Welcome, everyone! I hope you all enjoy the first chapter of Bloodied Roses! Let's get started!

Chapter 1

I stepped outside for my third smoke break of the night. The cool air of the late fall night greeted me as I stepped outside, my long black hair and cat ears not exactly agreeing with the wind. I sighed and lit up my smoke. It was a slow night in the bar. The only people who were there was Velvet, the other bartender, and a couple of regulars who played bad music coming from the old jukebox that played along with the occasional loud snoring from Old Man Qrow, who thinks the bar is his fucking home.

Typical tavern bullshit, I guess.

To be honest, I don't even know what I'm doing with my life. All I ever do is wake up in the afternoon, go to work, come back home, and read a book until I fall asleep. Seriously, my life is so fucking dull. I think the only aspect of my life that I actually look forward to are the days I practice my guitar. Just plugging my baby in the amp and blaring it's sweet sound just make my day. Too bad I can't do it too often due to the fact that my landlord isn't a fan of metal music.

I looked down at the cigarette sticking out of my mouth. It's halfway done, which means I'll have to go back inside soon. I sighed and closed my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I like the bar. Velvet's a pleasure to work with, most of the bar patrons aren't douchebags, and I can get Qrow out of the bar most nights. But, it's been the same old thing for a good two years. I need a change of pace.

I finished the cigarette and flicked the butt into a nearby dumpster. I then pulled open the door to the bar and got myself back in work mode.

"Blake?" Velvet was behind the bar, serving a couple of people shots. "It's almost closing time. Should I call last call?"

I checked my watch. 1:23 AM. Jesus, I didn't even know it was that late into the night. I nodded at Velvet and she hollered last call, causing most of the patrons to groan and head towards the bar.

I walked over to the bar and helped out Velvet serve drinks. Last call was always the busiest, everyone wanting their last drink of the night. All except Qrow and the few people taking this time to leave before we started kicking people out.

After everyone's got their drinks, I walk out from behind the bar and over to Qrow, who is sleeping in one of the booths in the back of the bar with beer bottles and shot glasses surrounding him. I pounded my fist on the table, causing him to wake up suddenly.

"Qrow, last call." I said in my most annoyed tone. "Get your drink and get out."

"Leave me alone, woman!" he said, swatting my hand away from the table. "I'm sleeping here!"

"I don't give a shit. Get the fuck out of my bar."

Qrow made some kind of noise before getting up and heading to the bar. I heard Velvet asked if Qrow wanted her to call a cab, but I was already starting to close down the bar. I opened the door and told everyone it was closing time. A few groans later, everyone walked or hobbled out depending on their drunken state.

"Get the lights, Vel." I said, locking up the register and alcohol. Can't be too careful in case someone tried to break in.

Velvet turned off the lights and I slipped on my black leather jacket before we walked out into the night. I closed and locked the door behind us and wished Velvet a good night. Walking over to my car, I took a deep breath of the crisp, clean air before I got in and went home.


"Good evening, Blake." I walked into my apartment and immediately saw my landlord, Cinder Fall. She was wearing little black dress that I must admit fit her form perfectly. Not that it needed to because everything fit that woman perfectly.

I checked my watch, not really needing to. "It's 2 in the morning, Cinder." I said. "I'm surprised you're still up."

"Yes, well I'm going to a party to celebrate a friend's birthday. I trust that it'll be quiet by the time I get back, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Sure, Cinder. Have a nice time."

She gave me a wave and walked out of the building. I walked upstairs to my apartment room. I was just unlocking my door when Mercury and Emerald came out of their apartment. They both gave me a smile and a wave before walking downstairs.

"Looks like everyone's going to be out for the night." I said, smiling to myself. I quickly opened my door and entered my apartment with one thing in mind.

My apartment wasn't the best place on earth, with it being just four wood walls, a mattress with no bed frame, and my guitar and amp. But, it was home for now, at least.

Without skipping a beat, I took off my jacket and flung it somewhere by my bed. I grabbed Gambol, the name I gave my slick, midnight purple beauty of a guitar, and plugged her into the amp. With a quick check to make sure she was in tune, I cranked the amp up to the max volume and started playing one of my favorite songs.

Here I stand, helpless and left for dead...

The notes just came out of me. Gambol was shredding every note of the song I played. Once I take an interest in a song, I study the notes and practice until I know it by heart. If you could hear my baby sing her sweet music, you'd think I wrote the notes myself.

Say goodbye! As we dance with the devil tonight! Don't you dare look at him in the eye!

And yes, I sing a little too. It helps me keep in tune with the notes. Sometime, I even envision myself standing in front of a crowd somewhere, playing every song I knew as the crowd cheered me on. A little childish, I know, but what can I say? It's been a dream of mine since high school.

I took a deep breath as I played the last note of the song. God, the last note was always the best cause you could let it ring out as long as you wanted. To me, this was the best sound in the world.

I took a breath before putting Gambol up for the night, only because I didn't want to fall asleep while playing her. I did that with my last guitar and, let's just say that I woke up with cuts from the broken strings and wood and the anger to ram my head against a wall. I flopped down on my mattress and closed my eyes, silently wishing to myself that thing will somehow change for the better.

Somehow...