CHAPTER 23; PART THREE

Aria

"As I've said before, sad, sad Fred. Even if that were the case, it would still be none of your concern. But if you are truly wandering, Aria has control of herself. Her mind and soul are still hers, but she does belong to me. She does do as I say and yes, she submits her body and entire being to me. Every night, on those nights I choose for her to do so. That is one of the conditions of our agreement. I tell her what to do, when to do it, and how quick to do it."
"Why? You don't even love her like I do!" " Oh, no, no, no," Aiden said motioning his forefinger in the air. "I agree with you on that. What Aria and I have is not love, but it is merely lust and desire." Fred looked like he was about to faint after what Aiden had just told him.
"You agree with this Aria? Why won't you say something?" "What do you want me to say exactly? I tried to say something when you attempted to rape me." I said as I stood up and leaned my back against the table. "I really thought you were my friend, but I can see where I went wrong."
Tears began to well in my eyes. As much as I tried to fight them, I couldn't stop them from falling down my face.
"Look at what you've done to my woman Fred. You've gone and made her cry." Aiden said in a sarcastic tone. Fred began to stutter as he watched Aiden walk up to me. Fred tried to say something but Aiden ignored him and walked over to hug me. He began to caress my skin, making me believe that everything was going to be ok, even if all of this was fake. "Baby, are you ok?" He asked me as he reached up to grab my chin.
I slapped his hand away and stared at Fred for a while just shaking my head. My consciousness telling me 'I told you so Bathiera, you just never listen! Maybe you need to heed my warnings more, it could really do you some good.' "I really thought I knew you. Maybe the stupid one is me."
"Aria, go wait inside the car for me, I'll be right behind you." Aiden tried to touch me again, but I was fed up with all this. All I wanted to do was to get away, and I'd made up my mind.

Fred
Aiden waited until Aria walked out the door then shut it behind her. He walked over to the table where she was standing and leaned against it. His demeanor changed from sarcastic to serious in a flash.
"Fred, you have always thought that you could best me by trying to play with my toys, take my belongings, but I assure you to never try it again." "You always interfere with everything I do! Whether or not she belonged to you then, or now, you were always the one to throw a wrench in my plans! You never showed me any respect! Do you even know what she wants?!"
"Answer me this one question. Do you really think I give a flying fuck about what you want or what you believe? I own Aria and despite of you, I always will up 'til her last breath. Try as you may, but even if I let her go, even if we are years perhaps decades apart, she will always prefer me over you." Aiden said boasting proudly with his chest protruding and a smug smirk on his face.
"Fuck you Aiden! You just think you know everything. Hmph, I don't believe you!" "Don't need to, but heed my warnings this day Fredrick Berens. If you lay a finger on her ever again or try to defy me, I will kill you without hesitation, and without reason." Aiden said through clenched teeth spouting his threats at me.
"Kill..me? You would kill me over a mere possession?" Fred was silent for a moment then he replied, "Oh, shit. Now I get it. You walk around acting all reserved and high and mighty when you know deep down how much she feels for you. Thing is, she's not just a possession to you is she? You love her too, don't you?" I waited for him to deny his feelings for her, which of course he didn't. I smiled knowing something he didn't.
"Heed my warnings...."
"I don't think I can do that."
"We'll see." Aiden walked out the door slamming it behind him. I couldn't see clearly as anger over took me. I picked up the chair and threw it across the room. "Fuck him! I'm not his lackey and I don't follow orders from him. I'll have Aria either way, whether he likes it or not."