The wheels of the carriages were clattering in the streets. The chariots, sometimes covered, sometimes open. In any case they would carry their passengers through English countryside fast and reliably. One of the chariots was no different than the others but hosted girlish laughter and talking behind its four velvet-dressed walls. The driver was sitting outside holding the bridles while driving the pair of brown horses while whistling some old English song he had learnt ever since he was a child. The melodic chatting was coming from the inside belonged to three young women. It was the young lady with her two maids. They were singing, playing or laughing together while the chariot was moving across the lane. One of them was dressed in fine clothes in a bluish-gray color, with spacious sleeves. Around her neck she wore a golden necklace with a cross, decorated with black amethysts and diamonds. On her head, the headwear she had also had a fine ending of gold. She sure looked like an aristocratic woman. She was too young. She didn't appear to be more than sixteen years old. Her maids were young too, perhaps a year or two older than her. The young aristocrat girl was holding her diary in her hands, a beautiful small book, dressed in fuchsia leather with inlaid details of silver and amethysts. It was opened in the day: Year of God 1330. Finally, the girl thought, he parents had allowed her to make this small journey away from their castle for a little while to have some fun with dance and music among other nobles.

The carriage came to halt at an open space where the young ladies were supposed to stop and have a nice pick-nick. They hopped out of the carriage laughing together. The servant was supposed to start getting their packages out. Soon the maids joined him at that. The young noble girl started walking around. There were more people gathered there, already eating their foods. Also some troubadours were playing their instruments in the middle of the meadow. The girl giggled and span around herself once, making her dress slithering around her ankles gracefully. She liked to dance and sing. That's why she had begged her father to allow her, just this once, to come here alone.

She smiled at the sight before her. So many people seemed to be having fun. A few couples had stood up and started dancing with the light music accompanying them. She partly wished someone would ask her to dance right now.

"Nice view, isn't it?" she heard a deep, baritone voice behind her

She turned around to see a man standing there. He was tall and well built and also too handsome. He had unique tri-colored spiky hair and two eyes red like fresh-drawn blood. He was dressed from top to bottom in leather and a red cape was on his shoulders. Subconsciously she felt her cheeks blushing by just looking at him. He was commonly leaning against a tree with a charming smirk on his lips. He almost looked unreal.

"Emm…yes…" she said in a small, dreamy voice

The man simply smiled, a soft and charming smile, and moved closer to her.

"You like hunting, my lady?" asked once more

"Yes…I mean…no, not hunting itself. I prefer coming in celebrations after it like this one." She then looked at him, who was dressed in leather, "You, sir? Do you like hunting"

"I find it…entertaining" the man answered

The young noble girl for a second, thought she detected a sense of sarcasm or bitterness in his voice but said no more on the matter because the man gave her again one of his charming smiles that made her heart flatter every time.

"Whom do I have the honor to be talking to?" the tall male asked.

"Oh!" the girl extended her hand with the back of it pointing up, "I am Lady Cecily Serenity of York"

"My lady…" the man kneeled to kiss her hand

The woman was awed. His face, his voice even his mannerisms seemed perfect to belong to a Lord but he had never seen him before. His English were almost neat too. She could detect some small hint of accent in his voice but only her, being a native-born Englishwoman, could see that and was only showing her that the man was not pureblood Englishman. In any case she felt the need to know who he was, when the man straightened himself once more and noticed a song that had started to play.

"Do you dance, my Lady?" he asked

Finally a question she could answer gladly.

"I love to dance" she said

The man offered her his hand gracefully.

"Then, will you do me the honor to accept to dance with me?"

Blushing like pink roses in broad daylight, Serenity accepted his hand and let him lead her to the center of the meadow where the couples were preparing themselves for the dance. They took their position to the straight line, holding hands and making the same pose as the others. When the couples were "set in place" the musicians started to play a light and joyful melody. As the couples were dancing in union, whirling around and around their partners, changing hands and positions as if they were performing some dance performance in which they were all part of the same chorography, the two young ones had their eyes stuck on each other's eyes all the time. The man was smiling and Serenity had a dreamy look on her face. Suddenly the smells of grass and baking food around seemed simply intoxicating, the countryside around seemed like Edem Garden from the Bible she read every night before her sleep.

