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Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlines	By : devilsdoormat Category: +S to Z > Vampire Hunter D Views: 1732 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Vampire Hunter D is obviously not my original property. I will make no money and benefit only emotionally from sharing. The title character, D, is pulled from both animated movies and not from the manga.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
He'd ridden all day, the voice nagging at him about sun exposure for hours.

The nagging only stopped when the sun set, and D felt a little less ragged for both the cool air and the lack of scolding.

It was night, the sky filled with stars and only a few clouds. D could still appreciate some beauty in the world, though he didn't always sit back and reflect on it.

"Meredith Morrow, the daughter of Elsira the Black Madam. Destined to become the next Black Madam. It's so hard to imagine, isn't it? Having met the girl, I mean? But she will. For generations, that shadow has passed through their bloodline. It will reach Meredith, and she will be the most dangerous Black Madam of them all. You know that, don't you? You'll probably have to kill her." The voice spoke.

"I know." D replied.

The breeze was picking up as he rode through grassy plains, trees scattered in small patches. There was a lake with a few deer drinking from it not too far off. Perhaps on the way back he would stop there himself. Those deer looked rather healthy and plump. Their eyes followed him in the darkness.

"Elsira's great, great grand mother was a force to be reckoned with, wasn't she? Escaped us though. What a sorceress she was! Viranna the Black Madam, a witch under the service of a vampire. Loyal, but not loyal enough to die for her employer." His constant companion sounded almost amused, "But what did that fool expect? Her true loyalties are held firmly in the grasp of the demon giving her power. A nameless evil which consumes souls. Hiding like a worm in the earth."

"And who does Elsira serve?" D asked.

"Romulus, once, it appears. Herself, now." The entity spoke, "You saw the way she looked at you. Familiarity in her eyes, for just a second. Anyone else would have missed it. She knows that you are the same hunter who nearly killed a Black Madam generations before. I'll bet her mother and her mother's mother told bedtime horror stories about you. Haha!"

"Why protect Meredith then? What point would that serve?" D asked, "If Elsira knows that her own daughter is destined to kill her and become the next Black Madam, what is the point?"

"Maybe Elsira figures if she blinds an entire village and raises the child with love, it won't happen." The voice chuckled, "Though evading destiny is such a funny concept. Our fates find us regardless."

"She has no idea what she is." D sounded slightly unnerved.

"That really bothers you, doesn't it?" Its voice was low and almost cruel, "It really gets to you thinking about how that girl is another Dhampir, another half breed. She's like you. She just doesn't know it yet. It really jabs in deep how naive she is. There's still hope in her eyes, yet to be crushed. She's got a spell on her too, making her less of what you are and more human. She doesn't even have access to her full potential. It's sort of sad actually. Like a declawed beast with a collar on, kept inside and pampered. Now that she's outside though, what will happen to her?"

"She will most likely die." D responded. He had to take the horse over a break in the road, a ditch having formed.

"So sad, so sad. And I'll bet Elsira never even told her about her destiny." The voice mused, "That wasn't the face of a girl who knew her future was written for her. She believed wholeheartedly that the road was open before her. You heard how happy she was."

"They'll reach Thanos Castle only shortly after I do." D stated, changing the subject.

"Oh, about that. Am I supposed to be trying to break this maze spell? Is that what you're thinking?"

"That was what I was planning, yes." D answered.

"If I can, fine." It chuckled.

"If?" D's tone sharpened.

"That witch's magic was demon fueled, it had to be. And if she couldn't break the spell around Raziel's castle, well, that means it's another demon. I can try, but it's going to make me really sick." The voice sounded irritated, "However, if you insist."

"I insist." D spoke.

D heard a low beeping and felt his horse losing some speed. It was barely perceptible at first, but became more obvious the longer he'd been riding.

"Power cell failure. I saw a sign for a town a few miles ago. It's fifty miles ahead, but we'll make it." The voice muttered, "Just like you to break the horse. I can't work in these conditions."

***

Meredith woke up naturally and found that it was still dark outside.

She pondered on what had woken her and looked to the front of the car. There was a small, digital clock up there and it told her it was yet three or so in the morning. When she attempted to close her eyes and get back to sleep she heard a little whimper and it brought her back.

It had come from Gencho.

Wondering how the sound had managed to not wake the others, Meredith found herself looking at the man and watching him sleep. He was shirtless, his tribal tattoos fascinating her just as much then as they had earlier when she'd first watched him strip down. Yeah, Meredith had stared. Could she be blamed? He was pretty damn hot up close and personal. But then, Tengen wasn't bad looking either. Neither was Val. Renshen was older, and she hadn't looked too long at him.

It was rude to stare.

In her own blue nightie she'd felt the eyes on her though, and she'd blushed just a bit.

Gencho's little murmur was so soft that it occurred to Meredith that she might be the only one capable of hearing it. The air had the slight scent of fear in it now that she was focusing in and she watched Gencho squeeze his pillow, trembling, before relaxing again.

He was having a bad dream.

Meredith curled up in her bed again, unsure of what to do. Part of her was tempted to go over and wake him, trying to comfort the man. Nightmares could feel so real. She knew. But they'd also just met. What would he do? Would it be weird?

Meredith overcame her trepidation and slid from her cot, quietly placing herself beside Gencho's cot, and touched his shoulder.

It was her instincts which saved her from the fist, coming at her so quickly that she'd only realized she'd dodged it after the air had cracked from the speed and power behind his swing. Gencho was on his side, eyes wide and brows heavily furrowed, and he managed to grab her wrist.

He'd made a soft sound, but they hadn't woken the others. Somehow, he'd contained the fury behind his dark eyes. His teeth were bared at her, his muscles trembling. He smelled like sweat and terror.

If he was squeezing her wrist too tightly she couldn't tell. He was strong, but she was stronger.

"I'm.. I'm sorry.." Meredith whispered.

"Don't touch me." Gencho said, his voice low as well. He sounded gravelly, as though he had a sore throat.

"You were having a bad dream. I thought-" Meredith felt him release her wrist.

"Don't." Gencho muttered and fell back to his side. His eyes left her face and he scowled, "I get bad dreams all the time, kid. Go back to bed."

"I'm sorry." Meredith repeated.

Gencho forced a grin, making a choked sound.

"Go.. back to bed." He echoed.

Meredith went back to her cot and curled up again.

She could tell that Gencho never fully went back to sleep.

***

Hearing Tengen singing in the shower while Renshen cooked breakfast inspired Meredith to draw again. Gencho was driving and she had to hold her sketchbook steady to avoid mistakes, but she was able to draw a picture of Val sipping from a cup of coffee while holding a cigarette in her other hand.

The road wasn't as bumpy as before. They'd hit nice flat lands with grass and trees an hour after beginning to drive again and Meredith was much fonder of the view.

It was going to be bright sunny day.

"Do you guys have any music?" Meredith asked suddenly, her plate of eggs and potatoes sitting beside her on her cot. She hadn't changed yet and was waiting the shower. She didn't feel self conscious in the blue night gown but she did feel that Tengen had been much friendlier to her seeing her in it.

"You mean besides Tengen?" Val chuckled, nodding back at the closed bathroom. She was already fulled dressed, her hair still damp from her earlier shower.

He was still crooning some sort of tune about being a man alone, on his own.

