"You’re still holding on to that grudge, aren’t you?" The tense silence was broken by Aria's voice, which was measured but harsh.
The teacup I was holding shook a little as I froze in mid-step. The huge kitchen, a vast expanse of steel and marble, was as frigid as the tension between us as we stood there. After carefully setting the cup down and attempting to regain my balance, I turned to her.
"It’s not a grudge," I responded, maintaining a composed tone. "It’s... an adjustment."
"An adjustment," Aria said again, a small, sardonic smirk flickering at the corners of her lips. She folded her arms and leaned against the counter. Are you referring to that as years of silence? You're saying that you're never looking for me?
I inhaled deeply as the remorse I believed I had buried came back to haunt me like a ripped wound. "Ariana, I had no idea where to begin. You vanished into thin air. I had no idea if you wanted to be located.
There was a momentary softening of her eyes. "Maybe I didn’t," she said, her voice a little softer now. "But you didn’t try either, Ava."
I had no answer, and the accusation hurt. Rather, I grabbed the kettle, the routine chore providing me with a focal point. The weight on my chest didn't become any lighter even though the sound of boiling water filled the silence between us.
"Why did you come back?" Finally, without glancing at her, I asked.
"You think I owe you an explanation?"
I turned abruptly as my annoyance boiled over. "I believe you do, yes! Aria, you disappeared. Without saying anything, you abandoned everyone. What did that do to us, do you know? To me?"
She winced, but her face hardened in an instant. She answered cryptically, "I came back because I had to," with a hint of rebellion in her voice.
"Had to? Even so, what does that mean?
Before she could respond, there was a slight knock coming from the doorway. Both of us turned to see Rogan standing there, his gaze darting between us, his expression enigmatic.
Although his tone implied he already knew the answer, he asked, "Am I interrupting?"
"No," Aria answered with ease, her expression changing suddenly. Her posture straightened, and she began speaking in a nice tone that was so strange that it made my stomach turn.
The ease with which she concealed her feelings and the way Rogan appeared almost... relieved to see her troubled me, but I couldn't decide which bothered me more.
Aria added, "We were just catching up," as she moved passed me to take a closer position with him.
"Good," he remarked, his eyes resting on her for an excessive amount of time. "Because there’s a lot we all need to talk about."
I felt alienated from my own life while I watched them. The dynamic completely changed with Rogan's arrival, and I detested how rapidly I was being marginalized.
"I’ll leave you two to it," I remarked suddenly, sounding more icy than I meant to.
"Ava, wait—" Rogan began, but I had already turned to leave.
Later that evening, as I paced the garden, I noticed that the well-trimmed hedges were covered in long shadows from the moonlight. The aroma of jasmine wafted across the chilly air. I put my arms around myself in an attempt to calm my racing thoughts.
"Beautiful night, isn’t it?"
Aria was standing a few steps away as I turned around, her form softly illuminated by the garden lights.
"Are you following me now?" With a stern voice, I asked.
My tone didn't bother her, and she shrugged. "Remember how we used to converse here? when we were children.
The memories she was retrieving were too traumatic for me to look at, so I turned away. "That was a long time ago."
"Doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter," she put as she took a step forward. "I didn't return to argue with you, Ava. I returned because..."
For the first time since her return, she appeared weak as her voice trailed off.
"Because what?" I pressed, more intrigued than angry.
She sighed after hesitating. "Because I don’t think I have much time."
The remarks were like a kick to the stomach. "What are you talking about?"
Her face was a mix of resignation and terror as she gazed at me. "Ava, there are things you're unaware of. about my departure. on the experiences I have had."
"Then tell me," I insisted. "Stop speaking in riddles and just tell me."
"I can’t," she shook her head. "Not yet."
"Why not?"
"Because it’s dangerous," she said in a barely audible whisper.
My heart was racing as I gazed at her. "Dangerous for who?"
"For everyone," she murmured as she fixed me with her gaze.
A loud crash and heated shouting sounded from the home before I could reply. Having forgotten our talk, we both glanced toward the sound.
"What now?" I mumbled as I hurried back to the house.
Aria trailed closely behind with a nervous expression.
We arrived in the living room and saw Rogan standing rigidly by the fireplace. A man I didn't recognize was standing across from him, and a shattered vase was on the floor.
"Who are you?" As I entered the room, I made a demand.
The man turned to face me, his gaze calculating and cold. "Ah, you must be Ava," he replied in a condescension-filled voice.
Rogan responded, "Answer the question," in a cold tone.
The man grinned. "I’m here for Aria."
I turned to face her as my stomach fell. Her eyes were wide with fright, and her face had turned pale.
"Who is he, Aria?" My voice trembled as I asked.
She didn't respond.
"Aria," I said again, this time with greater vigor.
The man laughed. You haven't heard from her, have you? Naturally, she hasn't. The fun would be ruined by it.
Rogan yelled, "Get out," and moved forward.
With mock submission, the man held out his hands. "Calm down, Alpha. I am merely here to convey a message.
"What message?" Rogan snarled.
The man grinned more broadly. "The past always catches up with you."
Then, leaving a chilly silence behind him, he turned and left.
With my heart pounding, I turned to face Aria. "What is his meaning? "What have you done?"
She stared at the broken vase without responding.
"Aria," I replied, taking a step forward. "Talk to me."
Then, with tears in her eyes, she turned to face me. "I apologize, Ava," she muttered. "I didn’t mean for any of this to happen."
She turned and fled before I could inquire what she meant, leaving me standing there with more questions than answers.
In the quiet that followed, I couldn't get rid of the idea that whatever secrets Aria was keeping would undermine everything I believed to be true.