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Wolf Mountain

(note: please write your opinions at the end and also rate me so I have and idea how I'm doing.)

Prelude

As night fell upon the land the birds and creatures of the day slowly one by one went to sleep as the creatures of the night awoke. As the deer and sparrow fell asleep the creatures of the night came to life going about their daily routines. Here, in a tree, an owl woke to life: there, by a rock, a mouse scurried through the darkness.

Curious, a small mouse noted the passing of two strange creatures walking on their hind legs. Noting their apparent lack of fur the mouse scurried on minding his own business and returned to his lifelong task of living out another night. Passing on by oblivious to the mouse the two humans walked through the forest hand in hand gazing into one another's eyes.

But the two did not pass through unnoticed, for more than one pair of eyes shined in the darkness that night and watched the intruders. Slipping from tree to tree, a dark shape slipped quietly amongst the shadows, almost disappearing in one shadow to reappear in another. Continuing unabated, the two human lovers continue on oblivious to their surroundings.

Silent in the moonlight the pale reflections of the moon fall upon a face watching from the safety of the trees that contains a haunting beauty. Slipping forward up a hill the watcher follows the couple from a distance. Sitting in the open under the limbs of an old oak tree the couple starts to kiss. Slowly the dark form makes it's way down from the darkness and slowly makes it's way across the empty field. Moonlight shines down revealing a pale man making his way towards the couple. The lovers hearing the snapping of twigs as the man approaches turn their heads to look at the approaching stranger.

The man makes his way forward with an almost manic gleam in his eye. He eyes both with a hungry look. The female lover gives an involuntary shudder from some unknown fear as the stranger's gaze falls upon her. Beside her, her lover tenses up. The stranger stops just feet in front of the two and looks at them, licking his lips he reaches out a hand to brush the woman's hair. The male lover surges to his feet and forms a fist striking out with all his strength against the stranger. The stranger staggers temporarily under the blow but faster than the eye can follow reaches out and grips the man's extended arm and pulls twisting. A sickening pop sounds as the shoulder is dislocated. As the man howls out in pain and collapses to the ground holding his arm the stranger stands behind him.

The female gives a gasp as she sees the stranger's teeth extending. Opening his mouth wide she is confronted by the sight of razor sharp teeth gleaming in the moonlight. Suddenly he swoops on the male lover and she screams out in horror as he sinks his teeth into the man's neck. The male lover screams out in pain, but slowly feels a numbness spreading through his body. Right before he sinks into blackness he can feel the stranger sucking at the blood bleeding from his neck.

As the male lover slowly dies the stranger lets the body fall to the ground the stranger stands up licking his lips. Turning he faces the woman. She stares in horror at this stranger... no this monster standing before her. As it takes a step towards her with a hungry look in it's eyes she darts to her feet and runs across the open field. The monster in the form of a man makes quick pursuit and within seconds over takes her tackling her to the ground. As it turns her over to reveal the neck she turns her head closing her eyes trying to deny the coming doom.

Waiting for the pain she opens her eyes as none is coming and stiffens. The monster before her struggles against the grip of another creature. With the clouds obscuring the moon she cannot make out anything in detail but the monster that was about to prey upon her struggles vainly held half a foot above the ground by the other being a single arm holding the monster up. As the being's grip tightens the female is confronted by a loud crack as the neck is broken.

The being throws aside the broken body and looks briefly at the woman. For a brief moment the clouds part allowing the woman to view her rescuer clearly and her breath catches for instead of a human face she sees gray fur, the body of a man and the head of a wolf. "Wolf man..."

The wolf formed man sprints off over the field leaving the stunned woman alone. For many minutes she just sits there stunned but it is too much for her. Soon she collapses to her knees and begins to cry. Far off in the distance a wolf howls. And the hunter searches for more prey. Beside the woman the broken body of the Vampire begins to disintegrate as the sun appears over the horizon.

Chapter One

In a dark hallway two figures argue heatedly. One is a young woman who appears no more than nineteen the other is a man not much older than the girl, maybe twenty four at the most. The girl stops and the man grabs at her. She slaps his hand and he backs off. Arguing some more the girl starts walking and the man hurries behind. Slipping from shadow to shadow they hurry on down the hallway towards their destination.

The woman hurries down the hallway setting a furious pace behind her the man tries to keep pace. Frustrated he shouts at her. "Snow you can't be serious. You have to face the facts America is dangerous for you..."

Snow wheels about and Alexander can see the determination in her eyes, as well as the fear. "Is it anymore dangerous than staying here Alexander? If I stay here Vlad will kill me... or worse, make me his wife..."

Alexander grabs her arms firmly

"You're the fucking princess he's nothing more than your parent's royal advisor... You don't even know if he really plans to do this...besides you've heard the reports, someone is hunting our kind in America... someone good..." Alexander sighs out of frustration "Look I understand what you're getting at but running off to America isn't going to help things. If you leave who's left to stop him? He's got your mother wrapped around his finger and your father has been dead for decades... Who does that leave? You! If you run off the covens are doomed. Besides it's dangerous there... At least pick somewhere else If you are going to leave... Go to Europe... Anywhere but America..."

