Chapter 114 Ch. 84
“Why did he do it then?” Zara asked softly. She shifted closer, her shoulder brushing his. “His blood…”
“Because she was kind. Her name was Francesca, and she used to sneak meals to the humans in the cellar. She used to help some of them escape or heal the ones who didn’t die from bleeding out,” Ethan said, a ghost of a smile touching his lips before it vanished. “He found out and didn't scream. He didn't even get mad. He just invited us all to watch her 'final lesson.' He told her that if she loved humans so much, she should know exactly how it feels to be human and feel some more emotions.”
“Oh…” Zara trailed off, not quite sure what he meant.
“He wouldn’t even listen to her—strike deals for blood donation. He would just kill…” Ethan shivered, his fingers twitching against the silk sheets.
“He made her watch him take them apart, piece by piece, until she stopped crying and started screaming. And when she wouldn’t stop screaming, he told her she was too 'noisy' to be in the house. He ended it right there in front of me. To teach me a lesson because I indulged her sometimes.”
“And your mother?” Zara prompted, almost afraid of the answer.
“She tried to run with me that same night,” Ethan said, a hard lump forming in his throat. “She got as far as the gate. They had an intense argument…and my mom had never argued. He didn’t kill her quickly. He made her heart stop and start for three days using a blood curse. He wanted her to feel every second of her life leaving. He told me that was what happened to people who tried to break the 'unit.'”
“But if he’s so heartless, why keep you?” Zara asked, frowning. “If he hates weakness, and you’re defying him, why are you still breathing?”
“Because of the Blood Ledger,” Ethan said, a bitter laugh escaping him. “It’s an old law, a curse placed on our lineage centuries ago. If a head of the clan kills their only viable heir with their own hands, or fails to protect the heir from death or danger, the entire family’s power turns to ash. The house would fall, the money would vanish, and there are clans who would hunt him down because he’d be nothing but a common corpse. I’m not his son to him—I’m his insurance policy.”
“So he’s trapped,” Zara mused, realization dawning on her.
“We both are,” Ethan replied, closing his eyes. “He can’t kill me, but he can make me wish I was dead. He can hurt everyone I touch. That’s how he rules. He doesn’t need love when he has leverage. My father holds no sentiments. And maybe that’s why we are the most powerful clan.”
"We will get away from him," Zara said, staring at the shadows on the ceiling. She didn’t want to argue because Ethan had valid reasons to hate his father. But somewhere in all that psychotic nature, Zara just knew he cared about Ethan. "We just need time."
"We should talk about the vision," Ethan started, but he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Lorenzo wants you all for dinner," a guard said from the hallway. “Thirty minutes.”
Zara sighed and sat up, pulling her hand away. "We have to go. We cannot give him a reason to be suspicious."
“Yeah,” Ethan mumbled, sitting up. His body felt weak.
“You good?” Zara asked.
“Of course,” he lied.
Zara gave him a look.
“Just feel weak.”
“You probably need food.”
They walked down to the dining room together. The table was set. Ivanna and Dylan were already there, sitting close together and talking in low voices. Lorenzo sat at the head of the table, his face pale and set in a grim expression. He was sipping from a glass of dark, thick blood.
“Where’s Jace?” Ethan asked, looking around.
“He left earlier.” It was Dylan who answered. “Said he’ll stop by tomorrow.”
"How are you feeling, Zara?" Ivanna asked. "You gave us a real scare earlier."
"I am better, thank you," Zara said, giving her a small smile. "Just a bit tired."
"So why call all of us to dinner?” Dylan asked.
Lorenzo did not answer. The servants brought out glasses for Ethan and Zara. The liquid inside Ethan’s was a deep, bright red. Ethan took one sniff and pushed the glass away, his lip curling.
"I hear you have been refusing blood," Lorenzo said, not looking up from his own glass. "You look terrible, Ethan. You are getting paler by the hour."
"I am not going to drink the blood of humans you murdered," Ethan snapped, his voice echoing in the quiet room. "I will not do it."
"It is a waste of a good meal," Lorenzo said, finally looking at him. "This is about survival, not morality. You are a vampire. Act like one."
"I would rather starve than be like you."
“Close to a month without blood. You're shaking the hands of Azrith.”
“Yeah. That’s a better option.”
“No. It’s your pride.” Lorenzo corrected, taking a sip. “You think you’re better than the beast inside you. But look at you. You can’t even hold a fork straight. You’re a lion trying to eat grass, and it’s pathetic. Or is it because of her?”
“I’m not a lion. And I’m certainly not you,” Ethan said, pushing his chair back.
“You have my eyes. You have my temper. And soon, when the hunger finally breaks that fragile little mind of yours, you’ll have my appetite too,” Lorenzo said, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. “I’ll be waiting with a fresh kill when you’re ready to admit what you really are.”
He turned and stormed out of the room without another word.
Zara looked at Lorenzo, then she stood up and followed Ethan. She found him in the hallway, his hands clenched into fists.
"Ethan, stop!" Zara cried out, catching up to him.
"I cannot do it, Zara," he said, turning to face her. "I cannot drink that. It sickens me… I…”
He took in a sharp breath. At first he had convinced himself that it was needed; that it was the only way to survive and Ian’s were just unlucky to be born humans, but now had sickened him since Zara because he could just picture it being her—being kidnapped and then bled out just for blood. Even though now he knew she wasn’t human. But there was also the taste… it wasn’t enjoyable anymore so even though it had started to affect him, he wasn’t moved.
Everything was different since Zara.
"You can literally get yourself killed like this," Zara said, grabbing his arms and forcing him to look at her. "This is not about morality right now. This is about what you need to survive. Think about it— I hate animal cruelty and I would be vegan but I struggled with low iron. As an athlete I need as much red meat as I can get because supplements will only get you this far,” she said making a gesture with her hand. “I had to get over it because trust me when I say I tried everything and it wasn’t sustainable. I had to stop hating my dad for making me eat red meat because it was that or lose what I love… lose being an athlete. And spending my life being pumped up with supplements.”
“Well you love being an athlete, I don’t love being a vampire.
Zara sighed. There was really no getting around him. “If you are too weak to fight, he wins. You need to survive so we can leave."
"At what cost?" Ethan asked, his eyes searching hers.
“Ethan. There is nothing that will justify it,and I know I am asking you to cross a line you don’t want to, but what changes? Will he stop killing them?” Zara whispered. “You know what, fuck that.”
She adjusted her collar and leaned upwards.
“You’re insane, I’m not drinking from you… again.”
“This is my life too. I could… die if you don't, you know.”
“And I could kill you.”
“You won’t do that,” she whispered.
“I am a bloodthirsty being who has been starved,” Ethan deadpanned. “I could lose control.”
“Good thing we’re bonded, eh?” She smiled wryly. “You’d feel it and stop.”