This story is not about D, at least not right away. Though appear he shall in all his glory, as well as a certain other beloved character down the road ...This one is centered rather around Baron Byron Balazs whom I thought was a brilliant character in the books and I needed more of him! As D did not kill him, hey, It works! I attempted to write loosely in the style of the books, and always, do my darndest to keep everyone in character, that said here it is, and hope you enjoy!
I do not own Vampire hunter D, I am however extremely fond of it...I've maybe even read almost every book...
Sojourn through the heart of night
Chapter 1
The night was silent, deathly so. The moon blazed pure white, and silver beams flowed across the barren snow covered ground. The silence was broken by the light crunch of bare feet racing across the empty expanse. A lake glittered like diamonds ahead and dark snow dusted trees sprung up around it, multipliying to form a deep forest in the distance. A howl, long and hungry rose up to break the silence, followed by snarls and screeches. The fleeing woman turned reflexively glittering tears freezing instantly as they hit the night air. She ran on, shredded alabaster dress trailing behind her. Her sparkling green eyes seemed almost translucent in the pure white light of the moon and her pink full lips opened slightly in fear. She tripped and fell to her knees beside the lake, wild chestnut curls falling all around her shoulders and in front of her eyes.
"So," she whispered quietly, "The time has come so soon? Yet..." She sat up and looked across the hard diamond faceted glass of the lake, and wiped at her tears with a frozen hand. "It is better this way." She did not stand or run. She did not look back where the horrifying noises were multiplying. Instead she looked out upon the beautiful night and said a quiet prayer.
A new sound broke her reverie, quiet at first, then thundering nearer, and nearer.
"No!" She whispered in horror refusing to look back. Her prayers became more fervent, "no please not that! Let the monsters tear me to pieces but not that!"
No one travelled the frontier at night, no one but... The pounding of hooves, and the creaking of wheels soon drowned out all other sounds. She stopped breathing in utter terror, "don't stop." She whispered desperately, "don't stop!" There was a whinny and a long screech of wheels, and then the noise ceased. She could hear the horses grunting and pawing behind her but she dare not turn. She considered jumping into the water, she might just have time to break the ice and drown.
It was too late. A boot crunched in the snow, and a figure in blue knelt beside her.
"This would make a lovely grave..." an impossibly beautiful voice drawled beside her, "but to live might be better still."
She slowly turned her large eyes on the speaker. She knew the stories, knew that it was said they were beautiful beyond words, but nothing could have prepared her for the sight that now met her eyes. He was fairer than she, with hair so light it might have been white, and deep blue eyes, but his face would make an artist weep so impossible was his beauty. He held a bloody rag to his neck with one gloved hand and stretched out the other to her.
"I will take you home if you wish." He offered.
She started and stood suddenly taking a step back, fear written on her face.
He chuckled quietly, "To your home." He said with mirth, then stood carefully to his full impressive height. "You have my word little flower I will not harm you."
She stared, his regal posture and sure voice making her want to trust him. And his eyes, there was no malice in his deep blue eyes. The monsters howled and screeched nearby while the Noble calmly smiled down at her. 'I should let the monsters devour me.' She thought, even as she felt the powerful urge to accept the offer. Was this some power of his to make her do as he commanded? No, she thought firmly, if she could reason with herself there was no compulsion.
She recalled someone once telling her that nobles always kept their word, of course in that tale it had been a fiend promising to dole out unspeakable torture. But still...a huge roar rang out to one side. She jumped, being ripped to pieces was suddenly becoming less appealing. She looked up at the impossibly beautiful blue apparition once more. 'I must be a fool.' She thought still hesitating, even as her hand seemingly of its own accord stretched shakily out.
He flashed a smile that almost made her believe, just for a moment, that maybe he could be trusted. She quickly thought better of it though, and followed him warily like a sparrow might follow a cat as he led her to the carriage.
He halted and the door swung open revealing oversized red velvet seats and silken pillows with black velvet and lace curtains adorning the extra thick cut crystal windows.
"Forgive the unecessary opulance, I only recently acquired this vehicle, out of necessity." She could see an amused sparkle in the noble's eye as he spoke. "Please make yourself comfortable, and tell me which direction you desire me to take you."
She looked up fearfully, carefully attempting to guard herself from falling for his incredible beauty and obvious charm. "I do not know where I am," she said quietly, willing her voice to be strong, "but my home is in Todan."
"A small town, but I know of it." He gestured again at the open door.
Amazed and terrified she found herself willingly climbing into the vampire's carriage, with every ounce of her willpower she sat on the soft plush bench.
"What is your name little flower?" He asked putting his hand on the carriage door.
"Ophelia." She answered quietly.
A pensive look crossed his perfect face, and he stood very still for a moment before speaking.
"There, on the pendent bows her coronet weeds clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke: When down her weedy trophies and herself fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide; And, mermaid like, awhile they bore her up: Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes: As one incapable of her own distress or like a creature native and indued unto that element: but long it could not be, till that her garments, heavy with their drink pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay, to muddy death."
She looked at him in confusion, and then sorrow as the meaning slowly filtered through her troubled mind. A question rose to her lips.
"Forgive me, the study of humans has left its mark upon me. I could hardly miss an opportunity to quote one of the finest writers who ever lived. But you have never heard these lines have you?" A look of pity crossed his face.
She opened her mouth to reply but instead a cry of horror escaped her lips as a huge black shadow materialized behind the noble with a hiss. He turned swiftly, dropping his rag and revealing a terrible gash around his neck. He moved so quickly she hardly had a chance to see the flash and burning trails the weapons left in the monster before its red eyes dimmed and it fell into a heap of dust with a terrible shriek. Before she could even register what had happened he had thrown them again swifter then lightning and she heard three more distinct thuds nearby.
"Normally I enjoy a little sport," he stated with a grin, "but I think not tonight." He bowed deeply with an elegance that defied reality, "Byron Balazs at your service, Ophelia." He smiled once more then shut the door with a decisive thud and the carriage sprang suddenly to life.
Ophelia did not know whether to laugh, or weep as they sped away towards home.
She hoped.
-The excerpt of course is from Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. Ophelia's death scene for any of you who have chanced not to read it. If you haven't, please do! There's nothing quite so romantic as a morbid poetic play rife with angst and death.
*Sigh*