The alarm wailed, echoing along the street as something crushed his foot in an iron grasp.

´By the Dark Ones!` Ranloo growled, on his back against the stone staircase. Bracing against the wall with his free foot, he tugged on the other. A magical trap. Panic lent him the strength he needed and he pulled with all his might. An involuntary scream escaped him as his foot was dislocated by the invisible force. But it was enough and the pressure around his foot slid off.

Panting, he hobbled up and limped away as fast as he could. The hot pain in his ankle subsided quickly. A few blocks from the library, he was able to walk normally again.

Rapidly approaching footsteps reached him. Ranloo twisted around. A patrol of six city guards marched in his direction. He yanked up his hood, hiding his face and hair, then continued down the street at an increased pace. He didn't want to run, it might attract too much attention.

He turned down another street as soon as he could to avoid them. But, too occupied with the ones behind him, he didn't hear the ones around the corner. A few yards away from the intersection, a patrol stood talking. They turned to stare as he rounded the corner. It was impossible to avoid being seen.

He hesitated, unsure of what to do. Continue like nothing was amiss? Turn and flee? They'd understand something was off then. Irresolute and tense, fear rose like a tidal wave. There were only three guards, but the narrow street would force him to pass them by really tight. He kept walking, looking down into the street, hoping his hood would hide his face enough. He didn't want them to see him, afraid they'd attack if they did. He didn't want more fights, more deaths. Unconsciously, he grabbed the hilt of his sword with his left hand, just to keep it from trembling. His right hand rose to the medallion he no longer wore, then fell back down. Frustrated he kept walking.

´Hey, you!` one of the guards called out.

Ranloo glanced up for a second and immediately regretted it.

The guard's eyes widened and he yelled, ´It's him! Watch out!` and pulled out a horn hanging by his side.

Ranloo started, fearing the worst. The loud blast from the horn bounced between the houses and resounded painfully in his ears before he could cover them. The echo of the blast hadn't even subsided when it was joined by the metallic rasping of swords being drawn.

But the answering blasts from several locations around them worried Ranloo more. They had been looking for him, he thought in panic. They had him surrounded. The patrol behind him was probably approaching too, he had to run. He twisted his head to look towards the intersection. Hearing sounds that way, he quickly decided that running past the three guards would be the fastest escape.

Bolting forward, to the guards' surprise, he jumped over their heads. He felt the draft of a sword swinging close to his feet as he passed over them, followed by shouts. Landing gracefully on the other side, he hit the cobbles at a run.

The guards dashed after him, hollering. Ranloo didn't know where to go. He'd heard answering horns from all around and was scared of running into them. He wanted to get back to the guild but knew he couldn't go there, not while in hot pursuit by the city guard. If he led them to the guild, he'd be killed by them if the guards didn't get him first.

So he ran aimlessly through the dark streets, fleeing the guards and the much worse Eldon paladins. He was sure they were after him too.

Coming up along the river, Ranloo started towards a bridge on his left when he spotted another patrol on it. He skidded to a stop and threw himself in the opposite direction when the pursuing guards came out into the street from the intersection. He grimaced. Why did they have to hunt him? He never wanted to hurt anyone, didn't mean to cause trouble. Still, they hated him, wanted to kill him.

Hesitating, he looked back and forth. The guards closed in, shouting. Someone lifted a crossbow and aimed. He cursed, hating the pain and damage the bolts caused. The guard fired and Ranloo ducked. The bolt whistled over his head and clattered against the cobbles behind him.

Turning, he ran full speed towards the river. As he reached the edge, he jumped as far as he could. He came in too low, slamming against the side, and almost fell in. Fingers burning from the friction, he frantically clawed at the paved edge for a handhold, his heart in his throat. Finding a grip on the stones, he hauled himself up.

Another bolt clicked against the stones beside him and bounced into the water with a faint splash. He glanced over his shoulder to the guards on the other side. The sight left him weak with dread. An Eldon patrol advanced towards the river, running behind the guards still on the bridge. They had turned as he'd soared over the water and were heading back the way they'd come.

´Blessed goddess...` Ranloo breathed as he turned and ran again. Another blast from a horn resounded behind him, accompanied by a bolt whistling past his head, making him cringe. They tried to keep track of him with the sound, he realized and legged it, not caring where he went. Just away, away from the sounds and the guards. Away from everything. He had to get far away and hide. He could find his way back later.

