Prologue

Hitomi looked up at the ceiling of her cell, cracked and dirty. How could she ever end up in this place, how could she ever make a critical mistake like that. Guilt and anger started taking over her, stupid Van, stupid Allen, stupid Gaea, stupid me…hot tears started streaming down Hitomi's cheeks. No, no, no…! she thought in desperation, I can't let myself feel like a human, I can't make that mistake ever again, love or hate, no matter, I can't let myself feel again. Hitomi closed her eyes and started to dream…

…a tall young man was standing alone in the room obviously waiting for someone. He stood there motionlessly like a stone statue, his face with no expression, his icy-blue eyes cold and sharp like razors. They never showed warmth, always piercing and merciless, frigid much like his personality. His name was Celio, and he was a creature in every way different from human, a night predator that has roamed the Earth for over three hundred years, he was a lamia, born into death, born a vampire. Devoid of feelings, cold and heartless he only cared for those close to him, and only when those were still of any use to him. He was beautiful, just as much as he was deadly. His silvery white hair fell almost down to his knees and cast a slight shadow over his eyes, soft and silky, it fell over his shoulders like a waterfall of spider silk. He was tall and lean, his skin ghostly pale, his posture radiated of power. He wore a pair of black pants that followed his refined figure and a white blouse-style shirt, a pair of black leather boots and a sky-blue cape lightly thrown over his shoulders completed his strange ensemble. He stood there and waited, motionlessly like a stone statue…

Hitomi woke up with a start. The dream, a long lost memory brought on a wave of pain and regret. She wanted it all to end, she wanted to wake up in her soft bed in a dark room all alone and not feel anything. The cold stone floor chilled her back, her hands and feet felt inexistent, her head felt heavy like lead. How long has she been sleeping, she didn't know, all she knew was that she didn't want to ever dream again, she didn't want to see what happened next. Not knowing how, Hitomi knew that if she fell asleep the dream would continue, she didn't want it to, but she couldn't help it either. The heavy lids slowly crawled over her bloodshot eyes and she lost herself in the flow of the dream…

…a heavy wooden door opened and in walked a young, or at least she seemed young, girl. Apparently she was the one Celio was waiting for. She almost looked like a young boy, her light brown hair was cut short, and she was tall and lean, built almost like a boy. She wore all black, a pair of pants, and a light blouse that was tucked into her pants and defied the modern fashion. Over the blouse she wore a long open dress jacked that went all the way down to her knees, and completing her outfit were a pair of long leather boots and a pair of wrist long gloves. She looked like a soldier ready to go on a secret mission. Her wide eyes expressed no emotion and her skin was almost as pale as Celio's. As soon as she walked into the room she fell on one knee and bowed to the lamia.

"I have been waiting Hitomi, I don't like to be kept waiting" said Celio obviously enjoying how his remark made every muscle in Hitomi's body tense up.

"Forgive me master, I have been woken up late"

"Forgiveness is never an option; it is a sign of weakness and so is asking for it"

Hitomi bowed down lower, but decided it better to stay silent.

            "I have a task for you Hitomi" continued Celio.

            "Yes master"

            "I have been collecting artifacts that possess psychic energies from all over the world. A magic pendant has been located in Tokyo; I want you to get it for me."

            "I shall do as you order"

            "That is not all, the pendant attaches itself to the person who carries it, if you take it from the current carrier the energies inside will destroy you, the carrier must give it to you willingly."

            "I understand" said Hitomi

            "Arrangements have been made; you will arrive as the long lost granddaughter of the carrier. You may have to spend some time among the humans. Do not fail me."

            "I understand, failure is not an option"

            "You may go now, be ready, you will be departing at sunrise"

            "Sunrise?"

            "Catch…" said Celio as he threw Hitomi a silver ring "It is enchanted, it will protect you from sunlight, it will also enable you to sustain yourself on human food without having to hunt and it will create an illusion of human appearance. It is very powerful; I trust you will use it thoughtfully."

The girl bowed once more before she rose and hastily left the room without saying another word…

            …Hitomi woke up again; she was shaking and soaked in cold sweat. She couldn't tell what time it was because there were no windows in her cell, it must be night already as she heard movements outside the door, guards running by, late for their duty, woken up late again.