Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Hunter D. This story was meant for entertainment purposes only. But I am the only one allowed to place my vampire cast in embarrassing situations...hehe.
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Hey minna! ^_^ I'm afraid my updates will be coming once every two weeks, now. I swear I try to update sooner, but I've either got too much stuff to do academically, or I suffer from the ailment known as writer's block... _ So I apologize again.
I was re-reading chapter 8 last night, and I was contemplating on what a good villain Kígyó was. So now comes the question: WHY in the world did I make D kill him? _ grrrrr... I got the idea for a snake villain thanks to my older brother's pet snake (he's a biologist, so he's into some really strange and *dangerous* animals). Its a boa constrictor, and it got out of its large glass "fish tank" the other day, frightening the living daylights out of me (don't worry, she's practically harmless). That's where Kígyó came from. So now, I need another heart-raking experience to come up with another of Count Meszaros' lackeys...hehe. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll get one soon enough. ^_~
Oh, I should actually be thanking my brother here, since he provided me with the snake names for this chapter. Thanks, bro! ^_^
Again, thanks to all you readers out there for reading this modest would-be writer's story and for your reviews. *hugs everybody*
Things start getting on D's nerves in this chapter, so beware! Things are never what we expect them to be...^_~
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"Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them."
Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance
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Chapter 9
Unexpected reflections
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"He keeps up easily," Beriszl commented.
Vitéz looked down to see D riding his horse at full speed on the road below, keeping pace with the rapidly flying vampires.
"Of course he manages to keep up," the Baron replied, smiling to himself. "He's been chasing our kind for centuries."
Kalman chuckled. "This, to him, should be no more than a leisurely night time outing."
"Then, shouldn't we be worried about the possibility of him turning against us?" Beriszl asked.
The three vampires looked at each other for an instant, then burst out laughing.
"You've grown paranoid, Beriszl," Kalman said, shaking his head.
"Can't say I haven't. With all these hunters and exterminators roaming the world, who wouldn't?" the Captain replied with a rueful smile.
Kalman sighed in agreement.
"You do not need to fear D, Beriszl, you can be certain of that," Vitéz spoke seriously.
"He risked his life to safe my daughter," the Baron said, as he looked down at the small girl he carried in his arms. Tightening his hold on her, he continued, "that should serve as further proof of his honorable ways. We shall treat him accordingly and welcome him as he deserves."
Both vampires nodded at their meister's words.
"And if he were to turn against us," Vitéz added on a lighter note. "I'm sure D would have the decency to tell you beforehand when the end of your days would come."
The three friends laughed again at the irony of it all, as they continued their journey across the sky.
******
D could hear the vampires' laughter quite clearly; he couldn't help but wonder what in the world could make a vampire laugh. The people of the night were solemn creatures, not susceptible to human feelings such as joy and merriment. The Hunter could not remember when was the last time he'd heard a vampire laugh. Or maybe he could remember, but did not wish to search his mind for the memory.
Attentively observing the trio travelling above him, D became easily aware of the friendship they shared. The bonds between them were so evident they could almost be seen, becoming apparent by merely looking at their body movements, and how they were completely at ease with each other's company.
The dunpheal found himself smiling mentally, and for the first time in centuries, he wished he could share such a genuine friendship with someone.
"What the hell's wrong with you, dunpheal?" Left Hand's voice served to remind D of his own "faithful" comrade.
"You keep staring off into space, man. You need to concentrate. There's three powerful vampires flying ahead of you, acting completely suspicious, and all you can do is think about how cute they look together? Come on! Concentrate! They're bound to kill you at the first chance they get. You've got to keep on your toes!"
"They present no threat whatsoever, at the moment," D replied in his usual quiet tone. "Besides, they are technically in my debt for what I did for the girl. They won't attack me for it would go against their code of honour."
"What honour!?" The parasite shouted exasperated. "These are vampires, dunpheal! They have no honour!"
