The Winds Are Cold And the Moon is Full

by swimming.in.lead.543

"Silver, Boy. You ever have to take up a gun, you load silver. The winds are cold on this night, and the moon is full...whatever you find out there, silver will do the job just as well if not better than lead or steel." The words of a blind man...and the beginning of a war of attrition. Quite the unusual battlefield, this little town called Cheddar. M for Hellsing.

1. Chapter 1

So yeah, Hellsing Abridged 8 was released and that inspired me to rewatch the Hellsing Ultimate and here we are afterwards. ENJOY

Cheddar was a nice little English town. Things were quiet, oftentimes too much so. I should've saw something like this happening. Gunshots, from the church. I don't know about you but I get by in this world by making sure that when something is going to hell...I try to keep it from going further to hell. I grabbed my double-barrel and a handfull of shells. "Silver, boy. You ever need to grab that scattergun, you load the silver buckshot. Ain't nothing living or dead that'll get up from a blast of silver buckshot." My grandfather's voice cut through the room like a knife. "The winds are cold on this night. The moon is full. Those gunshots were from the church. Whatever unholy devil is out there, human or beast, silver buckshot will do them in the same as lead." My eyes narrowed at my grandfather...he was blind. I grabbed the silver buckshot he specified and exited the house, locking the door behind me and making my way to the church. As I got there the doors burst open and Officer Victoria ran out, grabbing my arm as she rushed past and dragging me with her.

"Guns don't work! They got Eddie and Tom!" I ran with her, loading my gun and guiding her through the woods to my home, we just needed to get past the clearing and the homestead would be in sight…

"SHIT!" Officer Victoria got grabbed, I spun and aimed my gun at the man who had done so.

"Go ahead...shoot me...it won't do anything." It was the new priest...bastard had fangs, blooded fangs. I scoffed and shot out his elbow, planting my boot in his face before yanking Victoria back and shoving her towards the homestead, myself running with her. There were...things coming out of the woods...people from town...or what was left of them. My home was close, no doubt my grandfather had heard the blasts and was preparing himself...No time for thinking. Fire. Fire. reload. Keep shooting. Don't let them get close. The Priest showed up again, now lacking one arm, and fire in his eyes. Once again he grabbed Officer Victoria before I could react.

"Who do you work for, Boy...no hick just carries silver bullets." I glared at the man, he held the Police Girl in a way to where I couldn't shoot her free again.

"Pathetic…" A new voice, deep, ancient. "Wounded by such an amateurish hunter." We all turned to the voice, a tall man, garbed in red stood there...calmly observing,

"Who the hell are you?" The priest asked, keeping Seras held in front of him.

"Your Death." The man stated, calmly walking closer. "If you're incompetence doesn't let the human kill you first that is." I kept my gun trained on the priest, keeping one eye on the mass of zombie-like creatures amassing from the woods.

"Feh, kill them both." My eyes widened as said zombies drew firearms and began firing, I fired both barrels, dropping to the ground and rolling erratically, dodging the gunfire as much i could, I reloaded and rushed into the masses. I blasted two of the minions into oblivion and drew my blade, stabbing the silver K-bar into the brains of the zombies, I sprung off one of them into a tree. I hid myself amongst the leaves, reloading and planning my next attack. Dark laughter pierced the field. The man in red was consumed in a mass of red mist, being reformed by it. Gunfire, heavy caliber, .454 Casul. It rained from the man in red...how...he couldn't have been holding a rifle...good lord he was firing it from a handgun.

"The silver cross of Manchester Cathedral was melted down to make these bullets. Anything I shoot doesn't ever get up again." Before long the mass of Minions was reduced to a mass of rotting flesh.

"Why?! Why protect these pathetic humans?" I stayed hidden in the tree, his grip on Seras was tightening.

"Are you a virgin, my dear?" The man in red asked, the priest's eyes widened,

"You can't be seriou-" "YES I-I AM!" Seras shouted, the moment after a single shot rang out, both Seras and the Priest fell. With wide eyes I leapt from the tree and rushed to Officer Victoria's side.