"You're a wonderful dancer, my lady" the charming man praised her while dancing

"Th-Thank you, sir. You too."

In reality she wanted to tell him he was handsome like Sin itself, that he danced and moved around like a Lord, no, like a King and that she was making her shiver in a strange way she had never experienced before but she didn't say anything.

"Well…" it was he once more to start a new conversation; "One beautiful maiden such as yourself, and one from a noble family that is, shouldn't be traveling with escorts or guards? It might be dangerous"

"My father is Duke of York. Whatever happens to me would mean war so I doubt anyone would dare to touch me!" she giggled, "Anyway my escorts are indeed here. They are preparing the food"

"I see"

"Emm…sir…I do not want to be rude but could I return the question?"

"My pleasure"

"I haven't seen you around before, neither to my father's house celebrations."

"Indeed. I am not from around here. I lived in France for a couple of years, I crossed the sea and went to Scotland and recently I came to England."

"Oh" she said, she wanted to make another question but he beat her to it

"I am not from a noble family, my lady. It is just my…occupation earns me enough for my living but I still need to move around a lot"

"Oh. And your occupation is…?"

"Justice" he simply said with a promising smirk, "Delivering justice to practically unsolvable cases here and there…"

"Oh! So you are…a lawyer or something?"

"Something like that" he answered enigmatically

They did yet another turn during the dance.

"My lord…" she started, courteously, "I have told you my name, but what's yours?"

The man smirked. It was an expression she couldn't read. It was a smirk she couldn't interpret. The one moment she thought he would answer enigmatically again or not answer at all, but when they did another turn he leaned closer and whispered to her ear:

"Henry. Henry Tudor"

"Tudor? Like the old noble house?"

"It is a coincidence, my lady, I personally belong to no noble family"

Using a noble name and call it just a coincidence. Was it his real name or was he hiding something? By the moment she was ready to ask more, the music stopped and all the couples bowed to each other.

"This was really enjoyable, my lady" the man introduced himself as Henry said

Serenity found herself unable to speak again as he raised her hand to his lips to kiss it once more. When he straightened himself again he said

"I have to apologize, my lady, but I can't stay any longer. I have work to do. I will excuse myself in this point"

And he made a small bow and started walking away before Serenity had time to say something. She blinked after a moment of silence and called after him;

"Will I ever see you again?"

But the man was already away…

Some weeks passed and Serenity found herself in a great dance happening in her father's mansion close to London. The mansion was packed with people in their best evening gowns or suits, sipping wine or cognac from crystal goblets and talking lively to each other so the only thing that could be heard around was a constant rumble of words without making it clear what they were saying exactly. Somewhere in the middle of the salon there were the sounds of a harp, a lute and some more musical instruments. Serenity was dressed in a light dress in the color of olive oil, a color to match with her eyes. Around her neck she was wearing a necklace of diamonds with some big emeralds. She also had matching earrings hanging from each lobe of her ears. Her long till her waist hair this time was caught in the back of her nape with a hairnet; a net made of thin golden strings with emeralds.

She was walking, smiley, among the invited people, making small bows where she had to. Some couples have moved at the center of the room, dancing at the rhythm of the music. She covered her mouth with her palm momentarily so she would drown back a yawn of boredom. She always liked parties but only when she could find someone to dance with or something to do. Parties like this seemed completely boring to her, only a chance for her father to socialize or perhaps search for a future husband for her, someone of noble blood and good wealth. A small flick of black and red fabric at the corner of her eyesight made her walk among people, feeling her heart jolting in her chest. And she found herself face-to-face with the man she saw only once and yet didn't manage to forget the past weeks. She noticed that unlike all other men and women in that ballroom that were dressed in their best attires, the attractive man, who had introduced himself as Henry Tudor, was dressed in the same leather clothes he had the first day she met him. Under the candlelight of the room he seemed even more attractive and even taller than the day she had met him. He saw her too. He made a bow right away, deep and sincere, with his usual charming smile brightening his handsome features.

