Hellbound Heart

53  Nickname

Goose bumps rose on Elle's neck and back due to the implied meaning from his words. Her pulse skittering and missing a couple of beats, as was reflected along with their dance.

Their eyes held each other's as their bodies finally stilled from the swaying and spinning. Elle's breath was a little labored, but she knew it was not because of the unforgettable dance that they had just shared together. It was more due to her poor little heart that had been attacked quite vigorously by those last words of his. Those words had really shaken her resolve up quite badly.

And because of that, her heart and mind had descended into a heated war yet again. The former kept insisting that there was no way his words were not serious, but the latter was hellbent on arguing that it was nothing but an act.

Elle was so torn for a few moments, not knowing to listen to the angel or devil part of her. But in the end, once again, her brain – the more logical side or her – had finally won the battle. All she had to do was remind herself of that night again. That avalanche of awful feeling that came lancing through her, immediately and cruelly after the pleasure. She will never let herself naively go through that again. She had made a promise to herself that she would never fall for the words that comes out from the exact same lips that had called out for another woman's name while he was still sleeping next to her. And those very same lips that could not even kiss her own.

Effectively shutting her heart off, a naughty smile curved on her face. "Oh my… should I start running away from you now?" she continued playing along as they both finally stepped off the dance floor. Both were completely unaware how the two of them had enthralled everyone with their romantic waltz. Even as the couple sauntered away from the dance floor, all eyes were still focused on their figures. Wonder, intrigue, envy, and disbelief – different emotions were flashing across the many different eyes trailing after them.

"Go on." Sebastian leaned closer into to her as he uttered his response, not even bothered to whisper anymore. "Run if you can, my dear wife. Try me…"

Elle stumbled at that last line. Her treacherous heart betraying her again, before it was being reigned in by her mind. Thankfully Sebastian had moved so quickly that no one even noticed her slight misstep. Oh lord! T-this man!

"S-such confidence." She managed to click her tongue playfully at him as she regained her composure, willing her racing heart to slow its pace. "You might not be aware, but I run pretty fast, Sebastian."

He smirked. His lips opened and said something, but she could not quite catch it because the host's voice suddenly echoed loudly over the hall.

"That was such a surreal dance!" the host exclaimed with pleasure, and everyone clapped, following his hint. Their late reaction had Elle blinking at first but then she blushed hard when she was reminded again of the intimacy of their dance right in front of all these inquisitive eyes.

Instead of letting Elle settle on her seat, Sebastian smoothly grabbed his coat off the back of his chair and turned to face her.

"Your requested fifteen minutes is over, my dear." he reminded her, seemingly quite certain that she had completely forgotten about this one little thing. And before Elle could even react, Elijah's voice had sounded from behind her.

"Leaving already, brother? Why don't you let Elle enjoy the party a little bit more? She seems to be enjoying herself quite a bit." he commented rather casually. Sebastian's brows furrowed as he noticed the way his brother had referred to his wife. His face darkened as the earlier light and playful mood surrounding him suddenly dropped and the atmosphere grew heavy and cold.

Elle too, was surprised that Elijah had called her by her nickname. And in an incredibly casual manner at that. How could he refer to her that way when they had literally just met each other?! It had not even been more than an hour and he was already being so casual?! And to top it all off, she had not even seen his face yet. She literally did not know who he was!

Frowning behind her mask, Elle could not help but feel a little awkward as she looked at the still masked Elijah. She could not help but really wonder now what was up with Elijah. His actions and words were really starting to confuse her. Somehow, it seemed as though he had some hidden agenda. And it did not feel like it was going to be simple.

"And besides," Elijah continued, "I think you've been enjoying the party quite a bit too, brother. This is the first time I've seen you looking so human like that. Your arrival was truly a big surprise, so I didn't have enough time to prepare something entertaining enough for you. So…" he paused, something in the air seemed to have changed again as he approached closer to Sebastian. "… so, why don't you stay a little bit more? I have a surprise for you and Elle."

"Did you forget that you're the celebrant here, Elijah?" Sebastian was quick to respond this time. His voice was calm and neutral, but still felt so absolute. Looking between the two of them, Elle felt like she was caught in the middle of a fight between two powerful and dangerous beasts. 'A mysterious prince in a dark fairytale and a devil blessed with a face of a fallen angel' would probably be the perfect description for them both right now.

"So don't bother with it, Elijah." Sebastian added quickly, cutting Elijah off before his first words could even be formed into something understandable. "My wife and I better get going so the spotlight would be able to return to you, the rightful man of the hour. And Iza here is tired. It's time for her to rest."

Elle's eyes stretched so wide as her head snapped back to look at Sebastian. What… what did he just called her?! Seriously?! Did he just give his very own nickname for her?

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