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Kai Zarre looked down at the small pile of bodies he'd just fed on. Three corpses littered the ground, pasty white after his meal. Gorged on blood, still riding out the after-effects of the blood-lust that consumed him every time he fed, he stepped away from them. It still hadn't crossed his mind that he should probably hide the bodies. He kind of liked seeing the terror on the citizens' faces when they discovered a vampire lurked among them. However, with that knowledge came less pleasant...events. Like vampire hunts. Mass stakings. And of course, priests.

Kai didn't just hate priests; he loathed them. They were full of pain and their holy water burned his skin. Not to mention the crucifixes as well. He still had the scar from the one he wore back when he was a vampire hunter. But that had been months ago. Almost a year ago. And he'd lost track of when he'd finally given up fighting the vampire's urge to feed.

All he wanted now was to sleep. Find somewhere hidden and dark, where he could rest without being awakened. And with the sun about to rise shortly, he didn't have much time. He headed away from the corpses, aiming for the largest, most likely to be abandoned building he could find. And prying his way through a boarded up window, made his way inside the long-abandoned cathedral. Places of holy worship, it seemed, didn't bother him so long as he didn't touch anything holy. And given the thick layering of dust, he didn't have to worry about that as much either. It hadn't been used in years, probably decades, so he was safe. No one would ever think to look for a vampire in a holy place. Oh was he ever cunning.

Not even sensing the vampire, Rune used his magic to pry the boards off the doors of the cathedral. Making sure no one had seen him, he slipped through the doors and used his magic to make an illusion that made it seem like the boards were never removed. He wore a cloak, the hood covering his face. Rune took a deep breath as his eyes closed, his hand on the leather bag that contained his book of magic spells.

Kai scouted the cathedral, giving ample room for the main dais where the priest or whoever would preach. Some spots were holier than others, and he didn't want to risk bursting into flame at an inopportune moment.

He headed for the stairs, finding his way to the cavernous depths where bodies lay buried and forgotten, resting in the cool underground chambers that resided beneath the hard floors of the church.

Darkness grew as he descended the flight of stairs. Torches decorated the wall, but none of them were lit. Kai didn't need torch light. He could see plenty well in the darkness.

Rune let out his deep breath, opened his brownish red eyes and looked around. All he needed from here was a certain book that was somewhere near the main dais. He took his hood off, letting his black hair fall down his back. He approached the dais and began to search through the many things laying around. Rune quickly withdrew his hand from the dust when he cut his hand on a piece of glass laying the the floor, hidden by the dust. He quickly reached into on of the pockets of his robe and wrapped his bloody hand in the cloth he found in the pocket.

He was just about down the steps and into the main chamber of crypts, when he paused. The faintest scent tickled his memory even all the way down here. The cold air, perhaps, helped preserve the smell of blood as it wafted through the air.

Kai froze and turned, glancing back the way he had come. Had someone followed him? Were they trying to lure him out? If they were, it was going to work.

He silently crept back up the steps, his feet making nary a sound as he returned to the main level and peered out of the shadows. Searching for the one who beckoned him with blood.

Rune let out an irritated huff before rummaging through the area again more carefully, still not seeing or sensing the vampire. After looking through a few papers, he found a book but it wasn't the right one. He set it aside gently then continued his search.

It was the flurry of movement on the dais that attracted his attention and he peered intently at the subject. He could smell the blood more clearly now, and he was certain it was this person who was the source of the injury.

He cast a wary look around him, searching for concealed threats, before stepping out of the dark stairwell.

"If you're searching for a priest, you've found the wrong cathedral." Kai spoke deliberately, slowly, hissing slightly on "priest" as he watched his target acutely.

Rune jumped before looking up. When he saw the vampire, Rune's brownish red eyes widened in surprise as he stood up." I am not looking for a priest, just a special book I need so I can do some research." Rune's bangs covered his forehead where a tattoo that meant he was a priest rested.

Kai shifted his weight, balancing equally on both feet. "You should probably take care of that injury of yours. You have no idea the kinds of trouble you will attract in a place like this."

"And if you're looking for a certain book," he offered a wan smile, "you might check the crypts. They often stash important scrolls and books there."

Well, if Kai could lure the stranger off the dais, he could actually take a pass at him.

"Never thought it would be there." He watched the vampire carefully as he stepped off the dais. Rune was ready to cast a spell as soon as the vampire came at him if the vampire chose to.

He wouldn't rush things, not yet. One wrong move and it would take just a kick to shove him onto the dais where... Well, he'd avoid it at all costs. If he could lure this guy into the crypts, he might get his chance. Or at least in the cramped stairwell where moving would be difficult.

He stepped back, allowing the stranger complete access to the crypt stairwell and gestured with one pale hand. His cloak hung limply from his shoulders though Kai's muted green eyes watched closely for weakness.

"Down there," was all he said, pointing.

Rune watched the vampire carefully as he walked toward the entrance of the crypts. He reached into one of his pockets and wrapped his hand around a small medallion he used to help his magic.

Kai didn't move to follow right away. He'd wait until the bleeding mortal was in the tight, cold stairwell before attacking him.

"So...what kind of book are you looking for anyway?" Kai heard himself ask.

"Just a book. It's supposed to contain a few spells I need." Rune said as he walked down the staircase, tensed as if waiting for the vampire to attack.

Kai frowned. A spell book? "What sort of spell are you looking for?"

Following the man down the stairwell he couldn't help but get a nice whiff of blood. Mmm, he could do with another meal--but he was trying to be careful. And the mention of spells cautioned him against attacking outright.

"A spell the creates different types of fire." Rune kept his gaze ahead as he walked.

Kai almost shuddered at the idea of fire spells. But if this guy was looking them up, then surely he didn't know any now, right? If he waited any longer, there was a good chance he might miss out on the tantalizing meal before him.

The lingering smell of blood was already taking all of his concentration not to attack and the further down they went, the sooner they were to come to an area where Kai would be at a disadvantage.

With a slight hiss of aggravation, he launched himself at the man, fangs bared; aiming of course for the neck.

Rune sensed the vampire attack him. He quickly put up a protection spell around him so the vampire would bounce off it harmlessly. Unlike others who were attacked by vampires, Rune didn't want to hurt him.

Kai didn't encounter the soft fleshy nape he had been aiming for and in fact he bouncedoff something. He snarled in pain and confusion, but stopped his attack long enough to reason that the man had some sort of repelling system on or around him.

"What are you?" he demanded, passing a hand just briefly across his face to rub his tingling mouth and nose.

"I am a mage." Rune said. It was the truth but it wasn't the entire truth. Rune let go of the spell so the bubble would go away." I with not to harm you."