Disclaimer: I did not, do not, nor never will own Vampire Hunter D or its
affiliates or anything of the kind. I repeat it is not mine. I am poor
and work at a grocery store so if some big company wants to sue me they
won't get much. So please do not sue me. I am just expressing how much I
like the character and the stories by writing my own little piece of
fanfiction.
Ok quick note this chapter has a fight scene in it that gets kinda gory. Nothing that you don't see in the actual VHD movies so if you can handle that this should be no problem. In my opinion it wouldn't be Vampire Hunter D with out a bit of blood and gore.
Also thanks to Emiri-chan I realized I didn't turn off the no unsigned reviews switch. I have now rectified that problem, so if you wanted to review my story but didn't because of that now you can.
Response to reviewers:
Emiri-chan: Hello again. I am glad you are still enjoying the story. In answer to your questions hehe you will just have to wait and see but yes you can count on more nosy neighbors.
Kitala: Thanks for reviewing. I am glad you like the story so far. And I have been thinking of doing some sort of talk between D and Milly nothing as serious as D's talk with Clarra cause Milly is young and won't understand. But something cute. And I will put in how old I think D is somewhere along the lines.
The Color of Night
Chapter five: long chapter: Clarra's questioning stirs old memories for D and what's this D has to change his clothes.
D hadn't meant to fall into such a deep sleep last night, but he was still weak from the constant heat wave and sleep had just overwhelmed him. The sun was shinning on his pale face giving a glow to it. D blindly fumbled for his hat on the table beside him, and plopped it down on top of his face. He may only be a half-breed, but the sun was still annoying. His eyes were very sensitive to it. D was about to dose off again when a muffled laugh reached his ear. D turned his head away from the light, his face now visible from under the hat. He opened his eyes slightly and saw a little face staring back at him. D's eyebrows tilted in slightly in annoyance, but the little face didn't notice the change. In fact no one without a magnifying glass would. Milly gave D a wide toothy grin and laughed again.
"Mr. D slept a long time. I was wondering if you would ever get up. Momma said you were probably tired from your trip, and because it's been so hot. I get sleepy when it's hot. Do you get real sleepy when it's hot?"
D looked out the window and saw that the sun was high in the sky. He sat up and swung his legs around the side of the bed. He ran his fingers through his hair. His gaze returned to Milly, who had picked up his hat, and was now attempting to wear it without it falling over her face. She was falling miserably. It was an amusing sight. The corner of D's mouth twitched.
"You have a big hat. How do you see under this thing? And how do you carry that sword it's huge. It's longer than I am tall. Milly tried to lift the hilt of D's sword. D almost had to laugh at the sight of such a small child wearing his hat, that fell to her nose, and trying to lift his sword. Milly frowned in frustration. D extended his power to levitate his sword just enough so Milly could lift it. Milly squealed in delight as the sword rose off the table.
"Look, look I lifted your sword Mr. D. It's not so heavy after all." Milly put down the sword and spun around laughing. She plopped down in the floor still laughing, her face totally hidden under the huge hat.
"Milly are you bothering D?" Clarra stood at the door with a frown on her face, but her eyes were twinkling with laughter, for her daughter sat at the feet of a very menacing looking hunter wearing his hat and laughing.
"I did what you told me to I didn't wake him up. And guess what I lifted the sword, but I think he may have helped."
"You think?" Milly just laughed at her mothers inquiring face and ran back over to D and smiled. D was surprised she knew what he had done with the sword. Milly held the hat outstretched above her but she couldn't reach D's head. Seeing what she was trying to do, D bent over and allowed the child to place the hat on his head. Milly ran over to her mother now and tugged on her skirt.
"Can I go out and play?"
"Yes but don't stay out to long. It's blazing out there today."
"Ok." With that Milly bounded down the stairs and out the door.
Clarra turned back to D who was putting his boots on.
"Sorry I hope she didn't disturb you. You must have been tired from your trip here. Milly tends to be a bit hyper sometimes."
"It's alright." Clarra smiled.
"She must like you, she normally doesn't do well with strangers. I hate to keep prying into the subject, but I was just wondering if it had something to do with you two being both half-breeds?"
"It's possible. She senses what I am and that I mean her no harm. Vampires can be quite sociable with one another when they sense no hostility from the other."
"Oh. I thought vampires lived in castles alone cut off from everyone else."
"Now they do."
"It wasn't always like this?" Clarra looked utterly confused. D sighed mentally. Here we go again he thought. Damn this woman is more curious that a cat.
"No it wasn't. Before the death of the vampire king, when vampires were more civil, there was vast interaction between them. Public events such as balls and dinners were held at the castles. That's why the older castles look so huge and decorative. They were designed to impress other visiting Nobles."
"And after the death of the King this changed?" D didn't answer. "I am sorry to be pressing the issue. It's just that I don't know anything about vampires and I want to educate Milly properly."
Seeing that Clarra was getting upset at the thought of annoying him, D spoke up. "No it's ok. After the King died a faction of vampires who believed that humans should be treated as cattle took over. Anyone who dared to defy their rule was killed. Many vampires still loyal to the ideas of the King were slaughtered. Thus vampires, out of fear of one another, isolated themselves. Some continued to live under the ideals of the King, and treated humans fairly, while the growing majority gave in to a gluttonous bloodlust. And that is how things are today. Many vampires will tell their children that it has always been so, and that Dracula believed in such waste."
