The night was a cold one, not that Axel could feel it through his own icy flesh. He was on the hunt, fangs already extended in anticipation of his first nights meal. His throat was burning with thirst, having gone so long without a drink.

Prowling the cobblestone alleyways of the small town Axel sampled the air, shifting through the smells until he found something appetizing. Inhaling deeply Axel smiled, sealing his prey's fate.

Doubling back the way he came, Axel glided through the maze of tall buildings undetected. His finely tuned ears picked up the sounds of his prey before his eyes lay upon him. The rhythmic sound of snow crunching beneath rubber boots was like that of steadily beating heart, one Axel would have the pleasure of stopping.

Two blocks ahead Axel laid in wait. He had long since passed the stage where he felt the need to chase down his targets, and instead found that he much rather enjoy a leisurely wait until they made their way into his awaiting claws.

He had at least five minutes until that moment arrived. Laying his body back against
the brick wall, Axel kicked back his head and took a deep inhale through his nose. At times like this he really wished he could still smoke.

Catlike green eyes peered down Axel's nose and out onto the street in which his prey walked. He took another deep breath, drawing the young man's scent into him.

Delicious.

Like the sweetness of fruit and the freshness of the ocean, a feminine scent if not for the hint of spice hidden beneath.

It was dark, but Axel's specialized eyes could see clearly.

The young boy was heading towards Axel steadily, ETA two minutes. As still as the shadow he was concealed in, Axel watched the boy approach.

He was dressed for a snowstorm, bundled up to his nose with an oversized coat and double wrapped scarf. Water resistant pants covered his legs, and black rubber snow shoes covered his feet.

Tuffs of golden hair peaked out from underneath a thick snow cap; bright blue eyes were the only part of his body left uncovered. For a second Axel admired them, it wasn't often he had the time to analyze his prey so thoroughly before he attacked them.

His Prey was drawing closer, only seconds remained until Axel's long coated arm would reach out from the darkness, grabbing his victim and pulling him into his last embrace. Axel leaned his body forward, his arm rising up from his side to grab the man.

A sudden gust of wind hit Axel's prey in the chest, ruffling his clothing and tearing his cap away from his head.

In that moment, everything changed and both of their fates were decided.

The missing cap revealed more of the golden hair Axel had merely glimpsed before, its spiky ends reaching up towards the sky as if it were trying to meet the falling snow. Cheeks that were as red as fresh blood spilt out across his frozen cheeks, chapped lips slightly opened as his hot breath left his mouth, turning to a misty cloud as it came in contact with the chilly air.

But that wasn't what go to the thirsty predator. Blue eyes lifted to the sky in seeming wonder, and then what was the most surprising to Axel is what happened next. The young man laughed. He laughed the sound of it so beautiful and carefree, a sound that Axel hadn't heard in centuries. His smile was devastating, and Axel swore for a moment his century old frozen heart had beat.

Hands tugged up a stiff collar to rest closer to now exposed ears, chin tucked down into his scarf the young man quickened his gait and with the exception of his footprints he essentially disappeared into the night.

Axel couldn't believe what had just unfolded. His mind traveling too fast for even him to follow, the predator stepped out from the shadows of the alleyway. He stood there like a permanent part of the landscape, staring down the path which his prey had disappeared from.

Never in one hundred years had Axel lost his prey. Never in one hundred years had Axel ever been distracted enough to lose track of what he was doing.

Green eyes glanced down at the ground, resting at Axel's feet was a misshapen patch of snow. The only proof of Axel's mistake. Bending slowly, gloved hands retrieved what was stolen by the howling wind. Axel couldn't take his eyes away from the item he held in his hands.

"E-excuse me, Mr?"

Too fast to track Axel's predatory gaze switched from the young man's lost cap to a frail looking girl who stood shivering before him like an abused Chihuahua.

"I-it's really c-cold out a-and I c-couldn't help but noticing you s-standing here, I-is t-t-there something I could help you f-find?"

One intake of air through his nose was all it took to re-focus Axel to the task at hand. Smiling, he tucked the cap into one of his deep coat pockets and bent his much taller body down to match the smaller stature of the girl. Approaching a stranger on a late and snowy night was the last mistake she would ever make.

A gloved hand cupped the girl's frozen cheek, brushing away black strands of hair away from her ear.

"Actually, there is something you could do..." Axel's deep voice whispered softly.

His fangs were buried deep within the girl's neck before she even started screaming.

When her body was limp and Axel's belly half full, he withdrew his elongated fangs from the deep punctures at her throat. Head tilted back and resting against the wall of the alleyway he had dragged the young woman into; Axel licked his lips and smiled.

A plan was forming inside his ancient brain, a plan that required plenty of sustenance for the other worldly predator if he wanted it to succeed.

Hoisting his catch over his shoulder, Axel took one last glance down the street which his originally intended prey escaped.

Soon... He thought, I will make you mine.

With silent footsteps, a predator disappeared into the darkness.