A/N: Here's chapter 2. I hope you enjoy it.
Please Read and Review. I like feedback.
"Hey, Jack," Tom shook his friend, "Wake up."
"What?" Jack said in a daze as he fixed the position of his sunglasses on his head. He looked around and realized they were at their terminal at the airport, "What's up?"
"We're leaving, man. The plane's here."
"Really?" Jack said with a yawn.
"Yeah," Tom held out his hand and helped him up, "Man, it's two in the afternoon and you're still exhausted." He smirked, "I guess that girl showed you a pretty good time last night, huh?" he nudged Jack with his elbow as they stepped on the plane.
"What do you mean?" Jack said sleepily.
"Don't play dumb. She pulled you out of that bar faster than I thought possible. Just be glad I covered for you until you got back to the hostel."
"Nothing happened, Tom." Jack put his carry-on in the compartment above the seats and sat down by the window.
"You're joking, right," Tom sat down by his friend, "She took you to her place and nothing happened?"
"Tom, you didn't see this place. It was a creepy mansion, like something out of a Dracula movie" –several miles away in the Hellsing Mansion Alucard let out an amused laugh—"and there were all these strange portraits of men standing over hordes of bloody bodies. I wanted to get out of there as fast as I could."
"Jesus, man, no wonder you're still a virgin. You're going to regret never having done it before going to college next year."
"Hey, I'm just waiting for the right time."
"Right time? Jack, you've had several right times. Are you sure you don't just swing the other way?"
"No, Tom," Jack said flatly. This wasn't the first time he'd heard this from his friend.
"Are you sure, man? You know I wouldn't mind if you did."
"I'm not gay."
"Okay, okay," Tom said, "I'm just messing with you, man." The plane traveled down the runway and took off. Jack looked out the window and squinted against the sun, despite his sunglasses, and closed the window.
"Hey, Tom," Jack said.
"What?"
"Will you wake me up when they come around with food?"
"No problem," he put his headphones on.
"Thanks," Jack said. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Seras walked out of her bedroom and into the hall. She headed into the kitchen, sat down at the large, wooden table and stared at the half-moon in the sky, "Gutentag," Schrodinger said, suddenly appearing at her feet, nuzzling her leg.
"Hey, Schrodinger…what are you doing?" she asked.
"I don't know, really," he said as he stood up, "Ist mien nature as unt cat, no? You could zhink of me az utn pet." He stared at her with a wide smile, "I just like 'aving zomevone petting me every now and zhen."
"Are you sure you're not just a masochist?"
"Hey, ist possible." he sat down in the chair to her right.
"Well, what do you want?" she asked the catboy.
"Nuzhing much," he said, "but I vas vondering. Vhen did you regrow your arm? Lazt I remembah it vas spewing shadows everyvhere."
"Oh this," she flexed her left hand, "Alucard taught me how to rematerialize my body with the shadow matter."
"Oh, zo did you drink his blood?"
"What? No. Of course not," Schrodinger's ears perked up as he detected some humiliation coming from her. She continued, "If I drank his blood I could probably turn my entire body into shadows, but I can only do that with my arms."
"Hey, ist still great powah," he boy said with a shrug, "besides, imagine vhat it vill be like vhen you finally do drink his blood."
"I guess," she looked out the window, "but the thought of drinking Master's blood seems kind of strange." She took a moment to look at the moon as shadows obscured it's view.
"Really? I 'aven't thought of zhat as strange. Evah since I became unt vampire I've vanted to drink 'is blood."
"Wait, you're a vampire?"
"Yup." he said happily.
"When did that happen?"
"I vas vithin Alucard for some time. Are you really zhat shocked zhat I am von of you now?"
"I guess not," Seras said, "So, what do you think of the mansion so far?"
"Ist lovely," came the boy's voice from infront of her, closer than she remembered.
"Eeek," she exclaimed as Schrodinger suddenly appeared on her lap, curled up like a pet cat. "What are you doing?"
"You veally are varm. Ist veally nice in zis cold London Veathah."
"Am I ruining a moment?" A deep voice came from behind.
"Master," Seras said. She shot up and Schrodinger fell to the ground.
"How nice." he said, "Seras, are friend is almost home." he said with a smile.
