Hellbound With You (WN)

By the time Alicia and Zeke walked back and rejoined the party, Zeke immediately realized how worried everyone else were about them even as they smiled at them both. However, they were tactful enough not to come out and directly ask them what the matter was or if they were alright.

It was obvious that everyone had felt the ominous power that he had unintentionally just let out a while ago. He really felt bad for that. Today was supposed to be the happy day for everyone.

Just as Zeke was opening his mouth and about to apologize to everyone for being a wet blanket and ruining the mood of this lively and important event, Alex went onto the stage and spoke to Charles. His face was already promising all kinds of trouble.

"I think that Zeke's punishment a while ago was not quite done yet, right, Charles?" he asked, causing everyone to shift their attention to the master of event.

"Ah, yes." Charles quickly gave Alex a series of nods. "Prince Ezekiel and Alicia, please make your way up to the stage. Your punishment had not been completed yet actually. That first song was just a warm-up. This time, we need the both of you to sing and… you both are going to sing nursery rhymes. Again, this too, will be recorded for our precious twins to watch when they're old enough."

Alicia and Zeke blinked at each other as the audience clapped thunderously for them amidst some whistles and catcalls.

"Uhm… what nursery rhymes do you know?" Alicia asked, her smile crooked.

"ABCD?" Zeke replied seriously and Alicia nearly choked on her own saliva, not expecting Zeke to joke around at this time. It should not be funny but just because it was Ezekiel saying it, she just could not help but laugh. And it seemed that she was not the only one who had found it funny because the rest of the audience, especially the males, reacted the same way as her. The red-haired bodyguard even started coughing hard after choking on his wine.

"Alright, ABCD… is a good choice." Charles said, maintaining a perfectly neutral smiling face and then Alex prepared the video, still grinning widely.

"Now, you two can start. Make sure to sing the letters clearly, Zeke." Alex playfully taunted Zeke and once the duo started singing the ABCD song, they just felt glad again because somehow, the atmosphere that they had unknowingly ruined, had at least returned to how it was when they left – light, cheerful and pleasant.

…

After a couple more games that were hosted by Charles, they finally started opening the gifts as the last event of the night. Thankfully, the night ended on an enjoyable note for everyone present.

Then everyone had gone ahead and danced with their partners. Except for Zeres and Iryz, as Zeres was forced to take Iryz away from the party a long while ago due to the strong effects of the vampire wine she had accidentally drunk.

By the time Zeres came out of the guest room where he had put Iryz to rest for a while, the party was already officially over.

He ran his fingers through his ruffled hair and took a few deep breaths.

Once he had calmed down, he peered inside the room again and looked at the sleeping form of Iryz. He was forced to put her to sleep because that was the best way that he knew for the moment to deal with the situation at hand.

Sighing again after seeing that she was still very deeply asleep and was nowhere near waking up, Zeres silently shut the door closed behind him and finally left.

Everyone, except for Abigail, Kelly and the two bodyguards, had already left the courtyard and were already gathered in the living room.

Zeres could tell that the talk Alex had told them about at the party had already started. So he approached them and silently settled on an empty chair, not bothering to speak for now.

The atmosphere was a little tensed as he looked around.

"Please tell us brother, that's not going to happen, right? I mean… you have Alicia now, don't you? You now have a solid reason to stay." Kyle still sounded like he was in total disbelief. His face was severe as he looked at his brother.

"Kyle is right, Zeke. Knowing you, you absolutely can find another way to settle this, right?" Kai seconded his younger brother's stand as well. "You always do. You always somehow manage to find a way out for everything and everyone ever since as long as I can remember. Surely, you can find a way out for this matter too. We… Alex and everyone else here can help with whatever plans that you have to solve this. It is about time you stop taking on the weight of the world by yourself and let everyone else help you out, don't you think so?"

Zeke stared into Kai's eyes but still did not say a word to respond to his heartfelt suggestion, so Kai continued on talking, hoping to convince his brother to see from the perspective of others. "We know you were never the type to talk and explain in length about your future plans. We also are aware that you like to solve things in your own time and according to your own methods. But everyone here are more than willing to do anything to help you out. You know that, right? So just go ahead and –" Kai's passionate speech was interrupted by Zeke.

"Do you really think that I will not come for anyone's help when I know that they could do something to help out with this matter?" Zeke finally spoke. "If I know that any of you can help, did you really think something like a matter of my pride is going to stop me from coming to you?"

Zeke's questions had silenced everyone. His voice and expression remained calm and neutral but what he said came as some kind of a blow to them.