The Duke's Passion



860 Who in the world are you?

Meanwhile...Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"You must've seen Law. Samael, I am not your enemy... neither am I the one who imprisoned you here."

Tilly's usual lazy eyes were sharp, shining in bright red. They mirrored the bloodthirsty demon before her. Samael's eyes were a combination of black and red. A thin fog was coming out of his clenched fangs.

"I knew it," she whispered, tightening her grip on Samael's arm. "Perhaps Ameria knew it all along."

Tilly took a deep breath and blinked ever so tenderly. When she reopened her eyes and met Samacl's, a glint flickered across her eyes.

"Do not make me hurt Lilou just to wake you up, Samael," she warned quietly, but her tone was firm. "Let us not walk on the path they had planned."

Samael hissed heavily as the vein underneath his skin protruded angrily. His murderous gaze was fixed on Tilly while the tension between them slowly increased.

"Samael." Iler grip on his arm tightened upon sensing the increasing tension between them. "One move and I will kill you."

Tilly never made huge statements. However, if she made such remarks, she would definitely do it even if the opponent was her beloved nephew, Samael. It sounded harsh, but she would rather take his life than allow him to be used by the demon behind her.

"This demon... is not you, Samael. Don't be fooled!" She shook her head, taking her time to win him over before resorting to the worst. "The devil's blood might run through our veins, but we are not one of them. Never."

Her eyes sharpened as her jaw tightened. People deemed the Grimsbanne Clan as the cursed family on the mainland. They call them all sorts of things; not that everything the society had said was false. There was always a little bit of truth in them.

Ilowever, what others didn't know was that even though the Grimsbanne Clan carried the blood of the cruelest demon, the 'curse' in the said clan granted them the ability to take down a real demon. Who do these people think imprisoned and sealed all of these demons?

Without the Grimsbanne, one could imagine the worst. The Divine Order might have a chance to take down one, but there were a few of them.

The Grimsbanne Clan just never publicized or gloated about it. The royal family might've recognized it, but they kept quiet about it. It was useless, after all. People already had a clear image and reputation of the Grimsbanne, so no amount of good words could change that. Moreover, there was an unchanging fact about the Grimsbanne, the blood running in them, and the demons. They had... familial connection.

"Hah..." Samael let out another hiss, flexing the arm that was within Tilly's grip. Taking another sharp breath, Samael pulled his arm back with all his strength. Tilly's grip on his arm was tight, taking her with his pull. But just when she expected an attack from him, Samael simply threw her back and blocked the boulder flying in their direction.

Tilly's feet skidded back, arms up to cover her eyes. When the fireless explosion subsided, she lowered her arm to see what happened. A thick fog of dust surrounded them, making her squint her eyes at Samael's silhouette.

The aura emanating from Samael was still just as dangerous as when he tried to attack her. Ilowever, it seemed he had woken up. Or rather, he was still drowning in madness, but somehow his instinct detected a better opponent.

'I guess his pride and ego somehow saved him, thought Tilly, assessing Samael's back up and down. "Having to live with a 'twin' or an 'imposter' would never sit well with someone as arrogant as him.' - Samael claimed to be one of a kind. Knowing a demon who carried the same air as Samael was around had an obvious reaction. It was like the scenario of two women wearing the same dress at a ball; the feeling was not pleasant.

"Tilly..." Tilly snapped back to the current lapse when Samael hissed her name. 'I'll take it from

here."

Tilly's train of thought slowly returned to the current matter. "You cannot fight him just yet." "I'll put him in his place." Ilis tone was adamant but calm. "Those two... that demon who calls me as if he owned me, and that Quentin who was hiding inside it."

"Moriarty's son is inside it?" she shifted her eyes at the gigantic demon in front of Samael. "That's interesting. Did it get swallowed? Or was it part of his plan?"

"Either way, I'm going to kill it." Samael stretched his neck from one side to another.

Tilly pressed her lips into a thin line, observing the tension emanating from Samacl's back. From the looks of it, Samael was set to tear that demon into smithereens.

"This is not a simple battle you can win easily... though I supposed you are aware," she remarked, relaxing her shoulders as she fixed her stance. 'I won't be able to help, but rest assured, Law will be fine."

There was a moment of silence between Samael and Tilly upon her last remarks. Ile didn't say anything, but he heard her reassurance, which gave him more confidence to fight. Not that Samael didn't have enough confidence in his son, but because his enemy was a real demon. The curse in their blood might put Law at risk if he was left unsupervised. Only the Grimsbanne would understand the dangers because their blood recognized it that others couldn't. Without another word, Tilly disappeared from her vantage point. Samael didn't budge from his spot, keeping his gaze on the chained demon before him. Silence dominated the underground space before a deep and raspy voice echoed.

"I kept my word, Pride," said the voice, followed by the sound of chains and walls breaking.

Samael glanced at the walls where the chains that were keeping the demon - were attached. Ilis expression didn't change, setting his eyes back to the demon whose arm was bending as it pulled his chains.

"And so did I." Samael raised his chin, flexing his fingers to soothe the itch on his palm. "She could've ended you, but I told her to go. Now... I'm curious. Who the hell are you?"

!