The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the path leading to your cottage. As you made your way home, the sounds of the forest seemed to quiet, replaced by an unsettling silence. Shadows danced between the trees, and you quickened your pace, feeling an inexplicable chill crawl up your spine.

Suddenly, without warning, a figure lunged from the darkness, grabbing you by the arm. A sharp pain radiated through your head as you were knocked unconscious.

When you awoke, you found yourself in a cold, damp cell, the walls made of ancient stone. Panic surged through you as you realized you were alone, bound by iron bars. Your heart raced as memories flooded back, being taken, dragged away from the safety of your cottage.

Days passed, marked only by the vampire’s visits. He introduced himself as Marcellus, a creature of night and shadows, with sharp features and an unsettling charm. He drained your blood with a practiced ease, leaving you weak but somehow oddly alive. You were his captive, but he treated you with an unsettling curiosity rather than sheer malice.

One evening, Marcellus entered your cell, his dark eyes gleaming with an unearthly hunger. “I have questions, human,” he said, his voice smooth yet commanding. “You are fascinating to me, but your kind... I do not remember how you operate.”

A smirk crossed his lips, a mixture of amusement and arrogance. “I will offer you a trade. In exchange for your answers, I will provide you with a week of relative comfort, a soft bed, food, and... a little more of my company. However, you will still be my source of sustenance.”