A Hybrid's Hunger

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

I bite the inside of my cheek hard while sitting in silence, still fazed. I can't seem to swallow what I know now. Zade resembles his mother a lot, even as much as the way she drinks blood from the bag. It's uncannily similar. I shudder at the sight and slip my feet under the seat I'm sitting on.

Estella's quiet, standing behind me. She looks at me with great worry and then at the woman in front of me.

"Have you spoken to him yet?" Martha asks her.

"I tried to reach him, but I assume he's still in the meeting." She responds, her voice trembling ever so little.

"Have you spoken to your mother, Aurora?" She asks me now.

I raise my head and look up at her. "Once." It was quite recent and that act of pity probably came from guilt.

"Since you've been here?"

"Yes," I draw in a sharp breath and ask her. "Does she remember anything? Or is her—memories—"

"No," Martha stifles back an almost chuckle. "Your mother knows. Have you told her where you are? Is she aware of what's going on?"

"No."

More surprise falls over her face and her voice drops a notch as she looks at me again. "That's alright. We'll send you right back as soon as Zade can get here." She glances as Estella while waiting for his return.

I stick my brows up, "Back?"

"Back to your home. I don't want to assume here, but I've known your mother for a quite a while and there's no doubt that she will allow this to happen any further. It will be best if you return home as quickly as it's possible." I stare at her for longer, unable to comprehend for what she has said.

For how long?

A pulse in my head throbs with pain. What does any of this means?

"But I was here before. I saw pictures, of me with my mother, with you, with Zade. Why don't I remember anything?" I ask her. When I think of my younger years, I don't recall anything except for some blurred memories of me being with my mother in some unknown places.

"I had taken your memories, a long time ago. Your mother wanted you to remember nothing after the incidents that took place here. She vowed never to return and keep you far from here. I didn't believe that I'd see you again, Aurora, at least not in this lifetime. Your mother was very persistent, she was sure that you'd be in danger here. Nothing changed her mind and I did what was best." She explains to me, and I try hard to understand.

Why would Mom hide it from me? All this time? So many years...

"What danger? Did I do something?"

Martha leans back in her chair, her eyes narrowing. "No. You didn't do anything," She shakes her head and her voice softens. "You were the perfect child, you could've never done anything wrong. It was Zade. The older he grew, his bloodlust worsened. For a young vampire, it's easy to come over the bloodlust, but it wasn't for him. He wasn't able to control it and the result was—nearly tragic. He almost killed you."

The room turns ice cold, or maybe that's just the blood draining from my face. I had been so close to death, and by the hands of someone I now—what? Trust? Love? My stomach turns.

"But I didn't die."

"Of course you didn't," She smiles at me, warmly. "But you were in a horrific condition, Aurora. By then, it had been months of sharing blood. He fed from you and you fed from him. It was willing, but it was also killing you at the same time and your mother was furious, scared for your life. She pulled you away from here, and decided you were better off not remembering any of it."

The tension in the room is almost suffocating, so thick you could carve it with a knife. Martha's eyes meet mine, heavy with the weight of years and secrets. "Matilda and I had been friends for a long time, and I respected her wish to keep you safe. So, I took your memories. You were so young, and you had your entire life ahead of you which could've easily been taken then by my own son."

I heave in a breath while taking it all in. There's so much to take.

Just then, I hear footsteps in the foyer and I recognize them. He's here. My heart sinks into my stomach and I don't think it can go any lower. Martha stands up, her glass of blood now empty and on the side. Before any of us can say a word, Zade steps into the room and his face pales.

He freezes on his steps, glaring at me and then at his mother. Fear rushes on his face and I don't think I've seen him scared before.

"Mother," he finally utters, his voice in disbelief. "You're—you're here." His eyes flicker between his mother and me, trying to understand the reason behind this moment, and whatever his eyes find in mine, it seems to drain the color from his face even more.

"We need to talk." Martha says.

"It's not what it looks like—"

"You're reckless, Zade." She snaps at him, and his eyes dilate even further.

"I've control."

"You will loose control." There's a warning that goes off in her tone and now I understand what it's about.

"I know I won't. I know how to control myself, Mother."

"Zade—" She takes in a sharp breath while nearing him. Before she continues, her gaze flickers to me, "Aurora, why don't you go outside, catch a breath?"

Her suggestions hangs in the air.

"No." Zade snaps and it startles me.

I take a step back, conflicted. "I—" I start, locking my eyes with him. "I think I should."

Without waiting for another moment, I rush towards the door and enter the empty quiet hallway. A chill runs down my spine and I take a few steps forward before stopping. My heart clenches. I press my hand against the wall and lean against it.

What have I done?

"Listen to me," I hear his mother, stopping him from following me. "You will not go near her."

"I'm fine, Mother. Truly. I know how to control myself around her, around anyone." I hear his voice echoing through the hallway and it's different, so different. It's hurting.

"Estella," His mother calls for her. "Tell me the truth."

"He hasn't fed from her." She quickly says.

"And from someone else?"

"Yes, it was just a couple of days ago—" Estella tells the truth and I begin to understand it. All this while I thought he didn't want to drink my blood because he didn't like it, but there was another reasoning to it.

"After years, Mother. I can control myself." Zade stops her and argues back with his mother, defending himself.

"You don't know yourself. Your hunger is insatiable. It has always been and it will kill her." His mother says, leaving me surprised.

I purse my lips, turning around and away from the door. I'm not supposed to hear any of this, I'm not even supposed to be here.

"She's my mate. I know now, I understand now what I feel. All that hunger, it came from somewhere deep, something primal that I couldn't recognize until now. Because it wasn't just hunger for her blood; it was hunger for her." I'm breathless, his confession, it stirs something inside me.

"You won't be able to ever mark her. You know that well."

"I don't care—"

"Stop it, Zade."  

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