Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers. Power Rangers is property of BuenaVista Entertainment. Other influences include but are not limited to Bram Stoker's Dracula and the Marvel Comic character Blade. This fanfiction is for entertainment use only. No part of this story may be reproduced without permission.
I can be contacted at Randelm@hotmail.com
(Jan 03 '04)
The Hunt and the Hunters
Carlos sat quickly upright, startled to wakefulness from the dream he'd been having. It was the same dream, the one he could never remember, the one he'd been having since his conversion into a vampire. There had been a warrior… in dark armor… But then it was gone, and hard as he tried, Carlos could not remember it.
There was slight movement next to him and Carlos looked down at Julie. Her smooth pale form was very alluring, but instead of pursuing that line of hormonal thought, the young vampire slipped from between the bed sheets and quickly got dressed, tucking the green crystal inside his shirt.
A quick glance at the clock told him it was 9:15pm. The sun should be well down by now and presumably the vampiric world would be awakening. Carlos was trying to decide what he should do, when there was a knock at the door. There was a squeak from the bed and a rustling of fabric. Carlos spared a glance to see Julie having buried herself under the blankets.
Quickly, Carlos went to the antechamber, closing the bedroom door behind him, and answered the knock. It was Count Ulrich.
"Good evening, Carlos. May I come in?"
A vampire cannot enter a home uninvited. The scrap of lore came unbidden to Carlos' mind.
"You do realize," said Carlos, still standing in the doorway, "that Count Nocturne considers you an enemy? I'm sure he'd take it amiss if his diona were found to be speaking with you."
Ulrich chuckled, and there seemed to be real amusement behind it. "Indeed. So, may I?"
Carlos considered for a moment, then gestured for the other vampire to enter. The Ccount walked into the living space, selected a chair and sat down.
"So, what can I do for you?" Carlos took another of the chairs.
"Oh no, Carlos, it's what I can do for you." Ulrich smiled, baring his fangs a bit. "A diona… do you know what that means, Carlos?"
The young vampire simply smiled in return.
"Does he say nothing because he does not know and does not wish to expose his ignorance, or because he does know and wishes to keep his knowledge hidden?" Ulrich chuckled again. "Then, for the sake of exposition, I shall tell you. Adiona is a sort of apprentice. A personal warrior, heir to his lord's property. Needless to say, one usually ends up killing the other."
"What is it you wish, Ulrich?" Carlos left off the title of 'Count' on purpose, looking for a reaction. He was not disappointed.
Count Ulrich sneered, "You think yourself better than me boy?"
"I barely know you," countered Carlos, "And am new to this… style of life."
"Yes," Ulrich's features smoothed, "Yes, of course." The vampire's eyes narrowed and he fixed Carlos with a stare."You have power, and everyone knows it. I can offer you so much more than Nocturne. I can teach you more about this life than he ever could."
Carlos smiled. "And would I become your, diona? Fated to kill you, or be killed by you?"
"It is the vampire's lot to kill or be killed, Carlos."
"So, I work for you and you teach me how to be a vampire. That about it?"
Count Ulrich stood quickly and a red aura flared about him momentarily. "Do not make light of me boy. I am a powerful man. If you're not with me, you are an enemy."
The moment Ulrich had stood, Carlos felt every nerve straining to stand and prepare to defend himself. However, something deeper spoke to him, telling him to remain calm. "I didn't realize that a politician of your caliber was prone to losing his temper." That's right Carlos, keep baiting him, see just how far you can dig yourself. Carlos couldn't keep himself from wanting to irritate this man.
The vampire took a deep breath, more reflex than anything, as vampires did not need to breath, and looked at Carlos."You could be great, Carlos. Lord of the Dark, how does that title strike you?"
"I'd have to go though you to get there," countered Carlos, "I don't think you'd allow that. Besides, I don't want to be great."
"Than what do you want? Work for me and you'll have it." Ulrich all but snarled.
Carlos was saved from answering by a knock at the door. "Come in," he invited loudly before Ulrich could do anything.
The door opened and Count Nocturne entered. The vampire had taken two steps into the room before he stopped and stood quite still. "What is going on here?" Nocturne demanded.
