Chapter 3(The Blood Moon)

The Great Hall was filled with classic music from the royal orchestra. The hall was decorated with royal colors, with huge chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. In no time, the large ballroom was filled with many elite and civilians. All from different races of the supernatural world from near and far.

Lady Rebecca along with Herren went around welcoming guests.

“Lady Rebecca” A group of elite vampires approached her.

"Oh, it's the Ambles and Evenstars" Rebecca groaned as they approached.

"Who invited them?" Herren said in displeasure.

"Herren. This is our first public celebration in centuries, behave" Rebecca told her with a raised look.

“Lord and Lady Amble, Lord and Lady Neven, Lord and Lady Evenstar, it's a pleasure to meet you all again,” Lady Rebecca said in greeting with a smile.

“Oh, you have such a good memory, and this is a lovely ball I must say.” Lady Neven said.

“Thank you for the invitation, Lady Rebecca.” Lord Neven said.

"Ah, Herren. A pleasure to meet you again. The last time I saw you, you were this tall" Lord Neven gestured to his waist laughing along with the others. Herren forced a smile.

"They grow so fast, don't they?" Lady Neven said.

“It's an honor to have you all. Thank you for gracing this celebration” Rebecca said to them.

“How could we decline? The last Fall ball you witches organized ended a disaster of the millennia. Capable of winning an Oscar if it happened in these modern times" Lady Evenstar said with a chuckle as she slowly sipped from her wine glass.

“I don't blame them. Witches think they are so independent and don't need anyone. Extremely prideful folk” Lady Amble said.

“Helen” Lord Amble hissed, giving Rebecca a nervous smile.

“What… isn't that true? We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for that prodigal daughter of hers.” Lady Amble snickered.

“That's enough Helen. Pardon my wife's words, my lady.” Lord Amble apologized.

Lady Rebecca masked her frown with a smile. Herren glanced at her mother. She wasn't going to let that slide, was she?

"A prodigal daughter you flew from Amsterdam to see. What a waste of money and time, I would say, if I were in your shoes. But what can I say, you still are the hypocrite you always were, Helen. Have a lovely evening.” Rebecca turned away from them with a smiling Herren behind her.

"And there you told me to behave myself," Herren told her with a chuckle.

"There's no way she'd bad mouth my El and go scot-free" Rebecca replied with a satisfied smile.

“Are they here yet?” Herren asked as they approached her sisters.

"Not yet. It's not like them to be late.” Catherine said looking through the crowd.

"Not like them? Huh, how well do you know them? Perhaps you've climbed into one of their beds without telling us" Lillian said with a scoff.

"Must explain why she's dressed like the bride" Veronica pointed to the white dress Catherine wore. The other sisters laughed.

"I haven't slept with any of them. Besides the number of people, I sleep with is none of your business. And I have the right to wear anything I choose" Catherine snapped.

"Oh, you make it our business" Tarrah mocked.

"That's enough. You are too old to be bickering. Tonight is a special occasion. I don't want any drama and behave yourselves" Rebecca scolded them.

"Fine, mother. As long as they keep my...." Catherine's voice trailed off. Her sisters turned to look in the direction she looked and were equally stunned.

The crowd gasped as all eyes followed in that direction.

Eloise held her head high as she glided down the stairs in arms with her father. All eyes were on her as they descended the stairs.

She was dressed in a sleeveless white fitting dress. It had golden embroidery designs. It showed a little cleavage with a simple rose diamond neck around her neck. Her dark copper-red hair was styled in a loose chignon with a few strands at the sides of her face. Her makeup was mildly done with her lips glossed. She wore plain stilettos to complete the look. Her silver tiara perfected her entire look.

"I must admit, our little El has grown into a beautiful woman" Catherine muttered with her sisters nodding in agreement.

"She's always been," Rebecca said with a smile.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It's with great honor to hold this year's Fall Ball. This night marks the beginnings of stronger bonds between us creatures. To unity!" Heron raised his glass to the crowd.

"To unity!" The crowd cheered.

"I will take this opportunity to welcome my daughter, Princess Eloise, back home. Eloise, I'm glad you are finally with us. To Princess Eloise!"

"To Princess Eloise!" The crowd cheered.

Eloise smiled as she stepped through the crowd. People crowded in to greet her. Several unfamiliar faces, all pining for her attention. Some night this was going to be, she thought with an exasperated sigh.

Corentine pushed through the crowd looking for Eloise. It was almost impossible to get to her since guests engaged her at every turn. She found her at the center of the ballroom surrounded by a group of old women. Next to her was her mother who seemed less enthusiastic than Eloise.

“On my transition, I was the only one to pass the test. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life.” The old witch next to Eloise told her.

“Rumor has it, any witch that transits in the light of a blood moon is deemed the most powerful.” Another said.

“So has there been any witch as such?” Eloise asked with a slight hint of interest.

The elderly women exchanged queer glances and suddenly burst into laughter.

“An inquisitive one you got there, Bec,” one woman said to Eloise's mother.

“Right and that's funny?” Eloise asked with furrowed brows.

“Transition on a red moon has never happened for over centuries in witch chronology, honey.” Her mother told her.

“It's almost like a myth.” Another said.

"Mind you a blood moon brings about evil tides, child. Transition on a blood moon is like a cursed baptism.” Another said, her voice lowering into a creepy whisper.

“Thank goodness it's but a myth.” They burst out laughing again.

Eloise glanced at them bored. Just when she thought this conversation was getting better it got terrible. But there was one thing that hit her.

The blood moon? Wasn't that today in witch chronology?

"But a blood moon appears today. Doesn't it?" Eloise asked her mother. Rebecca raised her brows in reckon. "Yes, it is. We are in luck there are no transitions then" Rebecca told her.