"These do," the Hunter replied calmly. "It is precisely their honour what makes them so different."
Left hand sighed loudly. "Well, can't say I didn't try. It's not my fault you're believing all this bullshit. When you end up dead, pierced by one of their swords, I just might ask one of them to take me in, how do you like that?"
D almost rolled his eyes. "As usual, I am impressed with your incredible display of loyalty."
"Don't mention it," Left Hand laughed.
******
The Castle of Stormhold came into D's view not long after. It was an immense structure, reminding the dunpheal in an uneasy way of the place he had once called home. It was not the first time he'd been reminded of his childhood this night, and it would not be the last.
The three vampires lords made their way towards one of the upper windows. Two of them stepped inside, while another made his way down towards the castle's main entrance.
D rode his horse down the main road, galloping past the large iron gates, going through the castle wall. The guards did not stop his progress, letting D know that his coming had been expected.
Coming to the main entrance, D saw a dark figure standing by the large double doors. It descended the steps as the dunpheal dismounted his cyborg. A barbarois appeared out of nowhere, taking the horse's reigns and leading it quickly away. D was about to protest, but was not given a chance, for the proceeding figure spoke.
"So, we meet again, Hunter," the familiar voice of Count Farkas spoke.
D nodded, the gleam in his eyes showing he was also pleased with this meeting.
"I have been officially chosen to welcome you to Stormhold Castle," the Count said, as he gestured towards the grand structure behind him. "The humble home of Baron Stormblade and the headquarters of his mighty Council."
The dunpheal looked up, seemingly unimpressed.
"You've seen better, I'll wager," Kalman continued, chuckling softly. "Well then, Vampire Hunter, I hope our modest hospitality pleases you."
He turned towards the doors, a smile on his lips.
"Come, D. We shall go see how my unokahúg is faring," the Count said, concern now crossing his features.
"Unokahúg?" D asked, in perfectly fluent Hungarian.
Kalman smiled. "Yes. I have considered Aury as my niece since the moment I lay eyes upon her. She was a small babe back then, on the day Baron Lengyel found her. But let us hurry, for I worry greatly about her state."
With that, he turned and walked swiftly through the doors, D at his heels. They made their way towards a large marble staircase, elegant candelabra lighting their path. As they climbed towards the upper chambers of the castle, D took in his surroundings well.
Luxurious decorations could be found everywhere, but they were not extravagant, instead they displayed a grand antique collection. Some of the artefacts D came across were so old and precious that he could not even begin to imagine their worth. They marked the Baron as an intellectual immediately. As they crossed a landing, D saw Botticelli's Primavera adorning a wall. It was definetely the original. From the things he was seeing, Baron Vitéz Lengyel had led a well travelled and very long life.
As they came to the third floor, Kalman turned towards D once more.
"Forgive me, D, for the hasty parting on our last encounter. I assure you that under any other circumstance, I would have stayed to finish our duel as was expected of me."
The dunpheal smiled, knowing the Count meant well. Even so, he could not help but perceive Kalman's desire to know who would have won their encounter.
"You did what you had to do," he said quietly. He then decided to humour the Count. "Our fight can be postponed."
Kalman smiled. "Until a more convenient time, then?"
D nodded.
The Count chuckled. "I'm afraid our duel left me with some unsatisfied need to test my sword skills. I was glad you were there to save Aury tonight, but a part of me was thoroughly disappointed, for my sword arm was aching for a fight. I would have slaughtered the beast who was foolish enough to threaten my unokahúg. But then again, my punishment would have been nothing compared to what Vitéz would have done." He ended in a more serious tone.
D looked at the Count, silently asking him to elaborate.
"He treasures her inmensely, you see. Aury to the Baron is the daylight he has been deprived of in life. Some see it as a weakness, but he thinks of it as a strength."
Kalman looked at D, who in turn had a look of reservation in his eyes.
