The guard led Sofia to a small cottage far from the main mansion. It was a lovely house, but to Sofia, it felt like just another cage with prettier walls.
Sofia walked inside and dropped her bag on the floor. Her body felt heavy. Her thick thighs ached from the long day, and her mind was tired of fighting. She didn't explore the house. She didn't look at the food in the kitchen. She simply crawled into the bed and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Hours later, a sharp knock at the door startled her awake.
Sofia sat up, her heart racing. The sun wasn't up yet, and the house was dark. She stayed quiet, wondering if it was Damien coming to beg for forgiveness again.
The knock came again, steady and firm.
She stood up and walked to the door. She peeked through the small window and gasped. It wasn't Damien; it was Alaric.
