Scene 6

As D walked the streets of the City of the Night he garnered a number of stares: fear, reverence and lust, always lust. He was as the city itself; cold, beautiful, deadly. The last adjective being one that the dhampire divined almost immediately upon arriving. He didn't need Leftie to tell him that something terribly wrong was with the city.

Where his father went, death usually followed.

Vampires and humans alike tread the city, adorned in voluminous robes, capes and gowns. The edifices were marble, stone and other metals the dhampire didn't immediately identify. Enormous trees rose a hundred feet up on which a number of multi-colored birds perched. Other animals rushed around, chased happily by human and vampire offspring.

"Paradise, eh?" Leftie chuckled from underneath D's glove. "You think they know?"

"They don't want to know."

"How much longer do you think they have?" This time the symbiont was somber, a rarity for the commonly wise-cracking countenanced carbuncle.

"As long as he wills it." Then the dhampire closed his fist, cutting off whatever discourse the symbiont thought to give. He had reached his destination anyways, that of a barred up building. Tilting his head, D appraised the edifice, shadow falling on his face from his hat. It had long since been abandoned, boards nailed over the windows and a number of debris in what probably was once a lush garden.

Bounding over the rusted metal gate, the dhampire landed lightly in the garden and made his way to the building. With a single hand he pushed the door in, entering with a hand angled up for his sword. But the building was empty. Dust covered all the furniture, much of which was broken. After briefly reviewing the main foyer, D descended to the basement.

Much as the rest of the building this large room contained more misshapen furniture and large amounts of dust. Something about the dust seemed unnatural and D slipped off his glove to let the symbiont run a tongue over it. After initially appearing to enjoy the taste Leftie gagged most heartily and demanded to be pulled away.

"That stuff's nasty!"

"What's the composition of the dust?"

"What's the composition of...! How about asking me if I'm alright?" complained the symbiont.

"It's not natural," D went on, entirely ignoring the carbuncle as he circled the room, dark eyes scanning every nook and cranny.

"I could have told you that. There's definitely something synthetic about it. Like someone made all this look abandoned to keep people out."

Something in the far corner seemed off to the dhampire. Stepping over to it with footsteps that made less sound than the sunlight shining through the broken window, D quickly examined it. This part of the floor felt less structurally sound than the rest. Cutting into the floor with his dagger the dhampire uncovered a panel and he flipped up.

Down was a set of steps and beyond, something glowed.

"I don't like the looks of this, D..." Leftie muttered, in answer of which D sported his glove again, silencing the protests.

Down the steps D descended, his way lightened by the unnatural gleam. When he reached the bottom, his boots met something wet and sticky. The dhampire peered down and even his stoic demeanor cracked a little to see himself immersed in a liquid that glowed a revolting green. That liquid had climbed up to his knees. A pungent smell floated up to his nostrils and even the very gleam stung his dark eyes.

"This is His work..." D said softly. His hand contorted. Clearly Leftie had more to say. Opening his hand, the dhampire let his symbiont speak.

"This is the stuff we sensed when we came after our oh-so-soft landing." Leftie was silent a moment, then added, "So Paradise City is really sitting on poison, is it?"

"Quiet."

D didn't just want the symbiont silent so as to be rid of his constant chatter; the dhampire sensed something move in the muck. It seemed humanoid and yet not entirely so, as its appendages flailed about in a half-hazard manner totally not benefiting anything properly skeletal. As it approached it stumbled into the liquid, then rose, then stumbled again. When it came within viewing distance, D could see the horns, spikes and talons all along its body.

"Wow, that thing's so ugly even a mother couldn't bear to look at it!" exclaimed Leftie.

Even as the "thing" drew nearer D didn't arm himself, instead calmly asking, "Who made you this way?"

For an answer the creature leapt at the dhampire, all manner of bodily weapons bared. Allowing the creature to come within striking distance, D suddenly flew into action. You couldn't see him draw his sword and yet it was in his hand all the same. Neither could you see the blade as it slashed a deep line across the creature's chest, tearing it in half, which each half falling in opposite piles.

"You know D it is easier to get answers when it's not dead."

There was no response as the dhampire lifted up the body, hefted it over a shoulder and ascended the steps. While he strode the beautiful city streets vampires and humans gasped, stunned, horrified, as the creature left a trail of gooey blood and other liquids behind the dhampire. It was a strange contrast between the unspeakably radiant vampire hunter and the unspeakably terrifying creature he carried.

Not such an unlikely comparison for the City of the Night itself.