The tunnels were dark and quiet.
This was, Integra reflected, not exactly true. She could hear the occasional squeak or rumble from deep within the storm sewers, or the occasional clunk or scuffle as Anderson tripped over an uneven spot in the floor or hit his head.
The smell of wet earth and damp metal surrounded them. More suspicious smells began to creep into the air. Integra halted.
"Tunnel's getting wider," said Anderson, in what was almost impatience.
"This shouldn't be here," Integra whispered.
"Eh?" Anderson was blissfully unaware of her climbing wrath. Integra swallowed back sourness and resisted the urge to spin and shout at him.
"Hellsing does not keep unguarded paths into its back door," she said instead. "This tunnel is not part of the storm sewers. It's new," she added impatiently, as Anderson sniffed anxiously and looked at the water around his feet. "But it was dug without tripping the seismograph we keep in the basement."
"You keep a seismograph in the basement?"
"Ever since one of my ancestors had to deal with a swarm of moles." Integra stared down the tunnel, as far as she could see past the torchlight. "Is that getting dimmer?"
"Yes."
Integra was grateful that he made no asinine requests to summon her vampire. Hellsing did not depend on Arucard. Whatever was down here, unless it was an army, she would not need more than the priest.
The idea that the priest just might fall in the line of duty crossed dimly over the back of her mind. She quashed it with a lift of a fine eyebrow.
"So why have we stopped?" Anderson asked behind her. The idea raised its head, and was granted temporary respite. Integra stepped slowly forward.
"Did that tunneling beast remind you of anything?" she asked, scanning the tunnel ahead of them. It was indeed growing wider. This was quite a security breach, and she would have her answers.
"Falling rock," said Anderson crisply. "There's a fork ahead."
Integra stared at the light, frowning. "I don't know this part of the tunnels," she conceded. "We'd best go back and wait for the troops to dig through, and then come back with reinf--fmph!" The light had flicked out and a broad hand clapped over her mouth. She put a hand to the wall to balance herself, raising her other hand and pointing back over her shoulder.
"Quiet," Anderson breathed in her ear. Since he wasn't moving to restrain her and she had her gun pointed to his head, Integra remained silent. She realized that she was holding her eyes open wide in an attempt to see in the dark. She relaxed, remaining perfectly still.
The ground trembled. She felt it through the soles of her shoes and through her fingertips. Integra gasped as sudden cold touched her. The priest's fingers fell away from her mouth.
"Sundown," he said behind her. The light flicked on. "Something down here woke up."
This time, Integra sensed the danger first. She heard a percussive thumping, something like footsteps approaching, but heavier and more staggered. "Turn the light down the tunnel. Now!"
Anderson obeyed. She sensed the figure beside her flex and crouch, ready to attack whatever came into their sight. The thumping continued.
She heard Anderson let out a long, slow breath as they came into sight.
There were two of them. They moved in a steady series of. . . There was no other word for it. . . Hops. Their feet were close together and their knees did not move. The taller was moving more quickly than the other, resulting in a staggered pattern. She could barely see their faces.
Integra shuddered as she raised her gun. Beside her, Anderson stayed still, ready to attack if they came close. She set her shoulders and blew both their heads away.
"Chinese hopping vampire," Anderson said slowly.
"Those were vampires?"
"Actually, they were ghouls," Anderson corrected, raising the light to shine on the bodies. They were sifting slowly into greenish-gray dust. "The vampire version flies more often than it hops. Or it levitates." He looked back at her. "I'm not sure the two of us can take one on alone."
"What do you mean you're not sure?"
"I've never had to fight one," the priest said mildly. "I've heard that it is not easy."
Integra spun. Anderson jumped, pivoting with her to shine the torch back down the tunnel.
"We're going back," Integra explained. "Perhaps one of the side tunnels will help us--"
They both felt the ground around them tremble. Anderson moved reflexively, putting the light out and grabbing Integra, pulling her behind him. The movement trembled and faded into the distance.
