Married To The Mad Vampire Lord

The Andrews had two unmarried daughters and a son. It was one of the daughters who opened the door for him. She blushed at the sight of him, her cheeks turning a shade of pink as she welcomed him inside with a smile. Rav had never stepped foot into their house before. His work had always been outside. Commoners like him had no reason or permission to go in.

"I don't think I should come in, ma'am," he said, hesitating at the doorstep. But the young woman waved her hand in dismissal and scoffed, "Come on in, my parents are expecting you."

He finally stepped inside, and at once he was welcomed by the warm, homey aroma of baked chicken that filled the air, making his stomach twist with hunger.

"Mama, Papa, Christian is here!" she called out loudly, her voice carrying through the house.

Never in his life had he imagined that the reason for their summons was because one of the Andrews' daughters had taken a liking to him.

Alison Andrews had first seen him on the day he was chopping wood shirtless in their yard. He was handsome, handsome in a way she had never seen before. To her, he was the most handsome man she had ever set eyes on. Many of the men in Raventown were poor, and on top of that, they had no face or refinement to make up for it. But Christian was different, he was known not only for his politeness but also for his good looks.

She had always worried about the man she might end up with in such a small village, where every man looked the same to her. But when she saw Christian, she felt her fate could be different.

"My daughter is so dear to me, and because your Pa had been a good man who built my house for me, I will not be against a match. Tell your ma to come and see me tomorrow, and we will fix a date for your marriage."

Nobody had asked if he wanted the girl or not, but then, thinking about the opportunity he would have if he married her, the young man had not said a word against it. He went home to deliver the news with a convincing happy smile to his family.

The Andrews' daughters were not much on the looks side, but they were not unpleasant to look at either. The one he was married to was a petite lady with brown hair and brown eyes, a little spoiled, but he had learned to live with her, and even loved her more than he had ever thought he would.

Their life had been peaceful, though they fought more often than not because she always had trouble with the things he couldn't buy her and insisted that he ask money from her father.

"You are too proud for a man with nothing but sand in his pocket, Chris! It's Christmas, and see what you can afford for the celebration! I am pregnant and in need of things, and yet you can't swallow that pride of yours and ask Pa for money!"

"Can you hear yourself, Allison? Do you think it's proper for me to always turn to your father for help all the time? Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get the things you don't appreciate? You didn't even worry about my cut bleeding ribs or how I got the cut. All you want is a grand celebration for Christmas!"

He had never raised his voice at her before. He had never refused to do what she wanted. But he had humiliated himself enough with his in-laws, and he did not think it was right, as a man of his new family, to always run to his father-in-law for help just because he wanted to please his wife.

"If you can't take what I have or appreciate my hard work, then I can't do anything about it anymore."

Rav had felt bad afterwards for speaking to her like that, and he had gone to apologize, like he always did, to make peace. He was indebted to the Andrews. They had not only married him to their daughter but had also given him a house where he could keep his wife, his mother, and his grandmother. They had done enough for him to feel grateful, especially now that his wife was pregnant. He didn't think making her cry was good for her condition.

Things went all right in their life, and soon his son was born into the world. The very first time he held the infant, warmth had swelled in his heart. The boy looked so much like his late father that he felt proud and loved his son instantly, swearing to give him anything and to protect him with his life.

For his son, he learned to love his wife more and to live with her demands. He worked ten times harder to get her the things she wanted without having to ask her father, just to bring a smile to her face, because she had given him his son, who was his happiness.

The first time his son called him Papa, Rav had felt as though he would soar across the sky in joy. He had never loved anyone as much as he loved that boy. He had watched him grow from a tiny infant into a lively four-year-old who followed him everywhere and looked up at him with wide, trusting eyes.

"Papa, why ya always workin'? Carryin' big logs an' cuttin' woods in the forest?" the boy asked, tilting his head. "Cousin's papa don't do it like you."

Rav chuckled softly, brushing a hand over his son's messy brown hair. "Son, when you're older, you'll understand things better. Let's just say I don't ever want you to sleep with an empty belly. And I like making your mama smile."

