Hellbound Heart

Chapter 400  Light and Darkness - Part 18 [END]

Gav stepped back from Zeke's body, expecting that something would soon happen. But the altar remained silent. Still, Gav watched intently, waiting for some sign, some indication that his belief in Zeke's plan was justified.

Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity. Gav's body became more rigid, impatience seeping through him, making his darkness leak. He tried to rein himself in, to shut his darkness and shove it back deep within him. But the longer he waited and the longer nothing happened, he felt like he was about to explode.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The raging emotion was boiling within him again. Destruction. Carnage. Bloodshed. He wanted to...

Abruptly, he turned. He needed to leave before he lost himself and did something he'd regret once his senses returned. It's fine... that damn man will just probably appear before him after he's done with his lone wolf journey. That always happened; it'd eventually happen any time soon.

Right... he better leave now.

Taking a few steps away from the altar, Gav turned once more to check. Zeke's body was still right there, lifeless.

Gritting his teeth, Gav continued to leave. He didn't use his power to disappear. He walked.

But then, his steps halted. Slowly, he turned.

Zeke's body was enveloped with darkness. Shadows swirled all over him.

Gav stilled, just watching. Despite the fact that the magic swirling over Zeke was as dark as his own, he couldn't feel any bloodlust from it. The magic was calm, peaceful, just different from his own.

As the shadows danced around Zeke's body, Gav's earlier anger and impatience ebbed away.

Then the soft breeze grew stronger, so strong that the entire ground began to rattle. The peaceful, untouched statues standing around the altar began to emit a dark, bluish light. This magic flowed toward the altar, enveloping Zeke's body in a swirling blend of darkness and bluish light until he was no longer visible.

A soft breeze blew through the ruins. The calm atmosphere rippled with an unseen force.

Then the soft breeze grew stronger, so strong that the entire ground began to rattle. The peaceful, untouched statues standing around the altar began to emit a dark, bluish light. This magic flowed toward the altar, enveloping Zeke's body in a swirling blend of darkness and bluish light until he was no longer visible.

Then abruptly, there was a blast of power. It was powerful yet silent. The bluish light ceased emitting from the statues, and the ground gradually calmed. And one by one, the statues began to crumble.

Gav stood there, quietly watching, his eyes fixed on the altar. The darkness began to subside, and slowly, a silhouette emerged. Zeke was there, now standing and looking up.

Gav could see who Zeke was looking at—a woman, a spirit, ethereal and radiant. She smiled at Zeke, caressing his face with her translucent hand. Then, slowly, she shattered into a dust of light, disappearing into the air.

Zeke didn't move for a while, but as if his knees had given out, he sat and laid back on the altar. He lifted his arm and covered the upper part of his face with the back of his hand.

Gav snapped and rushed toward him. "Zeke!" he called out, immediately squatting next to Zeke's lying form. He grabbed Zeke's hand off his face as he spoke, "Don't you dare die on me again, you…" Gav trailed off at the sight of… Zeke's tears.

He froze. Gav had never seen Zeke cry. He didn't know this ice-cold man could actually cry.

"I don't think I died, I was just killed… by you," Zeke said, smirking at Gav before he casually covered his eyes again.

"I honestly think you got yourself killed on purpose," Gav replied, a little awkwardly. He really did not know how to react when this man was like this.

Zeke took a long, deep breath. "Did you see… her?" Zeke then asked.

"Yes. For a while."

"She's my mother."

"Is she the one who revived you?"

"Yes. She said this was her purpose for staying in this place for so long." Zeke removed his hand from his eyes and looked up at the dark sky. "She finally left this dark world. She's finally free."

Gav found himself at a loss for words, so he too lay down and spread out on top of the altar next to Zeke. They lay there quietly for a long while, just staring at the dark, gloomy sky.

"So… you're going to leave soon too, aren't you?" Gav eventually asked.

"Don't worry, I'm not leaving yet."

"You should leave already. You don't belong here."

"And you think you do?" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Yes... And it's not like I can ever leave this place from here on."

Zeke slowly sat up and looked down at Gav. "I will be seeing your wife and son again soon," Zeke told him.

Gav held Zeke's gaze for a while before he lifted the pendant in his hand and looked at the images inside. "Is she… and the boy well?" Gav asked.

"Yes. And your wife is an excellent ruler. Her empire is thriving and peaceful."

A gleam flashed across Gav's eyes. "That's great then."

Gav rose as well and stretched his hand to Zeke, giving back the pendant. "They don't need someone like me in their lives anymore. I will just… ruin her… them… her peaceful world. I'm one with the dark now, Zeke, I'm certain you know that. And this world… I'm bound here now for the rest of my life."

Without waiting for Zeke's response, Gav left the altar, walking away.

"Gav," Zeke called out, causing him to stop.

He turned to Zeke over his shoulder and smiled ever so slightly. "It's really time for you to leave this world, Zeke. Your stay here is long overdue." He then turned forward but still didn't move. "If you meet her, tell her to forget about me. Tell them not to wait for my return anymore. Because I will not… be coming back."

Before Zeke could respond, Gav disappeared, leaving Zeke looking at the pendant Gav left behind. He could only sigh deeply.

"You fool," Zeke muttered, lifting his face to the sky again. "But too bad for you, Gav. I don't think your all-powerful wife will listen. She might actually barge into this hell herself to come get you once I tell her what you said. You better prepare yourself."

Zeke then stood and closed his eyes. His demeanor shifted. As the breeze blew around him, Zeke opened his lips and spoke with the wind. "I will not waste all your sacrifices, Mother. Thank you for everything. Thank you for waiting for me all this time. I…" he swallowed, clenching his fists. But soon, his grip relaxed, and his entire body followed. "I promise that my loved ones and I will live happily for a very… very long time. So please… be at peace forever, Mother… goodbye."

~ The End~

___ Dear Readers,

Thank you for all your support until now. For the readers who did not see my announcement in our FB group, you guys will see Alicia and Zeke in Spellbound. I will be ending their story there. Thank you and see you in Spellbound. For future announcements, you can follow me on Instagram @kazzenlx.x or fb @Author_Kazzenlx

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