Gamble of Death

When We Need Each Other

Edith POV

He unlocked the door.We were back at the apartment the next day.I felt like I was fine and could deal with whatever happened.

Blake held the door opened for me as I walked in.He walked inside and locked the door again.

"Do you want something to eat?" He asked.

"No,I am fine." I replied.

"Okay." He answered.We had dinner on the way and I wasn't hungry at this moment.

Blake looked terribly sick and I wish I could just do something more to pay him back.To tell him how much grateful I am to him.

"I guess,we can go to sleep.If you need anything.Just knock.If you are hungry,there is food in the refrigerator." He explained.

"Okay." I replied.He turned around to walk away to his room.

"Hey Blake." I tapped his shoulder as he turned around.

"Yes, Desdemona?" He asked.

As he turned around,I didn't waste a second before embracing him as tightly as I could.I burst into tears as he embraced me back.

"Blake...I am sorry." I cried.

He didn't say anything.He just ran his fingers through my hair and comforted me as I cried.

"Please forgive me." I wiped my eyes and looked at him.

"I am not mad at you.Not now at least.What I did was wrong too.Des,I have forgiven you and everything is good.It's just that...the way I've trusted you,the way I've let you in before.I can't now.I am sorry." He said.

"Why can't you?" I asked.

"I am sorry." He replied and walked away.I didn't know what he was feeling.I didn't know what I was feeling.I was so desperate to have his trust back.His care and kindness.I wanted it back.

Blake POV

Life was hard.I have been dodging bullets my entire life but a bullet like Desdemona? I never saw it coming.The bullet penetrated right through my heart and the most unfortunate thing was...the bullet is still stuck in the midst of my heart and I couldn't get it out no matter how hard I tried.

I punched the wall as I leaned onto it.I couldn't be this weak.When did I let my guard down? I wasn't this weak.What is this feeling? Why have I never felt it before? Why was this feeling so unfamiliar to me?

I threw my shirt on the ground as I crashed onto my bed.

Maybe it was for the best.Maybe the distance between us prevented us both from falling for each other but...was I too far gone? I felt so helpless.I felt like a loser when I lost control over my heart.

I closed my eyes and prayed that whatever it was, I hope it leads us both to the better path.

-

I opened my eyes when I heard a knock on my door.At first,it felt like I was in a dream but I heard whimpers along with it.My heart stopped.Without even processing anything,I was standing in front of my door when I saw Desdemona crying.

"Des? What happened?" I asked as I placed my hand on her shoulders.

"I can't sleep.There are monsters.They are gon- they are gonna kill me too like they killed your men.They will assault me like they did to that girl.Blake,I-"

"Des,come." I brought her to my room.I locked the door again and made her sit on my bed.

"You can't let her in again!" A part of me yelled.

"She is scared!" Another part of me said.

"She will break you again!"

"She just needs warmth and comfort!"

"She is a user!"

"She just made a mistake."

I was done letting my demons control me all the time.I was done even letting my angels control me.I control myself and I control my heart.

When I turned around and saw that little girl crying,all my opinions disappeared,my anger,my pain, everything.I walked to her and sat beside her.I wiped her tears and pulled her to my chest.She cried and was shaking.

"Lay down here.I will get you some water." I whispered.She crawled under the duvet and whimpered silently.I got her a glass of water and pulled that little thing outside the blanket.She drank the water and calmed down a bit.She wiped her tears and looked at me.

"I am sorry.I was scared.I should...I should go.'' She said and was about to get out of the bed.I grabbed her and faced her.

"You can sleep here.You went through a lot.It's okay to be scared." I said in a sleepy voice.

"No,I don't want you to push your boundaries for me.I am sorry.It was just an impulsive action." She got out of my grip.She looked so sick and weak that it even felt terrible to let her go sleep alone with the monsters she felt.

"It's okay,Desde-"

"Yes,Blake,it is okay.You don't have to let me in." She said.I frowned at her words.What did she mean?

"Taking care of you is not about letting you in or trusting you.It's called compassion." I said.

"I am sorry.I shouldn't bother you like this." She turned around to leave again.I grabbed her wrists as she flinched in pain.I almost forgot about the marks around her wrists,legs and all over her body that she got because of me.

I cupped her face and looked into her eyes.

"Just because I don't trust you doesn't mean that I don't care for you.I do and I... always did." I said.

"Thank you." She replied and turned around.

"I am fine now.Don't worry." She whispered and walked out of my room.

-

She walked out of the room and rubbed her eyes.She saw the breakfast and sat down.

