Gabriel spots Ravi. He is snoring softly, head resting on his arms, which lie on a pile of books spread haphazardly over the desk. His curls fall gently over his face, half covering his fluttering eyelids. For a long moment, Gabriel simply stares at him. Then he touches a hand to Ravi’s shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath the material of his hoodie as he nudges him awake.

Ravi sucks in a startled breath, opening his eyes and sitting up quickly. He looks somewhat dazed as he glances around to get his bearings. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand as he looks up at Gabriel.

“Sorry, was I snoring?” he asks sheepishly.

“You were fine,” Gabriel says, smiling reassuringly, “I’m heading home, and I wanted to make sure you were alright before I left.”

“Thank you. That’s very considerate of you,” Ravi says. “I’m fine.”

“See you around…again?” Gabriel asks, finding himself hoping that the answer is yes.

“I’m sure of it.”

Gabriel nods, and starts to leave.

“What-I didn’t get your name,” Ravi points out. A smile creeps across Gabriel’s lips as he turns back.

“It’s Gabriel. And don’t hesitate to ask me for help when I’m working. That’s what I’m there for.”

“Thank you, Gabriel. You are, without a doubt, the nicest librarian I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

Gabriel beams, “goodnight, Ravi.”

“Goodnight.”

As he’s walking home, Gabriel’s mind lingers on Ravi. As he grabs an unsuspecting man off the street, and drags him into the alley, draining him quickly of his blood following a smooth bite through to his jugular, Gabriel wonders how Ravi would taste.

Divine, he suspects, as he wipes the excess blood from his lips, and lets the body fall to the ground.

Exquisite, intriguing, and…unique.

Gabriel has been alive for centuries, and with very few exceptions, almost no mortal has managed to catch his attention.

Perhaps it is innate, what he feels for Ravi. Perhaps it is like what his maker had felt for him.

Whatever it is, it burns through Gabriel. Like a hunger that rivals even his need to feed nightly.

He hopes desperately that Ravi will be at the library again soon. As Gabriel crawls down into the familiar darkness of his basement, a small smile plays across his face. He remembers how beautiful Ravi had looked as he lay there sleeping peacefully.

Perhaps Ravi is his destiny.

Just as he had been his Master’s destiny.