Lips as Red as Blood

by GalaxyofCastaborous

Skin as pale as Snow, Hair as black as night, Lips as red as Blood. A vampire Snow White in a richly imagined fantasy world, where we go deeper than is probably wise into why a good king would marry an evil witch, why on earth was the evil queen so obsessed with her own appearance, and why is no-one who knows the girl willing to help her? This is a tragedy, it is not a nice story.

23. Feast

Snow seated herself at the table, in the seat Navormal clearly intended her to, and the others filed in and sat around her. The table was circular, and set for eight, though one place was left empty, presumably meant for the missing Darion who had not reappeared after having gone upstairs earlier. To her right sat Navormal, and on her left was Whitaran.

What followed was the strangest feast Snow had ever partaken in. Fresh fruit was available in such abundance and variety as would bankrupt a king, despite many of them not ripening at the same time. Many little bowls of sweet cream, unsalted butter, and pure honey as well as plates of thick cheese littered the table in such a casual display of wealth Snow felt guilty using them. In contrast, the bread was dense (though warm and plentiful), and there appeared to be no meat or wine present at all!

Despite the strangeness of the feast, it was easily the most satisfying and delicious food she had ever tasted. All of the fruit was bursting in sweetness and flavor, even the simple apples far outclassed any she had tasted before. Despite the coarseness and density of the bread, Snow was shocked by its rich taste and filling properties. Even the water was cool and sweet to her taste.

Never before had Snow considered a meal of fruit and bread, but now she could think of none other that would be as satisfying. Evidently, her fellow diners thought so as well, and despite the towers of fruit upon the table at the beginning of the meal, the platters of fruit and bread lay empty by the end.

There was a contented silence around the table, that Snow suddenly realized had lasted all through the meal. With the quietest of clinking noises, the last glass was emptied and set down. Despite the early hour, Snow felt content. As if she could sit there in silence with her strange companions for the rest of the day and into the night without boredom or wish to do elsewise.

However, the long stretched moment was broken as Navormal spoke and seemed to draw all out of the content state they were in. "Snow, would you be so willing as to come speak with me?"

She looked to her right and directly into the calm and curious eyes of her host. Feeling a bit curious herself and not a bit threatened by the simple request, Snow agreed. "I would be happy to."