Chapter 2:

Miss Love

Two Years Later

Rome, Italy

Father Anderson's P.O.V.

"Ah, what a wonderful day!" I said, strolling down the walk way in front of the orphanage. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky and a lovely breeze was blowing. Two of the children ran up to me.

"Father, Father!" Jacob stopped a moment to catch his breath.

"Jacob my boy! Oh and Luca as well. What is it you need?" I knelt down and put my hands on their shoulders.

"There's a lady here to see you!" Jacob exclaimed.

"She's in a wheelchair!" Luca pointed to the walkway leading up to the orphanage. I looked up and saw a young woman with long, black hair wheeling herself up the cobblestone path. I placed my hands on their heads and turned them back towards me.

"It's not polite to stare, boys. Now then, return to your studies. I'm sure Heinkel is looking for you. I'll go speak with our guest." I sent them off and once they were out of sight I refocused on the young lady making her way towards the front entrance. I began walking to meet her. When she reached the stairs, she stopped and looked up at the building. When I approached her, she didn't seem to notice me, almost like she was in a trance.

"What can I do for you, my dear?" I finally spoke up. She flinched, startled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. The children said you were looking for me." With that, her face lit up.

"Ah, you must be Father Alexander Anderson!" She smiled and turned to face me. She extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." I shook her hand.

"May I ask your name, young lady?"

"Oh, yes of course, my name is Melody Love." She moved her hair behind her ears. "I have a few things I need to ask you about."

"Alright, shall we go inside and talk?" I offered.

She nodded. "Yes… I think that would be best." She looked up at the building. She clearly had something on her mind. I walked around her and placed my hands on the handles of the wheelchair. "Oh, um, thank you… I'm still not quite used to this thing yet." She looked back and gave me a pained smile. When we reached the stairs I turned her around and lifted her up the five steps. I opened the door and continued to wheel her towards my office. She didn't speak during that time.

When we reached my office, I moved her into the middle of the room and walked to my desk, sitting down and folding my hands. Now that we were out of the bright sunlight, I could see her more clearly. She had long, black hair that went down to her waist. She was wearing a white sundress and bore a jeweled cross around her neck. She also had a small bag over her shoulder. Her eyes were a bright blue, but vacant. Because of her dress, I could see her body was covered in scars. This woman had clearly seen things she wasn't meant to.

"So… Miss Love, what is it? You're from England, correct? I'm sure you wouldn't have come all this way if it wasn't important." I decided getting to the point was the best way to handle this situation.

The smile that had been on her face disappeared and she sighed. "I started to hear your name a little less than a year ago. It's whispered among the monsters. They fear you and it takes a lot of coercing to get them to talk. The Iscariot Organization, Section XIII… It doesn't officially exist, but I suppose the same could be said about vampires."

I stood up from my desk, ready to draw one of my bayonets. "Just who are you?" I asked calmly.

"I told you, my name is Melody Love. Now if you don't mind, Father, please relax. I'm here for information, not to start a war." She smiled.

"Are you human?" I looked her over again. She looked human, but I knew better than to assume these things. She looked puzzled by my question.

"Of course." She tilted her head to the side. "You think I'm a vampire?" She smirked. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm very human. I'm a survivor of a vampire attack… That's why I'm here."

I sat back down. "The Lord has blessed you with a second chance at life, my dear. Revenge is not a wise use of your time."

"No, you misunderstand me, Father. The monsters that did this to me are long dead."

"Then why have you come here?"

"I was rescued by a man whose name I don't know. I want to find him." She leaned forward.

"Do you have any clues?" I adjusted my glasses.

"Yes, I have two clues. The first one is a word. I don't know if it's a group or just a name, but it's the only information the nurses would give me. Does the word 'Hellsing' mean anything to you?"

I frowned. "Yes…" I paused. 'Leave it to those bloody Protestants to leave behind this God-damned mess…' Her face lit up, and for the first time this meeting, she smiled for real. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Miss. I know who they are, but I can't do much to help you. We don't exactly see eye-to-eye. You understand?" 'And that's putting it lightly,' I thought to myself. "They are the Royal Protestant Knights. They take care of vampires that sprout up in England, but they're a dangerous bunch. You'd do well to avoid them." I leaned back in my chair. Her smile had faded once again. She looked down, her eyes hidden by her bangs. "To be honest, I'm surprised they let you go. That damn woman must be going soft." I smirked.

"Can you tell me anything else about them?" She asked, still looking down.

"The one you're probably referring to is called 'Alucard'. He's not a man, he's a vampire," I explained. She looked up with wide eyes.

