Symphony of the Night
-During desperate and dire times-
That was it. Time out, school over, time to see if it was just one big nightmare. Hannah knew it was true as she stepped out into the cold winter air waving goodbye to her friends. It was probably just something her mind came up with to not let the sadness sink in. The first week after the letter she had become depressed so quickly that the teachers had allowed her three days off despite the oncoming final exams. Afterwards she had decided to pick herself back up again and carried on with the private school like normal. Maybe it was the dark clouds hanging over her, promising to rain on everyone below, that gave her a sombre mood as the black car pulled up alongside her. But she knew that it was the dread to going home and finding her mother not there.
Now Hannah wasn't so closely attached to her mother that she would hold her mother's hand even as a sixteen year old, she had grown independency which her mother had praised her for. Instead it just felt like a part of her heart had been ripped out leaving her not empty, but with the feeling of loss. That was what she was fighting against, the stupid ache in her heart.
The car door opened to reveal a tall man as he stood in front of her at nearly six foot. His hair was a short curly blonde but his eyes were a bright green although they seemed dull with weariness. Stephen smiled however at the sight of his daughter and held out his open arms that she gladly fell into hugging him back.
"I've missed you," she muttered against his chest.
"I have too honey...come on," he steered her into the car, "lets get you home."
Allowing herself to slide onto the leather seats, she moved to the far right side, Stephen at the left as he closed the door.
The driver was silent as were the two in the back, Hannah watching the greyish scenery go past as they drove on.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her gently.
"I suppose as good as I can feel," she sighed watching her breath fog up the car window, her eyes reflected slightly in the glass.
Stephen smiled sadly at her, "we are going to have to go to a meeting about who is going to run Hellsing from now on."
Hannah finally looked back at him knowing what he meant; it had been Integra's wish that she, her heir, take the place as the head of the Hellsing Organization.
"As you have probably guessed," he carried on ruffling his short hair slightly, "they most likely will not let you take over because of your age or for some other reason."
She nodded half listening, half paying attention to London as it zoomed past her before they stopped before the huge building known as Buckingham Palace. Her eyes widened in shock, "you mean I've got to meet the Queen too?!"
Stephen chuckled at his daughter, "yes, it is time we get you inducted to the ways of the world, you are smart and strong, you will make me proud, and I'm sure your mother would say the same."
Hannah looked at him sadly before hugging him, "thanks father."
"-This is outrageous!" exclaimed one of the knights almost hitting his fist against the table, and would have if not in the presence of her majesty.
Hannah's hands curled into fists behind her back as she stood beside her father who sat as one of the Knights.
"We cannot have a mere child lead the Hellsing Organization! It is preposterous and would only tarnish what Integra squandered further! We need a strong leader one who willing to not only command but fight alongside, not another weak woman."
*How dare they?!* Hannah thought angrily *they not only insult my mother but then me for being born a woman! Sexist bastards.*
"That is quite enough Sir Eastwood," the Queen's commanding voice gripped the men causing all to look at her, some nervously, others defiant, "come here my child, I wish to see you myself."
Knowing who she meant, Hannah took a silent deep breath before walking towards her and bowing.
The Queen chuckled, "just like your mother, not a great fan of dresses and skirts."
"No your majesty," Hannah smiled feeling more relaxed now.
"And what do you think of their words? Are they correct in their beliefs?"
The Knights looked slightly nervous that the Queen would ask of her opinion, Stephen smiled slightly knowing that Hannah's mind was at work.
"I believe that in some cases they are correct," she spoke finally, "a child cannot lead an Organization and we do indeed need a strong leader, commander and fighter with skills and intelligence," the Knights smiled at each other, "however you will find I am not a child as you put it, and not only have I completed my education with high awards but I have also had high levels of training in combat from a young age, I am hardly weak nor stupid."
"You are only sixteen! Barely even into adulthood," Sir Eastwood carried on when another suddenly silenced him and looked at her keenly.
"Tell me then; what would you propose we do?"
The Queen smiled as Hannah held her chin, covering her mouth as she always did when thinking.
"My father, Stephen Hellsing, has already been described by you as a worthy leader of the Hellsing Organization although it was proposed of my mother that I, being the heir, would take her place. Therefore, wouldn't it be wise to have Sir Stephen Hellsing lead until it is deemed fit that I am strong enough in every aspect to keep you all happy, if of course he will allow it."
Stephen inclined his head, "it would be an honour and I would gladly accept the task if the Queen and Order allow it."
There was silence as all of them thought before nods were seen across the crowd. The Queen was still smiling, "It is settled then, Sir Stephen Hellsing, will be the keeper of the Hellsing Organization until the rights are handed down to Hannah Hellsing, this meeting as at its end."
The two Hellsing's left smiling in triumph, Stephen's arm round Hannah's shoulder as they stepped out into the rainy world that somehow seemed a little brighter now.
"You did better than I could have ever hoped in there," he kissed the top of her head as they dove into the waiting car, "I see a bright future ahead of you, I have no doubt that soon enough you will be the leader of Hellsing."
The daughter smiled at her father, "I hope so."
*Why? Why did God do this to her again?*
Hannah ran down blood soaked hallways searching, pleading, praying it wasn't true.
*Is this some kind of test? Someway to see if I am worthy to be leader?*
Another turn, more blood and dead mangled bodies, limbs torn away, organs half eaten or dragged to decorate the mansion like some sick horror movie.
*Or is this some sort of penance for something I have done?*
Tears were in her eyes as she fell to her knees in the doorway to her once mother's office, now her father's, but it wouldn't be anymore.
