Fellow Companions: Chapter One

A young looking man rode up to town one day, on horseback, and stopped in front of a gate. His broad brim hat hid most of his face from the sunlight and his hair cascaded in waves around him. His dark uniform was uniquely designed, followed by a flowing cape. He looked up at the mansion, dismounted his horse, walked up to the door, and knocked on it. A woman opened the door and looked at him with a look of grief on her face. She opened the door a little wider for him to enter and, after he went in, closed the door.

"I'm so glad that you're here, mister…"

"D," was all he said.

"Yes, well, my name is Amelia Juniper and I requested your services to… bring back… my…"

The woman broke down in a fit of tears and she covered her face with her damp handkerchief. A young man came out of the room on the right to the woman. His hair was white, a contrast to the black hair the woman has. He looked at D with narrow blue eyes and then back at the woman.

"It's all right, Mrs. Juniper, here, let me escort you back to your seat."

She allowed the young man to lead her into the next room and she took her seat, next to a picture of a young girl. The young man looked back at D. He was wearing a black tuxedo, quite appropriately matched with the woman's white gown.

"Are you the dhampir hunter," inquired the young man.

"Yes," was all D said.

"Heh, I can't believe we hired a dunpeal to track down Desdemona."

"Jonathan!" Mrs. Juniper looked shock.

"What? He is a dunpeal." Jonathan motioned a hand at D. "I mean, look at him!"

"That is still no way to act toward a guest," whispered Mrs. Juniper.

Jonathan sighed and shrugged. He walked over to the fireplace and looked at the ash in it, then, he turned to look at D. "Well, if you must know the details, then, we'll tell you."

"My daughter…" Mrs. Juniper looked up at D, who looked at her in return. "My daughter is not the type who would venture out on her own. If you knew her, then she is a shy girl who doesn't come in contact with the outside world."

"We figured that she was kidnapped," blurted out Jonathan. "I mean…there were signs of a struggle in her bedroom. If you want, we can show you."

"We'll offer as much as we can for you. How does fifty million sound," asked the mother.

Jonathan gasped and stepped closer to Mrs. Juniper. "But, Mrs. Juniper, fifty million is too much to—

"Jonathan, I don't care about the money, I'm making it a point here."

"But—

"Surely, you love Desdemona too much to care also?"

Jonathan kept his mouth shut and Mrs. Juniper looked at D for his approval. D nodded and looked over at Jonathan, who sneered and went out of the room. D considered that that might be a sign to follow…So, he followed.

He barely went in the hallway when Jonathan spoke up.

"You do know that you're taking the money for our wedding."

"What if there isn't going to be a wedding," was the only thing D said.

Jonathan stopped walking and turned around. "Just what are you saying? That she won't care about me the same way that I care about her?"

D stopped and was quiet, then, "You're a dhampir, are you not?"

"Y-Yes…" Jonathan was taken back.

D stood there. Then, he said, "Aren't you going to show me her bedroom?"

Jonathan raised an eyebrow, then turned to lead the way again. They entered a room and Jonathan turned on the lights.

The room was a complete mess. Pillows were thrown everywhere, a mirror was cracked, jewelry was scattered across the entire floor, and there was a knife in the very back wall. D walked across the debris to the knife. It was ornately deigned, with a sapphire that was cut into a style of a flower at the end. He took the knife out and a note fell from it. It was small, but readable.

"Left, going to live my own life with someone else, might be stupid enough to die in battle. Bye."

D tucked this away, along with the knife, and left the room without another word. Jonathan ran to catch up with him.

"You should also know that one of our horses was stolen," he said, between steps.

"She was drugged, kidnapped, and was transported to their master by that horse."

Jonathan slowed down and stopped, while looking after D. He felt weak and had to lean against the wall.

D was at the front door, where Mrs. Juniper was waiting.

"Well," she asked expectantly.

"I suggest you not to worry, I'll be taking my leave now," said D, a little too calmly.

Mrs. Juniper moved aside and stared after D, as D mounted his horse and left through the gates.

All of a sudden, Jonathan was at her side.

"Fifty million dollars for that?"

"Hush, Jonathan," said Mrs. Juniper. "I heard that he was the best hunter ever, so we must show our respect."

"Still…How will we pay for the wedding?"

Mrs. Juniper didn't say anything and Jonathan didn't press on.

"You care too much about money," was what she said after some time. "I wonder if you care about Desdemona the same way."

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I was tired when I was making this story. So, if it sounds terrible, it's due to that. *yawn* I'm going to sleep now… Zzz… *mumbles in sleep* Read and Review, please. *snore* No flamers…

D's left hand: stupid idiot, talking about this story in his sleep.

Manuel: (snore) shut up…

D's left hand: That was completely disrespectful.

Jonathan: I'm a dhampir and proud sick of it!

Manuel dreams of asking himself, "Why are we still talking?"