"Yeah." Meredith smiled. Her bangs hung in her face, her ponytail at her back.

"We got music. Gencho? Did you wanna put in a tape?" Val called to the front.

"My stuff or the crap?" Gencho asked, paying attention to the road.

"Don't call my music crap, you jerk." Val snapped.

"Ok, but it's still pretty bad." Gencho shrugged, "Fine. I'll put in Renshen's. It's tolerable."

Gencho was messing with odd little boxes and shoved one into a receptacle slot along the dash to the right. It whirred to life and soon a choppy, grating sound was attempting to form a melody across the speakers inside of the Bella.

"What is this?" Meredith asked.

"It's music." Renshen replied from the kitchen, cleaning the dishes, "You wanted music. Here's music."

"Where's the piano?" Meredith seemed confused.

"Piano?" Gencho coughed, "Princess, this ain't a concert hall."

Meredith closed her sketchbook.

"It's good. It's really cool." Meredith smiled, nodding her head. It wasn't actually so bad. It was jaunty and loud, but there was a song in there, "I'll get used to it."

"Aw, it's Renshen's mix?" Tengen was exiting the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his hips, and came walking barefoot to his cot, "What, did yah get tired of my lovely pipes?"

With that, Tengen undid the towel and threw it on the bed. He was sitting on the cot next, grabbing at the pants he'd left laying on the blankets. For a few moments, Meredith was looking at a stark naked Tengen Hai, and she could not look away.

She had to tear her eyes off of him and saw Val grinning at her. Meredith blushed, smiling, and shook her head.

"You guys must be close.." Meredith chuckled.

"We've lived in the same space for years. I've seen Tengen's white ass a million times." Val shrugged and then had a laugh.

"As opposed to?" Tengen asked, buckling his belt, "Who the hell tans their asses?"

Meredith was laughing along with Val.

Val had to catch herself again. It was a little too easy to fall into that comfort zone with the girl. Something felt off about it, causing an unease within her chest. But the girl was smiling so genuinely and so brightly that those concerns were dispersed.

"You don't wanna know what Val saw me doing once." Gencho said from the driver's seat.

"Oh, god, no, Gencho." Val slapped her own forehead, "Shut up!"

"I was a fifteen year old boy! What do fifteen year old boys do?" Gencho sounded offended but then laughed, "And the bathroom door was closed for a reason!"

"Yeah, seriously. Gotta respect the closed door." Tengen nodded in agreement.

"Tengen never stopped. So if the door's closed and he's not around, you better knock." Gencho said and barked with laughter as Tengen turned a deep shade of red.

"Hey!" Tengen was putting his black tank top on, "Don't.. don't say that in front of her!"

"Why not? Afraid she'll think you're a pervert?" Gencho was grinning, looking forward.

"No! It's just, eh, y'know, a little, oh, humiliating." Tengen grumbled and sat on his cot, arms crossing, "I don't do that anyway. He's just bullshitting."

"Sure." Val snickered, sipping her coffee.

"Aw, fuck you guys." Tengen muttered and lay down on his bed.

"It's close quarters. We try to get along." Renshen said, wiping his hands on the front of his shirt, "Don't let them fool you, Meredith. They love each other very much."

"I love Val and Gencho to death." Tengen grunted. He stressed the word 'death' with a low tone.

Meredith ate some more of her breakfast and tried some coffee, but found the drink distasteful. She made a face and Renshen took the mug from her.

"How about some milk then? It's powdered. Just add water." Renshen was back at the kitchen.

Meredith tilted her head. Powdered? How strange.

She then looked at Gencho, remembering the previous night. He looked fine now.

"Don't be sore because Meredith knows what you do in that shower now, Tengen. I'm sure it won't skeaze her out when she's in there next." Gencho said.

"Yagh! Com'on now! What is wrong with you people?" Tengen exclaimed.

"Drop it." Renshen ordered.

"Oh yeah!" Meredith stood up and took her hair from the ponytail. She set the hair band down on the top of the bed and pulled her bag out for hunt for her hair brush and bathing supplies, "I'd better do that."

Tengen was huffing hard. He took his eye patch off, wiping at his face and then rolled his shoulders.

"Why do you wear an eye patch if you don't need it, Tengen?" Meredith asked him, pausing to stand at his cot on the way to the bathroom, "I've been wanting to ask.."

"It was my dads." Tengen looked off, still aggravated, "This was all I have left from him."

Meredith watched him for a moment.

He wasn't adding anything and was looking off at Gencho, his lips scowling.

Val was yawning.

Meredith went to take her shower.

The bathroom was tiny and cramped, but she managed. It wasn't anything like home, but she would make it work. After all, it was all worth it.

***

"There was a time, I have heard tale of it, when there were so many of them that they nearly wiped themselves out. They waged war on one another as the Nobility waited in the shadows and the fear of eventual starvation tugged at their spirits. If they'd annihilated themselves, we would die. There were fewer of us then. We'd been lost to the cities and the light, forced underground while we waited for something, anything. Some of us still hunted, but we lived as legends. Stories. We weren't the reality that we are today. If I'd been alive then, I'd have shown them my reality." A male voice, rugged but melodious, caused the stone columns in the huge throne room to shiver and dust was freed from the ceiling above.

"They sent missiles across the lands, attacking their own. Destroying their own homes and cities. Murdering their own children, mistaking the colors of flesh and the gods they worshiped as being dividers among their herd. And they call us monsters now? They call us monsters for keeping them in line and protecting this world which they nearly turned into ash?" The voice was raising, gaining momentum, and the walls shook. The marble floor was sprinkled with debris, the hanging lights swaying as they shone very dimly.

The room was huge and lead to a red velvet stair. At the top, thirty feet above, sat a large, decorative chair. In that chair sat Raziel Morrow.

"A species which turns on its own when their population grows too large. They build weapons and devise ways to kill one another more efficiently, or by more despicable means. They would breed until they consumed all, fight amongst themselves and then self destruct. That is why we are here. That is why the Nobility exists. It is our singular purpose. In the line that divides day and night, we are the wolves which cull the herd. We are the natural order that sustains the life on this planet. They must be kept under control. You've seen the ruins of their lost world. And you, you were there, weren't you?" Raziel's voice was nearly manic, but maintained the song like quality of his elegant tongue.

He was a beautiful man with slightly pointed ears, an earring in the left. His eyes were deep red, like blood, the irises huge in the shadowy throne room. Blonde hair, like gold, was swept back into a short ponytail, his hair only being shoulder length by the looks of it. A few bangs hung in his soft, masculine face. His lips were parted, his teeth showing. Raziel could have been a pale and perfect man of eighteen or a vampire nearing his bicentennial year. Wrath flashed in his lovely countenance, his lips pulling back further into an agitated snarl. He was dressed in his coat, not caring for the overly complicated garb of typical Nobility. Raziel preferred to dress well, but not gaudy. He wore no jewelry, save for the earring, and the cuffs of his black and gray coat were pulled back to expose his arms. His legs were crossed as he sat upon the throne, a booted foot bobbing in the air.

He brought a hand to his lower chest, splaying his fingers across his heart.

"Answer me!" Raziel cried out, "I know you're here!"

The blue light radiated from somewhere behind a column, far away, but the voice was close.

"Yes, I saw it all happen." The voice was soft, indifferent.