Even with D's emotionless mask, Clarra could tell this seemed to be a sensitive subject. "Most people believe this is the way it's always been, and that's why they don't like any vampires or dunpeals. They don't believe a good one can exist. You must have been alive along time to know differently. Were you alive back when vampires were different, when King Dracula was alive?"
D didn't answer her he was lost in his own memories. Flashes from his youth came back to him. He saw himself as a small boy in the garden of a grand castle. His father was playing hide and seek with him even though he knew perfectly well where D was. Various images of outings with his father and teaching sessions filtered through his mind. D remembered when the Great War came and the vampires went into hibernation to wait out the human's destructive rampage. D was three hundred years of age when vampires emerged to rule over the humans. His father's intention was to help guide them back to a civilized point.
The scene changed to two millennia later when D was greeting guests with his father. During the ball a man approached his father and they left the ball to talk in the study. That night D was told that the man was an informant, and that he had told his father of the rebellious faction that was planning to over through him. Again the memories shifted to a few decades later.
D had gone to visit his mother's old cottage by the river, and to put flowers on her grave. When he crested the hill above his home, the sight that met him was gruesome. The castle was on fire. The flames licked at the marble as they soared to the sky. The moat was black as ink against the glow of the flames. As the power of the fire broke through the magic barrier, the flames danced green towards the heavens. Then he saw them. At least a hundred vampires were storming the castle, fighting off the mutant and vampiric servants. D ran down the hill and drew his sword. His feet were echoing the frantic beat of his heart, as they pounded into the dirt. He joined the battle with a vengeance. As he reached the first of the attackers, he didn't even slow down as he slashed the unaware vampire's head off. The blade of his sword easily slid through the flesh before hitting air on the other side.
D continued slashing his way through the brawl looking for his father. A vampire lunged at him with hands transfigured into claws and another with two scythes. Just as they reached him, D back stepped and ducked out of the way. The vampires had no time to react as they collided with one another. The claws of one burrowing deep into the chest of the other while, the scythes found their rest in the neck and stomach of the first. D jumped over the heap of vampiric flesh landing in the pooling blood. As he ran red stained foot prints followed him. He slid to a stop. He had found what he was searching for. His father surrounded by twenty powerful Nobles. The leader was a vampire D knew well named Veshic, who was fighting with Dracula, their swords clashing in angry furry. The others where trying to use their vampiric abilities to drain Dracula's power. Dracula looked up and saw D. D could see how his father was panting, and his eyes looked strained and tired.
"Now your son can watch you die before we kill him" shouted Veshic. "It's a pity I have to kill my nephew, but I sense he will not be joining us. He's too much like that human slut of yours." Dracula shouted in rage and charged Veshic.
"Don't you dare touch my son you traitorous bastard."
Dracula's eyes burned blue as he summoned every ounce of strength he had left. D ran to help his father, but five of the surrounding vampires turned to stop him. Using their combined telekinetic power they lifted D in the air, and slammed him hard against the wall. The cracking sound of his spin being crushed echoed through his head. D was still young by vampire standards. He could do nothing to escape the hold of the elder vampires. He watched as the Nobles continued to drain the strength from his father. In one swift move Veshic sliced off the sword arm of Dracula, and then spun around and decapitated him. It happened so fast Dracula never even had time to scream. The body of Vlad Dracula swayed and fell at the knees, then collapsed to the ground. Blood oozed from the neck to mix with that of the severed head. The parched ground soaked up the red life of the fallen King. D looked on in horror, as Veshic picked up a flaming stake, and drove it though the heart. The body soon caught flame.
Picking up the head, Veshic turned to D. His fingers twining in the once beautiful wavy brown hair now soaked with its dead owner's blood. Veshic held up the head in victory and then turned it to face D. D stared into the lifeless eyes of his father. Eyes once as blue as his own were now a dismal grey. The jaw hung open in a silent cry that would never be voiced. Blood still pooled behind the teeth and dripped from the exposed fangs. The dark liquid seeped out of the mouth to stain the pale lips and jaw. D wanted to scream, to cry, to rip Veshic to pieces but he could do nothing while pinned to the wall except listen to the howling laughter of his once uncle.
"Now my dear nephew it's your turn. I can't have anyone trying to put you on the throne now can I."
Veshic raised his sword and swung it down at D. D braced for the impact of the sword, for the slice of the blade through his skin, but it didn't come. Instead there was a clash of metal on metal. D opened his eyes to see his father's sword supported by nothing at all blocking Veshic's sword. Veshic roared in anger.
"What sorcery is this? Why can't I kill you?" Veshic continued to hack at D but Dracula's sword countered every time. The other vampires stared wide eyed at the phenomenon.
"It's Dracula he's not dead." Said one.
"I told you we couldn't kill him." Said another.
"You fools it's a spell. The sword is bewitched you idiots."