"You mean he hunts his own kind?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yes, he's the great, 'domesticated' vampire. I've fought with him on several occasions. He's the most powerful vampire I've ever met. He is not to be messed with. He always wears a red coat and hat with orange sunglasses. Does that sound familiar?"

She shook her head. "No, that's not him." She took her bag off her shoulder and pulled out a piece of folded paper. "This is the only other clue I have." I got up from my desk, took the paper from her and unfolded it. It was a fairly detailed drawing of an older man. Probably in his sixties. He had black hair and wore a monocle in his left eye.

"This is very detailed for a man you've only seen once," I noted, walking back to my desk and sitting down.

"When you see someone in your dreams every night, you start to remember their face." She laughed, embarrassed. I looked the picture over again.

"I recognize him," I said flatly after a few minutes. A look of pure happiness spread across her face. "I don't know his name, but I've seen him with the woman whom Alucard calls master; Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. Wherever she is, he is always by her side." I placed the drawing on my desk. "That's all I know." I expected her smile to fade again, but it didn't.

"Thank you Father! You have no idea what this means to me!" She was practically beaming with joy. I couldn't help but smile.

"Of course my dear, but if you don't mind me asking what will you do now? Hellsing is a very secretive organization."

To my surprise she smiled, but it wasn't same as before. "Well…" She looked me directly in the eyes. "You have connections, Father Anderson. You wouldn't mind helping me, would you?"

Suddenly, as she spoke, I started to feel dizzy. Everything was growing fuzzy. I stood up, but didn't feel myself do it. "That would be no problem at all," I heard myself speak, but didn't feel my lips move.

"Fantastic!" With that, everything went black.

One Month Later

London, England

Sir Shelby Penwood's P.O.V.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, gentlemen." The young woman who sat before us smiled, beside her stood a member of the Iscariots; Father Alexander Anderson. I hadn't the faintest idea as to what Hugh was thinking, letting that monster in here, but something wasn't quite right about him. His face was expressionless. He seemed to just stare off into space. The woman looked up at Anderson. "Father, you should go back to Rome. I'm sure the children are waiting for your return. Thank you for everything that you've done." He nodded, turned, and left without a word. Once he was gone, I felt a little more relaxed. The woman turned her head to face me once again.

I was the first to speak up. "I'm sorry, miss, but what was your name again?" I asked, the nervousness I was feeling coming through my voice more than I would have liked.

"My name is Melody Love. It's an honor to make your acquaintance, Sir." She bowed her head slightly.

Hugh spoke up after me. "I'm afraid that Sir Penwood and I are the only two who will be attending this meeting. I do hope you understand."

She waved her hands. "No problem at all!"

"You said over the phone that this had to do with Hellsing. I invited Sir Integra herself, but she got wrapped up in an investigation. She has asked us to convey any information to her." Hugh folded his hands.

"That's rather unfortunate, but I'm sure the two of you will be more than capable of helping me." She pulled a piece of paper out of her jacket pocket. "I'm searching for a man who, according to Father Anderson, works for the Hellsing organization."

Hugh looked at me. "Oh, yes, of course!" I quickly got up and approached Miss Love. She handed me the paper and I returned to my seat so I could show Irons. I unfolded the paper to see a drawing of Integra's butler. "Damn, what's his name…?" I mumbled. Hugh took the paper from me.

"Walter C. Dornez." He placed the drawing in front of him, and looked up at Miss Love, who had the biggest smile on her face.

"That's his name then?!" She exclaimed. "His name is Walter?!"

"Yes…" Hugh nodded. "He's the butler for the Hellsing organization…" He paused. "What is your connection to him, Miss Love?"

She continued to smile, but lowered her head and began staring at her feet, looking almost nostalgic. "He saved my life," She finally spoke after a moment or two. "I owe him the world. I may not be able to walk anymore, but I am alive thanks to him. I'm sure he doesn't remember me, but I want to meet with him. Please, I'll do anything!" She pleaded, looking us both in the eyes. "Let me meet with him…please…"

I felt a little dizzy all of a sudden, but before I could say anything, Hugh picked up the phone in front of him and began dialing.

"I will request a meeting with Sir Integra," He said as the phone rang.

"Thank you, Sir Hugh. I am so beyond grateful." She smiled.

The Next Day

Hellsing Headquarters

Walter Dornez's P.O.V

It had been about 24 hours since Sir Integra received a call from Sir Hugh Irons asking for a meeting. Apparently, there was someone who needed to meet with me. I hadn't the slightest clue as to who it could be. According to Sir Hugh, they were human, which was even more confusing. At first I didn't understand Sir Integra's reasoning for agreeing to this meeting, but she explained it as 'If they would really go so far as to track down the Round Table Conference members, it has to be important.'

