Cursing, Ranloo walked down the street, pressing his left hand against his stomach as blood seeped between his fingers. The pain made him furious and he almost wanted to go back and punish the man some more.

´How're you doin'?` Sern placed a hand on his back for support.

Ranloo grunted and glanced sideways.

´You gonna to be alright?` he asked worriedly.

´I'm fine. I have taken worse,` he replied with a wince. But belly wounds were always horribly painful. Still, he had evaded it enough to keep the knife from going too deep. But every step jolted his insides, making him want to vomit. Instead, he clamped his jaws and kept going. It'd be better soon.

´We can rest for a while if you wanna?` Sern indicated a low wall surrounding a house.

He shook his head and moaned as a wave of nausea rippled through him. ´Let's just get back to the guild.`

´You're terrifyin' when you're angry,` Sern mumbled, giving him a searching look.

Ranloo frowned. He knew that already. He had always had a temper, but since he'd become a vampire it seemed to have gotten worse. The pain he sometimes took was more than he could handle and it seemed to channel anger straight into action. He didn't even regret hurting the man, not right now.

When they reached the guild, Sern was astounded that Ranloo walked upright again. He still winced from time to time, but no longer bled. Curious, Sern followed him into the bath to watch, despite Ranloo's protests.

´It's amazin',` he breathed as Ranloo stood from the bath, all blood cleaned off and his body seemingly healed. Sern touched his stomach with his fingers, feeling his smooth skin over hard muscles.

Ranloo gritted his teeth and stepped back. ´Hey! It still hurts. It's only healed on the outside,` he grumbled in irritation.

´I'm sorry, but it's so curious,` Sern said with a wide smile as he lowered his hand and backed off, letting Ranloo dry himself and brush his hair in peace. He sat down on a bench, crossing his legs self-consciously, hoping Ranloo hadn't noticed anything and watched in silence, admiring his every move.

´Yeah, that's not creepy at all,` Gesald commented from the door.

Sern startled so badly he almost jumped off the bench, his face heating guiltily.

Ranloo turned around and laughed at Sern's shocked expression.

´You knew he was there!` Sern yelled accusingly and pointed to Gesald who raised his eyebrows and regarded him with a mildly amused smile.

´Yes, I did,` Ranloo chuckled. ´I heard him before he opened the door.`

´His hearing is just as creepy as you are,` Gesald said drily.

Surprised, Sern held out his arms by his sides. ´Why am I creepy now?`

Gesald ignored him, lay down some new clothes for Ranloo on the bench, and left the room.

´What?` Sern asked again to the closed door. Jumping up, he yanked the door open and asked again why he was creepy. But Gesald stubbornly stood in silence outside the door.

´I think it's because you're crazy and friends with a vampire,` Ranloo commented when Sern gave up and re-entered the room.

Sern folded his arms and tapped a foot on the floor. ´An' exactly why am I crazy? Have you teamed up against me suddenly? What did I miss?`

Ranloo glanced sideways at him, a smile tugging on his lips as he dressed. ´You went into my room last night, remember. I almost killed you. You're crazy.` He pulled on the new tunic and laced it around his neck.

Sern blew out air as if dusting something off and waved a hand in the air. ´I know what I'm doin'.`

Ranloo grinned and gave him a mischievous look. ´Are you sure?`

Sern nodded, his blue-grey eyes glittering with amusement.

They finished in the bathroom and went to get something to eat for Sern.

Later they talked and counted the money they'd earned in Sern's room.

´I wanna know what that fella works with,` Sern said, counting the coins. ´He's clearly got a well-paid job.`

´Not anymore,` Ranloo commented coldly.

Sern looked up, a question hanging in the air.

´I messed up his arm. He won't work for a long time, if ever.` He glowered at the money. They had to divide it. Three fourths to the guild, then split the rest between them. Was it worth it? In terms of money, barely. But in terms of lives and damage? He shrugged it off. There was no going back now. No point in dwelling on it.

´You feelin' alright now?` Sern asked as he had divided the money.

He shrugged. ´I suppose.`

Sern studied him for a bit. ´You heal faster when you eat, right?`

Ranloo nodded and paced about the room, looking at his hands. The wound from the holy water was still visible but everything else was gone without a trace. ´I've gotten careless,` he mumbled.

´How so?` Sern asked, following his movements through the room.

