The Devil Tips His Hat To Me

Chapter IV

"How come I've never seen Scopulus before?"

Missi said, breaking the silence inside the dim area with the large window the only source of light. It sent goosebumps on her skin when her voice resonated around the room, a telling sign just how empty it is save from the grand decorations and the long table positioned at the center. Duke didn't move from his place by the window. The starlights washing over his form in an almost soothing manner. 

"It's because he is only loyal to my bloodline. He managed himself to be tucked away somewhere hidden when I was nowhere. That time, he'd be considered dead if it wasn't because of you."

Duke gave Missi a sideway glance before his gaze landed back at the nightsky. His hands clasping together at his back.

"Take a seat and have your fill. I know humans get hungry too often than not."

If Missi didn't know better, she could almost see the melancholy set in Duke's eyes when he looked at her. The sadness was so familiar that Missi felt a pang of pain as soon as she saw it. Nonetheless, she chose to clamp her mouth shut about it and do as she was told.

She walked over to her seat and sat down meekly. Looking around the table, Missi only realized the plates and utensils were set only for one.

"You're not joining me?"

It was expected that Duke will join her as he, himself, insisted dinner with her.

"Oh, I'm joining you. With only my company I suppose."

With that, Duke broke his stargazing and walked over to the grand piano stationed just at his side. He took his tap hat off from his head and placed it gently on his left on the piano bench. From the position, it made a perfect view of the vampire with how the starlights acted like spotlight, but more charming and ethereal looking than an ordinary spotlight can ever pull off. He sat with elegance a perfectionist will be jealous of as he pulls the lid open with one hand. Missi all the while staring at him in raptness. However, her attention was popped like a bubble when Duke snapped his thumb and index finger together for Scopulus' presence.

Immediately, Scopulus appeared, together with a tray cart.

"Why are you doing this?" Missi suddenly blurted out as the gargoyle set the dish on the table. She knows it's rude when the man prepared dinner just for her then sounding as if the action is very unwanted. But then again, he could just throw her out the castle now that she's human again or he can even... kill her but instead he's doing this. Clearly, as he'd stated last night, she was violating their rules and should be punished by death. However as she looks at it. Duke is more like persuading her to stay.

Duke was quiet for awhile.

It took Missi minutes to know that Duke isn't going to answer her question when the sound of the piano echoes solemnly in the large chamber. The vampire's long fingers move over the keys with practiced ease creating a lovely melody of...

'Hallelujah?' Missi thought with unmistaken surprise.

Duke plays the piano fluently. His form slightly rocking from the gravity of the music.

'Truly unexpected.' Missi mused as she starts to eat her food in silence.

The vampire continues to play passionately and his music starts to fill the room with its somber notes. He didn't stop even if Missi finishes her dinner and is now sitting beside him on the piano bench watching amazedly as his fingers connect to the right keys.

They stayed like that for god-knows-how-long. Missi admiring the vampire's impressive skill on his piano while Duke let himself get lost in his lonely music as they let the starlit sky wash over them and take their painful past away.  

A/N

The video's from Marioverehrer not mine.