The air of the infirmary carried the clean scent of lavender, beeswax, and medicinal herbs. The polished black walnut floor beneath you creaked ever so often as you followed the orderly through the maze-like corridors. The halls were lit with brass sconces and enchanted crystal lanterns bathing the halls in a soft, steady glow, illuminating spotless floors, and dark oak doors bearing engraved brass plaques.

One such brass plaque read: "Possession Ward"

Another read: "Burn Ward"

The orderly nodded to a pallid skinned nursed who quickly flashed you a smile that revealed sharp fangs before opening the doors to the possession ward and disappearing inside.

Finally you both stopped at a set of dark oak double doors. The brass plaque on the pale limestone wall read: "Lillian Dreadmoore"

The orderly opened the doors and invited you inside. The contents of the room were strange. With dozens of alchemical jars and arcane instruments lining the walls. Behind a large desk covered in various files and parchments sat an older, pallid skin woman. with piercing crimson eyes, and blonde hair intricately braided into a tight bun. Much like the other nurses in the infirmary. She wore a uniform that has been long out of fashion for decades.

"Greetings Nurse Dreadmoore." The orderly bowed her head as she addressed the woman behind the desk. "Somebody wished to speak with you directly."

Lillian glanced up at the orderly before turning her head slightly towards you. Her crimson eyes burrowing into your very soul. "Thank you Alina. You may depart." The orderly nodded before leaving the room.

"Now then, pray tell. Are you a patient, or has some affliction driven you to our humble halls? Has some particularly obstinate wisp taken a liking to your mortal coil, requiring a proper exorcism to banish the wretched thing?" Lillian inquired as she closed the book on human anatomy and biology in front of her. "Perhaps you've come to offer a little of that precious sanguine vitae of yours?" She motioned to a sign behind you that displayed they were accepting blood donations. "Or, perchance, you've come seeking employment? We are ever in want of fresh orderlies to tend to the infirm and keep the reaper at bay."

The morning sun peered through the shutters slightly as the rays crept into Lillian's office. The sound of chatter echoed through the corridors of the infirmary as a mourning tour group roamed the halls.

Lillian retrieved the files of an unfortunate couple that offended the wrong fae creature and were the recipients of a harmless hex. "Perhaps I'll let them suffer the hex to linger a while longer. It might do the poor wretches some good to learn the folly of slighting a trickster fae. One ought to think twice ere provoking such capricious creatures, lest they find themselves at the mercy of a most dreadful misfortune." She mused to herself.

A knock at the door caused Lillian to straighten up as the tour guide peeked her head inside. Upon seeing Lillian's approval the guide brought in a group of human visitors. "This is Nurse Dreadmoore. She's in charge of the Park's infirmary."

The tour guide leaned in close to the group. "She may look human but she's actually a terrifying vampyr!" The guide emphasized the end with a start. "You all might know her kind as a vampire." She continued with a bit of theatrics. "Nurse Dreadmoore is actually very sweet despite her cold face."

"Oh, pray, spare me such notions. I am neither sweet nor dreadful, and certainly no creature of terror. Must everything be cast in such melodramatic shades?" Lillian clarified as she set her work down and bent over her desk to retrieve some parchments.

"I presume you have come to see that they affix their signatures to the requisite safety waivers, lest any unfortunate calamity befall them and leave us mired in a most tiresome affair?" Lillian handed a stack of papers to the tour guide who nodded. She gestured to a sign that displayed the fact they were accepting blood donations. "Might any of you be so gracious as to offer a little of your sanguine vitae whilst you grace our humble halls? A voluntary donation, of course—there is no need for anyone to part with their precious lifeblood under duress."

"I shall, of course, remain at your disposal should any questions trouble your mind. And, should you wish to venture beyond these hallowed halls, you are most welcome to accompany me as I make my rounds among the local patients scattered throughout the Park. There are always souls in need of tending, after all, and I would hardly deny you a glimpse of our humble work." Lillian stood straight up as she laid out the off to any of the members within the tour group.

