ALICIA & ZEKE SIDE STORY HAPPENED ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST SCENE IN SIDE STORY PART IV.]

One year later… It was one stormy night in Quesa.

The thunderstorm was strangely powerful and the heart of it seemed to be centered over the Reigns Castle itself.

Every time a crash of thunder sounded, the entire castle seemed to shake and vibrate.

The doors and windows would rattle in their frames.

The chandeliers would shake and the crystal pieces would clink against each other as the entire thing would sway a little from the ceiling.

Even the furniture would lurch a little and joggle when the more powerful thunder crashes.

The strangely strong thunderstorm would remind someone of that one stormy night that happened six years ago.

Lightning struck everywhere, lighting up the sky endlessly as the thunder roared one after another.

It was as if someone had just angered a storm god and now the god was lashing out his wrath on the realm of the mortals.

Inside the castle's dungeon, something dark was crawling out of the passages.

A long trail of smoke that seemed to have a life of its own crept along the ground, following the path like a snake looking for its prey.

In the deepest parts of the dungeon, light and darkness were flashing alternately, lighting up a magic circle drawn into the ground.

Zerez and Sebastian were standing in the middle of that circle, performing a spell.

Their blood was dripping onto the ground as a strong power burst forth and surged even stronger.

"It's happening!" Sebastian spoke through gritted teeth.

His body was starting to be enveloped with demonic black magic.

The terrifying aura of his demonic magic was so strong that it was palpable.

His red eyes started to pulse into something darker.

As if the darkness was trying its best to overwrite the red color of his pupils.

The past years, Sebastian had been searching incessantly for a way for Zeke to return to his family.

When he found out the truth about what had happened, that Ezekiel, his brother, was dragged to the Underworld as the consequence of him being freed from his imprisonment, Sebastian could not accept it at first.

In fact, he was more angry than thankful that his brother had taken this upon himself.

He was not happy at all.

He was mad and getting angrier at what his brother did the more he thought about it and every time he saw his sister-in-law and nephew.

Though he had somehow learned to control his emotions and adapt, thanks to his sister-in-law and nephew who had become the reason for his existence, Sebastian felt angrier as time went by.

And every time he sees Alicia and Azy, every time he overhears them talk about missing Zeke, every time Azy asks when his father will return, Sebastian's desire to bring Ezekiel back from the Underworld escalates.

So, he did everything he could do to make that wish happen.

He was even willing to do what was deemed impossible by others.

And for that, he had sought Zeres out.

Surprisingly and thankfully as well, Zeres had agreed to help.

After five years since he had sought Zeres' help, the two of them found a way to force the gates of hell to open.

This was all because of the ancient spell not even the witch queens knew about that Zeres found with the help of Iriz.

Sebastian's plan was to summon Zeke back out of the gate and the sacrifice would be Sebastian himself.

He was going to be the one who would be trapped in the Underworld.

To exchange Sebastian in place of Zeke.

This thing would work because Sebastian also had demon blood in him, just like Zeke.

Sebastian had wanted to be the one who will be trapped in the Underworld forever.

For him, Zeke needed to be with his family.

His family needed him with them.

Zeke had a reason to stay in this world.

Unlike himself.

Sebastian believed that he did not have any reason to live in this modern world which was so foreign to him.

Also there was no one who needed him to be there.

No one was dependent on him.

That was why he had decided to go ahead with this.

And he would never regret it.

Because this had been what he had wanted since a long time ago.

He did not have any desire to stay in this world anymore.

He honestly thought that it was better off for him to be in the Underworld.

At least in that place, he could be free to become the monster that he was.

It was only a matter of unleashing it from that prison he kept locked carefully within himself.

He had desired blood and slaughter, something that was no longer acceptable in this modern world.

He had been in slumber for such a long time that he had already lost touch with how to live alongside and survive in this modern age.

It was uncomfortable for him and there was no real reason for him to stay too.

So, he wanted this very badly and he would do anything to make this work.

Soon, the gates finally started to open, causing Sebastian to smile with pleasure.

He slashed open another wound on his wrist, letting more blood flow out from his body.

The more blood they offer, the wider the gates will open.

And when the demonic darkness came out, Sebastian started to laugh.

Everything was working! But just when the two of them were about to do the summoning spell, something unthinkable had happened.

Azy suddenly appeared right in front of them.

The six year-old boy was still in his pajamas and he had teleported over! This was one thing that they had not factored in.

In fact, there should not be anyone who could be nearby.

The entrance had been locked and blocked.

Sebastian was so shocked that he could not quite believe his eyes.

He could not believe that Azy could use teleportation.

He was a normal vampire child just hours ago.

How did this even happen? He was not supposed to awaken his demonic powers yet! He was still a freaking six year old! Even Zeke and him had never awakened their demonic powers at such a young age!