Red Ridinghood

Gather round little ones, it is story time. The tale I have to tell happened a long, long time ago in a land quite nearby. It was in the kingdom of Loreal, the fair land of sun and beauteous forests, where over every hill the sights are more beautiful than before. Rivers wind their way through this land of many forest in their continuous search for the ocean.

It is also a land of myths, legends...not all good...not all bad. Come closer to the fire, where the light will keep away the dark and warm you nicely. Tonight it is a bit chilly outside and I cannot have you all catching cold.

Well our story starts on a nice summers day in the 10th year of our King George, that would be forty five years ago...I remember it like yesterday. Yes little ones I was there, so this is a true tale. 

On this day a young girl was tasked by her mother to take a basket of goodies to her grandmother on the other side of the woods...name of the woods, let me see...Donker woods, yes that is what it is called. The town was Merry Shirebrook, lovely town, its people happy, despite the disappearances of some of the inhabitants.

Now their good King Francis, he sent some Royal guardsman and hunters to find the reason why people were disappearing and it was discovered that the man, the people called the Wolf, had taken refuge in the Donker woods. So naturally the young girls mother admonished her daughter to not trespass within the confines of the woods.

As all daughters naturally are prone to, the young girl agreed, but secretly had no intention of heeding her mothers wishes. While the mother packed the picnic basket with precious goodies, the young girl was plaqued with the choice of what attirement she should wear. After an agonising few moments, she decided to stick with what she liked best...her red ridinghood cloak.

Now this young girl in the village was affectionately known as Little Red Ridinghood by the local villigers and was almost never seen in any other colour. This poor childs skin was white as snow, with black flowing hair and deep blue eyes that tore into your very soul. All understood the need for this poor child to wear this costume by day, her fair white skin not taking kindly to the sun.

Attired as per usual, Little Red skipped gaily into the shuttered kitchen, her hood bouncing behind her. Her mother tisked her, as she gave her the basket covered with a red and white chequered cloth. Kissing her daughter upon the forehead, she drew the hood over her head and bid Little Red adieu. 

Little red sauntered out the village as if she had all the time in the world. She greeted all with a smile in her voice. All heartily returned her salutations as she passed them by. As she strode through town, she listened to them gossip about the Wolf and speculate about the disappearances of some of the townsfolk, as well as the strangers who frequently passed through town. This wolf character was bad news for the town, as less people were passing through than usual. All wished he would be caught and made to dance the jig.

Red smiled as she walked on by, she so enjoyed a good gossip, but mother did not agree, she said gossip was bad and always ended in mischief. People always ended up getting hurt. Her mother wished people would keep to themselves.

After leaving town, Little Red, immediately and without hesitation, disobeyed her mother and alighted into the forest, where the dark dense canopy protected her from the direct rays of the sun. Casting the hood from her head, she freed her beauty to the trees. Her face radiated a smile that would have smitten any man who saw her.

Dancing from tree to tree, she traipsed merrily onwards to her secret spot, where the most bewitching flowers bloomed. She so loved to sit and look at all the dazzling colours and multitude of shapes. Simple bliss, easily forgotten when you rush on by, because of living such short lives, cramming as much as possible into it to make it worthwhile. 

A rustling in the undergrowth, ripped her from her contemplation, like a cat she braced herself, ready to fight or flee. Before her a vision of a man stepped forth, dressed all in black. Standing between the flowers, he looked like he belonged. If it were possible her heart would have missed a thousand beats. Love had enamoured her in its silken embrace, while her eyes were riveted to this perfect specimen.

When he spoke, the spell shattered, the voice that oozed out his oriface was oily and hinted maddeningly of guaranteed betrayal. Smoothly he glided forward as Red stepped back. Clearly this young sixteen year old vixen had seized his attention and had aroused his manly cravings.

Red realized upon careful scrutiny of the person before her, this was the one they called the Wolf. Within moments he had pried from her, through casual, charming discourse, where Red was heading. A sly dirty smile spread upon his lips, as a plan hatched within his head. What better way to enjoy this young maiden, than within the secure confines of a secluded abode. Here within the forest, he was hunted, her screams would draw the hunting party upon him. He licked his lips as he wished her a pleasant trip and took his leave, drooling over the hours...nay days of fun he would have.

