The three friends practised for nearly an hour in the park. The fog was much thinner this nigh, making Ranloo's shape more obvious. But it still served a purpose since they couldn't harm him with their weapons when he was in that state.

´How long can you stay like that?` Felisei asked as she stood in front of the mist form, letting her hand pass through it.

´I don't know,` Ranloo answered, watching her hand pass through. ´I have never tested it. But it makes me hungry so I assume I can't keep it up forever.`

She peered at him. ´It's so strange, I can hear you an' I see where you are. But I can't touch you or see you properly. An' you sound distant an' vague.`

Ranloo enjoyed her admiring gaze. ´I find it more interesting that fog can speak at all,` he laughed.

Her eyes widened. ´How's that possible? It shouldn't be,` she gasped.

Ranloo shrugged and turned back to his solid shape, meeting Felisei's surprised gaze with a small smile. It was getting easier to transform. She carefully touched him with a hand.

He looked around, studying the park and watching the nearby rooftops, outwardly ignoring her touch but acutely aware of it. He didn't want to be watched. His eyes narrowed at the thought. Someone had seen them last night, he was certain.

´What're you lookin' for?` she asked.

His eyes shifted back to her, still standing close with her face upturned. ´I heard something last time. I was making sure nobody's spying on us.`

She inspected the rooftops, biting her lower lip. ´Do you think it could be...`

´My master?` he snorted and got a small nod from her. ´Maybe. I hope not.`

´Me too.`

He gave her a fond smile. ´Don't worry. I won't let him touch any of you. But I don't think it was him.`

She gave him a warm smile.

´You ready?` Sern asked, raising the wooden knife, his eyes narrowed a fraction.

´Wait!` Felisei scampered aside.

Ranloo nodded and turned his attention back to their training. But no matter how many times they tried, he seemed unable to transform fast enough to avoid the knife. It annoyed and frustrated him.

´Maybe this'll help,` Sern said after a while.

´No! That's too dangerous,` Felisei protested.

Ranloo looked at Sern, at first not understanding what they meant. Then his eyes widened as he focused on the throwing knife in Sern's hand. ´No,` he protested. ´Sern, I don't think it's a good idea.`

Sern smiled and readied for a throw. ´Think of it as motivation,` he chuckled and threw the knife.

Ranloo sidestepped with a strangled sound.

´Still not fog,` Sern smirked.

Ranloo stalked up to the boy and glared at him. ´What are you doing?` he almost yelled. He'd been too surprised and scared of getting the knife in his face. As usual, it triggered his anger.

Sern flinched back. ´You sometimes need a bit of real danger before you're motivated enough.` He smiled nervously.

Ranloo scoffed and shook his head. ´You're crazy,` he muttered. But maybe he was right. Sometimes a real threat was more motivating than any wishes or needs you had. He reined in his temper and nodded. Sern laughed in relief.

´Just don't throw it at my face,` Ranloo warned.

Sern shook his head. ´I'd never.`

They practised a few times and it became apparent Ranloo was excellent at evading the blades but couldn't transform fast enough.

´I give up,` he stated. ´I don't dare stand and take the hit on purpose and I can't turn fast enough.` He kicked a rock in frustration.

´It's alright, you'll get the hang of it eventually,` Felisei encouraged and put a hand on his arm.

´Thank you,` he smiled weakly. He didn't believe it. It wasn't possible to turn fast enough. In a real battle, he might not get any warnings so it wasn't even worth trying, he thought. He was better off just evading them, or take them head-on and push through.

They headed towards the guild together. The streets lay dark and quiet. Even the drunks had given up and either gone home or lay sleeping here and there in the gutters. Hunger burned inside Ranloo and his eyes lingered on the sleeping forms as they passed. He wanted to bite his friends too but couldn't. Sern would die if he bit him too often and he wasn't sure Felisei could stop him. Or allow it in the first place. He forced the thoughts out of his mind and focused on getting back when he heard something. He stopped so suddenly his friends almost stumbled into him.

