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gothicmagpie · 7 years ago

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Vampire Hunter D: The Northern Castle, part 6

(A day late, sorry!) Author’s notes: This piece of fan fiction is written for @vampires-and-dhampirs‘s VHDweek celebration. One section will be posted each day, and the final work will be posted to AO3, if you prefer not to read it serially. Readers should be aware that this work contains violence and cursing, equivalent to a PG-13 film. This work is primarily based on the version of the VHD ‘verse as seen in Kikuchi’s novels. Part 1 can be found here: X

As D rode back to the ground floor, he wiped the remaining blood off the blade he had concealed in his sleeve, and the spatters that had spread over his face. The slashes Vasmer had gotten in were healed, and any trace of the wounds were removed with the drying blood. A chunk of his hair had been ripped from the braid, leaving it at a wild angle. D undid the binding around the braid, letting it fall out into his normal curtain of hair.

The exit door didn't open when he shoved it, but a moment at the controls let him through. The gravity-reduction system didn't activate when he walked out onto the steps, but going down was less of a challenge, and D sped to the end of the stairs without any apparent trouble. His mount was still tied to the tree, prancing anxiously as if it could sense something had gone wrong. A gentle touch of D's hand quieted the horse, but it still pulled hard for the gate and the road beyond.

D spurred the cyborg horse into a gallop, heading back for town at an unearthly speed. His senses were focused ahead of him, listening for any sign of the victims Vasmer had mentioned. They would be heading for the village, but D had no way of knowing where they might be.

Unknown to him, the unlucky victims of Vasmer's plans had been placed far more closely to the village than the castle. With his death came the deactivation of the dimension-shifting technology that had held the bloodthirsty changed travelers. Suddenly their flimsy wooden coffins appeared in fields and forests, and within minutes, the starving occupants were clawing at their confines. Desperate to hunt, fingers found cracks that allowed their superhuman strength to shatter the boards. A half-dozen vampires tumbled through the empty woods and farm fields, drawn to the place that held the town's humanity.

D reined in his mount, head raised. His eyes gleamed red as he left the road, and found the splintered remains of a coffin, streaked with dark, sludgy blood from the inhabitant's forcing themselves through the rough hole it had punched in one side. It was that scent that had attracted his attention. "Think you can track it?" He held out his left hand, where the wrinkled face appeared in the palm, and sniffed the air.

"Yes, I think I can. But I thought we already know the destination."

"Not for sure, and they may be taking a different path. We might be able to head them off before they get to the village."

"Whatever you say. Keep going, I'll let you know if we veer off the track."

It turned out to be simple for a trained Hunter to follow the trail. The hungry, newly-changed vampire was making no effort to hide their passage, and crashed through bushes, stumbled across leaf litter, and broke branches on a single-minded quest. "For all Vasmer's reputation, I would have expected his progeny to be stronger." D's soft musing was in regards to the fact that not all changed vampire victims were the same. Some were shambling, bloodthirsty beings who seemed to have lost all human cleverness, while the other end were nearly as powerful as a pure Noble. This seemed to be the former.

D's sharp eyes finally caught movement, and he kicked his mount forwards, drawing his sword as he approached the hunched figure ahead of him. It spun, revealing itself to be a thin man, who looked like he had once possessed the wiry strength of a typical poor Frontiersman, but now had the gleaming red eyes and extended fangs of his condition. He didn't speak, only made a low growling sound and tried to bolt. D leaped from his horse, who had been hampered by the thick undergrowth, swinging his sword as he flung himself towards the fleeing figure. For a moment it looked as if he had missed, but then the vampire stumbled and fell, slashed across the back. Before he could regain his feet, D had lunged forward and whipped his blade through his target's throat, beheading him.

Pausing only long enough to wipe off the blood, D re-mounted and headed for the town. He arrived to find it a hive of activity. Apparently Lidia's warnings had been headed, because armed men had been waiting when the vampires attacked. That had given them an edge, and four of them had been killed by the time D arrived. He charged into the worst fight, parrying blows from what had been a broad man and was now supernaturally fast. He had armed himself with a long-handled ax-and-hook tool and was responsible for half a dozen men and women slumped on the ground at his feet. The only reason that number hadn't grown higher was that he was distracted, and kept trying to seize these fallen people and slake his thirst. D's flashing blade was more than a match for him, and he sliced the vampire down within minutes.

The sheriff had shot the final attacker with a crossbow, pinning her down, but had to attend to a severe wound he had been dealt. One of his deputies was hesitating over the sobbing figure, stake gun pointed at her chest, but he stepped too close, and in one fluid motion, she snatched it from him, breaking his arm as she turned the gun on first the deputy, then the black-clad figure that flew at her. D's blade sliced through her heart as she squeezed the trigger, knocking D to his knees for a brief moment before he wrenched the bolt out of his shoulder.

Read the final part here: X

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vampires-and-dhampirs · 7 years ago

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VHD Week starts tomorrow!

Can't wait to see what you guys have done!

