I entered the room and saw that the machinery for the procedure was already there, as well as Miriam and Claire, I went to help them and it didn't take long until everything was ready to start the process.
"Couldn't make the request, didn't see Lord Hyperion today." Miriam communicated to me.
“Well, I’ll be here anyway.” I went to the seat next to me. “If you could ask someone to bring my note, I would appreciate it.”
"Clear. If you see him, you can ask permission yourself. I am going home."
“Thanks, Mi, good sleep.”
“Hey, Soph… Take care, okay?”
"All good."
I found that end of the conversation strange, as I saw the two leave the room. I took my phone and started looking at the videos on TikTok, it didn't take 10 minutes and I could feel Hiperion's presence at the door, don't ask me how I know, I just know that I know.
“Good evening, Miss Sophia.”
I looked up at the man, head of the family.
"Goodnight. It should take around 5 hours to complete this procedure.”
“I just ran into Doctor Miriam as I was getting off the elevator. She updated me on the information and also told me you had a requisition.”
I smirked, rolling my eyes. Obviously she was going to send him to me.
“I have an online event at 10 pm today, as I'm working an extra shift, I won't be able to attend from my house…”
“I see, well, if it doesn't affect your work, you can attend the event right here.”
"Thanks."
I looked down and opened the messaging app.
[Oh, I want to kill a lot today, I don't even want to know… I'm going to take my explosives!] I
[AHahahaha! Did you get the authorization?] Vic
[Hey, who's going to deny my little angel face anything?] I
[Fallen angel right.] Claire
[HAhahahaha! Surely my place in hell is already reserved.] I
[*Devil emoji* This one is you oh.] Mi
[Absolutely!] I [Cade oDylan ?]
[I don't think he left work yet.] Claire
[Blz, then I'll come back then.] I
I closed the cell phone screen and looked at Hiperion who had sat in an armchair right in front of me, on the other side of the room. He was staring at me, scrutinizing me.
“Your natural smile is way prettier than those politically correct ones.”
"Hmm. Thank you, I guess.” I arched my left eyebrow.“Even now I'm trying to decipher who you are. While you clearly demonstrate that you don't like the people on this floor, judging without knowing it, I assure you, you are also open to seeing beyond appearances."
I didn't say anything, just let him continue the conversation.
“I've had several reports that you and Alexander are getting along great, that you haven't complained about having a bodyguard.”
I tilted my head slightly to the left side, a habit I had when trying to make sense of a situation.
“But tell me why you don't like people as much as mine? As you said on our second date”
“People who think they rule the world and that money can buy anything. I don't like those kind of people and that's what you proved to be at first, I didn't expect you to do what I asked, but in times of desperation, desperate measures are called for.”
In the eyes of the people we found his soul and that of Hyperion was a mixture of fun and seriousness.
“Besides, I can't figure it out until now because I, I know I'm the head nurse, but Miriam is the head doctor at the hospital, she sure has a lot more qualifications.”
That man was quiet for a few seconds, thinking about what he would answer me, calculating his words.
“I agree that money can't buy everything, even many of those around me aren't bought by money, they do things out of honor and loyalty.”
His words didn't make much sense to me, I knew the world of billionaires very well and it wasn't like that, but I kept my expression neutral.
“I know you may not believe this, but it's the truth. We hardly mix the family with this known circle, my contacts are different.”
I took a deep breath, that conversation was going in a direction I didn't like.
"Some would say we look like mobsters, in a way we are, but don't worry there's nothing illegal about the family business and we despise that sort of thing."
I looked for some indication that he was lying, but I couldn't find it and my instincts said he was telling the truth.
“But when we're around here it's very normal to find people willing to sell themselves. So when I saw that you weren't like that, I was surprised and that's the best thing that's happened since I got here. To have found you.”
His words could be taken as a flirtation, a pickup line, but somehow I knew that wasn't what he meant.
