The Life of a Vampire Hunter
----------------------------

Kahn enjoyed the simple aspects of his job,
or at least he preferred to think of it as his job.
After the fall of Neclord, the young new leader of
the Republic had offered him a place within it, as
an official.

"So, I really think you should consider it,
Kahn. You'd be more than welcome here." concluded
Teresa, who was handling the responsibility of
enlisting aid for the new infant government.

"Young lady, I'd like to ask you something."
said Kahn, after a minute of quiet pondering.

"Yes?" asked Teresa.

"Could you trap the wind in a cage?"

"Well I... suppose not. Why do you ask?"

Kahn walked to a window within the small
office. Rain fell tapping against the wall gently.
Silent for a moment, Kahn rested one hand on the
wet sill, water dripping onto his calloused hand.

"I liken myself to the wind at times,
young lady. To work in one place for so long, and
so out of my environment is not something I would
do for any cause."

"But Neclord is dead, isn't he? Really
dead? You don't have any more enemies to fight."

Kahn grinned slightly, his cool eyes
studying Teresa's face.

"Neclord isn't the only vampire in our
world. There are numerous others, some may even
be more powerful than he was." Softly he rubbed
the Resurrection Rune on his right hand. "I've
had this rune for many years, more than I care
to remember. Other than my blade, it's the only
thing I've had to fight the undead with since I
set out so long ago to destroy Neclord and all
of his vile kind."

"But what about Sierra? Isn't she a
vampire?"

"Indeed she is. But she and I have an
understanding, that I will not discuss here.
And in any case, I must decline your offer."

"Kahn..."

"I'm sorry, Miss Teresa. I plan to
leave for Tinto within five days. It'll take
me about that long to get myself set up to
resume my fight."

Without another word, Kahn exited the
office.

***

It was a rainy day, with menacing
black clouds overhead, that Kahn set out.
He had barely gone but a few miles from
the castle, when he saw a young woman with
pale skin and smiling eyes sitting on a rock
beside the road.

"I've been waiting for you to get here,
Kahn." she said. She smiled, showing her
pearly white fangs.

"And why would you be waiting for me,
Sierra?" Kahn asked, stopping next to the rock
and looking up at her.

"I wanted to know what your real reason
for denying that job was."

Kahn perked an eyebrow. "You heard me
talking to Teresa?"

Sierra looked fairly bored and
disdained as she replied. "I was enjoying the
rain on the roof. It's amazing what a young
lady accidently hears when she goes to enjoy
nature's beauty."

Kahn chuckled and shook his head
slightly. "You always did have a rather odd,
but funny, perspective of things." he said,
and began walking down the road again.

With sleek strides, like a cat who
wants something, Sierra follwed Kahn. Kahn
pretended not to notice.

***

The sun set slowly, but surely,
dipping under the large mountain ranges.
Kahn began setting up his sleeping pallet,
and a small fire nearby. Sierra watched,
but put some distance between herself and
the most bright area the fire lit.

After eating a small meal, Kahn
wrapped himself in the pallet, using his hat
as a pillow. He looked over at Sierra, after
a moment.

"You don't plan on biting me in the
middle of the night, do you?"

Sierra giggled lightly.

"Well?"

"No, I won't. We have that little
'understanding' remember?"

"True. But how long do you plan on
following me?"

Sierra only shrugged.

Kahn went silent, turning toward the
fire and falling asleep.

***

When Kahn awoke, Sierra was sitting
next to him, adding wood to the small fire
Kahn had made the previous night.

Kahn sat up, and quietly moved Sierra
back, since she seemed slightly pained just
from being so close to the fire.

"You didn't have to keep the fire
going all night, Sierra..."

"I know. I just wanted to make sure
you were warm."

Kahn smiled a little. "Should we
fight those vampires together?"

Sierra shrugged, and mirrored the
small smile, in her feminine manner. "I
suppose. But no shooting good vampires.
There are some that don't need to die."

"Deal."

"Glad to be aboard, brother." she
said, standing.

"Pleased to have you along, sister.
Maybe my rune has kept me alive so long
for a reason, after all."

Quietly, the two walked down the
mountain trail leading to Tinto. Rain
began to fall from the sky, as the two
immortal siblings started their own quest.