He walked around the ruins, of what was left of his clan. Fire burned all around him, as he wept for the fallen. A final battle had taken place with the humans. His clan was more powerful, but the humans had greatly outnumbered them. The gargoyle, an entire species had been eradicated. Man had committed genocide against his kind. But somehow, he survived, yet he was the only one left. But one day, man would pay.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabriel Esposito was one of the most feared mafia bosses in all of Italy. His parents had been killed in a mafia hit, just a couple of years prior. The thirty year old had never really wanted to be involved in his father's business, but fate had intervened.

He had studied to be architect at the university, having always been fascinated with old Cathedrals and Basilicas. Gabriel had spent most of his young adulthood designing buildings, and discovering the stories behind the design of different structures. However, at the time he went under the name Gabe Edwards, as he didn't want anyone to recognize his family name.

He was working for a an architectural company in Paris, when he got a call from his sister, Rosalina. She was crying hysterically, their parents had been gunned downed after attending a concert in Milan. Yet even with so many witnesses, no one came forward. But Gabriel knew who it was, it had to have been the Sabinos.

Their two families had been in a cold war for centuries, however, the Sabinos had made a first strike by taking down his parents. No, he never wanted to be in the Mafia as his father had, but now he didn't have choice. He had to avenge his parent's death. And soon he not only made the Sabinos pay, he wiped out most of their organization. The Espositios now held the entire kingdom of the Mafia Underworld, and he had unwontedly become the new king.

As Gabriel's limo pulled into the small Sicilian town, he decided to to use the bathroom. He had the driver pull up to a local petrol station. He sighed. Of all the duties that had fallen upon him, this was probably his least favorite. To take a life of someone, an old man in fact, was difficult. But once he took on the roll to avenge his parents, he was stuck in that roll for life. But that didn't mean he had to enjoy it.

As the driver opened the door, his guards stayed close to the limo. Even though he had decimated most rival families, there will still dangerous enemies out there. Anyone of them would love to bring down the new Mafia king. As he got out of the car, the people obviously noticed who he was. Most of them either refused to make eye contact, or quickly got out of his way. It was probably for the best, no one knew what a kind of a monster he truly was.

As he finished up in the bathroom, and came outside, he could hear a woman singing. She was a siren, a songbird. He had never heard a more beautiful voice, in all of his life.

"Sir!" His top man Anton began to say.

"Shh...!" Gabriel responded as he held up his hand. "I am listening to a songbird."

Where was her voice coming from? He turned a corner in the direction of the siren's voice. He hid behind the wall, as he didn't want her to see him. She might be afraid, and he didn't want his little songbird to fly away. All of a sudden, there she was. An angel that had no wings. Her voice was surpassed, only by her physical beauty. She was an enchantress, an angel, and she had captivated his demon heart.

A siren is a powerful being. He thought. If I didn't know any better, I would almost believe you weren't human. But I should warn you my pretty siren, you have inadvertently started playing with fire. For if a siren is foolish enough to enchant a demon, she will soon learn a lesson the hard way. That demon will do whatever is necessary to possess her.

As he continued to spy on her, she was unaware of the beast who completely enthralled with her. Her golden cascading hair shimmered in the sunlight, as her flaxen tresses blew within the wind. Her large ice blue where enigmatic, as he could willing get lost in them forever. And her song could sooth the savage beast, as it had now actually stolen his stone heart.

"Sir, we really need to get going." Said Anton as he whispered in Gabriel's ear.

Gabriel didn't even look at him as he began to speak. "Anton, once we finish our—unpleasant business, find out all you can about that songbird over there. Tonight, I plan on dining with her this evening."

"I promise you, Sir." Anton replied, as he bowed in reverence. "I will make sure someone is watching her, you will know all about her soon enough."

"See to it, Anton." Gabriel replied. "And keep in mind, I don't take kindly to being disappointed. Don't let me down."

As they headed to their destination, a smile could not escape Gabriel's face. He couldn't get the angelic songbird out of his mind. Than again, he really didn't want to. He knew that as head of Esposito crime family, that he would have to start producing heirs soon. Preferably sons, although he would adore a daughter. But only sons could run his mafia kingdom, his empire.

However, he just never seemed to find the right woman. Not that he didn't have offers, in fact he was used to women throwing themselves at him. But they were usually gold digging whores. A bunch of pretty silicone filled Barbie dolls, whose heads were just as empty. Ideal for a good fuck, but not as a queen to bare the fruit of the mafia king. But his angel was ideal to be the mother of his children.

But could she love a monster like him? If not, than she would learn to love him. If there was one thing he learned, in the last couple of years, he could have whatever he wanted. And what he wanted was her. However, if there was already someone in her life, well—they wouldn't be for long.