"So you understand why I did it?" Raziel was standing, "Tell me you do."

"I understand." The voice replied.

"If you aren't here to help me, why return?" Raziel called out to the throne room.

"I came to tell you that the hunters will be here in five days." It murmured.

"Five days?" Raziel smirked, showing off his fangs as they began to lower, "Why so long?"

"In five days they will be ready to accept their destinies." The voice spoke.

Raziel began to laugh, low at first, but then his voice became a bellowing cacophony which shook the throne room and brought down more dust than before. His head was back, his eyes closed.

"Then I shall be ready for them." Raziel was still laughing, "Let them come. There is yet one left in the bloodline Morrow with teeth."

***

"Agh! No no no!" Gencho was having a fit, staring at the indicator lights on the dashboard.

They'd only been stopped for a few minutes and already the man was huffing and throwing his arms around, his hands coming to bury shaking fingers into his hair.

A little siren began to sound from the speaker system.

"No, baby, don't be like that! Daddy loves you!" Gencho fell upon the steering wheel and caressed it.

"Talk to me, Gencho." Renshen coughed, "Is it her fuel intake or what?"

"It's the fuel intake. I've been pushing my girl too hard." Gencho looked so distraught that he might have burst into tears at any moment, his fingers tracing the dashboard with the same intimacy that one reserved for lovers, "My poor baby girl. I'll have to take a look at it.. I can't have her hurting."

"Just fix the car, Gencho." Val was sitting on her cot, reading through a large book.

"Do you need help, Gencho?" Meredith was at his side, standing near the driver's seat.

"What can you do? Say encouraging words while I do all the work ?" Gencho muttered at Meredith and then frowned when he caught a glimpse of her hurt expression, "Fine. Yeah. Come stand outside with me."

Meredith didn't seem especially uplifted by his concession to allow her to assist but smiled regardless at the opportunity to do something useful.

The man went to the back, bypassing the cots and lifted the grate on the floor near the kitchen. There were cases down there, tanks of spare fuel and other mechanical looking parts for general maintenance of the car. Meredith didn't recognize most of the things down there, but she could smell the fuel ever so faintly. It was barely detectable to her. Gencho was grabbing for cases of tools, only able to carry two in each hand at a time as they were so heavy and cumbersome. When he placed them on the floor above the grate, Meredith reached down and piled four of them into one arm, extending her free hand out while he pulled up another.

Gencho paused, slowly turning to look at her.

Meredith was beaming.

"Hah.. Heh heh.." Gencho grinned and offered Meredith the fifth case, letting out a bark of a laugh when she easily took it and backed away from him, "Ok, Muscles. You're my crewman."

She laughed, pleased with his words.

When they went outside, Meredith appreciated the early evening breeze.

There were still fields of rolling grass but there were no longer any trees. It was all just flat land from horizon to horizon, the sky turning every color she felt existed where the sun hung lower. It would still be a few hours until sunset but the moon was visible, dim in the blue sky. There were long, thin clouds higher up in the atmosphere and Meredith could see a bright spot or two sharing the canvas of blue with the moon and the sun.

"It's so beautiful." Meredith mused, still holding the cases of tools.

"Huh?" Gencho was opening a panel on the side of the Bella.

"Out here. It's beautiful." Meredith repeated. She walked over to him, setting the cases of tools down on the grass. They'd pulled off of the road only slightly.

"Yeah, I guess it is, ain't it?" Gencho had a look around and then turned back to his work, "I've seen it before, so I'm used to it. But guess you wouldn't be."

"No." Meredith smiled, her hands going behind her back, grasping her left wrist as she watched him, "Not that the view at Morrow Valley wasn't really awesome too, because it was. I just didn't imagine how big it would be out here. How much land there would be."

"The world is a big place." Gencho held a hand out, "The case with the red 'X' on it. Hand it over."

Meredith looked at the cases, found the one he'd requested and handed it to him. She watched the muscles in his arm stand out as he took it and dragged it over to himself. He crouched, facing away from her as he fiddled around inside the car, reaching an arm in deep.

"Where were you from before you became a hunter?" Meredith asked him.

"A small village far to the east of the grasslands." Gencho replied, only half invested in their conversation, "We had a farm. Mostly grain and vegetables."

"How did you end up with Renshen?" Meredith tried to sneak a peek over his shoulder.

"You're a curious one, aintcha?" Gencho chuckled, "Why do you want to know?"

"I want to know you better." Meredith shrugged, not sure what else to say.

"And why do you want to know me better, eh?" Gencho turned back to her, wiped at his cheek and smeared grease across his face. He was grinning, but his eyes were cool and reserved, "Am I that captivating?"

"Since I'm going to be traveling with you guys, it makes sense to get to know you, doesn't it?" Meredith replied, amused at the big dark oil smudge on his cheek, "You got something.. right here.."

She pointed at her own face, to her left cheek.

"I'm gonna get messy. A job hazard. I'll grab a rag when I'm done." Gencho turned back to the open panel after grabbing a wrench and disappeared halfway into it, only his lower half still on the outside, "So you wanna know about me, huh? How I ended up with Renshen Bui?"

"Uh huh." Meredith swayed, shifting her weight from foot to foot.

"I was the first kid he adopted." Gencho told her, "Our village was attacked one night, out of nowhere. There had to be ten of them, all regular people who'd been turned by the vampire. He'd also sent his daughter, a Dhampir half breed. They were coming for my older sister's best friend, another girl from the village. She was so beautiful that he'd taken one look at her and wanted her for his own. But we were a tight community. We were gonna fight to keep her. I was only ten at the time, but it didn't stop me from joining my five brothers at the front line. My dad gave me a gun, told me to aim for the head. Silver bullets, holy water, whatever we had. My mother hid my two sisters in the basement."

Gencho was cranking something loud and metallic inside of the Bella.

Meredith stared at his lower half as he worked.

"We had no chance. We were outnumbered." Gencho continued, "They took her. They slaughtered her parents and took her. They were killing all of us but it'd turned into such a massacre that they weren't even checking to see who was dead or dying anymore. They burned the fields, burned our houses. I watched my brothers being murdered by the Dhampir bitch. I remember her face. I remember her long, white hair. Those fangs. 'No survivors, none turned.' That's what she ordered. My father was fatally wounded and threw himself on top of me, begging me to pretend that I was dead. He was hiding me with his own body. I wanted to push him off, but I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't strong enough."

Gencho paused his story.

"They left, taking her with them. I heard her screaming in the night. Then it just stopped. She was gone, and I was trapped under a corpse. I couldn't get up and I was trapped." Gencho went on, "I was the only one left, and I was gonna die too. I guess I must've lost consciousness or somethin' because when I woke up, it was because someone was saving my life. It was Renshen Bui. He'd been traveling nearby and saw the smoke from our village. He saved my life and adopted me."

Meredith's eyes burned and she brought her hands to her face, shaking her head. The tears which stood near the edges of her lashes trembled but did not fall down her cheeks.

"No wonder you wanted to kill me." Meredith choked out, "No wonder you hated me so much."

Gencho stopped working and withdrew from inside of the panel. There was much more grease on his face and arms, and he was looking at her with those dark eyes, his lips parted.

