Darren lay on his bed weeping blood tears as Daniel watched the television.

"It's all my fault...I let him have her..."

"Boy, this is just deathly interesting..."

Dan turned off the screen and stood, glancing out the window.

"You can't let him get to you...That's what he wants from you. Make yourself a target, and you'll never see her again."

"Then he hasn't done it yet?"

"No, he wants you to see her first. After that, I don't know. It's up to her I suppose."

Darren rolled over, turning his back on Daniel.

"You should have left me the way I was...Love is worth more than an eternity to me. I wanted to live, grow old, have a couple of kids...Ya know, the whole human ideal? But oh no, you couldn't lave me be happy..."

Daniel leaned his head against the cool glass, watching the lovers on the street below.

"Remember when we came here to shoot TMD? We spent all day in that little café down there, just playing the music...What happened to those days Darren?"

Darren gritted his teeth.

"You walked out on me, that's what happened. You didn't want the band anymore, and you walked out. Your ignorance is what happened! Besides, why do we need a band when we can spend the rest of eternity as gits running from an unbeatable force?"

He rolled off the bed and brushed off his clothes.

"I'm going for a walk...Don't bother expecting me back anytime soon."

He slammed the door as he left, splintering the wood around the knob. The streets seemed to glow in the fleeting light, but he didn't notice as he stormed along, taking the same route he had in the video. He would have loved it more if Mell had been there with him, normal and ordinary, but he couldn't go back.

It was well after dark when he felt someone following close behind, but he could see no one there.

"You came with the traitor...Are you to bring the Dark One against us again?"

Darren spun around, but it wasn't a verbal jab.

"Who are you?!"

Darren yelled fiercely into the dark.

"I am Beyondello..."

He felt the hand on his shoulder, and he twisted around, baring his teeth in anger.

"He made you didn't he? The day-walker I mean...Is he with the Wolf?"

Beyondello sounded nervous as he said this, starring deep into Darren's eyes. He didn't understand.

"Who? Dagmantis?"

"The British man brought him here, blamed us of crimes we didn't commit, and the Wolf's shadow fell over our coven, even worse than Louis' coming later on. This Wolf, he came a man at first, then claimed almost a hundred souls in one night, all because Jones blamed Armand for the attack..."

Darren shuddered as he heard the story. He had read a poem by JD Frost that he thought was brilliant fiction, he never imagined that it could be true.

"No, he didn't bring the wolf, but he will come on his own in two days."

What color there was left in Beyondello's face drained suddenly.

"We must go to Armand, now, and warn him. He has waited hundreds of years for this moment. Come, I will take you to him."

They kept to the shadows, streaking along until they came to a quiet penthouse on the edge of town. As he entered, Darren realized that Armand wasn't alone, and indeed, he didn't recognize the man sitting by the fire. He was easily as old as Darren, possibly older, and his glance was one of departure and longing. He didn't enjoy being one either. Armand suddenly appeared from a side door, his copper hair pulled back from his boyish face.

"Mr. Hayes, we finally meet... I've been a huge fan...'Carry On Dancing...' You've always had the faith in us."

Darren glanced back at the figure who was now looking deep into the fire.

"What's wrong with him?"

Armand sighed and waved Beyondello from the room.

"That is Daniel Malloy, the boy from Interview. He begged for the power, and now he pulls away from everything. The only thing that keeps him sane is his art...But I'm more worried about a different Daniel."

He searched Darren's eyes for anything that he could grasp onto, but there was only ice.

"He runs from Dagmantis, and he is to return here in two days time. I understand the feelings you have towards them both, but your animosity is unfounded now."

Malloy turned from the flames.

"Evolution grips him and death glories him. Your maker brought him against this coven once, does he wish it again?"

Darren met his questioning gaze, stalling for an answer.

"Dagmantis knows now the truth and he intends to hunt Jonesy and I to the ends of the Earth. He wishes to end our lives even at the price of his own. He looks for no one else, less they try to stop him."

Armand sat in a chair and beckoned Darren to do the same.

"The hate may not be founded, but the fear is. Unlike us, Kacrona evolves with time, becomes more fierce, more diligent with every passing. He massacred us hundreds of years ago, I hate to think of what he could do now."

