In the dark of the forest, a beast was prowling.

He'd long caught scent of something utterly divine, and hunted it with vigour, lips smacking against the other as saliva bubbled in his throat. The demon hadn't thought that he'd find his meal on such a cold and desolate eve, but fate had rewarded him well, and he was thankful for the gift. The stench of fear reached his nose long before he even drew eyes upon his victim. He could taste the tang of their exertion carried on the wind's frosty air, and smelled the salt in their tears with flared nostrils. Whoever they were, they were running - and running fast. Chased, perhaps? Or driven by hysterics? Hard to tell, but it excited the demon either way.

A twig snapped nearby, cracking like a whip under the heel of someone's boot. His head snapped in the direction of the sound, scanning the surrounding area with eager and hungry eyes. Stumbling from between the trees, a human figure appeared in the glade, hands clutching at many layers of coloured fabric that skirted around their ankles - a female then; a girl.

Grin turning predatory, the demon leaned to observe the entire radius of the glade.

Like a newborn foal, the maiden tripped across rotting tree roots, head whipping in every conceivable direction as the oppressive shadows closed in on her. Harsh breaths escaped her lungs in harsh pants; the moisture evaporating within the cold night air. As she turned, her eyes drew upon the frozen brook nearby, at which point she threw her hands skyward and released a long and despairing cry. Clearly, the poor soul was lost, and seemed to be walking in circles.

As she stepped into the moonlight, the creature took in the girl's attire. She wore layers of loose skirts - none of which would actually succeed in keeping her warm, given that the gossamer was damp with snow and torn in more than one place. Peering closer, he could make out intricate lacy patterns detailing the bodice, which now had large gaping tears running through it. They were ruined, to say the least; salvageable perhaps, but it was impossible to restore the wispy garments to their former glory. Upon her back was a scarlet cloak, tied securely by a knot around her neck. The thing was slightly too large for her petite form, he noted (perhaps belonging to an older sibling or parent?). It dragged behind her every step; snagging on thorns and brambles, dirtying the hem and causing it to fray. The sweet thing looked incredibly worse for wear; disheveled and dirty like a common vagrant.

She paid her appearance no mind, however. Aimless as she was and blatantly unsure of which direction to go, the girl was hellbent on moving forward. Her determination was admirable, he would give her that. Sadly, in spite of her bravado, the demon knew she wouldn't last much longer in this cold. Already, her body was showing signs of fatigue and her pace had slowed significantly in the short time he'd been observing her. Sooner or later, she'd succumb to winter's kiss.

Perhaps, she'd pass peacefully; collapse with exhaustion and slowly freeze to death as she slumbered. Or perhaps she'd encounter one of the many beasts that lurked within the forest and be ruthlessly torn apart by the daggers that lined their voracious maw. Wolves, most likely. Now that would be a gruesome end. He'd seen their hunting methods many a time before, and was well familiarised with it. The chase - if there even was one - would be laughably short. The girl would be pinned within moments. They would rip at her stomach firstly, teeth shedding her of those pretty rags, digging deep within the remnants of their prey to unearth the organs and gulp them down. Then, they would feast on the softer areas of flesh - what remained of the abdomen, the breasts, the buttocks, and later, the limbs. If anything was left of her, it would be left behind to feed the vermin of this wood.

She would find no mercy from them. Luckily for her - or perhaps unluckily - she'd encountered him first, and he wasn't willing to share with a pack of savage mutts.

Exhausted as she was, the maiden decided to rest for a moment, feet dragging against the icy ground as she slowed to a shaky stop. Tentatively glancing around, she moved to lean against the tree he was currently crouched in, chest rising and falling with every raspy intake of breath. Her arms enclosed around herself as if to mimic a warm embrace - and then the sobs came.

His heartstrings did not tug with sympathy at her pitiful display. In fact, her vulnerability only served to excite him further, and he strived to close the space between them. Edging nearer to the end of the branch, he watched her from overhead, eyes leering like a hawk. Now that he was closer, he could admire her features much better, though still unable to see her face. She was young, with budding breasts and tender skin; unblemished and smooth like butter. How eagerly he sought to run his hands over such soft flesh. Locks of auburn cascaded down her back like a bridal veil, curling slightly at the ends and bouncing wth every small jolt or movement. Her complexion was pale, and mottled slightly due to the cold, though she didn't seem unhealthy.

