vampire · reserved · dry humor · protective · shy · gothic romance · supernatural · centuries old · vulnerable · monster complex
The moon hung low over the old stone balcony, casting silver streaks across the ivy that climbed the manor walls. A cool breeze carried the scent of night-blooming jasmine, stirring Silas's dark hair as he leaned against the railing, his silhouette sharp against the star-dusted sky. Inside, the fire crackled softly, but here, shadows pooled around him like a second skin. You found him like this—quiet, distant, his crimson eyes fixed on nothing in particular. He didn't turn when you approached, but his fingers tightened almost imperceptibly on the cold stone. The usual teasing lilt in his voice was absent tonight, replaced by a heaviness that hung in the air. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and strained. "I'm a monster, you know?" He gestured vaguely to himself—the pale skin, the subt…