Author's note: Sorry for taking so long, I have had a rough time. I will post regularly now. Also, I post shorter chapters because I can get more to you and get them to you quicker. Or that was the plan o.o;; I also changed some details on Orpheus' description. I'm sorry about that, I'll get around to fixing it soon. D: Anyways, enjoy! :3
D and Orpheus sat across from each other at crudely built fire surrounded by a thick forest. Tonight they were nearly silent, making small talk only out of politeness. Both of them were overall silent creatures by habit and talking was quickly found more tiresome than anything. D mused to himself about his new traveling companion. Despite what D had first thought of Orpheus, the young man was pleasant enough once you had gotten to know him. He had a very fiery temper. Everything about him seemed to be very heated and passionate. His deep crimson eyes seemed to hold a fire of their own, glowing in the dim light. They almost seemed to outshine the fire, something D admired unconsciously until the blonde looked up from the fire and glanced back at him. The dhampir quickly averted his gaze to the sky above them, distracting himself with the stars.
Orpheus stood up slowly, unwittingly drawing D's attention back to him. He had a lithe, wiry body that expertly concealed a strong, heavy muscular build. The blonde turned away from him, looking around for his pack on the forest floor. Orpheus' hair nearly reached his tailbone, stopping before the delicate swell of his ass. Orpheus bent over slightly, digging through his pack for something, perhaps water to wash down his small meal, and D caught full view of his butt through the tightness of his leather pants. D's eyes seemed to darken as he stared unintentionally at his new companion. Almost as if he felt the other's eyes on him, Orpheus turned to stare at him. He threw a bottle at D and the dhampir caught it right before it hit his face. He read the label.
"Absinthe? I didn't know you drank, Orpheus." He said, raising his eyebrow slightly. He uncapped the bottle and drank a little, wincing as the taste hit his tongue. It tasted…strange.
"I do now and then, when the situation permits." He responded, reclining against the log he had sat on a moment ago. "I prefer absinthe to anything else, though."
"And why is that?" D asked before taking another swig and tossing it back. Already he began to sway back and forth, eyes becoming heavy lidded in a matter of moments.
"I have a very high tolerance." The blonde smirked, "And I like the taste." D nodded, yawning softly. He was exhausted from the non-stop trip from the last town.
"How about I take the first watch?" Orpheus asked, placing the absinthe back in his bag. D nodded, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the tree behind him.
"Alright, wake me when you're ready to get some sleep." He murmured, but before he could hear Orpheus' response he was out, engulfed in the soft darkness of sleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
D awoke suddenly, panting heavily. He had somehow fallen over and was lying on the soft forest floor, tangled in a warm blanket. He continued to pant, almost in shock, and wiped the sweat from his brow. He shivered underneath the blanket. After a few moment of struggling with it he angrily ripped it off and tossed it away. The cold air against him felt good and calmed the dhampir. It also made him aware of a warm liquid trickling down his thigh and legs. He cursed quietly, the events of his dream coming back to him in a rush of groping, needy hands and loud, heated moans. He could almost remember the feel of the blonde hair tangled in his hands and the bright passionate look in the lust-darkened, scarlet eyes.
D looked nervously around for his companion but found Orpheus missing. The fire was still going and the young man's pack still lied against the log he had last seen the blonde on. He hastily cleaned himself on the blanket before mounting his horse. He had come to know Orpheus quite well in the few weeks since they had met; he was like an open book to the dhampir. They both trusted each other more than they were willing to admit. Walking off like this was not something that Orpheus would do; it was too irresponsible and stupid. Though there was no signs of a struggle D knew there were other ways for vampires to capture their victims. D rode quickly through the forest, looking for any signs of his lost companion. Not shortly after he heard a blood curdling scream echo out through the forest. He abruptly turned the horse around and headed towards the noise. What he found confirmed his suspicions.
A woman's corpse fell from a young man's arms and landed in a pool of her own blood. The same blood dripped from the young man's vermillion lips and sharp, dagger-like fangs. A cheerful, delighted smirk played upon the blonde's lips.
"Vampire!" D hissed, quickly unsheathing his sword. The vampire chuckled, and although all but the vampire's lips were hidden from him by a mask, he could almost see the mirth in the vampire's eyes.
"Dhampir Hunter!" he cried, "How lovely to see you this evening, I was hoping we would meet soon."
"What?" D spat back, staring at the vampire incredulously. He didn't wait for a response and attacked the vampire, slashing at him angrily.
"Now, now. I won't have any of that, not tonight at least. I wouldn't want our chances of freedom ruined by our beloved getting hurt now would I?" he murmured softly from behind the dhampir, kissing the back of his neck tenderly. "I will be taking my leave, now. You will find your companion altogether unharmed when you return. Be careful on your way back, that forest is dangerous." He murmured mockingly. D turned around, taking another swing with his sword, but the vampire had disappeared. He stood, staring blankly at the forest, questions filling his mind.
"Our beloved?"