"I'll kill him! I swear, I'll kill him—"
Sampson had learned to build up quite a tolerance when it came to the Young Prince. But having the royal barge into his room just as he was about to get ready for bed—that he had no patience for. Especially after the sort of day he'd had with that woman.
Frustration didn't even begin to define it.
"Calm yourself Karlehinz, who are you—"
"Richter! Of course it would be—who else—"
"Karlheinz," Sampson sighed, trying to get a whole of the hysteric prince "What about Richter—"
"He bit her! Right on her shoulder—Sampson I swear I—"
Ah. So it had finally happened. Well, it was Richter's fault really, if he was stupid enough to leave a mark. Lucky he did, though, because Sampson was starting to wonder if Karlheinz would ever notice.
If not then he would have had to intervene on his own. And he hated that sort of thing.
But Karlheinz was still acting hysterical, and not even Sampson had the proper words to pull him from it, so he did the only thing he really could.
He made to swing at the prince, but Karlheinz dodged it, blocking the next blow and pinning the swordsman on the ground.
He'd been practicing. Which was commendable, in it's own right, but it irked Sampson that even in such a state Karlheinz was able to pin him.
He'd just have to train harder, from now on.
The royal guard groaned, "Will you now calmly explain what is happening?"
Karlheinz shook, his hands trembling over his hold on Sampson, slowly releasing him with panic in his eyes.
"Lisa," he mumbled, "She's been bitten."
Sampson nodded, looking at the prince curiously. "Where is she now?"
Karlheinz looked up, still shaking, "The dungeons. Both of them…in the…"
Sampson raised his brow in surprise. He hadn't expected as much. Richter, perhaps, but he didn't think Karlheinz would go so far as to lock up the girl as well. Which was encouraging. If this man was supposed to be their future King then he couldn't very well remain the wide-eyed little prince everyone knew him to be. He pulled Karlheinz up, dusting the young prince off. "The fact that you've locked her up shows you don't see her as a victim, do you, Karlheinz?"
With his lips a thin line and his eyes burning with tears he nearly spat in Sampson's face. "I love her."
Rolling his eyes, Sampson let out a groan, and tugged Karlheinz along, "Yes, of that I'm well aware, my lord. But I'm relieved your instincts are still in tact."
"I just don't understand," Karlheinz stumbled behind him, "After everything I—she didn't want to be bitten."
Sampson turned sharply, his robes flowing behind him, "And why do you think that is, my lord? The taste of blood reveals more than a woman like her would ever want known—"
"But why Richter? I offered her everything—"
"Yes, yes," Sampson continued, practically dragging him down the halls towards the dungeons, "Didn't I tell you I wouldn't pick up the pieces? And here I am doing exactly—"
"Charles—"
"Don't Charles me, Young Prince. The fact that you still haven't realized—you're nothing more than a child."
Karlheinz said nothing, just stared at him stupidly, and so Sampson just threw him towards the door, telling him to open it.
"Perhaps we can have Richter explain things, mmm?"
As they made their way down the stairs the prisoners came into view, Lisa curled up on herself against the wall, and Richter leaning against the bars that separated them.
"Brother," he smiled, "Have you come to let us out now—"
The scrape of metal sent Richter back, Sampson's sword nearly coming into contact with the hands holding the bars.
"Start talking, Richter. I despise losing sleep, you know."
Richter grinned, "Why don't you, Marcellus? Since you think you have it all figured out."
"My speculations have nothing over the truth."
"Still, you could have spared this tragedy."
"Rich," Sampson smirked, "Coming from the one who caused it."
Richter's expression dropped, turning to face Karlheinz, "You know how I am, Karlheinz. Now hurry up and let me out. I did you a favor. That girl is nothing but a whore—"
"A whore—" the bars were slammed against, Lisa getting up in the other cell, "Richter, what are you—"
Sampson laughed, a rather hearty chuckle at that, staring amusedly at the former prostitute. "What did he promise you? The throne? Karlheinz did the same. And neither you or Richter seem like the type to…" his eyes widened, upon seeing the expression of the prisoners. "Curse the devil…" he gasped under his breath, before Karlheinz came up to him, urging him to explain.
