Vampire Hunter D Volume 13: Twin-Shadowed Knight Parts 1 and 2 Read Free Book Online Page A

see D right in front of her. A short distance away was a chestnut cyborg horse, so he must’ve come without Mia noticing him. As strange as it was that she hadn’t heard even a footstep, she didn’t find it strange at all where this young man was concerned.
    â€œAre you—D?” Mia asked, though it sounded to her like the words were a million miles away.
    â€œDo I look like anybody else?”
    â€œNo,” she replied. As D approached, she told him, “I just set an atomic charge. The timer can’t be disarmed. Get out of here.”
    â€œWhat an interesting thing to do.”
    D didn’t stop walking but came over to Mia and gazed down at the bomb.
    â€œYeah. I have to exorcise this demon that’ll spread over this village—no, the whole Frontier region.”
    Mia’s right hand slipped into her blouse, but D didn’t notice.
    â€œI was—” he began to say and then turned around, having sensed Mia’s murderous intent. Before D could even finish turning, Mia planted the dagger in her right hand in his heart with perfect precision.
    Time stopped. All movement halted, and even the wind seemed to have died.
    The next move came from Mia. Letting go of the dagger she’d stuck in him, she backed away a step or two.
    D stood stock still. “Why?” he asked.
    â€œYou’re a murderer! But thanks to you, I know the D I met last night was the real one. There really are two of you after all.”
    Rasping, D asked, “How . . . did you know?”
    â€œYesterday, you were riding a white horse.”
    â€œI see,” he said, his voice carrying strength. Before Mia even had time to be shocked, D reached his left hand for the hilt of the dagger jutting from his chest and pulled it out without any trouble. “Care to try that again? Or should I skin you alive here and now and let the atomic flames cook you?”
    A faint pain shot through the base of Mia’s throat, calling attention to the fact that D had drawn his longsword and pressed it against her.
    â€œWith that model, we should have ten minutes till it explodes. Time enough for a little chat. So, I went to see you last night, did I?”
    Mia furrowed her brow. She got the feeling that D knew more than he let on. Because he had a different horse, she’d thought he had to be a different person, but could it be that she was mistaken?
    â€œAnd what did I talk with you about, then?”
    The girl was at a loss for words.
    â€œHow I’d had a falling-out with you and the villagers?”
    Again, silence from Mia.
    â€œI went into the garden and slipped into your room through the window—right? And as I was leaving, I put my hand on your shoulder. Do you remember that?”
    For Mia, it felt as if all the blood were draining from her body. So, this D was the same as the one the night before after all.
    â€œLet’s suppose for a minute that I just bought a change of horses. What did we talk about?”
    â€œWhat you said just now. And that was it.”
    Gazing steadily into Mia’s eyes, D said, “Okay, next matter. Why did you come out here?”
    The blade pressed against her throat a little harder.
    â€œI saw it in a dream . . .”
    â€œIn a dream?”
    â€œMy mother appeared to me and told me what to do. What I was supposed to do out here. Hey,” Mia continued, her strength roused once more.
    With apparent curiosity, D replied, “What?”
    â€œTell me something. Who are you? And what’s this energy pipeline for?”
    D’s lips twisted into a grin. “You’ll find out in hell. In no time there’ll be more people than you can count joining you there. You’ll have to ask one of them.”
    His tone was that of a judge delivering his verdict, and it made Mia close her eyes. She felt ready to meet her maker. Various thoughts came and went in her mind. Her mother had visited her in her dream—she was