Snow sighs and pats him on the side of the face. "You worry too much. I'm going to hide there not hunt down the Hunter. What's the chances that he's going to run into little old me... besides I can't stay here and you know that Europe is within his reach... America is the last place he'd expect me to go... I'll be safe from him there."

Alexander sighs out of frustration "But you won't be safe from the Hunter. Whoever he is he's good. In the last three years he's completely wiped out two of the smaller covens there and now he's growing more bold... Rumor says that he's started attacking your sister's coven... At least let me come with you..."

Snow puts a finger to Alexander's lips to quiet him.

"I need you to stay here and make sure that my mother is safe. Promise me you'll do that?" Snow looks up at her bodyguard with an innocent look. He remains stern for a moment then his façade cracks. "You have got to stop doing that to me. Come on if you are going to leave we better get you out now."

Alexander and Snow head towards the end of the hallway and Alexander holds open the doorway for her and the two emerge onto the tarmac of a runway. Snowflakes descend from the night sky and a full moon shines overhead. The two walk towards a small jet that waits with a boarding ramp lowered. Several men holding guns surround it and watch the two approach. Alexander looks at it before looking at Snow.

"Sure I can't change your mind?" Snow gives him a mischievous look "Positive. Look just watch after my mother for me. Please?" Snow smiles as Alexander glumly nods. Standing on her toes she stretches up and gives him a soft kiss lingering for a moment. "Don't worry once I'm ready I'll return. Until then... I love you." Snow boards onto the plane standing in the doorway looking at Alexander longingly for a moment before another man closes the door blocking him from her sight. Walking into the main cabin she sits down in one of the seats and reaches over to fridge. Rummaging around inside she pulls out a package of medical blood. Feeling her fangs extend she bites down on it and begins to drink.

Outside the plane Alexander stands in the falling snow and watches as the jet rolls down the runway and takes off linger for a time until it disappears in the darkness he turns and goes back inside and walks down the hallway. A sense of loss in his heart he emerges out and steps into the familiar warmth of Snow's room. Pulling out of his pocket the letter he had written he walks out and walks down the richly decorated hallway and slips it under her mother's door. Walking back to Snow's room and he walks to a side door and opens it walks in shutting it behind him. Taking off his clothes he lays down in his bed and quickly falls to sleep. Outside the horizon begins to lighten and take on a reddish color.

In the plane Snow finishes off the medical packet and picks up a letter from one of the coven leaders shortly before the Hunter killed him. Reading it through she closes her eyes and tries to still her fear. Closing her eyes she falls into a restless sleep. The plane flies on soon passing beyond the borders of Russia. Several more hours and Snow wakens. The captain walks over and sits down in one of the other chairs. "Don't worry princess we've only stopped momentarily we're refueling so we can make the trip across the Atlantic. We'll be in America by nightfall. So go back to sleep so you'll be ready. We already got a message from your sister she said she'd meet you when you landed." Snow's heart gives a slight flutter of thrill at the thought of finally being able to see her sister after seven years. Grabbing another packet of blood she greedily sucks it dry and falls back asleep.

Waking as the plane lands she is greeted by a group of figures approaching the plane. Walking down the steps she stands waiting and watches them approaching and a smile breaks on her face as she sees the familiar face of her sister. Running forward she hugs her surprised sister.

"Snow!" she scolds playfully "Your supposed to be a princess. Oh come on let's get you to the city... You must tell me what exactly has got you running out here all by yourself. I'm surprised Alexander isn't with you. Mother says you two have become practically inseparable."

Snow smiles mischievously "Christine you know better than that. I can't marry him he's my bodyguard..." A look of longing appears in Snow's eyes which Christine catches immediately. "But I bet you wish you could huh?" The two sisters are soon quickly surrounded by the bodyguards and escorted to Christine's city and home. As they pass through the streets of the vampire city heading for the palace Snow scoffs at the thought of the Hunter or Vlad ever being able to find her there. Laughing she reaches for another packet of blood.

Sometime later as the two sisters sit down for dinner Christine finally asks the question. "So what's your real reason for being here? If you had simply wanted to talk to me I think a phone call would have been more than adequate. Snow sets her glass of fresh blood down with a grimace at the change of topic.

"... It's Vlad." Christine looks astonished "Your mother's advisor? What about him?" Snow looks up at Christine" I think he plans to take over the covens... I think he intends to make me marry him." Snow shudders with horror at the thought. Christine watches her thoughtfully. "Do you have any actual proof?" Snow gives her a look of pure annoyance. "If I had it do you think I would be hiding in America instead of telling my mother what's really hiding behind her back?" SO tiring of the topic decides to switch the tables on her sister. "So what's really going on with the Hunter?" Now it is Christine's turn to grimace only she takes it further and actually pales a little. "That bad?" Snow asks. Christine nods in response.