"Master, how long are you going to hide this from Integra? She thinks that we have no clue as to where he's going."
"Don't worry about Integra. This is too fun to pass up."
"I see," Seras said with a somewhat displeased face, "What do you need of me, Master?"
"Not you," he said with a sly smile, "Him," he pointed to the floor by Seras's feet.
"Who?" Schrodinger asked playfully from Alucard's back. He was wearing his fedora.
"Perfect, I have a favor to ask of you."
"Unt favor?" the catboy said, "I don't know about zat. I am not undah your vatch," He looked back at Seras.
"Look," Alucard said as he effortlessly lifted the boy by the collar of his shirt with one hand, "in two hours a fledgling vampire by the name of Jack Worth is going to arrive in America, completely unaware of the fact that he is one of us. I need you to do two things. One," he held up a finger infront of the boy's face, "Make sure that any actions of his don't get noticed by authorities, especially by Creed." he held up another finger his smile widened, "Two: I want you to slowly introduce him to the powers he has obtained. And make sure he doesn't try to suppress them."
"Vat about blood, shall I 'ave him drink?"
"Of course," he patted the boy on the head as he lowered him back to the floor. "I assume you know where to find him."
"Ov course," the boy said with glee and he left the kitchen.
"Sir, what are you planning to do?" Seras asked her master.
"Simple. I'm just making this a little fun."
"But, Master, you don't really expect the boy to provide a challenge to you, do you?"
"Of course not, but we should at least let the boy have some fun before we rip his head off."
"Actually, Master, I was hoping to talk to you about that."
"What is it, Policegirl?"
"Do we really have to kill him? Is there any way that we could, you know, make him one of us?"
"That's not my decision, now is it?"
"I guess not, Master," she said with her head bowed.
"What the hell is this place?" Jack said as he looked around him. Everywhere he looked were red, flame-like shadows among the pitch-black setting. "Where am I?" he sounded frantic. This was the best representation of hell Jack had ever imagined.
"Do you know what happens when you kill?" A voice said in a deep, grumbly, Jack turned around and saw a monstrous, flame-ridden being walking toward him.
"What are you?" Jack screamed as stumbled back and fell. He was too scared to get up.
"I'm everything you fear," a red smile appeared on what seemed to be its face, "And everything you can be…If only you do what you were made for."
"What's that?" Jack asked, calming down a little.
"Just follow your instincts," it walked up to Jack and shrunk down to the same size as him. "Do this and you will know power beyond your wildest imagination," it reached down toward Jack with a flickering, shadowy arm. Jack took it and was pulled to his feet.
"Power?" he asked and the being nodded. Jack had never been a strong person—always letting others dictate what he did. Jack smiled and tried to pull his hand away, but the being only tightened its grip.
"Jack," it said in a taunting voice, "Jack," it said again.
"Stop it, let me go," he struggled harder.
"Jack, Jack," it opened its mouth, revealing several sharp teeth and bit down on his neck.
"Jack," Tom said once more as he shook Jack's arm. Do you want something to eat?"
Jack snapped awake, realizing it was all a dream. 'Of course,' he thought, 'like I could ever have power,' he laughed to himself. "Um, yeah, what is it?" he asked the flight attendent.
"Chicken and carrots," the flight attendant said in a very bored voice.
"Sure," Jack said, feeling abnormally hungry. The flight attendant handed him the small tray and continued down the aisle. "Finally, I'm starving," Jack removed the plastic covering on the tray, picked up the plastic fork and knife, and cut into the rubbery chicken. He took a large chunk, put it in his mouth, and immediately coughed it up into the tray.
"What the hell, man?" Tom said.
"That tastes horrible."
"Really," Tom took a bite of his own, "It tastes fine to me."
Jack, still coughing, said, "It was like trying to swallow ash."
"Hey, master," Seras said as she entered Alucard's chamber, "I was wondering: Can't we talk to Sir Integra about possibly bringing Jack in to be one of us? Maybe we can convince her to change her mind."
"Look, Policegirl, there is nothing you can do to get Integra to bring that boy here." "But you turned me into a vampire and she allowed me to stay."
"Yes, but you are under my watch."
"But you said you didn't have the power to bring him here."
"That's right," Alucard said with a smile, "I don't."
