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A/N: I appreciate everyone's reviews. Thank you so much! Please keep the coming. Happy Easter! ~Concrete Lily. Oh yeah…Enjoy!
Chapter Six: Emancipation
Ashtyn awoke, with Erik's arms wrapped around her, as he spooned her from behind. She smiled to herself. She had given into her darkest desires and had loved every minute of it. The releasing of her own self-doubt and fears had set her upon a new path. She was becoming something more, a new peculiar creature, who could do and be anything. Erik had gifted her with liberation. Ashtyn now knew a level of freedom, that would had otherwise gone unnoticed by her. A soft sigh escaped her lips, as Erik's grip tightened around her waist. He moaned as he shifted in his sleep, unintentionally pressing his erection against her. Dirty thoughts bombarded her mind.
Yet, Ashtyn didn't want to wake him. Knowing how exhausted he was, she knew that he needed his rest. Erik's shallow breaths caressed the back of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. Oh, how she wished that she could gaze upon his face while he slept. He must have looked so peaceful, which conflicted with his usual manner of being. Erik could be abrasive, domineering, and selfish; but he could also be sweet and loving. Loving? Ashtyn thought to herself. The notion had occurred to her that she could be falling in love with him. Yet, she had to consider what loving a man like Erik could mean for her. Heartbreak, was the unwelcomed word that came to her mind.
Ashtyn thought about Angel. Undoubtedly, she was in love with Erik. At one point they were an item. He must have conjured up the same forbidden emotions within Angel, as he did for her. Perhaps, Angel's present-day state would be her future, Ashtyn unhappily pondered. Erik had been so harsh in his dismissal of Angel. Yet, at the time Ashtyn had viewed it as being thrilling, and even though it was perverse, she was turned on by his aggressive behavior. Even so, in hindsight he had been overly ruthless in his response towards Angel, but is that not who her lover was? He was a cluster of contradictions, charming one minute, and then extremely militant the next. Yes, loving a man like Erik would take a lot from her. Perhaps…more than she was willing to give.
"What are you thinking about?" Ashtyn heard Erik inquire. She smiled, knowing that he was now staring at her.
"So many things." She replied.
"I bet." He said, just before he leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. "We have to get up to go soon." He added, as he nuzzled her within his heartfelt embrace.
He hated that they had to leave at all, but it was early morning and they had to strategize how they were going to rescue Klaw. Erik knew that it was the next step in his personal quest of becoming King of Wakanda. He wondered if he could entrust Ashtyn with the details of his plan. She had already coped with everything else he had sent her way, perhaps she could accept this too? Yet, he needed her to act as natural as possible, and giving her such sensitive information could produce unwelcoming results. No, Erik had decided that she was better off not knowing.
"If you would like for me to get ready. You're going to have to let me go." Ashtyn teased, and he did. Yet, the thought of never letting her go bounced around his mind unhindered. She stood to her feet, and Erik smiled his most wicked grin; as her nighty clung tightly to her body revealing her sinful curves. Mine. He thought. She held her hands out searching for her symbol cane.
"To the left of the nightstand." Erik instructed, knowing that she would rather find it on her own than to have him retrieve it for her. She was incorrect, when she had stated that he wasn't trying to understand her. Erik had been studying her from the very moment that they had met. He wanted so badly to make her see how much he was paying attention to her.
After she had located her cane, they both began to get dressed. A soft knock upon the door, echoed throughout the room, just as Erik had finished putting on his boots. He opened the door, to no great surprise he found that it was Angel who stood at its entrance. She stood hesitantly before him, then finally asking in a small voice if she could step inside. Erik thought for a moment, though they were fully dressed. He had decided it would be better if they met up with Klaw's lone henchmen at his hideout. The first reason was it made sense to discuss the plan with everyone at once. Secondly, the thought of Angel coming into their room, where they had been intimate, seemed like a violation of their privacy.
Angel was dejected but didn't argue. Soon, they left the hotel, heading to the hideout in a rented vehicle. Erik drove, with Ashtyn sitting shotgun. Angel was in the back, fuming. She had made a move to sit in the front seat, but Erik had stopped her. He had explained that it would be foolish to turn their backs to their detainee. Though Angel couldn't argue the logic of his explanation, she continued to sulk.
Once at the hideout, a plan was quickly devised to recover Klaw, and to retrieve the vibranium. All Erik had cared about was the vibranium. Nevertheless, Klaw's man, Rick, was loyal to his leader, and Erik had to pretend that he felt the same.
