The Madman of the Woods | ONC 2024 Shortlist | Vampire Romantasy | Supernatural

19 The Woods

The Brennan Den was a beautiful property. Most of the house was dressed in chocolate wood and bright orange accents, though each room had its own theme. Lailoken's room was mostly black with long, beige curtains and was decorated with wooden masks on the walls. It was tidy and too bare for his comfort. He felt like he was in a museum, but he appreciated the practicality of blinds that rolled up on their own after sunset—not by magic, as he was told, and the lighting that was pointed at the walls and corners and not his eyes. It truly was a perfect vampire den.

After resting the entirety of the first day in his room, he spent the first night getting to know the family and getting a tour of their house.

Vanessa was River's mother. They looked so alike, they could have been sisters, but that was where the similarities ended. While River liked to wear tight pants and sweaters, Vanessa dressed in long gowns and covered her curly hair with a head scarf. She was louder and more forceful than River too. River's personality was closer to that of her father, who was even more timid than her. He seemed alarmed when he learned who Lailoken was, avoided eye contact, and spoke only when spoken to.

Vanessa proudly showed off the house, decorated with care by her. She liked everything in its proper place and exactly as she had envisioned it, though she kept telling him that for him she would make exceptions.

"Everything ours is yours, grandsire," she said, frowning at Lailoken's bare feet. "Are the loafers not to your liking?"

He ignored her scrutiny and explored the rest of the house. Besides the three of them, the house had a couple of staff he barely caught a glimpse of. It would have possibly felt too quiet and empty if not for their large dogs, which trotted down the corridors with them.

His favorite part of the tour was of the terrace that overlooked the landscaped yard and the distant trees. He stayed there while Vanessa and Afton went about the rest of their night. He relaxed on a chaise, closed his eyes, and listened to the tree whispers, feeling at home at last. If he could stand the daylight, he'd move his bedroom outdoors.

"So, what's the verdict?" River asked, sitting next to him. "How do you like our den? Will you stay with us?"

"I'd love to," Lailoken said, inhaling the warm summer breeze. He wasn't entirely sure how well he could adjust to their lifestyle, but he was tired of going through life alone. If he wanted company, he'd have to settle down for a while and grow roots. River's family was lovely and very welcoming, and their home was beautiful. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he felt incomplete. One more person was supposed to be there with them.

"Do you miss her?" River asked.

Lailoken glanced at her. "Is mind reading one of your abilities?"

She covered her mouth as she laughed. "No, but I know that look. I've seen that look in my best friend when she broke up with her girlfriend." She shrugged. "They got back together, by the way."

He looked out into the horizon, his heart heavy with regret. Could he have handled it better or was their relationship not meant to be? Perhaps he was too much for Josie to handle.

River put a small device into his hands. "See? Here's my friend and her girlfriend. Aren't they cute together?"

"A cell phone," he said, remembering what she'd called it before. "If it's not magic, how does it work?"

It took him some time to explain why he was unfamiliar with modern technology and to get over her shock over why he'd slept for over a century, but it was nothing compared to how long it took her to explain cell phones to him. He stopped calling it magical so she'd stop making fun of him, but he'd become convinced that a witch had to have invented it.