A vampire was actually telling him that another vampire had the capality to love? This night had been full of surprises.
"I am sure he will explain everything to you in time, Hunter," Kalman said, still smiling. "All I ask of you is to hear him, and to consider with an open mind all he has to say."
D nodded, staying silent.
Count Farkas led him down a hall, towards a room at its end. Voices could be discerned from the open door. D followed the Count and entered.
Aury lay on a bed without moving. She had not regained consciousness yet. There was a barbarois woman sitting on one side of the bed, examining the girl's left leg while Baron Vitéz kneeled on the other side, holding the child's hand. The tiger, Sharaf, lay beside him. Beriszl was nowhere in sight.
Vitéz turned towards the door as D and Kalman entered.
"How is she?" asked the Count, moving towards the bed. D stayed by the door, quiet as a ghost.
"She has been posoined," Vitéz replied. "But she will be fine, as soon as we give her the correct antidote. The problem lies in determining what type of snake it was that bit her. Igna is trying to find the answer."
The Baron turned to the barbarois woman who was examing the girl.
Igna shook her head. "It could have been anything from a coral to a mocassin snake." Frustration was apparent in her voice.
Sharaf growled in response.
"It was an African mamba snake," D said calmly. All eyes turned towards him.
"Are you sure about this?" Igna asked.
"The snake-man used mambas to attack me, since those were the snakes adorning his head. I am sure he used them to capture Aury, utilizing a smaller quantity of poison to drug her."
Sharaf turned in D's direction, making a rumbling sound in his throat, as if agreeing with the dunpheal.
Igna looked silently at D.
"You heard him," Vitéz said. "What do you need to make the antidote?"
"But, my lord..." Igna started to say.
"You heard what he said," Vitéz said more forcefully. "He saved my daughter once, and now he is doing it again. It should be enough for you that I place my trust in him. Or do you question my judgement?" His patience was running thin.
"No, my lord," the woman answered, looking down.
"Good," the Baron said flatly. "Now, what do you need?"
Igna thought for a moment, before she said. "I have some mamba snake poison in my storage, so the most important ingredient we have already. I will also need some lantana plant and some lactarius fragilis. I need its milk to mix with the poison."
"Some candy cap mushrooms," Vitéz said thoughtfully. "Those will be harder to find than the lantana. Anything else?"
"No sir. That is all I need."
Beriszl walked through the door at that very moment.
"How is she?" he asked.
"Still asleep, but thanks to D, she will be awake soon." Vitéz said, smiling in the dunpheal's direction. "He solved the mystery concerning the origins of the snake bite."
The Captain turned towards D. "Hunter, we owe you much. I cannot think of a way to properly express my gratitude."
D nodded, acknowledging the vampire's sentiments.
"What news, Beriszl?" asked Vitéz, interrupting their small exchange.
"We are ready to leave, Meister."
"Good."
"Where are you going?" asked Kalman, somewhat surprised.
"I have asked Beriszl to form a search squad. I want to comb the perimeters of Arkenia for foul visitors such as this snake-man. We have been having some unwanted guests, lately. I want to make sure my lands are clean," answered the Baron.
But before he could continue, Kalman interrupted.
"You will be leaving to exterminate these invading vermin without me?" he asked Beriszl, his tone resentful.
The Captain only chuckled at his friend's temper.
"If you would have let me finish, Kalman, you would not have needed to ask the question in the first place," Vitéz said.
Kalman looked down, looking properly chastised.
D watched the conversation quietly, amazed at the vampire who could make the formidable Count Farkas look abashed.
"You will accompany Beriszl on this expedition," Vitéz said. "Make ready, for you will leave immediately."
"What about you, Meister?" Kalman asked.
"I would go with you, but I have more pressing matters to attend to," The Baron answered, looking down at Aury. "I will search for the ingredients needed to make Aury's antidote, and I do not plan to leave her side after that."
For the second time this night, D was stunned at the affection present in Baron Stormblade's face when he looked at his daughter.
