Summary: London is in peril when an epidemic brings about feral and aggressive vampires, Sir Integra suspects that there's more to the picture than meets the eye. With no new evidence and no possible way to send her men out, she's forced to enlist the help of a shady pair of vampires with a hand in all of London's shady affairs. Lord knows this could only end up well.
[A/N]: Hey~ Back with a new story this time while I think up ideas for Twisted. Since I accidentally deleted Microsoft Office from my laptop, I'm pretty much limited to what I can do story-wise, especially since I'm writing in Docs now. The good news, however, is I've got a newer, better running laptop and Grammarly (it's a Chrome extension) that helps a lot more than spell-check.
Loud music played as the Channel Five News logo danced across the screen in large, bold white lettering. The image cut to a rigid couple sitting in front of that very same logo, their expressions formal and serious in spite of their pearly white, television smiles and camera lit eyes. Beneath them, the subject sat in bold lettering. Body Found in Saint James Park.
"The News with Judy Atkinson and Thomas Rogers," the narrator boomed.
"We have breaking news," the anchorwoman spoke, her teeth blindingly white behind dark, red lips, "Law enforcement is once again baffled by another mauling. The body was found early in the morning in Saint James Park by a group of tourists. We have Amber Conway there now live with police investigators."
The screen split, revealing another woman who stood shivering in her Channel Five raincoat in front of a taped off area. The wind pushed her auburn hair wildly about and rain bounced off her coat and stuck to her face. In spite of the weather, a group of spectators crowded around the scene in an attempt to get a glimpse of what was left of the body, camera lights flashing and officers shouting and pushing past the crowd.
She remained silent for a moment. "Thank you, Judy. I'm here now live in front of the crime scene of what could possibly be a serial murder. This is only one of several mauled bodies found over the past few months, and investigators are beginning to suspect that these are the acts of one or more serial murderers. The true reason and nature behind these attacks remain unknown, but one thing is certain: whoever is behind these attacks aren't acting alone."
"As the investigation continues to develop, we'll be back with more info-"
The screen cut to black with a click, the residue of the image remaining sickly green on the screen for a moment before disappearing entirely.
There sat the twelve knights of the Round Table, each seemingly as regal and rigid as the next. A frown was etched deeply into the features of each member, each awaiting an explanation for the recent incidents. The atmosphere was thick and heavy as they lingered in the silence.
"Sir Integra," Sir Irons spoke, his expression stern and formal and his fingers entwined before him. "As you can see, the situation is absolutely dire."
"The attacks are getting out of hand," another spoke, wiping his brow, "And, as you already know, there's already a limit to the information we can suppress. It won't be long before civilians begin to suspect the inhuman nature of these attacks."
"Quite. These attacks are steadily growing with each passing day, each more violent and vicious than the last."
"We were lucky with this most recent incident, but, had there been more people in the park, the results would've been disastrous."
"Information in regards to the existence of vampires and other supernatural beings will soon spread if they piece it together. We'll be dealing with widespread panic."
"I don't suppose you have any information regarding these attacks, do you?"
They all stopped and stared at her, Sir Integra Hellsing, awaiting an answer, a remedy, anything. As children sat and cried until a parent consoled them, the Knights sat and looked to her for answers.
She remained in silence, inhaling deeply and collecting her thoughts. After a few moments of agonizing silence, she answered, "Of course." She adjusted her spectacles, a frown etched across her features. "This case is of the utmost priority, and, as such, we've been tracking these vampires for quite some time."
"Unfortunately, doing so is quite risky and confrontation is inevitable," she stated grimly, "Keeping the safety of my men in mind, there's a limit to the information we can gather. What information we have gathered reveals these aren't your ordinary vampires."
She paused at the sight of the men before her, each giving her either questioning glances or terrified stares. She took note of another, Sir Penwood to be exact, wiping the sweat from his creased brow with a white rag.
"While several of the vampires we've encountered in the past retain some of their human-like characteristics, these have gone… feral, if you may. Perhaps more beastly than any other we've documented in the past. Gentlemen, what we have here aren't your typical vampires," she repeated, "These kill without discretion, without hesitation, and whenever and wherever they please. The attacks are so vicious, not one ghoul or new vampire has been created. They exhibit no control over their appetites, and, should they make their way to the public, the results will be catastrophic."
"As of this moment, we can only theorize the causes of this 'new breed', but one thing is certain: these vampires haven't appeared due to coincidence. Someone or something is pulling the strings, and these recent attacks are only the beginning."
"How can you be so sure," Sir Irons asked, his expression unchanging.
"Because they're being tracked," she answered, raising her hand to reveal a tag of sorts. Eyes widened and several gasps emitted from the table. "These have been found in the remains of every one of the feral vampires we've come across. A closer examination reveals their tracking tags, though, once the vampire expires, the tag itself self-destructs and prevents us from tracing the tag's origins."
"Whoever we're dealing with isn't an amateur, and they're well aware of what they're doing. Whatever we may be dealing with, whether they're acting alone or if they're an organization, they're obviously out for blood. These recent attacks are only test runs, and it'll only be a matter of time before they start targeting larger groups of people or those with more power."