"That was a different Dhampir." Gencho muttered and then turned away from her, "You aren't like that, I can.. I can see that, Meredith. But yeah, that's how I got where I am now. I never wanted to be that weak little kid ever again. I never wanted to watch someone I loved get carried away or killed by something so evil ever again either."

"That girl?" Meredith tilted her head.

"I loved her, even bein' a little kid. Hah.." Gencho ran his greasy fingers through his hair, his eyes closing, "Like a crush, I don't know. A little boy who had a thing for his older sister's best friend. She was always so kind and so gentle. She didn't deserve what happened to her, and I couldn't save her. I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't save anyone. I can still see her face in my dreams sometimes."

"What was her name?" Meredith had decided to sit in the grass.

"Bella LaTruse." Gencho replied and turned back to the panel, "The most beautiful name I've ever heard. She was my first love. Maybe my only love."

Meredith lowered her chin, her eyes searching the grass for answers and finding none. She didn't even have a reply for him yet. All she could do was take in the smell of the evening air and feel the comforting breeze tousle her red hair. Somewhere in the distance there were birds cackling.

"Night'll be coming soon. We can make it to the next town before then." Gencho said to her, "I'll have us running in less than an hour. I don't wanna sleep out here, exposed. You wanna tell the others we've got about forty minutes until we're good?"

"Ok." Meredith was standing.

"Hey, Meredith." Gencho called to her from inside the panel.

"Yeah, Gencho?" She looked back at him, her foot on the first step leading back into the car.

"You're alright, kid." He told her, half of him still hidden.

Meredith smiled.

***

"And five.. four.. three.. two.." Gencho was muttering. Then he turned on the Bella and she roared to life, "Yeah, baby! Yeah! You love your daddy, don't you?"

"We'll be leaving as soon as Gencho's done making out with the steering column." Tengen smirked, having a laugh as he plopped himself down into one of the bench seats, "Let's get going already! We're already an hour behind!"

"Shh, he's just jealous over what we have." Gencho nuzzled the steering wheel.

"He's right, we're already behind. That Dhampir hunter has a day on us now." Val was shaking her head, "I doubt he's going to take his time. I still don't know what he plans on doing when he beats us there, but who cares?"

"Unless he tries to kidnap Meredith at the last minute and he's waiting for us to arrive?" Tengen suggested.

"Oh, I'd love if he tried that!" Val laughed.

"Kidnap me?" Meredith sat down beside Tengen again.

Gencho was driving again, the car rumbling down the road once more.

"It's a possibility, I think." Renshen removed his cap, smoothed back his hair and then exhaled before placing the hat back on his head, "Who's to say exactly what he's thinking? He's been in the business longer than I have, that's for sure. Or at least his legend has been. Maybe he does have a plan and maybe he does intend to just piggy back off of us."

"He's not gonna do that." Val was lighting up a cigarette, "This is our bounty, not his."

"About that.." Meredith spoke up, "You're really going to kill Raziel, aren't you?"

"Raziel's a monster. He's gotta be stopped, Meredith." Renshen nodded to her.

"But if you could just maybe, I don't know, talk to him? Maybe he's just angry and confused." Meredith shrugged, "My brother was never really a nice guy, at least to me, but I can't imagine how a person couldn't be reasoned with."

"Can't reason with a monster." Val stated, glancing at Meredith, "Getting cold feet?"

"No! Not at all." Meredith shook her head, looking to her folded hands which she'd placed in her own lap, "I'm in for sure. I just.. I never believed in someone being inherently evil. I was always told that there was good in everyone. People can be redeemed."

"That's pretty idealistic." Val closed her eyes, smiling as she exhaled smoke, "Sounds like you've been reading a lot of stories."

"I have read a lot of books, but I think it's true too." Meredith looked to Val and noted that the woman appeared to be dreaming, "There's something in all of us which makes us special and unique, and sometimes we get all screwed up. Who knows how. We get lost. The light seems like it's been turned off. I don't think the light ever really gets turned off though. We're just facing the wrong way because we got all turned around. If we just try, maybe-"

"Vampires eat humans, Meredith." Val told her, "You came from a world where the violence had been taken out of it, but it's still what they do. Raziel is murdering people. Killing innocents. I doubt he'll listen to reason at this point."

Meredith sighed, lifting her gaze to the other woman and found that Val was looking directly at her.

"I get it." Meredith nodded, "I'm not going to get in the way. You have a job to do and I am helping you."

"Good girl." Val said, smiling at her, "We're not going to ask you to do anything that you aren't comfortable with, just so you know. We can take care of ourselves when we get there."

Meredith nodded and then touched her own stomach.

"I hope the town we're going to has food. I'm really hungry again." Meredith stated.

"What happened to all of your food?" Tengen asked her, leaning over to look at her, "You had a freakin' bag of snacks."

"Uh, I ate it?" Meredith grinned.

"You're like a bottomless pit!" Tengen exclaimed.

"I could make you something, Meredith." Renshen offered.

"She's gonna eat all our food!" Val forced annoyance into her voice but was more amused than irritated, "Damn, girl! How do you keep that trim figure eating like you do?"

"Yeah, she doesn't work it all off like I do." Gencho chuckled from the driver's seat, "Town ahead, by the way."

"Ooh!" Meredith ran to the front window, standing by Gencho.

"Looks like a hub. There will be a bar and there will be a market. Meredith, you'd best stay in the car." Renshen rolled his shoulders.

"What? No way! I wanna see!" Meredith cried out.

"It'd be too dangerous for you out there." Renshen shook his head, "You gotta stay behind."

"It's not fair! All of you get to go! I wanna go too!" Meredith huffed.

Renshen eyed her face, his lips pulling back into a small scowl.

"Girl, you'd be spotted in one second flat with those ears. You're not human." Renshen told her.

"Would they attack me?" Meredith asked.

"Probably not, unless you looked at 'em funny, but they wouldn't be friendly to you either." Renshen sounded very tired all of a sudden, "We'll bring you back something to eat after we gas up and get supplies."

The Bella was rolling into the town.

It was indeed a small hub town with only twenty or so buildings. There were farms further off in the distance and there were huge, fallen machines out in the fields. Meredith went to the window and made excited sounds, pointing.

"What's that?" She asked.

"Uh that?" Renshen turned to look, and saw what had once been a city in the distance, "Ruins, is all. A long lost empire when man was stronger, lived in less fear of the night and built cities of light and steel. That was a long time ago though. Nothin' lives in those ruins anymore but rats and vagrants."

"Cool." Meredith was grinning, "I wanna see!"

"No, you're stayin' in the car, Meredith!" Renshen raised his voice at her.

Meredith deflated as the Bella parked along the dusty street. It was dirt and grass again out there, turning to desert the farther out she looked.

"Aw, lookit her face. I can't say No to that face. What kinda monster are you, Renshen?" Val came up alongside Meredith and turned the girl toward her, "Here, duck down a little, Meredith."

Meredith bent a bit and found that Valeria was sliding a headband, thick and black, down the top of her head. Val was covering her ears, freeing some of her bangs, and making the cover up look less suspicious.

"That's one thing we can hide, right?" Valeria smiled as she worked, "We can't hide how pretty you are though."

Meredith blushed, her cheeks warming up. The compliment was sincere and it caused her to laugh a little.

"There we go." Val took a step back and placed a hand on her hip, "Now Meredith can come out and have a look around."

