Singed

Part One - Singed

Prologue

September 12th 1960

________________________________

Eros Cross tilted his head back to admire the night sky. The full moon hung overhead and glowed as bright as the tiny white stars that peaked through the midnight sky.

Ever since he was a young boy, he had always found the night sky to be breathtakingly beautiful.

Though, he knew the night was filled with dangers because he, himself, had encountered dangers from out of this world. He had come to learn it was not only desperate drug addicts, muggers and serial killers that prowled the streets at night but as well as supernatural creatures. Whether it be fangs flashing, canines snapping, wings glowing or magic flying, it seemed as though he was one of the only humans who could spot the mystical wonders.

Wonders, he snorted to himself as he backed up against the wall and peered around the corner, narrowing his eyes at the sight before him. Two half-breeds were feeding heavily on a brunette waitress that was no longer struggling, just slumped heavily in their arms while they continued to drain every last drop of blood to sedate their own greedy blood thirst.

Slowly, reaching into his belt loop he took out a sharpen wooden stake that was dosed in holy water before coming around the corner, trying to calm his beating heart and not give away his presence as he approached cautiously and with the intention of killing both of those vile creatures.

It had to be done, they were no longer human but monsters that fed on the innocent and showed no mercy when they killed. Twirling the wooden stake in his fingers he lunged quick and stealthy, diving the wooden stake right through the closest vampire's chest before quickly ripping it out and went straight for the second one that easily dodge his attack with a snarl, flashing it's bloody fangs.

Eros cursed under his breath, sidestepping the vampire and brought the stake around to stab him in the chest but only managed to stake his arm instead which caused the creature of the night to howl in pain. Quickly plucking another stake from his belt loop, he clutched the wooden object in his hand tightly as he and the vampire circled before pouncing into attack.

A shrill scream sounded from behind Eros, causing him to jerk his head around as he watched the waitress rise to her feet and her red eyes flashed with hunger and rage. He swore, throwing himself to the ground and did a barrel roll before whipping the stake straight at the newborn which pierced through her neck, causing her to hiss and snarl while the halfbreed came running straight at him once again.

The halfbreed tackled Eros and he fell to the ground with a grunt while the vampire above flashed his elongated fangs as he attempted to sink his teeth into Eros' neck but Eros put up a struggle with his hand clasp tightly around the halfbreed's neck and his other fumbled around for a stake he could use to pierce the halfbreed in the heart.

''You puny little human—I'm gonna bleed you dry.'' The vampire snarled, snapping his mouth which Eros cringed at before he managed to grasp the wooden stake and shoved it through the halfbreed's chest and watched the vampire explode into ashes above, sprinkling him in ash.

Breathing heavily, he sat up and cursed as the newborn finally ripped the stake out from her throat and stalked towards him. Her intentions clear with the way her piercing red eyes glowed with hunger. Eros felt around his belt loop, cursing like a sailor when he came up empty handed as he kept his eyes locked on the newborn that continued to close in her distance before out of nowhere a black flash dashed by, making it seem like time had frozen.

The newborn stilled and her red eyes flashed to a hazel brown before her head rolled off from her body which caused both her head and body to explode into ashes. Eros held his breath and his light green eyes darted to the left as a black cloaked figure stood deathly still with his back to him.

''Playing with stakes is dangerous,'' The cloaked figure murmured lowly, his voice masculine and smooth. ''Wouldn't want to get a splinter.''

Eros furrowed his eyebrows. ''Are you trying to be humorous?''

''No, if you get a splinter while you're fighting; it could draw blood and cause your attacker to become more desperate in killing you.''

''I'll keep that in mind.'' Eros drawled cautiously. The cloaked man cocked his head before slowly turning around but his large black hood kept his face shadowed and out of view.

''You're an orphan...'' The man trailed, hitting a sore spot for Eros because he gritted his teeth behind tightly pursed lips. ''Your family was massacred by vampires but not just any vampires—demonic vampires.''

''Aren't all vampires demonic pieces of shit anyway?'' Eros spat and he swore he could feel the cloaked man smirking at him.

''You want revenge and I'd be more than pleased to make you a deal.''

With Eros curiosity peaked; he uttered. ''What would this deal entail?''

''I'll capture all five of the...demonic vampire pieces of shit that killed your parents and younger sister and you do as you please with them,'' The man said the first half with an air of honesty. ''But, I get your heart and you'll work under me. You'll become a reaper, you'll gain more knowledge of the world you think you know, you'll be able to hunt—stronger and faster—because you'll be immortal.''

''Who are you?''

Now Eros could definitely feel the man smirking. ''Why, I am Death.''

''How do I know you're not lying?'' Eros asked after a few moments, staring at the cloaked man. ''How do I know you are Death? How do I know you'll keep your end?''

''That's the thing Eros...you don't.''

''That isn't in the slightest very comforting.''

''Neither will be the removal of your heart,'' Eros grimaced, self-consciously placing a hand over his erratic beating heart. ''You're hesitant to make the deal which interests me.''

''And why would that interest you?''

''Because, what you call living is day to day filled with guilt and not to mention lonely and risking everyday out in the open with mundane officers in search for you. You're quite the wanted man, Eros.''

''So, it would appear.'' He murmured bitterly, averting his eyes away from Death and gritted his teeth.

''If you agree to this deal, Eros, I can promise you one thing.''

''What's that?''

''A better life, no more living day to day in guilt and what I'm offering to you is the closure you need to move on and avenge the death of your beloved family,'' He said, causing Eros to avert his gaze back to Death as he slowly stalked forward with graceful steps. ''Deal or no deal?''

''...All five and I can do what I see fit?'' Eros whispered quietly and Death gave a nod of his head, now standing directly in front of Eros, glancing down at him in wait for his already decided answer. ''...Deal.''