As Long as Somebody Loves You

Chapter Seventeen

Demetri's apartment was on the opposite side of town, tucked away in a humble neighborhood that had buildings a little smaller than the rest of New York. It had a small park with a few large trees with thin branches, but other than that, it was mostly sidewalk and cement. There were a few flower pots that perched underneath the windows and allowed the building to appear colorful despite its gray surroundings. I had to fly for a while through the cold, rainy skies. Although it was harsh, it wasn't enough to stop me. I landed quietly on his balcony, which, might I add, was fairly easy to find since I'd recognize his scent any day of the week. The balcony was made of pitch black railing and swirly architecture that caught the droplets of water. Beside it was a rather large wall shrub that grew around the rusted, glassy doorframe, just enough to shield my looming figure. Just as the rain began to pick up again, I decided to wait outside even though I knew what I had to do.

I was soaking wet from the rainwater, but I couldn't feel the cold any longer. I leaned against the brick wall, turning my head slightly just enough to where I could peek through the clear, glass window. I knew he was still awake even though it was at least three o'clock or perhaps even later. I could still smell the faint scent of his cologne that masked his sadness. The warm light that spilled onto the glass was enough to tell me that he had been up for a very long time. True to his word, his apartment was humble yet cozy. I could make out a small leather sofa along with a standard kitchen and several canvases that were dotted around the living room. Some were blank, but others were filled with strange lines, colors, and figures. Many were large and abstract, so large in fact that they nearly suffocated his silhouette. 

Demetri sat on the sofa with his elbows on his lap. I watched him dig his fingers into his hair, and oh did I yearn to just burst inside so I could wipe away the tears that fell from his eyelids. He looked so miserable, sitting there all alone. One would think a famous businessman would have a cleaner apartment with large amounts of company, but no. Even though I wanted to walk in and take him away, to kidnap him and never look back, I didn't. Despite my wishes, I knew there was nothing I could do with my power as a witch. Instead, I had to rely on the humanity in my soul. 

I took a deep breath and using what was left of my magic, I allowed myself to walk straight through the glass window without making a single sound. Like a ghost, I passed through it with ease. But right as I stepped onto the carpet, Demetri's head shot in my direction. I froze, unsure of what to say. When his eyes met mine, they were full of disappointment, fear, and rejection. When he opened his mouth to speak I was both relieved to hear him and afraid to feel the weight of his anger. 

"What are you doing here, your grandness?" He asked me emotionlessly, his eyes glossy with the burden of being strong for too long. My breath plummeted when he addressed me that way. I never wanted that. I never wanted him to call me by a name that I now hated with every fiber of my being. My violet gaze turned to his with the same tears, "I have not hurt you... I haven't put you in danger by any means," I swallowed, "A-And whether you continue to shun me or not, I will never leave you for as long as I live." 

"You lied to me. You looked me in the eye and you lied to me... but why? Why did you do it? You killed Allison, you killed those men, and then... then you were going to kill those children too! But then what? Would you have continued to keep me as your oblivious little puppet? Why are you so evil?" He didn't speak angrily. If anything, he spoke soft as if he was trying not to scare a small, insignificant kitten. 

"I may be a witch, but the moment I entered your life I trapped myself. I thought that-that if I hid away the truth, that if I pretended to be something more- then maybe you would stay with me forever. I was afraid to lose you, I'm still afraid to lose you."

"My grandmother warned me of your kind when I was a little boy." Demetri revealed, catching me off guard. "She died when I was three. When she was still alive, my father used to scold her for it, he didn't want me to catch nightmares by thinking about such things. I never believed in witches because of him. But... you reminded me today." He stared down at his lap for a moment before patting the empty cushion beside him, offering me to sit down. I gladly did so, hoping that our little conversation might be the gateway back to his heart. "I don't remember this very well because I was only about four years old. There was this one time my dad was late for work and had to drop me off at school early. We... we were out on the crowded street, waiting for a cab but I must've gotten bored waiting so I wandered off. I was lost for hours. I remember being really scared and helpless, so I sat on a bench beside an ice cream parlor hoping that maybe I'd be found. That's when I saw her."