"What was that?" Integra asked softly.
"It tunnels underground," Anderson's voice answered. "The creature that attacked us must have been one of its pets."
Integra remained where she was, settled against the warmth of his side. The darkness sheltered them. The torch came on, showing his head angled down to hers. She put a hand over his, keeping the light down. Right now, she felt almost safe. Why couldn't she hold the illusion?
"We should keep moving," Anderson said. She glared. Was any male capable of shutting up when he should? She stepped away, chin up, and began leading the way down the tunnel again.
"Sh," Anderson said, shining the torch both ways down the tunnel. The swoop and bob of the light made Integra dizzy. She fell silent as requested.
"Sorry," Anderson said a moment later. "Rustle. Nothing else. Likely just a rat."
"Are Chinese vampires quiet?"
"They're usually easy to notice, from what I hear," Anderson said. "The chill aura is usually a clue--"
The tunnel shook. Anderson reacted immediately, pushing Integra down against the wall.
"I may have to call Alucard after all," Integra said, when the movement had passed by and the tunnel failed to bury them in meters of damp earth.
"I'd settle for a team of excavators," Anderson said, helping her to her feet.
Integra threw one arm around his neck, pulled his head down, and kissed him.
"This is not the safest place for this," Anderson said a minute later, rescuing his glasses (which were about to fall into the mud underfoot.)
Integra silenced further objection. She was tired, dirty, and thwarted. If she was going to have her day saved, once again, by her pet, she was going to damn well kiss the man she had to marry anyway.
Anderson was a good kisser, except he kept thinking of something to say. Integra gave up. She drew back against the tunnel and began loading her spare bullets into her gun. Anderson stepped away, flushed.
"Well? It was obviously rather important," Integra said finally.
"What brought that on?"
"I wanted to kiss you." Integra patted her pockets for one more shell and found none.
"Oh." Anderson looked up and down the tunnel, with the air of a man desperately seeking a distraction.
"That's rather insulting," Integra said crisply.
"You're right." Anderson stepped back towards her, raised her chin, and kissed her.
Integra put her arms over his shoulders, watching where the muzzle of the pistol went. Well, the day wasn't going to be an utter waste.
A regular thumping sound reached them. Anderson lifted his head and shined the torch down the tunnel. Integra put her back to his chest and leveled the pistol.
"You understand this complicates things," said Anderson over her head.
"Why should it?" Integra sighted down the tunnel at head level. "You've admired me for as long as we've known each other, I've respected you. . ."
"Well, I don't think anyone expects us to actually be in love," Anderson told the top of her head.
"You're right. Walter may drop his monocle."
"Maxwell may withdraw his blessing."
"We'll get someone else's." Integra squeezed off a shot. The hopping ghoul flipped over backwards.
"Nice shot."
"Thank you."
"You do understand that I love you?" Anderson asked carefully. "You may have noticed that I admire you, and you probably noticed that I have the deepest regard for you--"
"Would you love me if I wore a dress and looked perfectly useless?"
"Of course."
Integra glanced back at him. "There's something we forgot to sort out."
Anderson's face went blank. He paused for a moment, then went to one knee. Integra was about to crisply request that he quit being an idiot. He spoke first.
"Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing, I again apologize, with all that I am, to you and your men for my actions against your mortal soldiers." He glanced up at her. "I wish to offer my services in the stead of those who have fallen, to serve as long as I live."
Integra nodded. "Paladin Alexander Anderson, I accept your life as an offering to replace those you have killed. Rise."
Anderson stood, squeezing water out of his pants leg.
"I've asked my men to die for me," Integra said into the new quiet. "And we have opposed each other. These are new days, Anderson."
"Alexander."
"Don't make me regret this."
"Never."
The silence stretched, with both searching for the next perfect word that would cement this new start.
Integra gave up first. "Alucard," she finally said. "Alucard. Do not make me raise my voice."
