Theo looked down at the piece of paper in his hand for what felt like the hundredth time. The instructions Isabell had written were clear enough, but his eyes drifted to the three words at the bottom. The part that weighed heavier than anything else. He clenched the paper tighter, feeling the weight of it settle in his chest, a familiar ache that hadn’t eased in centuries.


    Theo squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to focus on his escape, but the guilt settled deeper in his bones. His mind drifting back to old memories that refused to fade.


    "Theodore, I beg thee with all my heart, do not let him take me! I am at thy mercy, brother, I pray thee!" she had sobbed, her eyes wide with terror.


    A reasonable trade, the council had called it, as Lucian dragged her away by her hair.


    Reasonable was not the word he would have used.


    Nearly 300 years later, and Isabell was still paying the price for his mistakes.


    Theo sighed, folding the paper and tucking it into his shirt pocket. He leaned back against the damp stone wall, tapping his head against it in a steady, rhythmic beat, willing the memories to fall away.


    The sound of approaching footsteps broke his trance. Theo tensed, pushing himself off the wall and readying himself for whatever came next. The iron door creaked open, and a vampire, middle-aged in appearance and dressed in all black, stepped inside. His eyes were clouded with a mix of confusion and annoyance. Arthur’s compulsion had clearly worked.


    “You’re being moved,” the vampire growled, his voice rough and unenthusiastic. He gestured impatiently for Theo to follow.


    Theo hesitated for a moment, his hand instinctively drifting toward the note in his pocket again. Then, with a deep breath, he nodded and stepped out of the cell, trailing behind the larger vampire. The hallway twisted into unfamiliar territory—this wasn’t the same route he had taken when they’d dragged him down here. A tunnel branched off to the left, narrow and barely noticeable if one wasn’t looking for it. The guard gestured, though the motion seemed sluggish and forced.


    Isebell wasn’t kidding about needing to move fast, Theo thought.


    "Thanks for the help," Theo said, his tone casual. He stepped closer to the guard. "But I’ll take it from here."


    Before the vampire could react, Theo’s hand shot out, grabbing his head and twisting it with one fluid motion. There was a sickening snap, and the vampire crumpled to the floor in a heap. It wouldn’t keep him down for long, but it would give Theo the head start he needed.


    He crouched and slipped into the tunnel, the weight of the dungeon pressing in from all sides as the walls closed around him. The air was thick with a mixture of damp earth and decay. Each step was silent, but his heart pounded in his chest, not from fear, but from anticipation. He couldn’t afford any more delays.


    His senses flared, attuned to every sound. The soft scuff of a footstep echoed ahead, faint but unmistakable.


    Theo stilled, his breath shallow as he pressed himself into the shadows. A vampire appeared around the bend, moving mechanically, his gaze vacant. Arthur’s compulsion was at work, bending the guard’s will. The vampire walked past without a glance in Theo’s direction, but the tension in Theo’s body didn’t ease.


    One misstep and everything could fall apart.


    He moved swiftly behind the guard, slipping deeper into the twisting corridors of the dungeon. The walls felt tighter here, the stone cold against his skin. His mind raced, calculating the time he had left.


    Every few feet, the faint sounds of others reached him—the shuffle of footsteps, hushed voices, vampires keeping watch. He hugged the shadows, moving silently but quickly, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread.


    As he wound his way deeper, the narrow tunnel eventually opened into a wider corridor. The stonework was older here, the architecture less refined, as if this part of the dungeon had been forgotten long ago. Faint sounds echoed through the passage—muffled voices. Theo pressed his back against the cold stone, straining to make out the conversation. Two distinct voices, low and gruff, punctuated by the occasional growl. Fledglings.


    He moved cautiously, slipping through the shadows toward the voices. The corridor opened into a large chamber, dimly lit by flickering torches. There, standing near a massive iron door that could only lead to his freedom, were two fledgling vampires. Their eyes glowed faintly in the gloom, and beside them stood someone Theo hadn’t expected to see.


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    His heart sank.


    Standing between him and freedom was Malric, Lucian’s third-in-command—a broad-shouldered brute who trained Lucian’s fledglings. The air around him was thick with intimidation, his imposing figure dominating the chamber.


    Malric’s voice, deep and gravelly, broke the silence. “I knew something felt off tonight. Looks like our guest is trying to leave us early.”


