Dissolution of Arms

By Eerie

Warnings: Angst, Blood, Death, m/m eroticism in later chapters

Author's Note: This story takes place after the "Bloodlust" anime story (not really counting the funeral scene at the very end). I've sadly never been given the good grace to read the novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi, so this story has nothing to do with them.

Disclaimer: I understand that I'm a seriously deprived and perverted fangirl who makes no claim of the ownership of the characters or the original ideas of this series. No infringements or profits were considered. However, my original characters are my own.

Prologue

The bright white flare in the sky shimmered like a celestial body rising from the Earth toward the heavens, slowly growing smaller and fainter against the cold ether. Dark eyes watched its path steadily, scarcely blinking despite the light of the morning sun that bathed the crimson dawn an almost painful blue to his sensitive nerves. He could hear the blonde woman beside him unconsciously vocalizing her hopes for the ship to make it safely, but he knew not what to feel at that moment.

He let them go.

But why? Was it the envy that flowered from his human heart at the sight of them? A vampire and a human overcoming the overbearing odds against them in the genuine love that they shared was something completely new to the dhampire. So wrapped in each other that time and reality ceased to exist for them. He had to admit that vampires like Meier were a rarity that he could honestly say he met once every few hundred years, if not more. And D knew without a doubt that another like he himself would be born into the cursed life forever because of it. Something he had always felt driven by his very being to prevent.

And he had just allowed it.

The glimmer in the sky faded to a pinpoint as it broke the Earth's atmosphere and D all at once fell back to reality at the feel of his steed's saddle being shifted heavily beneath him. He allowed Leila to mount in front of him on her own accord. A small smirk tugged invisibly at his lips over her haughty attitude that D couldn't help but find some amusement in.

Leila adjusted herself and waited. When nothing happened, she cast back a questioning look from over her bulky shoulder guard. D quickly shifted his eyes away from their brief meeting and slapped the reins against his steed's black neck. The mechanical creature jolted into a steady gallop and Leila grasped for the beast's mane to keep from toppling off. A firm sensation wrapped around her waist and she sighed, slightly leaning into the dhampire's strong form and patiently allowing him to hold her steady against the creature's mounting unnatural speed.

As the trees and hedges, streams and plains rolled by like a whirl, Leila thought about that odd look on D's face she was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of. It seemed so unlike his normal mask of stone. D was a strange and mysterious man altogether, no doubt with good reasons to keep his emotions locked away within himself. But Leila could swear that for a brief moment she found a crack in that mask and it was despair, or perhaps loneliness that escaped from those ancient eyes. Leila sadly contemplated the idea of being so alone for such an eternity as the dark half-breed behind her. Was it by choice or a cruel fate that he remained that way over the unending years?

The two rode away from the ruins of Chaythe in silence, leaving the broken fragments of memories and nightmares to the winds of time.

Chapter One: A New Life

Charlotte Elbourne awoke comfortably. The sensation of smooth linens surrounding and a soft mattress beneath her made the woman stretch lazily despite her ignorance as to where she was. The room was dark, lit only by a single floral-scented candle whose flame dwindled from a long night's vigil. She sat up slowly and tried to focus on her surroundings. The bed in which she lay was rather large and luxuriant with a tall canopy draped with cascading veils of rich velvet that hung tied to the oak bedposts with woven, tasseled cords. There was a splendidly carved chest of drawers across the room from her upon which the candle sat. Something else lay upon the dresser caught the light of the flame when it flared up, reflecting its light in shards across the wall behind it. A table and pair of chairs that matched the carved artistry of their companion rested beside the dresser. An ivory embroidered piece of cloth dressed the tabletop. Other than that there seemed to be nothing else furnishing the dark and bare-walled room, not even a mirror.

From somewhere beyond the room came the soft sound of lovely music that soothed away any doubts that somehow Meier was not with her. There were few that shared his refined tastes. The space in the bed next to her was also slightly indented and the bed sheet rumpled; Charlotte was not one to move about much in her sleep.

Descending her head onto the place where her lover had lain, Charlotte breathed in deeply of the sweet scent still lingering there, wishing he remained at her side.

'The City of Eternal Night,' she mused, 'did we make it there or is this merely a dream?'

