Return from Exile

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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters related to the VHD movie. Kale however is mine. If you wish to use her as a character in one of your stories, please contact me for permission. Also, Edward, the young red haired Dhampire, D’s little brother, is owned by Cassa Dellinger, and makes his story known in her tale, Coming home. Soon to be located at Fanfiction.net.

NOTE: This is a work of fan fiction. So please read on and enjoy.

SPECIAL NOTE: Regarding chapter 6, thof yof you who are wondering what “…er condeming uns essencially zum Tod. Dracula muß sterben, wenn wir überleben sollen” meant in English, it is this (roughly), “he is essentially condemning us to death. Dracula must die, if we are to survive.” Translation provided by babelfish.com, language is German, or as good a representation of it that babelfish.com could provide.

WARNING: The following work of fiction contains explicit sex and sexual references that may be uncomfortable for some. If you are under 18 (or whatever age is appropriate for your location), HIT YOUR BROWSER BACK BUTTON NOW. If you find explicit sex offensive, please don\'t offend yourself by reading further.

Author: Charlotte (AKA jemstone5)
Email: duckey@ns.sympatico.ca
Feedback: Please, yes, lots
Forward to others: would be flattered if you did.
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Chapter 1 Exodus

It was a horrific, but relieving sight that met the dockworkers that early autumn morning. The Cru, a , a cargo supply ship from the Eastern Frontier, had been overdue for three weeks, and was feared lost. But this morning the missing ship was being towed into the harbor by the Egypt.

The Crusade was found adrift, trying to make its way with makeshift sails of bedding, though not having much success being trapped in a strong current carrying them north. Though with the sail, and some crew with hurriedly assembled ores, kept the ship relatively in one place, it was beginning to drift once more as the crew tired themselves in the struggle, when the Egypt discovered them.

Now the cargo vessel was being pushed up to the docks by tug boats, the hull a patchwork of covered holes, bent side spikes, and who knows what kind of damage on the underside. The Crusade would be a long time before it sailed again. As the dockworkers hurried to catch the mooring lines, a horse’s squeal echoed from the deck. Shouts of the crew followed as hooves were heard clang ong over the deck. “LOOK OUT ASHORE!!!” someone yelled, as a dark shadow over the morning sky flew from the ship, followed by another.

The shadows were horses, leaping to the safety of land, a rider on each of their backs. While the second horse landed safely, the first was not so lucky. Its front hooves touched the top of some crates, which at once gave way. The horse squealed as it crashed to the dock, sending its rider into stacked baskets of fish and produce.

At once the dockworkers rushed to the rider’s aid, the horse struggling amongst the debrie to regain its footing. “Get away!” someone yelled, and the second horse pushed passed them, the dark cloaked rider dropping down, warning them to stay away from the fallen rider. “Stay back!” The workers all backed away, some of them turning their attention to the fallen horse. “Kale. Its alright. We’re on shore now.” The man pulled the girl up by her shoulders, clearing her tears and brushing dirt and squashed fruite from her face. “Kale, its alright. You’re safe. Sssshhhhh. You’re safe.”

“We gotta find a better way D,” she cried. “I can’t do that again. Not ever. Please, we’ve gotta find a better way.”

He gently kissed her brow, holding her close. “We’ll try. I promise, we’ll try.”

“Sir?”

“She’s alright. She just doesn’t like the sea. Where’s the nearest Inn or tavern?”

One of the dockworkers handed D the reins to both horses, as the man rose to his feet, bringing the shaking girl to her own feet. “The closest is Salties, but he won’t unlock his doors for another hour. Now one will in fact.”

“She needs to rest. If only to regain her composure.”

“She can use my office,” offered a large man, pushing through the crowd. “This way.”

Once safe from prying eyes, D handed Kale a cup of water, but she wouldn’t drink. “You haven’t eaten or slept in three days, love. Please, drink this. For me.”

“My daughter doesn’t travel by sea well either. We had to force feed her when the journey was over.”

“I appreciate the use of your office sir, but I can take care of this. Please go.” The man huffed, but left, leaving a small box open on the desk, the offering of sandwiches inside. “Kale, please?”

