Vivia

She took the rose and lifted it. It had a strange hot smell in the cold of the cave. It brushed her mouth and broke. She felt the burning blood go over her lips and down her chin. It had no taste, and yet... She raised her hand, in the cup of which all the blood had gathered and drank it down. No more than water. Yet water in thirst. It was not water, but fruit. It was wine. She must have more... 'There will be more, ' he said.

Tanith Lee was writing grimdark fantasy even before it was known...