D ran his left hand along the wall as he descended into the inky darkness. No sound was heard, not even that of his own footsteps. It was as if he were moving into a vacuum, and it threatened to suck up his own mind if he was not too careful. But D was anything but foolish or reckless, and with precise stepping he pressed on. How he knew this was the correct path, only D knew.
The sudden sound of a droplet of water hitting stone made D stop. He listened, and the sound was repeated. He took a step and realized he had recovered his own sound, and with his hand now inching close to the handle of his impossibly long sword, D advanced to a set of double stone doors that had suddenly lit up before him. Obviously Falien was inviting him in, and it was obviously a trap of some sort. But on the Hunter went, as passively beautiful as usual.
When he cam close the doors opened of their own accord, and the sound of water was much louder. The soft humming of machines reminded D of Sinnae-Marie's star room, and he used only his eyes to look about. The room was then flooded with light, and although he did not cringe, D did briefly close his eyes. A moment later he looked again, and before D stood an impressively large tank of water. Floating in the center, chains on his ankles and wrists, was another Noble.
It had to be Glaerian, Sinnae-Marie's vampire father. His hair was the same golden hue with streaks of silver, cut short in a boyish fashion. Although he did not look old, D could almost immediately tell Glaerian was over two thousand, at least. Not a wrinkle on his face, the Noble maintained his seemingly thirty-year old beauty, with a shapely face and high cheekbones that suggested royalty all his life. Glaerian's eyes were closed, and although he was not dead, he was dangerously still.
No one knows why water was a bane of vampires, but should a vampire find himself under water, his body slowly fails to respond. Although they will not die, a vampire may remain suspended in water for eternity, their hunger for blood torturing them body and mind as they floated listlessly along. Somehow, Falien had beaten Glaerian and had him imprisoned in this vat of water, effectively disposing of his father without killing him. But the true question was, why? If Falien simply wanted his father's kingdom, he had it and just needed to kill Glaerian… but he had not.
"Sucks to be him," D's left hand commented.
D looked here and there, but the tank went from floor to ceiling and the top had no space between. Although a human would have, D did not bother to try and break the glass, knowing even his mighty sword would rebound off and, perhaps, trigger the trap Falien had set for him. But how could he free Glaerian?
D made his way to a nearby computer, and when it asked for verification via a blood sample, the dhampire let out an uncharacteristic snort. His left hand laughed gleefully, knowing even as D lifted his right thumb to his mouth, it had yet more jabs it could make at its host.
D squeezed his thumb over the risen panel, allowing two drops of his mixed blood to fall upon it. The computer slid it into the designated area, and immediately verified him as master of the system, overriding authority keys from anywhere else. Although he had never seen this computer before, D expertly keyed in commands; shut down all armaments, sever communication links to them, and encrypt or corrupt the files and drain the nearby tank. D hit 'enter' and was still for several silent seconds.
The Hunter suddenly leaped back and in the blink of an eye, jabbed his sword into the computer console. His vision blurred and whirled around him, but D remained still, pressing his sword deeper into the skull of the monster that had been disguised as a console. The entire room as he saw it before vanished, replaced by what was a ranking pit crawling with slimes and creatures that fused or pulled themselves apart.
D pulled his sword free and held it at the ready, his eyes narrowing dangerously. The ghastly aura he was know to emit filled the pit, and even as they cowered, the monsters shrieked for his flesh and leapt at him, the wet smacking of their feet on what could be blood echoed in the room.
Sinnae-Marie paced back and forth of her high balcony, watching the sun set. Her heart sank with it, fearing the worse for D and her father. The ageless beauty nervously rang her hair in her fists as she moved back and forth with the steps of a dancer, the fading light glinting off her as if she were a misplaced star.
On accident, Sinnae-Marie ripped out a strand of silver hair and gasped in pain, dropping it. The platinum lock, as soon as it was severed from her scalp, had hardened into pure silver and the tip was razor sharp. She gingerly picked up the thin rod of metal, inspecting it and as usual finding no impurities. Her hair was, from scalp to end, three feet long. If she had to, Sinnae-Marie could rip out her own hair and form them into needles for self defense… or to sell to outsiders to keep her village stocked and rich. It was how her hair could be used as payment for D's service.
