A/N remember, I'm constantly modifying and tweaking little details of this story so feel free to come back as many times as you'd like to try and spot the differences!

Updated: 21/2/19


Hope's point of view

I scurried to the mansion's front steps and sat myself down. I poured my blood in my cup and stared into the dark abyss ahead of me, trying to process what I'd just heard. Among all the fuckery I had to deal with in this place, I had to learn that Alucard was Darius' brother? And why were people hiding things from me? Did Integra decide for that to happen?

I let out a long sigh, trying to get the tension out of my shoulders. I glanced at the contents of the cup and took a sip. It was very cold and for some reason I didn't like it as much as Alucard's hot blood, which I hated to admit. It was still relieving, however, and I found myself quickly chugging it down and instantaneously craving more.

After I finished, I decided I wanted to stay outside for a little longer. The night air agreed with me and comforted me, a breeze gently cooling me down from the hot interior of the mansion. The sky was a gradient dark blue and the moon was big and bright- the entire atmosphere was very soothing for my stressed self.

"Meow."

I looked beside me and a large black cat was standing on the step, his tail up as if waiting for me to pet him.

"Oh, hello..." I rubbed his cheek and he started purring loudly which made me smile, "You're a sweetheart, aren't you?" He climbed onto my lap and sat there, clawing my legs as he made himself comfortable.

"Good morning, Hope." A voice I hadn't heard in a while came from the top of the steps. Integra. When I didn't reply, she came and sat next to me. She normally struck me as the type of person who had to show their dominance and leer over others yet here she was, sat at my level. She pushed her silver-blonde hair behind her shoulders and took a long look at me through her one eye. She was extremely beautiful with her ocean blue eye reflecting against the moonlight and it made me mad how someone so naturally ethereal could be so cold towards me in the past. I still held a grudge against her for that cruel test when I first got here that lead me to think I was going to die.

"You're right to be upset," she said, "People you barely know keeping large secrets from you, it must be so infuriating." So now she wants to be nice to me? She's spent the past months avoiding my presence, letting me get hurt and now she's trying to 'relate' to me just because I knew the big secret everyone was hiding?

"What would you know?" I had no control of what came out of my mouth and I didn't even regret it.

"I was 12 when I became the leader of this establishment," she replied, calmly, "And also when I found Alucard in the basement. My father hid all kinds of huge secrets from me which I had to discover as I got older. It was frustrating, yes, but it was all for the best in the end. You learn to accept what you find rather than get upset at the person who kept things from you because more often than not, it's out of their control. We all agreed you weren't in the correct mindset to handle that sort of information."

"...I suppose..." I said slowly.

"You are also my servant," she continued, "I'm not happy about the fact Alucard changed you at such a young age but he insists that he did the right thing so I trust that. He thinks that you have great potential and I believe him. You are here to protect me and these headquarters and I know you have the power to do that. I'm not saying you have to push your emotions aside; you've suffered great loss since you've been here and you need time to mourn. However, you also need to prepare yourself for the worst to come because I'm just a frail old woman." Did she just make a joke?

I didn't reply. I just petted the cat on my lap.

"You can keep him, if you like."

"Really?" I asked, "No one owns him already?"

"He moved himself in a few months ago and he's seems fond of you. If he puts you in a better mindset then by all means, you can keep him."

I was moved by this act of kindness, "Thank you, sir. I- I really appreciate that."

"It's almost morning so go and get some sleep. But first, escort me to my room."

"Uh- yeah, of course."

I put the cat over my shoulder where he continued to purr happily and helped Integra stand up. She took my free arm and we headed back inside the mansion. Gene opened to doors for us and greeted us with a polite 'good morning' and I smiled at him thankfully. He did a double take at the cat on my shoulders and let out a small chuckle under his breath.

"What's his name?" I asked Integra.

"Everyone calls him Salem."

"That's fitting."

I didn't know where Integra's bedroom was so she had to lead me to it. I didn't understand why she wanted me to escort her to her room but I guessed it had something to do with getting me used to servitude, which I didn't actually mind too much. Her bedroom matched her in every way- huge ceiling-sized windows, grey marble flooring, a bookcase that covered an entire wall. It was an amazing room and I was slightly envious of it.

Alucard was waiting for her by her desk. He seemed nearly surprised to see us together.

"Master, you wanted to see me?" he asked, bowing his head.

"You're wanted in Gibraltar," Integra said simply as I helped her sit on her bed, but she still held onto my arm. I stood there waiting for further instruction as the two discussed details of Alucard's mission. I knew I had to wait until Integra dismissed me, or at least that's what the others did. I noticed Salem getting progressively irritated at the sight of Alucard, and he started mewling angrily in my ear which turned into louder yowls.

"Be quiet," I murmured. My new pet jumped off my shoulders and stood in front of Alucard and began hissing at him. I giggled to myself and covered my mouth to muffle myself as Salem hissed and spat at him, his hair on end and his tiny teeth showing. Alucard looked back at me blankly as I laughed at the incident. Salem was about to attack him so I rushed over, "Salem, no..." and I swiped him up and he lashed out at Alucard's jacket, his claw getting stuck on a button. I sighed and attempted to unhook his claw as Alucard peered down at us, displeasure evident on his face. Integra found it also amusing but she covered it much better than I did. I managed to free Salem and I held him in my arms like a baby, cooing over him. He calmed down and began purring again when I tickled his chin. "Behave yourself, darling, or they won't let me keep you."

"You can go now, Hope," Integra said, a slither of a smile on her lips.

"Thank you, sir," I replied, "Sorry about Salem... I'll train him or something." As I turned to leave I heard Alucard and Integra continue their conversation, but it wasn't about the mission anymore. It was about me.

