I walked in the room and stared at Elysium currently seated next to Landon watching comedy shows. Looking at his warm grey eyes fixed on Elysium as they both laughed at something, strands of dark brown hair falling on his forehead, an easy smile on his face, you definitely wouldn't think that this man right here was the same man who betrayed me.

"Little lion, I need to talk to Landon. Go upstairs in your room. Lock the door and don't come out no matter what you hear."I ordered calmly watching as Landon's posture stiffen.

Elysium looked into my eyes, confusion and curiosity flickering in his hazelnut brown orbs but I couldn't expose him to all this.

"Come on, go Mi hijo(My Son)."I said firmly.

Elysium looked between Landon and me before nodding. He switched off the TV and walked upstairs. The moment he was gone, Landon got up slowly staring into my eyes with a cold calculated gaze. His face morphed into a perfect mask of indifference that showed nothing of his internal thoughts.

I pulled my gun at the same time that he did, both of us pointing at each other with a deathly stare. None willing to make the first shot, our hands holding the gun with a firm grip, finger on the trigger.

"You are really going to shoot me, Hermano mayor(Big brother). After everything we have been through together? You will betray me for a girl?"Landon asked as if our brotherhood gave him all the rights to hurt the love of my life.

"If I really was a brother to you all those years, Landon.. You wouldn't have endangered her to begin with. You know fucking well she's not just a girl to me. She's the love of my life."I said, jaw clenched as we stared at each other across the room.

"What am I then? Your sidekick? I was by your side before her! And yet you were thinking of letting me go for her! I stayed in that god forsaken guild for you! Because I saw you as my brother, I stayed and you were willing to leave me behind!"Landon snapped, eyes flashing with fury and hatred. His hand on the gun started shaking.

"I never said I would leave you behind. I said I wanted to take her and leave yes but I would have taken you with me. I really believed you and thought dad was behind it. I even planned to take you, Celine and Elysium away to build a new life."I responded, chest burning with fury and betrayal.

Landon's eyes flickered with a myriad of emotions before turning into steel again. "You wouldn't. Even if you did think to take me, Celine would eventually take you away from me. And I will be left alone. Again! I watched Isabel stab my mom's lifeless body like the psychopathic bitch that she was. That snake killed my mother! My father couldn't even bother to stay for me either! So why would you stay too if Celine is in the picture!"

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath as sorrow consumed my heart. It was pointless trying to reason with him. Opening my eyes, I looked at him again coldly. "Where is She, Landon?"

Landon's jaw clenched as he glared at me, his fury rising to match mine. "Why should I tell you? You won't save her this time. I'll make sure you get to her after she's fucking dead."

Red clouded my eyes and it took insurmountable willpower to not shoot him in the head. "I put a tracker in her scrunchy. Agnus is tracking her location, Landon. With or without your help I'll get to her. But I'm asking you. I could kill you right now. After everything you did. But I'm willing to ask. Where. Is. She."

Landon's eyes widened with surprise and disbelief as he processed my words. He paused, assessing. He knew how efficient Agnus was. He knew as much as I did that Agnus would find her. But I couldn't wait. I needed to get to her. I couldn't let her stay with Kyron for 24 hours. God no.

"I won't tell you. I'll take that secret with me to the grave." Landon said, pointing the gun against his temple.

I rushed towards him just as Elysium's voice boomed in the living room making both Landon and I freeze. Eyes turning towards the source of the sound.

"Tío Landon, detente!(Uncle Landon, stop!"

Elysium was right there on the stairs, tears running down his cheeks. His bottom lip quivered as he stared at Landon with hurt.

God he heard everything.

I looked back at Landon watching as he stepped back. His expression immediately cracked. His composure fractured at the sight of my son. His eyes flickered with a barely visible flicker of guilt and sorrow as he watched Elysium crying. Landon always had a soft spot for Elysium and I think I now knew why. Elysium, like him, had lost his mother.

Maybe just maybe I could bring him back to his senses through his softness for Elysium.

There must be something left in him that was good..