´What...` Felisei and Sern both began, but he hushed at them, looking intently towards an alley. The sound had originated from some way off and he concentrated on hearing more. Faint footsteps reached his ears, and a strange muffled noise, slowly receding. He tilted his head as he listened, trying to figure it out. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but they made him uneasy. He started towards them when something pulled on his arm. He glanced down and found Felisei holding on to him still.

´Where're you goin'?` she whispered, searching his face.

Sern regarded him with a frown, clearly wondering the same thing.

´I heard something,` he began hesitantly.

´So?` Sern whispered.

´I want to check it out.` He listened again and a faint laugh reached his ears. It made his skin prickle. He removed Felisei's hand and set off at a run. His friends stood crestfallen and confused in the street, looking after him.

´What was that about?` Felisei asked and turned to Sern.

He shrugged, made a face, and shook his head. ´I've no idea.` They looked after Ranloo in silence for a few minutes. Seeing and hearing nothing.

´Will he come back?`

Sern shrugged again. You never knew with him.

´So, should we head back?`

Sern nodded, his brows furrowed. What had gotten into him now, he wondered. He'd heard something, but what? It made him uneasy but there was nothing he could do about it. Besides, he was exhausted. He turned and walked towards the guild again.

´Why're you so...` Felisei began after a while but hesitated as he regarded her.

´Why'm I so what?` he asked and studied her as a twinge of annoyance made him clench his right hand into a fist in his pocket.

´Why're you always so angry with me?` she asked. ´Have I done somethin' t' you?`

´I'm not always angry,` he said defensively, not quite sure himself.

She nodded with emphasis. ´But you are. You always glare at me an' tell Ranloo not go with me and such.` She gave him a dark look. ´You even hit me!`

He snorted. ´Don't see why you care anyway,` he muttered.

´There you go again,` she exclaimed. ´Why? Is it because I like him?`

Sern's eyes swiveled to look at her without turning his head.

´That's it, isn't it?` she continued. ´You like him too. But –`

´I'm his best friend, okay!` Sern interrupted, eyes blazing and cheeks suddenly burning hot.

She backed off a step, lifting her hands defensively.

´He's not interested in you,` he spat. To his satisfaction, her cheeks flushed with anger.

´He could be,` she retorted and flung her hair back with a flick of her head.

He snorted and gave her a baleful stare, boring into her. ´He's not,` he said coldly. ´He's married y'know.`

´As if that matters! You know he won't get back to her ever,` she shouted and flung out her arms.

´It matters to him. An' you're not an elf anyway,` he sneered.

She staggered back, eyes wide and hands clenched into fists. He'd hit a nerve.

´It's... you...` She sputtered. ´I don't care!`

He didn't buy it and leered. ´You do though. You're not pretty enough for 'im.` He laughed without humor.

´He's not into boys either,` she retorted without missing a beat, her voice dripping with derision.

It hit home. His guts twisted into a knot and he raised his fists.

She took a step back but glared at him angrily. ´How old're you anyway? You're just a kid!`

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

´I'm not some child!`

´How old?`

´I dunno! Fift... sixteen,` he corrected himself, embarrassed and furious.

´See, just a child. He's too old for you,` she snorted. ´Even if he'd been into guys.`

´Shaddap!`

'You're just jealous he doesn't like you!`

´Curse you! Just leave 'im alone,` Sern shouted and took a step towards her.

´Back off,` she warned, raising her hands.

He took another step and she jabbed at his face. He evaded the clumsy blow and flew at her with a loud curse. They fell to the ground, yelling and swinging at each other. If Sern had been bigger, Felisei would have been in trouble, but his small stature and weakened left arm made him vulnerable. She soon noticed and focused on hitting it. He grimaced as pain lanced up from the wound. Pulling at her hair, he hit her in the belly repeatedly. She screamed angrily, her fist connecting with his face. They rolled around, kicking and flailing until they were both exhausted and hurting all over.

