Dhampire No More

Chapter 4: Get a Life

By Chad 'Graeystone' Harger

xxxxx

Leila slammed the door in D's face. D knocked on the door again.

"Its really me," said D.

"Get lost," yelled Leila.

D made sure no one was around to hear what he was going to say. "We made a promise to each other. When one of us dies the other would bring flowers to the grave," said D.

Seconds passed before the door opened. This time Leila pointed the cannon she called a gun at D. Leila gave D another look over. "D would never tell anyone about that," she whispered as she lowered her gun.

"No I wouldn't," said D.

"Good lord," said Leila. "I heard rumors that something happened to you but I didn't believe them."

"Something did," said D.

"Yeah, you look like hell. And you stink," said Leila. "When was the last time you bathed?"

"Four weeks ago before I left the hospital where I was recovering," said D.

"Come in," said Leila. "You can use the bathroom upstairs. You're probably hungry."

"I am," admitted D. "I was riding hard with few breaks. Almost rode the horse to death."

"Little wonder there," muttered Leila in reference to D's notorious habit of losing horses.

"What was that?" asked D.

"Nothing. Now hurry up and take a shower before you stink up the village," said Leila.

D did not comment on Leila's attitude. After she mourned her fallen comrades she returned to her usual blunt self. It dawned on him that he might have interrupted something. "Did I come at a bad time?" asked D.

"No," answered Leila from the kitchen. D heard how hard she was cutting food and the anger she had whenever the knife hit the cutting board.

After he cleaned up, D sat down to eat. He had not had a home cooked meal in so long. With the exception of Grover, the Markus Brothers always looked well off. D understood why. "You're a good cook," said D. Leila did not thank D for the compliment. "What's the matter?" asked D.

"I said its nothing," said Leila. "You're here to talk about yourself. How did the great D get messed up?"

"My vampire side went out of control and I lost it including the parasite. How and why I don't know," said D. "Now about you."

"You lost the parasite?" asked Leila with a smirk. "Guess today isn't so bad after all."

Leila and Left Hand did not get along. As D and Leila made their way to this village so Leila could settle down in peace, Left Hand spoke to her with one of his usual smart-ass remarks. Leila threatened to cut D's hand off and yank the parasite out by whatever was connecting him to D.

"Are the villagers treating you ok?" asked D.

"Huh, yeah. They're a good bunch," said Leila. "I think its me. Hunters have to be . . .rigid. There's no room or error."

"You're acting like a perfectionist around them," said D.

"I have to loosen up but it's hard to do. Old habits and whatnot," sighed Leila. "Tell me what happened to you and no quick and dirty answers."

"That's all I have," said D. "I was hired to hunt a group of bloodpack vampires. During the fight my vampire side went out of control. According to the town sheriff it was scorched earth. When I woke up in the hospital the doctor said I wondered into town. The doctor was amazed that I even survived considering how bad my injuries were. The one thing I know for sure was that it wasn't a trap."

"Unless it was a trap and you killed whoever was behind it," said Leila.

"I don't remember the details fully but I do know there was nothing about the battle that indicated a trap," said D. "I have a blank spot and I can't fill it."

"Do you think you can get your vampire side back if you do remember?" asked Leila.

"I doubt it," answered D. "What happened to me sure was not a cure for the vampire condition." He took a sip of tea. "There is one possibility for regaining my power and I as soon as I had the thought I immediately put it out of my mind."

"Letting another vampire turn you," said Leila.

"Letting myself be turned would make a full vampire. While I could regain my lost powers I would not have the dual nature of a dhampire to keep it all in check. I would make the likes of Camellia look timid in comparison," said D. "The only thing I have left of my former self is the immune system. Doctor Johan warned me that that could go at any time."

"As if you hadn't done that already," said Leila about D's power. D looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't like standing around feeling helpless. I went after you wanting to help. I saw you battle her spirit," said Leila. "I also heard her accusation before that parasite sucked her in. Is it true that you're the Vampire King's son?"

"Does it matter?" asked D defensively.

"As the prince you could've united the vampires but didn't," said Leila. "Did it have something to do with your mother? When I was trapped in that illusion I thought I heard another woman speaking. I didn't piece it together until much later and don't get angry with me either. I told you what happened to my parents. Its your turn now."

"No its not," said D. "One thing has not changed and its my unwillingness to talk about my past. To give you a small idea why I renounced the throne is because I had no desire to rule over a bunch of traitors."

Leila did not reply. Personal experience was explanation enough. The stories concerning how the Vampire King met his demise might be true and what she heard while in the illusion was a clue.

"There's another reason why I needed to see you. Someone tried to assassinate me while I was recovering," said D. "You were next on the list."

Leila thought of whom they shared as a common enemy. Vampires were obvious but she did not have the same reputation as D. It did not take long to know who wanted them both dead.

"That son of a bitch Elborne," she said in a low tone of voice. "I'm going to kill him."

"Don't bother," said D. "He failed with me and nothing happened to you. He spent a hefty sum to hire an assassin. He can't hire a second one without raising suspicion."

"Or he's biding his time and waiting to see if you and I would see each other," said Leila.

"I don't like underestimating my enemies but I think you're giving him too credit," said D dryly.

"You should have let me smack him upside the head when I had the chance," said Leila.

"Forget about him," said D. "As far as he is concerned we've both dropped off the face of the planet."

"Alright, alright," muttered Leila. "What's your next move?"

"Having a life and the first thing I need to do is find out what my limitations are and figure out what I want to do with my life," said D.

"No offense but what else can you do beside be hunter?" asked Leila.

"There were times when jobs were few and far in between. I had to do something to keep from going crazy from the boredom," said D. "I did good work as a carpenter and I enjoyed it."