"If you wish for her to not die, move aside boy." I did so...albeit reluctantly, the man in red leant over her, and sank his fangs into her neck. I don't know what came over me but at this I rushed to find my grandfather. "You do realize he is most likely dead already, boy." The man was walking next to me, I settled a glare at him.

"I locked the door, they didn't have a key." The first time I had spoken throughout the ideal.

"That would do nothing to stop even the most inept ghoul."

"So that's what those things are called." I mumbled, opening the door to the homestead. I searched the home. Entering the cellar i found my grandfather, bleeding heavily, three beheaded ghouls surrounded him.

"That you boy? Had me worried for a second there." He coughed out, leaning against the wall, a silver broadsword was clutched in his hand. "Aye...knew these dead eyes would be the death of me. Come closer lad." I did so, grasping his free, bloodied hand lightly. "Vampire blood on your hands, lad...Go with the Beast cloaked in red...take the blade with you...a proper Scotsman's weapon, not like the letter opener you keep in your boot." A bloody coughing fit interrupted him. "You, woman in the back. Make yourself known." My eyes narrowed as I turned to said woman, she was blonde, wore a trench coat and carried an aura of authority about her.

"Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, Sir." The woman stated, nursing a cigarillo between her teeth, there was an aged man behind her and the man in red stood by her side.

"Heh...no doubt the daughter of Arthur Hellsing. Aye I know what your organization is Lass...Never thought I'd meet you official types. Then again, I never thought a few bloody ghouls would do me in...yet here we are." He hacked out another glob of blood before shoving the hilt of the Broadsword into my hand. "It's name is Urgie. Use her well. Listen to me boy. The winds grow cold in this time. Sir Integra. You've no reason to listen to the dying wish of a rogue scottish hunter, but hear it nonetheless. I request you take in the boy. Teach him the ways of a real Vampire Hunter. I care not for you having the Beast in Red under your command. For the past six centuries our family has kept a vow to protect the innocent from the monsters that lurk in the dark. We're not official...we have only the funding of our own family...but it is a tradition I will not see end because of a blind fool's blunder." Her coughed heavily again, more blood pouring from his mouth, he wasn't far from gone now. "Live on, Lad...and let those who dare attack our family...our country...feel your fire." With those final words he was gone. Sitting against the wall, the light from his eyes gone. I brought my hand forward and closed his eyes. I stabbed the sword into the ground and with both hands on it I prayed silently. A moment later I stood up and made my way to the other end of the cellar.

"What are you doing?" Integra asked, I stayed silent. I pulled the tarp off of a large shelf. A lone coffin lay there.

"Sending him off the way he would want." I hoisted the coffin onto my back and made my way to the back of the house. There was what looked like a forge there. I laid the coffin down on top of it before returning to the cellar and picking up the dead body of my grandfather and going back to the pyre. I laid him in the coffin properly, closing the casket I walked to the oldest tree on the property. Breaking a large branch off I wrapped the heavy end in cloth and set it alight. The three agents of Hellsing stood by as I approached. The fire lit up my visage, at twenty-two years my hair was already gray, green eyes stared at the coffin as I approached with the torch.

"On this night the blind hunter died. Ninety-three years the man lived. Fighting through every single day. On the thirteenth day of his thirty fifth year he was struck blind in battle...he still killed his opponent...and continued to fight even after that. Today, Ninety-three years old, blind, he felt the winds change, warned me of a supernatural threat...and killed three inhuman beings before being mortally wounded. Tonight we put him to rest. With this burning of my grandfather, the blind hunter, the torch of war is lit." I threw the torch into the pyre and watched as the coffin caught alight, before turning to the agents of Hellsing, I opened my mouth to speak but the man in red spoke first,

"And the fire will burn until the blood of the enemy drowns the flames." He gazed into the flames of the pyre before speaking again. "It has been a very long time since I've heard those words...a long time indeed… What is your name, Boy?"

"My name is Rowe...Rowe Alistair Anderson."

