The insignia depicted an elaborate design: a sword crossed with a crescent moon, encircled by intricate vines and thorns. My fingers traced the pattern, feeling the cold, rough surface of the iron. The familiar design sent a thrill of excitement through me. If this was real, if this was actually happening, then behind this door could be the key to everything—my survival, my escape, and possibly even Zoren Valhart himself.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead. With a sense of purpose, I pushed against the heavy door. It creaked open slowly, revealing a dimly lit chamber. The air was thick with moisture, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the room. The walls were lined with ancient stone, and the floor was uneven, worn down by centuries of neglect.

In the center of the room, illuminated by a single, flickering torch, was a figure. Chained to the wall, the man was motionless, his head bowed. His long, dark hair hung in tangled locks around his face, obscuring his features. His clothes were tattered and covered in grime, but even in this state, there was an undeniable aura of nobility about him.

I stepped closer, my heart pounding in my chest. As I approached, the man stirred, lifting his head slightly. His eyes, piercing and cold, locked onto mine. Despite his weakened condition, there was a fire in his gaze, a strength that hadn't been extinguished by his captivity.

"Who are you?" His voice was hoarse but commanding, echoing off the stone walls.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "My name is Elara," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don't know how I got here, but I think... I think I can help you."

A faint, humorless smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Help me?" he repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism. "And why would you want to help someone like me?"

"Because," I said, stepping closer, "if we work together, we might be able to escape this place."

His eyes narrowed, studying me intently. For a moment, he was silent, and I wondered if he would dismiss me entirely. Then, with a slow nod, he said, "Very well, Elara. If you can find a way to break these chains, we may have a chance."

I glanced around the chamber, searching for anything that could be of use. My eyes fell on a rusted metal bar partially buried in the dirt near the wall. I hurried over and pried it free, then returned to Zoren's side.

"Hold still," I instructed, slipping the bar into the lock mechanism of his shackles. With a grunt of effort, I twisted the bar, feeling it strain against the rusted metal. Finally, with a loud snap, the lock broke, and the shackle fell away.

Zoren rubbed his wrist, wincing slightly. "Impressive," he muttered. "Let's see if we can do the same for the others."

One by one, I broke the remaining locks until Zoren was free. He stood slowly, his movements stiff and labored from long periods of confinement. Despite this, he maintained an air of regality that was impossible to ignore.

"Thank you," he said, meeting my gaze. "Now, let's get out of here before they realize what's happened."

We made our way back through the twisting corridors, navigating the darkness with the help of the dim torchlight. The maze of tunnels seemed endless, but with Zoren's guidance, we gradually made progress. Every sound made my heart race, every shadow seemed a potential threat, but we pressed on, determined to escape.

Finally, we reached a large, iron gate. Beyond it, I could see the faint light of dawn breaking through. Freedom was so close I could taste it.

Zoren pushed the gate open, and we stepped into the fresh air. For the first time since I had woken up in this nightmare, I felt a glimmer of hope. Together, we would find a way to survive in this strange new world.

I remembered why this place was significant, despite the events here unfolding before the book even started. A vampire’s power is tied to the sacrifice they contract with. In exchange for everlasting youth and immortality, the sacrifice gives their blood and freedom to the vampire. A sacrifice can make contracts with multiple vampires, and vampires can have multiple sacrifices. The love stories in the novel were overly complicated due to this. A problem arose when a vampire took blood without this contract. They would lose vast amounts of magical power they had accumulated over the ages in an instant. A vampire who subsisted solely on uncontracted blood would slowly go insane, eventually becoming nothing but a beast.

The book never explained what mechanics allowed someone to find this door, only that there was one person to ever stand before it. I must be that unfortunate soul meant to slice Zoren’s power in half, dying in order for him to gain the strength to escape.

She had no name, but her golden hair caught his eye as she ran through his chamber. The chains cried out as he lunged and caught her. She died in his arms, her life’s blood giving him back some of the strength necessary to finally escape this hell… But cursing him to be a shadow of his former glory, half mad from a millennium of solitude.

The door was ten feet tall, made of a material I didn’t recognize, though it appeared to be some sort of metal. The insignia was etched proudly in the middle, though it was filled with dust and grime. If I hadn’t read the book, I wouldn’t know he was in there. I’d read the beginning several times by now but couldn’t clearly remember which side of the room his chains were grounded. To the right?

