• "Melani," The voice belonged to a boy. His hands were cold. It was then that Melani knew she was in Nathan's arms. Safe with him. He released her and bent down. She turned around and faced him. He was wearing a long sleeved shirt. His vest was black with gold trimming and buttons with a spiral design. Over those pieces was a black coat and an ascot rested neatly above his vest. The pin had the same design as the buttons. She looked into his beautiful crimson eyes. They seemed complimented by the snowiness of his skin. His hair was the color of the night and framed his thin face. It messy nor neat, but somewhere perfectly in between. In contrast he was more beautiful than Melani.

    "Nathan!" She gasped. He put his long slender finger to her lips.

    "Melani, please stay quiet, we wouldn't want to awaken Tanya.""She nodded as he pulled his hand away.

    "Tanya would be cross with me if she knew I had a man in my bed chamber." Nathan stood up straight. He moved past Melani quicker than she was able to see him go.

    "Why don't you put on this dress." He pulled the white dress from the wardrobe across the room.

    "Tanya won't allow it." She answered to him and took a few cautious steps forward. When she was sure that he wasn't going to swiftly make his way to the opposite end of the room again she moved closer to him.

    "And why won't Tanya allow it." He gaze averted to the dress and then back up to her.

    "Disciples of the night feed on girls dressed in white." Melani looked down throwing the words out. Nathan's posture became rigid.

    "An unusual answer..." He trailed off. There was an edge to his words.

    "I can wear it now if you like." She offered. He nodded.

    "I would like that, but first I'd like to do something." He approached her slowly. For a moment he thought his heart was racing but then remembered that his heart doesn't even beat. He took her hand in his and led her to the vanity. Her hands were soft and warm. He took his hand away from her and reached for her hair but stopped.

    "May I?" She nodded and he ran his fingers through her hair. He sighed, her hair was as soft as the satin bows on the dress which he had hung next to the vanity. He grabbed the comb and pushed some of her hair forward. He then replaced the comb in his hand with the scissors. With a few quick snips she had bangs. Nathan caught the amber colored hair that fell from the from her head and felt it in the palm of his hand.

    "So soft." He let the strand of hair slip through his fingers and onto the wood floor. Tanya would see it in the morning and know what had become of Melani.

    "Nathan." She sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. She stood up and hugged him, "Thank you Nathan. I love it!" She stared up into this eyes with adoration.

    "Now, for the moment you've been waiting for." Nathan pulled the white dress from its hanger and held it. Melani took her nightgown off and stood before him in her undergarments. He unfolded the dress and held it up, thinking to himself. He knew what was needed. He turned back to the wardrobe once again and walked to it. The bottom two drawers contained what he was looking for. A corset from one and bloomers from another. Coincidentally the corset and bloomers matched the dress, the same snowy pattern. He grabbed the two items, along with a pair of white tights, and walked back to her. I moved his head in the direction of her bed. Her eyes had locked onto his. She stared into his eyes until she had reached her bed. She climbed up on top and stood up. She was only a few inches taller than he was now. He undressed her, slowly. He was tempted. Tempted by her skin, hair, scent, eyes. He wanted her, no, he needed her. Everything he had ever wanted was inside her and he recognized this with disdain. She was the most helpful, yet most dangerous thing he had ever known. He knew her beauty would surpass every living creature in existence as she grew up, but she wouldn't get to grow up.

    He tied the sash around her waist and helped her off the bed, the whole time trying to resist the sin that ran through his mind.

    "Are you ready?" He asked her kindly, holding out his hand for her on the ledge. She nodded inconspicuously and took his hand. Her heart beat fast as he led her out of the window. Nathan slid his right hand down her back and swept her off her feet. They jumped off the building. Melani cringed and waited to hit the snow, but instead of the fast wind of falling she felt a breezy glide. She opened her eyes to make sure it wasn't a dream but by the time she had she was on her feet, Nathan in front of her. He walked quickly into the woods. She chased after him almost tripping in the snow. He just looked to her and smiled. Her desperate attempt to keep up with his pace was cute and he couldn't help but smile. Her expression was farther from a smile though. On her face was written determination. Determination to keep the cold from getting to her. If she moved quickly the cold would sink into her bones slower. Finally they reached a small open space. Above them, clearly etched into the sky, was the full moon, a glowing wine. The scent of fireplaces filled the air. The cold kept the snow from melting, It hadn't snowed since Melani had gone inside that day. Nathan knelt to the floor, nearing the same height as her.

    "Melani, come to me, please." He begged her. She came forth in slow strides, he rested his hand on her waist.

    " Nathan..." Her voice shook and her body trembled.

    "It'll all be over soon Melanie." He assured her. Innocence shone in her eyes, but that innocence would be shattered in the blood stained snow.

    Just outside the clearing across the road stood a pack of wolves. One of the wolves stood out in particular, his eyes were as blue as the ocean and his fur was gray as smoke. This wolf stared into the brush, his eyes dead set on the trees. The biggest wolf, black with maroon eyes, turned his muzzle to the blue eyed wolf. Deeply embedded on the soft blue eyes was a hint of sadness masked by anger. The black wolf picked up on this and moved in front o f him before he could jump. In his heart, the gray wolf knew that they could not wait any longer, and although the black wolf's motives may have been different, he knew they couldn't waste any time. He stepped forward slowly and turned his head to the sky. The others waited in anticipation and were pleasured to hear what they were waiting for, the deep howl marking the start of a hunt.