"You need to know if you can still do it," said Leila. "Joseph might have some work for you. He and his people built my house. I'll introduce you to him tomorrow."

"Thank you," said D.

"I suppose you want to spend the night here," said Leila.

"Is there an inn?" asked D.

Leila looked at a clock on the wall. "They're closed by now. Last year a stranger entered the inn at night. She was a vampire whose skin was still pink. We killed her before she got to anyone. After that the inn always closes at dusk. There is the couch but I don't know about that. I don't have a guest room either."

"The couch is fine," said D.

"Are you sure?" asked Leila. "My couch is not long."

"I've slept on couches before," said D. "I'm used to it."

"If you say so," said Leila.

xxxxx

D woke up hurting. He painfully sat up. His left shoulder felt like it was crushed. His neck and back were cramped along with his left leg. He slowly got up and made his way to the bathroom. Afterwards he went to the kitchen where Leila was making breakfast.

She looked at D and shook her head. "I tried to warned you but, no, you wouldn't listen."

"Why do I hurt?" complained D.

"You hurt because you slept on something that was too small for you," said Leila. "Stretch out and you'll be fine."

"Never bothered me before," said D. "My vampire metabolism must have kept my body from hurting."

"I'm not buying a new couch," said Leila.

"How about if I buy it?" asked D half-seriously. "I have the money."

"I'll think about it," said Leila. "I'll let you know at the end of the week. You should rent a room at the inn for the time being."

"Good enough," said D. "What do you do for a job?"

"Farming like my parents," said Leila. "I also patrol the area near dusk to make sure nothing tries to sneak into town after dark. These are decent people but they don't have a lick of sense when it comes to the monsters that come out at night. Of course you knew that and that's why you suggested I move to this place."

"If you say so," D simply said.

"I know so," said Leila harshly. Her anger faded. "I understand why. Hunting is like an addiction. Its hard to give up right away."

"It's the thrill that's hard to give up," corrected D. "I've seen hunters who have retired like you. A couple of years would pass and the urge to get back into the hunt would be overwhelming. They go back out and in their rush to feel the thrill of the hunt they became sloppy and end up dead or worse."

"How bad do you think it will be for you?" asked Leila.

D's gaze became hard. It did not have the same intensity as his former self but it was still unnerving. "Do you want to know how many times I came close to quitting? How often I wanted to quit because I became frustrated with the Nobility who couldn't get it through their skulls that they should just leave the planet and the humans who were either too afraid of vampires or too hateful toward dhampires."

"Why didn't you?" asked Leila.

"I had an obligation," said D. "Now I can't fulfill it." D slammed a fist on the table in frustration.

"You couldn't have foreseen this. Nobody will blame you for retiring," said Leila.

D did not say he blamed himself. "When we're with other people call me David," he said to change the subject.

Leila became excited. "Is that your real name?" she asked.

"No," said D.

Leila got an idea to wrangle some personal information out of D. "If you don't tell me what D stands for then I'll tell everyone who you are," threatened Leila.

"You won't like it," said D.

"I don't like a lot of things. Hasn't stopped me yet," said Leila.

"My full name is Drei Vorila Del Hagin Delacroix Vlad Tepes," the former dhampire said.

"You're lying," said Leila.

"Its up to you to decide whether I'm telling the truth or not," D said.

"I preferred it when you outright ignored people who asked you personal questions," muttered Leila.

xxxxx

The former hunter's went Joseph's house. Being the best carpenter and head of the local construction, Joseph has the nicest house in the village. Joseph had the darkest tan D had ever seen. The carpenter was forty although he looked fifty. He spent most of his time outdoors. His skin was leathery and his hands filled with thick calluses. His body was bulky with thick muscles. D thought a Count could punch the big man in the stomach and he would just laugh it off.

"Joseph, this is D . . .er, David," said Leila.

Joseph did not catch the slip of the tongue. "David, huh," he said. He looked at Leila with a wide smile. "Finally got a man?" he asked.

"He's like any other man. He wouldn't be able to handle me," said Leila. "You're free to try at anytime Joseph."

"I don't feel like meeting my wife in the afterlife anytime soon," laughed Joseph. "What can I do for you two?"

"I retired from vampire hunting," explained D. "As a side job I did carpentry when things were slow. I want to see if I can get back into doing it."

"Another one?" asked Joseph with surprise. "Might as well open a retirement home for hunters. I have all the workers I need at the moment."

D asked, "What about small repair jobs?"

The carpenter looked through some papers. "I think I might be able to squeeze you in next week. The church needs new woodwork and paint. Think you can handle that?" asked Joseph.

"That'll be fine. Thank you," said D.

"Come back next Tuesday morning," said Joseph. "We begin work at seven sharp." He put his big arms across his massive chest. "I don't like people being late."

"I'll be there," said D who refused to be intimidated.

To be continued . . .

(Author's note- Ok, here's the lame reason why this chapter is late (as in later than I originally planned to post it), "I discovered I had a choice to make. Either I post an insanely long chapter concerning D's life in the village or break it down in shorter chapters. For the sake of consistency (length of each chapter), I decided on shorter chapters, which mean the story is going to be longer than I originally intended . . .and boy does that always happen to me. Anyway, expect a couple of extra chapters. GROANS! I hate when this happens! GROANS!

Oh, yeah, one last thing, contrary to the last couple of lines at the end, Carmila IS NOT appearing this story so please don't expect her return. Sorry if it looks like a cliffhanger but it isn't. As stated earlier, I chose to stop there because of the length of the chapter . . .and that thing about sleeping on couches? Trust me, its true! )