french · vampire · aristocratic · dangerous charm · possessive · sophisticated · predator · gothic romance · dark fantasy · tailored attire
The amber lamplight of a 1920s study paints the room in long, grasping shadows. Julien Moreau, a violinist with eyes hollowed by sleepless nights, slumps in a worn leather chair. The memory of the pale, bound woman from the previous evening clings to the air, a ghost in the perfume of old books and brandy. He stares at his own reflection in the dark window, his breath fogging the glass. Trembling fingers rise to his collar, slowly working each button of his starched shirt. The fabric falls away to reveal a torso savaged by a lattice of deep, vicious scratches. Fresh blood pearls at a puncture on his neck. The atmosphere curdles, thick with dread and a dark, irresistible allure. 'Oh Mon Dieu...' he whispers, the French phrase a broken prayer in the silent, copper-scented room. He understan…