Darren hadn't known most of this, Daniel had kept quiet about it. It began to dawn on him that perhaps there was more to Dag then what Dan was letting onto.

"Armand, do you know any of his back story?"

"Not much, although we know that the Vampires and Pyraids left him alive while they killed the last of his kind. Life is very lucrative to him..."

Malloy walked to the door, stopping for a moment.

"I'll tell you this Darren. Watch for the claws and fangs and soul. They are more powerful than any mortal weapon."

He walked away into the darkness, almost silently fading away.

"Please forgive him Mr. Hayes. He isn't too good with company. However, where are the rest of your band? Wouldn't they have stayed with you?"

"No, they stay in Brisbane because Dag set them free. I don't know what will happen to them now that we aren't there and Dag is running wild...He already captured the woman I loved in life."

Armand's eyes fell to the floor as he sighed deeply.

"I ask you to bring Jones to see me...I want to know the story..."

**

Karl came back at about the same time Ben did, right before dawn. Lee had waited patiently for them to return.

"So, what happened?"

Karl glanced at Ben.

"Well, I just hung around town. I didn't figure that Dag would come on attack..."

Ben sighed deeply.

"He's got Mellina...I listened to his entire life story...Some good bits in there, but for the most part he's been treated with nothing but hate since he was born. And man does he have his mind set on Daniel. Everything is connected..."

Lee slipped open the basement door.

"So why Mell?"

"He's looking for a companion, maybe even love...He has his reasons."

They all retired to the underground for the daylight, letting troubled visions take them away.

**

Daniel stood almost a full foot above Armand's teenaged frame. Darren now sat by the fire, inhaling the warmth and embracing the soft light. Armand had stressed that time was fleeting, but he wanted to hear the story. Dan agreed and told him a brief version of all he knew, which seemed to satisfy Armand more than meeting Darren.

"Mr. Jones, I hope you don't find it rude, but I wish to leave as soon as I can. There is a rift between Kacrona and I, and I wish it not to grow deeper. He is a powerful being, and I hope my Paris still stands when I return..."

"I don't blame you for your judgment, but where will you go?"

"The Night Island, off the coast of Miami. I plan to stay completely out of his way."

Darren wandered over, running his hands over things as he went.

"And what makes you think that he can't get you there? He lives with us, he's one of us...He knows where you are, what you're doing, what you're thinking. There's no way to run, and certainly no where to hide..."

**

Dag slept lightly on the couch while Mellina lay on the bed. She couldn't help but notice how much different he seemed. He looked peaceful, almost innocent when his steal eyes weren't gnawing at your soul. He stirred in his sleep, opening his eyes and glancing around. Mell closed her eyes, pretending to sleep as he got up and poured himself a glass of whiskey. He swallowed a drink, then walked over to the bed.

"Wake up Ms. Mallyon...Time for you to go to work..."

"What? You're letting me go?"

"No, you are going to work so no one suspects anything. You will be on a flight with me to Paris bright and early tomorrow morning."

"You beast...What makes you think that I'd go anywhere with you?"

"It's not your choice anymore. It's my decision, and you are coming. You have a day to think about it and reconsider your attitude. I've got plans for you tonight..."

He grinned widely as he walked out to the balcony. A second later he was gone from view, bounding across the rooftops.

The station was dreadfully mute when she arrived, a new file of pictures and case studies sat on her desk with a post-it note attached.

'Sorry for being such a dick the other night...Hope this helps, I'll be in later...Steve Ericson.'

She hated his signature, almost a sloppy child's fist attempt at writing their name. But that was what he was, wasn't it? Just a hotshot kid who didn't know anything...She opened the folder, but these weren't sheets on the bodies they had just found, these were from years ago. Starting from 1989, the amount of bodies found had increased year after year. Now she knew the reason. '89 was when Daniel permanently started living and feeding in Brisbane. The increases would be when Ben, Lee and Karl moved in. This was no new case, it was almost 13 years old.

"So Mallyon, those helping at all?"

Ericson stood in the open doorway of her office. He looked slightly shaken.

"Yeah...Some interesting dates here...Funny how well they go so well with some Savage Garden stuff..."

