Hidden between the mountains and the thick, in ancient forest lies the small town of Hearthwood, a place ordinary in every way except for one: twice a year, at the turning of the seasons, the town hosts the Moonbound Prom.

To outsiders it sounds like a festival, a dance, a quaint rural custom. But every local knows the truth: It’s not just a prom. It’s the only night when humans and vampires meet on equal ground.

Not as hunters and hunted, nor predators and preys, no forced things, no murders. Just a neutral ground for two species to meet peacefully.

Generations ago, Hearthwood struck an unusual pact with the vampire clans. There would be peace — but also communion. Two nights each year, under the waxing moon, the old town hall opens its doors for a gathering where:

Human girls and boys attend in their finest clothes, Vampire men and women emerge from the forest’s shadows, and for a few hours, the two worlds mix without fear of ambush or bloodshed.

The event is steeped in ritual courtship. Vampires, bound by instinct and old aristocratic traditions, court humans the way nobles once courted royalty — with elegance, restraint, and a dangerous kind of devotion.

Some humans come out of curiosity. Some for love. Some for the thrill. And some because their families consider it an honor if a vampire shows interest.

But everyone comes knowing the same truth: A vampire’s attention is both a gift… and a risk. Of course, for the pact to remain intact, strict laws bind every attendee — especially the vampires.

First. No biting without consent.

A vampire cannot take a drop of blood unless their chosen human explicitly agrees. Even then, the bite must be shallow, symbolic, never life-threatening. To break this rule means exile… or worse.

Second. No hunting within Hearthwood during the week of the Prom.

Vampires must feed before entering the town. Any vampire caught stalking a human outside the designated event is immediately banished by both human and vampire authorities.

Third. Humans must be willing participants.

No one is dragged to the prom (unless from their parents). Stepping into the ballroom means acknowledging its risks — and its possibilities.

And lastly. Courtship ends at sunrise.

Whatever bonds are formed, whatever choices are made, they must be spoken by dawn. A human may choose to remain human. A vampire may choose to let go. Or they may claim one another.

And these rules have held the fragile peace for nearly a century. As it was in fact that more girls were attending from the human side while more guys were going from the vampire side.

As for the whole thing? Some see the proms as sacred tradition. A bridge between two species. Proof that fear can become understanding.

Others whisper that it’s a dangerous game. A night where girls fall for monsters dressed as gentlemen. Where hearts break and humans sometimes disappear after the final dance.