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I do not own Vampire Hunter D because if I did he would be cleaning my house right now.

Chapter 5: From the Eyes of the Child

A small boy seriously examined a beetle as it scurried up the trunk of a pine tree. He gasped as it went directly into the sunlight, but then sighed in relief as nothing happened to it. Mommy had always said he had to stay out of the sunlight and if he had to go outside he had to stay in the pine grove just outside of the castle. His gaze returned to the beetle and was amazed that it stayed in the sunlight without getting sick. After a while he decided that he would go out in the inviting sunlight. If the beetle didn't get sick then he wouldn't. He left the cool darkness of the pine grove and carefully stepped into the cheerful light. After a few moments he ran out onto the grass. He watched as butterflies kissed wildflowers but quickly grew bored. He picked up a stick and pretended to be a mighty warrior just like his dad. He chased evil rabbits and rescued fair maidens, whatever a fair maiden was. After a little while he felt hot and sticky, but continued in his games. Soon his skin felt tight and dry and the ground was shaky. Suddenly everything started to spin and he fell to the ground.

He awoke in a narrow dark box that smelled of earth and of his dad. I am in big trouble he thought with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He heard slow purposeful steps and winced at the coming parental correction. The lid of the coffin opened and four year old D saw the serious face of his father. "Your mother and I told you to stay out of the sunlight," Dracula said looking the child in the eyes. D bravely met and held for a moment his father's eyes. "You almost died; the sun is poison to you. If you cannot be trusted to obey your mother or myself you must be watched." D sighed in relief, this time he wasn't going to get a spanking. "Starting now you will be helping the guard master and you will start weapon lessons." Dracula turned and left. D was wishing he got the spanking.

D had finished sharpening the sword, he held it up in the lamplight and nodded in satisfaction. It was a very nice blade and he secretly wished it was his. A sarcastic voice chuckled. D sighed in annoyance. A couple of years back he acquired a being that resided in his left hand. He still regretted that misadventure. A sudden presence told him that someone was in the room with him. A sudden glint of light on metal was all that warned him. He quickly blocked the sword stroke, but his attacker was swift he couldn't see or get the scent. He managed to block the attacks if only barely. Suddenly the attack stopped and he was face to face with his father. "Very good," Dracula said, "the sword you hold is now yours." D sat there feeling very stunned.

That night D sat at the table with his mother. "Why am I not exactly like you or father?" Tanya sat for a moment thinking of how to answer her son. Tall as he was he was still a child of ten years. But child or not he was intelligent and if he asked the question he needed an honest answer. He was sheltered at the castle but when he visited his great aunt Cara he faced the prejudice of the villagers. Tanya did not worry about violence being done to her son. They were too fearful of Dracula's wrath. She sighed and answered, "You are a mixture of human and vampire son. That is why you can stand some sunlight. And your skin is paler than mine. Also why you crave blood but don't have to drink it to survive. Do you understand?" D nodded. He finished his time with his mother and went to see his father.

He went up to the north balcony as the last of the sun's light faded from the sky. His mother's answer gave him more questions. Questions he wanted to ask his father. His Father stood at the balcony's edge sharp eyes looking for signs of trouble. The only trouble he saw that night was in his son's eyes. "What is the matter my son?" Dracula asked.

D looked up at his father and asked his biggest question, "If I am different than humans and different than vampires what am I supposed to do?"

Dracula thoughtfully looked at his son's earnest blue eyes and replied, "That my son is up to you."

D looked uncertain at hearing his father's answer, "But how will I know what to do?"

Dracula surprised at his son's talkativeness thought carefully before answering, "Learn not just from books, watch what goes on around you. Learn from the Barbaroi, who guard the castle, observe the humans in the village. Learn from nature for it can be cruel or kind. And when you become a man you will know what to do."

D followed his father's advice and gain respect for those who guarded the castle. When he visited great aunt Cara he watched the human villagers. From them he learned about fear and uncertainty. He watched as his father would come and pick a villager to slake his thirst. He developed pity for those who could not protect themselves against the strong. And from his father he learned about the unconscious abuse of power. He learned how the strong prayed upon the weak. Young D felt confused.

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