Jude knew that this man was willing to do anything to find that book. But in all honesty, Jude was having a hard time understanding why he had to go to this extent!

Sighing, Jude spoke as he followed after Zeres. "I really don’t understand why you’re doing this. Even if you love this person you’re trying to bring back, I still think this is getting too much, you know..."

Zeres halted. He was silent for a moment before he looked up into the sky. "She died for me. Then she gave up her chance to go to the afterlife to lift my curse. And she did all of that even though she didn’t love me." The last part came out just a little louder than a whisper.

As those words echoed in the dark, Jude’s eyes widened. Zeres had never spoken about his reasons. He had only told him that he was doing this to save someone. Though Zeres had never said he loved the person, Jude could tell. Otherwise, who would sacrifice so much like this for someone you do not even love?

But now that he had heard these, he was speechless.

"What I’m doing right now is still nothing compared to all that she did for me." Zeres added then he walked forward again.

Jude hastily followed him. "Okay, I understand now. But... I think it is important for you to understand as well. I mean... you know that vixen might want to hurt you while doing, uhm... that..."

"You’re saying she might try to kill me and that’s why you’re worried?" Zeres smirked a little. "Did you forget that I’m immortal?"

"Not that, you, idi... I mean I’m afraid you might accidentally kill her once she does something shocking to you before you could even get the information out of her. That’s why I’m telling you to have some mental preparation first."

Zeres sighed. "What a pain in the a**."

After Jude explained to Zeres about what Snow might do, Zeres remained looking unaffected. He simply nodded at Jude before he entered the building where Snow’s apartment was located.

To Zeres, this too, was nothing. He was running out of time. He had noticed Alicia’s spirit was a bit more translucent than the last time he had seen her in the black forest.

Zeres had also thought that this was why Alicia could not stay still anymore and wanted to deal with Zeke’s matter. He realized that it was because she probably felt her time was quickly running out. And this was why Zeres could not waste any more time.

Upon reaching the woman’s door, it swung open for him, and a young woman was standing there, seemingly waiting for him.

"Hi..." her sweet voice drifted out, "please come in."

Her appearance alone surprised Zeres. She did not look like a vixen at all. She was dressed in a hoodie and had an innocent and delicate face. He thought that she was going to jump on him immediately like how Jude told him, but she did nothing of the sort and even maintained a proper distance from him. Did he enter the wrong flat?

...

In a certain presidential suite located in one of the tallest buildings in the city, Alicia finally found Ezekiel’s place. She had also already sneaked into the luxurious but gloomy apartment.

Alicia was determined to spy on him from here on. And if... if she found out even a single hint that her suspicion was right... then... she would not have any choice but to carry out her plan...

She clenched her fists tight, and her eyes blazed with intensity as she wondered about inside the empty and dimly lit masculine apartment.

Approaching the desk that was near the floor to ceiling window, Alicia tried to look at everything in there. She was like a ghost detective looking for clues everywhere until she heard a sound of a door opening.

Alicia quickly hid behind the desk, remembering what Zeres had told her that Ezekiel might really be able to see her. She did not think so, because that was just impossible. But just in case... to be safe, she still hid.

She heard his quite footsteps moving closer and then it stopped.

Slowly, Alicia peeked out from the side of the desk and saw him standing there, holding a glass of blood. His gaze was fixed outside the window, so his back was facing her.

He was half naked and it was obvious that he had just came out from the bathroom. Alicia could not help but sweep her gaze all over his naked and broad back. She did not know that he was covered with tattoos – even on his arms. It looked like a black flame.

Now that Alicia thought about it, she had never seen Ezekiel wearing anything that does not cover his body up to his wrists. And for some reason, his tattoos were unsettling. It was like a black flame was engraved through his skin, burning on him forever.

When he moved, Alicia hid again. She stayed hidden for a while but eventually peeked out again, not able to tamp down on her curiosity. This time, she saw him seated on a chair now, still facing the window.

Alicia stood. If he could see her, knowing this man, he must have already felt her presence, right? But he did not look as though he had felt anything unusual at all.

Moving from her hiding spot, Alicia walked towards him. She was here to investigate and observe him very closely. If he could actually see her, then doing this would definitely not work because he would just hide everything once she was there and keep his mouth shut. If he does that then what she was doing would be meaningless. However, if he could not see her, then she would have the highest chance to find out what she wanted to know.

And thus, Alicia decided to brave herself and try and find out if he could really see her or not. If he could see her, then she would have to think of some other way to execute her mission.

Determined, Alicia stood right behind him. He was just so incredibly quiet and still that Alicia could not help but wonder if he was even breathing. He might as well be a life-sized statue of himself.

Slowly, Alicia lifted her hand over his head then down over his face and waved.

A/N: thank you for waiting hellbounders. ♡

Hi hellbounders! I’m doing a signed paperback copy give away for hellbound as well for the highest tier privilege buyers this month.

All you have to do is send me a screenshot of your tier 2 priv purchase. Send the screen shot through my instagram @kazzenlx.x

BUT ONLY FOR USA AND PHILIPPINES RESIDENTS.

p.s. the book contains the first 150k words only. I will choose the lucky readers through a spinning wheel.

Deadline is 5 hours from now.