The second was the monster.

He skidded to a halt, dirt and leaves kicked up beneath him. Shock slammed into him as he gazed into the familiar red eyes of his prey, but it was quickly buried beneath the fury that surged rapidly forth. Stiffening slowly, his hands fisted at his sides as he met those eyes across the clearing from him. This was a fight that he was more than prepared for, and one that was well over a hundred years in the making. “Let her go!” he snarled.

Julian had lifted his head from Marcy’s neck when Devon emerged, but he had not released her. Julian broke into a small smile, a dark eyebrow quirked with amusement. “Well, if it isn’t the prodigal sire,” he purred. “I was hoping we would finally run into each other again.”

Devon took a step closer to him, tension thrummed through him as he braced himself for the fight. “I didn’t create you Julian,” he growled.

Julian’s blood smeared mouth twisted into a sneer. “You may not have created me, but you did help to mold me into the best vampire that I could possibly be. You taught me the thrill of the hunt, the pleasure of the kill.”

Devon’s teeth ground together as he glared fiercely at the man across from him. Julian had once been his best friend, and greatest companion. He was a monster that still wreaked havoc upon unsuspecting innocents with the same joy and pleasure that Devon had once taken in it. Though they had been nearly inseparable for over three hundred years, Julian had become one of his greatest enemies. “What are you doing here Julian?” Devon spat.

Julian leisurely licked the blood from his lips, savoring the taste of it. Devon’s eyes latched onto the blood, for a moment he could clearly recall how wonderful and fulfilling human blood was. How powerful and thrilling it was. How much he wanted it! It had been so long since he had tasted human blood, and he struggled daily to keep his murderous urges under wraps. But faced with it so temptingly close, he could feel his restraint starting to unravel.

He struggled to maintain control, the blood was a distraction that would get him killed; Julian was fierce, powerful, and deadly. Devon would be a fine trophy, and a lot of power to add to Julian’s collection of victims. Not to mention the fact that most of the vampire race considered Devon a traitor to their kind, and would far prefer him dead.

Julian’s eyes slowly turned back to the ice blue color that Devon was painfully familiar with. Around the black pupils of his eyes was a strange band of lighter, vivid, almost white blue color. “Same thing as you I assume, I was drawn by the power. Except, unlike you, I will make use of that power, take advantage of it; savor it.”

Devon scowled fiercely at him, taking another step closer as they slowly began to circle one another. Marcy was still held loosely in Julian’s arms as he negligently dragged her body along with him. Devon could just barely make out the faint beat of Marcy’s fluttering heart. She did not have much time left. “There is no power here.”

Julian’s face twisted into a leering grin, his sharp canines gleamed in the dim light of the moon. “Oh you silly silly fool. Have you been that blinded?”

Devon was growing more aggravated by the second. He did not like being toyed with, especially not by Julian. He was the one that had taught Julian, the one that had molded him; he was not going to be played with by him. “Don’t mess with me Julian,” he growled.

Julian quirked a black eyebrow, his mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I would never,” he replied, his voice light and lilting as they continued to circle. “I am simply pointing out what you have missed.”

“And what would that be?”

Julian’s eyes gleamed, flashing momentarily red. “The delectable treats in this town. Three little treats to be exact, just so plump and ripe for the taking. Especially the blond, that sweet, delicious blond that you have been cozying up to at night. She is so young, so innocent and pure, so full of powerful blood just begging to be savored. I give you credit, to be that close to such a wonderful temptation, and not taste it, not take it. I could never be so restrained.”

Fury tore through Devon, shaking him to the core of his being. For a brief moment a red haze clouded his vision, his protective urges drowned out the rest of Julian’s words. He didn’t understand what the hell Julian was talking about, but he didn’t want him anywhere near Cassie, or even remotely thinking about her.

“You stay away from her, or I’ll rip your damn throat out!” he snarled, his fangs elongating at the mere thought of Julian getting close to her.

Julian grinned back at him; his white blond hair fell into one of his ice cold eyes. “Temper temper,” he taunted lightly. “We’ve shared before, we can share again.”

“I’d kill you first!”

Anger blazed from Julian, his lip curled in a contemptuous sneer. His ice eyes raked Devon with a hate filled glare. “You truly have changed Devon; you’re such a disappointment, turning against your nature, your own kind!”

Devon met his gaze, trying hard to keep the fury boiling through him under control. He couldn’t let Julian bait him into losing his temper. Julian was too deadly for that. “You will die before you ever touch her.”

“And if she kills you first?” Devon blinked in surprise, unsure what Julian meant by that statement. “You truly do not get it, you stupid fool! She has you completely blinded. Could it be that Devon, the master of death, destruction, and torture has been blinded by love?”

“I have not been any of those things in a very long time Julian!” Devon hissed. “You need to leave this town, you are not welcome here.”

Julian laughed coldly and shook back his tussled hair. “I am not leaving until I get a taste of that treat Devon. It will be delicious,” he purred. “Maybe I’ll even keep her for myself, she is a beauty.”

Rage tore through Devon, shredding the thin control he had managed to keep. The very thought of anyone touching Cassie, of turning her, of taking her for themselves was enough to bring the bloodlust surging forth. With a roar of fury, the beast burst free of him, clamoring for death and destruction.

He sprang forth as Julian tossed Marcy aside, his eyes lighting with red fire as he braced for Devon’s attack. They collided brutally, slamming into each other with the force of two Mac trucks. The sound of their attack rumbled through the forest, their snarls echoed through the air. Devon swung hard into him, slamming his fist into the underside of Julian’s jaw, and snapping his head forcefully back. Julian spit and hissed; his face twisted in pure fury as he swung out wildly, his claws raking deep across Devon’s chest. He didn’t feel the pain as Julian flayed his shirt and skin open, spilling his blood. Seizing hold of Julian’s shoulders, Devon picked him easily off the ground. Spinning around, he used his full strength to heave him into the air.

