Married To The Mad Vampire Lord

They didn't need to ask who he was. They already knew.

"And here I was, thinking you two would never return in time to join the party my new friend was hosting in your beautiful home," he clicked his tongue as he took a deep drag of his cigar, blowing the smoke out from the corner of his mouth. He gestured down toward the rogue that was struggling madly against the chains, desperate to lunge at the new arrivals to devour them like his meal, just like he had the others.

The rogue's mouth had a cloth tied over it, as if to stop it from biting the person holding its chain, but its dead, savage red eyes locked onto them as it growled low and guttural, jerking forward again and again against its restraint.

The couple instinctively stepped back. Rogues did not care what one was, they would feast on anyone. The bodies scattered inside the house were clear evidence that this rogue had fed on their workers.

Who in their right mind would capture a creature that had turned into such a beast and then put a leash around its neck? How on earth had he even gotten close enough to it, without being bitten, to put the leash on? The couple wondered in distressed alarm, their thoughts running wild as they moved back again when the rogue nearly broke free. If they weren't careful, this madman might let go of the chain and unleash the thing on them!

Eddie's eyes hardened as he tried to act brave. "What the fuck, my Lord? Are you mad, bringing that creature into our house?!" he demanded, forcing himself to hold his ground while refusing to take his eyes off the savage rogue.

The creature's rotting flesh and tattered clothes were matted with dark stains, fresh blood from the vampires it had just devoured dripping from its soaked clothing. Its stench was so foul it could make even a vampire gag.

"You don't know who you're dealing with. I can fucking report you for this and have you punished for it, Lord Dagon. I suggest, if you don't want to get on my family's bad side, you take that thing out of my house right now!" Eddie barked with all the authority he could muster in his voice.

Though the other man was a Duke, Eddie's family had far-reaching connections and influence that went beyond a mere title. If he pulled the right strings, he could have this lunatic locked back in the asylum where he clearly belonged, because only a madman would bring a rogue into someone's home on a chain.

"Who are you again?" came Rohan's uncertain question, his eyes narrowing on Eddie.

"I am Eddie Rothbarth! My father is the king's third advisor, you won't like the outcome once this gets to the king."

Eddie saw the Duke's arrogant smirk falter, shifting into what looked like a troubled, almost distressed expression, as if he had just realized he was dealing with the wrong man. Of course, he had just messed with the wrong man, Mr. Rothbarth thought in superiority, glaring at the mad Duke.

"I will let this slide if you leave and take that thing with you," Eddie said pointedly, narrowing his eyes when he noticed the Duke had begun to pull back the chain, as though he really meant to go.

Eddie's chest swelled with vindication as he watched the man turn the rogue away from them, dragging it further away from them.

Stephanie clung to his arm in tense relief, her mind already convinced that Lord Dagon had decided to retreat at her husband's threat. Eddie was equally sure, perhaps the Duke, unpredictable as he was, had realized this was not the right battle to pick. The couple exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that the man must be leaving through the back entrance to avoid passing them with the creature for the fear of offending them more.

They stood still, both of them watching as the Duke disappeared deeper into the house with long, effortless strides, his hand tight around the chain at the rogue's neck. The sound of the creature's snarls faded slightly with distance, and the tension in their shoulders began to ease.

Stephanie exhaled heavily and let herself sag into her husband's side, relief washing over her like a wave. Eddie wrapped an arm protectively around her and muttered, "That was easy. The fucker—"

His words were cut short by a sudden scratching sound and slow footsteps. Their heads snapped toward the noise, and their relief shattered.

The man they had thought was gone walked back into the hall. Only now, he was dragging a chair behind him, the legs scraping loudly against the floor, while the rogue still strained madly against the chain in his other hand.

Wide-eyed, the couple could only stare as he hauled the chair forward and set it down. Then, with the lazy, unhurried grace of a predator, he sat himself upon it, his grip never loosening from the back of the hunched-over rogue to keep it firmly in place.

When he looked up at them, an innocent smile played across his face. Sighing, he said,

"It's quite exhausting to keep standing, and I want to enjoy this while being comfortable. So… what were you saying again, Rothbarth?"

He arched a brow at the stunned vampire couple.

"Oh, yes, you were saying something about locking me in the madhouse by using your connections. Wonderful! I would love to see you try that."

Eddie recovered from his shock enough to grit out, "You are indeed mad."

Rohan threw his head back and let out a humorless laugh.

"I have always been mad, didn't you know? Tsk… and I can't wait to introduce you to Rafael here. I just named him because he did an awesome job clearing out the people here in the blink of an eye," he remarked, reaching down to gently rub the rogue's head.

At his touch, the creature jerked up as if to bite his hand, only to receive a sharp slap to the head that forced it back down. Rohan clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"You don't bite the hands that feeds you, Rafael. Be good, and you'll get to eat two more useless beings."

Hearing his words, the couple, who had been watching him warily, tensed and instinctively began to edge away. But there was nowhere to run. The door was locked, and the only way out of the house was blocked by the mad vampire and the rogue he held.

"Why are you doing this, my Lord? Why would you bring that creature into our home?" Steph almost cried as she asked the question. She wasn't ready to die, especially not by getting eaten by that thing!

Still patting the rogue's head, Rohan lifted his gaze to the woman, his eyes carrying a bored, almost lazy expression as he replied,

"You poked me first, remember? A lion sits in its den, minding its own business… then a group of brainless beings stroll in and step on its tail. You don't expect the lion to step away and bow to them for causing it pain, do you?"

The couple exchanged a confused look. They had no memory of ever provoking this vampire to bring his madness to their house. The only person they knew they had hurt was his human wife, and from what everyone in Nightbrook knew, this man didn't care about some human he was forced to marry and keep. He should be thanking them for helping him get rid of a pest.

"You must—"

"Seven months, two weeks, and three days ago," Rohan cut in, his tone turning sharp, "you went after what was mine in Grimvale. You brought pain to something I own. And whoever dares touch what I consider mine… touches me. You were among those who stepped on my belonging, and for that, you will pay the price." His lips pulled into a cold, merciless smile.

"Rafael here is starving. He needs four more people to fill his stomach. You two will do for now. Do you have any last words before I let him go?" His fingers began to loosen their grip on the chain, his eyes locked on the pair as they hurridly stumbled backward toward the door, abandoning any attempt to threaten him further.

They focused only on pulling at the door with their vampire strength.

Tsk… and this is why you don't use vampire-restrained doors, Rohan thought, for you might be the ones trapped inside.

Almost every wealthy family used a door made to keep out vampire intruders, and just like everyone else, the Rothbarth had it. Now, they couldn't open it after it was locked.

With deliberate slowness, he unfastened the cloth around the rogue's mouth and released the chain. The moment the restraint was gone, the creature lunged at the vampires by the door without hesitation.

Screams erupted, echoing through the house, followed by the sickening sounds of flesh tearing. Smiling faintly, Rohan leaned back in the chair, watching the scene without blinking, if he dared blink, he might miss the fleeting look in their eyes before death claimed them.

"Now, Rafael, hurry up. We have two more to find. The Greywolf cannot be left for another time," he called out to the creature, as if it could hear him, though Rafael was far too busy feasting to care.