"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."
-Lao Tzu

Waking up in a hospital bed was nothing new to me; the handlers had a way of being particularly rough at times. But waking to find someone sitting in the chair next to me, fast asleep with my hand in theirs? That was a first. Becca snored softly, her head tilted in a way that would surely hurt her neck. The sound wasn't loud enough to drown out the delicate tap-tap of shoes across the floor.

My body ached, yet I sensed nothing significantly wrong. I attempted to speak, but the machinery next to me erupted in beeping before I could.

Queen Helen rushed over, her fingers darting to press a button. I caught a glimpse of her swiping at her face, trying to erase the tiredness etched into her features. With a relieved sigh, she looked down at me, her eyes wide with concern. "Maddie! Oh, thank goodness you're awake!"

Her exclamation jolted Becca awake. She blinked rapidly, darting her gaze around the room before settling on me. Recognition dawned, and her eyes widened in relief. "Maddie, I was so scared!"

Her grip on my hand tightened, an anchor in the emotions swirling within me. Though her expression made my heart crumble. How could I ever explain what I had done? The brutality that had surfaced within me?

Queen Helen spoke, her tone severe but soothing. "Before we talk, Madelyn, I want you to know that we saw everything. Creed set up a camera in the corner of the room to record the pain she inflicted. I believe she intended to anonymously send it to the manor to punish me for the orders I gave my guards."

Her hand rested gently on my shoulder, her eyes unwavering and earnest. "You are safe now."

Safe. The word echoed in my mind but felt heavy with unspoken truths. I was alive, yes, but at what cost? The memory of the violence I had unleashed flickered at the edges of my consciousness, threatening to pull me under again. How could I reconcile the monster I had become with the girl they still saw me as?

"There was something we didn't tell you about your mother. " Helen tucked a loose strand of hair behind her neck, her gaze steady yet concerned. She shifted in her chair, drawing attention to a thick folder in her hands, brimming with papers. "Research—extensive research. I'll give this to you so you can examine it more closely."

As she extended the file towards me, my heart raced. I hesitated, the weight of her words heavy in the air. With dread coiling in my stomach, I asked, "Is something wrong with me?"

"No, darling. Not at all," she assured me, her tone soothing as she pulled the file back, keeping it within my reach. "You know how every supernatural being is simply a different human species? That our disparities lie in a few genetic variations?"

I nodded, recalling the books I had read on supernatural ethology and how scientists concluded that all these beings belonged to the same genus as humans, with altered genes granting them extraordinary abilities.

Helen's eyes sparkled with a mix of gravity and hope. "We believe your mother, along with a few others—very few—have started a new species. A new gene has been introduced. It affects only trained serviles, and only a fraction can truly embrace this gene. These individuals recognize their self-worth. In others, it lies dormant, never to awaken. Those of us who know about it, who have studied it, we refer to them as Defects."

Everything froze as if time itself had halted. A new species? My mother? I was consistently tracing a thread that always led back to her, yet every time I pulled at it, it unraveled into nothingness. I took a rigid breath, the air thick with uncertainty, and Becca squeezed my hand, grounding me in the moment. "What does that mean? I'm not human?"

Sympathy shone in Helen's eyes, her expression softening. "No, Madelyn. I don't believe you are. Not anymore, at least. I suspect that since you're a second generation of the Academy, your genes might be even stronger than any we've encountered."

"What could the others do?" My mind raced back to the incredible strength I'd displayed, the unnerving speed that had allowed me to dodge bullets. What other abilities lay dormant within me?

Helen leaned in, her voice steady and measured. "I've found that a Defect possesses a small gift from every supernatural being. They exhibit enhanced physical attributes, though perhaps not as pronounced as others. However, Defects tend to excel in intelligence—they can assess situations swiftly and emerge victorious. Your mind has likely been altered to process information at an extraordinary rate." She patted my leg gently while Becca remained quiet, her fingers soothingly stroking mine.

"Everything we discovered about your mother and four other subjects is in this folder." Helen moved the thick file toward me once more. I took it this time, my fingers trembling slightly as I gripped the edges.

My mouth locked shut, and I nodded in response to Helen and Becca's words: "Well, your body is all healed; the scars should fade as your increased regeneration takes over. Becca brought some of your night clothes. We'll say goodnight and let you get dressed to sleep in your own room."

They lingered in the doorway, unease etched on their faces. Were they worried about me or fearful of what I could become? I forced myself to believe it was the former, but doubt clawed at the edges of my mind.

