A lone figure crouched on the limb of a tree, watchfully keeping his gaze towards the dark street ahead of him. He had been waiting for some time and his patience was rewarded when a couple, their faces both flushed, giggled like idiots as they drunkenly stagger out of a nearby bar. The streets were empty and deathly quiet save for the vibrating of the music that could be heard from inside of the club. 

The figure remained perfectly balanced in the tree, comfortable in the cool crisp air and darkness. His dark eyes were sharp and alert, keenly absorbing everything from his surroundings, and yet his long lithe body was relaxed, one knee pulled up for his elbow to lightly rest upon. He took a long and comfortable drag of his cigarette and lazily blew the smoke out from his full mouth as he watched the couple pathetically attempt to hail for a taxi.

“I don’t think there’s any magic cars left for us. Let’s just fly home!” The girl suggested, unsuccessfully attempting to put her arm through the right sleeve of her bright red coat.

The figure lightly grazed his tongue across his canines, his quick eyes catching the exposed long pale neck of the woman. He mused silently to himself if he should have the girl first or get rid of the hapless boyfriend.

“I get seasick, honey. You know that.” he slurred out, shaking his head and raising his hand for a taxi.

The girl just giggled as she hugged him. “I love you sooooo much! You‘re so good to me.” she said, her cheeks flushed from too much alcohol.

The guy stopped trying to hail for a taxi and put his arm around her. “I love you too! You’re way good-er to me.” he answered, kissing her on the cheek.

She giggled and snuggled closer towards him.

The figure took one last drag from the cigarette before coolly flicking it away from him. He took the opportunity to slip silently down from the tree and crossed the street. He walked purposely towards them, his eyes set on the couple. He avoided the lamplights that dimly lit the street and only passed through the shadows to remain unseen, but it was unnecessary. The couple was too enrapt with each other to notice the danger that quickly approached them. 

Just when he had almost reached the two, his ears picked up the sound of other people a few paces away. He could tell by the sound of heavy steps and quick light ones, that there was a man walking purposely after a young woman who clearly didn’t want to be caught up with. He dismissed the sounds and focused on the couple just a few meters in front of him only to hear a man shout after the woman.

He slightly turned his head at that moment and glimpsed the woman step into the bar.

He narrowed his eyes as he watched her quickly enter the bar, with the man following promptly right after her. It was only a glimpse, but he had seen something in her face that caused a prickling sensation inside of him.

Both the sudden outburst of the man and Nathan’s own hesitation cost him the opportunity of surprise as the couple finally noticed his presence.

They pulled back, startled to find a figure standing no more than a few meters away from them.

He inwardly cursed as the couple openly gawked at him, their eyes wide with astonishment.

Kian stood easily at six feet tall, his body slight but unmistakably strong and athletic. He was handsome in a conventional sense, with his strong jaw line that complimented his high cheekbones and full lips. His eyes were very cold and secretive, the brown in the irises almost black like a void. His blond, almost silver hair was unruly and long, many strands falling into his eyes and yet it was obvious he neither cared nor bothered for the current fashion trends of the time.

They knew something about him was not quite right.

He was wearing only a thin dark shirt with matching dark jeans but the fact that he was without a jacket to combat against the harsh cold winter weather did not alarm them. It was the look in his eyes and the too pale pallor of his skin. His eyes were colder than anything they have ever seen.

Like it was touched with death.

It was enough to register in their alcohol-induced minds to alert them of the unnatural figure before them and they began to take a hesitant step backward.

A slight wrinkle formed on his smooth forehead, annoyed that even though the man had shouted loudly enough to wake the couple from their drunken reverie, it was his hesitation had caused him a night's feeding.

Pursing his lips, he turned away from and headed towards the club instead.

“When I find you, I will have you instead.” Kian murmured, moving so quickly among the shadows that people would have only mistaken him as nothing else but a passing blur.