Scene 6

"Now what?"

D was a beautiful shadow upon the brick wall of the Infirmary. He'd gone there for no particular reason other than to get away from the council. He was a stranger in no man's land. And now he was being called upon to do something the vampire hunter swore never to do--to ally himself with his kin. But to what end? And what hope? Surely they could see the futileness of such an endeavor. And D had no desire to be dragged into a mission doomed from the start.

All this crossed the dhampire's mind but no matter whether his hat was low or high for he'd mastered his feelings again, smothered them beneath an icy exterior.

"Well...D? D?...Are you still awake?"

D made a fist of his hand despite (or rather because of) Leftie's protests. He didn't need the symbiot's incessant questions. He had enough of his own. Everything had become so complicated so very quickly. His routine mission spun out of control, leading him to a half-brother, a rejected young woman and a not-so-dead vampire. Transported to another existence (it was the only way he knew how to describe where he was) to ally himself with his prey!

No, not exactly a standard mission.

"We need to leave this town before things get too complicated."

Leftie squirmed until the dhampire relented and opened his palm. "Before you get too involved, you mean." Ah, that taunting voice. How well the vampire hunter knew it. "That's your way, isn't it, D? Run off before you can start to care. Well, it's a little late now for that, hmmm? You've already begun to care."

There was no answer but the kiss of winter's winds. As much as he hated to admit it, D knew the symbiot was right. He was already starting to feel connected to those involved. Alucard. Ameila. Maria...

Maria?

There she was stumbling out into the snow-clad streets. She didn't look in the shape to be going anywhere, much less in this miserable climate. Maria didn't notice him there, so still and so dark and so he watched as she made her way toward to the city center where a group had begun to gather. Some altercation had occured as two groups faced off, weapons brought to bear. D's hyper-enhanced sense tingled at the sight of the group on the left.

Vampires!

The crescent-shaped sword was out in a flash and D pushed off from the wall. Though he longed to strike his kin down the dhampire instead waited as Maria stepped between the two groups, her steps unsteady. What was she up to?

"Stop!" Maria's voice betrayed none of her weakness, her single sylabale as sharp as the sun's glare on the snow. Her booted feet crunched that snow. "This is the third time this week. I won't have it again!"

"Lady Maria..." One of the humans broke away from the pack on the right, advancing on her. "Go back to your bed. You're not fit to be out here."

Then came the soft hiss of a vampire's otherworldly voice, "He's right. Get out of our way. We'll settle this."

D's sword inched upwards. He would be the one to settle this...

"I said STOP!"

As if casting a spell everyone halted to Maria's command, even D. The young woman swung up her hands. "You'll fight." Her hand shook at the humans. "You'll fight." Now it was directed at the vampires. "You'll fight." This time it was D she pointed at. "And some of you will live and some of you will die." Her green eyes burned from fever borne of illness and anger. "And what good does that do any of us? An endless cycle of killing and for what?"

The shouting and gesturing must have taken their toll for Maria wavered on her feet and then started to fall. Started that is, for acting without thinking the dhampire leapt forward and caught her. She looked white as newly bleached bones and yet her cheeks flushed at the same time. D had to brace her with his left hand for his right still held the sword, keeping the others at bay.

"Oh my god!"

"Not now..." D hissed. People looked around, confused at the voice with no owner.

"D! D!"

"What is it?" D kept his voice low.

"She...there's a symbiot in her!"

D's lip parted. The group shifted, uneasy. They hadn't heard Leftie's words but still recongized sound coming from apparently nowhere. And the presence of this powerful newcomer made them even more discontented. D realized he had to be rid of the two groups immediately to deal with this new "development".

"Maria is going to rest." The words held as much warmth as the wind. "I suggest you all leave now. First person to raise arms against one another shall face my sword."

None took D up on the offer. Human and vampire alike sensed the power in the vampire hunter and none longed to evoke it. The humans were the first to depart, but the vampires weren't far behind, each taking a different route for fear of upsetting the newcomer.

When they were gone D lowered Maria to the ground and shook her awake. Her long lashes fluttered half-open and she smiled at him. "Hmmm...I'm sorry. I guess I am tired...Thanks...again."

"Does Alucard know?"

Now the eyes came wide open. "You know?"

"How not? I can hear its heartbeat--Ugh!" D dug his fingers into his palm, cutting off whatever else the symbiot had to say.

"What was that?"

"Nevermind." The dhampire crouched to a knee, his penetrating gaze upon her. She shivered. "Does he know?"

For a few moments all the young woman did was mutter to herself, worried. Finally she uttered, "Yes he does." Then looking at him, begging for understanding, she added, "It's why we're doing this...this council. To see if we can have peace between the two races for the sake of our...baby." Her green eyes misted. "I don't want my child to be raised in a world where they are hated for their blood...surely you understand, being a dhampire yourself..."

More dhampires. More people connected to him by blood. More connections...

Suddenly Maria was in the powerful arms of the vampire hunter. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm taking you to your husband."

After that she was given no more answers for D carried her all the way back to the Council Building with nary a word.