The Essence Of The Darkness
EOTL eps 24: Ultimatums

Silence rang out in the conversation over the phone connection. A chest-stifling silence, as Xavier could not see, judge or study the reaction of his interlocutors on a phone call like this.

Everything was based on the sound decanter, and if there was no sound like this, Xavier would feel helpless.

Xavier himself really did not like it if he was in a position to feel helpless….

“Akram?” deciding to fight the silent nuance that strangled his neck, Xavier was the one who finally broke the silence first.

Akram's voice was ringing across the street. Then, the man finally spoke.

“Are you sure?” ask Akram then carefully.

Xavier tilted his head involuntarily and directly asked, “What do you mean?”

“About this wedding and Serafina Moon. Are you sure? You haven't known him for too long, let alone there's still a remnant of past grudges between the two of you that are still blazing and unresolved. Anyhow, marriage is not a bond that can be played with. If you don't really want to make her a wife and treat her as a wife, you better not marry her.”

Akram's advice is spoken slowly and with great caution. After all, Akram realized that he was no better than Xavier, even arguably he was worse. The story of Akram himself before marrying Elana also cannot be seen as a story full of wisdom. Akram started everything wrong, with coercion and hurtful attitude. But, he was grateful for getting a second chance, and in the end, was grateful for getting a second chance, he does not give up and tries to fix everything until he is rewarded with luck by being able to marry Elana in an unforced bond between two humans who love each other.

However, Akram knows that Xavier's story is very different. I don't know what makes Xavier take the impulsive decision to marry Serafina Moon, but what Akram believes is that there is no love there. She doubted that there was love from Xavier's side whose heart was frozen, and she was sure that Serafina Moon, who had a deep grudge against Xavier, would not be willing to undergo this marriage.

“Regarding the grudge issue between me and Serafina, I will solve it soon. That's why we are in Russia,” Xavier replied later without a second thought.

Once again Akram berdehem. This conversation was very personal, and Akram actually felt uncomfortable to talk about personal matters with Xavier given their relationship that had never been good before.

But Xavier's words about those who were his only remaining family touched his heart. At least, as someone who is considered a family, Akram wants to give his input to Xavier, so that the man does not take wrong decisions that might destroy everything.

“Why did you decide to marry Serafina Moon? Do you love him?” akram asked without further ado, indicating that he wanted a firm answer from Xavier.

"No. I don't love her." The firm answer as requested by Akram instantly slid from Xavier's mouth. He already believed that his dark heart would not be able to feel the luxury of falling in love. "I know that I can't possibly love anyone else. However, Serafina Moon had a darkness that was very similar to mine in the past, she was subjected to torment and trauma so I felt we were two human beings who were almost the same. Shouldn't two people who have something in common end up together and have something in common with each other?" Xavier took a long breath. "I wanted to have Serafina Moon and make her live life with me, because I felt that we were meant to be together. Two broken humans that could no longer be repaired, sat together to accompany each other. Isn't that fun?"

Silence returned, then Akram finally asked, "Is that the only reason you married Serafina Moon? I understand if you don't have love and can't fall in love. But what about respect and respect for each other, the desire to keep your partner, the empathy and sympathy that drives you as a couple to support each other? If you two don't have it all, what will be your marriage to Serafina Moon? Are you creating hell for yourself?" Akram refuted quickly, expressing his concerns clearly to Xavier.

Xavier chuckles. "Trust me, Akram, I've been living in hell all this time. This marriage will be a better place than the darkness I've been living in. I may not be as lucky as you to have a marriage full of love and happiness, but I dare to guarantee you that I will make this marriage work" Xavier said in a steady tone.

Akram took a long breath. He himself knew that there was no point in forcing Xavier to rethink all of this or even overturn this impulsive decision, because Akram knew best how stubborn Xavier would have been if he had made the decision.

At least he had already expressed his thoughts and asked Xavier to be careful. If this is the case, there is nothing Akram can do but support his foster brother, right?

"alright. Give me your wedding date. I'll adjust it to my schedule."

Xavier's eyes widened as if in disbelief. "You're coming?" he asked, a little out of control so that his tone was higher than usual.

Again Akram cleared his throat awkwardly, I don't know how many times Akram cleared his throat earlier during his conversation with Xavier to neutralize the awkwardness that spread between them.

"Yes, Xavier. Not just me, but Elana and Zac. The three of us will come," he broke up in a firm voice.

***

"Where are you?"

