Hellbound With You (WN)

Thia chapter is dedicated to @Hungaro! Thank you so much for the supergift!

At Zeres' apartment.

"I'm leaving." Alex said. Everything was finally settled and he even managed to find a human doctor he could trust.

Alex did not insist on a vampire anymore, so he went to find that human doctor he had somehow ended up saving from an accident many years ago. The doctor was old now, but he was still practicing and was actually one of the most expensive female doctors in the world.

More importantly, this doctor also knew about the existence of vampires and witches. So Alex thought that she was the best suited for this job they had in mind for.

"She'll be checking in to take a look at her. You can also just call her if you need." Alex added and Zeres just nodded quietly. The man had been quiet since their talk at the hospital.

Turning around, Alex reached on the door handle when Zeres finally spoke up.

"Thank you." he said and Alex simply lifted his hand and waved without turning back to look at him. But once he shut the door closed behind him, he was actually grinning cheerfully.

Lucas appeared from the next corner and joined Alex, maintaining one step behind him. "I think I need to go wake His Highness up and tell him about this." Lucas's expression was pretty serious as he spoke.

But Alex shut him off with a wave without hesitation. "No. Don't disturb him. He doesn't need to hear about this."

"But –" Lucas frowned at Alex's instructions.

"No buts, Lucas. I know everything's really tense right now, but I've settled Zeres already. I'm going to settle that king of yours now too. So all you guys have to do is just stand by and watch, okay? There is no need to do anything. Understood?" Alex sternly commanded, causing Lucas to only bow his head low and nod. Now that Zeke is somewhat out of commission, Alex is the one calling the shots on Zeke's behalf.

"I'm leaving the rest to you for now. Your job is pretty simple. Just don't disturb any of them. No matter what, don't let anyone get near Zeke's house. Just remember that. If you fail, I'll punish you myself." Alex flashed him a sharp grin, one that is teasing yet at the same time giving sufficient warning that he would keep his word if Lucas did fail in his duty.

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck and bowed again. "I will not fail, sir." He then promised and Alex patted his shoulder rather amicably before he finally left, leaving Lucas sighing helplessly. Dealing with these powerful personas really wore him out. Every one of them have their own quirks and eccentricities.

…

Back inside the apartment, Zeres was quietly standing by Iryz's bed, just staring at the sleeping girl. The marks of the whips that were left on her face made him clench his fists tightly again when suddenly a knock on the door distracted him from his dark thoughts.

When he opened the door, the two witches he trusted were already in the living room, with stacks of books in their hands. Zeres had ordered them a while ago to fetch the stacks of unread books for him. He needed to continue working on finding the book. Not only because he had to due to the already shortening deadline that they were racing against, but also because he needed to focus on something else like what Alexander had told him to do. Or else, he might…

Zeres shut the morbid thoughts off and dismissed the witches, telling them to go back to the bookstore and continue looking for more books that had yet to be flipped through and to send them over. He had also made sure that the place was heavily guarded now. He did not want a second incident to happen on his watch.

Picking up a random book, Zeres entered the room where Iryz was in, sat down on the couch nearby and started flipping the pages.

Soon it was already past midnight. There was a neat pile of books on the floor next to his feet. Zeres who was initially sitting on the couch had now moved to a sitting position on the floor as well.

He somehow managed to keep his intense focus on the books, ignoring everything else except what was in his hands. In fact, he was so focused that he never did move from his spot for hours until he finally felt the pangs of hunger that he had been ignoring for hours on end now.

Without realizing it, Zeres had been waiting for the coffee and cookies Iryz had always prepared and brought over for him while he would flip through the books. But hours passed and his normal snack and drink did not come, forcing him to lift his head to looked to the right side. Iryz's desk was not there where it normally was. She was not sitting and flipping through books or drawing him on her sketchbook. She was now there, lying so very still in the bed, badly hurt from the unfair attack that she had absolutely no part in.

He stiffened as realization dawned on him. Then he buried his face in his palms. Strings of regret started to surround and haunt him again. This girl… she had been nothing but good to him. His days since he came in her house flashed in his mind and the rage and regret bloomed in his chest. Her life was nothing but peaceful and simple. She has been nothing but kind and patient when dealing with him and yet he never thanked her – not even once. He never truly looked at her. Why did she continue being nice to him when he had been ignoring her like he had been doing?

Pulling himself up, Zeres approached her bed. This girl was supposed to be in her own house right now, living her normal life. But he had come and ruined that for her and now that she was here, wounded all over and suffering for a fight that was not hers. All he gave to her was this. He could not even protect her. He had barged into her peaceful life and dragged her into all this mess.