After bidding a fond farewell, D continued to ride, he stared to the horizon and the future. The sun was low and the sky was alive with color. The air was getting cooler as the minutes went by, D rode away thinking.
"Oh, well we didn't need another messy affair, right?"the hand said.
"For once can't you be quiet, or do I have to remove you?"D's voice was stern.
"Tisk, tisk mighty hunter shows fear, all because of..."
"Silence, you despicable creature!" D was beginning to lose his temper. Hand was startled but somehow realized that he had crossed a line.
D's mind became a blur of images, all surrounding a woman. He saw a room lit with white candles and before him was a woman. She had deep red hair, which was swept high and cascaded down, adorned in small red and white roses. Her large eyes were deep violet that glittered like dark amethysts and commanded a mystery to them. Her lips were full, painted red-violet and they had a sultry pout to them. An off the shoulder white silk and lace gown hung to her every curve. The sleeves flared at the wrists, looking like pseudo wings. The form fitting gown went down to the floor with a long slit on the right side. He long creamy leg was exposed, her bare skin reflecting the candles' glow. The mark upon her ankle was a golden dragon, wrapped around it. D could see her in such detail as if he was in front of her once again, upon their wedding day.
"I will always carry you within, for without you I am hollow, but now I am full."her soft voice echoed through his head.
D's mind kept racing as the images and thoughts kept coming. He kept his stare forward, trying to suppress them. After concentrating for a long time he couldn't keep it up. He let the memories fulfill him taking a deep breath, he stopped and dismounted. He saw out the corner of his left eye a weeping willow tree. He walked his horse near it and decided to sit under it. He removed his sword and hat and sat against the ancient tree. Placing the items on the ground next to him he gazed at the wide open field in front of him.He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Hand I wish you wouldn't make me remember,"he sighed.
When D opened his eyes he gazed upon a stone ceiling. He tried to move but couldn't, he was weak. Gathering what little remained of his strength he sat up. Holding his head with his hand he tried to get a bearing on where he was. He began to remove the soft fur blanket when he noticed his clothes were gone. He was bandaged, groggy and in a strange place, not exactly where he felt comfortable.
"Now what do I do next?"
He looked for any tell tale sign of where he was. Finally fixing upon a tapestry he had a better idea of where he was. The tapestry was deep blue with a gold dragon winding up it.
"A crest of a mage, but are they not all dead?"
"Not quite," a woman's voice responded.
D checked to make sure he was covered before checking to see who said that.
"Don't worry about it, who do you think cleaned and bandaged you?"
D could see her now, as she approached him. She had deep, long red hair which was pulled back into a high ponytail. She had the face of an angel, crested with warm violet eyes. She wore a mage's robe, it was long and flowing with a gold dragon upon each lavender lapel . The robe was slightly open, revealing a shimmering white silk slip. D held his breath as he had never seen a more beautiful creature. She walked to him and knelt upon the bear skin before the bed. She smiled and waved her hand, from nothing a bowl of herbed water, rags and bandages appeared. She began to move the blanket as D snatched it back from her.
"Just because you're a dhampire doesn't mean that you heal that quickly from wounds like that. Now my shy stranger are you going to let me check your wounds?"
"They are fine,"D was feeling embarrassed to be naked before her.
"Fine be difficult," she looked down and black fur blanket was gone. D sat there naked before her unsure of what to do.
"Now, let's remove this bandage," her hand grabbed at the abdominal bandage. Carefully unwrapping it, she had to stand and lean closer to him to get around his back. Her cheek barely grazed his and he could smell jasmine upon her warm skin. As she finished she moved back and their eyes locked in that second, something stirred inside D.
"I want to kiss you,"he thought.
"I want you to kiss me,"she thought as if they were reading each other's mind. She closed her eyes, exhaled, and finished removing the bandage.
"Control, yourself you are no good to anyone if you loose you posture,"she tried to remind herself.
