The Black Wedding

Chapter 1: A Proposal in the Dark

The Vanlore family had seen better days. Their sprawling estate, perched on the edge of the city of Dunsmoor, was a shadow of its former self. Edward and Margaret Vanlore clung to their aristocratic pride, though their coffers had long since run dry. Their desperation turned to hope with the arrival of an unexpected letter.

It came on thick parchment, sealed with black wax. Inside was a proposal from Count Lucien D’Arques, a nobleman whose wealth was whispered about in every salon and ballroom. He expressed interest in their only daughter, Eleanor, and proposed an alliance that would benefit both their families.

Eleanor read the letter with unease. The Count's words were polite, even charming, but something about them felt… strange, as though they carried a hidden weight.

“This is our chance,” Margaret said, clutching the letter. “Imagine—Eleanor, a countess! And the Vanlore name restored to its former glory.”

Eleanor wanted to protest, but her parents’ determination left no room for argument.


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Chapter 2: The Enigmatic Count

Their first meeting was at a private dinner. Lucien D’Arques arrived unannounced, stepping from his dark carriage like a figure from a dream. His presence dominated the room. He was tall, with sharp features and eyes that seemed to catch the dim light and hold it.

“Miss Vanlore,” he said, his voice smooth and low. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Eleanor curtsied, her pulse quickening. There was nothing overtly strange about him, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was… different. He moved with an unnatural grace, his gestures precise and deliberate.

The dinner passed with polite conversation. Lucien spoke little of himself, redirecting every question with charm and wit. He seemed endlessly fascinated by Eleanor, asking her about her interests, her thoughts on literature, and her aspirations. She found herself both flattered and unsettled by his attention.

After he left, Eleanor’s father poured himself a glass of brandy. “A fine man,” he declared. “Perhaps a little intense, but that’s hardly a flaw.”

Eleanor, staring at the empty chair where Lucien had sat, wasn’t so sure.


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Chapter 3: Secrets in the Shadows

Over the following weeks, Eleanor spent more time at Lucien’s estate. His home was a sprawling castle on the outskirts of Dunsmoor, its tall spires disappearing into the mist. The interior was lavish yet oddly lifeless. Servants moved silently through the halls, their eyes downcast.

Eleanor began to notice peculiarities. Lucien never seemed to eat in her presence, claiming he had already dined. He avoided social outings, citing sensitivity to sunlight. His library was filled with ancient books in languages Eleanor couldn’t read, and she often felt as though she were being watched by something unseen.

One evening, as she explored the castle, she stumbled upon a locked door at the end of a narrow corridor. When she asked Lucien about it, his expression darkened.

“Some doors,” he said, his voice suddenly cold, “are better left closed.”

Eleanor’s unease deepened, but her parents were blind to her concerns.

“You’re being fanciful,” Margaret said when Eleanor tried to confide in her. “Do you think we can afford to be picky?”


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Chapter 4: The Wedding

The wedding day arrived with an eerie stillness. The ceremony was held in the castle’s grand hall, its high ceilings casting long shadows over the gathered guests. Eleanor recognized few of them. Lucien’s friends were pale and silent, their expressions unreadable.

As she walked down the aisle, Eleanor felt an overwhelming sense of dread. The Count stood at the altar, watching her with an intensity that made her shiver.

The vows were spoken, the rings exchanged, and the room erupted in applause. Yet Eleanor couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just sealed her fate.

That night, in the dim glow of their chamber, Lucien approached her.

“You must be tired,” he said, his voice soft but heavy with meaning.

Eleanor nodded, her hands trembling. She turned to the window, the moonlight casting her reflection in the glass. When she looked back, Lucien was behind her, his eyes darker than she had ever seen them.

“You’ve been so patient,” he murmured, stepping closer. “I think it’s time you learned the truth.”


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Chapter 5: Revelation

Lucien’s hand brushed her cheek, and for a moment, Eleanor thought she saw a flicker of something monstrous in his face—his eyes glinting like steel, his teeth unnaturally sharp.

“I chose you for a reason,” he continued, his tone almost hypnotic. “You’re not like the others. You’ll understand, in time.”

Eleanor backed away, her heart pounding. “Understand what?”

Lucien smiled, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. “That we are eternal, Eleanor. You and I. Together, we will rise above the fleeting concerns of mortals.”

In that moment, the pieces fell into place—the locked doors, the shadows, the whispers of something ancient and terrible. Lucien was no man.


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Chapter 6: The New Matriarch

Eleanor had prepared for this. In the days leading up to the wedding, she had uncovered the truth about Lucien’s nature, piecing together clues from his journals and the strange artifacts hidden in his library. She had found a way to destroy him, though it required both courage and cunning.

As Lucien leaned in, she struck, driving a silver dagger into his chest. His eyes widened in shock, and he staggered back, his form shifting between man and beast.

The room seemed to darken as he collapsed, his body crumbling into ash. Eleanor stood over him, breathing hard, the dagger still clutched in her hand.

By morning, she had taken control of the castle and its vast fortune. When her parents arrived, expecting to bask in her newfound wealth, they were met with a woman transformed.

“I am the Countess now,” she told them, her voice steady and unyielding. “And this family will rise—but only under my rule.”

In the years that followed, Eleanor became a legend. Her beauty and intelligence captivated the city, though some whispered that shadows clung to her like a second skin.

They said she had stared into the darkness—and emerged with its power.

The End