Veshic had turned his back on D, and in their fright the vampires holding D hostage had loosened their hold. D, upon finding he could move, leaped from the wall with a flash of blazing blue eyes and fangs. He grabbed the sword in midair. Everything seemed to slow as Veshic turned to see D above him. His dark figure cast against the pale light of the moon. His eyes were two blue coals. His long hair sparkled in the light, and seemed to float around him. The sword held above him caught the moonlight causing it to glow. With a roar, D drove the blade through the body of Veshic. It caught him in the shoulder, and went all the way through his heart, and out his side effectively cutting him in half. The other vampires stood in shock for a moment and then drove at D. D leapt up and off the wall jumping over the hoard of vampires. He ran off into the surrounding woods. When he was sure no one was following, he collapsed on hands and knees panting and coughing. He started coughing up blood. Several ribs were broken and his lungs bruised. Not to mention the pain in his back. The darkness of the forest embraced him, as he fell to the ground unconscious.
When D awoke, he was healed but still sore. It was daylight now so the vampires would have fled. He walked back to the castle. The place he once called home was in ruins. A pile of blackened marble was all that remained. Smoke still rose from the ashes. D walked over to the place where his father had been killed. Nothing but ruble and ashes. D figured some of these ashes where his fathers. He bent down and ran a hand through them.
Sunlight glinting off of something caught his eye. A few paces away buried in the ash, was his father's sword. Veshic's blood still caked on the blade. D gripped the skulled handle, and lifted it in the air. It was a bit heavy for him, something in his rage he had not noticed last night. He had never before laid a hand on his father's sword. D fell to his knees, the sword falling to the ground with a clang. D put his face in his hands, still covered in ash, and for the first time since childhood and the last time in his life D wept. His boots scuffed and caked with mud. His pants ripped and covered in grass stains. His once nice dress shirt now torn and stained with dirt and blood. D knelt in the ash of his home and his father and wept.
When he had calmed he picked up the sword and stared at. What was he to do now? Most would think he was dead. Only those twenty who attacked his father would think other wise, but even they may assume he was with the injuries he had attained. After all he was only a half-breed. Even if they did think he was still alive, they wouldn't tell anyone they had failed to kill a half-breed whelp. Those who would still support his father, may be too afraid to support him. A lot of them didn't even want a half-breed on the throne. D looked to the sword again, as if hoping for an answer. Then an idea came to him.
"Father I will avenge you and your ideals. I will train hard as you have taught me. I will track down those who have desecrated our home and destroy them. I will not let them prey on the weak. I will protect those who cannot protect themselves, as you tried to do. I can not do this on a throne father, but I can do this as a hunter. A vampire hunter. I may not be strong enough now, but I will be. I swear by blood that I will be."
With that D took the blade of the sword, and slashed it down the palm of his hand. Holding the hand over the ground he squeezed it shut letting the blood trickle down to mix with the ash.
"I swear it father."
D gripped his father's sword tightly and, after one more look at his fallen home, ran off to the other side of the castle grounds. The stables were far off from the castle, perhaps there was still a horse there. In the stable D found one horse. A great black beast of a horse called Demon. His fathers mount, which only ever listened to his father. D stepped cautiously towards the animal and it snorted rearing up. D straightened up and, showing his Noble birth, grabbed the reins of the horse.
"Now you listen here Demon I am your master now so get use to it." The horse stood still. "Good."
D walked over and got a sattle. Hanging above the sattle was a long black cloak and a large brimmed hat. D took those as well. He sattled the horse and mounted up. He fastened the cloak around his shoulders and strapped the sword on his back. Then he put the hat on his head. The wide brim giving him plenty of protection from the sun. He nudged the horse forward and out of the stable. Once he was at the road he looked left and right.
"Hum which way to go?" Demon snorted at the pause. "Just hold on I am trying to figure out where to go. I am not exactly experienced at the lone traveler thing. Oh this is ridiculous I'm talking to a horse. This is a sight me the ex prince of vampires talking to a horse. I might as well just not talk at all. I guess I have to get used to it. I'm not going to have a lot of company anymore. No more balls, servants, castle, no more anything. Just me and my father's sword. So I guess one direction is as good as another."
With that D turned left, and never looked back towards his broken home. He didn't say a word as he rode on. For the passing travelers he appeared as nothing more than a fellow traveler. Some gave the sword a second look. Hunters weren't common then, but they figured it was for protection. Vlad Dracula Jr. was now just a traveler in black, and soon to be a fierce vampire hunter known only as D.
D blinked as he registered a hand waving in front of his face. He looked up and saw Clarra looking pale with concern.
"D are you alright. I was talking to you and you just seemed to go blank."
"I'm fine."
"I didn't upset you did I. You seemed tense about our conversation and then nothing."
"I just remembered something I hadn't thought about in awhile is all. Nothing to be concerned with."
"Ok if you are sure you are alright." Clarra still looked worried.
"I thought I would get a look at the town today. Take in places a vampire might try to enter from or hide out."
"O that sounds like a good idea. I will go with you so it looks like I am showing you around town." D looked hesitant about the idea. "Now I know you would rather go by yourself but remember I don't want the town in a panic and I am sure you agree with that." D nodded a panic stricken town would just add to the burden. "To add to our little illusion maybe you should change." D just stared at her, if he allowed enough emotion to filter though his mask he would have scrounged up his face and raise an eyebrow. "I mean what your wearing is passable for traveling clothes but if you go around everyday like that people are going to be asking a lot of questions."