She was suddenly aware of something foreign wrapped around her neck. With a cautious hand, she ran her fingers over the thin strip of gauze that tenderly bound her throat. Her fingertips drifted to the place that Meier, no, that Carmilla had kissed her. The twin wounds ached dully beneath her touch and she sighed, pushing herself upright with what seemed like all her strength. Charlotte was eager to learn what had happened that night. Through the haze that came of blood loss she saw the way her essence flowed by its own will to that grisly sepulcher. And just before blacking out she understood somehow that the Bloody Countess had deceived them. Charlotte truly believed herself dead after that.

The candle flickered and the shards of colored light danced. Curious now, she drew her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, wavering and attempting to compose her balance. She caught a thick wooden post to steady herself until the dizzy mist cleared from her vision. She felt weak, as if something had stripped the very strength from both her bones and spirit. When she felt able to take the few steps that separated her and the mysterious object, she moved in small steps. The flame wavered at her approach and dipped down low, threatening to die, as she grasped the chest top's edge. A gasp of wonder escaped her lips.

The silver chain slipped as fluidly as liquid silk between her fingers as she held the pendant to the light. The jewel at the chain's end was that of a blue so deep it rivaled the deepest ocean. It sparkled madly, even in the dim light.

Gazing with hypnotized rapture at the glowing stone, Charlotte didn't notice when the door behind her creaked quietly open. The tall dark-clad figure that entered drew upon her and stood smiling over her shoulder for a moment before slipping his arms about her waist. She jumped, startled by the unknown presence that suddenly bound her.

"You should not be moving about while you recover, my fair one," the voice rumbled low beside her ear, bringing a smile to her lips.

"Meier! Oh it's so beautiful! What is this wonderful stone?" Charlotte breathed, turning her face up to meet his eyes. In the glow of the candlelight, her large amber eyes glittered with a mixture of joy and bewitchment, like that of a fascinated child. The vampire's lips curled into a loving smile; his heart never had felt this way at any other time than when he was with her.

"It is a gem that is quite rare in this place and can only be found near certain kinds of mountains," he answered.

"This place. . .then I'm not dreaming," she said quietly as if to herself, liquid pooling along her lower lids.

"No, Charlotte, you dream not. We are finally free from the chains that would bind us in the other world. You and I can now live in peace until our final days."

The tears threatening to spill now surged over her faintly blushed cheeks and she smiled, turning completely to embrace her dark lover.

"Free at last," she said into his broad chest and felt more relief in that one moment than all the times of that on Earth combined.

Her joy touched Meier's eyes as well and he kissed the crown of her delicate head.

"Come, my love. There will be much time for the answers later. You must rest now and recover your strength," he said and blinked back his own cold tears. She had been asleep for all but two weeks now, ever since they came upon the Blessed City. His worry for her sake the entire time, despite his knowledge that she would eventually recover, he did not allow to be exposed, for he knew that it would only draw concern from her. He would have this long-awaited night of their reunion last for as long as he could keep it in his control.

Charlotte remained quiet for a moment, reflecting on the way he could always say something one step ahead of her.

"Please lay with me, Meier," she said softly and raised her wet, glistening eyes to capture his gaze. "I don't want you to leave me. Not ever. But, especially not now. Please. . ."

"Yes, I shall stay," he murmured and gently caught her chin in his hand, bending slightly to reach her waiting lips that instantly parted at his touch.

Breaking the brief but tender kiss, he lifted her up like a feather in his inhumanly strong arms and carried her back to the bed. Setting her down carefully, he claimed her lips again, smoothing the silk gown down to bear her pale shoulders. He drew back and smiled at the confusion-clouded innocence on her young face before drawing up the pendant that she had held in her hands. Amber eyes grew wide with astonishment and she instinctively looked at her own hands, which were, of course, empty. His smile broadened.

"This jewel belonged to my mother many, many years past. It came from this place long ago, from her ancient bloodline. She was a very beautiful and noble woman," he said as he began to fix the chain's clasp in place around her delicately bound throat, "It was from her that I learned of this place... It is only fitting that it should find its place back in its homeland adorned upon the fairest being ever to grace existence."

A fresh stream of tears wove two paths down the brunette's cheeks and Charlotte threw herself into her master's arms.

"I love you. Always," she said through the broken joy of her tears and kissed him.

He returned her kisses with equal unfulfilled hunger, the naked desire between them steadily growing.

The two beings made passionate and genuine love for the first time, beyond the reaches of time, while the eyes of angels watched and wept; the lonely candle finally burned itself away as she cried out in ecstasy.

To be continued . . .