"Bonsoir Mademoiselle!" he said in a great French accent in the process

She giggled and gave him her hand to kiss, which he did.

"My lord…" she said in a low voice.

He straightened himself again to his full height and smiled.

"Lord? My lady, I already mentioned my humble bloodline"

"You're not convincing" she retorted airily, "I feel as if you have royal blood in your veins, not simply aristocratic. From a very distant ancestor, perhaps, but I feel as if you are"

His answer to her compliment was a low chuckle.

"Yes…" he said, "Perhaps"

He then offered her his hand.

"May I ask for this dance?"

She smiled and took his hand as they walked down the hall. They got in the center and started to dance.

"My father invited you too?" Serenity asked while they were spinning softly around

"Yes…" the man answered enigmatically with a smile, "Let's say he appreciates my job or the fact that it gives me good money. I might get more than enough with it, the only problem is I do not own a land or a title."

"Why not? Why don't you want to settle down and get some land?"

"Because of my job" he answered as if that explained everything, "I have to travel a lot because of it. I cannot keep a land or guard it the way I should when I travel so much. Also titles do not really interest me. I get enough respect with my financial records!"

He had said the last one with a chuckle that made her cheekbones blush the color of her soft lipstick.

"You keep saying 'because of your job', but you never really told me what job this is. Something like a lawyer, you said, but you never mentioned what you do for living"

This seemed to catch him off guard and he remained silent for a few seconds before finally deciding to answer.

"In reality I hunt down criminals and get the reward of them. They call me when they wish to find someone who ran away from a prison or when they want to catch someone and send him to prison, in Tower of London. I usually take the jobs they offer me and sometimes I have to hunt them down throughout England or even pass the narrow sea and get to France. Usually I have papers from King himself and they do not get in my way when I do investigations there"

Serenity opened her mouth to say something but shut it close again. She seemed quite impressed by what he was doing as well as by the fact he had permission from the King to do his job.

"Why didn't you tell me anything then? It is a remarkable job… Quite…unusual"

Small smile.

"It is because sometimes I have to do things, terrible things you might say in order to catch him. Sometimes I am ordered to kill them on the spot by my clients. I have killed many times and I know I'll do it again if I have to, and I didn't want to scare you, my Lady"

"Why would you scare me?"

"Because I am well aware that the Church doesn't forgive murder easily and I knew you wouldn't approve my methods. I didn't want to cause you problem or fear."

"I'm not scared of you" she declared bravely, "It is true I am faithful to His Holiness the Holy Father the Pope and the Church and I believe that killing a human being is wrong no matter what the conditions are. Yes, I do not approve that. However I am aware you do not get pleasure from it either. I believe in Christ's teachings. He taught us love and forgiveness. I am not scared of you"

"You really shouldn't have said that" he said smiling a charming but somehow dark smile, "You should be"

She didn't know what he meant. His look showed her nothing. She couldn't read through his expression. Was it wild triumph or indeed was regret and fear?

"Why?" she only asked

"I am dangerous in many ways" he replied simply

Indeed he sounded dangerous right now. He had said he killed humans and that he would do it again so easily as if she had said she ate a lemon pie for breakfast.

"Why? You can seek for forgiveness if you want to. Our Holy Mother Church has given us the chance to make up for all the crimes we have done"

"I'm not so sure for that, my dear"

His negative stance made her even more curious about this man.

"Haven't you ever Confessed?"

"No, my lady" he answered simply, "I have never felt the need to Confess or pray whatsoever. There is no point anyway, I believe"

"No. Don't say that. I know it is not pointless. I know it"

He smiled again.

