, Law was able to last this long. However, his father... it hadn't even been fifteen seconds since, but Samael cleared the area.

At this point, Law should feel astonished at how powerful his father was. But that feeling didn't even resurface in his heart. What he felt was horror - it alarmed him.

"Tather!" he yelled to get his father's attention. "Father!!"

Law's breath hitched once again when Samael gazed up. Both his father's eyes were shining in bright red, but the white area around his eyes turned black. The veins in Samael's face and neck protruded angrily as if they would erupt if he moved the wrong way.

For some reason, the sight of Samael reminded Law of the demon he found with Tilly. That creature was black and big like a ball, with a smiling face that would make anyone's hair raise in horror. Samael might not be smiling, but the darkness in his eyes and veins had the same color as the demon. But more than the physical appearance, the air Samael and that demon emanated felt and smelled almost the same.

Law ground his teeth and clenched his hands on either side of him. Another thing concerned him. That pool of blood on the ground might fire back. After all, they already figured out that the more blood spilled on this land, the more powerful this imprisoned demon was. Samacl probably didn't know that since he hadn't seen the demon and where Zero had kept it captive. "Tather!" he called once again, ignoring the thoughts that filled his head at the moment. "Tilly is looking for you!"

Law drew a deep breath, pointing in a direction. "Tilly is waiting for you in that place!" he instructed. "You must hurry and ignore all undead - refrain from spilling more blood"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Samael stared at the boy on top of the chapel, tilting his head to the side. His eyes slowly shifted to Law's finger and where he was pointing. His eyes glinted and in a blink of an eye, he disappeared from his vantage point like a bolt of lightning.

Meanwhile, Law's finger trembled as his father turned like a shadow bolting in the direction he pointed at. He retrieved his hand, feeling his knees quiver. If not for the fact Samael was his father, his knees would have given away.

"Grimsbanne," came out a whisper, thinking about the rumors circulating about their clan. "I guess... it wasn't just hearsay."

His lips trembled at the thought, shifting his shaking eves back to where Samael previously stood. The inched level of blood on the floor significantly lowered, raising his concern. "This is not good." Law slapped himself to get himself together. "This is not the time to worry or get scared of Father. I should warn others."

He shook his head, huffing as he recomposed himself. He lifted his chin, looking around. Everything was just dark. Hence, he closed his eyes to rely on his senses, and detect a life force. After a minute, Law snapped his eyes open. He faced in a direction where he could feel another strong and bone-chilling aura that was near him.

"Mother," rolled out of his tongue, and in a snap of a finger, he disappeared from his vantage.

*******

Meanwhile...

Samael didn't waste any second as he headed straight in the direction Law told him where Tilly was. However, when he got inside the estate, no one was there. Fortunately, he could feel Tilly's faint presence. Therefore, he didn't have to search where she was.

Jumping on the second floor of the estate, Samael gripped his sword, Catharsis up. Darkness surrounded his sword until red electricity appeared around it. In one swift movement, Samacl jumped to the floor.

BOOGSH!

The floor cracked, unable to contain the gravity that stuck its foundation. Samael fell into the hole that his attack created, along with the debris. Just as expected. There was another level - a deeper level underneath the estate.

Samael landed safely on the debris from the ground floor with him, creating a thick fog and making it hard for him to see the underground immediately. Meanwhile, Tilly, who was already underground, didn't budge at all.

Standing before the demon with this unwelcome fog around her, Tilly maintained her eyes in the same direction. She couldn't see as clearly as she could moments ago, but she could feel two demons right now. One was in front of her, and the other was behind her.

Tilly breathed out faintly as she fluttered her eyelashes. But just as she opened her eyes ever so slowly, she turned on her heel whilst raising a hand. Within a second, she caught an arm that was trying to grab her.

She gazed at the hand, noticing the person's long, sharp, and dirty fingernails. Fresh blood was deep in his fingers and the veins underneath his skin had the color of ink.

When the fog around her vicinity cleared up slightly, Tilly snapped her eyes to the person who owned the arm.

Samael.

"You must've seen Law," she remarked calmly, staring back at those pair of red and black eyes mirroring her. "Samacl, I am not your enemy... neither I am the one who imprisoned you here!