"So doesn't that mean it is up to Sir Integra if he comes here or not?"
"I didn't know Sir Integra was your master." he said.
"Wait," Seras thought about what he said for a moment, "Are you saying that it's up to me?"
"Only you have the power to control him—he is your servant and you his master. If you order him here Integra would definetly be willing to use him."
"Then why did she order me to kill him?"
"Simple, she doesn't want a vampire here whose master can't be forceful enough to control her servant."
"So she just wants me to assert myself and she'll let him live?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you telling me this? Wouldn't it be better if I had found this out on my own?"
"You are my servant. It is my job to make sure that you don't remain ignorant in the way things are done around here."
"Really, Master?" Seras asked excitedly thinking she had discovered a new side to her Master.
"Also, it's infinitely pleasurable seeing you run around with Schrodinger causing you trouble everywhere you go. I can't imagine what will happen when you have a second pet following your every footstep."
"Thanks…Master," she said none to pleased at the fact that he was only telling her this information because it was at her expense. She turned around and headed for the door.
"You're going to what?" Integra yelled at the draculina.
Seras stood—back straight, chin high—and said forcefully, "I'm going to New York to find Jack and bring him back here for training."
"After I explicitly ordered you to kill him and after you told me you were unsure of his whereabouts, you're going to do something like this?"
"Yes."
"And if I tell you no?"
"You can't control me," Integra glared, but Seras continued, "Whether or not you like it I am going to help that boy."
"Why?"
"Because it is my fault that he is a vampire."
"And you are ready to face the consequences?"
"Yes."
Integra sighed, "Fine. Do what you must."
"Thank you, sir," Seras saluted and headed for the door.
"Hey, Seras," Integra said. Seras turned around, "We're awfully short handed around here." She smiled, "do come back quickly."
"Yes sir," Seras said with a smile and she closed the door behind her.
"Humans really do change with time, don't they, Integra?" Alucard said as he walked through the wall behind Integra's desk.
"Alucard," she said as she stood up and faced the vampire, "it's all part of being human."
"You know, my master," he said as he stepped closer, "it has been fourty years since the fall of Millennium. The years have begun to take their toll on you."
"True, Alucard, but I stand by my point."
"Of all the mysteries surrounding you, there is one thing that perplexes me more than any other."
"And what is that," she said with a smile.
"You have lived all these years and have shown no desire to be a vampire, yet have remained a virgin." he took a step closer, "Why not let me drink your blood, make you one of us?"
"My dear friend," she shook her head, "I can't tell you how many times I have dreamed of letting you do that," she reached up and held his pale cheek in her hand, "being forever ageless while I still retained some fragment of my youth. But," she lowered her hand, "I see aging as a fascinating part of life. As something that shouldn't be avoided…And as for me being a virgin," she, despite knowing it wouldn't hurt him, slapped the vampire as hard as she could, "Never," she said angrily, "ask a lady about her sex life." She glared at his smiling face. The two didn't break contact until they couldn't help but laugh.
"I understand, my Master. I am sorry if I imposed any unwanted ideas upon you." he turned toward the wall behind her desk and started walking toward it.
"Hey, Alucard," he stopped and turned, "stay with me for a while. We haven't had the mansion to ourselves for quite a long time."
"What do you wish to do?"
"Would you just stay and talk with me, my old friend."
"Of course, Integra."
"General," a man with a Russian accent said to the man in the chair, "I present you with the Vice President of Creed, Aaron Stoker." two subordinates brought forth a man in handcuffs and presented him to the general.
"Very good, Captain Marinov," the General said in a Northeastern American accent, "you may leave us."
"Yes sir," the three men saluted and left the General with the man.
"So, my good friend, Aaron—"
"I don't recall us ever being familiars," the man interrupted.
"Ah, that is true, I suppose. True, I may have worked for Creed in my youth, but I believe I left several years before you joined. How are you doing?"
"We're still keeping America safe from people like you and your monsters." Stoker said.
"Oh really? Well, from what I hear, certain 'inexplicable incidents' have been on the rise in recent months. Tell me, how have you managed to keep my vampires a secret from the people of our great country?"
"Protecting them often requires their ignorance. The less they know, the safer they will be."
"That's just something I could never stand about the US. You claim to have such freedom as allowing the public to know what is going on in the government, yet you do things like this: hiding the very thing that they have no protection against."
