He gasped deeply, trying to fill his constricted lungs. His heart pounded within his ribcage as his feet slammed onto the bloodstained pavement of the building. He tried to silence the ringing in his ears. Sweat poured from his forehead and roiled down his face and neck. His pulse thundered at his temples. He wheezed, determined to stay alive.

Footsteps roared behind him, gradually making a crescendo, as they grew closer. The boy ran faster, his sides burning and his legs becoming weary. Wildly he searched for a place to hide. There was none. No hope of escape, no anticipation of survival. At the insignificant age of fifteen his name would be added to the increasing list of murders that transpired here.

His obsidian eyes longingly gazed at the exit, before her saw a colossal looking man blocking his only means of escape. He heard a malicious chuckle from behind. His blood froze in his veins. The next sound that was heard from the building was the slosh of his blood being slung across the already crimson stained concrete as a blade slashed through his torso.

Sirens screamed outside, but sadly no one was alive inside to hear them. A lone man watched the police take and empty body bag into the building and returned with it packed. A sinister smile charmed his lips for a moment. It disappeared as quickly as it had come, replaced by a firm scowl. Two teenage girls lingered outside the yellow tape both weeping for the lost soul. He was number eighteen, the eighteenth person to die in that building, He was not the first, nor would he be that last.

They would never suspect that the ones responsible for committing such an appalling crime was standing not one hundred feet away smiling at a job well done before vanishing into the shadows and walking up the drive towards the gated mansion. Not one person saw them. The one with his long black coat drenched in that boy's blood, a gleaming sword sheathed in blood as well, the colossal man fallowed, scarlet droplets dripping from his mouth. His tongue darted out to lick away the remains of their feast.

"Edward," the colossal man's voice murmured.

"What is it now Cain?" The blood soaked creature asked annoyance laced in his voice.

"Do you regret it?" Cain wondered.

"You already know the answer Cain, so why bother to ask the question?" Was Edward's grumbled reply?

"If you hate it so much then why do you do it?" Cain whispered crossly.

"To protect her," Edward glowered.

"Ah, and by her I assume you mean Miss Alulah?" Cain taunted as they entered the fenced in grounds and headed for the door.

"Cain," Edward growled.

"You know Alulah's going to be angry with you again." Cain pointed out. Edward turned and glared at Cain.

"She'll have to deal." Edward's voice rumbled, as he slung the blade to rest on his shoulder, bits of carnage flying off of it in every direction at the sudden movement. "It's not like this is the first time we've had to kill a human." Edward pointed out. Cain shrugged.

"Still, she's going to be absolutely livid when she finds out." Cain persisted. Edward sighed.

"I know," Edward groaned with the thought of what the girl Alulah would do to him this time. They snuck into the manor and left the shadows they'd taken to. Gentle footsteps made their hesitant way towards the two. Together they stood prepared for the worst.

"Excellent work boys," The elderly from the window complemented.

"Grandfather?" Cain gaped in astonishment. "What are you doing still awake? You need your rest."

"Cain," Grandfather warned.

"My apologies Grandfather." Cain mumbled in submission.

"The task has been completed." Edward piped in, drawling the attention from Cain to himself. Grandfather nodded in approval.

"Ed, Cain, is that you?" A timid voice yawned. Ed turned in surprise only to come face to face with his cousin Alulah.

"Ally," Ed gulped, for the first time that night some emotion.

"Hey Ally," Cain greeted the girl. Alulah was truly a magnificent fight to behold. She was tall, about five feet seven inches, and possessed a willowy figure. She had glistening black hair and glittering dark eyes. Her pale skin blazed in the right lighting, but the most important thing about the seventeen-year-old Alulah Onyx was that she was the heiress of the Onyx family after the death of both her parents 5 years ago.

"Nice to see you again Cain," she smiled vibrantly at him. Edward flared with envy; he yearned to be at the receiving end of one of those brilliant smiles. Alulah turned to look at Edward and gasped at the sight of him. The amount of blood that coated his brown hair and face was repulsive. She stepped back to assess the rest of him, which was also enveloped in the crimson liquid. Her eyes widened as she saw some of the blood drip down to blemish his porcelain skin.

She walked over to him and wiped some of the gore away. Edward jerked away from her sinfully warm touch. She looked at him questionably. He took one good look at her and some regretted it. Her long dark tresses cascaded down her back and draped over her shoulders.

Edward turned away from her and walked away. Alulah's eyes started to fill with tears as her cousin left her with Cain and their grandfather. Cain went to place a comforting hand on her shoulder but she retreated and jogged after Ed. Cain tried to hid a smile

"Edward!" Alulah called. He stopped and lingered in one place till she caught up. "Ed, what's wrong?" Alulah asked, Edward turned to her and sent her peculiarly.

"Ally, aren't you angry?" Ed asked anxious for her answer.

"Sort of, but I love you more," Alulah admitted before darting in to give him a kiss, this was reprieve from the crimes he had committed. A short vacation away from the shame he had for his sins. His vampiress Alulah.