Chapter I can't even remember: My Reprieve (Part 1 of 3)

A/N I GOT SOME FOOD FOR YA

Ruby watched in silence, keen eyes taking in the scene from the shadows. Her mouth whispered quiet incantations and her focus sharpened on her task. Silver wisps of smoke rose to the air in a swirling dance, the sound of laughter swelled, the crackling of the fire was buoyant. Ruby almost felt sorry for the group, unaware of the peril that was about to overtake them. She didn't like her job, it was brutish and brought to mind the word 'servitude'. She could make her own decisions but only at the cost of her sister, Yang.

Ruby was a mage, gifted by the God of Light with silver eyes, the source of her magic. Her father, Tai-Yang, was a poor man who made low wages by moiling away at an anvil. Yang's mother, Raven, stole his heart one such day as the din of his hammer striking iron rang out in the street. They had a child together, a beautiful young girl. Raven ran out of fear, unwilling to settle down and lead the life of a mother. Next Summer came, a young woman with a heart of gold. She gladly took Raven's place and raised Yang alongside Ruby. She died three years later, hung for the crime of treason. She too had the gift of silver eyes, except she refused to use her powers to aid the king. Unfortunately, Ruby had no choice but to obey the king if she wanted Yang to live.

Soon the people recognized the red magic slowly surrounding their encampment, but by then it was too late. The air was sucked out of their lungs and within minutes, none were left alive. They were rebels, fighting against the vampire monarchy. Humans are as good as dogs in this world, the mages are only dimly respected, and vampires are the elite. The Schnees are the most formidable of those elite and the royal line for the high throne. Ruby is their only mage, one of two in all of Remnant. The other one is locked in a hidden prison somewhere, comatose due to magic draining.

Ruby plodded back to her horse, the falling snow sticking to her red cloak. Her breath froze in the cold air. The stars were out, twinkling happily in the distance. Ruby tried to forget the figurative blood on her hands, instead focusing on how this deed will surely earn her a few minutes with Yang. She mounted her horse and they took off, the sound of the hoof falls were muffled by the snow. It was an hour-long ride back to the kingdom and another twenty to the castle itself. She pushed Armageddon, her horse, to go faster.

The king's guard found Ruby when she was five, Tai tried to defend her and Yang but with a single swipe of a sword, he became nothing more than a carcass. Yang was drafted into the army because of her Semblance and Ruby made to study old books written by long-dead mages. If she ever stepped out of line, Yang would be flogged and she would be forced to watch. However, if she did good, she would get five minutes with her sister.

It was hard, taking it all on as a young child - but she managed. She had too. Maybe that was why she was so successful, she had no choice but to give it her all, no choice to but to not accept anything less than perfection from herself.

There was only one reprieve other than her sister, Princess Weiss Schnee. Weiss, unlike most vampires, doesn't see humans as nothing more than food. Yes, she recognizes the fact that they are a source of food because of their blood, but in the course of her existence, she never lost sight of their beauty and their talent. She was always so curious about Semblances, something vampires don't have. When she found out about Ruby's she made the mage speed around the castle, giggling and trying to pick up the petals before they dissipate. They got in trouble but the cupcakes Weiss snuck them later made up for it.

Ruby would never admit it to Yang, even though the blonde probably knew anyway, but over time she began to feel romantically towards the vampire. She had no clue if Weiss felt the same way, but a girl can hope. Once, very briefly, Weiss planted a chaste kiss to her lips. The white-haired girl later said it was a thank you kiss for the red rose Ruby made for her out of paper, something that friends do all the time. Ruby accepted the explanation, but never forgot the electricity that spread throughout her body when Weiss's cold, soft lips pressed to her own. It felt right - like it was meant to be and nothing could change that. That was three years ago, Ruby is seventeen now, fully matured and wearing the same red cloak as she did when she was four. It's her mother's cloak, a piece of cloth they gave her to replace Summer's body, which was burned in disgrace.

Ruby yawned as she walked from the stables to the inner courts, strolling through the passageways towards her room. The king was asleep so there was no point going into the throne room to report her success. When she opened the maple wood door, she found Weiss sprawled out on her bed, head buried in a book. "Hi," she sighed tiredly, plopping down next to the princess.

Weiss set aside her book and smiled toothily at Ruby. "Hi, you look like shit."

"Thanks," Ruby said dryly, "I feel like it."

Weiss sat up, stretching her legs out in front of her and motioning for Ruby to sit on her lap. The red-head obliged, snuggling back into her friend. Weiss embraced Ruby, kissing the top of her head. "Your cloak is wet."

