He felt her before He saw her, a woman with Crimson hair. It was time, and He had to fight. Fight it. Don't look, don't think. Please no.

He felt his control slipping, his body wasn't his own anymore. Then He saw her, stumbling through the winter forest, her feet froze to the bone. The Darkness holds no solace, so very, very far from crimson cloak behind her drags, it's torn by thorns and snagged to rags. His mind slipped into the madness, He felt it, the feral need inside me, forced out by the curse. Lightning cracked and his mind fell over the edge.

Pity maiden for your folly, to venture in these woods alone. Mercy lives not in the holly, no compassion from the stones.

Her fear brings tears like summer rain.

"Oh mother father, where are you…?"

From there everything went blank. When he came to himself again, she was under him, still warm, crying. Her blood decorated the snow like rubies. He cursed himself and looked up at the sky. Another death, more pain. As if he wasn't used to this. This was different though, this hurt more. He'd liked this one. He'd wanted her. He felt a deep pain in his chest. He thought he'd known better. But he dared to hope he could love someone and she'd stay alive.

Days later he found himself wondering around the forest again. Like hell he was going into town after this. How could he be so stupid as to get close to someone? His heart got her killed. Maybe the warlock was right, he should just throw his heart away.

He sat on a snowy mount, wrapping his arms around his knees and resting his chin on top. Why me? Mother… What do I do? He felt himself praying again. Was there no way to escape this? Was there no where he could be safe?

He took out his mother's necklace, apparently her sister had given it to her. I wonder where my aunt is now anyway? It was supposed to protect him. Lot of good it's done so far. It was a simple silver chain with a small heart pendent on it. He'd never worn it because it was frankly too much of a woman's necklace. He always kept it in his coat pocket, right next to his own heart. There was apparently a spell that went with the necklace, but he'd never used it. He flipped over the pendent and looked at the small words.

"Thy heart be near my own, what has been ripped be sewn. Threads of fate weave me into, a tapestry made for two… Really?" He looked it over and sighed, absentmindedly threw the necklace over his right shoulder. He stopped when he realized what he'd done.

"Oh fuck, no!" He turned at watched his mother's necklace bounce on the rocks below before landing on a thin trail. He went after it shocked at what i had done, but he paused.

He felt her before he saw her. A woman in a thick brown cloak. Her scent filled his lungs like a deep fresh spring. Brunette. Definitely an Earth woman. She was carrying a lantern and all he could see was the shine from her eyes.

He was frozen in his tracks. He couldn't make his body move. It was like the curse was kicking in but, different. He wasn't sure how though, it was just different. She looked at his mother's necklace, curiously at first before picking it up. He felt his tail wagging before he could stop it.

She jumped at the sound and he mentally cursed himself as she backed away from him. Shit, be smooth.

"Don't be afraid I...Was just looking for that." He pointed to the necklace.

"Oh!" her voice was soft, "I wondered how this got here, sorry!" she became flustered and offered the necklace back.

"You know…" He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. Her scent was intoxicating, he touched his lips her the back of her hand. He breathed deep, taking her in before looking into her eyes. Deep brown, like rich earth in the spring. Her face was turning red, how cute.

"Perhaps you should keep it, I think it would look lovely on you." He turned on all his charms. Was he going crazy? That was his mother's necklace! Yet as he held her hand in mine he couldn't stop himself.

"S-sir…" She stuttered "Please I don't even know your name!" She protested. Oh right, manners.

"Leikos, and my I have the honor of knowing your name, lovely maiden?" Really? Did he just say that? Shoot me. But it worked, she was blushing again.

"Abigail, It's...a pleasure Leikos." He grinned wolfishly, "The pleasure is all mine Sweet." he reached over for her face gingerly and slowly removed her hood. One look, just one look at her face just one-

"Abigail! You come home now!" another woman's voice rang out causing the lovely maiden to jump and drop the lanturn, taking away any visibility of her face. Dammit!

"I-I'm so sorry Leikos, that's my mother! I have to go!" She took off towards the other woman's voice. Leaving him alone in the dark.

What just happened? Did he just give away his mother's necklace, to a woman he just met, after just swearing off of them?

"Fuck!" He cursed into the night as he contemplated running his head into a tree.

Back at the house Abigail was being scolded by Lilith, or The Matron Mother as the girls had come to call her.

"Do you realize how late it is? Where were you young lady?" Mother was furious, "I've told you time and time again until we get your powers under control it is NOT safe for you to roam the forest alone!" Abby felt bad for making the Matron worry and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry, I was just looking around! I felt something weird nearby!" She admitted and Lilith cocked a brow at the young woman.

"Define weird." she urged, sitting across from her adoptive daughter. Part of Abigail's power was her instinct and more often than not she was right when it kicked in, but Abby was still unable to hone in on what each feeling meant so Lilith would often talk her through what she was feeling in hopes of figuring it out.

"It was like...I'm not sure, a strong feeling in my chest and gut, telling me I needed to go there. I found a silver necklace…" She trailed off not wanting to mention the man right away.

"Let me see." Lilith opened her palm for the necklace and Abby hesitated. Not that she wanted to disrespect the Matron, just something in her body didn't want to give up the pendent. She had to force herself to show her adoptive mother the silver pendent. Once Lilith realized what she was seeing she gasped and took her hand back.

"No that's ok, keep it. Don't worry it's not dangerous." her immediate response earned her a confused but relieved look.

"That...is a pendent of Mating. Used by some to, as the name suggests, find their life partner. Where did you get that? Was there someone else out there with you?"

Abby hesitated again but sighed and nodded, her faced turned pink and she felt a warmth in her chest.

"There was a man with ashy black hair, apparently it was his…" she looked at the pendant with a tender smile, still dazed from the encounter with the handsome man.

"What was his name? Did you even ask? Or where you too busy being charmed by Mr. Handsome?" Lilith teased making the girl blush more deeply.

"H-he said his name was Leikos, he was...very charming…" Her whole face was turning red, how cute was she? Her first romance! Lilith thought, smiling wolfishly to herself And if I'm correct her only one, if the boy isn't stupid and plays his card right!

Lilith gave her adoptive daughter a warm smile and nodded.

"As usual, I can't tell you all my secrets, but," she looked Abby in the eye "You're gonna wanna trust me on this, Leikos is a good kid, a little dumb but we can't blame him for that. Be kind to him, be yourself and you still can't go into town." Abby gave the Matron a confused look but just nodded. Lilith was a woman with many secrets and she wasn't one to ever give them up until the time was right. Sounds like she knows this man, and trusts him. Or at least doesn't see him as dangerous, which meant she could see him again! Though despite her excitement Abby had to wonder. How did Lilith know who Leikos was, just by seeing this necklace…?