“They just kept coming.”

“Yes, and if you didn’t convince the first officer to follow your advise, we’d all be dead now.”

“So many died. The captain…OH GOD!!”

“I know.” The captain was one of the first to die. When the sharks first started to attack the ship, D went to help the men fight, leaving Kale below deck, where she preferred to stay. She was getting ropes together to tie herself to the main support posts, when the captain snuck up behind her. He’d been eyeing her the whole trip, but couldn’t do anything for D was always close at hand.

She did an admiral job of fighting him off, when one of the sharks managed to break through the hull. Kale had grabbed the rope she’d gathered, and looped it around the support pole, but regardless of the captain’s last actions, when she turned to grab him too, there was little left to save. The shark had bitten him. All that remained was his head, neck, left shoulder, and arm. The rest…well, it didn’t satisfy the shark’s appetite.

The next she saw was D, and several of the crew with swards, spears and flame torches. There wasn’t much left to carve up, once the blood was in the water. The other sharks did the service of pulling the dead animal out of the ship.

They were left alone for quite a while then. Only to realize they were in real trouble. When the sharks attacked, plowing through the ten-foot long side spikes, the debris had destroyed the ship’s propellers, causing the rotations to jam, and burn out the engines. Breaks in the hull had caused leaks in the oil and fuel tanks, contaminating both supplies. Not that it was any use without engines to move the ship.

It took D’s sternness to bring around the terrified first officer to listen to his crew and passengers. Together they managed to get back north from the warmer shark infested waters, and keep the ship afloat. Everyone worked together on the sails that Kale had suggested they use.

Then the desalination unit dies. Without that, they’d soon die of thirst. Kale knew there was another way to separate the salt form the water. Her father told her about it long ago, but for the life of her – and everyone else – she couldn’t remember.

Two days later someone sighted the Egypt a few miles away. The crew then sent up a red smoke signal. In a few hours The Crusade was under tow. What little fuel and oil the crew of the floundering ship could save was transferred to the Egypt for further use in towing them. It took a week and a half to get to the western world’s port. Kale had had quite enough of the sea, and there wasn’t anything D could do to keep her on the ship before it was properly tied to the docks.

“No one can blame you Kale,” he whispered. “You faced your greatest fear with a courage I’ve never seen before. But even courage has its limits. It’s time for you to rest now love. Rest.” His left hand to the back of her head, D eased her back in the chair, propping her feet up on a box he pulled over.

“I really thought we were all done for that time,” said a voice.

“I know. I can’t put her threw that again.”

“Then how will we get back?”

“We’ll find a way. But right now, our main problem is here. More and more ships are appearing in the night sky. But only a few are landing. And I’m positive they’re heading for Barbarois.”

Just then someone knocked on the office door, then stepped inside. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need my office back.”

“No apology, please. I should apologize to you, and thank you, for the loan of your office.” Carefully D took Kale into his arms, once making sure she was covered comfortably in her cloak.

“Your horses are around the side. The silver one’s a bit scratched from the fall, but other than that there’s no damage.”

“Thank you, good day.”

“A suggestion if I may. Most of the bars and Inns are rip offs, if you want a decent room at a more than fair rate. Look for Delilah’s Tearoom. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a brothel, but the place sure doesn’t look it. Delilah will treat you well. Just tell her Henry sent you, and she’ll settle you in nice and quiet.”

“Brothels are often too noisy.”

“Not this one. It’s a decent place. But if you’d rather take your chances with the bars, that’s your choice.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

The docks had quickly come alive with workers. Many moving cargo, already on the docks, out of the way, for the new cargo to be off loaded. Engineers and repair crews were already going over the repair work to be done. D was able to mount up without too much difficulty and headed away from the bustling area.

Before too long, D was guiding the horses down one of the busier streets, making way for a few of the motorized vehicles carrying deliveries, or hauling away trash, be it passed out bar patrons, or actual refuse. He was about to stop at one of the large bars to enquire about a room, when someone from inside was thrown out, followed by several pulse blasts to chase him away. “AND STAY OUT!!” shouted the shooter, “Lousy no good cheat…What are you lookin’ at?!”