"Yeah, it did get dragged through snow."

"It's soaking through my nightgown."

"I'm sorry."

"Why is snow so cold even when melted?"

"Stop complaining, you've been relaxing with a good book and probably some tea at some point," Ruby mumbled sleepily.

"No, all the maids were sleeping."

Ruby snorted, "you are so fucking privileged."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"Well, I'm sorry that I haven't the stone-cold determination to traipse around in the freezing weather to do Gods know what."

"I'm sorry too, it'd make my life easier if you did."

Weiss chuckled light-heartedly and they fell into a comfortable silence. Ruby took this opportunity to listen to the princess's heart and its steady rhythm. Over time, however, it grew rapid and Weiss's breathing became ragged. Ruby recognized the signs, she was hungry. "You require sustenance." She said teasingly.

"No, I don't."

"I can hear your heart and your breathing and sense the hunger on you because of my magic. Wanna try that again?"

Weiss grumbled, "it doesn't matter, no food until morning."

"I am your midnight snack."

"No, you're no one's midnight snack!" Weiss growled possessively.

"Right, I'm just yours," Ruby said with a smirk.

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am."

"I disagree," Weiss stated with an air of finality.

"Well, you suck," Ruby giggled uncontrollably, rolling over so that she was face-to-face with Weiss. "But seriously," she whispered. "You need to eat."

"Not you," Weiss sighed, turning her head away from the shining silver eyes and knowing look.

"Who else?"

"No one."

"Then me it is."

Weiss looked back at Ruby and the mage was instantly aware of how little distance was between them. Weiss was frowning, her thin lips tight and her eyes speaking of worry and shame. Ruby turned her head to the side, revealing her pulsing jugular. Weiss licked her lips, holding herself back with only the wish to not hurt Ruby. The red-head sensed this and reassured her, reiterating that her magic would heal the wound almost instantly. Weiss inched closer, a gentle hand cupping Ruby's cheek, and another placed firmly on the slope of her shoulder. Her jaw opened wide, revealing pearl white fangs. In a second, Weiss was biting down onto Ruby's neck, the latter gasping at the sensation. It hurt, but at the same time, it didn't. It felt almost as if something was invading her body, but none of these feelings and sensations took hold. Only one did. Weiss was moaning. Oh, so softly, so quietly - but she was certainly moaning. The sound was deep and contented, the kind-of sound you make when something utterly satisfactory is going on. That sound alone made Ruby sure she'd be Weiss's midnight snack a thousand times over if requested, even let Weiss drain her to near-death if she kept making that glorious noise.

Weiss pulled away, a few trickles of Ruby's blood going down her chin and neck. As predicted, Ruby's wound healed within seconds and Weiss looked relieved to see it. Ruby couldn't stop staring, the fangs now dimly red with blood, the lines of it running down her flesh, her blue eyes sharp and awake. Weiss looked magical, tantalizing and powerful. She looked elite. "What?" The woman in question asked.

Ruby didn't know how to reply, her mouth was dry and she licked her chapped lips. "Let me get you a towel," she said calmly, standing to go fetch the item. Thankfully, it was black so the blood wouldn't stain it. She dampened it with the water in her washbasin and wrung it out. Ruby strode back over and wiped slowly at the red streaks, starting at the princess's collar bone. Ruby gulped, mentally willing her heart to stop pounding so hard in her chest as she dragged the soft cloth over Weiss's pale skin. Her hand trembled slightly and Weiss took hold of it, guiding it up the rest of her neck and over her lips

Weiss was breathing heavily again, but this time it was caused by a beast different and yet so similar to the previous one; hunger. More specifically, lust.

It burned between them, charged and throwing its head back in a roar. But neither could indulge, for that would be punishable by death. It was not sex that made this so, but race. It was unthinkable for a vampire to stoop to a mere human for pleasure. And yet, here they were, aching for more. Hungry with desire. Starving for more.

It was unbearable, 'and so,' Ruby thought 'why should we try and bear them?' This must've shown in her eyes because Weiss seemed to get the same idea, inching closer until their lips were mere centimeters apart. They kissed, it wasn't long or drawn-out, it wasn't deep and passionate, it was short and sweet, meant only as a test-drive for the real thing. Ruby was sure this was a dream, an alternate reality where everything is alright. Because why else would she be kissing Weiss fucking Schnee? In what universe but a perfect one would such an event occur?

The kiss ended and they pressed their foreheads together, drinking in the moment.

"That was... something." Weiss speculated.

"Agreed."

"What do we do now?"

"I dunno, fuck?"