Slowly climbing back to their feet, panting and sweating, they gave each other poisonous glares as they brushed themselves off. Sern hurt everywhere, bruised from blows and from hitting the cobbles. He was so angry he could have killed her, his entire body shaking. She looked to be in the same state, hurting and furious. She turned on her heels and stalked away from him, loudly vowing to never speak with him again.

´That's right,` he called after her. ´Get lost!`

She stopped and glared over her shoulder, giving him a rude gesture, then she left.

As soon as Felisei had vanished around a corner, Sern sat back down in the street, groaning. Drawing a trembling breath, he looked at his bruised hands, quivering with adrenaline. She had been much tougher than he had anticipated, and not afraid to exploit his weaknesses. Grimacing, he pulled up the hem of his tunic and inspected his arm, aching from the punches. Fresh bloodstains marked the bandages. He poked them with a finger and gritted his teeth.

What had that been about anyway, he wondered as he slowly calmed down. Why had they become so angry? It was stupid. Fighting like children, he thought and shook his head. But she had provoked him. Her remarks had hurt deeply, made him furious, and just thinking about it made him angry again. Sern picked up a pebble and tossed it along the street. He should return to the guild but didn't want to arrive too soon after Felisei, making it blatantly obvious they had fought.

Frowning, Sern got back up and almost lost his balance as a wave of nausea overcame him. He bent forward, massaging his temples with his right hand. Too dizzy. He needed sleep. He was tired and the fight had made it worse. Slowly, he straightened and looked around. No sign of Ranloo or anyone else. He wondered where he'd run off to, and why. But a part of him was relieved Ranloo hadn't seen them fight. Would he have thought it fun or just stupid, he wondered as he plodded towards the guild. A far off shout reminded him they weren't supposed to be out alone and with a curse, he set off at an unsteady run.

* * * * *

Ranloo hurried down the streets, silent and fast, following the laughter in the distance. They were two men, he was sure. He stretched his long legs, going faster, a feeling of urgency driving him. He wasn't even sure what had agitated him but there was something about the noises he'd heard. As he got closer, he slowed to a stop and listened carefully to locate their whereabouts more precisely. Their footsteps, and sometimes faint rustling and muffled sobs, echoed between the houses.

Sneaking closer, he stayed in the shadows. As he peered around a corner, he spotted two men. One of them carried a big bag over his shoulder. Ranloo narrowed his eyes. They spoke in low voices, unaware of his presence. He carefully stepped into the street, following them. They were smelly and looked like some kind of low-end merchants, he thought. What was going on?

The sack moved, a faint moan escaping from it. The man on the right looked sideways and smacked it with a hand, hushing at it. Ranloo tensed, certain he'd be seen. A faint whimper followed the hit and Ranloo's jaws clamped together, smothering a hiss. A person was in the bag. A small person. A child. His lips pulled back into an angry grimace. The men had probably kidnapped someone's child. Maybe they were slavers or had some other nasty plans. Fury crashed over him like a red wave and he charged with a roar.

The two men, armed and bearded, turned at the shout. The sack dropped to the ground with a thud and a muffled cry escaped from it. Their eyes opened wide as the vampire was on them before they could draw their weapons. The man with the sack was first to go down as Ranloo threw himself on him, forcing him off balance. The man stumbled back and fell heavily to the ground, Ranloo's hands around his throat.

Snarling, Ranloo tightened his hands around the man's neck, enjoying the frantic trashing as he fought to get out of his grip. A shout made Ranloo look sideways. The other man come at him with a spiked club. Rolling off the downed man to the side, he evaded the blow. He sprang back to his feet and snarled at them.

´What in the abyss...` the man with the club uttered in shock. ´Hey, Haawik, you alright?` He hefted the club and swung at Ranloo again. Moving in, Ranloo dodged the clumsy attack.

