A Shade Darker by J. Bratcher Prologue

Trowa Barton wrapped his jacket against the chill wind. Winter had fallen in the Carpathian Mountains, currently where the circus was at right now. The tall, slender boy made his way across the small village. He really didn't know where he was going, but he felt that he needed a walk to clear his head.
He passed a vidscreen. He paused and listened to the news report. The reporter was an attractive redhead and she smiled brightly. She said, "Relena Peacecraft had just made final negotiations between the L3 colonies and Earth today. Miss Peacecraft reassures the citizens of both Earth and the Colonies that this is a new dawn, a new beginning."
Peace has finally been made at home, Trowa thought, relieved, as he started to walk again.
The reporter went on, "And in other news, Quatre Rebaba Winner had just finished negotiations to rebuild Space Fortress Barge to become a weaponless space research point. Mr. Winner, the young CEO of Winner Enterprises, also plans to help find homes and carriers for the former Oz soldiers as soon as possible."
Quatre, always too kind for your own good, Trowa thought fondly of his friend as he looked back at the TV. A photo of Quatre's cherubic features was now on the screen. Trowa smiled and softly said, "I hope everything is well for you, my friend." With that, he started to walk again.
He walked past a dark ally. A pale hand whipped out of the shadows and grabbed him. Trowa didn't remember anything after that.

He was known as the God of Death to both humans and the Forces of Darkness. To his friends he was known as Duo Maxwell, Deathscythe HELL pilot. To the Forces of Darkness he was the God of Death, the Hunter, the Exterminator, whatever the hell they called him that week.
Right now he was taking up his true calling once again, being the God of Death for the undead. He smiled as he pulled his black cap over his eyes as he walked down Louisville, Kentucky's busy streets. He had gotten a call from the Church saying that a group of vampires had sprung up here and were taking control.
"Can't have that, can we?" Duo asked with a manic smile as he slid into an ally.
There were two of them, bent over a young woman with long black hair. They looked up at Duo, the teenage boy with the meter long chestnut braid, huge violet-blue eyes, dressed in a priest's garb and with a silver cross swinging wildly from a chain on his neck. His duster to ward off the cold and hide his weapons moved like bats' wings behind him.
The vampire's red eyes glowed in the darkness, blood dripped off their fangs as they looked at him. Duo said, "Okay boys, you had your fun."
"Get the hell away, kid," the first vampire snarled between bloody fangs.
Duo drew the weapon out of his duster. A Gundaminum scythe. He spun it over his head then knelt on the ground, leaning on the weapon. He smiled and said, "Aww, come on now, Fang Face, you don't wanna disappoint the God of Death, now do you?"
"It's him," the second vampire hissed in fear.
"Exactly," Duo said cheerfully as he waited for the vampire to spring. They always attacked him. They were just stupid that way.
"Lets be the ones that kill the God of Death," the first one snarled as he sprang. Just like Duo predicted. The God of Death spun on his heel, catching the vampire with the scythe's blade right across the gut, spilling blood and intestines. The vampire screamed in pain as Duo spun back around and cut the vampire's head off with his scythe.
The second vampire snarled and rushed him. Duo cleanly moved out of his way and swung the scythe in one clean motion. The vampire's head rolled on the pavement and they exploded into ash as one. He dusted his hands off and said, "Not bad, but you could have tried harder."
"Help me," the girl stammered. Duo rushed over to her side and gently helped her off the ground. Twin puncture wounds marked each side of her throat, blood dribbled out of them in a tiny, scarlet trickle.
"Are you okay?" Duo asked her, moving her slowly out of the ally.
She shrugged and answered, "I think so, at least. Where they?"
"Vampires, yeah," Duo answered her as he rested her body on a bench.
"Vampires are real," she murmured in disbelief.
Duo nodded and said, "Well, you should be okay here. I've got work to do." He stood up, not wanting to flirt because he had Hilde. Or he hoped that Hilde still wanted him anyway.
She reached out a hand and clutched his duster. She said, "Thank you very much."
Duo grinned and replied, "Hey, my pleasure. It's my job." With that, he tilted his hat and walked away from her, ready to hunt again.

"My lovely Trowa," a soft voice crooned to him, "Wake up and experience forever."
Trowa slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he thought of was pain. His whole body felt like it was on fire, an all consuming, suffocating pain. He had trouble moving. He had been hurt before, but the pain wasn't even half as bad as this.
He moaned and tried to sit up. A lovely young woman with midnight black hair smiled at him. She was dressed in a red bodice and black leather pants. He blinked and looked into her face. Her eyes kept changing color. Once they were blue, and now they were as black as obsidian.
His mouth felt dry. His throat was constricting and burning, his body asking for something that his mind couldn't comprehend. The Heavyarms pilot asked, "Where am I?"
The girl moved from his vision. The room was candle lit, the light flickering almost painfully. It hurt Trowa's eyes to look at it. He closed them and turned his head away. He knew he was in danger; he just didn't know how to get out of it.
She answered in her soft, husky voice, "Why, you're at my cabin, my lovely Trowa."
Trowa didn't like the musical purr of her voice. There was something wrong with the girl, but strangely familiar.
He got images of what happened after the hand grabbed him in the ally. A beautiful girl holding him like a lover, dipping her head into his neck. He felt a sharp prick there then a languid warmth as she stroked his face, his arms.
He stood up, wobbling, and said, "No . . . They're not real."
She smiled and leaned her face on her palms. Her eyes turned bright green as she looked up at him. She said, "My name's Lilith. Welcome too forever, Trowa."
"What are you talking about?" he hissed. He hurt all over. He had trouble moving, he was weak.
"Why, my dear Heavyarms pilot, I just made you into a vampire," she told him with a chuckle.
"That's impossible," he hissed at her, the pain increasing, threatening to knoll at his insides and burn him from the inside out.
She smiled and said, "Trowa, you're feeling the hunger right now. And it's too bright in here, isn't it?"
It was. The light was still hurting the Gundam pilot's eyes. He was squinting as he looked at her. His canine teeth felt heavy, throbbing for something. He ran his tongue over his lips to find fully extended fangs poking his lips.
"What did you to me?" he asked her. He was about ready to colaspse. The pain was that much. He was a Gundam Pilot. He was Trowa Barton. If Heero Yuy could survive being blown up, then he could face this.
She stood up and held her hand out to him. She told him, "Come, my pet, we'll feed."
Trowa took one last look at her and ran.

A Shade Darker Part One

Duo was glad to be back home. He wanted to see Hilde and get back to work as possible. Being the Scourge of the Underworld (his current nickname this week) was a calling that he had no control over. It wasn't like being a Gundam pilot. If he had wanted to, he could have refused Professor G's offer to be the Deathscythe pilot, but, along with fighting the Forces of Darkness, Duo had a natural talent for piloting and salvaging.
He whistled as he approached his junkyard, where he was surprised to see that Hilde wasn't waiting for him.
"Hilde!" he shouted out, all of his senses on full alert. They could have found me. A former White Fang solder that was turned, I wouldn't be surprised, Duo thought as he pulled out his pistol. It was loaded with silver bullets for the supernatural. Most things of the supernatural could be killed with silver. Like vampires and werewolves.
He moved slowly, almost a shadow. The others had always wondered how he could sneak around things so easily. It wasn't because his Gundam had hyperjammers, even though that helped, but it was his Calling. He was born into this life and he had powers to help give him an even chance against the dark nastys he faced.
He moved quicker than a normal person. He was just a bit stronger. He could move undetected by the supernatural. His blood couldn't be drunk by a vampire; it was poison to them. He could sense the undead and when magic was used. He was empathic, meaning, he could sense others' emotions. He also healed faster than most.
When Oz had captured him and beat him, he was in worse condition than when Heero found him. He could survive most injuries if he had enough time. When he had broken onto Moon Base and let the scientists beat him the reason he didn't cry out was because he had hurt worse while fighting vampires.
"Hilde," he called out again as he entered their main office. Duo was shocked to see Hilde laughing with a guy their age with reddish brown hair. He was good looking, Duo had to admit in a heterosexual way, and the God of Death was jealous.
Hilde stood up. Her black hair fell into her clear blue eyes as she smiled at him. Duo always had the urge to push that hair back from her face with his fingers, and now, with that guy sitting beside her, he knew that he wasn't going to get the chance.
He could sense both of their nervousness and their joy for each other. Great. Damn empathy, he thought dryly as he plastered his trademark smile on his face. He put his gun away and said, "Sorry, Hilde, I'm just a bit jumpy."
She replied, "It's okay, Duo. I want you to meet Cye Acht. Cye, this is Duo Maxwell."
The guy stood up and looked at Duo with clear aqua eyes. He said, in a faint Australian accent, "Hello. It's nice to meet you, and an honor. A Gundam pilot, I can't believe it."
Duo shook his hand and said, "Hi, any friend of Hilde's is a friend of mine." Yeah right. Come on, why can't you be some evil warlock or a vampire? Damn it. It's just not fair, he thought to himself, keeping the trademark grin plastered on his face. "So, how did you meet Hilde?" he asked, trying to keep his voice pleasant. Heero would have known that something was wrong with him, surprisingly, Hilde didn't.
Maybe I was wrong, he thought sadly, but he was glad that Hilde had found a nice normal guy.

Earth, Unknown

Trowa's body was on fire. He could bearly move. He stumbled in the snow, falling flat on his face. The cold didn't bother him, and he could see much better in the dark. He could make out animals moving in the pitch darkness, twigs swaying in the breeze on the trees at great detail. He could hear animals in their burrows, things moving in the woods. The tantalizing scent of a rabbit reached his nose, then a deer.
He rose up, some part of his brain that he didn't know he had taking over. He became focused, searching for his prey. His fangs were throbbing in anticipation. His whole body was ready for the kill. He ran into the woods.
The deer looked at him with soft, liquid black eyes. Trowa held her gaze as he stood there. The doe didn't move. He walked over to her, placing his hand on her nuzzle, stroking the velvety fur there. He didn't remove eye contact during the whole time.
He leaned his face up against the doe's throat, then turned into it. The doe started to shy away. Trowa grabbed hold of her and sank his new fangs into her throat.

"So, how did you two meet?" Duo asked, still grinning.
Cye smiled and answered, "On Peacemillion, actually. I was one of the medical officers there under Sally Po." "He helped take care of me after you saved me," Hilde told him.
Hell, sometimes being a Gundam pilot was more complicated than being a vampire hunter. Right now was one of those times. Duo smiled and said, "Well, thanks. Ya know, Hilde's one of my best friends, and I'm glad that she made it out okay." Yeah best friend, not girlfriend.
"Well, you're the one who saved her," Cye pointed out. Yeah, but if it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have gotten in that trouble.
Hilde said, "I wanted you to meet Cye sooner, but with all that happened with Libra and everything . . ."
"It's cool Hilde. I understand. I'm just glad to meet ya," Duo said cheerfully. She was happy. Their nervousness was completely washed away with that. He sensed their happiness and that made him feel good about Hilde. They just weren't meant to be.
He stood up and shook Cye's hand. He said, "Well, you take Hilde out and have some fun."
"Duo, what about the yard?" Hilde asked him. She wanted to go out, but he was sensing loyalty for him.
He grinned and said, "It's okay, Hilde. I can watch it. Go out with your boyfriend." He waved at them as Cye took her hand and they walked out of the door.
The comlink beeped. Duo slid over to the communication screen and turned it on. He was surprised to see an old priest on the screen. He had a square-jaw, thick snow white hair, and steely blue eyes.
Anyone who was a warrior against the Forces of Darkness knew who he was. This was Father Kincad. Kincad was a paladin for the church before he became a priest. Besides, he was the one who could find the people with the special bloodlines that had the abilities to be vampire hunters. He had found Duo at Maxwell's Church.
"Father Kincad, how may I help you?" Duo asked respectively.
Kincad answered, "Duo, there is a time of great Darkness coming."
"And I care how?" Duo asked, just a tad pissed.
"It's your calling, boy," the priest told him sharply.
Duo turned away. He knew what it meant. Many of the great hunters of the past, Anita Blake, Liam O'Rouke, William Smythe, Alex Harris, had died stopping the Cycle of Darkness. It happened every thousand years. It was when the first vampire tried to summon up the Elder Demons from Hell. It was a nasty time. Vamp activity increased, promises were broken, and humans died under the cover of darkness.
It just happened to be Duo's luck that the Cycle was about to come to a head. Duo didn't want to die. Not now, not ever, well, at least until he was old and grey, with his pretty wife at his side and a number of cute grandchildren and beautiful children at his side. And a pretty nurse with a nice cleavage to fuss over him.
Kincad snapped, "It is your duty. You were born into this life."
"I was born into Death. You should have seen that by now, Father. Everyone around me dies," Duo told him with a wicked grin.
Kincad sighed and said, "If you couldn't be drained, I'd worry about you turning vampire. You're already disgraceful being a Gundam pilot and using that damned Gundanium scythe that you use."
Duo turned away and closed his eyes. He said, "Father, you don't know all the death I've seen. That I've dealt. You sit there in the Vatican on Earth dictating things that belonged in the 20th century, A.D."
Kincad sneered, "You had your fun as a Gundam pilot. Now it's time to fulfill your duty as one of the Called. You have the Calling."
"Burn in hell," Duo told him, knowing fully well that he would shock the old priest. He turned around and indeed, the priest was pissed. His icy blue eyes were flashing at him and he was heaving.
Father Kincad stuttered, "How dare you . . ."
"I dare a lot, man. I am the God of Death, I gave up on your faith along time ago, Kincad," Duo replied with a mocking grin.
What Kincad said next was like a shot the gut, "Father Maxwell would be highly disappointed in you, Duo."
Duo froze and approached the screen. The Deathscythe pilot sneered, "Don't you even say that to me." He wanted to go to Earth and the Vatican and kill Kincad himself. Unbidden, images came to his mind.

