Law of the Temple:

1. The Keeper is meant to dutifully work everyday; to forget, purposefully or not, means punishment.

2. The Keeper is meant to love no one but the One occupying the Temple; to turn to another is punishable by death.

3. The Keeper must never leave the Temple grounds lest be cursed with age and death.

Blood. The smell of blood was strong.

His eyes shot open, his senses suddenly alert. Nostrils quivering, heart pounding, he felt that familiar yearning return. It was the yearning to drink, it was the yearning to kill.

He tried to sit up-tried to move- but something cold, damp, and heavy was preventing any movement. It was dirt; he was buried underground. Memories flashed into his brain. He had been found and stabbed with a wooden stake, which was supposed to kill him, these simple people thought. Now here he lay in the earth, alive, desiring to kill and a wooden stake is protruding from his chest.

The smell of blood came again like a wave over his senses. He felt so... thirsty! Adrenaline and strength returned to his muscles as he began to claw. He must reach the surface before the sudden power wave leaves him.

It was hard work; several times he had to stop digging to catch his breath and wait for his strength to return. After what seemed like day, he could feel the soil was not packed as tightly and was warmer. He was almost there! Not wanting to wait anymore, he summoned his remaining power and pushed up.

Bursting from Earth's seal, he felt a cool wind blow his hair and fill his lungs. With one more thrust, hands were free. A sudden clenching in his arm muscles told him they were cramping and needed rest. The cool air was making his head spin; pains in the back of his eyes warned him of needed sleep.

Being free from the waist up, he yanked out the stake before dizziness and much needed rest overtook him. He hadn't taken blood so he could not regain any power; the next solution was to rest until he could was strong enough to find blood. As he head slumped over, he could smell the blood better now along with the scent of springtime flowers.