An ideal meal, his mind supplied.

Gingerly, the demon leapt down from his crouched position on the tree, landing on the ground a few mere metres from the unsuspecting lamb. She hadn't noticed his presence - her senses dulled by the cold - and he took the opportunity to lean nearer. A strong gust of wind blew southwards - in his direction. Wisps of auburn kissed the air, dousing it with a heavenly scent. Licking his lips, he could practically taste her, and it took a great deal of willpower not to latch onto the exposed skin of her neck.

Apparently, he'd been so distracted by the girl's intoxicating flavour that he hadn't realised the low and lustful noises trilling in his throat carried easily across the small distance between himself and his prey. She'd heard him.

Her body tensing, the girl spun to confront him, fear painting her features like a startled doe, and eyes as green as summer meadows found his. They shimmered with tears, wonderfully bright, and he wondered how pretty they would be if he were to pluck them out of her skull and look upon them from a different - more impossible - angle. By human standards, she was a true beauty. Even to him, whose tastes differed greatly to that of the human race, she was very pleasing to look at; every attribute was worth admiring.

The maiden's hair danced around her in the low breeze, crowning her head like a fiery halo. Strands of it stuck to her pale cheeks, still wet with tears. Upon seeing he wasn't an animal intent on devouring her (or, at least, that's what she believed), her body relaxed - but only slightly so. He was still a stranger to her after all.

"Forgive me, miss. I didn't intend to frighten you," the creature said gently, holding up hands to show he bore no ill intentions.

"You didn't, sir," a voice as soft as velvet replied - quiet in tone and shaky. "I was merely surprised."

Liar. Clearly she wasn't as trustworthy as she was stupid. This posed a challenge: now he'd have to earn her trust. Irritating - but easily overcome.

"Tell me," he purred, tone softening with reserved concern. "What is a young lady like yourself doing so deep in the forest by yourself? It's quite dangerous, you know."

At the mention of danger, the girl's eyes switched from suspicious to sorrowful, growing mournful as she pondered her own fate.

"Oh, I am terribly lost, sir! I've walked for hours, but this forest is endless. Everything just looks the same," she whined, practically throwing herself into his arms. "I feared I would die alone out here. Frozen to death, or scavenged by beasts. My family would never learn what happened to me."

And they never will, he thought in amusement.

"Don't weep, child. It's unseemly for such a pretty girl," the demon cooed, wiping fresh tears from her cheeks. "Come now, you're safe."

Willingly or not, the girl leaned into his touch. She was frightened and alone, desperate for human contact. Oh, he could use this.

"Please, sir. Do you know a way out of this awful place?" she begged, looking up to him with hopeful eyes.

The demon nodded, biting back a smirk. "Indeed I do."

The maiden's eyes lit up with hope, and, like a gentleman, he offered her his arm.

"If you please, young miss."

Slowly, the girl extended her hand. Naturally, she was hesitant to place her trust in a stranger but reasoned with herself that he was her best chance of getting out of the woods safely. In her conflicted mind, she conceded that strange company would be better than none.

Fighting the urge to devour her immediately now that he had his hands on her, the man began to lead her northwards. He was confident that he would find a suitable place to devour his meal in peace if he travelled along the brook. After all, he knew almost every inch of this woodland; it was a common hunting ground for him. Humans wandered aimlessly into this territory, inevitably losing their way - much like his new companion had. He took great joy in chasing the males, herding them into a corner like a dog would livestock. He'd cast fear and fright upon them, drawing screams of the most effeminate nature from their lips. It demeaned them, and he loved it. Women were the most fun, though. They were painfully easy to manipulate; too weak to pose a challenge. Like a siren, he would lure them somewhere secluded, finding amusement in knowing that his prey was willingly walking into their own trap.

The same could be argued now. The demon wasn't leading his pretty little darling back to her family - to warmth and comfort and safety. No, he was leading her deeper within the wood, where he knew they wouldn't be disturbed.

And where no one would find her body.

"So, tell me," he began, knowing that the best way to earn a human's trust was to initiate conversation. "Why are you out here alone?"

