The vampires waited for some time in the drizzle when voices and footsteps approached. Ranloo tensed, unsure about what was to happen, but fearing the master would kill them. He glanced at the man's back. He had to stop him and save the people. Whoever they were. He had to try.

Two figures emerged in the mist, appearing from behind a hedge to their right. They moved towards the vampires, unawares. As they got closer, one of them, a half-elf, looked up and spotted them. He hesitated, his almond shaped eyes swiveling to Ranloo. He gasped and his bigger friend looked up at the sound.

The master grinned widely, giving Ranloo a sideways glance. ´Good evening,` he said pleasantly and bowed from the waist.

The men gave him court nods but kept their wary eyes on Ranloo.

´Get them,` the master urged. ´Kill them!`

Ranloo charged before he knew what he was doing. He couldn't have resisted the command even if he'd prepared for it. His hunger and the strengthened bond with his master made it impossible. Lunging forward, he grabbed the half-elf and threw him to the ground, then he jumped after the human as he turned to flee.

They fell to the ground grappling each other as Ranloo tore into the man's neck with unusual ferocity. The man screamed. Intoxicated and lightheaded, Ranloo smelled his fear and drank his blood with delight. Struggling and gasping behind them, made Ranloo's head snap up.

The master had captured the half-elf and held him in an iron grip. A hand placed over the poor man's mouth muffled his screams. Ranloo focused on him, eyes glowing and bloodied teeth bared. Vaguely, he realized this wasn't something he wanted to do and tried to resist. But the man's heart pounded loudly and he reeked of fear and adrenaline. It was so wonderfully distracting, so hard to ignore.

´Get him,` the master said and let him go. The half-elf bolted, panting and gasping in panic.

Ranloo flew at him, killing him swiftly. Then he stood there, staring at the dead men on the ground, anger welling up. A frustrated scream tore out of his throat. He turned to the master who stood laughing a few yards away.

´Stop it!` he yelled. ´Stop it, stop it!` He lunged at him, wanting nothing more than to punch the man in the face, beat him to a bloody pulp so he could never laugh again. But he didn't get far. The master smiled and softly told him to stop.

Ranloo froze on the grass, shaking with raging impotent fury. ´Stop telling me what to do,` he hissed through clenched teeth.

´Ah, but you liked it,` the master said. ´Wasn't it wonderful to let go and do what you needed?`

Ranloo hated him. Hated him because he was right, hated him because he was unable to resist him. ´You're a monster!` His voice shook with wrath.

´So are you,` he replied easily. ´You need to realize what you are. Accept it. Enjoy it!`

´Never!` Ranloo roared in defiance. ´I'll never be like you!`

The man laughed and beckoned for him to follow. ´We shouldn't linger here,` he said. ´Be quiet.`

To his dismay, Ranloo shut his mouth and followed the man. Stressed, afraid, and furious, his emotions a roaring storm, they triggered hidden recollections, suppressed and drowned in the recesses of his mind. He tried to block them out, but his forced state of obedience stressed him too much, awakening them. Memories rose like a dark wave, drowning him, bringing him back to that fateful night.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ranloo hesitated, his hands gripping the backrest of the chair so hard the wood creaked. He met his friend's worried eyes, and knew he was in a safe place. Still, it was hard enough to think about it, harder to talk about it. He inhaled deeply.

´You alright?` Sern asked, his blue-grey eyes filled with compassion.

´No.` He stifled a tremble in his hands, pulled at a strand of hair, and shifted in his seat. How could they ever understand what it was like? ´It was at this moment my memories returned. I had... somehow forgotten it all, but all this made them come back. How I became a... `

´You don't have to tell us if you don't want to,` Felisei whispered. She seemed on the verge of standing up to go to him.

´Right,` Sern agreed.

