Finally, a re-write of my original one. Hopefully longer and better.

Edit: I made some revisions. Adjusted a typo, some little errors here and there, and adjusted a few commas. Thanks for the critique so far. I really, really appreciate it.

I

Nightfall

"As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness."

William

The Count's Knightwatch patrolled the looming dark corridors of his mansion. All in pairs; clad in iron armour, stalwart, vigilant, and aware.

Count Balmont received a message. A message written in near unreadable handwriting with odd blotches of ink stains. 'He is coming for you.' it said, 'He from The Black Dawn.' With that premise alone, he spent half of his wealth turning his mansion into an impenetrable fortress.

The Black Dawn. The guild of assassins. Highly trained, specialized individuals who lurk in the shadows. Balmont didn't know who, but someone leaked out that he was dealing with the Syndicate and put a price on his head. Either that, or the message was a hoax. But he knew he couldn't take any chances. The Black Dawn are not to be trifled with. No one knows their members, save for themselves. The only true fact about them, is that they have never failed. Balmont had increased security of his residence nearly ten-fold. Knights at every entrance, every door, every arch.

He resided in the comfort and security of his room. Confident that nothing could get to him. Sitting on his antique arm chair, he proceeded to pour a goblet of wine. He breathed a sigh of relief, and just before he was about to take a sip, he felt a sudden chill running down his spine. Something wasn't right. He eyed the candles that illuminated the room, the flames were dancing as if they were being blown by gusts of wind. With that, the shadows were dancing around his room as well. The count laid his goblet on the desk, and cautiously looked around the room.

There was nothing. It was just an open window. He sighed, and calmed down. Picking up his goblet of wine, he sipped the deep dark red wine down his throat. A bitter taste swiveled in his mouth, followed by a sweet finish.

Then there it was again, that cold embrace. This time Balmont turned around quickly, and as his goblet fell to the carpeted floor as his eyes met with two piercing emerald-green eyes staring at him. The figure was clad in a dark cloak and cowl. His face was covered with an ivory white mask. With a symbol of what looked liked a serrated eclipse on the forehead. The Black Dawn.

Instantly the count froze in place. He could not summon the will to speak, nor shout for help. The assassin remained silent as he walked towards a wooden chair and sat on it, cross legged. Beads of sweat were coming down Balmont's face. He forced himself to remain calm, faking to show no weakness.

"I see you were expecting me." spoke the assassin. His voice reminiscent of Death itself - soft, cold, dark, calm, and unforgiving.

Balmont steeled himself, and spoke in an intimidating, fearless tone, in an attempt to hide his fear. "How did you get in here? I expect you to leave immediately. You're not welcome in my presence."

"Who are you to speak such threatening words?" answered the assassin. "Know your place. Your life in on a very, very fragile thread."

"If you were here to kill me, you would've already done it." noted the count. "You want something that I have."

The assassin, shifted his eyes, he focused on Balmont more intently now. "Observant. As expected of the great Count Balmont. The traitor, smuggler, dealer. Known as the saviour of the city for donating vast amounts of gold to the local mayor to help the people. But..."the assassin trailed off. "You know the rest." the assassin finished.

"You know your target well." Balmont remarked. "But you still haven't answered my question. What do you want?"

The assassin shifted his legs, crossing the other way now.

"Information."

He reached for something in one of his pockets behind his cloak. The count flinched for a moment, expecting him to throw a dagger at his heart. Instead, he took out a piece of folded paper, with something in it. The assassin extended his arm with the parcel, motioning the count to take it.

Balmont hid his fear and jitters, and took the parcel. Slowly, he opened it. There was a picture. A picture of a young girl, around 8 years old, with sapphire-blue hair. The count stared at the picture.

"Y-You... Know this girl..?" stuttered the count.

"She went missing over a decade ago. Do you know anything about the incident?" questioned the assassin. His voice filled with intrigue.

"N-N-Not much... If I tell you all I know, will you let me go?" asked the count, voice shaky. His courage was waning.

"Yes." said the assassin flatly.

The count couldn't believe his ears. Was he serious? I may live to see tomorrow after all.

"She was taken when she was roaming the streets. A street rat. No one cared about her. I don't know who took her. I don't expect anyone to be interested in her. Not to mention a monster too. With two wings protruding out her back... Disgusting beast." gloated the count. Getting ahead of himself.

The assassin's emerald-green eyes pierced the count. The assassin stood up. The count nearly panicked. He was about to shout when the assassin spoke.

"That will be all. I shall take my leave."

The count didn't shout for help. He sat there confused. He didn't speak a word as the assassin strode silently to the window. Just then, Balmont's vision started to blur. His insides were burning. A sudden wave of nausea hit him, then a migraine. He fell to the floor, one hand clutching his stomach, the other his head. Then it hit him. The wine. It was the wine.

The assassin turned around and shifted his mask to the side, revealing half his face, one of his emerald-green eyes, silver hair, and a wicked grin.

Balmont's face instantly turn pale as the assassin's face registered in his head."Y-You... It was you... You... said... Let me go..."

I lied.

Those were the last two words Balmont heard as he fell into Death's embrace.