-Was gonna end here but nah-

"Mr. Anderson, Ms. Victoria, come with me." Walter, the butler to Sir Integra, ordered. I was clad in a suit and trenchcoat, both kevlar with ceramic inlays, no bullet known to man would go through...well no non-piercing round could. Urgie was strapped to my side in a scabbard emblazoned with the Hellsing Shield. The suit jacket and slacks were black but the vest was red, along with a black shirt. The coat was black as well, said coat housed my weapons, an absurdly short yet accurate rifle, if albeit a bit standard, Walter said he was working on something more permanent for me. Along with the rifle I personally modified a KSG to accompany me on my missions. Each barrel was loaded with different ammo types, one simple silver buckshot, and one silver slugs, the switch from barrel to barrel was toggled with a button inlaid within the grip. Seras was armed with a 12.7mm rifle, her newfound strength allowed her to wield it with deadly efficiency. She was dressed in a yellow button-up top and short skirt.

"What's going on?" I asked, walking up alongside the butler.

"There's been another attack, in Badrick, Ireland. The three of you are to go there and neutralize the threat, understood?" Integra's voice cut through the air like a knife,

"Yes, My master Sir Integra Hellsing." Alucard phased through the ground and spoke, I boarded the helicopter and began checking over my weapons. Alucard and Seras joined me shortly, the former spoke up, "You enshroud yourself in darkness even though you can still live in the light."

"The light doesn't take kindly to those that work best in the dark...it's always been that way for me." I inserted the magazine to my rifle and chambered a .458 round before turning and looking up at the elder vampire.

"A human that shuns the light is sure to encounter horrors."

"That's what the guns are for." We arrived in Badrick promptly, the two vampires led the assault, Alucard guiding Seras on how to quickly and mercifully kill the ghouls, Head or Heart. Same ways to kill a man. Just took better ammo. I myself mopped up whatever few stragglers they left behind, I followed the duo closely, firing my rifle constantly, how many of these fuckers were there, jeez...eventually we found ourselves in a hall, observing the aftermath of Seras falling to her Vampiric side. The woman was wild, tearing through ghouls with her bare hands, her eyes glowed red and she inched her bloody fingers towards her mouth, only to gasp in shock and pain as multiple blade flew through the wall and pierced her body...Bayonets.

"What the hell…" I mumbled, before doing an about face and aiming my rifle down the hallway, footsteps.

"Don't you worry about dying just yet little Draculina...I haven't pierced your heart."

"Tend to the Police Girl, Boy." Alucard ordered, walking forward to face the man. I growled but followed the orders, hoisting the woman into a fireman's carry and running down the hall. Once we were a safe distance away I got to work on removing the blades...the main concern was the one in her neck.

"Good god that guy is a piece of work, grit your teeth, Seras." I stated, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder before quickly pulling out the bayonet. She spat out a glob of blood and coughed lightly.

"Thanks. I hope Master is okay…"

"It'll take more than a bunch of fancy knives to take down that guy...let's move." I stated, pulling out two more blades. "If that guy was here before us chances are the vampire is dead already. Yet the ghouls are still around." I mumbled, handing the woman her rifle and drawing my shotgun.

"Aye its unusual I'll give you that...too bad you won't be alive long enough to let your master know, Hellsing dog." The man's voice cut through the hall.

"Who the hell are you?" I growled racking the shotgun.

"Father Alexander Anderson of the Iscariot Organization."

"Funny... Rowe Alistair Anderson." I kept my sights trained on the man, he chuckled lightly before flinging a handfull of bayonets at Seras, I shot them out of the air and planted a slug in the man's skull. He just started laughing.

"Oh god who art in heaven, give me strength to guide this lost lamb, for he knows not what he does." He prayed, I growled and planted another slug into the man's chest, followed by a spray of buckshot. It knocked him to the floor. His next attack tore my shotgun from my grasp and he grabbed me by the throat, he wore glasses and had a tough face, resemblance was there. I swung my head forward and slammed my forehead into his nose, knocking him back and drawing my own blade.

