Look To The Stars : A Vampire Hunter D Tale : Part 2 : What Becomes of Snow?
Hope you enjoy this one!
"Hello," D said, barely able to speak. Nicoleta smiled and laughed like a young girl, coming up to D happily. She was so loving, D had realized, just so wonderful to everyone and everything. Well, other than vampires. D had always wondered what made her so happy.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" she asked.
"It has," D said, in his normal monotone voice. She smiled brightly again, gently taking D's right hand. She softly tugged at it, beginning to walk towards the house. D didn't know how to react to her gesture, and just went along with her, hand in hand. He had never done this before, with anyone.
As the two of them got inside, Nicoleta squeezed D's hand tighter, gently pulling him into a large room to their right. Inside, D saw that this was her office, with a large wooden desk near an open window that looked out over the city. There were many portraits adoring the walls, some of her, others of people he did not know. She looked so beautiful in all of them, her hair and clothes differently styled in each and every one. She pulled D over to the large window, and stood beside him quietly.
"Do you remember what I told you? All those years ago?" she asked, watching the busy town's people scurrying about their business.
"I do," D answered, his hand still in hers.
"How long has it been? I've seemed to lose track of time," she said softly, looking up into the night sky.
"20 years," D answered, knowing exactly how long they had parted. She closed her eyes and smiled, as if in deep thought. She looked so peaceful and calm, but how? Why?
"So, why are here?" she asked, opening her eyes and looking over at him.
"I was called here," he began. "Some children went missing, they were taken by vampires."
"Yes, I received the news when I got back," Nicoleta said. "But my men don't know about this, and I don't want them too."
"Why?" D asked, looking down at her.
"They don't need any more tragedy right now," she said. "It has been a long fight."
"I see," D said, glancing at their joined hands.
So peaceful….
"Father Carson has asked me to help you with this assignment," she said, also glancing at their hands. "Don't worry, I wont take any of the money."
D looked at her, shocked by her words. She just smiled and looked out the window again.
"Let's talk about something else, huh?" she asked, sounding like a human. Now that D thought about it, she always did. D began to get lost in those eyes, it was just so easy.
"Master?" someone said from the doorway. D was so lost in Nicoleta's eyes, he hadn't realized that someone had appeared in the room. The two hunters turned to see a tall, pale man standing at the doors. He had long white hair, and was dressed as a priest. But there was something D didn't like about this man, he wasn't a man at all. He was a vampire.
Did he just call Nicoleta, master?
"Felix! You're back!" Nicoleta said, letting go of D's hand and running up to the vampire. Too D's surprise and somewhat displeasure, she gently kissed the beast on the cheek. He smiled like she always did, brightly and happily, embracing her tightly.
"I'm glad to see you are alright, my master." He said, smiling, then glancing up at D, who scowled in return. "Is this the hunter you've been telling me about?"
Nicoleta nodded and looked over and D and saw him scowling at Felix, and went to get him. She took a hold of his hand again, snapping D out of his angry mood. He looked down to meet her eyes again, along with a warm, reassuring smile.
"It's okay D," she said, gently pulling him over to the vampire, who remained there with a warming smile upon his face. "He works for me, he won't hurt you."
"Hello, I am Felix Rose," the vampire said, with a bow. D scowled once more, not wanting to trust the beast. Why would a vampire work for a dunpeal vampire hunter?
"Because she saved me from my demise," Felix said, as if he had heard D's thoughts. "I am her noble servant."
D remained silent and scowling, not happy with Felix's answer. The vampire just smiled and looked back at Nicoleta.
"Felix, it seems we have another mission on our hands," she told him, hand still locked with D's. "But I don't want the men to know about it."
"I understand," he answered. "Do you wish me to accompany you?"
"No, I want you to relax and skip this one," she said, making the vampire smile even more. "You've been working very hard, and you deserve it."
"Thank you master," he said with a bow. "I will be here if you need me, just call if you're in trouble."
"I will, now go and get the groups together in the dining room," she told him. "Let's have a feast tonight."
"Of course, master." He said, disappearing through the wall, leaving D and Nicoleta alone again. She looked over to D, who scowled in the direction the vampire had left. Suddenly she burst into laughter, soon clutching her stomach.
"Oh, D, you're so funny!" she said through her laughing. D looked over at her, confused.
"What?" he asked, his scowl now gone from his face.
"You don't have to be so hateful towards my Felix," she said, growing a little serious. "He is a vampire hunter just like you, he's on our side, so don't be so grouchy towards him!"