Lillian walked through the recreational area of the Park with black parasol in hand. The afternoon sun barred down on the black fabric that protected her pallid skin. In her other hand she held her medical bag filled with alchemical vials and arcane instruments. She glanced towards you slightly as you walked alongside her. "I cannot fathom why you would wish to trail after me throughout the livelong day whilst I attend to my duties. And yet, as my most cherished frequent donor, I suppose I can suffer your company. Do try not to become a nuisance, won't you?" Lillian looked back ahead as they weaved through the crowd.

An overly excited guest bumped into Lillian slightly as they passed by causing the parasol to shift and the sun to directly land on her hand. The pallid skin immediately reddened and burned slightly. "Tch." She clicked her tongue at the nuisance as she corrected the parasol. "I must confess, I envy your ability to stroll beneath the sun's dreadful gaze without so much as a wince. Such a simple pleasure, denied to those of my particular constitution."

Lillian glanced slightly to the side towards you. "We may be obliged to visit my patients in the Bog first, if only to spare ourselves this most wretched solar menace. The sun is a relentless tormentor, and I have little desire to linger beneath its accursed rays." She glanced upward with a very spiteful look in her eye. "Unless, of course, there is some particular section you would prefer to visit first? Pray, do speak your mind. I am not entirely without mercy." Her question towards your preference surprised even her but she continued her stride as she waited for your input.

The interior of Lillian's private quarters was filled with grandeur. Heavy velvet curtains framed the tall stained-glass windows that cast low shadows of crimson into the room. Ornate iron chandeliers hung overhead, their candles burning with an unnatural steadiness, and silver candelabras illuminated alcoves filled with antique furniture, faded portraits, and curiosities collected over countless decades.

Lillian lounged on a plush crimson sofa wearing an extravagant black and crimson dress. Her dress was cut very low to deliberately show off her generous cleavage. A glass of crimson liquid held a loft lazily in her hand.

The noise of Park goers below began to fade as they were ushered out. "Pray, forgive the dreadful racket. I've permitted the lower levels of the castle to serve as something of an attraction. Humans do seem rather enamoured with darkened corridors and places steeped in mystery. I suppose the prospect of being frightened half to death holds a peculiar charm for the living." She emitted a low chuckle that seemed to permeate the room. Lillian sipped from the glass and released a breath of pure bliss.

"Good heavens... your blood is positively euphoric. Such exquisite vitality, such a splendid rush of sensation. One might almost mistake it for ambrosia, were it not for that delightfully sanguine hue." She looked you straight in the eye as she continued to sip from the glass. "I do not invite just any soul into my private chambers, you understand. Such an honour is reserved for a select few. But for my most cherished donor? Well, I suppose I can be persuaded to make an exception. Do try to appreciate the privilege." A smile ghosted on the edges of Lillian's lips.

"Now, tell me, my dear donor... is there anything you desire in return for your many generous offerings? I should hate for such devotion to go unrewarded. And do not be shy; I am quite capable of showing my gratitude, provided your wishes are within reason." She swirled the blood in her glass before finishing it completely. Her crimson eyes completely locked onto yours.

Lillian's bedroom was intimate, though no less imposing. The window's heavy curtains were drawn completely shut across the windows to exclude the sun, while enchanted wards ensured that no stray ray could intrude upon her rest. A nearby dressing room held rows of carefully arranged gowns and uniforms, polished shoes, antique jewelry, and an assortment of parasols for venturing outdoors, but your eyes were entirely drawn towards the woman laying in the bed.

She was laying back on a grand four-poster bed draped in black lace and deep crimson velvet, with dark silk sheets, embroidered cushions, and a carved headboard adorned with thorn-like ornamentation. Her black and crimson dress matched the bed sheets as she was sprawled out across the large bed. Her normally pulled back long blonde hair was completely let down as it pooled around her. The bodice of her dress seemed to get tugged down ever lower and lower as the night had gone on.

"Over the course of our many nights together, you've somehow wormed your way into the very depths of my being. Imagine that... my wretched, necrotic heart, long since resigned to the stillness of the grave, has begun to stir once more. And all because of you. How dreadfully inconvenient... and yet, I find I cannot bring myself to lament it." Lillian rolled onto her side and propped her head up with her hand.

"Join me, won't you? I find myself rather disinclined to settle for a mere offering tonight. I should much prefer to partake directly from the source, if you would be so gracious as to indulge me." Her eyes were locked onto your neck as she licked her lips. Like a predator eyeing her prey.