09/21 - Edited to hopefully flow better.

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I awoke, confused for a moment.

Then I looked over at his coffin.

Lovely. There goes the hope I was in my flat.

At least he was asleep.

I got up, grabbed a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom.

I didn't have my usual cleansers so I made do, rinsing the dust and debris from yesterday's assault from my body.

When I was decently cleaned and smelling of lavender, which was not my favored flavor, I dressed in jeans and a T-shirt with the logo of a popular online game I played. I was the non-human faction. Funny I was bunking with the non-human. Damn the collective human decisions.

Pacing back to the room, I contemplated the computer.

My luck was holding as they got my preferred brand.

A headphone set was beside it.

Vampire with vampiric hearing. Me with human hearing. Self explanatory.

I started it up with the headset plugged in.

It had the proper programs, except my game.

I wondered if I could track down someone to get either my stuff with the game, or let me out to purchase another copy.

I explored the documents and came across one labelled "Debriefing Report"

Opening it, I scanned the contents.

Name of reporter, section, rank, mission, location of mission, ghouls slain, vampires slain, causalities...wait...ghouls?

"What are ghouls?" I murmured.

"They are the result of a defiled human being bitten by a vampire," Alucard's voice made me jump, then he came through the wall. I guess he hadn't been sleeping. Drat.

I leapt from the chair and stood starting at him as he fully exited the wall then sat on the edge of my desk.

Vamps didn't do that. Drat, cyst, drat.

I would have died a while ago if all vamps could do that.

"Also if a ghoul bites another human, virgin or no."

"Would you refrain from using the walls as doors. I do believe there's a proper doorway around here to use."

He smirked, "I wouldn't be so cheeky, human, if you knew what I could do to you," his grin widened.

This was when my empathy picked a bad time to power on.

Blood, pleasure, need, pain, suffering.

War!

I jerked my head back, hoping the sudden shift of my brain's position would sever the connection.

It did.

He smirked, "Liked what you saw?"

"No," I answered honestly, "I didn't. I knew such exists but until today I never knew anyone who had all those perverted desires inside them, mixed well with a dash of insanity."

If I thought on what I'd experienced I'd happily sign myself back into the institutions willingly.

Yet he bore out my theory that there were no gods of love, pleasure, gentleness, good. A sane god who loved his creations would never allow the existence of such a being. He thrived on war, blood, misery. He wanted the world to devolve into madness. He would be in the center, eating it all up, devouring the world, bit by gory bit.

As I didn't support gods of goodness, I did not support their antithesis. Hell. The devil didn't need to exist as Alucard was here on Earth, dealing out his brand of torture. Those souls would go crying to the devil if he did exist to be granted leave from Alucard.

Perhaps, if I had believed in deities I wouldn't be here.

I wouldn't have moved to London, England. I wouldn't have run into and killed three vamps, coming to the attention of this organization.

Bang.

I jumped a full foot into the air as wood struck stone.

"Master!"

All I got to see was white and green whizzing by with an impression of vamp, weak, no special powers, fed once by herself.

Alucard vanished.

Green and white blur became a very busty strawberry blond girl with red eyes.

She considered me, "Whose the new girl, master?"

Silence.

I rolled my eyes, "Hi, Alex Jones-Jordan," I offered my hand, hoping she didn't crush it.

She shook gently, as if she often worked with humans, "Sera Victoria. Are you," she frowned at me, "Alucard left a note he had a new fledgling."

My mouth went narrow, so I had to ground out, "Let me guess, he's being preemptive?"

She flushed, "I'll be going."

"No, please," I decided I needed time away from him, "Would you please give me the grand tour. I only got to see where the kitchen was and this hallway."

"Sure, right this way."

At least there were some nice people here. Perhaps my fate wouldn't rest solely on my ability to fight at full bore each night to Alucard's entertainment.

"Sir Integra keeps the kitchen stocked for us."

I tuned in from noting important areas as she pulled out a blood packet. We had ended the tour in the kitchen.

"I take his holiness downstairs prefers fresh?"

"He takes this, but yes, he prefers alive and kicking," she muttered, "Virgin too."

"What was that?" I asked knowing she'd evade.

"Just wondering when the new butler was going to take down Alucard's meal."

I sure hoped Alucard was not counting on me being this days meal.

"So what do you do around here, Miss Victoria?"

"Just Seras," she tore into the bag and drank it down in one gulp, wiping her face clean when done, "I support the troops with artillery fire when dealing with ghouls and vampires. Also get down there if they need it."

"So you clean up any vamp and ghoul infestations in London?"

"The whole of England, actually," she went to the waste basket and pitched in her empty bag.

I opened a cabinet and pulled down a box of oatmeal. Prepping my own meal, I asked her what her roles were, how missions went and what Alucard did on them. I dug in while she explained.

"He's considered the Hellsing Trashman. Used for the nastiest of the nastiest. Most of the routine stuff plain bores him. Those vamps are barely more than humans in terms of strength," Seras smiled as if at some special joke, "Average humans anyway. When we had Millennium running around he was far happier."

"Millennium?"

"That's classified," Pantsuit woman said in a cold tone.