"Ulrich here," Carlos noted the Count clenching of his jaw at the lack of title, "wanted to talk," said Carlos. "But he was just on his way out."
Ulrich glared at Carlos, Nocturne looked mistrusting. Carlos tried to keep his own expression neutral.
"Indeed. I can see there is nothing here worth my time." Ulrich stood and swept out the door.
Nocturne turned his gaze upon Carlos. "Anything you want to tell me?"
"Not much to tell," responded Carlos. "Ulrich came in here offering to teach me." Carlos turned and drew back the heavy curtains revealing the darkened city below. He realized he was turning his back on a tenuous ally, one who might decide it would be easier to kill him now. However, he was fairly certain that Nocturne wouldn't do anything too rash. Still, when the other vampire responded, Carlos felt himself jump a bit.
"And, what did you say to him?" Nocturne sounded as though he was still halfway across the room, but when Carlos turned, he found the older man to be right behind him.
Carlos couldn't help but swallow nervously. "I told him I wasn't interested."
"I see."
Nocturne backed up suddenly and smiled. "I'm hosting a hunting party tonight. As my diona you are invited to come."
"Hunting party," Carlos repeated with some distaste.
"Yes. And I will not be humiliated because you have some lingering human tendencies." Nocturne was glaring at Carlos.
Carlos put on an air of indifference and shrugged, "What's involved?"
"You'll see." Nocturne moved towards the door. "I'll send someone to fetch you in half an hour. Be ready." He turned to Carlos as he opened the door. "Oh, and… consider Julie to be my gift to you for doing so well in the trial of combat."
As soon as Nocturne was gone, Carlos took a deep breath. He was playing a dangerous game, and he knew it. Going back into the bedroom, Carlos found Julie sitting up in the bed, the blankets held to her chest. She looked to be crying, but no tears fell form her eyes.
"Are you alright, Julie?"
She nodded. "I heard… what Count Nocturne said."
Carlos hunched his shoulders self-consciously, "Ah." For several moments, neither of them said anything. "Nocturne has invited me on a hunt," Carlos finally said, "as you probably heard. You are welcome to come as well."
Julie nodded. "Is… is there anything you wish of me right now?" she asked tremulously and she dropped the covers from her chest.
Carlos' eyes widened a bit. His body was most definitely having a reaction, but he fought down the urge. "Get dressed, we leave in half an hour." He then turned and went back into the living area and began moving the furniture to the walls making a fair sized area of space. Standing in the center of that space, Carlos closed his eyes and looked for the calm, as Adam had taught him.
"Adam, I'm really not in to martial arts," Carlos said as the two of them sat in the park after a particularly frustrating soccer practice.
Adam just smiled his patient smile and responded, "I don't intend to teach you something you didn't ask for, Carlos."
Carlos raised an eyebrow smiling slightly, "That was awfully cryptic, Adam."
Adam grinned. "In order to help you with your temper, I plan to show you some relaxation techniques."
Carlos nodded and listened attentively as Adam explained the deep breathing and meditation. It was kind of embarrassing admitting his own weakness but Carlos was very good at soccer and knew it. That was another of his weaknesses, overconfidence. Therefore, when a teammate messed up, or worse, he did, he tended to get angry. Adam was a good friend and coach however, and so when Carlos had come to him for a solution, Adam had provided, without any sort of condescending attitude.
That first session hadn't gone so well, Carlos just couldn't stay focused, but Adam hadn't given up on him and Carlos continued until he had learned to reign in his temper. He had learned to master his emotions when needed and he used that training now to focus. Moving his body though the fluid motions of kata, Carlos relaxed. Somewhere within himself he could feel the warm dry place that was like and yet so incredibly different from his turbo powers.
"Carlos?"
Julie stood dressed in her cut off jean shorts and t-shirt. She was looking at him uncertainly and it took the young vampire a few moments to realize that someone was knocking on the door. Quickly he moved to the door and opened it. Count Nocturne stood there with several young vampires behind him. Each of them was dressed in black, though some more extravagantly than others. All eyes were glowing red and Carlos could feel their hunger
"Are you ready Carlos?"