"I was planning on delivering a package to the next village," the girl explained. "My father is a tailor and one of his customers requested delivery. Father works long hours and mother is too busy handling my baby brother, so I offered to go. I'd gone with him a handful of times so I thought I was certain of the route."

She paused, releasing a nervous laugh. "It seems I was wrong."

Oh, how sad, he thought, that this one act of generosity would ultimately lead to her demise.

'Twas the issue with humans, he supposed. They were too gentle for their own good; too concerned with reputation and integrity to even consider self preservation. It was almost laughable that such an enduring mortal species cared so little for their own wellbeing; irony at its greatest.

The man pretended to be sympathetic, nodding his head in understanding and placing deft caresses on the hand that gripped him. He could act the concerned friend if that was what she wanted. After all, he fancied himself a consummate actor. Before, he'd been the diplomat; the courtier; the warrior. The demon was so practiced in the art of trickery that he had managed to fool even the holiest of men into trusting him. By comparison, this was child's play.

"A tailor, you say?" he echoed, feigning intrigue. "Did he make that dress of yours?"

In response, a small smile broke out on the lady's face, cheeks glowing red with pride as she nodded.

Subtly, he ran his hand along the fabric coating her arm. It was smooth and velvety - very good quality. He found that he liked the feel of such rich material, and continued his advances. If the girl noticed his fondling, she said nothing.

"It's stunning," he praised.

"It was," she murmured sadly, glancing down at it. "I cannot believe I chose to wear it today, especially with the weather. It's completely ruined. He'll be heartbroken."

Amused, the demon had to bite down his tongue to refrain from laughing. Her concern was for her dress, of all things! How cute.

"I'm sure he'll care more that his daughter is returned to him in one piece," came his honeyed reply, earning him a sweet smile in response. Before this, she'd scarcely had the courage to meet his eye. This was progress. This was good.

Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. The ominous sound resonated in the night air, echoing through the woodland, sending some of the smaller creatures of the forest scampering to the trees. The demon knew they posed no threat and so didn't even flinch, but his companion jumped and clutched his arm tighter.

"What was that?" she whispered, as though afraid her words would alert the beasts to her existence.

"It's only a wolf, my dear. Don't look so wary. Wolves may be vicious, but even they understand the concept of strength in numbers," he explained. "It's very rare that a wolf should attack humans who walk in groups or pairs, regardless of how hungry they are. As long as you're with me, they won't harm you."

If they knew what was good for them, they wouldn't dare intervene. He could rip their stupid, snarling heads from their necks if he so pleased.

Despite his reassurance, the maiden's hands clenched tighter around his forearm and, for the first time, he saw the extent of the cold climate on her frail form. Every inch of her was trembling; repetitive tremors wracked her body, travelling from her core to her fingertips, causing his arm to shake in turn. The skin under her nails appeared blue instead of the fair pink it was supposed to be: the tell-tale sign that her body was beginning the steady descent into malady, and it wouldn't be long before her vitals began to slow. Mortality was really such an adorable thing. How sweet it was that such mild elements could cause their bodies to shut down!

"Your hands must be freezing, my dear," he cooed gently, cupping her fingers with his gloved ones and blowing warm breaths onto her skin.

The girl smiled timidly at the gesture, the dust of red upon her cheeks deepening in colour. Despite the girl's best efforts to hide it, he could feel the flicker of arousal churn within her, and it ignited his own. He doubted this innocent bird knew anything of lust or seduction, but, if she wanted him to romance her, who was he to refuse?

In one rapid movement, the demon clamped down on her hand with an iron fist, mouth jutting forward to take a single appendage between his lips. The maiden's brief expression of youthful desire snapped into revulsion, and she tried to wrench her hand from his. The demon refused to give her leeway, tightening his grip as his tongue curled around the digit, spurred on by her struggle. Sharp teeth scraped along the tender skin - not enough to make her bleed, but he thoroughly enjoyed the shiver it evoked from his prey nonetheless.

Each move was deliberate; legato. He was slow and tender, as though making love to her hand. It was vile, and, if the scowl on her face was any indication, she was disgusted.

"Sir, please," she whined, still trying to recoil from him. "Don't do that."

