Hesper Corvin has never thought she would be searching through Europe for her brother. She had never even planned on leaving home, let alone traveling across the ocean and learning a new language, when she did. What caused her to uproot her life? Her brother, Michael Corvin had disappeared five months ago, and no one knew anything. It was as if the world had opened up and swallowed him.

Tonight found her haunting the hospital where Michael had been doing his internship. It was medium sized and as busy as any hospital she had ever seen. Hesper was too anxious to sit so she paced. The waiting room where they stashed her was small and didn't give much room to pace, but it was enough. It kept her moving, kept the fear at bay.

She had stopped looking at the clock when it had passed the five hour mark. She had spent most of her day here waiting to speak to a single man. She only had his first name and that he worked here and had been a friend to Michael.

"Miss Corvin?"

She looked up and found an intern with short dark hair and lovely eyes. He was handsome and seemed to like her appearance. "You must be Adam?"

He nodded. "I am. I wasn't aware Michael had any family."

"Half family really," Hesper admitted and held out a hand. "Hesper Corvin."

He shook it with warm, firm hands. "Would you like to sit?" He motioned to the uncomfortable seats nearby.

"No, I find I get anxious if I don't move." Hesper muttered, "But feel free to sit if you like, I am sure you have been on your feet all day."

Adam sat down and moved uncomfortably for a bit before finding a suitable seat. "I was told you have questions for me?"

"Did you speak with Michael before he vanished?" Hesper watched him as he thought carefully.

"He came to see me and was all banged up. He said something about a man biting him, but the wound wasn't human, it was canine I think." Adam shook his head. "Michael also said something about a woman who had saved his life in the subway a couple days before that."

"Before he was bitten?" Hesper asked.

Adam nodded. "He didn't tell me her name."

Hesper asked which subway and Adam told her. He was watching her as he answered her last question.

"Say," Adam hesitated. "Could I interest in you a cup of bad coffee and conversation with a rundown intern?"

Hesper smiled softly at him, "I'm flattered Adam. But I came here to find my brother. Maybe after I do, I can find you here?"

He nodded, "I work any and all hours." He moved to go and stopped. "You might want to check out his apartment." Adam wrote the address down on a pad of paper from his pocket. "His landlord said that it was ripped to shreds and shot up, I don't know if they've done any repairs to it yet. You might find a clue or two." He handed it to her, "The number is mine, so give me a call sometime."

Hesper laughed, "I will."

**

Two hours later she was able to track down his place and stared up at the dark building. She hadn't gotten used to the darkness of Europe or the way the cold seeped into your bones. She locked her rental car and crossed to the entrance. Checking the tenant list she found Michael's apartment. Testing the entrance door she found it unlocked and walked in. The entrance that led to the stairs was dark and unlit. Water dripped in from the first start of rain. Hesper looked up and watched the hole in the ceiling. It looked as though something had ripped a section out of it. Gingerly ascending the stairs, she searched the area around her. Claw marks tore up the wall in a continuous line and didn't stop until she reached Michael's door. It hung open. The lock had been busted and the space was clean of everything save cobwebs and dust. Hesper was just able to make out the holes in the ceiling and recognized them as bullet holes. Someone had shot up his apartment alright.

Heading out she looked both ways and found a section of the floor in front of the elevator was missing. Sections of the wall were gone as well and there was a definite pattern of bullet spray. Hesper turned and walked backward, watching the walls. It was clear that someone had been shooting at objects on the wall. Moving objects judging from the spray pattern and a couple of them had been hit and knocked to the floor.

Hesper switched her attention to the hole before the elevator and knelt down. The shooter had used their bullets to loosen a circle of the floor and drop down to the entrance. That was five story distance. Whoever they were they either had a death wish or were superhuman in some capacity. Water continued to pour into apartment, the air had grown very cold. Hesper stood as the chill shivered her bones and chased her down into the street again. The rain in Europe was different too; heavier in someway, older as well, as if it wasn't just rain from this age, but from every other leading to this one. She huddled in on herself and stepped out into the cold. Her stride stopped short when she saw her car. There was no noticeable damage but something had changed. The presence of something foreign hung in the air and permeated the rain. Hesper gazed at the vehicle and found a slip of white in plastic under her left windshield wiper. Casting a look around the street she was alone and shook her head at her anal sense of constant danger. Closing the distance to her car, Hesper took the note out and read it. STOP NOW BEFORE WE KILL YOU.