"I have never felt like that,"D thought. He began to feel like a child first wandering into it's parents room, forbidden and yet so invited in. This was new territory, something his father warned him of but never thought it would happen.
"D, every man, human and vampire alike find a love that hits them, I did, be warned it is a double edge sword. Never fear it and never let her go, to love is part of the vampiric nature."his father once said. Perhaps one of the most meaningful talks he ever had with his father regarding the passing of his mother and who he is.
"The jagged gash is gone, you do heal fast for a dhampire, that slice would have nearly if not kill any other dhampire. Now let's look at your leg." She reached for the bandaged upon his upper right leg. In almost like a panic D removed her hand before she could touch the bandage. She smiled and he unwrapped it. She finished as it got closer to his knee. The second gash was gone and the bone felt like it was back in place.
"To risk repeating myself, you heal fast for a dhampire." she looked up and smiled at him.
"Thank you, now I will need my clothes and I will no longer burden you."He gazed down at her wanting to touch her face. She stood before him and with a wave of her hand long racks of men's clothes appeared, from different centuries and era's. From silk to cotton almost any item of male clothing you could want was there. D was amazed at not only her power but knowledge of clothing. Obviously she has been around for a while.
"Take what you wish to wear and join me downstairs for a tour of my castle and later for dinner."
"I have to...."
"No you don't, please honor me with that simple request, no more no less."
"Yes milady." D was helpless to her commanding tone.
"Good, I will see you, shor..."she looked down at him,"later" She vanished into a faint smoke and D was alone.
D sat back down and looked over the room. To the far left was a stained glass window and with the sunshine peering through it became alive. Behind the light he caught a painting, he stood up, and feeling comfortable being alone he went over to it. The painting was old perhaps a few thousand years, painted in oil and framed in gold. There was a young woman with a long golden sword before her, she stood upon a burning battlefield. She had black long hair tied up high and braided down. Her eyes were black and cold, and under the right one was a scar. She wore a black tight cat suit, with golden boots that went up to her thighs. Along the side of the right one was a black dragon similar to the gold ones upon the tapestry. Her black embroidered cape flowed around her. Her look was stern as a conquerer and not the conquered. There was an inscription in the bottom frame that read."The Battle of 5,065 A.D. Victory in Eurasia."
"Which General is that?" D pondered. As he gazed into her face he notices a resemblance.
"Strange, she must be an ancestor as swords like that are no longer made, perhaps a Great Grandmother" He walked over to the clothes but stopped before the large mirror upon the wall, the top corner reflect the colors of the second stained glass window before it. Taking a look upon himself he felt almost a sadness over come him, he couldn't stay and he knew it.
"It's only dinner,"the hand said.
"Is it?"
"Only if you let it be"
"I just do not understand myself sometimes." D began to look through the clothes.
"Look she's beautiful and well you a half human male who has not been with a woman, you feel it and you want to deny it but can't."
"Hand you may actually be sympathetic sometimes."
"Well don't expect this all the time."
"Do you know anything about her or this castle?"
"Actually no, mages were written off as dead many centuries ago so, she must have been in hiding for a very long time."Hand stated.
D had finished grabbing what he wanted settling for a white tunic with a drawstring collar and a pair of black silk pants. He put on a pair of black riding boots, and seeing a vanity to the right, he went over to brush his hair. He grabbed the oak paddle brush and brushed his hair back tying it with a white cord.
"Well, aren't we all fancy, pretty boy. remember it's only dinner,"hand had begun getting sarcastic.
"That reminds me,"D grabbed a black glove and placed it over the symbiot,"there."
He walked out of the room and entered a long hallway, looking down the left side he saw a master staircase. He looked down at the long oriental rug, it was blue with humming birds, bamboo, and lotuses gracing the borders. A porcelain vase stood before him, it came up to D's mid section in height. It was navy blue with a sweeping motion from the right side. The dried flowers in it looked bright and cheerful, with shades of pink, red, and blue all intertwined. D proceeded to the stairwell and took notice os the oak trimming on the handrail. It was light in color with a vine pattern gently carved out.
