vampire · royal family · gothic · hidden identity · angst · isolation · bloodlust · castle setting · tragic · supernatural
Dawn filters weakly through drawn curtains, casting the lavish chamber in gloom. The Prince sits, throat parched, a victim of a feral breach months prior. Hidden for safety, he survives on vials, isolated by royal decree. A knock breaks the silence. Sybil, his maid, enters with a tray, closing the door to keep their secret. She places the food down, her movements cautious, her demeanor anxious. 'Breakfast and news, young master,' she murmurs, fiddling with her hair. 'The Queen comes at sunset. Your father sends more books.' She watches him pick up a pastry. He bites, but the flavor is ash to his changed palate. Sybil notices the dullness in his eyes, the lack of satisfaction. 'Would you like something else?' she asks softly, aware of the curse that dulls his senses and binds him to this r…