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Adrian
I had no idea how much longer I could handle this. I had no idea how long I had been asleep. It could have been days, but at the same time, it could have been mere minutes. Without a watch, without a window, I could barely sense the passage of time, and that only seemed to add to my growing sense of dread.
I was starting to feel as if the walls were closing in on me. There was nothing but the sound of my own heavy breathing, which I tried to make as noiseless as possible, but without much success. I needed to focus on something, anything, even if that was my own breathing.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of oncoming footsteps, just like the previous times. My stomach growled in response. Obviously, enough time had passed for me to start feeling actual hunger. I hoped that it would be something better than the previous choice of a meal, but deep down, I doubted it. Maybe the guards were not bringing food at all. My heart quickened as I realized that the footsteps were getting louder and louder.
I walked to the other side of the room, staring at the door. My fingers curled into fists, although I had no plan. I knew that I couldn’t tackle two guards without raising an alarm. I quickly looked around me, but there was nothing I could use as a weapon.
The guard reached the door. I heard the sound of the key in the lock. I tensed. I was both ready and completely unprepared at the same time, if such a thing was even possible. The door opened, and I saw the first guard. I couldn’t tell if that was the same one. He was wearing a hood over his head, like the previous time. He was carrying a tray. This time, it was some meat. It wasn’t anything fancy, but at least it was better than the gruel.
He walked over to the sofa slowly. I followed him with my eyes nervously, as if I was the one expecting to be attacked, not the other way around. It took me much longer than usual to realize that there was no other guard. At least, I couldn’t see him. He wasn’t in the doorway.
Hope flared up inside of me. I could easily take down this one guy. But what if the other one was hiding in the hallway or was waiting for me outside the door? What if this was just a trick to try and get me to do something?
I knew I had to act. As the guard lowered himself to put down the tray on the sofa, that was when I knew my moment had come and whatever the consequences would be, I needed to seize it. With a burst of adrenaline, I lunged forward, swinging my fist at the man with precision. It connected with a resounding thud against the guard’s cheek. I heard a crack, when he silently fell to the ground.
My hand was wringing with pain, as I outstretched my fingers, then curled them up again. In a brief moment of surprise and agony, I realized that we were still alone. Just the two of us. There was no second guard. I had not accomplished much yet, but at least I subdued the guard. My escape was one step closer to becoming a reality.
I quickly donned his hood, concealing my identity. My heart still pounded with the adrenaline rush of the encounter, and my palms were slick with nervous sweat. Every step I took in the hallway felt like a drumbeat of impending discovery. The corridor itself was dimly lit, with flickering torches casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of aged wood and dampness.
As I ventured further down the hallway, I couldn't shake the feeling of trepidation. Each creak of the wooden floorboards beneath my feet sent shivers down my spine. I strained my ears, listening for any signs of approaching guards or other lurking threats. I could stumble onto more guards at any moments, but I would cross that bridge when I got to it. For the time being, I knew I had to keep moving, otherwise, I would quickly find myself back in the locked room again, with little chance of another escape possible.
The hood served as both a disguise and a shield against prying eyes, but it couldn't protect me from the unease that gnawed at my insides. I was on a dangerous path, navigating a labyrinth of secrets and uncertainties, and I knew that every decision I made would shape my fate.
As a vampire, my senses were heightened in ways that most humans couldn't comprehend. In the dimly lit corridor, I relied not only on my vision but also on my acute sense of smell to navigate and detect potential dangers. The air carried a subtle tapestry of scents, a symphony of odors that told the story of this ancient mansion. The faint aroma of beeswax polish hinted at recent cleaning, while the musty undertones of old books revealed the presence of a hidden library nearby. The ever-so-subtle scent of burning candles told me that the occupants of this place still clung to the customs of an era long past.
Of course they did. Constantine belonged to the ancient order of vampires, and he believed that he would be the one to unite them all under his rule. He collected everything that had ever belonged to vampires, claiming it as his own. He had the most obscure collection of books known to be in possession of any single being, be it supernatural or just a plain human. I’d only heard tales of this library, but had never seen it with my own eyes. Still, I knew better than to question such tales. They had to be true. Almost everything about Constantine was the truth. That was why he was such a frightening ruler.
