Trial of Empathy (5)

'I should only expect the worst from now on. Vivian also steeled herself, readying whatever the next things would happen.' Since in the first place, she had the strong feeling that it was not good at all for her.

'But…' Vivian's gaze turned cold at the scene as some unpleasant memories rang inside her mind. She immediately shook her head, to remove those unwanted memories and focus on the scenario in front of her.

' No, that is not the right time for that, Vivian.' she thought.

The Duke walked towards the huge cage. With his steps that echoed through the whole room. The two youth who seemed to be awake, jerked their heads up. Since their mouths were gagged with some clothes, only desperate muffled sounds were heard followed by their struggling.

Though it was futile, since the chains were tied strongly. Their eyes held desperation and fear. Despite being captured and experienced some torture already, it seemed that their will to live and survive was still there.

The Duke was located on the right side in front of the cage. As Vivian gaze went on the duke's feet, the pool of blood was repelled away from the duke's foot. As if the pool of blood itself was afraid to stain the powerful duke's shoes. But of course, that was not the case. The duke was probably using magic to repel the blood away as he walked towards the cage.

The cage locks were unlocked using the same key that the duke used to open the door that led to this place. Then he returned his keys to his side pocket.

With one waved of his hands, the pool of blood circled in the air and surrounded the two prisoners. It turned to chain liquid and tied on the prisoner's bodies. Then they were slowly lifted in the air.

The sounds of the chain metals that were tied before them echoed to the whole place as they struggled on the duke's black magic that truly controlled them that easily.

And in an instant those metal chains were snapped out and turned to dust. The gags that were also covering the two prisoner's mouths disappeared. With their mouths free to talk right now, the two prisoners started shouting.

"Please have mercy on us!"

"We are just simple herbal gatherers!"

"Please spare our lives! We didn't do anything bad" The two prisoners started pleading for their lives. However, to the duke, this was nothing but chirping sounds of a bird that was at his mercy. Whatever they say, he didn't care at all. The way he detaches with others is what makes him scary to everyone and even to his bloodline.

Thud!

The two fell on the ground, as soon as all the metal chains binding them disappeared.

Clank!

Clank!

Two daggers fell right in front of the two prisoners."Fight each other to death. And whoever stays alive in the end, would be freed."

The two prisoners' faces were contorted with fear as they looked at each other. It was very clear that despite their suffering, they didn't want to hurt each other at all. They shakily reached for the daggers and grabbed hold of it.

"Isaiah, these two dolls have known each other since they were born. It was like they were already siblings to each other, the relationship that they had was more than just friends. Do you think that despite having such a relationship they would be able to kill each other?" The duke muttered only for Isaiah to hear and Vivian who was near them also heard it.

Vivian saw how Isaiah clenched both his fist and looked down.

"I want you to focus in front of you, and never revert your gaze Isaiah."

The two prisoners stood up, trembling as they pointed the dagger to each other.

"Ahh!!!" The two screamed as they ran with each other. They started fighting but just before they could stab each other they let go of the daggers.

Clank!

Clank!

The two sagged on the ground, crying. One could see that no matter what the situation they were in, they could never kill each other.

"They will never kill each other, father, since they cared for each other." Isaiah said with a firm voice. " Not just they care but also they have love within them for one another that makes them value each other's life more than anything."

But this didn't please the duke at all. All of the sudden, the two prisoners stood up. The blood that lingered in the air, surrounded them once again, and binded every part of their body.

"Then just make them kill each other." An evil grin escaped on the duke's lips. As if he was the puppeteer controlling the two prisoners, he made them pick the daggers once again.

"I-I can't control myself!" The two prisoners cried in horror as they started walking with each other. The daggers pointed at them. Isaiah watched in horror as he realized what his father intended to do. No. This was what he always did in order to show him to be more powerful and cold.

But Isaiah never wanted anything of this. No matter how many deaths and tragedies he witnessed in this cold place, he didn't want to make other people suffer. A very different mindset despite being a vampire. And he was greatly ashamed and conflicted of this because there was also a part of him telling him not to disappoint his father even more.

"Please! No!" The two prisoners screamed frantically. When they were just a meter away from each other. "I'm sorry!" They both said as tears streamed down in their eyes.

To make them kill each other was much crueller to the torture that they suffered since they arrive here.

Isaiah clenched his fist. For another time, he would only be there as a spectator. And wouldn't be able to do anything at all.

"I'm really sorry." The two prisoners weeped as their hands both moved, heading to stab each other's hearts.

But instead of piercing it right through their hearts. Isaiah's eyes widened. No, everyone's eyes widened. While the duke's face darkened.

"Hey young master, if you hate seeing something like this." Vivian coughed up blood as the two daggers stabbed directly at her chest and back. She tried to actually stop the two daggers but the control of the duke was too strong for her.

"Run away without looking back, or fight for them even if it ends fruitless." Vivian grinned as she slumped down.

For the second time, she died once again in the trial.