The next night found Ranloo in another dark cellar, sprawled on the floor. He’d broken into it right before daybreak. It had been just in time too, for as he discovered, a vampire falls asleep when the sun rises, regardless of where he is.

Ranloo fingered the burn on his chest, thinking of his goddess and how the symbol had branded him. He’d never wavered in his faith. But now, because he had unwillingly been turned into a vampire, he’d been rejected. The severance left him in darkness and confusion. Tears stung his eyes and traced lines down his cheeks. In anger, he wiped them away. Ravening hunger urged him to leave the cellar and hunt. He craved the smell of fear and taste of hot blood but held himself back. For his goddess and his family, he refused to become a mindless killer.

With clenched jaw and fists, he willed himself to sit still on the dirt floor. He tried to distract himself with thoughts of his life in Sel-Faeyeth, the elven kingdom, with his wife and children. He pictured Minira's beautiful face and deep blue eyes, could almost feel the touch of her soft golden hair. The memory of her sweet scent and voice filled him…

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ranloo returned from his morning-patrol of the forest to the screaming and laughing of his children. Down the garden path dashed Linala, his eldest. A stick-thin twelve-year-old with tanned skin, her dark sienna curls flowing behind her. On her heels trailed Raadilinin, a small boy just turned seven, with shoulder-length black hair standing in all directions.

Ranloo smiled as they jostled and shoved to be first.

´Father! Welcome back,` Linala called breathlessly and threw her arms around him.

´Did you see goblins? Or trolls?` Raad asked loudly as he clung to Ranloo's legs, his dark russet eyes turned up.

´Indeed I have,` he chuckled. ´We found a whole band of goblins trying to sneak into our kingdom! But they are clumsy and foul, and we spotted them from far away.` He pointed as if he saw them in their garden, pausing for dramatic effect. The children turned to look, though they knew there was nothing there.

´We sneaked up on them and battled!` He grabbed Linala's shoulder, making her pivot with a delighted yelp.

´Wasn't it dangerous?` she asked, her amber eyes wide.

´Did you get hurt?` Raad asked, peering up with worry.

´Me? Hurt?` Ranloo said in fake indignation. ´I'm too good for lousy goblins. They had no chance.` He winked, making Raad giggle. Then he hoisted Lin high into the air and spun around, making her scream with laughter.

´No! Father, stop!` she protested merrily.

Raad hopped around them, begging to be lifted too. Ranloo picked them both up, squealing in joy, one under each arm and proceeded towards the house. The small white building, featuring arched windows, lay centred in a small orderly garden, filled with flowers and trees.

In the door, a beautiful young elf woman stood, shaking her head and smiling at the spectacle. Gazing lovingly at him, Minira twined a strand of golden hair between her fingers as Ranloo carried the children down the path, telling them of his heroics in battle against imaginary goblins. There hadn’t been a goblin this deep into the elven forest for ages. The Prince had the borders too well guarded. Ranloo met her eyes and couldn't keep a grin off his face, knowing she'd heard him. He wondered at her love sometimes. They were so different. He often annoyed her with his pranks and silly manners. She'd told him countless times to stop being childish and teaching the children mischief. But she laughed often too. And he knew she appreciated that he always had time for them and would protect them with his life.

‘Good day, my love,’ Ranloo said as he passed her on his way into the house and kissed her on the cheek, making her blush.

‘Not in front of the children,’ she chided and followed him inside.

‘No harm done. Right, kids?’ Ranloo set them down.

They shook their heads and giggled, knowing their mother was easily embarrassed, especially outdoors where the neighbours could see.

‘See?’ He smiled and embraced her in his strong arms, nuzzling her hair.

She held him close as the children ran off to their rooms, already playing some game again.

‘I’ll be leaving soon,’ Ranloo said quietly, his tone serious.

Minira looked up. ‘Do you have to go? Can’t you ask them to send someone else?’ Her dislike laced every word with a sharp edge. She didn’t want him to leave her alone for such a long time. ‘There are others that are capable.’

‘Yes. But I am the best ranger and they wanted me to go. I can’t refuse such a request now, can I?’

‘Yes, you can! You don’t always have to do as they say. You have a life too. And a family!’ She hit him lightly on the shoulder with a fist.

‘I know,’ he sighed, ‘but I can’t refuse. It’s too important for –’

‘The ranger schools?’ she snapped. ‘Why do we have to help the humans anyway?’ She freed herself from his embrace and turned her back on him. He followed and soon had his arms around her again. She sighed and leaned back against him.

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‘Because they need it, and because His Highness wants us to help. You know this,’ he said softly.

‘But it’s so far away. You’ll be gone for at least two months, maybe more!’

‘That’s no time. I’ll be back before you know it,’ he ensured with a smile. ‘Besides, I can’t say I don’t want to go. I’d like to see the city. It’s reputed to be the largest in Terador.’

‘You make it sound like a nice place. You forget it's a smelly human city,’ she retorted.

‘I haven’t forgotten, but I still want to see it. Don’t be so harsh on them. Some things they do are worth seeing.’ He quieted, gazing out the open doorway. He'd never travelled that far before and could barely keep the excitement out of his voice. This journey screamed adventure to him. She'd never understand why he wanted to go, and his heart ached. She often called him wild and independent, though he loved his family. But this quiet life didn't suit him, and she knew that. It scared her. He loved them and would stay if she demanded it, but she was too proud for that.

In less than a week, he'd ride off with two friends to Jaris, the capital of Terador, their neighbouring country. The journey would take about two weeks of riding if the weather stayed good and the roads clear.