#vhdweek2018 #vhdweek #vampire hunter d #vhd #hideyuki kikuchi #vampires-and-dhampirs #vampire hunter d bloodlust #vampire hunter d 1985 #vampire hunter d novels

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gothicmagpie · 7 years ago

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Vampire Hunter D: The Northern Castle, part 3

Author’s notes: This piece of fan fiction is written for @vampires-and-dhampirs‘s VHDweek celebration. One section will be posted each day, and the final work will be posted to AO3, if you prefer not to read it serially. Readers should be aware that this work contains violence and cursing, equivalent to a PG-13 film. This work is primarily based on the version of the VHD ‘verse as seen in Kikuchi’s novels. Part 1 may be found here: X

The next day, Lidia spotted a uniformed man entering the hospital lobby, recognized him, and cautiously asked the sheriff if he had heard from D. When he said that he had not, Lidia explained what she knew about the new find. "Well, damn." The sheriff ran a hand through his bristling hair. "I don't suppose the hospital would let you go have a look for him. I'd send my men, but you know what the parade grounds look like right now. If they leave, Mrs. Witter will probably shoot someone for getting dust on her prize flowers. I've already got one man out, which is the whole reason I'm here."

A call from him to her boss released Lidia early, and she fought the urge to run the path to her small apartment. She changed into jeans and a thick jacket that hid a holster. It would be hot, but no woman rode the Frontier unarmed. She saddled a rental horse, strapping a sturdy bullwhip to the saddle before mounting and clucking him into action. She would check in town first, but she had a feeling she would have to range farther afield to track down the Hunter.

The town was busy, with an unusual number of people out at high noon despite the heat. Lidia reined in every block or so and asked after D, but hardly anyone had seen him, and none that day. She left the one boarding-house disreputable enough to rent to Dhampirs still unsuccessful. Contemplating the options, she kicked the horse into a canter and headed for the waterwheel. If the man who had left the message was correct, it was possible he could be there. If not, perhaps he had followed the directions already and she could catch up to him.

As it turned out, she was lucky enough to cross paths with Granny J, a local legend known for her wiry strength, mysterious age, and blindness as well as a talent for herbal healing and a taste for adventure which she apparently satisfied by disappearing into the woods for weeks at a time. The old woman's dogs barked to alert her of Lidia's approach and she had the first good information on D's whereabouts. She described a hunting platform used these days mostly by travelers, and said that she had suggested that location to a young man with a sad voice and an eerie air who she had met last night. With a pocket full of herbal tea from Granny J, Lidia headed to the platform.

She spotted D's horse, out grazing, apparently entirely untethered. It whinnied a greeting to her mount, and that noise ruined any attempt she might have made at stealth. The platform was ricketier than she recalled, but the Hunter climbed down easily, unhampered by the swaying, creaking wood. "My apologies for my hasty departure last night. I needed to consider this message."

"Does that mean you'll take the job?"

He nodded. "I will. I retrieved the data packet and started going through it last night, but I have a few questions. Will you have a look?"

"Of course, but do you want to go back to the town? I'm not sure what you need for breakfast, but I'm sure we can find something."

"If it is all the same to you, I'll stay out here. This suits me better."

"Fine by me," Lidia shrugged, dismounting and removing her horse's bridle so he could join the other. "Shall we sit here?" She found a fallen log, kicked it once to be sure nothing nasty was lurking underneath, and folded her legs, sitting cross-legged on it. D retrieved a large leather pouch from a bundle under his saddle and joined her.

"These are the main thing I wanted your opinion on." D produced a sheet of astronomical drawings, each paired with a line that sounded like poetry. "The star positions are current, but I don't see how this affected his plans. I noticed the village's name in one of the lines, so I thought you might know."

"Ah, yes! They are part of the summer festival. I suppose most places have a tradition something like this. The poem is by a famed poet from this sector, written as he spent a night in our village, or at least that's what the myth says. Every summer we hold a celebration of our freedom from the Nobility. The star positions tell us when to begin and end the preparations for event."

"That explains why Mirko thought the festival might be relevant. If Lord Vasmer is attempting to return to power, he won't take kindly to a display of challenge like this. Is there a particular day that is the height of the event?"

Lidia snapped her fingers, smiling. "Tomorrow night. That's the night dance, celebrating the safety of the night. If he wants to make a statement, that would be the time to attack."

"I agree. So we don't have much time. There is a map to the assumed location of the castle. Given that Mirko found Vasmer somewhere, I suspect following his footsteps will turn the Noble up. I need to finish reviewing the rest with the festival in mind. Can I meet you at the same tavern as yesterday? At 6 o'clock? I'll probably need some help putting my plans into motion, and you seem to be acting as liaison between the village and myself."

"Yes, I can do that. Do you have anything in mind already? Something I should start now?"

"No, but if you can quietly alert the sheriff's department and the government officials involved in the festival, they might be able to start some extra protections. Tell them not to shout it from the rooftops, folks will just panic, but security can be prepared for a fight, just in case I'm not successful."

"Of course you will! You're one of the Frontier's most famous Hunters."

