“More, babe…” Zeke continued whispering to her in a soft voice as she drew on his blood. “Don’t stop… it’s not enough yet, Alicia.”
Zeke could feel her trembling. Wanting to stop. But he could not let her stop. He needed her to drink more. When Zeres came to him and told him about the content of that spell that could bring Alicia back to life, while Alicia was asleep, Zeke had decided not to tell Alicia at all. Because the sacrifice that was needed in exchange for the spell to work was a vampire royal’s blood. And it was not just a small amount. It should be enough to actually cause the vampire royal’s death. In short, it was an exchange of life.
He knew Alicia would never agree to this. But like he had told her, he needed someone to draw his blood. Basically, to kill him – his vampire side. Because only when all his blood was gone, could both his eyes turn black – a sign that his vampire half was dead and that he was now nothing but purely a demon. With this… he would be able to save his wife and brother in one move.
“Yes, my wife… more…” he uttered once again in a pleading voice as he felt Alicia pushing away from him, as if to stop. “It’s okay. Trust me, Alicia. I won’t die with this, I promise. Trust me…” he continued coaxing as he felt her start to tremble from fear.
He hated what he was doing to her. But there was no other choice.
“A little bit more… please… I won’t die even if you suck my blood dry, I promise you that Alicia…” His hand moved to cradle her head and pressed her down a little more because she attempted to pull away. “Please… a little more, my wife…” And to his relief, she listened to his pleading, even as he felt her hot tears falling onto his skin. In his mind he kept saying sorry.
And then his heartbeat stopped. Something in him pulsated. It was done. It was finally time.
Both of their bodies glowed suddenly. Light and darkness seeped through them both but never blending. And then, it was as if something had exploded between them. The two of were thrown apart into different directions. For the first time in a long time, they were no longer physically connected. Alicia was thrown outside the black circle while Zeke tumbled and rolled closer to Sebastian.
“Ezekiel!!!” Alicia screamed, rising to her feet immediately to return to him, but Alex and Zeres stopped her. Both holding her arms, preventing her from rushing over. “Let me go!”
The darkness swirled and moved away from the circle and gathered in one place, right behind Sebastian. A dark and massive vortex formed as the sound of wind and crackling fire echoed all around. Then a strong earthquake shook the ground. And it opened. The gates of hell… finally opened.
This was different from the vortex Zeres had created when he summoned the demons from hell. This was different because what Zeres had opened back then was not the gate. Instead, Zeres had created a portal that forcefully pulled the lesser demons out of hell and into their world.
High demon lords with stronger demonic powers cannot pass through those portals. They could only pass through the gate of hell which was this one.
“Alicia. We must listen to Zeke’s instruction.” Alex said but Alicia could not suppress her fear. When she got separated from him, she felt something awful grip her heart, as if that was not only a temporary separation.
Demonic darkness crawled and swirled stronger than ever that all of them could hardly breathe. The condition of the air was not something any normal vampire and witches could bear. In fact, this could even kill humans just by being exposed to it. It was like the air in hell itself was seeping out from the gate and forming a cloud of fatal poison.
Something so powerful came at them like a wave that Zeres had to summon a strong shield and Alex had to control the wind to go against the demonic magic for protection. It was so strong that it even sliced and cut the skin.
The power was from Zeke. He was right there, drawing in all the demonic powers from his brother. He was standing right behind Sebastian. His hand was curled in a claw-like manner over Sebastian’s head.
Zeke’s wings had already been spread out behind him. Both his eyes were so black, even his breath rolled out of his mouth as inky black smoke. He looked and felt so powerful. The earth continued shaking and they could only watch on in a mixture of awe and fear. They had never thought this was the extent of Zeke’s demonic powers. He could easily pass as the lord of darkness now.
The gate of hell behind him went from storm to the highest category hurricane. And then Zeke began to shout. His black veins bulging, threatening to burst from taking in too much demonic power.
Whatever he was trying to do next had sent everyone’s heart hammering. Alicia’s had officially stopped. All she wanted was to go and stop him. Because she felt that… just by looking at him right now… it was very clear that his power was getting out of control.
“Let… go…” Alicia shouted at the two who were still restraining her. “Let go!!!”
Zeres looked at Alex. Alex gritted his teeth. It would be impossible to stop Alicia without hurting her if she decides to break free. And Alex did not like what was happening now.
“Let go!!” Alicia begged and that had Alex shutting his eyes close before finally nodding to Zeres. He could stop anyone and keep his promise. But Alicia is… Alex just could not. He knew full well what it felt like being in her situation right now. He understood.
So, they let her go.
But before she could reach him, the gate suddenly closed, taking Zeke with it.
“EZEKIELLLL!!!” Alicia’s shrill scream echoed loudly in the sudden silence.