Hellbound With You Chapter 926: Alicia & Zeke Side Story 2

"Go away!! Azy!!! Go!!!" Sebastian shouted in panic, waving his arms frantically at the young boy to retreat further.      

But it was already too late. Azy's sudden presence made the demonic energy from the gate whirl violently out of control. It felt like Azy had sparked something incredibly perilous simply by stepping into the vicinity.      

Chaos erupted in mere moments. So rapidly that both Sebastian and Zeres were completely caught off guard.      

That's when the serpentine smoke seized the boy. The darkness grew ravenous, craving Azy too, not merely Sebastian as the sole intended sacrifice. Or maybe it detected the demon blood flowing in Azy, just like in him.      

"F*ck!!! No!!!" Sebastian bellowed as the darkness yanked Azy toward the gates.      

He leaped forward and clutched the boy firmly. Sebastian poured every ounce of his strength into preventing both of them from being dragged through the hell gates. He absolutely could not allow Azy to be pulled in with him. Never! He'd never forgive himself if that occurred!     

Zeres was busy maintaining the magic circle to keep the gates open, leaving him unable to assist. He could only observe helplessly from afar.      

While Sebastian fought to pull away from the darkness encircling them, Alicia's piercing scream rang out.     

"Azy!!!" Her typically serene and melodic voice cracked with desperation and fear. Only her son could shatter her composure like this.     

Witnessing her son and Sebastian on the verge of vanishing into the dark vortex beyond hell's gates, which strained to devour them whole, Alicia wasted no time hesitating.      

She dashed toward them and released her immense powers. Blinding light magic flooded the dungeon instantly, her hair shifting to silver. Her might was overwhelming, so intense that even the hell gates' demonic magic recoiled in terror from it.      

Sebastian's eyes widened in stunned disbelief as he saw his sister-in-law transform into a… witch. A silver-haired witch woman—the exact being he loathed. Were it not for their dire predicament, he'd have roared for an explanation about her abrupt shift from vampire to witch queen before him. Yet he couldn't look away from her spectacle, all while clinging desperately to Azy.     

He beheld her unleashing her abilities. A type of power utterly unfamiliar to Sebastian. Her eyes glowed like pure light as the magic embraced her warmly. In the blink of an eye, her magic surged toward them, encasing both him and Azy in her overwhelming light. He sensed the darkness's hold weakening on them, repelled by Alicia's protective light magic.      

Aided by her intervention, Sebastian partially escaped the darkness's clutches. His utmost focus was liberating Azy from the demonic tendrils around him; once freed, he hurled the boy clear. Though aware of the rough impact Azy would suffer, such concerns were secondary now. Ensuring Azy was flung as far from the gates as possible took precedence. Bruises wouldn't kill the boy—he was resilient.     

Yet Alicia was prepared. Spotting Sebastian's action, she positioned herself to intercept Azy before he hit the floor. Her arms extended, wrapping securely around her son in a shielding hug as she retreated from the gates, cushioning his fall.      

Just as Sebastian surrendered to the darkness's pull, horror exploded in his eyes—he was abruptly flung back from the gate's threshold while Alicia got consumed instead.      

The gate sealed shut.      

The events unfolded so swiftly that Sebastian couldn't respond in time. He stood blinking, struggling to comprehend the shocking turn.     

The world seemed to freeze as Sebastian collapsed onto the floor, staring at the plain wall where the furious vortex had churned moments ago. Now, it was merely an ordinary surface, devoid of any supernatural trace.     

Sebastian's eyes dropped to Azy's tiny frame, now nestled securely in Zeres' embrace. That choice had flashed through her mind in an instant. Snatching up Azy, Alicia had dashed straight to Zeres' spot, handing her beloved son over to him before whirling back toward Sebastian.     

The little boy had passed out completely, and Alicia had vanished without a trace. She was gone. She had been... engulfed... as the gates slammed shut.     

All of it unfolded in what felt like a mere instant, leaving Sebastian and Zeres stunned and motionless, unsure of what step to take next.    

Sebastian balled his fists with crushing force, his knuckles cracking sharply. Why... why the hell did she do something like that? Why didn't she just let him get dragged inside? Why throw herself into it?!!!    

Dark turmoil surged through Sebastian's heart. He had despised Ezekiel's sacrifice on his behalf. Now Alicia had mirrored that act. He loathed how they acted on their own whims. He craved none of their self-sacrifices!     

Finally, Zeres rose to his feet, holding Azy close, and moved toward Sebastian. Zeres had known Alicia for far longer than Sebastian, giving him a deeper insight into her nature.        

"Don't worry. Alicia is powerful. She's not someone who could just be brought down so easily. And she's a mother. I don't think she'll ever accept getting separated from Azy. Not to mention that Ezekiel is in that place where she is now. I strongly believe she'll definitely return, Sebastian. Ezekiel will definitely find a way to send her back." Zeres told him. "So don't worry, we'll just have to patiently wait for her. For now, let us take Azy out of this place first. I think he might be having a fever."