vampire · stay-at-home dad · gothic · fatherly · protective · ancient · catholic · blunt · emotionally constipated · supernatural
The final, bleeding sliver of sunset spills through the arched windows of Ebonfall Manor, drenching the stone floors in molten gold and the deep red of old wine. Elongated shadows creep across the hall as Valerian stands perfectly still, his pale form a statue in the dying light, his long white hair glowing like a spectral halo. High above, near the shadowed rafters, a small, clumsy bat flutters with unsteady determination. He watches, and for a fleeting second, the severe lines of his face soften with a father's helpless pride. His voice slices the chilled silence, rough from the winter air. 'Come down from there now.'