Author's Notes: Guess who.

Tales of Vesperia is the property of Namco Bandai.


Chapter 53 - Hunt

Hunting was one of his favorite things to do, but lately it had become so easy that it was almost boring. It was really the same process over and over again: lie in wait, ready to strike, and when the proper moment came and the prey walked unknowingly into the trap, it was finished easily with a single blow.

The things he had been hunting lately were unsatisfactory quarry to his skill level and desire. He needed a challenge and there was only one prey truly worthy enough to provide him with that challenge.

Even with the lack of sport the prey in these woods gave him, he still waited, silent and steady until a rustling from the brush alerted him. He didn't move, but every muscle and each of his limbs was tensed, ready to strike.

A wolf, unaware of the danger that it was in, treaded along an overgrown footpath, head low, searching for prey for his own. This would do.

In a single strike, swift and soundless, he moved from between the bushes and pierced the creature through its barrel chest. The beast's muscles seized against him in terror, and he could feel each bone he scraped against as he pulled back in almost an instant. Blood splattered against him and across the dark ground. He reveled briefly at the warmth still beating in his hand before quickly plugging the wound in the monster's chest. It staggered and whimpered as he loomed over its injured form, its heart in his hand.

"I'm not going to kill you, but you'll wish I had. What I have planned for you is much more fun." He brought the still hot organ to his lips, stroking it with his tongue. "You won't be needing this anymore." Effortlessly, he swallowed it, letting it wriggle a little down his throat. It still wasn't what he wanted. It couldn't satisfy his hunger.

He reached down and patted the creature's head in a manner most discomforting. It growled at him, still trying to resist him, but it was cut short by a yelp as he twisted the plug he had placed inside of it. "What should I call a growling, defiant thing like you...?" He mused briefly, staring down into the creature's dark eyes. "Yes... That's it. You can be Yuri. How's that sound?"

The wolf tried to move, to pull back from beneath his shadow, to escape the strong grasp he maintained on it. He tensed one of his limbs and it stood at attention on two feet before him, fear rampant in its eyes.

"There is no escape, Yuri Lowell! Grovel at my feet, surrender to me, admit your defeat, and beg for my mercy as I tear the hearts out of the ones that you hold the dearest!" He wasn't talking to the monster.

It whimpered and whined, but did not fight back further. It was too weak. He liked his new form.

Unlike his original body, it wasn't hampered by petty boundaries. This form knew no limitations. He liked it. It gave him range and unheard of strength and best of all, control. Even with these newfound glories, he still longed for his beloved prey. He had tasted a few sweet bites of his quarry, but now he longed for more. The hearts he had consumed lately were nothing compared to that one. Hard, well-trained muscles, thick and taunt sinew, blood hot and sweet. Every inch of flesh, every delectable, silvery scar, every white bone, he wanted it all. And he would have it all. Even if he had to destroy everything to get it.

He cared not for Terca Lumireis or its inhabitants. Now people and monsters were mere puppets before his might. If he had to destroy anything and everything in his path to get what and who he wanted, then so be it.

He slid easily past the wolf, who followed him like others had before. It had no choice. It was bound to him now. As they moved, the woods were more silent than ever. Any creature that he had not caught now cowered or fled before his presence. That only increased his sense of power. The mansion loomed in the darkness, but it was like home to him. He had lived here before he had gained his new form, but the scent of blood that filled these walls made this place even more homey to him now. And even though those it was faint, there was the barest scent of him here that made his mouth water.

As he entered, the wolf waited outside, resting beside the door, trying to recuperate from what had happened.

"Where have you been?"

He turned his head sharply to look at the doctor who had been sitting in the parlor. Beside him sat another man, older, with graying hair, who was stern and authoritative. He did not care for either of these people.

"Hunting."

"Stop venturing so far out. We're still unsure how stable your body is at this point."

He narrowed his eyes, staring the old doctor down. He shifted briefly to the grey haired man beside him, who seemed to shudder at the briefest glance from his eyes. Oh, he was wonderfully intimidating. Two men of untold power and knowledge cowered before him. And he loved every moment of it.

"Remember that we gave you this. You should be grateful."

"I'll do what I want. I don't owe you anything." He didn't need to remind them what he could do. They had witnessed it countless times now.

He moved to the stairs. He had better things to do now than to deal with these old codgers. He wanted to hunt more, but the prey in this area had grown tiresome to him. Perhaps he would move on to another region the next day where quarry was less aware of him and less scarce. But there was only one prey he wanted.

"We're not finished! There are still tests that I must run-"

He silenced the doctor swish of his hand. Something just beyond the door caught his attention. It had been the slightest noise, the rustling of a single leaf on the bush in front of the house. He turned and was pulling himself partway through the door in an instant.

Two men in black and gold uniforms were there, trying to peer in one of the boarded windows. He recognized the cut of the cloth as belonging to the Imperial Knights. More fodder for him that would put up no challenge. It was aggravating. Neither of them noticed him. He slipped all the way through the door, and stood on the steps of the house for a moment, watching them, waiting to see if they would spot him.

After a few seconds, he got bored with waiting. A scrape of his knife across the stone railing had them turning in no time, faces aghast. They drew their blades, but he was faster.

He speared one of the knights with one of his limbs, easily piercing his steel armor as it\f it was nothing. As with the wolf, he pulled back quickly, plugging the hole he made. The knight crumpled but he tensed a limb and forced him to stand once more. He licked away the blood staining his limb. It was bitter and unsatisfying and the fist sized, fear filled heart that he swallowed sat like a rock in his stomach. It still wasn't enough. Only one thing could sate his mighty hunger.

The other knight scrambled to his feet and watched in shock for a split second. He fled in terror, crashing through the brush of the forest.

"What are you doing?! Apprehend the other one immediately!"

He licked his lips. "It's much more interesting this way." He made the first knight dance for a moment, his clumsy, weakened feet attempting a rough jig that provided him with a little amusement. If it were only a little jauntier. He would have to get better at exhibiting his control. It wasn't perfect yet, but it was getting better.

"What do you mean?! You are to listen and obey! The only reason you're even here is because we deemed you worthy of this!"

He seized the doctor tightly, pulling his face close and staring into his eyes. "You don't seem to understand. I am the one with the power now. You are the one who has created me, but I don't owe you anything and your orders mean nothing to me. I will do what I want."

Fear was rampant in those eyes as old muscles tightened beneath his grasp, brittle bones creaked, threatening to snap, as he was struggling to breathe. He dropped the doctor. Killing him now wouldn't do any good. He had uses yet.

"The little fly I let go will only attract more." He knew that one way or another, the prey that he longed to taste once more would find out about this and would come running. Patience was not a virtue that he appreciated, but he knew that sometimes during hunting you had to lie in wait, and he was preparing his trap. "I'm going to find you, Yuri Lowell."