CHAPTER 10 — LEONA: VISITOR IN THE NIGHT
The cell door rattled softly, and the madman beside her murmured, voice low and gleeful, "She comes for you."
Leona stiffened. Her pulse hammered in her chest. Her hands clenched the cold chains at her wrists. The shadowed corridor beyond the bars held nothing visible, yet every instinct screamed that danger—and perhaps something more—was approaching.
A few moments later, the door creaked open, and a figure slipped inside.
Leona's breath caught. The presence was sharp, commanding, and terrifying in its beauty. A woman stepped forward, clad in a black soldier outfit that hugged her form, her boots clicking against the stone floor. Her hair was black, cascading in waves to her shoulders, and her eyes… Leona froze. The black of them seemed to drink the torchlight, cold, intense, and unyielding.
The female vampire held a tray with a small bowl of food and a water cup. Every movement was precise, fluid, almost predatory.
"Eat," she said, voice smooth, soft, yet carrying an unspoken authority.
Leona hesitated. Fear gripped her—this woman's gaze was sharp enough to pierce armor, and yet… there was a strange allure, a dangerous magnetism that made her want to obey.
"Why… why are you giving me this?" Leona asked quietly, keeping her voice steady despite the tremor she felt inside.
The woman's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Because you are alive. The King allows it. You survive… for now." She set the tray on the floor near Leona, kneeling just enough to place it within reach. Every inch of her posture radiated strength and command.
Leona's stomach growled softly, reminding her that hunger was another battle in this cell. She forced herself to pick up the bowl, eyes still locked on the vampire's.
"You… you're not here to hurt me?" she asked cautiously.
The black-eyed woman tilted her head, a flash of amusement crossing her features. "Hurt you? I am the warden. I maintain order. The King does not care for your comfort… but neither does he desire your suffering to the point of death. Eat. Grow strong. Learn your limits."
Leona's fingers shook slightly as she lifted the spoon to her lips. The food was bland, but warm. The act of eating, small and human, grounded her in a world that otherwise felt like shadows and stone.
The madman in the corner chuckled softly, muttering to himself. "Ah… the predator comes bearing sustenance. Delicious."
Leona shot him a look, warning him to stay quiet. She didn't need his madness pressing against her thoughts right now.
The warden watched silently as Leona ate, her black eyes unblinking. Every muscle in her body radiated tension, like a predator assessing prey. Yet there was a rhythm to her movements, a discipline that seemed almost… elegant.
When Leona set the bowl down, the warden stepped back, her gaze never leaving the girl. "Remember," she said quietly, voice almost a whisper, "this place does not forgive weakness. The King takes what he needs… and he will not hesitate. But strength… strength may grant you a sliver of control in this cage."
Leona nodded, understanding both the warning and the strange sense of respect embedded in the words. Despite the fear, a flicker of determination lit inside her. She would survive. She would endure. And she would not let this fortress break her—not the King, not the shadows, not the chains.
The warden straightened, taking a step back toward the door. Her black eyes lingered on Leona, measuring, calculating, unreadable. "Do not mistake my presence for kindness. I serve the King. And the King has many eyes."
With a soft click, the door closed behind her. The corridor went silent again, except for the faint echo of her boots fading into the distance.
Leona exhaled slowly, the tension in her body easing just slightly. She pressed her forehead to the cool stone wall, letting herself feel the fear and sadness she had tried so hard to hide. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, but she held them in, refusing to let herself fall apart entirely.
She looked over at her cellmate. The man smiled, wild and knowing. "Interesting," he murmured. "Alive. Fed. Not broken… yet."
Leona shook her head, bitterly amused. "I don't know if I should be terrified of you or grateful you're here," she whispered.
The man laughed softly, leaning back against the wall. "Oh… terrifying is relative. But yes, alive. That is the beginning."
Alone in her cell now, Leona wrapped her arms around her knees again, staring at the empty corridor beyond the bars. The warden's presence lingered in her mind, a mixture of fear, fascination, and respect. And somewhere deep inside, a spark of defiance flared.
I will survive this. I will not be broken. I will endure.
Outside, the shadows shifted. Somewhere in the fortress, the Vampire King remained, ruthless and indifferent, taking humans not for himself—but for his people. And somewhere in the darkness, unseen, the threads of fate had begun to move.
Leona pressed her forehead to the floor, her tears silent, her resolve growing. The game was only beginning.