I watched Seras salute with, "Sir Integra."

So Sir Integra was the leader with maybe Alucard jostling for more...intense fights? I was worried I was in way over my head. I rinsed my bowl, set it aside, before facing her.

"Good morning," I greeted.

"Seems that we are meeting with Iscariot and they want you in on the meeting."

"Why would they want me in on it when I have no clue who these Iscariots are?"

"Father Anderson will most likely be there."

I felt my lips thin as I thought evil nasty things about my great grandfather, "Is my presence mandatory, Sir Integra?"

"Yes. Police Girl, help her find a uniform."

"Uniform?" I had a bad feeling about this as I looked at Seras' clothing.

Mini-skirt was the nicest term for it.

"Yes, Alex," Integra ordered.

Several minutes later I was in uniform, silently growling at the ridiculous clothing.

I sat next to Seras in the transportation truck with ten men, who obviously were looking at my legs.

Human male nature. I was tall, not so busty as Seras. My legs were where most of my height had settled. So the uniform that made Seras look really damn good, made me look out of place. When I checked in the mirror, I swear that it looked like I was two-thirds leg, one third chest and head.

It didn't help that I now had four knives hanging from my belt, a bunch of throwing stars tucked into a pouch and a necklace disguising a garrote.

Sir Integra was not pleased that I had not even one hour of training in guns, bows nor any projectile weaponry save what I could fling mentally or physically.

I had the feeling a certain vampire, who wasn't present, was going to be my teacher. I was going to be one sore puppy after he was done with me.

The doors opened and the men filed out.

"I find it easier to get out and go," Seras whispered to me when I hesitated over moving in the dang mini-skirt.

I stood, got out and joined the men in line. Seras fell in beside me.

"Right men," Ensign Michael, one of the co heads below Captain Sonny Smithins spoke.

And women, I added mentally to his words.

"Group A, you lot are around the corner with Ensign Mel. Group B with me. Seras, roof opposite. Alex?"

I straightened, "Yes sir?"

"You stick close to Sir Integra."

Where she would protect me, obviously, "Certainly, sir."

Sir Integra came up as the troops vanished into the night.

"Walk with me, Alex."

I did so. I was so out of depth here. Might as well follow the leader, hoping for the best.

A hand ghosted up my back but I ignored it. I so wasn't freaking out due to my mind playing tricks on a stressful night with vamps and these Iscariot people about. Besides, if it was Alucard, I didn't want to acknowledge he annoyed and scared me. I'd rather face the damn vamps when I was five and powerless again than willingly spend time in his presence.

"Is there anything you want to say before we go into this, Alex?"

I looked over at her, "You know the one thing that has punished or hurt me the most. Was there something else you want to know?"

She stopped, pulled a cigar out. At least we were outside and the smoke wouldn't bother me too much.

"How about why Father Anderson is not only here but insisted that you were along?"

"I made it clear to him last we met that I would have no part in his beliefs, nor his fanaticism. If the message wasn't clear to him then, I'll reiterate it much more firmly."

She smiled, "Did you know your grandfather went on his hunts regularly when he was spry?"

I inhaled slowly, "I suspected, but couldn't find any solid proof he had. Father Anderson should know that I am not my grandfather, nor father and won't be going in with his plans just because an ancestor of mine played priests and monsters with him long before I was born."

Alucard laughed at my back, causing me to jump.

He was smirking when he leaned over my shoulder, "I look forward to the Judas Priest starting a fight over you."

I glared, "If he does, it will be the last time he does so under the mistaken impression I'm a helpless girl."

"Ah, but with the wicked monster, you are a helpless, little, girl."

I hated his dark tone, and the eagerness behind it. He was hoping blood would be shed this night. I was looking for a peaceful resolution with both sides having the same number of people walking out of this in a single piece.

We entered a formal garden. Too bad it was night time. I bet the flowers were dazzling in sunlight.

"What time is it, Alex?"

I looked at my watch, "Ten to eleven, Sir Integra."

She surveyed the area, scowling at the lack of seating arrangements. She started for one of the few benches that were intact. I guess some areas were still repairing from the fight a few months back.

I followed, picking my way carefully.

Then I sensed Anderson.

I stopped and looked right where he'd be shortly.

Alucard's hand rubbed the center of my back, "Go."

I continued to walk, but I sensed Anderson's approach. He was angry. Upset.

Funny, now he's upset where before he had shrugged off the deaths of my family as if they were nothing.

I stopped at the side of Sir Integra. She looked at my face curiously.

"Anderson is approaching from that direction with another, sir," I whispered, my eyes then tracking to two more people who I didn't know, "Two more, left side. Cool and detached. Professionals."

She gazed out as if she was admiring the dark rows of bushes and trees.

A man appeared with Anderson at his back.

Integra stiffened slightly, while I kept my face expressionless.

"Good evening, Sir Integra," the unknown man smiled, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Archbishop Marvin Marcellini."

Marvin? Bad name. Who names their child Marvin and expect him to be normal. Marvin the Martian.

"Why have you called this meeting, Archbishop?"

"We wish to retrieve what is ours without bloodshed."

