Something in Common
By The Unseen Watcher
Disclaimer: Come on now. It's not mine. I'm sure that's clear by now.
Chapter 5
------------------
The city was called New Haven. Why it was named so was a mystery that it's current inhabitants didn't bother to dwell on. Whether there had been an Old Haven was irrelevant, although the fact that they needed a new one didn't bode well for what had happened to the last one.
New Haven, as all cities seemed to require, had a low side. The slums, the poor district, the bad side of town. Any of these labels made wise men steer clear of its' shadows. The not so bright ones didn't last long enough to pollute the gene pool with their idiocy. The narrow alleys and overhanging roofs there provided excellent highways for thieves, murderers, and various other things you wouldn't want to introduce your mother to. In a city of the past they would have been considered scum. In this future, you could be eaten by something that was actually made of the substance.
In a particularly dark alley there slumped a building that looked no different from its' shabby neighbors. There was no sign, no notice declaring it to be a bar. None was needed. If you had managed to make it this far into the district, you knew where you were going.
The bar didn't really have a name. Some more frequent patrons had dubbed it 'The Hole', since the main room was located in the basement with only a few old neon lights and less modern things like oil lamps to illuminate the dim interior.
The clientele was hard to make out in the dusky light. Most kept to the shadowed corners. Others you could see all too well. The Hole was equal opportunity. If you didn't get gutted or eaten (or both), then you were welcome. Race wasn't a problem. SPECIES wasn't important either, as the various mutants and even one lone werewolf lapping at a keg of some foamy substance at the bar could attest.
There were a few humans. The bartender was one, though he could have been taken for a mutant considering he towered over seven feet, nearly brushing the ceiling, and had the girth of a pro- wrestler suffering a terminal steroid overdose.
Everyone kept to themselves, or in packs. No one made eye contact (or whatever appendage they used to see with) with anyone else. It kept the body count down that way, and left less mess on the floor for people to slip on.
Still, the managerie couldn't help but glance up as light footsteps come down the shabby steps, and they heard the battered door creak open. They looked and saw what appeared to be a tall, auburn-haired man. He wore body armor that hugged his lean frame like a protective shell. A wide-brimmed hat was pulled low over pale blue eyes that glowed in the faint light as he scanned the crowd. His long black cape fell to his ankles, moving with him in an eerily life-like ripple.
He met their furtive looks squarely, his whole posture a challenge to anyone who might contest his presence.
The regulars looked quickly away, and the slightly newer ones followed suit. In their world you either developed certain instincts or you were dead very quickly. Right now those same senses were telling them that this was one being that shouldn't be messed with. The werewolf at the bar looked up, sniffing the air with his extremely acute nose. He growled softly, then whined, his tail dropping in submission as the stranger glanced his way. Ducking his head, he moved further down the bar.
The man stepped out of the doorway, making his way to a booth in the back. Low class mutants that looked all muscle and teeth shied away from the corners of his cape.
Behind the tall hunter appeared another man, much shorter and paler than the first. His white hair shone in the lamplight, his golden eyes wary as he looked around. He was dressed in antique armor, with his own redlined black cape drawn closely about him. He looked like he had stepped out of an ancient royal court, instead of a back alley. (The Hole was to a court what indoor plumbing was to a cesspit. Only in this case, the cesspit would have smelled cleaner). Holding his breath as much as possible, he followed his taller associate.
***
D took a seat at the furthest table, his back to the wall with a good view of the room and the exits. Alucard slid beside him, his unease almost palpable. Unable to resist any longer, he drew a handkerchief from his sleeve to cover his mouth and sensitive nose, shielding them as much as possible from the various unidentifiable odors wafting about the place.
A flick of D's wrist sent a coin spinning across the table, and a small gnome-like man scurryed to his side. D ordered biscuits and the house special. The meat wasn't to be trusted, and Alucard didn't even want to think about what the drinks might be made of.
The little man, who was sweating so much he glistened in the light, bowed and hurried off with the order. The coin had long since disappeared somewhere about his person.
*
Alucard leaned closer to D, his voice low and somewhat muffled. "Tell me why we've come here again." he murmured, his eyes carefully avoiding looking at the huge roach that was crawling across their table.
"Because this is where my contact is." D answered in his quiet voice, his eyes continuously scanning the room. "In places such as this, no one asks awkward questions and you are left alone. Sometimes, that is the greatest luxury you can find." He added softly.
Alucard leaned back, his hand lowering from his face as he mulled that over. Looking around, he had to admit that among the mutants, lowlifes, and other things less identifiable, that two dhamphirs were barely noticable. There was truth to D's statement, but honestly this place turned his stomach in more ways than one. He mused silently that he must have been truly spoiled in his life, despite the hardships, to disdain even the lowest of shelters. He ruefully acknowledged that he was acting like a stuffy courtier.
