Fan Fiction ❯ Midnight Voices ❯ Anita - Part 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Anita - Part 1

Anita and Victoria sat dosing in the glare of the bright midday sun shaded only by the generous leaves of the Money Tree. It was a blistering afternoon and the dry grass crumbled under the weight of their new picnic rug. A more sensible group of Neopets would have spent their afternoon at the Ice Caves and many had, as the constant crowd of destitute pets searching for free Neopoints and food was less than a dribble.

Anita the Chia watched the leafy shadows on her smooth yellow fur dance as she reached for the picnic hamper. She eagerly delved inside, her small paw searching frantically until with a rattle she pulled out a bottle of cherry elixir, "There's nothing better."

"But it's so hot," Victoria sighed fanning herself. Her long ears had flopped over her face and despite the cool breeze she could feel herself wilting. Victoria did not like the heat.

"That's why you should try this," Anita smiled pouring Victoria out a glass of the deep red and sticky liquid.

As the two girls began to din on a lunch of juice, green pepper omelette and fairy bubbles an excitable Zafara bounded up to them, his ears swinging wildly as he spoke to them, "Good morning ladies!"

"Willie!" Anita cried clapping her podgy paws excitedly as William took his place between the Chia and the white Aisha.

"I thought you weren't coming," Victoria said closing her fan and staring at him. William was more than a friend to her however he was deeply in love with Anita, a relationship Victoria was not prepared to destroy despite it was all in his head for Anita saw nothing in William but a pleasant chum.

"Well you know," William beamed, "I could never miss lunch with my two favourite ladies."

Out of a paper bag William revealed a tub of double chocolate ice cream, "Look what I've brought! I know you like ice cream Anita!"

Anita giggled as she removed the lid and poured the brown liquid content into a glass for William, "It was a very kind thought."

Anita then leaned over to William handing the naïve pet the glassful and kissing him on the cheek For a moment it felt as though his heart would stop but has he continued to breathe he realised no such joy was meant for him.

"Erm…" William babbled.

"Shall we eat then?" Victoria interjected, "It would be a shame for all this good food to go to waste."

With a chuckle Anita began to cut into the omelette leaving the three to bask and dine in the summer sun.

As the late afternoon passed into early evening Victoria rose from her seat. White Aishas are particularly sensitive to the sun and she began to feel the glare of the sun burning at her skin.

"Will we see you again?" asked William humorously.

"Um…" Victoria sighed. She had felt like a gooseberry the entire afternoon and had finally found a reason not to be with Anita and William; "I'll be at the parlour house," and with that she went.

The two were alone. William once again felt his heart beat race. He grinned moronically.

"Shall we go for a walk in the woods?" Anita suggested enticingly.

"Ibble…" William gushed at the thought of being alone in the wood with Anita, he could finally tell her how he felt.

Just as William was about to rise Anita patted him on his warm wet nose, "Now wait a moment, I need to freshen up - this heat is melting my makeup."

Dreamily William watched Anita stroll back to the parlour house, buzzing with her touch. Sighing he melted back into his place awaiting his unfortunate love.

The little Chia danced down the cool pavement, it was getting late and she had not noticed how quickly night engulfed the day.

Anita pulled out her compact and squinted at her reflection, "Eeew," she sighed, "moonlight does nothing for yellow fur."

Anita paused and then shivered. An unusually cold breeze fluttered passed her. She fixed her gaze at her compact mirror. There was someone following her, she could feel it yet there was no image.

Supposing William was concealing himself behind a tree Anita smashed shut the lid of her compact and swung around, "I know you're there Will…"

Gasping Anita dropped the mirror letting it shatter into thousands of tiny crystals onto the stones below each reflecting the Moon's light like fallen stars. Reflecting everything except the pet that stood before her. His chestnut fur was sleek and shone like the blood red silk lining of his black cape. He wore a white cotton shirt completely offset by his black bow tie and waistcoat. However he had unusual features for a Blumaroo as his nose was capped in a red almost as vivid as his costume lining and as he smiled at Anita his teeth dripped with scarlet, his canines appearing to be extended.

"Anita my dear," he said with a tranquil and mellow voice that thawed the cold reverence Anita had for the figure and made her fur stand on end, "it is not right for a young lady to be on her own so late in the dark evening."

"Sir," Anita said to him, "do I know you?"

"Well my dear," the Blumaroo said as he revealed a sharp and spiny paw, "in some parts of Neopia I am known as the Count," he grabbed Anita by the arm, "and in others I am plainly known as Von Roo," he then pulled the tiny Chia towards his face whereupon his vile smirk had evolved into a wicked grin, "but if you are a well read little Chia you will know me as the vampire Neopet, Count Von Roo."

"Oh my gosh," Anita gasped as she unsuccessfully attempted to wiggle her way to freedom, "what is it you want from me?" A question she feared was apparently obvious.

"Nothing much," the Count laughed as he tilted her chubby almost non-existent neck up to his lips, "just your blood."