"Very well," Kalman answered. Then turning to Beriszl, "well, let's get going. You know I'm more than ready."
Beriszl smiled. Turning to Sharaf, "Will you come with us? I am sure you'd appreciate the hunt," he said, mischief in his voice.
The tiger growled, but reluctantly shook its large head.
"He will be coming with me," Vitéz explained. "Sharaf also wants to be by Aury's side when she awakens."
Beriszl nodded with understanding. He turned to Kalman once more. "Let us go, then. Farewell, Meister. We will do our best."
"I know you will," answered the Baron. His pupils answered with their own smiles as they made their way out of the room, giving D a nod in farewell.
Vitéz stood. "Igna, do not leave her side until I get back."
He made his way towards the door, where D stood.
"D, I apologize for the lack of hospitality I have shown you. I had planned your arrival under very different circumstances," the Baron said. "But as you can see, some very pressing matters have come up, and, thanks to you, my daughter is alive. Now I must assume my part in this rescue: to make sure she comes back to us safely. So I must apologize again, for I have been a very poor host."
"There is no need to apologize," D said quietly. "You are only doing what you need to do. I find no fault in that."
Vitéz looked silently at D for a moment. Not knowing why, the dunpheal felt a bit unnerved by that gaze. It invoked certain feelings that D had been trying hard to surpress all night.
"You are truly an amazing person," Vitéz finally said, a small smile gracing his lips. "Toryn will show you to your chambers."
A small barbarois, which looked incredibly like an overlarge gnome, was suddenly standing beside D. The dunpheal did well to hide his surprise, for he knew the servant had not been standing there a minute ago.
"I will come to you as soon as I can, for we have much to talk about D. I bid you goodnight, and I thank you for your honorable deeds once more," Vitéz finally said, turning to walk down the hall, Sharaf following swiftly.
D was left standing there, staring in the direction they had gone, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. He should have said something; he should have let him know he was concerned about Aury too; he should have volunteered to help; at least, he should have thanked him for his hospitality. Instead, he stood there like he always did, as silent as a corpse.
Baron Stormblade had made quiet an impression on the dunpheal, but it had not been the impression D had expected. No amount of experience could hace prepared him for this.
As he turned to follow Toryn down another hall, for the first time since his childhood, the dunpheal cursed his lack of words.
******
"And that girl in your arms is my daughter."
The word shock was an understatement for the feeling he'd experienced when he heard the words. Despite hearing the Baron's voice clearly in his mind, D had not been able to process what he was being told.
Standing on the balcony of the elegant guest room that had been assigned to him, the dunpheal contemplated the view of the nightly landscape before him, reviewing the events of the night with a critical, if somewhat disturbed, eye.
"And that girl in your arms is my daughter."
Kneeling as he cradled the child, D was not able to move as the Baron stepped closer. He stared at the vampire soundlessly, showing his disbelief clearly.
Vitéz came forward, kneeling in front of D.
D clearly remembered the loving look which crossed his grey eyes as he looked down upon her sleeping face. This was something the dunpheal thought he would never live to see. All the centuries spent hunting and exterminating the lords of the night had shown him how emotionally barren vampires were. They were not able to experience love.
Now, it would seem D had come to the wrong conclusions.
The dunpheal was so taken aback that he did not protest when the Baron took the girl from his arms, wrapping her in a fierce hug. Vitéz spoke:
"You'd have to be a father to understand the service you have done for me. Hunter, there are no words which can express my gratitude."
Father...a concept that did not settle clearly in D's mind, or in his heart.
The words were simple, but they were spoken in such a tone of such honesty and emotion, that D was not able to deny the fact that this was indeed, the Baron's daughter. They stirred a whole chapter of emotions the dunpheal was not eager to face.
"Her name is Aury. And I'm sure, if she were awake, that she would be thanking you in the same way."