I dressed and was surprised at how quickly my limbs moved, pulling on my clothes as if on autopilot. Stepping out into the corridor, I dragged my feet toward the workers' quarters, each breath shallow and quick, as if the air were too thick to inhale.

A moment later, my feet stopped in an empty hallway. I couldn't take another step. My mind spun, a cluttered whirlwind of thoughts. Would it have been easier to behave like a good servant, to endure an abusive family? The weight of uncertainty pressed down on my chest, and my heart raced in response to the questions swirling in my mind, each one more daunting than the last.

Sliding down the wall, I tucked my head between my knees, desperate to escape the storm of confusion. I didn't want to move. I didn't want to face a future that felt impossibly complicated. Time washed over me as I sat there, the world blurring into a haze. I lost track of how long I had been crumpled against the wall when a warm body slid down beside me.

"As overwhelming as it can be, I'm glad you're alright, Madelyn. It takes a lot to make me afraid. When I smelled your blood in that cellar, I was terrified you were gone." The Prince broke the silence in an attempt to make me feel better. Or to admit something he'd been wanting to say for a minute.

"Why? Why would you be afraid?" My voice came out flat, devoid of emotion, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me like a heavy shroud. "Being hurt is an occupational hazard for someone in my line of work."

"Someone in your line of work?" His voice was slow, laced with anger, each word lingering in the air like a warning. A slight shiver crept up my spine. "Madelyn, your line of work here is as a chef's assistant. While that may involve a few scrapes here and there, the vast spilling of your blood is not in your job description."

I sighed, letting my head drop against my knees. I couldn't keep up a conversation right now. None of it mattered. Job responsibilities felt irrelevant, a distant echo of who I once was. That was Maddie, the human thrall turned worker. But who was I now? The question looped through my mind, heavy and unrelenting, drowning out any remnants of certainty.

"My mother told me what happened. I watched the video. The speculations of you being a possible Defect were discussed long before your gene was activated. I know what you're going through, Maddie. Every vampire in this manor knows what you're experiencing. We all started out human and needed that time to realize that 'human' no longer defines us. Yet, you are still humane. You are still Madelyn." He brushed his fingers gently against my arm, lingering a beat longer, grounding me.

"Do you know what the problem is, Sir?" I raised my hands to my head, the blur of memories rushing back, unfocused hands reaching for me through the fog of my past. A growl of frustration escaped my throat as I slammed my hands back down to the floor, the wood trembling under the force. "The problem is, I'm now one of my nightmares. I've become one of those people who haunt my memories. I'm not human! Everyone who isn't human has hurt me!"

I blinked furiously, fighting back tears, my gaze locked on the wall across the corridor. Silence enveloped us for a few seconds, heavy with unspoken words, until his hand gently grasped my cheek, turning my face toward him.

His concerned and warm eyes softened the edges of my pain. Jaxon lowered the tone in his voice, liquefying his words. "Not everything, Maddie. This entire manor, even those who are not human, is your family. None of them would ever hurt you. I would never hurt you."

My breath caught in my throat as he wiped away the tears from my face. A smirk broke across his lips, brightening the dimness of my thoughts. "I'm sure it's undeniable that I am not human."

I weakly smiled back and nodded. He made me feel significantly better than I had since leaving the hospital room, but my body ached as if it were pulling apart from my bones. The Prince lifted me into his arms, cradling me as he walked toward the workers' quarters.

"I would like you not to call me Sir if it doesn't make you uncomfortable. Jaxon would be fine."

As he carried me, I faded into a comfortable haze, enveloped by his warmth. The next thing I knew, I was lying down, the soft wind caressing my hair like a gentle reminder of safety.

Suddenly, sheets constricted around my legs, and I tumbled across the bed and onto the floor, desperately trying to untangle myself. When I looked around, I found I was alone. Jaxon brought me to my room, but he was nowhere to be found. A flicker of disappointment washed over me. What a silly idea—I told myself. He was just being polite after seeing me in such a vulnerable state. After all, I had fallen asleep on him; he had no choice but to put me somewhere. Why would I think he should have stayed?

The numbers on the wall clock read a bit after three in the morning. My schedule was slowly shifting, which needed to happen anyway. I was sure the Queen would have me training with vampires before long. That small thought propelled me into action. I jumped into the shower and resolved to check out the gym and see what I could do.