"Work like this hasn't been done for hundreds of years" D thought as he descended the stairs.
As he came down the stairs he saw her, standing before a clear window. The sunlight accented her, adding a second aura to her. She had changed her clothing, she wore black riding pants hat looked like a second skin on her. Her boots were silver knee high with a jeweled crest on the top point on each one. Her shirt was a white embroidered bustier, with thin shoulder straps. Her hair was down and parted down the middle and separated into two low braids, each tied with silver lace.
"Yes I am" D made it down the stairs and held out his arm.
"A gentleman, been a while since I last had one of those around" she took his arm and smiled at him.
D tried to keep his thoughts under control, for he knew that mages could read minds.
"I forgot to introduce myself I am Phoenix, last of the good mages. Enough about me, tell me about yourself."
"My name is D, as you noticed I am a dhampire and for that I seek to destroy all the vampires and evil in the world."
"That's quite the goal. Why take the burden upon yourself ?"
"For it wasn't for my lineage becoming corrupt, this wouldn't have happened."
"I thought you looked familiar, you are Dracula's son?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Let me show you,"she waved her hand and suddenly they were in an art gallery.
There were many paintings, both old in new. The room was lit by two delicate crystal chandeliers, high above, providing a warm comfortable light. She stood before a painting, D came up behind her and was amazed at what he saw.
"How did you get a painting of my father and who is that?" D focused on the woman sitting in front of him. She was pale with shoulder length black auburn hair. She had no pupils in her eyes they, even in the painting looked like they glowed. She wore a black oriental long dress that had gold knots for buttons. It had short sleeves and had two slits upon the side. She looked very poised and regal, obviously they must have been close in age.
"That is the Lady Chaotica, she was a loyal dhampire to your father. She was actually half mage half vampire. She would destroy those that would attack or defy your father's ways. She was a segregate mother to many orphans, including myself and a teacher of the true noble and mage ways."
"She's gone."
"Yes, she was killed by her only true child Jonathan Tremon, he believed in the evils of the powers and because of it he managed to kill her."
"You mean she let him so she wouldn't kill him."
"Yes, sad isn't it, because of him the infa structure of true nobility faded away. When Magnus took over the house, over a few thousand years ago and Jonathan began killing mages for their magic, everything Dracula believed in was dead."
"Tell me, how did you manage this long?"D asked.
She stepped in front of him, looked into his eyes and smiled. "Obviously, I'm lucky,"bit her lip and faintly chuckled.
"Honestly, is there anyway I can help you?"
"No"she sighed. D stepped forward and placed his hands upon her shoulders, he looked her in the eyes. Her eyes were warm, passionate and even a little fearful.
"You helped me let me repay the favor."
"He found me, after so long I couldn't keep avoiding him, that was who I saved you from and for it he knows where I am."
"You risked your life, the last of your kind to save me?"
"I would do it for anyone, you happen to be there ,"she smiled. "God what am I saying, I'm acting like a child, I've had countless years, if I die, at least they were full."Phoenix thought.
"Then I will find him and destroy him! I will not let you die."D's voice was passionate about every word. They found two chairs across from the painting and sat down. They talked and laughed for hours.
"This castle is wonderful and your charm adds to it."D stated complementary.
"Thank you," she smiled,"well it should be time for dinner now, shall we?" D grabbed her arm and they appeared into a large banquet hall. The room was bright with candles all around it and in the center was a beautiful table. The table had fresh red roses all over the table and a shimmering table cloth on it. There was a plate of food in one setting and a goblet in the other.
"Being a mage I can create anything I want, even blood, so I never have to eat anything I don't like." D looked at her and noticed that she changed clothing.
"Tell me do you always change this much?"
"Actually you saw me in my pajamas earlier, I was planning on going riding with you, but we began our conversation, and this is dinner wear." She wore a simple long electric blue dress, it was sleeveless, with a mandarin collar. The embroderiery patter was remarkable, such detail, done in a color just a little brighter than the dress, a short slit was the back, allowing her some freedom to walk.
