Ranloo woke, and disoriented by his new surroundings, sneaked to the door and listened. Muted sounds from upstairs reached his sensitive ears, but silence reigned in the basement. He entered the dark corridor and crept cautiously into the next room.

Things had been rearranged as he slept. Barrels and crates had given way to a small animal pen. Assuming it was for him, he killed the unfortunate goat there. After a moment's consideration, he left the body on the floor and returned to his room. He made sure he looked presentable and headed upstairs.

As he entered the hallway, he was met by a familiar face. The young, red-haired man leaned against the wall by the door. Ranloo took more careful note of his appearance now that he was calm. With his thin pale face, deep set blue eyes, and long narrow nose, Gesald looked only a few years older than Sern, maybe twenty. Of average height, he was well built but slender, and dressed in a dark grey tunic, breeches, and cloak.

Gesald started as Ranloo came up, took a deep steadying breath and smiled. ´Good evening.` His voice sounded strained.

Ranloo nodded and proceeded to walk past when the man got up from his position, looking like he wanted something. Ranloo stopped, raising his eyebrows.

´Uh, I'm going to come with you for now,` he explained. ´You're not allowed to walk around on your own.`

Instantly irritated, Ranloo wondered why he could never be left alone. Why was it so hard for people to realize they were safer away from him, not near him?

´I'm terribly sorry but I have orders to follow,` Gesald blurted out, and Ranloo realized he'd been glaring at the poor soul.

Shaking his head, he snorted and turned to go up to Sern's room. The young man hesitated before hurrying after him. Ranloo wasn't yet familiar with the layout of the house and took a wrong turn on the second floor.

Gesald stopped and fidgeted. ´Um, are you going to your friend?`

Ranloo stopped and gazed at him without replying.

´It's this way,` he said and pointed.

Ranloo started down the other corridor. He smelled the fear of the man as he passed by and heard his speeding heartbeats. So very distracting and so annoying. Gesald followed, and after a few steps Ranloo halted. The young man almost walked into him, gasped, and scampered back a few steps.

´Look,` Ranloo said, trying to keep his voice level. ´Keep your distance. I don't want you to be too close.` He eyed the scared man for a few seconds, then continued down the hallway. Gesald's footsteps tailed him again, but at a greater distance. Good, Ranloo thought. He listens at least.

Ranloo found Sern's room and knocked on the door. It opened almost immediately.

Sern looked up with a smile. ´Hi! Did it go well when you woke?` he asked, curious.

Ranloo nodded, not wanting to talk about it.

Sern noticed the red-haired man behind Ranloo. ´Hello?` he said. ´Are we gonna meet Jackal now?`

Gesald shook his head. ´Not yet. But soon.`

´Come in, Ranloo,` Sern said and let the vampire in, then he closed the door so that Gesald couldn't follow, much to Ranloo's satisfaction.

He smiled. ´Thank you.`

Sern grinned. ´I guessed you didn't want 'im to come with us?`

Ranloo shook his head so forcefully that he slapped himself in the face with his hair. Sern laughed at him. It felt good to be with a friend, Ranloo thought. Sern was calm around him now and that made him less distracting and easier to resist than others. He also had a way of getting Ranloo in a good mood.

´Apparently, I'm not allowed to go anywhere without him following me around,` he explained, irritation rising again.

Sern sat down on the bed and waved it away. ´Of course, they don't trust you yet. You're a scary vamp' after all.` He nudged Ranloo as he sat down beside him.

Ranloo frowned. ´I don't like that they know. How did they find out?` He turned and looked, suddenly suspicious, at the boy.

Sern held up his hands. ´I din't say anythin'! They already knew when I talked with Jackal the other day. But hey, they let us join anyway. I think you can relax,` he said with a smile.

Ranloo wasn't so sure. When people knew what he was they got nervous, and that made them skittish and more prone to do stupid things. ´I still don't like it,` he said. ´But I guess I have no choice but to accept the situation. I just hope nothing happens.`

Sern patted him on the shoulder. ´It'll be fine.`

Always so positive, Ranloo thought with sudden fondness.

As they waited for the meeting, Ranloo dared to be vaguely hopeful about the guild. But also concerned. He hoped it would allow him more time to explore the city, looking for other vampires. Especially that bastard who had created him. Where had that crazy man gone? He wanted to kill him for what he'd done to him. But he'd also like to get some answers. Anything that could help him survive. He knew there was no turning back to his old life. That was all gone and moving on without him. But he needed to find meaning in his new existence. He had a constant feeling of being lost and fumbling around without aim or goals. He had to find it again. But how?

