Chapter 43 - Don't Leave

A white butterfly painstakingly flew towards Esme who was sleeping on the bed. Looking at her peacefully sleeping face, Leo growled but his voice could not compare to the sway of a leaf. Keeping his grievances to his butterfly heart, Leo flapped his wings before settling on the brass bedstead of the ivory bed as he closed his eyes. 

'Rustle'

When the clock struck 12, Esme sat up on the bed, the sheets sliding off her body. 

Leo's eyes snapped open when he heard the small noises. 

Esme stood up from the bed, her dazed eyes glanced at the door as she walked out of her room. 

Leo hurriedly chased after her as fast as his small wings could take him. 

''Princess...'' Rowan, who was walking in the hallways, paused in his tracks as he glanced at her but Esme kept walking ahead. 

Leo circled Esme's head. 

Rowan's brows tugged together in confusion as he glanced at the woman who was not showing any intention to stop like she was possessed. He grabbed her arm in a hurry, "Princess, is there something you need? It's not safe for you at this hour...ugh...'' He choked on the rest of his words when Esme turned around, grabbing his neck. 

He struggled slowly, not wanting to hurt her unintentionally but her grip continued tightening. Left with no choice, he grabbed her wrist but his enormous strength failed against her iron grip. 

''Take your filthy hands off me," Her cold voice was barely above a whisper.

Rowan's grip on her arm immediately loosened and so did hers on his neck. She emotionlessly turned around and continued walking. 

The man looked at her retreating back, too stunned to react. "Go after her,'' His voice came out hoarse as he talked to Leo, ''I will look for the Prince.''

Esme placed her palm on the wall, her fingers sliding forward on the wall with each step she took while her gaze remained on the path.

Esme continued walking all the way through the hallways that led to the back of the castle.

She stepped inside the Enchantment Forest that was enshrouded in darkness. The moonlight sparkled through the tiny gaps between the leaves of the dense trees, lightening up the path. 

Wild thorns pierced through her feet and blood gushed out, the grass she stepped on turned crimson. She continued walking for a long way ahead until she was standing on the seashore. 

Her gaze took in the vast expanse of the dark water sparkling under the moonlight. She stepped forward, walking inside the sea. The water reached her knees and she continued walking forward until the water was reaching her neck. 

A strong wave crashed against her body and she lost her balance, her body rolling along with the wave.

"...Cough...Cough...'' 

Esme pressed her palm on her mouth as she jolted awake. Water seeped through the gap between her fingers and she felt herself sinking, ''Mmm...Cough....'' She removed her hand from her mouth and moved them in the dark water but her legs pressed together, refusing to move. 

Her lower body was numb as she continued falling inside the depths of the sea. She extended her hand upward, desperately trying to reach out to grab something. The seaweeds broke, coming inside her fists as she fell. 

A rush of helplessness sunk inside her as she struggled to move.

As her vision started getting blurry, she noticed a faint silhouette on the surface, coming towards her.

It was him.

Hope glimmered in her eyes when she saw him and she extended her hand, trying to reach out to him. 

His fingers grazed past hers slowly but in the next moment, he grabbed her wrist yanked her towards himself as her eyes closed, her consciousness fading along with his distant voice.

''Esme...." Aleister grabbed the back of her head and pressed his mouth on hers, his other hand caressed her back. A golden glow enveloped them as they disappeared from the sea. 

....

Esme sat up on the bed, gasping for air. ''Ah...'' She gritted her teeth, feeling a prick on her feet. 

''Shh...It is almost done.''

Esme clutched the sheets in her fists as she glanced at Aleister, who was sitting with her legs on his lap.

Aleister gently pulled out another thorn from her delicate feet and a golden appeared on his fingertips, healing the wound. He glanced at her, "Does it hurts?" 

She shook her head. 

''Good,'' He placed her legs on the bed before pushing himself to his feet, "How do you feel now?" He brought a glass of water from the table before extending it towards her.

She glanced at him quietly. 

''I promise you won't drown in this.'' 

The corner of her lips twitched as she laughed softly, despite the heaviness in her chest. 

He smirked, placing the glass table. 

As he stood up, she hurriedly grabbed his palm, feeling the roughness of it on her fingers, ''Don't leave,'' When he did not turn around, she continued, ''....Stay.''