Chapter 84: The Truth One Cannot Deny

The final missing fragment of Sophie's memory crashed over her like a tidal wave.

"Shh... Don't make too much noise. You'll disturb the castle." Hidden throughout the ancient fortress, vampire guards stood watch in every shadow.

"Of course, of course. Quite a few people are already hungry enough that their eyes have turned red. Why don't you head into the exhibition hall first?" Starving vampires with red eyes had been waiting for their meal.

"If you'd like, you can go in too. The Volturi welcome your arrival." They welcomed you... as food.

As those forgotten words resurfaced, the accompanying images returned with startling clarity. Irene stood beside Heidi, her expression full of impatience as she demanded that Heidi chase Sophie away. Then, with open disdain, she pulled out her wallet, tossed two ten-euro notes onto the ground, and strode into the vampires' restaurant without another glance.

"Isn't this just about money?"

Those had been the last words Irene ever left her. The question that had haunted Sophie for so long finally had an answer.

Her journey to Italy had fulfilled its purpose. She had seen Irene one last time.

The last time...

As she walked toward her own death.

"Her name is Sophie," Jane said, introducing her without emotion. The newborn under her supervision stood motionless, staring blankly at the mountain of corpses before her.

"Good morning, Sophie." Heidi raised a hand with her usual gentle smile, greeting her warmly.

Sophie gave no response whatsoever. It was as though she had suddenly forgotten how to speak.

Heidi didn't mind in the slightest. Newborn vampires behaved unpredictably all the time.

Her Gift of Attraction naturally earned her affection wherever she went, and navigating complicated relationships had long since become second nature to her. Sophie's unusual silence, however, immediately caught Jane's attention.

Jane turned her head. "Answer her."

The sharp command snapped Sophie out of her daze. The shattered fragments of her mind abruptly reassembled.

Then, for the first time since they had met, Sophie ignored Jane. She turned around and ran.

Jane and Heidi exchanged startled looks, each finding the same surprise reflected in the other's eyes. Heidi recovered first, offering an understanding smile. She's just a newborn, she thought.

Jane, on the other hand, cursed under her breath, pulled her hood back over her head, and immediately gave chase.

In terms of pure speed, Jane had never been Sophie's equal. When Sophie had first escaped, it had taken Jane, Alec, and Demetri two days and two nights of relentless pursuit before they finally caught her. That alone proved how extraordinarily persistent Sophie was when she chose to run.

But this wasn't the wilderness. This was the Volturi's home. The Palazzo dei Priori had been Jane's home for over a thousand years. She knew every corridor, every staircase, and every stone beneath her feet. The echoes of Sophie's footsteps across the ancient floor guided Jane as clearly as if someone were pointing the way. That direction led straight to Sophie's room.

Vampires liked to believe they had risen above humanity. Yet many human instincts stubbornly remained. When confronted with something too painful to face, people always fled to the place where they felt safest. At the very least, Sophie had already begun thinking of that room as home.

Jane retraced their path through the underground tunnels and arrived outside Sophie's room not long afterward. The brass door stood slightly ajar. As though it was waiting for her.

Jane's patience was wearing thin. It's only the aftermath of a hunt. Is it really worth making such a spectacle over?

She pushed the half-open door inward and stepped into the room she had personally arranged. Small changes immediately caught her eye. The furnishings remained familiar, but they had acquired subtle traces of daily life. Books had been moved, and personal belongings rested where they hadn't before. The room finally looked lived in.

After entering, Jane casually shut the door behind her, sealing away every distraction from the outside world. The dent crushed into the brass door stood out conspicuously. No matter how casually one tried to ignore it, damage remains damage.

Jane removed her hood and slowly walked toward the girl standing with her back turned. Suppressing the irritation rising inside her, she demanded coldly, "What was that supposed to be? Throwing a tantrum in front of Heidi?" She paused briefly before continuing, "It's not as though you've never met her before."

Sophie didn't answer the question. Instead, after struggling for several long moments, she finally forced the words out. "My friend, Irene, how did she die?"

For the first time since entering the room, genuine surprise flickered across Jane's face. One pale blond eyebrow arched slightly. Then she let out a faint, mocking laugh. "That woman who stole your savings to run off with a fake rich man?" Jane replied coolly. "I've already told you. She should have been your enemy."

For once, Sophie refused to back down. Her voice, though trembling, carried an unfamiliar firmness. "I already told you too." She lifted her head and met Jane's red eyes without retreating. "Irene wasn't my enemy. She owed me."