'Maybe this trip will be good for you,' she said. 'Satisfy your curiosity a bit. Maybe you'll find it's not that interesting.' She gave him a hopeful smile.

'Maybe,' he agreed, not wanting to crush her hopes. She feared he'd love it and leave on more and longer trips.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Five days later, Ranloo stood by his horse, ready to leave. Two rangers waited on their steeds farther down the road. Ranloo attached his travelling pack to the saddle, checked that he hadn’t forgotten anything, and walked back to his wife.

‘Don’t look so sad,’ he said softly. ‘I’ll be back soon.’

‘Yes, but I…’ She sighed, fear painted clearly on her pale face.

They had heard many horrifying tales about the large human city. Ranloo embraced her and kissed her gently. For once, she didn’t push him away or back off. Instead, she held him close, gazed deep into his eyes and didn’t let go for a long while.

‘I will be back soon. Only two months,’ he said again and loosed his hold of her.

‘Yes. I know.’ Her eyes travelled up and down over him, taking in the details. He wore his green and brown ranger gear. Ranloo was one of the very few in the elven kingdom with dark skin. Tall and powerfully built for an elf, his long hair fell down his back in dark waves. He smiled as her gaze stopped on his face again. He knew she admired his eyes. Their bright amber an unusual colour, even for desert-elves.

‘I have to go now,’ he said with an amused smile.

She blushed a lovely pink. ‘Be careful. Come back to me.’ She gave him a last hug and kiss.

‘I will,’ he promised, holding her hands and gazing into her eyes, drowning in their blue depths. Then he mounted his horse. ‘Look for me in two months' time.’ He waved as he started out on the road.

´I love you,` she called.

Turning in the saddle, he saw her look after him from the doorway of their house, hands clasped in front of her. With a grin, he blew a kiss to her before turning his attention to the road and his waiting friends.

* * * * *

Voices and footsteps startled Ranloo out of his memories.

´Father, look! The cellar lock's broken.` The scraping of a weapon leaving its sheath followed.

Ranloo jumped to his feet, automatically placing his hand on the pommel. He looked around for a hiding place in the tiny cellar. There was none. Panicking, he backed away from the unlocked door, his heart racing. He'd hoped to stay undetected throughout the night.

The cracked door wrenched open, revealing two humans outside. A young man in his late teens, and a middle-aged man with a greying beard, a sword in one hand and a bright lantern in the other. Trapped. Like an animal without anywhere to hide or run. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but he didn't want to be caught either.

The older man raised the lantern, shining into the cellar. ´Hey you!` he called. ´What are you doing here? Get out!`

´Stay away from me!` Ranloo yelled, pressing his back against the cold stonewall. 'Dear goddess, help me,' he whispered in elven.

´Take this,` the man said and handed the lantern to his son without taking his eyes off Ranloo. ´And stay back.` He hefted his sword, ready to use. ´Look. If you just come out of there and don't steal anything, you won't be harmed,` he said in a stern tone. But the fast patter of his heart betrayed his unease.

´Stay away!` Ranloo shouted. ´I don't want to hurt you. Go away!` He grabbed a shelf beside him to hold himself back. His arm shook with the effort. ´Stay back!` His fangs pounded, extending painfully in his mouth. The men's fear and heartbeats called to him, even at this distance. Cursing in elven, he resisted the hunger with all his might.

The man lowered the sword a fraction, a crease forming between his brows. ´Are you an elf?` he asked, his voice softer. When Ranloo didn't reply, he continued, ´Look. Just come out of the cellar. I'm not gonna hurt you. See?` He lowered the sword point to the ground and stepped back. ´Do you need help?`

Ranloo tried not to lunge at the humans but the moment the man lowered the weapon and stepped back, he saw his chance at escape. Bolting forward, he startled the two men. The teenager cried out. As the man moved to stop him, Ranloo closed his eyes and careened into him at full speed, pushing him off balance. He fled into the street, not looking back. A thud and a loud crash told him the man had fallen. A scream and curses followed. It was okay. He hadn't killed them, he hadn't even harmed them much. Just broken their cellar door. It was alright. Ranloo dashed along the dark streets, avoiding lit places and the sounds of voices.

He came to a stop in an empty street. Stone, wood, and wattle-and-daub houses towered on each side, leaning in overhead, their dark windows gaping like empty eyesockets. The moon Anas hung above the rooftops, its pale glow blotting out the smaller stars. The smaller moon, Deena or Adénas Gift, hadn't risen yet.

Lost. For what felt like aeons, Ranloo stood looking around, trying to figure out where he was and what to do next. The storm of anguish and pain made it hard to focus on any action. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, getting worse with each passing minute.

´Mizar,` he moaned to himself, ´why have you abandoned me?` He didn't understand. What had he done to deserve this? Why had this happened to him? It wasn't fair. Anger flared inside him. He had done nothing wrong. Why had she branded him? Like some traitor. His hand lifted to his chest, feeling the burn. It was already fading, healing, but still there. That reminded him he needed a new shirt. It was ruined and grimy from sleeping on dirt floors for two nights. Maybe more. He didn't know how he'd ended up in the first cellar, or for how long he'd been there. But he needed a better place to sleep during the days. That, he decided, would be the goal for now.

Slightly more focused with an objective, he started moving again. Following the street, he looked for abandoned houses, unused backyards, and places with protection from the sun. The lovely, beautiful, life-giving, burning, unforgiving sun. Tears built up in his eyes again and he angrily wiped them away.

´Deal with it!` he said under his breath.