Book One: Forbidden Love
Section One: Shuten
Chapter One: Arrival
Far into the future, after the great wars, vampires have once again risen from their dark tombs. They terrorize the small human populations with such ferocity. People carry with them any item that can repel a vampire: a cross, holy water, garlic and other herbs, and the very rare Dawn Sunlight Candle.
To kill a vampire you must put a stake through its heart and cut off the head. There are few brave people who become Hunters that go out to destroy the vampires.
But what worries everyone, human and vampire alike, are the Dampeals. A Dampeal is a person who has one parent that is a vampire and the other parent is a human. People fell uneasy about Dampeals. Some say that they have a soul since they are half-human, others say that are no different that the vampire parent that spawned them.
No one really knows what a Dampeal's life is like. Some follow their lust for blood from the vampire half, while others try to resist their thirst and go out as Hunters, killing their vampire kin.
Hear the tales from four Dampeals, four brothers joined in a quest seeking out their vampire father…
The torch landed on the pyre, igniting the wood. The flames grew, consuming the wood and the three bodies on top.
Touma watched the fire light up the darkening sky. He looked at the girl standing by herself about ten feet from the pyre. After all, it was her family.
Poor Robyn, he thought.
It was tradition for the closest living kin to stand near the pyre when someone died. It was hard for a person to do so. It was even worse when your family was killed by a vampire.
Touma sighed, wishing that he could go to Robyn and comfort her. But his father would object. There were days like this one, Touma hated being the son of the mayor.
Higher class of society, he thought. Right.
Someone touched his arm. Touma looked at Teresa. "Don't look so anxious, brother," she whispered. "Tonight."
Touma smiled and nodded at his younger twin sister. "You'll bring her to the church?" he asked quietly.
"Of course I will." Teresa said. "She's my best friend. I'd love to have her as my sister-in-law."
"Father is not going to approve," Touma said uneasily.
"Who said that he had to?" Teresa asked. "You love her, that's all you need."
"I've loved her for a very long time. I'm just an idiot for not telling her sooner."
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You were delayed. Now here's your chance to make it up. I'll see you at the church." Teresa walked over to Robyn as the townspeople began to return to their homes.
Touma started towards the church. A hand fell on his shoulder.
"Where are you going?"
Touma turned around and looked at his father. "I have a very important errand to take care of."
Edmund looked at his son. Touma wasn't lying to him. He just wasn't giving his father all the details.
"Don't be too long," said Edmund. "Your sister is going to help Robyn at her house. Cleaning and stuff like that. If someone doesn't take her in by tomorrow evening, she'll have to leave."
"She escaped the vampire," said Touma. "She's not infected."
"It doesn't matter," said his father. "If someone doesn't take her in, she must leave the following morning. That is the law, you know that. Try not to be too late. Even though you have a cross around you neck and there are crosses on all the buildings and the stone walls, there's always a chance."
Touma nodded and his father walked away. He remained standing there until Edmund was out of his sight.
All right, Teresa, he thought as he walked towards the church. It's up to you, now.
Robyn wiped away her tears. The townspeople gave their condolences and their reassurance, but no one asked her if she would like to stay with them.
I'll be thrown out of the village, she thought. I'll never see Teresa again. Or Touma. Dear God, please watch over them for me. And please may family rest in peace.
"Robyn?"
She turned around. "Teresa. What are you doing here? I thought that you went home."
"I'm going to help you at your house, remember?" Teresa asked.
"It's been a long day for me," said Robyn.
"For everyone, it has," Teresa said. "Come on. Let's get you home."
They walked to Robyn's house and entered.
"I'm in trouble," said Robyn. "What am I going to do? I'll be thrown out of the village for sure if no one let's me stay with them. I'm not infected. What's the problem with everyone?"
"They're scared." Teresa said. "Whenever 'vampire' is mentioned, people just freak out."
"But I'm not a vampire!" Robyn cried. "I didn't even get a scratch from when it attacked my family! My mother..." Tears welled in her eyes. "If it wasn't for my father and my brother..."
Teresa walked over to her friend and hugged her. "They sacrificed themselves for you. Be strong. They wouldn't want you to cry."
"I just wished I had told your brother that I love him." Robyn moved away from her. "How can I now?"
He loves you, too, Teresa wanted to say, but she just shrugged. "Why don't we go to the church and pray after we're done cleaning here? God is always listening. He'll hear us."
"I need a miracle to get myself out of this mess." Robyn sighed.
You have a miracle coming to you, all right. Teresa smiled. Let's just see if you can say two small words.