Honestly, I don't have much to say to him, so when Claire walked in carrying my smaller suitcase with my laptop, I silently thanked whatever was upstairs.
“Hey, here it is! He just asks them to wait for me, it will take me around an hour to get home, I still want to buy popcorn and wine!”
Claire spoke excitedly and I turned to her smiling slightly.
"This will be funny. See Tremere play drunk!”
I commented with a low laugh.
“At least I'm not the pyromaniac La Sombra!" Claire rolled her eyes and let out a low laugh. "Only you can play a vampire who likes fire."
“What can I say? If I'm going to die with fireworks!" I commented as I opened the bag and removed the laptop.
“Well, at least you already gained fame for having killed that werewolf, rank 3. Who would have thought that to kill a rank 3 you only needed some C4 in paste… But you were crazy when you said you were going to fight hand to hand to get it stuck the paste in his fur.”
“What can I say? I laugh in the face of danger!”
“Turned into Simba now, huh?”
“At least you get the reference… But seriously, it was epic, I came out barely alive and almost got blood bonded to stay alive.”
“It was definitely epic! I hope to have more scenes today, after all it is the last session.”
“I hope so too, after all we are going to invade that Caern once and for all and spread corruption!”
“Man, when you talk like that, I even miss face-to-face meetings.”
“Me too, but go home soon!”
"Yes ma'am!" Claire reached down and took my hand and kissed it. “Thank you for releasing me, my countess.”
“You are released, servant. Now go fulfill the mission, who knows if you come back I'll let you drink some more of my blood." My tone of voice changed to a huskier and more serious one, the same one I used for my character.
“Heavens! You do not know how to play! You already want to increase my blood bond, right?”
“Hey, what to do? That way I'll always have a servant available. Besides, your character loves my blood.”
“Of course, because you bought that perk there: Addictive Blood.”
“Hey! I had perk points to spend, it's not my fault you guys bought other stuff."
“I know, you naughty bitch.”
"For sure! And with pride!”
Claire rolled her eyes and then left the room, I smirked and took a deep breath, looking at the PC screen on.
“Should I be concerned?” I heard Hyperion's question in jest.
“Oh no… I only kill virtual people. It's a roleplaying game. Today we're going to finish a Vampire the Mask campaign, a very famous game even. In this case, I'm playing with a 9th generation vampire, let alone an old one, La Sombra, which is one of the clans, and which has the pyromaniac defect. Our mission is to invade a Caern, which is a place with great magical and pure power, so to speak, these places are usually protected by Werewolves, who are divided by tribes and within the tribes there are packs, which can be mixed or pure. In this case, my group of Vampires that enter this place, reach the center, carry magic power and transform it so that we can use the magic energy and no longer the werewolves. If we succeed, I'll probably become the Prince of the city. Prince is the title for those who run the city.”
I explained it as simply as I could without taking my eyes off my laptop screen, opening all the applications I needed to play.
“That is, if no one betrays me…” I got serious. “If one of them betrays me and I stay alive, then I will take revenge. Nobody messes with Alana Lafai!” I smirked. "Anyway, it's something really cool and also helps to distract me from the day to day."
I finished packing for the game and looked up at Hyperion, he seemed immersed in his thoughts. I turned my face and saw that there was no change, I took the tablet and wrote down the information, I needed to do this every half hour, I set the alarm clock on my cell phone.
“But, I don't like playing Vampire: Masquerade that much, I much prefer playing Werewolf: Apocalypse, because there's nothing better than turning into a 3m tall animal to beat enemies, or anything from Cthulhu. Insanity is my middle name for sure.”
There were still 20 minutes left to start the game, but the crowd was already entering the site for us to play, I put the phone in my left ear only and left the microphone off.
"Hmm, didn't know there was such a thing." Finally I heard Hyperion's voice.
