With hard uncomfortable stone slabs digging into his side and an awful stench offending his nose, Ranloo opened his eyes to darkness. Instantly furious as he recalled the hunt, he shot to his feet, stepping into something cold. Gurgling, the reeking water rushed past, must faster than the previous night. It lapped at his boots, wetting them, reaching higher.

He grimaced. Water dripped from the ceiling and ran down the walls. It must be raining. He had no idea about where he was, except that he was in the sewers and probably being hunted. He flexed his right arm without difficulty, its injuries healed. However, his entire right side felt sore and burned to the touch.

The light hadn't even touched him fully, he thought in fear. What would happen if they hit him directly? Would he burn? He shuddered at the thought and began walking through the dirty, dark, and smelly tunnels. At least he could see in the dark. A small mercy. Famished, hunger clawed at his stomach but there was nothing to eat down here. And robbed of his sense of smell, he couldn't find prey or the way up. It fueled his fury, already burning hot from the unfair treatment. Everyone hated him, feared him. He tried so hard to keep himself in check, to not harm people. Yet, they wanted nothing more than to see him dead. Despair threatened to drag him under. Growling, he punched the wall with his fist. The flaring pain brought relief from his emotions for a few seconds.

Everything had been taken from him. His family, his lovely wife and children, his best friends, his goddess, even his ability to work as a ranger. The thoughts raked through him with anguish. Stuck in a human city. The guards pursuing him, the vampire hunters seeking him, and even his allies were fearful of him. It wasn't fair. He couldn't breathe. His chest tightened as warring emotions of guilt, sorrow, oppression, and hate built up inside. Grabbing his head with his hands, nails digging into his scalp, he bent forward, consumed by the raging storm inside. He couldn't keep it in anymore and screamed, the sound echoing down the dark, dank tunnels.

Panting, he stood still, the fading sound of his cry ringing in his head, his throat raw. He didn't know what to do. He had to get back to the guild, to his only friends. The thieves, murderers, and other criminals. The only ones willing to accept him now. The only ones he'd never wanted to like him. Blinking back tears, he tried to swallow, but couldn't get past the lump in his throat.

Once, a lifetime ago, Ranloo had used to believe that criminals were bad people who didn't know what was right. People doing evil because they were too lazy, or too evil to care about doing the right thing. He knew better now. They didn't always have a choice, just like himself. Starving, poor, without homes and hunted, they were cornered and did what they had to survive. He sniffed, unable to escape his crushing feelings. He needed something to hurt. With another angry roar, he punched the stonewall to his right as hard as he could. His already bruised knuckles screamed with the sharp pain, buring hot, bringing him back to the present. Hands trembling and dripping blood, he trudged forward. The reeking filth splashing up with every other step made him shudder in disgust. He had to find a way out. Why was he being punished like this?

For what felt like hours, he walked in the darkness, his anger and hunger increasing. With each step, his hate for the hunters grew. They had ruined any chances he had of a somewhat good life, he thought bitterly. And they endangered his friends.

Rythmic sloshing ahead echoed down the tunnel and he froze in midstep. The rushing water almost drowned out all other sounds but as he concentrated, his keen senses sharpening, everything else faded. He lost control as soon as he realized someone living was down here with him. Racing forward, his fangs extended in anticipation. The splashing stopped, then started again, moving faster. Ranloo lunged forward and grabbed someone, dragging the person with him down on the dirty stone slabs.

The figure was small, like a child, but way stronger. It put up quite a fight, punching, clawing, and pushing.

Hunger was the only thing on his mind as Ranloo held the small person down, grabbed its flailing arms, and bit into its neck. Hot blood flowed into his mouth, strong and lifegiving, but with a strangely bitter taste. Ranloo gagged and snapped out of his trance. He pulled away, letting the small creature go before he had taken as much as he'd liked, his hunger still strong. With a snarl, he leaned back to look at his victim. And stared.

His gaze was met by wide yellow eyes with slitted pupils in a dark narrow face with a sharp long nose and a mouth gaping in shock. Sharp teeth could be discerned behind curled lips. Ranloo quickly realized he'd found a goblin. With a curse, he let it go and stood back up. Disgusted, he spat on the ground beside them. The goblin carefully got up on its feet, one hand over the wound on its neck, the other steadying it against the stonewall. The goblin was no taller than a human child of about ten years, but it was sinewy and strong. A tuft of long greasy hair hung from its head, and it was dressed in rags. Ranloo wondered for how long this creature had been down here. Had it been hunted like himself perhaps? He took a step back and was about to leave when a thought struck him. If the goblin lived down here, he could help him out.

´How do I get out from here?` he snapped.

