Hellbound With You

He just stared at Zeke for what seemed like minutes. However, Zeke just met his gaze head on with none of them speaking to each other. Until Zeres started to move and silently walked past them with Alicia in his arms. His steps were unsteady as though he had not walked for a long a time.

They followed him with their gazes and after a few steps, Zeres halted. He lifted his face and looked at them. His mouth opened and closed a few times without anything being said for a while until after a long pause, he finally spoke.

"I'm…" his wretched voice was so hoarse and barely audible, but he continued anyway. Perhaps because he knew that the vampires could hear and understand what he was going to say no matter how inaudible and broken his voice was, "I'm taking her back… to the Black Forest…" he said and then after a few moments of quiet, he disappeared silently along with Alicia. And just like that, they were both gone from sight, causing differing emotions to be felt within the hearts of those who were looking on.

The moment Zeres and Alicia was gone, all the vampires fixed their gazes on Zeke, as if waiting for an explanation or a command.

But Lilith's eyes remained fixed on the spot where Zeres stood a moment ago. She could hear Alexander talking in the background, but Lilith's attention was fixed on something else, no, someone else – a spirit. She was looking at Alicia's soul.

And Alicia seemed to be staring back at her.

When Ezekiel pulled the sword from Alicia's body, Lilith watched Alicia's soul left her body. But she did not leave even when the strange lights appeared and seemed to be calling out to her. Lilith watched Alicia's soul seemingly talking to something she could not quite see and then she seemed to have made a choice and after staring at Zeres for a long while and then throwing a glance at Ezekiel, Alicia turned her back from that strange light and approached Zeres.

Lilith was shocked at what she had seen. She did not know why she was seeing this. And it seemed that she was the only one who could see it as no one else seems to have any other reaction when they glanced to the same area she was looking at. But all she could come up with was that this must be another one of the many powers that the witch queen has in her repertoire of skills.

However, she could not understand what Alicia's spirit had done. Who was she talking to in the first place? Why did she turn her back from the light? Was she choosing to stay? Could she even do that? What would happen to her soul if she chose not to go the afterlife?

When Zeres made the move to leave, Lilith watched on as she saw Alicia's spirit following behind him. But when Zeres disappeared with Alicia's body, somehow her spirit stayed behind. And now she was staring back at her. Did Alicia realized that she could see her?

Alicia's soul walked up to Lilith until she stood right before her. She was as beautiful as Lilith remembered her in life, and she was currently smiling gently at Lilith.

"I know you can see and hear me, Lilith," she said, and Lilith did not know how to react. She was paralyzed. "If you can see and hear me, just act normally for now. I need to speak with you once the vampires are gone." She said and Lilith had already opened her mouth and almost answered Alicia. Thankfully, she was able to stop herself at the very last moment before giving herself away. She had bitten down on her lips to stop herself from responding.

"Yes," Zeke had said, "we will all head to the Black Forest."

The vampires all agreed with nods, and everyone started to move to follow Zeres immediately.

Alexander was the first one to run off followed by Lucas while Kyle looked at Lilith. "Let's go, Lilith." He called out.

"Kyle," Lilith met his gaze and her eyes became a little intene, "um… could you give me some time alone? Just for a little while? Don't worry, I'm fine. I will catch up with you guys quickly. I just need a moment…" Lilith did not quite know how to explain to Kyle. She knew she had to stay to talk to Alicia's spirit, but she could not expose this fact at this moment. At least not right now.

Kyle stared back at her. He looked as if he did not quite approve of leaving her here all alone, but the look in her eyes told him not to insist to stay on with her. She was her own person, and she was a strong witch in her own rights. He would trust her to know how to take care of herself and not argue with her on this even though he was worried for her, he decided.

"Alright. I will head out a little, but I'll be waiting for you not too far ahead. If you do not arrive to where I'm waiting after ten minutes, I'll come back here to get you." He stated his compromise and Lilith nodded with a thankful smile at him. Ten minutes should be enough for her to settle with what Alicia wanted to discuss.

"Okay," she nodded. And Kyle though very hesitant, finally made the move to leave. Ezekiel followed him as Lilith and Alicia watched them leave.

However, Ezekiel suddenly halted and looked back. Lilith froze and wondered if he sensed or saw something.

Alicia's eyes widened as Ezekiel's gaze met hers full on before he retracted his gaze and left. But that one moment was just… was it possible that Ezekiel could see her too? That was impossible! Lilith was the only one who was supposed to see her! Or was that a coincidence?

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AN: Do check out my other book <Spellbound> if you haven't yet. Thank you. 

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