Hellbound Heart

Gav withdrew his hand, and the burning stopped, leaving behind a charred and lifeless hand. Elle could not help but feel grateful that Zeke had stopped Gav from touching her. She could not have imagined the pain she would have to endure if the powerful demon had laid his hand on her.

The masked man fainted in pain again.

"Why are..." Elle swallowed as she returned her attention to Zeke. She struggled to twist herself and did her best to get up into a sitting position. "Why are you two... in here?"

Finally, Elle managed to sit. Panting, she focused her gaze onto Zeke. He was as scary as Gav, but she found that she was not as scared of Zeke. And this was something she was so relieved for. She didn't even know if she'd even have the courage to ask like this if Prince Ezekiel wasn't around.

"Could it be that... you're stuck in here? In this place?!" she exclaimed, remembering the fact that Prince Ezekiel had been missing for years. She immediately found that train of thought a little ridiculous though especially when it was beyond obvious to her how powerful these two were.

"You summoned us, young lady." Gav was the one who answered her. Prince Ezekiel had only continued to look at her, not saying anything.

"Summoned? I don't remember summoning anyone!" she exclaimed, trying to recall what had happened before she blacked out. After thinking for a while and still not able to remember anything, Elle shook her head as though trying to shake off the cobwebs in her brain.

Gav's gaze intensified, and she felt a chill run down her spine. "You don't remember?"

Elle shook her head. "No... I really don't," she said, feeling a sense of fear creeping up on her.

Gav laughed, a sinister sound that sent shivers down her spine. "Looks like we've got ourselves a little problem here, Zeke," he said.

Zeke's gaze lingered on the carvings etched into the stone walls surrounding the altar, a silent contemplation on his face. "It seems this was a ritual that had gone wrong," he finally spoke up.

Elle's memory slowly started to clear up, and she finally recalled what had happened to her. She had been brought here to break the curse on the werewolves by using her blood. But that had nothing to do with summoning demons.

"I was taken here to... um, those people..." she pointed at the unconscious creatures on the floor. "They said that they're going to use my blood to break the curse of the werewolves."

Gav smiled in wonder and disbelief. "You're saying this young lady here summoned the two of us by accident? Now that's even more amazing. I still can't believe such a being like you..." he eyed Elle in wonder.

"... Actually managed to summon not one but two of the most powerful princes of the underworld."

Elle's eyes widened. What did he say? Princes of Underworld? Zeke and this Gav were princes of Underworld?! God... she was starting to feel lightheaded from all this surreal information again. If she were not being extra careful with that Gav around, she would have been laughing hysterically right now. The heavens sure liked to give weird twists and turns in her life.

"I wonder how she managed to do that though..." Gave added, sauntering gracefully around the altar like he was trying to find a clue from something supernatural. "And to think she's still alive. It would make sense if it's just you, Zeke, that she managed to summon. But me as well?"

"I believe it's because of the demon blood she also possesses and because she's a one of a kind individual." Zeke calmly replied. "As for you, it should be because Lit... Izabelle might also be having fae blood running in her veins, just like you."

Gav stilled. Elle on the other hand gaped. This was yet another twist that she had totally not expected.

"Ah... " Gav looked like he was finally enlightened. "Now that makes sense. No wonder your blood smelt... familiar." For a moment there, Elle saw a flash in Gav's eyes. And it was something almost human. But it disappeared in an instant. Completely gone without any trace. "Now what's going to happen next?" Gav tilted his head a little as he looked at Zeke.

"The gate should open anytime soon to swallow us back. We can't stay anywhere out of the Underworld for long, even summoned, after all." Zeke explained.

What? They're going to disappear again? That soon?

Before Elle could speak to tell him more about his family - his wife and son - the earth shook.

A low rumble filled the air, growing louder and more intense by the second. The walls and ceiling of the underground chamber shook violently, sending bits of debris and dust raining down on them. Elle gripped the edge of the stone altar with both hands, knuckles having turned bone white and her heart racing a mile a minute with fear.

"What is happening?" Elle cried out, her voice barely audible over the roar of the earthquake.

As the rumbling grew louder, Elle could feel her heart jumping against her ribcage. The ground beneath them shook violently, sending bits of debris falling from the ceiling. But despite the chaos, Zeke and Gav remained calm, their attention never straying and fully affixed on the source of the disturbance.

Gav crossed his arms over his chest, leaning casually against the altar where Elle was sitting, while Zeke stood tall and composed, seemingly never even moving from his earlier spot. The two men looked as though they were waiting for some entertainment while Elle's mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation, struggling not to panic. Who or what could be causing such a commotion?

"Now who could this another..." Gav trailed off.

Elle also caught her breath as she felt this all too familiar presence. S-seb?!

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the shaking immediately died down. But Elle's relief was short-lived as a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Sebastian! However, his eyes were blazing with fury.