HELL HOLE

Lucien's POV:

“What did he do to you?” I asked in a whisper, my eyes wide open as I stared at her.

Mother was supposed to be very old and close to death but she was the opposite. If no one knew her, she would pass as my sister.

She bowed her head as if covered in shame and picked on her finger. My hands that were on the cell gate shook violently.

“I'm going to kill him,” I said with anger, my eyes refusing to stay in one place.

Her skin wasn't only fresh but also had red spots from the sunlight. I knew that was painful because it took a while for me to get used to my new life.

“Lucien, wait.”

Her fragile hand held me down and even though I could have pulled away, I didn't.

My heart ached for who she was now because I knew the repercussions.

“Why are you stopping me from tearing him apart?” I asked with a sigh, refusing to look at her.

She tugged on my shirt but I stayed still. I could have stopped this if I confronted him earlier.

The pain I felt made my lungs lock up and I couldn't breathe through my throat.

“I asked for it,” she said quietly at first that I barely heard.

I paused for a second and tried to think of any other words that could fit what she said but I couldn't.

“What did you say?” I could hear my heart drumming so fast that even my mother looked at my chest.

“I… I told him to do it,” she confessed with her eyes closed.

I let out a loud breath and stared at the wall decorated with moss.

“You didn't,” I said with a smile then raised a brow when she didn't respond.

“He must have brainwashed you in some way,” I continued rambling as I stared at her.

Her eyes wavered with teary eyes and bit my lips. I wanted her with her old wrinkly skin again.

“He didn't, Lucien. This is what I want,” she responded and slowly slid to the floor, careless about how damp it was.

“What do you mean by that? What do you mean, mother?” I asked, my tempo increasing with each word.

She flinched where she was sitting and this time, she let the tears flow.

The sight broke my heart but I didn't waver. Not when she decided to alter herself to please a sadist like my father.

“You did this for him, didn't you?”

She didn't respond this time and it somehow infuriated me more. I ran a hand through my hair with my eyes closed to stay calm.

“Why would you even think this was the be-

“You're selfish,” she interrupted me coldly.

Her words slit through my heart like a knife and everywhere went silent. I was kind of taken aback and could only stare.

“What?”

The confusion and hurt that hit me was way worse than the anger I felt earlier.

She looked up slowly and wiped up her tears before she said, “You are so fucking selfish.”

“You only care about what benefits you,” she cried out and clutched her white dress.

I continued to stare in silence as my mouth ached from clenching my teeth for so long.

“You want me that way even though I always feel miserable. I want to be young forever to stay by your side.”

I let out a scoff and corrected her immediately, “To stay by his side.”

“You decided to become a vampire because you feel threatened by some measly-

“Do you know what it feels like to be constantly locked up? Do you know how scary it is?” She yelled in my face, her already red face turning redder.

“Having to compete against my son's ex-lover is very depressing!

“Then don't twist the narrative and make it seem like you're doing it for me!” I matched her tone and stepped away.

My chest was heaving heavily with anger as my veins coursed with fire instead of blood.

“This isn't fear,” I said to her.

“It is my body, Lucien. You have to come to terms with it.”

Her response seemed more absurd than the whole conversation so I just nodded and took my leave.

My body was stiff as the whole event ran through my mind. I obviously couldn't get Freya today even though it wouldn't take more than one hour.

I just wanted to be alone today and having Freya around would ruin that. If I didn't respond well to her after avoiding her for days, it wouldn't end well.

“Lucien?” I went still when I heard her voice and let out a sigh.

Julianna was lurking around a corner just like she usually does but unlike before, I didn't acknowledge her.

“Have you seen what your mother did to herself because of me?” she asked, jogging right behind me.

Checking out the area, it was obvious that we were alone so without warning, I spun around and pressed her against the wall.

I wrapped my hand around her neck when she tried to move but instead of her squirm in pain, she smiled.

“I love it when you do this to me, it turns me on. Something your father can't seem to do,” she whispered, moving closer to me.

Before her hand could reach my groin I held it tightly and twisted it until the smile morphed to an expression of pain.

“Don't you dare fucking cross the line,” I warned her slowly.

I pushed myself away from her and with one last dirty glance, I walked away from her. I just wanted to get the pass and get out of this hell hole.

“Fucking sociopaths,” I muttered to myself before I swung my study door open.

My mother's situation was something I needed to think about in isolation and that was exactly what I was going to do for the next one week.

Freya would have to wait a bit before we finally send her back.