D rode on, unaware that a pair of young blue eyes watched him go.

“D…”

“Sssshhhh, Kale. It will be quiet soon.” She quickly settled back to sleep, with a little help.

“D, I can’t keep doing that to her. It isn’t healthy for her. She needs actual rest.”

“I know. And I appreciate you helping her.”

“WOW! You must have really swallowed your pride to say that!”

“Just help me keep her calm till I find us a room.”

“This Tea Room the Harbor Master mentioned. It may be the only half decent place.”

“Perhaps. We’ll have to see.” On the roves above the street, a tiny shadow crept, following the dark stranger as he rode with his precious passenger. D turned his attention upwards.

“What is it?”

“I thought I saw something.”

“Thought? You’ve never doubted your abilities before. What’s wrong?”

“This toas tas too much noise. Too much movement,” Just then in the window D had been watching, a man pushed a woman down to the floor, but from what he could hear, she seemed to be enjoying herself. “I can’t be totally sure of what I see.”

“Oh well, just watch where you’re going and we’ll all be fine.”

The Harbor Master had been right however. The rooms available were atrocious. The beds were infested with fleas, and the bedding smelled like it hadn’t been washed in a week, or more. If the beds were like that, he didn’t want to see the lavs.

Pretty soon, after asking for directions, D found himself in front of Delilah’s Tea Room. If it was a brothel, it sure didn’t look like it. The building was tall and shaped like a box, totaling 5 floors, including the basement. It had a slanted roof, several windows numbering 10 across, with a ten foot garden space in front with benches and tables for people to sit and enjoy the many colorful flowers, and what few birds that ventured into the town. A large, but modest sign hung near the gate, written on it in delicate text “Delilah’s Tea Room, Please Keep its peace.”

“Very nice,” said the sym. “You wouldn’t think it was a cat house.”

“Don’t say cat, please.”

“Sorry.”

D carefully balanced his woman as he knocked on the cherry wood door. A moment later it opened and an elegantly dressed young woman ushered them in. “Miss Delilah?”

“Thank you Terry. You can go.” A taller, older woman, stepped out of the office, her dress, like Terry’s, was very elegant. A long modest blue silk gown with gloves on her hands. Her hair was drawn back to a respectful bun, and her shell shaped ears were decorated with a single pearl on each. “You appear to have your hands full,” she politely chided, “What can I do for you?”

“Henry sent me. He said…”

“Say no more. This way please.” The woman guided him through an elegant tea room, tables adorned with lace table clothes, and vases of roses and other flowers he’d seen in the gardens outside. He followed her up a flight of stairs, and on the second floor, she opened the third door, facing the back yard. “Henry is a very kind man. Despite his gruff exterior. His sister passed away two years ago. When she became ill, I offered the use of one of my rooms so that she would be closer to him, rather than he travel the two hours out of town to the family farm to see her. She was so grateful, she left the family farm to him, in return he leases it to me. When his sister died, she was berried at sea so that he would always be close. Sense then, if a woman came in from a voyage, he’s reminded of his sister’s last words. ‘If someone comes from the sea and needs help, I have sent them’, and he sends them to me. He’s asked me to explain this to people, as he is not comfortable doing it himself. I hope you don’t mind. I provide many services to the town, least of which is a room for travelers to rest.”

“He said, this was a brothel,” he commented, settling his woman on the bed. “I wouldn’t have guessed. This place is lovely. Even lavender scented. Very nice.”

“Thank you. I try to keep what people perceive as a distasteful occupation, as presentable as possible. The rooms are sound proofed, and very little noise comes in, should you wish to open the window. The rate is $100 a night.”

“I only have Eastern Frontier money.”

“It’s all the same thing. Difft art areas call it bits and pieces, others, like here, call it dollars and cents. It’s all the same. I’ll let you settle. You can pay me when you go to leave. No one else takes money for board accept me.”

“Thank you. Till later then.”