THE WAR OF WORDS AND SILENT TRUTHS

Sophia was still shaking, her heart pounding in her chest like a trapped bird as her tears dried on her cheeks. But she was no longer broken. Now, she was furious.

She tried to get up from the bed, but Darian gently pressed her back down with his palm on her shoulder.

"No."

She glared at him angrily. "What do you mean, no?"

"You're not leaving here until you calm down."

"Oh really? Are you going to forbid me? You couldn't forbid yourself from saving me, but now you've suddenly decided to make decisions?"

Darian sighed and pulled his hand back, but didn't budge an inch. "Sophia, you were on the brink of death. Maybe you should show some gratitude."

She flinched. "Gratitude?! Are you serious? Gratitude for what? For bringing me back here where I'll still die anyway? Bravo, Darian, you really are a genius."

He stiffened, his jaw clenching. Clearly, he didn't know how to respond to that.

She went on, now louder. "Well then, tell me! When's the fateful day? When do you plan to kill me? What date? I'd love to know so I can prepare my own farewell."

Darian closed his eyes and groaned, as if trying to calm the anger simmering beneath the surface.

"I'm not going to kill you, Sophia."

"Ah, of course, of course! That's what all those poor souls before me must've thought, right? Is that what you told them? 'I won't kill you, don't worry,' and then – BAM – the next morning, just an empty bed?!"

Darian stepped closer, his voice dangerously low. "Stop."

But she wasn't going to stop. "How did you get rid of them, huh? Enlighten me! Did you slit their throats? Rip out their hearts? Eat them? Should I expect to wake up one day and realize I'm missing half a limb?"

Darian slammed his fist into the wall beside her, the sound of the punch echoing through the room.

"Stop!"

Sophia shivered, but didn't look away. His eyes gleamed with something she couldn't interpret – anger, guilt, maybe even pain.

Then, after a few tense moments of silence, he said something that surprised her.

"I'd rather die than hurt you."

Her anger subsided for a moment. "What?"

He sighed and looked down at his hands, still covered in gloves.

"For years... for years, I've done everything in my power to find a solution. To find a way to end this curse. So I wouldn't have to... hurt them."

Sophia watched him, her heart slowing its rapid pace.

"But you didn't succeed," she said softly.

Darian laughed – a bitter, exhausted laugh. "No. I didn't."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Sophia swung her legs off the bed and pushed the blanket off herself. "Fine. Well, I won't wait around for you to fail to save me too."

She stood up and tried to pass by him, but he blocked the door.

"You're not going anywhere."

She crossed her arms. "Oh, really? What are you going to do, huh? Lock me up? Brainwash me to forget you're a monster? What's the plan?"

Darian suddenly looked... tired. As if everything had drained him to the core.

"I don't want you to leave."

She immediately felt something stir in her chest, but quickly suppressed it.

"Don't you get it? I can't save you, Darian. I don't even know why I'm trying."

He looked at her. "Neither do I."

Their gazes locked in that moment, and there was something in his eyes – something that wasn't fear or guilt.

It was hope.

Sophia sighed and ran a hand over her face. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

"What's that?"

She shook her head and sat back down on the bed. "I'm staying. But only because you didn't answer my question."

"What question?"

She looked at him, her eyes full of challenge.

"What's the exact date I'm supposed to die?"

Darian clenched his jaw. "You're not going to die."

"So you don't know? No exact date?"

"Sophia—"

"Or do you know? Come on, tell me. At least let me know so I can count down the days and write my farewell letter."

He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his face with his hands.

"I don't know the exact date. I just know that... it's getting closer."

Sophia leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment. "Great. Even better. At least now I have some mystery in my life."

A few moments of silence passed, and then she suddenly turned toward him.

"What if there's a way to cheat the curse?"

Darian looked at her with suspicion. "I've tried everything."

"No, you haven't."

He leaned his elbow on his knee. "And what do you suggest, genius?"

Sophia smiled mysteriously. "I don't know yet. But I have a feeling we're onto something."

Darian watched her, trying to read the expression on her face.

Then he suddenly leaned toward her, holding her in his gaze.

"Sophia."

She raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

He got close enough that she felt his breath.

"Whatever you're planning... be careful. Because this isn't something to play with."

Sophia returned his smile – one of those mischievous, defiant smiles that drove him crazy.

"My dear, playing is my specialty."