Sacrificed To My Sister's Mate

Chapter 7: Unreasonable

Jade’s pov

This wasn't what we agreed on.

The words echoed in my head as I stared at my mother.

I had agreed to come here and listen.

Hell, I am even willing to be a surrogate for my sister.

I didn’t come here for this.

I didn’t come here to be threatened.

Or to be reminded that my own mother could have signed my death warrant six years ago.

Not in front of strangers.

Not in front of Dante.

Why didn’t I even care about this man? Why does his opinion even matter in a time like this?

I laughed because if I didn't, I was going to cry.

"The award for mother of the year goes to you, Samantha Hale," I said, clapping my hands slowly. "How does it feel to be a shitty mother?"

My mother's expression didn't change.

It never did.

Sasha sighed, and in that moment she resembled our mother. She had the same self-righteous look as if I was being unreasonable. As if I had only been asked to hand over scrambled eggs and not my own child.

"Enough, Jade. You left the Coven first and abandoned your responsibilities. You were the one who became a rogue witch. All Mom is saying is that if you want to be part of this Coven again, then do your part."

Do my part? When has Sasha ever done her part?

I looked at my older sister.

For years I had wondered if she truly believed the lies our mother told herself. Or if pretending was simply easier.

I wondered if she really believed that I did nothing for the coven. I had given them my soul and entire childhood. But it seems like even that alone isn’t enough for them.

After everything I have done, apparently I still have a part to play.

"If I don't, then my own mother will kill me." A bitter laugh escaped me, and I asked quietly, "And not just kill me. The most brutal death imaginable."

Sasha folded her arms. "Nobody is killing you. You're alive, aren't you? You made yourself a rogue."

I stared at her.

Sometimes ignorance really was bliss.

"It must be nice," I whispered.

"What?"

"Living inside that little bubble of yours."

She frowned.

"Do you even know what happens to a rogue witch?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

My eyes drifted toward my father.

He couldn't even look at me.

Coward.

"You don't know, do you?" I asked and looked around the room. "Typical."

I took a step toward Sasha. My darling sister is ignorant as ever, so I will do us both a favour and enlighten her. "First you lose your magic, then your mind follows. And finally..."

I smiled. "You die."

The room had gone deathly silent.

"But not before begging for death to take you." I looked at my mother.

She didn't deny a single word.

Of course she didn't.

The truth had never bothered Samantha Hale. Only appearances did. She didn’t care that she had just threatened me with my death. All she cared about was this alliance and trying to save it. As for me, I don’t deserve to be saved. Not my life, not my soul, let alone my stupid heart.

"So?" I spread my arms. "Still think I'm being dramatic?"

No one answered.

"Maybe seeing it will help."

I let the magic flow into my body straight to my brain. I let the memories that have tormented me for days now flood my mind.

The room disappeared.

Instead, everyone stood inside the memory I wished I could forget.

A hospital. This place has seen many gruesome deaths, and so have I, but this lives rent-free in my head.

The screams.

Her screams.

A rogue witch whose mind had already shattered.

I remembered standing there not long ago.

There wasn’t anything I could do to help her in that moment. All I could do was watch her claw at her own skin. Watch nurses sedate her because there was nothing else they could do, because no matter how many tests they take, they can’t find the problem.

Then another memory.

She slammed her head against the wall over and over again. As if she felt no pain, as if whatever is in her head hurts more than any physical wound.

"Please." She sobbed. "Please let me die."

I remembered that sentence.

Because after hearing it... I had nightmares, but instead I was the one in her place. Seems like that nightmare was about to come through.

The memory disappeared. Everyone was back inside the meeting room.

No one spoke.

Some looked sick.

Good.

They should be.

"That," I said quietly, "is what happens to a rogue witch." My eyes found my mother's. "You did that to her."

She didn't flinch.

"So listen carefully, Samantha Hale." I smiled. "If you want to kill me, then do it."

I looked at Mother. I gave her the best smile I could master as I said the next words. "Kill me yourself. Turn me into a rogue, maybe watching me die a painful death will finally bring a smile to that cold face," I said.

For the first time, I saw something flicker inside her eyes.

Not guilt.

Never guilt.

Only annoyance.

I turned toward the door.

There was nothing left to say.

"Wait."

I heard Dante’s voice and stopped in my tracks.

"This isn't what we agreed to." His voice hardened. "I was already against forcing you into this marriage. But threatening your own daughter like this. I won't stand by and watch."

I finally turned around.

There it was again.

That hero complex.

I almost laughed.

"For this to even reach this point," I looked him straight in the eyes. "It tells me exactly what kind of Alpha you are."

His brows furrowed. "I don't understand."

"Of course you don't." I sighed. "So let me dumb it down for you."

I pointed toward my mother. "You can't control your own allies."

Then toward Felix. "You can't control your own people."

Finally back at him. "So stop pretending to be some noble Alpha. You're weak and completely incapable."

Felix shot to his feet. "You can't speak to our Alpha like that!"

I looked at him. "Or what?"

"I'll make you regret it."

I smiled. "I'd love to see you try."

Before anyone could blink. I swung the cocky Felix across the room. His body slammed into the ceiling before crashing into another wall. The glass in the room shattered. The room shook, reminding everyone that I am not just some powerless girl.

He screamed. Blood poured from his eyes, his ears, his nose, and his mouth.

The room froze.

"I can kill you in less than a second." My voice was calm. "So next time, watch your mouth."

I released him.

"f**k you, Samantha." I looked at my mother one last time, then I walked away.

Behind me, I heard voices.

Accusations.

Excuses.

The same endless cycle this family had repeated my entire life.

I almost kept walking.

I should have.

But then I heard Jay.

"You always burden your responsibilities onto her."

I stopped. The urge to hear someone defend me once in my life was just too much.

"You took away her childhood, and now you want to take away her future," Jat said.

My chest tightened.

Then Emily's voice joined his. "She was healing."

Healing.

I smiled bitterly.

I had almost convinced myself they were right.

My hand rested on the doorknob.

I closed my eyes.

If I walked away now.

The Coven would collapse.

Jay would suffer.

Emily would suffer.

The innocent witches would suffer.

Damn it, I hated that my mother knew me so well.

Should I always be the one to suffer?