#count orlock

Wind howled through the dense forest, and the rain came down in relentless sheets, soaking you to the bone.

But you didn't listen to whatever force was trying to stop you. You just wanted shelter.

In the distance, through the mist, you saw the silhouette of a castle rising from the cliffs like an ominous sentinel.

Desperate for shelter and warmth, you made your way toward the structure.

The heavy iron gate creaked open with a groan as you pushed against it, the sound echoing into the night.

You hesitated for a moment before stepping into the castle’s courtyard, your instincts warning you that something wasn’t right.

That was another warning you ignored.

But with no other choice and the storm showing no signs of stopping, you crossed the threshold and knocked on the massive oak doors.

By the time you arrived, it was dark. If you would have turned around, you wouldn't have been able to see the gates you just opened.

To your surprise, the doors opened almost immediately, revealing a tall, pale figure draped in a dark cloak.

His features were sharp, almost skeletal, with deep-set eyes that gleamed unnervingly in the flickering torchlight.

A shiver ran down your spine.

“You are lost,” his voice rumbled.

“The storm… I needed a place to stay for the night.” You nodded, shivering from the cold.

The figure regarded you for a long moment before stepping aside.

“Enter, traveler. You may find shelter here.”

Reluctantly, you stepped inside. The grand hall was dimly lit by flickering torches, casting long, distorted shadows across the stone walls. Despite the chill that seemed to seep from the very stones, it was a relief to be out of the storm. The door closed behind you with an ominous thud.

“You will be safe here for the night.”

“Thank you,” you said quietly, still uneasy but too exhausted to question his hospitality.

You ignored all warnings. Whatever was coming your way now, will be your fault.

---

At first, your stay seemed ordinary enough.

Count Orlok was distant, appearing only at night and rarely speaking more than necessary.

The servants, if there were any, remained unseen, and the castle felt strangely bare of life.

Despite the strange atmosphere, you were grateful for the warmth and food provided.

However, as the days passed, things began to change.

You noticed how Count Orlok’s gaze lingered on you longer than before, his dark eyes filled with something you couldn’t quite point out.

Shadows in the corners of the castle seemed to shift and move as if watching you. Why were you ignoring all those warnings?

When everything around you screamed for you to run, to flee and not stop.

No matter the cold, the rain or the thunder.

At night, you would wake with an unexplainable sense of dread, as though something unseen was lurking.

One evening, as you dined alone in the grand hall, Orlok appeared silently beside you, startling you.

You never even questioned where the food came from.

“You are uneasy,” making you jump as he spoke.

“This place… it feels strange,” you admitted cautiously. “Like it’s alive.”

A faint smile played on his lips, one that didn’t reach his eyes.

“The castle has seen many years. It remembers.” You frowned, unsure of what he meant, but before you could ask, he added, “You remind me of someone I once knew. Someone who was very dear to me.”

“I’m just a traveler,” you said, trying to dismiss the tension.

“Perhaps,” he murmured, his gaze never leaving yours. “But I believe you are something more.”

---

That night, you were unable to sleep, and you decided to finally leave.

The growing sense of unease had become unbearable, and you couldn’t shake the feeling that staying any longer would be dangerous.

You packed your belongings quietly and made your way through the dark corridors, the torches casting shadows on the walls.

But as you approached the main doors, you found them locked.

Panic set in as you tried to force them open, but it was no use.

“Leaving, Darling?” Orlok’s voice echoed through the hall, sending a chill down your spine. You turned to see him standing at the top of the grand staircase, his expression unreadable.

“I… I thought it was time for me to leave,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I must leave now."

He came down the stairs slowly, each step echoing ominously. “You cannot leave.”

“Why?” you demanded, fear creeping into your voice.

“Because you belong here,” he said simply. “With me.”

With a snap of his fingers, your eyes closed as you fell into a deep sleep.

---

Over the next few days, Orlok’s behaviour shifted.

He no longer tried to hide his fascination with you.

Wherever you went, you felt his presence, watching, waiting. Despite the fear that held you, there was something else, a strange pull toward him, as if some forgotten part of you recognized him.

One evening, as the storm raged outside once more, you just couldn't handle the building pressure inside you and you decided to confront him.

“Why are you doing this? Why won't you let me go?” you asked, your voice trembling.

He stepped closer, his pale face illuminated by the firelight.

“Because I have waited centuries for you. You are the one I lost. Fate has brought you back to me.”

“That’s impossible,” you whispered, though something deep within you stirred at his words. As if something deep down in you knew, he wasn't lying.

“Is it?” he asked softly, reaching out to touch your face. His fingers were cold, yet the touch was strangely comforting. “You feel it too, don’t you? The connection between us.”

“I don’t know what to believe.” your hands were shaking. You questioned everything.

“Believe in what you feel,” he said, his voice a whisper that seemed to echo in your mind. “Stay with me, and you will understand.”

You wanted to know. You needed to know. You were desperate.

With curiosity building inside you, you stayed.

---

Days turned into weeks, and slowly, your fear began to disappear.

Orlok was still a creature of darkness, but he was also something more.

You learned that he was also a being capable of deep love and devotion.

Passion and obsession.

He showed you parts of the castle you have not seen during your stay.

He also shared stories of a time long gone.

You found yourself drawn to him in ways you couldn’t explain.

Perhaps this was why you decided to ignore all warnings. All the chills that ran down your spine, telling you to run.

One night, as you stood together on the balcony overlooking the forest, he turned to you, his eyes locking with yours.

“You have brought light to my eternal night.”

“And you have shown me that even in darkness, there can be love.” You reached out, your hand locking with his.

As the wind howled, you leaned in, your lips meeting in a kiss that sealed your fate.

You were no longer a traveller lost in the storm.

You were home, with him, in the heart of the darkness, where your love had found a way to bloom.

~Masterlist~

ˇAO3ˇ

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