Elana who had just entered the study of her husband frowned when she heard her name called. Her wide, innocent eyes stared at her husband's stiffened back in shock at the sudden appearance of Elana's voice.

When Akram turned his body and looked at his wife with raised eyebrows, Elana immediately looked at Akram suspiciously.

"Who are you promising to?"

Akram chuckles at the attitude of probing his wife. Somehow, Elana always has a strong instinct if something goes wrong. Akram had intended to keep this a secret while waiting for Xavier's wedding date to be confirmed, but now of course he can't do it.

"I promised Xavier." Akram embraced Elana and gently kissed her forehead. "The three of us are going to Russia. I think it's time for Zac to make his first trip."

Elana looked up, staring at Akram in confusion.

"We're going to Russia..?. visit Xavier? In what order?" suddenly anxiety enveloped Elana's face. "What did Xavier do in Russia? Did he make trouble and need our help?"

Akram smiled while shrugging his shoulders. "Xavier is fine" Akram said in a calming tone. "He. uh. is finishing some business...."

"Kram Night, do you intend to keep everything from me and just open it at the last moment? If you want to take me and Zac across the continent to visit Xavier, then I should know clearly what the case is."

Akram raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you trust your husband? Have I not always been faithful and desire only you?" Akram bowed his head then brought his lips closer to his wife's ears, deliberately exhaling gently there to tease. His lips then could not stop, retaliating to the lower side of his wife's ear, peeling Elana's chin before about to move to the neck.

But, Elana put away her husband's ill-timed seduction, she stepped back, crossing her arms around her body in alarm.

"We're not talking about trust and loyalty in that," Elana cast a warning look at Akram despite her lips smiling gently and her cheeks blushing from Akram's temptation.

Of course Akram will not let go of his wife just like that. When Elana stepped back, Akram stepped forward, until he finally pushed his wife against the wall with both hands trapping Elana there.

"If I tell you everything so clearly, will you promise that you won't reject me?" Akram grabbed Elana's chin and looked up to her beloved woman to look up at him.

Elana's cheeks were already flushed red while her lips trembled in shame when the woman finally spoke in stammer.

"I. I never refused you," whispered softly which made Akram could not take it anymore.

Both his hands took his wife into a hug, drowned her tiny body firmly against him, and his lips kissed Elana's lips, in a loving kiss that flowed with desire.

Akram almost forgot himself - as usually happens when he was holding the body of his beloved wife - lucky Elana was able to resist her husband's desire and break their kiss that tempestuous\, the\, then pushed Akram's chest away and tilted his head to release their linked lips.

"Explain all first, new to bed." said Elana with a stammering voice because her breath was breathless.

Akram chuckled, while passion roiled within his eyes.

"Can't we reverse the sequence? Bed first, just talking?" persuade her with a raucous voice of seducing.

Elana immediately shook her head strongly. "T-no! If you reach the bed first, you will usually spend a long time there. Well, we can't talk." Strictly and bracing herself, Elana stepped back and looked at Akram to mengultimatum. "Speak first, Akram."

This time Akram chuckled loosely, pleased with the attitude of his wife who rebelled and dared to mengultimatum himself.

Elana's eyes widened and her beautiful and moist lips were smudged by Akram was immediately opened wide.

It took some time for Elana to digest Akram's notice before she placed her hand on her mouth to seal the shock.

"Xavier is getting married? Ba-how can? When's? Why....?"

Akram who understood the confusion of Elana immediately scooped his wife's tiny body into a sling. When Elana's hands automatically looped around her neck, Akram could not help but kiss Elana again, causing Elana to release her grip and hit Akram's chest to remind him.

"Acram! Talk.." said Elana later, painstakingly break away from the pagutan lip Akram.

"I'll talk. Later. I promise I'll talk after we finish our business in bed." Akram kissed his wife's lips when he saw Elana open her mouth to protest. "Later, Elana. You know that I can't concentrate on talking properly if I. uh...."

Then, regardless of his wife's protesting again, Akram took Elana out of the study room, straight to his room.

***

Almost a week has passed since Sera was admitted to the hospital. Every day the nurses took blood samples to check the condition of her organs exposed to the poison, and they always said that Sera still had to undergo treatment and take the medicine they gave her to recover.

Xavier came every day, but the man never spoke. Xavier always carries his job, sits on a large sofa located at the end of the room, and does not start any conversation with Sera. The man even refused to make eye contact with her, although Sera could see that Xavier's lips were commenting on the annoying smile every time Sera threw a hateful angry look at him.