After Colony 190, Maxwell's Church

The nun stepped forward with the scissors in her hand. Duo backed away from her, holding the length of chestnut hair in his hands. The ten-year-old boy told her, "You're not cutting off my hair, Lady." Sister Helen replied, "I have to, young man. It's simply unsanitary."
"Hell will freeze over first," young Duo told her, protectively holding his locks. The nun's eyes widened as she looked at the little boy who just used such fowl language. Duo told her, "Just stay the hell away from me, Sister."
"Sister Helen, what seems to be the problem?" a deep voice rang out. Duo turned to see a tall man wearing a priest's robes. He had smiling brown eyes and grey hair. He smiled down at Duo as he played with his rosary beads.
Duo asked, "Who are you?"
"My dear boy, I am Father Samuel Maxwell. It's nice to meet you," the Father told him, holding down his hand. Duo looked at him doubtfully.
He told the priest, "I'm leaving soon as I get a chance."
Father Maxwell only smiled and told Sister Helen, "I think there is something else you can do with his hair, am I correct?"
Helen sighed and took out a brush from the folds of her habit. She ran it through Duo's hair, holding him while he tried to squirm away. He relaxed as the tangles were smoothed out of his hair. She deftly plated it down his back. Testing the braid out, Duo swung his head side to side, liking the movement of it, he smiled.
He chirped cheerfully, "Man, I can move easier with this, thanks. Imagine all the things I can steel with this kind of mobility. Thanks, Lady!"
Father Maxwell clasped him on the shoulder and told him, "What if I said there is more to life than being a thief. That you're very important, little Duo."
"What do you mean?" Duo asked skeptically.
"How about I'll show you," the priest suggested.

Duo glared at the computer screen and at the smirking priest. He flipped him off and said, "Burn in hell." With that, he shut off the screen. He spun away with his usual energy and started to pace around the office.
The Cycle of Darkness is almost complete, Duo. You can feel it in your blood. That tingle that you've been ignoring at the back of your neck, God of Death. You can feel it, a snide voice told Duo in his head.
"Shut the hell up," Duo told it, still pacing. He had been feeling really uneasy lately. He had trouble sleeping and a wander lust. He thought he wanted to get home, but there was no home for someone of the Calling. Not during the Cycle.
He slammed his fist into the wall. His hand jarred with impact, his knuckles were scraped. His whole hand throbbed and the scrapes burned when he withdrew it from the wall. He had made a huge crack in the wall that was smeared with his blood.
"Damn it," he cursed as he headed off into his room.

It was dark. He was running after something. Something that he hated for no reason except that it was bread into his blood. It was a hot, pure, sheer hatred that he had never felt before. The creature turned and snarled at him.
White fangs gleamed in the light, red eyes glowed in the dark. He didn't give it a second thought as he pulled out his gun and shot it right between the eyes. In his cold monotone, he said, "Mission accomplished."
Heero Yuy jerked awake. Sweat trickled down the young Gundam pilot's forehead as he looked out the hotel window. He stood up and walked to it. He jerked up the sash, letting the cool air wash over him, whipping at his hair and cooling his flushed skin.
He'd been having this dream for the past two weeks, right after he had delivered the card and bear to Relena. He didn't know what it meant, and since Heero only believed in the logical, he didn't take it as a sign of any kind. It was just disturbing to him.
Exspecaly the fangs and the red eyes part, as well as the sheer hatred that he had felt toward it.
He started to pace the room, which was usual to the Perfect Solder. He couldn't sit still for any long period of time lately either. He had this urge to move, to act, to hunt. He looked around the hotel room. This strange urge was going to drive him insane.
As a wise person once told him: "Live by your feelings." Heero began to pack.

Trowa slumped into the snow. A real storm had started up, swirling around the young vampire. He didn't feel the cold, well, he felt it, it just didn't bother him. His hands were shaking as he held his knees.
What sort of monster am I? He thought as he looked up, wrapping his arms around himself. He didn't know what to do. He looked up into the swirling whiteness of the storm, seeing the velvety blackness of night behind him. He stood up and began to walk. Where he was walking, he had no idea, but he knew that he had to get away from here.

Duo took one last walk around the colony, to say good bye. He had left Hilde a short note, saying that he had business to take care of and that she may not see him again. He had sent her his love as a friend and told her not to worry about him. Maybe her new squeeze, Cye, would keep her out of trouble. Probably not, but a guy had to hope, didn't he?
The thing about the colonies was that there wasn't true sunlight. Sure, there was the artificial sunlight, but that wouldn't touch a vamp's undead hide. So, vampires could be out 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It was harder to hunt vampires in the colonies, he noticed. They could pose as human so easily. Luckily, he had his sense to help him hone in on the fiends.
He was dressed in his duster and priest outfit, the clothing of the Hunter, even the hat was missing. His silver cross was dangling in plain sight, catching and reflecting off the light. He walked with his usual unconstrained energy, but if any of the Gundam pilots, Relena or Hilde saw him, they wouldn't recognize him. His movements were more carefully planned, more stealthily than ususal, more graceful.
He really did look like the God of Death.
His hair started picking up at the back of his neck and arms. He felt the hum in his head that signaled that the undead was near by. He turned out all of his senses, focusing on the feeling. He wasn't surprised to notice it was an ally.
Vampires liked allys. One could easily drag someone back, drink them, and stash the body there. It was dark, quiet and private. It gave Duo an advantage though. If it was a dead-end ally, the vamp didn't have any where to run except past Duo, which the Hunter liked just fine.
He walked into the ally. Indeed, there was a female vampire wearing leather with a young boy draped in her arms. The boy's hazel eyes were glazed and a euphoric expression was on his face. She'd hypnotized him. No big surprise there.
She looked up at Duo with blood stained fangs and glowing red eyes. She hissed at him and asked, "What are you doing, boy?"
Duo drew his scythe from his duster. He spun it out into the open and rested on it. He quipped, "Hunting."
The feme vamp dropped the boy and approached him, her hips swaying seductively. She told him, "You're a pretty one, you know. I wonder how you'll taste."
Duo grinned and told her, "You can try, but I'll doubt that you'll like the flavor."
"Smart ass," she hissed.
He replied, "I know." She charged at him, which Duo was ready for. He ducked down, swinging the scythe upward. It impaled her. She screamed. It wasn't silver, so she would heal immediately after he shook her off the blade. He shook her off the blade. She rose up, her hands cradling her stomach.
He watched the wound seal up in moments. A vampire's healing capabilities where simply amazing. He spun the scythe. He took her head off in a clean swipe. She exploded into ash before his eyes, littering the ground.
The boy giggled from where he was lying. He's screwed, Duo thought as he walked over to the giggling teenager. The guy was slightly younger than Duo with unruly reddish hair and hazel eyes. A cute kid. That's what he was, a kid. An innocent kid.
Duo got pissed. "Damn it, get up." The boy giggled. Duo hauled him up and slapped him. The boy blinked and looked at Duo. The Deathscythe pilot knew he must have been a sight. Angry violet eyes, flapping black coat, the silver cross, the priest's collar, the braid, and the blood stained scythe. He probably really looked like the God of Death now.
The boy snapped, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Saving your life, you ungrateful ingrate," Duo snapped at him, annoyed, he slammed him into the wall. Not hard enough to hurt him, but to wake him out of his stupor.
The boy's eyes became clearer as he looked at Duo. He touched his throat, noticing the puncture marks there, the trickle of blood. He blanched. Duo rolled his eyes and thought, Took ya long enough, pal.
The boy said, "That girl . . ."
"Yeah," Duo said with a nod. He looked down at his watch. He only had half an hour to make it to the shuttle station. Better make it quick with the kid and leave. Duo told him, "Yeah, takes necking to a whole new meaning, doesn't it? Yeah, vampires are real, yadda yadda, but you won't see them again, blah blah, and your life's changed forever. Got it, good." He patted the boy's shoulder and turned to leave.
The boy called out, "Hey, you're one of the Gundam pilots, aren't you?"
He almost gets killed by a vampire, and he notices that I'm a Gundam pilot. Duo almost laughed as he headed out of the ally. He took off running back to the salvage shop.

Heero got on the shuttle. He felt a strange tingling on the back of his neck and arms. It felt like the hairs there were standing on end, and an uncomfortable feeling in his brain. Like a buzzing that was focusing on something. It was the same way he had felt when he met Trieze, he realized.
Someone, a girl his age with long, wine-colored hair and pale green eyes looked at him. She was dressed in a black turtleneck sweater and jeans. That was the girl he was getting the feeling from. She smiled and waved at Heero.
When the shuttle landed, Heero went after her. He had to kill her. He couldn't explain it. He just had to make sure that she was dead. He hated her. There was something wrong about her.
Heero looked around, he had just missed her.

Trowa had made it back to the village. He couldn't go back to the circus. What would they think of him there? He didn't want to see the fear in Cathrine's face when she found out what he was now. A vampire.
He was stronger, faster, and his senses were more keen, and he had other powers as well. His heart didn't beat in his chest. He was undead. Strangely enough, he could hear Duo Maxwell saying, "Trowa a vampire, cool! I wanna be a vampire. Hey Trowa, change me!"
He leaned back in the ally and sighed. His breath didn't make a little puff of white steam in the air. He didn't breathe either. His lungs just simulated the act of breathing to make him look more human. A rat skittered by.
Trowa was on it in an instant, holding the fowl creature down. It disgusted him to sink his teeth into its throat and drink. There was precious little blood in the rodent and he was still hungry.
"Trowa Barton, well this is a surprise," a familiar voice said mockingly.
He looked up and the first thing that he said was, "You're dead. Wufei killed you."
Trieze Kushrenada smiled and replied, "I am undead, technically, just as you are my fine friend."
"Go away, leave me alone," Trowa hissed.
"With your rats?" Trieze asked, pushing at the rat with his shining black boot. He wasn't in his Oz uniform, but he was elegantly dressed in knee high black boots, black slacks, and a royal blue shirt. A black cape swirled around his shoulders, making him look like an elegant vampire.
Trowa could sense power radiating off of him. He felt threatened, so he backed up and snarled.
Trieze smiled and said, "Trowa, I just wish to help you."
"Why should I trust you?" Trowa sneered between clenched fangs.
Trieze smiled elegantly and answered, "Well, I'm the only one who knows and understand what you are going through, my lovely Gundam pilot."
"Burn in hell," Trowa snarled, backing up.
"You're hungry. Do you really want to kill someone like this, Trowa? Drain their blood?"
Trowa hissed, "Go away."
Trieze smiled again and replied, "Trowa, Trowa, Trowa. You don't. I can help you."
"I don't need your help," Trowa said proudly.
"Fine," Trieze said as he drifted out of the ally.
Trowa felt something wrong. He got an image in his head. He was at the circus. Catharine was talking to him. Smiling. He lured her in with his gaze and she froze. He could play with her mind, make her do things that she would never do if he saw fit.
The power gave Trowa an incredible rush. He laughed. He took her carefully in his arms. She was warm and soft against the lithe planes of his body. He nuzzled her aurbren hair away from her neck. He breathed in her warm, sweet, spicy scent. She smelled like cinnamon and sunlight.
He kissed the place on her throat where her pulse throbbed beneath the surface. With a quick flick of his tongue, he licked the warm, saltiness of her skin. She sighed and leaned against him. He felt his fangs lengthen and throb with anticipation. He smiled as he penetrated her skin and began to drink her warm, sweet blood.
Trowa gasped and found that he was back in the ally. He had enjoyed the vision. He shivered as he stood up. He called out, "Trieze!"
The vampire was back in the ally, smiling beautifully at him, his rich blue eyes twinkling. He asked, "Yes, Trowa?"
Trowa shuttered inwardly. This went against everything he knew. He answered, "Help me."
Trieze held out his hand and Trowa took it.

