Coffee dripped loudly in the next room, its rich aroma creeping through the crack under my door, the calming scent drifting to me. My sweating body rose slowly from the sheets as timid sun beams danced upon my belly. They seemed to flitter from behind the drapes as harsh sunlight fought to enter my small room.

Even though I was on the thirteenth floor, the early morning bustle of the city echoed through my small apartment. The blare of honking cars and faint titter of human chitchat intertwined with the rustling of my sheets as I slipped out of bed and padded to the bathroom.

I stretched, wide bat-like wings straining in ominous beauty. Slowly I molded them against my back as I slipped on my uniform. Glancing in the mirror I could see my lithe muscles rippling under pale flesh, like chorded steel under silk. I turned away in disgust. I could never forget who I am. What I am. Beauty is the favored guise of the deadly. Grabbing my things I quickly made for the door, forgetting the coffee.

Inhale, Exhale. Breathe in, Breath out. Each breathe harder than the last. The cool autumn breeze gently tossed the thin strands of my chestnut locks, swaying them back and forth, almost as if they were dancing tauntingly across the pane of my forehead. My hands were shaking so badly I could hardly raise the burning cigarette to my lips. Adrenaline had turned my fingers to ice but inside I knew I was aflame, burning to the core as lust rushed through my veins. The ash fell to the ground and I snubbed it out on a nearby tree. Everything seemed to be moving past me. I quickened my pace towards the school. I could hear nothing but my heartbeat; so palatable I thought my heart would burst.

Suddenly, I stumbled sending me crashing into the sidewalk. Only there was no shooting pain, no ripping of delicate fabric. Something warm and solid had broken my fall. I turned my head to see my classmate Kaito sprawled on the ground, his face drained of color, blood oozing from his neck. At that moment my stomach gave a sickening lurch and everything stood still as I watched it fall in disgusting piles by his neck, dripping in scarlet fullness. Suddenly my body burned in a sensation I knew all too well. This couldn’t wait any longer. This would have to do.

I took what I could as cherry blossoms surrounded us in a confusing blur and I was grateful, for the Sakura tree shielded my bare skin from the heat of the accusing, all-knowing sun. I knew, too. I knew it was wrong.

I’m sorry Kaito-kun.

People turned their heads to look back at the strange young student with ruffled hair and wrinkled clothing, running swiftly through the halls towards homeroom. I was so plagued by what I had done I almost took no notice of the questioning glances and soft whispers of my appearance. My instincts were getting harder to control and things would become much more complicated if I did not find a more permanent host soon. So engrossed in these thoughts my shoulder came into contact with another warm, solid figure, one of my classmates, inevitably late as I. A smile tugged softly at the corner of my mouth, exhaustion and unhappiness falling off my face like a masque. “Good Morning Hoshina-San.” I murmured into her hair, my voice slow and thick like honey.