---
Nyah didn't answer immediately.
The words come with me still echoed in her head, heavy and impossible to ignore.
Around them, the world felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too still.
The body on the ground lay unmoving, a grim reminder that whatever this was—whatever she'd been dragged into—was real.
Dangerously real.
Nyah wrapped her arms around herself, her fingers digging into her sleeves.
"If I go with you…" she started slowly, her voice unsteady, "what happens next?"
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"You live."
Her chest tightened.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one that matters."
Nyah shook her head, frustration rising again.
"You keep doing that," she said. "You say things like everything is simple, like I'm just supposed to trust you without knowing anything."
Adrian's gaze held hers, steady and unreadable.
"You don't have time to understand everything," he said. "You only have time to choose."
A chill ran through her.
"Choose what?"
His voice dropped.
"Whether you stay here… and die."
The words landed hard.
Nyah's breath hitched.
"Or you come with me," he continued, "and survive long enough to get answers."
Silence stretched between them.
Her heart pounded so loudly it almost drowned everything else out.
This was insane.
Everything about this was insane.
And yet—
She believed him.
That was the worst part.
Nyah glanced toward the direction of her apartment.
Mira.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I can't just leave," she said. "I have a life here."
"You had a life here," Adrian corrected quietly.
The words stung.
But they weren't wrong.
Nyah swallowed.
"What about my roommate?" she asked. "Mira—if they're really going to come after me, then she's in danger."
Adrian's expression darkened slightly.
"I'll make sure she's protected."
"How?"
His gaze sharpened.
"You're asking questions you don't want answers to."
"That's not fair," Nyah shot back.
"No," he agreed. "It's not."
Something in his tone made her pause.
For a brief second, there was something almost… conflicted there.
Then it was gone.
Replaced by that same cold control.
"You staying here puts her at risk," he said. "You leaving reduces that risk."
Nyah clenched her jaw.
Reduced.
Not eliminated.
But still—
Better than nothing.
She exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
The word felt heavier than she expected.
Adrian didn't react outwardly.
But something in his posture shifted.
Subtle.
Almost imperceptible.
"Good," he said.
Nyah hesitated.
"Wait."
He paused.
"I need to at least go back," she said. "I can't just disappear. Mira will—she'll panic."
Adrian studied her for a moment.
Then nodded once.
"Five minutes."
Nyah blinked.
"That's it?"
"That's all we can risk."
Her chest tightened.
Five minutes to leave her entire life behind.
"Okay," she whispered.
---
The walk back felt surreal.
Adrian stayed beside her.
Not close enough to touch.
But close enough that she was always aware of him.
Of his presence.
It was strange.
She should have been terrified.
He was dangerous. She'd seen that with her own eyes.
But instead—
There was something grounding about him.
Like as long as he was there—
Nothing else could get to her.
Nyah frowned slightly at the thought.
"That's probably a bad sign," she muttered.
Adrian glanced at her.
"What is?"
"Nothing."
His gaze lingered for a second longer than necessary.
Then shifted away.
---
When they reached the apartment building, Nyah hesitated at the entrance.
This was it.
Her last normal moment.
Her last chance to turn back.
Adrian didn't rush her.
Didn't pressure her.
He just waited.
Watching.
Nyah took a deep breath and stepped inside.
---
Mira was pacing when Nyah opened the door.
"Where have you been?!" she demanded, spinning around. "You said you'd be back hours ago and then you stopped answering your phone and I—"
She froze.
Her eyes shifted.
Past Nyah.
To the man standing just outside the door.
"…Who is that?"
Nyah swallowed.
"This is—"
"Adrian," he said smoothly, stepping inside.
Mira's eyes narrowed instantly.
"You brought a guy here?" she asked, incredulous. "After last night?"
"It's not like that," Nyah said quickly.
Mira crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced.
"It better not be."
Her gaze flicked back to Adrian, sharp and assessing.
"And you are…?"
"Someone making sure she stays alive," Adrian replied calmly.
The room went quiet.
Mira blinked.
"…Okay," she said slowly. "I don't like that answer."
Nyah rubbed her forehead.
"Yeah, join the club."
Mira stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly.
"Nyah," she said, "what's going on?"
Nyah's chest tightened.
She wanted to tell her.
Everything.
But how could she?
How do you explain a world that shouldn't exist?
"I…" she hesitated. "I have to go somewhere for a while."
Mira stared at her.
"…What?"
"It's just temporary," Nyah added quickly. "I just need to—figure some things out."
"With him?" Mira asked, her tone sharp.
Nyah hesitated.
"…Yes."
Mira let out a disbelieving laugh.
"You met him last night."
"I know."
"And you're leaving with him?"
"I don't have a choice."
The words slipped out.
Too honest.
Too real.
Mira's expression changed.
The anger faded.
Replaced by concern.
Fear.
"Nyah," she said quietly, "are you in trouble?"
Nyah looked at her.
Really looked.
And for a moment—
She almost told her everything.
But then she remembered Adrian's words.
They'll use her.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I'll be okay," she said instead.
Mira's eyes searched hers.