A Shade Darker: Part 2

Duo was sensing something strange, really strange. He had about two hours to kill before he had to head to the next shuttle. His destination was Earth. That's where his body was calling to. He looked around and groaned. Two hours to kill.
Not enough time to go to a rave, but more than enough time to become board out of his mind. Unless he sensed a vampire, he wasn't going to go hunting. He groaned as he leaned against the space port couch. It was overstuffed and the fabric was blue and scathingly rough. Duo cursed as he struggled to get comfortable.
He leaned up and slammed his fist into the cushions, cursing loudly. People started to look at him. He stared at them and shouted, "What the hell are you looking at?" They took one last look before they scurried away.
He was tense. He didn't want to go through this. He was going to die. That was inevitable. There was no way he was going to cheat Death this time. It was going to take him and be happy. Duo didn't care that he was going to save the human race. He was only 16, too young to die.
"Damn," he cursed as he leaned back on the couch, finally getting comfortable. Which was not an easy feet considering that he was wearing a four foot long scythe under his duster. He drifted off to sleep in a moment.

"Where are you taking me, Trieze?" Trowa hissed as they drove in the Limo that Trieze had been waiting for himself.
Trieze smiled and said, "Do you truly hate me that much, Trowa Barton?"
Trowa didn't answer him. He just made his expression unreadable. He didn't trust him. He respected him on some level, but he couldn't trust him.
Why don't you trust me, Trowa? Trieze voice asked inside his head.
"How did you do that?" Trowa asked, making sure that nothing could be read in his face. He was curious and just a little startled.
Trieze answered, still using the mental contact, It's called telepathy. All vampires can do this. You've probably noticed that you can hold things with your eyes.
Trowa nodded, remembering the doe in the woods. He told Trieze, not feeling right about talking about this to Trieze of all people, "I'm stronger and faster than I use to be."
Trieze smiled and said, "Ah, the physical attributes of being a vampire. Those are always the first to be noticed, Trowa. There are so many other things about the Dark Gift that you'll find rewarding without being corrupt."
"How do I feed without killing?" Trowa asked suddenly, tactlessly. He realized he was sounding like Duo and Heero combined. Quatre, I wish you were here, my friend, Trowa thought. Quatre had a way of making things seem better. He radiated calmness and kindness. He was too kind, too sad. He was also Trowa's closest friend.
"Stay away from Duo Maxwell from now on," Trieze told him.
"Why?" Trowa asked confused. Sure, they didn't get along, in fact, Duo had good reason to hate Trowa. After all, he was the one who had destroyed his Gundam, but Duo forgave easily. He was just annoying as hell. He often wondered why Heero put up with him. He was an excellent pilot, and Trowa was glad to have him on his side, and a kind friend. Duo as a threat? No way.
Trieze told him, "It's in his blood to hunt us."
"What do you mean?" Trowa asked sharply.
Trieze sighed and said, "You don't even know about your potential yet, and here I am talking about vampire hunters. We are immortal but silver, a stake through the heart, sunlight, decapitation, and fire will kill us. We heal incredibly quickly, but we have weaknesses. The cross. Holy ground. We can't go into a mortal's home unless we've been invited."
"What about a silver bullet to the brain?" Trowa asked. Maybe he could end his existence.
"No, it wouldn't. It would just hurt like hell, and you don't want to do that," Trieze told him.
Trowa was angry that Trieze was in his head. He told him sharply, "Don't do that."
Trieze smiled and said, "I'm sorry, Trowa. It's just that your thoughts are so easy to read."
Trowa looked out the window. He noticed that he didn't cast a reflection. Trieze said, "One of the prices to pay for immortality, my young friend. You don't have to be evil, like you were thinking. You can learn to control the bloodlust and master the Dark Gift." He paused. Smiled. He said, "With help of course."
"Your help, I don't need," Trowa told him, about ready to jump out of the limo. He could survive that with no problem when he was human, now it would be nothing to him.
"What about Catherine? Would you like to see what you saw in your mind play out in real life?" Trieze asked with a bitter smile.
Trowa froze and turned around to face the elegant Oz leader. A vampire had ruled the world for such a short time. He couldn't believe that. It was strange that he was thinking that, but it was true. Trowa asked, "What about other vampires?"
Trieze smiled and answered, "Trowa, one thing at a time. I will teach you proper vampire etiquette later, but now you need to learn the gift."
Trowa said nothing as they drove.

Heero had to find someone first. He knew that now. He had to find Duo Maxwell of all people. The thing was, he wasn't getting on a computer and looking up all of Duo's whereabouts. No, he somehow knew where the braided baka that he could call friend was at.
He hadn't seen the redhead girl since leaving the shuttle. He had another shuttle to catch in fifteen minutes. The one he knew that would take him to Duo. Heero almost smirked, he was going to Duo Maxwell for help. He knew somehow that Duo could help him.
All off Heero's training had told him not to trust anyone and to kill anyone that got in the way of his mission. He had failed with the latter with Relena, then Duo had came along with his grins and breaking into the hospital to save him. He had even recovered Heero's Gundam for him. There had been an instinctual trust there, but Heero had to fight it, even though he didn't want to.
Then they kept running into each other after that. Different missions, ending up helping each other than killing one and another. Then there was Duo trying to reach him when the others didn't. He tried to include Heero in everything, tried to make him feel welcome while the others didn't. It was annoying, but touching none the less.
"Boarding call for flight 123, first call for flight 123," a mechanical voice called over the intercom.
"That's mine," Heero said to himself as he shouldered his bag and walked to the boarding station.

Duo got off the shuttle and his shuttle to Earth had been delayed for twelve hours! Twelve damn hours! There was a lot one could do in twelve hours, but that was still a long time to wait for a damn flight to Earth. "Damn it," he cursed as he got off the terminal. At least now he had time to go to a rave.
It wasn't that he just liked to party. It was just that there were a lot of vampires getting free meals at raves. Really.
He walked out into the colony, breathing in the generated air. He opened up his senses. He could feel all the emotions of the people around him. It was a mixture of happiness, sadness, greed, anger, love, lust, all kinds of neat stuff around him. The feelings of normal people. Duo envied them.
Bright lights glittered around him. He whistled softly as he walked, swishing his duster behind him. He was really glad that he had gotten the coat. It was really cool. Besides, it was a good way to hide his scythe. Father Kincad disapproved of him using the scythe, saying that Duo should stick to more traditional methods. Duo told him cheerfully to shove it up his ass.
He heard the heavy, pounding music of a club. He walked to it and saw darkness and bright, glittering, red strobe lights. He grinned and looked around. There was no bouncer, there fore, it was a rave. He walked in.
He moved through the shadows as natural habit. The throbbing beat of the music pounded around him, he didn't bounce along with it because he sensed something. He looked around, it was faint through the den of people and it felt an awful a lot like a vampire, but different. He walked outside and frowned.
He searched for it, it was close, but he couldn't see it. Then he finally pinpointed the location, an ally close by. Big surprise there. He rushed into it, running blindly into the ally. He saw a figure around his height and tackled it.

Heero turned around right into the flying tackle. He and his attacker rolled to the ground. Heero didn't get a clear look at the person, but whoever they were, they were strong. He rolled away and stood up, taking a stance. Then he got a clear look on who it was.
"Duo?" he asked.
Duo stopped, his braid not stopping with him, swinging wildly behind him. Huge, violet eyes blinked as he looked at Heero. "Heero?" Duo asked, sounding as confused as Heero felt.
"Yeah," Heero replied, looking at him.
"The hell?" Duo spat, sounding even more confused.
Heero watched him, good he had found the braided baka. Duo started to pace, his braid twitching in frustration behind him. He asked, "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Looking for you," Heero told him in a clipped tone. He had a feeling that Duo had answers to what was happening to him.
"Okay, why?" Duo asked in a frustrated tone. He went on, "I could have killed you, Heero. Ya know? I know that you have a death wish and all of that, but I don't wanna kill you." He kept pacing.
"Because I have a few questions and you have answers," Heero answered in his clipped tone. He was having trouble believing that guy he had been fighting just a moment ago was Duo. He moved to fast and was stronger than Heero knew Duo was. Unless, Duo had been hiding things from them, like they all did, with the exception of Quatre.
"Like what? How did you know how I was here?" Duo asked.
Heero sighed. He didn't know where to start. Duo placed his hands on his narrow hips and glared. Heero looked Duo over. It was a Duo he had never seen before. Sure, the priest's uniform was familiar to him, but the cross and the duster wasn't.
Heero simply answered, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Duo grinned and leaned against the ally wall. He replied, "Try me."
"I had to find you," Heero began, but they were cut off by a girl's scream.
Duo smirked and said, "No rest for the wicked." With that, he started to run and Heero took off behind him.

Duo ran, and Heero was keeping pace with him. What was that all about? Heero may not be Mr. Humanity, but he's human . . . I think. There's nothing supernatural about him. Or is there? Duo thought as he looked at Heero. The pair ran toward the scream.
It was another ally, no big surprise there. There were two male vampires, really good looking ones. That was the strange thing about vampires, they were mainly good looking. Just a mask to hide what's on the inside, Duo thought with a sneer. Heero was about to see him at work.
Heero pulled out his gun. Then Duo noticed the girl. She was petite and delicately formed, elfin. She looked up at them with wide silvery, grey eyes. Long golden blond hair fell into her face. Duo's hairs on the back of his neck stood up. The girl was something more than what she seemed.
One of the vampires said, "You're coming with us, sweetheart."
The girl's eyes weren't frightened. They were dangerously determined. She said in a cool voice, "No chance in hell."
Duo regained himself long enough to draw his scythe. Heero said, "Back away from the girl." He looked over at his fellow pilot, the one who had mastered the ZERO system. Heero actually looked angry. His eyes were flashing dangerously in the light.
"The hell," the second vampire said as he turned around to face Duo and Heero.
"The God of Death," the first said.
The girl snapped, "It's not him you have to worry about, fang face." The vampire started to convulse, and his companion soon joined him. They dropped to the ground, withering in pain. The girl's elfin features where composed, her eyes were like molten silver, glowing. She defiantly wasn't normal.
Heero went to go attack the vampires, but Duo reached out and held them back. The girl took out a stake from her large windbreaker she was wearing and dropped it on the ground. The first vampire, with shaking hands, picked it up. The girl was sweating now and fine tremors were wracking her small body.
She said, "Stake him." He did. The second vampire exploded into dust. She said, "Now yourself." Duo watched as the vampire plunged the stake into his own heart. Then it came to him, Necromancer, this chick is a necromancer.
Duo kept his scythe ready. Heero was still tense and seething. She turned her silver eyes at them and asked, "What the hell do you want?"
Duo asked, "What the hell are you?"
She dusted her hands off. She was still trembling slightly. She answered, "That's none of your concern." With that, she ran off.
Duo ran to catch up with her. Heero spat on the ashes before he began to run after them.

