Page 16 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens

I had failed them all.

The tears didn’t stop for a long time, until my consciousness fell into blackness.

I was not sure how long it had been, but every moment drained me more and more. Every time I tried to move, my body screamed in protest. Would this ever stop? Part of me wished to cease existing altogether.

I turned in the bed and somehow the dark room became even darker, or maybe it was my imagination.

The room smelled delightful despite my hatred towards it. The smell was so pleasant, but hurtful at the same time, it prickled my throat as if I had swallowed a dozen needles.

My eyes followed the smell until they spotted the goblet Florence had brought earlier. The realization of the source of this delicious smell washed over me, and my whole body shook in anticipation.

My breathing quickened, every instinct challenged me to dry out its content. Only my will stopped me from doing so. I was not sure I could resist the urge for much longer, my treasonous mind would lose this battle—I knew it.

My lips trembled as I slowly sat up on the bed, not taking my eyes away from the goblet, wishing I could destroy it with my gaze alone. I swallowed the pain in my throat that had only doubled with every passing moment.

My cheeks turned wet as I extended my hand towards the hostile goblet—would the tears ever stop? I peered at the contents of the cup not believing what I was about to do. Did I even have a choice?

Vampires—the word alone made me shudder—could not die of... well, hunger, I believed. At least I'd never heard of such a case, but no matter the haterade towards my new being, my instincts refused to let me find out.

My treasonous hands slowly brought the glass to my lips.

The drink was thick and soft, melting into my tongue like honey. It didn’t taste like anything in particular, nevertheless it was the most delicious flavor I’d known in my entire life. Like a person who grew up in a dungeon, seeing the sun for the first time, I devoured the drink. Suddenly, I was not sure how I could live for twenty four years without it.

The drink warmed up my throat, making it prickle with sweetness, soothing my thirst. My mind spun in euphoria, craving more of this delightful salvation.

Once my mind calmed and clear thoughts returned to me, regret clawed into my chest, crushing my heart into small pieces.

How could I? What have I become? Disgusting.A princess knows self-control. Disgusting. My fingers squeezed the stem of the goblet until they hurt, my knuckles whitened. What was I capable of? How easily did I give in to the temptation? My body shook with rage. Disgusting!

I threw the goblet with all the strength I had. The sound of glass shattering traveled through the room, but the sound was suppressed by my own roar.

“Cordelia?” The voice behind me whispered.

I didn’t bother looking who that was, nor did I stop screaming. Falling to my knees, the glass pieces on the floor cut through my uncovered skin, I didn’t feel the pain. This pain could not compete with the pain I felt in my chest. I studied the blood under my nails, imagining my own hands ripping through my skin, freeing my injured heart.

Florence picked up the remnants of the goblet from the floor and sighed. She didn’t say anything, just left me be. Left me alone, staring into the nothingness of this dark room.

Chapter 6

A Deal is a Deal

Time crawled by. Florence came, brought the disgusting drink, and left. She spoke less to me as the days passed, but her overbearing glee held strong nevertheless.

Eventually I’d stopped throwing the goblets against the wall.