"You promise?"
Nyah hesitated.
Then nodded.
"I promise."
It wasn't entirely a lie.
She just didn't know if she could keep it.
Mira exhaled shakily and pulled her into a hug.
Nyah froze for a second—
Then hugged her back tightly.
"I don't like this," Mira whispered.
"Me neither," Nyah admitted.
After a moment, Mira pulled back.
"Call me," she said. "Every day."
Nyah nodded.
"I will."
Adrian cleared his throat quietly.
"Time."
Nyah's chest tightened again.
Right.
Five minutes.
She grabbed a small bag quickly—just essentials—and turned back to Mira.
"I'll be back," she said.
Mira didn't look convinced.
But she nodded anyway.
"You better be."
---
The moment they stepped outside, the air felt different again.
Colder.
Heavier.
Nyah glanced around instinctively.
"Are they here?" she asked.
Adrian didn't answer right away.
Then—
"Yes."
Her heart jumped.
"What?!"
"They're watching," he said calmly.
Nyah's pulse spiked.
"Then why are we just standing here?!"
"Because," he said, his voice lowering, "they're waiting for you to be alone."
Her stomach twisted.
"…And I'm not."
"No."
His gaze flicked toward the shadows.
"And they know that."
Nyah swallowed hard.
"Then what now?"
Adrian looked at her.
And for the first time—
There was something almost… dangerous in a different way.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Focused.
Protective.
"We move," he said.
Before she could respond—
He grabbed her hand.
Nyah's breath caught.
And then—
The world blurred.
---
She didn't understand what was happening.
One second, she was standing outside her apartment.
The next—
Everything moved too fast.
Wind rushed past her.
Lights streaked into lines.
The ground barely seemed real beneath her feet.
Nyah gasped, gripping Adrian's hand instinctively.
"What is—?!"
"Don't let go," he said.
His voice was the only steady thing in the chaos.
Nyah squeezed her eyes shut.
And held on.
---
When it stopped—
It stopped suddenly.
Too suddenly.
Nyah stumbled forward slightly, her legs unsteady as the world snapped back into place.
She blinked rapidly, trying to focus.
They weren't in the city anymore.
At least… not the part she recognized.
Tall gates loomed in front of them, black iron twisted into intricate patterns. Beyond them—
Darkness.
And something else.
Something… massive.
Nyah's breath slowed.
"Where are we?"
Adrian released her hand.
The absence of contact felt… noticeable.
"This," he said, "is where you'll be safe."
The gates creaked open slowly.
On their own.
Nyah's stomach flipped.
"Safe," she repeated quietly.
But as she stepped inside—
She wasn't sure she believed that.
---
The property stretched far beyond what she could see clearly.
A massive estate hidden behind layers of trees and shadows.
The house itself—
No.
Not a house.
A mansion.
Dark stone walls, tall windows, and an almost haunting presence that made her skin prickle.
Nyah hesitated at the entrance.
"This is yours?" she asked.
"Yes."
She let out a quiet breath.
"Of course it is."
Adrian glanced at her briefly.
"You expected something else?"
"I don't know," she said. "Maybe… less intimidating."
"That would defeat the purpose."
Nyah huffed softly.
"Right."
They stepped inside.
The doors shut behind them with a heavy sound.
The interior was just as overwhelming—high ceilings, dim lighting, and an eerie quiet that felt almost alive.
Nyah wrapped her arms around herself again.
"This place is… a lot."
"You'll get used to it."
"I'm not sure I want to."
Adrian didn't respond.
Instead, he walked further inside.
Nyah followed, her footsteps echoing.
"Are there… other people here?" she asked.
"Yes."
Her stomach tightened.
"…Like you?"
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Nyah slowed slightly.
"How many?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
And that—
That was enough to make her uneasy.
"Adrian," she said, her voice quieter now.
He stopped walking.
Turned.
His expression was serious.
More than before.
"There's something you need to understand," he said.
Nyah's chest tightened.
"What?"
"You're not just under my protection now," he said.
Her pulse quickened.
"Okay…"
"You're inside my territory."
The words felt heavier than they should have.
"And that means?"
Adrian held her gaze.
"It means," he said slowly, "if anyone here decides you're a threat—"
A sound cut through the room.
Low.
Sharp.
Not human.
Nyah froze.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"…What was that?" she whispered.
Adrian's expression darkened.
"They're early."
Her stomach dropped.
"Who is—?"
Footsteps echoed from the far end of the hall.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Approaching.
Nyah's breath caught as a figure emerged from the shadows.
Then another.
And another.
Red eyes.
Watching.
Hungry.
Interested.
Her pulse roared in her ears.
"They know," one of them said softly.
Nyah's chest tightened.
"Know what?" she whispered.
The figure smiled.
A slow, dangerous smile.
"What she is."
Nyah's breath hitched.
Her gaze flicked to Adrian.
But his attention wasn't on her anymore.
It was on them.
Tense.
Ready.
Dangerous.
And then—
One of the vampires stepped forward.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Straight toward her.
Nyah didn't even have time to react—
Before everything exploded into motion.
---