I was dealing with some issues here.These media people are the worst to handle.They will write anything they want.

I got a text message from my assistant to check the news.I turned on the TV immediately.

"Last night at the west dock,Blake Alaric saved the lives of many girls who were being human trafficked but what brings him there? How did he get the location of those girls? The questions still remains as we are yet to get a statement from Mr.Alaric himself."

I sighed and turned it off.

I called my assistant immediately.

"Boss."

"Is it a crime to save people now? Why are they always drawing out an unnecessary line?" I rolled my eyes.

"Boss,they want you to join a conference this afternoon.They want you to clear out any rumours.I mean,you should go,boss.Rumours has it that you were involved with them.Some are saying that it was a publicity stunt for you.This rumour, however,has no solid foundation so hopefully we will we fine."

"God." I sighed and rubbed my forehead.

"I don't have any energy to face these things nowadays." I whispered as I rested my back on the couch.

"Boss,I think it will cause problems in your image afterwards.I suggest it's better to clear this out once and for all." He suggested.

"Yeah,tell them that I am coming." I replied.

"Okay,sir." He said and hung up the call.

I buried my face with my hands.I really needed a long vacation.I've been drowned in works the past few days.

"Everything alright?" A voice startled me from behind me.I looked up and saw Desdemona.She looked pretty sick even today and everytime I see the chain marks and cuts on her body, I feel twice guilty.

"Yes, everything's fine." I replied.I really didn't want to engage in any conversations with her.I just wasn't ready for another step.

I stood up and walked to my room,leaving her all alone.I tried to shake it off my mind.I grabbed a new pair of suit to wear.

I quickly took a shower and got ready to go.

I didn't say anything to Desdemona before leaving.I felt that it was better to stay as far away from her as possible.

-

"Mr.Alaric, why were you at the west dock last night?" One of the reporters asked.

"One of my closest friends was abducted last night.When I got the news that she was missing,I had my men search for her.When we got there,we found out that there was a human trafficking organisation there." I explained.

"Mr.Alaric,were you somehow affiliated with them?" A reporter asked.The nerves on her.I wanted to break their necks.

"No,I wasn't.I've said it before that my people do not harm women and children.Whatever you hear, it's just false accusations against me.This will be the last time I am saying it."

-

The press conference went smoothly.At least better than I thought.I unlocked the door and walked inside.It was dark.

I almost forgot about Des.I walked to her room and she wasn't there.Her balcony window was open.The curtains were moving due to the wind.

"Desdemona?" I called out to her.

No response.

"Desdemona!" I yelled.No response again.I checked the entire house.She was nowhere to be found.The doors were locked so she couldn't have gone anywhere.If she wasn't gone.Where was she?

"Desdemona?!" The voice was at it peak.If she ran away again,I would send her away for good.

I sighed and stood in front of her room.I almost had a heart attack when suddenly a little thing wrapped her arms around me from the back.

"Desdemona." I whispered and turned around.She was crying.It looked like she's been crying for hours now.

"Des, what happened?" I asked.

"You left me alone." She broke down in tears.

"I didn't-"

"Yes,you did." She cried as she slapped my chest with her small hand.

"Des,look at me." I took her small face in my hands.

"You left me with the monsters." She cried.

"I didn't leave you.Look at me.I went to work that's all." I replied.

"You didn't tell me when you left." She calmed down a bit.

"I am sorry I was in a rush." I whispered.She moved my hands from her face and walked inside her room.She quietly closed the door.

Edith POV

I washed my face and laid down on the bed.The monsters,it was all in my head.I have to face it.Blake doesn't care anymore.Even if he does he cannot help me deal with my monsters because he would've to push his boundaries for me.

I felt afraid to sleep.Whenever I did,I saw those monsters chasing me and every time I failed to escape them.

I had a headache.I just wanted to sleep.Now that I know that I am not alone anymore,I could sleep in peace.

I closed my eyes to sleep.Within a few minutes,a knock was placed on my door.I didn't answer because I didn't want to talk to him either.He walked inside and gently called my name.

When he saw that I didn't respond,he walked towards me and sat beside me.He leaned closer to my ear and whispered,"I really hope that you will be able to sleep peacefully tonight.I hope you will only see good dreams which will make you happy.I am sorry for not being there for you.I am sorry for not being man enough to face you.I hope that we will be fine soon so we can go on vacations together.So that you can yell at me for eating seafood in front of you." He chuckled.His voice was so painful that I couldn't control the stream of tears.

"Good night." He kissed my temple before walking out of the room.

After hurting him in the worst possible way,he still whispered sweet wishes in my ear.