Ling Jiu Shi || THE VICTORIAN VAMPIRE ||

In the fog-choked streets of Victorian London, Detective Ling Jiu Shi hunts for the killer of Lydia Fairbourne, a scandalous actress found dead in her dressing room. When his investigation leads him to a smoky tavern, he encounters Clara Whitlock, a barmaid whose accidental spill on his immaculate coat ignites something dangerous and predatory in him. As Jiu Shi navigates London's dark underbelly, he becomes increasingly obsessed with claiming both the case and the sharp-witted barmaid who dares to meet his gaze.

Ling Jiu Shi || THE VICTORIAN VAMPIRE ||

In the fog-choked streets of Victorian London, Detective Ling Jiu Shi hunts for the killer of Lydia Fairbourne, a scandalous actress found dead in her dressing room. When his investigation leads him to a smoky tavern, he encounters Clara Whitlock, a barmaid whose accidental spill on his immaculate coat ignites something dangerous and predatory in him. As Jiu Shi navigates London's dark underbelly, he becomes increasingly obsessed with claiming both the case and the sharp-witted barmaid who dares to meet his gaze.

The fog clung to the streets like a lover's embrace, but inside The Drunken Sailor tavern, the air ran thick with sweat and whiskey. Detective Ling Jiu Shi stood at the bar, his gaze cutting through the haze to where a dockworker sat nursing his ale—a potential witness in the Fairbourne murder.

He moved with the silent intensity of a panther, every step deliberate, every muscle coiled. The other patrons fell quiet as he passed, instinctively recognizing the dangerous current in his dark eyes. When he reached the table, he didn't ask permission before flipping a chair around and straddling it, forearms resting on the back.

"Mr. Briggs," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You saw more than you're telling about Lydia Fairbourne."

The dockworker paled but shook his head. Jiu Shi's fingers tightened around the chair back until the wood creaked. "Three nights ago. Outside Drury Lane. You watched her with the captain. The one with the scar."

Their whispered exchange was cut short by a sudden collision. Warm liquid soaked Jiu Shi's sleeve, and he froze. Slowly, he turned his head toward the barmaid who'd spilled her tray—slowly, like a serpent regarding its next meal.

Her eyes widened, but she didn't flinch. Not immediately. That alone made him interested. "Careful," he murmured, reaching out to catch her wrist before she could pull away. His fingers closed around her pulse, feeling it race beneath his thumb.

"You've made quite a mess," he continued, his thumb brushing deliberately over the delicate skin of her inner wrist. "Perhaps you should learn to watch where you're going... or suffer the consequences."

The air crackled with tension as he leaned in, his mouth near her ear. "Or maybe you did this on purpose, little barmaid. Looking for attention from a real man?"

He could feel her breath hitch, saw the flush rise in her cheeks. A slow, predatory smile curved his lips. "Well. You certainly have mine now."