If I entered, I would die. That’s the fate of my character.

Then let's change this book.

Zoren faces many hardships ahead, barely overcoming each time. If he had his full strength, it would lessen his hardships and certainly prevent all the injuries! My poor hubby lost an eye! And his right arm! He was just a prop to make the prince look good in his stead, ‘the man who can overcome obstacles even the great hero has difficulty with.’ But how could I change his fate?

To form a contract with a vampire one needed to use the words of power. An elder language that normally only the vampires know, simply speaking it would cause the world around you to react. To bend to your will. I wasn’t sure if I could remember the words correctly and even if I did, he may still kill me in the process. After all, my poor baby’s been locked in a dungeon for a thousand years starving and alone.

I sat with my back against the door. If I died here, would that be it? Am I just dead? Would my soul go back home? Am I even alive back there? Would it hurt? No, that’s stupid, of course, it would. I sighed. But… If I didn’t, who else would come to save him? They certainly wouldn’t know the words either, and he’d be back to square one. The throbbing pain I’d felt reading that he’d died returned, and I clutched at my chest. Tears threatening to spill.

The last thing I remember back home was wishing so deeply to change his fate… The door moved under the weight of me leaning against it. It was black as pitch inside, though the torches to either side cast a little light.

Steeling my resolve, I faced the darkness. Without his full power, Zoren will never be able to attain the happiness I wished for him. It was the reason he ended up having to sacrifice his life to save her. Only for her to love another. I can’t replace her for him, but I can at least give him a head start in this world, right? That was what I wanted, I could only trust that he would have the strength not to kill me. Yeah, just like he did in the book. The sarcasm didn’t lift my spirits.

The stone wall was cold against my back as I slid along to the left. My heart was pounding; I was so scared and the dirt and dust on the wall clung to my sweaty palms. I had moved halfway through the room by the time my eyes finally adjusted. The entire chamber was empty, but chains falling from the ceiling glinted in the soft light. Magical artifacts were considered perfect. They would never rust or decay and could not be destroyed by normal means. These chains restrained his strength and magic, though I pictured them coming from the far wall… Not from the ceiling… Wait. Does that mean he can reach me here?

The chains cried out a cacophonous laughter and a black shape rushed towards me. I cried out the spell, the last syllable rushing out of me, winded from the force of him slamming into me.

My neck was ripped to the side, and a burning pain blossomed from the exposed side, scalding me as it traveled through my veins. The sound of it feeding was terrifying, but I was too winded to scream. I tried to push it away, but it was like pushing a bronze statue. Tears streamed down my face as the fire reached my heart, spreading across my entire body. My energy was quickly draining, and the edges of my vision blurred. I’m really going to die like this. I closed my eyes. Did it work? My knees buckled, but I didn’t budge; his arms were wrapped around me, pressing me between him and the wall.

As the last of my strength faded, my heart throbbed. Please find happiness, Zoren. I’m rooting for you. I let the darkness swallow me.

Pain greeted me in every inch of my body when I woke. Everything was stiff, but most especially my neck. It felt like I had whiplash. The sharp metallic tang of blood made me crinkle my nose. The realization of what had happened settled over me, though I was too weak to really process what was going on.

Am I being carried? Sure enough, someone was princess-carrying me. I’d love to say that I’d enjoy it, but I hurt too much; I just wanted to stretch out and sleep. The arms holding me were strong and solid. The last time I had been carried was when I was a child, and I remember worrying they’d drop me. I had no such worry now. The chest I was pressed into was firm as well.

“Just rest,” a beautiful voice, like the seductive caress of a lover, greeted me. “I took too much; you won’t be able to walk in this state.” Who?

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.” The regret in his voice made my heart pang. Don’t be sad. I needed to see who this voice belonged to. Strangely, it was difficult to open my eyes, but when they finally fluttered open, I could see nothing but two ember-like eyes glowing red in the dark. “Rest.” A thick fog settled over my mind, and I could do nothing but comply.

