Vampire Hunter D, Vol. 25: Undead Island by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Author:Hideyuki Kikuchi
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781506701639
Publisher: Dark Horse
Published: 2007-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

A Longing in the Fog

chapter 7

I

Mizuki, your grace,” called out what was distinctly the voice of an old man.

“Is that you, Zangleson? What is your business with me?” replied the voice of Duchess Mizuki Dandorian. Though it was fuzzy, it came from what seemed to be an enormous throne. From the sound of it, she wasn’t sitting bolt upright but rather languidly draped across the arms of the chair.

The one who called out to her didn’t stand before the throne but rather was down on one knee in the ancient display of fealty.

“A short while ago, this item was left in the square before the main castle gates.”

After a short pause, the duchess said, “Why, this is—?!” There was the sound of the Noblewoman drawing a sharp breath. “It bears an image of that man. However, this is human skin.”

“It would appear to be the skin from the palm of a hand,” said the servant. “That eye is drawn in normal ink, but the image it contains also holds everything about that person. With this, a person’s location and all their actions are ours for the knowing.”

“Who could make such a thing …”

“None other than—”

That was as much as the servant said before falling silent. But not out of puzzlement. Rather, it was out of anticipation, knowing that the person he addressed knew the rest.

“—his grace?”

“I should imagine.”

“Why has he not returned? Even though everyone and everything has been restored, and it has all begun anew?”

There was a long interval. Undoubtedly that was an expression of some sort of objection.

Presently, Zangleson replied, “His grace will not be returning. Long ago, he bid your grace adieu and took his leave of the castle—and that is the truth of it for him. Even now, that has not changed.”

Somewhere, someone nodded. Listlessly and sadly.

“Your tone—for all its consolation, it hides a blood-soaked blade. Perhaps the blade is called torment? Do you wish to say that I bear responsibility for all of this?”

“As you say, your grace.”

“You are correct,” said the duchess. “And I myself am well aware of as much. Of all our followers, you are the deepest, the truest, and the most fervent. His grace will not be returning. Even if one of the two is slain, they are likely to battle on in hell for all eternity. And I think that is for the best.”

“Your grace?!”

Unmoved by this cry of commingled surprise and reproach, the woman said, “You of all people must know. Long ago, I loved the one who brought destruction to this project, and to all of us. Not only was that a betrayal of all of you, it also was a moral breach against the Sacred Ancestor. For this project spilled through the Sacred Ancestor’s own fingers, coming down to us.”

Duchess Dandorian’s words were neither a simple deposition of memories nor a monologue to rouse herself. It was a viscera-shredding act of self-destruction, a confession given while blood poured from every orifice, a prayer uttered while swallowing one’s own teeth.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.