The side of the tunnel moved. A head with a red hat poked out of it.
"Hello, master. Did you know you have mud in your hair?"
"I'd like a way out of here," Integra said. She didn't miss the way Alucard's gaze widened momentarily, or the quick look he flicked between herself and her future husband.
"As you wish," said Alucard, stepping forward. He put an arm around her. The world pitched, darkened, and cleared. They stood in the street before Hellsing.
"Get Anderson up here," Integra ordered crisply. A moment later, Anderson was on the street with her, glaring at the vampire. A car started to come down the street. The three of them retreated to the sidewalk. Integra started up the walk towards the Hellsing grounds, pleased to see her soldiers patrolling the grounds. Walter was probably on the roof with a sniper rifle. Integra turned. Anderson was on the sidewalk, watching her with a peculiar expression on his face.
"Coming?"
He stepped onto the drive of Hellsing and walked with her. She glanced sideways at him twice.
"What?"
"Sir Integra!" Ah. That was Walter bringing blankets. That meant that Seras Victoria was on the roof watching for more gunmen, or she'd know the reason why.
"Walter."
"Sir Integra." Walter threw a blanket over her shoulders and pushed another at Anderson with barely recognizable hostility. "We were able to capture one of the gunmen alive. He is a refugee from--"
"China," Integra guessed. "Excuse my manners. It was rude to interrupt." She allowed Walter to chivvy her towards the shelter of her home.
"Correct. And I learned why you were fired on. The men we captured were sworn servants to a vampire, and you and Anderson walked close to one of their shelters on the same day they learned what Hellsing really was. They were jumpy. The men are now in custody. We're going to have to kill their master."
"Why has their activity not triggered the seismograph in the basement?" Integra asked.
"Their vampire's disturbance is swallowed quickly by the earth," Alucard interrupted. "Such a creature is quite stealthy."
Anderson still said nothing at all.
"Oh," Walter said. "And. . . You recall Miss Victoria's intervention for your safety?"
"Oh, yes, a novel idea," Integra agreed.
"Such a step had only a limited time value."
"Oh, good," Integra sighed. Walter gave her a sideways look. Alucard muttered something under his breath and vanished.
"Sorry?" Anderson asked.
Integra watched her home. Now or never. Either she and Walter would have to disarm him, or she would see if she and Anderson had cemented their peace. "We had you under a spell," she said. "It wore off."
Anderson stopped. Integra turned to face him. There was a faint, metallic singing.
"I thought the spell was still on," Anderson said. "I stepped onto your lands and I had no desire to act against anyone."
"It's off," Walter said, removing the loop of floss from around the paladin's neck. "Seras has been playing with kittens all day trying to get it removed. It only recently occurred to her that it might be gone already." He realized that neither of them were listening.
"I was willing to walk into the spell again," Anderson said. "I was willing to. For you."
"I. . . It wasn't my idea," said Integra, throttling a blush.
"I wanted to make you feel safe."
"I don't, right now," said Integra. "I'm hungry. I want to be within my house's walls so nobody can take potshots at me, and I want tea." She held out a hand.
Anderson took it.
They walked together towards the main doors of Hellsing.
*~*
Hah. Author's Notes!!
Why are updates so erratic? Because right now, you do not want my life. I have enough change and chaos to engender a new personality. I will call him Stan.
But I was able to finish the first part of this story. Now I get to resolve my new plot line for the second half of the story.
Many thanks to BlueMew for her steady encouragement. Also thanks to my reviewer who pointed out that I am not making sense. I am still not making sense, but I'm working on it.
And, naturally, thanks to everyone who reads this, whether you review it or not.
Chinese Hopping Vampires are an actual hoppy cultural phenomenom. Get. . . I think his name is Tsui Hark's "The Vampire Slayers" for an evening of hoppy fun. It has gore and gratuitous impalations and zombie wranglers. Good stuff.