Sampson looked at Karlheinz, before looking at Richter and Lisa once more. "I don't believe it," he said, "Don't tell me you're naive enough to be in love—"
"And what of it!" Lisa bit back, gripping at the bars, "Richter has every right to be King! If Karlheinz was stupid enough to fall for something like this then he—"
"Lisa…" Karlheinz looked at her with the eyes of a wounded buck.
Sampson let out an irritated sigh. "I hate women. Why are you all so bloody insane—"
Richter chuckled, "Says the one chasing Humbert's skirt—"
"By oath, Richter, I cannot kill you," Sampson pointed his sword through the bars, "But don't fucking tempt me."
"Oh, ho~ What would mommy dearest say if you did?"
"Enough." Karlheinz's voice was quiet, yet commanding.
Sampson glanced over his shoulder, "My Lord?"
Karlheinz shook his head, hands trembling like before, "Just…" He looked up, locking eyes with Lisa, struggling to hold onto a last bit of hope. "Did none of it mean anything?"
She pursed her lips and held her gaze, but failed to reply.
"Send her back." He whispered.
"My Lord—"
"Do as you see fit," he told Sampson with a wave of his hand, already making his way up the stairs, "Just don't," he held onto the railing for support, voice cracking, "Don't kill them."
"As generous as always, Your Highness!" Richter called out, snickering to himself.
Sampson waited until he'd heard the door close, before sheathing his sword back by his side. "You think you're rather amusing, don't you Richter?"
"More so than yourself, Marcellus."
Sampson grinned. "Well," he began, "As I said before, because you're a Sakamaki I can't touch you." He took the keys off their hook, swaying them playfully, "But the girl, I can do anything to."
"And what does that have to do with me?"
Sampson clicked his tongue, opening Lisa's cell, reveling in the small tinge of fear that lightly coated her scent.
"You know as well as I," Sampson said, grabbing her by the neck and pushing her to the ground, carefully watching Richter's reaction as he did so, "That this little human…" he palmed his sword, pulling it out in a single movement and—
"Don't!" Richter lunged forward, stopped by the chains.
Sampson rang a tongue over his fangs as a smile claimed his face. "Oh, how beautifully precious. Once more you prove yourself the weaker brother. Developing feelings over the one you intended to manipulate."
"He'd never do that," Lisa challenged, "He loves me—"
"He loves himself," Sampson corrected, staring at Richter, "He'll save his own skin over yours. What a pitiful man to fall for—"
"Sampson if you touch her I swear I'll—"
"You'll do nothing, Richter. Because you know as well as I that you are nothing but a shadow."
"He's more than that!" Lisa fought, but Sampson pushed her face back against the ground.
"Play nicely, my dear. I'd hate to kill you."
A titter of a laugh pushed passed her lips onto the ground, her face hidden by her arms. When she lifted her head, it was to reveal the scratches on her cheeks caused by the stone. "You can't kill me," she lilted, "Karlheinz's orders."
Sampson sheathed his sword in a bored fashion. "The pride of the royal guard," he began, almost mechanically, "Above all else, is the safety and well being of the royal family."
She looked him up and down, pursing her lips.
He knelt down before her, stroking her hair almost affectionately, "I have a contract binding me to the Sakamakis. One I've read very carefully," she smacked his hand away, but he paid it no mind, simply rubbed his fingers together with a smirk on his lips, "Do you know what it says?"
Her eyes darted across his face.
"Should the King or his heirs find themselves in a delusional state of mind, the royal guard must act accordingly to protect the bloodline. Now my dear," he sighed, pushing against his knees to pick himself up, "I'm afraid your lover here has done quite a number on the future King. And seeing as I can't lay a hand upon Richter myself, well…" his smirk only grew, and Lisa shot a panicked look at Richter, who watched listlessly behind the bars.
"Shall I open the lock? He won't make any effort to save you, I can assure you as much."
"You're lying!" She spat, "Richter—!"
Sampson was already at his cell, keys jangling from the way they unlocked the heavy metal. "Watch closely," he instructed the royal, "This is to prove your own cowardice."
Richter swallowed, and ignored Lisa's pleas, watching silently from the now-opened cell as Sampson approached Lisa once again.