The gym was a large area past Nan's office, a space that echoed with the sounds of exertion. I had peeked in once and remembered the chaotic energy—everyone's fists pounding into mats, bags, and sometimes each other. Thinking about it made me a little queasy, and I turned to leave almost immediately. It was funny how quickly life turned upside down in just a few weeks.

I found it surprisingly empty as I approached the gym doors, except for Draven and Harley, who were having a half-hearted sparring session. I lingered there, captivated by their contrasting styles. Draven was all muscle and brute force, aiming for easy-to-calculate but devastatingly hard-hitting spots. In contrast, Harley never struck first; his eyes were sharp and focused, tracking Draven's every move. It was an enchanting display, a warrior's dance where strategy clashed with raw power.

"Were you just going to stand there and watch us with drool on your face, or were you planning on being useful?" Draven lowered his arms, a teasing grin spreading across his face.

I scoffed, playing along. "If there's drool on my face, it's only because Harley is just so dang pretty. Don't flatter yourself, Draven." I approached him, pretending to throw a light punch at his shoulder. My eyes widened in surprise when he stumbled back a few paces. So much for 'lightly.'

We exchanged more harmless banter, laughter filling the gym before Draven showed me how to tape up my hands for sparring. Harley then stepped in front of me, his expression shifting to one of determination. "Now, we're merely going to start with the basics, Mads. Try to block him."

As Draven stepped out of the way, Harley lunged at me. In an instant, he pinned me to the floor, tapping his finger to the tip of my nose. "Always keep your guard up!"

Excitement coursed through me, sharpening my senses. Everything around me dripped with clarity; the faint scent of sweat, our heavy breaths, and the muted thud of my heart filled my ears. Small whispers danced in the back of my mind, rushing through strategies to escape the pin. The words were a jumbled mix, but my body seemed to instinctively know how to react.

With a swift motion, I raised my leg and wrapped it around his hips, kicking him off me before he could register my movement. In a heartbeat, I pinned him down, a huge grin plastered on my face as I touched his nose triumphantly.

"Come on! Harley, try to hit her. She's not going to learn if you just play around!" Draven lounged on the side of the room, twiddling a sharp-looking spear between his fingers. His bored expression made me want to smack him. Could he be any less helpful?

Harley grunted, realizing he couldn't shake me off. My smile grew wider until a blinding pain rippled through my forehead and reverberated my calibration of the room. It was a shock to my reality that only a skull on a skull could create. I groaned and released my hold on him, clutching my head in my hands.

We circled each other briefly, and I remembered that he never struck first. I tuned in to the soft whispers, focusing on my strategy. I needed to fake a hit. I charged at his right side with my fist raised, then, at the last second, shifted to his left and slammed a punch right into his nose.

Blood sparkled in the light of the room as it flowed from his face. "Oh, for fuck's sake! Ouch, Maddie!"

Adrenaline burned through my muscles, igniting a wild thrill. I was about to make a snarky remark about how he hit first when a sudden shiver ran up my spine. A whisper tugged at my attention, urgently alerting me—someone was coming at me.

I ducked narrowly in time, spinning around to grab Draven by the waist. Using his momentum, I lifted him effortlessly and slammed his back to the mat, straddling him triumphantly. For fun, I flicked his nose in a not-so-gentle manner, a grin plastered on my face.

Clapping hands drew our focus to the gym's doorway. There he stood, informal in his black compression tights and a too-tight tank top that showcased every sculpted muscle. Jaxon held an amused gleam in his eyes as he continued his slow, rhythmic applause. Internally, I had to scold myself for the irrational reaction my lower body had to seeing him.

Suddenly, Draven shoved me off, and I flew across the padded mats, landing hard on the floor with a jolt.

Harley barked a laugh and walked over to clap the Prince on the back, greeting him in that typical male way. Jaxon glanced at him, his eyes glinting. "Why are you laughing? I caught the exact moment she slammed her fist into your face."

I pushed myself up, trying to be discreet as I rubbed my sore backside. When I looked up, Jaxon stared at me again, and my face flushed under his gaze.

"Since you just beat these two in your first lesson, you need an upgrade." He rolled his shoulder blades, mimicking a stretching routine at lightning speed. His muscles rippled under his shirt, causing my mouth to twitch involuntarily. I cursed my female hormones as a cocky smirk broke across his lips. "Come on, tiny Defect. Let's see what you're capable of."

The real heart of the story begins! How will Maddie navigate the realization she's not human anymore and juggle the building tension between her and Jaxon? Are you excited to find out?

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