Chapter 649: Go back

Before Alicia could touch him, Zeres caught her slim wrist. He shot a sharp gaze at her and then shut his eyes in exasperation. His muscles seemed to be turning to steel as he began to pant, furious with her and at a loss in how to deal with her.

After staring at her for a long while, a soft, humorless laugh that sounded totally unlike him escaped his lips. "I don't care what you think of me now, Alicia. You can go ahead and think of me as the freaking angel you think I am all you want." He said, his voice dropping deeper, darker and colder.

"Yes. Because that's what you really are." Alicia retorted, not backing off. "You are not -"

"Shut up!" He hissed, a disturbing hint of cruelty was dancing in his expression. "Shut up..." he gritted his teeth, his nostrils flared from the force of his breathing as he pinned her down a little harder using just his weight.

Then his expression changed - an expression that hinted to her of the things he was capable of doing but those that she thought the Zeres she knew could and would never do.

She stared up into the fiery threat that were his eyes. And it amazed her how she could hold herself perfectly still. Alarms had definitely started ringing in her head and yet she wondered how she still could not make herself feel the fear necessary for her to give in and give up on him. Was it because she could just tell that he was expecting her to struggle and fight against him at this very moment? Or could it be due to the fact that he looked even angrier when she went fully passive in his hold instead?

Suddenly, he let his head fall heavily on her shoulder. His breathing was rough as it fanned hotly against the skin of her neck as he seemed to struggle for control.

Then a voice filled with sorrow echoed in Alicia's ear. "Please... leave me alone, Alicia. I don't want to hurt you... don't make me hurt you..."

The agony in his voice made Alicia's heart contract painfully. "Go back to them and... just let me do what I want... please..."

For at least a minute, there was no other sound or movement from either of them. Alicia could not help but smile miserably. He wanted her to just let him do what he wanted? He wanted her to just let him become the villain he never wanted to become and then die in the hands of his own friends?

"I can't, Zeres." she answered as her hand landed gently on the back of his head. "I'm not going to let you do what you're planning to do. I'm not going anywhere without you... so please, stop this and come back with me. Don't do this Zeres. Come with me. Let's go back -"

Alicia broke off as he jerked her hand off from his head and he suddenly flung himself away from her.

She immediately rose and looked at him and saw him already at the opposite side of the room. His hands were against the wall as he hung his head, shivering like a drenched dog, shaking his head.

The sight of him made Alicia feel a little more hopeful. Perhaps it was not too late yet. She could still change his mind. 'He is obviously wavering now. A little bit more.' Alicia whispered to herself as she approached him cautiously.

"Stay back." He growled with such a force before he turned, resting his back against the wall.

His face had changed again, his eyes now dangerous and predatory as he looked at her. A gaze that should be enough to paralyze any woman with fear.

"You're wrong. There's no more turning back, Alicia. It's too late." His voice was stony and unfeeling.

"No -" In a flash, he moved, and his hand was covering her mouth as if to muffle her from speaking further, then snatched back as though he was scalded.

In the silence that followed, Zeres picked up his clothes and Alicia watched him put on his shirt all brooding and almost trembling with undirected rage. His mouth hardening as he gave her a threatening glance, discouraging her to open her mouth again.

But Alicia had no other choice. She was utterly helpless. All she had right now was her voice. All she could do for him right now was to continue speaking. But just as she opened her lips again, a sudden dizziness came to her.

Her eyes widened, knowing that Zeres had cast a spell on her. "No... you can't... don't do this... no... listen to me... we need to talk..." she fought hard to maintain her consciousness as she swayed where she stood before Zeres caught her.

Scooping her up in his arms, Zeres felt his throat tightening up at the feel of her fragile body now even lighter than before. He placed her gently on the bed and stared at her pale face.

"You called, my king?" a woman's voice echoed and Zeres turned.

A young female witch appeared before him and Zeres handed her clothes. "Help her change her clothes," he ordered stoically as he glanced at Alicia.

The witch glanced at the woman on the bed curiously before she immediately nodded and accepted the clothes.

Now that the witch stood by the bed and saw the woman's face, she almost gasped in surprise. She heard the others talking about a woman who looked like queen Alicia. Was this woman really not the queen herself? But she is so weak, almost like she is at the brink of dying! There is no way this is Queen Alicia, right?

"She's fragile and unwell, make sure to be careful." Zeres' voice was full of warning and the female witch frowned. She looked at him only to find him already facing the dark window.

"Y-yes, my king." She could only say as she felt the dark and heavy air coming from him. Who is this woman that is able to make him care for her like this?

As soon as the witch finished her task, Zeres immediately dismissed her. He stood by the bed and stared at Alicia's face silently. He recalled the look on her face and the words she said to him, telling him to go back with her made Zeres' lips curved into a bitter smile.

He bent and gently pulled the blanket all the way up to her neck. Then his fingers quietly brushed the strands of her hair from her face, careful not to touch her skin. "There's no way I'd go back with you, Alicia..." he uttered, and gently placed his forehead against hers. "If I do that... you'll die... and I don't want that. You don't deserve to die like this. I don't mind if you won't forgive me... All I want is for you to live..."

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A\N: Thank you for waiting.