“Pardon me ladies, but can I steal the princess for a moment?” Corentine interrupted taking Eloise's hand instantly.

“Yes, you can,” Eloise said eagerly.

“Please excuse me, mother, ladies.” Eloise bowed politely before stepping aside with Corentine.

"You are a lifesaver. For a second there I thought... Cor, what's with that face?" Eloise asked, noticing the look on her face.

"It's Cole. He wants to speak with you" Corentine handed her the phone.

Eloise instantly took the phone and pushed through the crowd to a less crowded area. "Hello"

"El, I'm here. Can you come to meet me?" Cole asked softly at the end of the line. Eloise's heart leaped with joy at the sound of his voice. She ignored the strain in his tone.

"You are here? Where?" Eloise asked surprised, quickly glancing around for a sign of blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Third floor at the east wing balcony. I'm waiting for you. Please come"

"Alright, I...." He hung up before she could say anything else.

Eloise glanced at the phone, confused. He sounded weird but he was here to see her. That beat everything else. At least they could give each other a proper farewell. She quickly turned towards the direction of the door, suddenly bumping into someone.

"I am so sorry...." she apologized.

"El?" She looked up to find a pair of golden eyes staring down at her. His eyes were filled with astonishment.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Eloise asked taking a step away from him. His brows creased in confusion as if suddenly realizing something.

"You don't remember me. Do you?" He asked. His voice filled with disappointment. She had no idea who he was, but she swore, he looked so familiar. Especially those golden eyes of his.

"I'm sorry but I don't. Excuse me" Eloise stepped past him heading for the door and towards the east wing. As if feeling his intense stare, she turned around, but he wasn't there.

Eloise stepped onto the balcony to find no sign of Cole. She wondered why he chose this spot. This part of the palace was eerily quiet and dark.

She called his number on Corentine’s phone to no response.

"Where are you? I'm here" She sent him a quick text.

Eloise exhaled deeply looking up into the sky. She gasped softly, her eyes wavering in surprise. Up in the dark starless sky was the blood moon.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" She quickly turned around startled to find Cole. "Cole" She muttered.

For the first time since she'd known him, she didn't know how to react. She was so happy to see him. She always was. But right now, she didn't know what to do. She couldn't see his face properly, as he stood in the dark. But he didn't look happy, that she could tell.

"So, you went through with this," he said with a chuckle.

"Cole......" He held up his hand, stopping her from saying anything else.

He slowly closed the double doors behind him. He had a sad look but there was a glint in his eyes. One she couldn't make out.

"El... I loved you. I had great plans for us. Why did you do this?" He walked towards her slowly.

Eloise frowned. She had a good look as he stood close now. His hair was damp as if he'd just stepped out of the bath. He was dressed in a black suit. He looked pale like he hadn't fed in days. His eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn't slept in days either. He looked terrifying.

"Cole, what's going on with you? You don't...." She walked towards him cupping his face.

"You did this to me, El. It's your fault. I didn't want to do this. I loved you. You forced my hand, El. It's your fault" Cole said, his eyes flaring as if he were possessed.

Eloise frowned in confusion.

"Cole, I'm sorry. I have to..." He suddenly grabbed her to him, taking her lips. Eloise gave in. She wanted this more than ever. They broke off their kiss with their lips lingering on each other. Cole slowly pulled her into a hug.

"I loved you, Eloise. I did but if I can't have you no one else can. Not again" He whispered in her ear.

"Cole. I'm still here. Why are you...." Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her gut. Eloise gasped, looking down to find a dagger buried deep in her gut.

Her eyes flew wide with shock. "Cole...." She said in horror.

Cole withdrew the iron dagger and stabbed her again. Eloise staggered backward but he grabbed her to him. She looked up in horror as he stabbed her multiple times.

"Cole..." Blood spluttered out of her mouth as she spoke his name. She grabbed onto his shirt, shell-shocked. The satisfied look in his eyes scared her more than her wounds.

Eloise fought away from his grasp falling to the floor.

"You can come out now!" He said over his shoulder.

Eloise held her hand to her stomach, trying to put more pressure to stop the bleeding.

"Why?" She yelled slowly looking up at Cole with tears in her eyes. A woman stepped in from behind him suddenly chanting some incantations.

Eloise coughed out more blood with her vision slowly blurring. She struggled to her feet with her hand still on her wound. She was suddenly standing in a seal drawn in her blood.

That's what the incantation was for. Two men wearing raven-beaked-shaped masks approached her, surrounding her with witch ash. They were sealing her.

She was going to die, she thought in horror. And she wasn't going to come back this time.

"Cole... " She muttered staggering backward leaning against the balustrade. Cole stepped closer to her with a small smile. That smile she once trusted so blindly.

"Why?" She struggled to let out. He suddenly grabbed her by the neck strangling her. As if stabbing her wasn't enough.

Eloise clapped both hands together, and tiny sparks of flames burst from her palms. She was weak so were her powers now.

"It's not going to work, Princess. With the power of the blood moon and that seal, you are done for" The woman behind Cole uttered. She had a tattoo of a snake sprawling from her neck to the side of her face. It moved like it were alive.

"Die, Eloise. It's less painful" Cole muttered his eyes void of all emotion.

"Cole......" Eloise choked on the blood in her mouth. He suddenly pushed her off the balustrade. Eloise fell fast, her right hand extended towards Cole as if he'd save her. Tears fell from her eyes as their eyes met. She fell three stories straight into the pool beneath her. Her back hit the bottom of the pool where she stayed drowning because she couldn't swim.

All strength to fight was gone. But she didn't want to die. No, not yet. The last thing she thought of was Cole, right before a sudden darkness took her.