The old grandfather clock's ticks seemed like explosions in the silence. After some minutes, Sammil looked up from the paperwork scattered on his desk. They were in Sammil's large, well-adorned and ornate office.

  'The Devanworth Cult?' said the Head Hunter.

  Anargrin nodded. 'There are very few connections between each victim but their ages, ages which usually are in line with when magical potential emerges.'

  'Not usually, rarely,' said Sammil.

  Anargrin shrugged. 'Yeah, a fifth of the time, but it explains much. Even if they weren't, they could've gone undetected due to their isolation and the church's disinterest of Hamar.'

  'The Devanworth Cult was wiped out a century ago,' sighed Sammil. 'By you know who.'

  Anargrin flinched and clenched his jaw, attention falling to the floor before he looked back to Sammil from under a hooded brow. 'We only had his word at their destruction. A word we can't trust any more due to his...betrayal.'

  Sammil frowned. 'It wasn't just Kalthasin who took part in that raid. Hunters Debyl, Keril, Somer and Vakti. They corroborated his account.'

  'And all of them are dead,' Anargrin said.

  Sammil stared at Anargrin, his jaw twitching. 'What are you implying? Some conspiracy? You're paranoid. You, of all people, know how dangerous this job is. Do not be so ridiculous.'

  'I bet...I bet you that test will come back positive. That young man had magical potential.'

  'Even if he did. It doesn't prove anything.'

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  The Devanworth Cult was a group of vampires obsessed with drinking the blood of those with magical potential. Believing that it would activate their magical potential, but they were outliers. Insane, sired vampires envious of the magical ability of their original cousins.

  Anargrin sighed. 'Yes, there might not be a conspiracy, but that doesn't mean the Cult isn't still active. Or it could be another cult with a similar belief.'

  'All of this is just conjecture. I-'

  Sammil was interrupted by a knock on the door.

  'The results are ready, sir!' called a voice on the other side.

  'Yes, please do come in, Jalek,' said Sammil.

  It opened, and a dwarf entered. He was short, like all dwarves, but not stocky. He was almost slender to an elven degree and clean-shaven. He approached the desk in small shuffling steps and handed Sammil a piece of paper.

  'Hi, Anargrin,' said Jalek as he turned to leave.

  'Hi,' said Anargrin, more interested in the paper. He'd been at the base for a day, waiting for the test to go through. All the time champing at the bit, fearing there would be another victim.

  'Thank you, Jalek,' said Sammil as he started to read. It only took a few seconds for him to frown, sigh and toss it onto his desk. Anargrin smiled.

  'Yes. Alright. It was positive,' said the Head Hunter. 'But this doesn't confirm anything. It could be a coincidence.'

  'A coincidence?' said Anargrin, raising his eyebrows. 'Perhaps, but I doubt it.'

  'It would only be confirmed if you went and tested all of the victims. But they are too far gone. You know what this is? It reeks of desperation.'

  Anargrin shrugged. 'Yes. I won't bother to deny it; it's desperation. This vampire is too good at covering its tracks. Too good for me, perhaps even too good for Detective Arken. I've got to try something. I know you're sceptical. I am too, but I've got to do something.'

  'So? What are you going to do?' said Sammil. 'Reveal your magical potential and draw it out? Use yourself as bait for once? You seem to like to do that to others.'

  The elf frowned. 'No, they don't drink the blood of Hunters, thinking us as 'tainted.' Illogical, idiotic. We are closer to the original vampires.'

  'Whoever said such a foolish belief would have any logic to it?' said Sammil. 'Just look at the Jaroaian religion.'

  Anargrin smiled. 'Indeed.'

  He started for the exit.

  'Where are you off to?'

  Anargrin paused. 'To do what I always do. Finding bait. Wish me luck.'

  'You'll need more than luck, Anargrin.'

  'I know, but I've got a lot of skill too.'

  He left.

  'Always so arrogant,' sighed Sammil.