"I know exactly what I'm doing, big brother." I growled, backing down the hall slowly, "I'm hunting down the monsters that killed my grandfather." I just barely brought my blade up in time to block his swing. Two bayonets were held at bay by Urgie. I held it in both hands, pushing back against the regenerator's inhuman strength.

"What did the Catholic's pump you full of, Priest...nothing good I'd assume."

" 'Tis the will of God that I not die here, Half-Brother. I can't say the same for your demonic friends, though."

"God ain't got nothin to do with what they pumped into you, Padre." I shoved him back and went on the offensive. We clashed blades six times before locking again.

"I already killed Hellsing's mad dog. Their main weapon is lost."

"If you think a few cuts with these pocket-knives you call blades will keep Alucard dead, you are sorely mistaken." We unlocked and clashed again, six times again. Then locked once more.

"Never thought the first time I'd meet my little brother we'd be clashing blades."

"Guess bloody silver runs in the family."

"Seem's God chose more than just me to hunt the monsters of the night."

"Either way you should have left well enough alone...I don't take kindly to people stabbing my friends." I shoved him back once more, landing a cut that tore through his left hand and most of his arm.

"What is the meaning of this, Anderson?!" Sir Integra's voice.

"I'm doing my fucking job!" I shouted, parrying another strike.

"Not you, Rowe. The Catholic Science experiment that is your half-brother. This is a clear breach of our agreement." The strikes stopped abruptly but I held back from taking the opening. I placed myself between the Paladin and Sir Integra. Seras was there as well, keeping her barrel trained on the priest as well.

"The Iscariot Organization has been hunting these beasts for centuries before you lot came into the picture, Ireland is Catholic land, princess. You'd best remember that. I already killed your favorite beast, Hellsing. What's your organization without its biggest asset?"

"At most he cut off Alucard's head, Ma'am. He should be back any second now...only reason he hasn't is because he's probably having fun watching me have a fucking sword fight with this regenerating fucker." I blocked a lunge but was soon put on the defensive, flurries of strikes were launched against me and soon enough cuts began to appear on my arms and sides. I felt a piercing pain in my palm and my left hand was flung back into the wall, a bayonet stabbed through it. I grit my teeth, but I wasn't the only one wounded. My blade was buried to the hilt in the Paladin's chest. I booted him back and watched as a mass of bats crashed through the windows of the room, forming Alucard. The vampire held a crazed smile, firing off rounds at the paladin as if a machine-gun had been let loose. Alexander let out a 'tsk' and bible pages soon started flying around the room.

"This beast requires a bit more study, it seems...little brother, hear his: The doors to the vatican are open to you, should you realize your folly, lost lamb. We will meet again, Hellsing." he disappeared in a mass of wind blown verses. I took this moment to begin swearing up a storm.

"For Fucks sake… YOUR DA SELLS AVON YOU DAFT CUNT! Good god this hurts…"

"I believe this is the most I've heard you speak in one sitting, Rowe." Integra quipped as she walked forward to examine the wound, there wasn't a lot of blood. "The man's accurate I'll give him that much. Think you can extract this from your hand, Anderson?"

"I'm lucky I'm right handed I suppose. Grr…" I growled lowly before taking hold of the bayonet handle, and yanking back firmly. It took two more tried before the blade wiggled loose and I was able to pull it free. "Bloody hell that hurt." I mumbled, dropping the blade to the floor and taking the bandages Walter offered.

"That man is possibly more dangerous than any beast you're going to hunt in our employ...it also seems that an opportunity has arisen for us…" Integra's voice was as smug as it could be as she said this, turning to Alucard and Seras. "Alucard, Police Girl, Continue your training and increase the regimen. Anderson. Congratulations, you've just become the official liaison between Vatican Section XIII and the Hellsing Organization. Pack your bags and say your prayers, Padre"

-Two days later, Vatican City, Rome-

In all honesty I didn't know what to expect upon my arrival to Rome. My luggage went through, my tickets and passport cleared. Things were going well...well as well as they could go all things considered. There were two agents of Iscariot waiting for me outside of the airport. Two women. A blonde, short-haired german woman and a japanese woman in glasses and a nun's garb carrying a wrapped package. The blonde one was carrying a sign, 'Junior Padre Rowe A. Anderson' I sighed softly and approached the two.