"Christine takes a long drink of blood from her glass. "It's getting worse. He's getting more bold and worse... he's winning. I've sent war parties out after the Hunter and a week later their heads all show up on pikes outside the city gates. From the make of the pikes I'd say whoever it is a Lycan but that's all we really know. The Hunter has been operating for well over a decade now and it's only getting worse." Snow stares. "But I thought the Hunter had only been working for the last three years?" Christine shakes her head in denial. "I've been trying to hide the truth from the other covens for probably close to seventeen years now... He might have been at it before then but we didn't really notice it...." Snow's jaw drops. "Seventeen years??!!!! Wha... What in the world?"

Christine gives a grim nod. "It's almost as if whoever is doing it is trying to wipe out Vampire-kind from the Americas..." Christine stands up abruptly. "I'm sorry but I don't want to talk about this anymore. It's almost dawn I'm going to bed. You should probably do the same too." Christine walks off through the castle leaving Snow sitting before the roaring fire with an empty glass of blood in her hand. Horrified at the truth she gets up and walks to her rooms and lays down in her bed and waits for sleep to take her.

Several days later as Snow wakes up shortly after the sun sets she wanders through her sister's palace once more mulling over those horrifying words. Although slightly worried she reminds herself that she is safe in her sister's city and no mere Lycan would be foolish enough to attack it. Heading down to breakfast shortly after the sun has set she looks through the cereal choices in the kitchen while around her chefs cook for the rest of the palace. Finally choosing one she takes it and brings it and some milk over to a table where several vampires are already eating their breakfasts. Munching on the cereal she can't help but over hear one of the conversations down the table between two of the soldiers who just came off of guard duty.

"I know it's getting worse the Hunter got half the New York coven last night." One guard comments. The other vampire an unseasoned soldier, freshly turned shakes his head.

"How could a puny Lycan kill half the coven. We're fucking immortal they're just a bunch of fleabags..." He quiets in the face of the stares of other vampires at the table then turns back to the veteran guard. "Can they?"

The guard nods in confirmation. "They can and they have been." The guard leans in close. "If I'm right he first started twenty years ago. My family owns a house up in the mountains of Vermont and shortly after I started on as a guard here I stopped getting messages from them. I went and checked a week after the messages stopped and when I got there it was a mess. I was throwing up as soon as I got there. The first thing I saw when I stepped into the building was everyone from my family speared against the wall. He used spears on my mother and father. On my little sister I guess that he found a broom and snapped the handle off. First thing I saw... My family dead pinned up to the wall..."

The guard goes quiet and the young vampire pales visibly. "You... You sure it's him." The older guard nods. "Oh yes... he collects our teeth..."

Snow gets up abruptly from the table at that point and hurries off to the bathroom. Bracing her self she throws up the content of her breakfast. Pale and shaking she pictures in her mind the gruesome scene of that family pinned up dead to their wall with their fangs missing. The next day around midnight Snow wanders along the balcony of her sister's palace looking up at the full moon above.

Chapter Two

In the forests several miles from the vampire city a dark shape moves stealthily away in the early morning dawn. Dropping from a tree limb into the clearing the early morning sunlight shines upon gray fur covering a muscled body. The Lycan walks into the full sunlight and the sunlight shines upon the Lycan's gray fur. The play and movement of heavily developed muscle underneath the fur is readily apparent as it walks. And gleaming the sun shines off of the white teeth in it's maw. Walking out of the darkness towards the rocky hill in the middle of the vast clearing the Lycan carry's a sack of his shoulder. Walking around the side of the rocky hill he comes upon the entrance to a cave dropping the sack just inside the entrance. Walking in he enters the comfortable darkness and takes a seat upon a crude chair. Walking out he enters the forest once more he walks through the limbs of the trees in the growing light of morning. Stopping beneath a great oak he checks a young sapling that he had set two days ago and finds it empty. Resetting it he continues on his way. Stopping once more he checks another trap. This one has been undisturbed and he continues on his way.

After several more minutes he comes upon a third trap and notes with satisfaction the rabbit struggling in it. Reaching over to it as it squirms he quickly takes a firm and twists quickly snapping it's little neck. As he loosens the snare he freezes as his nose sniffs the air. Sniffing around the Lycan slowly circles until it spots what it is looking for. Several hundred feet away a doe nibbles on the grass.

The Lycan moves slowly at first one step at a time taking care not to make a sound. As it creeps to a tree it tenses for a moment then leaps up into the darkness of the branches high above. The doe looks up and glances around for some time but misses the icy blue eyes looking down on it from above. As the doe goes back to it's food several minutes later the Lycan moves quickly from one branch to another. Several moments it stands above the doe and tenses once more. With a sudden movement it leaps from above claws at the ready and fearsome maw open wide to bite. The doe sense the movement and begins to move but by then it is too late. The Lycan falls upon the doe and the jaws of the great predator clamp shut around the doe's neck while razor sharp claws rake along the side of the doe's belly. Within minutes the doe lies dead upon the forest floor. Wiping the blood from his fur the Lycan hoists the dead doe over his shoulders and walks back to the snare and quickly retrieves the rabbit.

