Hellbound With You

"You need something from me? You?!" Alicia swallowed hard even as she asked him. Even though she should not be surprised anymore, his answer still caused her emotions to flare up once again. "What is it that you need from me?"

Ezekiel turned, pulling her along with him towards his room. His free hand went to his shirt, unbuttoning it as they walked along.

"That I can't answer." Was all he said.

His answer made her grit her teeth and she was about to come at him when he abruptly turned mid-step, causing Alicia to crash right into his now bare chest as his shirt hung open.

She leapt back as far as she could instantly – given his hold on her – as if the contact scalded her.

The look in Ezekiel's eyes was serious. He seemed to be wanting to say something, but he was again probably thinking about all sorts of complications first. Damn him! Could he not just blurt things out without thinking first? Does he need to be so responsible all the damn time?

A sigh escaped his lips then he ran his fingers through his hair. He suddenly looked tired of something or exasperated? She could not quite tell the emotions as it was so rare for him to even have emotions crossing his face. All she knew was that she was seeing something so human in him again right now. And that was a miracle in itself.

"Look here, Alicia. You said you'll shut up. You agreed earlier." He reminded her.

She pressed her lips tight and glared at him, as hard as she could.

He then turned away again and opened his closet. He brought out clothes for him to get changed into. Alicia noticed his white shirt was dirtied with patches of dust from the dungeon.

But that did not concern her. She was still filled with frustration, anger and everything negative. She was unable to calm down at all. As she looked at him, all Alicia wanted to do was pin him down or do whatever that was needed to be done for her to be able to force him to answer all her questions. She continued furiously wracking her head for ideas how to go forward with it.

Suddenly, he threw his head back a little and let out another long and drawn-out sigh. Then he whipped around to look at her. "I think I need you to understand this." He sounded as though what he was about to say was something extremely important. "I am… being affected by your emotions."

She blinked at him. What?!

"So do try to calm yourself a little if you please." He continued then he casually took her hand and placed it on his nape.

"Wait a moment. What do you even mean by that?"

"My demonic power is the reason why you're back in your physical body. My power runs through you and this connection makes me feel your emotions. Every single one of them… I feel them all. It messes mine up too, especially when your emotions are too intense."

His explanation rendered Alicia speechless. What?! He could… feel her emotions?! And her emotions mess with his? Could this be the reason why he was unable to keep his perfectly emotionless façade for a few times already since he touched her?!

Whatever he saw in her expression made him let out a small soundless laugh. "Don't rejoice in that fact and don't even think that you can use this to annoy me, Alicia. Don't forget what I just told you, your emotions messes mine up, and you know exactly what happens when one's emotion is in a mess." He bent over a little, causing their faces to be much closer now. "They will lose their cool and do things before they even realized it. I am confident that I have an absolute control over myself. But with you here…" his voice dropping lower than usual, "I'm totally different. So you and I better work together… are we clear?"

The look he gave her sent a little blaze speeding down her spine.

But he suddenly straightened, creating enough space between them again. "You need to calm down and give this a rest for now. You still have eleven days to survive to be exact. Now hold on to my neck." He reminded her.

"W-what?" She was getting whiplash at the sudden change of topic.

"I need to undress."

Alicia's mouth dropped. Finally realizing that since they could not even separate even for a second, that only meant one thing, they were going to be inseparable for whatever the two of them do from now on… w-what?! What?!!!

Her eyes were wide as saucers now. And her reaction and late realization caused a subtle glow of amusement to light up in his eyes.

"I can't believe you just realized that now. I am letting go," he said then loosening his grip on her hand that was on his neck.

When he finally let go, he immediately moved his hands to take his shirt off.

Alicia did not even know what to do now, whether to look away or keep her eyes on this free show he was putting on in front of her. Her mind could only scream at how the hell did she even end up in this kind of situation right now!

Soon, he was half naked right before her. And she was touching the side of his neck!

The moment his hands moved to his belt, Alicia finally burst out. "Wait a moment!"

He met her eyes. His moves and expressions still incredibly casual. Alicia could not believe he could still keep his poker face in this situation. He was really unbelievable! And she did not know if it was in a good or bad way as she shook her head.

"This is insane, Ezekiel. You're really going to… to undress right before me just like this?!!"

"We don't have a choice, do we? And aren't you used to it already? You've been spying and watching me for weeks –"

"I didn't look!" Alicia screeched out, face flaming red.

"Really…?" Ezekiel drawled out, an elegant brow arched up as though doubting the veracity of her statement.