HEART BOUND

THE ONLY WAY

(Season 1)

CHAPTER 53

Zach was in his room when he heard a knock. Without looking up from his laptop, he usher the person in. The door cracked open and liora walked in with a smile.....

"hey Li" he called with a smile....

"Hey Zach, just thought I'd drop by and see what you're up to," Liora said, walking over to his desk and plopping down in the chair beside him.

"Looks like you're busy, though," she added, eyeing the laptop screen. Zach chuckled and minimized the tab, trying to play it cool.

"Just checking some stuff, nothing important. What's up with you?" He leaned back in his chair, giving Liora his full attention. She sigh and the worry on her face become obvious. Zach frown and asked what was wrong....

"what is wrong Li?" Liora's expression turned serious, her eyes locking onto Zach's.

"Zach, I need to ask you a question.... But promise you'll tell me the truth," she said, her voice low and urgent. Zach's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but he nodded slowly.

"Okay... sure, what's the question?"Liora took a deep breath, her eyes searching his face.

"Who is Lara?"Zach's expression froze, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.

"l... Heard Kalen say the name.....And I..... I saw something weird yesterday." He was still shocked but curious to know what she saw. Liora's words trailed off, her eyes still locked on Zach's, searching for a reaction.

Zach's shock gave way to curiosity, and he leaned forward slightly.

"What did you see?" he asked, his voice a little softer than usual. Liora's voice dropped to a whisper.

"I walked into Kalen's study and... I discovered a secret passage. I went in, but what I saw was horrible... Kalen was in a bad state. He wasn't himself at all. He was... like he was being controlled or something. And then he said her name. Lara."Zach's eyes widened in alarm, and he looked like he'd been punched in the gut. His face paled, and he quickly glanced around the room, as if checking for listeners.

"Liora.... Are you sure about this? ," he whispered, his voice laced with worry, guilt and urgency. Liora's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression a mix of confusion and determination.

"Zach, what's going on? You know something, don't you? Tell me the truth, now."Zach's face went rigid, guilt, and fear flashing through his eyes. He stood up abruptly, knocking his chair down.

"Li, I will be back," he muttered, already out the door. Liora was left sitting there, staring at the empty doorway, totally lost. What's going on?

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Zach stormed into kalen's study furiously. Kalen was sitting close to the window as usual...... His eyes were fixed on something beyond physical eyes. He did not flinched or react to Zach's sudden entrance. He wasn't surprised at all, in fact he was expecting him.

"What did you do?" Zach yelled trying so hard to control his anger. Kalen neither move nor say word. He did not even acknowledge Zach's presence which really pissed him off.

"How could you let him find out about you..... Are you planning killing her!!" Zach's voice boom across the room. His last words echoed.....

"She found out on her own. There is a big difference" kalen's voice was flat and unbothered by the intensity of the energy Zach was creating.

Kalen's calm demeanor seemed to fuel Zach's rage even more, which made Zach clenched his fist really hard.

"A big difference?" Zach repeated, his voice dripping with incredulity. "You think there's a big difference? She's going to be hunted now, Kalen! Because of your carelessness!" he spat, his words laced with venom.

Kalen slowly turned his gaze from the window, his eyes focusing on Zach for the first time. His expression was eerily serene, a stark contrast to Zach's fury.

"She was going to find out anyways," Kalen's voice was flat, and he turned back to the window, his gaze drifting off into the distance. Zach's face turned red with frustration.

"You think this is a f*****g game?" he growled, his anger simmering just below the surface.

Kalen's silence was deafening, the only sound the soft rustling of the curtains in the breeze. Zach's clenched fist shook, his anger and helplessness threatening to consume him.

"I have told you this before, if anything happens to her I will kill you ," he spat, before turning to storm out of the room..... But before he could reach the door, Travis burst in. The look on his face was horrifying.

"Boss.... We have a problem" Zach frown at the urgency and panic in his tone.

"What?" Zach asked

"it's... Miss Liora... She is in danger" for a second Kalen's finger tapping on the chair armrest stopped mid-air. Zach's widen in shock.

Kalen's eyes snapped back to the window, his expression unreadable as the room fell silent once more. The tapping of his finger on the armrest resumed, the only sound betraying his emotions.

Travis's words hung in the air like a threat, and for a moment, it seemed like time itself had frozen. Then, in an instant, chaos erupted. Zach's voice was a low growl as he demanded,

"What do you mean she's in danger?"Travis's panic was palpable.

"she has.... Been screaming in pains... And she was coughing out blood"The words hit Zach like a punch to the gut, He immediately rushed out with Travis behind him. His speed was vampiric.

They tore through the mansion's corridors, Zach's mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Liora's screams echoed in his head, and he could almost taste the metallic tang of fear.

Liora's screams grew louder, and Zach's gut twisted with fear. What was happening to her? He burst through the door, his eyes scanning the room frically. Liora was thrashing on the bed, her body contorted in agony. Her eyes were wild, and her mouth was foaming with blood. Zach's heart dropped.

"What happened?" he roared, grabbing her shoulders to hold her still.

"I.... I think this is sorcery.... I've seen it before" Lucas who has been trying to hold her down said.

Everyone's eyes widen shock. Zach turned to Lucas, his voice echoing.

"Call Rhine or Ellen here right now!!" he yelled

"They left for Ravenswood today" Zach's face twisted in horror as he looked back at Liora. Rhine and Ellen were the only witches present to help and now they are gone too...... Before he cold think of anything. A cold freezing presence greet the room. It was Kalen.... Only him came have such aura.

Kalen looked at the figure on the bed trashing, for a minute. He stepped closer and took a seat next to the her. He brought his hand up to her fore head and immediately his dark forest green eyes changed to pure red.

"kalen.....what are you doing?" Zach's eyes widen in shock because he knew exactly what Kalen was doing. He was using his demon powers to absorb her pains. The room fell silent, the only sound Liora's labored breathing and the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath Kalen's weight. Zach's voice was a harsh whisper,

"Kalen, don't. You it's dangerous."Kalen's eyes remained fixed on Liora, his expression eerily calm.

"And the only way," he murmured, his voice low and hypnotic. As he spoke, Liora's screams began to fade, her body relaxing into the bed as Kalen's powers took hold.

The air seemed to thicken, the shadows in the room twisting and writhing like living things. Lucas and the others backed away, their eyes wide with fear. Zach stood frozen, his fists clenched at his sides. Kalen's eyes glowed brighter, like embers stoked to life. The room grew colder, the temperature dropping to the point where their breath misted in the air. Liora's pain was being drawn into Kalen, and with it, the poison that had been coursing through her veins.

As the minutes ticked by, Liora's breathing evened out, her body relaxing into a peaceful sleep. Kalen's eyes remained fixed on her, his face a mask of concentration. The darkness swirling around him grew thicker, more intense, until it felt like a living entity in the room. And then, as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped. Kalen slumped.

TBC