He would endure, and learn all he could. Still, he would be glad to leave this place.
In deep thought, he almost missed the arrival of the informant. Alucard studied the . . .male? . . . creature. It looked like the results of an experiment by an alchemist who had tried to amalgam a man with a rat, only partially succeeding. The thing had a long, rodent-like nose that twitched as it smelled the air around it. Shiny black eyes that bulged in their sockets peered out at him with wary interest. If his ears were of a similar rodentia origin, they were mercifully hidden by a thatch of pale grey fur-like hair that looked like a dandelion puff.
The creature studied him for a moment, before turning his attention to D.
"Why didn't you come alone? The deal is that there is no one else." he accused in a squeaky voice that grated over Alucard's nerves like fingers on a chalkboard. He resisted the urge to cover his ears.
D only gazed down at the rat-man impassively, his usual non- expression firmly in place even before they had entered the city. He replied calmly to its demand, his voice cool. "He is my partner, and thus part of my dealings. Is there a problem with this?" A falling spear of ice would have been less menacing.
The thing's face scrunched up, making it look like a particularly ugly dust bunny. It seemed to mull that one over. Its nose was still twitching. Finally it replied, casting a shrewd glance the taller hunter's way. "I've never known YOU to trust anyone enough to team up with them." he squeaked. His eyes darted briefly to Alucard. "But it makes sense that if you'd have any, HE'D be the one." It said, poking a filthy claw in Alucard's direction.
Alucard only lifted an eyebrow, his expression matching D's. The shrewd look in its beady eyes told him that the thing thought it was clever. He didn't give it the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of him, but privately he wondered at the comment. Staring it down, his gaze dipped pointedly to the extended digit.
The rat-man quickly lowered his paw, its eyes speculative as he studied him, growing respect in their depths. The force of the will behind the eyes of the pale dhamphir had proven that he was not to be taken lightly. The rodent, too, had shown that it had some sense by backing down.
D interrupted the stretched out silence. "Have you any news of Nobles active in this area, Onezumi?" He asked, his tone indicating that he could care less about the little confrontation.
The named Onezumi turned to him, cocking his head. He snorted, the sound coming out in a wheeze. "The city council denies any possibility of a vampire presence in the city, as usual." He replied, sniffing in disdain. "However. . ." He trailed off, rubbing his hands and trying to look sly. ". . .There is a large brownstone house in the middle-class section of the city where some rather strange happenings have been reported lately. People go in and are never seen again. Young women going missing. There have even been reports of some rather disturbing noises heard late at night."
Onezumi grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming yellow in the lamplight.
"Inside it looks like a typical home for a well-to-do antique merchant. That is, until you get to about basement level." He paused, waggling one finger. "One of our scouts checked it out, and barely got out with his hide intact. There's an entire cavern underneath the house, going quite far underground. He didn't venture far, but saw enough lower minions to know that there must be a blood-sucker about the place."
"Give me what you can of the layout of the fortress." D commanded, drawing out a large pouch that clinked suggestively. Eyes gleaming as he eyed the obvious moneybag greedily, the rat- man eagerly complied.
*
Alucard tuned most of the conversation out, knowing that he could dredge it up from his memory when needed. Letting his mind drift, he thought about the past few days.
It had taken longer than expected to get to their destination. It seemed to be monster season, and the terrain was rough and full of twisting canyons. They had gotten turned around several times, despite the fact that both had an excellent sense of direction.
In that time they had grown to know each other a little better. There was a silent agreement between them not to discuss their pasts, allowing them to relax around each other even more. Each found the other reliable in guarding their backs, which was a new sensation in and of itself.
Alucard's skills and fighting instincts had been stretched to new limits, bringing back the forgotten thrill of a real challenge into his life. For so long, fighting had been anything but fun. His heart had rarely ever been in it.
Now with all reluctance gone, he was free to move forward. Maybe even enjoy himself a little. Ever since he had broken off with his father, he had thought himself condemned to a life of misery. When he had actually faced and killed him, he had added more guilt to his already heavy burden of it.
He regretted having to fight his own sire, but Alucard had no such compunctions when it came to going up against his power-mad descendents.
And he was no longer alone. That in itself was more reward than he ever thought he was worthy of receiving.
*
Alucard brought his attention back to the here and now as D rose, flipping the rat-man his payment. The informer snatched it midair and quickly scurried away into the shadows. They didn't bother to stay for their meals. Alucard gratefully followed him, being careful to avoid touching anything with the ends of his cloak.