"All famed Hunters die eventually; it's the nature of the job." Somehow those grim words coming from the handsome, youthful being next to her made Lidia choke up. His life must be so lonely. Without thinking, she embraced him, pressing her heart to his, aware of the unexpected heat from his skin through the worn black shirt he wore. What was it like for him, to not be human, and yet clearly not vampiric either? He let her lean against him, but after a moment, his strong hands guided her away. "Hey now, what are those tears for?"

She shook her head, embarrassed at the flush of emotion for someone she had known less than a day. She stood and wished for skirts she could neaten while composing herself. Patting off her jeans didn't have quite the same effect, and she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes as she caught her horse and rode back to town.

"Well, that was cute," a hoarse voice commented from beside the Hunter.

"Shut up; given the rollercoaster of emotions in this town, it's no wonder that it's a bit too much for her."

"Oh, I'm sure that is all that was going on. What, you don't like a little pity?" The next sound was a strangled yelp.

"That's enough. We have work to do, and you're the specialist in being sneaky."

Part 4 can be found here: X

#vhdweek #vhdweek2018 #vampire hunter d #fan fiction

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gothicmagpie · 7 years ago

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Vampire Hunter D: The Northern Castle, part 2

Author’s notes: This piece of fan fiction is written for @vampires-and-dhampirs‘s VHDweek celebration. One section will be posted each day, and the final work will be posted to AO3, if you prefer not to read it serially. Readers should be aware that this work contains violence and cursing, equivalent to a PG-13 film. This segment includes graphic description of wounds, and a minor surgical procedure as part of an autopsy. This work is primarily based on the version of the VHD ‘verse as seen in Kikuchi’s novels. Part 1 may be found here: X

"Admit it, you just like the weird cases, and that girl caught your eye. Not that anyone could blame you! Ha! Though I suspect it was her resourcefulness, not her figure, that got you into this." A hoarse voice came from the Hunter's left hand.

"I'm not necessarily taking this case."

"Oh no, you are just examining corpses, weeks out of our way, for fun, since we both know we won't be making a reasonable profit on this job."

"Who said anything about 'we'?" The subtle teasing tone in D's voice might have raised eyebrows if anyone was around to hear it.

"Knock that off! I do plenty for you, slavedriver. Imagine where you'd be without me! Dried jerky in a godforsaken Frontier desert, probably."

There was a notable silence in response as the Hunter draw close to the large building Lidia had indicated, and stopped, squinting into the summer sun. It was a typical Frontier structure, pre-fab metal and high-tensile plastic, utterly practical and just as ugly. As they had been told, a large sign directed visitors to either side, one arrow bearing the red, sideways X that was a traditional indication of medical assistance for which the origin had been forgotten, and the other simply marked "funerals." The elegant young man headed towards the second door, a black wisp across the simple but nicely maintained lawn around the building.

He was ushered into a small, spotlessly clean waiting room by a junior nurse who seemed unable to speak in his presence and backed out of the room slowly, waiting until the last second to look away from his pale face. Alone, the Hunter stood like a statue, back to the wall, holding the wide-brimmed Traveller's hat he had removed on entering the funeral home. It seemed he would have held that position all day, but a door opened after a few minutes and Lidia poked her head around the gap. She looked older and more somber in her uniform, with her hair knotted tightly back and covered with a vacuum-sealed cap. "Hello, D. You can come back here. I've let everyone know you are here." She held the door for him, and shook her head to try and refocus herself as she ushered him through a veritable maze of rooms and hallways.

"This place is well-equipped." The Hunter's voice held subtle admiration. "I wouldn't have expected to see this type of technology here." A hand raised to the blue pendant he wore, doing something to ensure it wouldn't disrupt the delicate tech around them, although anyone watching would have seen nothing more than a man fiddling with a piece of jewelry.

"We are very lucky," Lidia pointed him into a narrow stairwell, moving briskly as she spoke. "Most of this was reclaimed from an old Noble facility; we got it for a reasonable price, since folks are superstitious about their equipment and it didn't exactly come with instruction manuals. I wouldn't be surprised if we are only using half the capabilities of this technology. There are few no one has been able to figure out, even when we had a retired technician from the Capital come through a decade or so ago. Perhaps they are only useful for treating Nobles." She shrugged, and knocked on a door.

They entered their destination, a small exam room mostly filled with a large metal and glass device that looked like a cross between a diving machine and a coffin. Lidia moved towards it authoritatively, stood on tip-toe to see the top display at one end, and tapped out a code, pressing buttons with the many-fingered ease of long practice. With a loud hiss, the top retracted, folding into itself and drawing away until a corpse lay on a fancy exam table before them.

Lidia had turned to D as soon as the operation began, which was the only reason she saw the swift flash of recognition and dismay that flickered across his reserved features as the maimed body came into view. "Sorry, I got him cleaned up as best I could with the time I had. Summer means a lot of accidents, particularly among the farmers."

D didn't react to her words, simply stepping forward and raising a hand to press one ragged flap of flesh back over a now-shattered cheekbone. He stood frozen there, and Lidia would have sworn she heard a soft, raspy voice say, "shit." D flicked a hank of long, greying, once-blond hair off the face. He had been handsome, even with age etching lines around his eyes and forehead as gravity pulled jowls down to blunt the jawline and heightened the always-bold cheekbones.