Ranloo stopped and gave him an incredulous look. ´I know I can take a lot more now than before. I don't pay attention and get hurt needlessly,` he commented. ´Some of it is because I can't concentrate properly when I'm hungry or agitated, but some is because I don't have the need anymore.` He fell silent and gazed out the window. Sern came to stand beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Ranloo turned his head and their eyes locked in silence for a moment.

´You need t' be more intimidatin' so they don't dare hurt you,` Sern said and patted Ranloo's shoulder, his face brightening with a smile.

Ranloo snorted but realized he had a point. ´There's just one drawback to that plan.` He faced away from the window, leaning against the windowsill. ´It means showing them what I am, and if we're not killing them, it means witnesses.` He frowned. Don't leave witnesses alive who can lead hunters to you, he thought, remembering his master's warning. It made him instantly annoyed. To the abyss with his master and his warnings. So what if they saw him? He could hide. Jaris was big. He'd evaded the hunters and paladins thus far. He could keep doing it, he thought with determination.

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´You still hungry?` Sern asked and sat down on the bed, leaned back and propped himself up on his arms.

Ranloo raised his eyebrows. ´Why?`

´You took a hit. You usually need more after that.`

It was true, Ranloo thought in annoyance. Another reason not to be so careless. ´Not too much, but I only got one and it's been two weeks.`

Sern smiled mischievously and beckoned for Ranloo to join him.

Ranloo narrowed his eyes suspiciously but walked over and sat down beside him. ´What is it?` He searched his face for clues.

Sern's smile widened, his eyes glittering.

´Tell me, boy,` Ranloo demanded and fixed him with a glare.

Sern laughed. ´When you don't eat enough you lose control,` he began and Ranloo nodded. ´You get angry, unfocused, an' dangerous t' everyone, right?` Ranloo nodded again. ´So, since your master was a bit of a prick an' left you without teachin' you how to vampire properly...`

´Vampire properly?` Ranloo echoed, blinking at the stupid remark.

Sern nodded vigorously. ´He didn't teach you how to vampire, so that leaves me t' finish the job an' teach you,` he finished with an important air.

Ranloo snorted and slapped him on the top of his head.

Sern grimaced, then went right back to beaming.

´You are going to teach me how to be a vampire?` Ranloo rolled his eyes scornfully. ´You don't even know what that means.`

´I know more than you,` he retorted without missing a beat. ´I get that you gotta hunt...`

Ranloo gave him a stern look and raised a hand to smack him over the head again, but Sern carelessly pushed him away with a hand. ´Listen!` he said. ´You gotta hunt because if you don't, you get weak an' uncontrollable. And it's gotta stop.`

Surprised by Sern's unusually serious tone, Ranloo leaned back and listened.

´So, you're gonna hunt. But...` he held up a finger in the air to stop Ranloo from interrupting. ´But it doesn't mean you must kill people every night. An' that's where I come in.` He gave Ranloo another smug look.

´What stupid ideas do you have in mind,` Ranloo asked dubiously.

Sern puffed up and gave him a self-important look. ´Since I'm an amazin' person, an' you couldn't have made it without me, I'm gonna help you.`

Ranloo snickered and shook his head.

´I'll gracefully allow you t' bite me. That way...`

´No!` Ranloo said sharply. ´Just forget it.`

´Listen,` Sern said again, not giving up. ´You will bite me, an' that'll help you keep control. That way you get what you need an' can remain a pleasant person, not starin' at people all the time.`

´I said no.` Ranloo glowered at the boy, but he didn't seem to notice.

´It also means you won't need t' hunt as often. You'll still have to, but not as much. An' when you do, it won't be out of control.`

´You're insane!` Ranloo protested loudly.

Sern shook his head stubbornly. ´You're not listenin'.`

´I am, and I still say no.`

´You gotta admit that I'm right!` Sern said vigorously. ´You know I am.`

Ranloo's jaws worked. He knew Sern was right but didn't want to admit anything of the sort. He was scared he'd kill his only true friend. It was a too big risk.

´Listen,` Sern repeated. ´If you get what you need more often, you'll keep in control. Yes?`

Ranloo nodded slowly, not liking his reasoning one bit.

´When you're in control, I can break your... umm, frenzy fairly easily,` he continued. ´Especially if I use the medallion. Right?` He fixed Ranloo with an intense stare and he looked away after a moment, nodding slowly.

Sern flashed a grin and patted him on the shoulder. ´See! You know I'm right,` he laughed.

´I'll end up killing you,` Ranloo muttered.

Sern shook his head, looking pleased with himself. ´We'll start tonight.` He started folding up the sleeve of his tunic.

