The sun was setting in the deep horizons. It was quiet, perhaps and peaceful. Samantha being here with him crushed the waves that didn't put him to rest. Ethan stared at her as she was holding a butterfly. Very enthusiastic, he started crawling towards her to where she sat. He was coming like a predator, who had marked he's prey. She lay supine, entertaining the butterfly on her index finger when she suddenly felt a body on top of her. Their gazes met and she realized how brown his eyes were, how his body was like fluid. Ethan stared at her, completely awe, very enchanted by him. She was a sweet temptation he couldn't ignore. He felt as though he were eve and she was the serpent, alluring, delicious and sweet. Would he be guilty if he brought her to ruin. Since he met her, there was this thing that possessed him, pushing the chains of obsession to control her and her under his watch for twenty-four hours a day. That loneliness that gnawed him to insanity had been fading over time. Ethan slowly lowers his body on top of hers, not once had she refused him, his touches, his kisses, his caresses she accepted all of them without hesitation. He loved it when she was submissive only to him and no other man. He moved closer to her face, so close,
"Samantha, are you afraid of me?" He whispered softly into her ear. Something fluttered deep inside her, still contemplating on her response.
"No, I don't, in fact, you're the only person who's never looked at me with disdain, anger or hate. The only thing I fear is... the emotions that you stir within me. I want to flee from them the same way a rabbit flees from a pack of wolves. They mend me yet they scare to break me." Her silver eyes shone, her tone passionate. Ethan pinned her hands above her head. He has never been pleased with anyone in his entire life. She was his, forever, she had become obsessed with him, the way she was obsessed with him. This was what made Ethan realize, he's never letting her go, never. He dropped a wild passionate kiss on her lips; it was a forbidden kiss between a man and a woman; not a boy and a girl. He was greedy, extremely tempted to absorb her into his body. No one could judge his actions, her warmth, her softness, he wanted them all to himself. Samantha Alec Merlin was his, no one not even the devil nor angels could take what he'd created. He broke the kiss, she was flushed, both of them panting. Her cheeks flushed a bright rosy red and it was the most gorgeous thing he'd laid his hands on. He stared deep into her eyes before nibbling her ear, biting and marking his claim on her neck.
"Do you love me, Samantha?" Ethan asked trailing kisses along her neck, she had loved him since the first day she'd laid her eyes on him. She saw him like an archangel that had descended from a different realm. The only difference was that he didn't have wings, if he did, they'd be brown or golden. Perhaps glittering in the evening sun or on a snowy path. He made her heart flutter and her mind unreasonable. She always wished their smallest moments would last forever, each time having premonitions that he'd fade away just like everyone else.
"He's sweet, he's genuine, he's kind, he makes me feel like I belong, he shields me, he protects me. That is the Ethan that I love dearly." She says it finally. Ethan bites her neck, he literally bites her the way a cat bites you, constantly nipping with his canines. If he had to tattoo her whole body with, he's name, he was willing to. Samantha's arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, massaging his hair. Darkness had dawned but they seemed not to care. Minutes turned to hours but they were in their own bubble. There was this faint, white light that emitted from him, it made her feel safer than ever before. Samantha reached up just like Eve reaching for an apple in the tree of knowledge, she kissed him, touching his face with her infinitely delicate, encroaching, wondering fingers. Her fingers went to the mold of his face, over his features. How perfect and foreign he was, how dangerously handsome he was. Her soul was thrilled, a face of a forbidden man. She touched him, putting her fingers over his face, his eyes, his nostrils, over delicate brows and his ears, to his neck, to know him, to gather him by touch. He was so firm, tender, shapely; with such satisfying, inconceivable shapeliness, strange yet utterly clear. He rolled over, carrying him with her, now she straddled him as his back lay on the soft grass. He was such an unutterable enemy, yet glowing with uncanny white fire. She wanted to touch him, and touch him and touch him, till she had him in her hands, till she had strained him into her knowledge. If she could have precious 'Knowledge' of him, she would be filled and nothing could deprive her of this. For she was so unsure, so risky in the common world.
"Your so 'beautiful'," she murmured in her throat. He wondered and was suspended. However, she felt him quiver, she came down involuntarily nearer upon him. He could not help himself. Her fingers had him under their power. The fathomless, fathomless desire they could evoke in him was deeper than death, where he had no choice. She lay her head on his chest, felt his heart beat loudly, so alive.
"Why did you ink your neck with tattoos." Her hands moved to her neck where some drawings were peeking. Ethan's arms wrapped around her and he lay her head on her chest, not wanting her to see his eyes.
"I just wanted to annoy my parents, perhaps I wanted to control myself, rather it was desperation. The piercings too, I got them the same day with the tattoos, I just felt like I needed to." His eyes carried this unfathomable look that he didn't want her seeing. She kissed his heart and murmured,
"I love you; I will stay with you forever and ever." Samantha said this promise with sheer determination, not knowing Ethan had gotten what he wanted. For her not to forget him, for her not to live without him, for her to only think about him, for her to only love him, for her only to look at him, for her only to dream for him. He was pleased, very happy indeed. As the king of chess with each piece in place, nothing or no one could move without his consent. His brown eyes became darker, a smile curled on his lips, he was the judge of yesterday, today and tomorrow. However, Ethan Duke Masters was not aware that what lie ahead of him was guilt and judgement far worse than what he'd anticipated.
*. *. *. *.