She had to read the note twice before the words sunk in. The first thought in her head was who knew about her? The second was: who was after Michael, aside from her? Third and most important: would they really kill her? Her gut said they would, her heart said they would but her mind was stuck on finding Michael. He would come looking for her if anything happened.

Getting in her car she drove to her hotel and locked her door.

**

The next evening she was still in the library, searching old texts when the manager came and found her.

"I was told you are looking for information regarding animal bites?" He asked.

"Yes. My brother was bitten and I am trying to find any information on bites."

He led her to a stack of newer books and helped her choose a variety. "I am afraid we are closing soon but you are welcome to stay until then."

"Do you have a photocopier I can use?" She asked.

"I do." He indicated where it was and left her alone.

Hesper sat down with her notebook and started reading picture books. She had no idea what kind of bite she was looking for, but Adam had said it was an animal bite, probably canine. That was only a few hundred species. Hesper sifted through countless pages before an idea popped into her head. Adam had said that Michael claimed it was a man who bit him, but the bite was animal. She sat back as the thought formed. Could lycanthropes be real? Were werewolves believed in here? She shook her head. No it was a stupid. Still the idea clung to her and she wasn't really focused on her books anymore. After an hour of mindless page turning she left the library and went to a nearby coffee shop.

The java here was exceptional, she would admit that, "Probably to chase off the cold." She muttered as she doctored her coffee. She thought of Adam and wondered what he would be doing now. He was cute and seemed really nice. It went against her rule of dating her brother's friends, but technically Michael wasn't her brother. They were only half related, perhaps that rule didn't apply to them? The idea tickled her and she found herself dialing the hospital where he worked.

"I'd like to leave a message for Adam," it occurred to her that there could be more then one Adam. "He's an American, wears glasses and he's an intern." The woman recognized who she was talking about.

"I can put you through, just a moment."

"No-" Hesper was put on hold, "I only wanted to leave a message." She hung onto the phone and stared at the steam rising off her coffee. The line clicked and Adam's voice came through. "Hi it's Hesper Corvin."

"Oh hi!" He brightened instantly, "Find him already?"

"No, but I wanted to…" She stopped, millions of words chased around her skull. "I wanted to talk with you again."

He laughed softly, "I was hoping you would call me. I didn't get your number."

"I move around a lot." She confessed and he murmured understanding. "Look, I am just about finished, so how about I stop by around midnight or one and we head out for a drink?"

"A late night person are we?" He teased softly.

"Yes actually." Hesper admitted. "I've been told tt has something to do with my name."

"Oh?" Adam sounded curious. "Hesper…" He thought, "It means evening star, right?"

"Yeah." Hesper shifted her weight, "Look I have to go our I won't be able to see you at all."

"Oh sure," He didn't hang up, he seemed to want to talk to her. "Oh, right, I guess this is where we say goodbye?"

"Only for now," Hesper said goodbye and hung up. She left the café with a smile and was still smiling when the monster hit her to the ground.

**

Hesper hit the cobblestone road and pain blossomed instantly as she landed badly. Her coffee scalded her hand and she was disorientated by the shock to her system. Lifting her head she gazed around and then followed her widening eyes to stare at the wolf-man standing over her. She wanted to scream but couldn't remember how. The street was suddenly chaotic as bystanders screamed for her and ran for cover. The monster reached for her and Hesper rolled away. Gaining her feet and watching the thing as it roared at her. She wanted to be scared but couldn't be. She would die if she got scared now. Her mind was slowing down and calming as it slid into a shocked state.

The monster moved and she ran, her feet pounded against the wet stones and she slid a few times. The monster chased her, she got the distant feeling he was toying with her. Hesper concentrated and tried to think of a way out of this that wouldn't kill her. Her mind showed her what she was dealing with and tried to make a connection but she shoved it aside. One thing at a time and she might just live. Werewolves were allergic to silver; in fact it could kill them. She needed silver. Her eyes cast around for anything silver. As she ran past a series of shops she stopped and stared at the window nearest her. A silver knife was displayed in a velvet case.

