Darkest Seduction

Aria

I'm sitting in my bed staring at the peeling paint in the top corner of my room when the door to my bedroom bursts open, loudly. 

I jump and see Helen slam it shut, "Aria you need to go." She says frantic as she almost rips my wardrobe door off its hinges and grabs my suitcase. 

"W-what?" I stammer, my head is still reeling from the pill I took earlier. 

I promised myself I'd stop but it's been a week and I can't get through the day without those little blue pills. But now was not the time to despair over my possible addiction. 

Helen is ripping clothes from my hanger and ramming them into my suitcase and I stand watching her, "Helen what's happening, tell me?" I beg her. 

Fear curls in my stomach as Helen runs into my bathroom, shoving cleansers and makeup into my suitcase. I'd think we were going on a trip but my sister looks as though she's on the verge of tears.

"It's Zeus Aria, he's gone and it's all your fault. Or at least everyone thinks it is. Oh my god, the rage of his father. I don't even think Ares can save you. I don't even know if he's on your side. You have to leave until Papa can sort it out Aria, I think they might kill you." Helen stutters and my eyes widen. 

Oh my fucking god. 

"Why is that my fault?" I ask her, watching in horror as she shakily tries to make space for shoes. 

Helen pauses for a moment before dragging my vanity chair and pushing it against my bedroom door. I begin to grab clothes and shove them into my suitcase as she takes deep breaths. I don't know how to pack or what to pack for. Where is it she thinks I'm going?

"I don't know much I- Phoenix called and warned me. Zeus left a note saying he was leaving because he wanted to live his life the way he wanted, he had something about it being his job to actually live and his father remembered you saying that to him the night we all had dinner. I don't know if they think you have him or...fuck Aria I don't know but they want to talk to you." Helen said, her eyes brimming with tears. 

She was afraid and for good reason, mafia families didn't talk. They tortured and killed you. 

My heart might as well have fallen out of my chest onto the cream carpet. I couldn't believe this. When I told Zeus to live his life I didn't mean to run away and cut his whole family off. Oh my god. Would Ares let his family harm me? 

Would he even believe I didn't mean for this to happen? 

My head was spinning and I felt hot and cold at the same time, fuck, those stupid pills. I had read they elevate your emotions, clearly, they elevate your stress. 

And I was fucking stressed. 

Helen helped me zip up my suitcase before grabbing my arm, "Aria go to the little wood cabin our family has, alright? I swear I won't tell anyone okay? And do not call Ares. He might not be on your side." 

I nodded and then we heard a loud crash downstairs and I ran to my balcony, Helen must have pushed the trampoline beneath my window instead of hers. I threw my suitcase and then jumped without even looking back. 

I couldn't see my sister's face, it would break me and right now I just needed to go. I needed to go and escape without anything or anyone slowing me down. 

For a moment time slowed as I felt the pounding in my head and chest sync before I landed on the trampoline. I scrambled off it and grabbed my suitcase as I ran into the driveway and unlocked my car. I threw the luggage into the backseat as I started driving. 

My tires were screeching on the pathway as I drove out the driveway and I pushed down, hard, on the gas. They'd see my car missing soon enough and have a rough idea that I had left. I could only pray that I'd have miles on them before anyone noticed the empty spot my car should have been in.