Ah, he really shouldn't be doing this. The creature knew that he shouldn't be conducting himself in such a bold manner, but could anyone blame him? The young beauty stood before him was practically begging for his corruption. Her vulnerability made her willing and pliable; those eyes of her held such delightful innocence. Why waste such a perfect opportunity?

Though, he'd have to admit, this was definitely not the way his kind did things - and he was certain this behaviour would result in some troublesome consequences.

Fine then, he supposed. Let's do this properly.

The man detached himself from his meal with a pleased sigh, eyeing her with a much darker, much more twisted, gleam in his eye. It caused a new wave of panic to erupt within her.

"Do you want me to take you home?"

Her brows furrowed in confusion, but she still answered, shakily. "Yes."

"Say it, my love."

"I want you to take me home," she echoed obediently, tears beginning to sprout.

The creature pulled her closer until she was flush against him, ignorant to the sounds she made in protest. From the proximity, his nostrils picked up on the faint smell of flowers in her hair, and berries in her breath - the exotic scent of summer. He moved his hands from her waist to grasp at her jawbone with lithe fingers, tilting her head back. Widening with terror, green orbs met his, fostering intense feelings of fear. His - he was sure - harboured something far more sinister. Slowly descending, his mouth neared her own, and he felt the faintest brush of silk against his lips.

It was spectacular! Through each hurried breath, he could taste her soul's innocence, and groaned in delight. He'd only just began to press further when a sharp stinging pain radiated through his left cheek. Even though the pain was negligible, he raised his hand to knead the throbbing cheek, feeling the familiar warmth of blood as it rose to the skin's surface in response. Caught off-guard, he looked back to his companion, who stood glaring at him with narrowed eyes and a stinging palm.

Oh. Naughty girl.

"What do you think you are doing, you lech?" she hollered, trembling with both red-hot rage and desperate fear.

"I'm just doing as you requested, my love," he said as innocently as he could muster, though it juxtaposed the malice on his face. "Is this not what you want?"

"I just want to go home!" she shrieked, gazing at him with disbelief.

The demon could feel himself changing, unable to hold back. Each inch of his being was buzzing with such intensity. His blotted heart raced at a breakneck rate, wild like a stallion - unhinged and untamed. The human skin he'd donned so believably could barely contain the thrashing, twitching beast within. So, with a grin, he unlocked the manacles he'd structured so meticulously and his true form burst forth. The darkness that'd been coiled deep within his prison of flesh stretched outwards, wringing the moonlight of its purity, and smothering all light that illuminated the glen. Particles of black were all that accumulated around them now. Darkness. Bliss.

The girl took an unsteady step back, face frozen in a look of utter dread as she observed a sight not meant for human eyes.

"Your eyes..." she whispered, disbelievingly. "What are you?"

The man chuckled, magenta orbs piercing through the abyss. "I have many names, my dear. With each religion that is established and every language that is formed, I am christened with a new identity. I won't spare you the details. You won't live long enough to remember them, after all."

Upon hearing that, a small whimper escaped her bitten lips, and the girl slowly backed away, raising two placating hands. Clumsy, her feet stumbled as she retreated, catching on banks of snow, and she made a quick turn to run. He was quicker however, hand clamping down upon her arm before she got any more than a metre away. Carelessly, he tossed her to the side, the raw power in his throw propelling her across the entire length of the glen. Painfully, her spine smashed against the trunk of an old oak tree, and the girl screamed, falling to the ground below and stilling. Keen ears picked up on the unmistakable sound of bones breaking, shattering as they collided harshly with the earth. The demon relished in the sound of her agonised cries as he approached her now crippled form. He was gong to take his time with this kill. Oh yes. He wanted to scare her, desperately so. Having had a millennia to hone his skills, he knew how to heighten a mortal's terror and he'd do so until every cell inside her body was quaking in fear. It would make for a most delectable meal.

Unable to stand, the poor thing attempted to crawl, purpled fingertips clawing into the muck and the snow, tears flowing freely from each corner of her eyes. Each movement was frantic, panic-stricken. Like a startled rabbit, she urgently tried to scamper when she heard the demon's approach, but was barely able to drag her body more than a few metres before the agony of her injury paralysed her once more.

