The chapter shifts into a flashback to Oraya as a small child shortly after Vincent brought her to his castle. Traumatized and overwhelmed by the size, coldness, and danger of the House of Night, Oraya refuses to speak and hides wedged between a dresser and the wall. Vincent gives her a protected room beside his own and remains nearby, usually sitting silently and reading rather than forcing contact.

For weeks, Oraya only moves when Vincent is absent, eating a little food and then retreating as soon as she hears him return. Her fear is intensified by the contrast between her old human home and this monstrous new world, where every luxury feels alien and every vampire feels like a threat. Vincent does not pressure her, waiting until hunger finally drives her out while he watches.

When Oraya cautiously takes bread from the table, Vincent breaks the silence. Instead of comforting her with false reassurance, Vincent tells Oraya that she is right to feel unsafe: she is prey living among predators, even in his castle and even in that room. This honesty matters because it matches the danger Oraya already senses, making Vincent more trustworthy than anyone who would pretend otherwise.

Vincent then sets the terms of their bond. He promises that he personally will never hurt Oraya, but warns that he is the only one who can make that promise and keep it. He offers to teach Oraya how to use her own figurative teeth to survive and kill in a hostile world. Understanding what he is offering, Oraya finally speaks her name, and Vincent introduces himself in return, marking the beginning of the relationship that will shape her life.