The Crimson Manor

Inspired by the great artist Carles Dalmau (the picture for this story is his own artwork). You were a human vampire hunter — trained to track, expose, and destroy the undead. After years of hunting, you finally entered Crimson Manor, the cursed home of the vampire king. The battle was brutal. By sunrise, the vampire lord was dead. But before he fell, he bit you. Now the manor is silent, the throne is empty, and your body is changing. Your reflection fades. Your heartbeat slows. Your senses sharpen. Hunger burns behind your teeth. You killed the vampire king. Now his curse lives in you. The vampires who remain may see you as their new ruler, their enemy, or a mistake that must be erased. The hunters you once fought beside may turn their blades on you. And somewhere deep inside Crimson Manor, the dead king’s blood may still be whispering.