The way his eyes went to me, made my stomach twist. No one owned me. Not by my leave as yet.

"Oh?" Integra pulled a lighter and lit her cigar, "To what are you referring and what claim do you have on it?"

"The girl beside you, Alex Jones-Jordan. She is ours."

I stayed still, no matter how much I wanted to smash his nose in.

"Why do you claim her? She is a humanist. A non-believer."

"That is a lie she tells others. Her mental state has deteriorated over the years and she is best left to our care."

I sensed his emotions then.

The only thing keeping me upright and steady was a hand at the center of my back. I sure hoped my face was blank.

Lust, dominance, power, viciousness, vindictiveness.

He felt he owned me as he owned Anderson. A tool. No worse. A thing for his lust to be sated with.

"I have seen and heard her. She is much more mentally sound than most in my own organization. In fact, my doctors state that she appears to be in much better health now that her powers are acknowledged and respected than dismissed as fantasy. Far less antsy as previously reported by those in power."

Drat it. I should have know that the mirror in that interrogation room was a one-way.

"Her ability to teleport? Ha!"

"Alex," was all Integra needed to say.

I lifted four of the five broken benches into the air while scooping up water to form an impromptu fountain.

Marvin sneered at the display, "This proves nothing."

"Please take a seat then."

I moved the fifth partially broken bench to their backs and struck their legs just right.

They both sat down heavily before being set down in front of Sir Integra.

She puffed with a smile, "I seriously doubt she would respect you enough to do as you will, Archbishop."

"Alex," Anderson spoke, "Tis is na ye way. Ye have bin in God's good graces."

I looked to Integra. She indicated that I speak.

"There is no god or deity I pray to. The only fate we have is that which we make as a collective. A single person can change the world without being of the same religion as those who are influenced by their actions. More wars have broken out over ideological differences than the actions of a country against another. Christians of each flavor have fought each other over the same invisible man in the sky that tells you you shouldn't do this."

"There is a god and he made you," Marvin sneered.

I looked again at Sir Integra. She was smiling.

"No god created me. I am the product of myself and this species called homo sapien."

"You are one of God's chosen, as is Father Anderson."

"A god that says 'thou shalt not kill' does not have a right to bring about weapons that are then labelled God's Chosen. Either he is a good nature being that has messed up down here by mistake, or evil has won the earth to allow such grievances against man by his fellow man, or there is no god and this insanity called Earth is but the mixture of human nature, both good and bad, coming together to form a whole."

Marvin stood pointed at me, "Blasphemer!"

"I belong to a group in my online game called 'Blasphemy' so yes that is right," I smiled at his bafflement.

"Lass," Anderson stood, "Tis is na but a rebellion against yer family."

I sensed Integra homing in on this.

"My only family, died by vampire hands while you lot stayed safe behind your hallowed walls, echoing empty hymns to a being that doesn't exist. 'Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel.' This simple adage is what you have forgotten. God does not help us. We form the actions of this world. Our words carry the weight of thousands who have gone before us into the nothingness, and those that are to be."

Anderson opened his mouth but Marvin snapped, "You are a descendent of Father Anderson."

I felt the air still, cyst, Integra was listening very intently now.

"Not according to the family tree. Sorry your claim is not recognized. Thank you for playing, please come again."

Just leave me alone. I want no part in your games, Marvin the martian.

"Your tree was fabricated to hide this. You have powers no human but those changed by our will to have."

I felt sweat trickle down my back, "Well, then you are declaring yourselves gods."

He snarled, "I am not."

"Only god has the power to create life and powers beyond ourselves," I knew this was either going to make my point or break it, "So now you are God? Well, too dang bad I don't adhere to any deity."

"Your body belongs to the church."

"Ah so we are now going back to slavery. Thanks for the notice. In that case, I'm already purchased and you have no claim."

"She is not your master."

"She is if you continue this farce," I meant every word.

Integra ordered, "Go on back to the vehicle, Alex. I have some chores for you to deal with later, servant."

Taking a page out of Alucard's behavior, I bowed, "As you wish, my master."

I walked away, hoping I didn't get shot in the back.

Once inside the van with Captain Sonny, I watched the rest of the exchange.

"So you would take what is rightfully ours, Sir Integra?"

"When were you going to tell her that she was Anderson's blood?"

"She already knew three months ago. She's playing you."

"Let me guess you outright told her without proof. How do you expect your words to reach open ears when you go about things so...bluntly?"

"It is meh blood that runs in her, Sir Integra Wingate Hellsing," Anderson scowled, "She has denied her blood since ah approached her."

"Why do you think she did, Father Anderson?"

"She is stuck on this story obviously of no gods, like you Protestant devils," Marvin snarled, "And you the head whore."

Alucard's voice dominated, "You call my master a whore? What strong language you use, Archbishop."

Okay, I was rooting for the vamp. Evil Marvin versus Insane Alucard. I bet Alucard would win with hands down.

"Go team vamp," I muttered.

Captain Sonny gave me an odd look but I knew I wasn't entirely sane to most people, except Sir Integra's doctors. Hmm when had she arranged to have her doctors examine me? Or had she given them a video tape to analyze?