Edmund sat at his desk in his house, reading over some papers. He wondered what kind of errand Touma needed to take care of at such a late time. Why didn't he take care of it earlier? Didn't he teach his son to do better than that?
There was a knock on the door. Edmund stood up, walked over, and opened it. A young man stood on the porch. His blue-green eyes seemed to glow from under the shadow made by his wide brim hat and his long reddish hair fell over his shoulders. His clothes were a little dirty from the days of traveling.
"You," Edmund said, his voice full of hatred.
"Since you are the mayor," said the young man, "I have to speak with you."
____
Teresa pulled the church door open and held it for Robyn to go in first. Robyn dipped her fingers into the holy water and blessed herself.
"What's in there?" she asked, pointing to the bag Teresa was carrying.
"You'll see in a few minutes," Teresa said with a smile. "You might hate me, or you might be grateful."
"I don't want to know," said Robyn. She walked down the aisle, sat in the front row, and stared at the cross hanging above the altar.
Teresa sat next to her. "What are you praying for?"
Robyn looked at her. "A miracle so that I can stay in the village in a good way." She sighed. "And for some way that I can tell Touma that I love him."
"How about now?"
Robyn turned around. Touma was standing a few rows behind them, wearing his best outfit. Minister Blake was standing next to him.
"Touma?" Robyn asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I have something that I should have done a long time ago." Touma smiled. He took Robyn's hand and pulled her out of the seat. "First I want to say that I'm sorry that I hadn't said this sooner. I love you, Robyn. Forgive me that I didn't tell you, but I do." He dropped down to one knee. "Will you marry me?"
Robyn stared at him. Touma confessed that he loved her and he was proposing to her inside the church with Teresa and Minister Blake standing right there! Robyn looked at Teresa and watched her best friend pull out a white garment from the bag.
"Your mother's wedding dress," said Teresa. "I think that it's proper."
"Both of you planned this?" Robyn asked still shocked.
"Yes," said Touma. "Only I wish that I had asked your father for your hand. And I'm still waiting for your answer, Robyn. Please marry me. I'll make you the happiest woman in the village."
"I am," Robyn said as tears welled in her eyes. "I love you. Yes, I'll be your wife."
Touma stood up and kissed her.
"Save it for later," said Teresa. "Come on, Robyn. You have to change."
The two girls walked into the back room.
Save it for later," Touma repeated. "Minister Blake, I don't mean to insult you, you're probably the wrong person to ask. I'm guessing, but what exactly do you do after you're married?"
Minister Blake patted Touma's shoulder. "Relax, it'll come naturally."
A few minutes later, Robyn and Teresa came out of the backroom. Robyn looked beautiful in her mother's wedding dress. Touma smiled. He took Robyn's hand and they walked to the front of the altar. Minister Blake opened the bible and began to read. His words seem to fade away from the couple as they stared into each other's eyes with love and devotion.
"Do you, Touma," said Minister Blake, "take this woman to be your wedded wife, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Touma answered.
"Do you, Robyn," said Minister Blake. "Take this man to be your wedded husband, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Robyn answered.
Minister Blake motioned to Teresa and she gave a gold ring to her brother. Touma slipped the ring onto Robyn's ring finger on her left hand. Teresa gave another gold ring to her best friend. Robyn also placed the ring on Touma's left ring finger.
"Hands together," said Minister Blake. They did as they were told and Minister Blake placed his hands on top of theirs. "By the power vested in me, in the sight of God, I now pronounce you husband and wife." He removed his hands and looked at Touma. "You may kiss the bride."
Touma lifted Robyn's veil over her head and they kissed. They broke apart and Minister Blake congratulated them.
"I owe you a lot for doing this for us," said Touma. "My father would never allow us to marry."
"Your father doesn't understand how young people that are in love these days," Minister Blake said. "Even if he demands an annulment, I won't give it to him."
"Thank you." Touma shook his hand.
"Now I hate to rush you newlyweds, but you'd better get going before Edmund comes looking for you and finds out that you're married."
"I'll stall him," said Teresa. "But I don't know how long it'll last."
Touma nodded. "We'll be at--"
"Don't tell me anything," said Minister Blake. "In case your father does ask me, I won't be lying to him. Follow me. I'll let you out the back door." They followed him and he shut the door once the trio was outside.
"Teresa, stall him for as long as you can," Touma said, wrapping a cloak around Robyn.
"I'll do my best," she said. "Both of you have my blessing. Good luck."
Robyn hugged her. "We're sisters now, Teresa. I'll always be there for you, as you have for me."
