Hellbound Heart

Big shout out to @Sacogun! Thank you for all the love and support. <3 <3

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In the Black Forest...

Sebastian's eyes were gleaming so dangerously through his damped dark hair as he sat on top of a rock. He was currently reeking of blood and darkness. At that moment, he looked like nothing but a breathing and living danger, a heartless slaughterer.

"Sebastian..." Alexander's voice echoed behind him. He was the only one who could approach Sebastian in that state of his. The other vampires had distanced themselves from him even after all the enemies were already completely eradicated. "You need to go wash up now and go back to the village."

No response came from Sebastian, causing Alex to sigh. "Someone needs to go speak to Izabelle and that someone is none other than you, Sebastian."

In a blur of a movement, Sebastian sprung up and glared dangerously at Alexander. "Don't you dare accuse my wife, Alexander!" He spat and snarled. His dangerous aura that had just barely stabilized a little suddenly started to get out of control again.

But Alexander did not even bat an eyelid at his flaring temper. "I didn't say that. But we need to question her –"

"She does not have anything to do with this!" Sebastian cut Alex off as he spoke through gritted teeth. "What can a fragile woman like her even do?"

"That's exactly why we need to question her to find out what had actually happened! Questioning her doesn't mean we are accusing her of any betrayal. We just need to hear the entire story from her to –"

"I told you... she already told me the entire story. She saw that man's face and that was the reason why she ran away!"

"There could still be something that she had missed out on telling you. Did she inform you the reason why she had lied about the real story and tried to hide it?" Alex pressed the issue and brought up points that made Sebastian uncomfortable.

"Enough, Alex." Sebastian shut his eyes tightly closed as his body tensed up. Agitated at the last question Alexander had thrown him, he was like a tightly coiled spring, about to snap as it reached its limit. She had not told him why. And he had not asked her why she had lied. He had not pressed on why she tried to hide what had really happened.

Clenching his fists tight, Sebastian looked at Alex with an intense glare. "Leave Izabelle out of this." He snarled warningly. "There is no need to question her at all. No... forget that that bloody man mentioned her name. My wife is not involved in this. Period!"

Alex let out a long-suffering but understanding sigh. If it were him, he would have perhaps reacted in the same way with Abi being involved as well.

"I am trying my best to be understanding, Sebastian. But right now, you are sounding like you are merely trying to convince yourself that she's indeed innocent." Alexander's words struck him. Hard. And he did not like it. Not one bit.

"You look like you would even choose to believe even her most obvious lies, Sebby." Alexander continued, looking at him like he could read everything - his mind and even what his heart had wanted.

"I understand why you're acting like this. But this is not the right way, Sebastian. If you really believe that she's innocent, then bring this up to her and let us hear her side of the story. Once we hear her explanation, everything will be clearer and she will even clear her name once and for all. I know you're like this because you don't want her to get hurt, but what you are doing right now might hurt her even more in the end. You are trying to plant a mistrust in your heart, instead of solving this the right way. With the way you are right now... you're almost acting like you already don't trust that she's really innocent. And that's why you're –"

"I said, enough!" Sebastian roared as he landed a punch on the tree beside him so hard, it tumbled to the ground.

Seeing how unstable and shaken Sebastian was right now, Alex let out a deep breath. "Alright... try to calm down first and think about everything that I said. But don't take too long. Remember what I told you. Everything that has happened is intricately planned. And I'm afraid of the possibility that Elle might have been used even without her knowing. That's why I still insist that you question her. I believe this is also for her sake. " Alex again, calmly and rationally pointed out the important points to Sebastian, hoping that the younger man would heed his advice.

When Alexander was gone, Sebastian stumbled back. His back hit another tree trunk and then he slowly sunk on the ground. He cursed and cursed as he struggled to calm himself.

Running both his bloodied palms over his face, he uttered Izabelle's name, and his harsh breathing started to calm down.

Time passed by quickly.

Sebastian still did not move from where Alexander had left him.

He was just there, sitting, with his head down between his knees.

Alexander could only go to him again and at the sight of him, he shook his head. "Goodness! What do I do with this boy..." Alex mumbled. "He couldn't be feeling like he would rather burn the whole world right now, than tell Izabelle the rogues mentioned her name, could he?"

Sighing, Alex approached him. "Sebastian... I came to remind you as I'm sure you have yet to even realize that it is already pretty late. Izabelle must be waiting for you all day and all night. You can't make her suffer from worrying and most probably overthinking any longer than this. Actually, it's already past midnight."

The moment he heard that it was already past midnight, his head snapped up in surprise. It seemed Alex was right. The guy had not even realized how much time had already passed.

Without a word, he rose and finally left.

When Sebastian arrived at Alexander's house, he saw Caelian guarding the door. Wordlessly, Sebastian entered the house. It was silent. Unusually silent.

He climbed upstairs and then headed to their room.

His hand stopped at the door knob and suddenly, his heart skipped a beat. Eyes wide, Sebastian pushed the door open.

"Iza?!" he immediately called out but no one responded. The bed was empty and his Iza was not there. "Iza!!!"