The vampire had displayed his feelings towards this small girl for all to see and he did not seem to be ashamed of doing so. Instead, he exhibited them with pride. Something a true father would have naturally done.
The Baron had stood up then, his gaze falling on the corpse of the kidnapping barbarois. A look of intense hatred overcame Vitéz's features, and a murderous glint appeared in his icy orbs, reminding D of the scream he'd heard while he was fighting the snake-man. He was silently thankful the look was not directed at him.
D would have made no more of the encounter, he would have been able to control the emotional stirring once more, if the Baron had not adressed him in such a manner:
"There is much business to take care of. Come, D."
It was not an order, but the tone with which the Vitéz spoke made it so. It had been ages since someone had spoken to him like that, expecting him to obey.
His instinctive reaction was to say no, to fight this authority that was being forced upon him once more. But then, he found there was absolutely no coherent reason for him not to do what he was being told. It would be childish to do otherwise.
He'd wanted to meet the Stormblade Baron above all else, hadn't he?
Now, as he stood on the balcony under the soft light of the stars, the dunpheal wasn't so sure.
Vitéz Lengyel had turned out to be a very different person from what D thought he'd be. The Hunter was expecting a typical vampire lord, cold and demanding; a cruel, brutal tyrant, who maintained control and discipline with an iron fist, not tolerating any weaknesses from his followers. In many ways, D had expected to see a mirror image of his father.
Indeed, the dunpheal had found his father in Vitéz, but in a completely different manner. For the reflection the Baron presented was the complete opposite of what the Vampire King had been: it portrayed everything D had wanted his father to be.
Growling in frustration, the Hunter chided himself for letting such a thought enter his mind. He was not here to deal with childhood problems, he was here to deal with the Council of Stormhold and their leader. The latter's motives were to be investigated so he could decide whether to exterminate this Council or not. The lives of many innocent people hung upon his decisions.
These personal matters where of little worth compared to the service he was offering to humanity.
Then why, deep inside, did he wish above all else to gain Baron Stormblade's approval?
Shaking his head violently, as if the act would dispel all thoughts from his mind, D paced the length of the balcony, reminding himself of his mission, of his vows.
These were vampires he was dealing with, the most perverse and evil species on the face of the world. Once, long ago, D had vowed to exterminate their kind, ridding the Earth of such malice.
Vitéz Lengyel was no more than a vampire. As a Hunter, he must remind himself of that. There was absolutely no reason why the Baron should upset him so. No reason.
Going inside the room, the dunpheal undressed, making himself ready for bed. He looked at his surroundings once more, his gaze meeting the many exotic tapestries adorning the walls. The room was richly furnished; some comfortable couches sat in front of a small fireplace, while outside in the balcony, lush chairs sat facing the view. A chest of drawers stood on one side, while on the opposite wall a large bookcase provided the current guest with reading material. It could have easily held all the books of a small public library.
D had not slept in a room like this in years.
Going through an adjacent door, he entered a private bathroom, intent on washing his face in a attempt to refresh himself. There was a large bath tub sitting in a corner, and for a moment, the dunpheal considered taking a bath. He discarded the idea, his body was too tired to bother.
Entering the room again, D made his way towards the bed. It was a large fourposter, and it looked nothing short of majestic. It had been centuries since the dunpheal had slept in such comforts. D got into bed, noticing the sheets were made of the finest silk; the material caressed his skin, relaxing the tense muscles of his body. Closing his eyes, he let the strain of the day's activities coax him to sleep.
Through the veils of oblivion, he could still hear Vitéz's voice clearly.
"There is much business to take care of. Come, D."
But his voice was slowly being replaced by a more threatening one in D's mind.
"...much business to take care of. Come, D."
An angry look and then the words would follow, spoken in a way which left no room for argument.
"...take care of. Come, D."
He always jumped to do what he was told.
"...care of. Come, D."
A Prince is not supposed to speak disrespectfully to his elders.
"Come, D."
