A/N: Hello. I would like to ask all of you to please review. I'd really like to know what you all have to say. I really hope to hear from someone soon.
….
CHAPTER TWO
NIGHTMARE IN DISGUISE
Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!
Alucard growled as he struggled to quiet the thousands upon thousands of voices inside his head. How he still manages to have any coherent thoughts of his own is beyond him. He shook his head as he wandered the streets in the cold Winter night.
He wasn't sure where he was. He just knew it wasn't London. No, this place didn't have the destroyed buildings and potent stench of ghouls. As far as he knew, he may not have even been the same country.
A cacophony of voices and memories invaded his thoughts. They came from his Familiars, taken from their blood when they had become his victims. He had never realised just how many people he'd killed. Now, he didn't go a single day without seeing some kind of hallucination or hearing the echoing voice of someone long dead.
The constant noise inside his own mind was like metal on slate to his ragged nerves. Oh, how he longed for the day he would be rid of them all.
Then he could return home. He could return to his Master.
That idea alone was enough to muffle some of the voices for a few precious seconds. His Master would be displeased with him for leaving, and his fledgling would be missing him. Which was why he had to continue purging himself of his Familiars.
For two years he had been killing the souls trapped inside him, but all of that work seemed to only make a dent of progress. There were still thousands of voices and thoughts to silence...permanently.
He passed a broken, full-body mirror someone had left on the side of the road, and caught his reflection. He had nearly forgotten the form he had taken, so the girl in white staring back from the mirror nearly shocked him.
Brushing a lock of long raven hair from his eyes, he let out a heavy sigh. This form itself was from a memory of one of his Familiars. He couldn't remember which memory - a daughter, perhaps. Maybe a niece.
Letting out a frustrated growl, Alucard turned away from the mirror and continued down the street. Tucking his gloved hands into the pockets of his long white coat, he glanced up at the full moon.
Are you enjoying this beautiful night, Master?
OOO
The moon had risen earlier than usual, and the office curtains were drawn back, as they were each night. Integra paced the floor, back and forth, hands clasped behind her back. Her head was bowed, her bright blue eyes seemingly focused entirely on her shoes. She ran a hand through her thick blonde locks.
She waited impatiently for Seras to return from checking on the succubus. If she was able to even survive Walter, it would be impressive. She had seen first hand hundreds of times how much of a brutal killer he could be.
She halted her pacing as the office door opened. Turning her attention to the short-haired vampire in the doorway, she asked. "Well? How is the succubus? Is she alive?"
"Um...yes Sir."
Integra raised a thin eyebrow curiously. The younger woman was taking deep breathes, blinking repeatedly as if she was trying to forget some disturbing sight. It set off alarms in her head. God, don't tell me those two ripped each other apart. Clenching her fist so tightly the cigar in her hand snapped, she asked. "What did you see?"
Seras cleared her throat, "Th-They were...kissing, Sir."
Integra blinked. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. Kissing? What the hell? This needed an explanation, and it needed one immediately.
"I take it you want to talk to me, Sir Integra?"
The commander turned her attention to the succubus as she entered the room, Walter following behind her. Integra observed them both with a blank expression, taking a fresh cigar from the box on her desk and lighting it. "Yes, Miss Rachel."
Walter spoke up, "I assure you Sir, Seras merely misunderstood what she saw."
Integra scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Please explain to me how she 'misunderstood' what you two were doing."
Emmaline, seeing no point in sugar-coating the truth, explained casually. "We haven't seen each other since you were born, Sir. We merely got so wrapped up in our reunion that we didn't hear Seras come in."
Walter nodded, "It's true, Sir Integra. But if it makes you feel more comfortable," he touched his cheek, still healing from the earlier wound. "She did fight me. Which is why I assume you sent her to me."
Integra made no response, turning her back to them and placing her hands on her desk. Her golden hair fell down her back and over her tense shoulders, the moonlight making her look very much like the vampire she'd become. It was small, quiet moments like this that Walter realized just how much she'd grown. No longer was she the wide-eyed, innocent little girl he once took care of...she had become a strong, powerful leader, a woman who commanded the highest respect.
