Hellbound Heart

As Elle and the kids emerged from the entrance of the forest, Elle saw Prince Kyle leaning against the black car that was parked at the side of the road.

The prince was drawing from a cigarette held elegantly between his second and third finger, puffing out the smoke as though he had all the time in the world. His head was tilted upwards and his eyes were closed. The breeze was gently blowing and fluttering his dark brown hair. For some reason, Elle thought that the prince looked kind of... desolate.

But when he opened his eyes, turned around and saw them, a warm smile flashed across his handsome face.

"Uncle!" Alexis called out and the prince quickly killed his cigarette, throwing it to the ground and grinding it with the heel of his boot.

He fist-bumped Alexis and then Azy followed by Alice. One glance and Elle could tell they had done that very same pattern so many times before. It looked so smooth and natural. The four of them certainly had a very close relationship despite the age gap between them. From there, Elle could tell that Kyle must be a good uncle to them.

"How's your mom, Azy?" Kyle asked Azy after their adorable way of greeting each other was done.

"Aunty is doing a little better." Alexis responded on Azy's behalf, and Kyle rubbed the top of Azy's head fondly, as he flashed the boy a gentle smile.

"Don't worry. Your mom's very strong. She'll definitely get better soon." Looking at the reassuring and confident smile that curved across his uncle Kyle's face, Azy nodded at him.

"I've already noticed this before but..." Alexis butted in, tilting his head curiously at his uncle. "Why is it that you always stop here at the entrance whenever you come over, uncle? Why don't you just go all the way inside since you are already here?"

Kyle blinked at his nephew's perceptive question and then rubbed the back of his neck, looking rather troubled as he thought of how to answer the boy without telling him lies..

"Is there something you don't want to see inside? Or do you have some bad memories related to someplace inside?" Alexis continued while Alice and Azy looked up at him with their wide grey eyes.

Izabelle also could not help but look and blinked her eyes at him with the same curiosity.

"Well... you could ... say that." Kyle could only respond, laughing helplessly. He was surprised at how on point the boy's questions were.

Alexis glanced at Azy and when the boys returned their combined gaze to their uncle, their eyes were narrowed. "Could it be that, it's not something, but actually a 'someone'?"

Sighing, Kyle reached out and put his arms over both the boy's shoulders. "You both are truly becoming a carbon copy of your fathers." He mumbled as he led the boys back to the entrance. "Didn't I tell you guys to stop playing detective concerning your uncle's private matters, hmm?" After saying that, Kyle squeezed both of them slightly.

"Oh, come on, uncle. We're just normal kids and being curious is part of it." Alexis retorted and Azy nodded in agreement.

Kyle replied something to them but Elle did not hear it anymore. After hugging Alice, the girl ran after Azy and Alexis. And as soon as the kids waved goodbye at Elle, she and Kyle stood there and watched them return into the forest.

After a short while, Kyle sighed and faced Elle. "Shall we go, Princess?" he politely asked as he opened the car door for her.

Elle nodded and soon, their car was leaving Whitefalls.

It was a quiet trip. Elle's mind was completely occupied with the thoughts of Sebastian. She did not start any small conversation to fill the silence and Kyle and Lucas also tactfully remained quiet, purposely giving her the space to think and contemplate on her private matters in peace. Thus, the silence was not awkward. Or they were just focused and alert and did not want to get distracted by anything.

To her relief, they reached Queza without any trouble. She had been afraid and uneasy when they were crossing that forest where they had been ambushed by Elijah previously but thank god, nothing happened this time.

But now that they were approaching the Reigns castle, Elle's heartbeat started to race. She longed to see Sebastian but at the same time, she was nervous of what might be waiting for her once she met him. She could not help but think of the worst case scenarios no matter how she tried to remain and think positive. That there was nothing for her to worry about and even if there was indeed some problem, she knew that they could fix it.

When the car stopped and she finally stepped out of the car, Elle unconsciously took a big, deep breath to steady her nerves.

Kyle escorted her inside the castle until they reached the staircase leading to Sebastian's bedchambers and office.

There was no one else lingering in the corridors. No maids or even the guards. Rion and Raven who were usually around were not there as well. Did he send everyone away?

She halted right before their bedroom door and took another deep breath before knocking softly. Hearing no answer from within, she courageously pushed the door open. But he was not there.

Elle stood there quietly, looking around. The bed was made. It was as though he had never slept on it at all since they left that night. However, she could see that the couch was not the same. One look and Elle could tell that he had slept there. But why? He hated sleeping on the couch so why...?

Stepping out of their room, Elle headed to his study. She remembered Alexander said he had left him there.

As she reached the massive door of his study, Elle did not know why her heartbeat started beating so hard and racing so fast that she had to halt and put her hand over her chest to help herself calm down. For whatever reason, this did not seem to be a simple nervousness anymore.

But whatever it was, Elle forced herself to move towards the door and pushed it open.