Vampire Knight: Hellsing
Ketti:I almost missed posting today! Oops. Well, I'd been planning on holding this back, but I want to write it anyways. So here you go. Please, if you don't like it, don't bother flaming. I'm going to write it anyways. :P It's a very guilty pleasure.
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Chapter One
Seras trembled, fitful sleep toeing the line between consciousness and dreams, she woke with a shout. Something was wrong.
Phasing through the wood of her bed, she fell between the floors and sprinted for Alucard's chambers, though he had been missing for a decade since this day. Jumping through the rune encrusted door, she cried in shock to see his coffin glowing, the edges of it beginning to fade before her very eyes. "No!" She wailed, a hole in her soul beginning to widen, oozing blackness into her very being. No, no! She had to stop this somehow, had to… Following some unknown urge, half crazed at the thought of losing the man for good, she dove atop the coffin, and fell through the insubstantial wood. Darkness engulfed her, and she had the time to think; I hope this is a dream, or Sir will kill me for leaving without telling her first.
In the void that surrounded her, she heard voices, and as she looked, she felt the coffin wood supporting her. She pushed open the lid and fell into empty white space, blinded. Suddenly there was a cry among the masses, and the smell of blood was almost sickening it was so thick in the air. Her Master's coffin made a groaning sound, as if suffering under an immense weight, and there was a violent suction of air, pulling back into the box. She looked down beneath her feet, somehow floating above the pull, and watched with sick horror as millions of corpses floating in a bloody sea were vacuumed up into the innocuous looking box. It gurgled, as if digesting food, before expelling a light blue mist. Seras squinted through the fog, seeing two shapes left amidst the vast blank space. One was very tall, the other so small, she was sure it must be a child. The child-shape moved as though it were laughing, though no sound escaped, and as it shook, a strange rune grew under its feet, though the light threw no light back at the shadow atop it, purple soon dominated the strange place.
Then the mark began to blacken at the edges, and the mist was sucked away, revealing her Master, and the shadow that she could swear was the cat-boy creature the Major had used to ensure his disappearance. "Master!" Seras cried, though her voice sounded far away, barely audible. What was she doing here? She didn't know. How was it even…
The coffin suddenly opened again, and shadows reached out to capture the form of her Sire, yanking him back into their depths despite his struggling and Seras screamed, her own shadow arm reaching out to him, only to catch empty air. The pull of the rune at Schrodinger's feet intensified, and her Master's coffin inched towards it before picking up speed. Terrified that she'd be left in this… wherever it was, limbo, hell, alternate dimension, she reached out and caught the box, reeling herself in to it to hold on for dear life, screaming the whole way down.
It was an eternity. Or was it only a minute? A second. An hour. Fifty years. Seras didn't know how long she screamed, but she stopped when she was thrown from the sky, instinct being the only thing to keep her from releasing her death grip on the big box. The sun burned her skin, and her arm hurt, it hurt so bad. Her shadows spread like a wing, trying to cushion their fall as they plummeted towards some trees, but the edges were melting, dripping away like blood.
A crater formed beneath them, Seras' back crunched sickeningly as she landed first, the box atop her, but she pushed it aside with a gasp and curled on her side, her voice weak and reedy. The pain was unbearable! There was so much blood. It poured from the stump of her arm, and as it did so, she saw her bones growing longer, forming the necessary structure to replace her lost appendage. Voices, she heard voices again, but they were distant, and unimportant, what mattered was that her Master and his coffin were at her side, and that she was still alive. But the pain! Her throat was raw from her keening, muscles forming from the veritable geyser of blood. How did she have any left to give the cruel earth? It was a puddle at her feet, she was drowning in it. At last it stopped, new skin shining pink and raw in the light of the setting sun, and she collapsed face first into the pool of mud and blood. "Ma-…ster…"
Yuuki Cross, a Guardian at CrossAcademy, daughter of the Headmaster, and best friend of Zero Kiryuu, jumped up from her seat with a cry. She had been dozing a little, but something had jarred her from her stupor. Something bad.
"Yuuki, what is it?" Yori asked, but was ignored as Yuuki bolted up the steps and out the door, Zero hot on her heels, despite the teacher's shouting. Yuuki ran until she reached the balcony over looking the trees scattered about the academy grounds, and gasped as she saw something black, and red plummeting towards the ground. She heard the impact, and nearly felt it in her bones. Something terrible had happened. She jumped from the balcony railing and ran for the trees, despite Zero's shout for her to wait, she heard him behind her a moment later when he realized she wouldn't. She couldn't. Couldn't he hear the screaming? Someone was hurt! It was her job as a Guardian to help people in need!