The former Ranger could feel the lust of the others threatening to take him over, to wash him away and leave only a bloodthirsty vampire behind. Taking a deep breath and holding on to the warm power that hung around his neck, Carlos kept himself under control. "I'm ready," he said calmly.
Nocturne grinned and the group began to move down the hallway and quickly out of the building. Julie, Carlos noted, was caught up in the fervor of the rest.
The group was traveling quickly through darkened alleys and Carlos moved with them. He was still finding it difficult to keep himself separated from his companions. He could feel Nocturne leading them and knew that if he wanted he could challenge the older vampire's authority and possibly win despite his inexperience. Before Carlos had dismissed that thought, they were among humans. Several of the younger vampires, the lowest of Nocturne's little group immediately pounced upon them, including Julie. Carlos managed to restrain himself.
There was surprisingly little screaming. The vampires moved quickly and quietly. Their vicious claws swiped efficiently if grotesquely, ending the lives of their victims. Further, the humans were pathetic. Half starved, unclean, and generally far from sober. Then the vampires began feeding. Carlos began to feel sick, when a hand landed on his shoulder.
"I'm glad to see you did not succumb to the menial feeding like a lesser vampire," Nocturne said quietly. There were only himself and the older vampire not currently gorging themselves. "There are more… refined prey for us on this hunt."
Soon the vampires had emptied their meals and yet were still hungry, and so they began to run again. Julie paced Carlos and out of the corner of his eye, he saw her blood smeared face smiling manically. He kept his focus on the desert with the dark clouds, wishing that he were not part of this hunt, of this bloody experience. Several times the vampires came upon a group of derelict humans and quickly slaughtered them. Every time the 'lesser' vampires fed, Carlos and Nocturne simply watched them, Carlos with a detachment so as not to become violently ill and Nocturne with the air of one who is amused at children.
While the hunt was feeding on a group of homeless camped in a small, out of the way park, Nocturne lead Carlos away from them.
"They shall gorge themselves on this last group," the older vampire said. He lead Carlos down a street and suddenly the two found themselves on a more populated, less broken down part of the city. People wandered lazily from restaurants to cars, or one club to another. The two vampires stood at the corner, watching. Each dressed in black, Nocturne in Victorian fancery and Carlos in contemporary tee shirt and jeans. Each was wearing dark glasses to hide the glow of their eyes.
"There," Nocturne had pointed to a group of girls who had just walked out of a bar. They were dressed like typical clubbers out for a night on the town. Most importantly, however, they were apparently heading for an alley… a typically clichÉ dark alley. "Come." With that, Nocturne glided silently towards where the girls had disappeared. Carlos followed, trying to think of a way to stop what was about to happen. Once in the alley, the vampires could easily make out the figures of the four girls despite the pitch-blackness.
The girls were talking and giggling, quite oblivious as to what was about to happen to them. Carlos could feel the faint bond between him and Nocturne and through that bond was a lust for body and blood. The younger vampire stumbled at the nauseating feeling. That's when the screams started.
Carlos knew when Nocturne leapt at his prey, could feel the other man's power reach out to paralyze his victims.
And then another dark clothed figure smashed into him with a loud ki-yi. The young vampire was stunned into not moving as the figure dressed in black trench coat, brimmed hat, and armored clothes began raining down blows upon the quickly retreating Count Nocturne.
Carlos was so caught up in Nocturne's battle that he almost didn't detect the presence behind him. Whirling around he found a similarly dressed person as the one fighting Nocturne. Quickly falling on the defense, Carlos blocked the strikes aimed at him. His opponent was fast, too fast for an ordinary human, but Carlos was faster still. The vampire blocked the first several blows then landed one of his own eliciting an exhalation of air.
Peripherally, Carlos sensed that Nocturne was losing his battle. He found it difficult to care. If Nocturne were destroyed by one of these black clad warriors, Carlos wouldn't shed a tear. But he did have himself to think about, he wasn't ready to die again just yet.
What sort of people are these that attacked a vampire by surprise? Carlos wondered.
But then Carlos could hear… no feel Nocturne calling to the others and knew that soon these two warriors would be outnumbered. The warriors seemed to feel it too, each broke off their attack and leapt up to the top of the building on Carlos' right.