Ranloo gave them a faint smile, then let out a sigh. Best get it over with. His undoing, his creation. That bastard.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pain stirred Ranloo's awareness, waking him. His back hurt, his muscles ached, his face and head blazed like an inferno. His back pressed against something hard and flat. He tried to move, but something restrained him. Groaning, he cracked his eyes open. Darkness. Was he blind? Staring ahead, he tried to see something, anything at all. But there was nothing. Only deep silent blackness. He attempted to shift position again but couldn't move an inch. He was stuck. Ropes wrapped over his chest, around his arms and legs. He could wiggle his hands and feet and lift his head but that was all. Dismayed and confused, he used all his power to force the bonds to loosen, to pull his hands free. The ropes dug painfully into his skin, but wouldn't get off. Panting with the effort, he lay back and tried to think even as panic crushed his chest.

He was bound, maybe on a table. Where? The last thing he remembered was Dylnan's voice calling and the strange man grabbing him. Then darkness. His jaw hurt. Had he knocked him out? He couldn't remember. He'd been kidnapped, that much was certain. But to what end? What was the man going to do to him, he wondered fearfully. When? How long had he been here? Craning his neck, he looked around. Still, he saw nothing. Frustrated, he attempted to free himself again, but the only thing he succeeded with was chafing his wrists raw with the rope.

´Hello?` he called. Maybe the man had left, maybe someone else was nearby and would hear him. ´Is anyone there? Help!` He yelled as loud as he could, but only silence answered.

Panicked, he struggled against the rope. The table wobbled and grated against the floor. Maybe he could topple it? Maybe he'd be able to get free then? He wiggled back and forth desperately, but the table refused to fall over.

Cursing, Ranloo gave up and lay still for a while, closing his eyes in the dark. What was he going to do? What was the man after? He had killed Lindhinin, toyed with them all. Cold, uncaring, and terrible. What was he? No normal human could move like that. Would he kill him too? More scared than he had ever been in his life, cold sweat trickled down his back and forehead.

Time and again he flinched, thinking he heard someone moving nearby. Jerking his head up to see, he wiggled to get free. But nothing happened. He was hearing things, he thought. Nothing there. He was alone. Panting, and with a pounding heart, he lay still and waited for the inevitable.

Time crawled and Ranloo fell into an uneasy sleep. He had no idea how much time had passed when something woke him up. Staring into the dark, he strained against the ropes.

´Hello? Anyone? Help me!` he shouted, hoping someone might hear. ´Help! I'm stuck!` Creaking floorboards, footsteps, and faint jingling. Keys? He looked in the direction of the sounds. Clattering followed by the sharp click of a key being turned startled him. Terrified, his breathing hitched. He didn't want the man to return, he was helpless like this. But he hoped it was someone else.

The door swung open, flooding the room with light. The brightness stung his eyes and he turned his head away, squinting. Steps approached the table and stopped. Breathing hard, terror making his head spin, he dared to turn his head back to look at whoever stood there.

To Ranloo's dismay, it was the pale man with the short black hair and mocking smile. Frightened, he rocked back and forth, but to no avail. The rope held him fast. He couldn't breathe and his pulse rushed loud in his ears. The room spun. His entire body hurt from the fight and from lying still on a hard table for hours. Days? He didn't know. It felt like forever.

´Good evening,` the man said with a soft laugh.

Ranloo stared into the man's dark eyes, trembling. ´What do you want?` he managed to ask through dry lips. ´Why have you taken me here?`

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The man smiled and leaned closer. Ranloo would have sunk through the table if he could have but unable to move, he squinted and turned his head away. The man sniffed at him, close to his face, and a shudder coursed through him.

´What are you doing?` he asked, gritting his teeth in revulsion.

The man's smile widened. ´I smelled you,` he chuckled and placed a hand on Ranloo's chest.

Ranloo swallowed and tried to remain as calm as possible. ´Please,` he said. ´I don't know what you want but if you let me go, I'll give you anything. Anything you want!`

The man regarded him with a condescending smile and patted him on the chest. ´I already have what I want.`

Alarmed, Ranloo struggled against the ropes but only managed to fray his wrists open.

´Don't struggle. You're harming yourself,` the man said. ´Relax. I won't hurt you now.`

Ranloo froze in terror. Now? His chest constricted. He was planning on hurting him later? ´Please. Don't do this. I have a family,` he said, realizing that pretty much anyone would say that in such a situation, be it true or not.

