The Essence Of The Darkness
Episode 53: Betting

"Acream,"

Xavier's voice contained an implied smile, as if the man already knew that Akram would definitely call him in the near future.

Akram tightened the molars, holding back the mixed feeling of stifling the chest every time he had to face Xavier. The trauma still bothered him. The shadow of the poor corpse of Anastasia, who had to die at such a young age from being caught in the middle of the infighting of Akram and Xavier, then the sense of helplessness that gripped her after that. All of that wrestled within his soul, speeding up his heartbeat so that Akram had to fight hard to maintain his composure.

"What do you want in exchange for the antidote? You can't just agree to give Elana the antidote without asking for anything in return, can you?" unlike Xavier, Akram does not like to mince words, he immediately expresses what is in his mind.

"So you agree with my previous negotiations? To let Lana come to my house and receive an antidote infusion four times a meeting every three days with twenty hours every time the meeting?" Xavier ignores Akram's question and chooses to repeat the conditions he offers in detail. It was as if their agreement regarding this timing, was extremely important to him.

"Depending on what terms you want, then I will give my own terms for your accommodation" Akram said in an exasperated voice.

"What's your requirement?" once again Xavier seemed to ignore Akram's words and immediately interjected, making Akram clench his hand holding in anger.

"Your terms first, Xavier." growled impatiently.

A moment of silence stretched between them, before Xavier broke the silence with a deliberate provocative voice.

"You are not in a position to rule me, Akram. If you really want that antidote for Lana, then mention your terms, then I'll consider whether I can accommodate it or not," Xavier spoke slowly so that Akram could imagine how the man was currently grinning cunningly across the street. "After that, maybe I'll be willing to mention my terms."

"Well," Akram growled. "If I allow Elana to take part in a poison-treating session at your house, then I won't let Elana go there alone without an escort."

Silence again, as if Xavier was digesting Akram's sentence

"I refuse if you intend to accompany Elana in my house. Let's just say it's the only requirement from me. When Elana's in my house, you can't be with her. But, if the one accompanying Elana is not you, then I will give permission. You can put anyone and as many bodyguards as you can escort Elana in my house, as long as it's not you." Xavier finally spoke with great calculation.

Acram thinning lips. "Well I won't come alone to take Elana to your place. Nathan and Elios will be Elana's constant companions. I'll also put my best bodyguards in charge of looking after them. You certainly know that I'm not going to let go of the three people who matter to me, to just walk into a dangerous den of crazy thieves. I put snipers and a lot of my men around your house. If a few of my men receive a distress signal from your house about an attempt to harm these three men, then I will order a raid on your house and create a merciless bloodbath that will surely bring great loss to you,"

There was a loud noise from across there.

"Ah. Okay. Akram Night always takes everything into account. But, you can calm down, I have absolutely no intention of hurting your three important people," Xavier said in a tone of voice that still contained laughter.

It was the opposite of Akram who looked so serious.

"What exactly is your goal, Xavier? If you want to destroy Elana, you stay silent without giving the antidote and let Elana die on the seventh day. However, you did not do all these things, instead offering to give the bidder only on light terms," Akram's voice sounded more and more cynical in every word he said. "I know you very well, you will not bother to do good and will only do things that can benefit you. Your genius brain can always find devious ways to take advantage of others."

Once again Xavier chuckled across there. "Do I have to take your words as a compliment, or as an insult?" ask her with a light tone.

"I will never praise you, Xavier," Akram growled in a heavy tone. "Tell me, what profit are you seeking from all this?" Akram uttered his question in a cruel demanding tone, as if the man was unwilling to accept rejection.

But, Xavier was undaunted, his voice remaining full of smiles as he replied in a light tone.

"The advantage I get is that I can get 'time' for myself" he whispered mysteriously.

"Time?" Akram asked quickly, filled with suspicion. "What do you mean?"

Again. Again Xavier's voice chuckled softly.

"Regarding Lana, you should know that I've lost interest in destroying her like I did with your other women. I don't want to destroy him or kill him. In fact, I want him to stay alive. You know why?" Xavier asked back.