"If you say so, my lady"

She noticed he had a red rose tied perfectly on one of the buttons of his leather vest. Before she had time to say another word he untied it and offered it to her. Her cheeks darkened, as she smelt the crimson flower and her nostrils were tickled by the cool smell of summer flowers.

"Please…" he whispered sensually touching the rose in her hand while dancing, "…Allow me…" he took the flower and softly tied it somewhere in the hairnet she wore. The pure-red flower was making perfect antithesis with the emeralds of the golden net and the green of her dress and her eyes.

They made yet another spin and the song ended with the applauding following. Serenity was half-out of breath but not by dancing, all the dances of her country were calm and collected after all, but from the beating heart in her chest.

"Ehm…" she cleared her throat, "Shall I…I mean…shall I offer you a glass of wine? It is rather warm tonight…"

In reality outside it was a bit cooler but she felt warmer than she should be. In any case Henry didn't seem to notice her half-lie (deliberate or not) and he smiled.

"Sure. Why not?"

Hand by hand they walked to the large table where you could see all types of food and drink. Serenity took a crystal goblet and gave it to him and then filled his glass with sweet, ruby wine. When she placed the jag back onto the table she smiled to him. He, in return, raised his goblet for a second, in a mute toast, before bringing the crystal glass to his lips and taking a good sip of it. The wine was well aged and cooled with ice and snow and it was just what he needed at the moment.

Serenity watched him while he was drinking. For some reason he looked charming no matter what he did. The man introduced himself as Henry drained his cup in no time and placed it on the table. He seemed tolerant to alcohol since he had drank it so fast and showed no sign of dizziness or instability. He smiled to her for billionth time that night.

"I'd like some fresh air" he said after a small pause, "Would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the balcony, my lady?"

She smiled. "Gladly" she said accepting his hand.

He led her to the veranda by the hand with her dress floating around her ankles or his cape floating after him. The night was calm. The sky was clear and decorated with millions of stars. The New Moon was also hanging above their heads like a small piece of silver. They remained there for a second and the crickets' constant singing and the intoxicating odors of the flowers were left to accompany them.

"Aren't you cold, my lady?" the man asked concernedly after a little while

She shook her head negatively. She didn't feel any cold. She liked it actually; she liked feeling the cool, night breeze on her flaming face. Suddenly she saw him tensing a little and then blinking intensely. Apparently some small bug or a grain of dirt might have gotten to his eye, causing him uneasiness.

"My lord?" she asked, "Everything alright?"

"Yes" he said blinking a few more times, "Something got to my eye"

"Let me see…" she said turning fully to him, he bent a little…

…And she kissed him. The kiss was so unexpected that even herself was surprised with herself. She had seen the man only once before and she barely knew his name, however that didn't stop her from placing her lips on his. He too for a second seemed surprised, or at least hesitating, thinking about something, but the next moment he was kissing her back, wrapping his arms around her waist. It was barely a courteous kiss. There was barely any movement or any exchange of saliva but when they pulled apart Serenity couldn't take her eyes off him.

"You have no idea what you're asking for…" he said in a low, husky whisper.

"I do…" she whispered back

She knew that females of high status sometimes became mistresses, legal lovers, to strong men if they desired it. It wasn't a sin always for a woman to become a mistress like that. The king himself could choose mistresses. However she was well aware that this happened only when the man was man of higher status or royal blood and never the other way round but right now Serenity didn't care. He seemed thoughtful for a second and then looked inside to the ballroom and back at her.

"Come with me then" he said dragging her by the hand.

In record time Serenity was moving up and down as she was sitting within the closed carriage. She was wearing a dark-colored cape with the hood on to hide her features. The curtains of the carriage were closed and the carriage was constantly jumping every time they passed over a stone or a small gap on the road. The man named Henry was next to her and he was silent. Serenity was silent too. She was feeling nervous as ever but at the same time she never felt happier in her entire life. The horses that were dragging the carriage were moving faster and faster as the driver was forcing them (so he could get the promised golden coin the man had promised him if he could take them to their destination before midnight). It was a spot Serenity had chosen. Once the two of them were in the carriage, he had told her to name a place and lead the way. So she did.