Stepping outside, D swung into the horse's saddle, Alucard settling quickly behind him. The shorter hunter wasn't really surprised to see bloody scraps of cloth fluttering around the cybernetic animal's feet. Someone had apparently tried to steal it, and received quite a beating from the loyal animal, whom D had not even bothered to tie up.
They started off at a swift trot. Alucard spoke up, his voice low. "How much did you find out?" He asked, his eyes continuously scanning the buildings around them.
"I got only a partial description, but the scout was able to make out the general size of the complex." They fell silent as a strange sound came from an alley they were passing. D continued. "Onezumi is a member of a small tribe of Animal Types that have banded together for mutual protection and profit. The scout was a half-bat, so his sonar report should be pretty accurate."
Alucard nodded. He had more than a little experience with bats himself. "So what's our first move?" He asked.
"First-" D said, and Alucard could just detect the amusement in his voice. "-we'll see about getting you a better weapon, and a horse of your own."
Alucard smiled slightly. "I'd appreciate it." He said, as they turned a corner.
***
The next morning they made their way to the suspected house. It really did look innocent. The paint was even peeling off the eaves.
Leaving their horses in an alleyway (Alucard had picked out a fine one that closely matched D's), they scouted out the outside of the place.
{{How about just knocking and see what answers?}} Lefthand said loudly, earning It twin glares and a slap against D's belt. {{It was just a suggestion}} it muttered.
At the back of the house, Alucard found a small door at the bottom of a few steps. It was locked, but was quickly taken care of by Alucard's surprising talent for lock picking. Carefully, they slipped inside, peering into every shadowy corner.
They appeared to be in a large basement. The dirt floor gave slightly underneath their feet as they paced the perimeter of the room. There was nothing. No signs of a trap door, sliding stone, or any other evidence of an entrance leading lower.
{{Maybe we got the wrong house.}} Lefthand volunteered softly as they met again in the center of the room.
There was the far-off clanking of gears, and the floor under them neatly split into two halves, sending them plummeting down a long underground shaft.
{{Of course I've been known to be wrong!}} Lefthand wailed as they dropped into the unknown.
---------------- Never fear, the next chapter is near! Thanks for all the encouragement. I really appreciate all the reviews. How's this one Emiri-chan?
By The Unseen Watcher
Disclaimer: Come on now. It's not mine. I'm sure that's clear by now.
Chapter 5
------------------
The city was called New Haven. Why it was named so was a mystery that it's current inhabitants didn't bother to dwell on. Whether there had been an Old Haven was irrelevant, although the fact that they needed a new one didn't bode well for what had happened to the last one.
New Haven, as all cities seemed to require, had a low side. The slums, the poor district, the bad side of town. Any of these labels made wise men steer clear of its' shadows. The not so bright ones didn't last long enough to pollute the gene pool with their idiocy. The narrow alleys and overhanging roofs there provided excellent highways for thieves, murderers, and various other things you wouldn't want to introduce your mother to. In a city of the past they would have been considered scum. In this future, you could be eaten by something that was actually made of the substance.
In a particularly dark alley there slumped a building that looked no different from its' shabby neighbors. There was no sign, no notice declaring it to be a bar. None was needed. If you had managed to make it this far into the district, you knew where you were going.
The bar didn't really have a name. Some more frequent patrons had dubbed it 'The Hole', since the main room was located in the basement with only a few old neon lights and less modern things like oil lamps to illuminate the dim interior.
The clientele was hard to make out in the dusky light. Most kept to the shadowed corners. Others you could see all too well. The Hole was equal opportunity. If you didn't get gutted or eaten (or both), then you were welcome. Race wasn't a problem. SPECIES wasn't important either, as the various mutants and even one lone werewolf lapping at a keg of some foamy substance at the bar could attest.
There were a few humans. The bartender was one, though he could have been taken for a mutant considering he towered over seven feet, nearly brushing the ceiling, and had the girth of a pro- wrestler suffering a terminal steroid overdose.
Everyone kept to themselves, or in packs. No one made eye contact (or whatever appendage they used to see with) with anyone else. It kept the body count down that way, and left less mess on the floor for people to slip on.
Still, the managerie couldn't help but glance up as light footsteps come down the shabby steps, and they heard the battered door creak open. They looked and saw what appeared to be a tall, auburn-haired man. He wore body armor that hugged his lean frame like a protective shell. A wide-brimmed hat was pulled low over pale blue eyes that glowed in the faint light as he scanned the crowd. His long black cape fell to his ankles, moving with him in an eerily life-like ripple.
