CHAPTER 53

**SOPHIA**

The night falls, and I sit on the bed, waiting for the prince.

The air in the room feels heavy, and my heart beats nervously, as if every second is on the edge of something inevitable.

I know what he wants, what he does.

He will drink my blood, as he has done before, as he always does. But this time, something feels different. Time passes, and he doesn’t come.

My hands fidget in my lap, clutching the sheet as the minutes drag on.

I keep waiting, the tension coiling inside me like a snake ready to strike.

But the silence remains. I hear no footsteps approaching, no knock at the door—nothing to indicate the prince’s presence.

This should make me feel calmer, but the fear of the unknown still lingers in the air. A slight sense of relief begins to creep in, but it’s temporary.

Today, they officially announced the deaths of the king and queen.

Two days—just two days—until the prince is crowned the new king.

He already has so much power, but with the crown, he will be invincible.

Humanity and compassion are words that don’t apply to him.

Many humans were captured and accused of conspiracy, and tomorrow they will be judged. I know what judgment means.

Death.

My thoughts are interrupted by the soft sound of the door opening.

My body tenses automatically, thinking it’s finally him, but when I look up, I see Adam quickly entering the room.

My relief at seeing him is immediate, and I rise from the bed without hesitation. I grab my cloak, draping it over my shoulders before covering my head and face with the hood.

He says nothing.

Our movements are swift and precise, as if we are doing something dangerous. And we are.

We leave the room together, our steps soft and almost inaudible, guiding us through the castle corridors.

Adam leads me through the same secret paths we’ve used so many times before, until we are finally outside.

When the night breeze touches my face, I feel like I can breathe again.

I lift my head and look at the sky.

The stars shine above, so distant and unreachable, but they offer a momentary comfort.

For an instant, I allow myself to forget everything and just observe.

But then my gaze shifts to Adam, who is holding two swords—one is his, the other is new.

He places the weapons on the grass, approaching me with that determined look.

“Are you ready for your lessons, Sophia?”, his voice is low but firm.

I smile slightly and nod.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

“Did you bring your dagger?”, he asks.

I lift my dress and show the dagger strapped to my leg. The cold metal is a constant reminder of the reality I live in.

“It’s here.”

“Great. Let’s start by teaching you how to use it properly.”, Adam says, picking up one of his daggers.

I look at the dagger in my hand—small but lethal.

“Wouldn’t it be wiser to learn to fight without weapons too?”, I ask, trying to understand the logic behind starting with blades.

“Yes, but fighting a vampire without a weapon isn’t smart. They’re too strong, and rarely does a punch or strike affect them much.”, he replies, with a slight smile.

I sigh, feeling the cold wind wrap around my body, but I nod, accepting his logic. We have only a few hours before we need to return to the castle. Time is short, and I need to learn quickly.

“Relax your body. Spread your legs slightly, but keep your body firm.”, Adam says, adjusting my posture.

He places his hands on my back and arms, guiding my movements.

His touches are firm but gentle, as he positions me correctly.

He then lifts his own dagger, showing me how to hold it.

“Always drive the dagger with all your strength into the vampire’s chest. The heart is the only vital point. Don’t hesitate, because their bodies are strong. It takes a lot of force to pierce the chest. Now, try with me.”

I try to replicate his movement, aiming at his chest. But before I know it, he spins his body, dodging easily and grabbing my hand.

“Be quick, Sophia. Think fast. They won’t hesitate to kill you, so you need to be faster. Understand?”

“Yes.”, I reply, already breathing heavily. Nervousness starts to set in.

“Again. Attack me.”

This time I’m faster, trying to reach his chest with the blade, but Adam blocks my attack effortlessly.

Frustrated, I sigh heavily.

“Don’t rush to learn. You’re improving. Keep trying.”, he says, his voice calm.

I shake my head, disheartened.

“I don’t think I’ll ever learn.”

“Of course you will. Let’s start again.", Adam says confidently.

The minutes pass, and the repetition starts to take effect.

Every attack, every dodge, and every mistake turns into a lesson.

I feel the fatigue in my arms, but I don’t want to give up. I keep attacking Adam, who skillfully spins and positions himself behind me, wrapping his arm around my neck in a gentle demonstration of how the enemy could overpower me.

“And the most important thing is: never turn your back on your enemy.”, he whispers near my ear, his voice low but loaded with intensity.

I feel my body shiver.

His words hit me in an unexpected way, and something more awakened inside me.

I try to focus, but it’s hard.

“I think I’ve learned enough for today...”, I murmur, turning my head to meet his golden eyes, now so close to mine.

Adam watches me intently, his eyes focusing on my lips for a moment before stepping back, taking a deep breath.

“We still have a bit more time. Let’s continue.”, he says, though his voice betrays the tension between us.

I blink, still feeling his hands holding me against his body. The truth is, I don’t want to pull away from him.

With Adam, everything is different, easier and more genuine. I feel good and protected with him.

But with the prince, it’s completely different; I feel weak, I feel afraid all the time, and I never know what he will do. Whether he will kill me or bite me at any moment, but I also feel something strange inside me.

Something I shouldn’t feel for someone so cruel like him.