A knock on the door made them both look up. Sern went and opened the door.

Gesald stood outside. ´It's time to go and meet Jackal.`

Ranloo got up and followed them through the house and up to the third floor. They stepped into a room with an open door. A slender man waited inside. His sharp but friendly eyes watched them closely as they entered. His clothing was nondescript and simple, the only thing standing out, the golden Eldon medallion on his chest.

That can't be good, Ranloo thought with dismay.

´Thank you, Gesald,` Jackal said. ´You may leave for now. I want you to see us again after the meeting in the big hall.` He waved the young man off.

Gesald bowed at the waist, turned, and left.

Jackal closed the door, observing Ranloo carefully. ´Welcome,` he said after a while. ´I gotta admit I'm very curious about you.`

Ranloo said nothing. He folded his arms over his chest and avoided looking at the sun-symbol. It glared in his eyes but wasn't too bad. He could manage it, even if it was disturbing.

´I'm taking a great risk by letting you in here,` Jackal continued. ´Sern promised me you won't hurt anyone and that you will help us. Is this true?`

Ranloo nodded shortly, not liking the situation one bit.

´Can we trust you?` Jackal asked. Sern was about to interrupt but stopped as Jackal held up a hand. ´Well?` he promted.

Ranloo wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't promise not to hurt anyone, but he would try. ´I won't hurt anyone if they stay away from me,` he said hoarsely.

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Jackal frowned, displeased by the answer. ´I'll make sure nobody goes into the basement or disturbs you during the first hour after sundown,` he said. ´And your room is in a less used part. Is that enough?`

Ranloo nodded.

´Good. You'll get animals to eat in the room beside yours. Sern told us that as long as you have that, you won't kill people. Is that true?´ He studied Ranloo intently.

´Yes.`

´Good, good.` Jackal clasped his hands behind his back.

He was very calm for being face to face with a vampire for the first time, Ranloo thought. There was no smell of fear and his heartbeats were slow and steady. Clearly, he was used to dealing with dangerous individuals and that made it easier on Ranloo.

´Now, I need you to answer some questions.` He watched Ranloo with his clear, calm eyes. ´You need to answer truthfully,` he added with a bit of sharpness entering his voice.

He nodded, not sure what to expect.

´Does this thing affect you?` Jackal asked and indicated his sun-medallion.

Ranloo's upper lip curled in disgust as he looked at it, but he reminded himself it was important to those around him. He nodded.

´How much?` Jackal asked, noting his reaction.

´It's annoying me,` Ranloo said truthfully.

´Annoying you?` The guild leader arched his eyebrows in surprise. ´That's it?`

Ranloo met his eyes. ´It's annoying me. Shining in my eyes,` he explained. ´But it's not too bad.`

´Interesting. Wait here.` Jackal turned and went into an adjacent room.

A faint rasping, followed by something metallic jingled faintly. Ranloo glanced at Sern who shrugged. Jackal returned to the room and a now-familiar fear descended over Ranloo, like a big hand crushing his chest. He took an involuntary step back from the guild leader as he approached. Ranloo wanted to flee the room but forced himself to stay still. His breathing became fast and shallow.

Sern watched him with a frown. ´What happened?` he whispered.

Ranloo stared at Jackal and didn't respond.

The guild leader studied him, a slight smile playing over his lips for a second.

A burst of anger flared inside Ranloo.

´How about this?` Jackal held up another sun-medallion in front of him.

Ranloo shrank back from its sharp glaring light. He feared that if he got too close, it would burn him alive. Unconsciously, he looked for escape routes, deeply stressed. The guild leader regarded him with a pleased look.

´Stop it,` Sern interrupted, anger making his voice taut. ´He doesn't like it. Can't you see?`

Jackal turned to the thief. ´If you can't be quiet, you've got to leave the room,` he said calmly. ´I need to test him.`

Sern frowned but backed off again.

Ranloo barely heard them. The glaring symbol made him feel small and insignificant, like a speck of dirt. He took another step back.

Jackal turned back to him again. ´Come closer.`

Ranloo shook his head, eyes wide with fear.

´I need you to touch it,` the guild leader continued with his calm voice.

Ranloo managed to tear his eyes off the symbol to stare at the man. ´What?` he said in a strangled voice. ´Are you insane? I'm not touching that!`

Jackal held the symbol out towards him.

Ranloo stepped back, bumping into the wall behind him. Trapped. Panic surged, and his fangs extended as his body prepared for battle.

