The Duke's Passion

Fabian gritted his teeth, holding his stomach as that knee strike actually hurt. If only he didn't hesitate, or he just went crazy like in the past, Lilou wouldn't go anywhere since she couldn't control Lakresha yet. However, he hesitated because his opponent was Lilou, and… that's that. 

"She's still conscious," Fabian muttered as he cracked his neck from side to side. "I'll just deal with the consequences later. You!" 

He turned to Yul, who never moved from his spot on the side of the hallway, his back against the wall while sitting down. Yul raised his gaze from his hand to Fabian.

"What?" Yul asked, not planning on moving from his spot as he wanted to ponder about something.

"Go to Sir Rufus and report everything to him," Fabian ordered as he unbuttoned the first three buttons of his suit. "Tell him to chase me down."

Yulis stared at Fabian before his eyes fell on the infamous dark spear he had heard about. 

"Alright." Yul agreed, making Fabian raised a brow as the latter glanced at him.

"You're much wiser than that fifth prince."

"Please, don't insult me like that, Mister Fabian." The expression on Yul's face was somber as he took it as an offense. "I respect people based on their capabilities and not on the type of blood that's running through their veins nor the empty titles they hold."

"That's noble of you, Your Highness." Fabian beckoned a neck bow before he faced the direction Lilou dashed off to.

Yulis got up from his feet and said, "Before I go, I'll tell you something important as a vampire." Yulis paused while dusting his trousers. "You don't know this, but my sister, she…"

Fabian's eyes slowly went wide as he shot Yulis a look. 

"You better go after her before anyone… else." Yulis couldn't even finish as Fabian suddenly bolted away after telling Maleficent to take charge. He looked in the direction where Fabian left and sigh.

"I know. I was surprised as well." Yulis let out a low scowl before going to where he could sense Rufus' aura. "What in the world is Hell thinking?"

*****

Lilou's humming echoed across the hallway, along with the piercing noise of Lakresha's point being dragged on the floor, leaving tracks of her. Dead bodies loitered on the way she passed by, and blood vandalized the walls. And yet, the smile every time the light from the sconce hit her face looked delighted.

"Where is it again?" She quizzed, looking for her way to her destination. 

A smile resurfaced on her face when she recalled the right direction and sauntered her way towards the throne room. Her white nightgown had dyed in red from all the victims who had fallen in her hands.

She encountered a few knights on her way and they all ended up adding to the number of casualties tonight. 

Her eyes gazed up at the door before her. Using the scythe's head, Lilou pushed the door open as it creaked. She strutted in and stopped as her gaze moved towards the person lying on the floor.

The blood pooling underneath his lifeless body barely made the color of his argent hair evident.

"Sam," Lilou whispered as she walked towards it and sat down. "My husband."

The tone of her voice was soft as she cradled him in her embrace, whispering, "Sam…" while rocking him lightly.

"It's alright now," she whispered, stroking his hair while leaning the side of her head on his head. "I'm here now."

Despite her soft and weak voice, the expression of her eyes and the smirk on her lips were nowhere near grieving. "It's alright now." Her last remark was cold, chilled to the bone.

Lilou stayed in that position with her eyes closed until she sensed several figures around her vicinity.

"Hanz, did you have fun watching a grieving wife on her wedding night?" Lilou asked as she slowly opened her eyes, caressing the hair of the dead knight who was used as Samael's proxy.

Hanz chortled wickedly. "It was a sight indeed, but it'll be much better if you acted more naturally." He directed, clapping his hands and added, "Still, I wonder why of all places, you've gone in the throne room."

"Hanz, I told you I will settle this on my own." Another voice chimed in as he gazed at Lilou's unmoving figure. "She's not… conscious."

"I am conscious, your Highness, the twelfth prince." She intoned as she put down the body carefully before cocking her head to the side.

The twelfth prince's shoulder stiffened upon meeting the pair of eyes that had different colors: one was deep crimson while the other was olive. His eyes darkened as his fangs grew longer.

This was dangerous. She was dangerous. 

Alarmed, the twelfth prince cautioned, "Hanz, we need to retreat." Taking a step back as his gut feeling was telling him it was the best course of action.

Lilou… she came here for a reason and that was…

"Retreat?" Hanz growled. "Me? Against this damn thing, Hell dragged in this place?" His eyes glinted as he raised his fist with a brass knuckle with sharp points. 

The twelfth prince said nothing as he watched Lilou slowly dragged herself up to stand. 

"Knife," she said, and Lakresha shifted into a small dagger in her hand. 

"I will —" 

A clash of metals clapped in Hanz's ears, making his eyes widen as Lilou suddenly appeared before him, about to stab the side of his neck and a sword's flat surface, blocking it. She was fast, and he didn't even notice it. 

No, even if he noticed it, he wouldn't make it in time. Hanz may be strong, but he's not as agile as everyone.

"Hanz," Stefan growled through his gritted teeth before he ordered, "Get the hell out of here." without looking away from Lilou's eyes.

Stefan came here after peeking at the future. What he had seen was Lilou, sitting on the throne, caressing Hanz's hair with his severed head on her lap. 

"Lilou," Stefan called out, as he knew this was not Lilou. "I mean, Lakresha."

"Sweetheart," Lilou smirked as she leaned to tease him. "Didn't you always call me that? Lexx?" and his eyes slowly widened upon hearing the name she used to call him.