"After them!" Nocturne shouted.
The lesser vampires streamed past Nocturne and Carlos and began quickly climbing the wall. Nocturne glared at Carlos then leapt after them, a moment later, Carlos followed. On the roof of the building, there was no evidence that either warrior had been there, but the vampires searched about anyway.
"Who was that?" Carlos asked Nocturne.
The older vampire was growling, his eyes shining red. "Those people are hunters. Vampire hunters. Those two appeared in this city just before I was… before I left. They are… feared by the lesser among us."
Carlos nodded thoughtfully. "Are there many vampire hunters here?"
"There is a guild, based somewhere in Europe. They have had a chapterhouse in New York City since the mid 1600's. We are at constant war with them." Nocturne was now pacing along the edge of the building as his vampires slowed in their search and began to return to him.
"It is only two hours until sunrise," Nocturne addressed the group snarling. "I still must feed. I don't want to see any of you until tomorrow!" And with that, the vampire leapt into the air and disappeared into the night.
The vampires began to disperse slowly and somewhat confusedly. Some of them looked to Carlos questioningly.
"Go home," Carlos told them and felt the power. Cautiously Carlos took hold of that power and exerted it purposefully."There is nothing left to do here. Go home, rest, await Count Nocturne's orders tomorrow night."
The vampires all began to head back towards the vampire safe house. Julie, however, approached Carlos cautiously. She still had dried blood on her face and clothes.
"You're coming too, aren't you?" she asked him, ducking her head slightly.
"Yes," responded Carlos, "Give me a moment." The young vampire stretched out his senses using both his vampiric abilities and his Ranger power. He could feel Julie, her body saturated with fresh blood and those vampires he had just ordered home. More distantly he could feel Nocturne, but the older vampire was shielding himself… he did not want be found. Of the two dark warriors however, there was nothing.
Carlos sighed and together with Julie, returned to the high-rise.
~*~
It was twelve noon and Carlos found himself deep in the archives located beneath the vampire safe house. Row upon row of leather bound books and scrolls covering five levels. There was a wealth of knowledge located in these cellars dating back before the time of Christ, though Carlos feared to touch some of it for fear of destroying the ancient tomes. Rubbing at his dry eyes, Carlos stretched his back and looked up from his reading.
The book was a description on the Vampire Hunter's Guild. Started in the 1490s in eastern Europe in response to the undead resurrection of Vlad Tepes Dracul. Carlos had, of course, heard the many myths and legends about the infamous Count Dracula, and even read various historical texts on the Dark Prince, but reading about him in a vampire's library gave the former Ranger the chills. As though just thinking his name might summon the most powerful and evil vampire ever.
According to these texts, Dracula spent several years gathering power, and consorting with dark spirits in preparation to take over the mortal world. It had been the actions of the heroes of the Hunter's Guild who had stopped the vampire and saved humanity. The book continued to tell how the need for the guild spread and so in response, it grew rapidly.
Carlos rubbed at his grainy eyes and closed the book, taking it back to the shelf where he had gotten it. Somewhat sluggishly, he walked to the elevator and pressed the button that would take him to the floor of his room.
The hallways were dimly lighted; there were no windows of course. Carlos was nearly at his door before he noticed someone standing before it.
"Who are you?" he asked. Carefully, Carlos stretched his senses to the man. A low ranking vampire with little of his own power.
The man bowed. "I am here to deliver to you a summons."
The vampire held out an envelope and Carlos took it. The man bowed again and left. Carlos unlocked his door and entered, then he opened the envelope and retrieved the paper that was inside.
Carlos diona'Nocturne
Your presence is requested in the main council chamber today at ten o'clock post meridian.
-Rhaul Augistn
Carlos stared at the letter for several moments. He closed the door behind him and set the letter on the counter. The room was dimly lighted though it was enough that Carlos could see well enough. He walked into the bedroom where Julie lay sleeping. She hadn't even bothered to take off her bloodied clothes or wash off the blood from her face and hands. Carlos tried not to think badly of her, the vampiric instincts were strong and it wasn't entirely her fault. He stepped into the bathroom and got into the shower. The hot water felt nice.
