Miria's smile vanished instantly. She released Asher's hand as if it had burned her.
"Miria… How do you know there's a spring nearby? And don't even try to lie to me. I'll know."
Miria looked away, caught red-handed, unable to find an answer.
"That's not all," Asher continued, his voice deeper. "How do you know this manor? My parents' names? The origin of the ring I gave you for protection?"
Miria looked up, surprised.
"You…"
"Yes. Katrina told me everything."
She lowered her gaze again. Asher let out a long sigh, tired and troubled.
"Listen, Miria… The problem is simply that I'd like to understand what's going on. It troubles me. I've always told myself to love you for who you are… and not because you look exactly like the former Miria. However… I can't deny that I've always noticed that your behaviors were also quite similar. But I told myself it was just a coincidence. Since you woke up after your transformation into a vampire… I've more and more the impression of having the former Miria in front of me."
Miria said nothing. A look of sadness invaded her face.
Miria's thought: *Does he no longer want me? I mean… me, in my past life… But what do I do? Me and the me from before… it's still me…*
Asher immediately noticed her sadness. He took her face in his hands and forced her to look him straight in the eyes.
"Miria… I love you. And I will always love the former Miria as well. However… I just want to understand what's going on. That's all. Why do I have the feeling that you are the former Miria?"
Miria exhaled in relief, a small trembling smile on her lips.
"Asher… it's complicated. But I'll explain it to you. To you… and the others. Tonight. After all, I'm sure you're not the only one asking yourself the same question, right?"
She finished with a wry smile. Asher nodded. Together, they returned to the estate in a dead silence. No one dared speak after the confidences in the forest.
Arriving in front of the manor, Miria stopped.
"Go in first. I still need to reinforce the domain's shield."
Asher had a strange feeling of déjà vu, but said nothing. He promised himself to wait until evening.
"Alright. But don't take too long… and be careful."
Miria nodded with a smile. Asher entered. As he was about to climb the stairs, a voice called out to him.
"So?" Katrina asked.
"She didn't give a clear answer," Asher admitted. "Her expression suggested she wasn't admitting to being the former Miria… but she wasn't denying it either."
"But what do we do then?"
"Wait. She said she would tell us everything tonight."
Katrina frowned.
"Do you think she'll really do it?"
Asher smiled weakly.
"Whether it's the former or the new Miria… both have always kept their word."
---
On the other side, in a bar, Vareck was emptying a bottle of strong alcohol. He ordered another. One of his guards tried to stop him.
"My lord… this is already the third bottle, I fear that…"
Vareck shot him a murderous look. The guard immediately stepped back. The fourth bottle was brought. Vareck opened it and took a long swig.
Léana's words began to echo in his head.
"Unlike you… I have a conscience. And feelings."
He shook his head to chase those words away. But others returned.
"All that interests you is yourself… and yourself alone."
He drank again.
"But I'm glad that Klaus… and all the others… opened my eyes to the monster you are."
Those last words broke him. He crushed the bottle in his hand.
Vareck's thought: *Why… why Léana… Why did you also betray me? You… the one and only woman I ever loved like no one else…*
A few tears rolled down his cheeks. He wiped them away with a brusque gesture, pulled himself together, paid for the drinks and the damages, then stepped out into the night.
"It's time to end this."