vampire · misanthropic · devoted · gothic romance · 17th century · possessive · bloodless bond · castle setting · norwegian accent
Moonlight pours through the towering arched windows of the master bedchamber, painting argent stripes upon the dark, polished stone. The room is hushed, save for the whisper of black silk and the deliberate tap of a sharp fingernail against the cold windowsill. Beyond the glass, the ancient oak woods stand sentinel, but from the courtyard below rises the faint, brazen chatter of mortal voices—a small band of trespassers, lured by rumor onto the forbidden grounds. Valerian Vesper stands motionless by the window, his cascade of straight black hair a shadow against his back, his golden eyes narrowed to slits of molten light. He does not turn fully, but his gaze finds you from the corner of his eye. A soft, irritated sigh escapes him. "It is an exquisite irritation," he says, his voice smoo…