Night had settled over the manor, but Anna couldn't find sleep. Her mind kept spinning, her thoughts caught in a confusing dance of doubts and resolutions. The decision she had made seemed irreversible, but the weight of it still haunted her. She had chosen to join Louis, to take her place in a world that terrified her. But she knew that what she had just done was only the beginning of a long and difficult journey.
She slowly got out of bed, the sheets still tangled around her. The shadows in the room seemed to twist and stretch under the soft glow of the lamps. Every sound in the manor, every whisper, every breath seemed sharper, more present. She was no longer alone in this house, but she felt more isolated than ever.
She walked to the window and looked out at the city stretching in the distance. The lights twinkled like stars suspended in the sky, but the darkness within her was just as deep. What was she doing here? What role was she truly going to occupy? Louis's promise to offer her power and security still echoed in her mind, but could she really trust him?
A figure approached quietly behind her. She turned abruptly and saw Claire, who had silently slipped into the room.
"Can't sleep?" Claire asked in a soft but concerned voice.
Anna shook her head, her gaze still lost in the night. "I can't believe it. What I just decided, it's so... huge. Did I make the right choice?"
Claire moved closer to her, standing by the window. "It's normal to have doubts, Anna. You've crossed a line, and there's no turning back. But you know, what you've just chosen is a chance. A chance that few people get, and you have to accept it with all that it entails."
Anna turned her head, looking at her with a glimmer of uncertainty. "But at what cost? If it's what I think it is, then maybe I've made a huge mistake. How could I ever go back?"
Claire placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "You won't go back, Anna. You have to accept that. And know one thing: once you enter this world, there's a price to pay. But the power you'll gain in return can change your life. You just need to understand how to play your cards."
Anna closed her eyes for a moment, trying to understand. Claire's words echoed within her, but they were also full of warnings. This world, this game, wasn't for the weak. And Louis had never hidden the fact that she would need to prove her worth at every moment.
"Louis…" Anna began, her voice hesitant. "He told me there would be sacrifices. Sacrifices I would need to be ready to make. But... I still don't know what that really means. What should I do now?"
Claire stared at her intensely. "You're going to face situations that will push you to your limits. You won't be able to hesitate. The greatest sacrifice you'll make is yourself. Not in the way you think, but in how you are. This world will test everything you thought you were, everything you thought was moral. And this test, Anna, has no possible return."
Anna clenched her fists, the weight of those words heavy to bear. She had never imagined she would one day face such a truth. The price of power was much more than she had imagined. And now that she was in it, there was no going back.
"And you, Claire?" Anna asked, breaking the silence. "How did you face all this?"
Claire lowered her gaze, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I didn't have a choice. I accepted what this world offered me, and I learned to defend myself. But everyone here has their weaknesses. Me too. You'll see, you'll have yours."
Anna nodded slowly. Claire's words carried a special resonance. It wasn't about protecting herself from others; it was about protecting herself from herself. In this world, that might be the greatest challenge: keeping a part of yourself intact without being swallowed by what it demanded.
"I think I'm ready," Anna said, a new determination in her voice. "Ready for whatever comes. And to accept what this world asks of me."
Claire looked at her, a faint smile on her lips. "You'll do fine. But remember, Anna. Once you accept what this world offers, you'll never be able to refuse it."
A heavy silence fell between them, and Anna felt a new reality settle on her shoulders. The world she was about to enter left no room for ignorance or weakness. She would have to be ready for anything. To survive. To assert herself.
The next morning, Louis had her summoned. His gaze was colder than ever when he received her in his office, a stark, imposing room where every detail seemed calculated to command respect. Anna stood straight before him, her heart pounding.
"So, are you ready to enter this world?" he asked, his tone icy.
Anna looked at him, her eyes shining with the same determination as the words she had spoken the night before. "Yes. I'm ready."
Louis scrutinized her silently for a moment, as if evaluating every fiber of her being. Then he slowly stood from his chair, walked toward her, and in a voice that left no room for hesitation, he said:
"Good. Get ready for everything, Anna. This world is ruthless. But it can be yours, if you know how to tame it."
She felt a cold warmth envelop her. The price of power had just been laid before her, and there was no room for hesitation now.