A heavy fog hung over Manchester, mixed with the soft fall of rain. The cobblestones glistened in the faint glow of the few gas lamps struggling against the night's darkness. Shadows danced along the worn facades of brick houses, where factory smoke from the days long past lingered like a thick blanket over the rooftops. The narrow alleys echoed with distant footsteps, lost in the quiet rain's monotonous patter.

I walked alone down the street. My dark coat swept around my legs, and I had pulled my hat down over my eyes. I moved at a leisurely pace; time held little significance for me these days. The lamplight reflected in puddles, and every breath formed a fleeting mist in the chilly air. The windows of the houses were dark, but sometimes a faint light flickered behind a curtain, as if someone was watching me.The wind carried the scent of wet stone and soot. The sounds of the city's factories were distant yet ever-present, like a low background hum in the eternal shift between day and night.I reveled in the calm. Not even the rain that dripped from my shoulder-length hair onto my wool coat disturbed me. I had grown accustomed to the dreary weather here, and the advantage of being a vampire was that I was never too cold or too warm.

"Mr. Clocksworth," greeted a man as I passed by the crowded pub, bowing his head slightly.

I nodded in acknowledgment; he clearly knew me. He might even work for me. I had no idea. Honestly, I didn't care. As long as they did their jobs, I let them be. My feet continued to wander aimlessly; there was no real reason for my walk. I had nothing planned. I was simply outdoors to shake off my worries. After a long-awaited night together, Luis had returned to France. Alone. And something told me it was a bad idea. The nobles there despised us, which was why we had left the country in the first place. The brothers had made too big a name for themselves, and the other vampire clans had decided to eliminate the competition.We could have defeated them all. Anthony knew it too, but he was tired of everything, and when the opportunity arose for us to move, he didn't even bother to ask us.I thrived here. The people were simple, straightforward, and easy to persuade. I treated them fairly, and they worked hard.

My feet turned around a corner, and I decided to take the long way back to our apartment. I didn't feel like spending the rest of the evening alone with Anthony. Luis had left for France a few weeks ago and my masters mood told me he was also worried about his brother, but he wouldn't admit it. He would never show such weakness.

As I continued through a dark, narrow alley, I suddenly heard the distinct sound of a vampire drinking from its prey. I halted immediately and focused my hearing on the creature. It was clearly one of those weaker wretches, and although I knew I could take it down with little effort, it sent a shiver through me.Low sobs reached my eardrums, and I cursed my sentimentality as my feet decided to move toward the sound. I was prepared to face a monster—but in the alley, I found something else. A lone blonde girl lay on the ground, covered in dirt and her own blood.I examined the body and tilted my head to the side. Should I end her suffering or just let her die in peace? For some reason, I couldn't turn away. Perhaps it was because I felt so alone, or maybe it was because she had the same hair color as my daughter. Something compelled me to take another step forward. It was then I noticed the twitches in her body, the pallor of her skin, and the growing fangs in her mouth. The wretch had transformed her. I sighed and took a few steps closer, shaking my head at my own foolishness as I bent down and lifted the frail body into my arms, walking out of the alley.

In my mind, the thought persisted that I should leave her. I knew there were different types of vampires, and I had no idea what she would become. That knowledge made me uneasy. All doubts vanished when the frail arms moved up to rest around my neck, a feeling that was all too familiar to me. Memories of a life taken from me washed over me as she buried her face against the rain, pressing her head into my jacket. My paternal instincts kicked in, and I decided I would protect her. At any cost. The walk home didn't take long, and the surprised greeting I received from Lumiere was nothing compared to my brother-in-law's furious face.

"What were you thinking?" he shouted as I placed the woman's body in one of the spare bedrooms.

"She needs my help," I replied calmly, asking one of the maids to fetch some warm water and bandages.

"So, suddenly you're turning our home into a sanctuary for homeless newborn wretches? Is that what you're doing?" He muttered, glaring irritably at the young woman in the bed. "Are you missing the touch of a woman? Is that why?" He looked at me, trying to make sense of what was going on in my mind. "I'm sure Luis wouldn't mind if you took a trip to the brothel."

I sighed and shook my head. "You don't understand."

"Then enlighten me, T h e o d o r," he hissed, his eyes narrowing.