"Wrong, they have us."
"My dear friend…oh sorry; my dear guest," he bent over behind the man and unlocked his handcuffs. As he passed by, Stoker tried to get a good look at his face, but it was obscured by his cap, "You know as well as I do that Creed is falling apart. You have rejected the aid of your religious leaders and of the undead, yet you have survived till now. Don't get me wrong, I think it's admirable that you are protecting your nation in such a way that not even Iscariot or Hellsing could pull off, but it is failing. And it pains me so."
"Then why not kill your monsters instead of kidnapping Vice Presidents of Hunting Organizations?"
"Simple, because I need you for negotiations."
"Negotiations?"
"Yes. I know that you can't grant me what I want, but you will help me in me getting what I want, so here's the plan. I am going to stop everything: my experiments, my recruitment of vampires, and my little war against Creed if, in return, I am allowed a seat on the board of directors of Creed."
"What will that get you?" Stoker shouted.
"Simple, protection. You see, I don't want to start a war, I don't want to acquire territory, I just want to ensure the safety of my people."
"They will never give you that power. Your kind, you will never have your protection. As long as you creatures depend on the blood of humans to survive we will hunt you down and kill every last one of you."
"You see, Vice President Stoker," the General said, his teeth shining amongst the shadow of his face, "it is that kind of attitude that proves the inevitability of Creed's downfall."
"Ha ha ha," Stoker burst into laughter, "you think that just because we don't have blessed blades, or a vampire fighting for us we are limited to silver bullets? Don't look down on us. We have something that has never been seen before at any point in the history of vampire hunters," he kept laughing, "You just wait. Once you cross the line and make your existence known to Creed you will fall. We have a weapon that not even Alucard or all of Iscariot could take on."
"Is that so?"
"You will find out yourself."
"That's too bad. And this is a damned shame."
"What? You finally realized that you don't stand a chance?"
"No, this," he pulled out a remote with a red button on it and pushed it. The floor beneath Stoker opened up and he was dropped into a cage."
"What's the meaning of this?"
"My boy," the General said, "you shouldn't threaten someone with a weapon that you can't control. I know all about your trump card, and I know you still don't know how to harness it."
"So you're just going to lock me in a cage?" He yelled up toward the General
"Lock you in?" he said with a small laugh, "heavens no, my boy," he sighed while keeping the smile on his face, "I'm afraid that this is the end for you." Stoker heard some rustling behind him. He turned around and saw two ghouls advancing on him, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Vice President Stoker. It's such a tragedy that it had to end this way." He turned away and hit the red button again—closing the opening-- as Stokers screams began to fill the room. "Oh my American brothers," the old General said as he removed his cap, "when will you learn that you must first control the beast before you can use it?" The general removed his cap and placed it on his chair revealing his untidy gray hair and a battle—scarred face. "Such a pity," he said, "and I expected him to be a gentleman." He sat down in his chair.
"Sir," a man with a heavy Ethiopian accent said over the intercom, "Was your meeting with Stoker a success?"
"No," the general said with a smile, "but don't worry, Dahnay, Creed will fall to us shortly."
"Who are you going to send?"
"I think Sergeant Tsukishiro would be perfect for the job."
"Shall I patch you through to her, General?"
"No need, Dahnay, She's right here in front of me," the general hung up the intercom, "Hello, Sakura, are you ready for your next mission?"
"Always," the woman bared her sharp teeth.
"Perfect. Now. I want you to go to Creed's Headquarters in Langley, Virginia and release there coveted weapon. Make sure it gets out of the facility before you leave."
"Can I kill anyone I find?" she widened her smile, revealing all the teeth to the very backs of her jaw.
"Keep it to the facility, Sakura. We want this seen as incompetence on the part of the Americans. Just make sure to avoid any cameras."
"Of course."
"Very well, you are dismissed," the Sergeant saluted. Her body dissolved into a cloud of smoke and the General felt a slight breeze go by his right ear. "Yes," the general said with a huge smile, "she will be perfect."
Yup, Schrodinger's a vampire; what trouble will this cause? Who needs enemies when you have a sadistic, war-loving catboy, who's favorite source of entertainment is violence, running around your mansion?
