PROLOGUE

IT WAS DARK. VERY DARK.

But even in the absolute darkness, His eyes trained successfully on his prey. He felt his throat stiffen as he gazed on at the unsuspecting animal. It looked like it was enjoying its meal, the grass below and wasn't even aware that he was about to become a meal itself. Julian snarled silently as the ugly-smelling blood of the animal came wafting through him. Animal blood was distasteful. Almost like you were eating something that had been decayed for days, weeks. The sour taste only served to make his system weaker than it should be.

Julian groaned a little but too loudly as he prepared himself to launch. If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to hurt the animal, or other creature. But he needed blood, even from the dirtiest source, to survive.

The deer whirled around, almost like it knew it was being watched. Julian knew well that he was as invincible as the air, but he still felt his heart beat in fear and trepidation of loosing the animal, his only hope for food for the next few weeks.

Julian knew what would happen if he unfortunately failed to capture the animal. He would be forced to attack the humans. He would become a monster.

He didn't want to become a monster.

He had risked everything, he had taken a huge step by deserting his family, his kingdom, his home, to create a better life for himself.

His mind went back to his former life. His lover, who he had left behind. That had been one of the hardest thing to do given that he'd loved her a lot.

He remembered how Faye had always tried to make him feel better of himself. Her smile, her laughter, the way she had cared for him and wanted him to have a good life.

He chuckled ironically. It wasn't like he chose the life. Because this wasn't a life. He was dead. Dead as the good, energetic human he had once been.

Now, he was just a shadow. A shadow with unfathomable powers, insatiable urges and barely leased anger at the world.

A twitch snapped his attention back to the deer. It wanted to run. It knew something was after it.

In that split second, with a lightening speed that would have been unnoticed through an human eyes, Julian bolted and pounced on the animal with the force of a truck.

Straight, long and dangerously sharp fangs protruded almost immediately he landed the terrified animal.

The only sound that filled the dark night was the screech of the deer. Slowly, the sound became less audible, until there was silence.

The beast was satisfied.

**************