The monster roared and she turned to see it charging at her. Hesper panicked for a moment and knew she couldn't break the window on her own. Luckily the monster chose that moment to throw an obvious punch. Hesper ducked as the window smashed and the knife clattered to the ground. She dove for it and the monster dove for her. Her hands closed on the ivory hilt just as his claws ripped down her back. Screaming was easy now and she did it repeatedly. The monster pulled back to strike again and Hesper swung around with the blade. Her aim was off and she hit only his midsection. The howl of pain that followed was deafening and Hesper used that moment to crawl away. The glass sliced her hands and knees as she moved. Keeping her eyes on the monster she watched him as he regained his composure and leveled angry eyes on her. She scrambled to her feet as he moved for her. Hesper slashed at the outstretched arms and one paw flopped to the ground. They were both shocked and took a moment to stare at it. Hesper was over come by the hilarious urge to laugh and giggled slightly. The monster snarled as he cuffed her with his remaining hand. She sprawled and slid on the cobblestones for several feet and stopped with a ringing in her head.

The monster flipped her over and Hesper stared at the black eyes of the werewolf as he reared his head back to strike at her throat. Her eyes met his and didn't look away as they came close. She held up her hands and moments later a urgulling choke reached her ears. She stared at those black eyes as they dulled and bled to blue and then to gray. Gray human eyes stared at her while the body shrank back to its original form. He was a college student by the age and well built by the nakedness of him. Hesper swallowed the urge to laugh and coughed when the taste hit her tongue. It was sweet like tropical juice while being strangely salty at the same time. She realized some of his blood had spilled into her mouth and she had swallowed it. For a moment she lay there with his body pressed against hers and couldn't think. Her body moved finally and she squirmed out from under his bulk to roll away and lie on her own. That was when she screamed and cried, that was when the fear took charge.

**

Hesper resurfaced and looked around at the sterile white walls and muted green curtains. There was a smell that was the absence of scent and it was too clean. She frowned as her brain tried to work out where she was. Sitting up sent scalding fire down her back and she moaned as her body flopped uselessly to the pillows. There was a shuffling of feet and two women in hospital outfits appeared. They spoke in their native language and she frowned at them.

"They are asking you not to move."

Hesper turned her head and smiled at the familiar face. "Adam," Her throat was raw and it came out as a whispered squeak.

He smiled and sat down next to her; he was dressed in his internship clothes and looked tired. "I was looking forward to seeing you, just not like this."

She smiled at him, "What time is it?"

"Just passed three in the morning, same day though. You've been out for nearly eight hours. Not that it's unusal, you lost a lot of blood and had to have lots of stitches. The doctors are saying that the claws barely missed your spine. They said that a few inches closer and they could have severed it."

"Comforting." Hesper muttered and he smiled at her. "So what's the damage count exactly?"

Adam was quiet, "You really want to know?"

"Yeah."

"A hundred and seven on your back and twenty two on your left arm." Adam nodded to the padding at her left side. "The police are waiting to ask you a few questions as well; something about a knife that was used to kill a young man."

Hesper remembered everything and wished she hadn't. "Thanks. Will you stay around? Keep me company?"

He smiled, "I've been hanging around for the last three hours, what's another two?"

Adam was replaced by the police and they asked her some general questions: Name, passport, country of origin, reason for being here and so on. After all that was clear, they asked her something odd.

"Why did you go for that knife in particular?"

Hesper wasn't about to tell them the truth, 'oh yes officer a werewolf was trying to kill me and silver is lethal to them.' They would lock her up for sure. "It was the first one I saw."

"The first one?" The one in charge asked. "You didn't see the others? Ms. Corvin do you know the kind of shop you broke into?"

Broke into? Hesper frowned, "Sorry?"

"It was an antique sword shop." He spoke calmly, "The knife you used was part of a private collection that was on sale from a local family."

"So?"

