Free Vampire Hunter D: Dark Nocturne Page B

for all eternity—”
    â€œThe reason I was allowed to return was so that I could announce the chosen one and make the necessary preparations for this evening,” the mayor’s daughter said coolly.
    From the way she looked at him, Price knew he’d lost.
    â€œSo it’s already been decided, then?” the warrior asked. It was an empty question.
    â€œYes. And it’s not you.”
    â€œWhat’ll become of him?” Price asked, tossing his jaw in Ry’s direction.
    â€œHe’ll become an excellent singer, I suppose. That is the result of the experiments conducted at one time by the great one beneath the mansion. He’ll live forever without drinking blood. But he hasn’t been completely changed yet.”
    â€œThen you mean he’s still not a Noble?”
    â€œThe Nobility have already perished. Now it is the human era. However, that is not to say it will always be so.”
    â€œWhy? Why choose him?”
    â€œBecause he came here without ever hearing the song directly. And that was the very purpose of the song. There are other reasons I could give you, but there’s little point in it.”
    â€œBut what if—” Price began, his voice dipping horribly low. Fresh blood continued to spill from his shoulder.
    â€œ What if he were to die? ” the mayor’s daughter said, throwing a sidelong glance at Ry. “In that case, it would probably be you.”
    At that instant, Ry covered his eyes.
    With the deadly glow still emanating from his pupils, Price launched himself at the boy’s chest. Drawing a dagger, he stabbed the boy in a single motion.
    Amne let out a scream.
    Ry staggered around in agony.
    Leaving his dagger buried in Ry’s chest, Price smiled and said, “D died the same way. You can follow after him, while I stay here. Forever!”
    The warrior’s body and voice convulsed in unison. Slowly lowering his eyes, Price gazed down at the naked blade that had sprouted from his chest.
    â€œD . . .” Ry mumbled as he got up again, and no sooner was the Hunter on his feet than bright blood spilled from the mouth of the handsome warrior. The blade had been pulled out of Price.
    Turning just his neck so he could sneer at the gorgeous young man in black, Price then returned his gaze to Ry and groaned, “You two . . . Both of you . . . with your eyes open . . . and run right through the heart . . . So that’s how it goes? I guess the song . . . really wasn’t for me . . . was it?”
    The warrior’s last breath escaped him after he’d fallen to the ground.
    An aura far more ghastly than Ry had once felt from Price issued from the people of the night.
    â€œIf they don’t drink human blood, I wouldn’t call them Nobility,” D said, staring at the mayor’s daughter. “Go on singing the song of the night. Leave the mayor and the other two children here, and the rest of you may go wherever you like.”
    â€œBut we’ve been waiting. Waiting so very, very long,” the mayor’s daughter said in a distant tone. “For me, it’s been twenty years. But for the great one . . .”
    â€œPlease just let me go, D,” said Ry. “Now I think I understand everything. In the mansion, in a lab you don’t know about, I’ll undergo the last stage. Please don’t interfere.”
    â€œYou could still be treated.”
    As D said that, his words were joined by a mournful wail.
    â€œThat’s right! Don’t go. You can’t go off and become one of those things!”
    As the mayor’s daughter grabbed both her hands, Amne thrashed wildly.
    â€œIt’s okay. I want to try and see it, too. Try and see the same world as the woman who sang that song.” Then the boy turned and said, “I’m sorry, Amne, but I want you to come with us.”
    Perhaps that was meant to keep D in check—if he interfered, she’d be killed.
    The whole