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 5 -

Stacy came to in a dimly lit blue-hued room, shackled to the wall, the back of her head sticky from where she'd hit the rock.

"Impressive, isn't it?" a smooth man's voice sounded. He had one hand over his wrist and smiled at her. He removed the hand and she watched tendons and skin grow back into place.

"Uh... ugh..." Stacy turned her head and threw up.

The man laughed. "You haven't been around vampires long, have you, witch?"

She wiped off her mouth as best she could.

"No, of course not. In vampire country your kind is all but extinct... You're a threat to us, a means for the humans to fight back." He stepped over to her as he spoke and slid a cold finger from the newly healed hand down her cheek. "Your blood, however, is so much sweeter..."

She jerked her face away.

He laughed again and walked away.

"How are you holding me here?" she demanded.

He spread his arms, taking in the expanse of the room. "There's an enchantment here, very old. It absorbs all supernatural powers... much like your vampire hunter's demon friend..." He smiled evilly. "I've killed many witches here. Locked them in this dungeon until they ultimately died of a broken soul, like a rose denied sunlight... You don't have to be among them, Stacy... Join me. What's more fearsome than a vampire with a witch on his side. The other vampire lords will fear you... worship you... make you queen..."

"That's what this is all about..." Stacy realized. "You're fighting other vampires... You want to become count."

"And you, my dear, can become countess..."

"Forget it. You know, D was right? Your kind are all the same - blood-sucking, power-hungry murderers..."

"No..." He shook his head. "Not all of us... There is one who believes we should coexist with humans... that our purpose is to become more... human..."

"Who?"

"The one D's been looking for... his father."

Stacy's breath caught in her throat. "His father..."

He laughed. "Ha-ha! Yes. Didn't he tell you? He made a pact with that little thing in his hand to lead him to his father... so he can kill him. We vampire lords are just target practice for his true goal..."

"To avenge his mother..." Stacy breathed.

"Arianna, the Fair, was... a remarkable woman... Her death brings sorrow to us all... She was the only human to truly love us for what we are... I doubt we'll ever know the fool who killed her. ...But - that's behind us now. My responsibility is to the Count and to protect the Count I must dispatch with any and all of his would-be assasins... including his son... and all who ally with him."

"Wait. There's been a huge misunderstanding..."

Someone pounded on the door.

"What is it?"

"It's D, milord. He's on the Field. He's brought the horses."

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