The Duke's Passion

Meanwhile, in Fabian and Rufus's location, Fabian raised a pebble with both his hands as if worshipping it. 

"This is the last one," he announced, before throwing it to Lilou's location. "There! She will find His Grace." 

A large grin appeared on Fabian's face, nodding in satisfaction as this idea of his would surely make Samael forgive him. If not, he'd just have to start practicing breathing underground to last longer.

"Sir Knight, brother, you..." He trailed off, furrowing his brows as soon as he set his eyes to Rufus. Just then, Fabian felt the presence of some familiar people and knew the reason his brother suddenly paused.

"It seems the third squadron was also here. Didn't you say there was a manhunt for them?" Fabian inquired, tilting his head to the side.

"It seems Her Grace kept those people hidden," he smiled, thinking that just like Noah, Lilou kept them safe. "She is truly amazing... just what scheme is her grace planning?"

"In any case, shall we make a run for it?" Fabian shrugged, as he didn't have the energy to keep guessing. Samael had already entered Grimsbanne, and who knows what would be the outcome.

"Since we don't know if His Grace plans to break the news that he is alive, it is best for us to follow our initial plan." That was to go incognito and keep being dead.

"Well, if that's settled, we should..." Suddenly, Fabian wielded Maleficent and swung it down to stop an arrow coming at his head. "Goodness! Who the hell shot that arrow? He made me yield my partner!"

Rufus gazed at the broken arrow. "It's a she, Fabian. Her name is Charlotte, and it seemed she got stronger as well."

The reason Fabian had wielded Maleficent to stop the arrow instead of dodging it was because it wasn't just any simple arrow. It would follow its target until it would hit him.

"Seems so." Fabian nodded, raising his brows as he didn't expect such troublesome people would be here as well.

Rufus smiled, feeling proud of how Lilou honed them. "Fabian, we had been asleep for eight months. Don't die."

"Am I allowed to retaliate, though?" Fabian inquired as both of them disappeared from their spot, making a run for it as soon as they felt that Lilou's people approached. "I won't kill them, I'm just wondering if there's fairness left in this world."

"Even if you retaliate, I'm confident they will be troublesome for you to deal with." The corner of Rufus' lips stretched even wider. "We'll part here. Don't get caught, Fabian."

"I never thought a rest for a straight eight months is all you need to recharge, Sir knight. You sound young again."

Rufus chuckled as he turned his head to Fabian. "Don't enter the Labyrinth." and the two of them parted ways to split their pursuers.

******

"I missed you... love."

I had imagined hearing his voice every single day. Those words 'I missed you', that I had whispered countless times in my sleep and hope he would say the same. I fantasized about hearing them. 

To know that he longed for me just as much, just as intensely, as devotedly, and as ardently. I yearned to hear those words coming from his lips many, many, and many more times. But now that I heard them... it only brought pain and unspeakable rage within.

"How dare you..." My voice shook, inflamed by this despicable illusion. "... show him to me? You just won your ticket to hell."

My eyes blurred as they darkened with rage. I would kill this person who had insulted me and my husband. This act... was not something I would ever forgive, ever. 

"Lakresha," I whispered, and a dark mist slowly enveloped me. "Darkfield."

I felt the person behind me flinch upon hearing my remarks. And yet, he didn't let me go as the dark mist enveloped us. 

"You will die if you don't let me go," came out a distant murmur, as this close contact would surely hurt him. Just like what I said, blood started trickling down on him as I gaze at the back of his hand that was holding mine against the door.

I felt nothing, even though those hands looked like Sam's. "Even if you wear his face and body, I will kill you."

Despite the wounds that kept appearing on his skin, he didn't speak. Instead, he placed a peck on my nape, increasing the fury that was building up inside me.

"If it's from you, I will gladly accept death, my wife," He answered, making me grind my teeth as my pupils constricted. 

"Lakresha... disintegrate him." No mercy and the small dark field that engulfed us, inflicting bigger and deeper wounds on him. He still didn't let me go, nor I had the energy to face him. 

Cruel. This entire illusion was just cruel. For me to kill someone who wore the face of my husband... did they want me to experience killing him myself? Hah... those bastards. I won't let them get away from this.

"I'm sorry, Lilou. I fucked up and I know I should just drop dead for putting you in this situation," he voiced out his sentiments, resting his forehead on my shoulder. "However, dying right now won't help. Living while being hated by you is the worst punishment you can ever give me."

"Stop!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "Don't speak his words using his voice! I will cut your tongue if you ever speak a word again!" 

This time, even my darkfield started inflicting wounds on my skin, but I felt numb in the pain. I didn't care anymore who would get hurt or which blood trickled down to our feet. 

"Die... just die... let's just die, shall we...?" my voice trembled, blinded by rage as I lost my composure, hence, losing control on the darkfield.

"How silly," he commented in a calm voice. "I would've let you disintegrate me, but your darkfield will also kill you." 

"Go," he whispered and my darkfield suddenly cleared up. He then held my hand away from the door as he placed a soft kiss on the back of my wounded hand. 

"Don't hurt yourself like this, silly."

I turned my head slowly to him, gazing at his side, but couldn't fully see his face with the hood over his head. While he trailed soft kisses on my hand and arms, my other hand reached for his hood and hooked it down.

"Sam..."