Sort of a back track and maybe future plot hint…the present chapter begins at 'Ein'
…The Moment After…
(Flashback)
The sun was setting as Seras crossed her arms under her chest, at least her physical one. It didn't take much thought to get her shadow to produce an arm. The substance didn't feel pain; she felt nothing even though there was something physical there. It disturbed her when she dwelled upon it.
"Ms. Victoria!"
Seras quickly turned on heel and faced the direction where her name had been called. A second barely passed and she was standing in front of the man that called to her. His muscles tensed and she could see his pupils widen in slight agitation. She had to remember that these men had been in war where they witnessed things that were never supposed to existence. The Wild Geese had their feathers ruffled and had yet to relax. Pip's soul was silently scolding her for startling his men.
"What did you find Davis?" Seras questioned the young man. He was the youngest in the Geese and the one who had gained the most wounds. It was amazing that he even survived with the all the blood loss. His gray eyes carefully regarded her before he relaxed. Her eyes briefly glanced below his right eye where a square bandage rested. His hair was tucked carefully in a tan bandana and the tails hung over his left shoulder. He rolled his broad shoulders and sighed.
"In the woods," he softly muttered, she had never heard him raise voice. It was always calm and even no matter if his eyes displayed fear. "We were scouting the debris of Hindenburg II that fell to that area…and found something…disturbing."
"Disturbing?" Seras repeated. She couldn't imagine what these men could find disturbing.
Davis simply nodded and raised his right arm to point in the direction he had come from. His hand was wrapped in bandages leaving only fingers visible. Seras s moved forward switching her expression from confused to determined, nothing should disturb these men anymore. The forest went suddenly quiet as she moved forward. The Geese she ran across she sent back to their vehicles. They didn't need to be here. She stopped and deeply inhaled the air, trying to breath in any life. The air was void of scent, not even the remnants of the Geese's scents could be found. This was disturbing. The fading light suddenly dimmed even more as she continued forth. A tree to her left was littered with material of the Hindenburg's balloon. Her eyes focused ahead once more and she froze.
Darkness wrapped around the area enclosing her within the scene. Her crimson eyes focused on the remains…if she could it that. She had seen bodies impaled, humans that were part machine, disappearing cat-boys…but she hadn't anticipated this. She didn't know what was more disturbing, the scene or the fact she didn't sense it. Seras moved forward and studied the scene; it was better not to think of this thing as mortal.
'It' was lying upon a long table with its arms spread to its side. The skin was perfectly peeled off this corpse, not a layer left. Whoever or whatever had done this had removed the skin on each finger and toe, even the eyelids and lips where gone. Seras bit her lower as she circled it, her eyes darting into the darkness around her in case of attack. Her orbs scanned across it and focused on the only blood at the scene. A message was written in perfect cursive, 'Lebensunwertes Leben.'
'German.' Her mind whispered.
A feeling told her that this was a German word or phrase and the same feeling invoked dread. A harsh bark resounded and she narrowed her eyes as she searched the darkness. Something was still here and she was glad she sent the Geese away. Her eyes glanced at the skinned corpse; she would never let them end up like that.
"Lebensunwertes Leben."
The words were harshly growled out and she was certain it was German. Seras expanded her senses trying to focus. There was no scent nor could she hear anything. The feeling of being trapped made her want to panic, it made her feel caged. A growl vibrated within her chest and then she heard it, but it was too late. A movement from within the darkness and pain erupted in her right arm. She released a curse as she held arm to her chest. Flesh and meat were dangling freely as her crimson eyes scanned the darkness. Something was horribly wrong; she couldn't understand why this darkness was so thick or why her wound wouldn't mend.
"Lebensunwertes Leben…"
A whistling echoed behind her and she ducked as a bullet erupted from behind her and flew over her shoulder. A torrid of shots exploded and she dropped onto stomach. The gunfire ceased and she glanced behind her to see the remaining Wild Geese still aiming into the distance. Davis was the first to run towards her and kneel beside her.
"Ms. Victoria, are you alright?"
She turned her gaze forward and found the skinned corpse and table gone. All that remained was that message.
