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[51] Fanfic: Vampire Hunter D 30_somethings: Drawn
Title: Drawn
Fandom: Vampire Hunter D
Character/Pairing[s]: D
Theme/Prompt: #11 ‘Howling’ (Nights Prompt Table)
Rating: PG-15
Warnings: D-style violence, gore, supernatural horror.
Summary: D runs into one Noble’s utopia. It’s not quite of this world.
Notes: I’d genuinely like to know if people are reading and enjoying this, so, you don’t have to, but if you could review, I’d dearly appreciate it.

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It took some time - and a bit of work with his sword to cut through arm-thick lianas that were strewn across his intended path – but eventually he came to the point where he could sense a stronger presence, even if it was barely. He cut aside a tangled covering of vegetation to reveal split, rotting planks beneath and dragging aside the debris, he found it had been a small door. The opening it made let more than enough light for him to see clearly into the gloom with his enhanced eyes. His sword lay still unsheathed in his hand by his side and he extended his left palm in front of him.

‘Anything?’

At the whispered question, the face of the parasite twisted this way and that as far as it was able, but was unable to tell him anything he hadn’t been able to for himself.

Taking a few cautious steps inside, he saw that it was a corridor with rough-hewn stairs a short way inside, possibly leading to further rooms. There was no light, natural or otherwise, even if he’d needed it, but the wraith-like presence was like a beacon to him, pulling the dhampir up the stairs.

He was still for a while, apparently in contemplation over his next move. A Noble with the ability to manipulate spirits, while not exactly unheard of, was rare. Wraiths could only do so much, after all, and it was much easier to control dumb beasts created by the harsh Frontier. Of course, if the Noble (the Hunter hadn’t quite ruled out that there was one indeed in residence even though he couldn’t be sensed right away] needed something to discourage even hardier souls experienced in hunting game, then all it had to do was give them nothing to cut. Relying on the power of fear over force, this one was probably quite a long-lived member of the race, and experienced with the mindset of humans in small settlements.

Even so, something was troubling D. He’d encountered and consequently dealt with Nobles of this kind before without the problem of not being able to detect their presence. Just as the vampire could bend each wraith to their will, in return the spirits were attracted to the source of the power that held them in its thrall. This made them light up like a signal flare on D’s senses, without even asking the parasite in his left hand for help. If even that being was unable to detect a clear sign of a Noble, dormant or awake, then either they were dealing with something else entirely or this was a different breed of vampire.

An altogether troubling thought but barely a muscle twitched on the dhampir’s face as it crossed his mind. He dismissed it a second later though. He’d find it, whatever it was, however it was different, and he’d kill it. He’d made that vow long ago, to himself and nothing short of his own annihilation would make him break it now, not after this long. Seek and destroy was the only thing that mattered now.

Useless thoughts. Concentrate.

His mind was once again clear as he went up the stairs, some masonry crumbling on the edges when his boot touched them briefly, and the wind began to whistle throughout the narrow passageway then, howling as if with the voices of all the lost souls who once inhabited this place. And with the eerie voices, came another feeling. It crept up the Hunter’s spine, and made his eyes go wide with sudden racial recognition. It made his skin…itch, and the urge to bear his fangs was incredible.

The parasite in his left hand was shouting something but there was blood pounding in D’s ears now, through his veins was the unnatural power flooding through him and distantly, he realised that he was running towards the source.