If not for the abundance of other normal, non-murderous animals gathered around the young woman, D might have been more suspicious of her. It was clear that everything around her had sensed his true nature, that he was not part of the natural cycle of life and death, but the fact that they stayed with her was interesting.

They weren't frozen from fear, but chose to stay even as he approached. Well, at least the nightmare hadn't killed anyone. Her skin was so pale, hair so dark, and lips so red that D could almost have mistaken her for a Dhampir if not for that vital something that even the most human of Dhampirs lacked.

"You have quite a talent." Some people were good with animals, but this went beyond that by quite a lot. D hadn't yet decided if she had the same kind of enchanting allure over animals that D did over most people, leaving many entranced and eager to spend time in his presence even when doing so meant danger. Or was it perhaps something more benign, a connection to the natural world similar to the one D had with the night itself.