Late at night the party left the tavern and headed towards the guild. It took longer to get back than it had to get there in the first place. Pei found out what Aedil had done and yelled at him most of the way home. Sern and Felisei walked with Ranloo and he kept them on their feet. Diquarl and Listarl had an intense discussion about the contents of ale, about holy water, and whether you could make holy ale or not.

´Can a vamp get drunk?` Sern asked suddenly and looked up at him.

´Don't be silly,` Felisei giggled. ´He's a vampire, not a person.` She hesitated, cheeks colouring. ´You know what I mean!`

Sern blew raspberries at her. ´He can get drunk! An' he's a person too.`

´I know! Shaddap,` she grumbled.

Ranloo shrugged, slightly annoyed by their stupid banter. ´How could I?` he asked. ´I can barely drink anything, how would I get enough in me to get drunk?` He raised his eyebrows at Sern.

Sern grinned. ´I got... an idea,` he slurred but didn't elaborate.

Ranloo thought it was for the best and steadied the boy as he stumbled forward. If they were attacked now, they'd be helpless. Memories of his master resurfaced and he looked to the rooftops. Nobody there. He listened carefully but couldn't detect anything out of the ordinary. But sneaking on them now would be easy, drunk and loud as they were. He kept a watchful eye out all the way home.

Gesald waited by the door as they returned. ´Had a nice evening?` he asked, glancing at Ranloo.

´It was great!` Aedil replied happily.

Pei grunted something unintelligible and glared at his brother. Listarl told Gesald about the arm-wrestling and draped an arm around his shoulders. He made a face and tried to get away from the big man without much success. Ranloo grinned at his distress, hurried past, and helped Sern and Felisei to their rooms.

As he let go of Felisei, she pulled him towards her room and didn't want to let go.

´Goodnight,` he said firmly but not unkindly and pried her hands off his tunic with one hand, still steadying Sern with the other.

She leaned in close and pressed her soft lips against his before retreating to her room with a giggle. He blinked in surprise, sputtering as she closed the door in their faces.

´Hey!` Sern protested loudly and struggled.

´Let it be,` Ranloo said with a smile, forcing him away from her door. ´It's nothing.`

´She can't just do that!` Sern shook a fist in her direction, stumbling as he walked towards his room.

´You're drunk,` Ranloo commented. ´And you can't decide what she does.` And neither could he, apparently.

Sern stared at him with a shocked expression. ´Yes, I can!`

Ranloo chuckled and pushed Sern in front of him to his room. Then he opened the door, pulled Sern inside, and effortlessly sat him down on the bed. ´There,` he said firmly. ´Stay there until tomorrow.`

He smiled, cheeks red with intoxication. ´I know how t' get you drunk.` Sern waved a hand in his face and giggled.

Ranloo arched an eyebrow, regarding him curiosly.

´If I'm really really drunk an' you bite me...` Sern began and held out an arm.

Ranloo slapped it aside in horror before he had even finished the sentence. ´No!` he snapped. ´Don't even think about it. Not gonna happen.`

´If you bite me, I think you'll get drunk too,` Sern finished and laughed. ´It's okay. You can bite me.` He lifted both arms towards Ranloo.

Ranloo jumped back, unwilling to admit just how much it tempted him. The mere thought made his fangs throb. But he was sure it'd end in disaster if he attempted it. ´No,` he said hoarsely. ´You're drunk and I'd end up killing you.`

He spun around and left the room, slamming the door behind him only to come face to face with Gesald, waiting outside. He halted, hungry and on edge after Sern's tempting offer. They stared at each other.

Gesald gave him a suspicious glare. ´Why did you leave in such a hurry?` He craned his neck to look around him at the door.

´No reason,` Ranloo replied, clenching his fists.

´Do I need to check if he's alive?` He gave Ranloo another skeptical look.

´No,` Ranloo hissed and Gesald stepped back against the wall. ´He's my friend and I don't hurt my friends,` he articulated each word as he tried to calm himself down.

´So you claim,` Gesald said disdainfully and glanced towards the door again. ´But you stormed out like something happened.`

Ranloo smashed his fist into the wall beside Gesald's face. He ducked with a yelp, his blue eyes wide. Ranloo scowled, his face only inches away from the red-haired man's. ´If you don't stop dipping your big nose in my business, I will bite you,` he sneered, showing his sharp canines.