The limo pulled up to a huge, Victorian mansion. Trowa looked at it, unimpressed. He figured that Trieze would live in a place like this. Trieze smiled and said, "Ah, home sweet home, Trowa."
Trowa didn't say anything as they pulled into the huge, circular driveway. He asked, "What do you want?"
Trieze sighed and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. He answered, "I just want to help you. I can show you that you can become more than you think. Don't think of being changed as a closing of doors, just think of it as an opportunity."
"That image of Catherine, you did that didn't you?" Trowa asked, slightly disgusted.
Trieze smiled and answered, "Yes, I didn't want to see you spending the rest of eternity in that gutter, livings solely on rats."
'Who said that I was going to live forever?" Trowa spat, looking at anything but Trieze.
Trieze laughed and answered, "I did, and so did the person who changed you. If I had an idea of whom the person was, maybe I could help you."
"All I need is for you to show me how to get by. Nothing more, nothing less. Then I'm gone," Trowa replied. He wasn't going to trust Trieze. Never. He was just going to learn what he needed to know to survive without hurting his friends.
The limo stopped at Trieze gracefully stepped out into the snow. He held out his hand and asked, "Join me?"
Trowa got out of the limo as well, making sure that his hair covered his face so Trieze couldn't see into his eyes. They walked into the dark manor. A single light came on in the fashion of a lantern. Trowa made out a female's form walking down the stair case.
He almost smiled. It was Lady Une. Her long brown hair flowed down her back and her clear brown eyes took Trowa in. She did smile and said, "Trowa, it's good to see you again."
Trieze glided up to her, seeing nothing but her. He took her hand and kissed it. She smiled. He said, "My beloved Lady, something very misfortunate has happened to Trowa."
Trowa scowled, actually letting an expression on his face. Une looked at him, sorrow and pity in her brown eyes. He tried to ignore the slender column of her throat, and the pulse beating there. His hunger was stabbing at him again.
"He was changed, wasn't he?" Une asked Trieze as he gently wrapped his arms around her.
"Yes, unfortunately, he was," Trieze answered her as he let her go just as gently. Trowa kept everything guarded as Trieze walked toward him.
He asked, "What are you doing?"
Trieze smiled and said, "You're hungry."
"No, I'm not," Trowa told him in a clipped tone. He was angry that Trieze could see right through him.
Trieze said, "Follow me." He began to walk down the hallway, and Trowa followed him into a study. There was a black box, a refrigeration unit. Trieze indicated a plush, green velvet chair and said, "Sit down, Trowa."
Trowa didn't. He watched as Trieze pulled out a wine glass from an ornate wooden cabinet beside the refrigeration unit. The cabinet was old and carefully engraved. Trowa thought that it could have been from the 18th century, it was that old. Then Trieze grabbed a green bottle from the unit. He uncorked it and Trowa smelled blood.
It wasn't that fresh, but it was tantalizing none the less. His fangs lengthened despite themselves and began to throb with anticipation. He watched the thick, rich, red liquid fill the glass with a sort of manic hunger. His whole body was starting to hurt again.
He reached out and grabbed it from Trieze's elegant hand. He put the glass to his lips and greedily drank its entire contents. The blood wasn't as satifiying as before, but it slated the hunger momentarily. He put the glass down on the table and looked up at Trieze.
Trieze smiled and said, "Lesson One, Trowa: You don't need to drink of the living. This isn't as satifiying, but it keeps the craving at bay. You can't deny the hunger Trowa, if you did, your vision would come to pass."
Trowa didn't say anything about that. He sat down and looked at the other vampire. He asked, "What do I need to do to keep the craving away?"
Trieze sighed and said, "There is nothing you can do to keep the craving completely at bay, Trowa. It will always be there, under the surface, but you can learn to control it. One way is to keep yourself fed, never let the bloodlust overcome you. Feed at least once a day, more if you are injured, which can happen."
Trowa nodded, his attention was slipping. He was growing weary. Trieze said, "As a new vampire, you need to sleep during the day. Which you are feeling. The sun is starting to rise. I'll supply you a place to make sure that you're protected during the day."
"What makes me think that I can trust you?" Trowa asked bitterly, fighting for his well-earned control.
As his eyes began to close, Trieze smiled and said, "Because, my young friend, you have no other choice." Then the world fell into darkness.

Quatre Raberba Winner wearily rubbed his eyes and yawned. The endless amounts of projects stretched across his desk. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes and picked up the plans to rebuild Space Fortress Barge as a scientific research point. After all, scientists flocked to the colonies for a chance to be seen and heard, and Quatre wanted to give them that chance.
Still, the kind hearted young man was tired. He had been spreading himself too thin lately without any rest. He started to dose on top of the papers when the comlink rang. He blinked and turned it on. He unintentionally yawned and said, "Hello, this is Quatre Raberba Winner."
The auburn haired young woman seemed slightly familiar. He blinked and realized it was Catherine Bloom, the girl that Trowa cared for like a sister. She looked upset, her pale violet eyes were flashing with unshed tears.
Quatre automatically asked, "Did something happen to Trowa?"
Catherine glared and replied, "So you haven't seen him then?"
"No, what on earth makes you think that?" Quatre asked her.
Catherine huffed. Quatre blinked, Catherine wasn't that nice a person. She had snapped at him when Trowa had amnesia and he had found him, then drove him away. She said, "You're the only Gundam pilot I could get in touch with. Knowing Trowa, he would have run off to fight without telling me."
And I can see why, a voice in his head, which sounded surprisingly like Duo's, snidely said. Quatre kept quiet though. He wasn't about to let anything happen to Trowa. He patently asked, "When was the last time you saw him?"
"About two nights ago, he just went out. You know how Trowa is. Well, anyway, he didn't come back. We've been worried sick about him," Catherine answered.
Trowa could be in trouble. No, he is in trouble. I have to help him, Quatre thought, wide awake now. He said, "I'm coming to Earth, now. I'm going to look for him. He's my friend, and he would do the same for me."
"You're really going to come here, aren't you?" Catherine asked in disbelief.
Quatre only stared at her, how would he do any other wise? He asked, "What are your coordinates?"
She sent them to him. He took the printout and looked at them. They were near the Carpathian mountains. He said, "I'll be there very soon. I promise. Good bye, Cathrine." He turned off the vidcom and turned it back on again.
He typed in the coordinates to his secretary. A pretty girl named Casey. Casey blinked and said, "Hello Mr. Winner, how can I help you?"
He looked at her and answered, "I need my private carrier and Sandrock delivered to these coordinates on Earth. I need to get transport there myself."
Casey nodded and asked, "That remote a region, sir?"
Quatre nodded and replied, "A friend is in trouble, I have to help him, Casey. He'd do the same for me."
"Which pilot is it, sir?" Casey asked as she began typing on her computer.
Quatre blinked and asked, "Is it that obvious?"
Casey cheerfully nodded as she answered, "Yeah, we all know that you would die for any of your fellow Gundam pilots."
Quatre smiled despite the graveness of the situation. He answered, "Yeah, it is."
Casey smiled and said, "Well, go help your buddy, War Hero." She gave him a little salute as she studied the computer screen. She said, "It's all set, sir. Ready to go when you are."
"Thank you, Casey," Quatre told her.
"Anything else?" She asked him.
"No, I don't think so," he answered her.
"Okay," she said as the screen went dead. Quatre turned off his comscreen and walked to the elevator. He road it up to his quarters, went to his bedroom, and grabbed the prepacked suitcase that he had for emergencies.
He rode the elevator to the main part of the building where Casey met up with him. She said, "While you're gone Mr. Winner, your sister Rebeka said that she would take care of everything while you are gone."
"Good," Quatre said as he slipped into his expensive leather jacket. It would provide him with warmth in the cold Carpathiean region at this time of year.
Casey asked, "Anything else you need taken care of before you leave?"
Quatre thought for a moment and answered, "Get Rebeka to sign off on the merger with Outer Rim."
"Got it, sir," Casey said as she wrote it down in her notebook. As he stepped out of the perfectly controlled climate of the office into the perfectly controlled climate of the colony, Casey shouted, "Good luck, Mr. Winner!"
"Thank you," he called back at her, waving gayly. He turned around and entered his private limo, wishing that he would be going to his private airport in something other than a limousine. As they drove, Quatre took a last look at the colony. Personally, he preferred Earth.
He said, "Hold on Trowa, I'm coming."

A Shade Darker: Part 3

The blond girl was quick. Duo and Heero were running after her, the thing was, they were quicker. Until she went into the rave that Duo almost went into. The two stepped into the club. Heero asked, "Why are we after her?"
Aren't you gonna ask about the fang posse back there who dusted themselves? How the hell did they turned into dust like that? Why they had fangs? What the hell where they? Duo thought as he looked into his compaion's fathomless dark blue eyes. Heero reminded Duo of some of the older vampires he had came across. When he first saw Heero, his first thought was: That guy looks like a vampire. Better get that chick away from him.
Heero healed fast, but not vampiricly fast. A gunshot to a vampire, unless the bullet was silver, would just tick one off. It would heal almost immediately and that would be it. When Duo had shot Heero, he wasn't using silver bullets. He didn't have any of the Called's tools with him. Not even the Gundanium scythe.
Duo answered, "She's just important."
"Why?" Heero replied in his monotone. He looked around, scanning the den of people for the tiny blond.
I need to know if I need to kill her or not, Duo thought to himself. Practicing necromancers, the one who used true Dark Magics to control the dead, were to be killed on site. It was policy. Besides, if a person used true Dark Magics, worshiping Lucifer and all that stuff, they were pretty much evil anyway. They had reached the point of beyond caring.
There were good witches too, of course. Healers, herbists, physics using magics to help people. The Catholic Church use to burn them as well, but now they made a general practice to stay away from them. Duo ticked off Kincad one time when he enlisted the help of a physic to help him find a coven of dark witches that had been kidnaping small children. In fact, he even dated the girl for a while before Duo got fickle and had to go do something else.
Before becoming a Gundam pilot, he had a lot of flings as The God of Death. Some vampires had even tried to seduce him before, females and even males alike. That was just creepy, being seduced by a guy with fangs. Luckily, he was immune to mind control.
He searched the crowd. Heero started to move through them, looking for the necromancer. Duo had other methods. He closed his eyes and groped through the crowd, sensing the spark of the necromancer's cold powers. The arms at the back of his hairs and neck slowly began to pick up as he sensed the crowd. He felt a flair of intense, cold power.
He opened his eyes and saw the small girl and the silvery aura that was her power. It faded quickly away, but she had her back turned to him. Duo went into the crowd. People parted for him, the boy with the aura of death, as he walked toward the girl.
She was dancing, trying to assume an image of normalancy. Duo went up behind her and took her high held hands. She gasped as he brought her to him. She was a little thing, he realized up close, her head bearly came up to his nose. This close he could also tell it had been a while since she had a shower. Her blond hair was greasy, her clothing was smudged with dirt and she smelled.
She spun around, her eyes snapping. He realized that her windbreaker was covering up most of her hair. It was past her thighs, almost knee length. Like his unbraided. Duo grinned and whispered, "Caught ya."
She hissed, "What are you?"
He gently took her arm and guided her out of the people. He answered, "I could be asking you the same question, Zombie Queen."
She froze and looked him over. She asked, "You're one of them, aren't you?"
Duo grinned and answered, "I gave up the Church a long time ago, Honey."
She looked puzzled. It was an endearing expression. She asked, "So, you're one of the Called, then?"
"Yep," he answered her with a grin, "And you're a necromancer. The question is, sweetheart, is it a natural talent, are you calling up the Dark Arts?"
"It's a curse," she spat.
Duo grinned and replied, "Natural. That's a rare little ability you've got there, Kid."
"Bite me," she spat as she turned around. Duo grabbed her arm and jerked her back to him.
He looked her over and grinned. The invitation was hard to resist. He told her, "Don't tempt me. You're coming with us."
"So you can turn me into the Church," she said sarcastically.
"I'm as popular with the Church as you are, Babe, so don't give me that," Duo told her.
She glared up at him. Her power was flaring. She felt threatened, but since Duo was a living thing, it wasn't going to work on him. She snapped, "Then what's up with the cross and the collar, asshole?"
Duo flinched and said, "Oww, just because I'm not really on the Church's side doesn't mean I don't believe in God."
"Really?" she asked sarcastically. She started to look around the club. Duo sensed it too, vampires. A couple of them. They were position in perfect striking distance in perfect positions.
"Damn," Duo cursed. They found him. He said, "Get ready to run, Babe."
"They're after me, idiot," she hissed at him.
Duo looked at her, then found the vampires. Once you find them, they stick out in a crowd like a sore thumb. They were different from humans, faster, more graceful, and more beautiful than most humans. Their power beat along Duo like a drum. He couldn't shake it off. They were old and powerful. The girl's power faired out around them like a shield. It would work on the vampires.
"What the hell is going on?" Heero asked as he stood beside Duo. He watched the vampires as well. His dark blue eyes were bright with hatred.
"Tell you're idiot friend over here that they're after me," the girl spat at Duo.
"Charming girl," Heero commented dryly. Duo grinned.
He replied, "Oh, yeah, she's a great person."
She took off. "Damn it," Duo shouted as she made her way through the crowd. He and Heero pushed back people to get to her.
Heero asked, "What the hell is going on?"
"Why the hell were you looking for me?" Duo replied as he shoved a Goth girl away.
"Because I had to," Heero answered simply, "I've been having dreams."
Heero a physic, somehow, that doesn't surprise me, Duo thought as they made their way through the crowd. He asked, "About what?"
"Me hunting something," Heero curtly answered.
"Damn it," Duo cursed angerily. The girl had made it out of the club and so did the vampires.
"That way," Heero pointed to the left, into another alley. Duo sensed the flare of vampiric and the necromancer's power. Duo took off with Heero following close behind. Duo heard a scream. It was the girl.
He felt the flair of power thick around the air around him. It clouded his brain and senses. He wanted to shout at it, beat it, just get the cold, dead feeling away from him. Heero tensed up visibly beside him. They ran into the alley.
There were four vampires, all male, and all physically older than Duo and Heero. The one holding the girl was tall with a shock of thick, bright, blood red hair and the atypical vampiric red eyes and fangs. The one beside him had light brown hair and he hadn't vamped out yet, so his eyes were a deep, rich brown. He had an almost cherubic face, like Quatre almost. The other two had blond hair and looked like twins.
The redhead was flaring the most power. Heero said, "Let her go."
"Hey," Duo said, slightly stunned, "That's my line!"
The one who wasn't vamped out looked at them with a look that was pure intelligence. Duo froze. The amount of power coming off this guy was eminence. He had been hiding it from him, and now that Duo had gotten a full sense of him, he was afraid. The God of Death was afraid of a vampire. The world must be coming to an end. Wait. It was.
Tiny shivers traveled up and down the Deathscythe pilot's spine. He couldn't help it. All of his senses were screaming on full alert. Heero moved up toward the vampire and said, "Let her go. I don't know what you are, but I will kill you. I have to." His words were cold, as usual, but most of the time, when Heero spoke, there was no emotion to his words, now there was hate underlining the casual coldness.
Duo looked over at his friend and his fear was even intensified. Heero was fairing power now, power that Duo had caught glimpses of before, like when Heero had saved him when Oz captured him. Besides, Heero could bend steel bars for hell's sake. Maybe Duo had over looked something. He just didn't want to kill his best friend, though.
Heero attacked. He moved quickly, like he always did. Duo always put a flamboyant air to when he fought. It annoyed the hell out of most opponents and got them off their game. Not Heero.
Heero gave one of the twins a quick chop to the neck, a move Duo knew would break any one's neck. The other twin snarled and charged at him; Heero dodged and flipped the guy to the ground.
Duo shook himself out of his stupor and brought out his scythe. He smiled and quipped, "It's time for you to meet the God of Death." He spun the scythe gracefully over his head. Its weight felt very natural in his hands. He snapped it down toward the first vampire. His severed head crumped to the ground in an explosion of ash. The screams of his brother soon followed them.
Duo spun the scythe to see Heero facing off against the two other vampires. The one with brown hair smiled and straitened to his full height. He said, "Most interesting." His voice held the hint of some sort of accent. French. Great, he's French. Man is this my night or what? Duo thought.
Then he felt the rumble of power around the vampire. Duo instinctively reached out and grabbed the girl. He shouted to Heero, "Run!" He took off into the crowded club again, listening to lightly accented French laughter. Heero was close behind him.

