"But if you hold me without hurting me you'll be the first to ever did."

Arabella Karve "Eros left." My father says while sitting down on the edge of his desk and glaring darkly at me.

My heart stops as I hear his words.

The entire world feels like it comes to halt as I try to wrap my mind around what he just said.

"what do you mean he left?" My voice comes out breathlessly desperate. And I fucking hate that it does.

I know Eros hates me, but I didn't think that he would leave. I pushed him too far.

"He took his vacation early, went back to his house downtown for the week. He couldn't stand being around you for another fucking second, because that's the impact you have on people girl." He sneers.

I don't even listen to the rest of what my father says, because of the relief washing over me from his words. Eros didn't leave me.

"So that's all you wanted to tell me?" I say after a second, with boredom laced in my words. I cross my arms as my father stands up from his desk, the wood creaking beneath him. He slowly approaches me with a menacing look, causing me to take a small step back.

"No I actually wanted to discuss your fucking behavior in front of my business partners!" My father unexpectedly snaps, and the next thing I know, I am a sent flying backwards by his fist ruthlessly hitting me across the face.

My body hits the cold tile and after a minute, I look up towards my father in shock while trying to maintain my consciousness that is slowly slipping away. My fingers subconsciously brush against my throbbing mouth and tears begin welling in my eyes seeing the red color coating them.

Black spots fade in and out of my vision as the all too familiar iron taste fills my mouth. My father doesn't say anything as he glares down at me while shaking out his pale hand that is coated in blood, my blood.

"I don't know where you got the idea that you can talk like that to me, or the fucking people I work with."

I blink repeatedly, trying to get the black spots to disappear from my vision because I know if I faint in this office, I will only get more hurt.

"You are a fucking disgrace Arabella Karve. My unrivaled mistake."

As many times as I've heard these cruel words, they still manage to hurt the child within me who wants to be loved by her parents.

"If that ever happens again, I swear to God I'll strangle you with my bare fucking hands." He snarls, but the words don't even register because of the pounding taking place in my ears.

"Now get the fuck out of my office, I don't want to see your fucking face." I quickly pull up my unsteady body, and try to focus my vision as I stumble out.

The moment I finally make it to my room, I can't stop the tears that begin falling from my eyes, and mixing with the blood covering my face.

I take unsteady breaths and look out of my bedroom window, gazing upon the dark sky. Eros is gone. The only person who keeps tabs on my whereabouts is gone.

My parents don't ever notice when I stay in my room for days on end, they could care less as long as I am breathing.

I can leave.

That's the only thought that runs through my foggy mind before I pull out my black backpack and begin throwing the necessities into it. The room is spinning as I stumble around, desperately grabbing things from out of my dresser and bathroom.

I place my phone down on my bed, knowing there is a tracker in it that I can easily be found from.

Just incase my parents realize I am gone, I don't want to be fucking found.

"Montague" I sob softly while bending down to his height as he sits on my vanity, staring at me with big green eyes. "I'll be back okay, I just need a little while." I promise him through my tears as he stares at me innocently.

I just need a couple days. I can't be here one more minute.

I make sure Montague has plenty of food and water and I give him a small goodbye kiss. After I grab my bag and jacket, I struggle, but manage to pull my pained body onto my window seal.

And with that, I am gone. ********************** As I make my way through the dimly lit town, I continue to wipe my face with the sleeve of my black jacket, feeling relieved as the blood flow finally begins to end.

My father has been awful to me my entire life. This isn't anything new. But right now, I am at my fucking breaking point.

As the air gets cooler and my limbs begin to go stiff, I realize the fact that I have absolutely no where to go.

The only person who's house I know I can fully find my way to is Eros.

There was one time within the first couple months of him working for me that he needed to collect some things from his house. He decided to quickly stop by there on the way back to the manor, and I had memorized landmarks so that I could know my way there. I was fucking neurotic.

It's tucked back probably half a mile into the woods, away from everything. And it was one of the most beautiful houses I have ever seen.

Eros, of course, didn't allow me to come inside because, "it probably wasn't luxurious enough for someone like me." Direct quote.

But just from the outside it was absolutely breathtaking with the view of all the trees and the dark modern design.

And it's not far from where I am.

But I would rather part my hair with a fucking chainsaw than ever show up at Eros Vandare's door.

I walk through the dead town, my heart pounding in my chest from the feeling of hopelessness sitting in my gut.

As I come across one of the closed shop windows, my broken reflection stares back at me. I bite my lip in frustration while taking in my appearance.

My eyes are red and swollen, contrasting from my skin that is somehow more pale than usual. Dried blood coats my jaw and mouth, while black mascara streaks line my flushed cheeks.

I take a step back from the window, not wanting to see the unrecognizable girl staring back at me any longer. I look around at the labyrinth of buildings as an eerie feeling runs up my spine like an unspoken warning. I quickly look behind me, ready to see eyes peering out at me from the concealing shadows, but I am immediately met with nothing.

My pulse quickens as my breathing slowly morphs into sharp ragged inhales. I continuously try to tell myself that there is nothing, but I can't shake the nauseating feeling.

