A/N: Hey all! I am sorry this took so long to get posted, long story short...I almost lost this when my laptop decided to take a dive. But here it is, the long awaited chapter 8!! To all my faithful readers and all my new ones, please read and enjoy!!

Control

Chapter 8

Vampire Hunter D fan fic

Crystal didn't sleep very well at all. She couldn't help but feel bad for what she did to D. She got out of bed and went to get some food. She wasn't sure if D was going to be ok yet and she knew he still needed blood. She got a small bowl and set it on the table, she then took a knife from her counter and cut open her wrist. The bowl slowly filled with her blood. She was hoping it would be enough. Once the bowl was full she ran her pressed her fingers to her wound and healed it. She was a witch and was very good at healing spells. But what she could do wouldn't work with D's condition. She leaned against the counter and ate an apple waiting to see or hear anything from D. She didn't have to wait long though, she heard him moan and a voice rang up from his hand.

(I think now would be a good time to have that blood ready.)

Crystal grabbed the bowl and headed to where D was buried in the cave floor. His eyes were clamped shut and he was sweating profusely, he had once again started breathing fast and steady. She got down on her knees, pulled his hat off and dropped in on the floor next to her. She leaned down tilted the bowl just slightly enough to get a few drops on his lips.

(You have to get it in his mouth toots, not just on his lips.) D's hand told her.

"Ok, but I am nervous about this, what if he tries to come after me?"

(Well you put it in a bowl and you have those vines right?)

"Yea, I guess." Crystal said as her voice wavered.

(You afraid of what you might see? He'll bare his fangs alright but he won't come after you.)

D panted as sweat beads dripped from his porcelain face. Crystal poured a little more blood on his lips and watched as his lips parted and the blood trickled into his mouth. The only problem was he wasn't swallowing it.

(Make him swallow it.) D's hand said

"I know" crystal replied.

D was trying to fight his bloodlust from surfacing; he knew what Crystal had done and what she was doing for him. He was doing fine until his hand told her about him not swallowing it. He didn't want to scare her.

She reached down and held his nose. He hesitated a moment then swallowed. D's hand was right; D showed his fangs though he didn't open his eyes. His breathing mellowed out some but he was rising from his earthen grave to follow the scent that his vampiric senses wouldn't allow him to ignore any longer. That's when Crystal called upon her vines. They struck out and wrapped around his arms to prevent him from coming any closer to her. She put the bowl to his lips and he started to drink from it greadily.

(That's a good boy; see…told you he would show his pretty fangs.) D's hand chuckled.

When he finished the bowl his eyes shot open. They held a blood red glow to them, it was then she realized his blood lust had taken over. Crystal dropped the bowl and jumped away from him and stood by her table shaking. She was warned it would happen but it still frightened her. She heard rumors of what would happen should a dhampir lose control and let their bloodlust take over and she knew what to expect this time as well since his hand had told her what was going to happen but seeing from a person as collected as D made her skin run cold.

D then realized he was bound again and he knew why. He gave into temptation. She feared him coming after her so she bound him to the earth. He snapped his head away from her so she wouldn't have to watch his struggle with his inner demon. He clamped is fists closed and shut his eyes. His hand out let out pained cry. He wasn't expecting that.

(Damn it D!) His hand muttered.

D was fully recovered from his illness and blood loss but now a new battle raged on. Crystal slowly approached the hunter. His raven locks cascading down his back and hung in front of his face almost as if it was there intentionally. D was shaking and he had his nails dug into his palms hard enough that his knuckles bulged. She heard him breathing heavy but yet he still wouldn't turn and face her. He didn't want her to see him for his other half, the half of him that he hunts, the half that haunts him. Crystal walked back over and knelt down next to him and reached out to pull the hair out of his face.

"Don't" he said in a rusty voice. She pulled her hand back and sat back on her knees waiting for him to turn to her. She couldn't believe that was his voice that she heard. It had to be hard for him to get the bloodlust back under control but yet she couldn't turn away. She was amazed that someone as calm and quiet as D could have this battle rage on when at any other time he had complete control of it. This was his moment of weakness.

Only a few minutes passed when his shaking seemed to cease. His bloodlust was finally under his tight control once more. His breathing calmed and he relaxed his fists though he still kept his eyes closed for the moment.

(About time, I hate having your fingers in my mouth, it is a nasty feeling.) His hand said irritably. Crystal couldn't help but to giggle softly. D opened his eyes and faced Crystal once again. This time the blood gone from his eyes, they were clear and cold as before. She couldn't help but to stare. After all, he was now conscious enough to talk to her and now she could see him for all his unearthly beauty up close.

"You can release me now." D deadpanned.

"I really don't think I can, not just yet. I need to tell you a few things."

Crystal leaned over and began pulling the dirt off of D. she gave him enough slack in the vines holding him for him to stand so she could fill the hole again. Once she finished she didn't even have to ask D to sit down again because he did it before she could. She tightened the vines once more and grabbed his hat. She put on his head as she stood up. She stretched a little bit and walked over to grab a stool from her table and brought it back over to where D sat silently. She knew he was watching her every move from under that wide brimmed hat and that made her very self conscious. She was holding the legendary Vampire Hunter captive in her cave and was having a hard time believing he would just comply with her like this. D sat there starring at her and it sent shivers down her spine. She could have sworn she saw a hint of anger flash in his eyes though his face showed no emotion. Maybe she just imagined it.