I walked into Sir Integra's office, my footsteps echoing in the large room.

"Ah, Walter, Sir Penwood has just arrived with the person you're supposed to meet with. They're in the next room," She informed me and went back to discussing something with Sir Penwood, who was standing in front of her. This didn't seem like a good idea at all. We had no idea who this person was, but it wasn't my place to question her judgment. I had to trust that she was making the right decision. I bowed and walked back down the hall, and into the room on my right.

I turned to face them, only to have my heart stop. I recognized her immediately. The woman whom I rescued over two years ago sat in a wheelchair in front of me. She was staring out the window. She was wearing a white button-down shirt with a plaid skirt.

I couldn't speak. My mind was blank. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought she could have survived. Finally, I managed two words. "You're alive…!" Her eyes widened when I spoke, she turned to look at me. She was shaking, her mouth opening like she wanted to speak, but nothing came out. She shook her head and then looked at me again, taking a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

"I-" She started to form words. "I never thought this day would actually come." She looked as though she might cry. "I searched for you for two years! I never thought I'd actually find you!"

"How?!" I finally asked. "You were dying; the doctors told me you weren't going to make it!"

She looked shocked. She placed her hand over her heart. "A miracle, I suppose." I relaxed a little. I was yelling and that was uncalled for. This girl had been searching for me for two years. Demanding why she was alive was rude.

"I apologize, I just find this hard to believe."

"That's all right," She disregarded it like it was nothing. There was silence for a few moments. I was trying to take in the fact that she was here.

"What is your name, Miss?" I asked after a few minutes.

"Melody Love." She smiled. Again there was silence.

"You're…paralyzed…"

Her expression changed from happiness to sadness. Her eyes went from bright and alive to dull and vacant. "The doctor told me I'd never walk again, but it was four months after the attack that I started to regain some feeling in my legs."

"That's a miracle!"

"NO!" She shouted, catching me off guard. "Forgive me, but this is anything but a miracle. I could have lived with the paralysis, I really could! At least I'd be alive, but no!" She covered her face with her hands, shaking her head back and forth. Then she put her finger to her eyes and removed what I assumed were contacts and looked back up with me with fiery red eyes.

This didn't make any sense. She was a vampire!? She had no bite marks on her that night. She didn't turn. She should be able to walk if she's a vampire. What the hell was going on!?

"I can see you're confused," She pointed out. "I'll explain," She said, her tone of voice very serious. "I was in physical therapy for four months. I wasn't making any progress. I had no hope of ever regaining any feeling in my legs, but the therapist had me come back one more time." She gripped the arm rests tightly. "He said 'Melody, what if I could give you back your legs? What if I told you that I can help you walk again?' I was depressed, I was angry, I told him to stop toying with me and asked to leave. He grabbed me and bit me. I thought I was going to die. I blacked out and when I woke up I was able to move my legs a little, but as you can see as far as healing abilities go, I basically don't have any." When she was finished with her story, she was squeezing the arm rests so tight had been crushed as if they were made of tin foil and not steel.

"The vampire that turned you. What became of him?" I asked.

"He's dead. I killed him myself!" She answered, her eyes filled with rage. "What I lack in healing I make up for in my persuasion." She smirked. "I told him to burn down the building with him still inside."

"So that's how you got this far." I began to put the pieces together. "You brainwashed Sir Penwood, but that can't be the only person who helped you. Who else?"

"Father Alexander Anderson." She smiled.

"So you used Father Anderson to find the conference members and you used Sir Penwood to find me?"

"Bingo!" She smiled again.

"How many others died in that fire?" I asked.

"According to the papers, the only casualties were Doctor James Smith and Melody Love." She placed her hands on my lap.

"You faked your own death," I concluded.

"I had no other choice. I couldn't carry on a human life. Until just recently, I couldn't be out during the day. So what was I supposed to do?" She sighed. "I may be a monster now, but I have no interest in killing people if I don't have to."

I didn't speak for a while after that. I tried to process everything that she had told me. After what seemed like ages, I broke the silence "Why have you come here, Miss Love? Have you come to try and kill me for saving you?"

She stared at me for a moment and then burst out laughing. "Me, kill you!?" She leaned forward. "No! Why on earth would I want to kill you!?" She finally regained her composure and sat up straight. "Walter…I'm here to thank you." She smiled. It was sincere and kind. I was more confused than ever. Why would she want to thank me?

"It's ultimately because of me that you lost your humanity," I reminded her.

She simply smiled and shook her head. "No, you are the reason why I have a second chance at life. As much as I detest what I have become, I cannot hate you Walter. I owe you everything. With that in mind, I have a request."

