Even after dinner, Zion still didn't say a word to Aria and it hurt her so much. It was not her intention to hurt his feelings, it was just that she could not bring herself to tell him her secrets yet.
How could she bring herself to tell him her darkest secrets? It would only make him disgusted at her and she didn't want it at all. Nevertheless... She shouldn't hide anything from him — She isn't supposed to do so because she swore to herself that she would always follow him no matter what. It was like giving herself entirely to him and nothing could separate them, not even death. This was the extent of her...love for him. Yes, she loves him even though she hasn't realized it herself.
Zion was currently washing the items they had used to prepare dinner and throughout the process, he wasn't with himself. He had been thinking about his life and what he was going to do about it. Ever since he killed that monster, he should have been happy about it but strangely, he felt otherwise. It was a kind of feeling of sadness but he wasn't sad because his father was killed by a monster, instead, he felt sad killing it.
"The fuck is wrong with me?" He grunted, unable to discern what was happening to him and why he was having such strange feelings.
Just then, Aria walked into the kitchen. Though he didn't know she was standing behind him, he felt that someone was staring at him and thus, he turned around and saw her there. Seeing her and seeing how sad she was, he decided to ignore her and continue with what he was doing but that instant, he felt a sudden pain in his chest and another feeling was the desire to talk to her. Even though he tried to fight it, it was too strong for him to resist.
"Aria..." He called, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Zion, I..." Aria was also finding it difficult to speak because she didn't know what to say to please him but she had to say something. "I— I am sorry!" She said, almost yelling and then rushed, and hugged him from the back.
Her actions took Zion by surprise and for a moment, he froze on the spot. He could feel her soft berries pressing against her back and it made his heart race.
"Wh-what are you doing?" He asked her, stammering.
"Zion, I am sorry for hurting you. I promise I won't ever do it again!" She replied.
It dawned on Zion that she was still very much unhappy about what she did though he didn't take it seriously. At this, he felt angry at himself. Stopping whatever he was doing, he turned around and grabbed her face. He saw the tears in her eyes and his heart ached as a result of it. How could he have let his emotions take the best of him and hurt her?
"Stop crying," he whispered and wiped the tears on her eyes. His actions were gentle and he tried to force out a smile. "I am no longer angry with you."
Aria's eyes glittered and her furrowed eyebrows stretched. "Really?" She asked him. "Are you no longer angry with me?"
"Yes, I am no longer angry with you. I just hope that you don't keep things from me," Zion replied.
"I am sorry, Zion. I will never keep things from you anymore."
"That's more like it," Zion said and caressed her soft hair.
Zion quickly finished what he was doing and after that, they went back into their room. Before Aria fell asleep, she decided to open to Zion.
"I am ready to tell you everything, Zion but before that, you have to promise me one thing," she began.
"What could that be?" Zion asked her, raising an eyebrow.
"You must promise me that no matter what, you will not send me away," she said, sounding very serious.
Zion had never seen her that serious before, this made him realize that the matter was that grave. But regardless of it, he didn't hesitate to make the promise.
"I promise, okay? So go ahead now."
Aria, though still reluctant began. "I was once a human like you, Zion."
This information came as a shock to Zion but after he thought about how she was able to return to her human form, things became a bit clear to him.
"So how or what made you become a monster?" He asked her, getting more curious.
"That day, I ran out of home because I was being beaten up by my step brother. I remember crying in a lonely place and all of a sudden, someone appeared in my front and offered to help me. At first, I was reluctant to accept his help because his face was hidden by a mixture of red and black smoke, I could not see his face. But he promised that he was going to help me exert revenge on the people that maltreated me and out of anger and the desire to revenge, I accepted. I was blinded by hatred and it caused me a lot..." As she spoke, tears began to gather in her eyes again and before Zion knew it, she had started crying.
"He gave me a pill and for that moment, I didn't know what was happening to me. I felt my strength increasing, my bones shifting and my senses hightening. It was a wonderful experience at first, but after that, came something I never expected; Hunger — An insatiable hunger for blood and flesh. I reached out to him for help but he was no more... He had gone, disappeared and I was left all alone. I had to rush home because I was lost, I forgot all the hatred and needed someone to talk to, my dad, my mom or even my brother... Just anyone would do but unfortunately, nothing of such happened. Instead, I returned home and saw them waiting to start the punishment all over again. It was then that I realized how deep my hatred for them was, I could not take it anymore and that's when I did the unthinkable. I let my hatred take control of me and I began to attack them mindlessly, I started with my father, my biological father. The man never loved me from the start, he was the genesis of my suffering so I had to deal with him first, I had to make him pay for everything. And when I was done with him, I went for my stepmom and then my stepbrother. After I had completely killed them in the worst way possible, my hunger for blood took control of me and that's when it happened... I made sure to satisfy my hunger and after that, I fell asleep. I woke up the next day to find the house empty, I had searched for the remains of my family members but I could not find one — the house was strangely cleaned up, like it was done by someone while I was unconscious. After remembering what I did to my family, I felt bitter because I had never thought of hurting them or paying them back evil with evil; that was the kind of person I am. Not wanting to raise any suspicions, I left home and began to wander around, and this is how I got to know you, Zion. The reason why I didn't turn into my beast form was because I was scared of hurting you. If I had fought against that monster, I would end up going hungry again and that's when it happens..."