Of course he would gladly help her to get through her mourning process, as any good lover would. He chuckled at how different things were two years ago, Gabe Edwards was a completely differnt existence. Gabe Edwards was an idealistic youth, who lived in a fantasy existence, and could never harm even as much as a cockroach. Gabriel Esposito, on the other hand, was a monster and a mafia boss. He lived in the real world. Do on to others, before they do onto you.

As they pulled up to the old man's home, he had his gun cocked and ready. Anton had opened the limo door for him. As he stepped outside, he couldn't help but notice some of the onlookers in broad daylight. What did he care? What were they going to do, call the police? He owned the police.

As he made his way up to the house, the songbird's angelic face was still stuck inside his head. Unfortunately, he was going to have to push her memory to the side, for now. He, and ten of his guards, had made their way to the front door. With that he soon knocked, and the old man had answered.

Gabriel was surprised by the old man's lack of emotion. Usually, people were afraid when ever he would pay them a visit. But the old man wasn't, he almost had a look on his face as if he was expecting him. Usually, he would have thought that the old man was planning some sort of an ambush. However, on the rare occasions when that had actually happened, the person still seemed nervous. But the old man seemed to fear nothing at all. Perhaps he actually had the money, to pay off his debt?

"Mr Esposito." The old man said. "Won't you please come in, I've been expecting you."

His behavior was extremely odd, even when people had the money that they owed, they still seemed frightened.

"Mr. Russo." Gabriel replied, as he made his way inside. "Am I to assumed from your easy going demeanor, and your hospitality, that you have the money that you owed my oh so generous father."

"I am sorry to hear about your father." Said Mr. Russo. "I didn't know him all that well, but obviously after doing some business with him, our paths had crossed from time to time. I was also saddened to hear about your mother. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but I understood that she was a lovely woman."

"That's kind of you to say, Mr. Russo." Replied Gabriel. "But you haven't answered my question, do you have the money?"

"I'm afraid not." Mr Russo responded. "So let's just cut the bullshit. Why don't you do, what you've come to do?"

"I must admit, you surprise me Mr. Russo." Said Gabriel with a slight chuckle. "I've never seen someone in your position act so calm before. I mean I have seen people try and put on an act. But you don't seem nervous at all. If there is one thing I am good at, it's body language. Yet your body language doesn't seemed to be hiding any emotions at all. I have to wonder if you're hiding something from me?"

"You've come to kill me." Said Russo. "So kill me, and get it over with."

Gabriel looked at him, and laughed. "You know Mr. Russo, I'm very amused by you at this moment. In fact, I'm almost tempted to spare your life, almost. But if I did that, what kind of business man would I be? Talk could be going around town, that I had become soft hearted. And I couldn't have that. You see, even if I was fond of you, how would I teach others who are delinquent on their loans a lesson? And if there are two things, I find most important in my line of work, one is is for my men to have absolute loyalty to me. The other, is that all must learn their lessons. And if I were to let you live, I would not have earned any loyalty from my men. Also no one would learn there lesson."

"Then you must do, what you've come to do." Russo stated with still no fear in her eyes.

"Perhaps you could amuse my curious, for just a second more." Said Gabriel. Do you truly have a death wish? If so, why now? For years you were hiding in the states, which is why my father's men had a hard time finding you. Then all of a sudden you just pop up out of nowhere, knowing that incurring a $10 million debt to my family after all time, would mean your death. And yet here you are. Are you just ready to die? Why?"

"I guess that's just one secret, that I shall take to my grave, Mr. Esposito." Russo replied. "Or maybe I've just accepted my fate, and no longer wish to be on the run."

"Well I will say, that I do admire you Mr. Russo." Said Gabriel as he bowed to him, trying to shoe him some honor. "I wish we could have met under circumstances. If it's any consultation, I will make your death quick, and painless."

Gabriel then took his left arm, and aimed his gun at the old man's head. "Good night Mr. Russo, may whatever god you believe in, have mercy on your soul."

All of a sudden, the front door swung open.

"What the hell is going on!" Gabriel heard a young woman cry in terror. "What are you doing to my uncle?"

"Cali!" Cried Russo with a look of wide eyed terror upon his face.

While Gabriel had his gun pointed at the old man, he turned his head to look at the young woman who was behind him. He couldn't believe his eyes. There she was, in all her magnificent beauty. Her big blue eyes were widened in terror, as they welled up with frightened tears. She looked at him in fear, as her beautiful teary eyes stared right through his soul!

This was not how Gabriel wanted to meet her. "Songbird!"