I raised an eyebrow. "And that would be?"

"Walter, will you please take me on as your apprentice!?" She bowed her head. She was serious. I could tell by the way she was shaking. She was nervous. I didn't answer her right away. I looked her over. She was in a wheelchair. How much could she really do? It wasn't really up to me, anyway. Sir Integra would have the final say.

"No…" I finally answered. "I can't do that, Miss Love. You can't walk. Without your legs, I'm afraid that you won't be much help to us." I watched her; she was shaking, holding back tears. She finally looked up at me, scowling. She gripped the handles on her chair, and with shaking arms, looked like she was trying to force herself to stand up.

"Stop! You're just going to hurt yourself!" I pleaded with her.

"Be quiet!" She yelled. "I can do this!" Slowly but surely, she started to rise. Her legs were shaking. "I will prove to you that I'm not useless!" She took one step. She grabbed on to the table that was beside her and took another step with her left leg. I didn't know what to say. She was doing it. Slowly, she would take a step and move her hand along the table. It had to hurt, but she kept going, slowly making her way towards me. A red tear escaped her left eye. She finally reached me, her legs were shaking and her white shirt was spotted with bloody tears. She was a short girl. No taller than five feet.

I placed my right hand on her shoulder. "That's enough, Miss Love…" I picked her up, which surprised her. I carried her back to her wheelchair and placed her back in it. "I'll speak with Sir Integra and see if we can't work something out." I smiled. "Now then, you're going to get your shirt all bloody if you keep this up." She looked away from me, embarrassed. She used her hand to wipe away the blood, staining her hand.

I walked around her and wheeled her into Sir Integra's office where she was waiting. "Just let me do the talking." I whispered. She nodded.

"So I take it you two have talked. I have to say, I was surprised when you arrived here. I thought you were long dead. Your name is Melody, correct?"

"Yes Sir!" Miss Love responded nervously. Sir Integra looked up from her paperwork and narrowed her eyebrows.

"You're a vampire?" She had noticed her eye color.

"Yes Sir. I was turned four months after the incident." She explained. Sir Integra pulled out a cigar and lit it, taking a puff and blowing out smoke.

"So what have you come here for, Melody? Is it revenge?" She took another puff of her cigar.

"No Sir. I…" She trailed off and looked back at me.

"Well? Go on, I haven't got all day." She was intimidated by Sir Integra, I could tell.

"Sir Integra, Miss Love has requested that I, with your permission, take her on as my apprentice," I spoke for her. She raised an eyebrow.

"Is this true, Melody?" She smiled

"Yes Sir," she responded quickly. Sir Integra sat there for a moment or two, then pressed her cigar into the ash tray on her desk.

"You're a vampire, yet you're unable to walk. Why is that?" She asked.

"I have very poor healing abilities, Sir. I can only walk short distances at this moment, Sir."

"Show me," Sir Integra ordered. Miss Love was already exhausted from walking across the last room and here she didn't have anything to hold on to. There was no way she could pull that off. She wasn't ready for it.

"Sir Integra, there's no need for that. She proved to me that she can walk just a moment ago," I noted.

"I don't care. I didn't see it, so she will do it again." She rested her head on hands. There was no way she could do this.

"Walter…?" Miss Love looked back at me. "Have a little faith in me." She smiled. It took me a moment to realize that she had read my mind. She slowly raised herself from the wheelchair, legs already shaking, but she was standing again. She took the first step with her right foot and then her left. She let go of the handles and stood free from any supports. Slowly, step by step, she made her way towards Sir Integra's desk. When she was halfway there, she tripped and fell, landing hard on the floor.

'That's it…'I thought. 'It's over', but she pushed herself back to her feet and within five minutes, had reached the desk. She placed her hand on the wooden surface, breathing heavily and clearly exhausted.

"Very good…" Sir Integra smiled. "Alright Melody, I'll cut you a deal!" She sat back in her chair and pulled out another cigar.

Miss Love stood up straight and answered confidently. "Yes Sir."

"I want you back on your feet permanently in no more than four months. You need to be able to run if you want to work for me. At the end of those four months, you will run a lap around the entire estate. Do that and I'll let Walter take you on as his apprentice. Do we have a deal?" She held her hand out. Miss Love took it.

"You're on!"

To Be Continued

Author's note: Hello! Thanks for reading chapter two of The Angel's Apprentice. This is my 5th fanfic ever and I intend to finish this one...unlike the others. I hope to provide plenty of twists and turns, drama and of course romance. This story is rated M and I assure it will earn that rating in all good time. I promise to dedicate all spare time to this project. Reviews are always appreciated.

Thanks

Ryo Wei