"Well, that can't possibly be as strange as what I just saw outside...There was a black wolf, not just some dog, but a wolf sitting on the front steps. He almost attacked me, but you should have seen him...He had silver markings..."

"Oh my God...It was Dagmantis..."

**

Dag followed her to work, staying out of sight, but not really keeping his distance. He watched as others walked in behind her. It was then that he heard him, Ericson, walking up the street. He quickly changed into his wolf form, sitting stiffly on the front steps for the station as Ericson arrived, whistling a song out of tune. Dag snarled as he came closer, his thoughts of dominating Mellina on her own office desk shattered as the light hit rows of jagged teeth. He tried to take a step, but Dag quickly stood, snapping his jaws and growling.

"Good dog...Now you let me by..."

He reached his hand down, but pulled away suddenly as Dag's fangs came within centimeters of taking off his hand. He took a step back, then walked slowly to the door.

"Damn animals..."

He faded out of sight behind the door as Dag leaped over a bush into an alley, changing back.

"Go snog yourself Ericson...Damn humans..."

**

Mellina heard mumbling from outside in the alley, but she could already feel who it was.

"Who?"

Ericson's face wore a now confused expression.

"Oh, no one...I just remembered someone I have a meeting with later."

"Right...Well then...Any leads?"

"Maybe, but I need a favor...I'm leaving town in the morning, but I need you to find a file on Clarice Songer, around '92 or '93, anything you can find anywhere, I don't care. And do a file search for anybody from '89 on that suffered heart failure at a young age, mid to late twenties."

"What little bird whispered in your ear?"

"I talked to an expert last night. Says the guy, whoever his is, isn't new at this...He's been at it for years...See, brutality all through 13 years, but we found four of those women supposedly dead from heart failure..."

Ericson nodded.

"Alright, I'll see what I can find..."

"Good. I'll be here early to get them before I leave..."

He began to walk away, but stopped and turned back.

"Where was this expert from?"

"Russia...He's from Russia...Studied spy behavior during World War II. He's really good at his job..."

**

Dag spent the afternoon shopping for clothing more his style. As he stood in front of the mirrors, he noticed that the past few days had left his appearance shaggy, his beard over-grown and rough. He resolved to do something about it a little later, as tonight he would really need to convince her to see his way. He would make her a wonderful dinner, then put his power to the test, putting suggestions in her mind that were not her own...It would push his mind to the limit, but the rewards of his planning would be great...He would be alone no longer.

He returned to his flat, taking a quick shower, then set to shaving. He cut away until there was just the streak of silver trailing his jaw line from his sideburns to his sharply trimmed goatee. Slipping into a new pair of slacks and midnight blue shirt, he move into the kitchen to fix the meal. He figured on a light supper, just enough to stimulate, not overpower.

"The night of love and life. God forgive me for what I plan for this evening, but I want it more than life..."

**

Darren stood on the empty stage of the theater as Daniel dozed lightly in a seat on the back row. After shuffling his feet around, Darren broke into song.

"The moonlight plays upon your skin, a kiss that lingers takes me in. I fall asleep inside of you, there are no words only truth. Breathe in breathe out there is no sound, we move together up and down. We levitate, our bodies soar, our feet don't even touch the floor..."

"Shut up already! I'm sick of your love songs."

Darren grinned evilly.

"Well, is someone jealous? Sounds like it to me..."

"Lay off..."

"Oh Dan...You telling me that you haven't had it since you were changed?"

"Drop it Darren, there's no conversation in it."

Darren walked up the isle and kneeled next to Dan.

"You remember what it feels like? Having that warmth grabbing and enveloping you? I hope you don't...It'd let me have a decent memory worth hanging on to..."

Dan stood and pushed Darren away from him.

"One thing you have to learn is to let go of physical mortal pleasure. Your intimate moments are the ones shared in death, not passionate love."

"Oh get real Dan... Don't rive in death, it just doesn't suit you well..."

**

Dag was lighting the candles when she walked in, flustered and agitated. She fired a look of pure hate at him.

"Stay away from Ericson...They are about to lock him up for insanity charges..."

"They should for what he was thinking this morning."

Mell folded her arms, and glared sternly at him.

"Mell, he's like a horny dog, wants to hump everything. He'd screw his sister if he could...I just...just took his mind off of it."

