A/N: Vampire Hunter D belongs to Urban Vision, Streamline Pictures, Hideyuki Kikuchi (Asashi Sonorama), etc. No copyright infringement intended; this fic is merely for the enjoyment of fans. This story is mostly based off the first Vampire Hunter D movie (1985).

Curse of the Count
Evil Overlady

- Chapter 3 -

D watched Sertius, his right hand poised to come up and snatch his sword.

Placidia shifted her weight onto her hands and struggled to sit up.

"I heard of you, D," Lord Sertius continued. "Had I known you were in the area I would've sent more men. You must not have been hunting vampires lately..."

"I wasn't," D confirmed, remembering the nixie and how he'd met Stacy. And he hoped the girl was staying out of the trouble...

The vampire lord narrowed his eyes. "No matter... There's a high bounty on your head... The other lords would be pleased if I were to possess it..."

D drew. "I believe that action would be more of an investment than you, yourself could afford..."

The vampire just smirked. "Indeed..." His blue stone glowed and sent D flying backwards into a wall.

"No!" Placidia screamed, tugging on her chains.

Shadow Fright whinnied and rushed forward.

Sertius turned his blast on him, sending the cyber stallion against another wall. A few sparks flew and it crumpled, unconscious.

"Shadow Fright!" D yelled and tried to pull up his sword, but something held him there.

"Stop!" Placidia pled, tears streaming down her face. "Please. I'll do anything you want. I'll stay with you for all eternity... Just don't hurt them!"

Sertius turned glowing red eyes on her. "You serve one purpose, girl... to make your father do as I ask, nothing else..."

"Llaw..." D grunted, trying to lift his left hand.

Finally, the face showed and it smiled before its mouth and sucking in the energy.

The blue glow faded and Sertius blinked in surprise.

D yelled and brought his sword down on the man's hand holding the stone, severing it.

The lord cried out in pain and cradled his bleeding stump.

D rushed past him, stopped in front of Placidia. With equally strong strokes he broke the chains with his sword. "Come on!" he yelled, sheathing his sword and yanking her to her feet.

Shadow Fright regained consciousness and wobbled to a standing position.

D helped the girl aboard and climbed on himself as the lord, sobbing, searched the chamber for his missing hand.

D risked a glance back at him but killing him would have to wait. The rest of the castle was already rousing, and he had to get the mayor's daughter to safety... "Ha!" he yelled, slapping the reins against the stallion's neck.

The sun beat down on D and the girl mercilessly. Placidia shielded her unadjusted eyes, taking comfort in the shade of his cloak.

Shadow Fright wasn't fairing too well either. D could use see the foam forming around his mouth and hear the whines and crackles of malfunctioning mechanics.

Unfortunately, it was wide open plain from the castle to the town. There would be no shade to rest in.

D hugged the girl close and he could feel sweat on both of them.

A cloudy day, the half vampire could handle... but not this endless blue sky, bright sun, and flat land...

D could feel the heat draining him... and he fell.

Shadow Fright whinnied in alarm and stopped.

"D!"

Placidia jumped off the horse to kneel beside him. "D, wake up. Wake up, please..." She turned her gaze to her surroundings, shading her eyes. It was no use. She'd been in that dark cave for too long... Who knew what other sunlight sensitivities she suffered from those vampire bites... She was as blind as a bat.

"Somebody help us!" she yelled and the effort weakened her even further. She buried her face in her knees... "Please..." She wept.

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