D was beginning to get impatient. He was sitting on a cave floor with vines acting like shackles holding him down for a second time and this girl still hadn't told him why she was holding him there. She was a very pretty girl. Tall, tan and lean she had white hair with a black streak in it tied back in a ponytail with a crimson ribbon. She wore simple clothes that allowed for movement and silence. They were black; she wore tight pants with heavy boots and a form fitting black top. Seemed like something a witch would wear if they wanted to hide in the shadows. But he never imagined it on a witch. She had a shrunken strapped to her right hip and a crossbow on her back. The arms of the bow were folded flush to the body of the bow when it wasn't in use. Her quiver was on her left side below her bow. In it there were mithril arrows, easy to manipulate it needed. He knew she could use the crossbow since she used on him but he wondered if she knew how to use the shrunken.

Crystal knew he was looking at her clothing and weapons and it made her more uncomfortable. She shifted in her seat a little bit then spoke up in almost a whisper.

"D, I want to apologize for how I treated you in the clearing. I honestly didn't know how weak you were to begin with. But, all I wanted was to speak with you, but you fought me."

"You attacked me." D replied. He lowered his gaze back to the cave floor.

"I know, but I felt it was necessary because to be honest you really scare the hell out of me and I didn't want to take any chance on meeting the business end of your sword."

[He gets that one a lot…kinda funny if you think about it. Ds hand said with a slight chuckle.

"It wasn't necessary." D replied as he closed his hand warningly.

"I am sorry. Like I said, I didn't know how weak you were to begin with. I thought you were healed before you headed out to the forest. I am sorry." Crystal had a small tear in her eye. She quickly reached up and wiped it away hoping D didn't see it.

"You're the one who has been watching me. The one the mayor says is dead."

"That's why I needed to talk to you. Mayor Keanen is my father. The Sheriff didn't kill me. He shot at my mother after I lost control and sent a protection charm out at my father. My father denied this like he still does. He claims I was bitten so after I was shot and killed by the sheriff the crypt keeper brought a coffin to our home and filled it with sand bags close to my weight. They carted it out of the house and buried my so called corpse. I watched this from the trees. My father and the sheriff are the only two that know about what really happened that night. I mastered my shadow skills so I can go into the town at night and get what I need without being seen." She choked back tears.

(Well I knew the mayor was a dumbass and I told you not to fight her D, but once again I am ignored. See if you would have listened to me you wouldn't have ended up in this mess. Told you it would be fun sugar cakes.) D's hand replied

"Quiet." D responded to it.

(Well I did tell you. Now, are you gonna ask her or…)

D closed his fist tightly to silence the parasite. He was getting on his last nerve.

"The sheriff hates you D because he knows you are going to find out the truth. He doesn't want the town to turn against him or the mayor." Crystal stopped. She didn't know what else to say to him.

"Then why are you holding me here?" D asked in a tone that made her feel like she just had her heart pierced with an icy stake.

"Because you were called here to destroy the Count, Countess and their assassins to put the town at ease and make the sheriff and mayor look good. There is going to be a lynching if the townsfolk were to find out. They would know that father allowed the assassins in the town to make their kills and that his wife is behind it. That she didn't run off like everyone was led to believe. But I am afraid I can't let you do that just yet. You see, my mother keeps me protected. No one gets near my cave without us knowing. The townsfolk don't even know it exists and I'm not sure I am ready to face them. Mother knows you are here D and I am afraid of what will happen." Crystal stood and walked over to where her bed was. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and her head hung low. Her shoulders started quaking and D then realized she was crying.

D knew she was holding back on what her mother was. He knew killing these vampires would prove interesting but he would still have to do it with or without her. D sat quietly in his thoughts for a moment when it came to him.

"Your mother is an elemental witch as well." D said quietly.

"Yes, she taught me everything I know. I understand why you are here hunter and I am not going to stop you. I want to help you. The Countess was my mother and I still refer to her as such but she has become vengeful against the town and travelers since that day. I just don't think they can handle more deaths." Crystal replied back to him without turning around. A silent tear fell for those she couldn't help and those who are now living as creatures of the night because of the Count and her mother.

"The graves you saw leaving were those of her assassin's most recent jaunt into the town. They killed Henry and Emily's father, old lady Pence and her grandson, and a couple elderly gentlemen among others. The barkeep promised to look after Henry and Emily if anything was to happen to the parents. Their mother has become a maid in the castle and some others prowl the forest at night looking for any one who leaves the town after dark." Crystal then added. She still didn't move from her spot. It was like she was rooted there and yet the vines didn't lessen their hold any. Crystal spoke again but softer this time. "No one leaves the town from sunset to sunrise. It's an automatic death if you do. The same goes for travelers. We aren't allowed to put up warnings or even speak a warning, if you do that it becomes an automatic death. That is my mothers rule. The count no longer has control over her."

She was powerful he could tell and her mother might prove more of a headache than a hard kill. But he wasn't sure of the all the assassins since he had only met two. It was a day in a half trek up the mountain to get to the castle and he planned on bringing her along. It seemed as if she might be able to help him after all. He sat waiting patiently now for her to release him. He didn't like being held captive especially since his sword was leaned up against the wall and he couldn't reach it.

"You have no objections with me killing the countess?"

"None, I know you have to do what you were summoned for."

(Damn girl I like you, ruthless and interesting. D she is totally a keeper.)

"Quiet." D whispered.

D didn't know when Crystal would release him so now was as good of time as any to plan what he was going to do. Dispatching the assassins didn't seem too hard, more time consuming if anything but the Countess might pose more of a problem. But he wondered if the count couldn't control her anymore then where was he going to be during this?