"Mirko Illic." D's voice was low, and Lidia couldn't tell what the emotion she could in the background of it was. Disappointment? He looked up, and met Lidia's confused expression. "I worked with him, for a time. Our approaches were too different, it didn't last. I always knew he was going to end like this. He didn't know when to step back." The bitterness in the last phrases might have been the strongest emotion Lidia had heard from him yet. "Do you have a full record of his injuries? And the other victims? Details on the locations found, too, if you have it." He stooped over the corpse and ran his left hand over the stapled rent in the chest.

He had apparently finished his examination when Lidia returned with a handful of printouts. He scanned them with uncanny speed, then held one out to Lidia. "What was this? A magnetic reading?"

"I suspect it was a computer glitch. We only saw it for a second, not even enough to get a frequency or magnitude. He has quite a lot of augmentation, if it was a true reading it could have been a last flicker of energy stored somewhere in the cyborg implants. I didn't find any batteries, but," she shrugged, "the implants aren't legal anyway. I didn't dig too much. No point in finding anything someone might feel compelled to report."

"Cybernetic enhancements, eh? Does that explain it?" He seemed to be talking to himself, but Lidia saw his left hand twitch oddly. "Do you have a scalpel?"

"Yes, just a minute." Lidia rummaged in one of the cabinets. "Is unsterilized okay?"

D nodded, took the blade and grasped the body's left leg, twisting it until the inner calf faced up. After carefully running his left hand over the muscle, he plunged the blade in and neatly sliced away a section of flesh, pulling it away from the bone. A second stroke severed a metal cable running from the knee before Lidia could caution him that the blade wasn't intended for such hard material. He slid the scalpel in again, flicking it along the bone until it struck something he was seeking. The otherwise silent room echoed with the soft scrape of metal on bone as he pried free a tiny data chip. He held it up, examining the find. "Do you think you have something that can read this?"

"Surely. I can't believe we missed that! I'll go arrange use of the data processing room. There's a sink under the third cabinet, rinse it off if you can." Lidia hurried out, excited by the unexpected find. If nothing else, this would justify her requests for this Hunter.

D rinsed it and put it into a coat pocket before returning to the corpse. "I'm sorry," he said softly, touching the dead man's shoulder before running his fingers over the controls and closing the preservative coffin.

Lidia returned and led him through even more of the medical center's maze. They entered a small room, where they were met by a wiry old man, whose thick glasses and grey beard didn't diminish his sharp gaze and quick smile. "Mr. Tsu is our best cryptographer. He considers this a retirement job after doing government work decoding old Noble files for decades. If anyone can figure out how to get data off that stick, he can." The man in question continued to beam under Lidia's praise, and held out an eager hand for the small piece of technology.

D handed it over. "If we can figure out how to read the files, I'm not concerned about decoding. I have a fair guess what will be needed."

"You do?" The old man tilted his head, examining the beautiful figure with a curiosity he hadn't shown before. "Ahh... I think I know who you are, sir. And if the tales are true, I imagine you probably can access the data, eventually, but I might still be quicker."

The glimmer of a smile traced the Hunter's features. "I'm sure you could hack it more quickly, but I knew the man we took it from, and I believe I know what the password is likely to be. If I am correct, then no guesswork will be needed."

Mr. Tsu nodded. "I see, then we shall try to figure out what device we need." He lifted the chip to his eyes and was peering at it as he opened a door and led them into a truly massive data center.

Ancient Noble computers, carefully restored, whirred along every inch of wallspace, filling them with bulky monitors, busy screens, and housing of bronze, silver, and copper-plated technology from a dying civilization. A flock of jumpsuited techs moved among them, pressing buttons, adjusting paper feeds, tapping touchscreens, and making repairs. Even D looked impressed, staring around at the unknown wonder. His surprise evidently delighted Mr. Tsu, who took his eyes off the data chip to urge D to wander around and have a look.

D had not gone more than a few paces when a triumphant shout came from the old man, who was holding the chip aloft. "So very simple! You hardly needed me at all. This is a standard configuration, the only difference was this disguising shield over the port. Pry it off, and you are in business. I have a computer for this style over here, it is very common." He ushered Lidia and D to a large silver terminal, with a huge viewscreen and a small keyboard beside a data port.

He fit the chip to the port, and the screen flickered briefly before a calm female voice said, "Welcome, thank you for using Jezmine's computer system. As a reminder, this is a public terminal and transmissions may be monitored. Please sign in." Mr. Tsu typed something, the screen darkened, then the voice added, "Accessing data files. Please enter your password."

D stepped forward, and his fingers flickered over the keys so quickly that Mr. Tsu and Lidia couldn't guess what the code was, despite looking at his hand as he typed. Any human-made computer might have stalled, unable to process keystrokes that swift, but this was constructed for the Nobility, and kept up without trouble. The screen flickered, and a video began playing.