I walk hastily down the vacant road that isn't filled with anything but my own quickened footsteps.

Suddenly, everything in my body freezes when I hear a low, bone-chilling whistle ring out across the cold air. My breathing stops as the whistle ends, as if it was never there. Goosebump begin to rise upon my pale skin.

I rapidly turn around and am met with a car sitting at the end of the road facing towards me. An all too familiar car.

The headlights suddenly turn on causing me to squint my eyes because of the sudden light.

The car engine loudly revs.

Before anything else can happen, I am already breaking into a full sprint in the opposite direction, heading for one of the backroads.

My breath goes unsteady as I make it to the end of the road and see that it is suddenly cut off by a brick wall. I look around at the other walls with no other exits, bracing my hands on the brick wall ending the alleyway. This is how I am going to fucking die.

I flip around and slowly take some steps away from the wall, hearing the sound of multiple sets of footsteps echoing down the alley.

"Hello!?" I yell into the dark with a shaky voice, ringing with uncertainty.

There is nothing for a few seconds before the voice that haunts every second of my existence rang out from the dark,

"Hello, my rose."

Everything stops as the sickening Russian accent shatters the silence. I stand still. Not moving, not breathing.

The first thing that moves on my body is when my hands begin trembling as I just stare in paralysis.

That's when I see it. That's when I see him. The man who hunted me for years. The man who's given me more more scars on my body than I can count. The man who shot my best friend. The man who I thought I murdered.

"Long time no see pretty girl."

His stomach-turning laugh follows his words as he takes a slow step out of the darkness. Dominik makes his way fully into the light, displaying his platinum blonde hair, and pristine blood red suit that tightly hugs his body.

Tears cloud my eyes as I see the dark red rose tucked in the lapel pocket of his dress coat. His eerie green eyes light up in enjoyment as he sees my pained expression.

"I'm going to fucking kill you!" The last words he ever said to me echo in the back of my mind like a daunting alarm reminding me of my end.

"What's wrong my rose, you look like you've seen a ghost." As his taunting words echo in my ears, three more figures, all concealed in dark masks, step out of the dark behind him.

"I missed that look of fear."

Dominik flashes me that predatory smile, making a shiver run down my body in fear. I stumble backwards in terror, somehow managing to stay on my feet.

"Now Arabella, you have obviously already pissed someone else off tonight, so how about you come back to our car and make this easy." He smiles, his eyes scanning my bloody jaw. I don't focus on him as I desperately look around for any sign of another exit. The only way out is past all four men standing in front of me.

"You had years to take me, all that time and you are trying to now?" I say through a wavering and petrified voice.

"Come now darling, you know I've always been one to love the chase."

"So you haven't taken over the throne because you have enjoyed fucking with me?" I sneer as a traitorous tear escapes my eyes.

"You should be flattered Rose, I just can't get enough of you." He smirks, making my lungs tighten without air.

He takes a step closer and I immediately position myself in the fighting stance that Eros has hammered into my brain. Dominik looks overjoyed by the moment, "Oh yes, I forgot your little Italian boyfriend has been training you."

He's been watching me.

I want to fall to the floor and break into tears as the man who terrifies me more than I could ever put into words smirks in front of me.

The sound of his voice, the scent of his cologne, the color of his hair, all set off this unimaginable fear within my heart.

"Don't you dare fucking talk about him." The words come out as an angry growl before I can even stop them. Why the fuck do I care?

"Oh." He shakes his head with a grin, "Did I hit a soft spot mentioning your little bodyguard? Better be careful with the belt around that one."

What the fuck does he mean?

He takes another step near me, causing all of the men to follow his lead, but taking two steps forward.

Breathe.

I clench my jaw tightly, going against every reasonable thought within me by holding my ground.

"So we aren't running away today?" He smirks again, "If only you had been that brave the night you left your little friend to bleed out."

My lip quivers and I quickly bite it, trying to suppress the fear, anger, and sadness that are slowly rising to the surface. My body is begging to shut down in fear.

I use something my therapist told me, and think of every single thing that makes me want to live past today, in order keep me standing.

Montague, the unexplainable feeling of hope, my friends, the sound of music, the smell of rain, Art, strawberry cake, the idea of having a family.

Eros.

Now is not my fucking time. I will escape. I will not let this fucking blonde Russian kill me.

"Get her." The words roll off of Dominik's tongue, and that's all it takes for the men behind him to begin walking towards me. Every step painfully slow.

"Come here Arabella, be a good girl." The first man slowly pulls a gun out of his belt.

"Fucking try me."

"Don't fucking shoot her, I want her for myself." Dominik suddenly snaps, causing the man to quickly put the gun back in his belt and slowly stalk towards me.

Remember Eros's training.

The man immediately reaches his large arms out towards me, trying to grab me. I instantly react by violently swinging my fist towards him, punching him across the face.

His face snaps to the side and before he can react, I grunt loudly as I kick him as hard as I can directly in the kneecap and listen to the sharp snapping of bone that follows after.