    Theo’s muscles tensed. He had hoped to slip past unnoticed, but now there was no way out but through. He straightened, stepping out of the shadows and into the center of the chamber. His eyes locked with Malric’s, and for a brief moment, the air between them crackled with anticipation.


    “Malric,” Theo greeted coolly. His eyes flicked to the fledglings. They were young, barely controlled, their eagerness for violence clear in the way they shifted from foot to foot, anxious for a fight.


    “Step aside,” He said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through his veins.


    Malric’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. “You know I can’t do that, Theo. Lucian’s given strict orders about you.” He flexed his fingers, and the fledglings shifted beside him, eyes glinting with eagerness. “And I have to admit, I’m curious to see how much fight you’ve got left.”


    Theo’s body hummed with tension. He knew the fledglings were inexperienced, but they wouldn’t hold back. And Malric... well, Malric would enjoy making this as painful as possible.


    Theo’s hand tightened into a fist at his side. “You’ll regret that.”


    Without another word, Malric lunged, moving with a speed that belied his massive frame. Theo barely had time to dodge, his instincts kicking in just in time to sidestep the initial attack. Malric’s fist connected with the stone wall behind him, cracking the surface with a sickening thud. The fledglings were already moving, darting toward Theo from either side.


    Theo moved faster.


    Theo spun, catching one of the fledglings by the arm and twisting it sharply. The fledgling yelped in pain as Theo flung him into the other, sending them both crashing to the ground. But Malric was on him again, closing the distance with terrifying speed.


    Theo ducked just as Malric’s fist swung toward him, the force of the blow whistling past his ear. He countered with a swift strike to Malric’s ribs, but the larger vampire barely flinched. Malric grabbed Theo by the throat, lifting him off the ground and slamming him against the wall.


    “You think you can escape Lucian?” Malric sneered, tightening his grip.


    Theo’s vision blurred as his airways constricted, but he managed to bring his knee up, slamming it into Malric’s gut. Malric grunted, loosening his hold just enough for Theo to slip free. Theo hit the ground hard, rolling to avoid another strike from the fledglings who had recovered and were circling him now, their eyes burning with a deadly focus.


    The fight became a blur of movement. Theo’s body reacted on instinct, every punch, every block fueled by years of survival. But it wasn’t enough. The fledglings were faster than he expected, their attacks more coordinated, and Malric’s brute strength was beginning to take its toll. Theo could feel the fatigue setting in, his muscles screaming in protest as he dodged, struck, and evaded.


    A sharp pain shot through his side as one of the fledglings managed to land a blow, sending Theo stumbling backward. He barely had time to recover before Malric’s fist connected with his jaw, sending him crashing to the floor.


    Theo’s vision swam. Blood trickled from his lip as he tried to push himself up, but Malric was already standing over him, his foot pressing down on Theo’s chest.


    “This is where it ends, Theo,” Malric growled, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. “Lucian was a fool to let you live this long.”


    Theo’s breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled against the weight on his chest. His vision was fading, the edges darkening. But just as Malric’s hand reached for him, a sudden surge of adrenaline coursed through Theo’s body.


    Not yet.


    With the last of his strength, Theo grabbed Malric’s ankle and twisted hard. The larger vampire roared in pain, stumbling backward just enough for Theo to roll out from under him. Theo was on his feet in an instant, his movements fueled by desperation. He charged at Malric, delivering a savage punch to his temple that sent the brute crashing to the ground.


    The fledglings hesitated for just a moment, and that was all Theo needed. With a fierce snarl, he lunged at them, his fists a blur of motion. One went down, clutching his throat as Theo’s blow landed with bone-shattering force. The other fledgling barely had time to react before Theo’s hand closed around his neck, slamming him against the wall with a final, brutal twist.


    Panting, Theo staggered back, his vision swimming as the adrenaline began to fade. His body ached, every muscle screaming in protest, but he had made it. He had survived.


    For now.


    Theo wiped the blood from his mouth, his chest heaving as he looked around the chamber. Malric lay unconscious, the fledglings broken and defeated at his feet. He knew it wouldn’t be long before Lucian realized what had happened, but for now, he had a window—a slim chance to get out.


    With one last glance at the fallen vampires, Theo turned and bolted for the exit, the cold, damp air of the dungeon rushing past him as he sprinted toward freedom.


    And as he ran, one thought burned in his mind: I have to find Elena before it''s too late.