Sinnae-Marie placed the strand gently on a nearby table and grasped the locket hanging from her neck. It was circular in shape, with a silver border and a golden center, an onyx set in the direct middle. It had various almost Celtic-knot like engravings all around it, and although it was simple in design, it was her most precious gift. It was all that remained of her mother.
The female dhampire went back inside for even the setting sun, when making direct with her pale flesh, made her uncomfortable. She had put away her protective white leathers and favored a simply pale green nightgown that flowed with ruffles to her shapely calves, her feet pinched into a matching pair of simple silk slippers studded with crystals. She threw on a thin, transparent shawl to cover her bare shoulders and wandered her immense house, still waiting like a housewife for her faraway husband.
Hours ticked by and it was past midnight when Sinnae-Marie snapped out of her reverie over a cup of coffee. Although it was still miles out, her ultra-keen hearing heard the sound of a cyborg horse whinnying in the distance, and it was coming right for her home. Her heart soared with hope, and despite being improperly dressed, Sinnae-Marie raced to the front foyer to meet with whom she hoped was D and, perhaps, her father as well.
A shadow passed over the immense doors and, as the computer read the nearby life force, beeped gently in acceptance and opened the doors. Sinnae-Marie waited impatiently, rushing forward when D came into the house. However, disappointment crushed some of her happiness, for Glaerian was not with him.
That disappointment, and her welcoming smile, was dashed away when the scent of blood reached her delicate nose.
"D!" Sinnae-Marie stood before him, clutching her shawl around her. "Are you all right?"
"I did not find him," was all D said as the doors shut protectively behind him. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head, her beautiful hair whipping side to side and several locks falling in front of her face. "That's fine," she promised. "I didn't expect you to finish in one day. You must be…"
Sinnae-Marie stopped as D lifted his hand and, with odd gentleness, brushed her loose strands of hair away from her face. She stiffened as D stared at her, face emotionless but eyes burning. Nothing smelled out of place, other than D obviously fought for his life. He didn't radiate unusual heat or coldness…
She seized his hand as he moved to cup her face. Her eyes flashed pure gold as she gazed at him. "I've only known you for a day, but you're hardly a womanizer."
D's face smirked at her. "As you already said, you've only known me for a day. What, are you afraid to know a man?"
Sinnae-Marie released him and backed away, and before her eyes D melted to the ground, only to reform into a very different person. She scowled as she recognized the new intruder, for it was Falien's own bodyguard, Terra.
Terra pouted, her face, although modestly pretty, was dirt compared to that of Sinnae-Marie's unearthly beauty. "You spoil sport,"
The dhampire reached her hand behind her, grabbing hold of a side table's drawer and pulling out a laser handgun. She pointed it directly between the mutant's eyes, even as Terra advanced to her.
"Your pretty boy fell right for Master Falien's trap," Terra cackled. "Even gave up a few drops of his precious blood for me to make myself into his likeness." The woman sighed, running her hands over her small curves in shame. "Even for a man, I felt much more beautiful in his form."
"You were better off playing the cold bastard that attempting to bed me," Sinnae-Marie spat before firing.
The laser cut perfectly through Terra's forehead, forming a perfect o between her eyes. However, the wound didn't bleed, and simply was filled back up and sealed as if never there. Terra tsked at her former mistress, and once more took a step toward her.
"I regret to tell you, Lady Sinnae-Marie," the mutant said, tossing her black hair behind her shoulder. "That Master Falien has ordered your pretty head on a shield."
Sinnae-Marie fired the gun again, aiming for Terra's neck. She had raised the power to maximum, hoping to dislodge the bitch's head, but it hung on by a strip of skin. The head flopped back, then with a disgusting lurch tossed back up and fitted into place, the fissure on her neck disappearing.
Sinnae-Marie cursed under her breath, and only barely managed to roll away from Terra's jump at her. The dhampire woman knew she couldn't open the door fast enough, and could only race deeper into her home.
Terra lazily followed after her, enjoying the chase. She had all night to bring the woman back… what was a little extra fun?