Ranloo and Sern fell into a routine where Sern got up around midday and acquired an animal. Then he ate, rested, and sometimes stole things he could either use or sell for money. He stayed away from the room when darkness set in.

Ranloo woke at sunset and killed the animal. Taking the edge off his thirst, it allowed him to stay in control. Then he headed out with Sern to practise. They sparred and sometimes checked how high Ranloo could jump, how fast he ran, or how heavy things he could lift.

Ranloo didn't like the new sword much but was happy to have some kind of weapon at least. Afraid he'd use too much force and accidentally hurt his friend, he held back.

´Come on, elf, the sword's not a flower!` Sern teased.

Ranloo snickered and lifted the blade to advance. Sern had noticed. ´I don't want to hurt you.`

Sern waved a hand dismissively. ´Don't be such a wuss!`

Ranloo charged and swung the blade at Sern who nimbly dodged and stabbed for his side. Ranloo easily deflected the attack. Sern used two long knives, that he'd blunted with cloth, against the sword. It gave him a shorter reach, but his speed and technique were phenomenal and he managed to hit Ranloo from time to time. Ranloo was unnaturally fast but in a constant battle with himself. He kept getting distracted by Sern's racing heartbeats, the smell of sweat, and the excitement of the sparring itself. It scared him but didn't seem to deter the young man.

´C'mon, you can do better!` Sern said and beckoned with a hand, leaving himself open to an attack.

Ranloo lunged for it and stabbed with the sword. Sern laughed and dodged aside, one knife deflecting the sword strike to the side as he attacked with the other. Ranloo followed the motion and spun the sword around, blocking the boy's stab. They danced around, slashing, striking, deflecting and parrying. Ranloo slowly slipped into a trance, following Sern's movements, working him hard, speeding up.

A slash connected. Sern yelped. The knife dropped to the ground alongside a few red droplets. Triggered, Ranloo tensed, ready to jump at the human. His fangs extended, gums aching. He wanted to bite, taste the warm, rich blood.

Sern raised the remaining knife in front of him, slipped the protective cloth off and took a step back, breathing hard. ´Snap out of it! Ranloo!` He backed off, eyes fixed on Ranloo.

Ranloo stared at him, vision red-tinted, breathing fast. He knew somewhere deep down he shouldn't attack, but he badly wanted to.

´Calm down. Let's take a rest.`

The words seeped in through his ears, faintly making sense, like the vague memory of a dream. Ranloo nodded slowly.

´Lower t' sword,` Sern said as he sheathed his knife with slow, precise movements. Kneeling, he picked up the knife he'd dropped, never taking his eyes off the vampire.

Ranloo gradually came back to his senses, lowered the weapon and turned his back on Sern. Taking a deep breath, he stared at the sky, trying to calm down. He was disappointed in himself, angry at his stupid pounding teeth. He couldn't retract them. Didn't know how.

´I'll go and explore the city,` he said hoarsely. ´I need to learn the layout. And if I'm lucky, maybe I can find other vampires too.` Maybe if he found them, he could ask about being a vampire, maybe even get some help. At least he hoped that's what would happen.

´Alright. Be safe,` Sern cautioned.

Ranloo nodded without turning. Better keep his distance before an accident happened. He had to calm down.

* * * * *

One night, Ranloo left early to find the library. He wanted to get there while it was still open and he didn't need to break in. The thought of going made him both nervous and excited. He hadn't been around other people for some time, mostly making sure to avoid them, afraid of his own urges. But curiosity, and the need to distract himself from the loss of his family, got the better of him and he finally gave in to his need to learn about the deity of the deserted temple. He also hoped to find something about vampires. Surely there were books on the subject?

Ranloo ran through the dark city, evening mists flowing over the river in the cooling air, stars sparkling overhead. He liked the night but missed the brightness and colours of daylight. In the dark, everything took on the same hue. His cloak spread out behind him, his hair twisting from side to side with his long steps. He enjoyed running because it gave him a sense of freedom. He only walked when he heard people nearby to avoid drawing attention. He had quickly learned to stay away from the routes of the city guards.

He found Mermaid's Square, like the young Im acolyte had told him that time, and turned to the left, remembering his directions. On the road ahead, a large building towered above the others. A beautiful sand-coloured stone building with many tall windows, a staircase leading up to the double doors, and lanterns hanging by the sides, glowing with a welcoming light. He slowed down as he approached and stepped up the wide stairs.

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Nervously, Ranloo reached out, grabbed one of the brass handles and pulled. The door slid up quietly, spilling warm light over the steps. The smell of parchment, leather, and dust wafted out from the hall. Cautiously, he entered the building. A high ceiling capped an interior decorated with many reliefs and paintings. The hall opened up to a wide room, bigger than any he had seen before, and filled from floor to ceiling with bookcases. The ones along the walls had long ladders attached, fastened into rails at the top of the shelves so you could slide them back and forth. He gaped at the amount of books, parchments, scrolls, and bound piles of papers. Where to begin, he thought, bewildered.

