Blood-stained lips framed by onyx hair. Her body sculpted by rubies and starlight.
The prince cannot look away.
Drawn to her by magic, they dance until the room blurs.
As midnight draws near, she leans in.
“I must leave.”
Without a thought he follows, tripping as he does, before finding her at the water's edge, shining in the moonlight.
“Will you join me?”
Taking her offered hand, he trails into the water.
Her consort caught, they sit together on the midnight thrones of the underworld.
All that’s found of the prince on land—a bloody shoe left on the glass stairs.