The moon is full tonight, the streets are dark… only dimly illuminated by the street lamps, with a slight rippling reflection in the puddles as a light rain starts down. The streets are so barren, they almost smell of death, with the exception of a few homeless souls forced to wander the night. It’s just another night in New York City… But no one truly knows what presence lies in the dark. The unseen influences that must stay hidden forever in the shadows, but it has always been there since the beginning of time.

 

A door slowly opens and disappears from sight, only show two faintly glowing eyes, strangely hypnotic, but cold and very still. Suddenly the eyes walk out in the pale moon light to reveal the body of a man.

 

His skin was as white as snow, expect for his red irritated skin around his blood-shot eyes. His head was cleanly shaven, and he had a nicely trimmed goatee, his face stern and almost proud… as if a great task was about to take place.

 

He then began his nightly journey, walking along the sidewalks of New York, eyeing the few people he passed intensely, and generally driving them out of his path. His trench coat swayed from side to side from the unknown driving force behind his distinguished walk.

 

The journey was briefly sidetracked when he entered a familiar techno club. He moved silently among the late night dancers as the hard techno beat blared and flashing lights filled the room. He walked to the side, and sat down at a lonely table.

 

Never taking his eye off the room, he lit a cigarette and started to fill the area around him with a hazy smoke. His eyes traveled from person to person as he took in long, savory breaths… that had no real ill effect on him.

 

Suddenly he found what he was looking for, or who as this case seems to dictate… a fairly young male, slightly husky, as though he played football through high school or college. His face seemed chiseled into place from obviously weathered skin, but it was covered nicely by his well-trimmed beard, and short brown hair.

 

He stared at this particular man for quite some time, letting the rest of the world slip away, at least until the young man looked straight into his eyes, and almost immediately going over to join the stranger.

 

After exhaling a stream of smoke, the mysterious man said, “I’m Owen,” in a disturbing monotone voice.

 

The man smiled and said replied, “Hi, my name is Don… uh why am I here?”

 

Owen nodded and gently extinguished his cigerette. He stood up and said, “Come this way,” moving through the door behind the table.

 

Powerless to say no, Don followed him into the men’s restroom.

 

Owen snuck up behind Don, making him jump just a little. He brought his face incredibly close to Don’s shoulder and inhaled deeply, taking in the musky scent, following up the side of his head and sighing in near ecstasy.

 

Don felt Owen’s hands hold on tightly to his body, preventing any real movement on his part. Don asked timidly, “What are you doing to me?”

 

Owen simply replied, “Oh ye of little faith…” as he moved closer to Don’s body until every inch of his body touched every inch of Don’s. He slowly and gently moved Don’s head to the side and spread his mouth to reveal two large fangs. The look in his eyes grew more savage, his breath rumbled with a low animalistic growl, and he suddenly clamped down on Don’s shoulder.

 

Don jumped at first, but was completely helpless under the power of Owen’s dark kiss. His head nearly exploded with an influx of pure passion, the searing emotions, all-rushing through his system with every heart beat, as his very life essence was being drained away.

 

Owen moaned in ecstasy along with Don as the two shared a sacred bond, albeit a temporary one. Only taking what he needed to survive, Owen released his grip and wiped his mouth clean sighing fulfillment.

 

Don slumped, fainting in Owen’s arms. But he had much more to do that night, so Owen gently set Don down on a toilet seat to heal… Owen thought to himself, “He’ll be fine in an hour or so…”

 

He walked from the Bar to his true mission that night. With the same conviction as before, he walked down the streets of New York… for at the arranged time and place, Tony, underling to the Altec company would be there.

 

Owen checked his pocket watch, 12:58… two minutes to kill as he stood there, watching the simple beauty that is the moon. He had always been fascinated with the moon, even before it became his dark sun. Mostly the orbit though… the way it orbits the earth, allows only the one side to be seen… so no matter what part of the earth your on, your seeing the same moon… almost nothing can have that said about it.

 

Being that he was forever banished from the rays of sunlight, forever… he shut his eyes and soaked in what last few seconds he had of moonlight, before the other party arrived.

 

Altec was a discrete supplier of many “necessary” items… however many of the supplies as of late were much lesser quality and quantity, with an increase in price. Owen’s job tonight was to discuss the contract, and if necessary… break it.

 

Three guys walked to him. The leader was very well dressed under his trench coat and hat, the typical lawyer or salesman… complete with a fake smile that sickened Owen to no end.

 

His two compatriots were missing the smile, but made it up with bulk… their job was clear… making sure nothing happens that wouldn’t benefit Altec, or their boss.

 

Owen stood completely still and checked his watch, “Your late…”

 

The lead guy replied, “New York is a very dangerous place at this time of night… I didn’t want to take any “unnecessary chance” with my safety.”

 

Owen slightly scowled at this guys cowardice and said, “I can think of much more “dangerous” things then New York. Lets get to it…”

 

The leader pulled out a piece of paper from his coat jacket, slowly and deliberately… watching for any movement from Owen. He said, “We will have the usual shipment for you, at the usual cost… however, the times being what they are, we need to throw in a “protection tax” to ensure that we don’t let our goods and services fall to, another interested party.

 

Owen scowled and asked, “And if we don’t agree to pay this “protection tax”?”

 

The leader sighed and said, “Then I’m afraid we won’t be able to do business anymore…” which was followed by two clicking noises… the two bodyguards had pulled their gun, and not in the interests of self-defense. Owen just shook his head and said, “Now that wasn’t the smarted thing you could have done…”

 

The leader started to sweat a bit when he heard a grotesque growth noise… unlike anything he had ever heard before. Owen then casually raised his right hand up in front of him… that had now been transformed into a large bearish claw. He said, “The Individuum will not be treated in such a way…”

 

He then slashed a large chunk out of the leaders neck… leaving his head barely attached.

 

The two guards opened fire, but hit nothing but air, for Owen was there one second, and gone the next… they searched the area around them without moving, trying to see where he went… but before they knew what hit them, a large claw busted out of their chest. Owen yanked his hands out of the backs of the two very dead bodyguards… “Consider the contract broken…”

 

Owen relaxed his hands, and allowed them to morph back into human hands before removing the blood from his hands. He would have liked to ended that more positively, but in the world of darkness, things rarely go the way you plan them.