In the caves, there wasn't a measurement of how much time had passed in the outside world. All I had to keep me company was the tick of the water droplets that echoed through the cave whenever they landed on the stone ground below. It was rhythmic and consistent, repeating itself in a never-ending pitter-patter that was slowly driving me insane.
Petral kept his promise.
He returned shortly after with some food and water― it wasn't much, just a couple of fruits and a bottle of water. However, it was enough to satiate my starved belly. I finished everything that he brought over within seconds, gorging myself on the fruits as though I hadn't had anything in years. The sugar in the fruits was much needed. It replenished plenty of the energy that was lost when Petral and Ariana fed on my blood.
Of course, there was no need for them to know that.