Mia felt like she was floating. Her mind was trapped in a cage of darkness while her body remained unconscious. She had lost consciousness a few seconds after the bite. Still, she felt lighter than a feather, and her mind was devoid of fear. Something had resonated deep within her soul when Ethan's fangs had sunk into her flesh. The emotions that flooded her were more potent than any drug. She felt like she was getting lost in an ocean of cotton and silk.

When her eyes opened, an unparalleled vitality surged through her body. Mia wasn't frail by nature, but she had never experienced such energy and strength upon waking up. She felt reborn. Her senses were in a state of excitement. Her hearing could discern the characteristic sound of water droplets falling repeatedly onto something metallic, her sense of smell detected hints of earth and burning, and her eyes distinctly made out each particle of dust faintly illuminated by a few rays of sunlight. The light of the sun pierced the natural rock that formed the ceiling of the room in which she found herself, creating small holes. She marveled as she watched these particles fall gracefully. They discreetly covered the single bed she lay on and the small dark wooden bedside table to her right.

Something had changed within her when Ethan had bitten her. Part of his power had been infused into the young human, making her stronger. She felt her newfound strength in every cell of her body and in each of her senses.

Her gaze then shifted to the center of the room, where she spotted a metal chair. It was dimly lit, but she could easily make out the outlines of a seated and unconscious figure, which she quickly recognized as Ethan. With a leap, she rushed to the vila's side and crouched down, quickly forgetting the discovery of her new senses. She gently placed her palm against his cheek and applied slight pressure in the hope of waking him.

"Ethan," she pleaded in a whisper, preferring discretion in an unfamiliar place. "Please wake up."

"Mia?" he stammered, slowly emerging from unconsciousness.

At first, he attempted to move his arms, only for the couple to notice that his wrists were immobilized, securely fastened to the chair with large iron handcuffs. Mia disregarded this fact, far too relieved that he was alive, and threw herself into his arms, encircling his neck with her arms and holding him tightly against her chest. By closing her eyes, she could easily feel and hear the vila's heart beating rapidly in response to her embrace.

A metallic noise forced them to separate to find its source. After all, they weren't yet certain of their safety; the handcuffs were evidence to the contrary. It wasn't the time to let their guard down.

The door to their left quickly revealed two familiar faces: Vassili and the woman who led the first division. Ethan attempted to rise, his face stern and his gaze murderous, but his body simply couldn't move from the chair. Vassili entered the room with a sigh, visibly prepared for the confrontation that awaited. Mia, surprised, positioned herself behind the vila. This didn't bode well. The professor stopped two meters away from Ethan, while the woman simply leaned against the metal door frame.

"You promised that you'd leave us alone," Ethan growled, clenching his fists and struggling with his wrists. "What the hell is this?"

Promised? What's going on? Mia wondered, feeling confused.

"I lied. It was easier that way," Vassili explained, resigned. "I'm sorry, Ethan..."

"Damn it, stop with your shitty apologies! And to think I trusted you," the vila furiously laughed, "I should've torn your head off when I had the chance. A family friend, my ass..."

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"Ethan," Mia firmly interrupted, placing her hand on his forearm.

Insulting Vassili wouldn't advance the situation. For the moment, they weren't in a favorable position. They didn't even know what they were doing here. Or at least, Mia didn't. With the bits of information Andrei had given her, combined with some elements she had managed to gather between her two moments of unconsciousness in the arena, she still couldn't quite grasp what was happening.

"Welcome to the Resistance!" the woman exclaimed loudly as she advanced toward the couple, planting her feet firmly. "My name is Ellana Drovar, but for you, it's General. I oversee all operations and lead this city. I hope you'll prove to be valuable assets for the human cause, as Vassili assured me."

The human cause? Valuable assets? Mia repeated internally, stunned. Half-dazed by all the events, she didn't dare speak up and preferred to let Ethan talk since he seemed to be more aware of the situation.

"Vassili...," Ethan growled, furious, glaring at the man in question.

"Very well, I'll leave you to sort out your affairs," she concluded, giving the professor a pointed look to immediately exit the room afterward.

"For how long?" Ethan asked, his voice dripping with venom.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Ethan," Vassili informed with a sigh. "I joined the Resistance a few years after the genocide."

"Why? That's when you started getting close to my mother... Was it to spy on our family?" Ethan seethed. "Decades of playing a double game? Why?"

"My wife... the love of my life... was human. She perished during the genocide while not even fighting," Vassili explained, clenching his fists, his face torn by pain and hatred.

Ethan's fury somewhat stabilized upon hearing the vampire's words. Mia herself had to admit that Vassili's motive filled her with compassion. Now that she had accepted Ethan's mark, she couldn't imagine living without him. But were Vassili's actions forgivable?

"Everything that happened at the school, that was you, right?" Ethan questioned.

"With Andrei's help, yes. Listen, I don't expect you to forgive me. I know you're not like your mother, and I'm genuinely sorry for involving you in this, but we need you. I can't let you go... And even if I wanted to, the General won't let you go either. Mia," he addressed her, his gaze shifting to the blonde, "even though you're not from our world, these are your kind. They need you as much as you need them. Do you think our enemies will leave you alone, even if you don't actively participate in the war? Do you think Ethan's mother will let you live in peace?"

Mia's head was spinning as she tried to analyze the situation. Confusion reigned supreme in her heart. On one hand, she had no desire to get involved in the conflict, even if it concerned her fellow beings. After all, it wasn't her world, and she didn't know them. On the other hand, the stakes of the humans were directly affecting her due to Ethan's mother, making her future uncertain. And then... She didn't know how to fight. She had nothing to offer them.

Yeah... this might not be my original world,... but it's mine now.

Her gaze shifted to Ethan.

"We don't have to participate," Ethan pleaded as he saw that Mia was genuinely considering the option. "We don't know these people... Do you think we can trust them after what they've done to us? They'll betray us as soon as we're of no use to them!"

"I... I don't know," Mia stammered.

My past might not be here, but my present and my future... My future is with Ethan. If we can't avoid getting involved in this war... If they're trying to crush the humans, if his mother is determined to tear us apart... I don't know what to do...

"Listen, you don't have to decide now. Spend a few days exploring the city and getting to know its inhabitants, and then give us your answer," Vassili suggested.

Mia was relieved not to have to make a decision right away, but that didn't alleviate the tension she felt. Something in the vampire's gaze told her that she better not refuse his proposition, that she simply didn't have a choice.

"Okay," she affirmed simply to the professor, who smiled in response.

"Great!" Vassili exclaimed, clapping his hands with enthusiasm. "Come on, we'll show you around the city."

"But... what about Ethan?" Mia questioned, starting to panic as Vassili ushered her toward the exit and gently pushed her forward from behind.

"Vassili!" the vila roared for the first time as he saw his soulmate being almost forcibly taken away.

He couldn't do anything with the bindings that kept him stuck to the chair. They weren't ordinary handcuffs; they contained a spell that prevented him from using his magic. He was rendered as powerless as a human.

"Don't worry, he'll join us soon enough," the vampire concluded as he closed the heavy metal door behind them, leaving the vila all alone.

"Mia!" Ethan yelled again, but received no response.