Julian flew backward, his face mutated and furious as he sailed across the clearing. Slamming into the top of an ancient oak, the force of his impact shattered the top of it. Julian fell over the back of the tree, momentarily disappearing into the darkness of the woods. Satisfaction spurted through Devon as he braced himself, waiting for Julian to renew his attack.

His satisfaction was quickly doused with horror, and shock, as his eyes landed upon Cassie. She was standing at the edge of the clearing, her hands fisted at her sides, her shoulders thrust proudly back. Her hair cascaded around her, a golden ray of light against the dark night. She looked beautiful and furious as her startling eyes smoldered with barely contained rage.

He blinked in surprise, unable to fully believe that she was here. Confusion tore through him as he met her fierce gaze. What was she doing here? And why she was standing there glaring at him instead of running away screaming in terror?

He knew what he looked like now, knew that he was ugly and twisted into something she would barely recognize. At the sight of the monster inside him she should have been fleeing in horror, running for her life. Bolting like any sane person would do. Instead, a small tremor was wracking through her; however it was not a tremor of fear, but one of pure anger.

His gaze darted to her fisted hands, widening as he took note of the stake clenched tight in her right hand. He stood for a moment, trying to deny what was before him, trying not to recognize the truth that was slapping him in the face. But it was impossible. Understanding and shock tore through him, rocking him with the awful realization of what Julian had meant about her, and what had drawn Julian here. What had more than likely drawn him here, though he had been to blinded by his feelings for her to realize the truth.

Now everything made sense. Now he knew why he had so many questions about her, and her friends. Why they had seemed so odd and different to him. He knew exactly who and what she was now.

His enemy.

***

Cassie ducked, covering her head as shards of bark and branches rained down upon her. It seemed like forever, but was probably only moments before the debris stopped falling about her. She uncurled slowly, rising swiftly to her full height. Pain and hurt twisted through her, anger blazed hotly forth as her gaze found Devon across the clearing. His teeth were extended, so long and sharp that they cut into his full bottom lip. The same lip that had kissed her so gently and reverently now had blood seeping from it. The magnificent face she had come to love so dearly was now twisted into that of a monster, and a murderer. Twisted into the face of the one thing she hated most, and had been born to destroy.

Though she had already expected this betrayal, had already known what she would find here, to see it so closely was a knife to the chest that pierced her heart, tearing it wide, and bleeding her dry. The red in his eyes vanished, shock filled them as they widened upon her, the beautiful green of them blazing to fierce life once more. She saw the confusion in his gaze, but also the realization, the dawning knowledge of what she had come here to do.

“Cassie.”

He breathed her name; the wonder in it briefly disarmed her. He sounded so surprised; he looked so surprised. But if he had known who she was all along, and had been toying with them, then shouldn’t he be expecting her to show up to stop him eventually? Wouldn’t he already know exactly what she was, and why she was here? But he seemed completely baffled and astounded to see her in the clearing with him right now. Confusion filled her, for a moment she was disarmed by the wonder in his eyes.

Then her gaze flickered to the body just feet away from him. Marcy lay curled on her side, her coffee hair gleaming in the moonlight. Fury tore through her again as her eyes flew wildly back to his. “You bastard!” she spat. “You murdering bastard!”

She took a step toward him, determined to ignore the guilt and agony slithering through her like a poisonous snake. It was a snake that would only make her slower, only hinder her movements if she acknowledged it for too long. His gaze darted briefly, uncaringly, to Marcy. The negligent look only served to infuriate her more.

“I can explain this. Look out!” he shouted at her.

The terror in his voice rattled and unsettled her; she didn’t understand why it was there. She caught a brief glimpse of Devon lurching forward as she swung toward where he was looking. Her eyes widened in surprise and horror as someone, no something, moved swiftly from behind the ruined tree. She had been so hurt and infuriated with Devon, that she had not taken the time to think about what had caused the shattering of the giant oak. It was now coming at her like a bat out of hell. She had only a brief glimpse of ice cold eyes and white blond hair before it was upon her.

“Delectable.”

The word was hissed softly at her, the pleasure and malevolence behind it caused nausea to twist in her stomach. She was enveloped by evil. The same evil she had felt before at the beach, and then again at B’s and S’s, and the cemetery. The same evil that had been stalking them, toying with them, and hunting their community. With an awful, crushing sensation descending upon her, she realized only too late that she had been completely wrong. Devon may be a vampire, but this was the real monster.

This was the creature that wanted nothing more than to destroy her and her loved ones.

Instinct surged forth, all of her training blazed to life as his face twisted into a vicious snarl. His teeth tore into his bottom lip as they sharpened to deadly, eager points. He would kill her, if he got his hands on her, he would kill her. She was no match for this thing. Not by herself, and not being caught off guard.

She turned at the last second, ducking as he lashed out at her, trying to grasp her. A sharp cry escaped as his fingers snagged hold of her hair, tangling tight as he pulled her backward. Cassie flung herself at him, swinging her head forcefully back. A spurt of satisfaction surged through her as she heard the rewarding crunch of his nose beneath the force of her skull.

Stars blazed momentarily before her eyes, the sharp pain in her head blurred her vision, but his grip loosened. Throwing herself forward, she tore free of his grasp, not caring that she lost a handful of hair in the process. Relief filled her as she fell away from him, tumbling toward the ground in what felt like slow motion. She had a brief glimpse of Devon, charging across the clearing, the look of fury on his face caused her blood to run cold. She could see every detail of the ground; tell almost every color of the leaves beneath her. Her heart pounded, adrenaline pumped through her in mighty, heaving bursts.