Lilith paced angerily in the huge encampment which her base had been set up. She was angry. Trowa Barton had gotten away, and he was a huge part of her plan. It was rare knowledge to know that Duo Maxwell was not just a Gundam Pilot, but one of the Called. So she was planning to use Trowa against him.
Then there was the whole problem with the necromancer. The Cycle of Darkness was about to come to a full circle and she needed Duo Maxwell out of the way and the virgin necromancer still intact. The necromancer was a sacrifice to one of the Elder Demons. He was to take her before he killed her.
Her power would help increase the demon's powers as they ruled the world. She was needed for their plan and she needed to be intact. She paced some more, angry because Trowa had gotten away. She had watched that boy for years, waiting for the right time to take him. His blood had been the sweetest she ever tasted, pure and free of imperfections. He had felt so right in her arms. She knew she couldn't seduce him and change him during the course of sex, so she used her power on him. She had hoped that they would make their first kill together then celebrate it together. She had been wrong.
He had ran, the bastard. This boy who had no past and no future had run from the fantastic gift she had given him. Her finger nails began to grow into claws and dig into her flesh as she clenched her fist tightly. Blood trickled from the wounds only to heal them anew. The pain was welcoming to the first vampire.
The comlink blared and Lilith spun around, her black hair flying around her. She shouted, "Answer that!"
The screen flashed to life and her most trusted minion, Damon, and one of her finest, if sadistic and idiotic, warriors, Hawk, stood beside him. Damon's handsome face looked frightened. Damon was never frightened. He could usually turn a situation to better fit his needs. Mainly by seduction with his soft French accent and soft brown eyes.
Damon bowed and said, "milady, I bring bad tidings."
Lilith rubbed at her brow and asked, "What is it, Damon?"
Hawk answered for him, "The God of Death has found the girl. That bastard took her from us."
"And you managed to get away alive," Lilith told him cooly.
Hawk ran his fingers through his unruly, bright red hair. He replied, "My Queen, he killed Franz and Zwans."
"Your Darkness, there is also a Dampier of incredible power," Damon interjected, "I think the same man who was the Rouge's father is this abomination's father. They had the same look about them."
"I thought that Quinn was killed," Lilith said coldly as she played with a strand of her jet black hair.
Damon replied, "I think he managed to sire another abomination before Hunters killed him, My Liege. He was a renegade, taking to killing is own kind."
"He was Liam O'Rourke's father," Lilith spat. Liam O'Rourke was the only Called ever in history that had vampiric blood running in his vains. He was the most dangerous one whoever crossed Lilith's path. If Duo Maxwell was the God of Death, then Liam O'Rourke was the Apocalypse.
Liam sacrificed himself to stop the coming of the Cycle of Darkness in the 21st century. He was too noble for his own good, as was Quinn, his father. Quinn shunned his vampire brethren and protected humans, all the while hunting with his own kind.
Hawk said, "It was Heero Yuy, the Gundam pilot. He's got the hots for Relena Peacecraft on Earth, Lilith. We could use her to get to him."
Lilith glared. She maybe only sixteen physically, but she was much older than that. She sneered, "Silence. How dare you speak to me with such disrespect?"
Damon bowed and said, "I apologize for him, Dark Mother, he knows not what he does. Besides, we need a warrior like him."
Lilith sighed and said, "I think you are right. Just bring the girl back to me." She smiled and added on a whim, "As well as Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy."

Quatre looked at the circus around him. Everyone was busy, paying very little, if any, attention to the Winner heir. He looked around him, drawing his leather jacket around him, and he walked over to where Catharine was arranging something. He over heard her words, "Trowa hasn't been seen in more than three days, damnit, we have to look for him!"
One of the clowns she was talking to looked at her and replied, "Sorry, Cathy, but you know how Trowa is. He's probably on Gundam business or the like."
Quatre walked up to them and politely said, "Excuse me, but if Trowa was on Gundam business, then why am I here?"
They all turned to look at him. Catharine walked up to him, saying, "Quatre, I'm glad that you were here." They started to walk around the cold circus. They didn't have the heaters running in the tent yet. She pushed her auburn hair behind her ears and said, "He's been missing for three days, Quatre. I first thought he was on a mission until I called you."
Quatre nodded and asked, "Where was he at last?"
Catharine looked around and answered, "I'm not really sure. He said he was going to take a walk, but he never came back."
Quatre froze. Anything could have happened to Trowa in that amount of time. An image of Trowa lying on the cold, winter ground with his dark green eyes staring at the sky blankly filled Quatre's mind. He shook his head and said, "No."
"What?" Catharine asked, alarmed, her tone taking a defensive quality.
Quatre answered, "He's fine Catharine, and I'm going to find him."
Catharine said, "I'm going to help you. I'm not leaving my brother out there to die."
Quatre kindly smiled and told her, "Thank you. I'm sure Trowa will appreciate it."
Catharine stood haughtily and said, "I'd just feel sorry for the bastards that took him when we find him."
"Assuming he was abducted. Assumption always leads to mistakes," Quatre quoted.
"Sounds like something Trowa would say," Catharine said as she slid into her jacket.
Quatre shook his head and answered, "No, it's something that Heero told me once."

Trowa awoke in a dark room. He sat up, taking in his surroundings almost immediately. He was in a windowless bedroom with a canopy bed which he was sitting on. Someone had taken off his shoes when he had blackened out before putting him in this bed. The blankets were heavy, rich, dark green velvet. The curtain around the bed was made out of the same fine fabric.
There was a knock on the heavy door. He froze, then relaxed slightly when he realized it was Une. He said, "Come in."
Une came in holding a bundle of fresh clothing and a thick, heavy, red towel. She said, "Maybe you want to take a shower and change."
Trowa looked down at his jeans and black sweater, they were torn and mud stained. He stood up and took the bundle from her. Everything looked like it was made for his slender body. There was a pair of jeans and a black silk shirt along with black combat boots. He looked at her, noticing the pulse of the artery on her pale throat, just hidden behind the fall of her chestnut brown hair.
He licked his lips and felt his fangs began to lengthen. He wasn't going to feed off of her. Hell would freeze more than first. He said, "Thank you."
She pointed down the hall and said, "The bathroom's the fifth door on the left. Treize is in his study, waiting for you."
Trowa nodded and walked out of the bedroom. "Trowa," Une called out. He turned around and looked at her. He held respect for the former Oz general and pitied her when she had her ordeal with the split personalities. She said, "I'm sorry."
He half smiled and bitterly replied, "It's not your fault, Lady Une." With that he walked to the bathroom. It too was expensive with blue tiles, a huge bathtub, a shower stall, and brass fixtures.
As the hot water steamed around his cold body, he leaned his head against the tile. He didn't know what to do. He was alone in the world except for a former enemy. What would the others think if they found out that he was a vampire? That vampires existed? It would probably horrify gentle Quatre. Heero wouldn't believe it. The Wing ZERO pilot was skeptical through and through. Wufei would try to kill him because anything that fed off the blood of others was evil. Duo Maxwell's reaction would be unpredictable.
After he was clean, he turned off the water and wrapped his body in the towel. He noticed that the bathroom didn't have a mirror, as did his bedroom. He leaned against the sink for a moment, letting the hot steam swirl around him.
His skin wasn't cold now, but he knew that would fade away very quickly. He was nothing more than a walking corpse. "Damn it!" he cursed as he pounded his fist into the tile. The unmoveable, unflappable Trowa Barton had an outburst. He looked at the tile. It had tiny cracks all in it. He looked down at his hand. He knew that it should be hurting if he hit the wall that hard, but it wasn't. His knuckles weren't even scratched.
He dried off and dressed. He left the shirt untucked and the sleeves unbuttoned. The silk was cool against his skin, soft and smooth. The shirt was almost a sensual feeling against his skin. He put on the boots and walked out of the bathroom.
The hallway was gently lit with lanterns. Trowa could see every detail in the semidarkness as he walked to the study. His body began to hurt. It was a dull ache that he could ignore at first, but as he walked closer to the study, it intensified. He licked his lips. His body was on fire.
He managed, somehow, to walk in the study and look at Treize. There was a goblet full of blood. Unthinkingly, Trowa took it and drained the contents. He sighed as his body stopped hurting, but he felt the craving, the bloodlust, as Treize had referred to it as, still lurking under the surface.
He looked up at Treize who simply said, "Good evening." Trowa angrily pushed the goblet away from himself. Treize said, "Lights, setting three." Dim lights illuminated the room. It wasn't as painfully bright as the bathroom or the rest of the house had been.
Treize asked, "How did you get changed?"
Trowa glared. He said, "That's none of your concern." Trowa had plans to find the bitch and hunt her down after he could fully control himself.
Treize replied, "My dear friend, you do not know what you are dealing with."
"I don't have to. I'll simply deal," Trowa told him icily.
Treize laughed, a musical sound that bounced off the walls of the study. He said, "Spoken like a true Gundam pilot."
"That's what I am, isn't it? A Gundam pilot," Trowa replied.
Treize grinned and said, "You are so much more than that, Trowa. So much more. Let me show you what you will be dealing with." Treize stood up and the room immediately picked up energy. Trowa could feel the cold power building around him. The room started to shake, the goblet rumbled off of the table. He looked directly into Treize's face.
Treize's normal cerulean blue eyes had bled all through his eyes, covering up the whites and the pupils, leaving only the brilliant blue slits. They were glowing as well. His skin seemed paler as it seemed to glow like a pearl.
Trowa was broken away from the site of Treize to look around the room. Several glass bottles exploded, shattering into a million fragments. Then, the power stopped. Trowa looked back at Treize.
Treize said, "And that, was only a small sample. If I wanted to, I could call on the very elements, make storms, things like that. And there are even those who are more powerful than me."
"I'm not impressed," Trowa told him, "Power is fleeting, Treize, you of all people should know that."
Treize threw back his head and laughed, "I was a king before your ancestors were even born, boy. I've seen kingdoms rise and fall, Trowa, and one thing remains eternal."
"What's that?" Trowa asked coldly.
Treize smiled and answered, "Death. Nothing is truly Immortal, Trowa, not even us."
"I don't plan to live forever, Treize," Trowa told him, looking away from the older man.
"You've been given a gift of sorts Trowa. Don't disregard it so quickly," Treize told him in a quiet voice. Trowa looked at him and Treize went on, "You'll be able to see and do so many things, Trowa. You don't have to lurk in the shadows."
"Like you?" Trowa asked bitterly.
Treize laughed and replied, "Like me Trowa, exactly. But I don't think that you wish that sort of responisibilty on your head."
"I want to kill the one who did this to me," Trowa replied.
Treize nodded and replied, "That is understandable, but, could you tell me a little about your sire first?"
Trowa's mind froze. He could see her so clearly in his mind. Her long black hair falling around her pale, angelic face, and her eyes. He could clearly see her eyes in his mind, those amazing eyes that changed from color to color every moment. Those haunted, wicked eyes, and her mesmerizing voice.
He answered, "No."
Treize said, "I understand. The Change can be a terrible experience and you may not want to share that information with someone whom you had just recently called an enemy."
Trowa looked away. He said, "It's personal."
Treize smiled that madding smile of his once more. He said, "Well, since you are so hellbent on killing your sire, maybe I should show you some things first."
Trowa looked up at him and asked, "What do you mean?"
Treize stood up and offered his hand. It was the same gesture that he had shown Trowa in the alley. He said, "I need you to come with me."
Trowa stood up, without taking the other vampire's hand.