Very soon a large mansion came to view, an enormous dark shadow that had the starlit sky as background. Serenity had told him along the way the mansion was named "Cupid's Abbey" by her father and it was built around a hundred years ago but recently re-constructed better and bigger. It was a small, private mansion, more like an estate or a place where some men could rest after a large trip for hunting more than an actual house. The trip till it, didn't take much time indeed. When the carriage stopped, the man named Henry opened the door and jumped out of it and helping her come out right after stepping his foot on the wet soil. After paying the driver the golden coin he had promised and one extra so he bought the promise that the driver wouldn't speak a word to anyone of what he did tonight and also that he would come back to pick them up before sunrise. Serenity herself had already informed her most loyal maid to tell her father she had gone to bed early and had run to her father's office to take the key for this mansion.

When the carriage took its leave, the couple approached the large door. Serenity took out the large, bronze key and put it into an also big keyhole and turned it three times anti-clockwise. They opened the door and got in, right away closing it behind them. The mansion was dark and heavily decorated and the only candles that were here and there were half-melted and extinguished perhaps months now. The pale moonlight was the only source of light in the long hallway. They walked through it with their shoes clacking down the floor and echoing around the stonewalls.

"You do not come here often…?" he said. It was more a remark than a question

"No" she confirmed it, "This is my father's private mansion. He used it once or twice to host his friends when they were coming home from hunting or when he…" she blushed, "…When he had to bring here one of his mistresses…"

"So…it is his personal love-nest…" he remarked having his gaze always high at the ceiling and the decorations around the walls.

They climbed up a staircase and Serenity opened a door on the right. It led to a bedchamber with beautiful view to the front entrance below and a canopy bed with velvet curtains around. Serenity took her cape off and placed it on a chair at a nearby desk. She seemed nervous. The spiky-haired man came at her from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, planting a few kisses on her white neck. She shivered and tensed.

"Serenity…" he spoke her name for the first time without adding any titles.

She shivered again even if it wasn't cold. The moonlight was falling on his face making his ruby eyes look almost black like two pools of blood. Small grains of dust seemed to be dancing in front of the window like fairy dust.

"Are you sure you are ready for this?" he whispered in her ear

She breathed deeply leaning her head back against the crook of his shoulder and throat.

"Please…" she breathed out as if she was blowing her soul out of her body, "Please do it…!"

The man didn't care if it was pure madness or not. He softly turned her around so she was facing him and kissed her deeply. This time the kiss was slow but more passionate than before. His fingers started getting hold of the cordons that were holding her cleavage. He pulled them softly till they were undone. He slowly slipped the dress down her shoulders and down her arms, revealing her naked breasts. Serenity didn't have time to feel embarrassed cause he got hold of one of them while his mouth started sucking on the other. Her back arched and her head was swinging in circles as she was moaning and sighing.

Seconds later her head touched the soft pillow, her hairnet long gone and her hair was falling freely like a waterfall of brown silk all around her head. The large man above her kicked his boots off and climbed on the bed on top of her, unclasping the cape off his neck with his free hand in the process. Soon the buttons of his leather top followed and the leather pants soon after. The kisses continued. He kissed her lips, her neck and chest, he kissed her thighs and her arms and when he started pushing she wrapped her legs around him sighing and moaning. Their bodies tangled together in a mass of alabaster as the moon was showering their pale skin making it glow in the night. Her nails grabbed his back desperate to hold onto something and the sweet moment came, she moaned his name and the feeling died out, and he collapsed onto her, resting his head on the soft beginning of her chest, their bodies covered by a small layer of sweat. She was panting and she was feeling a sweet soreness all over her body. The man's calm breathing and steady heartbeat seemed to be hypnotizing her, drifting her to sleep…