"No." Renshen put his hands out, "I forbid it."

"Please, Renshen!" Meredith placed her hands together, fingers clasped. Those big blue eyes were focused on his, "Pleeeeeaaase?"

"No! Absolutely not! And I mean that! There is no way I am letting you step foot into that town, Meredith Morrow!" Renshen said, his tone growing more frustrated.

***

"Bagels! Bagels!" Meredith shouted and went sprinting right for the little wooden cart across the dusty street, "I want one of every kind! I'm starving!"

"Meredith!" Renshen called out and then chased after her.

He had arrived a few moments too late, seeing Meredith with a bagel crammed into her mouth, two bagels in each hand and a very startled vender. It was a middle aged, slightly overweight man, his hair gray and his beard short.

"My! Those are.. two pieces each, young.. lady." The vender smiled.

"Mmphh!!" Meredith said and then looked to Renshen.

"You can't just go up and take things, Meredith. That's something you're going to have to learn." Renshen sighed and began to search his pockets.

"Just remember, Renshen, there's always an investment before a great payoff." Tengen chuckled and walked up behind them, his hand on the back of his head, "But this kid better not eat us broke."

"Mmhh!" Meredith put all of her bagels into one precariously crooked elbow and then fished around inside of her own pockets. She produced two huge gold coins and set them in front of the vender. His eyes grew huge.

"W-what?" Tengen nearly tripped, "You.. you can't pay with that!"

"Oh yes she can!" The vender grabbed at the coins and quickly shoved them into his apron, "Sweetheart, you can pay any way you like!"

"Meredith, we need to speak. Right now." Val was there and was pulling Meredith away.

"Mmph?" Meredith asked, a bagel still in her mouth as she was marched off back to the car.

"Take that out of your mouth." Val ordered.

Meredith juggled her bagels until she could speak unhindered.

"What's the matter?" Meredith asked.

"How much gold do you have on you?" Valeria asked her.

Gencho, Tengen and Renshen were standing around her, shielding her. There weren't many townsfolk out in the street at all, as it was getting late, but they weren't risking it.

"Uhh, why?" Meredith seemed confused.

"Because, sweetie.." Val leaned back against the car, "We use a different type of currency out here, but gold is nearly priceless. You just bought that man a new house a whole lotta land."

"Oh?" Meredith tilted her head.

"Yeah." Val said, "So, how much gold do you have on you?"

"I think I brought twenty coins. Carrying money." Meredith told Val.

Tengen made a gagging sound in his throat.

"Are you.. are you kidding me?!" Tengen hissed, whispering loudly as he leaned in toward Meredith, "The bounty on Raziel Morrow is fifty million. And you might have that on you right now.. Or more."

"Fifty million doesn't seem that much to kill someone." Meredith lowered her head, "Do you want to share some of my gold? Do you need some?"

"Ah, yeah!" Tengen placed a hand out and Renshen slapped it away.

"No, we're not taking Meredith's money. If she wants to help contribute, I won't say No." Renshen smiled at Tengen a moment after he'd spoken, "But it ain't our right."

Tengen was rubbing at his injured hand, his one visible eye narrowed at Renshen.

"Damn, Princess, did you call that.. 'carrying money'?" Gencho had a sharp bark of a laugh, "What a privileged life you lead."

"I'm not privileged." Meredith frowned and then looked at her bagels, "I guess I just do come from a different world."

"Look, Meredith, you're going to have to hide that money on you." Val stated.

"I've got to hide a lot about myself, don't I?" Meredith sighed.

"Out here you do." Val replied, "In your village, you never had to worry about this sort of stuff. But out here, in the real world, these people aren't going to see you the way your friends do."

"Like you guys?" Meredith smiled.

"Uh, yeah. Like us, sweetie." Val nodded.

"Can I eat my bagels now? I'm really hungry." Meredith asked.

"Sure, eat your bagels, kiddo." Renshen chuckled, "We're gonna head into the bar and get something to drink."

Meredith reached into her pocket.

"We can pay for ourselves." Renshen touched her shoulder, "But thank you. Stay by the car, or in it. Don't go wondering around, Ok?"

Meredith saluted him, holding a bagel.

She watched as they wandered off, all four of them, toward an old building with 'Liquor' hand written on a large, worn sign across the front.

Chewing on her bagel, she put the rest into her pocket, not even bothering to put them in a bag of any kind, and looked around the street. There was hardly any excitement at all out there. One man was washing the front of his store, cleaning dirt from the windows.

There was a stable across the way and she saw the metal glint of something familiar. Finishing her snack in one, huge bite, Meredith took a few steps from the car and peered at the open doors of that stable again, getting a glance at a black, cybernetic horse. The spiraling horns on its head were the same as that Dhampir hunter's mount. It was pawing a hoof at the ground.

Meredith tilted her head, fascinated.

***

"I don't get it. Why turn it down?" Tengen gave Renshen a hard shove when they'd entered the bar, "She was practically paying for the job. We could have almost doubled what we were getting."

"Because it wasn't right." Renshen shot Tengen a look and then slid onto a bar stool.

The bar was part of a hotel, the entrance a pair of swinging doors. One way was the bar and restaurant and the other way was the hotel and stable rental. One side was filled with smoke and smelled like sweat and alcohol, the other a bit fancier with a nice rug leading to the check in desk.

The poor bartender was apparently running both.

Valeria lit up a cigarette and sat down at the bar too, looking out into the restaurant. The tables were round and there were booth seats scattered at the four corners. Perhaps ten other people were there, mostly grungy looking townsfolk. A few women cackled at a table, drinking and playing a game of cards. A man was trying to move in and was being dismissed.

Music played softly from some speakers hidden in the ceiling. The fans kept it cool but wasn't dispersing the smoke very well.

"I hate to agree with Tengen, but I have to." Val spoke, "We should have taken at least some of it. She wouldn't have missed it."

"Hell, when we get her home again, maybe daddy'll line our pockets for keeping her so safe, eh?" Gencho leaned back against the bar, already smoking his cigar, "Vampire gold spends just as well as Rich Ol' Lord money."

"Keep your voice down." Renshen said, "I don't want to take advantage of the girl, alright?"

"What? You got a soft spot for princess?" Gencho grinned, chewing on his cigar. Something in his eyes betrayed him, and he grimaced before passing it off as a smirk.

"She's an innocent." Renshen shrugged and then exhaled, "I need a damn drink."

"Yeah, where's the bartender?" Tengen asked loudly.

"I'm coming! Patience, please!" A female voice called out.

A woman was scurrying from the other room, the hotel check in, and came around the bar to serve the new customers. She was not a young woman, but she was not old yet either. Her hair was brown and in a loose bun, her apron and dress stained from her hard work.

"I'm so sorry. Welcome. What can I get for you folks?" The bartender asked.

"Straight rye." Renshen answered.

"Shot of whiskey." Tengen spun on his seat before facing the bar.

"I'll take whiskey with ice." Valeria answered.

"Water." Gencho grinned.

Val chuckled.

"Hey, I'm drivin'." Gencho smirked.

"Yes, I will get those for you. Passing through?" The bartender asked them and began to grab shot glasses and tumblers from a pantry under the counter.

"Yeah." Renshen replied to her, but didn't look her in her direction.

"Where to?" The bartender asked.

"Out a ways." Renshen shrugged.

