Dark clouds boiled overhead as thunder sounded off in near deafening cracks. The rain battered the cab relentlessly as the drive wove his way through the sluggish traffic. David watches out the window from the backseat, the weather seemed to fit the turmoil in his mind right now. He was warned that the job could be high risk and he'd be working with vampires, but never did he think that things would be getting this chaotic. If he had any good sense he would have run the night Alucard decided to toy with him, but no, part of him was enjoying this little adventure. As the cab approaches the gate to the manor he just wanted to shoot that part of him. He thanks the driver when he stops and drops the money in the front seat as he slides out of the cab. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves he walks up to the guards and holds up the letter he had been sent with. As soon as the guards see the Hellsing crest stamped on the envelope he's ushered inside to the meeting hall.
He jumps slightly when the door slams shut behind him, gaining a few snickers from the men surrounding the massive table in front of him. Clenching his teeth he walks over to the chair he knew was Integra's place at the table and takes a seat. He couldn't help the smug grin when nearly every head there was forced to turn to look at him. That did something for his confidence for sure.
"Where's Integra?"
David glances at the old man. He didn't know any of their names but Islands and he knew that wasn't the one who spoke. No, Islands was sitting at the other end of the table with his fingers steepled. Clearing his throat David pulls the letter from the envelope and one glance is enough to tell him who wrote the thing. He was going to be lucky if he got out here without being arrested himself, but he still had to admit this was going to be amusing.
"I regret to inform you pack of jackals that I won't be joining you this evening. My servants and I have served this country dutifully for many years and for what? You try to tear us down at every opportunity. I have it on good faith that this meeting was to be the end of the organization due to my decision to unleash Alucard on the Vatican and Millenium. I gave you a chance to handle it and you failed miserably.
Well, you can have the organization and my title, but you will not take control of the vampires that serve me. Now, you can all politely go find the nearest cliff and jump! Sincerely, Integra Fairbrooks Wingates Hellsing, No-life Queen."
David refolds the letter and stuffs it back into the envelope as the room erupts in outrage. With a grin he stands up and exits the room before those old fools decide to lock him up. He didn't waste any time getting out of the manor and down the street where a black jeep was waiting on him as planned. He was grinning like a fool by the time he climbs in on the passenger side.
"Went well I take it."
David chuckles and slouches back in the seat as he looks over at Walter, "I don't know if that's the way I'd describe it. They were a might bit upset. Alucard wrote that letter didn't he?"
"Of course he did and I'm sure Integra will have a few choice words about it later."
"Where are those two?"
"Shut away in his coffin at the safe house."
It was like trying to climb out of a tar pit as her mind fought for consciousness. For a moment darkness is all that greets her as her eyes slowly open then red velvet fills her vision as her eyes focus. The panick that rises is just as quickly deminished as the rest of her senses awaken. She could smell the soil lining the coffin, but she could also smell him; gunpowder, the metallic tang of blood, and that scent the air takes right before it rains. It was something that had strangely always calmed her and now was no different. With her nerves settled she finally hears the faint whisper in the back of her mind and smiles slightly when she recognizes the voice. He was gently calling out to her, urging her to join him instead of sending the compulsion she knew he was capable of. Reaching up she pushes the lid of the coffin aside and sits up, then draws her legs up and stretches them out again. After weeks of not even being able to wiggle her toes she almost wanted to cry.
Alucard watches her in silence from where he stands by the floor to ceiling window. He could feel the flood of emotions coming from his new fledgling even though her face remained as impassive as always. A smile curls his lips as he watches her climb out of the coffin, just as graceful as she had been before the accident. Still yet not a word was said she walks over to join him at the window. She was a stunning figure standing there in the moonlight with nothing but one of his shirts on and he knew this night was going to be branded in his memories for the rest of his days. The sorrow she felt as she gazed out the window at the dark ruins of the city made his own heart clench.
"I never thought I'd be abandoning my country for my own selfish desires."
Alucard sighs and steps over behind her to wrap his arms around her waist. Bending his head down he places a kiss against her neck. He had been expecting this and had been afraid of what her reaction to all the sudden changes was going to be once the dust had settled. He didn't want her to ever regret deciding to join him, "You've done your part to protect your country, now it's time to move on. We'll return one day and the scars Millenium left on this city will be nothing more than a distant memory...as well as the woman who brought about their end."
Integra leans back against him as she lays her arms over his, "Yes, the Hellsing legacy is dead now and soon to be forgotten."
"Forgotten, yes. Not dead, though, merely sleeping. I haven't the slightest doubt that one day that knight will rise again to defend her home."
Integra chuckles softly, "With you at my side, hm?"
Alucard dips his head lower, barely grazing his teeth against the crook of her shoulder, gaining a soft moan from the woman in his arms, "Always, my Countess."
She turns around in his arm and reaches up to lightly wrap her arms around his neck, "I want released."
Alucard chuckles, not the least bit surprised she was already demanding to be released. He turns her loose but before he can offer her his wrist her arms tighten around his neck as she leans up and sinks her fangs into his neck. He moans and lifts her up to press her back against the cool glass, long slender legs instinctively wrapping around his waist.
When she finally pulls back he watches a little saddened as those icy blue eyes fade to blood red; he had always loved her eyes. The feeling passes quickly, though. A change of eye color wasn't enough to dampen the mood for him tonight. Integra Hellsing was finally his.