There he was, the one he had been searching for through the entire mansion of gruesome body after body. Her black combat boots were covered in blood from the floors, blood soaking through her black combat pants as she kneeled in the blood of the doorway. Stephen lay in the chair behind the desk, his deathly face a mask of horror and pain, mouth open in a soundless scream. Pushing herself up, blood coating her hands, she staggered towards his dead body, a sword pinning him to the chair through his heart, two bleeding marks at his neck, the worse part was his stomach had been ripped open and his organs pulled out. She could practically hear his pained screams in her head, her stomach bubbling before she started puking, but there was nothing to throw up leaving the inside of her throat burning.
"Why..." she whispered hoarsely, "why did you take my parents away..."
Alarms rang in her head and she knew she had to run away, get away from the mansion and flee. Outside was dark and the creatures that had crawled from the night would easily find her. During her panic she noticed a word written in blood on the desk where Stephen's hand lay. Curious, she tilted her hear, the word reading 'Dungeon H.H.'
Tears stung at her eyes, a dying message to her but what did the dungeon mean? Unable to stay in there any longer she staggered out trying not to breathe the putrid stench of death and failing miserably.
Hearing a noise, her eyes widened in fright as she spun to look backwards into the office. There in the shadows beside her father's dead body was a dark human shape, glowing red eyes looking at her hungrily.
"Found. You." Its voice was a deep taunting sound, almost childish as it let out a small cackle.
Hannah slammed the door shut and grabbed a fallen gun from a soldier wedging the door shut before taking off. It wouldn't hold the monster off for long, she could already hear it smashing against the door. She had to get to the dungeons but she had never been before. Something was familiar about that saying though, then she recalled her mother Integra speaking of going to the dungeons if she was stuck in a dire situation where there was no hope.
*Ventilation Pipes!* she thought happily, she could have jumped for joy as she knocked down a grate against the wall and dove through.
She crawled for what seemed like ages, she breathed shallow and quiet trying to keep her racing heart calm. Looking down whenever she came to a grate she would shiver and feel sick. Sometimes she would find zombie like creatures eating the dead bodies, Ghouls. Hannah hoped since they were eating the monster who had created them hadn't found her yet, a vampire. Finding the place finally, she kicked the grate out and jumped down landing agilely. Looking up she almost gasped. In front of her was a cell door with a huge red symbol across it and the wall. From the strange pentagram and symbols she could guess it was a seal, but what was it sealing? Remembering the blood thirsty vampire that was hunting her, she coughed up her courage and reached to open it.
Scenes flashed through her mind of a tall dark vampire killing, laughing manically, looking right at her with monstrous crimson eyes. Part of her wanted to scream and take her chances with the other vampire that seemed a lot less scary than this one, probably her human instinct. The larger, louder side of her was laughing; she wasn't scared of the vampire inside, most likely her 'Hellsing' side. Narrowing her eyes, she pushed open the door that swung into darkness. A cold breeze swept past her with almost an eerie howl. She couldn't sense any life, only feel death yet she still walked inside. A few months ago she would have run away from such a place, but ever since Integra's death she had started to change. Now Stephen was dead and a vampire was hunting her. Now she would have to be the leader of Hellsing, she had to make her parents proud.
Inside, light managed to fall from the dungeon corridor and inside revealing what looked like a corpse on the ground, its back against the wall. It was covered in a black leather suit covered with many belts and straps almost like a straight-jacket. Long white hair fell down its back lifelessly, face extremely gaunt. Hannah looked at the strange discovery with her usual curiosity that usually led her into trouble.
*How is this supposed to be off help?* she thought angrily then something clicked *vampires need blood, sooooooo......I got to give him some of my blood!*
Feeling the vampire that was coming after her getting closer by the minute, Hannah gave up on thinking and started on instinct.
Pulling out the small dagger she had been trusted to carry for situations, she looked at her hand and cut her palm. It stung like hell but she barely flinched. A few drops of blood hit the floor as she squeezed her hand tightly, more blood dripping to the cell floor. Hearing a noise down the corridor, she looked back mentally cursing; she could almost see the red eyes coming closer. Then she heard something move and it was close. Eyes widening, she spun back to see the corpse bent down forwards licking the blood from the ground before looking at her cut and bleeding palm. She watched in disgust but overwhelming interest as his long tongue snaked out and lapped the blood hungrily from her palm.
That's when she started feeling light headed when he stopped and sat back snapping his long arms out from behind him, separating them from the bonds that had held them. He smirked showing long fangs, crimson eyes starting to burn with blood lust.
"My, aren't you a tasty meal, the best after so many years," he neared her menacingly; "I promise it won't hurt too much if you die for me, I can even make it so that no one knows you are missing."
Hannah glared at him, "I have no one anymore and you are not going to be the one who kills me! I am Hannah Isabella Hellsing, and I rarely listen to other people's orders!"
A deep dark chuckle filled the air by her ear before he started laughing madly.
"You are most worthy of the Hellsing family line! Just like Integra," he moved backwards and kneeled before her, his long white hair flowing over his shoulders now, "forgive me, my Master."
Hannah blinked, "what is your name?"
"The many masters before you have called me Alucard, what is your wish?"
Before she could speak there was the sound of footsteps stopping behind them. Looking back she saw the vampire stood there smirking, "Time. To. Die."
Her eyes narrowed in anger, "I believe so, send that bastard to Hell."
Alucard rose like the devil himself, "with pleasure my Master!"
He leapt at the vampire laughing manically as his hand tore through the vampires right shoulder causing him to scream in pain but was silence as Alucard's jaws came down on his neck sending blood flying onto the walls as he drank his blood hungrily. Soon dropping the dead body as it turned to ash he turned back to Hannah, his hair turning black, his clothes turning into a black Victorian suit covered with a long red trench coat and red cravat.
"Tell me what I have missed, my little master."