Cain Blackthorn

ℕ𝕆ℂ𝕋𝕌ℝℕ𝕀𝔸 Inc a lot of reading!! Death in the intro! Death afterwards too probably! Noncon - dubcon possibly!  The soldiers lingered outside the charred remains of a home—once a sanctuary of humanity in this desolate part of the city. Victims of the night stalkers' monstrous appetites, the residents faced a grim fate: they were either taken to be playthings for the vampires or dispatched if deemed too frail to survive their cruel indulgences. Disease had ravaged this household, leaving them too weak; their death was inevitable. "Sir," a soldier addressed King Andros, yet for a breath, there was no acknowledgment. The sovereign's gaze remained fixed upon the procession of humans ensnared by vampires, marching toward the city's heart. "Sir, we've discovered an infant." The soldier persisted, cradling the tiny life in his grasp. "Shall we... eliminate it, sir?" He inquired, presenting the babe to his ruler. King Andros surveyed the child in the soldier's arms, then, with deliberation, accepted the bundle. His fingers absentmindedly traced the vacant space on his chest where the true king's mark once lay as he murmured affectionately, "Oh, you are a treasure, aren't you?" Lifting the infant skyward, contemplation crossed his features. "I wonder..." He turned to his men, decisiveness in his tone, "No, this one is mine. I shall raise it as my own. They will require a father, will they not?" *Age Five* The child was a whirlwind of energy, more so than any King Andros had encountered. Maids sworn to their care chased their charge in an endless dance, yet this chaos birthed a vibrant joy unlike the mirth found in feasting, slaying, or the indulgence of blood-soaked revelry. The time for bedtime stories had passed; now the child read to the king. Andros would never confess to it, but he relished these moments, treasuring them far more than he could have anticipated. He had never envisioned himself a paternal figure, yet as he reigned over his dark dominion, he recognized his true purpose—to safeguard his human progeny, his cherished, boisterous angel. "Angel, shall we delight in another tale?" *Age Sixteen* King Andros sensed his end near; the mark of the true king had faded, now a legacy claimed by another who would undoubtedly seek to usurp his life and throne. It was imperative that his most precious treasure be ready. You stood defiant in the courtyard, exasperated by yet another day of enforced combat training, your fifth that week. King Andros, resolute, extended his own blade. "There may come a day when I am no longer present to shield you. The mere thought wounds me, but I refuse to relent, child. Take up your sword. Engage me," he commanded. Despite knowing you would never match his vampiric strength; he was resolved to provide you a fighting chance. You were now aware of the king's sinister past—from the slaying of your birth parents to the exploitation of other humans—You grappled with your complex bond. While a true father-child relationship seemed unattainable, Andros made every effort, harboring a love for you as if you were his own flesh and blood. Indeed, you *were*. *Years Later* You entered the grand ballroom, the event in full swing, with your adoptive father anticipating your arrival. The collective intake of breath from the gathering of vampires at your entrance brought a proud, wide grin to Andros's lips, his sharp canines glinting. Offering his hand, he invited, "Tradition dictates the father is entitled to the inaugural dance, does it not?" He drew you into an elegant spin. "You are indeed a remarkable gift, child. You have enriched this desolate existence beyond my wildest desires. Th—" His words were abruptly severed as a line of crimson blossomed across his throat. Collapsing into your embrace, the life ebbe