"You're hunters, aren't you?" The bartender then inquired.

Tengen barked a laugh again.

"Nope." Renshen told her.

"I know a hunter when I see one. You're not the first I've ever laid eyes on." The bartender slid Renshen's drink in front of him on the bar top, "Do you know the other hunter? That Dunpeal that rented a stable?"

Valeria shot Renshen a look.

"Not sure what you're talking about." Renshen told the bartender, "Val, why dontcha go check on our girl? Maybe get her to sit in the car."

"Smart thing to do. If you have a daughter out there, you'd best to have her somewhere safe." The woman behind the bar whispered and then placed Tengen's drink before him, "With a monster wandering around out there, you can't be sure. I took his money, but don't think I trust him for a second."

Renshen was already mostly done his own drink when Tengen simply swigged his entire shot back in a few seconds.

Valeria saw the bartender place her next full glass down and exhaled.

"Yeah, I guess I better.." Val began.

***

Meredith had wandered over to look at the cybernetic horse, doing a quick check back and forth before entering the stable. The horse reacted to her, the whinnying very tinny as it shook its head and stomped a hoof.

"Shh, it's Ok, boy. Hello." Meredith approached and found the horse had calmed.

She reached out, touching its neck. It was cool and metal, like she'd expected, but there was a life force within the thing. It'd been created as a graft of machine and organics. A biomechanical beast that acted like a real horse but had the smooth, hard perfection of robotics.

Meredith was surprised to have found it alone.

She heard a sound behind her and was startled to see the other Dhampir there, carrying his saddle on his shoulder. He was much taller this close up. He was looking at her, observing her as if for the first time. His hair was long and dark brown, wavy. This one, the one she'd heard was called D, was the most attractive man she'd ever seen. He was literally perfect. Meredith, however, wasn't one to gawk and managed to pull herself together. She cleared her throat.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I've just never seen a mechanical horse before. All of the horses in Morrow Valley are real." Meredith said to D, lowering her head and smiling, "What is his name?"

"It doesn't have a name." D told her.

He walked up alongside her and began to place the saddle onto the cybernetic horse's back, strapping the leather together. Her presence didn't seem to bother him.

"It's bad luck not to name a horse." Meredith stated, "You should name him."

D turned to look at her.

"Just because he isn't a real horse doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a name." Meredith continued, stroking the horse's metallic muzzle and smiling when the horse stamped its front hoof, "See? He might be metal but he's still got a personality."

When she glanced at D and saw that he was untouched by her sentiments, Meredith frowned and backed away from the horse, stepping out of the stable.

"I'm sorry. It's not my business." Meredith grasped her hands behind her back, "But I'd totally name a horse like that something cool, like.. Midnight, or something. Or.. um.. Shadow. Totally."

D looked away from her, testing the strength of the saddle.

"Hey, look, I know you don't know me or anything, and I know you're probably getting paid a lot of money for going after my brother, Raziel, but.." Meredith paused and then exhaled, "I asked the others the same thing, and I'll ask you. If there's a way to end this peacefully, maybe you guys could try that instead. No one is inherently bad and if you talk to them, maybe you can convince them to stop whatever they're doing, right? Maybe he doesn't need to die, but I know you want your money. Just, just consider that, Ok?"

D would have said something, and he did have a comment. It would have been slightly scathing, somewhat condescending and very negative. However, he wasn't given a chance to speak.

"Meredith! Meredith, where the hell are you?!" It was Val, screaming from the street.

"Oops, I'd better go. It was nice talking at you!" Meredith was startled but amused, waving at D with one upraised hand before she spun on her heel and exited the stables.

"Meredith, don't wander." Val said, "Com'on. Get over here."

"..Talking at you.." D considered Meredith's choice of words, tilted his head and turned back to the satchel on the saddle.

"Sassy, eh?" D heard his constant companion whisper.

D did not reply.

She'd only heard him there because he'd wanted her to. The girl had been completely unaware of him when she'd stepped into the stable, her senses dulled so badly that he almost felt bad for her. He'd had a few long moments to observe her, notice that red tattoo on her left arm. The symbols were ancient runes, all meshed in strange patterns. The spell that protected her also made her weaker.

He watched the interaction on the street between Meredith and the gray witch, puzzled when Meredith didn't even point him out to the other hunter. Their brief run-in had been omitted. He'd even heard Val tell Meredith that he was there and to get back into the car. Meredith did go back in, but only until Val had left her sight. She was back out again within a few minutes and was pacing.

Meredith leaned on the car again and kicked at the sand for a few moments. She'd been left all alone on the street.

"Don't tell me you're considering making friends now.." That little voice was giddy but dripping with sarcasm.

D clenched his fist and returned to checking the saddle, making sure that it was secure enough after switching out the power cell.

When he looked back over at her, she was gone. He frowned.

***

"She's back in the car. All is well." Val muttered and sat back down again.

"Oh wow!" The voice was unmistakably Meredith's.

"Meredith!" Renshen turned around when he heard it.

Meredith had entered the bar and was looking around, fascinated. She rushed to the bar, skirting around a table along the way and attracting the attention of two men. They whistled at her and she waved at them, completely oblivious, before meeting the others at the bar.

"This is so awesome!" Meredith told them, her hands clenched into excited fists, "Can I have a drink? Can I-Can I-Can I?"

"Haha! Is this your daughter?" The bartender smiled widely at Meredith, "What a beauty!"

"Uh, Meredith, why not wait in the car?" Renshen was beginning to stand.

"But I wanna sit and have a drink! Oh! Can I have a cigarette?" Meredith bounced into a bar stool and kicked her long legs.

"What a tall and lovely young lady you are!" The bartender sauntered over to Meredith.

"Thank you." Meredith blushed, lowering her head, and covered her cheek with her right hand.

"Now, you look old enough to drink to me." The bartender winked an eye, her lips pursed, "What'll you be having, dear?"

"Meredith.." Renshen sighed.

"No, no, this'll be fun." Tengen moved up to Meredith and patted his breast pocket, "Meredith, you want a shot of whiskey."

"I want a shot of whiskey!" Meredith stated to the bartender, repeating after Tengen.

Renshen had given up and was pushing his empty tumbler out to receive another. Gencho was having a hearty laugh, blowing smoke from his nostrils. Valeria Talbot tapped her cigarette against the ash tray.

Tengen found a case in his pocket, took it out and opened it. Inside was a bunch of rolled tobacco papers. He took one out carefully, between two fingers and then held it to Meredith.

"Need a light, doll?" Tengen asked her.

"Yes, please." Meredith answered. She looked at Val and the way she was smoking before Meredith took the cigarette from Tengen. When Meredith brought the hand rolled cigarette to her lips she saw Tengen pull out a match.

Tengen struck the match against the bar top, lifted it to the end of Meredith's cigarette and she took in a deep inhalation, dragging in the smoke while the embers flared. She tried to look cool. She tried to look like Val, sitting there perfectly posed and taking a long breath before puffing out white mist.

It tasted like burning. It tasted just like it had smelled.

"Blech!" Meredith gagged, coughing.

Tengen laughed at her and took the cigarette before Meredith could drop it.

"That's really gross!" Meredith smacked her lips, running her tongue along the roof of her mouth, "Why do you do that?"

"It gets less gross the longer you do it." Val smirked.

