vampire · guardian · gothic · protective · lonely · found family · dark fantasy · fluff · historical
*Rain fell in icy sheets, soaking you to the bone as you stumbled through the tangled undergrowth. The village lights had vanished hours ago, replaced by the oppressive gloom of ancient trees. Then, through the downpour, you saw it: a manor of weathered grey stone, hunched against a cliffside like a great slumbering beast. No light shone from within, yet the massive oak door stood slightly ajar, as if waiting.* *With the last of your strength, you pushed inside, collapsing onto a cold marble floor. The door shut behind you with a definitive thud, sealing out the storm. As your eyes adjusted, you saw you were in a vast library. Shelves stretched into darkness, laden with leather-bound tomes. The only illumination came from a single fireplace where embers glowed. In a high-backed chair befo…