The man nodded and ran his hand up over his chest and closed it over his throat. Not hard, he just rested his hand there, but Ranloo almost fainted with tension, black dots swimming in front of his eyes.

The man laughed and let him go. As suddenly as he had appeared, he turned and left the room, locking it behind him.

Ranloo was left in the dark again, reeling from shock and horror. What was he going to do to him, he wondered anxiously. Was he going to kill him? Torture him? Do other unnameable things? Twisting his hands and feet, he rocked back and forth in yet another attempt to get free. He cried out in the darkness, hoping someone might hear and save him. He prayed to his goddess for help, tears running down his face.

´Please great goddess, please help me. Save me from this madman! Mizar, please help! My entire life I have served you. Please!` He lay for what felt like hours, praying and calling for help, but nothing happened. Thirsty and hungry, his head throbbed so badly he felt ill. He listened for sounds and when he finally heard approaching footsteps again, he involuntarily trembled. But the man didn't enter the room and the sounds receded again.

Panting, Ranloo stared into the darkness. Was there anything he could do at all? He tried leaning sideways as much as possible, pulling at his hand. The ropes cut into his wrist and he screamed in frustration. If it had allowed him freedom, he'd gladly have cut off his own hand. But he couldn't. The only thing he could do was wait and hope the man wouldn't kill him. That he wouldn't do anything too bad. He wasn't too optimistic.

Nightmares tormented Ranloo's sleep. He woke several times only to find that his real situation was worse than the dreams. Alternating between sleeping, crying for help, and struggling to get out of his bonds he was exhausted, thirsty, and famished when the man finally returned.

The door opened and the light blinded him, forcing him to close his eyes for a while. When he opened them, the man stood beside him again, smiling with a candle in his right hand.

Ranloo's eyes focused on something gleaming faintly behind him. Polished hardwood. His holy symbol, the tree of Mizar. It hung on a peg on the wall, way out of reach. He stared at it, not understanding why it was there, why it had been taken from him. It seemed important somehow, but he had no time to wonder about it as the man placed the candle on a cabinet beside the table and leaned down over him.

Ranloo met the man's dark eyes, drawing a trembling breath and tensing up. ´Please,` he whispered. ´Please, let me go.`

The man smiled. ´I will.`

Ranloo almost fainted in sudden relief. But the feeling was short-lived.

´I will when I'm done with you. If you survive.` His smile widened as blood drained from Ranloo's face.

Terrified, Ranloo tried again. ´Please. Why are you doing this?` he asked, his voice hoarse.

The man grinned and sniffed his neck, making Ranloo shudder.

´What are you doing?` Ranloo tried to move his head away but was grabbed over the face and forced to look at him again.

´I'm going to create a piece of art with you,` he laughed.

Ranloo stared, eyes wide in terror. He didn't understand what the man meant, but he was sure it wasn't anything good. The pale man turned away, removed his black coat and hung it on another peg on the wall by the door. He briefly frowned at the symbol, then turned back to Ranloo.

´Let me go. Please,` Ranloo begged again, knowing it was futile.

The man shook his head and grinned. His canines were long and sharp, like daggers.

Ranloo gasped.

´Don't worry,` the man said softly. ´It won't hurt much.`

Ranloo's efforts to force his way out of the bonds doubled, his wrists bled from the struggle, and he was soon coated in sweat as he battled the rope.

The man placed a hand on his chest and pressed down. ´Calm down.`

But Ranloo was far from calm and yelled at the vampire to stay away, screamed for help, and thrashed around as much as possible, rocking the table.

The man grasped his shoulders and forced him to stay still.

´No,` Ranloo begged. ´Don't kill me, please.` He felt faint, his throat constricted and his chest hurt from lack of air. The man caressed his face with a hand and smiled, ran his fingers down over his throat, his nails scratching lightly against Ranloo's skin. He thought his chest would burst from fear.

The man leaned closer and opened his mouth.