Andrei Hawkins Masters sat close to his wife Amanda Courtney Masters, he gulped down another mouthful of whiskey and he felt a pleasant effect transcend the insides of his body. Lady Ada Lu sat next to Elizabeth Matthews, Natalie Alec Merlin and on the right side of the seat was Tomas Matthews Merlin. All of them patiently waiting. Grace and Miranda had taken the long sofa set staring keenly at the falling darkness that had already engulfed the sky. Arthur, Deib and Rafael were gazing at the falling embers of the chimney, the fire consumed the chopped logs, creating a warm atmosphere. Mark stood at the window, staring outside, gazing at the moon that shone brightly. Mark was perfectly aware that there was a good reason as to why Ethan's parents were here today. Through the window, he saw Ethan and Samantha as they walked hand in hand. He was sure something horrible was about to transcend tonight.
"Where is that young man, we've been waiting for more than an hour!?" Andrei Hawkins asks his tone strained; he gulped down his whiskey to ease down his temper. Ethan and Samantha came into the house idly chatting and Ethan Duke Masters stopped in his tracks. His body went stiff, his eyes dark and his hands gripped Samantha's very tightly. He stood there, gazing at his father's brown eyes, they stared back at him intensely. Andrei's gaze was in deep meditation bordering acute vexation. If there was one person who troubled him, it was his son Ethan. In fact, if he looked back, his son was always out of his senses. Being away for four years, it had been hard to control him and limit him to his rules. However, that was about to change.
"Ethan Duke Masters, you're heading to Canada with us, the following week to be specific! It's not a request rather than an order from a father to a son." Andrei says, slowly with ease. Utterly disgusted by Ethan's contemptuous look and creepy smile.
"I will not, Mr. Andrei Hawkins Masters! You are strangers that I haven't met in four years, I am satisfied living alone, living my life the way I please." He says cutely accompanied with a sweet smile. He was calm on the outside yet on the inside he was seething with anger.
"Young man! Who do you think you're talking to?! Can you wipe off that smug cute smile from your darn face! Do not forget I am your fath-
"Cut the crap old man, for all these goddamed years, you come creeping from f**kin' hole, suddenly popping up! You pop up in my f**kin' life, F**KIN' COMMAND ME! As who? I will not be going anywhere with two faggots that creeped from some dead-end sewer." Ethan says with unlofty concern, his temper rising. How dare they! Andrei's temper completely flared up, he'd had enough of his son bullshit!
"Ethan, son calm down, please just listen to me and your fath-
He cuts off Amanda Courtney Masters, "my dearest lovely parents, I am not obligated to follow or obey you, in fact you two should be in prison for child neglect and emotional inconsistency. Four darn years, four f**ink' years Masters', you were never present! You come back wanting to take me, where to? Another big empire you were building? One of your many big businesses you were consistently preparing for me? Or perhaps another big lonely house for you to abandon me in? Did it ever occur to you I didn't need that! Did it ever cross your f**kin' minds that your son was home alone? Did you stop once and even think that one day you might come back and find your goddamned son dead!" Ethan snaps angrily, completely enraged.
"However, you're not dead my dearest son, if you insult me or your mother any further, I won't tolerate it, since you've grown far more stubborn, I am forced to use this means. Son it's your fault, it's always your fault for hurting those close to you, but you forced me to do this Ethan." He warned earnestly, his eyes gleaming with a threating glance before he looked at Samantha. Samantha's hand tightened arounds Ethan. The atmosphere tense and dangerous; it was suddenly silent and still. Ethan smiles, giving Andrei a cuter smile,
"Go on, it will be my pleasure, it will be my utmost joy if you strip me on the Masters' title, my money, throw me on the street, disown me, for four years I've lived without you, do you think I can't live another twenty, thirty or forty? Take your money, take everything it doesn't motherfucking matter Mr. Andrei Hawkins Masters'."
"Ethan Duke Masters!" Lady Ada Lu Merlin snaps at him, "they are your parents, watch how you talk to them! If you do not listen to your parents, I am obligated to take action immediately, my immediate action would be to take Samantha Alec Merlin to Korea, you can stay here, for as long as you want, however, Samantha will be going. I will put a restraining order on you for sexual harassment and you will not come anywhere near her. Moreover, I will make her disappear from your life and everyone completely; you will regret it for the rest of your life." She says harshly and sternly.
The room goes dead drop quiet before a tear drops from Samantha's eye. He didn't sexually harass her. She loves him dearly. Why did they want to separate them? Why was her grandmother so cruel? Why was she lying? Samantha wanted to say this but she couldn't, she wanted to scream and shout but she didn't only the silent drops of tears fell.
"Bloody hell! This was your plan Andrei, wasn't it; beating me at my own game! Ha! Like father like son! You really do cheat in every aspect of life don't you? Fine my dear father, I will be your puppet for as long as you need, as long as Samantha stays." Ethan says calmly and Andrei nods before moving to tap his son's shoulder.
"You did well my dear son, you still think like a king, now let her go and come with us Ethan." Andrei says smiling. Samantha's grip on his hand tightens but he doesn't look at her, he pushes her hand gently and nods towards Lady Ada, "Joanna, Camil and Sei, come and escort Samantha to her room." She orders the servants instantly and they grab her forcefully tearing her way from him and she screams,
"Nana, please NO! Don't take him away too! Please nana! Please don't I implore you, just listen to me for once, I won't ever ask for anything in return, nana, please!" She screams louder, "Ethan, you promised to never leave me, you said we'd be together for eternity, I LOVE Y-
"However, I don't love you, Samantha. I never have." He tilted his neck and smiled in a stoic way; his eyes devoid of emotion, a very genuine smile but those words left a bitter taste in his mouth, "Your only thirteen, after a simple show of affection you fall in love, Sammy, the world out here is far cruel than you think. It doesn't revolve around you." He concludes but suddenly why does it feel as though he'd just lost something important. Why does it feel like his heart is being pulled out? Why does it feel like time stopped and the only picture in his mind is her broken face, stained with tears? What had he done? He leaves without looking back and he knows deeply he is GUILTY for making her obsessed with him and treating her just like all of them.