Integra had finally crossed that line she had sworn she never would, she had become the very thing her family had sworn to destroy. She couldn't bring herself to feel the guilt she knew she should or regret her choice, though. Her years spent on the front lines of this war against monsters had taught her one thing, there was truly no difference between humans and vampires, both were monsters.
Reaching up she traces her fingertips over the elegant features of his faces, smiling slightly when his eyes fall closed. It was really the first time she had touched him without any reservations...or being more than a little tipsy. His eyes open when she holds his cheeks only for them to close again as her lips lightly brush against his. It was in that moment that she realizes she had given up more than just her title and organization; she had given her heart to the one person she never should have. Now here she was a newly turned vampire trapped between the window and her lover. Her arms slide around his neck as she presses her lips against his; giving in completely to the life she had chosen.
Integra awoke the next night to the smell of pizza and beer. It was a combination that was never really appealing to her, but now it made her stomach churn. She covers her mouth and nose with her hand in a feeble attempt to block out the stench.
"Get that junk out of here!"
Her voice was muffled but Alucard had no trouble hearing her and couldn't help but laugh. At least he wouldn't have any trouble with this one drinking blood, "It's in the other room and I don't think David and Walter would appreciate their dinner being thrown away, but if my Countess wishes it I'll go toss it out the window."
She was very tempted to have him do just that, but while she was debating the nauseating smell seemed to die down, "Tempting as that may be I don't need a revolt on my hands. Any news on the knights activity?" She didn't much care for the look that flickered across his features.
"They've been clearing out the estate, but Walter and David already cleared out the sublevel before they got there."
Integra reaches up and runs her hands over her face. It wasn't just a business, that estate had been her home her entire life. Sure, the walls had been destroyed a couple times, but it was still there, still hers. She had to remind herself that the foundation of that home was still with her, minus one pillar for the moment, "And what of Seras?"
"We got word earlier that her new identity is in place and she will be infiltrating the Iscariot very soon."
"Good." She sits up on the side of the bed and reaches up runs her hands back through her hair, "Something I need to do before we put this world behind us. Alone."
Alucard nods slightly, "We'll be here if you need us."
Margaret wasn't sure what had woke her up and she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was calling to her. Reaching over she switches on the lamp and slides out of bed, then after a moment of hesitation she pulls open the nightstand drawer to grab her pistol. She had never been comfortable with a gun, but she was still no fool. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves she makes her way out of the bedroom. She creeps through the darkness the best her aged body will let her, relying on memory alone to navigate the halls. The manor was silent aside from the creek of the wood under her feet, but she knew she wasn't alone. Instinct told her she didn't want to go any further, but she still forces one foot in front of the other as she thumbs off the safety.
The smell of cigar smoke hits her nose as she rounds the corner into the den; her breath catching as feral red eyes stare back at her from the darkness. She points the pistol at the intruder as her finger tenses on the trigger, her heart hammering in her chest. The flare from the embers briefly illuminates the creature's face as it takes a draw from the cigar and Margaret nearly drops her gun in shock.
"Oh my God...so it's true..."
Integra reaches over and switches on the lamp beside the chair she was occupying, closing her eyes for a moment against the harsh glare of light, "Pardon the theatrics. My eyes are still rather sensitive to the light so I didn't particularly care for turning on the lights while I waited on you."
Margaret felt numb as she shuffles over to sit down across from the young vampire, "Why?"
Integra chuckles, "You were the one that tipped me off and you ask why?"
"Well yes, but to fight back not..."
"Runaway and be turned into this? I was going to fight it, but I'm just so tired of their shit...and maybe I'm a weak fool, but I chose Alucard over the organization. My own feelings aside, without him there is no organization. No amount of soldiers can replace him...or Seras for that matter." She stands up and starts out of the den, "Anyway, I came to tell you thank you for letting me know what was about to happen and everything else you've done for me."
"What are you going to do now?"
Integra stops and looks back over her shoulder at the older woman, "Since I no longer have to play by the rules I have a score to settle with the Iscariots."
"Never going to see you again am I?"
"No, you won't."
Margaret sits there for a moment then stands up and walks over to hug Integra, "I had a feeling this was the path you were going to take ever since you came over for lunch that day. You take care of yourself and don't let that man of yours get you into too much trouble."
Integra blinks, then smiles slightly and returns the hug, "We'll be alright."
Integra wasn't really surprised to find Alucard waiting for her in the moonlit driveway and to be completely honest she was grateful for it. Saying goodbye to the life she had known was taking its toll on her and he had always been the pillar she leaned on the most whenever her life got chaotic.
"I thought you would be at the mansion."
Integra shakes her head slightly as she walks over to him, then slides her arms around his waist and lays her head against his chest, "Too much of a risk and I didn't want to see them defiling my home."
Alucard bites back a sigh as he wraps his arms around her. He wanted to tell her that was just going to be one of many homes she'd have over the years to come, but that could wait for another night. She was already handling the change better than he had expected so no need to go messing that up. He stands there with her for a few minutes before gently leading her away from the Penwood manor. They were likely the most wanted people in England now, but as soon as Seras finishes her job they would be leaving and it could be a hundred years or more before either of them step foot on English soil again so he would give her tonight to say goodbye to the only home she had known. Besides, he would lying if he said he didn't enjoy strolling through the streets of London with his Countess at his side!
