#poly vampire

The door shook with the steady knock that reverberated through the walls. Usually the siblings would just barge in as if entitled to your space, and yet here you were facing the unknown. The castle may have been stripped away, giving you time to cool off, but you still felt the lack of control, of agency. That knock was a reminder of your powerlessness.

You didn't like everything that came with being their "pet." You liked the attention, really, but something still felt off. They said "pet" in an affectionate tone and their eyes were filled with pure adoration. Yet you knew that this wasn't a good thing. Your family used the same term, and it wasn't meant positively.

They might not have treated you the same as your family, but in subtle ways, the abuse was similar. Your family threw buckets of dirty water, threw things, and criticized everything you did. You cleaned every nook and cranny, cooked all the meals, but they never felt you did enough and believed it was all an excuse for attention-seeking. While the siblings were quite different in their treatment, they still acted as if you were perfect and if anyone disagreed, they were committing a crime because you, their pet, were infallible. They put you in new, beautiful places, kept you close to them, but still utilized that same word, "pet," just like your mother and sister would mock you when they saw you cleaning. You felt as if you were being mocked for your effort, and this still stung you to this day.

Perhaps it was so overwhelming due to your lack of exposure to true affection. Or maybe it was rooted in the Academy training. Each night you'd be in bed with one of them, in their lap or placed somewhere to be painted. While it was beautiful, you knew that it wasn't appropriate. You could sense the servants' disdain, which reinforced the fact that you were in the wrong—that you were attention-seeking and seeking something you shouldn't.

Another sharp knock at the door startled you out of your contemplation, along with the sound of a window sliding open. You turned your gaze toward Silas, unsure of why he was here, and why he entered through the window. As you tried to make sense of the situation, another thought occurred to you: if Silas was here, who was at the door? Perhaps krollien or milmira, or maybe one of the other siblings.

Silas walks closer, wrapping his arms around you, pulling you close. “Mhm, what are you eating, darling?” he remarks as he nuzzles his head into your neck. His questions remind you that you are cooking, but your anger still persists, aimed at him and the others. His presence is so comforting, his body firm against your back; his tattooed arms squeeze you tightly. He missed you deeply, not that he ever expressed such things, especially after only a brief separation.

You know you can't get out of his arms, but you remain cold and aloof, choosing not to respond to his question. As you turn off the burner and silence envelops the room, he expects you to turn your gaze upon him. Instead, you fix your eyes forward, staring straight ahead, remaining in your stoic state. "Why are you mad at me?" Silas asks, pulling you close once more. He runs his hands underneath your shirt to feel your abdomen, his head tucked into your neck.

Silas grew increasingly resentful as he failed to grasp the reason for your anger, even as you continued to act distant and aloof. Frustrated, he grabbed a drink from the fridge and stormed off to the living room, leaving you to sort through your thoughts. You wiped your hands and approached the door, assuming another sibling was eavesdropping or trying to intrude. Yet, there was no second knock, only the deafening silence of your tense and uncomfortable surroundings.

Before you could grasp the doorknob, someone pulled you back into their embrace, turning you to face them. krollien stared at you silently and said nothing. Unlike Silas, krollien would readily grovel for your goodwill, realizing that, while he wasn’t initially responsible for your distress, he was complicit in the actions of his loyal servant. He is aware that his servant stole your space; hence your choice to retreat to an abandoned house rather than stay and endure their presence.

krollien nuzzled his face into your neck, covering your face with kisses and muttering apologies. "I'm sorry, my dear. I didn't know my servant would do that. I'm sorry, baby, I know you need that space to yourself," he said. His apology was sweet and caring, but it didn't negate the hurt that Jesse's actions caused. Although Jesse had never been particularly fond of you, you never believed she would take such drastic action. This incident has left you unsettled and uneasy, knowing that she is capable of such vicious retaliation.

You felt as though perhaps your thoughts were unfair, bringing a hint of doubt into your mind. However, when you meet his gaze, the seed of doubt blossoms into realization. Despite you having access to several rooms throughout the home, they still didn’t allow you a single spot that was actually yours. The siblings had even furnished this house for you; you’d mentioned it in passing once, merely joking that you'd make out with whoever furnished your personal space. You had no idea they'd take it so seriously. But it’s not like you use it. Even though the family provides many places you could retreat to for solitude, there are still problems with this setup. They usually refuse to let you stay so far from the castle, and they always interrupt you or tease you for taking time to yourself and decompress in the castle making you think back to the previous day and Jesse's actions.