This was, Integra reflected, not exactly true. She could hear the occasional squeak or rumble from deep within the storm sewers, or the occasional clunk or scuffle as Anderson tripped over an uneven spot in the floor or hit his head.
The smell of wet earth and damp metal surrounded them. More suspicious smells began to creep into the air. Integra halted.
"Tunnel's getting wider," said Anderson, in what was almost impatience.
"This shouldn't be here," Integra whispered.
"Eh?" Anderson was blissfully unaware of her climbing wrath. Integra swallowed back sourness and resisted the urge to spin and shout at him.
"Hellsing does not keep unguarded paths into its back door," she said instead. "This tunnel is not part of the storm sewers. It's new," she added impatiently, as Anderson sniffed anxiously and looked at the water around his feet. "But it was dug without tripping the seismograph we keep in the basement."
"You keep a seismograph in the basement?"
"Ever since one of my ancestors had to deal with a swarm of moles." Integra stared down the tunnel, as far as she could see past the torchlight. "Is that getting dimmer?"
"Yes."
Integra was grateful that he made no asinine requests to summon her vampire. Hellsing did not depend on Arucard. Whatever was down here, unless it was an army, she would not need more than the priest.
The idea that the priest just might fall in the line of duty crossed dimly over the back of her mind. She quashed it with a lift of a fine eyebrow.
"So why have we stopped?" Anderson asked behind her. The idea raised its head, and was granted temporary respite. Integra stepped slowly forward.
"Did that tunneling beast remind you of anything?" she asked, scanning the tunnel ahead of them. It was indeed growing wider. This was quite a security breach, and she would have her answers.
"Falling rock," said Anderson crisply. "There's a fork ahead."
Integra stared at the light, frowning. "I don't know this part of the tunnels," she conceded. "We'd best go back and wait for the troops to dig through, and then come back with reinf--fmph!" The light had flicked out and a broad hand clapped over her mouth. She put a hand to the wall to balance herself, raising her other hand and pointing back over her shoulder.
"Quiet," Anderson breathed in her ear. Since he wasn't moving to restrain her and she had her gun pointed to his head, Integra remained silent. She realized that she was holding her eyes open wide in an attempt to see in the dark. She relaxed, remaining perfectly still.
The ground trembled. She felt it through the soles of her shoes and through her fingertips. Integra gasped as sudden cold touched her. The priest's fingers fell away from her mouth.
"Sundown," he said behind her. The light flicked on. "Something down here woke up."
This time, Integra sensed the danger first. She heard a percussive thumping, something like footsteps approaching, but heavier and more staggered. "Turn the light down the tunnel. Now!"
Anderson obeyed. She sensed the figure beside her flex and crouch, ready to attack whatever came into their sight. The thumping continued.
She heard Anderson let out a long, slow breath as they came into sight.
There were two of them. They moved in a steady series of. . . There was no other word for it. . . Hops. Their feet were close together and their knees did not move. The taller was moving more quickly than the other, resulting in a staggered pattern. She could barely see their faces.
Integra shuddered as she raised her gun. Beside her, Anderson stayed still, ready to attack if they came close. She set her shoulders and blew both their heads away.
"Chinese hopping vampire," Anderson said slowly.
"Those were vampires?"
"Actually, they were ghouls," Anderson corrected, raising the light to shine on the bodies. They were sifting slowly into greenish-gray dust. "The vampire version flies more often than it hops. Or it levitates." He looked back at her. "I'm not sure the two of us can take one on alone."
"What do you mean you're not sure?"
"I've never had to fight one," the priest said mildly. "I've heard that it is not easy."
Integra spun. Anderson jumped, pivoting with her to shine the torch back down the tunnel.
"We're going back," Integra explained. "Perhaps one of the side tunnels will help us--"
They both felt the ground around them tremble. Anderson moved reflexively, putting the light out and grabbing Integra, pulling her behind him. The movement trembled and faded into the distance.
