Free Me by Winged Wolf

First Encounter

He let the body drop to the ground with a thud, the woman's throat torn as if ravaged by a savage beast. But that was an accurate description. He was a heartless, soulless, blood-driven monster. He lived in shadow and squalor as he hunted his prey. Humans were so weak compared to him. They were so slow and they died so easily. They made good prey and their blood was delicious, and their emotions seasoned the taste.

But he hated this life. His existence was cold and flat; the years rolling out before him in an endless carpet of blood. The power and abilities were nice but not at this cost. He was forever barred from the light of the sun, sacred ground, and from the pearly gates were he to die. A deal with the devil should not be made; he, Sesshomaru, learned that the hard way.

He was Sesshomaru, son of the great Lord Touga and half-brother to Inuyasha. They were long dead, buried in the dirt of the Sengoku Jidai, while he disappeared and watched them grow old and die. Now he was alone in the present time, centuries away from his mother, his father, and his half-brother.

Oh, if only he hadn't made that deal! Sesshomaru was terrified of growing old and becoming weak so he sought a way to prevent it. A passing demon heard him and offered to help him. Well he did. Sesshomaru had supernatural strength, senses, and reflexes in addition to being able to transform into a long haired, white dog.

Because of his animal form and his peculiar way of marking his victims, vampires and vampire hunters alike gave him the name The Dog. It wasn't that intimidating, but everyone knew what they'd find when someone said those two words. Sesshomaru was stealthy enough to not draw attention to himself, but regardless he became notorious.

A sweet smell drifted on the air. It made his mouth water and he knew he had to find this person. He'd drain them as soon as possible. He would make them a blood slave, but if the blood was as good as it smelled, he wouldn't be able to stop. Cleaning his mouth, he prepared himself to meet this person. His blood siren. He narrowed it down to a slip of a girl, who made her way through the park at night.

"It's dangerous for kittens to wander around at night. They make easy prey for wolves," he said with a smirk. Her scent made his mouth water and he could feel his fangs lengthen. Maybe he'd try to play with her.

"I'm on my way home. I don't want any trouble," she said.

To her the man before had a fey like beauty. Cold, refined, and ethereal. His silver hair cascaded down past his shoulders to the middle of his back, and his eyes were a deep shade of gold. He was pale, beautiful, and cold. But something about him seemed off. Something about him released adrenaline in her.

"What's your name?" She asked.

"Sesshomaru, and I'm not here to cause you trouble. May I ask your name?"

"Kagome," she replied in a small voice.

He noticed her scent turning into fear and he wanted to calm her. Fear made her scent turn sour. He much preferred the scent of happiness or arousal. He decided to play with his food a bit. He'd follow her and make sure she stayed safe until he was ready to devour her or keep her.

"Allow met to escort you home. I promise no harm will befall you," he said as he reached out with his aura to wrap around her mind. It was how vampires could influence and entrance their victims. But then he felt a sharp burning. She was a miko! He would have to be careful around her since he didn't want to be purified.

His Influence seemed to work on her and she nodded with a somewhat dazed look. And a half hour later they arrived at a shrine. He could feel its power brushing against him making his skin tingle and the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

"You live in a shrine? So you're a miko then?" He asked.

She flashed him a surprised look. "Yes, but I've never had much formal training."

Sesshomaru nodded. "Well I suppose I should take my leave now. I hope you have a pleasant evening."

He wasn't actually going to leave. He only walked around the block and transformed into his dog form. Then he went back to the shrine and watched over her. The girl, Kagome, reminded him of the human lover he had.

Rin. Sweet, innocent Rin. She was only eighteen and her scent drive him wild. Somehow he managed to resist her blood long enough for him to fall in love. But then one day, she injured herself and...he couldn't stop himself.

By the time he did, she was barely alive. She would've been well within her right to hate and curse the monster he was, but instead she whispered three little. Those three little words tore a hole in his heart and buried him under the weight of the regret and grief he felt.

"I love you."

Her very last words to him. If he could've controlled himself, he could've found salvation. If he could find the one meant to be his mate, and not devour her, and find a way to summon the one who made this deal with him, he would return to a human and live happily with that person. But he couldn't help himself. Rin's blood called to him too much to even make her a blood slave.

He went back to her shrine every night, and suddenly it dawned on him why her blood smelled so appealing to him. Sesshomaru always loved the taste of holy blood, as ironic as it was. It was drawing closer to the time he'd contact her again. She had to lower her guard enough for him to talk to her again. But as each day passed, her scent grew more appealing. He'd have to feed before he reached out to her again. His opportunity came when she went out with some friends.