Hands full and stomach ready for the meal ahead the Lycan walks back to it's cave. Coming upon the cave he drops the two dead creatures outside the entrance and goes inside. Coming back out the Lycan holds a knife and kneeling down proceeds to skin the two creatures. Once the task is complete he goes back inside putting the knife back from where he got it and then goes to the forest. Roaming he picks up branches. Having a full load he goes back and carries them off to the side where a fire pit has been dug into the earth. Pilling them up carefully he sits back on his heels for a moment closing his eyes in concentration. Muttering a few words of magic springs from his palm to the ready pile of wood. Soon the fire is ablaze and the Lycan walks over to the doe. Tearing the meat into smaller pieces with his claws he spears the individual pieces of meat and sets them on the cooking prongs on either side of the fire. Sitting back he watches his food occasionally turning the cooking meat to ensure even consistency.

As sun continues to rise in the sky they Lycan sits back resting against the entrance to the cave watching the cooking fire. Sniffing it for a while he grabs one of the pieces that has finished cooking and taking it off the spit takes a bite. His sharp teeth chew into the meat as he enjoys his meal. The Lycan works his way through that piece of meat as well as four more before taking the rest inside the cave.

Going out and stretching in the warm sunlight he stretches and yawns. Growing tired he heads back inside the cave. His eyes instantly adjust to the darkness and he looks around at his home. Along one wall a crude kitchen has been set up. On the other side a low table sits with a few crude chairs around it and several shelves have been carved out of the stone walls. Towards the back the cave opens into more small caverns. The opening to these shows signs of widing so as to allow easier access.

The Lycan walks the left of the two openings in the rear and enters into a bedroom of sorts. Various trinkets and tools are scattered around the sides and in the far corner a fine set of armour is neatly laid out as several swords and other weapons. Along the right hand side on the ground a straw mattress has been laid out and the Lycan walks over. Stretching a little more he lays down and closes his eyes dropping off to sleep.

The sun moves through the sky outside as the Lycan sleeps for several hours. He awakes after five hours and opens his eyes. Sniffing the air he sits up and grabs at a dagger that lies under the mattress. Quickly and quietly he moves to the room's exit and peers out. In the main room a new figure stands. This too is a Lycan although it's fur is jet black instead of grey like the first's. The grey fured Lycan watches the other figure suspiciously for a few more seconds before stepping out into view.

"It's not considered very hospitable to enter someone's home without permission."

The other Lycan whirls around and looks at the first Lycan. He studies the cave's inhabitant.

"Sorry. I smelled food and haven't eaten in a while. I've been traveling and my supplies ran out so when I smelled your food I couldn't resist. Sorry."

The gray furred Lycan studies the intruder for a moment more before setting the dagger down on the table. He turns back to the black Lycan.

"So what's your name?" "My name is Psych. What's yours?" "Damien, Nice to meet you Psych" "Nice to meet you too Damien." The two Lycans clasp arms in the traditional Lycan way of greeting. Psych shuffles his feet for a moment. "You mind if I stick around for a day or two?" "Nah, you can stay." Damien responds.

The Psych sits down at the table while Damien pulls out a bit of food from the second room in the back and setting it down on the table they both proceed to eat a meal. They both eat in silence for a few minutes then Psych brakes the silence.

"So Damien, what are you doing in this area." Damien shrugs "Just hunting." Psych looks around studying the cave. "Seems like a pretty permanent residence to be simply hunting." He pauses for a moment thinking and sizing Damien up. "So what are you hunting?" Damien looks at Psych for a moment before turning back to his food. "Vampires" He says between bites.

Psych nods in an understanding manner and the two proceed to eat the rest of their meal in silence. After they finish and have cleaned up Damien goes back into his bedroom to get a little more sleep while Psych goes outside.

It is dark out by the time Damien wakes. Opening his eyes and seeing how dark his home has gotten he gets up and walks over into the corner where he has the weapons laid out. He looks over them in the fading light running his hand over them for a few moments. Then he proceeds to grab a belt from the back of the collection and strap that around his waist and then select a pair of daggers. Slipping these into his belt he heads out.

Walking out into the growing darkness Damien stands for a while deciding where he will hunt tonight. Choosing he heads off to the north in the direction of the great Vampire city far to the north. Around midnight when the full moon rests high in the night sky Damien stands on a ridge looking down upon the sprawling city down below several miles off. Making his way down he hurries quickly though the forest surrounding the city. All around him creatures quiet as they sense a deadly predator passing them. Deer bolt through the forests and mice quiver in their holes. Birds in the trees stay hidden in their nests and other hunting predators give Damien clearance as he makes his way through the forest.

An hour later Damien nears the great stone walls of the city. Spotting sentries patrolling along the walls Damien climbs a great tree with several of it's massive limbs hanging above but not quiet over the wall. Laying flat on one of the branches Damien works his way up the branch he watches the movements of the guards for sometime. Lying there still as the mighty tree, but with deadly intent. Finally after sometime of watching the guards Damien waits for a moment more then darts off the branch landing lightly on the mighty stone wall. Quickly slipping into a nearby shadow he makes his way into the city slipping from shadow to shadow. Many times he has to control himself to stop himself from leaping out upon a passing vampire. Reminding himself that he is hunting a better prey. Slowly he makes his way to the center of the city where the great palace rises.