Zechs sat in an overstuffed crimson velvet chair. The soft glow of the laptop beside him cast the fierce mobile suit pilot in a soft, blue light. His platinum blond hair fell around him softly and his ice blue eyes caught the light of the room around him.
She should have been here by now, Zechs thought wearily and impatiently. His long, strong fingers started to tap a rhythm on the table beside him. There was a soft knock on his door. He felt the powerful spark of the person who knocked.
He smiled. It had increased since the last time he had seen this person.
The door opened and a young woman of around sixteen years of age walked in. She was tall and slender, a striking girl dressed all in black with waist long wine colored hair and pale skin. When she met Zechs' eyes, he noted that they were a bright, pale green; striking in comparison with her pale skin and wine dark hair.
"Hello Minerva," he told her softly.
She replied, "Hello Milliardo."
"I don't go by that name any more," he told her coldly, knowing that, in all honesty, this girl could kill him with a thought almost.
"Zechs then?" she asked.
Zechs shrugged and answered, "It doesn't matter to me anymore, Minerva. I'm dead to this world."
She walked over to him and looked at the laptop. She said, "No, you're not. You're dead in your world, not ours. You've crossed the line, Zechs."
Zechs inwardly flinched at the girl's words. She was right. He had given up his humanity a long time ago. She said, "You have what all of us craves, young prince, and yet, you drive for even more. You almost destroyed the earth, why?"
The girl was far older than what she seemed. She only looked like a child, but Zechs knew that she was much older than she looked. Much older than him. He listened to her husky voice and thought for a moment.
"Zechs, what you were doing was ludicricy," she told him.
Zechs stood up and towered over Minerva. She simply looked up at him. He snapped, "You have no idea what was going on in my mind while I was up in Outer Space."
"Outer Space, god, all you people from this century are obsessed with Outer Space. Listen, kiddo, I was around when man first landed on the moon. My employer was alive while they were doing witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Zechs, this is only another step in man's evolution. Within a hundred years, humans will move onto something else. Trust me, it happens all the time. I've seen many things Zechs, and what you almost did wasn't the worst of them," she told him simply.
Zechs almost smiled at her. Minerva was a professional, unchanging person, refreshing in a world of chaos. He asked, "Do you know why you are here?"
She nodded and pushed strands of her hair behind her ears. She answered, "Yeah, the Cycle of Darkness is almost complete and you want me to protect someone."
"Yes, my sister, Relena," Zechs answered as his sister came to mind.
She smiled and asked, "Half sister?"
Zechs glared and replied, "Yes, my half sister."
Minerva said, "So, I'm going to the Sanq kingdom to protect the princess and Noin."
"How did you know about Noin?" Zechs asked her sharply.
She smiled, flashing her fangs. She answered, "Zechs, you've got power, but not that much." She turned away, her long, wine-colored hair swinging around her. She said to him, "You better chose your side quick, Lighting Count, the shit is about to hit the fan." With that, she faded into the shadows, leaving Zechs alone with his brooding thoughts.

Duo successfully picked the lock and they slipped into the penthouse suite into the Marriot. Nine hours before their shuttle was scheduled for take off. Plenty of time for Duo to get some answers as well as give some.
The slight blond girl stood glaring at Duo and Heero. She spat, "You're gonna get yourself killed by being around me."
Duo grinned and started to shove her into the bathroom. His nose wrinkled at her stench. It had been at least a week since she had bathed last. He replied, "Smelling you is gonna kill us, Sweetheart."
"Burn in hell," she spat as he shoved her into the bathroom.
He grinned and said, "Naw, it's gonna be a while before I do that yet. I haven't committed all of the seven deadly sins yet. Now, Baby, you're gonna get cleaned off and you're gonna tell me what I want to know."
"What the hell do you think is gonna make me stay?" she spat at him. He felt her power rising inside her, prickling along around his skin like a cold wind.
Duo grinned and replied, "As soon as you're in the shower, I'm taking your clothes. Now, you better get in there or I'll undress you myself." He looked her voluptuous form over. She was well proportioned for someone only five feet tall. He leered, "And that would be something I'd really enjoy."
"Bastard," she cursed as she stepped in the shower. Her clothing was thrown out beside his feet.
He grinned and replied, "Yeah, you've got that right." He picked up her clothing and said, "I'll get you something else to wear."
"Whatever, just leave," she snapped at him as the water turned on.
"See you in about ten minutes, Babe," he told her cheerfully as he closed the door behind her.
Heero was leaning up against the archway. Duo asked, "You have questions, don't you?"
"Yeah," Heero answered in his monotone.
Duo, despite the lunacy of it all, chuckled. Heero Yuy of all people was going to be the first person he had ever broke cover too. Father Maxwell and Sister Helen helped train him, so they knew what he was, but other than that, Duo had never spoken a word of it to anyone. He pushed his bangs out of his eyes and looked at the floor.
He said, "Well, I'm gonna tell you some things first. Yeah, those were vampires. Vampires exist. They've existed almost as long as man. It's a long story. Anyway, they exist, and so do a whole bunch of other things that you don't wanna fuck with.
"Werewolves, witches, zombies, ghouls, ghosts, and so on. I'm not sure about demons on Earth, but that's something I don't wanna mess with. They live within our society, Heero, hunting us, changing us, whatever. Now, there are some good witches and people with natural powers. Psychics like Quatre, healers, and natural born necromancers like the girl in the shower.
"And they're are people like me. People born to hunt them. It's not something I wanted, buddy, it was something that I was Called for. It sucks. I hunt vamps and other nastys until someone kills me. It's a load of shit. They're real, and hardly anyone knows about it, except certain sects of the Catholic Church, but you can't trust them either. They're in for their own gain.
"Any questions, Heero?" He looked at his friend's endless dark blue eyes.
Heero nodded and asked, "Yeah, you mentioned something about being called. What did you mean?"
Duo grinned and said, "The God of Death isn't necessarily a name I gave myself. Vampires had been calling me the God of Death long before the Maxwell Massacre."
"How come none of us found out?" Heero asked.
"Because I wasn't supoce to let you. The Church got really pissed when I became a Gundam pilot. I told them to kiss my ass. That pissed them off even more. But I hid things from you," Duo answered him with an ironic grin.
He could hear the water in the background. An image of long, golden hair gliding over silken curves entered his mind. No matter what shit hit the fan, he would always have his wonderful hormones.
"Like what?" Heero asked.
Duo grinned and answered, recalling a certain instance, "Well, remember when we were both at that school, right after we won the basketball game?" Heero nodded, his intense eyes not leaving Duo's face. Duo swallowed and went on, "One of my powers is empathy. That means I can read emotions. Even Trowa's and yours. I felt what you were feeling about attacking that base. I felt the change in you after you piloted ZERO. I can block it out most of the time, and I try to because having the emotions of a couple thousand people beat down on you isn't that pleasant.
"Anyway, I didn't see it in your eyes. You and Trowa are pretty damn good at hiding stuff. I actually focused to get what you were feeling," Duo told him with a grin. He wasn't about to even mention what Heero felt whenever Relena Peacecraft was around. He had focused on Heero once while he was around Relena and found some very private emotions there. Probably some that Heero didn't even know he had. Or forgot that he had.
Heero asked, "Why the dreams?"
The water turned off. Duo said, "Hold that thought. I'm gonna get our lovely guest some clothing. Even though I would like her to run around necked, I don't think that everyone else would approve." He took the folded pile of clothing that he had gaffed from the luggage rack as he snuck in the room. Heero and the girl didn't even know that he had stolen anything. Some old habits died hard.
He set the pile on the toilet. He said, "Hey Babe, I've got you some clothes."
"Thanks," she said icily.
"Geeze, you're pretty cold," he told her with a grin.
"Get the hell out of here, you little bastard," she hissed at him.
Duo chuckled as he shut the door behind him. He asked, "Where were we?"
"My dreams," Heero answered icily.
Duo shrugged and said, "I don't know."
"He's a Dampier," the girl said as she walked into the room.
Author's Notes: If you've read the prologue through part three, then you really know what's going on. At least a grasp of it anyway. I've gotten some questions on where I've gotten my ideas, well, here goes. Yes, there is a lot taken from Blade in here as for the fight scenes, and John Carpender's Vampires was part of my inspiration for Duo in this story, as well as a touch of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The show, not the movie). The Laurel K. Hamilton Anita Blake series also gave me a whole bunch of ideas, exspecaly for the necromancer. Last, but certainly not least, if vampiric Trowa seems slightly familiar, it's because he reminds me of Angel. So does Heero, but that's a story for another time.
And, when Treize was defeted by Wufei, his mobile suit was not blown up, so that's why he survived.