For a moment, it only showed a bare, minimally-furnished room, but then the camera shifted and Mirko stared into it. He sat down heavily, sighing a bit and pulling the leather armor vest he wore down into a more comfortable position. "Hello, D. At least I hope that is who is seeing this, although given the fact if anyone is seeing this, I'm dead, I don't suspect it makes much of a difference. Anyway, I heard you were in the area and had made sure to mention a few critical things to a young Miss Graczyk who has been aiding me from the hospital. Hopefully that got you here."

"What?!" Lidia clapped a hand over her mouth and bowed her head in an apology for speaking over the recording.

"I've never done something like this before, but I don't think I'm going to make it through this case." He stared silently at the camera for a couple seconds, face somber and contemplative, as if weighing what to say. "I suppose I just wanted to try and pass the information I got together so far to the next Hunter to try having a go at Vasmer. I've spent several days researching his castle and planning this attempt, but I suspect I've missed something. This case... Vasmer feels different, even to my human senses. I wish I had you and your close friend here; he might have an insight. I've got copies of everything stashed. I'm sure you noticed the cabin near the old water wheel, it's exactly your sort of place." The man smiled. "If you cross the creek that splits off about two miles downstream, you'll see a marker flag I left. Walk from there straight to the woods. There is a lightening-struck tree with a hollow spot about 12 feet up. The info is there. Keep an eye out for wild pixies, they seem to be going through the summer breeding season and are feeling pretty fierce. I know you can find it."

He ran a hand over his tightly braided hair and sighed again, shifting forward to stare earnestly into the camera, grey eyes flashing. "That wasn't the only thing I wanted to share. Damn, I hope you're actually the one watching this." He grinned, "it would be pretty awkward if some doctor doing an autopsy is the one who found this. Anyway, I wanted to say sorry. I've always regretted how we parted. I'm an old man now, even all the augments I've had done are wearing out. I can feel it in my bones, and I know you never thought I'd be in this position. How many times did you tell me to be more careful, that there was no point in being a beautiful corpse? Well, what I leave behind at this point won't be. I'm grey, and wrinkled, and half my bones are metal, and..." his gaze dropped. "And I'm scared, D. I've read the reports, I can't take Vasmer and it won't be a clean death. I considered running but, ah! Don't make that face! I'm not going to do it. I'm not that much a coward, but I think Vasmer already knows I'm here."

"I'm going to die without a chance to apologize, or to try and make things right. My pride has gone with my age. I'm not the cocky Grade A Hunter I was back then. I can understand your reasons now, when I mocked those fears as a youth. It just took several decades! You were correct, all the things you said when you left-" D's hand flashed out and stopped the video. He disconnected the chip and pocketed it, his face a harsh, frightening mask that made Lidia and Mr. Tsu step back. Lidia was suddenly very aware of his Noble background.

"Will you show me out?" His voice was ice, as rigid as his expression. Lidia didn't dare speak, just nodded and hurried them out of the building. She didn't even dare ask him about the info they had just gotten once they were outside. She just watched him stride to the road in a whirl of black coat slicing through the golden summer light, still clutching his hat in one fist.

Part 3 can be read here: X

#vhdweek #vampire hunter d #vhdweek2018 #fan fiction #my writing

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gothicmagpie · 7 years ago

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Vampire Hunter D: The Northern Castle, part 4

At six, D was tying his horse outside the tavern. Lidia had already arrived and claimed a quiet corner, close to the cookstove and uncomfortably hot in the summer heat. She had hesitated over drinks, and finally ordered water with some local summer fruit, to good-natured ribbing from the barkeeper. She didn't know what D could drink, but this seemed safe enough. D joined her, both of them looking noticeably over-dressed for the temperature in the corner. Lidia hadn't dared ditch any of her weapons since returning to town, and D had one-again donned his long black coat. In other circumstances, they might have attracted attention, but it was too early for anyone else to come in for a drink. The barkeep, a dozing waitress, and two old men playing checkers were the only occupants.

"I think I have a plan," D kept his voice low. "But I need a few supplies. Is there a second-hand clothing shop in town?"

"Yes, are you going in disguise?"

"Essentially. It looks like Vasmer has some high-tech scanning devices, and they aren't vulnerable to the usual disruptors. With time, I could disable them, but we don't have that. I'll just have to hope he isn't feeling in the mood to shoot messengers."

"Messengers?"

"I'll pretend to be coming from another nearby Noble. They were always very territorial. He'll assume that someone else rose before him and doesn't like the competition. He'll want to meet me in person to assess whether this other Noble is strong enough to be a threat. That will give me a chance at him."

"Do you think he'll fall for you being a messenger? I mean, all that tech will probably reveal your heritage. Won't he know about your abilities?"

"I won't know for sure unless I try, but I doubt he'll consider me a threat. My mother was human, I carry enough of her traits. There is a great variety in how much any particular dhampir inherits from their Noble parent."

"So there are some who have nearly vampiric strengths, and others who are nearly human?"

"Yes, and as you can imagine, they can occupy almost any place below the pure Nobility. Some lines even consider a powerful half-breed born to their family a greater accomplishment than a weaker turned victim."