D supposed she had a point, though he greatly detested the idea of wearing something else. Clarra stood staring at D waiting for his decision. He had taken his hat off sometime after Milly had left. The sunlight was illuminating the auburn highlights in D's otherwise dark brown hair. His flawless pale skin gave a heavy contrast to his hair. He had an inhuman beauty about him. Clarra fancied he looked more like a fae out of a fairy story than a real person. But then she thought he isn't human is he. Maybe his looks suit him. An unearthly creature surrounded by magic and mystery.
Clarra was brought out of her thoughts as D moved over to the chest of drawers beside her. He had his sattle bag on top of it. D started rummaging through it. He pulled out what looked to be a pair of black ridding pants and a white shirt. D continued to search the bag. Clarra noticed that the shirt looked a bit worn. He probably hasn't worn it in a long time she thought. Clarra studied the items D pulled out of the bag in his search for whatever he was looking for. D had pulled out several daggers and knives. Each was beautifully made. Some had jewels others the handles where delicately carved with symbols of animals. One she noticed the tip was broken off and it looked a bit rusty. She could make out part of what looked like a crest. Something that looked like a wing and a V. The rest of the crest was worn off. She turned her attention back to D as he seemed to have found what he wanted. He pulled out a black vest that had blue embroidery on it. The vest looked more worn than the shirt but still in usable condition. It looked to Clarra that at one time these things were more suited for someone wealthy and not a wondering hunter. But now in their worn status they would pass quite well for a small town widow's cousin. Again Clarra couldn't help but wonder how old D was and who he was.
"Will this do?" came D's voice breaking Clarra's train of thought.
"That should work nicely. I will be down stairs we can leave when you're ready." Clarra left the room and shut the door behind her. D looked down at the clothes he had pulled out. They were the only other ones he carried with him. He hadn't worn them in a long time, but just like all things a vampire or half vampire owns, they are protected with magic to keep them from withering away. D looked at the vest and ran his hand over it. He still remembered the day his mother gave it to him. She had been working on it all the time she had been laid up in bed sick to help pass the time. A few days after she had finished it she passed away. D had made sure never to throw it out or to let it decay.
D changed and looked in the mirror. Once upon a time he would have looked noble in these clothes but even with magic barriers they were so old they had begun to wear. He supposed this was a good thing for the situation but he would have to look into getting them restored at least the vest anyway. He left his hat off seeing how it would look weird without the cloak. He cringed at the thought of going out in the sun without his hat and cloak. He hadn't done so in a long time. His hair more than covered his ears so no problem there. And owing to Clarra's family naturally having pale skin and the townsfolk being so ignorant to the nature of vampires he should be just fine. D still would have preferred to have his hat and cloak on.
"Well I haven't seen you looking so normal in a long time."
"Quiet"
"Now I have been real good I let you sleep the day away, I didn't speak up while the natives where here or interrupt your trips down memory lane." Sometimes D really hated that the symbiot could read his thoughts. "Not many people alive know the truth about the day the Dracula dynasty fell. Maybe you should just tell them who you are after all that Clarra woman seems to be just dieing to find out. And you do seem quite willing to talk to her. And what was that about levitating the sword for the child. That's more power than you would willingly use in a battle for hell's sake."
"The woman needs to know things to raise the child that's all."
"And what about playing games with the kid. I say you're getting soft. You are well past the age for starting a family. In fact you are a hundred times past the age for starting a family and you like children admit it. You don't want to have any cause of what they will be. I know you. You are shunned away from society on both sides and you hate that don't you and you hate the idea of other half-breed brats in the world enduring the same problem. The thing is they can deal with it can't they, but you hate it and why because you can't escape what you are. You're a Noble. You're the prince of the Nobles and should be a King. You were raised to be a Noble to rule after your father. Your blood is purer than any full blooded vampire alive today. If you go all out not one of those cockroach vampires could touch you but you won't do it. You won't claim what is yours. All you do is exterminate the bugs and that's all they are now and you know it. There is hardly a true noble left anymore. And here mmmmmmmmm...."
"That is enough," D growled out, "Don't dare say what I am and what I'm not or so help me I will slice you off and throw you to wolves."
"Point made you are what you are." D slammed the symbiot into the wall leaving a good sized dent. Then he reached in his bag and put on a pair of gloves. He slid a dagger into either boot. He took his blue pendant from were he had laid his other clothes and put it on and let it hang under his shirt. (For all you who don't know the pendant I am referring to look more closely in both movies he is wearing it in both.) After making sure the daggers weren't visible he left the room grumbling about small towns and annoying symbiot parasites.
End chapter five
Wow long chapter for me whew. I just started typing and there it was. The symbiot getting to D there. Next chapter D goes sight seeing in the small town. What will the townsfolk have to say about D? Hehehehe. I've written part of this chapter but am still debating on certain things but I will try not to keep you waiting to long.
Also if you are reading my story and have any suggestions on what you would like to see happen write them in your reviews. Tell me if you what more trips down memory lane, fighting, gore and destruction, romance, or nosy neighbors. If I like the idea or have a lot of requests for the same thing I will see if I can work with it. : ) I know where I am going with the story but I haven't worked out everything that is going to happen along the way.