Ranloo closed his eyes, too terrified to move. The man's lips pressed against his skin and then the sharp points of his teeth against his throat. His heart raced, beating like a loud drum in his ears. A sour taste burned in the back of his throat. The man's teeth sank into his neck and Ranloo screamed. The vampire's teeth were like two red-hot rods in his neck. A strange sensation followed as his blood was sucked out of him. Everything spun around, like he was falling. Darkness closed in, and he lost consciousness.

Surprised to wake up, Ranloo opened his eyes. He thought he'd be dead, but instead found himself still bound to the table, very much alive. Slowly, he turned his head and looked around. The room spun violently with the motion and his stomach churned. His head pounded with the movement and his tongue felt like a piece of parchment in his mouth.

The candle still flickered soothingly, but the man was gone. Drawing a deep breath in relief, he licked his parched lips, but it didn't help, his mouth was too dry. His sore throat stung and pounded, but he couldn't touch it to check the wound. His clothes clung uncomfortably to his sweaty skin.

Where had the man gone, he wondered. And why had he left? Why was he still alive? He had thought his life ended. Weak and exhausted from the ordeal, he fell into a troubled slumber.

When the man returned, the candle had gone out. Ranloo wasn't sure if it was the same night, but he felt terrible. Tired, sweaty, burning hot, and thirsty. His stomach ached from lack of food.

The man lit another candle and sat down on the table beside him and stroked Ranloo's forehead with a cold hand.

Ranloo had no strength left to fight and just stared at him fearfully.

´Don't faint,` he said softly. ´I want you to be awake and aware.` Then he smiled brightly. ´I can't have you be unaware of what's happening. That wouldn't be... right,` he finished and leaned close to Ranloo's face.

Barely daring to breathe, Ranloo whimpered, ´Why?`

The man didn't reply, instead, he placed his hand on Ranloo's throat and gently clawed at him all the way down to his chest. Ranloo shuddered, wishing he would do what he wanted to do and be done with it. The man leaned in and opened his mouth, his sharp fangs glinting in the flickering candlelight. Ranloo tried to stay calm, but it wasn't possible and his breath came fast and shallow, his entire body shivering. The man licked him on the throat and he whimpered as the room spun and blurred.

´Stay with me,` the man whispered in his ear.

Ranloo's skin prickled and he tensed, awaiting the pain. The man bit him again, on the other side of his throat this time, and Ranloo moaned. His vision darkened. Dimly aware of what was happening, he tethered on the brink of consciousness.

The vampire drank his blood until Ranloo barely drew breath anymore, his heartbeats faint and fluttering, lingering on the brink of death. He leaned back and studied Ranloo's pale face, covered with a sheen of sweat, his amber eyes unfocused, staring into the ceiling.

´Good,` the man mumbled. ´Stay with me.` Then he folded down the tunic from his arm and cut himself with a knife.

Ranloo's eyes slowly swiveled to the side, faintly aware of what the man was doing, staring at the bleeding cut on his arm.

´Wha...` he breathed faintly.

´Ssshhh,` the vampire said and held Ranloo's chin with his left hand. ´Drink if you want to live.` He moved the cut above Ranloo's mouth. Dark blood dripped and fell into his mouth.

Gagging, he tried to turn his face away, but was held firmly. The vampire pressed the wound against Ranloo's mouth so he couldn't avoid it. He tried to close his mouth, tried desperately not to swallow, but to no avail. He was too tired to fight and the vampire wouldn't let him get away. The iron tang of blood burned in the back of his throat and Ranloo wanted to vomit, but couldn't. He had to swallow or choke on it. He couldn't move away, couldn't resist, couldn't do anything but let it happen. After what felt like an eternity the vampire let go and moved away from him.

Ranloo gasped and shuddered. Floating, far away from everything, he couldn't focus on anything. His body was full of pain and unable to move. Terrible cold engulfed him and every breath was heavy and hard. Blinking rapidly, he tried to stay awake, but slowly felt himself slipping away into the cold.

´You die now.` A disembodied voice floating in the dark. ´Die, and come back. Good luck.`

Everything went dark and quiet.