90

90

Sophia’s POV

The sky was a light shade of blue, barely any cloud in it as Jenny and I trained outside, the setting sun casting long shadows over the yard. The cool evening breeze brushed against my skin, offering a temporary relief from the heat of our training. We moved in rhythm, practicing punches and blocks, our movements synchronized in a way that only came from hours of shared training.

Jenny was focused, her usually cheerful demeanor replaced by a seriousness I hadn’t seen before. She threw a punch, and I deftly blocked it, both of us panting slightly from the effort.

“You’re improving,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice. “Your reactions are getting faster.”

“Thanks,” I replied, catching my breath. “So are yours. You’re getting really good at this.”

Jenny smiled, but it was brief, as if her mind was elsewhere. I noticed the change in her demeanor and sensed that something was bothering her. “You seem a bit distracted,” I remarked, pausing our training. “Is everything okay?”

Jenny’s face flushed slightly, and she dropped her hands to her sides, clearly in a battle with her thoughts. “Actually, there’s something I need to tell you,” she said, her voice lowering. “It’s about Ian.”

I tensed at the mention of his name. “What about him?”

Jenny hesitated, looking at the ground before meeting my gaze again. “When you were unconscious, after the rescue… I overheard Ian talking to Jacob. He was really upset.”

“Upset?” I echoed, a knot forming in my stomach. “What happened?”

Jenny took a deep breath, seeming unsure of whether to tell me or not. “Ian was talking about possibly taking you to the vampire realm if you didn’t recover soon enough.”

I froze, the shock of her words hitting me like a cold wave. “The vampire realm? Are you serious?”

Jenny nodded, her eyes full of concern. “Yeah. He was really worried about you and thought it might be the only way to keep you safe.”

I stood there, stunned, trying to process what Jenny had just revealed. The idea of being taken to the realm—Ian’s realm—was something I had never even considered. The realm was a place I had heard about only in bits, a mysterious and intimidating world that felt entirely alien to me.

“Ian was going to take me to the realm?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jenny nodded again, her expression serious. “He was afraid the hunters would keep coming for you, and he wanted to make sure you’d be safe. He was willing to do whatever it took, even if it meant taking you away from everything you know.”

For a moment, I was lost in thought, trying to grasp the full extent of what Jenny was saying. Ian had been prepared to make such a drastic move out of concern for me. The thought of leaving everything behind, of entering a world I didn’t understand or belong to, was both terrifying and oddly comforting. At least in the realm, there wouldn’t be as much stress as this.

“Why didn’t he tell me himself?” I asked, more to myself than to Jenny. “I would have wanted to know.”

“I think he didn’t want to add to your stress,” Jenny explained, her tone gentle. “You were already in a bad state, and he didn’t want to make things worse. He was just trying to protect you in the best way he knew how.”

“I get that,” I said slowly, trying to sort through my feelings. “But the realm… it’s so different from what I’m used to. I can’t even imagine what it would be like.”

Jenny took a step closer, her hand resting lightly on my arm. “It’s a lot to take in, I know. But think about it—Ian cares about you a lot. He was willing to make a huge sacrifice just to keep you safe. That’s a big deal.”

I looked at Jenny, her eyes full of understanding and support. “I know he cares. It’s just… the realm is so foreign to me. I’m still trying to figure out how to be a vampire, let alone deal with a whole new world.”

“You’re not alone,” Jenny reassured me. “You’ve got Ian, Jacob, Mike, and even me. We’re all here for you. And we’ll figure this out together.”

I smiled at her words, feeling comfort. “Thanks, Jenny. I really appreciate it.”

Jenny gave me a warm smile, then her expression turned thoughtful. “Maybe it’s not such a bad thing to consider, though. I mean, if things get really dangerous, having a backup plan might be smart.”

“I suppose,” I said, nodding slowly. “But I hope it doesn’t come to that. I want to be here, where I know people and places.”

“We’ll make sure you stay safe,” Jenny said firmly. “But you should talk to Ian about this. He needs to know how you’re feeling.”

“I will,” I agreed. “It’s just… a lot to process right now.”

Jenny squeezed my arm gently before stepping back. “Let’s focus on our training for now. We need to be ready for whatever comes next.”

We resumed our exercises, our movements more deliberate. Jenny’s words still lingered in my mind but I tried to push it aside as we practiced. With each punch and kick, I felt a sense of release, a way to channel my anxiety and frustration into something productive.

The cool evening air was refreshing, and the sound of our feet hitting the ground was like a rhythm to our training. Jenny was relentless, pushing me to my limits, and I did the same for her. We worked together, our movements becoming more fluid and confident as we grew accustomed to the routine.

As we took a break, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked at Jenny. “You know, I think our training has been really helpful. It’s given me a sense of control, something I really needed.”

Jenny nodded, her eyes bright. “Me too. It’s amazing how much better we both feel just by keeping ourselves active and focused.”

I smiled at her, feeling a sense of understanding. “It’s funny how training can make such a difference. Even with everything that’s happened, it’s nice to have this time with you.”

Jenny returned my smile, her expression warm. “I feel the same way. It’s good to have something positive to focus on, especially with all the craziness going on.”

We continued our training, the physical exertion helping to clear my mind. The shock of learning about Ian’s plan was still with me, but it was gradually being replaced by a determination to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As the night grew darker, we finally finished our session, both of us breathing heavily but feeling better nonetheless. Jenny looked at me, her eyes full of encouragement.

“Let’s head inside,” she suggested. “We can talk more about this later if you want.”

“Yeah, that sounds good,” I agreed. “Thanks for everything, Jenny. For being there and for helping me through this.”

“Anytime,” she said, giving me a reassuring hug. “We’re in this together, remember?”

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of calm. Whatever the future held, I knew I wasn’t facing it alone. With Jenny and the others by my side, I felt ready to confront whatever was coming.

As we walked back to the house, the cool night air felt good against the weight of my thoughts and my stress. The idea of the vampire realm was daunting, but it also reminded me of how much I had to fight for. Going there will be nice, but what of Jenny? Going there would mean leaving her here, all alone. And I couldn’t do that. I had to stay here and protect her.