Authors Note: Ok, her she is...I am still loving this story. It has become my baby. Anyways, I have dabbled a little bit in D's past via his left hand. I wont spoil it for ya but comments would be nice...I would love to know that some people are still reading this!! Anyways, again...I don't own anything this is merely a cure for boredom. Read on! I had to upload this story again, I don't know what I did but I got it all messed up so bear with me. It should be ok now.

Chapter 12

Painful Memories

Crystal ate her dinner in silence. There were still some things she wanted to know but she doubted he would actually answer her. The deathly silence was killing her though. She couldn't help but to think about was lurking around in the darkness. Her mother and the count had a lot of creatures at their beckon call. She couldn't stand it any longer. She stood up and walked over to where D sat motionless.

(Here she comes stud. Work your magic) his hand whispered.

Crystal sat down off to his left side, but she stayed closer to the fire. She was cold but wanted someone to talk to even if it was his hand. She noticed his body tense up when she sat down. Was he sleeping? Did I wake him? She sat there running through her thoughts as D stood up and went to his horse. Out of one of the spare compartments he pulled a silver square about six inches by six and walked back over to Crystal. He stood next to here and held it out to her. She looked up to meet his eyes.

"What's this?"

"You're shivering. This will keep you warm." D answered.

She took it from him with a warm smile. It was a thermal blanket. It had 48 hours worth of heat ready for use right out of the package and could be charged in the sun for for 5 hours after that for continued use. This one had never been used, she wondered why he even carried it. She took the wrapper off and threw it the fire. She slid back from the fire and wrapped up in it. The warmed her instantly. She scooted a little closer to D who was now back in the same spot he was earlier, hoping he wouldn't notice. He did notice however he chose not to do anything since she was causing no harm.

"D, aren't you cold?" Crystal asked looking over to him.

"No"

His chest is massive…wow. She thought to herself. She once again couldn't stop herself from scanning his very muscular form. It was like he was carved out of marble by the best artist ever known. Every muscle was so defined and chiseled. She blushed and quickly turned her head away until she could feel the heat leaving her face. She happened to look over to him just in time to watch an almost un noticeable shiver pass through his body.

"Are you alright?" she asked as she slid closer to him.

"The sun has set." He answered quietly.

"Why don't we travel through the night, wouldn't we get there faster?"

"Because you still need to rest. I can't have you sleeping the whole time during the ride." He replied.

"Oh" she was embarrassed. If only she hadn't fallen asleep he wouldn't think of her as incapable. No doubt it was safer to travel during the day but she was with the great vampire hunter D. She felt safe.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard him move. He leaned forward to pull his sword off his back. He leaned back up against the tree and set it on the ground at his right side. She knew he always kept his sword hand free and his sword by his side even when he didn't need it. That was a warrior's mentality for you. You never knew when you would need to go for it quick, kill first ask questions later. It could mean your life if your sword hand was occupied.

"Where did you get your sword?" Crystal asked

"It was a gift."

(More like a replacement.) His hand chuckled.

D mashed his hand into his arm to silence him. Crystal bit her bottom lip. She hated it when it was quiet so she figured if she kept asking questions he would talk to her.

"How long have you been a hunter?" she asked him looking for a sign of emotion.

D didn't answer at first. But he could feel her eyes on him waiting for an answer.

"For as long as I can remember."

"You said earlier that you feel pain like the rest of us. How come you don't show it?"

(Because he's a damn rock!) His hand yelled out from his confinement on D's arm.

D then closed his fist and answered her question.

"Because I am used to it."

"My next question is for that being in your hand. Will you let him talk to me?" Crystal asked as she dropped her gaze to his left hand that was now in a fist on his arm. He thought for a moment and then let out a small grunt. He released his fist and his left hand popped up. The little face in his palm was looking at Crystal and smiling.

(Finally, someone who doesn't treat me like shit. Go ahead and ask away sugar lips.)

Crystal shook her head at his reply but asked her question anyways.

"What kind of creature are you?"

His toothy grin only got wider then he answered.

(I am a symbiote. Normally when I chose a body I can control it. But, dick head up there is different. I kinda figured when I chose him but I couldn't go back once I got here. He was too strong for me to take control but in turn he can control me to an extent. Sometimes he is nice and let s me have some fun. You see, I only got stuck with him because he decided to kill my original host. He cut his hand up pretty bad so I took advantage of it. But I didn't get to make myself known until he hit puberty. His father saw to that.)

