Hellbound Heart

A special shoutout to these supergifters @MonsterUnderTheBed, @Monica_Ceja, @Lilli_Fiona, @Edi_o, @Chinawa, @Babsia, @Dreamer_Princess, @Sacoguns, @Gator_gurl7763 and @Edenn! Thank you very much guys!!!

____

Sebastian was in his secret study with Raven as they were trying to figure out how Kana even entered his room without being noticed and traced.

Their conclusion again led them to believe that it was definitely a witch's doing. And since the security in the area was not that tight anymore since Iza was no longer in there, not to mention that Raven and the others were following him around, it should not be that hard after all for a vampire with the help of a powerful witch to sneak inside the castle and even enter into the prince's chambers that easily.

"I hope you didn't allow her to make her escape too easy and obvious, Rion." Sebastian spoke up as soon as Rion appeared at the door.

"Of course, Your Highness. And I didn't even actually have the chance to feign anything at all! Because she suddenly attacked with another powerful witch weapon. I didn't see it coming and it was indeed a deadly one. So she escaped for real and it had nothing to do with me being lenient on her. But Your Highness, why did you let her escape?"

"I didn't let her escape. I, too, am only using her. Someone needs to deliver the news she found out." Sebastian replied. He was certain that Kana would now turn back and try to regain the witch's favor after his dismal treatment of her. He was almost certain that Kana would tell the truth about what she found out or even if she lied, that witch can certainly read her mind and she would die in the witch's hands.

Sebastian needed Elijah and that witch to at least come to the conclusion that the divorce was real. It was not certain if that could really stop them from bothering Iza, but at least this would give him a little peace of mind to focus on what he needed to do. The last several days were still filled with distractions and lingering fear. And he found himself unable to give his all in his preparations. Because to him, it was Iza's safety that was still the top priority. He could not make himself completely focus on something else if there were unfinished things related to her!

But with this, it gave him at least a little relief even if it was not foolproof.

...

Black Forest.

Alexander had stumbled upon Caelian who was sitting on top of a round rock. The man was smiling disbelievingly at Alexander. His blond hair gleaming due to the shine of the moonlight peeking through the dense leaves of the trees in the Black Forest.

"She managed to shoot and hit you... I hope this is for real and you weren't just allowing her to hit you just because you wanted her to pass, Caelian." Alex commented, surveying him.

The blond threw his head back and ran his fingers through his hair. "Oh, come on, Alex. Stop second guessing me already. This is for real, okay? And damn... now I know what Queen Lilith meant when she said that the princess got close to her without her realising it. She really was undetectable. It was strange... the complete lack of her presence is no joke."

Alex lifted a brow.

"It's really hard to spot her now." Caelian continued. "Back then, I managed to find her at her hiding spot during that festival because of her unique scent. Now without that, she has become untraceable. She can completely erase her presence of self."

"You mean... there really is no scent of her at all?" Alexander raised a brow, surprised at what Caelian was reporting to him.

"Yes. I could still detect her scent while I was entering the forest. But then the scent somehow faded and then disappeared without a trace." Caelian scratched his head, puzzled, not knowing how Elle managed to do that.

"And how about the sounds? Her heartbeat?"

"Ah..." Caelian smiled like he was about to say something really amazing and at the same time impossible. "Nothing..." The handsome blond shook his head in amazement and disbelief as he lifted both shoulders and picked up his hands, palms facing up as he showed how helpless he was. "I made sure to rely on my enhanced senses and believe it or not, there was nothing. Well, you just go on to see and experience it for yourself, Alex. Honestly... I never thought that I'd actually feel chills in a game... really... I have no words to say about this princess. All I know now is... whoever or whatever she is, she's bad news." Caelian chuckled lightly to himself, a lopsided smile curling his lips.

"Hmm... Now that's very interesting." Alexander's eyes gleamed in the dark. If she was indeed bad news, then that was excellent news to him. He was anticipating to see how she performed in this second part of the exercise and to experience what Caelian had described to him personally.

"Then I'm going in, Caelian. Good work." Alexander voiced his approval and clapped him on the back of his shoulder.

Caelian nodded. "I'm rooting for you, Alex." A mischievous twinkle was seen in the depths of his eyes. However, Alexander caught that subtle look even though it came and went swiftly.

Alexander smirked. "Now you're suddenly a fan of the princess?"

"Well... to be honest, I find her an amazing individual. A seemingly harmless and petite little lady being able to give me the deadly chills, deserves my adoration and respect to the highest degree." Caelian praised Elle without holding back. He really felt that she was impressive. Such a low-key person yet, holding such deadly skills that even she somehow does not know she has.

"Sebastian will kill you." Alexander's curt comment jolted Caelian out of his haze of adoration of the princess.

"It's not that type of adoration, okay?"

"Doesn't matter what type it is. Sebastian will still kill you if he hears that." Though Alexander's tone was playful and joking, Caelian was sharp enough to detect the seriousness underlying his words. And he took it to heart.

And then, Alexander was gone just like that , leaving Caelian sighing. He stared at his bloodied hand and smiled again before he stood up and left.