Renate Villerius had always wanted to visit the famous city of Cascadia. She loved waterfalls and she had heard Cascadia was a lovely city. When she arrived there she was blown away by its beauty. The city was huge and there were waterfalls on all sides. It was breathtaking and as Renate entered the city itself she soon saw the city was just as amazing. There were shops on every corner and colourful people all around. Cascadia was very alive it seemed. Every inch was filled with excitement and adventure, waiting to be discovered by those brave enough to look for it.

Kari had been wandering through Cascadia for ages, it seemed. She didn't know what time it was or why had she gone here in the first place. She felt a bit dizzy and strange, and had to grab the wall of a building now and then to prevent herself from falling.

I don't understand, why do I feel like this? I don't want to get ill again, I've got important things to do soon.

Many people passed her by but didn't really pay attention to her. They probably all assumed that she was one of those silly drunks. But this was different. She hadn't done anything wrong....

She touched her forehead, her skin was unusually hot but her fingers were freezing so it might just have had the right temperature, she didn't know. She took a deep breath but when the pain in her stomach reached its top, she sat down against a wall and hid her face in her hands.

Renate was passing by many shops and taverns, but even more people. They were all happy. They were smiling, laughing and making conversation. It was then, the vampiress noticed a girl in the corner. She seemed sad and somehow she seemed strangely familiar. Renate frowned and approached her.

''Girl, why are you sad? What's wrong?'' she asked, worried.

When she sat down nex to the girl to look at her face, she recognized her. It was her good friend, Kari Firestone. Renate hadn't seen her for such a long time, so had almost forgotten what she looked like.

''Kari!'' the vampiress shouted, excited and hugged her friend. She hadn't seen her for several months now and had felt so lonely. But that would change now. Her friend was back and they'd keep each other company. Neither would ever have to be alone again.

Kari didn't realise that anyone had knelt down before her until she heard a voice that sounded slightly familiar somehow. The voice... of a long lost friend?

She raised her heavy head and blinked, filled with astonishment. In front of her sat Renate Villerius, one of her best friends ever. She looked wicked, there wasn't much left from her normal elvish appearance. She looked daemonic now, but her happy reaction showed that she probably wasn't intending to bite Kari's neck.

Kari took a relieved breath and hugged her back. 'Renate! Thank God! I haven't seen you for such a long time, I thought something had happened!'

She studied Renate's vampiric face again and swallowed.

'And something has happened indeed, hasn't it? Are you... are you a vampire now?'

Renate noticed the amazed look on Kari's face.

''Yes, it's been a long time since we last met. Somthing bad has happened to me. But yes, something has happened. I was bitten by a vampire and are a vampire myself. But don't worry, I won't harm you. I know what I'm doing. I can control the evil inside. Just don't come near me at night. I sometimes lose control then,'' Renate warned her.

''Apart from that, I'm the same person I was before. Don't fear me. I want things to be like they were before. We can go on an adventure again. Together. Like we always did. I still like adventure. And now I'm immortal, it does make things easier and I can look out for you when needs be.''

'Kari! Renate!' Selena shouted. 'Hey, it's me! Where have you been all this time? I was worried sick about you two!' Selena's face glew with joy as she set eyes on her friends. She waved frantically as she ran up to them. I am so happy they have returned. Imythess wasn't the same without them.... Now I can also tell them about my promotion to Guardian of Imythess! They will be so proud of me!

Kari raised her head abruptly when she heard another familiar voice. That couldn't be! Selena? She looked around and saw the girl running towards them, her fiery red hair streaming out behind her.

'Selena!' Kari shouted, her voice filled with astonishment. 'I was worried about you as well! And Renate of course. I haven't seen both of you for ages it seems!'

She beamed with happiness. 'Oh, so many things have happened! I've made a new friend!'

Renate was still staring at Kari in disbelief when another girl appeared in front of her. Another familiar face and voice. It was her long lost friend, Selena Starling. The vampiress stood up and smiled as she ran towards her and gave her a hug.

''Selena! It's so good to see you. What have you been up to? I can't believe I meet you both in one day. In one minute even! It's amazing. I'm shocked. But in a good way,'' Renate said, happy to be reunited with her friends.

Renate faced Kari. She made a new friend? It sounded serious. ''Who is it? Someone nice? Or someone important? A man or a woman? I wouldn't be surprised if you've got yourself a boyfriend. You've always been a horrible flirt.''

Kari gave Renate a sarcastic look. 'Thank you, I guess.'

She stuck out her tongue and then laughed for a while. She hadn't really laughed for some time.

'No, it's NOT a boyfriend! Just a friend. A very cool friend.' She paused, and then continued: 'He is the God of Fire and allowed me to live in his temple.'

She wanted to tell more, but waited to let this sink in. It was wicked enough that she had a god as friend.

As Kari said her new friend was a God of Fire, the vampiress rolled her eyes. She had expected it was someone important. Otherwise, her friend wouldn't have mentioned it. She liked to brag. But she would never admit that.

''Too bad you haven't got a boyfriend. I'd say you should date. Otherwise, you'll be old and alone before you know it and no one will want you then. Still, the God of Fire might help you become immortal and marry you in holy matrimony. Then you'd be the wife of a God. Now, that would be wicked. You've always had a thing for powerful, young males. So in a way, you're perfect for one another,'' Renate teased her friend.

Kari sighed dramatically and nodded while chuckling slightly.

'Tis true... I don't like to admit it of course, but you are completely right...'

She took a deep breath. She still had an enormous headache that made her feel a bit sick and her dizziness hadn't completely worn off either.

'But marrying him? He would never marry me.'

She felt like teasing Renate back but at the moment she wasn't in a right state to joke around.

Renate frowned. Why wouldn't this God marry her friend? If he was straight and sane, he would surely like her and want her to be more than just a friend. All men were like that.

''Why wouldn't he want to marry you? He does like women, does he?'' Renate chuckled. She'd never met a God or Goddess that liked someone from the same gender, but it was probably possible. Everything was.

''I'm sure he likes you. You're a woman, he's a man and you get along really well. Need I say more? You already sleep in his temple. Before you know it you'll sleep in his bed. Does he have a bed? Do Gods sleep? Do they make love?'' the vampiress wondered, thinking out loud.

Kari tried to cover her ears. 'Nonononono!'

She didn't like talking about the s-word. It always embarrassed her. She laughed and closed her eyes as well.

'No, the reason why he won't marry me is this: He has a 'girlfriend' already.'

Kari's reply had shocked the vampiress. He had a girlfriend already. Renate hadn't expected that answer. She stopped laughing and her smile faded.

''He's got a girlfriend already? I thought Gods didn't date. I thought divine beings didn't feel love. Well, considering he's dating a girl, I don't know why he's not dating you. That's what I would do. Who is this girl he's dating? Is it serious? They might break up. You should always stay positive. That's what I always do when I'm in love with someone who's already involved with someone. I keep hoping.''

Quite strange, but there wasn't a doubt in Renate's mind that Kari had feelings for this God. She just knew. It was her feminine instinct. Or her animal instinct, she thought and chuckled. She then frowned as she realised Kari hadn't even told them his name.

''What's the man his name anyway? Or do you always call him God of Fire?'' the vampiress joked and grinned. She could see it in her mind. Kari in the temple, worshipping the God of Fire being as submissive as a woman could be. Disgusting. Yet is amused Renate. Because she knew Kari wasn't like that. Luckily. It would annoy her if she was.