A few weeks passed like this. Serenity would meet him from time to time and spend more time together. However she noticed he recently became more distant to her than usually. That night (the moon was almost full that night) after making love, they remained laying on the bed to catch their breath and then he left her side and went to the small desk. There were a couple of bottles with drinks there. Serenity noticed he was still covered in sweat and was not their lovemaking the thing that had caused it. The past days she could see him breathing heavily, practically rasping for breath and sweating like this and he always wore a painful expression to his face as if he was in great agony every passing moment. Her lover went to the desk and got hold of a brandy bottle. He poured a glass for himself and drained it in one sip. This seemed to be working with the pain.

"Are you alright?" she asked him worried

"Yeah…" he lied, "I'm fine."

She wasn't convinced but she lay back onto the bed and stretched her arms a little.

"You know…we can finally go to my father. You can ask him my hand and we can get married"

"Married?" he spat the word as if someone had hit him in the stomach without a warning

"Of course" she said, "I love you and I can't live without you. We can get married and I can have your children and you can be my father's heir!"

"Serenity…I'm not for you"

"Why do you say so?" she sat on the bed confused

"I am not of noble blood. I am not an aristocrat. Your father would never give his permission and blessings for such marriage"

"Who cares? You have fortune. You have money. Our marriage would please him"

"It is not only a matter of money, Serenity, and you know it!" he said a bit more loudly than he intended, "I might have good money but I own no land, no titles. Your father doesn't desire only the money but also wants to extend the popularity of his bloodline and in order to do that he must marry you to some lord who has land, titles and fame. He would never agree to a marriage like that"

"Do you think I care?" she insisted stubbornly, "I love you, you and not some lord out there. If he doesn't give his permission we can marry anyway. Then he will have no chance but accept it"

"Serenity, even if we actually get your father's permission I can't…I mean I travel all the time because of my job. I can't have a family right now, not to mention that I will put in danger whoever is close to me because of it…"

She frowned her delicate eyebrows and pouted her lips. All she could hear was excuses so the marriage would be proved impossible. He seemed desperate to avoid it. If he really wanted it wouldn't he do anything in order to marry her? True he was a wonderful lover, experienced and decisive and always knew how to please her but he had never whispered her to her ear that he loved her. He had never given her any promises for marriage or anything else. Perhaps he didn't want to marry her after all. But why wouldn't he? She felt there was something deeper behind his constant refusal to the matter, something she couldn't put her finger in it.

"But…"

He only smiled and walked to her giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Go back to sleep, dear" he said, "There is no need to torture your mind now…"

He kissed her and lay close to her once more, pulling her on his chest to lay her head on. She did so but seemed thoughtful. What was the thing he was hiding from her? What was the thing he wasn't telling her? He always hid something; he never said the whole truth. Was there anything behind his strange behavior or his mysterious job she didn't know? Did it have to do with the pains he had recently? Sleep close her eyes before she had time to think more about it…

That afternoon she was practically riding him. The pleasure she was giving him was making him forget the pain after all. He was groaning and his baritone voice was making a perfect duet with her loud, high-pitched sighing and moaning. He was pushing upwards to meet her moves and he was going faster and faster till she arched her back and he did the same and she fell next to him, panting exhausted and soaked in sweat.

"That was…amazing…" she panted

When she didn't get an answer she turned to look at him. He was still panting next to him.

"Henry…?" she supported herself on her elbow, "What's wrong?"

He looked worried about something. His gaze seemed practically stuck on the window. The sky was painted with the colors of orange and red as the sun was setting slowly. Soon there would be the moonrise. But the worse thing of all was more terrifying for him; it would be Bloody Moon tonight. He shouldn't be here this night. She wrote him and begged him to come to her. He wanted to refuse. He sent her a letter saying he couldn't. He even wrote lies in it, that he had to leave for a trip, that he had job to do but the next letter that came as an answer to his own was even more pleading. The end of the paper was stained with drops and he knew by the smell of it that they were tears. He had no choice but come to her but even when he was kissing her, when they were making love, his mind was always distracted by this fact; this night was dangerous for anyone who was close to him.

