DARK DESIRE
The Encounter
Prologue
The city of Ravenshade was always bathed in twilight, a place where shadows stretched long, and whispers filled the cobblestone streets. A hidden world lurked beneath the surface of the ordinary, ruled by creatures of the night.
Nibash, a struggling writer burdened by his own past, moved to this mysterious town seeking solitude, but fate had other plans. A pair of piercing crimson eyes watched him from the darkness, belonging to a man who was neither living nor dead—Vikki, a vampire of old blood, powerful and ruthless, yet captivated by something he could not explain.
Their fates intertwined the moment they met, leading them into a dangerous game of obsession, power, and a love that defied the laws of both men and monsters.
Ravenshade was a town wrapped in an eerie, perpetual dusk. Thick clouds hung low, blocking the sun, and the air carried a whisper of something unseen. The cobblestone streets were slick from the recent rain, reflecting the dim glow of streetlamps. It was a place where secrets hid in the corners, and the night never truly slept.
Nibash pulled his coat tighter around himself as he walked through the near-empty streets. His breath curled in the cold air, vanishing like the ghosts of his past. He had come here for peace—to escape the relentless noise of the city, the memories that clawed at him in the dark. A fresh start, he told himself. A lie, perhaps, but one he desperately needed to believe.
The bookstore at the end of the alley was exactly what he had been searching for: old, quiet, and filled with the scent of aged paper. A bell tinkled as he stepped inside. The dim lighting and towering shelves made the space feel timeless. The owner, an elderly man with round spectacles, barely looked up from his newspaper.
Nibash ran his fingers along the spines of ancient books, some with titles in languages he couldn’t read. His fingers paused on a black leather-bound book. The moment he touched it, a strange sensation curled through his veins—a chill, like unseen fingers trailing over his skin.
...
You shouldn’t touch that.
The voice was smooth, deep, and edged with amusement. Nibash turned sharply. A man stood in the aisle, dressed in black from head to toe. His wet hair clung to his forehead, stray strands falling into crimson eyes that burned with an unnatural intensity.
Nibash felt his heartbeat stutter. Something about this man was wrong. He was beautiful—too beautiful, like something sculpted rather than born. His sharp jawline, the slight curve of his lips, and the way his black shirt clung to his frame spoke of elegance, but there was danger beneath it.
Nibash asked, gripping the book tighter.
The man tilted his head, smirking.
...
Because it belongs to me.
His voice held a weight, a command wrapped in velvet, and for a moment, Nibash felt an urge to hand it over. But something inside him resisted. He narrowed his eyes.
Nibash
I didn’t see your name on it.
The man chuckled, stepping closer. The dim lighting cast shadows over his face, making him look almost inhuman.
...
You have a sharp tongue, little one.
...
Compared to me, you are.
The tension between them was thick, a silent challenge hanging in the air. Nibash refused to look away, even as those crimson eyes studied him, dissecting him as if peeling back layers of his soul.
Then, the man did something unexpected—he leaned in, his breath warm against Nibash’s ear.
Nibash stepped back so fast he almost tripped over a stack of books.
The man simply smiled. A slow, knowing smile that sent a shiver down Nibash’s spine. He reached out, his fingers brushing over the book, and suddenly, Nibash felt the weight lift from his hands. The book was no longer in his grip—it was in the stranger’s.
...
You ask too many questions
The man murmured, flipping through the pages.
Nibash
How do you know my name?
The man chuckled again, stepping past him. As he reached the door, he looked over his shoulder.
...
I know many things, little one.
Then, he was gone, leaving behind only the faintest scent of something metallic and sweet.
Nibash stared at the empty space where the man had stood.
Nibash
Who the hell was that?
Nibash
And why did it feel like he had just walked into something he could never escape?
The Hunger
The cold air of Ravenshade bit at Nibash’s skin as he stepped out of the bookstore. The mysterious man—whoever he was—had vanished into the darkness, leaving behind nothing but an unsettling feeling curling in Nibash’s stomach. He had always been drawn to the eerie and unexplained, but there was something about that man that made his instincts scream.
He walked back to his apartment, a small place tucked between an antique shop and a bakery that never seemed to open. The creaky wooden floorboards groaned under his weight as he entered. Letting out a breath, he locked the door behind him and leaned against it.
Nibash muttered to himself.
A shiver ran down his spine as he recalled those crimson eyes, the way his voice had sent an almost hypnotic tremor through his bones.
Nibash shook his head and turned on the lamp beside his bed. The warm glow did little to push away the chill that had settled in the room. He peeled off his coat and sat down, running a hand through his hair. The encounter replayed in his mind, making sleep feel impossible.
A shadow flickered in the dim light, right by his window. His breath hitched as his eyes snapped toward it. The curtains swayed gently, though the windows were closed.
Nibash
I’m being paranoid.
Turning back to his bed, he froze.
The man from the bookstore was sitting on his windowsill.
Nibash’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest.
Nibash
How the hell did you—
The man smirked, his sharp fangs just barely visible under the dim light.