The goblin stared at him, its yellow eyes gleaming in the dark. He said something in his own language and carefully sidled away. Furious, Ranloo stepped back in, grabbed the small creature by the throat, and pushed him against the wall. The goblin squeaked and grabbed his arm with his strong, clawed hands. He didn't try to escape, however, he just held the vampire's arm, trying to keep Ranloo from strangling him.

´Don't kill me!` he wheezed.

´So you do speak common,` Ranloo snorted.

The goblin nodded frantically. ´Let me down, I'll talk.`

Ranloo let him go and he fell back against the wall, panting. ´Well.` Ranloo glared at the creature. ´Talk!`

The goblin held his neck again, eyeing him fearfully. ´Where do you want to go, vampire?`

´Out. Anywhere. Preferably in the direction of the harbour or Riverside district,` he snapped. The goblin's heartbeats and the smell of blood were distracting and he was still hungry. But he didn't want goblin blood. Repulsive.

The goblin bobbed his head and pointed in the direction he'd been going. ´Go that way,` he rasped. ´When you get to the crossing, turn left and follow the smaller culvert for about half an hour –`

Ranloo didn't care to listen any further, grabbed the goblin's arm and pushed him in front. ´Show me,` he said. ´If you try to escape or you lie to me I'll kill you.`

The goblin yelped and hurried down the dark passage. Ranloo followed the small creature, wondering what a goblin was even doing here. Surely, living in a human city was hard for it. It was hard for himself, and he at least looked like an elf. After some time of silence, he decided to talk with it.

´Why are you down here?` he asked, genuinely curious.

The goblin snorted.

Anger rose instantly in him. ´Answer me!`

The goblin started and held his big ears before looking over his shoulder with an angry face. ´What's that got to do with you?` he retorted defiantly.

Ranloo realized he had no reason, other than his curiosity, but he didn't care. ´I want to know. That's all that should matter to you,` he hissed.

The creature hurried his steps in fright but complied with the request. ´I live here. So what?` he gruffed.

´In the sewers?` Ranloo said, his eyebrows lifted in astonishment. ´Here?`

´Not here,` the goblin replied with a snort. ´But yes, in the sewers. There are rooms...` he said vaguely and waved a hand in the direction where he lived.

´How do you stand the smell?`

´You get used to it.` The goblin shrugged. ´At least I live.`

Ranloo could sympathize with that and nodded. ´Aren't you lonely down here?` he asked, gaining a surprised stare from the goblin.

´Lonely?` he asked as if the vampire was out of his mind. ´I'm not alone.`

Ranloo swallowed nervously. What if the goblin had lots of friends here? He looked around in the darkness, listening for sounds. The goblin noticed and grinned, his sharp teeth a reminder that Ranloo wasn't the only predator down here.

´Don't worry, I'm not suicidal.` He gave a dry laugh. ´I'm not going to lead you to my friends.`

Ranloo nodded but didn't trust the creature for a second.

´How did an elf end up like you, I wonder?` the goblin asked then. ´I've never seen an elven vampire before.`

´That's none of your business,` Ranloo replied.

The goblin shrugged and trudged on in silence.

Arriving at the crossing, the wide culvert they followed was intersected by a much smaller one. The high arched ceiling was replaced by a narrow, low tunnel without walkways. Forced to move through the reeking brown waters in the centre, Ranloo's lips curled in disgust. He must have made a sound because the goblin glanced over his shoulder.

´This way,` he rasped and kept walking.

Ranloo followed, pressed along the side as much as possible to avoid the deepest water. The goblin didn't seem to care, wading barefoot through it all. Disgusting creatures. And yet, more accepting of him than most people nowadays, he thought. They walked in silence for a long time through the gloom, sometimes turning left, sometimes right. Here and there water spilled down from the streets above and Ranloo tried to avoid the dirty waterfalls.

They approached another intersection when a voice greeted them. It spoke a tongue Ranloo didn't know, but he recognized the goblins' ugly language and looked up sharply. By the corner ahead stood another goblin, this one slightly smaller but more armed and with somewhat better clothing.

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Ranloo stopped and bared his fangs. The one he followed said something in goblin to his friend and laughed. Glancing sideways at Ranloo, he added something more.

´What are you saying?` Ranloo demanded.

He grinned. ´He asked if I had found a new friend,` he said. ´I told him I wouldn't befriend an elf, even if he's got fangs.` The goblin laughed.

Ranloo glowered. ´You said you wouldn't lead me to your friends.`

´I didn't. I don't know where they all are. We move around you see,` he said and made walking gestures with his long fingers.

The other goblin said something and the one Ranloo followed shook his head and waved his hand at the other one. The smaller goblin nodded with a frown, backed off, and vanished into the dark.