“Games, this style is called tabletop RPG, which is basically playing a character, you can be anyone, thing, being, etc… It has everything. I prefer that to playing online, or going out for drinks. Although going out for drinks at a nerd/geek bar is pretty cool too.”
I know my eyes are bright and I can hear my excitement talking about it, it's one of my favorite hobbies, whenever I could I would bring someone to it. Maybe that was one of the things that put me off Joshua, he didn't like to gamble.
“Interesting, very interesting. Who creates these games?” I could see that Hyperion was genuinely interested.
“Look, many, because the theme can be as varied as the human imagination. It's like asking who creates the movies we watch, there are hundreds of directors, just as there are hundreds of system creators. Basically someone imagines some scenario, creates the rules for it and then puts it to the test. I hate creating systems, but I love creating stories, especially horror stories.”
“I see, but have you ever thought if any of these stories are true?”
“Every myth has a grain of truth, the human brain does everything to protect itself, I've seen people arrive at the trauma ward with their whole body cut because someone decided to do that to them, but instead of the brain processing it like another being human hitting another, it registers as a monster with claws. I see, for example, that those who live close to forests usually say that there are werewolves there, but I think it's just a way for the collective to keep children and adults from getting lost. Simply speaking.”
“It makes sense, in a logical way your explanation makes perfect sense.”
"Yeah, I know." I smiled sincerely at him and then I heard my name being called through the phone. “If it gets too loud, the phone will let me know.”
“Hmm… Actually, I was going to ask you to turn it up loud so I could hear it.”
“Better…” I grabbed the other pair of bluetooth headphones and tossed them to him. “So you also listen and we don't disturb your child. Just don't be scared, sometimes there's screaming and stuff.”
Sophia POVThe hours went by very quickly, between one play and another I looked at Perseus' information and wrote it down next to the tablet and also held myself back from screaming. There were many critics, both positive and negative and the crowd had fun, but as I expected, the crowd betrayed me and my character ended up dead. Hiperion asked me some questions about the rules and the history of the characters, but nothing that interfered with the game.It was interesting to see a man like that interested in something like that, but well, let's face it, there are many wealthy and powerful people who gamble, actors and actresses in Hollywood.“You do know that the next campaign is mine and that it will be Cthulhu!” Warned.“Er… I think we have to go to sleep. Goodbye!" vicEveryone else nodded and then got off the call, I rolled my eyes and let out a low chuckle.“Actually, this is really fun. You guys really get into the characters.”“Well, that is the intention.” I put the laptop on
Sophia POVI woke up feeling my body throbbing a little, an uncomfortable pain, but not unbearable. I looked around seeing that I was in one of the break rooms, the light was off, but I could still see something by the light coming through the window curtain and the light under the door.My purse was there on the side, on top of the bedside table, I opened it and took my cell phone. It was already 5 pm, I had slept for 14 hours, almost a record, but adding the tiredness of the shifts and everything that had happened, maybe I had little sleep. I saw Mirian's notification asking me to go see her when she woke up. I got up and stretched, grabbed my purse, went to the bathroom, washed my face and brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and finally saw my face as I am, tidy and rested. Smile in the corner."Everything will be fine…"I told myself, I took my medicine and deodorant and finally left the room. I know I need to take a shower, but that was enough for now until I got home. I greeted pe
Sophia POVI was one of the last to get on the helicopter, my mood right now is not one of the best, but that didn't mean I would be rude and I greeted everyone briefly with a nod and then I took the tablet to do the last checks.Basically the Houroux family had brought in their own doctor to supervise the transport and also check all the information.Too much ego fighting for my taste, the doctors at the hospital thinking it was absurd to be supervised by an outsider, while the family doctor started pointing out mistakes that weren't mistakes at all, as he seemed to have information about the physical condition that we didn't. we had access.To avoid a confrontation I just went to my house, packed a small suitcase, when I got back the chaos was almost over as it was time to leave. My date with Joshua wasn't the best thing about my day either and in the end we ended up wrapping up something that hadn't even started to get serious.When Dr. John Ioannidis started to say something about