"What was that?" Integra asked softly.
"It tunnels underground," Anderson's voice answered. "The creature that attacked us must have been one of its pets."
Integra remained where she was, settled against the warmth of his side. The darkness sheltered them. The torch came on, showing his head angled down to hers. She put a hand over his, keeping the light down. Right now, she felt almost safe. Why couldn't she hold the illusion?
"We should keep moving," Anderson said. She glared. Was any male capable of shutting up when he should? She stepped away, chin up, and began leading the way down the tunnel again.
"Sh," Anderson said, shining the torch both ways down the tunnel. The swoop and bob of the light made Integra dizzy. She fell silent as requested.
"Sorry," Anderson said a moment later. "Rustle. Nothing else. Likely just a rat."
"Are Chinese vampires quiet?"
"They're usually easy to notice, from what I hear," Anderson said. "The chill aura is usually a clue--"
The tunnel shook. Anderson reacted immediately, pushing Integra down against the wall.
"I may have to call Alucard after all," Integra said, when the movement had passed by and the tunnel failed to bury them in meters of damp earth.
"I'd settle for a team of excavators," Anderson said, helping her to her feet.
Integra threw one arm around his neck, pulled his head down, and kissed him.
"This is not the safest place for this," Anderson said a minute later, rescuing his glasses (which were about to fall into the mud underfoot.)
Integra silenced further objection. She was tired, dirty, and thwarted. If she was going to have her day saved, once again, by her pet, she was going to damn well kiss the man she had to marry anyway.
Anderson was a good kisser, except he kept thinking of something to say. Integra gave up. She drew back against the tunnel and began loading her spare bullets into her gun. Anderson stepped away, flushed.
"Well? It was obviously rather important," Integra said finally.
"What brought that on?"
"I wanted to kiss you." Integra patted her pockets for one more shell and found none.
"Oh." Anderson looked up and down the tunnel, with the air of a man desperately seeking a distraction.
"That's rather insulting," Integra said crisply.
"You're right." Anderson stepped back towards her, raised her chin, and kissed her.
Integra put her arms over his shoulders, watching where the muzzle of the pistol went. Well, the day wasn't going to be an utter waste.
A regular thumping sound reached them. Anderson lifted his head and shined the torch down the tunnel. Integra put her back to his chest and leveled the pistol.
"You understand this complicates things," said Anderson over her head.
"Why should it?" Integra sighted down the tunnel at head level. "You've admired me for as long as we've known each other, I've respected you. . ."
"Well, I don't think anyone expects us to actually be in love," Anderson told the top of her head.
"You're right. Walter may drop his monocle."
"Maxwell may withdraw his blessing."
"We'll get someone else's." Integra squeezed off a shot. The hopping ghoul flipped over backwards.
"Nice shot."
"Thank you."
"You do understand that I love you?" Anderson asked carefully. "You may have noticed that I admire you, and you probably noticed that I have the deepest regard for you--"
"Would you love me if I wore a dress and looked perfectly useless?"
"Of course."
Integra glanced back at him. "There's something we forgot to sort out."
Anderson's face went blank. He paused for a moment, then went to one knee. Integra was about to crisply request that he quit being an idiot. He spoke first.
"Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing, I again apologize, with all that I am, to you and your men for my actions against your mortal soldiers." He glanced up at her. "I wish to offer my services in the stead of those who have fallen, to serve as long as I live."
Integra nodded. "Paladin Alexander Anderson, I accept your life as an offering to replace those you have killed. Rise."
Anderson stood, squeezing water out of his pants leg.
"I've asked my men to die for me," Integra said into the new quiet. "And we have opposed each other. These are new days, Anderson."
"Alexander."
"Don't make me regret this."
"Never."
The silence stretched, with both searching for the next perfect word that would cement this new start.
Integra gave up first. "Alucard," she finally said. "Alucard. Do not make me raise my voice."