"Who's the new pretty lady?" Asked Rick. Erik's jaw ticked with anger, as he watched the lustful stare that he casted in Ashtyn's direction.
"She is of no concern of yours, man. You should focus on the mission." Erik said, attempting to sound indifferent. Though, he was far from unemotional, when it came to Ashtyn. Erik wanted to tear his throat out with his bare teeth, for his impure thoughts. However, Erik couldn't show his hand, at least not just yet. Then and there, Erik vowed that he would kill him for his uncouthness. Rick caught the wave of animosity that was radiating from Erik. He didn't inquire any further, regarding the dark beauty who stood at Erik's side. Heeding Erik's words, the mission from that moment forward was their primary focus.
A few hours later…they were inside the van, Rick drove, Angel sat shotgun. Erik was seated on the floor of the van, typing away on his laptop. He was attempting to gain control of the CIA's security-camera system, similarly to how he had infiltrated the museum. Ashtyn sat beside him, directly behind the passenger's seat. Erik was forced to shackle her, for appearances. He then linked her handcuffs to a chain, that had been anchored to a bar; which was welded to the floor of the van. Eventually, he had managed to tap into their security-camera system and began looping the tape.
Erik looked over to Ashtyn, her face was impassive. He wanted to say something to her, anything that would give him a clue on how she was dealing with everything. However, he couldn't utter a word to her, they had an audience who would overhear their convo. He had to pretend, he told himself just a bit longer. He exhaled in frustration, it was then that Ashtyn brushed her leg against his. It was a subtle gesture, but it was one that gave him great comfort. It let him know that she was coping, and that they were still good.
"There's a girl in the window who keeps staring at us." Rick informed everyone. "I think she is getting suspicious."
"Yo, make this your last time around. I have gained control of their cameras. We are good to go." Erik instructed. Erik stole one last glance at Ashtyn, just as the van had backed up into the alley, behind the hidden government facility. Once they had stopped Erik leapt out of the back of the van. Rick and Angel exited as well. Erik quickly mounted the explosives to the outer wall of the building, in the exact location that Angel had pinpointed Klaw's homing device.
Erik placed the horned mask, that he had collected from the museum on. He couldn't help but to think about the first time he had seen it and had met Ashtyn. She shouldn't have had a place in his thoughts, not when he was working. Yet, his mind unbiddenly was drawn to her. He stood with his back against the wall, awaiting the sound of the loud explosion to trigger him to react.
There was a moment that he thought, what if he didn't survive? What if one of them got lucky and managed to kill him? His death, though greatly unwelcomed, was nothing that ever scared him before. Yet, for the first time in his life he had someone to live for, someone who he wanted to live for. It was in that odd moment of transparency and self-reflection, when he was pondering his own mortality. That he had realized one thing, that he had fallen in love with Ashtyn.
He thought that the revelation would somehow be a hinderance to his mission. Soften him in a way that would prevent him from achieving his goals. However, they only created an urgency that hadn't been present before. Indeed, he would become king, and he would take Ashtyn to be his queen. The explosion sounded off and he entered through the makeshift opening with his weapon drawn. He aimed for the two-way mirror, shattering the glass, he could then see those who were hidden behind it. He fired multiple shots into the room, before throwing a grenade and hastily exiting out. Rick and Angel carried a chair bounded Klaw and slid him into the back of the van. Erik continue to fire his shots, as the Black Panther made his way through the opening.
Erik was pleased to see his privileged cousin was alive and well. If Erik was to seize control of Wakanda, he would need to take it from T'Challa. Nevertheless, that didn't mean that he couldn't have a bit of fun with him first. The Black Panther exited out the building taking Erik's shots on directly. Erik grinned a sinister smile, because he had something especially designed for him. He switched his weapon to cannon mode and launched a powerful shot that hit him dead in his chest. The Black Panther flew back violently hitting the brick wall behind him.
I'll be seeing you real soon, cuz. Erik thought. He closed the doors to the van. Once inside, the high he had from the heist quickly ended when he viewed Ashtyn's frightened face. He took off his mask, he wanted to rush to her side, but he forced himself to walk. He had to remember not to reach out and touch her, as well. Angel was still in the back of the van unstrapping Klaw from the chair. He had to play it cool, he said to himself just for a while more. He then pressed his back against the inner wall of the van and slid downward sitting beside her, as if he was fatigued from the battle. She jumped at his proximity, clearly not knowing who he was. It was then that he brushed up against her, in the same way she had done earlier to him. He was relieved to see that she recognized his touch, and she visibly relaxed. Angel had finally freed Klaw from his restraints.
