CHAPTER 46
**SOPHIA**
I follow Adam out of the room, the sound of screams and chaos around us is deafening.
I hold onto his arm tightly, seeking some sense of security in his presence.
My heart races uncontrollably as we run together through the castle corridors.
Every step I take is a battle against fear, but Adam’s determination pushes me to keep moving, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart.
The hallways are filled with bodies, a sight that makes my eyes widen in horror.
The floor is stained with blood, both human and vampire.
The metallic, heavy smell of blood permeates the air, mixing with the acrid odor of smoke that saturates the castle.
I feel my stomach churn at the sight of the carnage, my eyes filling with tears that I struggle to hold back.
I can’t see the prince amidst the chaos, and that only increases my anxiety.
The thought that he might be killing people disturbs me, but at the same time, I know he’s incredibly powerful.
My gaze drops to the dagger in my hand, and the blood-stained fingers make me shudder.
I killed a human, and the reality of that act weighs heavily on my conscience. It’s hard to believe this is real, that I actually took a life.
“Where are we going?”, I ask, my voice weak and trembling, as we descend the stairs.
“I’m getting you out of here before it’s too late.”, Adam replies, the urgency in his voice clear.
My eyes widen, and I shake my head.
I know that leaving the castle would mean facing the prince’s wrath.
“I can’t do that; he would kill all of us… and my mother, Adam.”
Adam pauses for a moment and looks at me with an intensity that makes me tremble.
“I can’t let you die in this castle, Sophia.”
“I’m with you, and I’m not going to die.”, I say, my voice firm despite the fear consuming me.
But tears stream down my face, mixing with the dirt and blood staining my skin.
I touch his hand, seeking comfort, while I hear the sound of guards running down the nearby corridor.
“I want to stay with you, don’t leave me…”, I plead, my voice is almost breaking.
Adam remains silent for a moment before stepping closer to me.
There’s no one alive in the hallway to witness what he’s about to do, but he doesn’t care.
With a gentle gesture, he touches my face, his gaze filled with emotions I can’t fully decipher.
“You still don’t understand, do you? You’re important to me, Sophia. I’m not going to put your life at risk.”, he whispers, and I see the sincerity in his eyes.
I blink, trying to comprehend what he’s saying, but before I can respond, I see a human man running toward us, a sword in hand.
Adam’s instinct is immediate; he positions himself between me and the man, blocking the attack with impressive skill.
The fight that follows is quick but intense. Adam keeps his promise and doesn’t kill the man; he only disarms him, leaving him unconscious on the floor.
“Let’s go, Sophia.", Adam says, grabbing my hand and pulling me to keep running.
“Where’s the prince?”, I ask, breathless, but before I can get a response, I look down the stairs and see an even greater amount of smoke spreading throughout the castle.
The smell is suffocating, and I have to cover my mouth and nose to try to filter the air.
The chaos is total. The screams of humans and vampires mix into a terrifying cacophony.
Vampires attack mercilessly, feeding on those who invade the castle.
Violence is everywhere, and I feel fear creeping through my body, making my legs weak.
When we come across a group of humans, I freeze.
The men are large and intimidating, but Adam shows no sign of fear. He stops, looking at me seriously.
“When I tell you to run, I want you to do it without hesitation, understand?”, his voice is firm.
“What? No! I’m not going without you!”, I protest, and the desperation is evident in my voice.
But Adam has no time to argue.
The humans advance, and he’s forced to engage in combat once again.
I grip the dagger so tightly that my fingers ache once more, fear coursing through my veins like fire.
One of the men sees me and runs toward me, his eyes shining with a mix of hatred and lethal intent.
I try to fight, but the man is too strong. He grabs my arms with such force that I drop the dagger.
“Stop! Adam!”, I scream, panic consuming me as I realize the man is trying to take me away from Adam.
Adam’s battle with the other humans is taking all of his attention, but at the sound of my scream, he turns, fear written on his face.
I struggle with all my strength, but I’m running out of energy, and the reality of my own vulnerability is becoming painfully clear.
The man drags me down the hallway, his hand crushing my arm as he tries to escape with me. I fight, trying to break free, but every movement feels useless. Desperation consumes me, and I feel panic rising in my chest like an uncontrollable flame.
But Adam doesn’t abandon me.
He fights with ferocity, moving like lightning as he takes down his opponents one by one.
He wouldn’t stop until he reached me.
Our eyes meet, and for a brief moment, I see the promise he had made shining there.
He wouldn’t leave me.
With one last effort, Adam manages to free himself from his adversaries and runs toward the man holding me.
In a quick and precise movement, he takes the man down, forcing him to release me. I fall to the ground, breathless, with relief mixed with terror in my chest.
Adam quickly lifts me, holding me firmly, but without taking his eyes off our surroundings, assessing the situation.
“I promised you I’d be with you, and I’m keeping that promise. Now, we need to get out of here.”
I nod, still trembling but determined to move forward.