The Skeleton Princess

Chapter 16 - Bloodstone

The three ride on their wolves in silence, Luna is looking down with a sad expression.

Meanwhile, Lucy is looking towards Max who is also wearing a sad look from his glowing eyes. 

After a day of travelling the three finally reach the city of blood, BloodKeep. The whole kingdom walls that surround it have a slight tint of red to it as a crimson coloured liquid pours from the gaps between it, making a sort of moat that protects the city from anyone who dares to attack it.

When Luna, Lucy, and Max cross the pull-up bridge into the city, two Beast-men approach them with ragged breathing.

One of them which is a wolf standing on two feet says in a tired tone "My queen, Pip would like to see you now, he said you have very important information to give."

Luna gives the beast soldier a smile which hides her inner sadness and says "Yes. This information can decide the fate of the Underworld... No, the fate of all three realms."

The guards look at each other and give a nod to let the princess through. The streets had stone buildings surrounding the place and the floors were damp with the same crimson liquid as the outside of the walls. This didn't make the town unpleasant though, in actuality, the town found this nice.

Children were playing "Stamp the puddles" on each other and the homeless had at least something to drink so they don't go thirsty. Luna wanted to join the children but she held that back because "she needs to be adult now". 

Lucy and Max still had a sad expression on their faces, they just couldn't believe that Luna was a part angel and part demon. That was impossible but here she is, looking jealously at the children play. 

Max puts his arm onto Lucy's shoulder and says in his normal tone "She's still our best friend, even if we know what she is." Lucy knew what Max meant. After she had told the two that she was a different kind of zombie to the others they still accepted her for being what she is and that she should do the same for Luna. 

With a determined look Lucy walks up to Luna and says in her cheerful tone "Hey! Let's play that sometime!"

Luna looks at Lucy with a happy face that could make anyone fall for her but then Luna quickly switches her look back to a professional one and says in her serious tone "If you want." 

Max whispers loud enough to be heard "Tsundere." which makes Luna stare daggers at him but more out of being a joke than hatred. 

The three and the two beast guards finally reach the throne room of BloodKeep, the room was big but not as big as Lovic's. The room was red which fit the theme of the kingdom and the purple sky beamed through the stained glass which made the room have multiple colours from red to greens and blue.

Sitting on a small throne that matched his size is the king of BloodKeep, Pip the slashing dagger of blood. Pip in his usual cute voice says "Helmeow, Luna is meoack." Luna looks at Pip with fascination and then runs to him cuddling him while shouting "OH MY GODS WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO CUTE EVERY TIME I SEE YOU!" while Max stares at Pip with his eyes pink and Lucy is looking at Max jealously while whispering "I wish you'd look at me like that..."

  Max turns to see Lucy looking sad and jealous, so he walks to Lucy and kisses her forehead then says in his loving yet serious tone "He may be cute, but you're all I need Lucy." Lucy begins to blush, her yellow/green skins has a little bit of scarlet to it around the cheeks, and she covers her face in embarrassment. 

Luna looks back to the two lovebirds after cuddling Pip and smiles, she is happy that those two can smile like that and have fun just like she can if she ever finds someone. Pip still being squished says "so? what informeowtion have you got fow me?"