A new sound made his heart pound in his chest and thunder in his ears. He almost gasped aloud. Clattering hooves on cobbles. Horses. They were prepared for this, and he wasn't.

The riders charged towards him from an open square on his left and he turned away from them, right into a narrow alley. The narrower the better. The horses wouldn't be able to follow as fast. Exerting himself, he went so fast he barely managed to take the corners without losing his footing.

The hoofs thundered behind him and horns blared. He had shaken the soldiers on foot, but didn't seem able to get rid of the riders. It angered him. He had never asked for this. It wasn't his fault! He tried so hard to not kill people and yet they were after him.

Glancing back, he saw the riders emerge from the alley into a wider street. He gritted his teeth, forced his legs to move faster, oblivious to where he was going. As soon as they came out into the open, they fired bolts at him. They were skilled riders to do that at full speed, he thought despairingly. How would he survive?

* * * * *

Glissai and Brandal stopped and looked to the east, their heads tilted. There it was again, a far-away horn resounding through the night. Was there a fire? It sounded like hunting horns however, not the bells usually utilized in the case of fires. Brandal turned to Glissai, seeing her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she listened.

´Should we investigate?` he asked.

She returned his look, her blue eyes sharp, the yellow veil around her face fluttering in the wind. She nodded and took off towards the sound.

They ran over the rooftops, jumped across streets, and only went down to the ground when the houses were too far apart or the river crossed their path.

´It's coming from our district,` Brandal said.

´Maybe the hunters found something,` she called back. ´If it's one of us, we need to help.`

Brandal hadn't even thought about that. But it could of course happen. There were so many patrols in the area that it wasn't even unlikely to happen. Their clan lived there after all. They hurried their steps in case they were needed.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

As they got closer the shouts and swift thudding of shoes from the patrols reached them. They stopped on a rooftop, above some guards that stood talking, panting after a long run in their heavy gear. Leaning towards the edge of the roof they listened for a while.

´... surely. They have the horses,` a guard said to another, below the vampires.

´I would have liked to see it,` another one answered. ´Not every day you see stuff like this.`

´Yeah.` More panting and groaning could be heard.

´I'm just grateful we don't have to run any farther,` a third guard added. The comment was received with several agreeing sounds and some laughter.

´Still, it's frightening such things exist.` The guards quieted down, shuffling their feet.

´It's not that bad,` another one said. ´He did run. Fast! It's not like he attacked us. I mean, how powerful would he be to take us all on?` The banging of metal on metal accompanied by laughter and more agreements resounded. Brandal and Glissai looked at each other. It sounded like they could have found a vampire.

´Let's go,` Glissai whispered to her dark-haired friend, backed away from the edge, and sprinted away across the roofs towards the last blast of the horns. Brandal hurried after her like a shadow, swift and silent.

Passing by an Eldon patrol some later, they heard the clattering of horses being ridden hard over cobbled roads ahead, shouts, and yells. The vampires followed the commotion to see what was going on. Eventually, they spotted the fleeing vampire, down in the streets, his black cloak ripped and his dark hair whipping around behind him. They had found the rogue. They followed the hunt, curious to see what would happen. Maybe the guards would kill the rogue and relieve them of their problem? Glissai smiled as she watched him run.

´He's dead meat,` she commented happily.

Brandal smirked. ´Probably.`

´That's great news. It's him they've been after. If they get him, the patrols will probably go back to normal, making our lives easier again.`

´He might get away though,` Brandal mused as he ran along on the rooftops. ´He's been pretty good at getting away so far.`

She nodded but didn't look concerned at all. ´He's alone. He probably can't get away from the horses. He's not fast enough yet.` She giggled to herself, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Brandal looked down just as a guard fired a crossbow from his horse. The bolt hit the dark vampire in the back and he stumbled forward a few steps with a grunt, then continued running. He felt a slight twinge of compassion towards the elf. He must be panicked. Being hunted wasn't fun, especially when it seemed impossible to get away. Not that he cared if the stranger lived or died, they had intended to either kill him or drive him off anyway. But the fact that he would be hunted much the same way if he was found out made him feel somewhat bad about it. They kept up the pace, following to see how the hunt would pan out.