Ok quick note this chapter has a fight scene in it that gets kinda gory. Nothing that you don't see in the actual VHD movies so if you can handle that this should be no problem. In my opinion it wouldn't be Vampire Hunter D with out a bit of blood and gore.
Also thanks to Emiri-chan I realized I didn't turn off the no unsigned reviews switch. I have now rectified that problem, so if you wanted to review my story but didn't because of that now you can.
Response to reviewers:
Emiri-chan: Hello again. I am glad you are still enjoying the story. In answer to your questions hehe you will just have to wait and see but yes you can count on more nosy neighbors.
Kitala: Thanks for reviewing. I am glad you like the story so far. And I have been thinking of doing some sort of talk between D and Milly nothing as serious as D's talk with Clarra cause Milly is young and won't understand. But something cute. And I will put in how old I think D is somewhere along the lines.
The Color of Night
Chapter five: long chapter: Clarra's questioning stirs old memories for D and what's this D has to change his clothes.
D hadn't meant to fall into such a deep sleep last night, but he was still weak from the constant heat wave and sleep had just overwhelmed him. The sun was shinning on his pale face giving a glow to it. D blindly fumbled for his hat on the table beside him, and plopped it down on top of his face. He may only be a half-breed, but the sun was still annoying. His eyes were very sensitive to it. D was about to dose off again when a muffled laugh reached his ear. D turned his head away from the light, his face now visible from under the hat. He opened his eyes slightly and saw a little face staring back at him. D's eyebrows tilted in slightly in annoyance, but the little face didn't notice the change. In fact no one without a magnifying glass would. Milly gave D a wide toothy grin and laughed again.
"Mr. D slept a long time. I was wondering if you would ever get up. Momma said you were probably tired from your trip, and because it's been so hot. I get sleepy when it's hot. Do you get real sleepy when it's hot?"
D looked out the window and saw that the sun was high in the sky. He sat up and swung his legs around the side of the bed. He ran his fingers through his hair. His gaze returned to Milly, who had picked up his hat, and was now attempting to wear it without it falling over her face. She was falling miserably. It was an amusing sight. The corner of D's mouth twitched.
"You have a big hat. How do you see under this thing? And how do you carry that sword it's huge. It's longer than I am tall. Milly tried to lift the hilt of D's sword. D almost had to laugh at the sight of such a small child wearing his hat, that fell to her nose, and trying to lift his sword. Milly frowned in frustration. D extended his power to levitate his sword just enough so Milly could lift it. Milly squealed in delight as the sword rose off the table.
"Look, look I lifted your sword Mr. D. It's not so heavy after all." Milly put down the sword and spun around laughing. She plopped down in the floor still laughing, her face totally hidden under the huge hat.
"Milly are you bothering D?" Clarra stood at the door with a frown on her face, but her eyes were twinkling with laughter, for her daughter sat at the feet of a very menacing looking hunter wearing his hat and laughing.
"I did what you told me to I didn't wake him up. And guess what I lifted the sword, but I think he may have helped."
"You think?" Milly just laughed at her mothers inquiring face and ran back over to D and smiled. D was surprised she knew what he had done with the sword. Milly held the hat outstretched above her but she couldn't reach D's head. Seeing what she was trying to do, D bent over and allowed the child to place the hat on his head. Milly ran over to her mother now and tugged on her skirt.
"Can I go out and play?"
"Yes but don't stay out to long. It's blazing out there today."
"Ok." With that Milly bounded down the stairs and out the door.
Clarra turned back to D who was putting his boots on.
"Sorry I hope she didn't disturb you. You must have been tired from your trip here. Milly tends to be a bit hyper sometimes."
"It's alright." Clarra smiled.
"She must like you, she normally doesn't do well with strangers. I hate to keep prying into the subject, but I was just wondering if it had something to do with you two being both half-breeds?"
"It's possible. She senses what I am and that I mean her no harm. Vampires can be quite sociable with one another when they sense no hostility from the other."
"Oh. I thought vampires lived in castles alone cut off from everyone else."
"Now they do."
"It wasn't always like this?" Clarra looked utterly confused. D sighed mentally. Here we go again he thought. Damn this woman is more curious that a cat.
"No it wasn't. Before the death of the vampire king, when vampires were more civil, there was vast interaction between them. Public events such as balls and dinners were held at the castles. That's why the older castles look so huge and decorative. They were designed to impress other visiting Nobles."
"And after the death of the King this changed?" D didn't answer. "I am sorry to be pressing the issue. It's just that I don't know anything about vampires and I want to educate Milly properly."
Seeing that Clarra was getting upset at the thought of annoying him, D spoke up. "No it's ok. After the King died a faction of vampires who believed that humans should be treated as cattle took over. Anyone who dared to defy their rule was killed. Many vampires still loyal to the ideas of the King were slaughtered. Thus vampires, out of fear of one another, isolated themselves. Some continued to live under the ideals of the King, and treated humans fairly, while the growing majority gave in to a gluttonous bloodlust. And that is how things are today. Many vampires will tell their children that it has always been so, and that Dracula believed in such waste."
