His expression immediately turned alarmed. "What? What are you talking about?"

"I don't know! I was sleeping and the next thing I now Barica was barking, acting all wild. I went to check out the door, but I saw no one. But when I ran into my room to pick up the phone, I saw him lurking behind the house." I said, my eyes round, filled with fear.

"Him?" All of a sudden, his grip became firmer and I felt him shaking me. “Korina please tell me everything you know. Who was it?"

"That is all I know. I didn't see the guy, just his tattoo. It was a black sword, with rosemary around it. But it was somehow gruesome," I stared into the distance trying to remember every detail about it.

"And you didn't call the police?" He said bewildered.

That was another story. "I know this sounds insane, but it was like seeing him made me sick again. I fainted afterwards, breaking my phone when it fell. I don't how to explain it Mark, it was so strange."

"I hope this is a sick joke Korina! Leaving the fact that there was a potential criminal behind your house, lets mention that you felt sick. Again. You know what? First, I am taking you to the hospital, then we’ll take care of that bastard." He said sternly. “We will immediately inform the police and tell them what happened.”

"But-" I wanted to protest, however I was cut off by his glare.

"Do you have a better plan? Or do you want to lie to all of us again?" He said, his voice rising in anger “And what would you do, if he comes back?”

“I am sorry, lying was not my intention! It’s just that guy... He wasn’t...You didn’t see him when he just...-”

“-Just what?” He jumped in. You’ll let me accompany you to the hospital. You owe this to your mother, your dad and to us. You can’t deny us this much can you?”

I dropped my hands in defeat, knowing his way of thinking was much more logical that mine. "No. You are right, let's go. Let me turn off the lights and lock up," I said as we moved towards the front door.

Darkness was covering the streets. Being so late in the night, almost everyone retired to the safety of their homes. There was a menacing silence, accompanied by chirping of the crickets. A few post lamps scattered here and there did little to calm the nervousness inside of me. Closed up market stalls stood just down the street, the fabric of their roofs softly swirling in the night summer air.

The only louder sound echoing through the night was me, clumsily fiddling with my keys. My posture stiffened even more, when I became painfully aware of the approaching footsteps. A handsome stranger went by slowly, politely smiling at us. His skin held a darker tone to it, perfectly matching with his raven-black, meticulously slicked-back hair. A short boxed beard, with neatly trimmed sides made his face slightly longer, but only added to his elegant look.

"Quite a chilly night, isn't it? Compared to yesterday..." His voice traced off, as he rubbed his hands together to warm them up.

"Yes, it is," Mark answered kindly but shortly, not wanting to encourage or prolong the conversation.

The stranger stopped, looking at us curiously. "You headed home?" He bared his perfectly white teeth in a wide smile. I felt uncomfortable while he stared at us with what I could best describe as a hunger in his eyes.

"Yes that’s correct, good night Sir." Mark nodded at him, putting his hand protectively around my shoulders.

"Your boy is so rude, beautiful." Stranger clicked his tongue, speaking to me "Why hurry so much? The night is still young, you two could show me the best spot to have fun." He leaned against the wall as he spoke. “I thought people here should be hospitable, or am I wrong?”

I kept my head down, focusing on his shoes and keeping my mouth wisely shut not to provoke him. He reached in one of the pockets of his waistcoat, pulling out a lighter. With one flick of his finger he lit the cigarette placed between his thin lips, blowing out the smoke through his nose. “Nah? All right I get it. You want the girl to yourself, ain’t that right?” He winked at Mark, releasing a deep chuckle.

Mark gritted his teeth, ignoring him he dragged me into an empty street, all the while he kept me close to his body. We hurried down the narrow road, hoping the man will leave us alone.

"Just walk," Mark said, his jaw painfully clenched. “Don’t look back.”

"Is he following us?" I asked, my stomach feeling queasy. I didn't need the answer as it was written all over his face. My heart beat like a drum, its forceful steady rhythm pounding through my head. I dared not to think if this was a coincidence or not. Without my friend I would be left walking the streets alone, and there was not a single chance I’d fend him off by myself.

Mark was walking so fast, I had to run to stay by his side. I suddenly collided with his back as he stopped short, taken aback by the unexpected pause in our swift pace. I jerked my head up to see what made him stop, gasping at the sight in front of us.

We were surrounded. The guy we met earlier was walking casually behind us, blocking our exit. Another one was waiting in the front, his hands crossed over his chest. Narrow streets with houses were built in a fashion, where there was no space between the buildings, they were attached to each other with no room to escape.

I heard Mark curse under his breath while his head jerked from front to back, all the while he tried to keep a safe distance between the intrudes and us.

"You were right, we need to call the police. Now,” I said, while terror stabbed my heart, making my legs wobbly with fear. “I need your phone, mine is broken!”

Mark fiddled with his pockets, trying to find his phone. "Crap! I must have left it in my car." He said, his voice laced with desperation.

"Now, that is much better," said the first guy that followed us. "There there, don't be frightened little kitten. We won't hurt you, will we Cedric?" he said to the other guy, laughing evilly.

