Hellbound Heart

Elle somehow felt as though she had forgotten how to speak at the sight of the woman who emerged from the large mahogany double doors of the mansion. Long, seemingly glowing silver hair cascaded down in luscious and sexy waves to her waist and when Elle lifted her eyes to meet hers, they just looked simply otherworldly.

There was only one thing Elle could think about at the sight of her. Goddess. She is a literal goddess in the flesh! Elle did not think that it would be possible for a person to look so perfectly beautiful until she saw this woman before her.

"Auntie, Azy and I present to you, Princess Izabelle." Alexis' voice rang as they stepped aside and introduced Elle.

The moment Elle met her gaze, Elle was almost certain she saw surprise in the silver-haired woman's eyes. It was almost as though something shocked her at the sight of her.

But that look in her eyes was quick to completely disappear, making Elle feel a little suspicious.

"Oh my... I am so happy Sebastian finally brought you over here, Izabelle!" the goddess-like woman was quick to rush over to stand right before Elle, as if she was suddenly excited at the thought of meeting her. "My name is Alicia, Azy's mother and Sebastian's sister-in-law."

Alicia spoke so friendly and yet still so naturally regal in every way. She carried herself and spoke like she was someone who was born to be a queen.

Elle also felt her feelings and those smiles were genuine. She was welcoming her warmly just like how Abi had been to her when they first met.

However, that name... it was not the same... right? This goddess-like woman was Alicia, not... Alysa... it is different. It is not her, right?

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, A... Alicia." Elle tried her best to stay composed, smiling back at the woman. 'No, it cannot be her... Right?!'

When Alicia shifted her gaze to Sebastian, gladness seemed to flash across her eyes as she smiled at him. "Alright, you two, please come in first."

As Alicia led them to the door, Elle glanced over at Sebastian. And what she saw in his expression... she felt like someone had suddenly tossed her heart in the middle of an ocean and now it was sinking rapidly into the deep cold darkness of the waters.

Sebastian continued staring at her as they followed behind. She could not exactly fathom his expression but the way he looked at her was... Elle finds it a little too intense. As if just the sight of Alicia was enough to make him forget everything else but only focus on whatever it was about her that he was thinking about.

And it... caused her an unimaginable hurt. Her overthinking mind had immediately come up with the conclusion that the woman in his dreams was... her... that woman he had been calling out in his dreams was this oh so ethereally beautiful lady. She could not make herself believe otherwise. Because this was the first time she had ever seen Sebastian's attention gotten completely fixed on another woman while she was around. This was the first time she had seen him stare at another woman to this extent.

Forcing her eyes off him, Elle silently fisted her hands into her coat. She clenched her fists so tight that her knuckles turned white as she tried to calm herself. And she was secretly biting her inner cheeks hard. Even then, she maintained her smile, keeping it light and calm.

When she saw Abi holding a tray as she came walking out from the kitchen, Elle tried to shift her gaze to the interior of the house, trying to distract herself as she was afraid that Abi would notice something. They have interacted enough that she was sure Abi could pick up on her fluctuating emotions.

Alicia led them both to sit on the couch in the living room. The living room was just as what you would expect of a Victorian house. As Elle looked around, she noticed that the architecture was very fancy and decorative. And there was a large but cozy looking bay window that made Elle wish to girl up there with a book and while her time away. Remembering that upon their arrival, she noticed that each floor had at least one bag window facing the entrance, it was clear that the design was as Victorian as it can get. She was even guessing that every single room on the first and second floor had a bay window. And what was interesting was that the bay window that she was looking at, had a very tasteful and elegant stained glass motif on it.

As her eyes strayed to the ceiling, she also noticed that the house had high ceilings with ornate carvings along the wooden beams that run across the ceiling. Even the staircase that she spotted at the far corner, had intricate wooden trimmings along the banister. Though large, the house still had the comforting aura of a home. All in all, it was a warm and gorgeous house.

"Elle dear, do you want to come over and give me a helping hand in the kitchen?" Abi whispered to her and Elle immediately sprung from the couch. "But I think I need to go to the bathroom first, Abi. Can you show me where the bathroom is?"

"Of course, dear."

As they headed to the bathroom, Abi kept glancing over at her with concern in her eyes. "Are you okay, dear? You look a little –"

Elle forced a smile. "I'm fine... don't worry about me Abi. I think... this is just me, adjusting myself with all... these... new things I'm finding out."

"Oh, Elle." Abi hugged her and smiled at her gently. "I understand, dear. If you need some space or need anything at all for the matter, or want to do something, just tell me, okay?"

Elle nodded at her. "I will. Thank you, Abi. Please don't wait for me. I'll be back there in a few minutes."

"Take your time, dear."