Chapter 62

I don’t remember much from the aging ceremony, but I remember the pain, in fact, the pain is something that I will never forget, no matter how many years I live for. It was horrendous and I will never do anything like that again, whether it saves my life or not.
I’m back in bed now, and I feel as though I could lay here for a thousand years and still not feel like myself, or have the energy to face the day. But I will have to get up soon, my father is here, and he has demanded my presence. Yeo, demanded.
He thinks he can tell me what to do, which he really, really can’t. But I will go and see him, because without him the pain would have been over a hundred times worse. I owe him.
Mihai didn’t want to leave my side, not even for a second, but I told him to go shower, we can’t meet Luther smelling like shit. No matter how crap I feel.
Besides, a shower will do him good, and it’ll give me a minute to my fucking self. Which I desperately need.
I appreciate him, and everything he has done for me, but I feel like he’s trying to suffocate me. I love the affection, and I think I am starting to love him, but I still need space. Even if it is just for a moment.
I roll over for the fortieth time, trying to find the perfect spot, one where I feel no pain, but it feels absolutely impossible.
My throat is on fire, and I know what that means, I need blood, again. And I need it soon. Before I go crazy, or before I kill.
Last night, I nearly killed the women, but luckily Mihai stopped me before that could happen, and I will be forever grateful for that.
I owe him a lot.
More than i would like to admit, and honestly, I'd rather not owe him anything, but he has done more for me than the man who raised me. The man i thought was my father for all those years i was trained as a hunter.
But i was never more than an experiment to Nathanial, nothing more than what i could give to him, and his sons.
He used me, because that is what the hunter council told him to do, i can never forgive him, and i have tried. Really tried. He caused my mother's death, and he nearly caused mine.
Mihai walks out of the bathroom, instantly picking up on my spiralling mood, “You didn’t kill the human, love, i made sure of that.” He says slowly, trying to gauge why my mood has soured. “Or are you angry because i didn’t tell you about the pain... because we have been over this, and i thought it was better for you to go in blind than worry for the days before-”
“No, that’s not it.” I say, interrupting him, “I was thinking about Nathanial and my brothers.”
He sighs, stepping further into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist. “You shouldn’t worry yourself over things like that, you can’t change what they did to you, but you can get revenge, and you will, just as soon as i have enough Nati behind us to attack the council.”
Now it is my turn to frown, “What? You're raising an army?”
This is the first time I've heard this. I thought we’d go in alone, with the guards maybe? But i never expected him to contact other Nati.
“Essentially, yes.” He says, walking towards the bed and sitting on the edge, taking my hand in his, “I told you that they would pay for what they have done, but i am not stupid enough to think we can do it alone.”
“It makes sense.” I agree, “I just didn’t really think it through i guess.”
I should have. I am the one that wanted revenge, i should have known it would take an army to take out an army.
It isn’t like we would have won with only fifty or so guards.
Mihai is smart, i have always liked that about him. He's much smarter than me. I would have gone in alone, with nothing but my anger to back me up.
And i would have died, horribly. But i would have taken out Nathanial, and Sean before i died. They deserve everything that is coming for them, and more. Jake i am not so sure about, he never did anything to hurt me, and i would like to believe that he never would.
But we will have to see, he will probably side with his father once he realises what i am. He hates Nati. Just the same as i used to.
The difference is, i never killed, but both my human brothers have. They've killed more Nati than i can count on both of my hands. Probably more than i can count all together.
Nathanial even more so. He's spent his whole life killing my kind, and those who sympathise with them. He shows no mercy. Not to anyone. And he won’t to me either.
“It is my job to protect you, love, and i take that very seriously. You'll always be safe with me.” Mihai promises, squeezing my hand, “But right now we need to go and see Luthor, he isn’t known for being very patient.”
I groan, throwing my head back, “What about my shower?”
I'll avoid going down as long as i can, but i know i will have to face him soon. Even if i postpone.
“You have five minutes.” He says, pulling me to my feet and giving my bare ass a slap. “And I'm counting.”
I growl at him, rubbing my sore ass cheek, “Yeah, yeah, five minutes.” i grumble, “Clearly you have never lived with a woman before if you think that is enough time.”
“Just don’t wash your hair.” He shrugs, heading towards the wardrobe.
“You got to wash your hair.” I grumble under my breath, walking into the bathroom and slamming the door.
“I heard that!” Mihai shouts as i turn to shower on. “One more word and I'll smack your ass so hard you won’t be able to sit for a month.”
I bite my lip, holding back a laugh as i step into the stream of water, washing my body as quickly as i can.
I may not want to face Luthor, or hear what he has to say, but i know that i don’t really have a choice in it. He is powerful, maybe even more powerful than Mihai, and with that power comes certain privileges that lower Nati don’t get.
Privileges I'm not sure i will get, even if i am his daughter, i am only a halfbreed. I might not even be as strong as a full Nati. We won’t know until i get my power, and i haven’t had any sign of power yet.
Everyone is hopeful that i will. But i am not so sure.
Sure, i will live as long as the rest of them. But that doesn’t mean i will be as strong, or as fast.
I like to believe that i will, but hope has never been kind to me. Not ever.