The old man, he grandfather as he overheard, finished up and walked towards the house. He never made it. Using his supernatural speed, Sesshomaru swooped in and drank. The old man's blood was sweet with latent holy power, but made bitter by how close he was to death, and that was without Sesshomaru's fangs tearing his throat. However a woman's voice, Kagome's mother he thought, chose that moment to come out. Having no other choice, Sesshomaru dropped the man, who was now unconscious, and darted into the cover of a large tree. What a waste, but he'd be satisfied for a little bit longer.

Five minutes later Kagome arrived right behind the ambulance. She was able to see them wheeling her grandfather into the vehicle. She also happened to look up and meet his golden eyes, causing him to jump down a d shift. He gave a little yelp when he realized she pursued him. He made it closer to the actual place where people would pray before turning back.

"What are you doing here? The shrine is closed," Kagome said.

"My apologies. I must've gotten caught up in the holiness," he replied.

She looked around, scanning, "have you seen a large white dog? The EMTs said a dog or something bit my grandfather."

"Sorry. I'll keep a lookout for it," he replied trying to make his escape. He did, and he would come back in a few days.

A week later, Sesshomaru was walking up the steps when a flashback passed through his mind.

He stealthily prowled through the night; the perfect predator. Ahead of him were his targets, a couple. The man had holy powers he could tell, and the woman had blood that smelled appetizing. Not as alluring or addictive as a blood siren, but he would enjoy the meal. In a flash, he grabbed the man and bit down while the woman watched. Using the last of his strength the man told his wife to go and to take care of the family and not let anyone know. Sesshomaru dropped his body to the ground like a sack of flour, but not before leaving his signature.

Wait a minute...that woman was the same one that lived in the shrine. The same one Kagome called mother. Well,the game just became more interesting. It would be harder but he always won in the end.

"What are you doing here?" Kagome demanded of Sesshomaru, her hands on her hips.

"Can't a man pray?" He asked chuckling at his joke. He was no longer a man, and the act of praying caused him pain.

"Leave."

"I thought this was a public place."

"It is but my family owns it. So I say, leave." Something about this man frightened her. Something wasn't write about him. He was too surreal to be human. He was too beautiful and too dark and mysterious to be human. "What are you?"

"Smart girl," Sesshomaru said walking closer to her, "the others would've been better if they had the instincts you do." His hand came up to wrap a lock of hair around his finger and he brought it to his nose. "But perhaps not smart enough. You should've run while you had the chance. I've made you my prey and no one will be able to stop my Hunt."

He flared his aura so that it encompassed her. It caressed hers in a soothing way. For most humans this would calm them and lull them into a false sense of security, but he should've known better than to try it on a miko. Her aura crackled against hers, but the pain wasn't that unpleasant. After all, pain and pleasure go hand-in-hand.

He stalked closer and closer to her, as the look on his face became hungrier. The back of his throat burned and he could already taste and feel her blood he drank from centuries since Rin must've helped his control. Prior to his late lover, he would have attacked long before now. Still, he may have to cut this Hunt short.

The miko gulped upon noticing his changed expression and she backed away. Her fluttering heartbeat drove him wild and he used his speed to trap her against his body, chest to chest. One hand wrapped around her back while the other went to her cheek before sliding down to her neck. Sesshomaru's cool skin immediately heated upon contact, and the pulse of Kagome's blood made him crash his lips onto hers.

To his surprise, she kissed him back. She lacked experience, but that was an insignificant detail. Instead of deepening the kiss, his lips slid down to her throat, which she seemed all too willing to bear. Foolish girl. His kisses became more open-mouthed and his fangs elongated and sunk into her neck. His free hand reached up to muffle any sound she made as the sweet liquid filled his mouth.

Sesshomaru was in heaven. Or at least the closest he would ever be able to get. It was amazing. But then something in her blood turned his thoughts to...mate...with a wide-eyed expression he pulled back and stared at her. No...she was the one destined for him? He thought she was just a Blood Siren, but now she was more than that...she was his Mate. The irony wasn't lost on him. A damned creature like him was to be mated to a pure woman like her.

Sesshomaru licked his lips and backed away, although his body told him to pull her in for more. Actually it screamed at him to continue feeding from her, to gorge himself. "I'm sorry," he whispered stumbling down the steps.

He finally found another to be his mate. But what about Rin...? He vowed to never love another, to never find peace with another. He vowed it both to her and himself. But the thought of finding a woman who could be his mate...it gave him hope.

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AN: so here's my first chapter. I hoped you like it. It was also posted on FF.net under the same title. Please tell me what you think, and if there are any mistakes, please point them out. Thank you, hope you want to read the next chapter!