Venice, Italy
Prolog

     "No!!" The flash of light disappeared. Left in its place, was a small boy with short black hair. Growing from his back were a pair of leathery black wings.

     "Damn!!" the man exclaimed, staggering backwards. "This is not right at all!" In his frustration, the tall man in a white suit smashed a glass vial into the wall. The liquid that had occupied it vanished in a puff of smoke. "Why can't I get this right!?"
A voice from outside called for the man, and he grew frightened.

     "No... no one must know about this!" he whispered to himself. The man hurried, for the child was beginning to grow conscious. Its red eyes were dangerously close to being apprehensive of the man and the small, dark room. He took a necklace, with a carved black heart, and tied it around the child's neck. The man put a cloak over the boy's face, and opened the window.

     "I don't want to waste a life... be free little one," he released the small boy out onto the alley street from the basement window, and then proceeded to lock it. He composed himself, his features deceivingly handsome when not contorted with rage.

     Outside, the boy awoke and looked around, panicking. He ran frantically into the darkness, dragging his wings. From his place, he looked into the crowd on the street. He did not know who they were. He did not know why they stared at him. His mind was as blank as a clean sheet of paper.