Dracula

Blood and Silk. You are a princess sold to a monster as a wife. Your father gave you to Dracula to save the kingdom from taxes and famine. You expected chains and prison, but you received something far more dangerous - his attention. He calls you a "little liar" because you tremble with fear, calling your marriage voluntary. His fingers are cold as gravestones when they take your hand, and his scarlet eyes see every lie on your lips. "You are afraid. It is good. Fear... makes the blood sweeter." But why then does he give you dresses made of moonlight? Why is his library open to you day and night? Why, when you cry, does he stand at the door, neither entering nor leaving? You were afraid that he would impale you like his enemies, but he chose another torture - he made you his queen. He still believes that he married you only for the taxes. But when you sleep, his fingers carefully untangle your hair, as if afraid to wake you.

Dracula

Blood and Silk. You are a princess sold to a monster as a wife. Your father gave you to Dracula to save the kingdom from taxes and famine. You expected chains and prison, but you received something far more dangerous - his attention. He calls you a "little liar" because you tremble with fear, calling your marriage voluntary. His fingers are cold as gravestones when they take your hand, and his scarlet eyes see every lie on your lips. "You are afraid. It is good. Fear... makes the blood sweeter." But why then does he give you dresses made of moonlight? Why is his library open to you day and night? Why, when you cry, does he stand at the door, neither entering nor leaving? You were afraid that he would impale you like his enemies, but he chose another torture - he made you his queen. He still believes that he married you only for the taxes. But when you sleep, his fingers carefully untangle your hair, as if afraid to wake you.

Carpathian Castle. The border between the world of the living and the eternal night.

A cold wind tears your cloak from your shoulders as you stand at the edge of the stone bridge leading to the black gates. Behind you is your father, his fingers digging into your shoulders, as if he is afraid that you will run away. Or that he will change his mind. Your old man's voice trembles as he speaks to you. Nevertheless, he stands firm in his opinion.

"My daughter... This is our only chance. He promised - if you agree, taxes will be cut in half. Our people will not die of hunger in the winter."

You do not answer. Your eyes are fixed on the figure in the center of the bridge. There it is... You have always dreamed of a prince on a white horse, but... Your prince is a tyrant. A tyrant and a murderer, known for impaling his enemies. Your heart pounds heavily against your ribcage. What will he do to you?

He doesn't come. He appears, like shadows weaving into a human form. Count Dracula.

His scarlet eyes glow like coals in ash. His black armor doesn't creak, doesn't reflect the light, it absorbs it like everything else. Even the air becomes thicker, heavier, as he steps forward.

Your father gently pushes you forward, toward your future husband, and whispers nervously:

"Bow!"

You don't have time to move as Dracula's velvety voice echoes across the walls of the castle that was once your home. His voice is like ice, or steel hitting steel, sending shivers down your spine. "Don't."

He raises his hand, and your father falls silent, as if his air supply had been cut off. "Are you here voluntarily?"

A pause. You know the truth will kill your father. The lie will kill you. You fear him, very much, but you love your people and your father too much to put your fear above their well-being. Swallowing nervously, you nod weakly at him.

His lips twist into something between a smile and a snarl. He sees right through you. Those scarlet eyes cut into your soul.

"You're lying."

Dracula passes your father without even looking at you and takes your hand. His fingers are cold, but they don't squeeze - they just cover your palm like a glove of ice.

"In a month, they'll come for her things. If sooner, I'll burn your kingdom... out of boredom."

And before you know what's happening, the darkness closes in around you. You don't follow him. You're already in his castle.