Working his way from shadow to shadow as the moon slowly moves along it's rotation overhead Damien comes to the palace gates. Seeing multiple guards in the torchlight he walks around the palace looking for another opening. His eyes gaze up to where a figure standing on a balcony walks in leaving the door open behind her. Going up to the wall he extends his claws and begins to climb.

Chapter Three

Snow walks through the doorway leading to the balcony connected to her room and walks to the door exiting her room and walking down the corridor. Grabbing a wine glass filled with blood she walks through the ornate hallways admiring the fantastical paintings by the great artists of the past thirteen centuries. Reaching an intersection she takes a left just wandering down the hallway sipping at the glass of blood.

She wanders through the halls occasionally sipping from the glass. She is standing on one of the upper levels looking down into the main dining hall and watching as the vampires below eat their breakfasts before heading out to work for the night. She is contemplating going down and getting a bite to eat herself when she hears a loud shrill shriek from one of the hallways.

Snow drops her glass on accident and it smashes as it impacts the floor the blood splashing outward soaking the carpet and the bottom of her dress staining the dark blue hem. She kneels down and rubs at where the blood has hit her dress while several royal attendants hurry past to see what is the matter. Snow mentally curses the vampire who choose such a poor meal that it screamed. Her sister comes up the stairway surrounded by several bodyguards curious and irritated at the behavior of a vampire being so uncivilized when she spots Snow. She walks over to her sister.

Snow stands up after sighing over her dress. "I hope whoever choose such a poor meal gets whats coming to them. I liked this dress." Christine nods in agreement "I'm going to have to talk to whatever idiot snuck a human in for a snack about protocols in the palace" She is cut off by a chorus of screams of agony coming from the hallway and shouts by the attendant.

Everyone clusters near to the hallways entrance while guards jostle their way through to go investigate. A final scream can be heard along with a shout of defiance. "Damn you, you monster!" The guards enter the hallway with swords drawn moving downward cautiously. They dissapear around the corner and all is quiet for a moment while the vampires gathered around the hallway's entrance wait quietly when more screams can be heard now accompanied by the sound of steel upon steel.

As the last of the sounds of sword fighting dies away one of the guards reapears around the corner. The vampire gathering draws back with a gasp. The guard is covered in blood and there are cuts and slashes covering his body. He limps forward leaning against the wall while behind him a trail of blood tracks his movements. He reaches Catherine before collapsing.

Catherine stoops down to try to help him up as do several other vampires. Most however are to shocked to do anything but watch. The guard weakly looks up at Catherine. "Run My Lady..." The guard spits out blood onto the ground "It's the Hunter..."

All is silent for a moment as the words sink in then the vampire group panicks. Vampires start screaming and running in every direction. Vampires coming up to see what the commotion is hear the news and join in the chaos as the vampires try to run. Catherine jumps back and her face pales as she looks from the dying guard to the bloody hallway. She turns to Snow who is standing horrified looking at the guard who is now uttering his death rattle.

She grabs her sister by the arms and shakes her to snap her out of her horror. "Snow! You've got to get out of here. Go down to the cellars in the south-east corner there is a passage way out of the city follow it. It will lead into the forest. Travel by night there are plenty of caves to hide in during the day. There is a small outpost to the south head for there I will send someone to get you when it is safe." Snow looks at her horrified and Catherine shouts at her shoving her towards the stairs. "Go!!!"

Snow takes one last look at the dead guard before turning and fleeing down the stairs. Her legs run as fast as she can. Reaching the bottom she kicks off her shoes and tears away the bottom of her dress so it won't trip her up. Stopping for a moment she hears a roar from the top and a shriek as a guard goes flying over one of the railings to smash into the ground below.

Not even bothering to check if the guard is still alive Snow sprints towards the stairs to the cellars running from the killer that is behind her. She grabs a torch and enters the stairwell racing down the steps two at a time. After a half minute she emerges into the massive cellars.

Waving the torch around to get her bearings she races towards the far corner and getting there spots the passageway. It is blocked by an old iron banded door. The handle is a bit rusted but after she tries a few times she opens the door finally. The door squeaks as she opens it and Snow cringes at the sound fearing it will bring the Hunter down upon her. Without a second look back she races through the doorway and runs through the passageway her feet splashing in puddles of water.

She continues to run for almost fifteen minutes before she finally sees a lighter darkness ahead. Racing to it she emerges in a small rocky gully. Stumbling out her feet getting cut on the rocks' edges she stumbles into the waiting forest and the safety beyond. Possessed by fear and remembering the story and the images of the missing fangs she runs into the forest stumbling along. Fleeing the demon behind her.

Chapter Four

In the chaos of the palace screams and wails of terror fill the air. Blood covers the walls and bodies litter the floor. Guards vainly form defenses at natural chokepoints in the palace but their stands last shortly before their bodies too fall to the floor. The city surrounding the palace itself is silent as its residents wait for the killer in the palace to leave and pray to their gods that such a fearsome demon does not visit them before the night is done.