Red watched him leave, the trees cast a shadow over her face, which made it look but for the briefest moment, as if she had smiled. With a rustle of leaves, the seeming mirage was gone. Raising her hood, she picked some flowers, consciously picking those near to the end of their blooming span.

Leaving her now no longer secret hideaway, she continued her journey, albeit a bit slower. The Donker woods once more resumed its silence as she passed. She flitted from tree to tree, running her palm upon the rough bark, relishing the feel upon her hands. Beneath her palms she felt the life flowing within each tree, letting it seep within her, craddling it to her bossom.

With but a half kilometer to go, Red stumbled upon a Royal guardsman and for the second time that day, love swallowed her and tried to keep her there. This man turned and looked upon her, his light grey eyes struck her deep, drinking her in, enamouring her within its web. His blonde hair beneath his helmet was tied in a pony tale. She hungrily gazed upon his toned form, though hidden by the armour he wore. 

Tearing her gaze back to his face, she stared at the most beautiful lips she had ever seen. The voice that craddled her ears, was like a choir of angels singing to her. It made her feel as if her heart had stopped beating, if that were possible. She remembered to breathe when he paused and awaited her response.

Casting her hood from her face, she shook her black hair, fluttered her eyes and demurely plied her womanly wiles upon this mere man. She was rewarded by his intake of breath at her stunning beauty. She slowly smiled, luring him in, relishing how easy the arts of woman could be used to seduce.

The young guardsman soon volunteered his services to guide the young woman to her grandmothers, especially since the Wolf was lurking within the immediate vicinity. Young girls were especially his favourite prey. Red enjoyed his beaming smile, when she agreed to let him accompany her. They would make a beautiful couple she mused, as they started for the road nearby. Red placed the hood back on once more in preperation for exiting the wood, could not let the sun burn her beautiful skin.

The twenty minute walk to her grandmothers house, seemed to take an eternity for the young pair. They walked and all this while her hand rested in the crook of his arm. His accoutrements noise, as he walked, could not break the spell, as their discourse rambled on about all and every conceivable subject. 

His face became glum as he saw the end of their sojourn approach. Squeezing his arm she assured him, she would take him to meet her mother and father. They would surely approve of his courting her. He smiled, took her hand and kissed it in parting, his cheeks blushing at his brazen act. She smiled easing his discomfort. Without hesitation Red entered grandmothers derelict house.

Inside, it was almost as dark as night, slivers of light, snuck in through cracks where it could. The entire place had a fine coating of dust, that clung to the musty interior. Grandmother was slipping in her age, becoming lazy. Age did that to one sometimes, Red could not blame her though, she was old after all.

In the kitchen Red left the basket upon the table and removed her hood. It took mere moments for her eyes to adjust to the gloom before going to grandmothers bedroom. The house stank of wrongness, the malodorous smell clung to her nose. She would ascertain from whence it came and remedy it, once formalities were done with.

Entering grandmothers bedroom, she slowly approached the bed, where a silent form lay covered by blankets. Smiling she greeted her grandmother and listened to the croaked response and how glad she had brought her sick grandmother some victuals. What a caring grandchild she was.

As Red got closer she asked a question as if something bothered her. Why grandmother, why is your voice so...so raspy? To which the reply came, I am a bit under the weather dear, my throat is a bit sore of late.

Stepping a step closer, Red could feel the build up of tension in the room, it was like a lion was within that room, a voarvious hungry beast, with an insatiable appetite. The second question issued forth unbidden from her lips. Why grandmother, you perspire so? Beads of sweat trickled upon grandmothers brow, as she lay beneath the blankets.

Smiling, grandmother rasping answered, why dear, it is but a cold sweat brought on by this accursed cold I do be afflicted by. Eagerly the Wolf watched as the ravishing beauty drew ever closer to him.