Sera always felt dizzy every time Xavier came to her room because it made her have to hold herself back so as not to open her mouth and start a conversation with Xavier first. Xavier's silent attitude of not wanting to start a conversation with Sera was definitely intentional, the man was present in this room and covered his mouth, because he wanted to see who was more resolute between himself and Sera. Anyone who can't help themselves and start a conversation first becomes the loser. And Sera doesn't want to lose to Xavier.

That was why, every time Xavier came into this room with his silence, he replied with the same silence. Trying to ignore the man's presence and dismissing him as some kind of invisible protozoan, though sometimes Sera could not help but throw a hateful look at the man, all he knows is that it makes Xavier a pleasure.

Sera actually wanted to shout at Xavier, wanting to force the man to answer his question about Aaron's condition.

Really he wants to know what kind of condition Aaron is currently in, is the man being held in prison? Did the man get the right medical treatment like himself? Or maybe, maybe Xavier even tortured Aaron vilely all this time?

How much Sera wanted to ask all that. But, fortunately, in addition to his pride that keeps his mouth locked, his logical mind also warns him to shut up, because, he, it's possible that Sera's questions about Aaron could even trigger Xavier's anger and endanger Aaron's life.

Now, after a week passed, Sera felt she could be proud because she managed to carry out her silent movements smoothly. Unfortunately, it could not last much longer, because today, Xavier decided to break up the power struggle holding silence between them, by stepping into the treatment room while taking the laboratory results of Sera's blood sample, then taking a seat on the edge of the bed and handing the laboratory examination file to Sera's hand.

"It's time to go home" Xavier said in a stern tone. "Your lab results have shown improvement. Your dose of medicine has been lowered so you can put the drug into your body by oral means and no need to IV by infusion again." Xavier's hand moves and releases Sera's handcuff key which turns out to use an advanced system with Xavier's own fingerprint recognition to unlock it.

When the handcuffs opened, Sera immediately held her wrists with her other hand, massaging them gently to relieve the aches in her stiff handcuffed hands all this time.

Xavier looked at Sera who was moving her wrists, then the man grinned.

"I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable all this time. However, I must do so to ensure your safety so that you do not flee." Xavier's eyes narrowed full of threats later. "I promise I won't handcuff your hand again if you're being nice and not defiant. For if you should defy once more and ignite your anger, I will handcuff your hands to mine, so that we will always be inseparable together and you should always be with you, even when I have to finish my business in the bathroom." Xavier observed Sera sharply. "Do you understand this, Sera?"

Sera threw a horrified look towards Xavier. This crazy man had always encountered the most terrifying kind of threat he could imagine, which was why there was no other choice for Sera than to nod his head though not wholeheartedly.

"Good." Xavier glanced at the treatment room, then again watched Sera sharply. "The nurse will come to take off your infusion and my men will bring you a change of clothes so you can change your clothes and take off the hospital pajamas."

Xavier's words immediately made Sera look alert.

"Changed clothes?" fear immediately struck Sera's mind. "Are we going to get married after this?" tanyanya.

Xavier smiled at the fear that struck Sera when discussing their marriage. His head shook slightly before giving an answer,

"Our wedding is a little delayed by a few days because I'm waiting for an important guest to come to this wedding which is only a few days away. So, I decided to reverse the sequence of two important things that we should do," he replied then in an enigmatic tone to make Sera frown even deeper.

"What do you mean?" sera asked puzzledly when Xavier did not immediately explain his point.

A vile light flashed in Xavier's eyes, as his lips uttered a sentence similar to the chant of condemnation uttered by the angel of death while taking his sinful life.

"It's time for your release again, Serafina Moon" Xavier said slowly. "We're going to visit Samantha Dawan."

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\====PRACTICE FROM AUTHOR====

Thanks for the Vote Points so far, thank you for giving the points to the author.

Thank you also for the likes, comments, favorite subscribers, and the five star rate. Thanks again

And sorry the post faltered yesterday because it was a lot of work. Simpli2an author can make up for everything.

Don't forget to read the other author's novel in Mangatoon too, titled INEVITABLE WAR, already up to episode 65 now you know.

This post without images first let pass the review quickly (if you use the image pass the old review.can be two or three days sometimes more). Later if it has escaped, the newly edited author is given a visualization image. Can be checked EOTL part 1-15 is now complete full image visualization yak.

Thank You - by AY