Scene 12

Leaves made slight scraping sounds as they fluttered away when their carriage came to a stop. Appearing through the fog, the cult leader's mansion stood as an ominous edifice as any that one could call up from a child's nightmare. Birds fluttered up to the parapets. Bats circled battlements. Sounds floated out from the windows, laughter and dancing and things better left unsaid.

D exited the carrriage, extending an arm to Doris to help her down. She was singularly stunning this evening in a long red gown and with her glorious hair. As she stood staring at the building, the dhampire paid their driver, giving him a generous bag of dalas to leave the carriage there. Now that D knew the way here, he had no need of anyone to show him back to the Inn. His photographic memory engraved even the smallest detail into his mind.

Like every curve of Doris's body, and the glimmer in her dark eyes.

Dozens of beautifully dressed vampires and their slaves entered the mansion. Among them mingled what appeared diplomats, politicians, lawyers and other high profile persons. Humans or vampires? Who could tell? What anyone could tell was that they were all gorgeous, powerful and intelligent beings out for a night of fun.

Wordlessly D and Doris followed, arm in arm. A chubby little butler took their invitations, eyes bulging as they undressed Doris in his mind. Or was it D that he envisioned naked? Possibly both. D guided the young huntress into the main foyer where other guests had begun to gather, splitting into little groups for chit-chatter. The dhampire eyed the room for signs of the rumoured cult-queen but none of those gathered appeared so grand.

As they waited D watched Doris from the corner of his eye. She appeared fascinated by the grand hall, drinking in all the sights and sounds. Despite how the dhampire shot her down once again merely two hours ago, the huntress appeared unfazed, inconquerable. Her resilence invigorated him, fascinated him as surely as the bright chandlier caught her gaze and held it.

A soft chime sounded, calling all into the dining hall. Twice as vast and magnificent as the main foyer, the dining hall sported gorgeous tapestries, a long oak dining table and beautiful plants of myraid colors. One hand pulling Doris into the room with him and the other drifting at his side ready to slip the crescent-shaped blade out from under his cloak at any minute, D entered.

Though none dared approach the pair, many were there that whispered about them, gestured with eyes and chins. D ignored them and bid Doris do as well. All around them the gathered crowd either took to mingling or dancing, hems soaring and hair fluttering. Others still sat upon the dining table, partaking of the glorious feast assembled before them. Nobles had no need to eat, D well knew, but they enjoyed the feeling something sliding down their throats as they envisioned blood would be doing so soon.

"May I dance at least?" Doris asked him. Her doe-like eyes melted his resolve.

"Very well, but be on the look-out."

When Doris was swept away in the crowd, her own gown and hair swirling like a mixture of bright blood and deepest night, D could feel Leftie squirming. Normally the dhampire abhored giving the symbiont any quarter but tonight he felt a bit nervous, the kind of emotion he was not accustomed to. Of course, the vampire hunter normally didn't march so brazeningly into a whole den of Nobles every night. But even that wouldn't make his eyes twitch.

And it was Leftie who gave words to the fear polluting his heart. "You're thinking the same thing I am. That she's here. That she's not what you hope her to be. That she's-"

"It doesn't matter. It's probably not even her. And even if it is..."

"You'll cut her down like anyone else?" Was Leftie aghast? He certainly sounded such.

D didn't have an opportunity to answer for a sudden hush descended upon the entire hall. Everyone stopped dancing, some in mid-step. Food remained in mouths, unchewed. Sentences floated in the air, unfinished. Tipping his hat up and his mask slightly down the vampire hunter could see who it was that drew such singular attention.

A woman of unparalleled beauty and presence stepped within the hall, dressed in a white gown bejewelled and glittering. Her hair, coifed and piled high upon her head like a halo of darkness, held a crown and in her hand was a sceptor. She was attended by a hunch-back man who cast his gaze upon everyone, suspicious.

"Well, speak of the Devil..." Leftie gapped, dumbfounded. But not so stunned as D himself, who simply did not move even as the rest of the crowd rushed forward towards the woman. His lips tried to move, but no sound poured forth. Doris, escaping the crowd, was at his side in a moment.

She took his hand and so startled was he that D didn't admoish her for it. "What is it, D?"

His eyes never leaving the woman, the vampire hunter uttered, "I know her."

Doing a double take at D and at the beauty who'd entered, Doris pressed, "Who is she?"

Still staring at black-haired lady, the dhampire said, "Doris, follow that man." He pointed at the hunch-back who'd, after giving everyone a glare, hurried back into one of the many doors of the hall. "He may know where the children are. If you find them, get them to the carriage and get out of here."

The huntress pulled on his cape so hard D was forced too look upon her. Fear did not gleam in her eyes, but something akin to anxiety. "D, tell me who that woman is. And don't even think that I'm leaving without you, with or without the kids." She stomped her foot when it appeared the dhampire opened his mouth to rebuke her.

Finally D relented with a long-suffering sigh. "Then if you can, find the children and get them to the carriage. I will come as soon as I can. But if you find that waiting for me will endanger the children, promise me you will leave without me." Pulling the young woman into his arms, the dhampire laid his lips on her forehead for the span of a breath. "Please, Doris, I trust you to do this."

Swallowing, the huntress nodded. Before the dhampire could stop her, she kissed him hard on the mouth. It felt like the sweetest air he'd ever breathed, the softest breeze to grace his skin. And while he thought he hadn't wanted it, it ended all too soon.

Then Doris vanished into the crowd. And he was likely to die and never longed so much for the chance to dance with her.

"You're one big tragedy, you know that, D?" D didn't answer and Leftie went on, seemingly annoyed and frightened at the same time. "So what are you going to do about her?" The symbiont lifted himself (and D's arm) to gesture towards the black-haired woman now seated at the head of the table, giving a speech. Every mannerism, every movement, every hair upon her head screamed familiarity to the dhampire, cutting deep into his heart.

"So, she is."

"What are you going to do?"

The crescent-shaped sword made a magical sound as it departed his sheath.

"What I do best." Blade beared, D approached.