Vampire Hunter D: Stolen Sunlight

Chapter 26

Leigh hadn't realized how far away the castle was from their first campsite. She had been unconscious the first time they made the trip. They weren't in a hurry to get there so it ended up being nearly evening when they stopped in front of the towering building. It looked even more eerie with the sun setting behind it.

When they dismounted, Leigh didn't bother grabbing anything except for the small lamp. She wasn't ashamed to reach for D's hand as they headed toward the towering doors. She wasn't sure if it was more to ease her fear or for the simple comfort she found in being able to touch him while she still could. The fact that he didn't say anything when their fingers entwined made Leigh smile up at his back. There was sadness in her eyes, but she wasn't about to break down.

Once he opened the doors he turned back to her. She could see the same look in his eyes that she knew was in hers, but she just gave him a quick hug before turning on the lamp and walking into the darkened entrance. Even though they traveled the same path as the last time, she didn't have any better luck keeping track of the way they went. She wasn't exactly trying to remember the way either. Her eyes were almost constantly on the hunter by her side. She had opened her shields to see if there were any other presences but had found nothing so far. Of course, that left her open to her companion's feelings as well. The fact that they mirrored her own made it hard for her to keep going, but she knew the outcome was inevitable.

They both stopped outside the room she had arrived in, the room where they had their first encounter with the being that had pulled her there. Neither of them looked at the other, just stood there staring at the door. Finally, Leigh reached out and pushed the door open.

She wasn't able to hold in the scream that left her lips when the open door revealed a pair of red glowing eyes. The déjà vu was so strong it was disorienting. D had already let go of her hand and was across the room to engage him. To both their surprise the man did nothing but dodge and jump out of range. D was already following him across the room when he paused at the man's voice. "Hold, I am not here to interfere. I merely wanted to congratulate you, both of you."

His words didn't soothe Leigh's fear. She had taken a couple of steps into the room and stood there staring at him, like a rabbit stares at a snake. D hadn't lowered his sword but didn't make any further move to attack. The silence stretched until Leigh worked up enough courage to speak. "Why would you congratulate us? What do you want?"

The look he gave her was complicated. There was an underlying sadness that he didn't bother hiding, but there was also something evaluating in the look he gave her. "You have managed what I could not." He turned to look back over at D before continuing. "Also, you have accomplished something rare."

Leigh was tired to death of listening to his cryptic responses. Her irritation was clear in her voice when she spoke. "Can you only talk in riddles? Do you have some sort of personal code that says you can't just speak straight?"

He turned a small, sad smile in her direction. "I see you are still unable to keep from defying me. I suppose that is what made this work though."

Leigh couldn't help the frustrated noise she made but she was silenced when the man turned to D once again. "I know you are aware of at least a part of why I am here. You may not have become all you were supposed to, but you have still done something extraordinary."

While the man had been speaking D had maneuvered so that he was now standing between Leigh and the older male. The man only shook his head slightly. "I will not attack her. I have no need to. Besides, you have a claim on her that even I could not undo."

Leigh couldn't see D's face, but she noticed his body stiffen at the man's words. She tried to peek around him to see if she could tell what was going on. Both men were masters of speaking in body language that was a mystery to everyone except themselves and without seeing them she felt more deaf than normal. When she saw D's profile she was surprised at the open shock she found. Her gaze was drawn back to the man as he spoke again. "I see you did not realize it was more than a blood bond. It isn't surprising, as it would not have been possible had she been completely human. Will that knowledge change anything though?"