Her voice brought him from his memories, back to the present situation. "I suppose I don't really have a choice but to hire you. At this point, any help we may be able to get is valuable."
A smile of gratitude ghosted across the demon's lips. "Thank you, Sir. I will help in whatever way I can."
"But," continued the woman, "You will have to resign from your...current occupation. Not to offend you, but having that sort of work connected to the organization wouldn't help its image."
"I suspected as much. No offence taken." Emmaline straightened her posture, "I will go and take care of that immediately, Sir."
Integra glanced over her shoulder, her face still showing no hint of emotion. "Yes, thank you. You have an hour. Once you're back, Miss Victoria will show you to your new room. I shall introduce you to our other associates tomorrow."
The succubus left quickly, leaving only the three vampires in the room. Integra drew a deep breath, staring out the gigantic windows at the night sky. She turned, removing her cigar and blowing out a thin plume of smoke. "The succubus will stay in the room next to yours, Seras. Keep an eye on her."
The red-clad vampire gave an obedient salute. "Yes Sir."
Walter scowled, "Let me guess, you're only suspicious of her because she knows me?"
The Hellsing leader frowned at him. "No," she hissed, "But thanks to you I'm more careful of who I trust now."
Walter winced, refusing to make eye contact with her. "Understood, Sir."
OOO
Integra took in the sight with a heavy heart. She remembered when her office had been filled with the foul-mouthed mercenary group, but now only a handful remained. Her dull fingernails dug into her palm so tightly that she would have drawn stung had she not been wearing gloves. So much loss of life in a single night...
"So you found someone?" asked a tall man with dark hair and a heavy Brooklyn accent.
"Yes," answered Integra, placing her hands behind her back. Her voice was strong with the professional tone she had perfected over the years. "As it turns out, she is a former acquaintance of not only my father, but my butler as well." Mind you, I don't even want to think about how those two know each other so well.
"So what is she?" asked another mercenary, this one with short, dishevelled red hair. "Another vampire?"
Integra shook her head, "No," she explained straightforwardly. "She is a demon. A succubus, to be exact."
One of the mercenaries stepped back in shock. "A demon? Aren't vampires fucking terrifying enough?"
The commander smirked slyly, "I suggest you see for yourself."
Emmaline phased through the wall, appearing beside Sir Integra. "Hello," she greeted with a slight smile. She watched as the mercenaries stared in awe, already practically drooling over her, and she could feel her lips tingling with the anticipation of all the lustful energy she could drain from those men.
As if she could tell what the demon was thinking, Integra glared at her. "Don't even think about using them as food," she warned in a hushed voice.
The demon nodded, "Yes Sir." The last thing she wanted was to annoy the infamous Integra Fairbrooke Wingates Hellsing. There were thousands of rumours about her ruthlessness.
One of the mercenaries raised his hand. "Um...Sir, are we sure she can fight?"
Emmaline turned her attention to the blonde man. "Would you like to see something?"
Suddenly her hair grew to the middle of her back and darkened, flames flickering on the ends. Seconds later she was engulfed in fire. As it slowly cleared, the hissing flames began revealing something much more terrifying.
Her skin was a pale grey, dark circles around her bright pink eyes. The flames still flickered on a few strands of her now black hair. Her entire body was covered in black swirling lines and patterns, similar to tattoos, and she was barely covered by black lacy clothing.
She talked in the same low, seductive tone, although there was a slight echo to her voice. "This is what I really look like, mortals. Anyone want to fight now?" She paused, waiting for an answer, but no response came. "No? Then just remember, don't judge on appearance alone."
Integra folded her arms, "Yes, very impressive demon. Now please, return to your human form. You're unnerving my men."
Emmaline was engulfed in flames once more, and when they cleared she had resumed her usual appearance. "I only wanted to make sure they didn't underestimate me."
"I see. Well, now that the introductions have been made, I'll have to leave. There's something that needs my attention. Emmaline, stay with them. I'm sure The Wild Geese will be more than happy to begin your formal training."
Integra left without another word, leaving the terrified Wild Geese alone with the demon. Emmaline gave a polite grin, only to frown when they jumped back upon seeing her fangs.