A Shade Darker Part Four

"He's a Dampire," the girl said, causing Duo to stare at her. Heero's face actually showed some emotion: confusion.
Duo looked over at Heero then back at the blond necromancer. "Heero, Nah," Duo disagreed. Then he studied the Wing pilot. There was always something different about him. He's stronger, tougher, and faster than any normal person I've ever met. His eyes . . . Duo thought as he looked into those dark blue eyes.
He looked back at the elfin blond, her grey eyes had changed to silver. The color hadn't bled out to the rest of her eyes, just the irises were glowing like molten silver. He could sense her fear and revulsion, as well as a primal urge to run out of here as fast as she could.
"A what?" Heero asked.
"A kid whose daddy was a leech," Duo answered dully.
The girl backed away and said, "Get the hell away from me." She looked about as if she was going to bolt out of the room. She spun around and tried to take off. Duo reached out and grabbed her arm again.
"I don't think so, sweetheart," he told her as he placed her against the wall before letting her go. The only way for her to run was between him and Heero.
"My name's Aurora Winters," she snapped.
"Winners?" Duo asked, seeing if he heard her right.
"Winters, like in the season, not Winner, like the company," she hissed at him.
Heero asked, "What are you?"
"I'm not answering any of your questions. A Called who went to the dark side, great. Working with them," she hissed defensively.
"What is your problem?" Duo asked exsaperatingly. He looked over at Heero. There was no way in hell that he could be a Dampier. He would have known it. His mind searched through all the information he had learned on Dampiers, which wasn't that much.
They were the kid of a human woman and a vampire guy, and the kid was most generally a guy. They had some vampire traits, like strength and resistance to mind control, but none of the weaknesses. And they hated vampires with a passion. They spent most of their lives hunting and killing them.
That's why Heero was acting so funky in the alley, Duo realized as he looked at his friend. "Damn it, why didn't I figure it out sooner," he grumbled.
All the instances that Heero had pulled some superhuman feat entered his mind, and that was a lot. Heero bending steel bars and so on, and the coldness that Heero treated everything. Hell, he was supernatural and didn't even know it, until now. Duo could kick himself in the ass.
Aurora was backing even farther into the wall, pressing her body into it to stay as far away as the two pilots as she could.
Heero asked, "What is she talking about?" Duo could sense Heero's defensiveness.
"A Dampier, damn, I should of figured it out earlier," Duo said with a chuckle.
"That's why I've been having those dreams, isn't it?" Heero asked.
Duo looked at Aurora and asked, "Why has he been having dreams?"
Aurora shrugged and said, "I'm a necromancer, not a physic. From what I know, a Dampier's nature doesn't come out until they are like 15 or so."
"Or the Cycle of Darkness is almost complete," Duo grumbled.
"The what?" Heero asked.
"That's why I'm gonna go to Earth, Heero. To stop all the dark nastys from taking over the world. Strange, isn't it?" Duo asked with a grin.
"So, that's why I need to find you," Heero said.
"Why?" Duo asked.
"To stop this Cycle of Darkness, or whatever, from ending," Heero replied, acepting his fate. Ya know, when I was Called, I went into this kicking and screaming. Heero's taking it a lot more calmly than I ever could hope, Duo thought, But then again, Heero may survive all of this and live happily ever after. If there is a Happily Ever After for us.
Duo looked at the girl and said, "I don't think we've been properly introduced. My name's Duo Maxwell, and the Dampire is Heero Yuy."
Heero nodded and Aurora glared. She asked, "The Gundam pilots?"
Duo grinned and answered, "The one and onlys, Good Looking."
"My name's Aurora," she snapped at him, "And you can stop with all the Come Ons. You're worse than Damon." "Who?" Heero asked.
"The leech in the alley with the French accent. He's been hunting me for a while," she answered.
"Why?" Duo asked.
Aurora shrugged and answered, "I don't know, but he's also killed any male that I've made contact with."
Duo looked at Heero and walked into the other room. Heero followed him. Heero asked, "What is the Cycle of Darkness?"
"Every thousand or so years the really nasty forces of the world try to take it over using the demons from Hell. Its been stopped everytime its almost happened by the Called," Duo answered.
Heero nodded and said, "So its it come up again and you need to stop it. And I'm gonna have to help you stop it."
"You're being pretty aceptable about this, Heero," Duo told him.
Heero said, "It needs to be done, doesn't it?"
Heero's philophy boiled down so much into just one simple question. Duo grinned and replied, "Yeah, you're right."
Heero asked, "What about the girl?"
"She's a necromancer, basically, someone who can raise zombies and communicate with the dead. She said something about Frenchie killing any guy that she communicates with," Duo said, thinking.
Okay, why would Frenchie do something like that? Why only guys she comes in contact with, what about girls? Unless . . . "Virgin sacrifice," Duo said.
"What?" Heero asked.
Duo answered, "They're probably gonna sacrifice her to something. A virgin necromancer would be a pretty good sign of 'Hey, we love ya! Do evil stuff for us!' Damn."
"So, we kill her," Heero said simply, pulling out his gun.
"No," Duo groaned as he tried to put Heero's gun down. He said, "She could be useful. We bring her along. We really don't have any other choice."
Heero grunted.

Relena Peacecraft had just made it back to Earth. With the Teddy bear that Heero gave her cradled under her arms, she greeted Noin with a smile and a nod. The violet eyed woman smiled and asked, "How was your trip, Miss Relena?"
Relena answered, "Everything seems to be going pretty well."
Noin smiled at the Teddy bear and said, "It seems like you made a new friend."
Relena grinned at the bear and said, "You won't believe who gave this to me."
"Heero," Noin said with a smile.
As they walked into the palace, Noin smiled and said, "Just woman's intuition." Relena looked at the setting sun and smiled. The world was heading towards pacifism and the relationships between the colonies and Earth were repairing slowly. And Heero had given her a Teddy bear.
Relena asked, "Has there been anything going on at the school, Miss Noin?"
Noin shook her head and answered, "Nothing. Most of the girls had gone home. I saw Dorothy Catalonia at Treize's grave the other day, right before you came home."
"How is Dorothy?" Relena asked as they walked down the hallway. Her heels clicked with a musical rhythm as she walked.
"Better, she's going to be okay, I think," Noin answered.
"I feel sorry for her. I really do. She lost everything," Relena told her, sympathizing with the blond girl's plight.
They entered Relena's study, recently refurnished after a battle. She placed the bear down on a chair and leaned against her desk. She absently traced Heero's name out with her finger tips on the table as she looked at Noin. Noin said, "Oh, about the school, I almost forgot."
"What?" Relena asked.
Noin answered with a smile, "Nothing to be worried about, Relena, just a new student. She's actually pretty interesting if you read her profile."
She handed Relena a manila folder. Relena opened it to see the transcript of a girl named Minerva Celestine. There was a polite knock on the door. "Come in," Relena said.
Paygan opened the door, the old man dressed in his coat and tails, walked into the room. He bowed politely and said, "Miss Relena, Minerva Celestine is here to see you."
"This late?" Relena asked Noin.
Noin nodded and said, "She has an allergy to sunlight."
"What?" Relena asked.
"My body has a severe intolerance to UV light, Miss Peacecraft. I cannot go out into the day," a husky woman's voice said as a young woman walked into the room. Relena almost gaped at the sight of her. She was tall and slender with pale skin and waist long, wine colored hair. Her hair was the dark purpleish red of fine wine. She looked at Relena with bright, pale green eyes in her classicaly sculpted face. She was, perhaps, one of the most beautiful girls that Relena had ever seen.
"I'm sorry," Relena told her sympathetically.
The young woman laughed, a husky sound that unintentionally brought attention to it. She replied, "It's not your fault, Miss Peacecraft. I was born this way, and how could I miss the day if I never experienced it?" There was a note of sorrow in her words. Relena pitied her.
Relena said, "Please, call me Relena."
"Then you must call me Minerva," she replied, holding her hand out. Relena took it. It was long fingered, elegant, pale and cool.
She said, "Paygan, could you get someone to turn the heat up just a little bit." It was to be expected. It was mid-December, snow was on the ground, and Minerva had just gotten here. The girl was probably freezing.
Paygan nodded and replied, "Yes, Miss Relena, I'll go do that right away." The gentle old man trotted off, leaving the three women alone.
Relena indicated a chair and asked, "Minerva, why don't you sit down?"
Minerva gracefully sank down into one of the high-backed chairs in the room. She had a certain grace to her that strangely reminded Relena of Heero. The girl said, "Thank you."
Relena sat behind her desk and asked, "What brings you to my school?"
Minerva smiled and answered, "As I've told you, I have a severe allergy to sunlight. I can't go out in the day without a severe reaction, luckily, I'm from an L5 colony. So, sunlight isn't really a big concern there."
"I thought they use natural UV rays in the colonies?" Relena asked her, unsure.
She chuckled and said, "Yes, every doctor I've been to has told my mother the same thing. They just can't figure it out. On Earth, I can't go out during the day, but at home, I'm just fine. It's an interesting question."
Noin asked, "Why did your mother want you to come here?"
Minerva smiled and answered, "My mother is one of the CEO's of Cyurgen Medtech, as said in the files, well, with everything that's been happening in the colonies, she's curious on the pacifism issue on Earth. So, I volunteered to come to school here. I get sent to a boarding school half of the year anyway, so why not just to this one on Earth? Besides, pacifism is the wave of the future, am I not right?"
Relena smiled and answered, "You are right, and it's good to see someone who believes in total pacifism."
Minerva smiled as well. She said, "I'll think I'll like it here."
Noin said, "Paygan will show you to your room shortly."
"Thank you," Minerva said. She stood up. Then she asked, "Question, do the windows have curtains in the classrooms?"
Relena smiled and nodded. Minerva looked relieved.

Quatre and Catharine walked along the snow-covered streets. There were a few Christmas carolers around singing songs and ringing bells. If their plight hadn't been so serious, Quatre would have liked to stop and listen to them. He liked artistic things that no one else would have picked out, except maybe Trowa.
He held out the photo of the Gundam pilot out to a chestnut vendor in the street. He asked, "Excuse me sir, but have you seen this young man?"
The elderly man squinted pale blue eyes, faded with age. He said, "I think so, about three days ago. He was walking, watching a vidcast, and he walked right to that alley." He pointed to a dark, deserted alley. At this time of night the alley seemed really foreboding, and an easy place for someone to ambush someone.
He went on, "And he was pulled in there."
Catharine asked, her voice pitched higher with fear, "Did you see who grabbed him?"
He shook his head. All of Quatre's fears were confirmed. Something had happened to Trowa. He froze beside Catharine. The girl looked at him with pale violet eyes. She whispered, "Oh, Trowa what's happened to you?" Quatre took Catharine's cold hands and told her, "Catharine, I promise you that we'll find Trowa. I swear it." The pair didn't know that they were being watched.

Lilith watched with narrowed eyes. She recognized the couple on the street from Trowa's mind as she drank from him. The cherubic boy with the pale, golden hair and the aquamarine eyes was Quatre Rabeba Winner, the Sandrock Gundam pilot. Lilith snarled at him. All of Trowa's thoughts about the little cherub were warm and sweet.
The girl with the auburn hair and the pale violet eyes was Catharine. Trowa didn't know it, but Catharine was his sister. Lilith could sense the same blood within them. She made it a point to drain the girl at some point in time with Trowa watching. Maybe it would teach him obedience.
She pulled out her digital phone from her back jeans' pockets and punched in a number. She dialed Damon's number. Damon's accented voice answered, "Bonjure, mademoiselle, this is Damon speaking."
"Damon, I found something interesting. Get Hawk over here ASAP. I have a mission for him," Lilith told him with a cattish smile, her fangs flashing.

The cold and snow didn't bother the pair of vampires as they walked into the night. Trowa felt the icy pricks of wind on his face, but it didn't bother him. How could it? He was already cold. He looked at the elegant vampire beside him and asked, "Where are we going?"
Treize smiled and answered, "Into the night."
Trowa asked, "What is that supoce to mean?"
Treize chuckled and said, "You are so impetuous, Trowa Barton. I want you to see some things."
They stepped into the limo. Treize said, "If you are curious, we are going to the nearest town, where your circus is at."
"Catharine, I have to see her," Trowa told him. He had to see her, make sure that she was all right and to let her know that he was all right.
Treize said, "That may not be a good thing for you to do, Trowa."
"Why's that?" the Heavyarms' pilot snapped.
Treize sighed and said, "Your sister won't understand what happened to you. Neither will the other Gundam pilots, Trowa. You have to leave them behind."
"I can't," Trowa told him, "It's my duty . . ."
"Everything's changed now. Duty and honor are not important things to most vampires," Treize interrupted him regrettably.
"What about you?" Trowa hissed.
Treize tiredly rubbed his eyes and replied, "Yes, I know. I know I'm also going to be hunted as well when someone finds out that I am not dead."
Trowa didn't say anything. If he was to be killed, that was his business. He looked out the window and they approached the town. Treize told the driver, "Stop here." The car stopped and Treize got out, glaring, Trowa followed him.
They started to walk on the side walk. Trowa could hear the heartbeats of everyone around him, the thrill of each life. Treize said, "If you concentrate, you should be able to hear their thoughts."
Trowa glared at him and shut his eyes. He could hear hope, fear, joy, love, hate, anger, and just the whole of people's beings. It was amazing. He stood there with Treize on the sidewalk, just listening to people's thoughts, seeing what they were made of. It was a rush of power. He could feel the life force of every person around him.
Then, something cut through the feeling.
No, stay away from her! Leave her alone!
It was Quatre.
He heard it again, this time, stronger in his mind, Trowa, I'm sorry that I couldn't help you.
"Quatre," Trowa murmured as he began to run toward the call.
"Trowa! Wait!" Treize called out. He heard Treize's voice in his mind, Damn it boy, it could be a trap. Trowa ignored him as he ran.

Quatre and Catharine were surrounded buy six men dressed in black. Their leader had bright, unruly hair the color of fresh blood. His eyes were glowing the same red and he had fangs. Quatre could sense some sort of dark power around them, a hunger of sorts.
"Get behind me Catharine," he told her softly, not knowing who they were, but knowing that he had to protect her.
"I don't think so, Pretty Boy," the redhead said as he jerked Quatre up by the lapels. Quatre automatically tried to break the man's grip using pressure points, but he wasn't budging. He balled up his fist and slammed them into the other man's ears. He simply laughed.
One of the men grabbed Catharine and twisted her head back. Quatre shouted, "No, let her go!" He saw sharp, white fangs gleam in the dim light. What is he? Quatre thought as he watched as he leaned his face into her throat.
"No!" he cried fiercely as he reached out for his best friend's sister.
"Shut up, boy," the guy with the redhead growled as he punched Quatre. The blow had crushing impact, and the last though that he had before he blocked out was: Trowa, I'm sorry.

