The Village of Shadows was covered in a sheet of fresh dry snow. The temperature had dropped below what was safe as Ethan Winters trudged through the trees. The cawing of a panicked raven echoing in the early morning. His teeth chattered as he pulled his jacket tighter over his blood-splattered white cotton button-up. His wife's blood now dried into the fabric like a horrible satire of gothic fashion. A tear rolled down his cold face as the warmth withered before it fell from his cheek.
"I can't stay still…" Ethan whispered to himself as he jumped down from the grassy hill and headed for the thoroughfare through the village. As he walked a chill ran through his spine, not from the cold but the sounds of growls in the air. A twig snapped and Ethan bolted for the closest house and jumped inside the door. It was ajar, and no one was inside except for ruined furniture and an abandoned dinner.
"Shit…. shit! Where the hell am I?" Ethan asked aloud as he began to frantically search the house. A creak at the door made the hairs in the back of his neck stand up. A closet nearby was left open, and without a second thought he climbed inside and closed himself in.
In the darkness, the gruff growls of the creature stalking him grew louder. As a Lycan turned in the prime of his youth stepped into the house.
"What are you doing!" A hoarse voice shouted into the house. The creature snarled and took a deep breath, sniffing around. Even coming uncomfortably close to the lattice of the closet door. Ethan held his breath as the Lycan approached, sniffing at the stained wood which was dripping with chicken soup that had gone cold.
"I smell…. something." He spoke, Ethan getting a glimpse of the creature through the slats of the door. His Brunet hair dreaded with feathers and leather cord as blood had dried within the mattes. His yellow eyes glowing in the dark swirling with the virus which has corrupted his forgotten human form.
Ethan covered his mouth and hid further back, resting his hand against the wall feeling around for something to defend himself. As the Lycan began to claw the cupboard door, his hand struggled to grab the latch. Fingers fused, hair growing over his knuckles which tangled in the tiny metal clasp. He grunted and pulled and scratched the door in frustration. Carving his claw across the door ripping it from the wall if he had to. Ethan's heart racing in his chest. He saw his face, and the yellow eyes widened in joy. The creature paused and suddenly reached his hand through the door to try and grab Ethan, the blonde just beyond its reach of his claws.
"I… smell you." The Lycan huffed and pulled his arm back. "I'm hungry!" He punched the door and began to shake and claw it once again.
Ethan finally gasped, his voice caught in his throat as he frantically searched. Finally, he found a knife stuck in a breadboard. He ripped it free as a howl broke the panic. The Lycan stepped away from the door the moment he heard it and howled in return. As the other creatures bolted from the house, the last one stayed to look back in the closet. Ethan, knife raised and ready to fight, was shocked to see someone else in the house. Whoever it was, they moved so quick he only saw a sheet of raven hair. The Lycan was thrown across the room and broke the couch with the velocity of the throw.
"You've been summoned!" The velvet voice spoke as Ethan approached the door to see who it was. He had his back turned, and was taller than any man he had seen before.
"The Lady will not be happy you're here." The Lycan stood up, storming around too angry to stay still. He wanted to rip the raven-haired man apart, but alone he was cautiously retreating for the door. Cowering at his presence as the strange saviour sauntered with confidence towards him.
"Get out mutt!" The velvet voice went visceral as he aggressively snapped his gown fangs at the Lycan. Ethan catches a glimpse of his Snow White skin and glossy lips. There was blood lingering in his mouth, which was the only thing Ethan could focus on.
The werewolf howled again and took off running from the house to follow his clanmates. The tall man turned to the cupboard and walked up to it. Sending Ethan into it further as whoever this was, he could easily open the door by the latch.
"Get out of here you fool, or this is where you'll die!" The man barked as Ethan finally saw his full face. His natural blue eyes made him pause. Has a human been amongst the village? No. He couldn't be, not with fangs like that. Two sets of sharp teeth on the top and bottom row like a venomous snake.
"Who are you?" Ethan raised the knife at the creature.
"Can't stay to explain, call me Lucien. You have to move now, they can find you easily smelling like that." Lucien said and stepped away from the door and began to head out of the house.
"Wait! Why did you help me? Are you not… infected?" Ethan asked as he emerged from the closet. Lucien turned from the door to look back, Ethan finally noticing the bloodstains down the front of his white tuxedo shirt which was unbuttoned showing off his broad hairy chest.
"I too know what it's like to have your daughter stripped from you. I'll do what I can, but remember what I said." Lucien said as he exited the house, having to duck to get under the door.
"Do you know where Rosemary is?" Ethan shouted out and ran outside, only to see the man was gone. Ethan's breath quickened, as he spun around at the sound of another Lycan howling on the wind. "They can smell me…" Ethan muttered in horror as he quickly made his way forward. Dodging into the next house at the sight of movement to look around for anything else of use.