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“So confident are you hunter?” The voice asked, a high tenor with definative
masculinity.
Standing D simply said,”He seems to have decided to pick you up early.”
Kat stood quickly and took an unconscious step backwards as her eyes fixed on
the tree. As she did this the count stepped forward and spread his cloak before him even
though the shadows still hid most of his body. Long black hair hung down framing his
pale, handsome, angled face. He appeared youthful, perhaps only in his mid twenties
when he became a vampire. D glanced over at Kat and then back to the count as the
count continued.
“And why if it isn't my next darling little bride. I've never taken a dhampire bride
before. This should prove interesting.”
As he said this, with a lightning fast flick of his wrists D had thrown a pair of
knives towards the count. Tossing his head in indignation, his long black hair flowing
behind him, the count launched himself from the tree branch, avoiding the knives. Landing
quickly he grabbed Kat and held her between himself and D.
“What now hunter? Strike for me and you kill your little friend,”the count asked,
his voice almost mocking D.
Grinning under his hat as he removed his gloves D simply replied,”Oh?”
Kat struggled a bit in his grasp but the count had a good, solid hold on her.
“I never miss,”D said as he rushed forward at the count and Kat, his sword drawn.
Dashing back quickly and to the side, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow the count
cursed as D’s sword grazed his shoulder, not hitting Kat at all. The count’s grip lessened
a little with the wound, but still it was to strong for her to escape.
“Release her,”D ordered.
Instead of complying though the count made a swift movement and drew an arm
across her throat holding her as he placed a stake to her chest,”I don’t think so hunter.
She can’t be important to you, just another little dhampire.”
D shrugged,”Kill her, and you die. Try to kill me, and you die. Begone.”
Kat who had stayed quiet this whole time, trying to comply to avoid death finally
spoke up.
“You're a coward...hiding behind me.”
At this the count pressed the stake into her chest a little, not enough to kill her
though just enough to make it hurt, as he threw her towards D forcefully.
“I’ll be back, and I am no coward,”he said angrilly as he seemed to dash into the
shadows and disappear.
D quickly sheathed his sword and caught her as she was thrown at him. Gently he
sat her back down by the fire and immediately one of her hands went to the stake
protruding from her chest. She tried to wrap a hand around it to pull it out but D’s hand
was there first.
“This might hurt,”he warned.
“I figured that,”she started, crying out in pain when he pulled it out,”It’s always
hurt before.”
As the stake was ripped out the blood flowed more freely, quickly clotting though
and the wound healing.
“It seems the count knows we are coming,”D said as she gently touched the spot
where the stake had just been.
“Yeah,”she said,”It also seems I’m going to be more of a hinderance than help.”
“That remains to be seen,”he said as she gave him a skeptical look.
“Look how easily he put me between you two,”she explained.
When D didn’t reply she sighed and shook her head,”I don’t know. Maybe I’m
wrong but I think I’m just going to be something he can use against you... I mean I don’t
think you’d kill me so therefore if he uses me as a shield he’ll get away.”
“To where?” D asked,”If we destroy his home, we will destroy him as well.”
“I guess,”she replied uncertainly,”but how are we going to destroy that fortress?”
Not replying D simply went and sat back down against the tree where he had sat
before. Still shaken, Kat just stood there, her hand subconsciously going to her neck
where he’d bit her before as D said,”He won’t return to night. You should get some rest.”
“I guess you’re right,”she replied quietly, going to the fire to remove the flute from
the dress and fluff it for a pillow.
As she did this thunder rumbled in the distance, a soft breeze picking up and
blowing through the grove. As she listened to the thunder she looked at him,”It might
rain...”
Her voice trailed off and he was quiet for a moment then replied,”Rain is the least
of our worries.”
“Still.. It would probably be best to find some shelter,”she said,”Unless you plan
on going for the soggy cape and hat look.”
D looked up, giving her a smirk from under his hat. Seeing his grin she relaxed a
bit since her encounter with the count, returning the grin as D spoke up.
“I know a place not far from here. It is not as safe, but it will be dry.”
“That would probably work,”she said as she grinned at him again,”I know I do not
want to trudge around a gloomy castle during the day in wet clothes.”
She grabbed the dress in her right hand, the flute in her left and walked to where
he sat as he was standing up. Following him to his horse she watched him climb on then
he reached down, offering her his hand. She took it and let him help her up after which
they rode off into the night.