D was silent, not knowing what to say to Nicoleta. She gave him a reassuring smile and pulled gently at his hand. She led him out of her office, and over to a large staircase, that was adorned with statues of angels and demons. At the top of the staircase, was a large, golden statue of a woman. She was dressed in a flowing gown that seemed to blow in an invisible wind. She had enormous wings that spread from each side of the staircase. Her long, curly hair cascaded down her front, reminding D of Nicoleta. In fact, this statue was almost identical to Nicoleta.
"It's my mother," Nicoleta said, snapping D from his thoughts. He hadn't realized it, but he had stopped walking to stare at the beautiful figure. "Lovely isn't she?"
"Yes," he agreed. She laughed softly and led him up the right side of the stairs. There were 5 rooms for D to pick from, Nicoleta told him. D chose the very last one, nearest the back lawn. Inside, he saw that the room was entirely black.
"I knew you would like this one," she said, as he walked inside. "I'm going to go change, I will meet you at my mother's statue in an hour."
D nodded and watched her leave, a smile place on her lips, as always. She made D feel like no one had ever done before. He didn't feel alone when she was around. And he liked it when she held his hand. Like human lovers, they were.
"That was so sweet!" said the parasite on D's left hand. "Ah, I just knew she would show up sooner or later."
D took off his hat and cape, placing them on the large bed, ignoring the parasite.
"And she held your hand! Not me though, I wanted her to hold me!" the parasite whined.
"She knew better than that," D remarked, sitting down on the comfortable bed. He glanced out the window, out into the starry night. To his surprise, snow began to fall, turning the world outside, white.
"I didn't think it would snow so soon," the parasite remarked. D didn't either, but wouldn't let the parasite know.
"So are you gonna clean yourself up, or are you gonna be all dirty for Nicoleta?" the parasite asked.
D sighed and stood up, deciding the parasite was right, and headed over to the shower. After an hour had passed and D had cleaned himself up, he put his normal suit on and headed down to the staircase.
Nicoleta stood beside the statue, gazing at it in a sort of wonder. She now wore a dress, similar to the statues, looking all the more beautiful, with her hair partially up. D silently walked over to her, a smile appearing on her face as he came to her.
"Let's go have some fun," she said, linking her arm with his, heading down the staircase. She took him into a large room that was already loud with the sounds of laughter and yelling.
"My lady!"
"Lady, come sit with me!"
"Who's that with you?"
"You look beautiful!"
Nicoleta laughed at all the remarks that came her way, as she led D over to the end of the long table. She sat down on the very tip, with D to her right, and Felix to her left.
"I want to congratulate all of you for the wonderful job you did on the last mission!" she toasted, holding up her golden goblet. The men and women at her table cheered and agreed. "Now, let's feast!"
The party lasted until sunrise, with dancing, singing, gambling, and much more. D sat beside Nicoleta silently, watching all of the happy humans that loved her so. She smiled and joined in on the singing and dancing, most of the men fighting to be her partner. Felix even joined in, dancing with his master for more than one song.
D remained in his seat, silently watching everyone, mainly Nicoleta. A few times he was asked to dance by some of the curious women, but he politely rejected them. Sometimes he would catch Nicoleta glancing at him, a small blush tinting her cheeks when he caught her. Just as the sun was about to rise, Felix left the happy hall, kissing his master lightly, making her giggle like a human girl. Though D didn't want to admit it, this made him a little jealous.
By the time everyone was too drunk to walk, the hall was silent, D and Nicoleta alone once more. He soon found himself staring out the large window, watching the sun rise and the snow fall.
"What becomes of snow?" Nicoleta asked him randomly, watching the snow.
"Water," D replied softly.
"No, silly, it's spring!" she said giggling. "I love the snow, but I love spring even more. All of the beautiful flowers everywhere, it's amazing."
D watched Nicoleta out of the corner of his eye, see the first rays of the sun against her porcelain skin.
"I should go and get some rest, tomorrow's going to be a big day," she said, starting to walk towards the staircase. D followed her up to the golden statue, silent as ever. "Come to my office tomorrow afternoon, I'll be busy in the mornings, so go out and enjoy yourself, okay?"
"Okay," D said, watching her turn and walk up to her room, which was opposite of his. As he opened his door, he saw her out of the corner of his eye, smiling at him.
Tomorrow then, it is…
Next time:
Look To The Stars : A Vampire Hunter D Tale : Part 3 : Beauty & The Beast