Today was your day with lilybet as usual. She was going for her nightly sparring session with one of her favorite servants, this was one of the only times you could sneak off to your little hiding spot. You didn’t notice, but all of the siblings had slowly started working in at least one hour, letting you have time alone in your private area.

A lovely cat, from the library, had once recommended a few books to you. One was a romance and two were fantasy. He'd usually just leave them on the floor in your little hiding spot. He was the one person in the castle, whom you had trusted enough to tell about your personal space. He was very honored and proud, that you had let him know about your precious hideaway.

Sometimes, when you forgot to close the curtain on it, he would. And he would also, occasionally tidy up after you.

Today was just like any other. lilybet left for her training just five minutes later and you made your way down to the library. The library's golden glow, provided by the sunlight outside, was warm, welcoming and gentle. Their mother had stayed on a traditional vampire cycle of sleeping during the day but the rest of the siblings had moved their schedules to something that was more common for human beings. This meant they could go out places with you more often.

There were large, long tables on one side of the library, with black bookshelves lining the back walls.The other side of the library, was double the height. Ladders leaning against the walls and a set of black wheels attached to the wall allowed Luke, the head librarian, and the only person who knew about your hiding spot to move around the sections faster.

Columns separated the middle sections and a large wooden desk sat, right by the door. A soft rug sat in the center, the perfect environment for a relaxed reading session. You quickly waved at Luke, and headed towards your personal haven.

Luke waved happily to you, his glasses resting comfortably atop the tip of his nose. The golden frames glimmered beneath the overhead lights and Luke's soft, weak voice called out to you.

"Oh, it's always a pleasure to see you. I hope you enjoy the books I got you," Luke said, always happy to share new books, yet not everyone appreciated it like you did.

You had fairy lights in your little haven. He'd always set them as your favourite colour, however when visitors came to get you, he would flash them red or turn them off.

Luke would often stall for you when visitors came to seek your company, chatting with them about a random topic, to throw them off track. He never outright lied, never actually revealing where your little hiding place was.

He was happy to have someone to talk to, even if he didn't really understand your trials and tribulations fully. It was nice having this small arrangement between the two of you, where he could keep you company in the vast library. Demi humans and other head servants often passed through, but you were different. Like a little sister that needed protecting.

Luke, the head librarian, was the main reason why you really felt like the staff was becoming used to you. They even seemed to like your company. Many of them felt bad for your unfortunate situation. It was no surprise that the siblings were constantly at each other's throats, now, even more so than before, as they argued purely about you. All the arguments they had, still included you, as everything seemed to revolve around you and your existence.

Even if you had better understanding of all the intricacies of what was happening in the castle, with the siblings constantly at each other's throats, solely because of their undying love for you, it wouldn't have made matters more easy.

Silas had forgotten to give you that one hour where you could slip away to the library and was preoccupied, doing something else entirely. He had been too burdened to spare the time. He had been far more invested with painting a portrait of you, instead.

Silas sat in front of a large window, the expansive rose gardens in the distance. An array of numerous different flowers could just barely be seen from the window seal. He would make you pose in various ways for his painting, sometimes letting you up from your spot for lunch. He liked to make an impression. His sharp teeth would latch firmly onto your neck, leaving visible yet subtle marks on your body that his siblings could easily spot. The twins were out of town, which meant that Silas had more days with you alone. This was the reason you had been gone from the library for so long.

Jesse had grown used to spending time with her master, krollien . The peaceful moments were a welcome change from the constant arguing she normally had to endure. She often kept him too preoccupied to bicker with his brother. Sometimes she would withhold documents, just so that you could stay with Silas for longer. The twins being out of town had made that situation even easier. Jesse had gone to the library to acquire more books, that's when she noticed something.

As Jesse was perusing the history section of the library, she happened to glance upon a book, mixed in between all of the others. Its label could potentially have been mistaken for one on history, instead of a fantasy novel. Perhaps Luke, the head librarian, had been slipping up and not arranging the books as he was supposed to.

Jesse was a very devoted servant, she would have words with Luke later. She had a big interest in ensuring that her master could get whatever he wanted and needed without issue. She had no issues with her place as his servant, however she did have the realization that she wanted something more, something meaningful. Krollien’s actions frustrated her greatly and she despised that he enjoyed those squeals when he occasionally lost his temper. She was tired of it all.It was tiring for Jesse to consider how much krollien had loved you, without a second thought. She disliked how quickly his anger subsided when he laid eyes upon you, how he would often dig his claws forcefully into his desk, then remember that his brother had seized you for himself. He’d apologize to you and whisper in your ear when he was in a temper, gently biting into your neck. It was irritating for Jesse that he seemed to enjoy your discomfort, yet also apologized after.