I took the rag and warm water from the wide-eyed maid who rushed out of the room as soon as she could.

"She reminds me of her," I muttered, carefully sitting down on the bed to start cleaning her face of dirt and blood.

"I understand," he growled, and I felt his gaze studying me intently, but he said no more. A moment later, he left the room, and I could feel Lumiere's hand on my shoulder.

"Did you turn her?" he asked cautiously, and I knew what lay behind the question, so I immediately shook my head.

"No, I would never go against Anthony's rules; you know that."

"She's beautiful," he said before turning to leave the room. "And a mystery; I'm sure she'll be a perfect addition to our family of misfits."

The next few hours were filled with pain and despair for the poor girl. I didn't remember the process being like this for me—but I was turned by a prince, not a weak street rat.

I was there when she opened her large blue eyes and stared around the room with panic in her gaze. "Good morning. How are you feeling?"

The girl stared at me wide-eyed. "What have you done to me?" she hissed, clutching the blanket on the bed.

"I'm helping you," I replied calmly, hoping she would accept my answer.

"Why? Why didn't you just leave me there?" she asked stubbornly, adorably wrinkling her nose. "No one is that kind without a price."

I studied her for a moment. She had clearly lived a hard life on the streets of Manchester. She was in her early twenties, and now her body would remain that way for the rest of her life. She would never die, I thought, feeling a sense of relief in my chest.

"Because you weren't attacked by some random drunk; you were prey for a vampire. A vampire who chose to make you one of us," I explained, deciding to skip the part about the vampire code of honor for later.

The young woman began to laugh maniacally, throwing herself back on the bed and covering her face with her hands as she continued to laugh until her eyes teared up. "Funny joke. You're hilarious."

I smiled at her and got up to call for the maid with the brown hair—what was her name again? I could never remember. However, she was my favorite, very quick to learn and efficient in her tasks.

"Would you please fetch this young lady a glass?" I asked her as she stepped into the room, and she knew exactly what I meant.

Having people work in our home was a risk, but we treated them fairly. We paid them much more than any other household would, and the amount of money was evidently enough for them to keep quiet about our secret. At first, I had noticed how scared they were. They still feared Anthony; I was sure of that, but they seemed more at ease with us now.

The young girl nodded and left the room, only to return with a glass filled with a thick red liquid. I took the glass, thanked the maid, and walked toward the bed. I could see her vampire eyes widen as she caught the scent of the blood, and I knew that hunger had filled her body.

"What's your name, girl?" I asked as I sat on the edge of the bed.

"Marianne," she mumbled, her eyes still focused on the glass.

"So, Marianne, are you thirsty?" She nodded quickly, so quickly and eagerly that I marveled she didn't get dizzy. She gulped down every drop as soon as her fingers touched the glass.I could see the change in her eyes, the need for more, the primal urges pulsing through her body, and I pressed her down onto the bed with a firm hand.

"More," she whispered, but it sounded more like a hissing sound.

"I'll bring you more when you're ready, but until then, you need to rest."

She studied me with wary eyes, her muscles tense. I could tell she was weighing whether she could trust me or if she would storm out and wreak havoc on my household staff instead."Can you stay with me?" she asked, her voice trembling. I was surprised by the lack of fight and defiance in her. She had obeyed my command immediately.

"If that's what you want," I said calmly, noticing a sigh of relief escape her lips.

"Only if you tell me more about what we are," she said, making herself comfortable in the bed. "I love a good story," she added, giving me a radiant smile.

In that moment, I decided I would convince Anthony. He would accept her into our family. I needed her. I needed someone to care for. I needed a daughter.

"What the hell have you done!" Anthony's voice echoed through the dining room, hitting me like a physical blow as I stepped through the door. I had been preoccupied with caring for Marianne day in and day out, all while anxiously awaiting news of my husband. Today, Lumiere had taken my place, guarding the girl's room so that I could finally go downstairs to welcome him home.

"I did what I had to do to survive," Luis sighed, slightly dramatic and bored at the same time, always unbothered by his older brother's temper.

I saw my love leaning back against one of the elegant chairs that showcased our wealth. No one would mistake our success. "Luis?" I nearly whispered as I took a few steps closer.

