Once in a Blood Moon

Chapter 2: Red Velvet

"Oh my darling sweet Ruby... You are one jewel your father and I are so lucky to have." Her voice echoes throughout the dimly lit corridors as we are walking out of the library and to our dining area. "Mommy, where's Papa?" I see a worried look on my mother's face, yet she still corrects me. "My darling, watch how you speak. A young princess shall learn to talk like a queen, not a peasant." "I am sorry Mama..." It has been days since I have seen father, maybe even weeks. Where is he? Why is he not home with his family? These questions keep running through my mind. An endless agony of worry and fear, sitting behind empty smiles and lies. "Ruby my love, can you go to your room? I need to speak with your Uncle for a while. Adult matters." "Alright Mama, I will have tea with my dollies." I ran away and hid in my room, excited to see my porcelain dolls, faces so pale and pretty, so dead and yet so lively. I turn on some classical music and play many games with my dolls. However, a faint screaming can be heard from the background. I turn off my music and put down the dolls. The screams get louder and louder. I run out of my room and down the ever so long corridor. I smell blood and fire. I smell fear and pain. "Mama! Mama where are you!" I run to the dining room, nobody. I raced to the library and pushed open the massive doors. "Mama..?" I see a body sprawled across the floor, torn limb from limb. I slowly walk towards the body and stop. "MAMA!!" I screech as I fall on the floor, crying and holding her head to mine, wishing her to come back to me. As I quiet down a bit, I hear footsteps, people running toward the library. The smell of fire is stronger now. I hide under a chair and breathe as quietly as I can. The men burst in holding torches, yelling in a foreign tongue. They start searching for something in the library, but to their disappointment, they do not find what they are looking for. Furious, the men set the library on fire and run out of the castle. I lay there crying, staring at the slice of red velvet cake in front of me. Everything goes dark. 

"Gah!!" I hoist myself up on the bed and wipe my sweaty, tear covered face. I look around the room and see Coraline, along with the headmistress and two doctors. "Ruby! Are you ok? You collapsed and... I thought I would lose you." Still being separated from reality, I look around the room frantically. I stand up, ignoring any words that may reach my ears, any tugging and pulling, and any warnings. I walk to the window and see it is night-time. The moon is out in the clear dark sky, the stars dancing to their own tune. I finally come to my senses. "W-what the hell happened..?" "You were dying of bloodlust Ruby" the headmistress states. "Tell me something I do not know" I bear my fangs at her. "I have supplied your fridge with fresh blood, you could have just told me." "What kind of blood?" "The rarest there is your majesty." I go to the fridge and drink a gallon of blood. "Not bad..." I am pleased and shoo everyone out of the dorm room. This is very tiring. I look over at the table and see a white box. "What is that?" "Oh its cake! A werewolf brought it in earlier as a get well soon gift." I look at Coraline and sigh. I walk over to the table and open up the white box. She peers into the box as I stare at it with a shocked look on my face, eyes wide, teeth clenched, and bloody tears streaming down my cheeks. "W-what is this..." Coraline's eyes well up "It's...red velvet..."