He pulled a chair back from the table, motioning her closer. She stood firmly.

"Come now, you must be famished...Come, eat, let me take him off your mind."

She reluctantly came to him and sat in the chair he held for her. He brought out the food, then sat down himself, serving up the plates. She slowly ate the pasta, staring more at the flame on the candle. Dag began planting thoughts in her mind, small at first to see if he could do it.

'Look at me...'

She suddenly lifted her gaze to him, but there was nothing kind or loving there.

'He helped you...He told you the truth, let you see what he was...He showed you the monsters who had been using you for years...You should love him.'

There was a clearing in her expression, and she put her hands down on the table.

"I never thanked you for last night...I guess I was in some danger there..."

"You know that they made good for you so you would never connect them. That's what they are meant to do, get in well before the attack. Just think, your former boyfriend would've had you for supper, then left you just like they did all the rest..."

"You did it as well...Eight last night, remember?"

He fired another shot at her.

'He cares for you...He needs you. He can give you what Darren never could.'

"I can't help that...It's part of my nature...You eat to live, so do I..."

'You know you want him...And he wants you more than Darren ever did...Tame his wild heart...'

"What would you do for me?"

"I'd give it all away to have somewhere to stay, give it all away for someone to come home to..."

'Or let him tame yours...Let him feel forgiving flesh...'

Dag stood, moving towards her. He brushed his hand across her shoulder, a smile growing across his face. Mell glared at him, only managing to stoke the fire already consuming him like a torrent. He made the move to take off her shirt, only being rewarded with a harsh slap. She stood, slowly unbuttoning his shirt, letting it float off his shoulders and to the soft carpet below. She came closer, pushing against him and running her hands across his chest, images filling her mind. He could read it on her face, the visual imagination already taking her to that place, using him as the key. Darren had been pushed from her mind, Dag being the only thing left.

Mell finally allowed him to remover her shirt, her breathing becoming hard from the contact. Her bra fell to the floor as he began kissing her neck, smelling the blood as it spread and became more fragrant. He moved further down, hearing her moan as he kissed her breasts, teasing her nipples with his tongue. She ran her hands through his hair, bringing him back up to look in his eyes. Their mouths met as she worked to free his hard-throbbing member that ached for her with animalistic urgency. She unzipped him, sticking her hand into his pants and stroking the appendage. The heat excited her senses. He began to grind into her hands as her stroking grew rough. He unbuttoned her pants as her continued to kiss her, letting her lead.

She slowly withdrew her hands, letting his pants fall to the floor in a puddle around his feet. She pulled away from him, his eyes burning a hole through her as she threw aside the last clothing she had been wearing. He closed his eyes, chasing back the change. He felt as her lips closed around him, surprising and startling him. She continued her ministrations as he moved gently inside her, coming to his full erection, her lips dancing across it. When he could take no more, he gently brought her down to the carpet with him as he leaned over her, the fire burning brightly behind him. His hands found her center as their lips met again. He thrust his fingers into her, making her cry out to him. She fiercely grabbed his cock, pulling it down to where it should belong, growling to restate the point. He entered her in a fury of light and heat. She clamped down on him with her inner muscles as she pushed up to him. He thrusted deeply into her, bringing moans from them both. He pulled her over on top of him, bringing her breast to his mouth as she continued to come down on him, pushing him further into her. He suckled hard on one nipple then the other, building an ache in her that she struggled to have him reach. He pulled her over again, thrusting hard as his eyes began to glaze over. He buried his face in her neck as she was suddenly racked with orgasms, pulsing and tensing into him. He bit into her throat as he too came, spilling his seed into her in a rushing warmth. He pressed on as her blood flowed into him, giving him new strength. He slashed at his own throat, bringing her mouth up to the fount of life. She drank slowly at first, then eagerly as it poured into him and back out to her as he continued to grind until the blood took him over. They finally fell asleep, still coupled late into the night.

**

Lee watched from a rooftop as Dagmantis claimed Mellina as his forever.

"What starts in insanity becomes passion, only to end in pain. The world will pay for this."

He wiped at the blood tears running down his face, turning his eyes crimson. Something had to be done, for now there were two, more to hunt Darren and Daniel...