The mansion was silent when Ada woke up. The faint light of the early morning crept through the curtains, casting long shadows across the cold marble floors. She lay still for a moment, listening to the quiet. It felt like a dream—the kind where you wake up and find yourself in a place that doesn't quite belong to you.
But this wasn't a dream. This was her new reality.
She sat up, the weight of the night's events settling back into her bones. Her father's secrets, her mother's legacy, the mysterious man who had guided her to this place—it was all real, and it was all happening now. She had no choice but to move forward.
Ada stood and walked to the window, pulling the curtains aside to reveal the sprawling grounds outside. The mansion sat atop a hill, surrounded by lush greenery and dense forest. It was isolated, cut off from the world. She could see nothing but nature stretching out in every direction. No distractions. No escape.
She turned away from the window and looked around the room. The cold, sterile decor only added to the sense of disconnection she felt. Everything in this place screamed secrecy, and yet, it felt like it was meant to prepare her for something. What exactly, though, she still wasn't sure.
The door creaked open, and the man from the previous night entered, his gaze already sharp and focused. He didn't speak at first, just surveyed her for a moment before his eyes locked with hers.
"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice steady, though there was an edge of urgency beneath it.
Ada nodded, even though she wasn't entirely sure what she was ready for. There was a heavy weight on her chest, a tension that had settled there the moment she learned the truth about her bloodline. The power she was supposed to control, the legacy she was supposed to inherit—it all seemed like a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from.
But there was no turning back now.
"I'm ready," she said, her voice firmer than she felt.
The man nodded, then turned and motioned for her to follow. They walked through the hallways of the mansion, the silence between them thick with unspoken thoughts. Ada's mind raced. What was this power she had to learn to control? Was it just something tied to her bloodline, or was there something more to it?
Finally, they reached a large, open room at the back of the mansion. It looked like a training space, with bare floors and a few pieces of equipment scattered around. In the center, a woman stood waiting—tall, poised, and with an intensity in her gaze that made Ada feel like she was being sized up. Her presence filled the room, and Ada couldn't help but feel a wave of unease wash over her.
"This is Lena," the man said, introducing the woman without further explanation. "She'll be your trainer."
Lena gave a curt nod, her eyes never leaving Ada's face. "I've been briefed on your situation. Let's get to work."
Ada looked back at the man, but he had already turned to leave. "I'll leave you to it. Learn quickly," he said, his voice already fading as he disappeared down the hallway.
Ada turned back to Lena, feeling the pressure mount. She had no idea what she was supposed to do here. She had never trained in anything like this before. The most physical thing she had ever done was dance, and even that felt like a distant memory now. This was a different world entirely.
Lena motioned for Ada to step closer. "You're here to learn how to tap into your power. That's the first step," she said, her voice low but firm. "We don't have time for hesitation or second-guessing. You need to trust yourself. Trust that you can handle what's coming."
Ada felt a lump form in her throat. Trust. She wasn't sure she trusted anything about this new life she was thrust into. But she was here, and there was no turning back.
Lena's eyes softened slightly. "I know this is a lot to take in. But you have the potential to be more than just a victim in this game. You have the power to control your destiny. But first, you need to understand the nature of what you're dealing with."
She gestured for Ada to stand in the center of the room. Ada obeyed, her legs stiff with uncertainty.
"The power you carry is not something that can be easily harnessed," Lena explained. "It's a force that has been passed down through your family for generations. Your father, your mother—they each had a piece of it, and so do you. But unlike them, you have the potential to wield it more effectively. To master it."
Ada swallowed hard. "How?"
Lena didn't answer right away. Instead, she stepped closer, her gaze never leaving Ada's face. She raised one hand, and suddenly, Ada felt a pressure in the air—a low hum, almost like static electricity. Her heart raced as the sensation grew stronger.
"Close your eyes," Lena instructed. "Focus on the energy around you. It's there, in the air, in the space between you and everything else. You just need to feel it."
Ada hesitated for a moment but did as she was told. She closed her eyes and tried to block out the doubt and fear swirling in her mind. She focused on her breathing, on the way her body felt in the space. At first, there was nothing. Just the sound of her breath, the stillness of the room. But then… something shifted. A faint pressure, like the pull of a magnet, surrounded her.
She gasped, her heart pounding. It wasn't just the air around her—it was like the very space itself was alive. A buzzing energy that she could feel deep inside her. It was both overwhelming and exhilarating.
"Good," Lena's voice broke through the connection Ada had with the energy. "That's it. You've connected with it. Now, focus on it. Let it guide you."
Ada took a deep breath, trying to focus on the energy as Lena had instructed. She felt it pulse, like a living thing, coursing through her veins. The power was there, undeniable, but still untamed.
"Now, try to control it," Lena said, her voice calm but commanding. "Don't just let it overwhelm you. Focus. You are in control."
Ada tried. She reached out with her mind, trying to shape the energy, trying to command it. But as she focused, she felt the pressure in the air shift. It felt like the power was pushing back, as if it didn't want to be controlled.
"Don't fight it," Lena said sharply. "You can't fight the power. You have to flow with it, guide it. Only then will you be able to control it."
Ada exhaled slowly, trying to center herself. She didn't know how, but she had to learn this. For herself. For everything her family had kept hidden. For the people who were after her.
She took another breath, closing her eyes again. This time, she focused less on the effort and more on surrendering to the power. Slowly, it started to shift, to move under her command. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make her feel like she had a glimpse of what was possible.
Lena's voice broke through again, this time with a note of approval. "That's a start. Keep going."
Ada opened her eyes, a new fire burning inside her. She wasn't sure if she was ready for what lay ahead, but in that moment, she realized something important.
She wasn't going to run anymore. She was going to fight.