Hellbound Heart

The floor beneath Elle's feet suddenly shook, causing her to wobble. As she started to sway, a gasp escaped her lips, thinking she might crash onto the cold, hard ground.

But just in the nick of time, Gav reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her back upright. 

"Thanks," she mumbled, her voice shaky from the surprise. He nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to decipher the cause of the sudden tremor.

"E-earthquake?" Elle stammered, her eyes wide.

"I don't believe so," he replied calmly. His gaze darted towards the castle, and whatever he saw or noticed in its shadows darkened his expression. "Stay behind me, Izabelle," he cautioned. "Entering this castle might not be the best decision right now. It's not safe."

"But Sebastian is in there!" Elle protested.

"I know," Gav replied firmly. "But there's something wrong inside. It's more than just a fight."

As if on cue, another tremor shook the ground, softer this time but no less ominous. Elle's heart raced; images from her nightmare flashed before her eyes. She felt an urge to run into the castle, to find Sebastian.

Without thinking, she tried to move forward. But Gav stopped her. "Don't' go," he urged. "Zeke asked me to keep you safe. So please, stay here."

"Seb might be in danger right now!"

Gav's eyes met Elle's, and whatever he saw in her expression made him sigh in surrender. "Fine. I'll go find him. But you stay here. Promise me you'll stay here."

Torn, Elle's hands balled into fists at her sides. She wanted nothing more than to plunge into the castle herself, to be at Sebastian's side. But fear gripped her. What if her presence made things worse? What if Elijah uses her as a pawn against Sebastian again?

She knew Gav was strong. He could even be stronger than she'd ever imagined. Because Zeke himself said, this man was going to be the King of darkness after all. She could definitely trust him!

When Elle finally gave him a small nod, a hint of relief softened Gav's stern expression. "Good. Stay here. I'll come back once I've assessed the situation inside."

And then, with a swiftness that left her startled, Gav transformed into a haze of smoke and vanished.

Another lightning struck followed by a tremor came as soon as Gav was gone, causing Elle to place her hand over her heart, feeling its rapid pace under her fingers. Taking several deep breaths, she tried to will her anxiety away. She needed clarity now, more than ever. Giving into panic wouldn't help anyone.

After grounding herself, Elle decided it was best to stay hidden. So she focused her energy and cloaked herself in invisibility. She couldn't risk getting caught. Not now. Not ever! 

But the storm continued raging, filling the sky with loud crashes of thunder and bright flashes of lightning. Elle, soaked and alone, could feel the ground shake beneath her every now and then. Nobody needed to tell her that even this storm right now was not natural; it felt like it was made on purpose, a noisy, flashy cover for something happening inside the Reigns castle.

As she stood there, she couldn't help but think about all these power that the Reigns possess. The power it would take to create a storm like this was beyond what Elle could grasp. It was scary but also a bit comforting. The Reigns were just incredible. But a chill ran down Elle's spine as she remembered that their enemy right now was a Reign too. Power like this, she realized, was actually as deadly as it was protective.

Another jolt from the ground, stronger this time, sent Elle tumbling to the wet ground. She was still for a moment, catching her breath, when an unsettling silence fell. The thunder and lightning had suddenly stopped; only the rain, steady and cold, kept pouring.

Elle's heart pounded in her chest, so loud she could hear it over the rain. Something wasn't right. She should be relieved that the ground wasn't shaking anymore, but the quiet was as scary as the noise had been. If not scarier! It felt like everything – the storm, the shaking, whatever happening inside the castle – had suddenly frozen.

A sick feeling curled in Elle's stomach. Gav was still inside, and every silent second that ticked by made her worry grow. Why wasn't he back yet? 

Elle stood. Every part of her hoping to hear a sound. But there was nothing. Just quiet. The longer the silence stretched, the more worried and scared she became. It felt like the quiet was wrapping around her, tighter and tighter, until she felt she had to move or she'd be trapped by it. 

Elle's foot moved, almost of its own accord. "I'm sorry, Gav," she whispered. "I know I promised, but you said you'd come back. Yet…"

Biting her lip, Elle steeled herself and rushed towards the massive doors. She bravely pushed against it until a creak echoed, the sound amplified by the unsettling silence that dominated the atmosphere. 

Inside, the silence felt even more extreme. It was thick and suffocating, filling every corner, every space, as though the castle itself held its breath in fearful anticipation of something. What's going on?

Elle's heart thudded loudly in her chest, each beat echoing the rising tension as she ventured deeper into the castle. She couldn't see anyone due to the darkness but a sharp, metallic smell hinted at something more sinister. It was the unmistakable scent of blood.

Pushing aside her fears, Elle pressed on. Until she sensed a strange energy that was oddly familiar. It reminded her of the time she'd been in that cave when Prince Ezekiel and Gav had appeared out of nowhere. This must be Gav's power, right?

Without hesitation, Elle followed it, hoping it might lead her to Gav.

With every step, this energy grew stronger, guiding her like an invisible thread. Just as she realized it was leading her to the grand throne hall, Elle's feet froze mid-step.