Chapter One

She was quietly walking through the tall, thick trees, stepping over rocks that were out of place, and listening to the running water of a stream nearby. Her long legs complemented the short, beautifully trimmed skirt that she wore along with the loose shirt that was the color of her long, lilac hair.

Maiya paused; her fingers ran over the bark of a nearby tree, loving the feel of the nature around her. She tilted her head towards the sky, her hair falling in waves down her back, and breathed in the fresh scent of the forest.

It smelled of pine and wild flowers; the familiar scent filling her entire self, reminding her of laughter and of happiness. It also filled her with a sense of belonging; of love and of care. The forest seemed to welcome her with open arms.

The light from the moon made her vanilla-colored skin look even more radiant and her azure eyes stood out distinctively on her face. Her soft, pink lips were painted on her face in a straight line; she was obviously in need of something.

Along with the fresh scent of the forest, the sweet, coppery smell that she had known for almost all of her life, drifted into her nostrils. She let her senses take over her completely as she crouched low to the ground.

She closed her eyes. The animal inside her coming forth; leaving behind the sweet, innocent girl that she was seen to be. Incisors were cutting deep into her mouth. Venom that felt like a cold rush of water to her, but felt like a wild fire to anyone that she bit, was seeping slowly into her mouth as hunger washed over her.

The pounding of a heart beat was loud in her ears and she sensed that the large animal was nearby, most likely a bear. However, that was not fulfilling enough for her. She wanted something that could make her strong, something that could keep her going for a long while. She needed human blood.

She felt her body shift; the bones condensing along with the muscle. White feathers grew over her new body, and if looked upon closely, lilac shimmered in them when she moved.

The large bird, looking more like an owl than anything else, burst into the night sky. It scanned the ground beneath it, looking for its prey. The large, round eyes spotted what it wanted just a short while up the stream. It dove, hunger filling its mind and body, and Maiya landed softly on two human feet behind a tree, a few yards from her prey.

He was a tall, but lean man. Fit from daily exercise and he was definitely handsome. She could tell that he had been drinking; she could smell it from the sweat that was dripping from his dirty blonde hair. His back was turned to her as he was trying to start a fire.

Maiya stepped out from behind her hiding place and walked quietly over to the man. She whispered softly in his ear, her voice a soft flow of musical notes that was so quiet, only that man could hear.

"Hello, kind sir. Please help a poor, nice woman, like myself. It will only take a moment."

He was under her spell, and she knew it. At lightning speed, she came around to the front of the man and tilted his head back. The man whimpered in fear but could not move from where he was standing.

"No need to fear me." A pale finger slid down his neck, feeling his warm pulse, "It won't hurt; I promise."

At that, Maiya bent her head to his neck, her lips meeting the skin. She opened her mouth, her teeth sinking into the man's neck as blood instantly filled her. The man, not being able to open his own mouth, was screaming inside his head; she could hear it. She could read every thought in his mind while she was drinking his blood, but she paid him little attention. All she cared about was the coppery liquid that was giving her life.

Once she was finished, she reluctantly closed the pinpricks on his neck, making sure that he was still alive. Her clothes were spotless; not a drop of blood on them. The man fell limp to the ground, as if lifeless, but still breathing. Then, as Maiya was about to leave, she turned and come eye-to-eye with another stranger.