Taking a final step to within easy arm reach, Red stopped, leaning towards grandmother, preparing to give her a kiss, while removing and dropping her cloak upon a nearby chair. Wolf's pulse quickened at the sight of the short risqué dress, with the low top, exposing a soft supple bossom, ripe for his picking. Wild thoughts rushed through his mind, as he was driven near lust induced exuberance. 

The third and final question, Red asked as she leaned in ever closer, her lips parting seductively as she uttered them. Why grandmother, what rises so beneath the blankets? It is like a mole hill breaking a pristine lawn. 

Poor Wolf, clasping upon the blankets, had not even realised in his eager espousing of Red, the traitorous betrayel of his manhood. The big O of her mouth, alas did not help his cause, whatever caution he should have taken with this trap, was long past in its ensnarement. The spider had its fly within its web and now it was there for the taking.

Ripping from the beds enclosure, Wolf leaped, gutteral snarl of an answer, blurted out as he replied. All the better to ravish your desirable flesh my Dear! With greedy hands, Wolf tore into Red, driven by his need, all caution unheeded, forgotten.

A scream, so primal, so...fearful, cleaved the silence of the day, sending birds flocking to the safety of the heavens. Animals bounded away upon hasty legs, eagerly seeking the safety of the deep forest. The Guardsman, hearing this scream for help turned upon his heel and hastened his legs back whence it had departed from. The Wolf foremost upon his rumination. 

Crashing through the front door, the Guardsman scaned the kitchen and alighted his eyes upon a bedroom door, half ajar. Without waiting for his eyes to adjust, he sped within the room and viewed a form bent over a laid out body. His wildest fears confirmed, he percieved the wolf ravishing the poor, beautiful girl upon the floor, who lay fainted upon the spot, as he continued to grunt and writhe in ecstatic bliss in his wanton, evil deed.

Shouting a cry, for a woman so defiled, he drew forth his sword to smite this vermin of a man. Within in a few steps, the wolf raised his head and looked upon the intruder. In a fraction of a second the guardsman stood transfixed by what he saw...

Looking at him from on top, was...Red, the inocent girl with the pearl white skin, glistening with the ochre red liquid, of a young mans blood upon her lips. Her white fangs dripping blood, her face no longer the face of beauty, but a hideous mask of a night time monster! A smile played upon her lips. 

Growling, he raised his sword arm, ready to strike down this demon of the night, to end this unholy bane upon humanity. However, mere mortal man, has not the speed nor reflexes of a creature of the night, when it is in its element...

At his neck, behind his back, Red craddled him lovingly, whispering in his ear, as she ran her tongue down to his neck. This will not hurt much, mother will forgive me for turning you without her permission. We are meant to be together, she purred as she sunk her teeth into his muscled neck and supped deeply of his blood.

The sword clattered to the floor harmlessly, as the young man died, fear, horror, disgust etched upon his face. He did not percieve how she gently lay him upon her grandmothers bed, nor how she gently, lovingly kissed his lips. Only the everlasting blackness was his temporary respite from this cruel world.

Soon Red searched out her grandmother and found her stuffed in a closet, gutted by the Wolf, throat slit. With supple grace she glided into the kitchen, careful to avoid the light invading the kitchen, eager to burn her. Sneaking upon the door from the safety of the darkness she soon closed the offending door, banishing the light once more.

Taking the victuals from the basket, the blood sloshed within the container. A special mix for a vampire, injured by silver. If not administered before nightfall after being stabbed, death and eternal hell was guaranteed. Quickly Red administered the cure to grandmother.

With patience born from centuries of being "alive", Red awaited her grandmothers recovery. Together they would feast upon the remains of the Wolf and welcome Reds new addition to the family.

***

Well my dears, that is the end of my tale. Hope I did not scare you to much? Well, I have worked up quite an appetite... I think it is time for supper. George dear, have you enjoyed your meal? I watched as the two young children turn to look at George, covered in their parents blood, smiling, his fangs showing. He smiled, as handsome and young as the day I met him and answered me. Yes Red, my eternal love.

Before they can even scream, we are upon them, turning them. Vampires cannot have children, George and I so do want to start a family of our own...