Gesald became deathly pale. ´I'm just doing my job,` he said faintly. ´I'm supposed to keep an eye on you.`

His face shone with sweat, and his pulse raced. Ranloo almost gave in to his desire to bite him. Leaning in, he enjoyed the smell of fear and opened his mouth. Then he restrained himself forcefully and took a step back. I'm not like him, he thought. Gesald looked like he was about to faint. Pale, wide-eyed, and steadying himself against the wall, breathing quickly.

´Don't annoy me,` Ranloo warned and left in a hurry. Something thumped and he glanced back, seeing Gesald slumped on the floor. Frowning, Ranloo hurried down the steps to his own room, slammed the door, and locked it behind him.

He lay down on the bed and stared into the ceiling, thoughts swirling in his mind. Too much, too fast, too close. He took a deep breath. It was dangerous to be around his friends, dangerous to be out. But most alarming was getting Sern and Felisei drunk. And apparently, Aedil too. They were too forward, too comfortable around him. They had no idea how hard it was for him to keep himself in check. He could do it, but if they got too friendly, he didn't know for how long he could resist. Especially when he was this hungry. Luckily, they didn't get drunk often. And next time they'd go out, he wouldn't come with them, he promised. It was simply too dangerous. He drifted off to sleep.

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* * * * *

Tealas and Odefin stood over the map, pointing and talking. Tealas had added crosses where the vampire had been. One was a pretty big slaughter that had occurred about two weeks ago. They hadn't heard of it immediately because it had happened in a far district, under the protection of another department of the city guard. But the survivors had all said the same thing - a dark-skinned vampire had been found in a shed, he had killed almost everyone, and disappeared. It was troubling that he'd been seen so far off.

´Maybe he encountered the vampire clan in the area and was forced to run?` Odefin pondered aloud.

´It's possible,` Tealas mumbled. ´Or it was scared of us.`

More dead guards and commoners had turned up in various places too. Some around the harbour, others closer to the slaughter. No witnesses were alive or willing to talk, however. One of the dead had had a broken arm and bite marks on his neck. A medallion of Barrak, the Lord of Smiths, had been found by his corpse. Tealas would have liked to assess the situation himself, but by the time the hunters had found out, the dead had long since been removed.

´I think it's time for us to put the plan in motion,` Tealas whispered, frowning at the map.

Odefin looked up, chewing on a piece of bread. ´I don't like it.`

´I don't care. It's necessary,` Tealas snapped.

Odefin took a gulp of water from a cup on the table. ´I know, Tea, I know. But...`

A knock on the door interrupted them.

Tealas opened the door, revealing a familiar face. ´Uli? What are you doing here?´

The young city guard saluted and asked to be let in. Tealas opened the door and stepped aside.

´It's early and you look like you need to sleep a few more hours,` Odefin pointed out as he saw the shadows under Uli's eyes.

Uli smiled weakly but straightened and removed his helmet. His short hair lay flattened against his head and his chin had the shade of a two days' stubble. He looked gravely at the hunters. ´Last night I was at the Reeling Ship to have a few drinks before going home. That's when I saw him. The vampire!`

´You saw the vampire?` Tealas asked calmly, not entirely convinced.

Uli nodded vigorously and ran a hand through his hair. ´He looked just like it's been said. I almost thought I'd faint as I saw him. He was a tall elf, dark, and with the most captivating eyes I've ever seen.`

´Wait,` Odefin interrupted. ´Did you see him at a tavern?` He looked at Uli with furrowed brows and scratched his dark beard.

´Yes! He was there together with six friends. I counted carefully. I saw the boy with him as well.`

´Tell us everything.` Tealas pale eyes held an intense lustre.

´I sat in a corner drinking when they entered. I didn't notice them until one of them stopped. It was the elf. He seemed stressed. But then they went to a table and sat down. They acted just like anyone. Drinking and talking and stuff.` He paused for breath and placed his helmet on the table, beside the map.

´The vampire drank?` Odefin asked with a perplexed look on his face.

´Actually, yes. He had a glass of wine,` Uli said. ´He didn't touch it at first but then he gave it to one of his friends. When he got it back, he seemed pleased and drank from it.`

´Interesting,` Tealas said under his breath, meeting Odefin's equally intrigued gaze.

