This is the sequel to Stradivarius.

Please enjoy.

Prologue: Krys

Legs searing in pain he continued to run, feet pounding loudly on the pavement. Coming to an intersection he dared to throw a look over his shoulder. There was no one there. Swallowing hard he vainly looked up and down the street, but the city was devoid of life. He froze as something gripped his shoulder.

"Late night?" An amused female voice asked as he stumbled away. Turning he gaped at the dark skinned female, red eyes staring hungrily at him.

"You! You stay back!" he yelled, bringing up his fists as a smile split across her face.

"Honey, it's not me you should be worried about." She cocked her head to one side. "It's him."

He felt hot breath wash over the back of his neck. Tremors of fear wracking his body he took off with a scream. Behind him he heard a laugh but he ignored it, willing his body to move faster and faster. He recognized that girl, he had seen her at the club earlier. But, why was she here? Who was chasing him? He could feel warm blood dripping down his neck from the earlier assault he had only just escaped.

"Run faster." A deep voice whispered in his ear. Letting out a scream he lost his footing and went crashing to the ground. Scrambling he clawed at the ground, pulling himself forward inch by inch before strong hands grabbed the back of his shirt. Letting out a wail he was picked up from the ground and thrown. Body going limp he hit the ground, rolling over and over again. A groan escaped his lips as he was picked up again, this time by the lapels of his shirt. He forced his eyes open through the fear and pain.

Green eyes met his. Hard and determined as a mouth turned into a snarl and the fingers tightened on his chest.

He let out a cry as he was slammed hard against the wall of the building, his spiky haired head cracking painfully against the stonework. Vainly he kicked his legs against his attacker but the hooded assailant paid no mind to the strikes. Pulling a knife from his belt he quickly slit the man's throat. Blood wept freely from the wound and over his hand. Holding the dying man up his hand began to shake. Letting out a gasp he let the body slip to the ground. Stepping back he stared down at the already dead man as blood continued to drip from his hands and down to the dirty street.

"Nice catch Ethan." A soft voice praised as two females landed next to him. He paid them no mind as he fell against the wall, bloody hand coming to grip his hair. Throwing him a smile the speaker dropped to her knees to investigate the kill. "Very nice."

"Ugh Krys why do you have to do that, it's disgusting." Erika made a face as she watched the petite blonde begin to greedily suck at their victim's neck, blood dipping noisily onto the pavement below.

"I like it." She said, looking up with a bloody smirk. "And every little bit helps you know."

"But we're not Vampires" Erika growled, twirling a rivet of black hair around her finger. "Ethan, please back me up here."

The male pulled his hood up tighter over his head, face obscured as he gave a noncommittal shrug. "If she likes it let her be."

"Exactly, besides it will buy us more time if people believe Vampires are doing this and it's all the better that it's right underneath the college's nose." Krys smiled as she rose back to her feet and wiped the blood from her mouth before moving next to Ethan. "You did good."

Under his hood she could see his eyes close. Reaching up she pushed the hood off his face and took his face in her hands. Lifting a dainty finger she carefully wiped away a bead of blood that had begun to drip down his face. "Can you feel it now Ethan?"

He opened his eyes and she watched the green iris swirl momentarily before settling into a light shade of red. His voice came out almost a whisper. "Yes…"

Her eyes glowed in the darkness. They were all consuming. "What do you feel?"

He was silent for a moment before slowly letting of a shuddering breath. "Power. I feel it."

"And you want more, don't you?"

"Is this the only way?"

Krys let out a laugh, letting him go and aiming her own darker red eyes towards the skies. "Yes, it's the only way. Or you can go back. I will not stop you. I will never stop, either of you."

Ericka shook her head, turning her eyes on Ethan who let out a shaky sigh before nodding. "I'm staying."

She turned back towards the pair, an easy smile on her lips. "Then we're just getting started."