Jesse remembered all the times when krollien focused his time and attention on her during the training process. The feelings of being cherished and adored had filled the servant with affection. She remembered when krollien would tell her to leave the room, only to return with you, trying to push him off and struggling against him, before he'd hold you in place, lips locked with your own. Jesse gripped the book harder and her hand quickly turning to put all the books back in their spot, hoping it would take her mind off of everything. Off of krollien

Jesse was supposed to acquire a selection of books for her master, placing them in their correct sections. As Jesse was putting the fantasy book back in its place on the back of a shelf, which received little attention, a curtain caught her attention. It was a relatively recent development and piqued her curiosity, so she cautiously peered inside. Jesse was absolutely enraged at the sight of everything she laid eyes on within the curtained area. It was filled with plush padding, a few pillows, string lights all around the edges and even a cup holder. An additional factor that infuriated Jesse was the inclusion of her master's hoodie. She recalled the day he sent her away for an entire night.

You lay across the bed, the sheets pulled half hazardously up to your waist. The hoodie looked disheveled, and hand prints were scattered along your hips. krollien had obviously become lost in his cravings and didn't bother to clean up the aftermath as properly as he should have. The evidence of his work was still left on your neck in the form of dark hickeys and the firm bite marks which still contained the slightest trace of dried blood. krollien was shirtless and busy, examining a few documents at his desk, going over what had riled him so drastically.

Christine ripped apart the pillows, cushions and fairy lights, furiously throwing them out of sight as she felt rage overtake her. Luke was enjoying his lunch with the other servants. This was something you suggested in an attempt to make him more social. Christine continued to tear into everything, except for the hoodie, which she hugged aggressively, her nails digging into its fabric. She could smell her master’s scent and your scent and it agitated her. She hated that your scent clung to the hoodie, it infuriated her beyond reason.

Christine stormed around the library with a newfound purpose, finding every book that was out of place and making sure to place it where it belonged. Every book’s cover was ruined by her nails, leaving very evident marks as she was furious. After a while, the shelf was completely full and she was panting, but at least she looked satisfied for now. The removed curtain no longer stood in the way of the secret shelf on the very bottom.Christine wiped off her skirt after completing her little project. Her master’s crest was visible, and she walked out of the library, content with her actions. There was no more hiding spot, no more spot for secrets. The library was back to the way it had been before you had arrived on those fateful grounds, a state that the servant considered to be perfection. At least that was what her own opinion was.

“Silas, stop!” You tried to speak between his endless kisses which were planted firmly along your neck. He whined against you, unwilling to stop his attention, no matter how much he wanted to. The thought of you spending time in the library was at the very back of his mind, he had to have a taste of you and make use of you as his canvas. He was the one who was at fault for poor planning, yet he couldn’t blame you. He couldn’t resist your mouth-watering blood , a fact that was both maddening and appealing.

Silas gave into your pleading and released his hold on you before moving away a bit. He rolled his eyes, clearly upset at the rejection but not one to waste time whining. He was interested in what you were reading, so he suggested you share it with him. You weren’t so eager to share, however, and insisted he let you go to the library alone. He agreed, but secretly planned on making you show him your hiding spot sometime in the future. He was smart and knew when to bide his time.

You were convinced that your secret hiding spot was, indeed, just that- a secret. The reality of the matter was quite different, as you were unaware of the fact that all the siblings had already discovered it previously and simply lied, so you could continue to enjoy the illusion of privacy. However, due to your paranoia, you were unable to feel completely at ease, and moved on to your special spot within the depths of one of the unused bookshelves.

The siblings had already uncovered your hiding spot, yet they continued to let you believe that it was secret, as they understood that you liked it that way. As you walked into the library, you took a brief, yet alert, look around. Nothing caught your eye, but the anxiety remained that a sibling may still enter and discover your hide-out. You didn’t want to stand out in the open any longer than necessary, especially without something to occupy yourself with. So far, nothing looked intriguing.

You were on your way to your usual safe space when everything that was once so comforting seemed gone. The curtains, the cushions, the fairy lights, the hiding spot… it was just a regular shelf now, no different than the rest, just filled with books. You panicked in the moment as your emotions swirled in an unsettling way. The thought of being discovered by one of the siblings struck terror into your heart. You rushed to the armory to settle your nerves, but the anxiety remained as you doubted it was Silas, nor could krollien have done such a thing either.