She was too frail. She made Zoren self-conscious of his strength and just how easily her bones would crush if he squeezed her. Who was she, and more importantly, how did she know the power words? He grit his teeth. If the humans meant to control him through her, they were in for hell. He would kill her and everyone involved in this farce if he needed to.

Her breathing changed. She was awake. Even in her tousled state, the dirt and grime couldn’t hide the luster in her golden hair and her porcelain skin. Definitely a noble’s daughter. What despicable man would use such a lady to be the leash for a beast like him?

“Just rest.” Did her lips just twitch in a smile? “I took too much; you won’t be able to walk in this state.” He questioned why he would say that. Of course, she wouldn’t be thinking of walking on her own in this state. The thought of her wanting him to drop her pissed him off still. Strange. When she didn’t react, he assumed she was frozen out of fear. She didn’t smell afraid, though.

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.” The last part was a lie. He'd need to mind control her in order to discover who she belonged to; he would even strip her of her free will... And he would kill her if she betrayed him.

Her long golden lashes fluttered open, revealing her emerald-like eyes. He locked eyes with her and took hold of her mind. “Rest.” The command was met with no resistance; she relaxed once again in his arms, her jewel-like eyes leaving him alone in the dark. Zoren hated stripping sacrifices of their own will. There had been a time he had even vowed never to use such tactics, but a millennia in the dark had torn down those reservations. This time, he would do all in his power to protect himself and his people. He would never allow another sacrifice to betray him.

Dawn was near, and everything out of the fire’s reach was covered in a growing layer of dew. The smell of wood smoke mixed beautifully with the fresh forest air, reminding me of summer vacations with family and friends. Surveying the area, I wondered how I got here. Memories of me being carried flashed through my mind, and I blushed. My face got redder when I realized I was sitting on someone’s lap, resting my head on their shoulder.

“You’re awake,” his voice was sultry; the novel could never do it justice in its description of him. “I caught something for you to eat.” I was already too embarrassed to look up at him, instead staring at the fire with an intensity you’d think I was trying to kill it. In my field of view, he lifted up a strip of cooked meat. No way, is he trying to feed me? My heart started to pound, and my face got even redder.

“Take it.” Relief and a little disappointment flooded me when I realized he didn’t intend to feed me. I’m so shameless. My fingers were weak, and it was hard to properly hold the meat. Whatever it was, it was gamy and took up all of my energy just to chew. He held up another piece. I eyed it, but I didn’t feel hungry.

“Keep eating, even if you have to force yourself. You need to gain your strength back.” Was this actually Zoren? In the book, he was gruff and pushed the heroine away when they first met. His route was long with little action in the beginning. He certainly wouldn’t have fed her while she was in his lap this tenderly. Speaking of laps, I tried to shift my weight so I'd fall off his. His arm prevented it.

“Who are you?” I took the meat. Having nearly experienced death, I had no intention of meeting that fate again. There were so many things to experience in this world.

“Zoren, though I would assume you’d know the name of the person you contract with, miss.” His teasing voice was a weapon. Not fair.

“Ah, right.” I didn’t know what else to say. I hadn’t thought far enough ahead to make up excuses as to why I knew the spell, or how I found him. “Can... Can you put me down?” I tried to change the subject instead.

“No.” I faltered when I didn’t get the answer I expected.

“No?”

“You’ll freeze in this state, miss. I don’t have a blanket to keep you warm.” He sounded like the perfect gentleman and kept using polite language with me. Wasn’t Zoren supposed to be almost feral when he had escaped the prison? “Keep eating.” I took the piece of meat I hadn’t noticed him offer me.

“Miss has my name, but I’m afraid I don’t have yours.” I racked my brain for an answer, but there truly were no memories left of the person whose body I now inhabited. The panic must’ve shown on my face as he added, “Ah, how rude of me. Let me ask you again when you’ve regained your strength. Just focus on eating for now.”

I could feel his voice reverberating through his chest; it was hard to eat when I was so close to him like this. My second feeble attempt to move failed miserably. He was serious when he said no. The last moments of the night were spent with him feeding me cuts of cooked meat from whatever mystery animal he had grilled over the fire. I was relieved he didn't ask me any more questions, though I did like hearing his voice. When I could no longer keep my eyes open, he picked me up again. “There’s an outcropping ahead to rest for the day.” I fell asleep before we reached it.