The human girl stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of the crater before inching forward and peering inside, only to go pale, stomach coiling into a knot and threatening to reject her breakfast. There was a girl, a blonde girl, and she was bleeding so badly Yuuki thought she would die of the blood loss any second, but she was still moaning, a truly horrible guttural sound, like a wounded animal as her arm regrew before Yuuki's very eyes. She must be a vampire, but why had she fallen from the sky? Was that a coffin next to her?!
Zero and Kaname stepped up behind her at the same moment, she could feel them, smell them, and she relaxed slightly at the assurance their presence brought. "She's hurt, Kaname." Yuuki whispered, "Can't we help?"
Zero retched slightly too, but steeled himself and was about to take a step forward when the dark haired vampire spoke. "No, don't go near her."
"What?" Zero snarled, turning on Kaname Kuran, fingers itching to reach for his gun.
"You sense it too, Zero, she's not a normal vampire. There is something wrong with her, but we can't help her. Wait, and watch, the best we can do is get her some shelter when this…" he gestured to the pool of blood and the regenerating limb, as if lost for words, "finishes."
"But Kaname!" Yuuki protested, wanting to help her now.
"No." He repeated, steel in his voice, "If you go near her right now, I believe she would kill you, perhaps without even realizing it. That coffin, as well, holds something dreadful. We'll put them in the basement under strict watch until she comes to, to question her presence here." As he spoke, the girl collapsed, dead silence filling the clearing before Yuuki shrugged off Kaname's hand and jumped into the crater to raise the blonde's head. "She's cold as ice!" Yuuki gasped, wanting to keep the girl's air way clear.
Headmaster Cross appeared then, looking flustered, Toga Yagari not far at his heels. The adults both gasped, and Kaien jumped down with her, never minding the blood that was quickly soaking into his clothing. In a matter of minutes they had the blonde vampire lifted from the hole and taken down to the dungeon like basement chambers, only Kaname was daring enough to touch the coffin so as to bring it with them, following the crimson footprints they left in their wake. Kaname knew something was wrong with this situation, and whoever was inside the box was a monster he did not want walking his halls. He wanted the coffin under lock and key, so that they could deal with it on home ground, without the threat of some foolish creature opening it, and perhaps unleashing whatever lay within. There'd be a lot of explaining to do later…
Seras woke slowly, feeling weak as a kitten, even her lungs hurt, though she didn't need to breathe. With a conscious effort she stopped, waiting out the uncomfortable sensation of her mind insisting she needed air until it passed as she exhaled what little air remained in her body. Eyes opening, she observed the room around her; the walls and floor glowed with runes, and though there were chains and cuffs attached to the wall, she was not restricted. In fact, she realized, she was laying atop a sleeping bag, the plush and slippery fabric shielding her from the rough stones.
Something squirmed in the back of her mind and she shot upright, looking frantically for any sign of her Master. His coffin was there, against the far wall, and she crawled over to it with a gasping cry. "Master!" Her limbs felt like jelly, and she nearly collapsed as her left arm took her weight, but she muddled through it until she lay half sprawled across the ornate box, fingers tracing the words; The Bird of Hermes is my name Eating my wings to keep myself tame.
"Master…"
The squirming sensation intensified until it seemed almost to burst like a bubble and quite suddenly she could hear him, hear her Master's voice for the first time in ten long lonely years.
'Police Girl.'
"Master!" Seras cried, her voice growing stronger, the word echoing through the empty room. It was so good to hear his voice again, even if it was only his stupid nickname for her.
'There's no need to shout.' He sounded amused, and she flushed in embarrassment, though it was scarcely visible with how much blood she had lost. "Sorry," she mumbled, nuzzling her cheek against the wood, "I missed you, Alucard."
She felt a vibration through her bones as he laughed into her head, gentle, teasing, and she sighed in contentment. "Are you coming out?" She hummed, tracing the gilt writing once more with her pinkie. There was a pause, and she felt as if he were weighing some decision in his mind before the coffin vibrated and shifted across the floor, stilling moments later.
'Not yet.'
Seras frowned, pulling back to stare quizzically at the coffin, where she presumed her Master's face would be. "Why not?"
Another pause, this one longer, and Seras heard footsteps above them echoing down the corridor. It reminded her of Hellsing in a way, which she found strangely comforting. Finally, he sighed, and she had the sensation of a weight pressing down on her shoulders, as if punishing her for forcing him to admit that he couldn't.
'I can't. This is not our world, Police Girl. I don't know much beyond that, but I do know that as I am now, this reality could not handle my stepping foot outside my coffin.'