Inside the palace Damien carries a pair of looted swords and tracks down and systematically kills the Vampire inhabitants. Coming to a room he enters and sees three male vampire attendants trying to stay out of sight in a far corner. He advances on them his icy blue eyes filled with hatred and promising death. He engages all three at once and the fight is over almost as soon as it is started. Three decapitated bodies lie on the floor gushing blood while three heads roll around on the ground. Damien kicks one of the heads out of his way as he walks out.

Walking out of the palace he walks through the city whistling care freely a sack slung over his shoulder bulging with its contents. Near the city gates two Vampires spring from the shadows fangs extended trying to ambush him. Damien drops the sack and grapples with the nearest swinging it around into the path of the other. As soon as the second Vampire slams into the one he is holding he quickly moves his hands on the first from its waist and right arm up to its head and neck. A quick muscular effort is followed by a crack. Damien drops the dead body to the ground and leaps towards the second vampire which is jumping back to its feet. Tackling the vampire the two tumble to the ground. As soon as they come to a stop Damien opens his jaws wide and bites down on the vampire's collarbone. there is a crunching of bone and the tearing of flesh as Damien rips away tearing apart the vampires shoulder. Spitting out the flesh and bone he bites again this time on the neck. His teeth sink deep and again the sound of crushing of bone and ripping of flesh. Getting up from the vampire, vampire blood in his mouth and coating his fur he reaches down grasping tightly and rips out the vampire's fangs one at a time. Holding on to the two of them he walks over to the other and repeats the process. Carrying the four gleaming fangs he drops them into the sack before picking the sack up again and walking out through the gates.

Behind the retreating Lycan the first colors of dawn start to show on the horizon and the city reels from the devastation the Lycan dealt to it that night. Inside the palace Christine kneels over the dead body of her lover and weeps tears of anger. She turns and looks out of the window into the darkness hoping that her sister survived.

Outside the city Damien walks through the forest towards his cave whistling a song of war. He sighs happily at the memory of so many dead vampires and looks up wishing upon the stars that the next night's hunt will be as successful as this one. All around him the forest is silent as the creatures go silent as nature's deadliest predator passes them.

After four hours of walking and with the sun now fully visible on the horizon Damien reaches his cave. He smells smoke and a few seconds later as he comes out from behind a tree spots Psych cooking up a pair of rabbits. Psych looks over at Damien and freezes when he sees the blood coated Lycan. Psych's eyes widen as he looks Damien over. Every inch of Damien's fur is coated in drying blood. Damien walks in to the cave walking past a stunned Psych and deposit's the sack near his bed. Going outside and grabbing a piece of one of the rabbits he starts munching on it as he walks towards the stream about half a mile away to clean out his fur.

Behind him Psych just sits there not moving until he smells the rabbits starting to burn. Quickly taking them off the fire he proceeds to eat them slowly deep in thought. In his mind thoughts whirl as he reevaluates his opinion and mental picture of this Lycan he has met. About an hour later Damien comes back with a dead doe over his shoulders. Setting it down he goes inside and gets a knife and proceeds to skin the creature ripping off pieces of meat and setting them on the fire to cook. Psych eyes his new acquaintance warily. Clearing his throat he breaks the silence. "So how many did you kill?" Damien is silent for a moment then scratches his head. "Umm... high fifties low sixties... It was a good night." Psych collapses against the rock wall behind him stunned by the numbers. "Sixty?! How many do you normally get in a night?" Damien shrugs. "Depends, usually around ten but I hit the low thirties pretty frequently. This was the most in a single night apart from the time I wiped out the New York coven."

Psych reels internally. "He wiped out the entire New York Coven?!" Psych's mouth opens to speak but no words come out as he is so shocked. Then he remembers the rumors he heard before he left his home. He remembers his ten year old kid brother telling him about them after he had come home from school one day. "Yeah the tide's turning bro. Word on the street is that someone's finally taking a stand against the parasites. The blood suckers are scarred out of their minds. They never hunt alone for a meal any more and never go out in groups of less than three..." Psych remembers how he had scoffed at his little brother and told him to return to doing his homework but now he is more hesitant. He looks at Damien. "You're the one that they are calling Fang aren't you?" Damien looks at him once his icy blue eyes sending a chill down Psych's spine. He nods once.

The two sit in silence for a couple minutes before a shaken Psych gets up and walks slowly into the forest needing time alone. Out of sight of Damien he leans against a tree and tries to control the trembling the shaking of his hands but finds he can't. Needing more time he heads deeper into the forest. Psych walks between the trees. His mind whirls in thoughts and every once in a while he mutters to himself. "All this time... All these years. I heard those stories in all the towns and cities I visited. His name whispered in fear, in reverence... but always whispered... Now I know why..." Psych continues to walk and as he passes into a shadowy part of the forest stumbles over something almost falling into a tree. Catching himself and looking back he is surprised to see a young woman lying on the ground. Her clothes are covered in splotches of blood although it doesn't look like she herself is hurt.