Sophia POVAlexander spoke and started walking toward a corridor that was on the right side, I followed him unhurriedly, with my hands in my pockets. We stopped in front of room 803, he took a card from his pocket, opened the door and handed me the card.I went into my room, it was quite large, almost the size of my living room, the whole room was decorated in glass and black wood supports, while the floor had a light gray marble and under the king size bed there was a rug in darker grey. With minimalist and modern touches, were the other rooms the same? Because it looked like that place had been decorated for me, the colors were what I liked the most and I didn't like anything fancy. To say that I liked my room was an understatement, I was loving it. On the left side there were two doors, probably one for the closet and one for the bathroom.“Thank you, you are excused.”I told him and turned to watch him leave."Sophia... It's not that I..." I noticed that Alexander was watching me
Sophia POVWhen I finished I went to my suitcase, grabbed the towel, wiped my face, took a sip of water and stretched, cracking some bones, to finish relaxing my muscles. Now all she needed was a good shower and she would be ready for the next step. I took out my cell phone and started looking at group messages.When I started to answer one of them I felt a gaze directed at me and the characteristic smell of Achilles permeate the room, I know I got tense... I closed my eyes, shuddering, I don't know why, but I want to turn around and just throw myself in his arms of that man.“Heavens! I need to get laid!”I thought and shook my head, I had no problem screwing guys I just met, but that same feeling I have that I need Achilles is what's going to keep me away from him. I don't know what would happen to me if I let those instincts take over. But… My body doesn't want to do what my mind does, because I turned and looked into that man's eyes and it was like everything else lost color and t
Sophia POVI woke up feeling my body sore, my muscles had probably tensed while I was passed out. My mouth is dry and my head is pounding. It's like a hangover, only much worse. I hated it when that happened and it had been so many years since I'd had a seizure.It seems that meeting the Houroux had brought a lot to light and attacks that I haven't had for years would now occur frequently, panic, fear, anxiety… I don't want this for myself, I need to go back. Coming here was a bad idea.“I want to leave…” I said, my voice hoarse and dry, but I know he heard me.I open my eyes and blink a few times getting used to the white light of the hospital room.“Miss Turner… I'm sorry… It's my fault.” Hyperion's voice is filled with guilt."I just... I want to leave, as soon as possible." I spoke again and sat up and saw Hyperion handing me a glass of water. He looks much older now, there are black circles under his eye.“How long was I unconscious?” I asked and finally realized I'm wearing the
Sophia POVI took a deep breath, twisting my mouth, and then handed him the handle of my suitcase. Do I really want to talk to Perseus and Hyperion? I honestly don't know... I hadn't said yes or no...Thinking about leaving... Going back to my friends, to my life... I can feel a metallic taste in my mouth. This is very strange, I'm having a physical reaction to a thought that could benefit me. My unconscious wants to stay here? Why?Alex grabbed the handle of his suitcase and started walking. I followed a little behind him. Trying to come up with explanations for my reactions. It was a complicated spiral. How long have I been displaying negative actions? I can't answer that precisely... I need a session with my psychiatrist.Soon we were in the car heading towards the building I was staying in, I took out my cell phone and texted the psychiatrist asking for an urgent session, she accepted, and now I just needed to get to the room to make the call to her. Meanwhile, I could feel my anx