Acram gritting teeth. "Because Elana has rejected you. And that crazy narcissistic soul of yours, can't stand rejection so you want to satisfy your sense of repression by chasing after Elana to prove your arrogance" he concluded quickly, filled with anger. After the implied sentence after sentence spoken by Xavier, Akram was finally able to understand what he meant.

Xavier chuckled a little amazed by Akram's sharp instincts. "almost exactly. And yes, Lana is the only woman, not only of your women, but of all the women I've ever wooed, who dared to reject me outright" Xavier said each word slowly and provocatively. "Even your first woman you have always cried to this day, you think she is a holy woman who holds true to her feelings for you?"

"Stop, Xavier!" akram's hand holding his phone tightened, making his veins appear there. "Don't try to use a deceased person for your cunning manipulation purposes!" angry snapped.

"Ah. The great Mr. Akram Night apparently did not want to accept the reality. I tried to reveal this to you long ago, but you chose to cover your ears, reject the truth and instead shift the entire burden of his guilt to me," Xavier seemed to want to disturb Akram. "I only kill people who deserve to be killed, Akram. If Anastasia was a woman loyal to you, she would still be alive today....."

"I said shut the fuck up!" Akram felt cold sweat running down his temple as the trauma attacks began to whack, displaying glimpses after horrifying glimpses of the expression of Anastasia's corpse hanging herself on the ceiling of the hospital room, plastered in front of the eyes that morning when Akram who was about to come swipe and even ended up being the inventor of the corpse. The memory is still so fresh, even though the years have passed and as hard as Akram tried to forget it.

"OKAY. Okay, I'm not gonna talk about your whores in the past. They don't deserve to be discussed. Let's go back to our favorite girl, Lana," lucky Xavier across the street unaware of Akram's change in voice that was covered in faint vibrations, but no, the crazy man would not easily agree to stop the conversation that tormented Akram.

Xavier let out a long sigh as if filled with anticipation, before then telling his true intent and purpose plainly. "That's why I injected Lana with the poison. By administering the poison, I could steal his time, twenty hours for four times every three days. That's enough for me to make any woman bend her knees at my feet."

"You're crazy Xavier! Just because you wanted to steal Elana from me, you gave her poison. You risked Elana's life just for your ego game!"

"Ah, I'm not risking Lana's life. I know about my poison, I have the antidote and I also understand that my poison will not kill Lana unless you are stubborn and choose your haughty pride so as to let her die," xavier's voice sounded low. "If anyone's risking Lana's life here, then you're the one."

"If I let you steal Elana's time from me, you won't succeed in taking her heart. Elana is too clever to fall into the fake charm of a madman like you." said Akram with a thick insulting tone. He was finally able to master himself and was able to answer without a quivering tone.

"Breakin' a bet?" Xavier asked quickly, there was a thick tinge of confidence in his voice. "Never underestimate the tenderness of a woman's heart, Akram. The woman's heart was pliable and apologetic. A woman can turn hate into love in the blink of an eye, and vice versa." Xavier chuckles. "Let's see, we bet fairly as a man who keeps his word. You must be willing to let go of Elana sportively, if the woman turns out to choose me and fall for me during the period we have determined. Do we have a deal now?" xavier asked in a demanding voice.

Akram. Will he take the plunge and accept the deal put forward by Xavier? Will he be willing to lose Elana in the future?

But...whatever it is, did Akram not commit to sacrifice everything to save Elana's life? Even if it means Akram has to free Elana to choose according to his heart though. Even if it means Akram has to lose Elana because the woman chose to leave him.

"alright. We agreed. Whatever will happen later, let Elana's heart decide and we will both respect that decision" Akram said in a stern tone later. "But remember, Xavier. If your time runs out and you fail to take Elana's heart. That woman is back to being mine and you must keep yourself away from her. Otherwise, I won't hold myself back from killing you."

"agree. When are you gonna bring Lana to me?" xavier asked then in an impatient tone.

***

***

"You'll take Elana into Xavier's house the next morning. I will assign a group of the best bodyguards to look after all of you," Akram decided to leave Elana for a moment to inform Elios and Nathan of the latest developments still waiting in the basement.

Akram's gaze was fixed on his IT experts who were currently gathered in one room to do digital tracking under Elios' expert coordination. A variety of modern equipment seems installed in all available places, used optimally to achieve the goal to the maximum.