The vampire smiled, revealing his sharp teeth. His eyes were warm, and I felt a rush of affection. Our marriage had been a business arrangement, a contract, but living together for over a hundred years had drawn us closer. I truly loved him.

"Theodore, my darling," he greeted me, rising from the chair. He looked tired, and I was relieved to have him home where I could protect him.

"How was your journey?" I asked as he wrapped his arms around my neck and pulled me close.

"Tiring," he said shortly before brushing his lips against mine for a brief moment. Instead of kissing me, he rested his forehead against mine. "Let's talk upstairs," he said, but I already knew he wanted to do anything but talk. Even if he mentioned something, he would omit all the important details from me.

Recently, Anthony had chosen to involve me less than before. I had no idea why, and I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me. We should have been equals, but he constantly reminded me that he was my creator, and I was to follow his orders. I cast a glance at the man I had once dreamed of having in my arms. As a newly born vampire, I had fallen so hard for him, and perhaps if he hadn't been so stubborn about following the rules, he would have accepted me as his partner. I could see it in his eyes; the tension between us was always magnetic.

Anthony nodded to me, and I took Luis's hand, guiding him toward the stairs. "He's in a bad mood," I muttered.

"Isn't he always?" Luis chuckled. "I should have stayed in Paris if it weren't for you, my love," he added, squeezing my hand.

I nodded a few times and glanced down at my feet as I spoke hesitantly. "I have news."

He stopped me before I could continue, turning to look at me. "The girl?" he asked, and I wasn't even surprised that he knew. He was a sensitive being, picking up changes in the air. But this time, it was probably Anthony who had informed him.

"I found her, and I had to help her, Luis. I couldn't just leave her there."

He gave me a contemplative look, and I felt his hands move up under my shirt, caressing my skin and exploring every inch of my chest. "You helped her, so why do you talk as if she still needs your help?"

"She's different," I said softly, knowing I had piqued Luis's interest.

"Like most," he chuckled, leaning in to kiss my cheek and lead me toward our bedroom. "So, tell me more."

"Someone had turned her when I found her bleeding on the street."

"Someone we know?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he pushed me down onto the bed.

I shook my head as I fell onto the mattress. "I don't think so."

Luis crawled on his knees over my body, a growing smile spreading across his lips. "Are you causing trouble, darling?"

"Probably," I admitted, but was met with an even bigger grin.

"One thing I love about you, Theodore, is that you're not afraid of my brother," he murmured between light kisses he sprinkled across my skin.

He was right; I wasn't afraid of Anthony, not even when he screamed and threw furniture around the house. I could see the frustration in him, the fear, and all the doubts he tried to suppress.

"How was your journey?" I asked, closing my eyes and enjoying his touch, until he suddenly stopped.

"It was terrible. Let's not talk about it now."

"Or ever?" I sighed, pushing him away. "What's going on? Why do you let me fumble in the dark?" I left him on the bed and started unbuttoning my shirt to throw it over one of the chairs by the window.

"It's family matters, darling, nothing to worry about," he said in his soft voice that he always used to try to calm me. But this time, it didn't work.

"What the hell am I then? Just a pawn in the game you're playing?"

"Theodore, I don't want to argue. I've missed you."

"And I've missed you more than you understand," I said, but I turned my back on him. I was tired of being treated like a member of the staff and constantly following their whims.

I could hear him rise from the bed and walk toward me. He stopped just behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder and hugging me from behind. "Are you upset with me? Or is it Anthony? Or is something else bothering you?"

I sighed and shook my head. "I'm tired of his attitude, and I'm tired of the work he forces me to do." I turned to hold him in my arms. "We drain people of blood to survive, but we aren't cold-blooded murderers—yet lately, I feel like one."

"My dear husband and his big heart, I thought Anthony would have turned it to stone by now, but I was wrong," he whispered, kissing my cheek.

"Tell me what to do," I pleaded desperately.

"It's simple, my love—find someone who is loyal but has a heart of ice who can do the job for you."

I nodded a few times, despite the knot in my stomach. "I've already found her."

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A/N - My inspiration for Lumiere and Marianne is from the Beauty and the Beast ofc. But personality wise they're inspired by Silco and Jinx 😉