victoria

Prologue: The Escape

Prologue: The Escape

Victoria's breath came in short, hurried puffs as she ran through the dark corridors of the abandoned mansion. Her heart pounded in her throat, a constant reminder of the threat that pursued her. The icy grip of fear clenched her chest, but she fought against the paralysis that threatened to overwhelm her. She had to keep running, had to keep searching for a way out.

The night had been her ally, her only chance to escape the clutches of the vampire brothers who had held her captive for months, ensnared in their dark experiments. But now, now dawn was breaking, the first streaks of light seeping through the windows like a warning that her time was rapidly running out.

Her legs felt like lead, her muscles screamed for mercy after months of torture and abuse. But somewhere deep inside, at the core of her being, glowed a power that could not be extinguished by the brothers. A power that stemmed from her lineage, from the mixture of blood flowing through her veins - a blend of werewolf, witch, and vampire.

Suddenly, a glimmer of hope loomed at the end of the corridor - a door, half-open, a gentle breeze inviting her to flee outside. Her pace quickened, her heartbeat soared to a frantic pace as she covered the last meters.

With one final effort, she crashed through the door, the cool morning air piercing her lungs like a blessing. But her relief was short-lived as she realized she was still not safe - the brothers would soon discover she had escaped and would pursue her, mercilessly.

A soft voice behind her made her freeze, her body tense like a bow ready to fire. But then she turned and saw one of the brothers' servants, an unexpected ally in her desperate flight. The servant looked at her with compassion, his eyes full of silent apology for the role he had unwittingly played in her captivity.

"Go," he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. "They will soon realize you are gone. Flee as far as you can, Victoria. And be careful."

With one last glance over her shoulder, a silent promise of gratitude in her eyes, Victoria turned and ran. Her future was uncertain, her fate unknown, but in this moment of free flight, she felt a glimmer of hope - a glimmer that propelled her further away from the darkness that had almost engulfed her.