"Cant you leave?" her curiosity was boiling over now.

(Nope, I am stuck with the stubborn ass. Besides, its not very often I get even this much control and he isn't all that boring to be around. When someone stakes him…that's when it gets much more fun.) D's hand replied. D was getting annoyed. He had agreed to let her talk with him but hated the fact that he took control of the conversation and with D still attached. He was glad it was him doing the talk and not him though.

"How did his father tell you when you got to see him?"

(Funny story actually. You see, D wasn't always the damn ice block you see now. He was caught visiting a girl in the village below his fathers' mansion after he was told never to return there when he was accused of being a vampire. So he killed the body I was controlling out of self defense. He cut his hand when he reached out for the guys' dagger. Yes, before you ask I knew about him. That's why the body I was in went after him. Anyway, he got strapped up in the town center once he was finally caught and they stoned him. But they forgot how close to sunset it was. During this time I was making myself at home by meshing myself in with him. Well they didn't realize who he was the son of and when he found out what was happening he went down to the town. The townsfolk were relentless but D didn't scream once. They carried the stoning well on into the early evening hours. The town lights had come on but they kept going and no one saw the carriage stop outside the gates. They all fled when they saw him coming. When his father got him down and in the carriage they headed back for the mansion. D was half dead and that's when he sensed my presence and asked me to show myself. When I did I was told about who I had chosen for my new host. That's when he charged me with the duty I have now. I am his helper hand!) D's hand said playfully. (Not in that way either. I help him when he needs it. I offer my knowledge and healing abilities when I am not worked like a damn dog. Although it is fun to watch him suffer sometimes, I have to heal him. If I don't then I can die with him. There have been a few times I almost couldn't help him. I can't heal sun sickness or anything like that. I am here for when he gets staked or I get cut off, otherwise my healing abilities are useless,) D just shook his head.

"Can you talk to him telepathically? When does he let you take control like this?" she asked glancing up at the man it was attached to.

(Yes, when he lets me in and only when he lets me have control.) His hand answered spitefully.

"So uh, when did he hit puberty?" she asked with a giggle.

(At 22)

Crystal smiled.

(Dhampirs mature slower than normal humans, hence why they hit puberty later. Quiet a nasty shock for him when I made myself known.) His hand chuckled.

"And how did you do that?" now she was really curious.

(Not like you are thinking. I don't recall him ever doing that actually. But he was resting exactly like he is now under a tree on his fathers estate and I bit his scrawny arm. He broke his hand trying to get rid of me.) The hand laughed and it vibrated D's arm.

He hated it when that happened. Why did he have to tell her that story of how he first got a hold of D. That was his first dance with death, it was a dance he has yet to prefect and he remembered it well. Laurie was the girl he was visiting. He allowed them to cart him off when they threatened her life. After that he hadn't gone back to see her. He did see her in a different town once. He was dressed the same that he is now with the exception of his hair being shorter. She looked elegant and clearly marred money. She saw him too, when she called his name it dredged up the painful memory of that day and he ignored her. The next time he saw her she was being lowered into the ground. He never went back since then.

Crystal furrowed her brow when she saw D's eyes dip out of focus. He actually let his guard down, though it was only for a moment.

"Can you tell me his fathers' name?" knowing it was a long shot.

"No" D growled as he clamped his hand shut on the parasite. There no more talking to his hand, at least not for now.

"D, how old were you when that happened?" she asked the stoic hunter now.

"I was 15" he replied. It was so quiet she almost didn't catch it.

If she wasn't so focused on him it would've been no more than a whisper in the breeze. She knew this made him uncomfortable so she wrapped up in her blanket and laid down.

"Not everyone thinks you're so bad. Goodnight." She whispered as she adjusted her arm under her head and closed her eyes.

D closed his eyes and dropped the barriers in his mind. He actually let the parasite in. They needed to have a private conversation and he didn't want to wake her.

"Why did you have to tell her?"

(Because she asked. For your information buster I wasn't going to tell her who your father is.)

"Good"

(She really isn't that bad D. She is just curious.)

"I know"

(Will it kill you to talk to her?)

"It might."

(Holy shit! D, was that humor? Did you just try to be funny?)

"We're done"

D closed the barrier to his mind once more. He sat in the darkened forest and listened. He was supposed to be keeping watch.

(HA! There is a sense of humor under that hard exterior. Not a good one, but at least its there.) His hand thought to himself.

Just then he felt D rise to his feet and strap his massive sword to his back. He unsheathed it and headed into the forest.