"There is a history with that knife." He told her. "According to the family it was used by their great-grandfather to fend off animals three hundred years ago. Does the name Angelo Corvin ring any bells?"

"No." Hesper shook her head and regretted the action. The stitched in her back didn't want to move. "Should it?"

He gazed at her, "Not really."

"Do you have any family in this town Miss?"

"No." Hesper watched him, "Is something wrong officer?" She couldn't remember his name. "Am I being charged with something?"

"Not yet." He gazed at her arm. "It was clear that you were attacked by an animal of some kind."

Hesper arched a brow, "And?"

He was quiet, "Nothing."

They left her and Adam came in their place after a moment. He watched her with guarded eyes. "What did you say to them?"

"Nothing really, just basic stuff. That one cop was pretty spooked."

"That's an understatement. He was scared shitless." Adam shook his head. "It reminds me of when Michael came here."

Hesper watched him, "What do you mean?"

"That same cop came when Michael was last here. They didn't get a chance to talk with him because he ran. But it's the same guy."

A tingle of danger went through her. "Adam, if I were to tell you that I have a bad feeling, what would do you?"

Adam watched her closely, "A feeling like what?"

"Like I am in serious danger all of sudden."

"Because of that officer fellow?"

Hesper nodded and the pain didn't register. "I need to leave and fast."

"Hesper you were shredded by an animal. You can't leave."

Hesper watched him, "Believe me Adam, I feel fine." She sat up and it didn't hurt any more. Her skin actually felt like it was healing as she moved. "Please, trust me."

He closed his eyes. "I can't believe I am going to do this." He stood up. "If I don't see it I can't be held responsible. Just don't get caught." He left the room and Hesper flung back the sheets. Her feet touched the cold floor and she shivered. The more she moved the better she felt.

Pulling on the nearby hospital issue robe, Hesper crept out of the room and Adam wasn't around. She felt bad leaving him like this and felt worse that she may never see him again. The ideas didn't last long as she moved slowly and carefully down the hall. The exit door was at the end of the hall and she pushed it open. There were no alarm bells or sirens, she was safe. Making her way down the stairs she hurried to the base level. As she pushed open the door the parking lot, she found a series of fancy cars waiting.

"Not bad." She said with a smile as she quickly made her way across the ground. Her feet were cold and she was starting to shiver.

As she reached a black Porsche her skin tingled and she turned, her arm moved and the blow was deflected. She reacted without thinking and the punch threw the man back five feet. He staggered to regain his feet and looked as startled as she felt.

"Whoa." She looked at her fist. "That was cool."

"She's infected already," The man shouted and Hester was suddenly aware that she was surrounded.

A circle of black clad men that rivaled the costumes of the Matrix, stood tensely around her. Hesper clenched her fists and her shoulders hunched automatically. There was a part of her that wondered what she was doing, but it was ignored by the rush to defend herself.

They surged in a combined force and Hesper reacted. It was all too fast for her to follow but she found herself running through the parkcade and not looking back. Behind her the sounds of pursuit followed. It dimly struck her as funny that she seemed to be running a lot these days. Especially from strange European men.

Rounding a corner she came up short as a gun fired and she threw herself to the side. She hit the ground and rolled under the car. Taking a moment to catch her breath and listen to the activity around her. It sounded as through it were only three of them. She poked her head out and found three men with strange guns, searching for her. Hesper rolled out from under the car and crouched down beside it. She needed an exit or a weapon.

"We can't kill her." Came a voice through their radios, "We need her alive. She is a Corvin, like Michael, we need her."

Hesper went cold at the mention of her brother's name. They knew Michael? Did they know what had happened to him? She moved toward the hood the car and peaked over it. Two were standing there now, where was the third? Her answer came in the form of a shot directly in the back. She cried out and fell to the ground as she went into convulsions.

"Shit man, we needed her stable." The other two came running and Hesper blacked out.

**

The dream was a nightmare that was too real to be a hallucination. The images were foreign to her and she floated on the waves of sound that accompanied. The scenes were scattered and made no sense to her.

