The Blood Princess: Episode Three: The Blood Rite Saga: Season One, #3

By Dylan Keefer

Blood, Vampires, Conspiracy, Mystery, A Thrilling Story Like You've Never Read Before.

 

Prudence makes the decision to save her friend's life, but at what cost? As Charlotte becomes accustomed to life as a vampire, Prudence deals with more visions of her past. When the mysterious Clayton enters her life, the pieces start to fall into place, as she remembers her old life.

When a new threat rears its ugly head, Prudence must do everything she can to protect her newfound family. If she succeeds, perhaps she can finally look to the future.

Sparkly "Twilight" Vampires? I don't think so; this is not a story for the squeamish or faint of heart. This is a tale of both physical and psychological horror is "The Vampire Diaries: The Originals" meets the gruesome world of "The Underworld Trilogy."

The Blood Rite Saga
The Blood Empire: One Episode out of Five
The Blood Princess: Five Episodes out of Five
The Blood Prince: Zero Episodes out of Five
The Blood Queen: Zero Episodes out of Five
The Blood King: Zero Episodes out of Five
The Blood Throne: Zero Episodes out of Five

• Language: English
• Publisher: Purple Press
• Release date: May 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386550228

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Philip stood up, not breaking eye contact with Prue. His glare was a finger poking at a not yet fully healed wound. He saw her as a monster, something to be destroyed. And maybe she was, but Prue was not going to let that stop her from helping. Charlotte had talked her down from madness, and Prue didn’t want to lose the first face her eyes saw. Even if it meant she had to make Charlotte like herself.

She walked past Philip, not caring that her speed made a breeze that nearly knocked him over and knelt next to Charlotte. As Prue grabbed Charlotte’s hands and turned to expose the inside of her wrists, Charlotte made an effort to speak. It was a faint wheeze that even Prue couldn’t understand, but one hand gave Prue a faint squeeze that seemed to be supporting.

What if she doesn’t want you to do it? Milo spoke up.

Those words almost made Prue stop. But her claws were already extended, and the first cut was made. The blood flowed down Prue's hands. There was no looking back now. Prue hadn't looked at her own blood that carefully before, so she was surprised when she saw a warm glow amidst the dark blood, like a steady candle. Maybe that was the reason why Charlotte had to drink the blood, for the light to be shared. Prue cupped Charlotte's head and brought it to her own wrists. The blood dripped down Charlotte's lips and into her mouth. Nothing happened.

Charlotte's hand slid up to Prue's elbow and all of a sudden Charlotte was drinking. She wasn't protesting the taste or struggling to gulp; the blood flowed like water. Prue could see the warmth from her own blood spread over Charlotte's body, flowing from her neck through the throat and down to her chest and stomach, then spread down to the feet. No, not just see it, feel it. It was as if a tree grew roots connecting the two women. Prudence's vision tunneled again, but she locked her eyes on Charlotte's face and didn't move. Even as her feral instincts took over, Prue knew that she would be fine if she just remembered who this was. Remember her intentions. She would never hurt her friend. She wanted to make her friend her family. Prue just needed to stand firm, only for a few seconds.

Dizziness overcame her. Mickey’s words started to swirl in her head. A person like you would open her wrists and feed them immortality, seconds before sinking her fangs into their neck to seal the deal.

And then the dull needles bored into her head again, then Prue plunged head-first into a vision.

CHAPTER TWO

H e's dying. Prue heard her own voice. She was kneeling again, but this time, the person laying there was a small shivering boy with bloodshot eyes. He must have been in his teens, though he was extremely skinny, nearly emaciated. The boy wore ragged clothes drenched in blood from the giant wound on his neck and chest. There were scratches all over his arms and legs, and a giant one on his face. It was night, and the cold wind beat against her body in waves. She was shivering; she wondered how the boy felt, lying there on the cold hard ground. She was smaller than she was in the present, she must be in her teens, just like the boy, and her hair intentionally covered her face. A heavy cloak fell on her, followed by a pair of strong hands that cupped her shoulders. Prue stopped shivering, recognizing the scent of woodchips. She turned around and saw the dark-haired man. He smiled warmly up at her, but one could see the worry in his eyes. His eyes glided to the shivering boy on the ground.

