Chapter １８- Lagoon.

I wriggled under his grip. A strong fragrance of Oudh hit me as I froze on the spot. I turned around slowly, meeting with her green hypnotizing eyes. I slowly moved his palm from my mouth. The proximity between us drove me crazy. He tugged a strand of my hair behind my ear. He cupped my right cheek, as I felt melting in his touch. I felt my insomnia floating away and all I wanted now was to cuddle him and sleep in his warmth. 

"What are you doing here baby doll?" He whispered recalling me the reason why I couldn't sleep. Should I talk to him about it?

"I- I couldn't sleep."

He placed a finger on his chin and acted as if he was in deep thought, "What can we do to bring back my sleeping beauty's sleep?" 

Curving my lips in amusement, I felt the color of my skin turning redder. 

"Let me show you something." He smiled, tugging me with him, at the backyard. After walking for few seconds, the wild sound of waves echoed in my ears. 

"A lagoon?" I squealed, "It's so beautiful." 

He tugged my wrist, pulling me down on the bed of dried mahogany leaves. He held my hand, securing it as we laid down side by side. My heart was thumping wildly in my chest. I gazed at the black sky, that had sliver stars embedded on it. I peeked to my right towards him as I caught him staring at me. Insecurity hit me as I licked my lower lip.

Should I tell him? Should I tell him that I am sorry too. 

I pressed his hand and said, "Alex. I.. I want to tell you something."

He raised an eyebrow as his smile curved into a lopsided smile as he turned completely on his right, supporting his head on his hand whilst the other one gripping it tightly, "I am all ears." 

I licked my lips as I felt the words flattering in the sky.

"I...I"

He cupped my cheek forcing me to meet his eyes.

"I am sorry Alex." His eyes have me courage to finally open my mouth, "I just over reacted. It wasn't completely your mistake but I kept on blaming you, taunting you." I stared directly into them and let my heart out. 

"Alex I was so in love with you that I never thought of you with anyone else. I started assuming things without knowing what you thought. I should have thought about your feelings but I didn't. And when I learnt that you  are engaged. It felt like someone splashed a cold bucket of water on my face in a snowy weather. I felt numb. I had build a castle of hopes and when I learnt about Daisy, I felt that castle collapsing into dust." I paused for a second as my voice broke but I had to say. I cannot suppress these feelings inside me, not anymore. I gulped a huge lump in my throat and continued, "I was too dumb to misunderstand your friendship as love. Whereas you never said you love me not directly nor indirectly. And I just build a mountain from dust, and when it collapsed I blamed you. I removed my anger on you. I.. I am sorry Alex." I let everything out, looking down, scared to meet his eyes.

Suddenly, he grabbed my waist, pulling me closer, our faces were almost touching. My eyes were as wide as saucers as my hands touched his chest. 

"I am sorry to break your castle, I am sorry to ruin your mountain. Please forgive me"

He replied, I shook my head as tears ran down my cheeks.

"Can I get my best friend back?"

I smiled as tears were flowing uncontrollably.

Unable to speak I gave a nod. Wrapping my hands around his back, hugging me tightly as if my life depends on him. 

Today I feel like a heavy sac had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt the numbness of my heart exhaling out. It feels like I get back home after ages. I placed my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat. It was like music to my ears. 

I frowned as I felt a drop of water on my forehead, I looked up to see the drizzling sky. 

"Let's go. I don't want you to fall ill." 

We were on our way back to the house as our fingers were entwines together just like before. The fact that I will never be able to be his wife, his life partner breaks my heart but at the same time his friendship mends it. We will always stay together, if not as a couple, than as friends. Though I crave for all of him, I won't let the little die for more. I won't break my hut for a bungalow that can never be mine. 

In no time, the showers turned into a heavy rain. 

"I think we should wait here for sometime." Alex said pulling me under a shade.

"It's okay Alex let's get going. After all we are not very far." I insisted but he was like a strict teacher, "You were drenched in the morning too, I don't want you to fall ill."

"You wait here, I will call the driver." 

He turned to make a call as I sat on a stone, rubbing my arms, to generate heat. The weather was chilling.

I looked at Alex who wore a black hoodie and felt a drop in my hope. If he would have wore a jacket he would have wrapped it around my shoulders and I would have been able to feel his warmth and fragrance once again. But he didn't had one today. I looked around at the dark night, as thunders intensified. My eyes were roaming all around when I spotted a Black SUV at a distant on the road. A shot of familiarity hit my head as it started aching. I blinked my eye but the car was gone. Shaking the intuitions in my head, I averted my face to the other side. But then I froze. My chest heaved rapidly as it felt my heart will break the cage of my ribs, tear my skin apart and jump out any time now. His dark eyes  were staring straight at me. His face was under the shadow except his dark black eyes that were shining in the street light. His jet black hair fell on his forehead. I forgot how to breath. I felt like there was no oxygen.

