Chapter 18

*Authors Note: I am soooo sorry it took me so long to update! But I PROMISE this will be finished and very soon. I'm on Christmas break so I have plenty of time to write. I am so grateful to my fans of this story and, again, I'm so sorry you had to wait.

Adam landed in an alleyway a few blocks from the hospital, breathless and weak. He gasped at the sight of his hands, which were now fully skeletal. He began to panic as he felt his face, which was rough and dry. He tried to run, but collapsed to the ground. His body was growing weaker and weaker with each passing second. His claws screeched against the ground as he dragged his weakened body to a nearby puddle of dirty water. He looked down and screamed, which came out as a fearsome and rough roar. His face had become grey and wrinkled, his bright red yellow eyes had grown dim, and his perfectly white teeth had become yellow and cracked. He felt the little bit of strength he had left draining away and he began to feel dizzy. Then, just as he felt all hope was lost, he heard the sound of someone walking close. He used whatever strength that had remained inside him to grab the passerby's ankle and yank him into the dark alley.

Blood splattered on the nearby wall and the sound of cracking bones bounced off the bricks. Slurps and growls echoed through the alley until a refreshed sigh stopped them. Adam rose to his feet, dusting off pieces of flesh and bone that fell into his lap during his feast. He looked down at the muddy puddle and smiled. His gorgeous human appearance had been restored, and yet he felt strangely unsatisfied. He looked over at the pile of bones in the corner of the alley with regret and winced as the memory of himself, a hideous creature, feasting upon the innocent passerby. He put his hands to the side of his head, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Keep it together," Adam whispered to himself, his voice smooth and lovely again. "It's almost over. Just kill the mortal and you never have to kill again. Remember that. Just kill Sauli and-" Adam gasped, his enchanting blue eyes opening wide. Memories of him and Sauli together flashed in his mind, all the good feelings he had around him, all the deep and personal moments shared, and all the tender loving affection he felt toward Sauli. Adam growled with frustration and shook the thoughts out of his head.

"Stop it," he said to himself angrily as he walked out of the alley, "You know you have to do it. H-He's just another mortal...he was scared of you, just like the rest...just another mortal..." Adam sighed and walked down the streets of Los Angeles, scanning the stores around him for anywhere that sold clothes. He smiled as he saw the perfect outfit in the display window. It consisted of a black tank top, detached spiked leather sleeves with tassels, black skinny jeans, bedazzled black high-heeled boots, and a gold chain necklace. Adam smirked devilishly at the sight of it, imagining both men and women groveling at his sexy feet. Before anyone could blink, he ran in the store, grabbed the outfit, slid his credit card through the machine, and changed. He admired himself in the display window, then thought for a moment.

"Hmm," he thought, "there's something missing. I look beautiful, but I could look more beautiful." Adam snapped his fingers and sleek and smooth upper lip became prickly, along with his chin. He ran his fingers across his new facial hair and smirked. "Perfection," he chuckled and walked along the street. Suddenly, he saw Sauli walking in the same direction across the street. He gasped with delight and quickly used his wings to fly onto the roof of the building Sauli was walking past. He jumped from roof to roof as he stalked his prey, paying close attention to where he was headed next. Then, Sauli stopped and rested his back against a bus stop pole. Adam slid down the gutter of the building he was on and landed comfortably behind Sauli. Playfully, he tapped Sauli on his right shoulder, then his left once Sauli turned to the right.

"Hey," said Sauli, trying to get a glimpse of his teaser, "stop it!" Adam giggled and, with immense stealth, snuck into the old warehouse a few steps away from the bus stop. Sauli gasped, "I know that giggle." Adam stuck his head out of the entrance of the warehouse and gestured for Sauli to follow with his index finger. "Adam, wait!" Sauli ran after Adam, who chuckled as he led Sauli deeper and deeper into the warehouse. Sauli followed persistently until he lost Adam in a room that was pitch black. "Adam?" He called. "Are you here?" With a snap, a trail of candles appeared and lit a pathway to Adam, who was laying on a gold-rimmed red velvet couch. A gold fan appeared in his grasp with a wave of his left hand and he began to fan himself innocently.

"I'm here," said Adam seductively, "Did you miss me?" He winked at Sauli, who blushed bright red. With a gulp, Sauli checked his back pocket to make sure the crucifix was still in place, just in case he needed it.

"I-I came to talk," said Sauli with a gulp, "about what happened at the hospital."

"Oh," whined Adam, "must we talk? I like to think actions speak louder than words, don't you agree?"

"Then your actions at the hospital spoke out loud and clear." Adam huffed impatiently and sat up, resting his back against the arm of the couch, yet still leaving his long, sexy, legs laying across the rest of the couch. He continued to fan himself, but much quicker than before.