"Are you having some trouble, my love?" the man asked with faux sympathy, cocking a brow.

The only response he received was another hysterical cry - the keening sound being the final straw on his self control. 

His patience having reached its limit, the demon descended upon her, flipping her onto her back and pinning her there. Nimble fingers untied the strings looping across her neck, and the cloak slipped from her form. Exposed to him now: a supple neck, sharp collarbones, and a small but most tempting cleavage. Licking his lips, he ran a finger down her tear-streaked cheek; along the long slope of her neck; dipping it into the valley between her breasts. Her skin felt as smooth as it appeared and the demon yearned to taste it.

Leaning in, he brushed his lips against the curve of her neck, tongue slithering out to caress the supple flesh. He felt a flash of possessiveness and buried his teeth into it. Releasing a strangled scream, the girl began to struggle once more, pushing against his chest with renewed vigour. Irritated by her meddling, the demon grabbed her arms and pinned them above her head, satisfied upon seeing fresh tears forming in her eyes. Within said eyes, however, shone a certain heat - a fire, one that could rival the flames of his homeland. It was determination. Despite knowing she was irrefutably outmatched, the girl was still adamant to escape, persisting with her struggles beneath him. As a warning, he tightened his grip, burrowing his sharp nails into sensitive flesh and evoking another pained shriek from her lips. Growling, the creature pulled back, glancing to the place on her neck where he had sunken his teeth. It hadn't been enough to draw blood, but it had left a hefty indent all the same. If the cold hadn't slowed her blood flow, he was sure that she would have bruised already.

The maiden whimpered quietly, pathetically so, sounding akin to a kicked pup. He could feel short breaths fanning against his ear and realised the girl was vigorously murmuring the Lord's Prayer. If he had any humour left in him, he would've laughed. Still faithful, even in her hour of death. Humans really were such moronic creatures. If He wanted to help his precious child, He would've done so already. No. She was damned and doomed from the start. She was his now. Nothing more than a hearty snack to line his belly.

Driven solely by bloodlust, the demon ripped open the bodice of her dress, running a clawed hand down her torso. Twisting and jerking, the young thing twisted and arched her back, paying no mind to the pain that followed. She jerked her body violently to escape, but there was nowhere to go, and no one to see.

Slowly, he slipped a hand beneath her many layers of skirt until skin found skin, and his claws clamped down. Tenaciously gripping one milky thigh, he traced a finger upwards, trailing further and further, until the girl screamed once more.

* * * * *

Exhausted. Beaten. Bloody. His maiden lay sprawled in the snow.

She'd long given up on her fight, deigning to lie there helplessly and let the demon do as he willed. In her crumpled form, she looked more like a broken doll than a human now, with pasty skin and empty green eyes, lacking the sparkle of life and youth. The only sign she was still amongst the living was the unsteady rise and fall of her chest.

Regret didn't even begin to define what she felt, laying there under a starless sky, ice biting at her fingertips. In the course of one night, the girl had lost everything she once held dear - her honour being the most significant one. If her God didn't want anything to do with her before, He definitely wouldn't want her now. She'd been demeaned and deflowered. Damned and doomed in one violent action. Little more than a sack of sacrificial flesh upon an alter of snow.

Now, as her consciousness began to fade, her eyelids slowly sealing shut, the demon made sure that the last thing she saw before being plunged into darkness were two hungry eyes staring back at her.

*     *     *     *     *

A/N

Welp. Looks like the plot bunnies strike again.

Gosh, this was a really weird story to write. It's not even explicitly smutty but I still feel dirty writing it. Regardless, I hope you guys enjoyed this (whatever this is. I decided to call it a Black Butler AU since it's very heavily inspired by the Black Butler universe but frankly this could be any universe with mythical creatures in it. I also left the demon nameless so you're free to interpret him as Sebastian if you wish). The theme was also heavily inspired by 'Wolf Song' by OMNIA - amazing song with even more amazing vocals!

Side note: WOW my browser history looks weird now. The FBI are gonna be so confused. I asked shit like "What parts of the human body do wolves eat first?" and, of course, the best one - "How to write erotic finger sucking"

. . .

*deletes browser history*