Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Unseen Paths

The vampire’s cold laugh reverberated in the stone chamber, but Karina’s resolve only hardened. Her mind was a storm of confusion and fury, but beneath the chaos, there was a single, undeniable truth—*they were underestimating her.*

They thought she was just a girl—broken, terrified, a tool to be used. But she wasn’t just some vessel. The power in her blood, the strange connection to Zorana's royal line, had awakened something deep inside her. Something primal. It pulsed like a distant drumbeat, urging her to fight.

The taller vampire—he seemed to be the leader of this twisted circus—stepped back, his golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction, like a predator savoring a meal it had yet to consume. His presence was suffocating, like the weight of centuries pressing down on her. He had been waiting for her to break. But Karina wasn’t about to give him that satisfaction.

“I won’t be part of your rituals,” she said again, her voice stronger this time. “You don’t control me.”

The vampire tilted his head, as if contemplating her words. “You still don’t understand, do you? It’s not about control. It’s about necessity. Your blood will awaken the prince. It has to. You are the final key to his power.”

Karina could barely stomach the idea. She had been nothing but a pawn in a game too large to comprehend, and now they were telling her that she had no choice but to play her part. The weight of her parents’ silence crushed her chest. Why hadn’t they warned her? Why hadn’t they prepared her for this hell?

The other vampire, the one who had drained her blood, watched her with an intensity that felt almost sympathetic, but it wasn’t enough to sway her. His gaze flickered with a strange mixture of pity and fascination. It was as if he saw something in her that even she didn’t fully understand.

“You have no idea what you're dealing with, Karina,” he said softly, his voice laced with the knowledge of a thousand years. “The Third Prince of Zorana isn’t just a king. He’s the rebirth of an entire world. And you… you are the one who will make it all possible.”

The words hit her like a slap. A rebirth? A *world*? Karina struggled to process what he was saying. This wasn’t just about a throne or power. This was about something ancient, something world-changing. If the prince rose, it wouldn’t just be the kingdom that would shift. The entire world would feel it.

“Why me?” Her voice was quieter now, tinged with a rawness that surprised even her. “Why did you pick me? What did I ever do to deserve this?”

The vampire stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. “You didn’t choose this, Karina. It was always meant to be. Your blood is the last piece of the puzzle. Your parents were part of a secret that’s older than your understanding. They knew this day would come. And you, by your very existence, were always destined for this fate.”

She clenched her fists, her mind racing. The power of her blood was undeniable. She could feel it—an energy simmering just beneath her skin. But she also felt a growing awareness of her own strength. Not just the strength of the bloodline they had forced upon her, but something more. *Her own power.*

The tall vampire’s lips curled into a sneer as if sensing her defiance. “You still think you have a choice, don’t you?”

Karina didn’t respond. She couldn’t afford to speak in anger or fear anymore. She needed to think. They were right in one regard—*she* was the key. But the question wasn’t whether she could unlock the prince’s power. The real question was: *Could she control it?* 

She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on the blood coursing through her veins. It wasn’t just any blood. It was a weapon. A tool. And right now, she had no idea how to wield it.

But she had time. She had to.

“Let me out of these restraints,” Karina said, her voice steady now. “I’ll do what you want, but I need to move.”

The taller vampire looked at her, his gaze assessing. “You think that will change anything?”

“I’ll do the ritual,” Karina said, her voice firm. “But I won’t be your puppet. I’ll play my part—but only if I get a choice in how it’s done.”

For a moment, the room was silent. The vampires exchanged looks. The air between them thickened as they weighed her words. Karina knew they were considering their options, calculating the risks. She wasn’t a weak, desperate girl anymore. She had something they wanted. They couldn’t afford to ignore her.

Finally, the first vampire—the one who had drained her blood—nodded. “Fine,” he said, his tone reluctant but accepting. “You can move, but don’t think for a second that you have any control here. You’re still part of the ritual.”

“Just release me,” Karina said, the spark of something dangerous in her eyes. “I’ll prove I’m not your prisoner.”

The vampire’s eyes narrowed, but he unfastened the leather straps that held her to the chaise lounge. As the restraints fell away, Karina’s body ached, the lingering effects of the blood magic still pulling at her muscles, but she didn’t let it show. She stood, her legs shaky at first, but steadying quickly. Her breath came in shallow gasps, but there was a fire in her chest now—something they hadn’t expected.

The taller vampire gave her a wary look, but didn’t stop her. “You’ll regret this, Karina. You can’t fight fate.”

“Fate is just another cage,” Karina replied coldly. “I’ll break it.”

With a single, purposeful step, she moved to the center of the room, her eyes scanning the surroundings. There had to be something here—something she could use. They had underestimated her, yes. But they also didn’t understand what she was capable of. She wasn’t just a pawn. She was the *key*—and if she could control that key, she might just be able to rewrite the entire game.

The vampire who had drained her blood stepped forward, his expression one of frustration and reluctant admiration. “What will you do now?”

Karina didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she closed her eyes and let the strange, pulsing power within her rise. She felt the energy gathering in the room, the weight of the ritual pressing on her shoulders. But now, instead of feeling trapped, she felt something new—a flicker of control, of agency.

She wasn’t just going to survive this.

She was going to change it.