"I suppose as a Hunter you must know a lot about the Noble's society. You have to learn to think like them. I'd never have thought of that."

"Don't praise me yet, we don't know if I can carry this off. I'll also want to get a couple of back-up weapons. I suspect my carrying a sword into his presence won't be acceptable. Is there someone who specializes in knives?" Most Frontier towns had a few people good at crafting weapons from whatever the local resources were.

"Yes, the Leskovs. The whole family is in the business. I'll take you there immediately after we finish here. If you need to have them customize something, they'll need the time."

Instead, D had her go to the second-hand shop, with the directions to scope out anything gaudy, no matter the price or condition. The shop-keeper was delighted by this task, despite the fact that Lidia thought her cover story was weak, and dragged out all sorts of nice frippery. As it stacked up, Lidia felt quite sure that some of these items were women's wear, but the shop-keeper insisted they were men's robes despite the layers of lace and embroidery.

Lidia was quite overwhelmed by the time D appeared and swiftly sorted through the garments. The shopkeeper seemed stunned by his appearance, and simply stood there like a mannequin, gawping at the beautiful man examining her wares. D finally chose a few pieces, bundled them up under his coat and handed the woman a coin for payment. She finally came out of her trance to protest that the coin was worth far more than the clothing he had taken, and his refusal of her offered change spurred her to spin on Lidia. "Well, then, we'll get a nice gown for you too. I could sell nearly all the contents of this shop for the worth of that Noble coin. Those are terribly dear." D tipped his hat with a sly smile, leaving Lidia to the woman's exuberant mercies.

D mounted his horse and rode out of town, attracting no little attention along the way. Some speculated that it was the last time any of them would see him, either because he'd end up like the other Hunters or because he'd take off in hopes of avoiding that fate. Others gossiped about what the rumors said about his talent and whether he had the ability to fight this enemy, and a quiet betting pool was started by a pair of enterprising brothers.

Part 5 can be found here: X

#vhdweek #vampire hunter d #vhdweek2018 #fan fiction

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gothicmagpie · 7 years ago

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Vampire Hunter D: The Northern Castle, part 5

"Well, this one of your crazier ideas," a hoarse voice muttered at D's side as he cantered towards a well-hidden castle beneath technologically-enhanced rock. Anyone who knew his usual appearance as a rough, black-clad drifter would have hardly recognized him when he left the shack beside the waterwheel. Hair braided back revealed the inhumanity of his pale features in full-force, the ragged black coat had been swapped for a velvet one in a shade of blue so deep that it was only a hint brighter than the previous garment, and the rest of his faded garb had been replaced with silk that gleamed and reflected the traces of moonlight despite the numerous, well-constructed patches that demonstrated that these clothes had been worn by plenty of previous owners. Even his scuffed boots had been shined and what had once been a fine scarf had become decorative wraps, hiding the spurs under gauzy trails.

His sword still rested on his back, but his weapon belt was strapped to the saddle rather than his waist. He certainly didn't look like a Hunter at the moment. The sound of his mounts hoofbeats changed, and the traces of an old Noble road peered through centuries of dirt.

He reined his horse in, slowing the pace to a pace that any normal cyborg horse still would have struggled to maintain for this long ride. He studied the passing trees and the occasional rusted ruin of some old roadside tech. The road slowly improved, until the full path was a visible expanse of the self-maintaining surface. He hadn't ridden on this long before there was a loud beep and D's horse shied. The Hunter was thrown against his mount's neck and seized a handful of mane as the horse pranced sideways, kicking out and shaking his head, hoofs clipping sharply against the hard plastic road. When D urged the horse forward again, it snorted and moved only a few steps.

D looked up and out into the woods, eyes blazing red this time as he searched for whatever had frightened the horse so much. This time he sensed something too, a tingling trace of some kind of electric field. One could only imagine how uncomfortable that must have been for the cyborg horse, as it travelled through all its metal circuitry and augmented organs. D bushed a finger across his blue pendent, re-activating it. It immediately lit up, spreading a soft blue glow over the scene. The horse relaxed and happily trotted forwards, resuming their journey.

D didn't spur it to a faster pace though, and if his eyes no longer blazed, they still held a gleam of unnatural light. Apparently he had decided to proceed more cautiously.

There seemed to be good reason for that, as half an hour later an ornate gate suddenly loomed out of the darkness, blocking his path. He squinted at it, a hint of irritation creasing his elegant features. How had he not seen it as he approached? It had no apparent latch, yet even when he pressed it with his super-human strength, the door did not open. He spied a control panel on one side, corroded like the metal of the gate, yet the cracked screen still glowed with a faint light it would take a Noble's eyes to detect. Dismounting, D examined it. "Handprint activated, I think," he murmured. "Anything we can do about that?"

"Try your credentials first," suggested the face peering from his left palm. "If that fails, see if we can find an override. That'll attract attention though, and probably put a hole in your plan. You'll meet Vasmer as a know enemy."