Even with D's emotionless mask, Clarra could tell this seemed to be a sensitive subject. "Most people believe this is the way it's always been, and that's why they don't like any vampires or dunpeals. They don't believe a good one can exist. You must have been alive along time to know differently. Were you alive back when vampires were different, when King Dracula was alive?"
D didn't answer her he was lost in his own memories. Flashes from his youth came back to him. He saw himself as a small boy in the garden of a grand castle. His father was playing hide and seek with him even though he knew perfectly well where D was. Various images of outings with his father and teaching sessions filtered through his mind. D remembered when the Great War came and the vampires went into hibernation to wait out the human's destructive rampage. D was three hundred years of age when vampires emerged to rule over the humans. His father's intention was to help guide them back to a civilized point.
The scene changed to two millennia later when D was greeting guests with his father. During the ball a man approached his father and they left the ball to talk in the study. That night D was told that the man was an informant, and that he had told his father of the rebellious faction that was planning to over through him. Again the memories shifted to a few decades later.
D had gone to visit his mother's old cottage by the river, and to put flowers on her grave. When he crested the hill above his home, the sight that met him was gruesome. The castle was on fire. The flames licked at the marble as they soared to the sky. The moat was black as ink against the glow of the flames. As the power of the fire broke through the magic barrier, the flames danced green towards the heavens. Then he saw them. At least a hundred vampires were storming the castle, fighting off the mutant and vampiric servants. D ran down the hill and drew his sword. His feet were echoing the frantic beat of his heart, as they pounded into the dirt. He joined the battle with a vengeance. As he reached the first of the attackers, he didn't even slow down as he slashed the unaware vampire's head off. The blade of his sword easily slid through the flesh before hitting air on the other side.
D continued slashing his way through the brawl looking for his father. A vampire lunged at him with hands transfigured into claws and another with two scythes. Just as they reached him, D back stepped and ducked out of the way. The vampires had no time to react as they collided with one another. The claws of one burrowing deep into the chest of the other while, the scythes found their rest in the neck and stomach of the first. D jumped over the heap of vampiric flesh landing in the pooling blood. As he ran red stained foot prints followed him. He slid to a stop. He had found what he was searching for. His father surrounded by twenty powerful Nobles. The leader was a vampire D knew well named Veshic, who was fighting with Dracula, their swords clashing in angry furry. The others where trying to use their vampiric abilities to drain Dracula's power. Dracula looked up and saw D. D could see how his father was panting, and his eyes looked strained and tired.
"Now your son can watch you die before we kill him" shouted Veshic. "It's a pity I have to kill my nephew, but I sense he will not be joining us. He's too much like that human slut of yours." Dracula shouted in rage and charged Veshic.
"Don't you dare touch my son you traitorous bastard."
Dracula's eyes burned blue as he summoned every ounce of strength he had left. D ran to help his father, but five of the surrounding vampires turned to stop him. Using their combined telekinetic power they lifted D in the air, and slammed him hard against the wall. The cracking sound of his spin being crushed echoed through his head. D was still young by vampire standards. He could do nothing to escape the hold of the elder vampires. He watched as the Nobles continued to drain the strength from his father. In one swift move Veshic sliced off the sword arm of Dracula, and then spun around and decapitated him. It happened so fast Dracula never even had time to scream. The body of Vlad Dracula swayed and fell at the knees, then collapsed to the ground. Blood oozed from the neck to mix with that of the severed head. The parched ground soaked up the red life of the fallen King. D looked on in horror, as Veshic picked up a flaming stake, and drove it though the heart. The body soon caught flame.
Picking up the head, Veshic turned to D. His fingers twining in the once beautiful wavy brown hair now soaked with its dead owner's blood. Veshic held up the head in victory and then turned it to face D. D stared into the lifeless eyes of his father. Eyes once as blue as his own were now a dismal grey. The jaw hung open in a silent cry that would never be voiced. Blood still pooled behind the teeth and dripped from the exposed fangs. The dark liquid seeped out of the mouth to stain the pale lips and jaw. D wanted to scream, to cry, to rip Veshic to pieces but he could do nothing while pinned to the wall except listen to the howling laughter of his once uncle.
"Now my dear nephew it's your turn. I can't have anyone trying to put you on the throne now can I."
Veshic raised his sword and swung it down at D. D braced for the impact of the sword, for the slice of the blade through his skin, but it didn't come. Instead there was a clash of metal on metal. D opened his eyes to see his father's sword supported by nothing at all blocking Veshic's sword. Veshic roared in anger.
"What sorcery is this? Why can't I kill you?" Veshic continued to hack at D but Dracula's sword countered every time. The other vampires stared wide eyed at the phenomenon.
"It's Dracula he's not dead." Said one.
"I told you we couldn't kill him." Said another.
"You fools it's a spell. The sword is bewitched you idiots."