Hesper was slammed back into reality by agony and snapped her eyes open. Looking around she found herself on her knees and chained to the floor. Her skin itched and burned as the metal rubbed them. Hesper was startled to find that the chains were silver. Silver shouldn't be bothering her. Unless….Her mind refused the thought while it was confirmed at the same time. How else could she have healed so fast? How else could she have defended her self against those attacks in the parkcade?

"A little confused are we?"

She jumped and craned her head to see a man in a long black coat approaching her. "Who are you?"

"Kraven." He stepped into a the weak light and was handsome in a strictly European way with dark wavy hair and swarthy features. "You have caused me some trouble Ms. Corvin."

"How exactly?"

He leaned down and she flinched away from him, "Your brother stole my bride and you have been poking around in places you don't belong. But I will commend you on that kill you made. Most impressive. But then again I suppose you already knew that."

Hesper watched him guardedly. "You aren't making any sense here."

"The knife you used was a relic of the Corvinus clan," He watched her as if that would explain it, she shook her head. "Corvinus is your great ancestor. Your many times great grandfather. Hence the name Corvin, which you now carry."

"Huh huh and how does this matter to me?" She asked.

The shadows moved as a man stepped forward with a wrapped package in his hands. Kraven unfolded the cloth and held out the knife she had used. Hesper jerked away without thinking of it and her head split open with pain. She shuddered as the images crashed through her brain.

"You are remembering all the memories of the one who infected you. It's a way of retelling their history all in one shot." Kraven crouched down with the knife in his hand. "You used this to kill a werewolf and his blood in your veins now. At the next full moon in three days you were will change and I will kill you."

Hesper shook loose the memories and lifted her head to stare at him. "Not if I kill you first."

He watched her and laughed, his eyes were dark and the laugh was fake. "You can try."

Kraven stood up and the knife was wrapped again, "But as long as the silver is on your skin you can't move. You will have no defense."

"Don't count on it."

**

The night of the third day rose too soon and Hesper awoke feeling anxious. Her insides were tingling and her skin felt loose, as if it would slough off if she pulled too hard. Her legs had gone numb again as she slept the day away. Kraven hadn't come back and no one had visited her in three days times. She was locked away in a dark room where the only she could see was the floor upon which she was chained.

Moving stiffly she managed to change the position of her legs and her circulation came back painfully. Her eyes dropped closed in a wave of exhaustion and suddenly she could hear the sounds outside the walls. People were moving quickly, it sounded like muted chaos. Listening harder granted her nothing but a pounding headache. She retreated into the room and slumped forward to wait.

It wasn't five minutes later when she heard gunfire and screams. More shooting before the door to her chamber was blown apart and a hideous blue creature stepped in. He looked like a man if a man had a mouthful of fangs, his features were distorted in a strange way, his skin was blue and his hands were capped with talons that were claws.

She screamed before she could help herself.

"Hesper, it's me." The man held up both hands and closed his eyes for a moment. His bones snapped and realigned in quick stages of transformation. "It's Michael."

Hesper's throat closed and she gagged as she stared at him. "Michael?"

He knelt on knee and pulled apart the chains on her wrists. "I will explain later.'

"Michael is that really you?"

"Yes, now come on." He pulled her to her feet and she staggered badly. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Long story." She said as her feet steadied and she followed him down the hall littered with bodies. "Did you do this?"

"Not all of it." He turned left and she followed him.

Gunfire was heard ahead and Michael didn't slow. They ran down the corridor and came to a set of stairs were more bodies lay scattered. "Go up." He ordered and she went. He followed behind and they burst out into the night air.

Hesper looked up at the sky as the clouds cleared and the full moon hit her. She collapsed without warning as her body began to burn from the inside. Agony took on a new dimension as she screamed in helplessness. She felt and saw her bones snap and reknit instantly and the pain only reached new heights with each moment. Her mind wanted to shut off but every time it came close, the pain would ease just enough to bring her back.

"Selene!" Michael shouted for someone as he knelt next to Hesper. "Hesper, listen, I need you to fight it."

She stared at him and her face twisted, her response came out as a snarl. Her head turned as the neck bones reknit and the shot knocked her to the ground. Cool fire raced with the heat and she was thrown into waves of cold and hot pain. She floated on them and was tossed gently as her mind functioned slowly.

