Disclaimer: Vampire Hunter D is the property and copyright of Hideyuki Kikuchi. The author of this work is making no profit from this fan-fiction story and is not challenging the status of the copyright holders.

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A dark form moved swiftly along the wall of the ancient castle, melding almost so perfectly with the shadows as to become invisible. Rushed footsteps were muted, as though the very air were holding its breath in awe of the figure that hastened to the only way into the structure. The crisp night was devoid of the cries of insects and nocturnal beasts, those creatures silent for possibly the same reason.

Passing through the hole that proved to be the only entrance into the castle, the figure that stepped into the moonlight was more breathtaking than any sunset or sunrise. The moon chose that moment to hide behind a passing cloud, possibly ashamed to be outdone by any living being that walked the earth. Still as a statue, the form that had so swiftly come here paused.

Precious seconds ticked by before the figure tilted his head and chose a direction, rushing with all the same haste as before. By all accounts, the place had been abandoned for at least a handful of centuries. But something had garnered the lovely creature's attention and he followed the sign only he could determine.

His path took him deep into the castle. The decor within was an old style, grand and beautiful in its prime. Now, however, that grandeur had been obscured by dust. At the form's feet, some of the settled sediment had been disturbed. He followed this new trail, knowing it would lead to what he sought.

The glittering blue pendant that swayed over his chest glowed dimly, providing no light for it seemed to serve another purpose. The man paid little heed to this as he traversed the multitude of hallways. The structure's defenses remain quiescent, seeming almost unwilling to do harm to the beautiful figure that had invaded.

Finally, the man in the dark garb slowed outside a pair of doors. His right hand reached up over his shoulder as the other pushed one open. Beyond the portal was a series of lighted flickers and the sound of potent machinery. These things could not hold his attention for long, however, as his questing gaze sought something else.

Slowly and methodically, he moved into the room with alert senses. Something was amiss here though it did not show on the figure's elegant face nor did it give him pause. A shadow moved among the flickering lights, bringing him about to face it.

"Fool," came the cry from the one who had come here before. "Did you really think I'd let a weakling dhampir catch me?" the other asked haughtily.

Saying nothing in response, the man in black walked calmly towards the speaker. His right hand had not yet released the grip on the hilt of his long blade, despite the fact that he'd not drawn it from its scabbard. "You murdered half the village," he said in a tone that was devoid of emotion.

"So they hired the great hunter D to come see about my demise," the man scoffed. He reached out with a pale hand, tripping switches on a panel that seemed to be in control of the large machinery around them both. "Look around you, filthy little half-breed," he sneered at the black-clad form. "Tremble in awe at the power of your betters!"

In the light, the one being addressed seemed to be no older than his late teens or perhaps early twenties. However, the lights that flashed much more violently now revealed the youth's eyes. Those eyes almost had a timeless quality that spoke of things even the longest lived vampire couldn't even begin to comprehend. The one called D brought that gaze up, never truly taking his attention away from his quarry.

Spatial capacitors ran in interlocking arches over the central point of the machine that the other man was manipulating. Normally, such components were found in large scale dimensional pocket technology, especially considering the sheer size of the pieces. Each of the capacitors was easily three times D's height.

Coupled with the fact was that they were incorrectly placed for the warping effect. If this knowledge confused the young man, he gave no indication of it as he began to close in on his prey. "Come away from the controls, Viktor Kommfeldt."

"You still don't know what you're looking at, do you?" the other said derisively. "Only one of the Nobility can use this machine." Viktor continued to work at the controls for a few more seconds before he gave a pleased laugh. That the hunter approached his back seemed unimportant to him.

As D moved closer, his quarry took something from the face of the control panel and then rushed to the glowing point of light in the center. He gave the hunter a last, scathing glance before diving into that brilliant focus and then vanishing from view completely. Picking up speed, the black-clad man snatched up a similar object before he, too, dove headlong into the light.

Despite his strength of will, the hunter felt himself overwhelmed by cold darkness. The pressure of it was more than enough to render him unconcious.