But now, as we flee through the dark streets of the underground city, I can't help but feel a sense of guilt wash over me. I had been hired to kill her, yet here I am, running for our lives with her by my side.
"We have to find a way out of here," Ravyn says, panting as we duck into an alley to avoid a group of pursuing vampires. "They won't stop until they catch us."
"I know," I reply, trying to catch my breath. "But how? The only way out is through the main gates, and they'll be guarded."
"There has to be another way," Ravyn insists, her voice filled with determination. "I won't let them catch me again. I won't be their pawn any longer."
I can't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her. She may be the queen of the vampires, but she has clearly been used and manipulated by those around her. And now, she is being hunted by her own people, simply because she dared to defy their expectations and try to take control of her own life.
"We'll figure it out," I tell her, trying to sound reassuring. "We just have to keep moving and stay one step ahead of them."
We continue to run, our feet pounding against the cobblestone streets as we search for a way out. But every turn we take seems to lead us further into the heart of the city, with no sign of an escape in sight.
As the night wears on, our energy begins to flag and our pursuers seem to be closing in. I can hear their footsteps echoing behind us, and the sound of their voices as they call out to us.
"We have to find a place to hide," I say, panting as I pull Ravyn into a deserted alleyway. "We can't keep running like this."
"I know," Ravyn replies, her eyes filled with fear. "But where can we go? They'll find us wherever we go."
"We'll find a way out," I tell her, trying to keep my own fear at bay. "We just have to keep moving and stay one step ahead of them."
And with that, we set out once again into the night, determined to find a way out of the city and to safety.