Hellbound Heart

"And?" a silky, sexy voice echoed. It belonged to a man standing on the roof of one of the most famous buildings located in the heart of Quesa. He was dressed in a long black coat as he leisurely sat at the very edge of the building, looking down at the countless people and cars crossing the streets down below. His mysterious grey eyes gazed at the people moving about as though they were mere little ants.

"Er... it seems that Prince Sebastian didn't believe that the princess was in hiding." Another man in black who was standing a few steps away responded to his query.

"Is that all?" came the silken voice again. He did not seem surprised at the news at all.

"And it seems like he's not going to come at you, Prince Elijah."

A sexy, beautiful laugh echoed around him as Elijah threw his head back.

"Of course, he won't. I bet Alexander has done it again. Getting in the way, as always." He sighed a little regretfully, but his eyes did not look that disappointed at all. In fact, his eyes were gleaming in a way that seemed as though he was expecting that outcome already.

"It seems, it was due to the witches' interference that made it possible for Prince Sebastian to find her earlier than what you had originally planned." The man continued to report to Prince Elijah.

"Ah..." Elijah sighed again, "those damned b**ches should really learn to stop sticking their pretty little noses into vampire's business." He commented before tsk-ing in disapproval.

"Right now, Prince Sebastian is in Dalenn." The other man continued. "And he'd already killed quite a number of Haze's bodyguards."

"Too bad he won't find the biggest fish he's fishing for in there." Elijah shrugged, crossing and placing his arms at the back of his head and laid down fearlessly along the edge of the building. His one long leg was even dangling down the tall building in a careless manner, as though he was not worried that he might fall off at all.

"Are you really going to protect Haze and that Boone guy, Your Highness?" The man hesitantly asked his master.

"Those two are still useful to me. They are Sunshine's greatest weakness and fear." Elijah then suddenly laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe how just seeing that Boone guy made Sunshine run away like a scaredy little cat. Like what the hell? Why would she run away like that? Why didn't she beat him up like she had beaten me that night? Answer me, Lindon. Just why?"

The man named Lindon scratched his cheek with his forefinger. "Err... I am not sure why, Your Highness. But maybe because the princess is more afraid of Boone than of you?"

"Ridiculous. Just when did a mere bulky human become scarier than me?" Elijah scoffed and snorted at the thought.

"Indeed, Your Highness. It should've been the other way around. But I guess it's because she must have a deep-rooted trauma against Boone. That's why she bolted the moment she saw him. Wait... you already knew that, Your Highness! Why are you asking me? Weren't you the one who planned everything, using her fear and trauma?" Lindon even pointed at Elijah with annoyance.

"Oh... right. Well, anyway, I am still puzzled how she was so brave to actually beat me up that night. Did I tell you how many times she punched and kicked me?"

"You already mentioned it quite a few times, Your Highness. You said she kicked you eleven times and punched your face nine times, and your stomach four times." Lindon repeated the facts again for the umpteenth time.

Elijah smiled. "You have a good memory, Lindon."

"You've mentioned it quite many times. So it's not a surprise that I've actually memorized it without even realizing it, Your Highness." Lindon replied in a neutral tone, trying to keep the exasperation out of his tone.

"And did you figure out why such a delicate princess was able to beat me up?"

Lindon looked like he had enough of the prince's weirdness tonight. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. But I have no idea. Even I would never ever dare to simply lift my hand to your face. Anyway, my prince, we should get back now. Prince Sebastian might suddenly come at you. You know that man has an ability to appear out of nowhere."

A pleased chuckle escaped Elijah's throat.

"That would be a dream come true, Lindon. Well, only if he comes at me with no sanity left in him anymore. I am waiting for that time when he attacks me like a mad animal in front of all these people's eyes. That would be very entertaining, don't you think?" Elijah continued grinning as he spoke, looking as though he would love it if that were to truly happen.

Lindon could only swallow and nodded. "I think so... my prince."

"He won't come tonight. Because he is still sane. Alexander and the others can still talk to him about the consequences and he would understand it." Elijah sighed quietly and stared up at the starry sky. "So, four days is not enough to break him, huh... how long would it take to break him then?" His grey eyes that were calm and horrifying gleamed as a soft, gentle smile tugged at the corner of his lips, making it a scary sight as the look in his eyes contrasted too greatly to the smile that lingered on his lips. "I guess I'll have to up my game the next time. But then... I do wonder if sweet Sunshine can survive it."

"Err... are you perhaps worried that the princess will die?"

"What kind of question is that, Lindon? Are you saying I shouldn't be worried about her?"

"Well, Your Highness... aren't you the one making her suffer? Why in the bloody hell would you feel worried about a girl you're voluntarily torturing? And you said you only worry about animals!"

The air turned a little heavy as Elijah fell quiet. "You're right. I shouldn't worry about her. She's only a rare and precious tool to destroy Sebastian..." He lifted his hand up to the sky as if he was trying to reach for the stars. "Sorry in advance Sunshine. Still, I do hope you'll survive my next plan. You probably will, after all, you managed to beat me up." Elijah chuckled again at that memory.

He rose and stood, spreading his arms like he was about to free fall down the building.

"Wait, Your Highness!" Lindon stopped him just as he was about to jump.

"What?"

"What am I going to do with these things?"

"Things...??" Elijah echoed without turning to him, as though he had no recollection of what Lindon was talking about.

"These things you picked up from the alleys just a while ago!" Lindon lifted an open box, even approaching him to show what was inside them.

"Ah..." Elijah quickly turned and squatted as he looked down at the three tiny kittens sleeping inside the box. "Such a bunch of cuties." He purred as he caressed each of them gently with his fingers.

"Should I just leave them here, or throw them away?"

Elijah shot a deadly gaze at him. "Throw them, and I'll throw you away."

"Your Highness... you can't be planning to adopt these kittens too, right?" Lindon asked helplessly, almost in a wail. He felt like he wanted to burst into tears at his master's weird habits on picking up stray animals.

"Well, it can't be helped. You saw that their mother is dead." Elijah shrugged an elegant shoulder.

"You're Highness! You already have ninety... wait is it more than a hundred already? You have enough animals already!" Lindon protested.

"Shut up and take them home. If I don't see them when I'm back, you're dead." Elijah threatened and then he jumped down the building, leaving Lindon sighing helplessly as he adjusted his hold onto the box containing the 'precious' kittens.

"Bloody hell... is he planning to build his very own animal kingdom or something?!!! How could such a cruel man care about animals this much when he does not even care about me who's been serving him for god knows how long?!!!" Lindon complained to himself bitterly, knowing that there was no one who would be pitying him.

"Hey, hey..." another man appeared behind Lindon. "Stop being so dramatic and let's go. I can't even count how many times you have shouted those exact same words to His Highness already!"

"Shut up! Don't ruin my moment, damn it!!!"