54. (PERCY POV)

(PERCY POV)

I never imagined my life taking such a drastic turn. Hunger gnawed at me relentlessly. It had been days since I last ate, pushing me to the brink. Stealing from the gas station wasn't exactly my proudest moment, but desperation had a funny way of narrowing down choices.

It was either that or resorting to grazing on the grass like livestock.

I had been selling myself again, trading my blood for cash in a bid to satiate my hunger. But I knew the vampires wouldn't appreciate a donor fed on vegetation.

So, I stole those noodles, hoping to restore some semblance of nutritional value to my blood, to remain enticing to my nocturnal customers.

Yet, in a twist of fate, my theft didn't lead me back to the shadows of the street but into the presence of vampire royalty. The irony wasn't lost on me. Standing before the vampire king's son, I couldn't help but reflect on the bizarre events that led me here.

Turning to Deirk, I asked, "Wait, if the king is your marker and your brother is