Crimson Moon

Kestra

     As I stepped out of the small cottage that had been my home for the past twenty years, I was greeted by the crisp autumn air. I lived in a small village on the outskirts of the Emilian Kingdom, which welcomed a number of traders and merchants alike every year. Quickly making my way to the side of the home, I saw my older sister, Aliana, with her hands buried in the soil, which I had always thought matched the color of her hair.

     "I see you're finally awake, Kestra." She grinned, her green eyes sparkling. Rolling my own green eyes I knelt into the dirt beside her. "It is before noon.".

     The small garden we kept beside our home had been originally planted by our parents long before either of us were born. After their passing nearly three years ago, Aliana and I took on the responsibility of tending to it. We grew basic herbs and vegetables in an attempt to not have to rely so heavily on the rations the government handed out to the humans.

     It had always been a battle between the humans and vampires over who was to be the true ruler of the kingdom. Two hundred years ago, the brutality ended when the current vampire king, Drakul Belvedere, was crowned. Now, vampires rule not only the court but the kingdom as well, putting humans at the bottom of the food chain. There were laws put into place to prevent a total blood bath; vampires could have a certain number of human "donors" who would be their only source of blood. Of course, these humans had no say in the matter, as the king's guard would come with a crimson carriage to take the human, willing or not.

     I have only seen it happen once, when a farmer in his thirties was taken kicking and screaming to the red carriage. The two vampire guards with red eyes would growl lowly at any human who appeared to want to help the poor man. My parents had quickly ushered my sister and me into the cottage, and by the time we came out, the entire village had gone silent.

     My other interactions with vampires have been few and far between. Only a few vampire merchants would come through, but they would mostly stay in the town square until eventually moving on to the next village. It wasn't like they could hide either; they always had blood-red eyes.

     "Kestra, the weeds." Aliana's voice snapping me out of my trip down memory lane.

      Pulling my bronzy blonde hair into a low knot I quickly buried myself into my work. 

                                ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

     By the time the sun had begun to slip under the tree line, we had finished weeding the entire garden, which didn't seem too large at first but slowly became a day's worth of work. As I rose from my kneeling position, I felt my back tremble with relief. Wiping my dirt-covered hands on my worn, coarse blue dress, I turned to my sister, who was already turning to the door.

     "We should go to the square," I started. "I heard a silk trader arrived yesterday; maybe we can sew new dresses."

     "Where would we wear a silk dress?" Aliana turned to me with a raised brow.

     "Every woman should have at least one!" I argued.

     She simply rolled her eyes. "Go wash up first; we can't go into town looking like pigs who've just rolled in the mud."

     I could barely contain my delight as I rushed inside as fast as I could.

  ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

     I felt giddy as we walked arm in arm into the town square. As the weather got colder, it seemed as though more traders had become eager to get rid of their stock before the freezing temperatures set in. The other villagers buzzed around us, seeming to carry the same excited energy as myself.

     Aliana had never been interested in anything outside of our village, which at first I didn't understand until I saw the way she would look at the blacksmith's son, Conrad. I would sometimes catch him glancing at her longingly when she wasn't looking; if I felt that way about someone, I don't think I would be jumping at the chance to explore the world either. I hope that with this new silk gown I am determined to make for her, he will approach her and make his feelings known.

     My sister was a beautiful woman with brown hair that reached just past her shoulders, cat-like green eyes, tanned skin, and a slim, petite build. Sometimes I would find myself envying her, as I was her exact opposite, with long blonde hair that resembled bronze, light green eyes, pale skin, and a chubby body. But that envy always faded as fast as it appeared, as Aliana would once again prove herself to be selflessly dedicated to my own happiness. Guilt would be constantly gnawing at my heart until I came up with my brilliant silk gown plan. I was going to make sure she got the happy ending she deserved. 

     Just as we were about to approach the silk traders' stand, a chorus of shrill screams filled the air. In the silence that followed, the sound of hooves clopping along the stone streets echoed across the entire village. My heart sank as an eerily familiar crimson carriage pulled by two jet black horses came into view. I felt Aliana tense beside me, and I tightened my grip on her. The man driving the carriage was a scrawny human in his late fifties, and I pitied the way his hands trembled while gripping the reins. 

     Two vampires rode alongside him, getting off their own horses, their silver armour clanking with every move they made. Not a soul moved, let alone breathed; we all knew to stay perfectly still. They moved with languid ease, sauntering through the crowd. They took their time looking at each human, their red eyes filled with distaste. My heart seemed to race faster as they got closer to us, and Aliana seemed to feel the same as her arm tightened around mine. 

     It felt like hours had passed until the pair stood directly in front of us. One was shorter than the other, with auburn hair and sharp features. The other had his hair buzzed down to the scalp and had scars littering his face to match his sinister nature. The taller one narrowed his ugly eyes at us, flickering between Aliana and I before settling on my sister. 

     "What do they call you?" He asked in a demanding tone, his eyes never leaving Aliana's face.

     I quickly squeezed her arm in reassurance before she replied "Aliana Gateborn, sir."

     The vampire hummed, nodding his head. "Take her."

     My breath got caught in my throat, and my stomach lurched. Before I had time to process what was just said, Aliana was ripped from my side by the shorter vampire. My sister's petrified eyes met mine as tears streamed down her beautiful face.

     "No," I sputtered as my legs began to work again. "Wait, stop, please!"

      I felt arms pulling on me from all directions, and I struggled against them. I hadn't even realized I was crying until a burst of salty liquid dribbled into my pleading mouth. I faintly heard other villagers telling the guards to forgive my disrespect, but I didn't care as I watched Aliana being tossed into the carriage like a rag doll.

       An anguished scream ripped through me as the royal carriage rolled out of sight.

A/N: Updated 11/13/2022