"Say something to me, my love. Your silence troubles me."
She sat, fixed in place and visibly horrified, as the eerie figure of the graveyard's deranged killer appeared before her; moments earlier, the possessive doctor had vanished as if swallowed by shadows. The man's hair, long and flowing in ethereal dark-red waves with hints of gold and intermingled white strands, cascaded perfectly over his flawless features.
Standing by the window, he watched the rain as if witnessing a phenomenon for the first time. It had been minutes since he had sent Ash fleeing from the room in terror while leaving her paralyzed on the examination table in what felt like an eternity.
His dark gloves—adorned with royal accents of gold—rested behind his back.
He looked like a demon. A living nightmare. A monster born to terrorize and instill dread in the hearts of weak, gullible souls like hers.
"I can swear on my crown, my love, that I am nothing of the sort."
The situation only worsened from there.
Could he be nothing more than a failed government experiment—a secret lab project gone awry—capable of reading minds and leaving an enormous dent in a cement wall with a single punch?
He confessed that he found her thoughts both amusing and, at times, disturbingly transparent. Finally, he turned away from the window to focus on his queen. The more he studied her, the more his attraction and wild obsession seemed to intensify.
He longed for the day he would claim her before the unholy court of his kingdom, mark her in every way, and keep her forever. She was everything he had ever desired and more. To the King of all monsters—vampire or not—it felt like a dream come true, and he wished to protect this one precious, pure, and good soul throughout his immortal existence.
"I am a Vampire, my love," he declared softly. "And you presented yourself as my mate on your very first night in the graveyard—right at my resting place. I accept you as my bride, the future queen, or even the goddess of my realm. I am more than pleased to share this eternal life with you at my side."
He spoke as calmly as if he were merely stating that the Earth is spherical or that one should eat a balanced meal to stay healthy.
They locked eyes for what felt like an age, the muted sound of rain outside doing nothing to ease the heavy silence or the tension between them. He searched her face for even the slightest hint of response; when none came, he began taking slow, deliberate steps toward her, each measured stride intensifying the pounding rhythm deep within her chest.
"Although I have learned that in your world—your universe—entities like me are dismissed as myths or the ramblings of lunatics, I was sealed in a coffin nearly a century ago in my own realm. I was sent forth in search of a bride to ensure the smooth operation of my government over all of Tharagaroth—the realm of monsters, including vampires, werewolves, demons, and all manner of unreal creatures. We even have a few human races among us in my world. I was meant to be awakened and freed by an immortal woman from my land, one who would become my vampire queen. But… destiny intervened. My grave shifted and, in a fateful twist, crashed down upon you. I tasted a few drops of your blood, and that was enough to trigger my resurrection."
Wish struggled to keep herself from fainting as he continued his insane monologue.
"Normally, I am bound by the rule that only a fellow vampire may be my bride," he explained. "But the moment I laid eyes on you, my dear Wish, I became utterly captivated—so much so that I was compelled to break that rule and claim you as mine forever."
He leaned so close to her face that she could hardly draw a full breath. His words, though passionate, seemed to defy logic. She stared at him, uncertain, as he continued.
"I am irresistibly drawn to all that is pure, beautiful, and kind-hearted. I crave the presence of something so good that it would willingly come each day to keep a lonely vampire king company in his eternal slumber. I love you, and I wish you would feel that same burning desire for me."
A single strand of his long hair fell seductively beside his face, and she found herself inexplicably compelled to reach out and touch it.
"Say something to me, Wish," he pleaded softly once more, as she continued to stare, nearly dumbstruck by this godlike presence that overwhelmed both her senses and her reason. "I long to hear your reply and learn your thoughts about all this—and about who I truly am."
Her teary, honey-colored eyes wandered in confusion. It was all too overwhelming to process at once.
Vampires? All that fantastical lore? Was he really telling her that she might soon encounter legends and nightmares—like Bigfoot or creatures beyond her wildest imaginings? What kind of mind game was this?
"Can I… just leave?" she asked, her voice trembling unexpectedly. The look on her face made it clear that she intended to run far, far away from him and from the destiny he was rewriting for them, as soon as she had the chance.
He exhaled so close to her lips that the heat of his breath stirred every nerve in her body, igniting an undeniable spark within her—one that flooded her with sensations she had never felt before. Her body betrayed her, and all her hormones surged in response to his teasing closeness.
"No," he whispered firmly. "I will not let you leave—not until I have given you the cure I promised."
Her breathing grew shallow as she leaned back, desperately trying to create distance between herself and this newly acquired vampire mate, this strange lover. Her nails dug painfully into the soft cushions of the examination table as the unfamiliar, mounting ache between her legs—a response to his teasing touch—became almost unbearable.
"Never hold back on how I make you feel, my love," he murmured.
Wish trembled, or rather, she began to fall apart when the harsh touch of his gloved hand traced slowly over her thigh.
"If you desire something, let me know—and I will give it to you."
She craved release from the maddening, hazy sensations that clouded her mind; her mouth felt too heavy to beg, and her thoughts were so jumbled that she couldn't articulate exactly what she wanted.
"Come on, Wish. All I need is your approval, and then every satisfaction and release will be yours, my love."
He was devilish and alluring—a temptress incarnate, a living excuse to embrace sin.
One singular thought broke through her entanglement of desire and reason. With that thought, she pushed back against the seductive pull. In a sudden burst of clarity, she sprang from the examination table and bolted from the consultation room, running as fast as she could, leaving him—and the destiny he had rewritten for them—far behind.