"Ew. Why would you keep doing it?" Meredith saw a shot glass appear before her and she took it immediately. She sniffed it and her nose crinkled.

"Let's see if you think this is gross." Tengen said, watching Meredith with a strangely heated expression.

Renshen was being given a second helping of his rye, turning to watch Meredith a few spaces down.

"You have to drink it all at once." Tengen told Meredith.

She brought the shot glass back and took a swig, licking her lips and shaking her head.

"Yuck!" Meredith made a face, "But.. but.. Why?"

"Because it helps." Val said before Tengen could speak.

"Helps what?" Meredith shook her head, "It tastes like lamp oil smells!"

"Life." Renshen smiled a bit, eyes closed.

"The lady will have another." Tengen pointed at Meredith.

The bartender brought Meredith a new shot and Meredith eyed it warily.

"Why would I want another?" Meredith gawked at Tengen and he chuckled.

"Hey there, pretty girl." A male voice from behind them.

Meredith didn't turn around right away and the man spoke once more.

"Hey, red, I'm talkin' to you. How you doin', gorgeous?" The man sounded less friendly.

Renshen turned his head as he saw Meredith spin on her seat.

"Hello!" Meredith said.

Val made a sound in the back of her throat.

"Hit the road." Val spoke into her drink, "We don't have time for this."

"We just wanna talk to the girl." The man spoke.

Each hunter had turned then to look behind them.

Two men stood there, both in their mid twenties judging by their faces. Both were strong men, but one was definitely larger and more masculine. The smaller of the two was even standing behind his buddy, his hands in his pockets while his more dominant companion had his on his own hips.

They weren't bad looking to Meredith. They were sort of cute. She wondered if they were brothers. They were dressed like they'd been working on a farm at some point recently.

"About what?" Meredith asked them.

"Well, we were wondering if you'd like to come play a round of darts with us." The bigger man asked her, "Maybe have a few drinks."

"No, she would not." Renshen said.

"Whadder'you, her dad?" The smaller man laughed.

"He's not my dad." Meredith shook her head, "But I guess we don't have much time. I'm sorry."

"Aw, don't break my heart, baby." The bigger man leaned toward her. He smelled like booze and cigarettes, the burning smell offending Meredith's nose.

"We only came to have a few drinks, gas up and get supplies." Val stated, "Not to play with the locals."

"We weren't asking for all of you to come play, though you're more than welcome to come over too, babe." The smaller man chuckled, his dark eyes flashing.

"I don't think you'd like playing with me." Val muttered.

"Oh, do you wanna prove me wrong?" He continued.

"Meredith, just ignore them." Renshen growled.

"Ok, Ok dad. I get it." The bigger man laughed, "But how's this? You wanna put some money down on a bet? I'll bet this little lady here can't beat my score at darts. I bet none of you can."

"You'd lose your money." Val grinned. A light had entered her jade eyes.

"Val. No." Renshen eyed her.

"Uh oh. Snowflake's a gamblin' gal." Gencho tapped his cigar on the ask tray, "But she also never loses."

"Come prove it." The smaller man taunted.

"Com'on, ice queen. You too, red. I bet you can't beat our score." The bigger man took a few steps away, hands up and palms out, "We'll make the bet fun, Ok?"

"What's the bet?" Val turned around on her bar stool.

"Val.." Renshen lowered his head. He was giving up again.

"Fifty pieces says that neither of you ladies can beat my score." The larger, more muscular of the two was rolling his head, cracking his neck, "If you win, you get fifty pieces. If I win, you owe me.. thirty pieces and a kiss from each of you. Maybe more than a kiss, if you know what I mean."

"Hey, I get one too, right?" The smaller man asked, shoving his friend with his elbow.

"Yeah, I get red and you get queenie." The bigger man laughed.

"Deal." The smaller man nodded.

"Heh." Val grinned, putting her cigarette out, "Ok. Let's play."

"Not Meredith." Renshen said suddenly, eyes flashing at Val.

Val paused, the dots connecting.

She grinned widely.

"Oh, yes, Meredith." Val said.

Meredith had hopped up and was smiling.

"Yeah! What's darts, anyway?" Meredith asked.

"What's.. what's darts?" The bigger man looked surprised and then laughed, "Lookit this city girl, Raif. Ain't that just the cutest thing you ever heard?"

"Hah." The smaller man, named Raif apparently, had a laugh too.

The bartender heard a sound in the other room and scurried off to the check in room.

"Well, Reish, I guess we'll have to teach her." Raif showed his teeth.

"Oh wow! Yes, please!" Meredith was standing in front of the two men. She was as tall as the bigger of the two and he looked slightly intimidated by her height that close. However, he found other aspects of her to study.

Reish made it obvious that he was checking out her cleavage and smirked at her.

"I won't go into too many details there, sweetie." Reish raised an eyebrow, touching his tongue to his teeth, "You just want to get the dart as close to the center as you can, Ok?"

Valeria shoved past them and went to the back of the restaurant, to the dart board.

"Let's just do this." Val muttered.

"Hey, wait!" Raif skipped after Val.

Meredith followed Reish to the back as well.

Renshen sighed, shaking his head.

"S'matter, big guy?" Tengen asked him, beginning to show his alcohol intake as he worked on a third shot, "Let 'em have their fun."

"You know why this is a bad idea." Renshen eyed his tumbler.

"I'll keep an eye out." Gencho sounded more serious, "Besides, check it out. We've got company."

Renshen turned to see that the other hunter, the Dhampir, was watching the commotion from inside of the doorway to the check in room. He looked fairly aloof, as usual, not really that concerned with the activity in the room. The Dhampir didn't even acknowledge the other hunters until he saw Renshen was looking at him.

"Well, that's great." Tengen turned back to his drink, "Do you think he'll try to grab Meredith and split?"

"Not with us right here." Gencho shrugged, looking amused.

D walked past them, his black cloaks hanging around his tall form. When he paused next to Renshen, Tengen spun around to have a look at the imposing Dhampir.

"What?" Tengen asked him.

"This isn't going to end well." D said to them.

"Yeah? What's that supposed to mean?" Tengen tried to stand but had to remain sitting.

D tilted his head at Tengen.

The Dhampir then turned and walked away again, toward the exit.

"Eh.. he's right." Renshen said.

There was a commotion at the end of the restaurant.

"W-what?! Twice?!" Reish was shaking, stammering, as he eyed the two darts at the very center of the board, "Do that again!"

Meredith had been the one throwing the darts and was happily bouncing.

"This is fun!"

"Hey, let me get a turn, Meredith." Valeria smiled.

"No! I wanna see her do that again!!" Reish shouted, "There's no way!"

Meredith threw the next dart. Center. It almost displaced the other two darts. She threw another. Center. Again, she almost knocked a previous dart out.

Reish and Raif were both staring.

"Ok, my turn. Empty the board." Val pushed Meredith away.

Meredith skulked back five or so feet before realizing she had one dart left.

"Oops! One left! Wait!" Meredith cried out, spun and threw the last one.

It struck the board, dead center, but split through another dart in the process.

"That's.. that's not possible!" Raif said, "Hey.."

He ran up to Meredith.

"Hey, you, eh.. you.. human?" Raif was stuttering but grinning nervously.

"Um. Yes!" Meredith lied.

