“How goes the reading?” Gabriel asks when Ravi comes in the next day.

“I’m two-thirds through. The last three chapters had so much detail about their genetic anomalies that I had to set the book aside and do a bit of research of my own,” Ravi says happily, leaning over the counter toward Gabriel. “The things I’ve discovered are amazing! I have reason to believe that in this very city, there may be some of these people living amongst us. Can you imagine it? Walking down the street with us. It’s so fascinating.”

“Fascinating? What about the part where they kill people for food?” Gabriel points out, forcing his gaze up from Ravi’s long neck, settling on his wide and gorgeous eyes.

“Yes. That part was rather disturbing,” Ravi says, his face dropping a little, his smile replaced by a look of concern. “But there is something so beautiful about these creatures. When one turns another, they are bound together until death. I mean, it’s almost romantic. I’m sure they would resist feeding if they had the choice. And it did say that many of them prefer to consume the blood of animals.”

Gabriel smiles, feeling a surge of hope as he watches the wistful way that Ravi stares down at the book.

“It is sort of romantic,” Gabriel agrees, “I’m glad you’re enjoying it so far.”

Ravi smiles again, “I plan to have it finished by tomorrow night. Perhaps we can have a proper discussion then.”

“Count on it,” Gabriel says. He watches Ravi turn and walk away, winding his way so casually down the aisles of the library he knows so well now.

Tomorrow night.

It will happen tomorrow night.