"I know," said Teresa. "Now get going to Estelle's. I'll make up something to tell Father."
They watched her leave and headed towards Estelle's house. Estelle was Touma and Teresa's aunt. She and her husband, Dennis, had taken care of both of them ever since they were eight years old, when Edmund wasn't able to. Sometimes Touma felt that his aunt and uncle were more like parents to him and his sister than his own father was.
They arrived at Estelle's home and knocked on the door. She opened it and quickly rushed her nephew and his wife inside.
"I'm so happy for both of you," said Estelle as she hugged them.
"Aunt Estelle, I hate to do this to you," Touma said. "But Father--"
"I know," Estelle said. "Robyn, if you don't mind, I would like to have a few words with your husband."
"I understand," said Robyn. "He's your nephew."
"You married him. This now makes you my niece. Well, my niece-in-law."
Robyn smiled and headed up the stairs to the guestroom. Estelle turned and looked at Touma.
"I can't thank you or Minister Blake enough for this," said Touma. "Father would object the whole thing."
"Your grandfather objected when your father and mother got married," said Estelle. "And when I got married. But Edmund has never been the same since your mother died ten years ago." She sighed. "I always tried to get him talk about it, but he won't listen to me. Your father is as stubborn as a mule. I hope that you don't get like that."
"I hope I don't either," Touma sighed. "He'll kill me when he finds out."
"Kill you? No, he won't. Disown you? For about six or seven weeks, if I know my brother. Resent you? Definitely, he will. For how long, I don't know."
"Maybe he'll realize that I married Robyn because I love her, not just to keep her in the village."
"If he doesn't," said Estelle, "both of you are welcome to stay here." She hugged her nephew. "Dennis and I will be at Samantha's tonight. This way you two will be alone. Oh, before I forget." She gave him a small box. "For you and your wife. Open it together."
"Thanks, Aunt Estelle," Touma said and kissed her cheek.
She left the house. Touma took a deep breath and walked up the stairs.
____
"You expect me to believe that you're here to help?" Edmund asked disgusted.
"I don't expect you to believe anything," said the young man. "All I'm here is to tell you that the vampires that are hanging around here are not the kind that can be warded away just by herbs and crosses. There's a possibility that a master, an old one, is here too. He's controlling them."
"So go kill them," snapped Edmund.
"If I knew where they were, I would be more than happy to."
Edmund narrowed his eyes. "Do you enjoy killing them?"
"What does that have to do with it?" asked the young man.
"It's just that since you're a Hunter," said Edmund. "And I know who you are. But the people here in Noroton don't know. And if they find out, their hospitality, so to speak, may change."
"Are you threatening me, Edmund?"
"No, but I think it would be best if you leave."
"All I came here for was to give you my warning," the young man said.
"And I've given you mine," Edmund said as he stood up. "Get out."
The young man rose from his chair. "I'll leave, but I won't go too far."
"As long as I know that you're not in this village," said Edmund, "I'll sleep better."
The young man turned and left the house, shutting the door behind him. I should've slammed it, he thought as he walked down the street. His anger occupied his mind and he bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry," she apologized.
"Excuse me," he said. He saw her face and felt something stir in his heart. "Excuse me," he said again.
"I should've been watching where I was going," the girl smiled. "My name is Teresa. Teresa Hashiba."
"No, it was my fault," said the young man. "Forgive me. My name is Shuten."
"Nice to meet you." Teresa shook his hand.
Shuten couldn't help noticing how pretty she was. Her ebony hair was tied back at the nape of her neck and her midnight-blue eyes seem to sparkle, as if they had stars in them.
"Do you have a last name?" Teresa asked.
"No, just Shuten," he said. "I once knew someone whose family name was 'Hashiba'."
"Really? Maybe a relative of mine?"
"Perhaps." Shuten looked at the sky. "It's getting late. You should hurry home and get inside quickly."
"That's where I'm going," said Teresa. She gave him a small bow. "Goodnight, Shuten."
"Goodnight, Miss Hashiba." Shuten returned the bow.
Teresa smiled at him and walked to her house. Shuten watched her until she was inside. He continued walking until he was in the forest outside the village. He whistled and Kossori, his cybernetic horse, model CL-7G, came out of the darkness towards him. Shuten put his foot in the stirrup, grabbed the saddle, and pulled himself up, swinging his other leg over, and securing his foot in the other stirrup. He looked at Noroton.
"Hashiba," Shuten whispered. "Isn't it just my crappy luck."
He turned Kossori to the east and trotted away.