Ruby Red Goblets Novels & Stories

"She dropped a goblet while crying out." He hesitates very briefly before reaching one of the nearby counters. "This is the goblet, your Grace." My heartbeat slows strangely as he carefully lifts a golden up into view. Cold realization washes through me the moment my eyes land on it. It is the exact goblet I drank from earlier tonight. The very same one. I slowly take it from him. The golden surface reflects light beautifully despite the terror now attached to the goblet, and there is still a small amount of crimson wine settled at the bottom.

Mum asks, looking from Ares to Mummo, and to Vaari again, when Osric moves behind her, sensing she is worried. "There are two sets of stone bowls that flow into one another I believe one set is black labradorite, in the right light it flares red. The other is rainbow moonstone otherwise known as white labradorite, and flares blue and purple. I think I heard Deborah call it labradorescence when she was showed Benjamin her pentad," Ares explains, stepping away from cooking, as one of their kitchen helpers takes over.

"There will be strong contenders, then. After all, it is a unique item, which is rare even among ancient pack artifacts." In the VIP section, Caroline gently nudged Aaron's arm. "Remember, your mother wanted you to bid on that ceremonial goblet set." Aaron barely acknowledged her, his golden eyes fixed on his phone screen rather than the auction. Caroline frowned slightly, sensing his distraction. Glancing down, she caught a glimpse of what held his attention—photos of two children, their features strangely familiar. Something about the children's golden and violet eyes nagged at her, but before she could study them further, Aaron noticed her peeking.

"What about this one? A friend told me a real ceremonial amethyst ring should have a patina, but this one feels too smooth." As she spoke, her gaze flicked over the rest of the shop, quietly studying the shapes, textures, and aging of each relic. She could identify most of them at a glance, though a few skilled forgeries took a little longer to discern. Then her eyes caught on a small, inconspicuous bronze goblet. Its surface was covered in an even layer of rust, and its elegant form hinted at genuine craftsmanship. Beneath the corrosion, the refined shape was unmistakable—it was authentic.

Autumn sat on the edge of the cot, staring at the goblet of blood that Max had left for her. It sat on a small stone table nearby, and she could see the faint red liquid inside it catching the torchlight, glowing like liquid rubies. The hunger was becoming unbearable. It was a physical force now, almost alive, coiling in her stomach and clawing up her throat. It made her hands shake and her vision blur at the edges. Her throat felt like sandpaper... parched and cracked and desperate for something only the goblet could provide.

Of course, I didn’t have the privilege of seeing what sort of creature they had hunted down but I heard it was a very large boar. I don’t even understand why something such as that needed a celebration but I guess that’s what being royalty gets you. I maneuvered my way through the rowdiness, serving food and taking orders for more drinks and more food—these people never seem to eat enough especially during occasions like this. I approached a rowdy bunch at the corner when I felt eyes watching me. Turning, I catch the leering eyes of the rogue king on his throne. He held a gold goblet embedded with red ruby stones in his left hand.

The goblet was the last. She stared at it for a long moment. The liquid inside wasn’t red. It was gold. Bright, thick, almost glowing. She touched it—and the air held still. Nothing struck her. No visions. No screams. Only a whisper: Drink, and become what they fear. Sera lifted the goblet. Her hands shook. Her lips parted. But she hesitated. What if this was the end? What if this was exactly what they wanted—to watch her choke on power she was never meant to survive?

Don’t bleed on the king’s chair. I’d never finished it. The file was buried somewhere on my hard drive, abandoned. And now I was standing in it. No. That was impossible. There were only so many horror structures; of course, this place echoed my drafts. Of course. The blood script flared a little brighter, just for a second, as if offended by my denial. A small table had appeared beneath the rules. It hadn’t been there a moment ago. It held a silver tray and a line of crystal goblets, each filled with a dark red liquid that gleamed like garnets in the torchlight.

It was as if they had misplaced their most treasured valuable. Edwin slowly moved through the ruined halls, as if he were walking through Tiara’s memories. The sitting room was mostly intact. Something caught his eyed. He knelt beside a broken table, on it, a rusted silver goblet with a jet black stain visibly latched on to the inner rim. Edwin picked it up, trying to take a closer look at the inside of the goblet. Ralph looked towards Edwin, he was worried that he had not heard him make a sound in a couple of minutes. He quickly rushed over to where he was bent.

[POV: Neoma] The wine was rich, dark, and hid the taste of ruin perfectly. I stood at the long banquet table in the Celestial Spire’s ballroom, my fingers tightening around the stem of the crystal goblet until my knuckles turned white. The room was a kaleidoscope of silk, jewels, and malice. Hundreds of Highbloods moved through the space, their laughter tinkling like broken glass, their scents a cloying mix of expensive perfume and rot.