Bending down Psych checks her vitals and finds her pulse faster than that of a human but strong and steady never the less. Concerned he picks her up and she shifts for a moment but still sleeps. Psych looks at her face. "Poor thing, must be completely exhausted. Oh well I don't think Damien will mind another guest for a day or two." Turning he walks back the way he came. Going slower so as not to wake the young woman he carries her through the forest taking care not to bump her on any trees. After about five minutes he reaches the small clearing surrounding the cave entrance and calls out. "Damien can you help me here?" Damien walks out after half a minute and walks over to Psych curious. "Who's the girl?" Psych shakes his head." Dunno... tripped over her in the woods and I figured she must have gotten lost or something. Hope you don't mind but I figured I better bring her here incase she was hurt at all." Damien is silent for a moment looking at the young woman's face. "Ok lay her on the ground and lets see if she's got any injuries. I'll go inside and get some stuff to clean her off and some bandages incase she needs any." Damien heads inside while Psych starts to check her over.

Chapter Five

Snow lies still feeling hands move over her methodically. She feels something warm on her face and arms and it feels kind of like she's near a fire. She opens her eyes and sees a Lycan looking at her arms and feet checking them. Above him the sun is high in the sky. Snow panics seeing that fiery ball of death and instantly panics. Her limbs move on her own trying to move her out of it's light. She looks around for some darkness, any darkness. Noticing a cave entrance behind her she scrambles on all fours into it trying to hide. Behind her the strange Lycan cocks his head to one side as a dog might and looks at her curiously.

"Lady are you ok? I found you in the forest unconscious so I brought you here. I understand if you are confused as to where you are but its ok I won't hurt you or let any harm come to you." Snow just stares at him and doesn't speak then she looks down to see how badly the sun hurt her. She is shocked to find not a single mark on her. Not so much as a sunburn. She just stares at her body that should be ash but is perfectly fine. So absorbed in her confusion that she doesn't realize that someone else is there until a hand rests on her shoulder.

She whirls around scared to see another Lycan, this one with gray fur and icy blue eyes looking down at her confused. She looks between the two Lycans scared. "What do you want with me... I... I never did anything to anyone I swear..." The gray furred Lycan seems quite bewildered by her behavior and kneels down in front of her. "Lady, we're not going to hurt you. We're trying to help you. My friend here found you in the woods and you were unconscious so he brought you here to my cave. If your hurt I have some bandages here." The gray furred Lycan holds out a set of cloths to her which she hesitantly takes. Wiping off some blood where she scrapped her knee. Her hands shake as she wipes away the blood and the gray furred Lycan notices this.

"Lady we are not going to harm you. We want to help you... Is there anything we can do for you?" Snow hesitates for a moment before tucking her hair back away from her eyes. "I'm sorry its just that I almost got killed yesterday by a murderer my sister as well..." Snow sniffs and tucks the hair back behind her ear again as it falls in front of her face again. "You must think me weak to be so scared..." The Lycan's eyes seem to focus on something behind her and she has the feeling that he is remembering something. "No it's not weak to be scarred of something." The gray furred Lycan take her hand in his own and looks into her eyes. "I swear upon my soul that the murderer that tried to kill you will never do so. I will stop that from happening. I swear this."

Standing up the gray furred Lycan offers her his hand. She hesitates for a moment before taking a firm grip and standing up. The Lycan gives a slight bow. "So girl I guess we should do the introductions now. I'm Damien." Snow smiles and curtsies back. "I'm Snow." Damien smiles at her his eyes warm with friendship. "Well Snow, welcome to my home. That's my friend Psych over there." He gestures to the black furred Lycan who bows. Snow curtsies back and smiles at him. "Hello Psych." Damien walks out into the sunlight and sits down near the small fire there. Snow hesitates to risk not getting killed by the sun a second time. "Umm... I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier fellas but I'm a vampire..." She is startled when Psych starts chuckling. "Oh I think I'm going to like you, your funny. You can't be. You were laying in the sun out here for a couple minutes before you came to." Damien meanwhile is... she can't tell what he is he just is giving her a confused and weird look like he's thinking really deeply about something.

Snow shrugs "Well it's true. I'm originally from Russia and I'm kind of in hiding from the man who wants to force me to marry him. I was hiding out in the city that my sister lives in until it was attacked last night..." She goes quiet as she sees Psych cast a worried glance in Damien's direction. Damien talks to her his voice cold and devoid of emotion now. "And what city does your sister live in?" Snow looks at him weirdly. "Nestralla, she rules it... why? What's the matter?" Damien looks as if he has been struck by lighting and that a huge internal war is raging inside him. Suddenly he springs to his feet and hurries off into the forest a look of absolute rage on his face. Snow tries to imagine what she could possibly have said to him to get him so riled up. She looks to Psych. "What did I say?"

Psych shifts uncomfortably for a moment and watches the fire crackle and pop before sighing and looking up at her. "Umm... I guess that there's no easy way of saying this... Damien... he's the one who attacked that city last night..." Snow gapes for a moment before collapsing to the ground unconscious.

Chapter Six

Damien walks through woods his feet crushing into the ground. His hands alternate between claws and fists and after several minutes walking he roars out in frustration and punches a tree. Pulling it back he pulls out a sliver and looks at where his fist has made a three inch deep depression in the side of the tree. He roars out again in anger and kicks a rock. It goes flying through the air to land after hitting a tree.