A single cloth curtain of white separated a seat from a bed. Seras sighed as she glanced out of the corner of her eyes at the sheet. A shadowed figure shifted on the other side of the sheet making Seras tense. Hospitals had never been her cup of tea and having such advanced senses made her despise them even more. It smelled of alcohol, despair, and death. A soft sigh and the figure rose into a sitting position.
"What day is it?"
It had been two days since she had heard Sir Integra's voice. She had been restrained to the hospital until her health could be assured. The hospital was partially destroyed and patients filled the remains. It was unlucky that so many had died and yet, it was fortunate, because it left the hospital almost empty.
"Sunday Sir," Seras replied. "It's been a few days."
Integra went silent and Seras shut her own eyes. The hospital staff and sedated the Hellsing because she refused care. Seras reopened her eyes and glanced over and noticed that Integra was touching the area of her lost eye.
"A few days," Integra dryly mused. "Does that mean that we're on vacation?"
"No Sir," Seras quickly replied. "I've taken the remaining Geese and have been searching for any surviving FREAKS. We have exterminated many."
"Any other…survivors?" Integra questioned, her voice went unusually soft.
Seras grimly frowned as she threaded her hands together. She knew who Integra was referring to, it was obvious. Walter had been labeled a traitor and there was no one else close to Integra. Seras could still feel the moment fresh in her mind, the moment Alucard vanished f. When she had drank Pip's blood the ties that bound them weakened, but now…there was nothing. It was void that left her with a feeling of emptiness that could overcome the pain of her parent's murder.
"None survived…Master."
It was final.
Seras stood from her seat and pushed the curtain that hid Integra from her view aside. Sunlight leaked through and Integra stared at Seras as the light hit her. A shadow was cast onto the wall. Seras squinted at the intruding light, but she could easily make out the worn woman. A white bandage wrapped over her left eye. Her hair had been cut to her shoulders and the skin upon her face was bruised.
"The Geese and I scouted for the remains of Hindenburg II and found something, disturbing," Seras finally said.
"Disturbing?" Integra questioned as her right eyebrow arched.
"We found a skinned corpse and I was then attacked. The words 'Lebensunwertes Leben' were written in blood," Seras explained. "The skin was missing and I couldn't scent anything nor heal the wounds received by the attack."
Integra's hand fisted in her sheets as she asked, "How did you defeat it?"
"The Geese shot through its darkness and it retreated."
Integra remained quiet as she turned her gaze towards the window. It seemed there would be no time for a vacation. A sigh escaped her lips; there was never any rest for a Hellsing.
"I want you to destroy all that are involved," Integra suddenly said. "There will be no chance for them to regroup."
"Yes Master."
"And Seras…"
"Yes Master?"
"Stop calling me Master."
"Yes…Sir Integra."
…Ein…
(Present)
The Hellsing manor was in no better condition then the rest of England. This is why Seras and the rest of the Wild Geese sat in a room with a view. It was a small meeting room with half of the east wall blown off. Some of her men lounged against the walls that wouldn't crumble and others sat upon broken chairs. Seras eyed each of the men until her gaze fell upon Davis.
"Reports," Seras spoke as she eyed each of them.
"The area where the body was found and vanished has been thoroughly searched," Davis stated. "Nothing was found."
"And the threat of attack?" Seras questioned.
"Nothing short of animal tracks," Davis assured.
"Maybe it was ze big bah' volf, no?"
Her crimson eyes quickly turned toward the taller man leaning against the wall. Jean was the only man in this group that gave her any problems. He didn't dare raise a hand to her, but he would raise words any chance he got. His sky blue eyes focused on her, silently challenging her. Seras merely glared at him before she turned back to Davis and saw him glaring at Jean. She shook her head no and ignored him.
'Ignorant prat,' Seras mildly thought.
"Regardless of your homeland, Hellsing is paying you to protect Britain as if it were your own," Seras strongly spoke.
"What is it zis time…a cult?" Jean questioned. "Maybe they will off zemselves."
"Whatever the threat," Davis firmly began, "we will exterminate it."
