"I'm a monster," she whispered, raising her eyes ever so slowly to meet those pair of dangerous deep red. "I was scared, Abel... I was terrified."
"Come here, darling."
"No." Aries shook her head profusely, taking a step back on instinct. "I will hurt you."
"You can't hurt me."
"I can!" Her breath hitched. "I'm holding a knife. I will stab you."
Abel's eyes veered to her hand that was clutching her bicep and caught the knife in between. "That won't kill me, darling."
"It won't, but it will hurt you!" Aries raised her voice, not caring if someone else would hear her. She took several steps back when he took a step, shaking her head.
"I just want to see you and ask if you came to me." She started pacing, biting her thumb, unknowingly pointing the knife right at her chest. "So, did you come to me? Did you find me? Abel?"
Aries perked up and set her eyes back to him. Her brows rose as she waited for his answer.
"So?" she urged once more when a full minute had passed in silence.
"Why do you need the answer, darling?" he asked instead, causing her frown to deepen. "And why are you even asking me that question?"
"Because —" her breath hitched before she hung her head low. "Because... because..." — because she might not seek help anymore ever again. Or, she might not call for his name once again, or even think of calling for help the next time and just swallow death.
There were a plethora of reasons she wanted to know if Abel came to her, but at the same time, nothing could perfectly describe her heart. She was only certain of one thing and that was she needed to hear his answer. It didn't matter if it was a lie or the truth, since she could tell anyway.
"Did you..." Aries trailed off as she caught two pairs of shoes in front of her, raising her head only to see him up close. "... come to me?"
"Even if you are in hell or in heaven, darling." Abel bent over, clipping his fingers in between the blade that was aimed at his side, eyes on her. He pinched the metal so hard until its crack crawled from the tip to the handle.
"I will come for you, I will hear you, I will recognize your scent," he continued, wiping the corner of her eyes with his thumb gently. "You don't have to call for me, because I won't allow anyone to take you away from me. Even death doesn't have the right."
Her face crumpled as tears continuously rolled down her cheek. "I'm scared."
"Don't be." Abel cupped her cheek and looked at her deep in the eye. "I'm here, darling."
Aries held his wrist and unknowingly dropped the knife. "They will hurt you," she blurted out without realizing what she was talking about.
"They can't."
"They can!" she argued desperately, tugging his wrist, hoping he would listen. "The black shroud! It's inside me! I'm a monster — I'm not joking, Abel! Call me crazy but please, please, please, believe me! They are going to kill you, no... me too... they will --"
"Darling." Aries snapped her eyes and looked back at him, only to see him sigh faintly. "Don't let them get inside your head."
Abel leaned in until his forehead was resting against her. "The only way for them to hurt me is by hurting you. They will break me by breaking you. Don't let them do that to you."
"But..."
"Shh..." he shushed, opening his eyes ever so tenderly. He drew his head back until their face was a palm length away from each other. "I will be fine and I will make sure you will be as well."
Aries pressed her lips into a thin line as she held the back of his hand that was cupping her face.
"Promise?" she squeezed his hand mildly. "Give me your word, Abel. That you won't leave me too."
He nodded. "I promise."
A deep sigh of relief slipped past her lips because she could always trust his words. Abel might be fickle, but he never goes back to his word. His words were his bonds, and promises were something he valued.
"Let's go back, darling," Abel suggested, but she shook her head immediately.
"Joaquin is there," she answered, gripping his hand tightly. "I don't want to be with him. I want to stay with you, Abel."
"Hah… what a dilemma."
"Please?"
"And your plan?"
"I don't care!" Aries yelled, jumping a step closer to him. "Stay with me… just tonight."
The side of his lips curled up subtly as his eyes grew gentle. "I don't ever recall saying no to you." He bent over and planted a peck on her left eye.
"Staying with you had always been the plan."
Aries smiled weakly as she finally nodded, agreeing to return with him. She watched him take one step and in one swift move, her feet left the ground and she was in his arms. She wrapped her limbs around him on instinct, tightening her grip around his neck as she squeeze herself into him.
"We won't fit there," she whispered, leaning her forehead against the side of his neck.
"Mhm."
Aries frowned but hid her face in him while securing her arms around his neck. "My head hurts," came out a muffled voice, only to feel a soft peck on top of her head.
"That's why you will rest more," he said soothingly.
"Don't go."
"I won't." Abel walked over to the front of the tent leisurely, not caring about the knights around. The knights didn't seem to have seen him, though. No one stopped him from entering the crown princess's tent.
"Darling," he called, but Aries tightened her embrace. A quiet sigh escaped his mouth as Abel laid her down on the bed with her still clinging to him.
"Don't go," she repeated, loosening her arms, but just enough for him to draw his head back so they could look at each other. "You promised."
He smiled. "I did." His eyes softened as he rubbed her chin with the back of his hand. "But it should be me telling you that, darling."
"Don't go," he repeated the words she kept telling him. "Come back to me, my love."
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