"For the record I always was a God-fearin' man." I stated, hefting my luggage over my shoulder with my good hand, my left was still wrapped in bandages.

"Shut up and follow, Padre." Well, this one obviously didn't like me. I sighed and followed. I was lead into a car and made to sit inside. I had no weapons on my person. There was a man inside, he had silver hair held in a ponytail and purple eyes. Anderson sat next to him, the two Sisters sat on either side of me, the japanese woman removing her veil and glasses.

"I believe introductions are in order, Junior Padre." The grey-haired man stated, smirking lightly.

"Rowe Alistair Anderson. Age 22. Religious affiliation, formerly Apostolic Christian, currently Roman Catholic. Official Liaison between Vatican Section XIII the Iscariot Organization and the Queen's Hounds of Hellsing Organization." The German woman stated,

"Heinkel, let the newfound lamb speak."

"She hit all the nails on the head, Bishop, I'm assuming." I stated, keeping my eyes locked on the man. He made my skin crawl.

"Si, Bishop Enrico Maxwell. Head of Vatican Section XIII." Maxwell said, offering his left hand to shake. At the prodding of the japanese woman's sword I reciprocated and the man took hold of my wrist, observing the still-healing wound. "Not many can say they faced Father Anderson and only got off with a scar, Father Anderson."

"I'm stubborn. It runs in the family." I stated, pulling my arm back.

"Evidently so. I heard about your grandfather's passing. You have my condolences."

"He's in a better place than this gateway to the pit."

"On that we can agree. Junior Padre Anderson. I believe that there's no need to state the...unsteadiness of the position you are in. Half brother to Paladin Anderson or not. Should war spark between Hellsing and Iscariot, you will be the first casualty."

"I'm well aware, Bishop Maxwell. Now, enough with the mafia style theatrics. What do you want from me." I growled, sitting up straight, my half-brother was the one to answer,

"You're a hunter of beasts. Not unlike ourselves. Gunpowder and silver are your tools. They're ours as well. As a show of good faith between our two organizations, you, little brother, will be trained by both." I raised an eyebrow at this.

"What do you stand to gain from this?" I asked. Maxwell chuckled lightly,

"We are guiding a lost lamb back to the lord's light, what other reason should we need?" He said as the car came to a stop and the doors opened. The sisters stepped out and Maxwell motioned for me to do the same. I did so and recovered my luggage, Alexander stood next to me. We were underground, a massive tunnel complex of doors and caverns, the sun's light shown through windows in the ceiling. I could see children running around in courtyards outside.

"You may be named after a fallen angel, but you will not fall to the pit while I still draw breath, Little Brother." Alexander stood next to me, then gestured to follow him deeper into the caverns, we soon arrived at a sparring arena. I was only to be there for three days, so I assumed they wanted to gauge my prowess once more. I opened my luggage and withdrew my blade.

"That swords lends itself to use with a shield. Father Anderson." Maxwell stated, I smirked lightly and retorted

"Proverbs 2, Verse 7, Bishop."

"He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless...a good verse to carry into an uncertain situation." I stayed quiet and entered my stance across from my half-brother, my blade perpendicular to my head.

"A week ago I was a blacksmith in the town of Cheddar. Now, I hunt beasts of the night, fulfilling the dying wish of my grandfather and carrying a tradition on my shoulders that I will not forfeit. I have been thrown into your organizations' conflict. Have met my Bastard Half-Brother. And have had a bloody bayonet stabbed through the palm of my left hand. I am pretty fucking sure that I can use all the protection I can get my hands on in my hunt for the fuckers that killed my grandfather." My brother and I began to circle one another, blades drawn and ready. "I'm here for three days, Iscariot...come have a taste."

And there we go. A good start I think. Please review and let me know what you think. In other words, READ AND REVIEW