Some of the Geese fidgeted where they stood, nervousness dancing in their eyes. Seras realized that they were mercenaries expecting a short life, but they never imagined this, an almost guaranteed death. An image of the skinned corpse flashed briefly in her mind, no, she wouldn't let them end up like that.
"Davis will assign shifts of those who will patrol Hellsing's grounds and those whom will continue on clean up. See Davis for your rounds and rest while you can," Seras dismissed.
Her eyes met Jean's before she sunk through the floor. A smirk graced his thin lips as he kept his eyes locked on her own. That man either lacked intelligence or common sense. Seras couldn't understand how he managed to survive. Seras moved through the basement as until she found her room. She pushed open the door and sighed. The empty room was not something she wished to be in. Master may had found comfort in emptiness, but she didn't. Of course, he had thousands of souls to room and she had only one. The thought depressed her.
'Memories,' Seras thought as she pushed the door shut and moved across the room. She sat down upon the lid of her coffin and allowed her knees to support her elbows as she buried her face within her palms. She had desperately hoped that somehow, Pip would be within her mind; that his soul would be within her ready to taunt her, to assure her. His life had flashed before her eyes, each memory and experience she lived from his view. All privacy vanished because the dead needed no privacy. She had relieved their last kiss and heard his thoughts. She felt all that he felt and knew him in ways that would never be.
A knock sounded upon her door causing her to snap to attention and open the door quicker than she intended. She didn't relax when she saw who it was standing at the door. The war had taught her that you couldn't trust anyone.
"Yes, Davis?" Seras questioned.
This was the first time she had seen his hair and she was a bit shocked. It was cut in a standard military fashion, buzzed short around the sides with an inch longer on top. The cut didn't shock her, but the color. His hair was platinum.
"I wanted to assure you that Jean will never oppose you," Davis quickly assured.
"He couldn't oppose if he tried," Seras responded back.
The left corner of his mouth twitched in a smile as he replied, "You are a good woman, before you are a vampire."
Seras frowned and crossed her arms. Her right hand moved to caress the left arm in a gesture that had become a habit. She couldn't figure this man out.
"Nonetheless, I am still a vampire and he is still under my command," Seras replied as she eyed the man. "If you go around disciplining the men then they will never respect me."
"Believe me, they respect you," Davis muttered as his gaze shifted to her arm.
"Jean will learn his place, but I want no interference from you!" Seras firmly ordered.
Davis studied her for a moment before he nodded his head in agreement. Seras Victoria had grown from a bit stupid to a little woman. There was much she had to learn.
'All the time in the world, but forced into a short period.' Davis thought.
"I understand." Davis reassured. "But I want you to understand that I am not just here to obey, but to help. I will help you in anyway possible. Good…morning Ms. Victoria."
Davis gave a slight bow before he turned on his heel and moved down the corridor till he vanished into the darkness. Seras sighed as she shut her door and leaned her head against the wood. Her shadow swirled at her feet and she sunk through the floor until her feet met cement. The metal of a door was pushed open and the lights from the hall caused a glare to be cast against glasses. She would protect them all.
"I'm ready to listen," Seras determinedly stated.
A face formed within the darkness and upon the face rested a twisted smile.
"Sehr gut…sehr gut."
I will be stopping there because the next chapter will have the fun begin... Much thanks to...
Jess Ishtar for being my first reviewer
watergoddesskasey
Herr Angel-D...You're welcome and I am simply in love with your Major and Seras. I can only hope that my story can provide the same enjoyment for you that your story has for me
Next Chapter...Zwei
"I remember vatching the zoldiers march along mien ztreet...perfection to mien eyez. Mien mutter und vater had hidden mien zelf within the attic...but the zoldiers came. I vaz only fifteen at de time. Mien vater met dem outzide our haus...they zouted hiz betrayal and shot him. Mutter begged...not vor her life...but mein life. Dey held her down az dey dragged me by de hair and into the living room...'Munster' dey zouted!"
Please be kind and leave any thoughts, comments or concerns, I also apperciate if any mistakes are kindly pointed out.
Till next time...
