Ruby Red

Thirteen+

© Amber Kalkes 2014

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+Thirteen+

My hands are behind my back as my greasy dirty blonde hair creates a curtain around my bowed head. Andrei had come in five minutes before to observe as another one of his lackeys transferred me to the chains binding me to the floor are replaced with shackles that bind my legs to my arms. The white dress Esmeralda had dressed me in is the only thing keeping me warm as the man Andrei has brought with him begins pushing me forward.

Andrei is the picture of serenity as he stands nearby with his almond shaped blue eyes lit up with humor. He finds my pathetic state to be amusing on some level but I don’t. I can’t be sure how long it’s been since Esmeralda gave me her blood but I’m as badly off as I was before she got to me. The burning ache in my throat and gums is enough to drive me insane.

I can’t even lift my head without feeling like its about to detach itself and roll away from me. The monster in my head just focuses on the sound of their heart beats, their blood moving through their veins and how divine they will taste once we devour them like we’ve been planning.

Its not even about revenge anymore, its about survival and we need to drain them all dry to survive this. I need to feel them still beneath me as I hear their hearts slow until they stop as I take what I need.

My gums ache at the thought as the images of my fantasies flicker across my mind’s eye. To distract myself from the ache I imagine my mother’s face. Her green eyes are sparkling with happiness and her wavy brown hair is soft against my face as she embraces me. I miss my mom and I miss my dad. I picture him in my mind, his slightly curled auburn hair and his bright blue eyes looking at my mother with adoration, just like he was before this mess even began. Back when I was getting ready for my date with a sweet blonde young man and I was going to die.

Some essential part of my longs to go back to then, to before there was nothing but the restlessness of a trapped exotic bird instead of the instincts of the ultimate predator.

Before Kale was in my mind haunting me every moment afterwards.

“Look at me, Ruby.” Andrei’s voice says making me flinch away from the memory of Kale. It’s over and he’s not coming. It’s best this way.

When I don’t and really can’t lift my head his lackey pulls my head up using my hair. I’m not sure how ill I look but I can feel the burn in my eyes as I look a his through the dimmed light, done just to ease his own discomfort. His fierce eyes scan over my face before he gives me a very pleased smile before reaching out for me. I flinch away from his touch but he ignores it skimming his ice-cold thumb across my chin in a caress.

“You would have made such a lovely addition to my coven if you weren’t such a disgusting half-breed.” He says wistfully before giving a graceful shrug, “Oh well, I suppose you’ll have a purpose in showing the others what happens when you disgrace our kind.”

“You’ve already done that.” I croak out with my best defiant stare.

He rolls his eyes and makes a dismissive gesture with his hand. My hair is released and my head falls forward clumsily. The man behind me begins pushing again bringing my attention to the pulse in his wrist I can feel against my back through his hand. Apparently the hunger has made my senses heighten to an alarming sharpness, making me horribly aware of everyone’s weaknesses so I may take what I need.

My bare feet move from cold black marble to even colder quartz stone. The flesh of my feet slap against the slick stone as I walk while the clicking of shoes echoes from beside, before and behind me in a symphony of doom. I can’t think of much else but the sound of it, like the march of the executioner ready to do his job.