He met their furtive looks squarely, his whole posture a challenge to anyone who might contest his presence.
The regulars looked quickly away, and the slightly newer ones followed suit. In their world you either developed certain instincts or you were dead very quickly. Right now those same senses were telling them that this was one being that shouldn't be messed with. The werewolf at the bar looked up, sniffing the air with his extremely acute nose. He growled softly, then whined, his tail dropping in submission as the stranger glanced his way. Ducking his head, he moved further down the bar.
The man stepped out of the doorway, making his way to a booth in the back. Low class mutants that looked all muscle and teeth shied away from the corners of his cape.
Behind the tall hunter appeared another man, much shorter and paler than the first. His white hair shone in the lamplight, his golden eyes wary as he looked around. He was dressed in antique armor, with his own redlined black cape drawn closely about him. He looked like he had stepped out of an ancient royal court, instead of a back alley. (The Hole was to a court what indoor plumbing was to a cesspit. Only in this case, the cesspit would have smelled cleaner). Holding his breath as much as possible, he followed his taller associate.
***
D took a seat at the furthest table, his back to the wall with a good view of the room and the exits. Alucard slid beside him, his unease almost palpable. Unable to resist any longer, he drew a handkerchief from his sleeve to cover his mouth and sensitive nose, shielding them as much as possible from the various unidentifiable odors wafting about the place.
A flick of D's wrist sent a coin spinning across the table, and a small gnome-like man scurryed to his side. D ordered biscuits and the house special. The meat wasn't to be trusted, and Alucard didn't even want to think about what the drinks might be made of.
The little man, who was sweating so much he glistened in the light, bowed and hurried off with the order. The coin had long since disappeared somewhere about his person.
*
Alucard leaned closer to D, his voice low and somewhat muffled. "Tell me why we've come here again." he murmured, his eyes carefully avoiding looking at the huge roach that was crawling across their table.
"Because this is where my contact is." D answered in his quiet voice, his eyes continuously scanning the room. "In places such as this, no one asks awkward questions and you are left alone. Sometimes, that is the greatest luxury you can find." He added softly.
Alucard leaned back, his hand lowering from his face as he mulled that over. Looking around, he had to admit that among the mutants, lowlifes, and other things less identifiable, that two dhamphirs were barely noticable. There was truth to D's statement, but honestly this place turned his stomach in more ways than one. He mused silently that he must have been truly spoiled in his life, despite the hardships, to disdain even the lowest of shelters. He ruefully acknowledged that he was acting like a stuffy courtier.
He would endure, and learn all he could. Still, he would be glad to leave this place.
In deep thought, he almost missed the arrival of the informant. Alucard studied the . . .male? . . . creature. It looked like the results of an experiment by an alchemist who had tried to amalgam a man with a rat, only partially succeeding. The thing had a long, rodent-like nose that twitched as it smelled the air around it. Shiny black eyes that bulged in their sockets peered out at him with wary interest. If his ears were of a similar rodentia origin, they were mercifully hidden by a thatch of pale grey fur-like hair that looked like a dandelion puff.
The creature studied him for a moment, before turning his attention to D.
"Why didn't you come alone? The deal is that there is no one else." he accused in a squeaky voice that grated over Alucard's nerves like fingers on a chalkboard. He resisted the urge to cover his ears.
D only gazed down at the rat-man impassively, his usual non- expression firmly in place even before they had entered the city. He replied calmly to its demand, his voice cool. "He is my partner, and thus part of my dealings. Is there a problem with this?" A falling spear of ice would have been less menacing.
The thing's face scrunched up, making it look like a particularly ugly dust bunny. It seemed to mull that one over. Its nose was still twitching. Finally it replied, casting a shrewd glance the taller hunter's way. "I've never known YOU to trust anyone enough to team up with them." he squeaked. His eyes darted briefly to Alucard. "But it makes sense that if you'd have any, HE'D be the one." It said, poking a filthy claw in Alucard's direction.
Alucard only lifted an eyebrow, his expression matching D's. The shrewd look in its beady eyes told him that the thing thought it was clever. He didn't give it the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of him, but privately he wondered at the comment. Staring it down, his gaze dipped pointedly to the extended digit.
The rat-man quickly lowered his paw, its eyes speculative as he studied him, growing respect in their depths. The force of the will behind the eyes of the pale dhamphir had proven that he was not to be taken lightly. The rodent, too, had shown that it had some sense by backing down.
D interrupted the stretched out silence. "Have you any news of Nobles active in this area, Onezumi?" He asked, his tone indicating that he could care less about the little confrontation.