"You really want to let Celine get killed and make Elysium lose another mother again? If you do this, what makes you different from Isabel?"I asked, watching as Elysium hesitantly approached Landon. His hazelnut brown eyes blurry with tears.

I wanted to shield Elysium right now more than ever but I knew.. Deep down that Landon would never shoot him. Not him. Maybe me. But not a child. Still I instinctively stepped closer to Elysium, gun still in hand.

"Tío Landon.. I don't know you too well.. But you have always been kind to me, you were always by Papá's side and I have always admired your friendship with Papá.. I have always wanted such a friendship too. I know you are not a bad man. I heard what happened to you.. And for that I'm truly sorry but.. Please Tío Landon, don't hurt my Mamá.. She didn't do anything in all of this" Elysium said in such a broken voice that my heart shattered further in my chest.

Landon's hold on the gun shook uncontrollably. He stared at Elysium with conflicting emotions, his heart fighting with his twisted mind and I prayed dearly that his heart won this time. "No.. No.. You weren't supposed to hear those things. It wasn't supposed to go like this!"

I clenched my jaw. "Then how was it supposed to go, Landon? Did you really believe if you made Celine disappear, you could replace her in Elysium's life? What did you plan, mhm? To console my son after her unfortunate death? Do you think he will heal from this!"

Landon's eyes snapped shut. He slowly lowered the gun but his hold was so tight, his knuckles were white.

"Please.. Tío Landon, I already lost a mother once. And I barely remember her face. My heart still cries from the loss of her every night. I cannot lose another mother. I don't want to grow up without my Mamá, Papá and even you by my side. Papá would never leave you. We all care about you, Tío Landon. Mamá Celine always cared about you too. Even if Papá and Mamá get married, you will still be in our lives and I promise I'll visit everyday.. Our hearts are big enough to hold love for more than one person. A lover doesn't take away someone's love for their sibling. I beg you please.. Tell me where my mom is? Please.."Elysium whispered between sniffles, hands gently reaching for Landon's hand.

Landon stumbled back looking like he'd just been physically stabbed with Elysium's words. His eyes shone with so much pain, sorrow and guilt when he opened them, I was almost tempted to console him. Almost.

I watched instead, breath held as Elysium carefully grabbed the gun from him with trembling fingers. "You couldn't save your mother but you can still help me save mine, you can still be good. Mom told me once that it's never too late to change, it's never too late in life to become kind and a better version of ourselves. That the darkness has a hold on us only if we feed it and let it control us. You can leave this dark place in your mind, Tío Landon and choose the light. Please.."

A single tear fell down Landon's cheek as he stared at me. A shattered breath leaving his chest. "He's taken her to the subterranean cooling tunnels beneath the old abandoned glass foundry on the north docks. It's an underground brick labyrinth. He's going to hunt her there."

The breath left my lungs in a loud exhale. Adrenaline and relief rushing through my entire body as I called Angus. The moment he picked up, I said "I got her location. I'll send it to you. Assemble all the men, we go there. Now."

I paused as Elysium suddenly hugged Landon whose entire body stiffen, eyebrows creased in disbelief. "Thank you, Tío Landon.. Thank you"

My throat tightened as Landon's arms slowly closed around Elysium in a protective heartbreaking hug. "I'm sorry my child.. I'm so sorry..Forgive me.."

Elysium hugged him tighter in response, making my throat tighten further.

"Go.. Save her.." Landon whispered to me when I kept staring at them both. His grey eyes filled with guilt and sorrow.

Every protective instinct in me warred with my mind. I didn't want to leave Elysium with him. I wasn't sure if I could trust him enough to let him be with my son alone. But the way he held Elysium like a lifeline made me give in.

Elysium was the only thing holding him back from losing his sanity right now. And maybe.. Holding me back from putting a bullet through his head too.

Even if he betrayed me.. He was still my brother. But I didn't know if I would be able to forgive him. Not now. Not yet.

"I'll be fine, Papá. Bring mom back home" Elysium whispered, looking back at me with trust and faith.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodded and placed a soft kiss on his forehead before turning to leave.

I'm coming, my little Flame.