Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall novel Chapter 47

I pace around in the basement, my mind reeling, anger consuming every cell in my body. My skin warming, getting hotter and hotter as my rage reaches boiling point. My claws extend, ripping my nails from my fingers painfully. My fangs push through my gums slowly tearing until they a through. I can taste the metallic of my own blood filling my mouth. I was losing control, a control I never really realised I never had control of in the first place. My entire body felt heightened, my senses overloaded. The light hanging from the ceiling becoming unbearable as it burned my eyes. I jump up trying to grab the bulb. Only instead of grabbing the bulb, I rip the entire light fixture from the roof.

The metal hitting the concrete floor clanging loudly. The cell was plunged into darkness, only it wasn’t dark, my eyes adjusting to the change of light instantly, and I could see everything clearly as if it were still filled with light. Well, this was certainly new. I could always see in the dark, but this was completely different. Looking around, I suddenly become aware of every noise. I am also able to hear above me for the first time since coming down here. I can hear Wendy talking in the rec room, telling the girls to get ready for their baths.

Hear Christine and Zane, who were obviously busy making up for his near-death experience in a very sexual way. I wonder if they can hear Reid and me. I shake the thought away, not needing anymore desires other than getting out of this room right now. I listen and can hear Lily and Amber running up the stairs, and I hear Reid’s office door click shut. I can hear every person in this huge house, my hearing zooming in and out listening intently.

Walking over to the door, I examine the hinges. They are pretty embedded only just sticking out slightly past the frame. The door handle, I know has five deadbolts that shoot into the wall bracing it, so I know there is no way to bust the door open from that side. But on the other side, I might be able to break it and open it just enough to squeeze through. Looking at the hinges, I kick one. The concrete cracks and I realise not only my senses are better, but I am a lot stronger. I wonder if that is why Reid is so much stronger now, he said it himself that being mated to me has its Hybrid perks, but this seems different. I also noticed Reid’s Alpha voice is stronger now. The angrier he gets, the stronger he gets. Looking at the area where the hinges are. I kick it again; a chunk of concrete cracks, and I know it won’t take me long to break them.

I continue to kick it until I hear both hinges break off the concrete and fall on the ground on the other side of the door. I freeze and listen. I hear Reid’s office door open, and I hold my breath. Feeling through the bond, I can tell he heard something but is unsure of what it was. I feel him try and push into my mind, and I let him. Not wanting him to become suspicious of what I am doing. His voice popping into my mind.

“What are you doing, Aria?”

“Still rotting in the cell, like you want,” I answer back sarcastically.

“You know I don’t want that. You brought this on yourself, Aria.”

“Last I checked you locked me in here, so that’s on you, not me. You could always let me out.” I move and shove the door slightly. The deadbolts on the other end bending but not breaking. I squeeze through the gap, the concrete scratching my flesh.

“I never wanted this, Aria. What did you expect me to do when you wanted to abort our child?”

“Respect my decision, Reid, instead you took my choice from me, and now it’s too late,” I reply while creeping up the steps toward the door leading into the house.

“You will come to see this is the right choice. I don’t understand how you would want to destroy a piece of us.”

“I don’t want to argue, Reid. What’s done is done,” I state listening to hear if anyone is on the other side of the door. Which I find hard with Reid in my head because I am trying to answer him and not alert him to my escape as well as not think of what it is, I am doing. When I know the coast is clear, I open it slightly and pop my head out. I can hear the girls playing in Amber’s room.

“Well make me understand then. I want to know why you don’t want to be a mother when you’re a great one to Lily.”

“That’s exactly the reason, Reid. I was forced to raise a child when I was a child. I have never once in my life done anything for myself other than raise a kid that wasn’t even mine. I was completely alone, raising a baby. I put my life aside for her. I lost every part of myself I liked, as I was suddenly plunged into exhaustion, diaper changes and bottle feeds. While most thirteen-year-old were out hanging with friends and doing normal things, I was stuck raising a baby. It may seem selfish to you, but I don’t want to raise another baby, have all that responsibility thrust onto me again. It’s a baby, Reid. Something I will have to raise and keep alive and throw my life away for yet again.” I hadn’t realised I had stopped on the stairs until I stopped answering. Shit, I lost focus. I quickly moved up the steps and into the closet on the first level.

Just in time as I hear Christine and Zane walk past. Zane sounds like his normal self; you wouldn’t even think he was knocking on death's door a few hours ago. I hear him stop and sniff the air.

“You smell that?” he asks Christine. “I swear I just caught Aria’s scent.”

“She is in the cells, you must have imagined it,” Christine says. I hear them keep walking. Letting out a breath. Reid’s voice popping in my head again.