Page 304 of Halfblood Deceived

Aella didn’t let him go.

He ripped her sweater off and scratched her back raw with his stone claws.

Aella still didn’t let him go. She growled and held onto him like an octopus, trying to break his neck.

The male let out a choked, metallic roar and stumbled back, falling.

Aella took a deep breath and then they were both inside the pool.

Gargoyles needed to breathe, so she could drown him.

Aella needed to breathe too. But the nuns and priests she grew up with had punished her by shoving her head, or sometimes all of her body, underwater plenty of times. She was used to having to hold her breath for several minutes.

Besides, she hadn’t given up on breaking his neck.

No, she hadn’t.

Aella adjusted her grip, just like Sebastian had taught her, and used all her strength, every drop of it.

Her bones were burning and hurting. She tasted her blood and saw it taint the surrounding water. But she didn’t let go. Not until she felt the gargoyle’s neck snap. Part of her was aware that what she’d done required a stupid amount of strength, but she had no time to dwell on it.

Air escaped through her nose as she swam to the edge of the pool.

She broke through the water, coughing, and placed her hands on the edge of the pool.

Aiko grabbed one of Aella’s arms to help her crawl out of the pool. “Are you alright?”

Aella was on her hands and knees, soaking wet and sore beyond belief. She coughed up a mouthful of blood and her two upper canines on the blue tiles. “I’m fine.” She pushed herself upright.

Aiko gripped her hand to help her regain her equilibrium, her eyes wide. “You are not.”

Aella gripped Aiko’s hand and led her through the door that would take them to the hall across the kitchen, locking it behind them. “Let’s go.”

They ran down the hall together.

Aella felt as if her skull were splitting in two. Her upper jaw ached something fierce, but she led Aiko down the narrow service passage, and up a short flight of stairs until they found another door. Aella opened the door a sliver and peered through. There was no one around. She heard the sound of cooking and smelled something roasting, but the coast was clear. She and Aiko silently locked the door behind them, and Aella took them down a short hall and some steps toward the storage room. The room’s metallic door was mercifully unlocked as always.

They went inside unseen.

Coughing up more blood, Aella locked the door and almost whimpered in relief when she found the massive slab of wood she’d hidden by the wall. She blocked the door with it, took a few steps further into the icy, dusty, dark room, and then fell on her hands and knees.

She coughed again, spitting another mouthful of blood onto the concrete. The pain in her skull grew worse, and she felt something pushing out from her upper jaw. She ran her tongue over the protuberances and found canines. Sharp canines. Her ears ached as if pulled. She lifted a hand to touch one and felt an arched, swift point.

What the Hell? Aella wondered, bracing herself on the floor again. I’m shifting. How am I shifting? It’s not possible.

The pain in her bones and joints increased. Aella gritted her teeth not to scream and cut her gums with her sharp canines. Creaky sounds came from everywhere in her body and she felt… larger. Her jeans and destroyed t-shirt were slightly tighter on her.

“Your skin!” Aiko exclaimed.

Aella lifted one arm. Her skin looked chalk white and was harder to the touch. The tips of her fingers ached, and then sharp white claws emerged from them.

Well… at least they’ll be useful; Aella thought.

Aiko gasped. “You are… changing.”

“Looks like it.” Aella panted. Her voice sounded odd, deeper, with a certain vibration that made it almost feline. “I didn’t think it was possible. I’m a halfblood.”

Aiko gawked at her, jaw slacking. “You—you are like—”

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