Page 274 of Halfblood Deceived

Those jagged pieces weren’t inert. Aella imagined them forming a monster made of thorns and darkness that was always ready to strike. And when it did, she found no point in being alive. She felt like a burden to Diana, Kamilla, Zeydan, and everyone else. Sometimes the monster lurked in the shadows, whispering about how her life was worth less than everyone else’s. That she was expendable. And it was so easy to believe it. So easy to confuse reality with the monster’s lies.

And maybe…

Maybe one day, she wouldn’t be able to fight the monster.

Wow, you’re full of happy thoughts today, aren’t you? Stop that; she commanded herself.

It was easier said than done.

Diana brought Aella back to reality by gently tugging a fork from her hand and picking up the plates to take them to the sink. “I’ll do the washing. You should go shower and change if you still want to go.”

Aella nodded and stood. She couldn’t help but marvel at the lack of pain in most of her body. Her side still ached slightly, but Mari had assured her she was fully healed the previous day before discharging her. The lingering pain was because her body didn’t know how else to interpret the removal of scar tissue and the regrowth of new nerve endings. Or something like that. Aella wasn’t particularly adept at understanding Mari’s medical jargon. The bottom line, she was fine and she could eat normal food again.

She came to stand behind Diana and wrapped her arms around her sister’s tense waist. “I can go visit Jessa alone.”

Diana sighed, leaning her weight slightly against Aella’s chest. “If you actually believe I’m letting you out of my sight, you have another think coming. Go shower. I’ll call us a car.”

Aella sighed, squeezing Diana before letting her go. “Ok.”

She went upstairs, noticing Diana staring unseeingly at the white backsplash with a soapy dish in her hands.

I have to help her. But how? Aella wondered.

She didn’t have an answer for that yet.

* * *

Aella’s phone buzzed the second she got in the black sedan—driven by a quiet human—with Diana.

She opened her messaging app and found several texts from the group chat dubbed, “FUCK NUANCE. IN THIS HOUSE, WE FUCKING TAKE SIDES.” Evan had created it and added Aylana, Sebastian, Evan, Mari, Gabby, Luce, Kamilla, Kerian, Lex, Diana, and Aella. It was basically a, ‘we are mad at Zeydan group.’ Andreas was not part of it because he’d declared himself a neutral party.

Despite everything, Aella couldn’t help but smile.

Mari: Tell me you didn't just forgive that prick, Aella.Aylana: What???!!! Noooo!!! Bad Aella! He has to grovel first! Did he grovel?Sebastian: There's no such thing as groveling via text.Aylana: Agreed.Evan: Wait, what did I miss? Lex: Aella apparently forgave Zeydan via text.Gabby: BAD AELLA! HAVE WE TAUGHT YOU NOTHING?!!! Luce: Don't scream at her, Auntie Gabby. She's still convalescing.Lex: Use your inside voice, my love.Evan: What inside voice?Kamilla: It is Aella's choice to forgive the aforementioned prick, people. Remember that. Kamilla: But they're right. He has to grovel in person.Kerian: Preferably with a bouquet of your favorite flowers.Evan: And chocolates. Don't forget the chocolates!Gabby: SHE SHOULD MAKE HIM SUFFER AT LEAST ONE MORE WEEK!!! THAT'LL TEACH HIM!!Mari: Agreed. And she could let me hex him, too.Kamilla: I don't think it's healthy for either to let more time pass without discussing things.Gabby: Kamilla is right. I much prefer to scream at Alexander almost immediately after he fucks up.Lex: ... Why are you full-naming me? Am I in trouble?Evan: uh-ohGabby: And Zeydan is truly sorry. I know him better than anyone. And I've received a few of his painfully honest rants. It's not right, and he needs to apologize properly, but you guys should talk.Mari: ??? I liked it better when you were screaming, Gabrielle.Kerian: It sounds like you are becoming a bit too neutral, Gabrielle.Evan: READ THE TITLE OF THE GROUP, GABRIELLE. SLOWLY IF YOU MUST.Sebastian: GABRIELLE! YOU HAVE BETRAYED THIS GROUP CHAT!Aylana: ONE MORE OFFENSE SHALL END IN BANISHMENT, GABRIELLE.Gabby: STOP FULL-NAMING ME YOU WEIRDOS!Kamilla: You do realize Aella hasn't answered yet, right? Luce: You are all being very rude to Aella.

Aella could absolutely imagine Luce’s prim, disapproving expression.

Mari: So, did you forgive the prick, Aella?Evan: Did ya?Sebastian: The suspense is killing moi, Aella!Aylana: Pay no attention to the drama king here, Aella. You can choose not to answer.Evan: NO!!! The suspense is killing moi too!

Aella showed the conversation to Diana, who had accidentally left her phone at home.

Her sister huffed and genuinely—albeit weakly—smiled for the first time in days. “Poor Kam. She’s the only one with any sanity in there.”

Aella chuckled. “Too true.”

She decided it was best to answer before the deluge of outraged, screaming GIFs grew out of control.

Aella: We texted last night, and he asked if we could speak in person. I said yes, because I agree with Kam. We need to talk like adults. We'll meet for dinner tonight.Evan: Wait. Does this mean we should change the group's name? I don't wanna!Kamilla: It's for the best, Aella.Gabby: It is. But make him grovel.Aylana: You could also slap him, Aella.Sebastian: You already did that, love.

Aella wrinkled her nose. Aylana had slapped Zeydan after he left her hospital room, and gave him the dressing down of the century along with Kamilla and Mari, according to Sebastian. Aella couldn’t help but feel a bit bad for Zeydan.

Aylana: One more slap can't hurt.Luce: Physical violence is not the answer. They need to talk about their feelings and reach a peaceful resolution.Kamilla: And the child is the voice of reason again...Luce: :)Lex: No reason, Luce. Only rage.Mari: *Feelings* Gross!Kerian: Why not both? A slap and then a heartfelt conversation ;)Lex: Healthy relationships have no physical abuse of any kind. Right, Gabrielle? Gabby: IT WAS JUST ONCE AND YOU FUCKING WELL DESERVED IT YOU TOSSER.Evan: Can confirm. You deserved it, mate.Sebastian: And all-caps Gabby is back. Do you have a double personality disorder?Gabby: WHEN YOU GET PREGNANT WE'LL TALK ABOUT MOOD SWINGS!Kamilla: How are you doing, Aella?Aella: I'm alright. Diana and I are on our way to the hospital to visit Jessa. And you are making me smile with your antics. Evan: Happy to be of service, darling.Mari: Don't forget to make the royal prick grovel tonight, Aella.Gabby: MAKE HIM GROVEL AELLA.Lex: YESSSSSebastian: No mercy, Aella. Only groveling.Kamilla: Maybe a bit of mercy from both sides is advisable.Luce: Agreed.Evan: You are both traitors to our cause. Dishonor on you and your cow, too.

Aella snorted. And replied to Evan with her favorite, ‘I understood that reference’ gif.

Aylana: I still vote for a slap. It doesn't have to be *that* hard.Sebastian: Says the loon who slapped me hard enough to see stars and kneed me in the balls TWICE.Aylana: You were being a little shit, and you know it. We agreed you deserved it.Evan: HE HAD IT COMING!Lex: THEY HAD IT COMING!Gabby: IT WAS A THROTTLE, BUT NOT A CRIME!!! Gabby: But seriously, though, it's best if there's no slapping.Kerian: That's strike two, Gabrielle.Luce: Actually, it's strike three.Gabby: Whose side are you on, Luce???Luce: Aella's :)Evan: That's my girl!

Aella shook her head, laughing against all odds.

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