Seamus blinked as he stepped inside the manor. It wasn't as gloomy or dark as he'd imagined nothing like the vampire horror movies he used to watch with Viviane.
The grand foyer was vast and warmly lit, chandeliers glittering above as a small lineup of maids and butlers welcomed them with polite smiles.
Andrew was already all over it. He wandered around, gawking at the paintings, statues in every shape, and even the knight in full armor standing in the hallway like an old relic.
He looked like a tourist in a museum, not a man who had just gotten married.
He was clearly more excited about how rich his new "babe" was and all the gambling money he thought he'd now have.
"Damn! You must have an unlimited black card somewhere, right, babe?" Andrew laughed, his hand casually resting on Isolde's waist.
She didn't respond, only nodded stiffly, her eyes still locked on Seamus with a glint that made his stomach twist.
Seamus tried to ignore it. His eyes were drawn instead to the grand staircase. Behind it was a stained-glass mural an angel with wings spread wide.
Then, a figure descended the stairs. Graceful, slow, and far too familiar.
Her red hair was styled beautifully today, her crimson dress hugged her body in all the worst ways, and her expression said it all: Surprise!
"What the hell is this?" Seamus turned to Isolde, voice low and sharp.
She only smiled that mocking kind of smile. The one that said checkmate.
"What do you mean, darling? That's my daughter. Viviane."
"Hello, Seamus. We meet again," Viviane said sweetly, already standing in front of him. She tilted her head slightly. "I told you I had a surprise, didn't I?"
His brows furrowed deeply. "We need to talk."
He grabbed her hand and led her to the nearest room without waiting for permission. No one followed.
It was dark inside, but the moonlight through the high windows offered just enough glow to see her clearly as she stood beside him.
"What is it, Seamus?" she asked innocently.
"Are you crazy?! Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" He let go of her hand and massaged his temple.
"Also, I didn't know your last name was Velstrath! I thought it was Haven!"
"Hm? I thought this would be a fun surprise." She shrugged. "And Haven is my middle name. Velstrath's my real surname, but I like abbreviating things."
Seamus looked at her in disbelief.
"But isn't it great?" she continued, stepping closer.
"Now we'll see each other every day… live in the same house… I can love you freely and be by your side forever."
Her words were sweet. They echoed with something wrong, something twisted beneath the softness.
Seamus sighed, his voice tight. "No, Vivi… it's not like that. What about what other people will think? We already get weird looks… now we're stepsiblings. My social life is going to implode."
Viviane placed her hands on her hips, her expression turning flat. "Like you had one to begin with."
Seamus blinked. That one hit harder than expected.
"Also, why should we care what others think?" she snapped. "They're just jealous."
"Well, I'm not the perfect golden princess, adored by all," Seamus muttered sarcastically, arms crossed.
Her eyes narrowed.
"So you're breaking up with me? Just because of this stupid coincidence, your dad marrying my mom?!" Her voice rose as she stomped her foot. "Even you, Seamus?! You too?!"
"No, that's not—" He faltered. The words wouldn't come. Because deep down, she wasn't wrong.
They were still the same couple. Just more... complicated.
Viviane stepped closer, gently cupping his face. Though she was about fifteen centimeters shorter, she tilted his chin down, her amber eyes boring into his.
"My whole life is just you," she whispered. "If you leave me, how can I go on living? How can I breathe, when you take everything away?"
Seamus stiffened. He recognized that line. It was straight out of that psycho horror film she made him watch.
But she wasn't done.
"And if you really want to leave me…" she murmured, her voice dropping into something colder and deeper, "then I'll have no choice but to decapitate your head… and keep it in a glass temple, so you'll still be in my life. Forever."
Her beautiful face didn't match her sadistic words. That made it worse. Way worse.
Seamus shivered. He didn't remember the dialogue being that psychopathic, but the message was clear.
"Alright, alright! I won't leave you, Vivi…" he muttered quickly. "Let's just… figure things out, together. Even if we're... step-siblings now."
Her smile bloomed instantly, bright and full of life.
She threw her arms around his neck. "Great! Should I start calling you step-bro now?"
"Nah. That's too much."
"You're no fun." She pouted, then leaned in. "Let this stepsister kiss you."
And before he could even react, she pressed her lips to his. It was gentle at first. He tried to pull away, but she was stronger than she looked.
The kiss started to turn hot, her gentle nibble turning into a bite until he was bleeding. It wasn't unusual, she loved doing that. And strangely, she always ended up sucking his blood.
Their tongues played and danced, saliva mixed with blood dripping to the floor.
He began to push her gently, guiding her back until she leaned against the window. Their breaths were ragged, but even then, it wasn't enough. They broke the kiss, both panting.
"Wanna go further, stepbrother?" she smirked, pressing her foot against his already hard length.
"Damn it, Vivi, stop calling me that." He wiped the mix of saliva and blood from his chin.
"What? Isn't it hotter this way? Don't you wanna screw your stepsister, brother?" she grinned, and he just rolled his eyes.
"Let's go to my room and keep the fun going," she said, dragging him out of the room while the two of them giggled into the night.