Veshic had turned his back on D, and in their fright the vampires holding D hostage had loosened their hold. D, upon finding he could move, leaped from the wall with a flash of blazing blue eyes and fangs. He grabbed the sword in midair. Everything seemed to slow as Veshic turned to see D above him. His dark figure cast against the pale light of the moon. His eyes were two blue coals. His long hair sparkled in the light, and seemed to float around him. The sword held above him caught the moonlight causing it to glow. With a roar, D drove the blade through the body of Veshic. It caught him in the shoulder, and went all the way through his heart, and out his side effectively cutting him in half. The other vampires stood in shock for a moment and then drove at D. D leapt up and off the wall jumping over the hoard of vampires. He ran off into the surrounding woods. When he was sure no one was following, he collapsed on hands and knees panting and coughing. He started coughing up blood. Several ribs were broken and his lungs bruised. Not to mention the pain in his back. The darkness of the forest embraced him, as he fell to the ground unconscious.
When D awoke, he was healed but still sore. It was daylight now so the vampires would have fled. He walked back to the castle. The place he once called home was in ruins. A pile of blackened marble was all that remained. Smoke still rose from the ashes. D walked over to the place where his father had been killed. Nothing but ruble and ashes. D figured some of these ashes where his fathers. He bent down and ran a hand through them.
Sunlight glinting off of something caught his eye. A few paces away buried in the ash, was his father's sword. Veshic's blood still caked on the blade. D gripped the skulled handle, and lifted it in the air. It was a bit heavy for him, something in his rage he had not noticed last night. He had never before laid a hand on his father's sword. D fell to his knees, the sword falling to the ground with a clang. D put his face in his hands, still covered in ash, and for the first time since childhood and the last time in his life D wept. His boots scuffed and caked with mud. His pants ripped and covered in grass stains. His once nice dress shirt now torn and stained with dirt and blood. D knelt in the ash of his home and his father and wept.
When he had calmed he picked up the sword and stared at. What was he to do now? Most would think he was dead. Only those twenty who attacked his father would think other wise, but even they may assume he was with the injuries he had attained. After all he was only a half-breed. Even if they did think he was still alive, they wouldn't tell anyone they had failed to kill a half-breed whelp. Those who would still support his father, may be too afraid to support him. A lot of them didn't even want a half-breed on the throne. D looked to the sword again, as if hoping for an answer. Then an idea came to him.
"Father I will avenge you and your ideals. I will train hard as you have taught me. I will track down those who have desecrated our home and destroy them. I will not let them prey on the weak. I will protect those who cannot protect themselves, as you tried to do. I can not do this on a throne father, but I can do this as a hunter. A vampire hunter. I may not be strong enough now, but I will be. I swear by blood that I will be."
With that D took the blade of the sword, and slashed it down the palm of his hand. Holding the hand over the ground he squeezed it shut letting the blood trickle down to mix with the ash.
"I swear it father."
D gripped his father's sword tightly and, after one more look at his fallen home, ran off to the other side of the castle grounds. The stables were far off from the castle, perhaps there was still a horse there. In the stable D found one horse. A great black beast of a horse called Demon. His fathers mount, which only ever listened to his father. D stepped cautiously towards the animal and it snorted rearing up. D straightened up and, showing his Noble birth, grabbed the reins of the horse.
"Now you listen here Demon I am your master now so get use to it." The horse stood still. "Good."
D walked over and got a sattle. Hanging above the sattle was a long black cloak and a large brimmed hat. D took those as well. He sattled the horse and mounted up. He fastened the cloak around his shoulders and strapped the sword on his back. Then he put the hat on his head. The wide brim giving him plenty of protection from the sun. He nudged the horse forward and out of the stable. Once he was at the road he looked left and right.
"Hum which way to go?" Demon snorted at the pause. "Just hold on I am trying to figure out where to go. I am not exactly experienced at the lone traveler thing. Oh this is ridiculous I'm talking to a horse. This is a sight me the ex prince of vampires talking to a horse. I might as well just not talk at all. I guess I have to get used to it. I'm not going to have a lot of company anymore. No more balls, servants, castle, no more anything. Just me and my father's sword. So I guess one direction is as good as another."
With that D turned left, and never looked back towards his broken home. He didn't say a word as he rode on. For the passing travelers he appeared as nothing more than a fellow traveler. Some gave the sword a second look. Hunters weren't common then, but they figured it was for protection. Vlad Dracula Jr. was now just a traveler in black, and soon to be a fierce vampire hunter known only as D.
D blinked as he registered a hand waving in front of his face. He looked up and saw Clarra looking pale with concern.
"D are you alright. I was talking to you and you just seemed to go blank."
"I'm fine."
"I didn't upset you did I. You seemed tense about our conversation and then nothing."
"I just remembered something I hadn't thought about in awhile is all. Nothing to be concerned with."
"Ok if you are sure you are alright." Clarra still looked worried.
"I thought I would get a look at the town today. Take in places a vampire might try to enter from or hide out."
"O that sounds like a good idea. I will go with you so it looks like I am showing you around town." D looked hesitant about the idea. "Now I know you would rather go by yourself but remember I don't want the town in a panic and I am sure you agree with that." D nodded a panic stricken town would just add to the burden. "To add to our little illusion maybe you should change." D just stared at her, if he allowed enough emotion to filter though his mask he would have scrounged up his face and raise an eyebrow. "I mean what your wearing is passable for traveling clothes but if you go around everyday like that people are going to be asking a lot of questions."