Michael picked her up and they ran.

**

Hesper jolted awake and found she wasn't tied down so she sat up. Her head swam painfully and she staggered on her feet. "Michael?" She called and her voice was weak.

"In here," He called and she heard him down the hall from her room. "Want something to eat?"

Her stomach snarled in response. "What are you offering?"

She stepped into the room and found it to be a makeshift kitchen. A single Bunsen burner heated two metal cans and a couple utensils were drying on a faded towel.

"Nice place." She said and he shot her a look, "Real homey."

He snorted, "Yeah, okay." He swept back his hair with a hand, "You look better."

"What happened to me?" Hesper claimed the only vacant chair in the room. "Was that Kraven guy right? Am I werewolf now?"

Michael stood up and stirred the two cans before sitting down again. "You talked to Kraven?"

"If Kraven is a gorgeous European man with wavy black hair and dark blue eyes, then yeah."

Michael arched a brow at her, "You think he's gorgeous?"

Hesper shrugged, " A little."

He laughed at that. "Hmm," He shook his head, "He told you were a werewolf?"

"He said that the guy I killed had been one and because I swallowed his blood I would be one too." Hesper paused, "And if what happened outside counts, I would agree with him."

"You swallowed the guy's blood?" Michael made a face. "Gross."

"What is?"

Hesper jumped and looked behind her to see a stunning woman approach. She was wearing black latex poured over her body. Her black hair was jaw length and totally sensible. Her eyes were dark and sad but mysterious and intelligent at the same time.

"Hesper, this is Selene." Michael put his arm around the woman's waist. "Selene, this is my sister Hesper."

The woman looked at her, "Sister?" She sounded surprised.

"Yeah, that might explain why Kraven was after in the first place. Maybe he thinks she carries the same thing I do."

"What thing?" Hesper asked quickly

Michael eyed her, "This is complicated,"

"Simplify." Hesper snapped.

"A guy named Corvinous was the only survivor of a plague that wiped out a few million people. The reason he survived was because his body mutated the virus to a new form. It resulted from a bite by a wolf and a bat and the virus combined. His blood is able to sustain an even balance between vampire and werewolf."

Hesper held up her hands. "Vampires?"

Selene nodded, "Yes, my kind."

Hesper eyed her, "You are a vampire?" As she watched, Selene's eyes bled brilliant blue and fangs appeared in her mouth. "Oh, I guess you are."

Michael continued, "I carry this dormant gene and was able to sustain the balance between werewolf and vampire. I am not either one but a combined force of both."

Hesper watched him, remembering the blue skin and deformities of his body. "Is there a cure?"

"No and I wouldn't take it if there was one." Michael stated. "I like being what I am Hesper."

"And you are saying I am this thing now?"

He shook his head. "You are a werewolf. I don't even know if you carry the gene, you are only my half sister, it could have missed you. If that's the case then Kraven has no use for you."

"Oh that's comforting." Hesper snapped and crossed her arms. "Okay, let me just think for a moment."

They let her think; Michael took the cans off the stove and sat down at the table with a fork. Selene leaned up against the wall with her arms crossed, waiting patiently.

"I am a werewolf and that's a fact." Hesper admitted to herself. "So the question becomes what do I do now?"

"You could stay with us," Michael offered, "Or go home and keep quiet or stay and live here. There is a pack that might accept you." He swallowed a mouthful and dug around the can for a moment. "Just keep your identity a secret."

"Or what? They kill me too?"

He nodded, "Probably. Selene and I aren't popular these days."

"Why not?"

"We found out the truth about the origins of a war and killed both of the guys in charge of it." Michael looked at her, "We are being hunted by both sides, Hesper."

She sighed, "I need some alone time," She stood up.

"Not before you take this." Michael pointed to capped syringe on the table. "It's an enzyme to slow the change. You can't run around this place as a wolf." Michael motioned for her arm. He rubbed a wet swab on it a vein and injected her. "If you feel hot or in the least bit tingle-like, you come back here."

Hesper nodded and Selene showed her the exit. "You love him don't you?"

Selene was surprised at the question but nodded. "Very much."