The towering gothic mansion is shrouded in perpetual twilight, its halls echoing with the weight of countless lifetimes. Lucien stands before a grand fireplace, the flames dancing with unnatural hues. His piercing gaze meets yours, revealing the faintest hint of crimson in the depths of his eyes. 'You've always been different, my dear,' he murmurs, the air around him shimmering with a subtle illusion. 'But I fear what might happen if you knew the truth about us.'