"Talk for yourself Luca, I might have a little taste of her. It's not fair only master gets the best of them." Cedric said, stalking towards me.

My body went cold with dread, when I watched him lick his lips, shooting out his arms to grab me.

Mark reacted fast, shoving Cedric out of the way. "Don't you dare to touch her!" He roared.

"Or what? You pathetic little human!" He sneered at him, baring his vile, unnaturally sharp teeth.

Next to me Mark stumbled, his voice caught in his throat “What the... What are you freaks? Get away from us! Police will be here any minute!”

“Cedric...” The first man warned, appearing bored to death. “Let’s do our fucking job and get the hell out of here.”

“Come here sweetheart, and I promise you I won’t hurt your little boyfriend,” Luka said sweetly, indicating with his index finger for me to step closer.

“Mark no!” I screamed, when he suddenly charged toward Cedric, but the man moved with blurring speed, punching him right in the stomach. I watched in horror as my friend fell to the ground, releasing horrifying gurgling sounds as the air was knocked out of his lungs.

"They just don't learn, do they, Luca?" The man called Cedric stepped over Mark’s body as nothing happened, casting a look at his companion.

"Leave him the hell alone, or I will-" I threatened him, knowing well enough they were only empty threats. I didn't know how to fight or carried any weapon on me. There was no way I could outsmart or overpower two powerful men with some kind of unnatural abilities.

"You will what, sweetheart?" He said, his eyes widened into a mocking expression. "You will get what's coming to you, don't you worry your pretty little head!" He licked his lips, his eyes burning into me.

"You disgusting, vile-" I couldn't even finish as he grabbed my neck so violently, I saw red spots in my vision. And then I noticed it, the tattoo with a sword. Fear was twisting my insides, bile rising in my throat.

"Shut up or I will tear you apart, piece by piece, enjoying the sweet taste of your flesh! And believe me, I won't be as merciful as our master. I couldn't care less how special you are."

"We are not to hurt her Cedric. We are both dead if we do," Luca said from behind him, kicking protesting Mark, still lying on the cold asphalt.

My eyes blurred as tears spilled out of them. My heart painfully clenched seeing Mark curled on the ground, completely unmoving, with blood covering his face.

"I am not his slave!" Cedric spat on the ground, squeezing me harder. "If he wasn't such a coward, he would come for her himself, wouldn’t he?"

"Please-" I gurgled, gulping air when he released me at last. My throat was sore, making every single cough excruciatingly painful as I choked.

When I thought he finally let go of me, he hit me across the face, my head violently snapping back. I fell to my knees, holding my sore face with my hands, gasping with shock.

"Little bitch, you don't get to-" He roared, but he was stopped mid-sentence as he was brutally knocked against a wall. A dark shadow approached out of nowhere, hitting Cedric in the jaw with a sickening crunch, crushing his skull. I recognized the man's reddish hair as he quickly advanced towards Mark, feeling his neck for a pulse.

"Daniel!" He roared "Don't let him get away!" He spared only a second, looking over his shoulder at his companion then he ran toward me, kneeling beside me.

"Are you all right? Has he hurt you?" He said, gently lifting my chin. He gasped as he saw my bruised cheek. "Don't worry Korina you are safe now, I promise you."

"Mark." I said, straining to speak.

"He will be taken care of." Maximillian assured me.

As he lifted me in his arms, a glorious warm light enveloped me. I saw through my half-lidded eyes as Daniel advanced towards Luca. He moved with such grace and precision as he spun on his heel, kicking the other man in the chest. Luca staggered as the strength of the blow threw him out of balance. He started violently punching him, however, Daniel ducked out of his way every time, moving so effortlessly as this was merely a child's play for him.

"Don't mess around Daniel! We have to go! We are drawing too much attention." Maximillian called to him, nervously glancing around.

"Pity," Daniel growled. Drawing out his daggers, he beheaded the other man with a swift scissor-like motion, not giving him a single chance to fight back.

My eyes bulged out as Daniel's hand burst into flames, lighting on fire the dead bodies lying on the road. They ignited so easily like they were made of paper, leaving behind only piles of ashes. And even the ashes slowly disappeared out my sight as the wind carried it through the dark night, ember sparkling as it flew toward the sky.

My heart beat with forceful rhythm, my head almost exploding with the horror of the gruesome scene before me. They were dead, murdered. These people were ruthless monsters, every single one of them. I jerked in Maximilian's arms, straining to get away from him. "Mark-" I cried silently, trying hard to reach him.

"No!" A desperate scream tore out of my chest as Maximilian held me tighter.

"Please, Korina. Don't make this harder for us. I will make you understand, I promise," he said gently, his calm overtaking me.

"I am sorry, but I have to do this," he whispered softly.

Numbness washed over my body like a soundless lullaby, giving me the feeling, I was floating in the water. My mind was screaming to leave my body, to fly away into oblivion. And then the delicious waves of heat came, lulling me to sleep.

"Take care of the boy Daniel." Was all I heard after my mind went blank.