New Blood

"What?" The Sorcerer asked after a moment of silence. "Are you somehow displeased by this?"

Aoric sighed and shook his head. "Well…" He searched for the right way to say what he was thinking. "I don't want her to get furious again because suddenly more accursed blood appeared." He finally said. "From what I've experienced, she has a tendency to become really angry really easily."

The Sorcerer laughed. "That she does but give her some credit as well." He said as he placed the book in his hand on the table. "She carries a responsibility she's not ready for. Not by a long shot, in fact. She is still too young, very new to this world, especially considering what she is."

Aoric sighed. "Doesn't justify almost killing me. Several times," he added. "But whatever, she wanted me to steal a ledger, from the same mansion. I won't do it. So…" He raised his eyes as his gaze met with the Sorcerer's. "Tell me whatever it is you want from me, let me do it, then let me leave Vesporum."

He had enough of this city. He was never coming back, ever!

The Sorcerer's smile faded.

"Right…"

-

"Why did you stop me?" Irene shouted. "I could have made him accept then and there, instead of wasting my time now!"

Ivy didn't even blink as she shouted. "We made a promise, we will keep it." She replied simply.

"He's nothing but a thief!" Irene shouted. "I don't care what rumours he spreads as long as he gets the job done! I need that ledger!"

"He is someone you handpicked because he was skilled enough to steal from you in the first place." Ivy's sharp voice startled Irene. "You built your entire plan around him, you made him steal the accursed blood from the church, you nearly killed him at least twice." She folded her arms. "You made him valuable, Irene. You can't treat him like one of your disposable pieces anymore, because you made sure he is not. If you want the ledger, make sure he understands why you need it."

Irene sneered at the thought. "As if he could fathom-"

"He stole something from the Sorcerer. He is still alive, he survived you as well. He is smarter than you give him credit for. Talk to him like the person he is, not like some piece of rabble." Ivy snapped at her older sister. "And next time, don't involve those humans you look down on so much." She turned around and left the room.

Irene clenched her fists. She could feel her anger boiling within, yet she also knew Ivy was right. She had a point, this was all her own doing.

"Damn it…" She whispered.

-

The night was restless. Aoric could hear the nuns walking along the halls of the Cathedral of the Old Blood. The rustle of their clothes and their rushing footsteps echoed in the silence of the night.

Whenever he tried to fall asleep, distant, blurry images popped up in his mind. Sharp, yet distant voices echoed in his ears. It was a restless night indeed. He had been having odd dreams ever since the Sorcerer used his powers to heal him. None were so… intrusive though, he hadn't had any trouble falling asleep until tonight.

They had always been simple dreams so far. Him, walking in a field under the rain. Or running atop the roofs on a clear nigh as the moon shone upon him. Fairly peaceful dreams. Nothing like now.

With a sigh, he pushed himself up and stretched his arms. Was it because of the full moon? He had read the influence of the otherworldly and the supernatural was stronger during full moons.

Low voices sounded from the other side of the door. Aoric furrowed his brows, what was going on out there? Could it perhaps have something to do with the murders again? His heart beat faster as he jumped off the bed and approached the door.

He opened the door slightly and looked outside. A nun was passing by. Her pale face was twisted with shock and anger. "What's going on?" Aoric asked. She paused, then immediately unloaded the large basket of towels onto Aoric's hands. "We have many wounded!" She whispered. "Please, take these to the main hall!" She ran off in the opposite direction afterwards.

Aoric hesitated for a moment, then dashed to the main hall. He was a thief, but he had a conscience. He wasn't about to stand by and not help when he could.

The entrance to the main hall was somewhat crowded. Many nuns were passing through the rather small door, with baskets in hand. Bloody baskets, filled with bloody clothes and towels.

"Hurry, take those to the Sorcerer!" Someone told him as soon as he let the other nuns pass. Aoric hurried, his heart racing. What could have happened in just a couple of hours?

He got his answer as soon as he stepped into the main hall of the cathedral. The pews were filled with wounded people, with nuns running along, caring for those who needed help the most. Several old mattresses were lined on the floor not far from the altar, where those wounded the worst lay.

That was where the Sorcerer was. Kneeling besides a young woman, he was cleaning the blood on her wounds. He lifted his gaze as Aoric approached. "Thanks." He mumbled, he had a dead look in his eyes. He took one of the towels and continued cleaning the wounds before dressing them.

Aoric stood there, unsure of what to do next. There were tens of wounded people, even more perhaps.

"What happened?" He asked eventually.

"The wolves attacked the bats."