But how could he tell her that? How could he tell her that once every month he would turn into something horrifying? How could he tell her that every time the moon took the color of blood, his sanity escaped his control and he killed anything that moved? He sighed heavily not knowing what else to do. He could only pray he would leave before nightfall.

"Henry?" she asked softly again

"Sleep my dear…" he cooed to her brushing some hair behind her ear, "You worked hard tonight… You need rest…"

He thanked all gods he ever met in his life she didn't argue and close her eyes with a satisfied smile on her lips. Yes, he had met many gods. He had met many cultures. He had met many civilizations. He had been through many centuries… He was a monster and he knew it. He was traveling from place to place so he wouldn't connect his name with any place in the world. He didn't want anyone to identify him… He was a monster…he knew it…and some people knew it too…people who were hunting him no matter where he went. However this night not even them were safe from his madness and he knew it… He was praying they wouldn't come close…

When he made sure the young woman beside her was deeply asleep, he slipped out of bed and dressed quickly (not bothering wearing his cape). It was already dark outside and the pain was unbearable. It wouldn't be long and he knew it. Desperate like a drowning man who saw a piece of wood floating on the sea, he ran at the window and opened it. The cold air got in the room. He looked down. The small room was on the second floor of the mansion, twelve meters over the ground. However he didn't fear to the very least. He simply jumped off the window. He landed on his hands and feet like a cat, he straightened himself once more and started to run the muddy path. He had no choice but to get through the city and he knew it, but he wished he still had time before moonrise…

He was running in the narrow alleys of London but he found it necessary to stop and rest against a wall to start panting heavily. He was soaked in sweat (which was falling like a river from his face and neck). Every single bone and muscle on his body was aching and burning like fire… It was starting…! He didn't have much time! Also the sound wouldn't stop echoing in the alleys. He knew very well that sound…

Footsteps.

People were after him, running all the way after him since he laid a foot into the city of London. He was forced to make so many turns in the alleys of the city that he got further inside it instead of outside. The clouds were floating in the sky, dark gray like the smoke that came out of the mines… Suddenly a man dressed in silver clothes appeared at the entrance of the alley holding a lit torch.

"There he is!" he called

Immediately the tri-color haired man ran as fast as he could. He turned to the first alley to the right, he followed the cobbled street turning to the alley on the left, he ran over puddles of water and stopped once more, panting heavily. However someone got in front of him once more…and someone else…and someone else… Soon around ten people were pointing silver gun barrels at him (for sure loaded with golden bullets)

"Now you have nowhere else to run, demon!" one of them hissed at him.

He, on the other hand, pressed his back against the wall. He was circled. The worst part was however, the fact that he could almost feel it. His entire body was now shaking by the spasms and the tics. He was losing control of all his nerves and muscles. He was ready to transform… The clouds were hiding the moon, delaying the transformation but that wouldn't last…

"R-Run…!" he rasped out as he was shaking uncontrollably like a spastic child who had now a crisis, "R-Run…!"

The hunters only laughed though.

"You won't beg for your life demon! Not now after all the lives you have taken! We, the members of the Silver Order will terminate you."

The shaking had become worse and worse. A deep growl climbed up his throat and his teeth were clenched. When he raised his head he looked at them with slit-pupiled eyes that now were not just red…they were practically glowing in the night like lit coals.

"Fools!" he growled desperately, "Run! Run now…if you want your lives!"

The circle of men started coming closer.

"No!" he screamed desperately

A step closer… And then the clouds were passed aside by a small blow of the air revealing the full moon… It was silver but it had hints of red… Soon it would be completely red…

"No!"

