Concealed Love

Chapter- 23 "The faster you get here, the safer she'll be..."

        At Osaka, Japan, Ella was sunbathing at the hotel balcony when her phone rang, it was Jace who was asking for a video call.

She smiled as she saw the call notification but put on a straight face when she picked it up, " What is it? "

Jace was grinning at the other side of the call, " Just wanted to check up on you, how is it there? "

" Nothing much, it rained a little yesterday but the sun is up again today. What bout there? " Iri asked.

" Hmm it's as humid as ever here. I wanna go there too. " He wined.

" Haha, ditch your work. " Iri joked.

" Oh don't encourage me like that, I can't leave here. " Jace grumbles.

Iri laughed and continued teasing him, " Aw, you don't wanna come see me? I thought you liked me. "

Jace looked at her adoringly through the phone and with a smile and a serious tone he said " I do, I really do. I'm sorry I can't go over, I wish I can be with you. "

Iri was a bit off guard by his sudden seriousness and blurted out with a blush " I was just joking, no need for you to come here, what are you acting so serious. "

Jace showed her a checky gentle laugh and looked at her smilling like a fool. Iri who was trying so hard to hide her blush, blushed even deeper, " Why are you looking like that, say something or I'm gonna hang up. "

" Hehehehe.... I love you. " Jace said only that with a flashy smile.

" Okay, I'm hanging up, I'll talk to you later." She waited for him to reply.

" Hehe, Take care Irene, Goodbye. " He smiled so gentle and looked so good that her heart jumped erratically in her chest and she hung up before facepalming herself and giggling like a little girl.

Iri loved him and she knew, she thought that it might be too soon for a relationship between them but she was falling harder with his every words and act. She decided to agree to him some time back but wanted to have a little fun with him just before dating.

Iri stood up from the chair in her tippy toes, swirled around and entered the hotel room, preparing to go at the shooting side.

She was never this eager to return whenever she left for shooting, she was excited to see Jace's face when she finally agreed to him, she wondered whether he will be surprised, happy or maybe cry? 'Hehehe' she laughed at her own absurd thought and anxiously continued with her shoot.

It had already been more than a week since she came to Japan and the shoot was going faster and smoother than planned so she was expecting an early return.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Ella was currently at the basement sitting at the table looking at the things she had put up in there. The porcelain vase, the pearl necklace, the paintings on the wall, the treasured hairpin and her own ancient picture.

She stared at them for a while and smiled at herself, thinking it really has been a long time since she has been lurking around in this earth.

The day before, before he left Old Li had told her how to revive Al's memory as well as his powers and the consequences he could face. If Al got in direct contact with the sword, his memories and powers will come to him, the longer he hold it, the better and stronger it will get until getting all his powers back completely.

She thought about it all day but couldn't decide. If she decided to get him back, there are chances of him going rampage if the current him didn't accept him or the him of the past couldn't adapt to the present. However that was better than the other worst outcome, the demons were waiting for the moment he revive, they weren't gonna miss it if she tried anything suspicious.

She thought of it for the whole day, destroying the sword was never an option and she even dout for there to be a way to do so. If she destroyed it than there was no other way to bring back his power as a result there will be nothing more to defeat the demons. She herself was a demon, she herself was a chaos that needed to be put out, she will be more than glad if the time for her to end came soon, her life was never her concern.

She looked at the hourglass by the side which only had almost completely fallen and decided, it was time to bring him back, worst come to worst, she'll die protecting him.

She had made up her mind and got out of the basement, took the sword disguised as a staff and opened her door. But before she could go anywhere else, there was an uninvited guest standing in front of the door.

Jace was standing there at the front door and asked " You have somewhere to go? "

Ella would have said 'yes' and avoided them if it was someone else but she didn't want to be rude to him. She saw the affection Iri had for him and it was rare for Iri to show love for anyone and she had to put in effort as her gurdian for her betterment and in finding and building a good relationship.

" No, it's nothing important, come in, do you have something you need? " She invited him and he followed him in.

" Yes and I'm sorry. "

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Al was having a gloomy day at his office, last night his mother nagged at him all day asking his relationship process, she even went as far as saying that ' I'm not growing any younger by the day, can't I at least see my daughter in law and a cute adorable grandchild before I die? '

" Mom you overacting, you're not that old and I can't marry in a rush, I don't even wanna marry yet. " He complained mentally telling her ' the one your son wants is hard to get so both of us have to wait. '

They were having dinner and his dad was not a serious parent but also not a big talker so he went on with his food, smilling and commenting a little now and then. He was a strong capable man who would do anything for his family and he loved and spoilt his wife the most, and his wife who also know this side of him spoilt him and happily get spoilt in return.

But currently his mother was not about to let him go just yet, she continued " What ' don't want to marry' you are going to one day whether you want to or not, a person can't live alone all his life. " Suddenly she took a shocking realisation and looked at Al with widen eyes calming herself down, keeping down the tableware thant were on her hands and said " My dear, dear, one and only son... Is it that you don't like girls?..... You can tell mom sincerely you know, mom will accept whatever you and your choices are. "

His father who was eating silently by the side chocked on hearing his wife speak and stated firmly trying to control his out of mind wife " Aster!! "

Aster, " Oh what I just wanted to make sure. "

" Haaaaa" Al rubbed his head and looked at his mother almost defeated, thinking 'dad spoils her too much', he convinced his mother, " Mom, don't be ridiculous, I don't have such preference and I'll find a woman at my own pace. "

"Tch, fine, fine. So serious just like your dad, I'm the only normal one in this family, Ah... So lonely" She exaggerated.

Both of the boys sighed and they finished their dinner pleasantly.

Currently at the his office Al remembered his mothers words and complaint to himself " I also want to be in a relationship but what can I do if the woman I'm chasing won't even think of me, haaaa. "

Jonathan went back to his hometown and Jace was taking off for a day so he, who had to work alone was not being happy.

As he was complaining about everything he couuld think of he got a message in his phone. He turned it on to see that it was from Jace, Al cursed him internally and reluctantly opened his message.

" The faster you get here, the safer she'll be. " Was the only text written below a picture of Ella's room.

Al didn't know what to think of it, he called Jace but it was off so he tried calling Ella but no one picked it up. Usually he could have thought that it was a joke from Jace but this time he didn't feel like that at all, he thought that maybe he was over reacting but he felt like he had to rush there.

He grabbed his car keys and walk out of his office, drove his car and went directly to Ella's house.

He reached there after some short minute, he pulled over his car in front of the gate and went in, he knocked at the door but saw that it was open. When no one came to welcome him, he pushed it inside, calling Ella's name and Jace's as well.

No one replied to his call and there was nothing strange about the room apart from the fact that the house was deserted and the door was open, it was as good as the last time he visited it. He looked around for a while and saw that the only peculiar thing in that room was Ella's staff, which was lying in the middle of the table, looking almost like it was calling out to him.