Calmer, and able to think straight again, a new hope dared to grow in Ranloo. Maybe everything wasn't lost.

Sitting on the dusty floor in the hall, trying to ignore the smell from the kitchen, Ranloo studied the young man seated opposite him. Smooth tanned face, healthy-looking. Not very clean, but on the other hand, neither was he.

´How old are you?`

The thief fidgeted. ´Sixteen. Or thereabouts.` He shrugged.

Ranloo nodded. Just a kid. But this kid had thrown a knife into his chest, and tried to rob him. Not something a young elf would ever do. But then, in his homeland, youngsters didn't need to grow up alone in the street. Besides, he'd be considered adult by humans. Elves weren't seen as adult until they reached about seventy. Ranloo fingered the place where the knife had hit, remembering the sharp pain and strange sensation of the blade between his ribs.

´What's your name?`

The thief studied him intently. ´Sern. Nice meetin' you.` Then he added, ´I guess,` and held out his hand.

Ranloo wasn't sure what to make of this boy. He seemed strangely carefree, but serious at the same time. ´Ranloo Liendar Amin,` he said, giving his full name and taking the thief's hand. Warm and soft. Scared, he let go almost immediately. He wasn't hungry anymore, but being this close distracted him. He tried to concentrate on talking.

´Don't you have a surname?`

´No. Well, maybe. But I don't know it,` Sern replied and looked thoughtfully at the ceiling. ´I could be Sern Vampire Ally,´ he laughed.

Ranloo gave him a look of undisguised horror.

Sern twitched, his cheeks colouring. ´I'm jokin'!`

Ranloo smiled at his embarrassment. At least he made his situation feel slightly better. However, Ranloo worried he would hurt Sern sooner or later. ´Look. I'm grateful for the help and the fact that you let me live. I'll never understand why you did that.` He paused, frowning. ´But really, I think you should go. It's not safe to be around me.`

Sern's brows furrowed. ´You don't wanna waste me. Do you?`

´Wast... oh.` Ranloo shook his head and sighed. ´It's not that simple. I'll try to explain things as best as I can. But I'm not myself aware of all the facts.`

Ranloo told Sern what had transpired since he woke in that first, dank cellar and how hard it was to control himself near people. Sern listened so intently, Ranloo found himself further explaining why he was in Jaris, but didn't mention his friends, nor his family or his faith, or the way his Mizar symbol had burned him.

He wasn't sure why the sun-medallion Sern had didn't affect him as much. He believed it had to do with how much faith Sern had in the gods. Ranloo had been a faithful servant to the nature goddess for as long as he could remember and he'd gotten his symbol blessed by a priestess. But Sern seemed to carry his sun-medallion only because he'd heard it affected vampires.

Ranloo admitted he had no money and that his only possessions were his clothes and the quality sword by his side. With a loud scraping, he unsheathed it and held it out. The sharp curved edge gleamed in the flickering light and Sern leaned in closer, impressed. His rapt attention and interest pleased Ranloo. But it also reminded him of how far he had already fallen. From impressing young rangers at a respectable school to impressing a homeless thief.

The thought angered him and he hastily sheathed the sword again.

When he'd confessed all he dared, he felt it was his turn to get some answers. ´Tell me why you are helping me,` he said. He still didn't understand.

Sern made a troubled face but looked him straight in the eyes. ´Me an' Storca, my pal...` he glanced sideways. ´We needed coin, an' you looked lost. Easy prey. You got nice clothes an' a sword. That usually means coin.` He fiddled with the hem of his tunic. ´I needed Storca 'cause I'm not very good at intimidatin' folks. I'm too small,` he explained. ´He wasn't really my buddy, I'd only known him a few months an' he wasn't very nice t' me. But we worked well together an' he kept me safe.` He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Ranloo heard his heartbeat increase and smelled his distress. He dismissed it, focusing on Sern's story.

´We never meant t' off you,` Sern said. ´We just meant t' scare you, or knock you out so we could snag your stuff.` He looked apologetic. ´But then, instead of doin' as told, you attacked us an', an'...` he quieted and threw a quick glance towards the kitchen.