Ranloo grabbed his hand in sudden fear and shook his head. ´No! Sern, I mean it. It's not a good idea,` he protested at the same time as the mere thought of biting the boy sent a thrill of excitement through his body. He took a steadying breath and let go of Sern's hand. He sat still, studying Ranloo's face. He seemed calm. Ranloo detected a scent of excitement from him, but his heartbeats and breathing were steady enough. How could he be so calm in the face of what he'd just intended to do?

´You gotta calm down,` Sern said with a smile. ´Trust me.`

´Trust you?` Ranloo snorted. ´You're insane!`

Sern laughed out loud. ´No, I just know what you need more than you do yourself.` He started rolling up his sleeve again.

Ranloo didn't stop him this time but gave him a worried look.

Sern presented his arm in front of Ranloo's face, making him lean back, his eyes going from the arm to Sern's face.

´Either you bite me, or I'll cut myself,` he said in all seriousness and pulled one of his throwing knives from a pocket.

Ranloo shook his head, his eyes going back to the arm in front of him. He wanted to bite him. Badly. But he was terrified of it. Every time he bit anyone, he vanished into a red haze of pleasure and he had so far never stopped before the person was dead in front of him. He didn't want that to happen to Sern.

Sern sighed and let his arm fall to his lap, then he placed the knife over his wrist and cut into his skin before Ranloo could stop him. Blood welled out of the shallow cut. Ranloo's pupils dilated as he stared and it took all his willpower to simply sit still. Sern smiled triumphantly as he saw the reaction and presented his arm again.

This time Ranloo couldn't resist, grabbed his arm and sank his teeth into Sern's wrist.

Sern gasped and twitched as Ranloo held his arm in an iron grip. It hurt more than he'd anticipated but he sat still, trying to keep his arm from trembling. Slightly faint from fear and excitement, his heart pounded loudly in his ears. As the vampire drank, the pain increased. He couldn't take it.

´Stop, that's enough,` he said sternly. Ranloo didn't react. Sern placed his right hand on his forehead and tried to push him off. The movement sent a lance of hot pain up his arm. Gritting his teeth, Sern fished the sun-medallion from his pocket and pressed it against Ranloo's forehead.

Ranloo yanked his head up with a snarl. Sern cried out in pain and dropped the medallion. He grabbed his wrist with a shaking hand and pulled away from the vampire.

Ranloo stared at him, amber eyes wide and glowing, his mouth twisted into a grimace, showing his sharp canines.

Sern took a shaky breath and steadied himself, the feral visage of his friend terrifying him. ´Back down, Ranloo,` he said slowly and inspected his wrist. His hands trembled and specks of light swam in his vision. The wound, deeper than he had thought, pounded and burned. Ranloo still stared at his arm. Averting his eyes, Sern brought out some bandages he'd got beforehand and wrapped them around his wrist. Maybe this would be a lot harder than he'd thought.

A rustle made him look up. Ranloo had moved away from the bed and stood looking out the window, his back turned. Sern drew another deep breath and let it out slowly. Ranloo was back in control again, he thought and smiled.

´That was very dangerous,` Ranloo said in a strained voice without turning.

´It worked,` Sern said defensively, holding his arm.

´I don't want to hurt you. You're too reckless.` He glanced over his shoulder.

Sern laughed, a bit shaky after the ordeal. ´It's fine. I'm alive.`

Ranloo snorted. ´If you consider merely surviving to be the highlight of life, you're crazy for real,` he retorted.

Sern noticed that his eyes were still wide and his pupils dilated, but the glow had disappeared. ´Stop fretting.` He smiled. ´It worked, we're both alive an' all's fine.`

´Is your arm alright?` Ranloo asked, a worried look on his face.

Sern nodded and held it up for him to see. He didn't want to admit how badly it had hurt.

Ranloo nodded and relaxed, a faint smile on his lips.

´So, did I taste good?` Sern jested, smiling broadly.

Ranloo blanched. ´Please, just... don't go there,` he said, his voice taut.

Sern studied him carefully. ´I'd say, based on your reaction, that the answer is yes,` he laughed.

Ranloo glowered at him as he walked over to the door and grasped the handle. ´I'll let you rest now. I think you need it.`

Sern nodded and lay back on the bed. ´The room spins a bit,` he commented and grinned at Ranloo's expression. ´I'm just kidding, now go. G'night!` He waved his right hand in the air and closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the door closing and Ranloo's receding footsteps. He smiled to himself, elated by the victory even as acutely tired and lightheaded as he was.