I grabbed my wallet and cell phone, they were the only things I needed, everything else I could buy. I walked towards and opened the door and looked over to see Alex standing there."Come on, we've got shopping to do!" I said smiling, wrapping my arm around his right arm, "I have to buy some new clothes and go to a make-up salon!" I started walking, pulling Alex, who was a little dazed. "Quick answer, I'm going to be here for a few days, enjoying my vacation... Which means I have to buy presents, clothes, make-up, hire a tour guide and lots of other things.""Um... But... Are you okay? Can you drink?" Alex asked, stopping in the middle of the corridor and looking at my face seriously."Well, that's a difficult question... No, I'm not fine, but I intend to stay... Which means I'm going to take my psychiatrist's suggestion and stop thinking too much about things and enjoy my well-deserved vacation, which I haven't taken in years." I answered as best I could at the time. "But that means
Sophia's POVI parted my lips and felt air rushing into my lungs, and it was like breathing for the first time. My skin tingled, every nerve seeming to wake from a deep sleep, as if it had been imprisoned for ages. My chest rose and fell slowly, heavily, but filled with a warmth I didn’t recognize, it wasn’t the heat of fever or exertion... It was different, exotic, and complex...I opened my eyes and blinked several times as the light hurt them. Colors and shapes began to form in front of me as I raised my hands to shield some of the brightness. I felt my muscles stretch; the sensation was strange, not painful, not tingling, something entirely new. My whole body was lying against the marble floor.But I could understand: everything was new because this body had just been born, and I would need to get used to it. I saw my hand in front of my eyes, and the first thing I noticed was that my skin tone hadn’t changed, I was still fair-skinned. My fingers were slightly longer.In the backg
Sophia POVAs soon as I opened my eyes, I found myself in a gigantic space, so vast that I couldn't fully comprehend its size. It was as if I were an astronaut seeing the Earth from afar.I realized that as my mind adapted to this new dimension, things began to make sense. Walls of clay appeared, along with various doors and stairs. Many of the doors were already broken, with some pieces still hanging, but many parts had fallen to the floor where the door should have been. I also noticed broken chains.I walked to the nearest door and looked through the space where the door should have been. I noticed green smoke filling the room. I shivered, understanding what it meant—each door represented a creature I should have had, but which was now taken by the Mother of Monsters.My heart tightened as I looked around and saw so many broken doors, so many shattered chains, each representing a part of my soul that had been taken. Sadness began to set in, as many creatures would never see the lig
Sophia POV"You are a Chimera." Nina spoke again, in a gentler tone, like a kind teacher explaining to a child how things work. "Changing your appearance is not simple."Nina's words changed the atmosphere in the room again. Everyone fell silent, absorbing the weight of that statement. Achilles approached me, as if he could protect me from the truths that were about to come. Khalid just watched, with a serious expression."Alright, I understand." I said and felt Achilles hugging me from behind, his hands passing around my waist, a silent form of comfort. "Continue.""A Chimera is composed of several beings, several animals, mythological or not." Nina explained.And then she looked me up and down, analyzing every aspect of me, both physically and my soul, and I noticed a touch of melancholy in her eyes."And you have lost several since we first met." Nina explained.I felt a pang of pain in my chest, as I knew that meant I had died in agony each time one of those creatures left. Nina n
Sophia POVNina turned with the same grace that always surrounded her, her movements smooth like a silent dance. Her eyes landed on Alexandre, and to his surprise, her expression remained serene, unaltered, as if the words he had just spoken were no more than part of a trivial conversation.Alex was not prepared for such tranquility. The lack of reaction completely disarmed him, and I could see insecurity take over his features. Even his wolf, which had been animated and even aggressive, retreated inside him, as if shrinking before Nina's calm. All the aggressiveness that had emanated from him dissolved into the air."Interesting." Khalid said with a low laugh.Nina looked at him, and for a brief moment, I saw a subtle smile on her lips, but then she turned back to Alexandre again."My name is Alexandre." Alex introduced himself, almost stammering."I remember your presence in our laboratory." Nina replied, her voice maintaining a neutral tone.Alex nodded, not daring to speak. Nina's