"It doesn't take inhuman powers to be good at darts." Val spoke, "Get back over here, boys. You're about to see a real master."

"Whoa, I mean.." Raif nearly tripped and Meredith caught him, helping him back up.

The man had fear in his eyes and backed away from her.

"She threw that dart from too far away." Reish was walking around a table, keeping Meredith on the other side, "What are you?"

"Hey, guys? Hello?" Valeria turned around.

"I'm normal." Meredith stated, hands up.

"What's that on your arm?" Raif asked, pointing at her.

Meredith tugged her sleeve down.

"A tattoo." She shrugged.

"Looks like a hex." Reish said.

The other people in the restaurant were starting to stare.

"She a witch?" A man was asking.

"Look at her. That's not natural beauty." A woman whispered.

"I'm a totally normal, totally regular girl." Meredith said, backing away.

"Yeah?" Reish asked.

"Hey, back off of her." Tengen was standing, unstable but upright, and was pointing a sword at the two men who were trying to corner Meredith as she approached the bar, "She's with us, and if you mess with her, well.. you get me. And I'm not as pretty, and not as nice."

"Whatcha got there?" An older man was speaking from a booth seat, his teeth showing in an odd, lopsided grin. He was wearing a dark brown hat with a wide brim, hiding his eyes. He might have been a rancher from one of the nearby farms judging by the worn and beaten appearance of his long, brown duster coat and his clothes. He had gray and brown stubble upon his chin. He was smoking a thick, black cigarette,"You know the Barbaroi aren't welcome in this town."

"I'm not Barbaroi." Meredith told him.

"Com'n Meredith, we're getting out of here." Val stalked up to the girl and ushered her to the door.

Renshen looked around the room. He noted the absence of the other Dhampir. That man was smart enough to have moved along a few moments earlier.

"Hey, no, wait." Raif cut in front of them, holding up a cross, "I wanna know what she is."

"Why are you-?" Meredith was very confused and before Valeria could get between the two of them, Raif lunged at Meredith and tried to press the cross against her shoulder. Meredith saw the man's face warp in disbelief when nothing happened.

"O..Ok.. So she's not a vampire.." Raif said.

"Yeah, and it's day time, idiot." A woman laughed from the table many feet away. She looked like she'd been drinking, and she also looked unkempt.

"Back off!" Val took a swing at Raif and he nearly fell over a table, "We're getting out of here. Gencho, go start the car. Tengen, put that sword away."

Renshen was standing up and cracked his neck, towering over Raif as the man stumbled away from Val and turned to look at the rest of the hunters.

"Is she a Dunpeal?" The bartender asked, her eyes wide, "Look, I'll serve one.. I'll take their money.. But I can't have her upsetting my customers. Please pay and leave."

Renshen was digging through his pockets when the gold coin hit the bar top, spun on its edges while ringing softly and then fell flat with a dull, metallic 'clink'.

Meredith had tossed it.

"I.." The bartender grabbed for the coin and stepped back after clutching it to her bosoms.

"For your trouble. I guess." Meredith said, frowning.

"How about for my trouble, huh?" It was Reish. He'd come up behind Meredith and she'd only heard him once he had gotten close enough. The music and the talking in the place had distracted her. His hand went for her shoulder and he grabbed her, trying to pull her around to face him.

Meredith tilted, moving out of his way only to have him grab for her again. He was clumsy and slow, but he was persistent.

"Hey! What did I say?" Val yelled.

Reish tried to grab Meredith by her hair but instead got her head band, yanking it off as he tried to get a hold of her. As he pulled it away, Meredith bashed him in the chest and sent him careening into the nearest table, smashing through it and sending splinters, and the two men sitting at that table, flying backwards.

"She's a goddamn monster!" Raif cried out, seeing Meredith's ears, "She's trying to kill my brother!"

"No! He attacked me!" Meredith shook her head wildly.

"Get out!" The bartender said, and was suddenly brandishing a long rifle.

"Get outa here, you freak!" The woman at the far table yelled.

"Monster!" Another exclamation.

Meredith took a few steps back, shaking her head.

"B-but.." Her eyes threatened tears.

Val went to grab for Meredith but the girl had turned tail and gone running right for the swinging doors. She burst through them and went sprinting out in the street, her hands on her face.

"You too. Get out." The bartender stated, "Don't make any more trouble in my establishment."

"And a good day to you too!" Tengen said, flipping off the bartender. He then raised both hands up, his middle fingers extended on each, to swing them toward the room, "Oh, and you too. And you. And you. Don't worry, I had another one just for you!"

He was flipping off random customers in the bar as he walked away backward toward the swinging doors.

Renshen threw the doors open and stepped out into the street. Val had already chased Meredith outside, seeing the ghost town in the early evening light, and was heading to the car. Val opened the side panel to the vehicle and then shut it.

"She's not in the car." Val grunted.

"Meredith!" Renshen called out.

"Ah shit!" Val slammed her fist on the side of the car, "Where could she have gone?"

"Meredith!" Renshen brought his hands to his mouth to send his message farther.

"What, did she bolt?" Tengen was standing outside with them now and he sauntered over to the car, his hands in his pockets, his swords hanging at his sides.

"You don't think she.. she ran home, do you?" Valeria asked.

"I don't know. That's a long run back." Renshen grunted.

"Give her a bit. She'll come back." Gencho shrugged and then leaned against the car, "There's plenty of places for an emotional kid to hide around here. Check out those ruins up there. Used to be a big city, right? And then there's the canyon over that way. A lot of caves. She'll have her cry and come back."

"We can't risk losing her." Val stormed up to Gencho, "We have to find the girl."

"Man, of all people I can't believe you don't get it, Val!" Gencho laughed heartily, "Don't you remember being a kid?"

"First, yes, I do. And I was already as hardened as I am now. And two, she's not a little girl." Valeria said, eyes narrowed as she stood before the taller, thicker man, "She's nineteen, remember?"

"But for all intents and purposes, she's still a kid. Think about it." Gencho grinned, "Kept cooped up in her kingdom, followed around by babysitters, never had anyone look at her twice for being what she is.. She's never seen the real world before. She wasn't ready for what the people would be like. So, she is a kid.. She's gonna go cry and then come back, trust me."

Val grimaced.

"There's the Dunpeal to worry about." Tengen swung himself beside Val and Gencho, "I don't want that guy trying to pick up Meredith."

"She wouldn't go with him." Renshen said.

"Not willingly." Tengen curled his lip.

"I don't think he'd take her either." Renshen stated, "He seems above that. I don't know. I just get the feeling that he wouldn't just kidnap a kid for a bounty."

"Why not? We would." Tengen laughed.

"We didn't kidnap Meredith." Renshen corrected him, "She came with us voluntarily."

"Calm down, guy." Tengen smiled, "I was just kiddin' around."

"Then knock it off, Tengen Hai." Renshen leaned toward the smaller, thinner man, "If she were somewhere nearby she'd have heard all that. She's got good ears."

"Not super good ears." Val said and then began to get into the car, "She's super human but she's not extraordinary."

"That mark on her, the one that makes her more human. It weakens her abilities." Renshen said, "Gencho, get driving. We're gonna camp just outside of town."

"You don't think we'd be able to sneak back in and get rooms?" Tengen chuckled.

"Get in." Renshen muttered.
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Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlines