Lena's agitation boiled over into rage, and before she could stop herself, she launched at Viktor, her hands curled into claws, ready to tear him apart. The hunger was screaming inside her, and she was done with his taunts. She couldn't let him keep talking—couldn't let him plant more seeds of doubt about her future and what she could have done to her family. With every passing second, the fear and frustration twisted into pure violence.
But Viktor was ready.
As Lena lunged, Viktor shifted smoothly, sidestepping her attack with ease. He moved like liquid, his motions fluid and precise. Lena stumbled, her momentum carrying her forward, but Viktor's hand snapped out, grabbing her wrist and twisting her arm painfully behind her back.
"Too slow," he whispered into her ear, a dark chuckle following. "Did you really think this would be that easy?"
Lena growled, wrenching her arm free with a surge of strength. She spun around, her nails slashing through the air toward his face, but Viktor ducked, stepping back with a grace that left her swinging at nothing but empty air.
"Come on, Lena," he said mockingly, circling her like a predator, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You can do better than this. Or maybe…" His lips curled into a smirk. "Maybe you've forgotten what you are now."
Lena's chest heaved, frustration burning hot inside her. She had no experience fighting. She wasn't a warrior, just a mother trying to protect her family. But now, with this monstrous power coursing through her veins, she expected she could do more. Yet, Viktor danced around her strikes effortlessly, his movements a stark contrast to her wild, untrained attacks.
She charged at him again, this time throwing a punch aimed at his gut. Viktor merely sidestepped, grabbing her arm and twisting her around, using her momentum against her. She slammed into the alley wall with a grunt, and Viktor's arm pressed into the back of her neck, pinning her there.
"You're too predictable," he purred. "You fight like a human." His voice was calm, almost bored, and that enraged her more.
With a snarl, Lena shoved him off and whipped around, but Viktor was already moving again, his speed unnaturally fast. She barely had time to react as his fist came up, catching her under the chin in a clean uppercut. The blow sent her reeling, her back hitting the ground hard.
She groaned, struggling to push herself up, her limbs heavy with exhaustion. Viktor stood over her, shaking his head. "This is almost sad, Lena. You've got all this strength, all this power, and you don't know how to use any of it."
Lena's vision blurred with tears of anger and humiliation. She swiped at her face, refusing to cry in front of him. Her pride screamed at her to get up, to keep fighting, but her body was already battered and bruised.
Viktor crouched beside her, his expression softening just slightly. "Look, I get it. You want to protect them—your family. But how are you going to do that when you can't even control yourself? You're starving, Lena. You think you're helping them by staying, but the longer you resist, the worse it'll get."
Lena glared up at him and thought that this was the reason she was leaving them at the first place but he didn't have to know and thus she replied in a low and defiant voice. "I'll never hurt them."
He sighed, almost sympathetically. "No, you'll try not to. But sooner or later, the thirst will take over. You won't have a choice."
Viktor stood and extended a hand to her, his eyes locking onto hers. "But… I can help you."
Lena eyed his hand warily, her body still aching from the fight. She didn't trust him, not for a second, but part of her—the desperate part—was listening.
"I don't need your help," she spat, pushing herself up without taking his hand.
Viktor chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Oh, Lena. You're stubborn. I like that. But you're not being realistic." He paced around her slowly, his tone changing from mocking to persuasive. "You've been turned into something you don't understand. You're not human anymore, and you're barely holding onto your sanity."
He paused in front of her, tilting his head slightly as he regarded her with a calculating gaze. "But I can teach you. I can help you manage the thirst, help you live with this… without having to tear apart your precious family."
Lena's jaw clenched, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She didn't want to listen to him, didn't want to believe anything that came out of his mouth. But his words burrowed into her mind, gnawing at her like the hunger in her veins.
"What's the catch?" she asked, her voice sharp.
Viktor's smirk returned, that familiar smugness creeping back into his expression. "Ah, see, I knew you were smart. There's always a catch."
Lena crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "What do you want from me?"
Viktor stepped closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It's simple, really. I help you control the thirst, keep it at bay, and in return… you work for me."
Lena's eyes darkened, her suspicion deepening. "Work for you?"
Viktor shrugged, his tone almost casual. "Think of it as… being my subordinate. You do a few tasks here and there, nothing too dangerous. I'm not asking for your soul, Lena, just your cooperation."
Her fists tightened, her mind racing. The idea of being beholden to him, of serving him, made her stomach churn. But the alternative—losing control, leaving and more importantly hurting her family—was worse. Much worse.
"And if I refuse?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous.
Viktor raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading just a little. "Then you'll eventually lose control. You'll snap. And when that happens, you'll wish you had listened to me."
Lena swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She hated him—everything about him—but he wasn't wrong. She could feel it, the hunger growing stronger with each passing day. It was only a matter of time before she couldn't fight it anymore.
Lena stared at him, her gut twisting in disgust about the notion but said. "So, what, I'm supposed to be your errand girl?"
Viktor laughed, the sound echoing through the alley. "If that's how you want to see it. But trust me, Lena, it's a far better alternative than the one you're facing now."
She looked away, her mind spinning. She had never wanted any of this—never asked to be turned into a monster. And now, here she was, being offered a deal with the devil himself.
Viktor stepped closer, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. "This is your chance, Lena. Your chance to keep them safe. To stay in control."
Lena's fists trembled at her sides, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She hated him. She hated everything he represented. But the fear—the fear of losing herself, of hurting the ones she loved—was too great to ignore.