Prologue

The Fateful Night

The blinking red eyes of the cameras were the only light in the dark corridor. That was fine. He didn't need any light. He wasn't supposed to be there. Then again, neither were the cameras. This building was abandoned and condemned. Something was wrong. Someone knew he would be there.

Slow turn after slow turn his cloak followed his hunched body. He stalked lightly down the corridor then stopped and looked over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of…nothing.

The camera in front of him rotated as he dashed out of view. Hurling himself towards the silent watcher, he ripped the eye out of the wall taking the wire guts and microchip heart with it.

/Where is she? / He thought, stalking the corridors more frantically now. The demon inside him smelt blood…not good. Trying to fight back, he grasped his wrist and slid a nail across the soft vulnerable flesh. It cut deep. Bringing it to his mouth, he tasted it and tamed the welling beast. The bloodlust was gone…for now.

/This can't keep happening, it'll kill me./ He sighed and continued on, blood dripping from his open wrist. He turned his last corner. "Where have you been?" he asked in a rough, disciplining tone. There was no answer. As he stepped closer, she spoke.

"Don't come any closer. I'll end this here." She waved the gun to show him her meaning then rested the barrel against her temple again. "You can't help me. No one can. STOP TRYING!"

"What are you talking about?" he asked taking a small step closer.

"You know as well as I do. These demons will destroy us. It's not worth it. Why suffer?"

"Don't be mad. You can't kill it even if you destroy yourself."

"At least I won't suffer. I won't be here."

"Please, don't be drastic. We can work this out."

"It's too late for that, Tolin."

"Devon…NO!" but it was too late. She moved the gun to her heart and pulled the trigger. With a CRACK the lead projectile tore a hole just above her heart and blood poured from her chest and back. She started to fall but Tolin raced to her and caught her.

"Please…don't cry for me…Tolin…" she said between coughs of blood. "I love you…b-but it's…better this way."

"You can't leave me like this…not now…not ever." he sobbed. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. Not you." But she was already gone.

The blood covered his arms as he placed his head to her and sobbed. Now enraged and in tears, Tolin reached for the gun and placed it against his head. Nothing happened when he pulled the trigger. He released a blood-curdling scream and collapsed, unable to move. The demon was taking over.

After that, it was all black. After that, Tolin was no longer himself. He had become something else. Something more blood-lusted. Something horridly evil. No one knew him any more. No one wanted to. He was gone and that was it. No more.

Seven years later he changed his name to Kurt and lived in solitude. He liked his peace…and it wouldn't be disturbed.