D reached his right hand over the screen, and pressed it down firmly. "Reading. Please wait," said a calming female voice from the almost invisible speakers. "Welcome to the Northern Castle of Lord Vasmer. Please leave your transport in the garage to the right. It will be attended to. Upon entering, please proceed directly to the entrance hall. You will be greeted there."

Whatever garage may have been in place once, it was no longer standing, so D waited until the door unlocked, and lead his horse inside behind him. There was an odd feeling as he crossed the threshold and the cyborg mount balked for a second. "What was that?" D asked in the softest possible whisper.

"A dimensional shift, I suspect. No wonder no human ever found this place; it isn't quite here. It was probably pushed even further into an alternate reality until he awoke. Nice escape planning on his part. I wonder if the tech is OSB?"

"I doubt we'll have a chance to examine it." D had tethered his horse to a stout tree, and now peered towards the castle that half-stood, slumped in the rock that formed its foundation. It had seen much better days, and some of the slag-like rock suggested that even if the humans hadn't been able to identify the exact location, high-powered explosives had done some damage. The other option, that the melting has been the work of the multi-dimensional beings the Nobility had warred with, was significantly less encouraging.

The castle had a high, worn flight of spiral stairs to the door, which was several stories up. As soon as D's boot touched the bottom step, there was a faint whir of machinery, the stairs lit with a faint luminescence, and D could feel that the gravity-reduction system had survived the centuries. With that aid, even a frail human could reach the door without being winded.

As his feet left the stairs, they dimmed and the doors opened automatically. Here was another sign of the castle's neglect, as they swung unevenly, the left door repeatedly sticking with an unhappy groan. The entrance hall was shabby; rotted traces of rugs over the dusty floor, wall hangings slumped, a broken table lay in a tangle of mutual annihilation with the vast painting that had apparently fallen onto it, and there was shattered glass everywhere from the lamps that had once lit the space. Now it was dim enough that even D squinted.

He stood in silence for only a moment before he heard a faint rattle that no human's ears would have detected. He turned to face one doorway just as the door swung open, emitting a ray of bright light and a handsome figure. Lord Vasmer was the picture of Nobility before their fall. His waist-length hair was caught back by glittering gems that matched the rings around his thin, pale fingers and the jewel-encrusted toes of his velvet shoes. His outfit was a blaze of red that matched the shine of his eyes and a deep black that nearly seemed to absorb that light, a spectacular display for his white-blond hair and paper-white skin. He spotted D and smiled, lips parting to reveal fangs that flashed across his currently-pale lips. "Ah! What an unexpected surprise to see you at my gate! I'd not thought my awaking enough to attract the attention of our most esteemed Ancestor. Please, be welcomed." He swept forward with a grace that only the true-born nobility could hope to match. "Ah, you carry his stamp so clearly. Not the usual bastard, are you?" His fingers trailed through D's dark locks. D stood like stone and did not answer the question. "Come with me, let us find somewhere more comfortable to sit, and you can tell me why you are here."

"Are there areas less damaged?" D's voice was steely.

"Of course, I couldn't very well live here if it all looked like that. Good for keeping away the pests though. I'm very sad to see their bombs penetrated my shielding. Those turrets took decade to build, and melted rock is all but unusable. Eventually I'll track down those fools who did it. Then we'll see who grieves." A small, wicked flush rose in his cheeks as he spoke.

"Do you even know when the damage was done? You slept for a long time. They and all their relations may be gone." D's quelling tone apparently ended the conversation. They rode the elevator car to Vasmer's dwelling place in silence.

The room the elevator opened to was lush and well-cared for by a robotic maid, which lurched forward to take Vasmer's cape. D declined to part with his coat, but Vasmer insisted that he give the robot his sword. D did so without argument, and wandered over to a vast panel of computers, half-hidden by a red and silver drape embroidered with flowers, which repeated throughout the decor. The screens appeared to show a vast network of surveillance machines across the Frontier sector, and a great deal of tech that was still active. D had only looked it over for a moment before the screens went suddenly dark. Vasmer had flipped a switch at one end, and was staring sternly at D. "I hope you aren't here merely to spy. If he wants to know what I do, then he will have to come himself. I won't tolerate insubordination from the likes of you, no matter how much alike you look."

"I'm not here to spy, I promise you that. But I do have questions about your actions recently. You have been preying on the travelers in this sector. Why? Surely in this mecca of technology, you have a blood synthesizer."

Lord Vasmer laughed. "That's why you were sent here? A poaching concern? My apologies, I never intended to hunt territory held by your family. I had noticed the mark on one of the men, but it was faint enough I had assumed it was no longer valid. Now that I meet you, it did carry a trace of your power. And I haven't seen any other Nobles on my scanners, although I suppose they are a bit antiquated now." He sat, beckoning D towards the seat across from him. "Let us sit down, have a drink, and we shall settle the new boundaries of this land. I've been out of this world for a while, and clearly if your family has need of this land, we can find a way to share."

"You've been out of the world for much longer than you think, Lord Vasmer. The world has changed in ways you can hardly comprehend." There was something melancholy in D's tone as he stared at the dark screens in front of him.