Haawik coughed and gasped as he sat up. Ranloo glanced at him, worried about fighting both at once. Evading another swing from the club, he charged the downed man. Haawik scrambled to his feet, fumbling with a long dagger at his belt. Ranloo bowled him over again with a forceful push. As he fell, Ranloo kicked at the man's head. Haawik whimpered and tried to hide his face, blood running down his temple.

´Stop it!` the other man yelled, closing in behind Ranloo.

Ranloo drew his sword, dashed forward to avoid being hit in the back, and slashed down at Haawik with the blade.

With his unnatural strength, the sword sliced through the man's clothes and flesh like a hot knife through butter. The man screamed as the smell of blood rose in the air. Ranloo's bloodlust triggered, he hissed at the man with the club, his eyes glowing. Blood trickled down the sword and his eyes shifted to it for a second, distracting him. He resisted licking the blade and turned his attention back to the club-wielder.

The man hesitated, spun around, and dashed to the sack on the ground. It had opened a fraction, revealing a child desperately trying to escape. The small girl, bound and gagged, wriggled with all her might to get out. With a muffled yelp, she was grabbed by the man and hoisted onto her feet. Ranloo stalked closer, fangs extended and lips pulled back in a ferocious snarl.

´Stay! Or I'll kill the girl,` the man roared.

Ranloo stopped despite his anger. He couldn't risk her life. He lowered the sword, Haawik's blood dripping to the ground.

Emboldened by his hesitation, the man laughed and pulled the girl closer to him, the spiked club in front of her wide-eyed face.

´Let her go and I might let you live,` Ranloo threatened and took a step forward. He wasn't sure how to get to him without harming the girl, however. She was the only thing keeping him in check, and the man knew it.

The man stepped back and waggled the club in front of her. ´If you want her alive,` he growled, ´you have to back off.` Then he leered. ´Or you can buy her if you want.` He laughed at Ranloo's angry scowl.

´You are the lowest scum I have ever met,` Ranloo hissed. ´Attacking children.` He was at a loss, didn't know what to do. He could charge, but the risk of harming her was too great. Same with throwing the sword. His aim wasn't as good as Sern's, especially not with a sword. He wished Lindhinin and his bow was here. He glanced around, trying to see some way to get to the man. An idea formed and he let the swordtip dip to the ground. It took all his willpower to back down.

The man kept his eyes on him, not letting the girl go for a second.

Ranloo turned and ran off, followed by a stifled shout from the girl. He grimaced as he continued down the street and cut around a corner. Out of sight, he stopped and looked around. Speed was of the essence. Spotting a corner stacked with boxes, and above, wide windowsills to the second story windows, he sheathed his sword and sprinted towards it. Jumping from the top box, he grabbed a windowsill and pulled himself up. From the window he could almost reach the overhanging roof. With a grunt, he pushed off from the wall and grabbed the edge. He clambered up with some difficulty and looked around to orient himself.

He heard the man struggling with the girl some way off. Baring his fangs in anger, Ranloo ran across the roof and jumped without hesitation across the street. As quietly as he could, he back-tracked, swiftly catching up with the man. He had forced the girl back into the sack and ran with her on his back, the spiked club still in his hand. Time and again, he glanced back but never looked up. Ranloo smiled grimly to himself as he kept pace with the man below.

Leaping from the roof, Ranloo landed in front of the man, his hands reaching for the club before he even touched down.

The man yelped in surprise as Ranloo yanked the club away and turned it around in his hands. Gasping, he stumbled back, raising his arms.

Ranloo yelled and swung the club. It smashed into the man's hand, going through his defense. Continuing it's momentum, the club connected with his face. He fell like a tree, dropped the sack and lay bleeding on the ground, unmoving.