´Maybe they're helping him in more ways than one,` he agreed, looking into his cup.

Uli rubbed his red eyes with a hand. ´They spent the night, and the vampire's friends got drunk. One, a really big man, challenged him to an arm-wrestling match.`

Odefin almost choked on his water, making Tealas smile.

´I know,` Uli agreed. ´Obviously, the big man lost. Some people noticed, called the elf a cheater. I was scared he'd see me. But nothing more happened and when they left I went home too.`

´The vampire didn't attack anyone? Didn't fight? The blood-sucker just had a nice evening out with its friends?` Tealas asked. He couldn't believe it. Such a young vampire. It wasn't possible. Maybe it had hunted right before going in? He rubbed his jaw and studied the guard. He was a good man, he thought. Very helpful. ´Can you describe its friends?`

Uli described them all as well he could. It was more than they could have asked for. When he had finished, the hunters thanked him and sent him away.

Tealas noted everything down on parchment as soon as Uli had left. ´I wonder what they did with the wine,` he mused quietly.

´Yes, me too. But how could he manage such a place?` Odefin said.

´I have no idea, but it's full of surprises this one.`

´He's got many friends too.`

´Yes, it makes sense if it's joined a guild or a criminal group of some kind.` Tealas tapped his fingers on the paper.

´What guild would dare take in a vampire?` Odefin wondered.

´Criminal ones,` Tealas replied. ´But now we have better descriptions and a better view of how it operates. With several friends, it'll have a much easier time surviving. But I'm still surprised such a young vampire can manage to be in a tavern full of people without losing itself.`

´The good thing is that he was seen this very night and in the usual area,` Odefin said. ´It means he hasn't left. He only moved temporarily for some reason.`

Tealas nodded, donned his hat, grabbed his gear, and started towards the door. ´Let's go. We have things to do.`

Odefin followed him out, hefting his axe on the way, a smile on his lips.

* * * * *

Ulcaras Thilden paced back and forth in the room, silently fuming. Two other vampires sat in stuffed chairs, following him with their intense eyes. More than three weeks had passed since Brandal's death. He still remembered the shock of seeing Glissai entering the room, drenched from the rain, her dress stained with blood, and Brandal's head cradled in her arms. She had told him the rogue hadn't been alone but was protected by his master after all. He'd been much stronger than her and Brandal. She'd had to flee or he would have killed her too.

He glared out the window, wondering how old that vampire must be. But they would avenge their dead soon. They had to. What would other clans think if they were to find out they hadn't killed the rogue for his crime? They'd think them weak. Not something they could afford right now. But the hunters were still in the area, aided by the Eldon paladins. They were everywhere it seemed. The city guards had returned to their former routines, however, which was a small relief.

´What are you thinking?` a dark-haired woman asked.

´I want revenge.` He turned around, his blue eyes narrowed. ´The rogue, he needs to die. But I want to hurt him first. I want him to know his mistake and feel it.` He turned back to the window again, resting his hands on the windowsill, studying the view over the dark city, wondering where the rogue and his master were hiding.

´Glissai is keeping watch on the guild,` the man in the other chair commented.

´I know. She's trying to find out more about his habits and friends.` Ulcaras turned around, stalked over to a large cage placed in the back of the room and put a hand on the bars over the top. Two chained slaves, a man and a woman, looked up at the vampire anxiously. Ulcaras opened the door to the cage.

´You may come out,` he said pleasantly.

They gave him nervous glances but complied with the request, knowing they'd get worse treatment if they didn't do as told. They had tried to escape once, and were now forced to spend their time in the cage, only to come out when the vampires felt like it. They stood quietly, heads bowed.

Ulcaras removed a glass from a cabinet by the cage and drew a small knife from his belt. ´Give me your hand.`

The woman lifted her arm and held out her hand to him, trembling slightly. He took her hand and cut her across the wrist with the knife. She gasped but remained still. Ulcaras let go and placed the glass under the bleeding wound, filling it up. Then he gave her a cloth to tend the injury and left them standing there.

The other two vampires watched with interest, their stares betraying their bloodlust. But they too sat still, not daring to do anything uninvited. The clan leader went back to the window and sipped from the glass, thinking about revenge.