"So, I hope you had a smooth journey over here?" Orpheus asked, his tone neutral, though the suspicion in his eyes was unmistakable.
"It was a smooth ride, father-in-law, since my wife is a very capable person," Vespar replied coolly. The nervousness from earlier had vanished; his entire demeanor shifted the moment he laid eyes on the man and the way he welcomed his daughter.
A while before:
The couple stood before a massive gothic castle — terrifyingly beautiful. The scent of aged iron and stone mixed with the intoxicating fragrance of millions of roses blooming around the estate, giving it a strange and haunting balance.
Lilith tapped the iron door knocker twice.
"Welcome. It's been a long time, Lady Lilith," said an older man as the grand doors creaked open. His slicked-back black hair was streaked with silver, his face lined with the experience of centuries. Dressed in a traditional butler's uniform, he bowed low — one hand on his back, the other across his chest in formal greeting.
Behind him, twenty servants — ten on each side — mirrored his bow with practiced precision.
"Your humble servant greets you."
He then turned toward Vespar, bowing again.
"We welcome your audience as well, Sir Vespar. As a newly turned vampire, the first thing you should know is this: without permission, one cannot enter another's dwelling. Ever."
Though still bowed, his tone was purely instructive, not at all condescending — a display of etiquette rather than superiority.
Vespar smiled faintly, nodding. "I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Butler."
He stepped forward into the grand entrance, Lilith close behind.
The butler appeared beside Vespar with vampiric grace, so silent and sudden it made Vespar twitch just slightly. "Well, you're not as arrogant as most," he murmured under his breath, more to himself than anyone else. "But judging by your body language... the master might be in for a few headaches." He said with a faint chuckle.
Returning to his formal tone, the butler extended a gloved hand toward a grand doorway nearby. The word Study gleamed in gold across the wood.
"This way, please. The master is expecting you."
The butler opened the door for them, and inside her father a standing infront of the minibar, on the corner of the dimly lit study room, his back facing towards them.
" I greet you father, hope you're doing well."Lilith bowed, gracefully, grabbing her gown from the sides.
All she got was " Hmm, sit down." He said as he picked up a glass of neat Scotch.
Vespar's eye twitched on her father's demeanor, 'this old coot thinks he's being cool right now' he thought to himself as he sat down.
Back to present:
" Hmm, wife? That is a very doubting word when, I, her father hasn't even had a word with you, young man." He laughed with a slow rumble in his chest.
" It is not your decision to choose a man for me, father" Lilith growled, but there was still grace and elegance in her animalistic growl.
" Oh? The little kitten is finally growing up to be a lioness," he paused, " but little girl, I'm your father, and that single word gives me authority to choose what's good for you" he said in a regular voice but the aura behind those words made Lilith gasp for air.
Vespar leaned back into the velvet-lined chair, one leg crossed over the other with practiced grace. He was watching Orpheus, the infamous Archon, not like a fearful boy meeting his lover's father, but like a tactician gauging the strength of an old lion.
Orpheus swirled the Scotch in his glass, the amber liquid catching the low light of the chandelier above like molten gold. He turned slowly, finally letting his crimson slit pupils meet Vespar's.
'Confident brat,' Orpheus mused silently. 'He dares to look me in the eye with no tremble in his soul. Either he's too green to know fear... or he's just that dangerous.'
"So tell me, Vespar Dawnshade," Orpheus said, voice calm but laced with steel. "What makes you think you're worthy of my daughter?"
Lilith stiffened. Her shoulders tensed, and her fingers clenched ever so slightly around her gown. She knew that tone. That was the Orpheus who crushed lesser men with a glance. She was already preparing to step in if things got ugly.
But Vespar didn't flinch.
He smiled—slow, deliberate.
"With all due respect, Lord Orpheus, I wasn't aware your daughter needed someone else's permission to decide who's worthy of her." His tone was polite. Almost too polite.
Orpheus raised a brow, intrigued. The boy had bite.
"You carry quite the tongue for someone who still smells of fresh blood," Orpheus said, walking slowly to his high-backed chair and sitting across from Vespar. "You do realize you're speaking to the man who commands thousands with a whisper, yes?"
"I do," Vespar nodded, folding his hands together. "But I don't see a commander. I see a father who wasn't there when she needed one."
A flicker.
Just a flicker in Orpheus's eyes, but Lilith noticed it. She took a step forward, placing herself ever so slightly between the two men.
"Vespar—" she began, voice warning.
But Orpheus laughed—a single, deep chuckle that rolled like distant thunder.
"Hah… You've got guts, I'll give you that," he said. "Your mouth might get you killed one day, but it's entertaining for now."
He leaned forward, fingers interlocked beneath his chin as he studied Vespar with a predator's patience.
"Tell me then, vampire… What do you plan to do with her? Why love her?"
Vespar's smile faded, replaced with something raw, unfiltered, real.
"Because she's been alone too long. Because she hides her hurt behind elegance. Because I see her—not just the vampire, not just your daughter—the woman. And I want to give her a life where she never has to question if she's loved again."
Lilith blinked, eyes wide.
Orpheus's smirk faded into something unreadable.
'So the boy has fire… and heart. Dangerous combination.'
"Very well," Orpheus said at last, standing. "We'll see if your resolve holds when fire rains, Dawnshade."
He turned his back again, raising his glass for another sip.
"You may stay the night. The guest chamber is down the hall. Lilith knows the way. Try not to cause trouble."
Lilith let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She walked over and gently pulled Vespar by the sleeve.
"Let's go, love."
As they exited the study, Vespar glanced back once. Orpheus was still facing away, but the amused glint in his eye said everything.
'This will be fun.'
Comment your thoughts, should I introduce a new character or do you want some action right away.
---
Future Vespar:
"Alright, riddle time, my precious little readers.*rubs palms with excitement* Put your immortal brains to the test, or I'll tell Lilith you called her dress 'mid'. Ready? Good."
Ahem—
"I stand beyond what books have told,
A shadow lost, both young and old.
My name erased, my bloodline thin,
But power sleeps beneath my skin.
The council fears what they can't see,
A throne was mine—forgot by decree.
Not noble-born, yet feared with fright,
Guess who I am, child of the night?"
Vespar:
"If you guessed 'some edgy poet on vampire Twitter'… you're wrong.
But if you got the real answer, congrats, you get a metaphorical cookie and my mild respect."
---