"You will wear a eavesdropper and also use a special message sender who can notify quickly in case of danger. Elios, you arranged for communication and technological coordination with your men. Tomorrow morning, I'll scan the situation from here." he ordered quickly.

Elios nodded his head. "Okay, sir." she replied firmly.

"What kind of deal have you agreed with Xavier, Akram?" Nathan asks worriedly, knowing that Akram has managed to fight the panic attacks that always plague him when the man has to interact with Xavier.

"The crazy psychopath is after time with Elana, which is why he injected Elana with poison."

"Time?" Nathan and Elios ask almost simultaneously, unable to digest the meaning of Akram's sentence.

"Yes, yeah, only Xavier is crazy enough to inject a poison that is dangerous enough with the intention to steal Elana's time He bets that he will successfully seduce Elana to fall for him during the period of time administering the poison antidote." akram's expression turned dark. "Because of that purpose and purpose, I'm sure that Xavier will try tomorrow to take time alone with Elana. He will use all his charms to seduce Elana. I think Xavier will definitely try to keep you busy so as not to disturb him," Akram frowned deeply. "But just let Xavier do it like that. Just keep an eye out and make sure that Elana's not in danger."

"Are you sure?" Nathan asked doubtfully. He knew that Xavier could be very charming if he wanted to. Elana may be different from other women. However, if a Xavier Night seduces a woman at full strength, Nathan believes only a steel-hearted woman will be able to survive.

"I'm sure. I believe in Elana" Akram replied in a growl. There was a speck of doubt flashing in his eyes, as if Akram was trying to convince himself.

***

***

Elana felt a warm body encircling her, pulling her from her winning mouth and forcing her to blink her eyes, filled with curiosity.

The distinctive aroma of sandalwood mixed with mint that greeted her sense of smell as soon as her consciousness returned, instantly making Elana know who the figure was so close to her, even before she opened her eyes.

"Acram?" he asked slowly, still with a foggy awareness, unsure whether the situation before him was a dream, or reality.

After the poison entered his bloodstream, Elana's consciousness seemed to come and go, making it feel like it was manicured with various faint evocative memories, while Elana's mind is unable to distinguish which one is imaginary and which one actually happens.

Even so, for now, Akram's strong, hard, hot and encompassing body figure felt so real, making Elana look up and face to face with Akram's eyes who were watching him sharply.

"You can sleep again. I will do nothing more for you. I just want to make sure something to you." sizzled Akram slowly.

Akram cupped Elana's cheeks and turned the woman towards her, making their faces almost stick tightly together.

"You are my woman. Remember that, Elana. Never be tempted to belong to someone other than me. Because, I won't let you go if that happens. If you get away from me, I'll chase you to the ends of the world though and keep you home so you're tied to me and can't run away from me anymore. Do you understand?" ask her with an urgent tone full of threats.

Elana had no idea what caused Akram to seem so possessive at the moment. But, he nodded his head in response, knowing that this was not the right time to refute Akram.

"Good," the twinkle of Akram's eyes shone with satisfaction. The man looked down and kissed Elana. "I hope you will always remember me, even when I'm not next to you" he said in an arrogant tone, wiping the sign with his thumb.

The man then moved up from the bed, then bent down to kiss Elana on the forehead.

"Sleep, you need to get enough rest. I promise that tomorrow will be better for you" said Akram calmly before turning over, about to walk away.

"Acram?" the sound of Elana's weak call made Akram petrified. The man turned his head, looking at Elana sharply.

"What's wrong?" she was impatient when Elana didn't speak

Elana gulped, her eyes looking at the figure of Akram nervously. Confused how to reveal what was in his heart. Somehow, Akram's distant figure created a void in his soul.

"Where are you going?" Elana finally managed to let out a sound slowly even though it was still stammered.

Akram grinned, his expression full of irony and as if he was enduring pain.

"I'm going to take a shower. With water so cold that it can ease my desire. Otherwise, I would have to endure the pain all night long, "he replied in a meaningful tone that made Elana's cheeks flushed red.

Elana finally could only remain silent without a word, staring at Akram's distant back, then disappeared behind the tightly shut bathroom door.

***