* * * * *

A heavy pounding on the door, insistent and irritating. The hard knocking came again and again. Annoyed, Tealas opened his eyes and looked around. It was still dark and he hadn't slept enough. Never enough. What was the racket about? He sat up as the insistent pounding on the door continued.

´What's going on?` Odefin's slurred voice asked from the other side of the room.

´I don't know,` he answered as he got up. Blinking the sleep from his stinging eyes, he went to the door, dressed only in a long tunic. He opened the door and squinted in the light from a lantern.

A young city guard waited outside. He looked distressed and his face blushed red. ´I'm so sorry for disturbing you,` he began, ´but they found him!` he declared triumphantly.

´They found who?` Tealas asked and massaged his face with a hand. He was so tired.

´The vampire, sir!` the guard said, unable to stand still. Tealas eyes widened and he was suddenly wide awake.

´The vampire? Where?` he said and ran back into the room, leaving the door open. ´Odefin! Get up!` he yelled and began to dress.

´Hmmmpf...` Odefin replied from underneath his covers.

Tealas went and shook his friend by his shoulder. ´Get up, now. They found the vampire!`

Odefin opened his eyes and sat up with a grumble. ´Why did they have to find him at night?` he mumbled.

´Because he's a vampire?` Tealas grinned, buckled his belt, strapped on his brigantine and breeches, and adjusted the leather tassets on his thighs. The young guard outside the doorway shuffled his feet impatiently.

´Where did they find him?` Tealas asked, glancing at the guard.

´Uh, in the Dirak district, sir,` he said.

Tealas nodded and attached his sword to his belt. ´So, he didn't leave after all,` he mused. ´Strange though. Or maybe he just returned for some reason?` He turned to Odefin who was only half-dressed. ´Hurry up, you big oaf,` he said and grabbed his crossbow and quarrels. ´I'm ready to go. What's your excuse?`

Odefin muttered something under his breath as he dressed.

´I'll get the horses ready,` Tealas added. ´Hurry up.` Then he donned his hat, went out the door, and hurried after the young guard down to the stable. He readied his horse and told the guard to saddle Odefin's. When the big hunter came down, they were already standing with the horses in the courtyard. Odefin's big, dark brown horse snorted and tossed its head as it saw the big man approach.

´You'll be able to follow the horns when you get closer,` the guard said, struggling to hold the big animal. ´It worked. They are trying to herd him towards the meeting point.` The hunters nodded, then mounted their horses and set off at a high speed.

* * * * *

Ranloo was scared. His heart was beating hard and he breathed fast, even though he didn't feel tired in any way. It was merely a reaction to his panic at being found and hunted. Hunted like a wild animal through the streets. He didn't want to die, he didn't want to be killed like this.

Glancing back, he saw the horses closing in on him in the wide, straight passage. He zigzagged to avoid the crossbow quarrels they fired at him, but it slowed him down. Grabbing a light post, he used it to take a sharp turn around a corner. It saved him a few seconds as the horses couldn't make the turn at full speed.

Where to run? How would he get away long enough to hide when they were so close behind? Anger mingled with his fear as he desperately tried to avoid the riders.

A jarring pain flared in his right shoulder as a bolt found its target. Pushed forward by the impact, he stumbled with a grunt. He almost fell before he regained his balance and kept running. The pain in his shoulder slowed him down, blazing and pounding, numbing his right arm. Cursing loudly, he threw a venomous glance at the rider behind him. This wouldn't work, he would soon be ridden down and killed. He needed an escape. Now. The street opened up to a small square ahead. He skidded to a stop as he came out into the open. More riders waited in front of him.

´By the Gods,` he uttered in terror.

The riders spread out. The pursuers did likewise, forming a loose circle around him. Anger flared inside him. He wasn't some goblin trying to rob peasants or a monster who liked to hurt people. He was a ranger, an elf, and a good person. He wouldn't allow them to treat him this way.

Ranloo's fangs extended with a dull throbbing. He spun around, staring at the guards. Some of them had crossbows leveled at him. He was sure they'd kill him any moment. The sharp points of the bolts glinted in the warm light from the lanterns in the area. Time stretched.

Why weren't they firing, Ranloo wondered. Why wasn't he dead yet? He remembered something then, something he hadn't thought of before. His right hand closed around the hilt of his sword and he pulled the weapon out with a metallic rasp. He would go down fighting if this really was the end.