Concealed Love

Chapter- 30 ' took down his mask'

Back to the evening when Jace visited Ella, she invited him inside and asked him to have a seat, but he looked troubled unable to look at her in the eyes and clenched his fist.

She asked him, " Is everything okay? Is something wrong? "

Jace looked up at her and asked, " Can I ask you something?" And before waiting for her reply he added, "Is Iri important to you? "

Ella was a bit puzzled, she asked " What are you talking about? Of course she's important to me, did something happened to her? " She panicked a little thinking maybe something had happened to her and Jace came to inform her about it.

Fortunately that was not the case as Jace replied sternly, " No, not yet. If I do what I'm told, she won't be hurt. "

Ella was running out of patience and raised her voice a little, " Jace! What's going on, what do you mean not yet. where is Iri, say what you came to say nicely. "

He looked up at Ella, straight into her eyes and making his mind up he said, " Fine, I'll tell you in a way you can understand it most easily. Iam a demon, a half breed. "

The moment he said those words, he was pushed up against the wall by Ella, who was strangling his throat, " What's your goal, why did you disguise yourself as a human and approach us, did you hurt Iri, where is she? did you meant to hurt her all along?"

Jace struggled to speak but he was prepared for such reaction, he hold the hands gripping his throat and said, " She's safe and I never meant to hurt her, let me go, I'll tell you everything. "

He told her that his real goal was to spy at Al, and report everything to the masked man, even he himself had never seen his face nor why he hid it. At first he was simply following his boss's orders not knowing what he was in for.

Some time after spying on Al, being around him and his friends, he got attached to them and even fell seriously for Iri. He was about to go back and tell them that he didn't want to do it anymore but they were not willing to make him back out at that point.

They threatened him telling him to bring Ella if he wants to stop acting as a spy for them. They had already guessed his feelings for Iri and so they threatened him that if he didn't bring Ella, then Iri will be the one to get hurt. The one he chose to bring to their side was unfortunately but obviously Ella. Iri was the reason for his change of heart and she was the one he was most willing to protect.

Jace went to Ella to capture her and bring her to her enemies but before that he decided to leave a way out for her. Ella was everything for Iri, a friend and a parent and Jace knew she would hate him for the rest of his life if he hurt her so he chose a bit safer way for her and a tough road for himself.

He knew if Iri was involved Ella would follow her so he decided to consult with her to go with him willingly. When the demons asked for Ella it also most definitely meant the devine sword as well but he bet her safety on it, keeping it behind hoping for Al to find it.

After hearing his explanation Ella had no choice but to agree, she let him go and followed him as a victim. They entered the cave and as expected the demons who saw that he had brought no sword with him realised that they had been betrayed.

The masked man asked for the sword even after noticing it was not with them. He was furious as his hands burn in flames, he punched Jace in the stomach sending him some few meters back.

Then, he turned to Ella and grabbed her chin forcefully making her look straight at him " Where? Where is the sword? "

She tried to fight back but both her arms were captured by the other lackeys and she could not retaliate, but instead of looking down she smirked and said, "guess."

He slapped her with the back of his hand and asked again, " Where have you hid it? "

She looked at him with bloodshot eyes filled with hatred and said nothing, scoffing at his anger. He hit her again on the other side of her face.

The lackeys on the side punched her stomach and shouted at her shouting, " answer the master. "

The masked man ordered his men, " Leave her, my men will find it soon enough, I was prepared for his betrayal anyway. " He scoffed.

He added, " Maybe if they're lucky they might even find the girl, Irene was it? "

Jace and Ella both shouted, " Don't touch her. "

Jace looked at the man and shouted in anger, " You gave your word that you won't harm her. "

The man turned to his side, grabbed him by the throat and said, " You think you're thay important? Besides you even dare betray me, I'll give you your wish and kill you right here. "

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

Al was not a person who showed much of his feelings in both his life and after every part of him settled, he revert back more to his past self; calm, collected, gentle, stern and strong. He had accepted the reality that he had been reborn in a different generation and that the him in this generation had a seperate life. He was able to safely come on terms with his current self and make his mind stable.

When he saw Jace in that situation in the cave, he didn't really felt that angry. He may have the choice to freely feel and show his emotions now in this lifetime but he had no interest in it. He never felt the need to feel anything for anyone except her. His attention turn back to Ella who was bruised on both sides of her face and blood surfacing at her mouth. It was already healing up but it lit a fire in Al as his temper surfaced and his anger shot up.

He entered the place accompanied by a strong wind, alerting them and before anyone could see the situation he had already killed the man holding down Ella and was standing by her side.

Ella looked at him in shock, she sensed his power and knew that his powers had returned possibly along with his memories.

He picked her up off the ground by holding her by her shoulder and within the knees. He looked at her thoroughly and after confirming that she was well he put her down to stand by herself but close to him.

It took a while before Ella could speak and even then she only spoke out his name, " Al? " She was trying to ask whether if he had remembered everything.

Al who got her message smiled at her, still holding her by the waist, he bend down a little hold their foreheads together and with his eyes closed took a deep breath, relieving himself of his worries and anticipation.

The woman he wanted to hold and protect in both his life was in his arms right by his side. He caressed her hair lightly and said, "it's been so long, you must have suffered a lot but I'm here now. "

Ella understood that he had fully regained his memories and could contain her surprise face however before she could get over it they were interrupted by a clap. The masked man clapped his hand and said, " What a touching reunion, welcome back, Oh so devine prince. " His voice full of mocking and sneer.

Jace who was being strangled by him was having a hard time breathing after the masked man let go of him. He was having a coughing fit lying on the ground.

Al didn't even flinched at his interruption, he had purposefully avoided them. He lazily turned his head, looking at the people surrounding them, than fixed his eyes at Jace, " you were one of my current life's friend? Why is he here. "

The man answered for Ella who was feeling a bit reluctant, " Oh him? He's just a half breed who works for me. I assigned him to remain by your side but just like the past you, he chose to die for love, hahahaa.... Ahhh, so so so foolish. I told you to come with me but princess, you why did you never listened Ella..... Ahh if you had just been by my side. I'm sure all the sand in the hourglass is almost fallen now, what will you do now. " There was a hint of distain and anger in his voice.

Ella turned towards the masked man asking, " What do you mean and how do you know of the hourglass? "

The whole time Al was keeping his eyes fixed on Ella. Not even surprised by the fact that Jace was a spy around him like he couldn't even be bothered by it.

"Hmm... You'll find out soon. And this friend or now a former friend of yours betrayed me because he fell in love with the girl you brought up. " With a laughing tone he added, " The one you recently had a fight with.

Ella got alarmed and growled, " Don't touch her, he brought me here so you should have no reason to hurt her now. "

He pretended to think about it for a bit and said, " Well, that's true. But you don't have to be so harsh on me dear princess, afterall I'm doing it all for you, everything.... All of these. "

"What do you mean? Don't joke about such things. " She frowned.

The masked man touched his masked, tilt his head looking at Ella and asked " Don't you ever wanted know who Iam princess? I'm sure you'll be delighted to see me. "

Ella couldn't make the decision, she didn't even think that he'll be someone she knows. She always thought that whoever he was doesn't matter to her.

He chuckled, raise his hand and finally took down his mask, revealing his face, his thick eyebrows, hazel eyes, pointed nose, thin lips and his sharp jaw. His lips curved upwards and he brushed up his brownish blonde hair.

Ella looked at him, nearly forgetting to breath in shock she stammered and said " Edward!! " And Al squinted his eyes a bit.