"She's starting to fit in," Integra said, "Which is good. All she needed was a source of comfort." There wasn't a reply for a while. "What is it Alucard? You're distracted."

"That's the first time I've heard her laugh or seen her smile."

I paused in my tracks for a minute, experiencing emotions which were somewhat of warm nature, before heading back to my room with a large cat that was falling asleep in my arms.


When I returned to my room, I placed Salem on my bed. He didn't walk around and sniff the place like a normal cat would which was really weird. Instead, he just sat there and stared at me with his big green eyes as if he wanted me to tell him something? I really don't know.

"You're weird," I told him. I switched on the TV and lay down on the bed, and Salem rested his head on my lap. He was very large for a cat; around the size of a Jack Russell dog, and he was heavy too. He dozed off and I could help but stare at him adoringly.

"Miss Nightingale!" My heart jumped in shock as a French voice shouted my name.

"Mr Bernadotte?" I called out, my eyes darting around my room but no one was there.

"Up here."

I looked up and Pip was hanging out of the ceiling, a red mist covering him. I frowned at him.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked, annoyed that he interrupted my peace.

"There's an intruder and I sensed them in this room..." He spotted the cat next to me and he made a face.

"It's just Salem."

"Non, non..." he shook his head, "There's a dangerous force. I feel it. " He floated down from the ceiling and began looking around.

"You feel it?"

"My aura protects this mansion. It's mainly to stop the Vatican from attacking but-"

"-I'm sorry, the Vatican?" I raised a judging eyebrow.

"Someone will explain that to you later but mademoiselle, you're not alone." He searched under my bed and opened my unused coffin.

"I assure you," I said, "I think I'd know if someone was in here. It's just Salem and me."

Pip slowly stood up and he stared at Salem, his eyes narrowed, "Un chat demon..."

"You're talking out of your ass, Frenchman," I said, folding my arms and starting to get annoyed, "Do you mind leaving now, Pip?"

"He was hissing at Mr Alucard earlier, non?" he said.

"Yes..."

"My point." He walked over to the cat and stared at him beadily with his one eye. He was so set on the possibility that Salem was an evil demon and went quiet for a long time just looking at him. He conjured more red mist and allowed it to float around Salem, as if he was conducting an experiment of some sort.

"Leave him alone, will you?" I groaned.

"I'm telling you, Hope," he said, "Zis cat is bad news. Something is not right."

"Oh, go eat some snails."

He glared at me, "We don't all do that, you know." He took one last look at Salem before disappearing back into the ceiling.

What did concern me was how serious he was about the whole matter. Something truly bothered him and it made me think I had to be careful.


Around the same time, in a warehouse somewhere else

"What's next, boss?" a short but muscled man asked. He was in his mid thirties but like all vampires was a lot older than that. He had brown greasy hair slicked back messily, arms covered in tattoos and wore expensive sportswear. One's first encounter would strike him as just another London thug but Hias was a lot smarter than that. He had a cult of about 30 well-trained vampire women who would die for him. No one would speak down to him. No one, except the man he looked up to.

"I have set eyes on Hope," the higher man answered slowly, his voice humming at the girl's name, "This will take time. She's only just began trusting her peers."

"And Alucard?"

"I'll deal with him when the time comes. He'll be a challenge, but at the moment he and Hope do not have a bond like I intend to build with her."

Hias smirked at the comment, dirtier thoughts filling his mind. His Master snapped at him as if he could hear them. "Remember, Hias. Do not let any more of your girls disobey their orders. We can't risk bringing Alucard into the scene to rescue the girl again."

"Is he really a threat, though?" Hias inquired, "From what we know so far, she's scared of him."

"My brother doesn't have any strong affections for anyone but his Master and that other Draculina. He's fond of the butler, but butler isn't a problem, he's nothing like the one they had before but ... actually..." he paused, deep in thought , "Hope is closest with the butler and if he's around to save her he will. Hm... I think we need to reconsider our plan..."

"No disrespect sir..." Hias said hesitantly as his boss went into deep thought, "But Alucard bonded with Seras when she decided to drink and unleash her familiar. Hope is doing everything she should be currently, and with that Alucard mig-"

"-I won't allow it," the Master snarled, "I plan to bond with her before he does and do whatever it takes to repel the girl from him. That's why I sent the cat." He read the doubt on his servants face and knew he had to give him some courage. He placed a supportive had on his shoulder, griping it, "Listen to me, Hias. With Hope on our side we can do so much. More than you could imagine. Have faith in me."

"I never lost faith, sir," Hias said, relaxing at the smoothness of his boss' voice.

"Good," he faked a smile, "I can always rely on you. You can leave now."

Hias saluted and then left. A overdue grimace plastered Darius' face. He was tired of being around people who were so stupid, especially Hias. He made a mental note to dispose of him once he came into contact with Hope. For the time being, he knew he had to bide his time. He knew that Hellsing was about to be made vulnerable since the Vatican had been growing restless at the news of a new vampire in the organisation, and the rumours of her relations to Alucard did not make them any happier. Darius decided it would be best to see what Heinkel did before making his next move.

He summoned a green bubble in mid-air and looked into it like a crystal ball, seeing what Salem saw. He noticed that the pesky Frenchman had began suspecting the cat ploy but Hope waved him away. This was good.

"That's my girl," he snickered. Everything was going as it should.


A/N I have some amazing plans for this story and it even involves some of the OG Hellsing characters like Heinkel because let's face it, 30 years later and news that there's a new fledgling of course the Vatican are going to want to be peeping.

So I've finally given Darius some dialogue! How do you all feel about his involvement? It's about time to be honest, I was tired of people just talking about him but here we are. Please leave a review, it only takes a few moments and it's what keeps me going (which is quite sad but validation is a good feeling).