Dragging the bed, I moved it under the light. Standing on it, I reach up and punch the vent with as much force as possible. It dents but doesn’t budge. I punch it again, the little louvres separating slightly. The third time I hit, it busts open. Gripping it with my fingertips, I pull it down, letting it fall to the ground. Jumping up, I grab the sides and pull my head through the ceiling looking inside. I let myself fall back down onto the bed. The vent narrows out, and a small child would struggle to get through the gap, let alone an adult. I huff annoyed I just wasted all that time and energy for it to fail.
Pushing the bed back into the corner against the wall, I stare at the mark dragging it left on the floor and the broken vent. Reid is going to blow his lid when he comes in. I pick up the vent to try and hide under the mattress before laying down.
With nothing else to do, I decide to sleep, but before I even start to nod off, I hear footsteps on the stairs, echoing loudly through the concrete walls. My heart rate picks up as I hear him stand on the other side of the door, but not opening it.
“Zane is completely fine,” he says, I hear shuffling before he sits, leaning against the steel door. I get up and move to the door and sit with my back against it. I try to pry into his mind anything to know what he is thinking before his voice interrupts me.
“I wouldn’t, Aria, you might not like what you find.” I stopped because of the harshness of his words. I lean my head back against the door, waiting for him to speak.
“Hunters have been caught and stopped on the borders twice since you have been locked up.” I could hear the regret in his voice but decided I must have imagined it. “We aren’t sure why they want you, all three killed themselves before we could interrogate them,” he stated.
“So, what’s that mean then?” I whispered back, knowing he could hear me.
“Means they are willing to go to extremes to hide whatever it is they need you for, David asked if he could take Lily for a few days until things settle down,” I froze my blood running cold.
“You’re not letting him, though right?” I desperately ask the thought of her being away from me and in his clutches horrified me.
“He has changed Aria, you have to give him a chance. I know he won’t harm her; I have spoken to him a fair bit, he has been over here every day to see her. Lily wants to go,” he says, shocking me even further.
“No, she stays here Reid, you can’t let her go with him.”
“It’s no longer up to you Aria, he picks her up in two days, this is only a trial Aria. He won’t be keeping her.” I get up enraged. I kick the door and feel him jump before getting to his feet.
“Anything happens to her I will fucking kill you, Reid. Mate or not, I will fucking end you,” I scream while punching the door wanting to get to him. “He can’t fucking have her!” I scream, my heart plunging into my stomach. “I have spent years protecting her from him. Now you’re going to hand her over to him.”
“She wants to go Aria; he is her father, and I have his word he won’t harm her.”
“His fucking word, that’s what you’re gauging his intentions off of?”
“No, Aria like I said he has been here every day while you have been in this cell. I think we can trust him, Aria.”
“Clearly, you’re fucking forgetting we are in this mess with the Hunters because of him,” I spat punching the door, my fist leaving a dent.
“I haven’t forgotten, but this isn’t your choice anymore, Aria. When you realise my word is law maybe I will let you out,” he said before I hear him stomp up the stairs. Two days, I have two days to try and get out of this godforsaken cell to stop him from handing her over. What the fuck is he thinking, to let her go with him, I don’t care if she wants to, she is a child. She doesn’t understand she is putting her life at risk. I can’t picture David changing enough in such a short time span where I would feel comfortable leaving her with him for any amount of time.
Aria’s POV
I pace around in the basement, my mind reeling, anger consuming every cell in my body. My skin warming, getting hotter and hotter as my rage reaches boiling point. My claws extend, ripping my nails from my fingers painfully. My fangs push through my gums slowly tearing until they a through. I can taste the metallic of my own blood filling my mouth. I was losing control, a control I never really realised I never had control of in the first place. My entire body felt heightened, my senses overloaded. The light hanging from the ceiling becoming unbearable as it burned my eyes. I jump up trying to grab the bulb. Only instead of grabbing the bulb, I rip the entire light fixture from the roof.
The metal hitting the concrete floor clanging loudly. The cell was plunged into darkness, only it wasn’t dark, my eyes adjusting to the change of light instantly, and I could see everything clearly as if it were still filled with light. Well, this was certainly new. I could always see in the dark, but this was completely different. Looking around, I suddenly become aware of every noise. I am also able to hear above me for the first time since coming down here. I can hear Wendy talking in the rec room, telling the girls to get ready for their baths.
Hear Christine and Zane, who were obviously busy making up for his near-death experience in a very sexual way. I wonder if they can hear Reid and me. I shake the thought away, not needing anymore desires other than getting out of this room right now. I listen and can hear Lily and Amber running up the stairs, and I hear Reid’s office door click shut. I can hear every person in this huge house, my hearing zooming in and out listening intently.