Athena
Cora's eyes widened with fear, her hands trembling slightly. As for me, I had no idea how I was supposed to react. Yes, fear gripped me, and the sensation of the blade's tip pressing ever so slightly against my throat sent shivers down my spine, even though I had faced death countless times before. But this time was different; now, with every breath I took, I knew my child's life hung in the balance, vulnerable to the ultimate death.
What scared me, even more, was that the person holding the dagger was someone I had considered a friend.
"Aa-Aaron, what are you doing?" My voice quivered as my hands instinctively moved to shield my belly, as if I had already discerned Aaron's intentions. Was he truly here to harm me?
"I am doing what I should have done earlier," he hissed, tightening his chokehold on me and pressing the dagger closer to my neck, the tip bruising my skin. I gasped in pain, but he remained unyielding, "I have tried everything, Athena. I've attempted to make you understand in every way possible, but you... you chose that monster over me. And now, you're breeding another monster inside you. Was that your plan all along? Pretending to hate him while secretly waiting for the moment he'd grovel his way back and you'd accept him?!"
"Let her go, you fucking dickhead!" Cora made another desperate attempt to reach me, but Aaron stepped back, dragging me with him and pressing the weapon even closer. This time, a sharp pain accompanied the feeling of cold liquid sliding down the side of my neck.
A shocked cry escaped my lips, while a worried gasp slipped past Cora's, "Athena!"
"It's just a small cut. Listen, you stupid bitch, if you dare to move even an inch closer, I will kill her. Don't test me."
I whimpered, closing my eyes tightly in fear, "Cora, please don't step any closer. Please."
Cora instantly stepped back, fear evident all over her face.
"Yes, baby. Tell her. She's acting like a dumb bitch, not caring about the consequences of her actions. I can kill you within a matter of seconds, can't I?" He chuckled darkly, trailing his nose behind my ear, inhaling my scent. It disgusted me.
His actions now made me question how I had ever felt safe when I was closer to him.
"Look, I don't know what’s your deal or what you want, but please let her go," Cora spoke, trying to remain calm, but visibly failing, "Don't hurt her."
"Unfortunately, that's all I want to do right now. I once planned on worshipping her, but she left me with no choice. Now, there's no devotion left, only rage and hatred."
Was he this person beneath the mask all along?
"Why are you doing this, Aaron?" I managed to say, my voice trembling.
"Why? You still don’t understand?”He tightened his chokehold further, causing me to hiss in pain, "It's all because of you. Everything could have been perfect. I could have given you the life you wanted. We could have moved far away, but you... you chose that damn bastard, and now this... this piece of flesh." He pressed the dagger against the side of my belly, causing me to gasp.
"Please... please... please," I closed my eyes tightly in fear, my hands moving to hold onto his arm that suffocated me, "Please don't hurt my baby. I beg you."
"Begging will get you nowhere, sweetheart," He chuckled, "I have already decided what I want to do. And trust me, you have no idea what I have planned for your sweet child. It's a baby boy, huh? Alas! He won't get the chance to step into this world.
"I trusted you..." It slipped past my lips on its own.
Yes, I did.
I had placed a lot of trust in him because he was the first person who had ever shown me that he cared. But now, with a weapon against my throat, I couldn't help but wonder if it was all manipulation. Why would the same person I had considered a friend now threaten to end it all?
"And I trusted you too, Athena. I thought my love would be enough for you, but you..." He seethed, "You turned out to be a selfish and greedy woman, running back to the same person who messed up your entire life. And for what? Because he has more money and power? More influence?"
His hurtful words brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't believe he thought of me this way...
"I love him—that's the first and only reason I went back to him. It has nothing to do with his wealth and influence. If it did, I wouldn't have left him in the first place."
"Oh, cut the crap. I know it well. No matter how much you try to cover up the truth, it doesn't remain hidden. You didn't accept me because I was, perhaps, just a beta. And now, you will see what I will do," His voice was full of venom, terrifying me to my core. I had never thought that the guy who had approached me like a harmless friend would now be the one threatening me and the survival of my unborn baby. "And I am sure you'll see what you have done wrong."
"You call this love, you fucking asshole?!" Cora shouted, "Holding her hostage when she is in the most vulnerable stage of her life? You call this sick obsession of yours love?! No, it's not. If you loved her, you would have sacrificed your petty ego and let her live happily. Instead, you are letting your own insecurities weigh heavily on her. She is not selfish for choosing the one she love. You are the selfish monster who can't accept 'no' for an answer. She cared for you, she cared for the bond you two had, more than she cared for herself. But today, you proved that you are a sick monster, an insecure little child hiding behind the body of a man. You are the one who is selfish. You are so poor at heart that you don't even care what she's going through. You are the monster here."
"Trying to stick your friend's tag on me?" He quirked an eyebrow before emitting a low chuckle, "Great, I see. But, sorry to disappoint you, your opinion is as valuable as the dust under my feet, which to say, not really. So, why don't you just take the car and run back to your home? Because I am done taking the shit you are spewing at me, and I am not patient enough to waste a few words on you. And if I have to, I might just have to kill you which, to be honest, is not worth it. So, goodbye," Aaron pressed the blade tighter against my neck and slipped his hand around my waist as he dragged me to his car.
"Stop it, you fucking—" Cora tried to approach us, but the moment she laid her hands on me, Aaron used the same dagger to stab her.
"Cora!" I nearly screamed as I watched the blood oozing from her shoulder where Aaron had just stabbed her.
"I told you not to mess with me, lady," he pulled out the dagger in one go, not hesitating for even a fraction of a second, "I am not that kind of man, nor am I that patient."
She groaned in pain, stumbling backwards.
"I didn't want to waste my energy on you, but you left me with no option. I feel like killing you at this point," the calm and collected tone in which he spoke left me questioning if he was truly the person I had known all along. He sounded dangerous—a monster with no emotions, no empathy or sympathy.
"Why are you hurting her?! What's her fault in this?!"
"Her fault is that she's trying to take what's mine, and that's you, sweetheart," He chuckled, brushing his nose against my cheek. Disgust washed over me, and I balled my fists at my sides, "Anyone who comes near you, dies. And this includes..." He pressed the now blood-dripping dagger against my belly, tainting the peach colour with red, "Your child as well. So, let's go if you don't want me to finish this piece of flesh right away."
"Let her go, you monster," Cora managed to stand up, bleeding, "For god's sake, let her go."
"Cora, don't come near me. He'll hurt you," I said in a rush before taking a deep breath.
"I will come with you. Don't hurt her... or my child."
"No, Athena. What are you—" She made a move to approach me again, but Aaron held out the sharp weapon; pointed at her throat.
"You should always listen to what your friend says," He mocked, "If you step closer, I can pretty much promise that you will die."
"Cora, just listen to me and don't come any closer," I pleaded, "Please."
Tears gathered in her eyes as well, "How can I..."
"Just tell Sebastian to find me. I am sure he will." I managed to flash her a small smile, even though it would be tough for me.
"Time for the farewell," Aaron spoke through gritted teeth, "Let's go."
Without wasting another second, Aaron shoved me into the front seat of his car before getting in as well.
"I doubt your mate's ever going to find you, Athena," He smirked before starting the engine and taking off.