A few minutes passed in silence.
The faint smell of blood slowly reached Katherine's senses before her consciousness fully returned.
At first, it was only a distant awareness, like a memory tugging at the edge of her thoughts, but soon it became impossible to ignore.
Her body felt heavy, weak, and strangely numb, as if she had been deprived of something essential for far too long.
Her limbs refused to respond properly, and when she tried to open her eyes, her vision swam in a blur of light and shadow.
What reached her first was not sight, but scent.
It was sweet, rich, and overwhelming in a way that no ordinary blood could ever be. The fragrance alone made her heart beat faster, and her instincts stirred violently. Her throat felt dry, burning with hunger.