I held my chest in an attempt to calm my jumping heart. 

"How much?" His words were ringing in my senses.

"Get in the car!" 

I wanted to stand up, I wanted to run, but my body was paralyzed and I felt frozen.

I saw him taking steps further. He was coming closer and closer. 

"No!" I yelled jerking up and taking steps back.

"Sasha!" Alex hugged me, "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

My throat felt parched as I failed to speak. I was panting badly..

ALEX POV.

Her lips were quivering as her body shivered as if she had seen a ghost.

I hugged her closer to my chest, in an attempt to deep in her fears.

I stroked her I was on the call when I heard her scream. I rushed towards her to find her panicked.

back, soothing her and calming her.

"He's here." She whispered, clutching my shirt tighter and burying her face in my chest, "he is here, he will take me away Alex."

Her chest heaved heavily as her body was trembling with fear.

I could feel the blood pumping into my nerves, making me furious but numb at the same time.

With a slightest hope that she is not talking about him, and she haven't recalled anything that happened on Saturday night, I questioned her, "Who Sasha?" She looked at me with a stare as blank as a starless night.

"Salazar!" She whispered in a monotonous voice. I stared at her with horrified eyes and a pale face, but she had no movement. She stood there completely frozen. I rummaged in her eyes in search of a hint of emotion, but she was deprived of expressions.

Wiping the sweat off my moustache, I couldn't help but scratch the back of my neck.

"L-Let's go." I said gripping her wrist but she shoved me away and squeezed her eyes shut.

"He is here for me. He will take me with him." She muttered and suddenly I could see a hush of emotion storming from her face.

"He will take me away. He wants me. He knows the truth. He knows everything. He wants to kill me Alex. He will kill me."

"Sasha!" I yelled at her, stopping her from blabbering and shaking with fear.

"He won't do anything!"

I punched the tree trunk as her condition worsened. I saw her panting. She clutched her chest and fell on her knees, fighting for an ounce of air.

Dammit! I cursed I saw her happiness turn into fear.

"He thinks I am prostitute." Her eyes were begging for help, "He wants to play with me. Please Alex, please save me."

"He wants to devour me and then sell me to others."

"He found me. He found me and now he will kidnap me." She kept on muttering, until I saw her eyes dropping but before she could collapse on the ground, I pulled her towards me and her petite form, collapsed on my shoulder.

Wrapping my arms around her, I hugged her as tight as I could. I knew she will be scared when she will know the truth but I am glad that she had recalled only the partial truth. The worst part of that night is still away from her sight.

—-

Sasha's POV.

"Now where will you run princess? Look I got you." His husky voice filled with lust, drummed in my ears. His black eyes boring holes in my skull as a dark scar near his left eye was a sign of danger. He was indeed a danger to me.

He took relatively slow steps towards me and I felt my legs shaking violently.

I tried moving away as the chains around me shackles violently.

"Princess." He touches my face with the back of his palm as I squirmed, "Let me go." I yelled.

"Sasha!"

I jolted on my bed at the voice of Alex. I looked around to find the dark, spooky dungeon replaced by a beautiful, sunlit room.

My throat felt parched, it felt like a desert, completely dry.

I sobbed as he hugged me, soothing circles on my back.

"Shh... Sasha. It was just a nightmare."

"Promise me Alex that you won't let him come near me. Promise me."

He hugged me tighter and whispered, "I will always protect you, and he won't be able to even touch your pinky finger, I promise."

Those words were like a bandage on my wounded heart. There's something about Alex that makes me feel secured. When he is around I feel myself at ease. I knew he won't let anything happen to me.

With his handkerchief he wiped my teary cheeks and then settled my disheveled hair neatly.

"I will be back in a second." He said before leaving the room. But as he left I felt the fear creeping in my heart again. I scanned the whole room for any signs of danger.

The door moved a bit and there in front of my eyes, entered Alex with a tray of food in his hand.

I get all the worries flowing away and my heart flicking cheerful in an instant.

Breakfast made by him! Oh God! How much have I missed it. The fresh smell of pancakes invaded my nostrils making me mourn for them.

"Pancakes!" I proved jumping on the bed.

"Yes." He smiled.