Hellbound Heart

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Elle could not believe just how her body had reacted.

She always knew that no matter how much she trained or how capable she had become, she would never be able to use any of those skills against Brandon Haze and her father and anyone related to them. Because all her body knew when it came to them was to run. It was as though her body had been pre programmed to have that reaction. It was a trained reaction that had been forced into her since long ago that she could not fight back and undo this involuntary reaction. It was kind of pathetic how terrified she was. She should not be terrified of mere humans like them. She was literally living with powerful and dangerous creatures worthy to be feared. Yet nothing would still ever top the intense fear those people were causing her.

It was like her fear had been engraved into her deepest core and there was no more overcoming it. They had successfully planted fear and horror within her that would haunt her for the rest of her life. She would have to accept living like this, always looking behind her back and shivering in cold sweat whenever the shadows of these people ever crossed her sight.

After burying her face into her palms, Elle forced herself up and took her clothes off. Sebastian should be coming back very soon, so she must compose herself now. She must not allow any trace of her fear and discomfort leak through as Sebastian would be able to notice it.

She did not want him to know. Not only because she did not want to trouble him, but also because she realized that she was not even actually sure if the man she saw was indeed Boone. He might be just a look-alike or she had perhaps hallucinated.

Elle had such conclusions because she had already experienced this before. She had once seen Brandon Haze's face in the crowd even though that monster was actually abroad that time. And she had also seen her sister's face on a girl that had slightly resembled her.

So, she believed that it was highly possible it might not actually be him. Moreover, there was just no way that those people would be in this place, right?

When she was certain she was composed enough, Elle went downstairs and chatted with the kids like nothing had happened.

Thankfully, Sebastian came back late that night.

Elle was already asleep in bed when Sebastian entered their room to check on her.

He stayed longer that night, watching her sleeping face before he left and returned to the Black Forest.

The next day, Alex had gone to check around the town as he had a little suspicion regarding Elle's story so he too was gone the whole day. When he came back, he was surprised when his daughter mentioned to him that Izabelle had not left the house at all the whole day.

"Is she alright? Is she sick?" Alex asked his daughter, a little worried.

"She said she's not sick, daddy. We spent the whole morning together and she looked alright but she didn't leave her room this whole afternoon." Alice explained.

"I saw her writing on her desk through the window like a couple of hours ago, dad," Alexis butted in as he was balancing a soccer ball on his head. "I think the princess is alright and not sick. Maybe she's just concentrating on whatever she's studying or writing."

"I see..." Alex nodded. But later, he stepped out of the house and called Caelian.

As soon as Caelian stood next to him, Alex did not beat around the bush. "I think there is something you're not telling me. It's not like Izabelle to lock herself inside the house the entire day."

The twitch in Caelian's brow did not escape Alex's notice. "Spit it out, Caelian." He warned in a low and dangerous tone, and Caelian could no longer keep the secret. After all, this man was his boss! He had been actually planning to tell the truth to Alex anyway. He did not want the princess to be disappointed in him, but it truly cannot be helped. Having her disappointed in him was a far better choice than having her getting into danger or something related to this issue.

So, he told Alex everything, even the fact that the princess had asked him to not say anything.

Alex pinched the skin between his brows and took a deep breath.

...

As soon as Alex saw Sebastian approaching, Alex pushed himself off the door. Sebastian arched his brow, noticing that Alex seemed to have waited outside specifically for him to return. Was there something so urgent that he needed from him?

"We need to talk, Sebby." Alex said in a very serious tone before Sebastian could even ask why he had asked for him to come to the house as soon as possible. "Did you have a talk with your wife last night?"

Sebastian creased his brows. "She was already asleep when..."

The sigh that Alex released made Sebastian's sentence trail off. His expression was now starting to change. He had a bad feeling that something bad had happened and he did not know about it.

"I just found out that Izabelle must have lied when she said she simply got lost in the market. Caelian just confessed that he had found her hiding in the bushes just at the edge of the forest, trembling and out of breath. And today, she had not taken even a step out of the house. Not even just outside the door. Something serious must have happened and for some reason, she didn't want anyone to know about it. She had even begged Cael not to say anything... especially to you."

Sebastian's eyes dilated as the color of his face changed upon hearing Alex's words.

Without a word, he rushed inside the house.

But once he reached their room's door, his hand halted in midair. After taking a deep shaky breath, then pushed the door open.

And he was welcomed by the sound of a glass crashing on the floor and Izabelle, standing there, looking so utterly startled and frightened at his sudden entrance.

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