654 Wishful thinking*

With startling abruptness, Zeres pried her arms from his neck. Alicia was caught off guard and could not tighten her grip on him in time as he had already set her aside and stood away from her before she could make any move. He was just too fast, too strong compared to her utterly slow and weak movements.

A protest slipped from Alicias lips when she thought he was going to disappear. Thankfully, he didnt. He turned away and focused his gaze on the distant instead.

Watching his back, Alicia felt an overwhelming defeat. She didnt just fail from both of her missions; she also felt like she only made things worse. Zeres wasnt a fool. She could understand why hed think she came just to distract him. Even though that was not the only reason, she did come to do that. Would he still believe it if she tells him she came because she genuinely cared for him and that she didnt want him to die?

"Zeres," she called out as she struggled to stand. "Listen –"

A thud forced Zeres to whip around. When he saw Alicia slumped on the hard floor, he abruptly walked back to her. But he halted and froze upon reaching her.

Looking down at her, panic flashed in his eyes. She looked wilted already. Her hair… they had turned even darker. His fingers twitched and then he clenched them. He knew shes running out of time. This was a sign that she wouldnt last long. She might not even last for another day.

"Listen..." he heard her say, looking up at him. But Zeres bent and picked her up.

"Hush." He silenced her, his voice no longer cold.

He settled her slowly in a more comfortable spot and made her lean against the wall. Silently, he grabbed the dagger in Alicias hand, and blood gushed out from a wound he had suddenly inflicted without any hesitation on his face. Then he chanted the spell.

As the light began to envelop her, Zeres looked into her eyes and his jaw clenched at the sight of her miserable expression. She looked like she was about to cry.

The spell didnt seem to be working anymore. It was strong, but her body had long reached its limit.

Cursing beneath his breath, Zeres grabbed the dagger again, but this time, Alicia screamed at him. "Stop! Just stop, please!" she choked back her tears. Reaching out, she weakly pulled Zekes dagger in his hand.

Zeres stilled as Alicia settled her breaths. The sound of her heavy breaths and the soft wind seemed so loud in their ears as they both fell silent for a long moment.

Just as Alicia was about to speak again, Zeres said first. "Tell me," his voice became cold again and his gaze turned emotionless. "how long until they complete the evacuation?" he asked without looking at her.

Alicia stared at the bloody wound on his face. "What… are you going to do if I tell you?" she asked weakly. Her voice sounded resigned, wholly defeated. "I came here to stop you... because I want you to live. I cant stand that you are suffering like this… I dont want you to die. Ezekiel gave me a task Ill to do if I fail to change your mind, and thats to distract you until the humans in this city are gone."

She let out a shaky breath, and then a bitter smile tugged at her lips as she looked at the city lights below them. "I cant believe how useless Ive become." She muttered in a weak, surrendered voice.

Another long moment passed by before Zeres broke the silence. "I wont attack until everyone is evacuated." He said, causing Alicias eyes to widen as she returned her gaze to him. "But in one condition…" he added when their eyes met, "leave. You dont belong here. If you still insist, I will prompt my minions to attack now." He threatened and the look in his eyes told her he was serious.

Alicia couldnt help but let out a miserable laugh. She looked up and her laughter slowly died as she stared at the moon shining brightly in the sky. There were no stars, making the moon looked so alone in the dark.

"Have you ever thought what would happen to me when you die?" she asked.

"You will live. That is all that matters."

"Id live with guilt knowing that someone had to die for me to live –"

"No. I told you this is never your fault. Youre the victim here. My existence ruined everything. Not only this time but in the past as well. You already know... That witches in the past consider me as a curse that would bring nothing but disaster. They were right. I always knew my existence would bring nothing but disaster. If Im gone, everything will go back to normal again… back to how it was had I never awakened… if I live, you will die and not just you… as long I exist, all queens after you will die because of me…" He paused, thinking how wrong it was for him to ever hoped that fate had given him a second chance to live the life he never had in the past. He shouldve known what wishful thinking that was. Because on some elemental level, he always knew that something about him had destined him for a miserable life and a painful death.

But somehow, he thought that at least, just like last time, his death wont be meaningless. And the person he had to save this time was someone who had cried for his pain. If its her, he wouldnt mind dying a few times over, as long as shed live.

"There had to be another way to solve –"

"There is no other way, Alicia! I know you already know that. Kiel knows that too since the beginning. There is no other way." He stressed, cutting her off. Zeres had realized this even before they started the journey. That Alexander and Ezekiel were the only ones in this world capable of ending his life. He had chosen to become the villain because he knew that was the only way they would take him seriously. If he threatened the peace in this human world, like what Dinah did, the universe would be forced to end him. Villains always die in the end, after all.

He just hoped that he would die in Ezekiels hand instead of Alexander.

___

P.s. I will be making an announcement about Hellbound Heart soon.

*unedited