The man's grip tightened as the fledgling spoke, seeming to be completely unphased by its attempts at garnering sympathy from him - in fact, it almost made him angrier, like he was silently cursing this evil creature for daring to manipulate him. Him of all people. After what its kind had done to [i]'her'[/i]. With clattering weapons and a heavy brown trench coat, this was the most emotion he had shown ever since arriving on the Vigil's doorstep - it was something he didn’t expect the girl to understand, nor did he care! All that mattered was the fire bellowing in his chest where his heart used to be, now replaced by a vengeful ghost from the past. He spat in the creature's face before leaning in closer.

[b]"You're all dead anyways,"[/b] he snarled, and then his sword split across its neck so fiercely that it separated head from shoulders, the holy silver leaving behind a hiss like the wound was being slowly cooked alive. Then he threw the body away like the trash it was before sliding his blade back into place.

Lyselle had been told her whole life that these creatures were evil and she trusted that, but this was genuinely the first time she had ever seen so much hatred for their kind - almost awestruck, her mouth slightly agape. It was like he was torturing [i]'it'[/i] with some sort of twisted pleasure, like getting back at someone for smacking you across the face, but a hundred-fold. She had been in enough hunts to know how hunters extracted information - at least normally - with a cold indifference steeled by the mission of ridding the world of evil, and she had seen enough vampires struggling for their existence... but there was something in [i]'its'[/i] eyes that gave her pause. It felt different from the other hunts. It almost felt like the creature was hurting - almost like in some sad, tragic way, it [i]wanted[/i] to [b]die[/b]. Why would evil want to die?

She was suddenly shaken from her thoughts when she realized the man was staring at her. At first, he said nothing, just gave her a quiet, cold, calculating look before finally sighing. [b]"It's a long story... but the sun is almost down for the night, so we should turn in..."[/b] Lyselle just absently nodded in reply and they both stowed their weapons and began their climb upwards - Lys giving one final glance back to where the vampire had died. On their way back up, neither spoke, and Delwyn seemed back to his ‘normal’ self when he encountered a priest in the church proper, giving short and polite answers. Finally, the priest thanked them and ushered them into lofts where a couple of makeshift beds were spread out for the pair. True to what she knew of him before seeing his rage, he was quick to disappear, but not before saying, [b]"We'll go back to the Vigil tomorrow. If she's really as powerful as I think she might be - we will need more help."[/b]

So Lyselle plopped onto the pew, staring at the floor in thought.
[hr]
By the time midnight had rolled around, the priests had locked up the church - though the hunters had their own ways of getting in and out - and Delwyn was still missing. Several times Lyselle wondered if he went to the Vigil on his own, or maybe to find the vampiress on his own? Both thoughts made her nervous for different reasons: either the thought of not being 'good enough' to come along to the Vigil, or that he was facing a powerful creature by himself. She quietly fidgeted with a bottle of silver dust in her hand as thoughts and feelings crossed her mind.
What if he did go back? Would her mentors be disappointed? Think she wasn't as 'gifted' as they believed? Not trust her to be ready yet?
But if he went to Belle View by himself... would he really? Was he capable of being so angry that he'd risk his life?
No hunter should be alone.

Then the thought that was bothering her the most flashed behind her eyes - that newborn. That look. Those feelings. Those doubts. She tried to shake her head, tried to cast them aside, but it was in moments when she was alone that she felt... weakest. A slight frown crossed her lips before she closed her eyes.
[color=#9BA7C3][b]"Fuck!"[/b][/color]

She stood suddenly and put the bottle into a pouch before seeming to grumble to herself as she marched downstairs to the back door. Her feet stopped just shy of the door and she stared for several moments.

[color=#9BA7C3][b]"Am I really doing this?... ugh..."[/b][/color] With a clench of her fist she reached up to the lock and clicked the wooden door open. Taking out a quick piece of paper and pen, she scribbled a sigil - a fairly basic and common one she had memorized - which locked the door behind her. As the paper faded into dust, she spun and put on a brave face again. She felt compelled to go to Belle View.

At least to know that Delwyn wasn't on his own.
At least that’s what she told herself.
[hr]
The church finally came into view and her steps became quieter and more precise as her eyes scanned the dimly lit street. After a few silent moments, she cupped her hands and whispered loudly, [color=#9BA7C3][b]"Delwyn?"[/b][/color]

She waited for a response, standing as still as she could muster.
No answer.

The slightest gulp was the only indication that she understood how potentially dangerous this was, but just because the vampiress had shown up near here didn't mean she'd show up again. The young woman figured the chances were actually in her favor that this sire would not appear... but she couldn't help being cautious - such was the life of a hunter.

She drew closer still to the street this time, hunched over to keep her profile low, and called again. [color=#9BA7C3][b]"Delwyn - are you there?"[/b][/color]