The room was enormous—easily three times the size of her entire apartment. A massive four-poster bed dominated one wall, covered in what looked like silk sheets in deep emerald green. Floor-to-ceiling windows took up another wall, currently showing nothing but darkness and the shapes of trees beyond.
A door on the left presumably led to a bathroom. Another on the right might be a closet.
And in the center of the space, floating about chest height, was a sphere of softly glowing light.
"What is that?" Sophia asked, pointing at the orb.
"Power regulator," Marc explained. "It'll absorb any excess energy you give off, especially while you're sleeping. Most young supernaturals experience power surges during dreams, when their conscious control slips. This will make sure you don't accidentally blast a hole through the wall if you have a nightmare."
Because of course she needed a magical device to keep her from destroying her bedroom in her sleep.
Or Maybe she might fart and power half the mansion!
That was apparently her life now.
"The bathroom is through there," Marc continued, nodding toward the left door. "Fully stocked with everything you should need. If something's missing, just ask. The closet—" He gestured right. "—has clothes in your size. Basic things for now. We'll get your personal items from your apartment tomorrow."
"How do you know my size?" Sophia asked, then immediately regretted it when Marc had the grace to look embarrassed.
"We've been watching you," he admitted. "I know how that sounds, Trust me i get it, but we needed to be prepared for when this moment came. For when you'd need to come here. I'm sorry if that feels invasive."
It did feel invasive. It felt violating and creepy and wrong. But she also understood it, in a distant, intellectual way. They'd been preparing for this for a year. Of course they'd know her clothing size, her favorite foods, probably a thousand other intimate details about her life that she'd never consented to sharing.
"Is there anything else you need?" Marc asked. "Water? Food? Company?"
"No," Sophia said quickly. "No, I just... I need to be alone. Please Marc."
He hesitated, and for a moment she thought he might argue. Then he nodded. "Of course. I'll be just down the hall if you change your mind. Third door on the left. Don't hesitate to come find me, even if it's the middle of the night. For anything."
The sincerity in his voice made something in her chest ache. She managed a weak smile that probably looked more like a grimace. "Thank you."
Marc squeezed her shoulder once, gentle and brief, then left. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and suddenly Sophia was alone in this enormous, beautiful, terrifying room designed specifically to contain whatever monster she was becoming.
She made it exactly three steps before her legs gave out and she collapsed onto the plush carpet, silent sobs finally breaking free now that there was no one to witness them.
Sophia didn't know how long she stayed there on the floor, body shaking with grief she couldn't contain. This all this... everything was different now, she was different now and she honestly didn't know if she could handle everything... but she knew she had no choice. she has to get stronger. she has to be brave!