Scaled Heart

Chapter 19 Ayden

I couldn't forget what Sloane had asked me. The guilt I consistently felt consumed me. Sloane was right though, I had not only betrayed her but Rhiiat as well. My bestfriend and brother who wasn't aware of anything going on. He only knew what Samara had told him. Lies, they were all lies. I headed out the door to get some air, then noticed Rhiiat sitting on the couch with Samara who placed her hand on her flat stomach. He turned in my direction and was surprised to see me. "Ayden when did you get here?"

"Uh," i wasn't quite sure how to answer but I needed to answer fast. "Just a few minutes ago "

"Come and join us." I sat on the arm of the couch, catching Samara's glaring eyes and Rhiiat's smile. "Glad you're here, dude, Samara and i have some news"

"What's that?" I asked pretending to be surprised.

"I'm...I'm pregnant, big brother," Samara said smiling at me then Rhiiat. "I'm 4 weeks along actually "

I got up off the arm of the couch and hugged her tightly. "Congratulations, little sister . I'm....I'm happy for you and Rhiiat." She leaned comfortably back against Rhiiat who placed his hand ontop of hers and ignored the 2 of us for a few seconds. His face seemed content and more full of life than I had seen in a while. He was actually happy about the news of having a son or daughter. Too bad the news wasn't true. "Samara!" I called out breaking the silence. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure," she said gently getting up to follow me to the kitchen. "What's up, Ayden?"

I sighed. "Samara, you have to come clean. Did you see the look on Rhiiat's face? He's so happy you're pregnant even though you arent"

'I'm just playing the part. Getting him to stick around, cause if I don't, he'll go back to Sloane"

"We wouldn't want that," I said sarcastically.

She slapped my chest, i winced in pain. "Ayden, I'm not the only one playing a part here. You've been pretending to he Rhiiat's friend this entire time. Rhiiat will hate the 2 of us once he learns the truth. Can't you play along just a bit longer?"

I clicked my tongue and looked back at Rhiiat who rested on the couch with a pillow on his stomach. Guilt ran through me again as I looked at him and realized I had to rethink my part in this plan. All of these lies were tearing me apart. "I don't know, Samara. None of this makes me feel right "

"Remember what I said, Rhiiat will hate you as much ad he will hate me. Do you really want this to happen?" Samara asked, turning me around for a better look at Rhiiat. "Think of Rhiiat, Ayden. Think of his happiness"

"Who's happiness are you thinking of? Yours or his, Samara?"

She turned her nose at my question and returned next to Rhiiat on the couch. He held her close to his side and kissed her forehead. "Everything ok, baby?"

She smiled. "Yes, baby, everything is fine "

Rhiiat looked over at me, noticing how uneasy I had become once I sat in my seat. "Everything ok, Ayden?"

"Uh yeah, I guess so," I told him trying to calm myself down. " I need some air. I'll be right back "

I stumbled into Leo who lingered in the small hallway just before the front door. He eyed me up and down clearing the lump in his throat. "Something wrong, Ayden? You seem distressed"

I clutched my chest, realizing I was on the verge of a panic attack. "Leo, I'm sure you already know the answer. I really don't need to explain, do I?"

"Arrogant as always." He turned me around, placing his right hand on the small of my back leading me downstairs. My eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Sloane and Lyric who were wincing in pain. Sloane seemed surprised to see me. "Yes, this is where Sloane has been hiding, Ayden, to get out of our hair"

He pushed me further into the room, close enough I was now standing beside Lyric. She reached up for my right hand, but I buried both my hands against my chest. "And why is Lyric down here? Wasn't she helping you?"

"Lyric's down here for a different reason," Leo told me lifting Lyric up onto her feet once he peeled her off the table. "Isn't that right, Lyric?"

"Yes, dad," she whimpered her answer.

"Ayden, I have brought you down here to have a Uh, conversation. Will you go lie down on that table?"

"OK?" I asked becoming confused but doing as I was told. Sloane's worried eyes met mine, silently trying to warn me as Leo bound both my hands and feet. "What's going on, Leo?"

Leo softly chuckled, standing beside the red button. "Ayden, who's side are you actually on? Mine or Sloane's?"

"Why does it matter who's side I'm on?" I wondered. "Everything you've been doing is wrong, Leo!"

"Wait a sec," Sloane spoke up struggling to get up on her feet. "Am I hearing this correctly, Ayden? You've known all along it was Leo behind all of this and you kept it from me? What else do you know?"

"He knows everything," Leo responded for me. "Don't you, Ayden?"

"Ayden, how could you?" Sloane asked. "I knew you had already betrayed Rhiiat and I once, but twice?"

"I'm sorry, Sloane," I said in my best calm voice.

Leo chuckled in delight. "Ain't this another great reunion. Too bad, Ayden, you'll need to learn your place for betraying me and helping Sloane.' He pressed the red button with full force, sending jolts of electricity through the wires above my head. Lyric and Sloane turned their heads in fear, as did the fragile woman who had yet to say a word. Leo finally stopped pressing the button by the 3rd time, letting me catch my breath. "This is what you get for betraying me. Next time, you might not be so lucky. Have you learned your lesson?" I nodded, he released my bound and tossed me to the floor. I nearly landed on Sloane who managed to slide out of the way. Leo hovered over us, scoffing in disgust. "Good. Get out of my face, but keep your mouth shut around your father and Samara "

I ignored what Leo said and glanced over at Sloane who tried her best to avoid my eyes. "Sloane, please look at me, I need to say something "

Her angry eyes met mine. "Ayden, save whatever you want to say. I don't want to hear it"

"Sloane....."

"No, Ayden, I've heard enough"

Lyric began laughing, I glanced over at her in aggravation. "What's so funny, Lyric?"

"This whole situation," she happily replied. "Here you are trying to be a good guy, but in reality you're one of the bad guys. Being a good guy hardly ever prevails "

I headed hesitantly upstairs ignoring everyone around me, as I reflected on my actions. Every muscle in my body ached, which was the perfect punishment for what I had done. Samara stood unexpectedly at the top of the stairs, surprised to see me struggling. "Ayden where have you been? What happened to you?"

"Nothing," I replied pushed passed her, she tightly grasped my wrist. "Let me go, Samara"

"Not until you give me some answers." Her grasp on my wrist tightened, forcing me to look into her eyes. 'Tell me what happened now, Ayden "

I was powerless to her ability. "Leo has Lyric, Sloane and another woman downstairs. They're trapped down there at least for now. He brought me down there to punish me for betraying him"

Her hands were now placed on each of my shoulders. 'Thank you for your honesty, big brother. Head home and tell dad I'll be home soon"

I almost managed to get out the front door without noticing Rhiiat still on the couch, staring into space. He was soon joined by Samara who entered the room with her hand gently on her flat stomach, until Rhiiat pulled her onto his lap and wrapped her arms around her. She leaned her head on his shoulder, giving a small smile. If only he knew how fake all of this really was.