Ranloo nodded, angry, sad, and terribly guilty at the same time.

´Well, that happened,` Sern continued after a while. ´I thought I was a goner.` He looked at Ranloo with wide eyes. ´Never been more scared in my life.`

Ranloo shook his head and glanced at his stained hands. ´I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it. I wasn't in control. I tried to warn you.`

Sern nodded. ´I know.`

Sern told Ranloo about his life in the gutters. Living as an orphan in the streets of Jaris, stealing for survival and becoming adept at it. He mentioned some trouble with other thieves and his need for someone to keep his back. He also made it very clear to Ranloo that his life had been much harsher than his. Sern had seen friends die more than once. Some by getting caught by the city guard, some by disease or starvation during hard years. He'd gotten used to the fact they'd all die young, probably more or less horribly. He didn't like it, but it was how it was.

And that was one reason Ranloo had intrigued him so much once he'd realized what he was. Ranloo wasn't alive in the same sense others were. He survived things others couldn't, Sern said somewhat excitedly.

´Maybe we can be pals?` He looked expectantly at Ranloo.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Ranloo didn't know what he thought about that. Friends with a thief, a human. A vampire and a boy. He couldn't grasp just how fast his life had changed in so many drastic ways. He shook his head, unsure of what to say or do.

Sern looked away, shifting on the floor and poking some dustmotes with a finger. After a while, he continued. He told Ranloo about the city and the district they found themselves in and his thoughts about finding a new hideout.

They talked until sunrise and Ranloo's eyes drooped, his entire body heavy and sluggish. Sern left moments later with promises to return with something for him to eat the next night too. Ranloo was already unconscious by the time Sern closed the door.

* * * * *

Sern woke from bright sunlight glaring in his face, strafing through the closed shutters. He moaned into his pillow of bunched up sacks. The last nights had been hard, but he had more things to do.

Groaning, he sat up and stretched his stiff muscles, yawning so widely his ears popped. He climbed to his feet and shuffled down to the empty kitchen. Finding some stale bread in a cupboard, he took one on the go.

On his way out, he bumped into a group of five young men blocking the hallway. Despite living in the same run-down house, he wasn't familiar with them, though they knew Storca.

´Hey, Sern!` the leader of the group said. ´You seen Storca?` They watched him attentively. ´We 'aven't seen 'im for three days. You guys always hang out. Know sumthin' 'bout it?`

Alarmed by the question, Sern fidgeted. He couldn't tell them what he knew. They'd punish him and probably go and kill the vampire, defenceless during the day as he was.

´Uh, no, I dunno where he's at,` he replied as casually as he could. ´Haven't seen 'im for a few either,` he added and bit his lips.

´Odd,` the tall man said, stroking his beardless chin thoughtfully. ´I really thought you'd know where t' find 'im.` He fixed Sern with a stern look.

Sern shook his head, hoping to fool them. ´No, sorry. Really dunno.` An urgent need to escape the situation made him try to push past them. But the thugs didn't move and he was brought up short.

´Where you goin', fairy-boy?` The leader asked, placing a heavy hand on his shoulder.

His name was Olsek, Sern remembered then. ´I've errands t' run,` he replied nervously, ignoring the insult. He shook the hand off. ´An' I'm already late as I overslept.`

´Don't you wanna know where Storca's at?` Olsek asked, eyes narrowed. ´I thought he's your buddy.`

Sern felt miserable. ´He was. He is,` he corrected himself quickly.

´Then you won't mind comin' along lookin' for 'im, do you?` Olsek's voice held a dangerous tone. The others nodded in agreement, crossing their arms or fingering daggers.

´No,` Sern replied, ´but I really gotta scram. I'm in a hurry.` He shivered, cold sweat trickling down his back. He hoped they thought it was because of the heat if they noticed. ´Storca can handle 'imself,` he added. ´I wouldn't worry overmuch.`

´I think you're hidin' sumthin'. Where is he?` His voice oozed with distrust. He took a step towards Sern.

Deciding he was actually in acute hurry, Sern bolted for the door.