"Yes, sir."
But a father is supposed to respect his child in return.
Hanging on tightly to the thought, D fought the memories that were trying to overwhelm him, finding courage in the principles which had sustained him through centuries of solitary existence, as he drifted into the world of dreams.
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Celtic Oak: There you have it! ^_^ I hope you enjoy. I only have one further comment about this chapter...I made D undress and placed him in a bed with silken sheets!! HOHO! I am sooooo bad...*evil laughter*...I'm sorry, but I just couldn't resist the temptation. ^_~
D: (sits up in bed, his chest bare) What are you saying?
Celtic Oak: (stares at him, drooling a bit) ... Nothing.
D: (eyes her suspiciously) You did this on purpose, didn't you?
Celtic Oak: (gives him a look of total innocence) Did what?
D: You don't fool me.
Celtic Oak: (sweatdrops ^.^) Come on, D, give me a break. I just wanted to give our readers something to enjoy... You didn't get it that bad, anyway. You should see what I have planned for the others...haha. *evil grin*
(Vitéz, Kalman and Beriszl materialise out of nowhere)
Celtic Oak: Damn those vampire powers!
Vitéz: (looks solenmly at D) She placed you in the going-to-bed scene, didn't she? She tried it on me, but failed utterly for it didn't have any usefulness for the plot.
Celtic Oak: (growls in frustration at Vitéz's true statement)
Kalman: At least she hasn't tried it on us!
Beriszl: (nods in agreement, eyeing D with understanding) I hope not to give her cause to do so (giving Celtic Oak a wary look).
Kalman: Me too.
Vitéz: We must try to maintain our dignity. No offense, D.
D: (sighing with resignation) None taken.
Celtic Oak: So that's how it is, huh? See if I cast any of you in any of my following fanfics! And you can forget about this story! I'll start writing a Rurouni Kenshin fanfic instead! (crosses her arms and puts her nose in the air, turning her back on them).
(The 3 vampires and the dunpheal look at each other guiltly, knowing they will take the blame if the authoress doesn't continue the story)
Vitéz: (breaks the silence) Oh come on, now. We didn't mean to upset you.
Beriszl: Yeah, we didn't mean what we said. Right, Kalman?
Kalman: Of course we didn't. We weren't complaining.
D: (sighs) I admit, being in this scene wasn't so bad as I made it sound.
Vitéz: (in the sweetest voice he can muster) Will you continue the story now?
Celtic Oak: Maybe...
D: Please? So I can stop moping about my childhood and my father and become the kick-ass vampire hunter I'm supposed to be?
Celtic Oak: (turns back to look at them)
Kalman and Beriszl: (giving her sweet puppy dog eyes) PLEASE???
Celtic Oak: Alright...but you have to do something for me first.
All of them: ANYTHING.
Celtic Oak: *grins VERY evilly* Ok...
Inside Stormhold Castle, where Botticelli's Primavera hangs from the wall, a few changes have been made to the painting.
Vitéz, Kalman and Beriszl now pose as the semi-nude Graces, in their transparent garments, holding hands. While D poses as Mercury, who is lightly clad in a red cloak next to the Three Graces...you can see his thigh VERY well.
Kalman: (inside the painting) Whatever happened to the preservation of our dignity, Meister?
Beriszl: I was wondering the same thing.
D: I will tire of this position very soon.
Vitéz: (to all 3) We must do this for the greater good, comrades. Keep that in mind.
Celtic Oak: (sitting on a comfortable chair admiring the painting) *laughs* It's good to be the author, isn't it? ^_~ Hehe.
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By the way, Botticelli's Primavera is one of my favorite paintings. If I were to walk into someone's house (or castle in this case! ^_^) and find the original hanging on the wall, I'd probably faint! So I obviously made Vitéz have it!
Hope you enjoyed this last bit of my mind's demented wonderings!
PLEASE REVIEW!!! THANKS!!!