"Then it is good I had a young, vital messenger bringing me that news, is it not? Come, tell me about these grim changes. If you continue to resist my hospitality, I am liable to take offense, and I hardly think that was the task your father sent you on."

"No, but his tasks and my responses have not always been in step." D turned away from the computers and made a circuit of the room, finally taking a single anemone bloom from the vase above the crackling fireplace and accepting the glass of red liquid Lord Vasmer held out.

Vasmer laughed again. "A bit of a rebel, eh? Well, I won't tell if you won't. So, tell me about these changes. The reasons you think I have an imperfect understanding of the local politics."

"How long have you slept, Lord Vasmer?" D didn't sit, but leaned against the table, staring down at the amused Noble.

"For a very long time. Centuries, at least. Perhaps a few millennia. The technology I had relied on was faulty. It failed to take into account the differences in time on either side of my dimensional barrier."

"Then you missed a rather important point; the fall of the Nobility happened while you slumbered."

Vasmer again laughed, but then stopped, eying D. "Sure you don't think me as gullible as that. Who are we supposed to have fallen to? The OSB were in retreat when last I heard from the Capital."

"Which was, as you pointed out, a long time ago. But no, the victors were the humans. They rule this earth once again."

"Impossible! They were our slaves, our playthings, far too weak to fight us, and too grateful for our protection to try."

"Can you truly not imagine how they felt? Why their fury might overthrow even so mighty a civilization?"

"They never would have succeeded."

"Perhaps not, if the Nobility were actually as prefect as many claimed. But the Nobility's power came with its own weaknesses too. Who can explain those? A genetic flaw? Or merely the universe's sense of humor."

"I don't believe you. You are one of his sons, that much is obvious, and I can't imagine he would allow that to happen, even with his weakness for certain aspects of humanity. Prove it to me."

D leaned forwards, extending the flower he had plucked from the vase. In one smooth motion, he tucked it into Vasmer's pocket, curled a finger under his cuff to touch a hidden trigger, and a blade sprung from hiding at his wrist, sinking into Vasmer's throat.

With a choking cry, Vasmer shoving himself backward, tipping his chair and thrusting a jeweled fist at D. D blocked the blow, letting Vasmer pull himself free of the knife, then dove for him again. Vasmer twisted, attempting to get to his feet before D could strike, but failed. D's second blow was to his chest, puncturing a lung, but missing the heart. Vasmer's throat had healed enough for him to scream, and his long, claw-like nails raked at D's face, drawing blood as they grappled. D dodged wildly snapping fangs and flailing fists, diverting them just enough to avoid real injury until he thrust his knife into the base of Vasmer's skull.

His opponent dropped, spinal cord severed. It wouldn't be a fatal blow for a Noble of his strength, but he also couldn't heal it until the blade was removed. Without a need to breathe, Vasmer could survive in this state for quite a while.

D lifted the near-corpse to the chair, righted with a swift kick. He crouched in front of the immobile Noble and stared into his face with eyes that glowed as brightly as the full vampire before him. "You tortured and killed humans, not only for your sustenance, but for sport. The last man you slowly slaughtered was a friend of mine. By rights, I should return the favor."

If it was possible for that bloodless face to grow paler, it did. There was a moment of rasping, choking noises before Vasmer gagged out a intelligible reply, fighting use the few muscles he still had control over. "Please, I already told you. I didn't know he was yours."

"But he wasn't mine. Not in the way you mean. Those ways are obsolete, and those who follow them will join them in the dust of the past." D's eyes darkened, as he let his bloodlust fade. "It is the current rule of the earth."

"You won't dare," Vasmer spat. "Do it, and that precious village will be ended, half-breed. Don't you think I have enough wits to prevent an uprising?"

"How?" D's voice was cold as ice, and his stare was just as cold.

Vasmer only smirked, a horrible expression as severed muscles spasmed, trying to obey his will. D's expression didn't change, but he gripped the vampire's forehead with his left hand. The Noble's eyes dimmed, and his eyelids drooped before he suddenly screamed, trying futilely to struggle. "I won't tell you! Ah!" Another shriek. "You never found the other victims, let that be a hint! Stop!"

D did, lifting his hand away. He stared at the pathetic man before him for a moment, before approaching the robot, claiming his sword, and removing Vasmer's head in a single, swift stroke. He plucked it up, and threw it into the fireplace, which would soon render it harmless ash.

Then, with a look of uncharacteristic rage, D plunged the knife that been freed by the decapitation into Vasmer's torso, slicing several swift, vicious cuts and seizing the still faintly-twitching heart from his chest. "D, I think that's enough." The hoarse voice from his left hand sounded a bit worried. "You're taking this too far. We need to go and deal with the other victims."

D dropped the organ, stooped, and thrust the knife into its center, pinning it to the floor. "I know," he said, voice soft as if he was speaking to someone else than his usual companion. He stripped off the dark velvet coat, now ripped by Vasmer's struggles and soaked with both their blood, and dropped it as he made his way back to the elevator.

Part 6 is here: X

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