Hellbound Heart

This mass release is dedicated to @MonsterUnderTheBed, @Lilli_Fiona, @edi_o, and @Ivette_M11. TYSM for the supergifts guys! <3

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Hours ago, in Queza. The atmosphere inside the palace was filled with danger and tension. The silence was palpable, as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something to happen.

In the grand hall, the king and his officials were gathered, their faces tense and anxious.

And then, Sebastian arrived.

He strode into the hall with purpose, his eyes fixed on the prophetess, the king and the officials.

As soon as he stood there, he declared without preamble: "The videos had been taken down."

As Sebastian delivered the news, a wave of relief washed over the entire room. But the tense atmosphere within the grand hall persisted, as everyone could sense that something was still amiss. That the danger was far from over.

With a deep breath, Sebastian spoke again. "However, we have an even bigger problem now."

The room fell silent as everyone braced themselves for the worst possible news. Seeing Sebastian's face and his grave tone only told them that the news that was coming was not going to be good.

Sebastian continued, his voice grave and serious. "There are a number of human governments now trying to infiltrate our country, trying to break through our defense. The human superpower countries are now doing an all-out attack, hungry for more information. It's obvious that they are now seriously suspicious of us."

"You're only talking about cyber attacks, right? Prince Sebastian?" one of the officials spoke.

Before Sebastian could answer, Lucas entered the hall. His entrance broke the tense silence in the room, and all eyes turned to him as he made his way over. Lucas, however, was not bothered by the many stares upon his person and only made a beeline to Sebastian.

Sebastian could sense the urgency in Lucas's demeanor, and he already knew that whatever news he had to deliver was not good.

Without a word, Lucas stared into Sebastian's eyes, communicating immediately through their telepathy. The shadow on the prince's face went even darker, his jaws clenching as he absorbed the information.

The officials in the room could sense the gravity of the situation, and they watched with trepidation as Sebastian and Lucas conferred in silent conversation.

Finally, Sebastian lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Our soldiers had caught what they believed to be other countries' spies and agents secretly crossing our borders," he explained, his voice low and measured.

The room erupted into chaos at this news, with some of the officials shouting and slamming their fists on the table in anger and frustration. Multiple voices talking over each other, trying to express each others' thoughts and best suggestions on what action they should take next, were heard clamoring in the grand hall.

This had never happened before! To think that the humans were already on the move! For so many years, they have peacefully coexisted alongside the humans without having them even knowing there were different races existing in the same world as them. And today, these same humans were hot on their heels.

The room was immediately filled with the sound of loud murmurs as the officials discussed the gravity of their situation. Everyone was obviously having a hard time believing that all this was suddenly happening and that it had also taken place within such a short period of time! How could things progress at such speed?

One of the officials slammed his fist on the table, his anger and frustration boiling over. "What the f*ck is wrong with those nosy humans?!" he exclaimed. "Do they really want to be embroiled in a war?!"

The tension in the room was palpable, as everyone realized the enormity of the problem they were facing. This was not just a matter of national security; it was a matter of survival. The survival of their race! And if the right decision were not made, and quickly, it might even result in the genocide of their entire vampire race!

"We should make a move now," another official rose to his feet, the chair that he was sitting on earlier clattered noisily to the floor from his abrupt movement. "If the humans come at us with their atomic bombs and all their advanced weaponry, our race and this country will definitely be annihilated in the blink of an eye! We need to do something now!"

One of the officials spoke up again. "Please release an order to mobilize all the vampires now. We don't have time to lose. It's either we rise and take over this world, or get erased from the face of this world!"

Those loud and jarring words hung heavily in the air.

"We don't have the luxury of worrying about peace with humankind at this point," another official added. "When they have the power to literally erase not just us, but this very land from the face of the earth and the very trace of our existence, we have no choice but to act!" his voice rang across the hall clearly and everyone heard his words. Some nodded vigorously and others looked to Prince Sebastian, waiting for his response.

The situation was obviously going out of control and the pressure to make a rash decision at this very moment was extreme.

The King and the prophetess looked at Sebastian but in that very crucial moment, Sebastian suddenly began to feel a strange sensation in his chest. It was as if something was stirring inside of him, a power that he had not felt in a long time.

He clenched his fists, feeling a burning sensation spreading through his body, as though a fiery liquid current was following the ink markings of his dark tattoos.

Sebastian's eyes circled with shock as he realized what must have been going on.

His demonic power was awakening. No, this could not be. How was this possible?

He tried to move, but his body was paralyzed. This power that he had not felt for a long time was too strong and it seemed like he could not stop it anymore. No... he must not...

But it was too late. The power surged through him, overwhelming him with its intensity. He could feel his body changing as his vision began to darken.