But he had forgotten one thing. If you threaten someone with what or better yet, with who they love the most, all fear was gone. All that was left in its place was a desire to eliminate the threat and make sure his or her loved ones were safe. Those were the thoughts in my mind, as I kept walking cautiously, sensing the faint presence of guards from afar. The subtle aroma of leather and metal, mixed with nervous sweat were enough of an indication that I should tread even more carefully from here on.
The faint scent of approaching guards reached my sensitive nose just in time. I halted in my tracks, hidden beneath the stolen hood, as their heavy footsteps drew nearer. My heart was beating inside my throat. I knew that a fight was imminent.
As the two guards rounded the corner, I acted swiftly. With the element of surprise on my side, I sprang from the shadows, tackling one to the ground while landing a powerful blow on the other’s jaw. The element of surprise worked in my favor, and I managed to disarm them before they could fully react.
In the dimly lit corridor, the struggle was a whirlwind of fists and heavy grunts. My heightened vampire strength and agility gave me an advantage over them, allowing me to subdue the guards efficiently and without mercy. Within moments, they lay unconscious on the cold stone floor. The adrenaline surged through me once again, my fangs itching with the urge to taste blood for the first time in what felt like forever. But I suppressed the primal instinct, knowing that I had to maintain control and continue my mission.
There was a fork in the path, and I had no idea which way to turn. The labyrinthine corridors were fathomless, and I knew that danger lurked in any of the paths I took. The scent of more guards reached me and I braced myself for what lay ahead. I knew there would be more of them this time.
Just as I was about to turn left, a trio of guards emerged from the shadows. I had no time to react, as they closed in on me, outnumbering me. The fight that ensued was fierce and quick. I managed to remain standing for a while, dodging blows and landing counterattacks, but it was all in vain as they attacked me at the same time. The odds were stacked against me, as they fought with coordinated determination which made it impossible for me to focus just on one.
One of them managed to land a powerful blow to my midsection, knocking the wind out of me. Another struck me across the face with a gauntleted fist, disorienting me. As I staggered, a third guard moved in to disarm me, and I found myself overpowered and subdued.
I struggled against their grip, but the guards were well-trained and unrelenting. They bound my hands and forced me to the ground, securing me with iron shackles that weakened my strength. My heart sank as they propped me back on my feet, leading me back the very same way that I had come from. My hood was removed, and I was acutely aware of their vigilant eyes on me.
They pushed me back into the room, and momentarily, the heavy door clanged shut, sealing me in once again. The metallic jangle of the keys assured me that there would be no escape. I stood in the center of the room, my wrists still bound by the iron shackles, feeling a renewed sense of frustration and uncertainty.
Fury boiled inside of me as I stood again in this wretched cell of a room, my fists clenched in impotent rage. The taste of failure lingered on my tongue, bitter and long-lasting. Anger swelled up inside of me, a storm of frustration and resentment. I berated myself for underestimating the guards, for allowing my impatience to lead me back where I had started from.
My mind raced with a million thoughts and what-ifs. I cursed the cruel hand fate had dealt me, locking me away in this oppressive darkness. But amidst the fury, a spark of determination flickered. I refused to be defeated. At the same time, I knew that word of my attempted escape would reach Constantine and he would probably have something to say about it.
A part of me was glad. Maybe there would be another chance for me to do something about being imprisoned here. But one thing was for sure. I would never join Constantine’s clan. My parents taught me right from wrong. They taught me to see what was inside someone, and not what species they belonged to, and I would always be grateful to them for that. Constantine believed that vampires were the supreme race, that they should rule over everyone. I myself believed in the live and let live adage, but seeing that he had threatened me with my loved ones, that adage didn’t apply to him.
Just as I was making myself comfortable on the sofa, a key unlocked the door from the outside and the sudden creaking of the door broke the silence of my anger-filled thoughts. I turned, my eyes narrowing at the intrusion, ready for another round if necessary.
A new guard stood at the threshold, his expression unreadable beneath his hood. He met my gaze with an unwavering stare and spoke in a firm, unyielding tone. “Constantine wishes to see you.”
“Is that so?” I bit back, springing to my feet, my determination burning brighter than ever. He already found out about my attempted escape.
