Dhampire No More

Chapter 1: Rude Awakenings

By Chad 'Graeystone' Harger

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D had not felt this much pain since the time he was stabbed in the heart during his mission to hunt down Count Lee. During his lucid moments he remembered what his father told him about being stabbed in the heart. "From what I figure it's like being slapped in the face with hot pasta that's been tied around a mountain," his father said.

D felt like two mountains with uncooked pasta hit him. He slipped in and out of consciousness so many times he lost count. He also lost track of how much time passed. D started to lose consciousness again. This time D resisted the urge. It took all his strength, which there was not much left, to keep awake. He found himself in a hospital room.

"Doctor, he's opening his eyes," said a young woman's voice.

D strained to keep awake. Even if it meant tapping his vampire strength D had no desire to slip back into darkness.

"I'll take over from here," said a man's voice. "Can you hear me? Tell me your name if you can."

"Name is D," said D in a low voice. It hurt his throat to speak. At least he was fully conscious.

"I am Doctor Johan Smith," said the doctor. "You have been through what must have been a horrible ordeal."

D tried to remember what happened. "I don't remember much. There was fight but after that," he said as his voice trailed off. D painfully sat up in bed. That should not happen to him. Dhampires and vampires have few things in common but one of them is photographic memory. They did not forget things unless they wanted to.

"Drink some water. Its probably a good thing you don't remember," said Johan. He handed D a glass of water.

"What happened to me?" asked D after he drank the water. He looked at himself. He wore hospital garbs and his arms were bandaged. The doctor was hesitant to answer. "Tell me," D tried to say forcibly. His voice of intimidation failed him.

"Your injuries were extensive. It's a miracle you even survived," said Johan. "Broken bones, internal bleeding, your left lung was punctured. I can't even begin to imagine what organs had been damaged. If it wasn't for myself and some healers I know you would have died."

D wondered what could harm him like this. The only person he could think of was his father but he was dead. He was there when it happened. As for the injuries he had a lot worse done to him and it never affected him this badly.

"What do you remember about the fight?" asked Johan.

"I was hired by the town to hunt a group of roaming vampires that had been terrorizing the people," said D. "I engaged them in battle. After that I can't remember anything."

"There was an explosion. We think it happened where you battled the vampires. The mayor wasn't about to send anybody out. We thought you were dead. Then you staggered back into town. At first we didn't believe it was you," said Johan.

D did not know of any other dhampires who dressed like him. "Why not?" he asked.

"Brace yourself," said Johan. "I bandaged your arms because I did not want you to see what happened to you without anyone here. This will be quite a shock." Johan took off the bandage off D's right arm.

D's eyes widened. He did not know how to react. "These are burn marks," said D.

"Its your normal skin color now," said Johan.

D continued to stare at his arms. No longer the chalk white tone he always saw. Now his skin has color to it. D knew what it meant. The injuries he would normally recover from within a few hours, the loss of memory and fading in and out of consciousness. D looked at Johan and for the first time the hunter felt fear. "I'm no longer a dhampire."

"You are completely human now," said Johan. "Whatever happened during the mission destroyed your vampire side."

"That's impossible!" yelled D in denial.

He tried to get out of the bed. He was not accustomed to a weaker body. His legs gave out and he fell. Johan helped D back into bed.

"This isn't an illusion or some vision," said Johan. "This is cold hard reality. The sooner you accept it the better off you will be."

D looked at his left hand. "Awaken and help me already. I know you're in there," said D.

"What are you doing?" asked Johan with concern. He thought D was having a breakdown.

"What did you do to him?" D replied.

"Do with who?" asked Johan.

"My left hand is infected by a parasite. Did you remove it?" demanded D.

Johan asked with concern, "What kind of parasite?" Next to vampire bites, parasites are a doctors biggest concern.

"The kind that can talk," answered D.

Johan's face went pale. He knew exactly what D meant. The death those parasites caused was just as bad as the nuclear war. "You have one of those . . .things inside you? I thought they were extinct."

D punched the palm of his left hand as hard as he could. That always got the parasite's attention. D shook his left hand. He was not used to stinging sensation. "I don't have it anymore," said D.

"It's a good thing you don't," said Johan. "Your vampire metabolism is probably what kept you from being devoured by it. Now that you are human I would've had to have cut it out. Later I want to run a test to make sure you don't have any eggs in your bloodstream."

D knew this had to be an illusion. There was one way to break it. "Doctor, do you have a knife I could see?"

"D, this is big change for you. Violence toward yourself or others will not change anything," said Johan.

"Do not worry. I will not harm you or myself," said D. "A knife or something with a sharp edge is all that I require."

"I don't know what you're up to but I guess it can't hurt," said Johan. "I've heard you always keep your word. I take it that hasn't change?"

"It has not," said D.

The doctor left and returned minutes later. He held a scalpel in his hand. "Will this do?" he asked.

"Yes," said D. He took the scalpel and looked at it. He touched the blade and cut his skin.

"D!" said Johan.

"My mistake. I am not used to this body," said D. He looked at the flowing blood and he had no reaction to it. Whether a vampire's own blood or another's spilled blood it always awoke the blood hunger to some degree.

D sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the wall. When a person realizes they are in an illusion it can always be shattered with a sharp blade. Cutting through part of the illusion always ruined it. It was like popping a bubble. D slashed at the wall with all his strength. The scalpel cut into the wall. The blade broke in half. D looked at the broken scalpel. He handed it back to Johan. "I am sorry for ruining your equipment," said D. His mind finally accepted the truth.

"I'd like to be alone for awhile," D said.

"I understand," said Johan. "If there's anything you need just press the button on the call box on the table next to your bed. I have rounds to make. Try to get some sleep if you can. You were out for so long you need natural sleep. If you have any trouble sleeping I'll have a nurse give you some medication."

"Thank you," said D.

Johan left and D got back into bed. He stared at the ceiling and a question came to him. It was the same question he asked so long ago when his parents died. "What do I do now?" he asked.

To be continued . . .