"Oh." She canted her head to the side, half wondering if he was using that as an excuse, too ashamed to admit that he was stuck. But that didn't make any sense. Her Master had no shame. A mental image came to her and she snorted; Alucard sitting on his coffin, and sneezing out of no where, while a time rip opened in China, causing some sort of tidal wave effect in Thailand and other Asian countries. Thousands dead, hundreds missing… She could see him laughing maniacally and sneezing again on purpose just for spite.
There was a sense of an elbow being dug into her side, and she grunted as he snorted into her head before guffawing at her little day dream. 'Should we test that theory, Police Girl?' He teased, the lid rattling.
She shook her head, then blinked, "How do you know we're in a different world?" She also thought privately to herself that his ego must have enlarged while he was gone to think that he could collapse reality by getting out of his dirt lined box.
'The boy, that cat thing the Major used against me, while he is gone, I did absorb some of his more useful powers. Besides, can't you smell it? The air is different, wrong.'
Seras hummed in agreement, nodding along with his words when the sound of footsteps grew louder and a strange scent trickled into the room ahead of who or what ever was approaching. The hair on the back of her neck rose in alarm and she turned, even weak as she was, and bared her fangs. She would protect her Master.
The door opened on silent hinges to reveal a brunette man dressed all in white, his red eyes glowing faintly, though he looked perfectly human. Seras knew otherwise. He cocked a brow at her display, leaning back against the door with a calm demeanor, "So I see you are awake."
Seras blinked, shaking her head and raising a hand towards her ear in confusion, his words seemed to echo, as though she were hearing another language altogether, yet she understood him just fine. Baffled, she stared at the man, the being that she thought was a vampire, but his smell was all wrong, and he gave off no aura. "…Yes, I am." She conceded an answer, though she stayed crouched by her Master's coffin, their link wavering slightly as she focused on the stranger.
"Where am i?" Seras asked, confusion showing clear on her cherubic face, blonde locks gleaming even in the dim light of the spelled room.
The man looked surprised for a moment, though it was not obvious, it was only her experience with naturally stoic people that cued her into the subtle signs; his pupils enlarged a fraction and he stood just a bit straighter. "You are in the basement levels of CrossAcademy."
"Where?" Seras repeated, red eyes clearly showing her incomprehension. She'd never heard of such a place, and the way he said it… made it sound like the place was important.
The brunette shifted his weight and tilted his head, sizing her up, "Forgive me for being so blunt, but you do not belong here."
"You think I don't know that?" Seras muttered, feeling antsy. She missed her shadows, though she was grateful to have her arm back.
"You fell from the sky, and survived. Were you sent here on purpose?"
Seras shrugged uncomfortably.
"For punishment?" He pressed, seeking answers.
The blonde shifted, thinking about it before shrugging again, and he sighed.
"You're a vampire."
"Way to state the obvious," Seras snapped, annoyed, "And you are too, but not like one I've ever met before."
"Agreed." His voice was flat, clearly he was not amused. "Do you intend to cause harm?"
Seras jerked as if struck, though it was very slight, "What do you think I am, a monster?"
"Maybe."
She snarled before looking away and shaking her head to calm herself, "I used to be a police officer. To protect and serve. I would never harm the innocent."
"Can the same be said for the creature in that coffin?"
Seras' eyes narrowed, and she shifted her weight to shield it from his view, though it was pointless as it was so large, and she so tiny. "That's none of your concern," she growled.
"Isn't it?" He challenged, "You are strangers here, and I refuse to allow dangerous beings to inhabit my territory. Why should I not kill you on the spot?" His eyes began to glow more brightly and Seras sensed danger surrounding her on all sides. She hissed.
Just as things were about to tip out of control, a voice called down the hall and a brunette girl, barely taller than Seras, barreled her way into the room. "Kaname, no!"
So the man had a name. Kaname pulled back as the girl stood in front of him, arms outstretched to protect Seras. "Yuuki, you don't know what you're doing. Get out of the way." He was half ordering, half pleading with the girl, and Seras caught a strange scent in the room before it was gone, muddled by the girl – Yuuki – 's perfume.
"Yuuki!" Another voice shouted, a silver haired male appearing at the door, pale lilac eyes widened in horror and anger, this new arrival set the hair on Seras' neck prickling all over again.
"No!" Yuuki shouted, "I won't let you hurt her! You haven't even given her a chance!"
Seras felt her heart ache for the girl's innocence, and she wanted to smile at her. In a way, this girl, this Yuuki reminded Seras of herself at that age, always jumping head first into trouble if it meant protecting someone. Seras guessed the girl and the new boy must be in their early teens, though she knew the first one, Kaname, to be a lot older, not that he looked it of course.
"How do you know you can trust me?" Seras spoke, only to the girl, who turned and smiled at her, the warmth of it reminding her of sunshine on her skin, "Because," Yuuki answered, "everyone deserves a chance."