Roaring out in frustration he stops looking up at the sky and wondering why Aeroth has punished him with such torment. To swear an oath to protect someone only to learn minutes later that you have been trying to kill them. "Never trust those parasites... You never can trust them... Right when you think that you have them beat they sneak in new one..." He sits down on the ground and leans his back against a tree resting his head on his knees as he sorts through his thoughts. Closing his eyes for a moment he thinks as the sun comes out from behind a cloud to warm his fur.

Damien opens his eyes. "the sun?..." Sitting there for a moment he stands up suddenly and starts hurrying back towards the cave. Jogging through the trees he has to stop suddenly to avoid running into Psych. Psych eyes him warily. "Damien I said I would protect her. If you are coming back to kill her then I can't let you any closer." Damien shakes his head. "No, I swore a blood oath, I'm duty bound to fulfill it... I'm coming back because there is no way that she can be a vampire, or at least a true vampire. I think that there is something else in her veins besides vampire blood. No true vampire can go out in the sun without dying instantly, but Snow was lying in the sun for several minutes. If she was a true vampire she should have been nothing more than a pile of ashes." Psych struck by this observation lets Damien pass but follows in right behind him so he can keep an eye on him.

Damien emerges into the clearing surrounding the cave entrance and stops when he sees Snow standing in the shadows of the cave entrance with her arm sticking out into the open air where the sun shines down on it. There is a strange luminescence to her skin but nothing else. Her body seems to defy it's own nature and not show a single mark of charred skin as a vampire's should. He stands for a few moments starring at her and takes a deep breath before starting to walk towards her once more. Psych follows immediately behind him within reaching distance of Damien should he need to grab at him. The two come within ten feet of Snow before she looks up realizing she isn't alone. Her hands start to shake as soon as she sees Damien and she backs up so that her back is flat against the cave wall.

Snow looks to Damien eyes wide open with fear. "What are you going to do to me?" Damien fumes for a few seconds mulling over his thoughts before sighing. "Nothing, I swore to protect you and I am bound by the oath I swore to do so." Snow's eyes flick up to the sky where the blazing sun rests and then takes a hesitant step out into the sun. When she once again is confirmed in the knowledge that she isn't going to be turned into a pile of ash she relaxes a little. "You really not going to kill me?" Hope begins to shine in Snow's eyes as she says this.

Damien shakes his head. "Like I said before I swore a blood oath, I am now duty bound and obligated to protect you." Damien fixes Snow a serious look. "That doesn't mean however that I am your servant and that I can be ordered around to do you bidding so don't even think of it." Damien turns and starts to walk in the cave in desperate need of sleep. Snow looks after him appalled that he would ever think that she would try to make him her servant. She whispers quietly as he leaves. "Thank you." Damien stops just in the shadows of the cave and looks halfway back for a moment before heading into the darkness of the cave. Snow watches as the gray fur of his tail disappears into the darkness. She turns to catch Psych looking at her before turning away. He looks up at the sky stretching his arms above his head. The play of the muscles underneath his fur is visible to Snow. He looks back at her for a moment. "Snow, do you want to go for a walk with me?" Snow casts a glance back at the darkness the conceals Damien's home. She turns back to Psych. "Sure Psych" She walks forward and as she passes him Psych falls into step alongside her. The two walk side by side quietly into the forest.

Chapter 7

Snow and Psych walk through the forest passing through a stream in which she steps nimbly across the stones and he simply leaps over and through a dense thicket of young pine trees. As they emerge from the thicket into a thinner area of the forest she reaches up and brushes a couple of loose pine needles out of his fur on top of his shoulder then looks him in the eyes. "So Psych, where are you from?" Psych shrugs. "I was born in the wilderness of northern Canada. My parents were wanderers as some of my kind tend to be. They had no longing for the majestic greatness of the great Lycan fortress cities that are scattered across the world. For the first few years of my life I journeyed with my parents across the plains of North America as we traveled from place to place never stopping for long in a single spot." Psych slows and turns his head to look at Snow. "So how about you? Where are you from?"

Snow looks at Psych then looks down at her feet and then to the ruined dress she is still wearing. Her fingers rub absentmindedly at a bloodspot. "I'm going to need to find something to change into. I can't go around wearing this." Psych snorts in amusement. "You're a vampire alone in a forest with two Lycans, one of whom is a killer, and your worried about your dress." Psych bursts out laughing his warm voice ringing through the forest. Snow's eyes flash and she looks at him accusingly. "Well it's not like I can walk around in a coat of fur like you or Damien do." She stops for a moment as a thought strikes her. "Oh, by the way, does your kind ever wear clothes or do you go around... Naked" Psych looks at her and laughs again. "Some do, most of us don't. The only ones that really do are the ones that live amongst and around humans and have to interact with them on a daily basis. The rest of us." Psych lets the sentence trail off as he looks down at his own coat of black fur that covers his entire body.

Snow looks at him and mutters under her breath quietly so he won't hear. "Your still naked though." Psych looks at her. "We don't think of it that way. When we are in our human forms we wear clothes but when we are our true selves we have no need. Natural fur is sufficient. After all what is the point of wearing clothes if you have a perfectly good coat of fur.