The sound of crying echoed through the long corridor. Portraits of a white-haired man lined the walls by the dozens. An expensive dark red carpet, costly candelabras. The moonlight seeping through the windows and reflecting on the carpet almost made one believe the moon itself was bleeding. At the other end of the hall stood a beauty who seemed to have leapt straight from a painting, with her silver hair and crimson eyes.
"Emma, what happened? Are you alright?"
"Miss Lucy, it's nothing. I was just… serving Master Edward." As she said this, she tried to hide her pitiful sobbing with the apron of her maid's uniform.
She straightened her dress. Wiped the tears from her face. Her feet were unsteady, but she forced herself to stand. "Miss Lucy, with your permission, I must return to my duties." After saying this, she began to walk away quietly. Across her back, visible through the open back of her dress, were bloody cross-hatched marks.
"Bastard."
With quick steps, she approached the ornately carved door. She grasped the doorknob firmly, then clenched her other hand into a fist. Her nails dug into her palm, and blood began to drip. She wiped the blood on a handkerchief she pulled from her pocket and put it away.
She tapped lightly on the door a few times.
"Brother Edward, it's Lucy. Are you available?"
"Lucy, come in."
She opened the door and entered. Edward was in the far corner of the room, wiping his whip with a cloth. She sat in the black leather chair.
"Yes, Lucy, my dear sister. How can I help you?"
"Perhaps you could be a bit more… prudent with the servants. The number of slaves decreases every year, you know."
"Indeed, Arthuria has tightened restrictions. Slaves aren't coming easily from that side anymore."
"We wouldn't want the ones we have left to sustain permanent damage."
"I assure you, I don't use them beyond their services. More importantly, I want to entrust you with this month's Bloodstone supply. It's to be delivered to the Tahara Church, as usual."
"But don't you always give that shipment to your trusted men because of your relations with the church?"
"Shouldn't you start cultivating some connections of your own, my dear little sister?" As he said this, he tightly coiled the whip in his hand before placing it in the drawer under the desk.
Emma and I arrived at a bustling market. While Emma bought simple groceries for palace, I browsed for a few personal items. But my mind kept returning to the bloody marks in the corridor, to Edward's cold smile plastered on his innocent face.
After shopping, Emma looked tired. She staggered slightly, and I took her arm.
"Shall we rest for a while, Miss Lucy?" she asked, her voice weary.
"Of course, Emma. Let's sit on that bench."
We headed to a small park at the edge of the market. Lush green grass, meticulously trimmed bushes… In Hexia's wealthy districts, everything was under control. But I knew that beneath this order, something dark was simmering. The Tahara Church, the Bloodstone trade, Edward's dirty dealings…
The moment Emma sat on the bench, she closed her eyes. I settled beside her. Around us were the cheerful chirping of birds and the distant cries of vendors. For a moment, everything seemed normal, peaceful.
Just then, someone sat on the bench behind me. I felt their presence first like a shadow, then a faint creak, the sound of fabric shifting…
"Do you want Foul Blood?"
The voice was velvety yet hollow, cold as ice. I slowly turned around.
On the bench sat a figure shrouded in a black cloak, their face obscured by shadows. Only thin, pale lips and very white, almost translucent fingertips were visible. In their hand, they dangled a small glass vial filled with a dark red, almost blackish liquid.
"What did you say?" I asked, my voice unintentionally sharp.
"Foul Blood," the stranger repeated, slower this time, drawing out the syllables. "
My heart raced. How was this possible? Foul blood was a banned poisonous drug for vampires.
"Who are you?" I hissed, standing up abruptly. "What do you mean?"
The stranger chuckled lightly, the sound like dry leaves skittering in the wind.
"Who I am is not important. What matters is that I have an offer for you. This vial… it will surely kill any vampire. And in return, I will ask for very little."
Emma clung to my arm, trembling. "Miss, please… Let's leave."
But my feet were rooted to the spot. Something inside me whispered that I shouldn't refuse this offer.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice calmer this time.
"It's nothing too serious, really. I just want this month's entire Bloodstone supply."
"Do you realize how important a trade this is for Bloodmoon? I can't just hand it over to you."
"I'm not asking for it for free. I'll buy it at twice the normal price. I doubt they'll question it too much that way."
"If I make a deal that good, Edward, I doubt they'll question it."
"Then it's settled. We'll meet next month at the Tahara Church in Hexian."
"How do you know I'm going to the Academy?"
"I know much more about you than you think, Miss Lucy."
The stranger rose slowly. They were tall and gaunt. A pale hand emerged from beneath the cloak and placed the vial on the bench.
And then, leaving behind only a faint breeze, they drifted away and vanished into the shadowy corners of the park.
Emma was sobbing. I could only stare at the dark red vial on the bench. The liquid inside shimmered faintly in the moonlight, undulating as if it were alive.
My hand trembled as I reached out and took the vial. It was cold. Terribly cold.