Sophia POVKhalid nodded at my response. There was no questioning, no questions, and certainly no doubts, only understanding and acceptance. And that brought me a peace I didn't know I needed.This had always been my bond with Khalid, long before he became my mate… The vampire understood me on a different level from Achilles and Perseus, but that didn't mean something would happen between us.I had never thought of betraying my mates, I had never thought of Khalid as anything more than a good friend, only now, feeling the attraction of the bond, I started to feel this way, never before."When do you want this change?" Khalid asked me, his voice now carrying a more sensual tone, something I hadn't noticed before."As soon as possible!" I replied without needing to think much about it.I felt Achilles's body tense up, and I turned my head to look at him."You just woke up…" Achilles explained. "I don't want to put you in another coma… Your body is under a lot of stress."I sighed and he
Sophia POVI feel a shiver run down my spine with that phrase, something I didn't know was possible, because there's a different tone, it's not like Khalid telling me I'm an object, it was different…It was acceptance, certainty, as if, by calling me that, he was recognizing something beyond the physical, beyond desire, beyond the blood that pulses in our veins.He didn't see me as a possession, but as part of something ancient, sacred.My Shi. A phrase that meant our souls were connected…Maybe that's how I should have felt from the beginning with Achilles and Perseus, but I was different back then, I didn't know about this world and had to learn about everything…It's not that the connection between me and Khalid is stronger, but it's different… And this difference is glaring… Because Achilles and Perseus had to fight from the start to win me over…They were the ones who taught me about the Bond, the Balance, and what it means to be a mate, and in this difference, there's an added w
Sophia POVWaking up should be easy, but honestly? In my current state, it's not. My whole body aches, as if needles are penetrating my muscles, and I let out a groan of pain. But that only worsens the situation, as my head starts spinning, even with my eyes closed.I took deep breaths several times to try and make the sensation go away, until I felt my hands being held. The touch is gentle and loving, and I can feel the sparks of destiny taking effect, spreading through my wrists and up my arms, easing my pain.After a few seconds, I managed to blink a few times before focusing my gaze. I know I should pay attention to Achilles and Perseus, but what catches my attention is a completely different smell.It's a strange mixture, dark yet warm at the same time… It's like black amber, with myrrh, mixed with the dry heat of the desert at sunset, where the sand still holds the warmth of the sun, but the air begins to cool. There's a subtle scent of dried earth after rain, rare and sacred, m
Achilles POV"Shut up!" I yelled at the illusion, my voice reverberating through the space like a furious thunderclap.I turned abruptly to Perseus, my breathing heavy, and without hesitation, I raised my hand, slapping him across the face. The sharp crack of the impact echoed through the place, my Alpha widened his eyes, surprised not only by the blow but by the intensity of my gaze that openly challenged him."I know you better than anyone, Perseus, and I know you're not like this! You're not a monster!" I exclaimed."This is the second time I've put her in a hospital!" Perseus shouted, his voice filled with anger and despair.He pushed me hard, but my feet remained firm on the ground. His strength could have knocked me down, but I wouldn't back down."Next time she might not survive!" I said with determination. "And will you allow there to be a third time?"My voice came out cold as ice, sharp as a blade. I watched the red mark of my fingers begin to form on his face, standing out
Aquiles POVThere is a lot of information, but it all makes sense… Although I don't like the idea of Khalid being a permanent part of our lives. I would have liked a moment just for me and Perseus with Sophia, something we've been seeking since the first moment we saw her, and now we have to accept that this moment may never exist.I closed my eyes for a few seconds and sighed. My body and my wolf are tired; after all, we've been drained intensely and constantly, and I feel my body losing strength and my legs giving in under the weight of exhaustion. Before I could react, I felt a pair of firm hands holding me, preventing my fall.“Aquiles!” Hélios shouted while hugging me around the waist.Hélios's scent became stronger, always with a woody touch and a hint of aged leather. That same scent calms me and gives me a bit more strength.“Hélios…” I whispered his name and rested my head on his shoulder. “I'm tired… My energy is drained.”“I know, my love.” Hélios said and led me to the bed