The moon was now revealed completely.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

He growled and now his mouth was full of sharp sabers. Every muscle of his body seemed to be working on its own, having spasms on its own independently. Even the hunters took a step back. The man fell on his knees and he torn his leather top with one move revealing his chest but still even then the muscles were moving as if made of water. The creepy sound of the bones cracking as they changed shape and size was still heard even below the screaming and the growling he was making. He fell on his hands and knees and his back formed an arch. The bones of his spine became bigger and sharper till silver colored spikes torn the skin and passed through. From his backside another bulge was formed but soon a long tail that ended up in a sharp blade torn the leather pants, the skin below and emerged. But the torment was not through yet. He arched his back even further and the two bulges at his back grew bigger and bigger till a pair of dark bat-like wings emerged, tearing the meat and skin of his back, splashing blood and pieces of human skin everywhere.

The man screamed (or better half-screamed, half-growled/roared) and raised his body up, howling towards the sky. His hands were now growing claws, long and sharp like knives. Those claws he brought up to his face, tearing his own skin in agony and pain. The same claws sank into the flesh of his chest. With one move he torn his own chest-skin open and revealed the dark, hardened skin below. His elbows too now had thorns like metal spikes. The last trails of human skin had left him and now the demon was completely transformed and stood back to his two animal-like feet and growled loudly towards the moon that had started being painted crimson as if someone had stabbed it and the blood was overflowing slowly. The large wings were casting monstrously great shadows by the light of the torches on the wall…

Even the hunters hesitated before this savage power. The demon, stroke the humans before him with his burning eyes. He could only see one thing; food and threats. He couldn't think and the last traces of sanity were being washed by the crimson color that was overflowing in the moon. He rushed forward, sinking his teeth in the neck of a man. A strong swing of his tale, caused the blade at its edge cut a man's throat and chest, making blood, guts and flesh emerge out of the wound. He bit off a large chunk of flesh and swallowed as the hot blood was overflowing over his chin.

The sudden scream made him snap his head and saw a carriage…and Serenity was standing there with eyes tearful and horrified. The last parts of sanity inside him reminded him who that woman was. For a second his demonic eyes begged her to run. She didn't even look back as she entered the carriage and the horses ran as fast as they could away from the spot.

The moon was completely red… The monster howled loudly. Luckily for the lady that ran away, he had plenty of blood and flesh there, and he had to kill them anyway since they were a threat as well. That was the way the monster was thinking as the madness took over him because of the bloody moon. He threw another man to the street and with his claws hit the back of his head of another person making his brains and blood flow on the cobbled streets of London… And the devil roared loudly to the crimson, cold, deadly moon in the sky; A cry of wild and demonic triumph…

Tonight was a night for demons…

Finally I updated my story! Sorry it took me so long! Also sorry but this is another extra chapter for Yami's past and not actual part of the plot! Someone had asked me to add a detailed transformation of Yami becoming a demon. This is the most detailed I have made so far. If that person is still reading my story...I hope was satisfied!

First of all this chapter is dedicated to floraiji30 (DA). Remember I mentioned in a journal some days ago that this chapter would be dedicated to a very important person so here it is. I promised her to put a Yami x Serenity chapter (cause she loves the couple) so here it is. Their adventure took place on 14th century. The clothes they have in the begining of the chapters were inspired by this:

art/War-of-the-Roses-YuGiOh-Style-33431184

Serenity's clothes are the same as the ones she wears in this picture. Yami too. Also Yami's clothes were inspired by the video game Duelist of the Roses in which he wears those clothes. The timeline is not the same of course. Duelist of the Roses takes place around the end of 15th century while my fic takes place a century earlier.
Later on in the ball Serenity wears clothes that kind of look like this /0xobi8ihtoe . Not entirely like this but something similar.
I was also imagining an OST (Catherine Howard and Henry VIII) of the series The Tudors playing while Serenity and Yami are in the carriage heading for Cupid's Abbey and during their first night.

Yami got insane. He had learnt how to control his hunger for human flesh however when the moon becomes red (I remind) the demon becomes insane and kills with no exception everything that moves.

Please comment! Enjoy!