"I'm not usually so brutal, I assure you," he began, already taking off his belt, setting his sword down carefully beside him, "Your death will be swift, that much I can promise."
"Get away from me!" The chains rattled, as Lisa panicked, slashing her body back and forth to avoid his touch.
"The problem is," Sampson continued unabashedly, unbuttoning his pants next, as though she hadn't spoken at all, "I've run into a bit of trouble with a woman myself. A rather insufferable one, you see. I'm afraid I'm left rather pent up after our exchanges."
"Richter!" She screamed, "Richter do something!"
Sampson sighed, "I said it, didn't I? The man is a coward. Even if he did attempt to challenge me he'd be left incapacitated."
"They'd hang you!" She reeled, "They'd hang you if you put your hands on a royal—"
He tsked, wagging his finger at her, "You don't seem to understand how vampires work at all, my dear," he clicked his tongue, "A pity. Expected, considering you're nothing but a lowly human. But still…a pity." "
The chains rattled again, Lisa bunching herself up as small as she possibly could, trying to create as much distance between herself and the royal guard. But by now, Sampson had lost his patience, grabbing her by the throat and splaying her flat on the ground.
"You're a whore, aren't you?" He spat in a voice so chilling she froze beneath him, left paralyzed by the sharp stare of his blue eyes. When she failed to answer, Sampson gave a laugh that was perhaps more terrifying than anything he'd done so far.
"Surely you know," he drawled, brushing his tongue over his fangs, "The more you struggle," his voice dropped, cold breath upon her ear, "The more it will hurt."
…
Karlheinz still didn't understand. But he knew if he stayed in that dungeon any longer that he might have collapsed. And that was not something he wanted Lisa to see.
Never before had he felt such a horrible ache in his chest. It was a sharper sting than silver, and more wretched than thirst.
And yet…
Hadn't they all said so? That Lisa was no good. That she would never…
But for it to have been Richter. His own brother.
By one miracle or another he made it to his room. Collapsing onto his bed, he felt as if his robes were tangling his limbs in a net.
If Richter wanted a crown so badly then Karlheinz would give it. Nothing was worth this kind of pain.
Not even a kingdom.
His door opened, and he assumed it to be Sampson, but it was none other than the maid he'd helped before.
"My lord!" she bowed humbly in surprise, lowering her head and staying by the door, "Forgive me I was instructed—before you were to go to bed—I assumed your chambers were empty—"
Karlheinz held up his hand. It seemed as though this was the only thing he would ever amount to. Commoners sputtering in his presence. "The room will survive for a day. You're dismissed."
She kept her head down as she left, shutting the door quietly behind her, and once again leaving Karlheinz to himself.
He sighed, resting his head against the pillow, before reaching under it and pulling out the book in which he'd preserved her flower, crushing the petals between his fingers.
He'd never given it much thought, before. But it was sort of incredible.
How hopelessly fragile something could truly be.
A/N: I hope you guys don't hate Sampson now lmao. Sorry this took so long. I forgot to mention I would be making a trip to Japan XD But hope you all enjoyed the update! I know he hasn't fully *snapped* yet, but it's getting there.
Meowchi: Don't feel bad for her, she's the literal worst lol. Oooh yes Sampson's original wife I'm excited to get to her. I love Henrietta and Beatrix haha they have such a great relationship. Honestly I get that in Masks Henrietta is like Evil Bitch No 1 but she's still kinda like that lmao. I mean she went so far as to strike Sampson so violence obviously isn't something she's against. Let's just say she's not so innocent lol.
Guest: Good guess! Haha I'm loving the rage you've got going it's great! There's a lot more that's gonna go into Karlheinz becoming who he is, Lisa I suppose being the thing that got the ball rolling XD Although she was a pretty bad apple from the start I'm surprised no one caught on o.o Omg bless your soul you have no idea how happy that makes me. Because they're like...both my babies. Like of my own creation. I could die. Thank you for being such a loyal reader! I send you many virtual hugs! Haha oh lord twice now someone mentions a Kiara/Shin wedding. I'm not sure how that would work out without Reiji exploding into a rage XD