Knock Knock, Who's Undead?

The vampire mansion stood at the edge of the city, cloaked in shadows that only the undead could perceive. To human eyes, it was nothing but a forgotten space, an empty lot where the wind whispered through nothingness. But to vampires, it was a towering gothic masterpiece—spirals of dark stone, towering stained-glass windows, and walls that had soaked in the screams of centuries. A home for creatures who preferred their nights long and their meals fresh.

Inside, the air was thick with candlelight and the scent of old books. Flickering sconces lined the black-marble walls, and crimson velvet drapes billowed like slow-moving ghosts. The silence was comfortable, broken only by the sound of a record spinning on an ancient phonograph—some melancholic melody from an era long gone.

Haruna lay sprawled on the deep, plush couch in the center of the room, her body draped lazily over Kikidori's lap. She wore nothing but a lacy black bra and matching underwear—because when you lived in a vampire mansion, modesty wasn't exactly a requirement. Her pale skin practically glowed in the dim light, a stark contrast against the dark furniture.

Kikidori sat with one arm draped over the back of the couch, looking effortlessly cool, as always. His black shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of his collarbone, and his legs were stretched out in that relaxed, predatory way only vampires could manage. He absentmindedly ran his fingers through Haruna's long, dark hair, his other hand holding a wine glass filled with deep red liquid.

Blood. The good kind.

"Tell me something," Haruna murmured, her voice soft, playful.

Kikidori glanced down at her. "Hmm?"

She traced a slow pattern on his chest with her finger. "If we're technically, like… 500 centuries old, does that mean we're married-married, or are we just immortal roommates with benefits?"

Kikidori smirked. "If you wanted a wedding anniversary gift, you should've said so."

Haruna pouted. "You never get me anything."

"I got you that," he said, nodding toward a pile of expensive stolen jewelry on the table.

Haruna rolled her eyes. "You got those for yourself. I just happened to like them."

Before Kikidori could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the mansion.

Haruna froze.

Kikidori went still.

Impossible.

Their mansion was invisible to humans. Hidden behind layers of ancient magic, lost in the folds of reality itself. Only a vampire could see it. Only a vampire could find it.

Which meant…

Haruna slowly sat up, sliding off Kikidori's lap, her dark eyes flicking to the heavy iron doors of their home.

Kikidori placed his wine glass down without a sound, his entire body shifting from relaxed to lethal in a second.

Coraline, the little black vampire cat, peeked out from the shadows of a bookshelf, her tail flicking. "Well, that's ominous," she said.

The knock came again. Louder.

Haruna licked her fangs. "This could be interesting."

Kikidori pushed himself to his feet, the candlelight casting sharp shadows across his face. "Or it could be a problem."

They moved together, silent as the dead, gliding toward the entrance. The heavy iron doors loomed before them, their surface carved with ancient vampire sigils that pulsed faintly with power.

Kikidori glanced at Haruna. "You ready?"

She smirked. "Always."

With a flick of his wrist, Kikidori unlatched the lock. The doors groaned open, revealing a figure standing in the doorway.

A man.

Dressed in black, tall and lean, with sharp cheekbones and dark, intelligent eyes that gleamed like polished obsidian. His long coat swayed slightly in the cold night air, and his lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.

"Well, well," the stranger said. "It's been a long time."

Haruna's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"

The stranger stepped forward, the candlelight catching the edge of his fangs as he grinned.

"You can call me—"

The End of Chapter 2.