A/N- Sorry about the evil cliff hanger. I want to make a note about the forum concering my fanfiction. Occasionally, I'll post important notes and such under the appropriate thread. So you might just want to check it out. Sometimes, I give little spoilers too. Anyhow, please enjoy!
Chapter 7- Life Saver
Lilah's knees gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing. Why was it always her? Why couldn't she help people? That's all she ever wanted to do. She had been helping a patient when she had been turned, she had been trying to help D when the vampire had killed Geneva, and she had been--well--trying to help herself when she had tried to kill these vampires. And every time, some innocent ended up being hurt. Why couldn't she be more useful?
"Get up! Get up, you little whore!" snapped the vampire that still had a hold of her.
She took a deep, shuddering breath. But she did not stand. Instead, she looked up at her captor, a defiant look in her eyes, and said, "Kill me. Go ahead. Drain me dry. I don't care. I won't fight you."
The vampire looked puzzled for a moment. Then, he smiled wide.
"Suit yourself. But to tell you the truth, pretty one, I was kind of hoping you would fight. I like it when they're feisty," he said, looking up at his undead companions.
They all began to close in around her. Lilah closed her eyes and even tilted her head to the right. The way she figured it, the sooner she was gone, the better. However, she suddenly felt the vampire pull back hard on her hair with a groan that Lilah had heard one too many times. Her eyes flicked open in time to feel and see some of the vampire's stolen blood from a previous victim fall upon her head. The vampire's grip died with him, and he released Lilah.
As quickly as he had died, the other three went just as fast. All with a sudden gust of wind and a flash of silver. Lilah had not even stood yet. Then, she felt a hand pull her up to her feet with a great force by the collar of her shirt. The daze that had come over her faded with the recognition of not the figure holding her up first, but rather the white mare that was behind him. Suddenly, the daze was returning. She just couldn't work out what had happened.
"What the hell did you think you were doing!" D's voice broke through to her.
She gasped and stared at D as if she had not known he had been there. He was still holding her up by her shirt collar, and he looked livid. If Lilah was honest with herself, that was first sign of emotion she had seen from the dhampire. Her mouth quivered a bit as she tried to form words…but they just would not come. She couldn't decide on what needed to be said first.
"Can you stand?" D asked, and, without waiting for an answer, released his hold.
Lilah stood a bit wobbly, but she stood nonetheless. Finally, regaining her voice, she looked up at him and asked, "How did you find me?"
"I had noticed Princess coming from this direction. I just retraced her steps. However, you did not answer my question. What were you thinking?" D said in a voice of calm. It would probably be forced calm, were it any other person speaking.
"I--I heard what you said to L.H. About my fighting…I didn't want to trouble you," Lilah muttered.
D didn't reply. Instead, he gave a short whistle and both Princess and D's black stallion came to him. D mounted, but Lilah just stood there.
"Aren't you coming?" D asked, not looking at as he turned his stallion back in the direction of the camp.
"I know how much trouble a liability can be in this line of duty. I can't put you in that much danger. You've done so much for me already, just by taking me in. I've already cost you…and others, so much. I won't trouble you anymore," Lilah said, clicking her tongue.
Princess began to walk obediently over to her when D put out his hand and caught her reins.
"What are you doing?" Lilah asked.
"These deaths are not…were not your fault. There was nothing you nor I could have done. You have to accept this. However, I will not accept your leaving. You wouldn't last a day out on your own. You have to learn. I believe you can…we just have to work at it. Now, come along. We need to rest."
Lilah gave a soft smile as D released her horse and began to slowly ride back to camp. She met Princess half-way and petted her for a moment. Kindness such as D had just shown her was rare in Hunters. She wished she could show him just how much she appreciated it. Sighing, she began to pull herself up into Princess's saddle but stopped as an idea struck her.
She quickly ran around and stood in the pathway of D's horse. D pulled the reins.
"What is it?" he asked.
Lilah fumbled for a moment. Then, finally, she said, "I want to do something for you. Something I can only do right here, because I have the means at this moment. Something good."
End Notes: And what is Lilah's gift to D? Find out next chapter! Please review!
