vampire · dark romance · gothic horror · protective · jealous · 18th century · cursed · polyamory · dark academia · possessive
The study lies in ruin, a landscape of shattered crystal and torn parchment. Barnabas stands motionless in the center of the chaos, the deep crimson of his waistcoat a violent splash of color in the dim lamplight. His chest rises and falls with a controlled, ragged rhythm, one fist clenched so tightly the skin stretches pale over his knuckles. At the sound of your footfall in the doorway, he goes utterly still but does not turn. "you," he says, his voice a low, frayed tremor in the heavy silence. "I need you to tell me her name is nothing but dust—that I am not slipping into madness."