When he stepped out of the shower, the clock read 12:45 pm. His body felt tired and hungry. He hadn't fed since he'd entered the city. His body ached for blood. Carlos closed his eyes and stretched out to the desert, the warm dry place that was his shield against the bloodlust of undeath. Slowly the feeling went away. Carlos went to the living room of hte suite and laid down on the couch. He had several hours before he was supposed to meet the council.
In his mind Carlos remained in the desert, the black and green decor of his suite blocked out by his eyelids. Instead he saw the grey black clouds covering the sky. Purple sage and tall cacti dotted the landscape, buttes cut into the horizon, the air smelled dry and clean. Free of impurities.
A figure moved in the distance. A black shadow against the landscape. It walked towards Carlos.
"Carlos."
He sat up quickly, roused from his sleep. He'd been having the dream again. The dream of a black armored warrior but this time he'd been in the desert. There had been something else, something important.
The lights were on. Julie was standing over him looking at him worriedly. "Are you all right?"
Carlos nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"You were saying something."
Carlos looked at her sharply. "What was I saying?"
She shook her head. "I don't know, you were mumbling." She had washed off the blood and changed into some clean black clothes. She looked worried.
The clock read 9:20 so Carlos got off the couch and began to look for his clothes.
"I sent your clothes to laundry," Julie offered after a moment.
"I'm going to need something to wear," said Carlos a little exasperated.
Julie's smile was feral. "Oh I don't know." She swayed towards him causing him to back up nervously. "I'll bet I can think of something we can do that doesn't involve any clothes." She reached for the towel but Carlos dodged out of the way.
"I'm meeting the council at ten o'clock," Carlos said hastily. "I really don't have time... uh time to waste."
Julie stuck her lower lip out in a pout. "There are plenty of clothes in the dressers. Some one delivered them last night."
Carlos nodded and went into the bed room and began digging though the dressers. Julie followed him and sat on the bed swinging her feet back and forth whimsically.
"Speaking of last night," Julie continued to talk. "How come you didn't come to bed? It was lonely here by myself."
Carlos began to dress with his back to her. "I was studying."
"Studying? Studying what?"
He pulled a black tee shirt over his head and turned to face Julie. "I've never been a vampire before. I thought I'd see if I could learn anything about it."
Julie didn't seem to have anything to say to that. Carlos combed his hair and pulled it back into a tight tail.
"You sure you don't want to delay this meeting?" Julie cajoled.
"I don't think the council of vampires are a group of people you just blow off." With that, he left the room.
~*~
The council chamber was set up as before, with all the lights on him and everywhere else in blackest shadow. Carlos stretched out his vampirc senses. Five vampires sat before him at what was presumably a table. They were very old and very powerful.
"Carlos diona'Nocturne," intoned one of the council members. "We have received information that last night you battled with representatives of the Vampire Hunters Guild. Is this true?"
Carlos kept his expression neutral. "Yes."
There was silent conversation among the Council. Carlos could only hear the mumblings on the edge of his consciousness. Telepathic speech. He thought that if he tried, he might be able to hear. If he concentrated his power... Suddenly, voices sprung into his mind. They were as clear as if the elder vampires were speaking aloud.
"He is a neophyte, he knows nothing of our world."
"You would violate his rights based upon that?"
"The best of our warriors are falling to these Hunters and we know nothing of them. Diona'Nocturne has shown a surprisingly high level of power. We can send him to engage the enemy and watch him from here."
"And what of Count Nocturne?"
"Nocturne is a spoiled brat. He was simply fortuitous in obtaining his powerful student."
The thoughts traveled quickly between the two most powerful of the council as the others listened. They showed no sign that they detected Carlos eavesdropping.
"This council is meant to protect the rights of our people, not exploit them."
"That is what I'm trying to do, Rhaul. Diona'Nocturne actually has a chance to engage the Hunters and survive providing us with valuable knowledge."
The other did not reply. The conversation had taken no more than seconds. Finally, the voice belonging to Rhaul spoke.
"Carlos diona'Nocturne. You have been selected by the Council of Vampires for an important mission."