Elissa stood between them.

On one side—Rafael, the embodiment of the night, a vampire whose presence awakened both fear and something unknown within her. On the other—Pastor Gabriel, a figure she had always seen as a steady pillar, a man whose words brought comfort and answers.

But now, there was something different in his voice.

— You… know each other? — she repeated, feeling her palms turn icy cold.

Gabriel stared at Rafael.

— We’ve met, — the pastor said. His voice was calm, but there was caution in it.

Rafael smirked.

— Met, — he echoed, crossing his arms. — An interesting choice of words.

Elissa felt the tension between them as if the air had thickened, and one wrong word could set off a storm.

— What are you hiding? — she demanded, looking from one to the other.

Gabriel averted his gaze.

— You shouldn’t have left the palace at night, princess. There are too many shadows in these streets.

— Oh, I’d say that it’s in the shadows where the truth can be found, — Rafael murmured with amusement.

— Truth? — Gabriel turned to the vampire. — Or just another lie?

Elissa felt her patience wearing thin.

— Enough, — she said sharply. — I’m tired of half-truths. Gabriel, you always told me I should seek the truth. Well, here I am, because the kingdom is in danger. People are disappearing, and I want to know who’s behind it.

Gabriel studied her for a long moment.

— I tried to protect you, — he said at last. — But it seems you’ve already gone too deep into this game.

Elissa tensed.

— Game?

Gabriel stepped closer.

— Everything you see is just the surface. The kingdom is rotting from the inside, and you’d be wise to stay away from creatures of the night.

— You speak as if you know more about them than a mere pastor should, — she said quietly.

Rafael smirked but remained silent. He was simply watching.

— I know enough, — Gabriel replied, — to tell you that trusting a vampire is a mistake.

Elissa turned to Rafael.

— And I suppose I can’t trust you either?

The vampire smiled.

— Smart girl.

Gabriel snapped his gaze to him.

— Don’t play with her.

Rafael didn’t look away.

— And you should stop pretending you’re above all this.

Elissa clenched her teeth.

— If you both know something, tell me.

Silence.

Then Gabriel exhaled.

— Go back to the palace, Elissa. Come to the church tomorrow morning. I’ll tell you the truth.

Rafael narrowed his eyes.

— Bold move, pastor.

Gabriel didn’t respond. He simply looked at Elissa, and in his gaze, she saw something she had never seen before—concern.

— Come alone, — he added.

Then he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving the princess alone with the vampire.

Elissa watched him go.

— And what do you think about that? — she asked Rafael.

— I think your pastor isn’t as holy as he seems, — Rafael said with a smirk.

The darkness deepened.

The night was only beginning.