Prue had never seen anyone look both so young and so old, so weighted down with worry. He tried to move her away from the boy, but she slipped the cloak from her own body and covered the boy with the cloak, rooting herself into place. The boy stopped shivering.

Why even have the ability to help if you don’t use it? Prue shivered. The man wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, kneeling beside her. He was not as warm as she expected, but the steady breathing and the light heartbeat helped her calm down.

Alright, I’ll help. But we can’t do it here, they’ll see. We’d need to drag him into the forest. And then leave him after I’m done. The dark-haired man spoke as if he knew that the words would make Prue object.

But— Prue started.

What do you think would happen if we brought him home and saved him? Do you think people would believe that we saved him, or the first time he burned in the sun, they'd kill us? He explained that carefully, waiting for her to understand it. He seemed like a parent explaining right and wrong to a child. He was gentle yet firm.

I understand. But at least he’ll be alright once you do it, right? Prue asked.

I hope so. The dark-haired man gave her one last squeeze and then got up, picking up the boy. Prue followed him into the dark forest she had just noticed was there.

The dark-haired man found a place under a tree where he dropped the boy on the ground. The boy was shaking again, but differently. The dark-haired man removed the cloak and handed it to Prue. She bundled it up in a ball as the dark-haired man used his claws to cut his wrist and fed his blood to the boy. The boy drank as if he hadn't seen any liquid in days; he even tried to bite the wrist to draw more blood. Then the dark-haired man revealed a long pair of fangs, ones that touched his jaw. He sank his fangs in the only part of the boy's neck not covered in wounds. The boy yelped, and Prue was yanked back in the vision.

Prue hit her head on something so hard that it cracked under the force. She also had a weight on her chest. She opened her eyes, her vision cleared, and Prue saw Rick and John’s confused and panting faces in front of her. John was on top of her, sitting on the abdomen, using his entire weight to keep her down, while Rick held her by the shoulders, pressing his entire weight on them. John also held her hands. There was blood in Prue’s mouth and on her hands. She swallowed it, and it was sweet and familiar.

What happened? Let me go please, I don’t want to hurt you. Prue chocked out, and the two men, after sharing a brief confused glance, let her go. She could hear that both of them were out of breath, and then barely got up on their feet. Prue scrambled to her knees and faced Charlotte.

Charlotte’s body thrashed around faster than humanly possible. The light was faint in her, barely even noticeable  where the wounds were. Even Philip, who was attempting to pin her down, had no luck, and he got slapped in the face a few times. Milo was just sitting in the corner, not moving. He barely even breathed.

Were you supposed to bite her? Rick asked. It made Prue focus. The vision came to mind. Her instincts screamed at her. She needed to be near Charlotte. She needed to be near the new vampire, hold her and help her grow in this new world. Philip’s hands on Charlotte were annoying her.

Yes. She needs to drink my blood, and I need to drink hers. Prue walked over and grabbed one of Charlotte's arms. Before Philip could growl out what Prue assumed to be a warning, she grabbed Charlotte's right hand and pinned it to the ground. The trashing diminished. Prue used her other hand to push Philip off Charlotte, and then she grabbed Charlotte's other hand. Charlotte's body stopped thrashing completely; now she took incredibly deep breaths. Philip got up and reached toward Prue.

I know this is new to you. It is new to me too. But I did not hurt her. This is what needs to happen. If you touch her again, she will start thrashing again. You are human; you can touch her later. Prue didn't know why she was so certain of that. But she knew it, as deeply as one can know anything. This was supposed to happen, and she was supposed to be near this.

So, you were supposed to bite her in the neck and drain most of her blood? Philip spat out. He still sat on his knees, with his hand out but not touching Prue, even though if he tried, his strength wouldn’t do anything. And Prue was certain her instincts would scream at her to toss him into the nearby wall.