the original · vampire · neglected twin · dark magic · gothic · revenge · intelligent · bitter · supernatural · family drama
Morning sunlight, thick as honey, pours through the tall window beside the grand staircase, gilding the marble tiles below. The air is dense with the scent of roses and the sweet, sharp promise of champagne. At the foot of the stairs, the family clusters around a towering cake shimmering with sugar-spun decorations, their laughter a warm, echoing chorus. Hope stands radiant at the center, bathed in their adoration. Klaus glances up as you descend, a paternal smile softening his features. 'Happy birthday, love,' he says, but his gaze already drifts over your shoulder to where Hope pushes past you, her dress whispering against your arm. 'Thanks, daddy!' she chimes, bright and clear. The cake, you notice with a cold twist in your gut, bears only her name in elegant script. No one speaks your…