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Kai's eyes glittered with interest. A mage? What would happen if he drank this man's blood? Surely he would get stronger!

He dropped his hand from his face. "What causes a mage to be injured so easily?" A challenge, perhaps, but also an attempt to lower the mage's guard.

"We're normal humans but with the ability to use magic. Some mages are born with magic like me and some were trained to use magic." Rune never took his eyes off the vampire.

Kai studied the mage briefly. The man was still on guard, clearly. "Well, good luck finding what you need." He started to back up the stairs, not daring to turn his back on the stranger.

Rune watched the vampire back up. Turning his back on the vampire, Rune quickly descended the rest of the steps. He looked around and sighed. Rune couldn't see very well in the dark and he couldn't risk casting another spell. Rune brushed his bangs out from in front of his eyes, revealing the priest tattoo in the middle of his forehead.

Kai missed seeing the priest tattoo because he was returning to the upper floor. From here he could stage his attack and hopefully catch the mage off-guard. No rest for the wicked or the injured.

He looked around trying to find a suitable place to plant himself. In front of the entrance was no good; and immediately beside the entrance was just inviting an attack. He looked up, inspecting the partially caved in roof. It might be worth a try.

Rune still didn't find the book. Letting out a sigh of aggravation, he stood up and looked around again. He hadn't lied to the vampire when Rune said he needed a fire spell book, but there was also a spell he needed for his own reasons. A spell that could turn a creature into a human for at least three days. Rune spotted a book he had missed and opened it. It had both the fire spell and the human making spell he needed. Gripping the book so it wouldn't fall from his hands, Rune quickly ran up the stairs.

Kai heard the sounds of footsteps and he tensed. He had found a precarious place upon which to perch from above, and he was waiting for the opportune moment to drop down. Preferably behind the mage.

He tensed, counting the steps, not realizing that the portion of the roof he was standing on was beginning to sag beneath his weight.

Rune finally made it to the top of the stairs, out of breath. He kept a firm grip on the book as he looked around, trying to see if the vampire really was still here. His bangs were covering the tattoo as he stood there, trying to catch his breath quickly.

3... 2... 1...

The mage should have appeared by now. Instead the appearance of the mage was obscured by an ominous creaking followed by a huge cloud of dust as the roof collapsed, sending Kai tumbling to the ground in a heap.

Had he been mortal, he might have been killed, instead he coughed and groaned as he struggled to his feet, acutely aware of the fact he was right where he shouldn't be: in front of the stairway.

Rune jumped when the roof collapsed. He looked down at the vampire and took a step away." I'm guessing you were trying to catch me off guard. The roof sorta gave you away."

Kai snorted as he regained his footing. "Perhaps, but you're nowhere near out of my range. And now I'm in need of blood."

With a feral hiss, he launched himself at the priest.

Rune jerked back, the vampire barely missing him. Rune opened the book to the spell that would turn creatures into humans and recited the spell. A blue light glowed in his left hand.

Kai stumbled past the priest, recovering with effort at keeping his feet. He spun, ready to lunge again when he realized the priest was saying--no, reciting something.

Transfixed in horror and amazement by the blue flame, he knew his mistake now, and the vampire half of him cringed expecting to be consumed in a flash of fire. But instead, as the priest finished the spell, the part of Kai that longed for human blood receded until it was as though a faint memory. And his dark green eyes lightened to a natural color that was more human.

Kai slumped to his knees, hands splayed before him to prop himself up in front of the priest before daring to look up at him. He felt...normal. No. More than that, he felt human again. Hoarsely, he asked, "Wh-what did you do to me?"

"The spell I used turns creatures that were once human back human for a certain amount of time." Rune took a few steps back before sitting down, exhausted from using the spell.

Hope flared briefly in Kai's face, genuine hope. He was human! "How long?" he demanded, suddenly. "How long will I be human for?"

There was no way he could redeem himself for his crimes, but for now the world had one less blood sucker in it. He winced as he staggered to his feet and then sank back into a crouch. His whole body hurt from the earlier fall. He was human again, with human weaknesses. But he also saw that the priest was worn out with the effort of the spell. He caught himself and forced a small smile.

"I'm sorry; I owe you thanks. Can I get you anything?" He looked around briefly to discover that if the priest needed anything, he'd have to go out and find it. Well, what was a little theft after all that he had done?

"You'll be human for a few days but I believe I can perfect it enough so it would be permanent." Rune sighed before standing up." I don't need anything but thank you."

Kai sighed and looked down. A few days? That was it?

"Oh. Wait. Before you go, who are you? What are you?" Hesitantly he added, "Is there anything I can do to help you? I was a vampire hunter at one point in time..." Obviously that hadn't panned out perfectly given his current past. "How would you make the spell last longer?"

"My name is Rune and I've already told you. I'm a human Priest and Mage. For the spell, I am not sure yet but I will find a way."

Kai nodded, and looked down at his hands. "Thank you, Rune." He stood up then and crossed the few steps to the dais where he hadn't dared gone near before.

Holding his breath, he jumped the three steps to the small stage and then stood there, eyes half-closed, almost expecting the heat of fire to engulf him. Instead...nothing.

"Well, I'm human enough now," he said aloud, then turned to look at Rune again. "Do you need anyone to accompany you back to where you plan to use that?" He nodded at the spellbook.

"If you want to. I'm just planning to head to a old house that my master is leading me so that I could study." Rune sighed before putting the book into his bag.