Trowa, I'm sorry.
Trowa ran into the alley, the same alley that he had been abducted. He could feel the bloodlust thick around him as he saw six others of his kind holding Quatre and Catharine. Catharine stood blankly as the vampire bent down and sank his fangs into her throat. She didn't even scream. She just looked blankly.
"No!" Trowa shouted as he rushed the vampire. He spun a cartwheel and back flipped right into the vampire's face. His boot caught on his fangs as he was snapped back from Catharine. Catharine's prone form started to crumble to the ground.
Trowa reached out and caught his sister. Yes, she was his sister in mortal life. He knew that now, he could feel the lingering tie of blood, but it was quickly fainting. To only find out that you had a sister before you lost her. There was a certain irony in that. He gently laid her to the ground, ignoring the scent of fresh blood.
Then he noticed Quatre in the leader's clutches. He was draped carelessly over the other man's shoulder, his pale blond head flopping like a dead body's. Trowa saw red.
He snarled. His fangs lengthened, he felt a rush of cold, hard power run through him. He snarled, "Let him go."
"What, the kid, he's rather pretty," the redheaded male laughed.
Trowa glared and spun to the ground, sweeping his legs around, kicking two of the vampires' legs from underneath him. He placed his hands on the cold concrete and swiftly brought himself up into a handstand. Using his powerful legs, he wrapped them around another vampire's neck, snapping it. He flipped back up to face the redhead with Quatre draped over his shoulder.
The redhead said, "Ya know, he wouldn't fall for mind control."
"You bastard," Trowa hissed at him, keeping his eyes focused on Quatre. That violation, mind control. That was why he was in his certain perdicimant. He was so busy focused on Quatre that he forgot about the other five vampires.
He spun around just in time to block a kick to his face. He parried the blow only to be grabbed around his waist. He was thrown against the wall. The redhead smiled, shifting so that he was holding the small blond young man in his arms. Trowa sneered, "Let him go." He struggled, even with is new found supernatural strength, he was nothing against the five vampires holding him.
"Naw, we're taking all of us with you," the redhead smirked.
"Go to hell!" Trowa hissed, his serenity gone. He had Quatre in his arms; Quatre was in trouble, he had to save him.
"Five of you against two humans and one other vampire, a fledgling at that," Treize's cultured voice said as he entered the alley. Trowa locked his eyes into the brilliant blue gaze of the older vampire.
He said, "Get Quatre out of here. And save my sister." With his panic over Quatre, he almost forgot Catharine.
"Don't worry Trowa, none of us is going to be harmed this night," Treize cooly answered as he brought out a rapier from the folds of his black cloak.
"Treize Kusherenada," the redhead sneered.
Treize held the sword up in challenge. The only person who caught a reflection in the blade was Quatre. He replied, "Yes, Hawk, I believe. I challenge you."
"Challenge me my ass, what do you think this is, the 18th century?" the vampire named Hawk laughed.
Treize sighed and said, "Yes, you were sired in the 21st century, lacking manners and decor, as was common in that time. Also, you're American, and we all know how uncivilized the Americans are."
A smirking image of Duo Maxwell came into Trowa's mind despite everything. Hawk hissed, "Arrogant fucker, get him." He pointed at Treize. Trowa was immediately dropped to the ground.
He automatically took up a stance. Treize held up his hand and said, "Later, Trowa. I can handle this on my own. Get your friend."
"Quatre," Trowa said softly as he turned to look at Hawk. Very calmly and coldly, Trowa said, "Let him go. Gently." The vampire laughed. Trowa spun gracefully, slamming his fist into the vampire's solar plexis.
Hawk sneered and dangled Quatre's prone form in front of him. He said, "Come get and get him, Bangs."
Trowa glared as he double flipped, spinning his legs strait into the other vampire's face. It caught Hawk off guard, causing him to drop Quatre. Trowa gently caught the other pilot, holding his warm form in his arms like it was the most precious bundle in the world and the colonies. He turned to see Treize.
The other vampires had surrounded him. The older vampire looked very calmly at them and said, "Gentlemen, we can be very civilized about this." A vampire snarled and charged at him. Treize gracefully spun around, cleaving his sword right into his neck. The vampire's head fell to the ground as its body discentigrated into ashes. "I guess not." Treize said simply.
Another vampire rushed at him, Treize ran him through with the blade. He jerked it out, blood staining the blade bright crimson. He kicked the vampire gracefully to the ground and took off his head with a clean swipe of the sword. It too exploded into ashes. He spun around, plunging his sword strait into the gut of one of the vampires. He jerked the blade upward in a spurt of blood and gore right to the neck. With a bloody sweep, it too was beheaded. Another pile of ash.
"Shit," Hawk cursed, sounding a little like Duo at that moment, before he ran off. The other two vampires' lost their heads soon after that. Treize stood there, holding the bloody sword with ash falling around him like snow.
That's all that's going to be left of my body if I die, ashes. Nothing but ashes, Trowa thought with a sudden spurt of fear. The thought of having no body frightened him. He was going to be nothing but ashes when he truly died, not this undeath he was leading at the moment.
Quatre, he thought with dread as he looked down at the cherubic boy carefully held in his arms. He was so light, so easy to hold. Not even a weight in his arms. Treize said, "How is he?"
Trowa looked at him. He had a giant bruise forming from where Hawk punched him. Other than that, he was perfect. Trowa answered, "He's fine."
Treize said, "Lets take your sister home and Quatre to safety."
Trowa nodded as Treize picked up Catharine.

"Get him!" The cry was a familiar one to Zechs. He smiled, flashing fangs as he stood up to his full height, his sword drawn. The silver blade sparkled in the dim light along with the cross he wore around his neck.
He said, "Fools." There were seven of them. Simple lackeys for some master vampire. They were all male, all in their early twenties, like him. He traced the sword on the ground, leaving a line. The one who shouted charged. Zechs calmly stood there. He spun away right as the vampire was about to impact and with one, clean swipe, he beheaded the vampire. With a scream, the vampire exploded into ash, leaving nothing behind. He walked in front of the line, reaching out and grabbing one of the vampires.
He pulled a pair of silver handcuffs from his cloak and swiftly chained the vampire up to a near by fire escape. Zechs had to make sure that he kept one of these bastards alive. He needed information, and any idiot could tell you that the dead don't talk. Cold hands grabbed around his neck, squeezing tightly. Zechs didn't need to breathe.
He simply sneered, "You really think you can beat me?" Then he plunged the silver blade into the vampire's heart. The vampire cried out as the silver directly penetrated and he crumbled into the swirling, grey ash. He spun around, using the hilt of the sword to break one of the vampire's noses. He then methodically stabbed him in the heart.
The other three charged him at once. Zechs held his sword out in front of him in classic Kendo position and calmly stood his ground. This was child's play. The trick to battling vampires was to kill them quickly. Injuring one would only anger it and it would heal before you knew it.
He gracefully spun and decapitated the first one. "Freak! You'll burn in hell!" one of the other ones screamed. Zechs lunged, the blade catching the vampire in the stomach. Blood squirted out in a bright, red stream. With one, clean swipe, he was dust as well.
"Damn you," the last one hissed. He was Asian looking with long, ink black hair tied back in a pony tail. He said, "You are a freak in both worlds, you know that."
Zechs cooly replied, "And yet, I don't care." He charged the vampire. The Asian vampire blocked the blow and held Zechs' blade with ease. Zechs knew he had to be more than a thousand years old. Had to be. No vampire any younger could touch a silver blade without extreme pain. It wasn't even slicing into his palms.
The vampire kicked Zechs. He wasn't ready for it. The blow hit his mid section, sending him sprawling. The vampire smiled and said, "I will kill you." Zechs felt the cool metal against his throat. The vampire maneuvered him so that they were facing eye to eye. Zechs knew the procedure. The vampire was honorable.
"You have honor," Zechs said.
The vampire replied, "And you do not."
Zechs pulled out a wooden stake from his jacket and thrust upward. The wood sank in deep, hitting its mark. The vampire looked surprised as he disintegrated into ash. The Lighting Count stood up in one fluid motion and picked up the blade. The other vampire started to squirm in the silver.
Zechs smelled his blood from the cuts he was getting from the cuffs. He asked, "Who is planning to end the Cycle?"
"I'm not telling you shit," the vampire hissed, still struggling. Blood trickled down his bear arm. Zechs calmly walked over to the vampire.
He placed the blade right beside the vampire's neck. He asked, "Again, who's planning to end the world?"
"Lilith will kill you. She'll kill everything and everyone you love just because she'll like it," the vampire mocked, grinning.
Lilith.
Zechs froze. The world was in trouble. Lilith would be the only vampire capable of ending man's reign on Earth. He said, "Thank you." With that, he made a quick swipe. The handcuffs, with nothing to hold onto, crumpled to the ground. Without breaking stride, Zechs picked them up as he walked out of the alley.

Aurora Winters didn't like to be controlled. As a necromancer, a talent that she could very well do without, she had immunity to mind control, but, also, as a necromancer, she was wanted by every supernatural force that had any numbers to it. Necromancy was a rare gift. It was simple to summon zombies from the grave with magic, but to have a natural ability to do so was an entirely other matter.
Her "gift" had caused her parents to be slaughtered while a pair of vampires had been after her. Two years she had been running, drifting from colony to colony, not able to reach the earth where at least there was the light of day to stop running.
Now, though, she was going to Earth.
All because of an idiot boy wearing a braid and his Dampier friend. Duo Maxwell claimed to be one of the Called, but any idiot knew that the Called worked for the Catholic Church. They killed any supernatural force, from burning witches to staking vampires. She had seen photos of the Church burning a witch on the stake during the 21st century. The look on the girl's face had been horrible, she was so afraid as the flames licked her skin.
Duo grinned at her and said, "Come on Aurora, we're getting on the shuttle." His violet eyes were twinkling with good humor as he grinned. She glared at the boy dressed in all black with the meter long chestnut braid. He had more charisma than most vampires she had met. His personality was one of the strongest she had ever met.
Now she found herself standing at a shuttle port with Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy, two young men that humanity thought of as heroes because they were Gundam pilots, but were something else intirerly. Maybe she should be happy that she had two famous warriors protecting her, but she knew that they were going to die. Damon was going to kill them both, exspecaly Duo.
An image formed in her mind of Duo's throat being slashed open by Damon's sharp claws and the vampire smiling seraphically at her. Any boy that she even talked to Damon killed. And it was almost common knowledge that vampires could smell lust and sense attraction.
She didn't want the idiot to die.
Heero pulled on her arm and said curtly, "Come on, you're wasting time." She looked into the Dampire's dark, endless blue eyes. She had looked at a many vampire's eyes ever since they started to hunt her. Some of them had this amused look, some of them were seductive, most were simply blood thirsty, only the most dangerous had the look that Heero did in his dark blue eyes. His eyes were focused, intense, the eyes of a hunter.
She knew that he wasn't happy to drag some girl around with him. Hell, it had only been a scant ten hours ago that he had found out that he was a Dampier. She could sympathize, but it was like being with a time bomb waiting to go off. Nothing was more dangerous than a Dampier that had gone vampiric, or Rouge as the vampires called it. When a Dampier tasted blood, they got all the powers of a vampire, and none of the weaknesses. In addition, they were immortal and could only be killed by beheading. Sunlight, fire, silver, wood, and holy objects didn't bother them.
She looked around at the busy space port and asked, "Where are we going?"
"Earth," Duo cheerfully chirped, pulling his black cap away from his eyes.
"Where?" she asked him, her voice betraying her impatience.
Duo grinned and answered, "Louisville, Kentucky."
Aurora froze. Louisville had been controlled by vampires since the early 1800's. She asked, "Are you sure?"
Duo grinned and said, "Yeah, vamp central, sweetheart. We won't be there for too long though."
Heero said, "Come on before we miss our flight."
Aurora looked at the shuttle with dread. Here she was with two Gundam pilots and going off to one of the heaviest vampire populated cities in the colonies and the world. She made it a point that when they had left Louisville that she was going to get as far away from these two guys as possible. No matter how much Duo Maxwell's violet eyes affected her.

To Be Continued!