Hellbound Heart

Alexander who was watching could not help but panic and approach. Zeres placed his hand over her heart and as the silverish glow appeared from his palm, Iryz slowly settled down from her trashing and fell peacefully asleep in Zeres' arms.

At that moment, Sebastian had also arrived. He and Alex came rushing in from the opposite direction as a precautionary measure, just in case Zeres was already moving Izabelle away.

Sebastian who still had his blood boiling like an inferno within him did not expect this particular scenario to be welcoming him. What is... going on? What had happened to Iryz and why was she passed out in Zeres' arms?

He had met this woman many times before, especially during the times when he was approaching Zeres to help him bring Ezekiel back. Sebastian had especially liked the cookies and coffee she was making whenever he visited their home. Iryz was so healthy then... So what had happened to her?

The rage within him that was threatening to blow like a volcano was forgotten for a few moments. One reason was because he could sense that his Iza was here. Her presence was very faint and it was coming from somewhere within the house. But for some reason, Sebastian also felt like she was somewhere outside, he just could not quite pinpoint where her exact position was at the moment because he could not pick up her scent at all aside from the faint scent of her coming from that house. It was just his intuition and feeling but...

"Iryz is dying and no, none of you can help. Not even I can save her even if I give up my life in exchange!" Zeres suddenly yelled as he stayed there on the ground, holding Iryz in his arms. This was the first time Sebastian was hearing Zeres letting his emotions go. Usually, the man was cool, calm and collected. But he did not blame the man. If it were him and Izabelle in their shoes, he would behave similarly... Or even worse.

Zeres..." Alexander calmly and carefully spoke. "Don't say that. There will always be a way â€""

"Enough!" Zeres harshly barked out, stopping Alexander from continuing his words. After drawing in a deep breath, he shook his head. "We've tried to look for other ways... for years, Alexander. We've been searching for so many years but there is nothing! Nothing, Alex! Do you think there is something I couldn't or wouldn't do to save Iryz?!" His tone became more aggrieved the more he spoke.

"Still... I believe if we all work together... if you don't do it by yourself and ask for our help. That's why we're here, isn't it, Zeres? You have friends, damn it! You have me and Abigail! How could you think we can't or won't help you when you don't even tell us anything at all? We aren't mind readers to be able to know what you keep in your mind! We can do anything to help you too, you big idiot!"

Alex's outburst had everyone falling silent for a while until Zeres suddenly smiled as he lifted his face and looked at his longtime friend. The sad and almost broken smile on his face looked almost haunting.

"Really? Anything? Then give Izabelle to me, Alex..." his smile turned villainous and yet heartbreaking. "Iryz needs her heart to continue living. Can you give me that? Can you give us that?!!"

And the world seemed to stop spinning.

Then Sebastian finally lost it. His initially calm and muted aura blazed crazily and the burning rage and everything else that he was holding in since the moment he heard the news that Elle was missing, was now bursting out of him.

The danger coming from Sebastian instantly reached Zeres and the silver-haired witch shifted his gaze warily to him.

Zeres' body glowed brightly as well when his power fully enveloped him, prepared to attack and defend the moment Sebastian dared to come at him. His arms tightened minutely around his wife who was still unconscious.

"What..." Zeres' gaze at Sebastian was sharp, deadly. "It's not like Izabelle's heart belongs to her, either. That heart isn't hers in the first place and I know all of you know that as well!"

Alex stepped in and held Sebastian's arm, keeping him grounded.

"Izabelle borrowed that heart too and she'd been living because of it for many years... it's about time, isn't it? That she should give it back to where it belongs â€""

"Shut the f**k up!" Sebastian growled, incensed at Zeres' demands on Izabelle's heart. "Say anything more and I'll really kill you!"

If Alex was not stopping him and if Iryz was not in Zeres' arms right now, Sebastian was not sure what else he would have done already. He was not confident that he would be able to hold back.

Zeres smirked. "Ah..." his smirk turned to heartless chuckle. "Right... I almost forgot about the real reason why you're reacting like this. I wonder how Izabelle would react if she learns about the truth â€" that the real reason you took interest in her in the first place was because of the heart that is within her â€""

"Enough..." Sebastian's voice was barely a whisper. But it was a sound filled with nothing but danger and death.

Still, Zeres continued. As if he did not care about what would happen next. As though he was willing to let go of all civility to those he had considered his friends from before.

"That heart belongs to your late girlfriend from long time ago and that's why you cannot let another woman who's not yours to have it â€""

"Zeres! That's enough!" Alex finally shouted as he blocked Sebastian from lunging forward. The vampire prince was now looking simply as deadly as he stood there, a single threat was what was left to keep him under a leash. To not go ahead and destroy the man before him.

"That heart is supposed to be for Iryz!!!" Zeres roared. "Kiel, your brother stole it from Calliste after killing her!"