A deep throaty scream reaches my ears as he swiftly falls to the concrete, desperately holding onto his knee.

Dominik laughs in response while leaning the wall, completely entertained.

I don't have time to reminisce over the fact that I snapped his fucking knee, because of the second man suddenly charging at me.

Before I can dodge his attack, a forceful kick is thrown into my stomach, knocking all of the air out of me. I choke on the lack of air as I fall backwards into the floor and my head smacks against the solid ground. Ringing takes over my hearing as I slowly blink, fading in and out of consciousness.

Another kick lands to my ribs, and the crunch is barely audible over the piercing sound of ringing in my ears. A broken sob follows the painful action, and I can't even fully make out if it is mine.

A heavy weight lands on top of me and a sharp scream leaves my lips as I feel one of the men straddle me, pressing all of his weight.

A punch lands to my face, causing the entire right side of my face to throb in pain as my teeth dig into my cheek. Blood fills my mouth, and the ringing in my ears doesn't stop.

My eyes flutter shut as the realization that this is going to be the end of my life settles in my soul. This is how I am going to die.

As I slowly fade into unconsciousness, a beautiful pair of icy eyes flashes across my mind. ~ "Get up Bella." He looks down at me with an unamused look as I groan pathetically on the floor.

"I'm fucking done with training." I say as Eros reluctantly reaches out a hand towards me. I grab onto his warm hand, sending small sparks down my spine.

"My ass hurts." I say while running one of my hands through my hair.

Eros smirks beautifully at me while raising one of his dark eyebrows, causing my heart to speed up.

"your ass wouldn't hurt if you didn't let me throw you onto it." He says deeply, still keeping his hand in mine.

Not that I'm complaining.

I stare up at him as my chest softly heaves up and down, "like I chose to be thrown down."

My breath hitches in surprise when Eros's other hand softly brushes against my upper thigh. Oh.

Suddenly, I feel him remove the dagger that is strapped there. A weird sensation coils in my core as he pulls the dagger up and holds the sharp blade in front of my face.

"Your good with your dagger. Keep it on you at all times and you won't get thrown to your ass." His minty breath fans my face, my heart racing as he lightly drags the dagger down my cheek.

"Yes?" He says deeply and all I can manage to do is nod, not trusting myself to speak.

"Promise?" He mumbles while staring down at me.

"Promise." ~ My eyes slowly open and I thank God once I realize I must have only been out for a few seconds.

Eros and I had that conversation just a few days before the club, and ever since then I have kept that promise.

I kept that promise.

I gain enough strength to slyly reach down to my thigh towards the strap that holds my dagger. A wave of relief washes over me as I feel the cold handle of my dagger brush against my skin.

Eros's small smile sits in the front of my mind, and that's all I need to remember that I can't stop now.

Before the man even realizes I am awake, my lethal dagger is already imbedded into the side of his neck.

He tightly grabs onto his throat and silently chokes as blood splatters across my bruised and discolored face.

I pull my dagger back out of his throat, listening to the nauseating sound of tearing flesh and chocking.

The man limply falls off of me and finally, I feel like I can breathe again. I quickly move away from him, while rising to my shaky and weak feet that feel like they are going to give out any second.

I desperately look towards the alleyway exit and cry out in relief when I see the last masked man and Dominik gone without a trace.

I don't even give a fuck what game he is playing. I just need to escape.

I begin limping away from the men as quickly as possible, when I am instantly pulled back to the ground by a hand wrapping around my ankle.

I cry in pain, the sound raspy and broken, as my ribs hit against the ground.

"Fucking bitch" I hear the voice of the man who's knee I kicked inwards as he begins pulling me towards him.

I scream and kick my legs, but his weight overwhelms mine as he aggressively tugs me towards him on the floor. He can't stand up.

The ruthless ground beneath me tears at my skin as he continues dragging me without remorse.

I grab my dagger as I reach him and raise it up, but gasp in shock when he smoothly grabs my hand and encloses it with his. He begins squeezing it as hard as possible, causing an aching sensation.

I sob in pain as the dagger falls from my hand and hits the floor. His other hand smoothly grabs it and he plunges it forward aiming for my abdomen.

I move quick but not quick enough.

Another scream breaks past my lips as the dagger slices across my waist, not too deep, but still enough that blood immediately begins flowing.

I bite my teeth in pain as I raise one of my legs and kick the man forcefully in the face.

He lets go of me and my dagger, using his hands to cuff the front of his face while snarling under his breath.

"This is just the beginning. He's fucking coming for you."

I snatch my dagger from the floor and could care less about his words as I stumble back to my feet. I stagger out of the ally way as fast as possible, both of my hands applying pressure to the gash across my waist. Breathe.

Tears break past my eyes as I get out onto the silent main road and look around to see nothing, and no one.

The manor is miles away, I will never make it back. I don't have my phone, I need serious help with all my injuries, and there is only one place for me to go.

Eros. ********************* THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 9k!!!

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED! The next chapter will be posted because I don't wanna leave y'all on a cliff hanger😍

Word count:3459

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