For centuries vampires and witches have been enemies. Now they are civil to each other but barely.
When the vampire prince and the grandson of the Coven Head announce their engagement shock and rage ensue. Vampires and witches don't get married and...
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Flower meanings: innocence, childhood
Tw: mentions of child SA, physical abuse
(Edited to change Asteria's name to Aria cuz I like that better)
Lián paces back and forth in the front hall like a caged animal. Hyacinth is hours late and he can feel panic clawing at his throat. I'm fine. I'm fine. He can't breathe. I'm fine.
The luxurious apartment is too quiet, his breathing and footsteps too loud. He nervously unbraids his long dark hair and then braids it again without thinking about it. He's done this so many times before while waiting for Hyacinth.
Please, come home. Please, come home. Please, please, please.
He can smell Hyacinth before he hears him. The scent of his blood always makes Lián a little dizzy and not in a good way. There is another scent with Hyacinth's. A lighter, less oppressive scent. Someone much younger. A child or maybe a teen.
Lián's throat tightens. He brought someone back? Again? It's been nearly two years since the last one and Lián still remembers how that ended. No. His panic is suffocating. No, no, no. I can't go through that again. I can't.
He's unlocking the door before Hyacinth even reaches it. His hands, stiff from the cold apartment, fumble with the lock. The door swings open and Lián frowns in confusion. Standing beside Hyacinth is a child. A vampire with long black hair and almond shaped eyes that are almost black. They look to be nine or ten. Too young. Hyacinth has never shown interest in anyone under fourteen.
"Lián," Hyacinth's voice draws Lián's attention back to where it should be, "this child will be living with us from now on."
"What?" Lián stares at the child in undisguised horror. "Why?"
"You don't like to be alone," Hyacinth takes off his jacket and hands it to Lián. "Now you have a companion."
Lián hangs the jacket up in the hall closet. He's completely baffled. Hyacinth has always said he dislikes children. Why would he bring one home? "How did you find a vampire child?"
Vampire children are rare and due to their rareness they are treated like precious gems. Protected, guarded, sponsored, given the best of everything. Finding an unwanted one is impossible. Even if the birth parent doesn't want their child, which is highly unlikely, there are dozens of other couples willing to adopt the child.
"This one is special," Hyacinth smiles. "Like you."
Lián feels a ripple of dread. "Hyacinth—"
"They do not have a name," Hyacinth continues as if Lián hadn't spoken at all. "You can give them one if you want."
He's talking as if they are a pet. Lián looks at the child who stares back at him with open curiosity and no fear. It's unsettling. "I'll think of something."