Taken by surprise by his sudden movement, they called out. Hands grabbed his clothes. The tunic tore at the seams. Sern fought the impulse to scream as he squirmed and ducked. He slipped through their fingers. Half jumping, half stumbling, Sern ran out from the old hovel. He sped down the hot dusty streets, careened around corners and narrowly avoided running into carts and people. Angry shouts followed him but were soon lost far behind. He was too fast and agile for them to catch up. After running a few blocks, he slowed and walked at a less attention-attracting pace. He still hurried, stretching his steps, but people wouldn't think twice about that.

Cursing under his breath, Sern tried to think about what to do. They suspected him of foul play now. He wouldn't be able to return to the hovel that had been his home for the last couple of months. Not without risking being captured and questioned in less friendly ways. He would have to find another place again. This was bad.

He had to get back to Ranloo later but risked getting caught if he stayed in the area. If only he'd remained calm, he thought, wiping sweat from his brow with his hands. But the situation had stressed him too much. It would be hard enough to get the vampire to another house without being seen. Harder with people looking for them.

´Rats,` he muttered. He had finally gotten to know the vampire's name if not exactly who he was. And he needed Sern's help. No, he corrected himself, relied on it.

If it came to a fight, Ranloo would surely be a strong ally, just as Sern wanted. He was powerful and could easily fight them off. Especially if he was as good a ranger as he'd claimed. But Ranloo wasn't in control. He might kill them all by accident. Sern didn't want that to happen. Too many dead drew attention. And he'd seen what it did to the darkelf.

Sern cursed some more as he slipped into a narrow alley. He had to find a better hiding place. Today. Then he had to get Ranloo out as soon as possible. Before he was found, and before too many knew about Storca's disappearance. Maybe he could ask Jackal again, he pondered. But he didn't like asking too much of him. Jackal was nice, but only so much. And it could cost him later. He also didn't like the thought of the guild knowing he hid someone.

He zigzagged through the streets to avoid being followed, unsure of where to go, sweating in the heat. His feet led him to an older part of the city with smaller, crammed together buildings of wood and straw. Everything was old, dark, and small. They weren't far away from the inner city wall. Maybe this was as good a place as any.

He passed by an old abandoned temple and graveyard. The surrounding fence was broken in many places and overgrown with vines and unkempt roses. Hard to see through. Still, he glimpsed the old building, all boarded up windows and doors. Could he access it?

Making sure nobody watched, Sern climbed through a hole in the fence. The branches and thorny vines tore at his tunic, punched holes, and scratched his arms and legs. He entered the old graveyard, grimacing at the stings. Ahead lay leaning and fallen headstones, overgrown and mossy. The engraved names almost unreadable.

A single deep blue rose bloomed by a grave, its satin petals pristine in the decrepit yard. He admired the flower for a moment, then swept his eyes over the graves to the small temple. The roof had caved in. Maybe it wouldn't do after all. He made his way to the gates anyway, carefully testing the old doors. Two carved intertwined roses were discernible in the worn wood.

Sern had no idea what kind of deity this temple had once honoured, but it was long since anyone had worshipped anything here. The gates didn't budge. He searched for another way in, and soon found a small side door. The thick door hung askew on rusty hinges. He pushed it open and looked inside the dark room. Empty but for the layers of dry leaves, sticks, undisturbed dust, and cobwebs. Entering slowly, he searched for signs of anyone living inside. You never knew. There were plenty of people without homes and in need of hiding in Jaris.

It didn't take Sern long to inspect the old temple. The nave was highly dangerous and portions of the roof had caved in. If disturbed, it might fall in all together, flattening them under a pile of rocks and old wood. However, the small room and the pitch-black antechamber seemed safe.

He decided to chance it and bring Ranloo here. If nothing else, it shielded them from prying eyes and the sun. If he could close the door. If someone came here, it would most likely be at night to sleep, and that's when the vampire was awake. It should be fine.

He returned to the streets, looking a mess. Dirty, clothes ripped in places, and the seams of his tunic were coming undone. Red scratches covered his arms and face. People avoided him in the streets. He sighed, brushed off some dried leaves stuck in his hair, and headed to a nearby market to find something to eat. Both for himself and his new friend. At least he hoped they might become friends.