570 A sign* (1/2)
”The prophetess didn't see anything, unfortunately.” Zeke then said, his gaze now on Abi, and immediately, disappointment and worry flashed in Abi's eyes.
”Oh, dear,” she uttered softly, biting her lips as she worriedly faced Alex. Abi couldn't help but feel her heart ache for Kelly. If even the prophetess couldn't help, then who could? Abi knew that the prophetess and Ezekiel were their last hope. So if these two couldn't help as well, what would happen with Kelly and Kai? Was it really hopeless?
The solemn and sad look on Abi's face made Alex worry. He grabbed Abi's hands that were resting on her lap, and squeezed them gently, comforting her. Because Abi was looking down, she didn't see how Alex was glaring at Zeke, silently urging the man to say something that could lift Abi's spirit.
Zeke stared at Alex, maintaining his relaxed posture on his chair. Zeke could almost hear Alex's pissed voice as he told him to remember that Abigail was pregnant and that she was sensitive - the very words he said to Alex to send him away. But Zeke remained unbothered despite Alex's intensifying glare for a short while, until eventually, he spoke, just right before a sound could leave Alex's mouth.
”But…” Zeke said. Abi's head lifted almost immediately, and she looked at him with an expectant look again. ”Because of what happened to Kai, I believe there must be some changes in his body now.”
Confused, Abi eyes darted between Alex and Zeke. ”What happened to Kai?” she asked Alex.
”He self-destructed. He did that so he could stop himself from killing Kelly,” Alex told her, and Abi's lips parted in shock again. ”What he did was something that supposed to kill him, but miraculously, he survived. Though it appeared he still suffered a huge price.”
”Price?”
”Yes. His lifespan has tremendously decreased. He now has a lifespan of a human.”
For a moment, silence hung over the room. While Abi was still speechless and processing the shocking news, Zeke started to speak.
”He'll grow old like humans and die of old age.” Zeke's voice was serious. Although his face still remained expressionless, Abi was sure that this was something that's unacceptable to him. Kai was Zeke's younger brother, after all. It was hard to believe and accept that Kai, who was supposed to still live for a few more hundreds of years, would soon die a few decades later.
”My theory is that Kai managed to survive the self-destruction because of his royal blood.” Zeke resumed the conversation.
”Must be. No royalty ever tried to do that before. As far as I can remember, he's the first.” Alex replied as he continued gently rubbing Abi's hand with his thumb.
”I am still not certain if there are more changes in Kai's body aside from his lifespan, but there's a possibility that this could be the answer we are looking for. Perhaps, his sacrifice opened a way for them to be together.”