Ranloo tossed the club aside and turned the man over on his back with a foot. Miraculously, he still lived. His face was a bleeding caved-in mess where the spikes had torn into him and several teeth had been knocked out of his broken jaw. Unable to resist the smell and hunger any longer, Ranloo bent down and bit into the man's throat. Why waste it, he thought vaguely. The man was dead anyway.

A faint gasp made Ranloo let go of the dead man. He looked up and met two wide blue eyes. The girl had managed to get out again and sat, half out of the sack, staring at him. Her tangled brown hair stood in all directions, and she only wore a simple nightgown. Bruises marred her skin in several places.

So tiny. Sweet smelling. He stared, locked in place. He wanted to drink her blood right then and there, feel her life force inside him. But something kept him back. Her large eyes, staring, reminding him of his own children back in Sel-Faeyth. Linala and Raadilinin.

He fought the urge and looked away until he had calmed down. Rising, he brushed himself off and looked around. Blood spattered the ground and his clothes but he was unharmed, and his black clothes hid the stains. Smiling grimly, he turned back to the girl and walked up to her.

She frantically struggled against her bonds, whimpering.

He hunched down and studied her for a moment, resting his hands on his thighs. ´Don't worry,` he said softly. ´I'm only here to help you. These men got what they deserved.`

The girl nodded slowly, still staring. Her heart thundered in her small chest, and her breath came in quick shallow huffs.

´I won't hurt you,` he said. ´I'm just going to remove your bonds.` He waited for her to nod before he moved forward. She shivered, probably shocked beyond belief. Pulling out his knife, he cut the rope around her hands and feet, then he reached up and removed the gag. She sat still and stiff like a rod.

´Where do you live?` he asked and sheathed the knife. Her eyes tracked his every movement. He couldn't leave her in the street all alone. She'd get lost, or worse, someone else could kidnap her. ´Well?` he prompted.

She pointed with a quivering hand, never taking her eyes off him.

Ranloo nodded. ´I'll bring you back home. Just point me in the right direction.` He picked her up in his arms. She was as light as a feather. She wrapped her arms around his neck to his surprise. She still shivered but must have understood he wasn't about to hurt her after all.

He set off at a swift run in the direction she had indicated. Now and then he stopped and asked again. She pointed and he continued.

Ranloo entered a wide street and came to a stop. Ahead, the jangle of armoured feet approached. Maybe city guards, he thought, listening to the noisy gait. Maybe they could help her better than him? He waited until he could see who they were.

´Why did you stop?` the girl mumbled and he turned his head to look at her in surprise. She returned his gaze, her blue eyes wide and intense.

He smiled slightly. ´People don't like me much,` he said quietly. She nodded. She had seen what he did, he thought. She understood.

Two paladins came over a rise ahead and spotted Ranloo in the street. He flinched at their brightness and took an involuntary step back. They eyed him suspiciously as they approached. Seeing a dark man holding a child that obviously wasn't his in the street well after midnight didn't look good.

One of the paladins suddenly shouted. ´Hey! Let the girl down!` He reached for his sword and started running towards Ranloo. The other paladin swiftly followed his lead.

Ranloo grimaced, spun around and darted back the way he had come.

´Stop, you monster!` the first paladin bellowed to Ranloo's dismay. He must have realized who he was. He ran until he had a little more space between himself and the paladins, then he stopped and quickly set the girl down, glancing towards them.

´Leave her be!` they shouted in unison.

He smiled grimly, returning his attention to the girl. ´You'll be fine,` he said calmly. ´They'll get you home.` Then he left her in the street and ran full tilt away from them. Away from their terrifying symbols and weapons. He couldn't stand being close to them. It hurt just looking in their direction and his heart quivered in fear from their presence. He wished they wouldn't always assume he was up to something bad.

He heard them stop as they reached the girl and breathed a sigh of relief. He had to hurry back home, morning was upon them. This had taken too much time. But a great satisfaction and peace of mind filled him as he raced through the dark streets. Almost as if this one good deed could undo some of the harm he had caused.