The Duke's Passion

861 Beyond the dream of avarice

"She could've ended you, but I told her to go. Now... I'm curious. Who the hell are you?!

BOOGSH!

Samael didn't blink when the demon broke free from its shackles. The ground shook intensely as a deep hole appeared in the spot the demon landed.

It was huge, making any person look up. No wonder this underground space was sky-high and vast. If not, this demon would destroy it, especially now that it was out of its bounds.

"You already know the answer, Pride! The rasped and deep voice echoed once again. "Who I am and who you are... the answer to either question was the same. Hahaha...

The demon's laughter sent a chill down Samacl's spine, watching it place its big, black hand on its huge belly. The demon then plunged its hand into its belly, not showing any sign of pain as it slowly pulled its hand out.

"The Grimsbanne... our clan surely is a fascinating being. We live for each other, but then we become each other's doom," said the demon, slowly pulling its hand out of its belly. "Yet, even when we kill each other to death or put each other to eternal sleep, we can't completely let go of each other"

Samael narrowed his eyes as he noticed something within the demon's large hand. Even though the demon's hand was covered with thick blood, Samael could discern the figure the demon took out of its belly.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Thud!

"Perhaps, because of the silly familial connection we have, it pushed our Grimsbanne to the peak of madness," the demon continued under its breath. "Allowing these insolent parasites to take advantage of our endless punishment."

Samael slowly shifted his eyes to the thing the devil took out of its belly. Even though it was covered with red and black slime, Samael immediately recognized it as a person.

"Is that Quentin?" asked Samael, even though he already knew the answer.

"Ilis name is not worthy to even mention Pride. Samael slowly set his eyes back on the demon before him. "That lowly vampire's ambition and greed were beyond the dream of avarice. Unknowingly walking into the path of doom and destruction."

The demon's claims were vague, but Samael already got a grasp of what happened.

"Quentin's greed was undeniably unquenchable. However, didn't you fuel that greed through the blood you offer him?" the corner of Samael's lips curled up into a smirk. 'Allowing him to believe the world is within his reach, playing with his head and feeding him lies, only to swallow him whole as he was consumed with madness? You enjoyed it."

The demon grinned; its appearance was enough to send dread down one's spine. "Everything comes with a price, Pride. He sought me and one must know the risk of seeking the devil."

"llow foolish..." Samael couldn't help but laugh at Zero's foolishness. "Does that mean how this land turns out like this was also your doing?"

"Not all." A slight growl came out along with the demon's voice. "That lowly vampire originally

planned to sacrifice all of his people for power. A power that could make the world fall on its knees... haha...! More than foolish, it was pathetic."

The demon's thick lips stretched from ear to ear, making its round face even rounder. "The Grimsbanne didn't have all those sorts of titles for nothing. Does he think a lowly pureblood vampire like him could handle the blood of the pureblooded Grimsbanne?"

"I did nothing but give away what he wanted, Pride. It was not my fault he was not discreet cnough to realize too much was poison,' the demon added, followed by a series of laughter. Surely, this creature was a true demon from inside and out. Zero was foolish and pathetic to think drinking this demon's blood wouldn't have consequences. The demon's blood within Zero's system manipulated his thoughts and led him to literal madness, and Samael wasn't surprised a genius like Zero had fallen in such a cheap trick.

Samael couldn't say he pity Zero. Zero got what he deserved. But now that he thought about it, he remembered a detail in the memory he was pulled into previously.

"There was a woman with him," said Samael quietly, waiting for the demon's laughter to subside. "Who was she?"

The demon took a deliberate pause as his eyes fell on Samael once again. "That woman... heh..." The demon didn't continue what he was about to say, but that was enough to raise some suspicion for Samael. Samael narrowed his eyes, observing the dreadful chuckles the demon was releasing. Just now, the demon was expressing his dismay and satisfaction at Zero's demise. But now, what Samael could feel from the demon was neither dismay nor satisfaction. What Samael could make up for the demon's shift of mood was... excitement, but not in a good way. It was more like a display of madness; an excitement of slaughtering someone not from vengeance or deep-rooted grievances, but from pure pleasure.

'I don't know what that woman's history is or whether she had driven Zero to this point! thought Samael, calming down his breathing as he continued to observe the demon. 'But I am more curious about one thing!

"Hey," Samael called, waiting for the demon to give him undivided attention. "You kept claiming to be a part of the clan. Why is that?"

"Pride... do not tell me you still have no notion why! The demon snickered. "Or do you need confirmation, knowing that your children were at risk of turning like us?"

Samael's eyes glinted menacingly while the demon grinned evilly. The latter's remarks just gave away the answer Samael seek.

"We aren't like this in the beginning, Pride. Just like you and that woman and child, we once lived within the skin of what people classify themselves as vampires, the demon continued. "Unfortunately, we weren't the chosen seeds. Thus, our blood slowly gnawed us from the inside and drove us to this ugly form. That is why..."

The demon paused as it hissed, balling its massive hand into a fist while pulling it back. "That is why I summoned you here to deliver me the shell I needed. As soon as the last syllable rolled out of its tongue, the demon launched its fist in Samael's direction.