Some young men and women, probably students, sat around tables whispering and pointing to passages in big books. Some of them glanced up at the sound of his soft footsteps, loud in the hushed atmosphere. A man stood on the top of a ladder, flitting through the books at the top of a shelf. A wide stair at one end of the room lead to the second floor. The soaring ceiling allowed for a decent view into the open second floor, lined by a balustrade to keep people from falling. High above, three large glass orbs hung from brass chains, glowing with the still soft light of magic. Ranloo stared in amazement.

´Hey! What are you doing here?`

The sharp voice startled Ranloo from his gaping and he turned to look into the blazing eyes of a young guard. He automatically took a step back, stuttering as he tried to come up with an excuse. The closeness triggered his hunting instincts and he fought the urge to simply grab the man and bite him.

´This place is not for commoners. You have to leave,` the young man continued.

´But...`

´Just look at you,` the guard snorted and placed a gloved hand on Ranloo's shoulder, pushing him back.

Ranloo swiped his hand off, jaws working as rage welled up. ´I'm here to borrow a book,` he said, keeping his voice low with an effort.

´Not looking like that, you're not. Get out.` The guard stepped towards Ranloo, forcing him back.

´Is there a problem?`

Ranloo spotted a librarian, a middle-aged man with a short-cropped beard and moustache, shoulder-length hair that was greying at the temples, and dressed in a red robe with gold trimmings. He wore a stern expression on his face.

´Yes. This man here won't leave,` the guard snorted.

´What?` Ranloo protested. ´I just got here!`

The librarian raised his hand in a calming gesture. ´Do you have a Letter of Approval?` His eyes swept over him in an unimpressed manner.

´Letter?` Ranloo faltered. What was he talking about? ´I... no. But I have money if that's an issue?`

´See,` the guard said and grasped Ranloo's shoulder to force him back again.

´Don't touch me!` Ranloo snapped and swatted his hand off again, even as his heart raced and his fangs throbbed.

´Get him out,` the librarian said offhandedly and left.

´But, please, I need to...` Ranloo tried.

Another guard came towards him from a door further back in the room. The first one put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

´Please, don't cause a scene. It's very unfitting,` he commented. ´Just turn around and leave. You're disturbing the peace.`

´Disturbing the...` Ranloo sputtered. ´You're the one threatening me!` He jabbed a finger towards the guard, even as he became aware of the people in the library. They had all stopped what they were doing to stare at him.

´Calm down, turn around, and leave,` the second guard, a large woman, said as she approached. ´The library is only for the higher classes.`

Ranloo realized the hopelessness of the situation. Anger burned in his chest, but he backed down. If he tried to press the issue, he was certain he'd end up killing people again. It was already too tempting with the two guards so close to him.

´I'm sorry,` he forced himself to say as his lips curled in scorn.

´That's right, you are,` the young man agreed and advanced on him, forcing him back out into the hall.

Ranloo resisted the urge to attack again and slowly backed off. As he got closer to the exit he turned and ran out the door, his heart beating loudly in his ears.

A yelp caused him to throw a glance over his shoulder as he left. The young Im acolyte he'd met earlier stared after him with wide eyes, a bundle of books cradled in his arms, his medallion gleaming unpleasantly. Ranloo cursed to himself and kept running, disappointment burning through his mind.

* * * * *

Fumbling with his books, Lasal gaped after the fleeing figure for a while, heart hammering. Then he swept into the library and placed the books on the circulation desk near the entrance. Haifel, the head librarian, walked up to him with a smile.

'Lasal, welcome back.'

'Good evening, sir. Who was that just now?' Lasal uttered in one breath and gestured towards the door, framed by two guards. 'A man practically fled the place a moment ago. Did something happen?'

'Calm down, boy. Act more appropriate,' the librarian muttered. ' He was merely a poor fellow who barged in without a Letter of Approval. Clearly a thief or beggar of some kind.'

Lasal frowned, pretty certain it was that elf he'd met. Still acting strange. Something wasn't right. 'I think I saw him a while back. Was he an elf?' he whispered.

Haifel cocked his head. 'Yes, actually. Desert-elf perhaps. Odd, now that you mention it. Elves rarely look that shabby.'

Lasal nodded. 'He seemed a bit peculiar that time, but nice.'

Haifel snorted. 'Regardless, he had no business here. Caused a ruckus.'

'Don't you think it's a bit sad the library isn't for everyone, though?'

'You're too kind. Imagine what those people would do with all this knowledge. Use it for their own misdeeds.'

Lasal smiled. 'They're not all bad, you know.'

'Maybe not. But they're not all good either.'

'Fair point.' He didn't consider all nobles good either but decided to keep it to himself. Leaving the desk, he walked up the stairs. He had a thesis to work on, and needed to study. But his thoughts kept returning to the stranger. Why had he seemed so scared that first time, yet so intense? Dangerous. Why had he tried to enter the library in his state? And why so late? Lasal had a key, and allowances to stay after closing. That man didn't. Maybe he could find something out? Wasn't that what they were supposed to do anyway? Find out the truth about things? He rubbed his Im medallion between his fingers. The All Seeing Eye.