Ranloo didn't trust that it had really left. ´Where's it going?` he asked suspiciously.

´It?` the goblin huffed. ´He left because I told him to.`

´Where to?` Ranloo hissed. ´To get more of you?`

The goblin sighed loudly. ´No. He left. Went away. Not to get anyone. I told you, I'm not suicidal.` He eyed Ranloo carefully. ´But maybe I should be. You don't seem all that powerful. Are you new at this?` He grinned wickedly, making Ranloo uneasy.

He had never dealt with goblins before, only killed them when he'd seen them too close to the elven border. And that wasn't often. ´Why don't you try me,` he growled at the small creature and took a threatening step forward.

The goblin's eyes widened and he stepped back, raising his hands. ´No, I don't think so,` he said. ´We're almost there. Follow me.` He turned and continued down the culvert, sloshing through the reeking water.

Frowning, Ranloo followed, keeping his eyes and ears peeled. He didn't want to get surprised by a hoard of goblins, suddenly coming at him from behind. He didn't trust the creatures one bit. He reached for his sword, but the empty scabbard rememinded him that he had thrown it away. Stupid. He had to stop losing his weapons. He still had a knife though. He drew it with a faint rasp. The goblin twisted his head around with a strangled sound, his heart rate catapulting.

´Don't worry,` Ranloo said quietly. ´I'm just being prepared.`

The goblin eyed him with mistrust before turning around again. Nothing happened for a while and Ranloo dared to relax. It seemed like the creature was telling the truth after all. They came to a place, looking just like everything else, Ranloo thought, but the goblin stopped and pointed up.

´There,` he rasped. ´See the ladder?`

Ranloo looked up and spotted a rusty ladder attached to the stonewall, out of reach. He nodded.

´You can get up here. You'll be close to the harbour.` The goblin took a step back to give him space to jump.

Ranloo eyed the small creature warily, but he didn't look away. ´Thank you,` he said and sheathed the knife.

The goblin scoffed, giving him a disbelieving look. ´You're very welcome, vampire.` He bowed with a flourish. ´It's been my pleasure to serve you.` His words dripped with sarcasm.

Ranloo glared at him in annoyance. Then he stepped back, readied himself and quickly sped up and jumped. He reached the lower rungs with his hands and grabbed on to it. It creaked and shuddered but held. Pulling himself up, he clambered to the top. A metal lid covered the opening and he had to push at it with one hand. It was stuck. For a second, he panicked, but with a forceful shove, he managed to knock it loose. The lid fell back with a loud bang. Flinching at the sound, Ranloo carefully peeked out from the hole.

He was in a small square. A few lanterns faintly lit the place. But compared to the darkness in the sewers it was bright as day. Rain fell heavily, soaking him before he got out of the hole. He welcomed the clean shower on his face. Drawing in a deep breath to clear the bad smells away, Ranloo stood in the downpour.

For a while he didn't care about anything other than letting the rain rinse him off, clean some of the dirt from his face and clothes. But soon, his hunger forcefully reminded him he hadn't gotten enough to eat and it was already late. On top of that, he had no idea where he was. The goblin had claimed it was close to the harbour, but he didn't see it. Lifting the metal lid off the ground, he replaced it over the hole and looked around, trying to figure out his location. He sniffed the air but with the rain, he couldn't sense the salty tang of the sea, only the various scents of the city right around him. Shops and stalls lined the edges of the small square and a statue of an Astra stood in its centre. He gazed at the winged being for a while, tall and beautifully carved in white stone on a pedestal. A sigh escaped him and he started walking when voices nearby reached him.

´But I heard a bang.`

´You're imaginin' things.`

´Let's just check it out.`

Wet pattering approached, and Ranloo turned to meet the curious gazes of two young humans. A boy and a girl, no older than twelve years at the most. They had emerged from a narrow alley behind a nearby house.

´By the gods,` the girl exclaimed as she took in Ranloo's dirty visage. ´You alright?`

´D'you need help?` the boy asked, looking equally concerned and shocked.

Ranloo tensed, resisting the urge to attack them. He was so hungry and they smelled so tasty, so young and strong. He forced his eyes away from them.

´What happened?` the girl asked, her mouth open. ´You've been hurt.` She looked at his ruined, bloody clothes, and his burned side.

He smiled tightly at their concern. Not everyone was a bastard in this city. ´I don't need your help,` he replied. ´I'll only get you into trouble.`

´Oh, don't worry 'bout us,` the boy beamed. ´We get ourselves into trouble all the time.`

Ranloo noticed their worn clothes and dirty faces, their unwashed smell. They were poor. Probably thieves. Did that make them friends? He shook his head, his long wet hair a tangled dirty mess. ´The harbour. Do you know where it is?`

The children nodded. ´It's far from here,` the boy said.