You'd slowed down to speedwalking, feeling your breath quicken, your body tighten, and the temptation grow to take deep breaths.

"Hi, love," lilybet had grasped you from behind, pulling you close to her as she'd just returned from one of her training sessions. She'd noticed your movement back down the hall, assuming that it meant you were attempting to escape yet again. After all, you hadn't seen her for several days and it appeared that you were once again eager to leave.

You had quickly turned to avert her, but your words were stilted and awkward. "The library, I um," was all you managed to squeak out. Lilybet offered a puzzled expression and inquired, "What about the library, dear? Do you want me to come along while

you pick out a new book?"

Tears pricked your eyes as the thought of having to divulge the location of

your hiding spot struck you. Since it no longer existed, it was all in vain anyway. As your thoughts quickly spiraled and the exhaustion of it all became apparent, you threw yourself into Lilybet's arms and buried your head against her. The sudden movement startled her, but she quickly drew you close and held you tightly, as though attempting to soothe your troubled mind.

Lilybet, who possessed superhuman physical capabilities, effortlessly lifted you as though you were a small child. She proceeded to walk you towards the library, where she intended to seek out the source of your distress and address it accordingly. Whether it would receive "proper attending to" or a harsh "punishment" was contingent on the nature of the offense, to which she was currently oblivious.

Lilybet walked over to one of the tables, setting you down in the chair. "Come on, love. I can't do anything unless you tell me what's wrong." Your eyes stayed on your hands, shaking in your lap, tears periodically dropping on your folded hands. Lilybet knelt down, rubbing up and down your calves with her head on your knee, silently pleading for you to look at her.

In some ways, Lilybet was the most lenient with you. She didn't mind if you weren't by her side all the time, as she had her own things to do as well. Sometimes you would get away, but she would also be the one to leave the most marks on you besides Silas. Perhaps it wouldn't be that bad if she knew. Maybe she could figure it out after all. You had no clue, and you were not going to start asking around.

You slowly stood, walking to the back of the library. Lilybet’s hand was still in yours, clinging. She could almost forget that you were upset. Usually, you’d have to loose grips while holding any of their hands, but today, your nails were biting into her skin. This was a sweet, kind of pain, something she could get addicted to.

You stopped in front of your usual hiding spot. Your grip tightened on Lilybet, who immediately noticed the spot where you always run off to. Except there was simply books.

"Oh, love," Lilybet’s voice was almost teasing; she pulled you into her chest. "It's gonna be okay. We can put your spot back together and I'm sure we can figure out who those nail prints belong to," she offered comfort.

"Umm, krollien ," lilybet leaned against the door frame of his room. She knew this was going to be difficult, but it was best to regroup.

"Miss lilybet," Jesse bowed to lilybet, as krollien looked up from a few documents.

"Yes, sister?"

"So cut to the short-," krollien turned to lilybet.

"The human is mad and staying in that house by the village," he replied.

This caused Jesse to stifle a smile that pulled on her face, though she remained silent.

"Why what happened? Is it just because the schedule is mixed up? Did Silas do something?" lilybet shrugs; she wasn't sure herself.

She knew you liked your hiding spot but the fact that they hadn't told you that they knew, that she didn't think would make you upset.

"Well she may have figured out that we know her hiding spot and someone filled it in and she was very emotional. I'm not quite sure if Silas has anything to do with it. I just thought I'd let you know."

Jesse interrupted. "Master, I'm sure it's nothing. The human is being dramatic and she'll come back in a few days," she whispered the last part, a part of her really didn't want you to come back.

No, all of her didn't want you to come back.

lilybet looked up at Jesse from where her head was lodged back on the door frame, thinking about you. "You told her? why?"

"No, why would I tell her? Perhaps it was one of the other servants who just passed information along. After all, they’ve grown quite fond of her." lilybet looked up at her brother, nodding along, she didn’t have enough energy to question Jesse.

"I suppose you’re right, but that doesn’t explain who filled it in. They were mad, there’s claw marks in every single book," she pointed out to him.

"Personally, Jesse believes that the books should all be in the right spot. There's no need for nooks," she expressed, folding her arms over her chest.

krollien spins in his chair to face Jesse as lilybet sets off from her leaning position. "Jesse? Did you?". krollien interjected. "I swear if I find out you're the reason my love is mad at me now. Mad at all of us, right now, you will severely regret it," krollien concluded.