Samael: Keeper Of Secrets

Chapter Four: Suspicions

"Milord! Hurry to Duke Jasavra's chamber" Duchess Lunipha hurried into the Throne Room, where Seraph sat grandly, discussing matters with his advisors. All the blood was drained from her once glowing face. Her sculpted cheekbones now gave her a haunting appearence and her ice blue eyes seemed almost white, like her face. Lord Seraph stood up, shocked by the sudden burst of panic from the Duchess.

"Has something happened?" he purred calmly. The Duchess opened her mouth to speak but her lips only trembled.

"Milord!" Suzie squeaked running in a short while later. Her long, aged face was also pale and she was whimpering as she spoke. "T-this is an emergency"

Lord Seraph marched forward, following Duchess Lunipha and Suzie, his long fur cape sweeping the floor behind him. Four guards swifly followed him down the vast halls and up the stairwell to Duke Jasavra's chamber. From afar, a powerful stench invaded Lord Seraph's nostrils and he scrunched up his face in disgust.

"Have mercy!" Seraph gasped as he reached Duke Jasavra's chamber. The door was open, the hinges dripping with a red liquid. The whole room, in fact, was painted a deep shade of red, and in the middle was the tattered and torn body of once a great advisor.

Lord Seraph staggered back, in shock. His eyes were filled with emotion, a mixture of sorrow, fear and blistering anger. His hands were shaking and his face was ghostly.

"Dear brother, what has become of you?" he took a step forward, into the sea of red. He dropped his silver cane and fell to his knees as the image of Duke Jasavra's melted face flashed in his dark eyes.

"This is Lucifer's doing" the voice of a young boy echoed through the doorway.

"Samael" Seraph turned around to see the emotionless prince lingering in the doorway. "You know nothing of this. Lunipha, dear, please take the boy out before he sees anymore."

"Seraph, I am fourteen years old now." Samael bellowed, much to everyone's surprise. "I would not lie about some horror like this! This was Lucifer's doing!" He raged at his grandfather. "If you do not believe me, then go to the army's quarters! All the elite have been wiped out effortlessly by that demon!"

"Have mercy!" Lunipha cried.

There was total chaos in the palace that whole day. Samael was in the meadow picking flowers, deep in thought. Why did Lucifer want him? Why did Lord Jasavra get slaughtered? So many questions were dancing in his confused mind that he didn't notice someone creep up behind him.

"Sam-Sam" Samael jumped a little. It was only Lilley-May.

"What is it, May-may?" he sighed, dropping the flowers onto the grass.

"Papa Seraph w-wants to speak to you" She took a glance behind her and turned her attention back to Samael. "He said he's waiting for you by the dungeon" Samael noticed that Lilley-May was acting strangely. Fear was swimming in her eyes and she wasn't acting like herself. Samael grew suspicious and inquisitive. Maybe this was something to do with Duke Jasavra's death, she could've heard the mutterings among the palace staff and be fearing her life.

Samael sighed and heaved himself onto his feel, brushing off strands of grass and flower petals from his expensive blue robe. He followed Lilley-May down many stairwells and black, empty hallways. Dripping water echoed eerily in the darkness, sending shivers down Samael's spine. Lilley-May stopped walking.

"Go f-forth... Samael" she said. This was the first time she had ever called Samael by his full name and Samael grew more suspicious. Yet, he foolishly pushed the door of the dungeon open.

An unfamilliar voice cackled in the blackness of the dungeon.

"I have been awaiting you, Prince Samael..."