Vampire Brides

Several cars came to a halt in the courtyard of the ancient castle that stood tall and proud atop the misty hill. Hidden in the shadows, Griffon Xander watched silently as the guests stepped out one by one. His blood-red eyes narrowed, radiating caution and authority. Behind him stood a tall, slender figure with silver hair, bowing respectfully. Bastian, his right hand, knew all too well that the arrival of these humans was not a good sign.

"It seems the city's condition is growing more dire, my Lord," Bastian said in a low voice. "I'm certain they've come to ask for help with a chaos they’ve never been able to handle on their own."

Griffon let out a low snort, his voice deep and cold. “They always do. Greedy, power-hungry... yet incapable of preserving the peace they claim to uphold. Welcome them properly, Bastian. But don’t let them uncover our secret.”

That secret—the dark truth of their kind, the vampires who lived hidden in the shadows of night—must remain buried.

Especially now, with the city plagued by terror. Disappearing citizens, corpses drained of blood. The blame could too easily fall upon them.

“I know what I must do, my Lord.”

Bastian bowed and disappeared into the shadows.

---

Bastian stood at the castle gate as the two city officials arrived. They seemed relieved to be greeted by a resident, though behind his polite expression was a sharp aura that made their skin crawl.

“I trust your visit is for something of importance,” Bastian said, his voice neutral but edged.

“Of course,” one of the officials replied. “We wish to speak directly with Lord Xander.”

“The Lord is... not in the best condition at the moment. But he will see you shortly.”

“Thank you. That’s more than enough.”

A meeting with Griffon Xander was a rare event, and they knew it.

As they entered the castle, the dark corridors slowly lit up with the glow of antique lamps. The stone walls, intricate carvings, and a grand crystal chandelier in the main hall left the officials in silent awe. Time had not dulled the grandeur of this place.

“Please, have a seat,” Bastian gestured to a luxurious velvet sofa in deep crimson. “I’ll inform the Lord of your presence.”

When Griffon finally appeared, the atmosphere shifted immediately. A chilling aura followed him, making the air grow heavier. The two officials stood up instinctively, as if frozen by an unseen force.

Griffon moved with slow grace, almost gliding. His face was pale, his eyes dark, and his clothes reminiscent of an ancient noble. He stopped a few steps away from them.

“What wind brings you to this old castle?”

His voice echoed through the stone walls, deep and commanding.

One of the officials swallowed nervously.

“We’ve come to deliver news. The city is in crisis. People are vanishing. Bodies are being found completely drained of blood. We fear this terror...”

Griffon narrowed his eyes, then slowly turned toward the large window. A sliver of sunlight filtered through thin curtains, casting his silhouette in a pale glow—but not harming him.

“I am already aware,” he said coldly. “I will deal with this chaos. I will find those responsible for disturbing the peace.”

He had already tracked them.

The rogue vampires who had broken the unspoken laws.

Tonight, he and Bastian would hunt down their leader and bring an end to the unrest.

The officials exchanged glances. They knew his words were not empty promises.

“We greatly appreciate your attention, my Lord,” one of them said.

Though they suspected the culprits were not human—given the nature of the corpses—none of them dared to speak the word vampire.

Everyone remained silent, too afraid to name the horror that haunted their city.

“Leave it to me,” Griffon said before turning away.

He ordered Bastian to escort them out. Their meeting was over.

From his chamber, Griffon stood in the shadows, watching the officials' departure through the window. The sky had grown darker, heavy with clouds.

His thoughts drifted once again to Amelia. These days, the girl haunted his mind more than he cared to admit.

“They’ve left, my Lord,” Bastian reappeared quietly behind him.

“Keep an eye on them. Make sure they don’t try anything foolish,” Griffon replied without turning. “Weather like this makes me want to see Amelia.”

Bastian sighed. “My Lord, that girl is taking up too much space in your mind. You've been visiting her more and more often. I fear you're getting too close. Vampires and humans can never truly be together.”

“I know what I’m doing, Bastian. I only wish to ensure her safety. She’s a newcomer to this city—I don’t want her caught up in this madness.”

“But you shouldn’t concern yourself with her, my Lord.”

“I know!” Griffon snapped, though even he didn’t understand why he couldn’t rid himself of thoughts of Amelia.

“Very well, my Lord. I just hope you return soon enough. If the others learn of your attachment to a human... they will not tolerate it. Especially you, the last heir of the bloodline. The entire clan would oppose any bond you form with her.”

Griffon fell silent. He knew Bastian was right.

But still—her voice, her gaze, her gentle presence—they had all seeped into his very being.

“Thank you for the reminder, Bastian.”

“I also hope you haven’t forgotten about Lady Selena. Her hibernation is nearly over. The elders will soon begin discussions about your marriage to her.”

Those words darkened Griffon’s mood further.

He had never wanted an arranged marriage between clans—especially not with Selena, a noble vampire known for her arrogance and pride. There was no love between them.

“I know, Bastian. But you also know I never wanted this union.”

“It is your destiny, my Lord. You cannot escape the path laid before you. The hopes of your family—and the entire clan—rest on your shoulders.”

“Don’t speak to me of a destiny I never chose. If I could, I would shatter it, so it would never chain me!”

Without another word, Griffon stepped into the darkness and vanished.

Bastian stood by the window for a long time, watching the silhouette of his master fade into the shadows.

He could only hope Griffon realized the danger of walking too far down this path.

If the others discovered his bond with Amelia, she would never be allowed to live freely again.