Page 295 of Halfblood Deceived

No.

Diana wasn’t dead. She wasn’t.

Aella had to believe that. She did. She was sure she’d know if Diana had died.

Goddess, she missed her sister.

She missed Aylana, Kamilla, Sebastian, and the others. She missed Zeydan. No, she needed Zeydan.

Claudia bit her lip. “Well, maybe there is a way. If you tell me the location of the Davashkov household, I could see these non-monstrous vampires with my own eyes. If they’re not evil, as you say, then maybe you could take me to them.” Her eyes were big, almost innocent. But there was something dark in them. Something hungry and unnerving.

Aella blinked. A sick sensation pooled in her sore stomach.

“You are the balm after the beating, aren’t you?” Aella asked, voice tremulous. “They thought I’d be dumb enough to tell you what they couldn’t beat out of me, right?” Aella scoffed. “I’m not that dumb. I’ll never tell you.”

Claudia smiled, and it was as if a mask fell. Those were the same brown eyes Aella had known for years, but they glowed with enough cruelty to rival Micah’s. That was the same face Aella had visualized during many of her weaker moments, a face she’d missed, but now it was hardened with callousness.

“I thought you’d be dumb enough to tell me,” Claudia said, letting out a soft little laugh. She sighed. “But I have to admit it’s better this way. I like the idea of Micah beating you until you confess. I’ll enjoy watching the aftermath.”

“Why?” Aella asked. Maybe it was stupid, but she needed to know why this female she had considered a friend was being so cruel.

Claudia’s twisted amusement faded, replaced by rage. “It’s your fault that Isaiah died. Yours. He chose you and that thing over me!” She jabbed a finger at Aiko, who flinched as if struck.

Aella’s mouth watered with nausea. “You are sick. Aiko is a child. A child who Isaiah tried to protect. And he never once looked at me that way. Never.”

Claudia laughed bitterly. “Oh, I know. He never looked at me that way, either. But he pitied you. You were always the kicked puppy. You were always making a drama. Acting as if pleasing your husband was such a chore. Poor, fat, barren Aella. Isaiah couldn’t help his savior’s complex around you.” She took the basin and stood. “Maybe I should thank you. Now I’ll get to marry a devout male who will fulfill his husbandly duties. A male who will kill the beasts instead of protecting them. A male soon to be a widower.” She smiled at Aella.

Aella gulped. Her stomach turned. “Micah. You’ll marry Micah.”

Claudia lifted her chin. “Yes. Doesn’t that make you feel even more inadequate, whore?”

Aella shook her aching head. “No, it makes me pity you. You have no idea what a monster he is.”

Claudia poured the bloody water on Aella’s head. “He won’t have to hurt me. I am not an incompetent, fat, barren, vampire-loving whore.”

Actually, I’m pretty sure Micah is the infertile one; Aella almost said. Mari had run some tests on her and found that she was fertile.

“You will regret it, Claudia,” Aella said.

Claudia laughed. “No, I won’t.” She turned her face to stare down at Aiko. “I’ll see you for your bible lessons later, little leech. You better remember your previous lesson, or I’ll be forced to punish you again.”

Aella felt her insides freeze. “You are the one who’s been beating Aiko?”

“Don’t call that thing by her heathen name!” Claudia growled, eyes flashing red as she glared at Aella. “She’ll get a church-approved name when we purify her rotten soul.”

Aella’s eyes fell on Aiko, who was curled further into herself as if wishing to disappear. Only one eye was visible through her black hair.

She’s suffered so much; Aella thought. She turned to find Claudia looking smugly pleased.

“She’s a child, Claudia!” Aella cried, her heart pounding and her fists clenching. “How could you hurt a child?!”

“I don’t care that she’s a child, Aella,” Claudia said, voice mocking. “She’s a vampire, halfbreed monster. Inferior to me. An animal. She’s not one of us. And she needs to be purified.” Her lips curled in a holier-than-thou smile that made Aella see red.

She felt as if something wanted to crawl out of her very bones. As if her skull were tearing itself open because her rage was too big to be contained.

Aiko was just a child. A child who saw how the gargoyles slayed her parents. And Claudia hurt her.

Aella sent her heel against Claudia’s calf.

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