"I'm surprised you don't have many suiters?" D escorted her to her place.
"No time for finding love, survival first."she sat down into the velvet chair D pulled out for her. D circled around and sat down to the left of her, he sat tall in the chair. "I can agree with your statement, with my goal I cannot find love."
"Do you look?"
"No, honestly I do not."
"Me either,"she smiled playfully.
"Ever have one try to love you?"
"Yes, a human once, I tired to tell him no, that it was too important for me to stay away from emotional ties. Ultimately he didn't get it and I had to erase his mind about me." She placed the napkin in her lap and clasped her hands in front of her.
"Interesting."
"You, D?"
"No, no woman has ever tried."
"Was there one you wish you had?"
"No,"D said,"Maybe you should be the first," he thought.
"He's beautiful, in so many ways, too bad neither of our lives would allow this to happen." she thought.
They talked and enjoyed their individual dinners together. After they dinned, Phoenix had an idea.
"Let's have nightcaps in the garden."
"Garden?"D was curious.
"It's a little garden, this way, we'll walk there." She stood beside D and held out her hand. D slid the chair back and stood up, taking her hand. They walked through the dinning room, to the back door. The room afterward was all glass, it was warm, like a tropical forest. D could smell exotic flowers in the air and feel a humidity on his skin. There were orchids, jasmine, bamboo, palm, and various other plant life. they walked upon a golden wood walk way with tiny lamps lighting their way. A small stream of water was heard to the left and fish could be heard jumping.
"This is one of my gardens actually, I thought the tropics would be a nice place to sit after dinner."
She walked a head of D past a small hedge of flowering plants. D cleared his way after her and saw her sitting by a pond. The moon light was radiating in through the glass and danced upon the water. She sat upon a sandy shore line, with her legs out stretched and her arms behind her, for support. To him she glowed once more, looking radiant and almost pure.
"She must be an angel,"he thought.
Phoenix watched D come to her, she held her breath at his sight. His eyes were vague and warm, like he could see her soul. The moon light danced freely upon him, he wore no expression upon him. The shirt he wore was slightly tight on him and his pants wore well upon his waist. He was so powerful and so fragile looking, like a rose.
"He is God sent."she thought.
D sat beside her, in almost th same position as her. Phoenix laid her head upon his shoulder and gazed into the sky.
"Am I being to forward?"she asked.
"No,"D said knowing this would be a good moment. He slid back and got her head off his shoulder , catching her in his arms, he lifted her up to his face. She moved closer to him, sitting up she gazed into his eyes.
"Am I being to forward?" D asked as he brought her in closer and kissed her passionately.
Time had stopped and the kiss lasted for an eternity for the both of them. They were enthralled in the moment, and they let all boundaries slip. D had begun kissing her neck as she began to run her fingers through his hair. He had found the zipper down the back of the gown and unzipped it slowly. He ran his fingers lightly down her back, sending a wave through her. She began pulling his shirt up out of his pants, as her lips traced his neck. D could feel a rush hit every part of his body. D lifted his arms up as she removed the shirt from him. they looked into each others eyes and somehow knew it was right. They embraced again, as D began to slip the dress forward upon her arms. She helped him finish by pulling away just long enough for him to finish. D began kissing her shoulder as his arms pulled her closer to him. He could feel her soft warm breasts upon his chest, sending a feeling of passion through him. She held him tightly and untied his hair letting his locks go free.
"Finish it," D whispered into her ear.
She understood and the remainder of their clothing disappeared, except for the glove. He laid her back onto the sand, pressing his body upon her, they became one. Her legs traced the outside of his as he looked deeply into her eyes and thrusted himself inside of her. She moaned lightly as D moved to the rhythm of the waves. He was gentle to her and she was falling more for him. They made love the rest of the night, and somehow they felt fulfilled.