Devil's Prison

Chapter # 36

Aurelia was with Elliot, they were having lunch together at work but her mind was stuck on what was happening.

How Alphonse treats her as an exception and she cannot shake this thought off of how he is trying to change for her.

Groaning, she rubbed her temples, shutting her eyes to console herself. She wanted to divert her mind from the constant nettling in her chest.

He is a criminal, Aurelia. Forget about him, you must not feel anything for him. Anything.

She reminded herself, inhaling deeply to annihilate any chance of immersing her thoughts in his shine.

“Aurelia? Where are you lost?” Elliot called, snapping his finger before her to drag out from her worrisome thoughts.

“Nothing.” Blinking, she remembered where she was and shook her head, replying coldly.

“What is wrong with you? Nowadays you don’t respond properly.” He frowned, displeased with her recent distraction from him.

“Sorry, I was thinking.” Her resonance was dejected, hugging herself to discard uninvited thoughts.

“What is happening? Did he say something? You know you can tell me.” He asked, resting his hand over hers, trying to reassure her.

She glanced at him in bafflement but collecting her thoughts, she called him hesitantly, “Elliot…”

“Hmm?” He smiled, hoping to ease her distress.

“What would you do if I mess things up at an important meeting?” She asked vaguely, trying to grasp what is afflicting her mind.

“What?” He chuckled, not apprehending the context of her talk.

“What are you saying?” He asked again, pulling her close. He didn’t know how to deal with her weird question.

“Answer…” She asked desperately, narrowing her eyes in perturbation.

“Come on, Love. Don’t talk stupidly. That man is only intoxicating your mind.” He chuckled, narrowing his eyes in perplexity, shaking his head.

“No, No, Answer.” She insisted, pulling his sleeves.

He wanted to disregard it but for her sake, he sighed and told her the obvious answer.

“I might get angry, yell at you because you said if it was important and who doesn’t get angry when something critical is disturbed?”

He shrugged, speaking whatever was coming to his mind, not pondering much about it.

“Yeah, I would be too. It’s natural to be angry when a significant piece of work is ruined, right?” She nodded, nibbling on her bottom lips.

She agreed with his words, he was right, anyone would do it.

“Yeah. Of course.” He nodded, coming closer.

“Hmm.” She hummed, nodding, lowering her head more, closing her eyes slowly.

“But, why are you asking? Did he do something?” He asked, noticing her features, how vexation shines on her face.

“He was about to call off his important meeting only because I caused a scandal and was at fault but he wanted them to apologize to me.” She told him with a sigh, getting the weight off from her chest.

“What? What was the meeting about?” He asked hurriedly, focusing more on the meeting.

“I don’t know. He is truly sharp, hid all from me.” She told him dryly, not lifting her head but soon her heart clenched or skipped a beat. She couldn’t understand which one it was.

“He is crazy.” She chuckled emotionlessly, shaking her head, before looking back at Elliot who was worried.

“Who was that person?” He asked sternly, thinking this could be their chance.

“Dan Dale. Another drug dealer we cannot catch.” She smirked emptily, knowing their position, what they were capable of.

They cannot high level criminals like them without proof.

“Tsk. Why didn’t you try to know?” He scoffed, moving back, folding his arm, showing ire at her.

“He left me all alone there. What do you expect me to do?” She asked, curling her lips down sorrowfully, she didn’t like his display of anger.

“It could have helped us. You should have thought a little and bond with them not just cause havoc but you wanted to show your power.”

His words pricked her heart of how he was getting furious, placing the blame and fault on her.

“But-” She tried to speak but he cut her off.

“What is wrong with you, Aurelia!? Can’t you think properly?” He hissed, losing his patience, infuriated at her.

“Elliot, please.” She whispered, trying to justify but he scoffed.

“Maybe you should have thought first but no. Maybe you want to stay with him, that is why you are not trying at all.” He mocked, deriding her.

She gasped, eyes widened in disbelief of where he was taking their conversation, it broke her heart. His comments made her more miserable.

“What is with you, Aurelia? Did you lose your mind after your marriage?”

He continued to chide her but losing her patience, she slammed her hand on the table.

“Yes. I f*****g did. You want to hear more?” She growled, astonishing him by her rage.

She was heartbroken to think he is not understanding her state, moreover placing faults on her account.

“I am exhausted from all this, I am terrified of him and you are doing nothing about it.” She growled, scratching her nails on the table, ignoring the tremble they gave to her body.

“His very presence intimidates me, I cannot stay a second with him but I have to bear all of it and no one is there to help me.”

Her voice croaked, the fact she had no support to free her from her prison, stole her strength.

And his remarks only re-opened her wounds.

“I am going insane and all you are doing is to yell at me for something I never did.” She snarled with a tear pricking in her eyes.

“Baby, I-” His tone softened, hoping to change his statement but a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Put me in your place and do this when at your one mistake you can lose your f*****g parents!” She whisper-yelled to ensure no one else listens.

All of them already doubted she was threatened but not accepting it. A tear of defeat glistened on her cheek, disappointed in Elliot.

“Love… I didn’t mean it like this. I am sorry.” He whispered, rushing to her side to hold her but she slapped his hand.

“Don’t touch me!” She hissed, pushing him away, running her hand in hair out of perturbation he augmented by his ridiculous words.

“I am so sorry.” He said softly, coming closer.

“I didn’t mean to. I just.. I apologize for getting angry.” He sighed sincerely, holding her tightly.

She was about to push him again but couldn’t, she only had him.

“Sorry, love.” He whispered, embracing her to not let her go.

“Elliot, please, I have already lost hope, please don’t do this to me.” She whispered with tears gleaming in her eyes.

“I won’t, I won’t. It’s okay.” He smiled, wiping her tears, assuring her, holding her closely.

“I am scared… I want this to end. I am afraid to lose you.” She sniffed, holding his shirt.

“You can’t lose me. He cannot harm me. I am here, we will prevail.” He proclaimed which boosted her strength.

“You think so?” She asked innocently, desperately wanting to believe in his words.

“Yes.” He laughed, kissing the top of her head.

“I love you.” He whispered, holding her face in his hands, staring deeply into her gaze.

She smiled feebly, looking away shyly but he slid his finger under her chin to maintain their look.

“Don’t just smile, say you love me too. I haven’t heard it on your lips for a long time.” He whined, brushing his nose over hers, grinning.

He wanted to hear it on her lips, he wanted her verbal confession, to express it before him.

“I.. don’t feel okay.. Saying it.” She murmured, averting her orbs in woe, wanting to speak it but couldn’t.”

“Why not? This cannot change the fact that you love me too, so say it.” He shrugged casually, laughing a little.

His one hand moving and gripping her waist as his other hand held her chin, caressing her lips with his thumb, creating an unavoidable tempting moment.

“I love you, Aurelia.” His resonance went deeper, huskier while connecting their bodies and eyes to not part.

She stared back, impotent to explain the weird unsettlement in her body, she wanted to neglect but didn’t and replied in the same tone.

“I love you too, Elliot.”

He smiled after it and leaned down, pressing his lips on hers without a warning. Her heart stopped, mind went blank by his unexpected action.

She couldn’t move for a second when he kissed her, an unwanted disruption affected her, gripping his shirt firmly.

She was about to push Elliot away as she was not mentally prepared to share further intimacy with him. Things for her changed after her marriage.

Narrowing her eyes, she was about to push him away but another voice came, horrifying her to no extent as what she dreaded the most occurred.

“Aurelia.”