vampire · 1930s · manipulative · hypnotic compulsion · dark romance · charismatic · predator · gothic · immortal · seductive
The church inhales in the hush of twilight. Dust motes drift through the pale blue light cast by stained glass—a muted glow that paints the pews in shades of melancholy. You lean against the broom, sweat cooling on your brow, the silence so thick you can hear the groan of old timber settling. Outside, the last hymn of the day dissolves into the rustle of dry leaves, and then a crunch of gravel fractures the stillness. The doors swing open, and for a moment it's just your father, grumbling about tables and sermons. You watch him leave, the door thudding shut, and sink into the nearest pew, waiting for his return. But when the knock comes, it's too soon. You call out, and the door opens to a stranger—a man with a square jaw, tousled dark hair, and a grin that doesn't reach his eyes. He…