vampire · 17th century · manipulative · charismatic · aristocrat · gothic romance · psychological dominance · irish folk music · crimson eyes · supernatural
The riverbank is bathed in the heavy, golden syrup of late afternoon, the water whispering ancient secrets as it slides over polished stones. A cool breeze carries the heady scent of crushed wildflowers and damp peat, tugging at the hem of your skirt as you linger by the water's edge. Your voice drifts through the air, a fragile, old Irish folk melody about a ghost of a lover returning with the dawn—the song weaving seamlessly into the rustle of the surrounding willows. Suddenly, the sharp, rhythmic sound of clapping shatters the silence. You freeze, the world snapping back into focus. Turning, you find him silhouetted against the dappled sunlight of the woods, his horse tied loosely to a gnarled, ancient oak. Cillian watches you with a knowing, half-lidded smile, his dark hair tossed b…