Hellbound With You

Young Abigail was late to wake up the next morning. It seemed that the activities from the day before had taken its toll on her. The moment she got out of bed, she immediately went in search of the young Alex. Her heart felt a little bit panicked because she had dreamt that he had left her last night. She really hoped it was only a dream.

She rushed towards the bed and was instantly dismayed when she saw that he was no longer there. Did he really leave? But he said that he wouldn't go back.

Young Abigail couldn't believe how her heart behaved just from the thought of him not being around anymore. Her shoulders fell and she felt sad and hurt.

She walked dejectedly towards the door with a sullen expression on her face. She couldn't.

However, when she lifted her face, she saw him standing before her. His presence shocked her in a good way and her sullen expression immediately disappeared and her face brightened like a shining star.

"Where did you go?!" she asked, approaching him as she puffed her cheeks.

The young man lifted his hand, showing her a big fish that he had just caught. "I went to catch some fish for you," he replied, causing the young Abigail to just blink as her gaze fell on the small basket filled with fish that he had caught.

She looked up again and stared at him. "Sorry… I thought, I thought that you left," she confessed.

Young Alex just froze and stared at her without blinking. It was as if he had forgotten how to respond until the fish in his hand moved, jolting him awake. He cleared his throat.

"Would you be sad if I left?" was the first thing that came out of his lips.

It was the young woman's turn to fall silent for a while. She glanced down at the fish again before she looked at him and smiled. "Yes," she answered. "When I saw that you weren't in the house, I felt sad. I know it has only been a couple of days since we met but… I think that having you around makes me happy."

Once again, the young man froze. Her words were so straightforward and honest, hiding nothing from him, that he didn't know how to respond. Her honest words shook him to his very core. That was so unexpected and he was utterly affected. He didn't even notice that he had let go of the big fish until young Abigail yelled "ah!" as she crouched down to pick up the still wriggling fish from the ground.

Young Alex subconsciously stepped back, covering his lips with the back of his hand as he looked down at her.

"I'll bring these inside. We are going to have a very yummy breakfast," she said, flashing him a sweet smile before she walked back inside the house.

The young man just stood there, watching her retreating back, with his ears flushed red.

---

Later that day, Zeres arrived again and the three of them spent the day together. Young Alex and Zeres ended up sparring while Abigail watched them, trying to learn from their exceptional skills.

After that, Abigail cooked dinner for them and then Zeres would head back home again.

This was a sort of routine that the three of them developed over the next few weeks. Young Alex and Zeres continued their cat and dog relationship while Abigail watched over them.

These were the happiest days of young Abigail's life since she had moved to this secluded area because she finally had people whom she could talk, laugh, eat and share her time with. Even though she had Lexus before the two halflings came into her life, she didn't quite feel the same kind of happiness as what she was feeling now. This was a different kind of bliss and she wished that things would stay like that forever.

However, the peaceful days that went by only drew them closer to its ending.

About a month after Abigail found the wounded young Alex, an army of vampires arrived in the forest while the three of them were hunting for food.

The forest near the Black Dragon Hill was dense. The thick leaves from the tall trees blocked the sunlight so it was an ideal place for vampires to make their move.

Young Abigail and the two halflings were surrounded.

Zeres and young Alexander weren't quite strong enough to fight these vampires, especially because these vampires were the vampire king's personal elite men.

Young Alex was surprised when he saw these mighty vampires in this place. There was no reason for them to be here so why were they here?

"What are you guys doing here?!" Alexander asked, standing tall and proud like the prince that he was. He tried to sound commanding, talking to them as if he was their superior - technically, he was but of course, no one cared about that because he was a weak half-blood.

He and Zeres were standing right next to Abigail, protecting her as they pointed their swords at them alertly.

One of the vampires stepped forward and stared at Alex. Alex knew his face. This elite vampire was one of his father's most trusted men.

"Prince Alexander, His majesty sent us to survey this place to look for you. We are glad that we finally found you," the elite vampire said.

However, his words weren't convincing at all and just made Alex frown darkly at them all.

Then, a cold smirk flashed on Alex's face. "Look for me? Really?" he shook his head. "Why would my almighty father send you, his most important soldier, to look for someone like me?"

"The king truly wants you back your highness. He is ill."

The soldier's last sentence made Alex's eyes narrow but his gaze eventually turned cold again.

"Please come with us your highness. We've been looking for you for a long time. The king wants to see you."

Alex's grip on his sword tightened, ready to fight if he needed to. "And if I refuse to go with you?"