Sarah's eyes were glued to the woman seated before her— a woman with a bald head. Her brown eyes were filled with softness, as their gazes collided.
The woman's smile put Sarah at ease, despite the circumstances of her capture. Lydia, the Alpha Werewolf, stood behind the woman. Sarah's wrists and ankles were bound by thick, heavy chains, securing her to the cold stone floor.
"Who are you?" Sarah questioned, her voice barely above a whisper, as she tugged futilely at the chains.
"I am Akua," The woman replied, her voice low and soothing. "And, you, Sarah, are a very special individual."
Sarah wasn't shocked, giving Lydia the impression that she was aware of that fact. She had been attacked by a vampire five nights ago, and the conversation with Adam made her realize her special identity.
"You don't seem surprised, young lady. Have you always been aware?" Akua questioned, her tone laced with curiosity.
Sarah hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I've recently discovered some things about myself." She said cautiously.
Akua's eyes sparkled with interest. "I see. Well, in that case, let me enlighten you further. You, Sarah, are a doppelganger, a rare individual that holds the key to breaking curses."
Sarah's confusion grew as Akua continued. "You see, in our world, there are three dominant supernatural species; Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but all are bound together by a delicate balance of power."
Akua gestured to Lydia. "The werewolves, like Lydia here, are shape-shifters with incredible strength and agility. They are ruled by the Lunar Council, with Lydia being its leading figure. It's a governing body that ensures their kind remains hidden from humans. As powerful as they may seem, a curse has been inflicted upon them. The curse is that they are forced to transform into wolves during a full moon, losing control of their actions and becoming a danger to themselves and others."
Akua continued. "The vampires are immortal beings with supernatural speed and strength. They are governed by the Vampire Assembly, with the ruling figure being Malachi Gerard. The organization is ruthless and cunning, they'll stop at nothing to maintain their power. There's also a curse on vampires. They are not able to walk in daylight without bursting into flames. Besides, they are not able to find peace, even after death. They are not able to procreate. They are immortals, but they can die if they are killed."
Akua's eyes sparkled with interest as she spoke of her own kind. "The witches, my people, wield the power of magic, drawing energy from the the earth and the spirits that inhabit it. We're governed by the Witch Council. We are the guardians of balance, ensuring that no one species dominates the others. Unlike the rest, we are not cursed."
Sarah's mind reeled in as she struggled to process the sheer amount of information Akua had dumped on her. "Why are you telling me all these?" She asked, her voice shaky.
Akua's gaze was fixed on Sarah's. "Because, Sarah, you're the key to unlocking a new era of power— one that could upset the balance forever."
Akua explained further. "You're a major component in breaking the curses inflicted upon the vampires and the werewolves. If a vampire or a werewolf should mate with you and sow their seed in your belly, your offspring would be used in the ritual to break the curse inflicted upon their kind. One more thing, this ritual can happen only once, since you can only birth one offspring in your lifetime. Because of this, the two forces want to capture you and mate with you as soon as possible."
Sarah spotted a few loopholes in her earlier statements but only pointed one out. "Didn't you say vampires cannot procreate?"
Akua seemed delighted that the human was keeping up with her, although some part of her was surprised by her calm demeanor. "Surely, vampires cannot procreate. But, with you, it's different. One more thing, whoever mates with you will die, be it a human or a supernatural. This is an information privy only to the leading figures of each forces."
Sarah highlighted another loophole. "Didn't you say the witches are the guardians of the balance, that will ensure no one species is dominant over others? According to the current situation, you seem to be allied with the werewolves. Why is that so?"
Akua smiled in response. "Sarah, I shouldn't lie. You seem too calm, you are not even panicking. And, yes, the reason my kind allies with the werewolves is because they aren't cruel, they don't disturb the peace of humanity. Moreover, there are three covens in New York, with different leaders. Each coven might have different interests, regardless of our common motive. The Gemini Coven is unpredictable, they are more likely to follow the side who provides more profits. The Warren Coven will not participate in this, they focus more on practicing magic and trying various possible ways to tap more into it. But, my coven, Salem Coven, will surely support the benevolent side."
Sarah's face was calm, but her heart was filled with trepidation. "So, what do you intend to do with me now?" She questioned with a shaky voice.
Lydia's husky voice rang out. "Clearly, we'll break the curse that has been inflicted upon werewolves. That's what we plan to do. I'll show no mercy to anyone who plans to ruin it."
Sarah replied with a scared tone. "But, I did no wrong to anyone. Must I be punished wrongly? Why do you all treat me like a pawn. Can you at least do me one favor?" She pleaded.
Lydia calmly replied. "What favor?"
"Can I text or call a family member? At least get to say goodbye to them?" Sarah pleaded, her intention different from what she weaved.
Lydia flatly rejected her request. "No. I could grant you the little request but I don't want any mistake to occur. I'm known to be cautious hence I have to act like my true self. You'll be mated with tomorrow, I had Akua reveal everything to you so you won't be left in the dark. In some way, that itself is a favor. After you have been mated with, you'll remain in my pack for nine months. And when the baby is born, it'll be used for the ritual. After that, you can leave."
Sarah's eyes pleaded with Lydia, but the Alpha werewolf's expression remained unyielding. "I'm sorry, Sarah. It's not possible." Lydia said, turning to leave.
Akua followed Lydia, her eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and determination. "We will return tomorrow, Sarah. Prepare yourself for the process." Akua said, her voice soft and firm.
As Lydia and Akua exited the prison, Sarah was left all alone in the darkness. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She knew she had to think clearly if she was going to survive this.
Sarah's mind turned to Adam, the strange man who had promised to protect her. She remembered his words. "That's a big task. I can only do that for two weeks, I've got other deals. Now, there's a bigger problem. You have to find a worthy reward for me after a week. Failure to do so, I'll terminate the deal halfway."
This was the sixth day, and she was scheduled to be mated with tomorrow, the seventh day. As Adam demanded, he must be rewarded tomorrow, if she was rescued by him.
"Adam will come for me," Sarah whispered to herself. "He promised to protect me and I hope he does."