"Touche, Sauli," said Adam, flashing Sauli an angry, yet sexual look, his blue eyes seemingly glowing in the candlelight, "The incident at the hospital was not my finest hour, I may have...lost control. A simple moment of weakness." Sauli bravely took a step closer to Adam, taking another deep breath to slow his heartbeat, terrified that Adam would be able to hear it.

"Why me?" Asked Sauli, remaining serious in both his tone and his expression. "Why do you want me?" Adam smirked and ran his index finger down Sauli's arm.

"Oh," chuckled Adam, "how could anyone not want you? Those arms, luscious legs, savory lips, and your kind heart is the cherry on the sundae of sexiness that you are." Sauli blushed lightly, but remained strong and focused. He couldn't let Adam get to him. Angela was right. If action was not taken soon, more people would die, possibly himself. "Mmm," purred Adam, "what I wouldn't give to have a lick." Sauli blushed even more, but cleared his throat and tried to think of the frightening creature he saw at the hospital.

"Stop acting like this," said Sauli with a sigh. "There is more to you than just...well..." Sauli blushed bright red as he eyed Adam's flawless masculine body. "...all this." Adam chuckled and quickly tripped Sauli with his long reptilian tail, making him fall in his lap.

"You're absolutely right, Sauli," whispered Adam sexually, gently placing his hand over Sauli's, "There certainly is more. You just have to..." Adam moved Sauli's hand down his body and stopped over his crotch. "...feel what's underneath." Sauli gulped, now cherry red, then looked up at Adam's face. Adam smirked at him in the dreamy way that only Adam could. Sauli wanted nothing more to grab that gorgeously handsome face and kiss him passionately. Adam leaned in closer to Sauli, his chest resting on Sauli's and his hands on Sauli's face. Sauli shook nervously, unsure if he was ready for this, but he sure as hell knew he wanted it.

"Adam," Said Sauli, finally getting the courage to speak, "I-"

"Shh," said Adam, "relax, my darling. Don't be afraid." Hearing that did make Sauli feel better, and his shoulders became less tense. He was hypnotized by Adam's beautiful and sensual blue eyes. They called to him, like they were reassuring him that everything was going to be okay. Then, in a moment, Sauli saw that Adam's eyes were no longer their majestic blue color. They were red. The kind of red that reminded you of blood...his blood. "I won't hurt you." Adam's voice changed. It's soothing tone was distorted with a devilish undertone. Sauli froze, not in ecstasy this time, but instead in fear. Adam licked his lips with his long snake-like tongue and gripped Sauli's neck, pulling him closer to his face.

Sauli struggled to think of a plan as Adam opened his mouth with a hiss, revealing the several layers of sharp fangs that existed inside it. Just when Sauli was going to accept his death, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out the crucifix, stabbing it with all his might into Adam's shoulder. Adam let out a monstrous howl in pain and threw Sauli to the ground. Adam's shoulder sizzled and burned as the crucifix stuck out from it. He panted ferociously as he tried to fight the pain, but it was no use.

Sauli, feeling sympathetic, watched in sadness as Adam fell to the ground in agony. He didn't want to hurt Adam, but it needed to be done. If he hadn't done something, he may have lost his life and he knew that several others would lose their lives as well. He heard Angela's voice echoing in his mind.

"Good work, Sauli!" Sauli turned his head and saw Angela standing at the entrance to the warehouse. It wasn't in his head after all. She ran over to Sauli and knelt down beside him. "Are you okay? Did it bite you?" Sauli, confused and hurt, was speechless. He couldn't take his eyes off of Adam, who was struggling to stand.

"Adam!" Tommy ran in shortly after Angela and fell to his knees beside Adam. "Are you okay, baby? What has he done to you?!" Angela's head jolted to the sight of Adam and Tommy with a gasp.

"Tommy no! Get away from that thing!" Tommy, ignoring his girlfriend out of blinding love, grabbed the crucifix and pulled it out of Adam's shoulder. Angela and Sauli watched in horror as Adam's hand, now a skeletal claw, snatched Tommy by the neck and pulled him into a terrifying and deadly kiss. Tommy's eyes widened as Adam's teeth pierced the skin of his face, sucking out as much life as he possibly could. Tommy's purple hair began to turn white and his skin grew pale and dry. Adam threw the husk of what was left of Tommy to the side and turned his head to Angela and Sauli with a growl.

"Tommy!" Cried Angela with a sob, her eyes red with tears. Adam rose to his feet and growled viciously as he slowly walked closer and closer to Sauli and Angela. With each step he took, the pavement beneath them cracked and the nearby windows shattered, leaving glass scattering through the air. His black wings burst out from his back with a snap and with a flick of his fingers, his fingernails transformed into sharp claws.

"I'm through playing games," he snarled, his voice doubled and distorted, "if you won't give me what I want, you leave me no choice but to take it."