The named Onezumi turned to him, cocking his head. He snorted, the sound coming out in a wheeze. "The city council denies any possibility of a vampire presence in the city, as usual." He replied, sniffing in disdain. "However. . ." He trailed off, rubbing his hands and trying to look sly. ". . .There is a large brownstone house in the middle-class section of the city where some rather strange happenings have been reported lately. People go in and are never seen again. Young women going missing. There have even been reports of some rather disturbing noises heard late at night."
Onezumi grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming yellow in the lamplight.
"Inside it looks like a typical home for a well-to-do antique merchant. That is, until you get to about basement level." He paused, waggling one finger. "One of our scouts checked it out, and barely got out with his hide intact. There's an entire cavern underneath the house, going quite far underground. He didn't venture far, but saw enough lower minions to know that there must be a blood-sucker about the place."
"Give me what you can of the layout of the fortress." D commanded, drawing out a large pouch that clinked suggestively. Eyes gleaming as he eyed the obvious moneybag greedily, the rat- man eagerly complied.
*
Alucard tuned most of the conversation out, knowing that he could dredge it up from his memory when needed. Letting his mind drift, he thought about the past few days.
It had taken longer than expected to get to their destination. It seemed to be monster season, and the terrain was rough and full of twisting canyons. They had gotten turned around several times, despite the fact that both had an excellent sense of direction.
In that time they had grown to know each other a little better. There was a silent agreement between them not to discuss their pasts, allowing them to relax around each other even more. Each found the other reliable in guarding their backs, which was a new sensation in and of itself.
Alucard's skills and fighting instincts had been stretched to new limits, bringing back the forgotten thrill of a real challenge into his life. For so long, fighting had been anything but fun. His heart had rarely ever been in it.
Now with all reluctance gone, he was free to move forward. Maybe even enjoy himself a little. Ever since he had broken off with his father, he had thought himself condemned to a life of misery. When he had actually faced and killed him, he had added more guilt to his already heavy burden of it.
He regretted having to fight his own sire, but Alucard had no such compunctions when it came to going up against his power-mad descendents.
And he was no longer alone. That in itself was more reward than he ever thought he was worthy of receiving.
*
Alucard brought his attention back to the here and now as D rose, flipping the rat-man his payment. The informer snatched it midair and quickly scurried away into the shadows. They didn't bother to stay for their meals. Alucard gratefully followed him, being careful to avoid touching anything with the ends of his cloak.
Stepping outside, D swung into the horse's saddle, Alucard settling quickly behind him. The shorter hunter wasn't really surprised to see bloody scraps of cloth fluttering around the cybernetic animal's feet. Someone had apparently tried to steal it, and received quite a beating from the loyal animal, whom D had not even bothered to tie up.
They started off at a swift trot. Alucard spoke up, his voice low. "How much did you find out?" He asked, his eyes continuously scanning the buildings around them.
"I got only a partial description, but the scout was able to make out the general size of the complex." They fell silent as a strange sound came from an alley they were passing. D continued. "Onezumi is a member of a small tribe of Animal Types that have banded together for mutual protection and profit. The scout was a half-bat, so his sonar report should be pretty accurate."
Alucard nodded. He had more than a little experience with bats himself. "So what's our first move?" He asked.
"First-" D said, and Alucard could just detect the amusement in his voice. "-we'll see about getting you a better weapon, and a horse of your own."
Alucard smiled slightly. "I'd appreciate it." He said, as they turned a corner.
***
The next morning they made their way to the suspected house. It really did look innocent. The paint was even peeling off the eaves.
Leaving their horses in an alleyway (Alucard had picked out a fine one that closely matched D's), they scouted out the outside of the place.
{{How about just knocking and see what answers?}} Lefthand said loudly, earning It twin glares and a slap against D's belt. {{It was just a suggestion}} it muttered.
At the back of the house, Alucard found a small door at the bottom of a few steps. It was locked, but was quickly taken care of by Alucard's surprising talent for lock picking. Carefully, they slipped inside, peering into every shadowy corner.
They appeared to be in a large basement. The dirt floor gave slightly underneath their feet as they paced the perimeter of the room. There was nothing. No signs of a trap door, sliding stone, or any other evidence of an entrance leading lower.
{{Maybe we got the wrong house.}} Lefthand volunteered softly as they met again in the center of the room.
There was the far-off clanking of gears, and the floor under them neatly split into two halves, sending them plummeting down a long underground shaft.
{{Of course I've been known to be wrong!}} Lefthand wailed as they dropped into the unknown.
---------------- Never fear, the next chapter is near! Thanks for all the encouragement. I really appreciate all the reviews. How's this one Emiri-chan?