´Why would an elf wanna go there?` the girl asked, astonished. ´Tis not a good place t' be at night.`

Ranloo eyed them grimly. ´This elf needs to go there. He's got business to attend to.`

´Only bad people're in the harbour this late,` she said, voice filled with worry.

´Maybe I'm bad too,` he said with a slight sneer.

´Everyone knows elves're good!` she exclaimed like it was a well known and undisputed fact. Ranloo laughed out loud, to her obvious annoyance. She scrunched her face and put her hands on her hips. ´Don't laugh. You know it's true.`

Ranloo stepped closer to them, a smile on his lips. He bent down to her level, eyes wide. ´Are you sure about that,` he whispered and grinned as her heart jumped and her breath caught in her throat. He fought the strong urge to bite her.

She stumbled back and put a hand on a small knife in her belt. Ranloo realized he'd just taken delight in frightening a teenager and berated himself, his smile gone.

´You're not even armed,` she said defiantly.

´Don't touch mah sister!` The boy barked with narrowed eyes. He sounded about as dangerous as a puppy.

Ranloo raised his hands to show he meant no harm. ´I'm sorry for scaring you,` he said calmly, ´but you shouldn't trust someone you meet in the street just because of how they look.`

They glanced at each other and nodded, already more relaxed.

´So,` the girl said carefully. ´D'you need help? You've been hurt,` she pointed out again.

He shrugged, glancing down at his clothes. ´No, there's nothing you can do. But if you would point me in the right direction, I'd be delighted.`

They both pointed. ´Tis that way. But it'll take a long time to get there,` the boy said.

´How far is it?` he asked, annoyed. The goblin had lied to him. But at least they hadn't attacked him.

´Not sure, but it'll take hours to get there on foot,` the girl answered.

Hours? How far had he run? How far had the goblin led him astray? Stressed, he fiddled with the empty scabbard. He had to get back the guild, but there was no time. He had to eat and find someplace to hide. He looked back at the children. It would be so easy. He clenched a fist, nails digging into his palm as he resisted his needs. ´Do you know of any good hiding places?`

They looked up in surprise and the boy opened his mouth to answer when the girl shook her head and grabbed his shoulder. Good, Ranloo thought. Not entirely trusting after all.

´Why d'you need t' hide?` she asked.

´People are looking for me,` he said vaguely.

The girl frowned. ´There's an old house down by Candlemaker street,` she replied. ´Tis not empty, but they'll let you in if you ask.`

He couldn't stay if people lived there, but he had to get going. He didn't want to waste any more time. ´Thank you,` he said and left, setting off at a run.

´It's that way!` the boy called after him.

He didn't look back, it didn't matter. He had to get back to the harbour, needed to eat and find a hiding place for the day. He sped up, dashing through the streets in the pelting rain. He was soaked, but it was better than being covered in filth. As he ran, his hunger increased, paining him along with the annoying burn on his right side. He forced himself to think of the guild, of the hated hunters, the vampire that had caused all this. Anything to distract him, though it angered him. Especially the cursed hunters. There were other vampires much worse than him, couldn't they hunt them instead?

When he found an area with narrower streets and older houses, he slowed down, looking for a place to hide. It was almost morning, and he feared the next night would find him so ravenous he'd lose control, but there was nothing to do about it. He'd seen neither animals, nor people during his run. He studied the houses and peeked into backyards, trying to find a secluded place.

Eventually, he found a rundown courtyard with a small flimsy shed with a mud roof, behind some decrepit buildings. It would have to do. Hoping it would fully protect him from the sun, he tested the door and found it locked. With an annoyed curse, he braced against the wall with one hand and pulled hard on the door with the other. It creaked and snapped open with a sharp crack, spraying wooden splinters.

The lock, still intact, dangled from the doorframe. The murky wood of the door had broken around it. Ranloo sighed and slipped into the shed, hungry and irritated. Rickety shelves stuffed with various tools, boxes, and pots leaned against the walls. On the floor rested large boxes, a saddle hung on a wooden rack on the wall, and a broken chair stood in a corner beside a pile of clothes and an old carpet.

He considered the small space with a frown. But he was out of time. Cursing in elven, he closed the door and moved some of the boxes to block the doorway, in case anyone would try to enter. He huddled down in the corner and pulled some of the cloth from the pile over himself. He had to stay hidden and couldn't trust the shed to keep him out of the sun completely. He gave a short prayer, asking for help and safety from whoever would listen before slipping away into a heavy sleep.