Jackal stood still, studying him. ´I need to know this works and this isn't just some act,` he commented.

Sern's face coloured and he opened his mouth to protest but was stopped by a glare from the guild leader. He crossed his arms and stepped back again.

´I'm not acting,` Ranloo said through clenched teeth.

´Prove it. I'm a follower of Eldon and this goes against everything I believe in. I have to be sure,` Jackal said more forcefully. ´Touch it.`

Ranloo sneered. ´You're a thief! That's against Eldon's will too.`

Jackal visage darkened, his brows snapping together. ´I didn't choose this life. Now touch it!`

Ranloo shook his head and wished he could become one with the wall.

´I won't let you join the guild until you do. I gotta know what effect it has on you, and I have to know without a doubt that it really works.` He held the medallion out again.

Ranloo trembled. He was afraid and he didn't like it. He was used to being strong and brave. Feeling like a shivering leaf wasn't something he enjoyed at all. It made him angry. But nobody would call him a coward. He forced himself away from the wall. Moving towards the symbol was the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life. Every step made him want to sink to his knees or turn and run. But he refused to let anything control him like that.

Gingerly, he stretched out his hand towards the medallion, noting his trembling fingers.

Jackal smiled and placed it in his hand.

A hissing was followed by a yelp. Ranloo dropped the medallion, shied back and clutched his hand to his chest. It was like holding red hot metal, he thought, looking at his hand. A bright red burn of a sun marred his hand. He stared at it. It hurt deeper than his Mizar medallion had that first night. He grimaced at the pain and overwhelming fear surrounding the sun-symbol, pressing his back against the wall.

Jackal studied him carefully. ´Let me see that,` he said and reached out towards him.

Ranloo snarled at him.

Startled, the leader stepped back, lifting his hands in a warding gesture. ´Calm down. I just wanna see,` he said softly. Bending down, he picked up the medallion from the floor and handed it to Sern. ´Put that in the other room,` he ordered and the boy ran off with it immediately.

Relieved as the pressure from the medallion diminished, Ranloo took a deep breath to steady himself. ´I didn't choose this life either,` he stated angrily.

´Let me see,` Jackal insisted, ignoring the comment.

Ranloo didn't like the way the leader looked at him, as if he was an interesting experiment. But for the sake of his friend, he allowed Jackal to see.

He took Ranloo's hand and inspected the burn for a few seconds, then let him go. ´Very interesting indeed,` he mumbled. ´It seems that the greater the blessing is on the symbol, the greater the effect it has on you.` He smiled slightly. ´Your eyes are glowing. Is that a normal reaction to pain?`

Ranloo hadn't been aware of it, he couldn't feel it. ´I don't know,` he replied, his voice trembling.

Jackal nodded thoughtfully. ´Well, it seems to work and your reaction is clearly more than an act,` he concluded.

Ranloo's lips curled back in anger. ´Why would I act about such a thing?`

Jackal arched his eyebrows. ´Isn't it obvious?` he asked. ´If everyone thinks holy symbols work against vampires, but they don't, it gives you the upper hand.`

It made sense. But the fear he'd felt was too great, and he could never have acted that way.

´In half an hour it's midnight and the meeting in the great hall begins. I want you both there. Come up on the stage so that I can introduce you to the guild,` Jackal said. ´You are free to do as you wish until then.` With that, he opened the door to let them out. ´Don't cause any problems,` he admonished as they passed him on the way out.

They walked in silence back to Sern's room. Once inside Sern gave Ranloo a concerned look. ´You okay? Did it burn you?`

Ranloo nodded and sank down on the bed, still holding his hand.

´Can I see?` he asked, curious about the effect.

With a sigh, Ranloo held out his hand.

´Ouch!` Sern commented as he saw the burn. ´But hey, you've survived worse,` he chuckled.

Ranloo huffed at the remark, giving him an insulted look.

Unruffled, Sern continued. ´Soon we're gonna be made known to the guild. I gotta say, I'm a bit jittery 'bout that.`

Ranloo's face softened into a half-smile. ´You're nervous? What do you think I am?` he snorted. ´Everyone's going to be afraid of me. This probably isn't such a great idea after all.`

With a serious expression on his young face, Sern said with conviction, ´It'll go just fine. Don't worry. You worry over-much. They'll accept you. You just gotta be calm and let 'em get t' know you.`

Ranloo gave a pained smile, making Sern realize just how much fear, confusion, and nervousness he must be going through. ´I hope you're right,` he said. ´I really do.`