Scene 11

The Capitol was just like D: mysterious, beautiful and dangerous.

Entering the city Doris was captivated by the intricate layers of highways, the stunning edifices of crystal metalwork and the enormous skyscrapers reaching seemingly to outerspace. Possibly they did, as the city was ancient, dating back before the Noble's rise. The Nobles made the streets and buildings their tapestry to design, leaving it a radiant wreck upon their apparent departure.

Apparent because the vampire cult was here, somewhere.

D had confirmed this by subtly asking around, inquiring with just the right folks. None openly admitted it, but in the black markets where such information could be bought with enough dalas, there were whispered rumours of a cult queen. A witch-Noble of amazing influence and power. And conveniently one who was holding a masquerade ball the next night.

They had holed up in a small inn, hoping to avoid attention. With his imposing figure and unintentional charisma, the dhampire garnered them two invitations. Meanwhile Doris purchased outfits appropriate for such a party for them to wear, along with two masks. It was the perfect opportunity to sneak in, confront the Noble, and find out what had happened to Dan and the others.

Too perfect, in fact.

D was tying up her corset from behind. Though air flew out of her lips at each tug the young woman didn't complain, just glad to have him near. He had offered to suit her up without her asking, which stunned the huntress. His supple fingers worked the lace expertly. Within minutes the dhampire finished, lingering behind her.

"D?"

He gave a soft throaty sound that indicated he'd heard and encouraged her to go on.

"We're going into a den of Nobles and we could both die."

A silence settled between them.

Doris continued, "I want you to know something in case that should happen."

With a sigh, she turned around, gorgeous crimson dress swirling about her. D was even more dashing than before, adorned in a splendid black suit with ruffles at the wrists and a fine silk scarf at his neck. Jewels shined at every hem like his eyes that shined from under the shadow of his fedora. She fiddled at the string of pearls at her neck.

"I need you to know that..." She sighed again. "When I first offered myself to you on the road, I did it to pay you as I had little money. I'd rather lose my virginity..." Doris stopped, blushed, then went on, "...than lose my soul."

"I know," D said simply, softly.

"What you don't know...," Doris hurriedly added, seeing the shadow flicker over his face. "...is that when I offered myself to you in my living room, I did it because..."

"...because I love you."

Lips that conveyed the iron strength of his will twisted just a bit as D turned away to face the window. He tilted his head back, hair fluttering down. "Doris, we shouldn't talk about this."

Doris slipped back into his field of vision. "I know what you're thinking. Because of all the stuff you've been through, and seen and done, that you can't know love." Just as the dhampire appeared ready to cut in, she continued, "But I need you to know that love can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. And...and I don't think you can deny that...what's happening, you know?"

A new emotion flickered across the hunter's elegant face. No, the dhampire couldn't deny it. She heard it in the way his breath caught in his throat as he looked at her, in the way his stance stiffened as she drew near. In all the miraculous, incredulous moments that would appear too subtle to matter from another man, but from D it shouted it from rooftops.

"Yes, I know." There was that hitch in his otherwise immaculate voice.

Something in the way he held himself told the huntress not to touch him, that the ice around them at this moment was still too thick. But Doris would be damned before she let this moment slip between her fingers, as had that moment on their couch. She smiled as she spoke, investing every bit of encouragement into each word she could manage, "Then what's to stop us? I think this could be really great."

"This would never work."

"What?" Her smile faded. "Why?"

D crossed his arms casually in front of his chest, appearing to gauge how exactly to explain what was floating around in his head. "You know I have Noble blood in my veins. I know you don't care what that means, but I do, Doris. I know that it would be...it would be amazing, for a time. Then I'd watch you grow old and die, while I not age a day." Again that slight deviation from his perfect voice. "Not again. I will not experience that again."

Doris was not certain she was meant to hear those last few words, and the guarded shadow on the dhampire's visage certainly showed not. But the huntress had to press on, feeling that nothing could stand in their way. Now that she was certain of his love of her, the very thought that such still did not matter...it felt like a shard of cruelty jabbed into her heart, shattering it utterly. Here he was all but telling her he loved her, but that it was not meant to be.

"No!" she shouted, dress billowing as she gestured, animated. "No," Doris said again, softer. "We shouldn't let that stop us, D. We could find a way...maybe..." A thought darted into her head, something so terrifying the young woman shuddered at it. But her shoulders straightened, determined. "I would do anything to be with you, anything, D..."

The slight narrowing of his beautiful eyes exhibited his displeasure. "No, Doris. Don't even think it. I would never allow it. She..." D appeared to catch himself and instead said, "Put it out of your mind. Put this entire conversation out of your mind. We have a job to do."

"She..." That word floated out of the huntress's mouth in wonderment. Who did D mean? Then in a moment of clarity Doris recalled D on the bed, holding a locket of his mother tightly in his fingers. Those eyes so full of pain, so full of frustration. He was half-human, his father...well, that was the world's worst kept secret, so that meant his mother was human.

And he'd lost her.

"I see you understand. Do not bring this up again, Doris." Extending an arm in the customary fashion of a gentleman escorting a lady to dinner, D added, "It is time."

The sharp steeliness of his mouth and eyes brokered no argument. Holding back her tears, Doris took his arm and strode with him out the door.

The Nobles waited for them.