The side of the tunnel moved. A head with a red hat poked out of it.
"Hello, master. Did you know you have mud in your hair?"
"I'd like a way out of here," Integra said. She didn't miss the way Alucard's gaze widened momentarily, or the quick look he flicked between herself and her future husband.
"As you wish," said Alucard, stepping forward. He put an arm around her. The world pitched, darkened, and cleared. They stood in the street before Hellsing.
"Get Anderson up here," Integra ordered crisply. A moment later, Anderson was on the street with her, glaring at the vampire. A car started to come down the street. The three of them retreated to the sidewalk. Integra started up the walk towards the Hellsing grounds, pleased to see her soldiers patrolling the grounds. Walter was probably on the roof with a sniper rifle. Integra turned. Anderson was on the sidewalk, watching her with a peculiar expression on his face.
"Coming?"
He stepped onto the drive of Hellsing and walked with her. She glanced sideways at him twice.
"What?"
"Sir Integra!" Ah. That was Walter bringing blankets. That meant that Seras Victoria was on the roof watching for more gunmen, or she'd know the reason why.
"Walter."
"Sir Integra." Walter threw a blanket over her shoulders and pushed another at Anderson with barely recognizable hostility. "We were able to capture one of the gunmen alive. He is a refugee from--"
"China," Integra guessed. "Excuse my manners. It was rude to interrupt." She allowed Walter to chivvy her towards the shelter of her home.
"Correct. And I learned why you were fired on. The men we captured were sworn servants to a vampire, and you and Anderson walked close to one of their shelters on the same day they learned what Hellsing really was. They were jumpy. The men are now in custody. We're going to have to kill their master."
"Why has their activity not triggered the seismograph in the basement?" Integra asked.
"Their vampire's disturbance is swallowed quickly by the earth," Alucard interrupted. "Such a creature is quite stealthy."
Anderson still said nothing at all.
"Oh," Walter said. "And. . . You recall Miss Victoria's intervention for your safety?"
"Oh, yes, a novel idea," Integra agreed.
"Such a step had only a limited time value."
"Oh, good," Integra sighed. Walter gave her a sideways look. Alucard muttered something under his breath and vanished.
"Sorry?" Anderson asked.
Integra watched her home. Now or never. Either she and Walter would have to disarm him, or she would see if she and Anderson had cemented their peace. "We had you under a spell," she said. "It wore off."
Anderson stopped. Integra turned to face him. There was a faint, metallic singing.
"I thought the spell was still on," Anderson said. "I stepped onto your lands and I had no desire to act against anyone."
"It's off," Walter said, removing the loop of floss from around the paladin's neck. "Seras has been playing with kittens all day trying to get it removed. It only recently occurred to her that it might be gone already." He realized that neither of them were listening.
"I was willing to walk into the spell again," Anderson said. "I was willing to. For you."
"I. . . It wasn't my idea," said Integra, throttling a blush.
"I wanted to make you feel safe."
"I don't, right now," said Integra. "I'm hungry. I want to be within my house's walls so nobody can take potshots at me, and I want tea." She held out a hand.
Anderson took it.
They walked together towards the main doors of Hellsing.
*~*
Hah. Author's Notes!!
Why are updates so erratic? Because right now, you do not want my life. I have enough change and chaos to engender a new personality. I will call him Stan.
But I was able to finish the first part of this story. Now I get to resolve my new plot line for the second half of the story.
Many thanks to BlueMew for her steady encouragement. Also thanks to my reviewer who pointed out that I am not making sense. I am still not making sense, but I'm working on it.
And, naturally, thanks to everyone who reads this, whether you review it or not.
Chinese Hopping Vampires are an actual hoppy cultural phenomenom. Get. . . I think his name is Tsui Hark's "The Vampire Slayers" for an evening of hoppy fun. It has gore and gratuitous impalations and zombie wranglers. Good stuff.
