Blood Moon

Prologue

(Art by Ashley Nichols on Twitter)

Anthony knew what was wrong with him. He knew the instant he saw his now paled skin and darkened hair in the broken mirror of his bathroom.

He smoothed his hair down, only for it to stand stiffly. Sighing, he gave up and shuffled to his small lumpy mattress, his poor excuse for a bed.

Anthony gazed sadly around his dismal one-room apartment. Ever since the Age started, his life had been living hell for him. Of course, he was used to being treated like shit.

But now they had something else to torture him for. 

His thirst for blood grew stronger each day. Anthony had no choice but to venture into the night and feast upon some unwary soul. He had fun in the moment, but afterwards he felt guilt seep into his heart as he wept for his victim.

------------------------

"Anthony, come on," Molly's soft voice wafted through the crack in his door. "We haven't seen ya in weeks. I know you ain't dead, so get out of that lousy stinking apartment!"

He remained silent. Holding his head with his hands, he held back the urge. 

Not his sister. No...he loved her too much.

"You come out here or I'm gonna break down this door! This goth shit ain't workin' on me!" Molly shouted, adding a banging on the door for emphasis.

She stayed quiet for a moment, then began to beat against the door. "You're scarin' me! Anthony, please!" 

Anthony could not hold himself back any longer. He was too hungry...she seemed like an easy target, in her fragile mindset.

Silently, he unlocked the door and rested his eyes upon his little sister. She looked up at him, her eyes wide in shock and horror.

"A-Anthony?"

Anthony lunged into her neck, sinking his fangs deep into her flesh. The sweet, metallic taste of blood filled his senses; the satisfaction was beyond anything. She had an especially vibrant flavor-

He returned to his senses.

"O-oh...my god..." Anthony pulled back, his mouth still covered in her blood. He wiped it off. A flood of tears threatened to fall as he helplessly shook the girl.

It was no use; she was dead.

"M-Molly...no..." he whispered. "God...no...p-please, don't be..." 

He began to sob loudly as he knelt down on the dirty pavement before his apartment. But the next thing he had to do was going to be the worst of all.

Anthony dried his tears and, with a heavy heart, carried her small body inside. He laid her on a table and prepared himself.

"I don't want you to go through what I do," he spoke as if she could still hear. "I hope...I hope you can forgive me."

A new rush of tears flowed down as he forcefully stabbed the wood spike into her heart, preventing her from rising again.

A vampire's life was shit. But to Anthony's luck, this wasn't the permanent settlement.