Hellbound Heart

Chapter 375  I'll be just right here

The atmosphere around them shifted dramatically. A storm brewed overhead, the wind turning fierce, carrying with it dark, ominous clouds. They all sensed it—the gate was on the brink of opening.

Alicia and Zeke wrapped their arms around their son in a protective, final embrace. "Please take care in there, Mom, Dad," Azy pleaded, returning their hug with equal intensity. His small hands clutched at the fabric of their clothes, gripping tightly.

"Mn. And you, take good care of yourself, too, okay?" Alicia's voice trembled with emotion.

"I promise," Azy vowed, gazing up at them with a brave smile.

Suddenly, a forceful burst of energy rippled through the forest, signaling the opening of the gate. A colossal vortex of inky blackness emerged, its presence magnified by the raging storm above, which crackled with lightning and echoed with thunder.

Despite Azy's outwardly calm demeanor, the boy's grip on his parents became so intense that the fabric of their clothes began to fray. Alicia and Zeke wrapped their arms around him as they each fought back the tears threatening to overwhelm them.

"We will be back, as soon as possible, Azriel," Zeke whispered.

Azy managed a firm nod.

Zeke tenderly kissed the top of Azy's head and turned to usher Alicia. But Alicia's hand clung tighter to Azy, unwilling, unable, to let go. Her body shook uncontrollably, her voice cracking with each word. "Don't... please don't get hurt or fall ill... okay? My precious Azy?"

"Mom..." Azy's hand gently cupped her tear-stained cheek, his young eyes looking deeply into hers. "I've made that promise already. You believe in me, don't you?"

Alicia choked on her emotions. "Always... you're my everything, my dear."

Seeing his mother's pain, Azy tried to comfort her. "Then have faith in me. I'll grow strong, and you'll return, even stronger too. We have that promise, don't we, Mom?"

Through the blur of her tears, Alicia managed a bittersweet smile. "Yes, my brave Azy. Yes."

"Then please go… I'll be just right here, waiting."

Azy's gaze shifted to Zeke, his message sent silently, directly to his father's heart. "Dad, it's time to take her. Please." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Thanks, son," Zeke replied and with a decisive, protective motion, he pried Alicia gently, yet firmly from Azy. He lifted her into his arms and in a moment, he disappeared and materialized with Alicia at the edge of the swirling vortex.

And as the darkness finally swallowed them, Alicia's sobs echoed in Zeke's embrace, each heart-wrenching sound screams the pain of leaving their child behind.

…

Two months later…

The life in Viscarria returned to how it used to be. A peaceful, beautiful place. It was as if the issue with the humans a couple months ago never happened. After Elijah's official funeral, Sebastian had immediately dealt with the issue regarding the half-werewolves. It came to light that the individual masquerading as Elijah, manipulating events from the shadows, was none other than the leader of the half-werewolves. Moreover, Snow's disclosure that Elijah himself had provided the details of the ritual supposedly meant for Elle only stirred more questions and speculations. Had Elijah intentionally misled the half-werewolves? Had he known the true nature of the spell and chosen to use it to bring back Zeke and Gav? Or was it simply a mere mistake and a coincidence? However, they all realized that they might never discover the truth, given that Elijah was no longer with them.

And when Sebastian discovered the sinister intentions the half-werewolves harbored for Iza, Sebastian was consumed by a fierce rage, initially desiring nothing more than to kill them all. But he was also aware that Elle would not be happy with such violence. So he decide on life imprisonment for them instead. That was when Snow unexpectedly killed the leader guy within the prison confines. The brutal fight between the two half-werewolves left Snow severely injured so Elle needed to cure him to survive. Snow later admitted that they had been misled by their leader; their true desire was not to harm Elle but to serve and protect her. This confession, however, did little to sway Sebastian's judgment. Doubtful of the sincerity of Snow's words and cautious of their true intentions, Sebastian chose not to release Snow from prison. And now that two months had passed since the kingdom mourned Elijah's death, Sebastian felt it was time for the long-awaited grand wedding between him and Iza.

When he shared his thoughts with Elle, she was overjoyed but also expressed her reservations due to Kyle's situation.

Kyle had been comatose since the ghost vacated his body that fateful night. Despite Zeke's assurance that he would wake up, Kyle's prolonged slumber weighed on everyone's minds.

Sebastian understood Elle's concern and he too agreed that it would've been so much better if Kyle would finally wake up. So in the end, they mutually decided to give it a little more time, hoping that Kyle would wake up very soon. Meanwhile, as the days progressed, Iryz's recovery continued to gain momentum. Each day brought with it a noticeable improvement in her strength and health. She and Zeres, living in the peaceful Black Forest, often visited Reigns castle for Iryz's healing treatments.

Elle, whose abilities as a healer had seen remarkable growth, approached each session with a fusion of professionalism and heartfelt care. Her dedication was evident in the way she meticulously prepared for each visit. The progress she observed in Iryz with each visit not only filled her with pride but also with a deep, personal satisfaction. It reinvigorated her drive, imbuing her with an unmatched sense of purpose and confidence. The improvements, of course, were not lost on Zeres. His eyes, always observant when it comes to Iryz's well being, captured every small triumph, and his face would light up with unspoken joy. His relief and gratitude were obvious in his every glance and word, knowing that the day when Iryz would fully regain her health was transitioning from a distant dream into a rapidly approaching reality.