The boy's face lit up, his small hands clapping together. "I like when Mama smile too! She pretty when she smile. So… when I grow big, I work hard too, an' make Mama smile, jus' like you, Papa!"

Rav's chest tightened with emotion. He pulled his son into his arms and kissed the top of his head. "That's my boy. But for now, your only work is to play and laugh. Leave the heavy things for me."

The child giggled, hugging his father's neck. "Okay, Papa. But one day, I be strong like you!"

Rav smiled, pride warming his heart. "One day, you'll be even stronger and better than me. You will have education and everything I never had."

Who would have thought that the boy would not even see the next day, the day that was supposed to be his birthday?

Rav, who was recounting the story to the darkness of the chamber, believing he was talking only to himself since there was no movement from the bed, continued to say,

"That night everyone in Raventown slept like any other night, not knowing it was going to be the last for many. I heard something fall and break in the living room, and I woke up, wanting to go and check what it was. I turned up the lamp and went to see, only to hear screams piercing through the night from the neighborhood. Then I saw fire burning in the next house. I... I was still staring in shock from the window when something jumped on me. Before I could fight the rogue off, he bit down on my neck, ripping my flesh. I struggled to get it off, and ended up knocking over the lamp and spilling the kerosene, which started a fire. I tried to fight the creature off, staggering outside the door, and by the time I finally managed to push it away..."

His house had already caught fire and was burning, the flames roaring wildly. He heard Allison scream, and he heard his son calling for him, begging for help. He was in pain, his body weakening, the rogue's bite poisoning his strength, and his eyes swam before him. He couldn't balance on his feet. He wanted to go and help them before it was too late.

"Papa, help me!!!"

Rav staggered, trying to find his balance, while smoke and screams of the villagers filled the air. That was when he saw him, the figure standing in the shadows of the trees, watching the burning town, without moving to help. Rav stumbled toward him, tears streaming down his face, crying, "Help me... I don't want to die. Help me."

He fell to the ground, unable to rise. He didn't want to die before saving his family. They needed him. He needed to survive. His son needed him.

"Help me... please..." he cried, tears of despair pouring down his face.

"I fell unconscious. But when I woke up again," Rav continued, speaking to the darkness, "I had lost everything, and I was no longer in my village. Everything was gone, my son, my family, everything. I felt dead myself when I realized everyone was gone, and I was now a vampire in a huge castle. I failed my son, I failed my family..." Silent tears rolled down his cheeks. "You thought you were lonely then, my lady, but people learn to live with things and embrace what life gives them..."

After losing everything dear to him, he had lived outside of himself, carrying only regret and silent pain. His only comfort was the promise he made to himself, to carry the love he had for his lost family in his heart until the day he met them again. He would never have another.

Evenly felt her throat tighten, choking her, and she swallowed hard to push down the lump that had formed. She had never imagined that he had lost this much and yet still carried himself with such strength and composure. She had lost not as much as he did, and she had been drowning in so much pain.

"What was his name?" she finally found her voice to ask. "Your son..."

Rav smiled bitterly, his eyes dark with grief. "Alison named him after me, Christian. We called him baby Chris." More silent tears streamed down his cheeks, and he closed his eyes as if shutting them could hold the tears inside. His voice trembled as he whispered, "Whenever I see Angel... it reminds me of when my son was in that stage..."

Evenly bit down on her lower lip to hold back her unexpected emotions. Hearing this, she regretted every moment she had been rude to him, every time she had been hard on him without knowing the weight he carried in silence. Without knowing he had a reason for avoiding to hold Angel.

"I am sorry..." she whispered, her voice small, not knowing if she was apologizing for the way she had treated him or for the loss that had broken him.

"It was a very long time ago, my lady. It happened fifty years ago." His voice was low, weary, and resigned. "Good night..." He turned to his side, letting his tears and regrets eat away at his soul, constricting his heart like chains he could never break free from.

Evenly wanted to say more, she wanted to tell him that some pain never went away with time, that pain carved so deep could only live with a person forever. But instead, she swallowed her words and softly replied, "Good night." She turned to her side as well, pressing her face into the pillow, and let her own tears fall for the innocent life that had been lost, and for the sorrow that now joined her own.