"Well that was exciting!" Klaw said cheerfully. As if he just gotten off an amusement park ride. "Take us to the plane port." He commanded his henchman. Rick then turned the corner, heading north in the port's direction. Angel returned to her seat in the front, not sparing a glance in Erik's direction. Erik was unmoved by her actions, in fact he was elated. If she was to willingly leave, it would make his life so much easier. He was just thrilled that things had worked out well, and that he had made his way back to Ashtyn.
Though he had confessed, his love for her to himself. He wondered if he would have the courage to tell her. Courage was not something that he normally lacked. Hell…he had just taken on the Black Panther, but he was fearful of her reaction. They had only known each other for a few days, and already their relationship had been tested in ways a normal relationship wouldn't have been. She thought that he was twisted, and fucked up, and that probably hadn't changed. Though she was willing to overlook his issues, how could he lay anything more onto her? Could she believe that someone like him could love, would she say that she loved him back? Erik determined that he would not tell her, not until he was ready to face the possibility that she didn't feel the same.
About a half hour later they had finally made it to the plane port. Everyone began preparing to exit the van. Erik took the key to Ashtyn's handcuffs out of his pocket and unlocked them. Once he was sure that everyone was out of earshot range, he whispered to her. "Some shit is about to go down." Ashtyn's eyes widen with concern. "You are to stay close to me. Keep your hand on my shoulder and remain behind me always. Do you understand?" She nodded. Immediately picking up on the seriousness of the situation. They exited the van, Erik handed Ashtyn her symbol cane. He placed her right hand onto his right shoulder. He gave her hand a quick firm squeeze, as if to assure her, before removing his hand from hers.
Ashtyn's heart was beating wildly, she knew that something terrible was about to go down. Yet, she knew that she only felt safe with Erik, the others weren't anyone who she could trust. So, if Erik thought that it was time for them to take their leave, then she trusted his judgement. She gripped her cane tightly, feeling her way as they went. Erik was talking to Klaw, about various things. The conversation was casual, and if it wasn't for Erik's warning Ashtyn would have believed that all was well between them. Then Erik had requested to be dropped off at Wakanda.
Wakanda? Ashtyn questioned, within her mind. She wondered what his reasoning was for wanting to go there. Then she remembered that he said his father was a native of the nation. He was going home. Ashtyn had barely finished her thought when gunfire started.
Erik had to work quickly, he only had a small window to accomplish his goal. Remembering the silent promise, that he had made to himself. Erik aimed happily at Rick, who had lusted after his woman, shooting him down without mercy. The only person who remained was Klaw. Yet, Klaw had seized Angel, using her as a human shield. He pressed the barrel of the gun to her temple, threatening to kill her if Erik didn't drop his weapon.
Erik felt Ashtyn's hands upon his back, at the same time he heard Angel apologizing to him for being captured. He imagined everything playing out much differently than what they had. He hadn't foreseen Angel being held hostage by Klaw. His only concern had been Ashtyn. Yet, this was the hand that he had been dealt. Furthermore, there wasn't a feasible way to save Angel, without forfeiting his mission. No, Angel wasn't worth his mission, but to calm her he told her that it would be okay. Once he saw the show of relief expressed upon her face he took that moment to shoot.
Angel's body fell to the ground, she was dead. Erik quickly placed Ashtyn's hand onto the side of the plane and instructed her to stay put. Klaw's uncoordinated steps were easy enough for Erik to catch up to, as he shot at him. Hitting his mark, Klaw fell onto some rubble. Erik carefully approached him, kicking Klaw's gun away. Klaw began to yell at Erik, stating that he was a fool for wanting to go to Wakanda. It wasn't until Erik had revealed the truth of his identity that Klaw understood that he had been hoodwinked. Klaw began to humorlessly laugh, upon realizing that his time had finally come to an end. Erik leveled his gun, hoping to make Klaw's death as quick as possible. Though he didn't like being led by Klaw, even Erik had to admit that he was a fun guy to have around at times.
Once he had finished disposing of Klaw, he started to make his way back to Ashtyn. He returned to where he had left her. He had worked out in his mind what he was going to say, to smooth things over with her. He even toyed with the idea of confessing his love for her. However, he wasn't sure if now was the best time; considering that he had just killed his last girlfriend in front of her. Anyway, he was sure that they could work through anything, if he could just talk… Erik paused. He was standing in the very spot where Ashtyn should have been. He looked around, searching for her. Fear ripped through him like a wild animal. He turned around multiple times, calling out her name. "Ashtyn? Ashtyn! ASHTYN!"