D supposed she had a point, though he greatly detested the idea of wearing something else. Clarra stood staring at D waiting for his decision. He had taken his hat off sometime after Milly had left. The sunlight was illuminating the auburn highlights in D's otherwise dark brown hair. His flawless pale skin gave a heavy contrast to his hair. He had an inhuman beauty about him. Clarra fancied he looked more like a fae out of a fairy story than a real person. But then she thought he isn't human is he. Maybe his looks suit him. An unearthly creature surrounded by magic and mystery.
Clarra was brought out of her thoughts as D moved over to the chest of drawers beside her. He had his sattle bag on top of it. D started rummaging through it. He pulled out what looked to be a pair of black ridding pants and a white shirt. D continued to search the bag. Clarra noticed that the shirt looked a bit worn. He probably hasn't worn it in a long time she thought. Clarra studied the items D pulled out of the bag in his search for whatever he was looking for. D had pulled out several daggers and knives. Each was beautifully made. Some had jewels others the handles where delicately carved with symbols of animals. One she noticed the tip was broken off and it looked a bit rusty. She could make out part of what looked like a crest. Something that looked like a wing and a V. The rest of the crest was worn off. She turned her attention back to D as he seemed to have found what he wanted. He pulled out a black vest that had blue embroidery on it. The vest looked more worn than the shirt but still in usable condition. It looked to Clarra that at one time these things were more suited for someone wealthy and not a wondering hunter. But now in their worn status they would pass quite well for a small town widow's cousin. Again Clarra couldn't help but wonder how old D was and who he was.
"Will this do?" came D's voice breaking Clarra's train of thought.
"That should work nicely. I will be down stairs we can leave when you're ready." Clarra left the room and shut the door behind her. D looked down at the clothes he had pulled out. They were the only other ones he carried with him. He hadn't worn them in a long time, but just like all things a vampire or half vampire owns, they are protected with magic to keep them from withering away. D looked at the vest and ran his hand over it. He still remembered the day his mother gave it to him. She had been working on it all the time she had been laid up in bed sick to help pass the time. A few days after she had finished it she passed away. D had made sure never to throw it out or to let it decay.
D changed and looked in the mirror. Once upon a time he would have looked noble in these clothes but even with magic barriers they were so old they had begun to wear. He supposed this was a good thing for the situation but he would have to look into getting them restored at least the vest anyway. He left his hat off seeing how it would look weird without the cloak. He cringed at the thought of going out in the sun without his hat and cloak. He hadn't done so in a long time. His hair more than covered his ears so no problem there. And owing to Clarra's family naturally having pale skin and the townsfolk being so ignorant to the nature of vampires he should be just fine. D still would have preferred to have his hat and cloak on.
"Well I haven't seen you looking so normal in a long time."
"Quiet"
"Now I have been real good I let you sleep the day away, I didn't speak up while the natives where here or interrupt your trips down memory lane." Sometimes D really hated that the symbiot could read his thoughts. "Not many people alive know the truth about the day the Dracula dynasty fell. Maybe you should just tell them who you are after all that Clarra woman seems to be just dieing to find out. And you do seem quite willing to talk to her. And what was that about levitating the sword for the child. That's more power than you would willingly use in a battle for hell's sake."
"The woman needs to know things to raise the child that's all."
"And what about playing games with the kid. I say you're getting soft. You are well past the age for starting a family. In fact you are a hundred times past the age for starting a family and you like children admit it. You don't want to have any cause of what they will be. I know you. You are shunned away from society on both sides and you hate that don't you and you hate the idea of other half-breed brats in the world enduring the same problem. The thing is they can deal with it can't they, but you hate it and why because you can't escape what you are. You're a Noble. You're the prince of the Nobles and should be a King. You were raised to be a Noble to rule after your father. Your blood is purer than any full blooded vampire alive today. If you go all out not one of those cockroach vampires could touch you but you won't do it. You won't claim what is yours. All you do is exterminate the bugs and that's all they are now and you know it. There is hardly a true noble left anymore. And here mmmmmmmmm...."
"That is enough," D growled out, "Don't dare say what I am and what I'm not or so help me I will slice you off and throw you to wolves."
"Point made you are what you are." D slammed the symbiot into the wall leaving a good sized dent. Then he reached in his bag and put on a pair of gloves. He slid a dagger into either boot. He took his blue pendant from were he had laid his other clothes and put it on and let it hang under his shirt. (For all you who don't know the pendant I am referring to look more closely in both movies he is wearing it in both.) After making sure the daggers weren't visible he left the room grumbling about small towns and annoying symbiot parasites.
End chapter five
Wow long chapter for me whew. I just started typing and there it was. The symbiot getting to D there. Next chapter D goes sight seeing in the small town. What will the townsfolk have to say about D? Hehehehe. I've written part of this chapter but am still debating on certain things but I will try not to keep you waiting to long.
Also if you are reading my story and have any suggestions on what you would like to see happen write them in your reviews. Tell me if you what more trips down memory lane, fighting, gore and destruction, romance, or nosy neighbors. If I like the idea or have a lot of requests for the same thing I will see if I can work with it. : ) I know where I am going with the story but I haven't worked out everything that is going to happen along the way.