Hellbound With You (WN)

This chapter is dedicated to @edi_o! Thank you so much for the supergift!

"Oh, Alicia…!" Abi cried, hugging her friend tight, as though she did not want to let her go. r

When Abi heard that Alicia was still with them, she was so overcome with emotion and utter gladness. Alex had told her that Alicia might come for the party, and she was really looking forward to it. But she had never thought that she could actually touch her like this. And not only that, Alicia had also somehow turned into a vampire! She did not know what had happened, but all Abi could care about for the moment was the fact that she was seeing and holding her friend again. And that was all that mattered to her now.r

As Abi and Alicia stayed there, being emotional, the rest were still trying to process what they had just seen and heard. r

When Alex called the woman 'Alicia', Lilith also stood up while Lucas and Kyle's jaws dropped. Wait… was it the same Alicia? The previous witch queen who was supposed to be dead?!r

This shock was just too much for them to process in one go even as they focused their attention on the woman's face and realized that the face indeed belonged to Alicia – albeit it was a little different in some ways. But it did not detract from the general features of how Alicia looked when they had seen her when she was still alive. What in the world had happened? How did Alicia turn into a… into a vampire?! r

Lilith glanced over at Zeres. She was suddenly worried for him. He was the one who was most affected by her death back then. And looking at him, she noticed that the man was still unmoving as he kept staring in Alicia's direction. And she could not quite tell what was running through his mind. r

After a while, Abi and Alex finally led the couple to their respective table. r

But when they reached where everyone was seated, they both halted before them. Alicia's eyes immediately meet Zeres' gaze. She had been worried about Zeres' reaction the most. And she understood because she was a witch. A former queen. And now she had turned into a vampire. r

Unbeknownst to Alicia, Zeke's gaze was also focused on no one else but Zeres. r

"Zeres…" Alicia spoke first then her gaze fell to Lilith, who like Abi, was now trying to hold back her tears. "Lilith…" r

"Alicia," Zeres called her attention back to him. His voice low. He looked like he had a million questions in his eyes but did not know how to voice them out. r

But Alicia could tell that he was battling with himself whether he should ask them or not. He was obviously trying his best to consider the event they were there for tonight. They were not the main event.r

Alicia smiled reassuringly at them. "You guys can ask me your questions later, okay? For now, we need to focus on this important event." Alicia said calmly. She hoped that everyone would be able to focus on the baby shower, most especially Zeres.r

Lilith nodded, taking a deep breath and then flashing her a welcoming smile. r

Zeres' facial muscles clenched and unclenched but when he heard a baby's cry, his attention flew towards Abi and Alex approaching them with the twins in their arms. r

Abi and Alex unceremoniously stepped in between. r

Alex faced Zeres while Abi faced Alicia. r

"Zeke already held Alexis when he came to visit us at the hospital preciously. So you're now the only one who have yet to hold my son, Zeres. Now you sit there like a good boy and hold your nephew." Alex demanded, not allowing Zeres to refuse it. r

Zeres immediately looked a flustered as he looked at Alex, then at Alexis and back at the baby's father. r

"Wait Alex, I don't know how to –" Zeres' slightly panicky tone caused Alex to smirk.r

"I said, just sit there." Alex insisted and Alexis' cry seemed to made Zeres even more nervous. r

"I think he doesn't want to be held by me. Look… he's crying." Zeres sounded even more panicky as he lowered himself slowly and reluctantly to the chair. r

"Kai. Come over and help me out with this guy's stiff arms." Alex sought for help and the two males started hovering over the still flustered Zeres.r

Somehow, this had turned the atmosphere back to being cheery and blissful again. The sight of Zeres looking really troubled had everyone laughing and cheering up for him.r

"I said relax, didn't you hear me?! Seriously, Alexis might end up thinking that a log is holding him!" Alex's voice was loud as he playfully insulted Zeres and the person who was insulted could not help but retort back.r

"Stop being so loud, Alexander! What can I do if holding a baby makes me this nervous?!" Zeres complained.r

Lucas laughed out loud, causing everyone to look over at him. The men were all serious except for Lucas, while the ladies were silently giggling at this chaotic scene before them. r

"I can't believe you are worse than Zeke." r

"I don't think I am. If I am a log, then I am pretty sure Kiel would be steel then!" Zeres retorted again. r

"Abigail," Zeke's voice echoed out in a challenging tone. "Give Alice to me."r

Zeres and everyone else looked over to Ezekiel. r

"Sure." Abi said when Alex suddenly butted in.r

"Wait a moment! You go and sit first! I don't trust you holding my princess while standing, Zeke." Alex ran over like a nervous mother hen.r

Zeke tsked. "Stop being so dramatic, Alex." he said but he was already sitting on the chair right beside Zeres. Of course, taking Alicia with him. r

When Abi placed Alice in his arms, Zeres turned over his shoulder and the sight of Zeke being calm had him taking a deep breath. r

Once his heartbeat somehow settled, Alexis miraculously stopped crying. r

"Oh… he stopped crying!" he said, his voice sounded excited and even proud of himself that everyone could not help but chuckle. "This means he likes me, right?" there was bright flash in his eyes that had everyone smiling again r

"Of course, he will like you. You're his uncle after all." Alex lifted a brow, grinning. Happy that for the moment, Zeres did not seem to care about anything else but the bundle of joy in his arms. r

Meanwhile, while Zeres was busy with Alexis, all eyes were glancing at the couple at the back. r

"You want to hold her…??" Zeke asked quietly and Alicia who was obviously dying to hold the baby nodded her head like a rattle. "Alright. But first, we need to do something to free both your hands."r

"Oh, right. How are we going to do that?"r

Without using his hands, Zeke removed his shoes then asked Alicia to pull the sock of his feet. r

Once Alicia was finished, he spoke again. "Now put your feet over mine. Don't ever forget to keep contact and pull away, okay?" He warned and Alicia simply nodded as she immediately did what he told her. Her attention was fully focused on the baby that she seemed to not mind doing anything and everything just so she could hold Alice in her arms. r

Zeke then let go of her hand and stood, before slowly placing the baby in Alicia's arms as their bare feet connected.r

At that point, everyone who was standing there looking on were acting like they have been struck by lightning. What did they just see??!! r