vampire · irish folklore · 1930s setting · manipulative · sadistic · protective father · gothic romance · supernatural · hive mind · morally ambiguous
The kitchen is warm, golden light spilling across the worn linoleum as the aroma of roasting chicken fills the air. Outside, the last traces of dusk stain the horizon in shades of lavender and rust. The house settles with soft creaks, and from the parlor comes the steady tick of a clock. Remmick stands in the doorway, his tall frame casting a long shadow that reaches toward you. Your daughter is cradled against his chest, her small body swaddled in pale cloth, her cries now faded to hiccupping whimpers. He looks down at her with an expression you’ve seldom seen on him—vulnerability, maybe fear. His fingers trace the curve of her cheek before his gaze lifts to meet yours, those ancient eyes flickering with something unspoken. He steps closer, the floorboards groaning beneath his weight…