...
You left your window unlocked.
Nibash stopped. Had he? He was sure he had locked it earlie
His eyes darted to the door—still bolted shut. Then back to the man, who was now watching him like a predator amused by its prey’s confusion.
Nibash asked, forcing himself to stay calm.
Vikki. The name settled uncomfortably in Nibash’s mind. It suited him—mysterious, dangerous, alluring.
Nibash
You broke into my apartment.
Vikki
I don’t break into places
Vikki said, tilting his head.
Nibash narrowed his eyes.
Nibash
That’s the same damn thing.
Vikki chuckled, low and smooth.
There was an unnatural grace to the way he moved as he slid off the windowsill. His black clothing blended into the shadows, making him look almost unreal.
Nibash
If this is some weird attempt at flirting, I—”
Before he could finish, Vikki vanished.
Nibash’s breath caught. He barely had time to react before a warm breath ghosted against his neck from behind.
Vikki
You really do smell… intoxicating.
Nibash spun around, his heart hammering. Vikki was right there, too close, too fast.
Nibash’s throat went dry.
Vikki’s fingers trailed down his arm, cold against his skin.
Vikki
I think you already know.
Nibash’s mind screamed vampire, but he refused to say it out loud. He didn’t believe in fairytales—at least, he hadn’t until now.
he forced out, stepping back until his legs hit the edge of the bed.
Vikki sighed, as if disappointed.
Vikki
I’m not here to hurt you, Nibash.
Nibash
How do you know my name?
Vikki
Because I’ve been watching you for a long time.
The air in the room thickened.
Nibash clenched his fists.
Nibash
That’s not creepy at all.
Vikki
Oh, little one, if I wanted to be creepy, you wouldn’t still be standing.
Nibash swallowed. His pulse pounded in his ears.
Nibash
What do you want from me?
Vikki leaned in, his crimson eyes locking onto Nibash’s.
And in that moment, he knew—his life would never be the same again.
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Blood Oath
The air between them crackled with tension.
Nibash’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to make sense of the impossible. A stranger—a man who had appeared and disappeared like a ghost—was standing inches away, staring at him like he was something to be devoured.
Vikki’s words lingered in the air, sending a shiver down Nibash’s spine. His mind screamed at him to run, to fight, to do something, but his body remained frozen.
Vikki’s lips twitched into an amused smirk.
With terrifying speed, Vikki moved again—one second he was standing in front of Nibash, the next, he was behind him. His breath fanned against Nibash’s ear, cold yet burning.
Vikki
Don’t play games with me, little one,
Nibash’s body tensed. The logic-driven part of his mind resisted the answer, but deep down, he knew. The unnatural speed, the crimson eyes, the cold touch… it all pointed to one thing.
The word stuck in his throat.
Vikki chuckled, his fingers lightly tracing the curve of Nibash’s neck.
The moment the word left his lips, something shifted. Vikki’s smirk faded, replaced by something darker, something hungry.
Vikki leaned against the wall, his black shirt slightly unbuttoned, revealing the faintest hint of his collarbone. He looked effortlessly dangerous.
Vikki
I could say it’s your scent
Vikki
Sweet. Irresistible.
His gaze flickered to Nibash’s throat.
Vikki
But that would only be half the truth.
Nibash clenched his fists.
Nibash
Then tell me the full truth
A shadow passed over Vikki’s face. He studied Nibash for a moment before speaking.
Vikki
There’s something special about you, Nibash. Your blood… your soul.
Vikki took a step forward, forcing Nibash back.
Vikki
Have you ever wondered why you’ve always felt… different? Why the darkness doesn’t scare you like it should?”
He had always been different. Drawn to the night, to things others would call strange. But that didn’t mean anything—did it?
Nibash muttered, more to himself than to Vikki.
Vikki’s expression softened—just a little.
Vikki
Oh, little one. Deny it all you want, but you feel it, don’t you?
Nibash opened his mouth to protest, but Vikki moved again—too fast, too smooth. Suddenly, his hand was around Nibash’s wrist, cool fingers pressing against his pulse.
The touch sent an electric jolt through Nibash’s body. His heart pounded
Vikki
Your body recognizes me
Vikki
Even if your mind refuses to.
Nibash yanked his hand back.
Vikki sighed, as if this was all some inconvenience to him.
Vikki
You don’t understand, do you?
Nibash gritted his teeth.
Nibash
Then make me understand.
Vikki studied him for a long moment, then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he reached up and undid the first few buttons of his shirt.
Nibash’s eyes widened as he saw it.
A mark—etched into Vikki’s skin, just above his heart. A deep, intricate symbol that pulsed with something almost alive.
Vikki’s fingers brushed over it.
Vikki
And you, Nibash, are the one tied to it.
Nibash
That’s not possible.
Vikki took another step closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
Vikki
Your blood called to me. You belong to me.
Nibash’s heart thundered. His instincts screamed to run.
But a small, dangerous part of him whispered—what if he’s telling the truth?
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