Seras watched in morbid fascination as the wolves went about their business, cleaning up after their mistress, although she had no clue that it was her. She'd brought them here to aid her, protect her and join her in the bountiful feasts that lay before them. A feast of flesh and blood. Her eyes, possessed, lit with sadistic pleasure at the screams of those being mutilated; made her think of a garish lullaby so she threw out her arms and began to sing. And the many wolves surrounded her joined in creating a chilling, vocalized symphony, their howls a haunting, frightening touch.
A small formation of helicopters containing multiple passengers of civilians and soldiers, passengers who willingly accepted their duty; anxoius to once again break into battle, obliterating the heretic creature or creatures awaiting them. Crossing the ocean, while making their way to Rome, the groups received their only debriefing courtesty Sir Integra. The situation grim and information. An audio recorder played back the conversation of the voice that had spoken to Integra. Sounds of screaming, roaring, metal crashing and general chaos commanded all the attention. The howls which next penetrated eerily through the speakers gave the men chills. Signaling to Walter, Integra instructed him to shut off the recording.
Speaking into the headset she was given, "The only clue we have is that this is no ordinary, supernatural creature. My instincts tell me we're dealing with a lycan, a very violent, blood-hungry, vengeful one." Sneaking a glance at the man by her side who nodded, she said, "Alucard agrees with my assumption, and that is the form of creature we'll be going up against. And prepare yourselves gentlemen, who knows the kind of bloodshed and macabre scenery we'll find. All I ask if that you all comport yourself with the dignity and honor that Hellsing is famous for. And while you're at it exterminate this creature which invaded Section XIII, making them look like incompetent fools."
The soldiers burst into laughter. They all knew how she felt about the Vatican. And they were all too aware of how she felt about one of it's top officials...Maxwell. His icy deameanor equaled her own, and he had this knowing glare in his eyes right before he committed a betrayal against you, she remembered hatefully. He was someone you never wanted at your back or you'd be constantly checking to make sure there was no weapon embedded there while you weren't looking.
Integra thought it funny as hell that Maxwell and Anderson were stumbling around trying to explain this situation to their superiors! Just imaging Maxwell sweating like the pig he is...very pleasant indeed. She only wished she could be present to hear the whole thing. A fly on the wall, or in all reality, a vampire would be incredibly useful right now, but since she had neither, Integra sufficed to use her imagination. A very dark and unforgiving place if you're an enemy.
The soldiers talked amongst themselves, digesting what little information had been given. They knew a horrible creature of legends awaited them on arrival, still trapped within the halls of the place where it had been made. An ironic twist. A secret organization that created a monster now being devoured by that same creation...irony in it's worst form.
The only thing any of them really knew beyond the Vatican's secret organization being torn asunder was that they were going hunting...on Vatican territory! That idea alone whetted Integra's appetite. She wanted revenge for their uncalled for, violent, attack on English soil harming several of her dedicated soldiers in the process. She'd phoned Maxwell several hours later calling him everything but a psychotic madman who needed his nuts removed. Permanently! Double ouch...
Turning to say something to Alucard, who at the moment was peering out his window; watching the moon's ethereal light dance over the slightly rolling waves, the iron-willed woman wondered if he'd be able to carry out his duty. Would he be able to kill this thing if it was Seras? The intelligence given her pointed out this very likelihood, but she couldn't bear to tell the men, or Alucard. She couldn't even tell him that his beloved was very much alive. Deep down she knew eventually he'd find out and hate her for withholding the knowledge from him, but she honestly felt it was better this way. For all of them.
Reaching out to him, Integra placed her hand lightly atop of his own. "Everything will work out, Alucard, you'll see."
Suspiciously, his beautiful blue eyes searched hers. "Is there something you're not telling me, Integra?" His question barely uttered and she shook her head denying any hidden knowledge. He glared at her darkly, a semblance of the old Alucard stared at her through his humanized eyes. He still possessed physical strength and at times experienced flashes of visions currently happening though he couldn't say where they were happening.
"No, no, I just have a feeling, that's all", she protested. Mentally, her head screamed, 'liar', at the top of it's lungs, blaring her untruth along invisible waves; waiting for someone to pick them up, calling her on the huge fib she'd uttered. She'd never lied to Alucard before, but how would he react, in human terms, knowing that Seras was probably the lycan creature, knowing he had no choice but to destroy her and live with himself afterwards. Her reasoning outweighed her guilt, except that it seemed that Alucard had far greater things weighing him down, evident in his slouching posture and pensive silence. The head of Hellsing wished at that moment their link hadn't been severed for she missed their connection, that closeness that only they shared and she wished he'd talk to her as he once used to.
Sorrowfully peering at Alucard and then out the same window, Integra sighed heavily.
At the Vatican:
Running full speed down the halls of Section XIII, she eagerly hunted for her next victims. She'd smelled blood, tasted blood, she'd bathed in it; she'd received whiffs of fresh, living blood, not like the blood from her slaughtered victims. The adrenaline rush kind. Howling she rushed towards the untainted smell. They were hiding. They were afraid. And they should be!
Her muscular limbs propelled her down the lengths of the hall at great speeds, paws padded, slapping gently along the floor in her search. It was growing closer. Their fear, adrenaline and pounding hearts called her, a siren to a fool, she mused. They must realize their situation is hopeless and no one can save them now. With another loud, piercing howl, Seras moved quickly, heading towards the huddled victims, hidden somewhere in this massive area; praying to God he'd deliver them from this killing maching of evil.
Back on the helicopters:
"We're here", she muttered nervously. Integra wasn't certain she was all to prepared, herself, for what lay ahead. Silently thankful she hadn't eaten lunch, she forced her mind back to the job at hand. No matter how gruesome it still had to be done. Sneaking a glance at her former ace weapon, her chest tightened at his preoccupied status. Somehow he had to snap out of it and it may be up to her to do so. But first, she decided to wait a few minutes to see if he'd spring to reality.
Alucard still hadn't said a word. Even as the choppers began their landing procedures, checking and rechecking everything, the permanent landing apparatus' touched the ground gently. Integra barked out orders, soldiers quickly ran from their seats, grabbed weapons and jumped from the helicopter's door.
Standing at the door preparing to leap herself, Integra was surprised as a hand touched her shoulder.
"Wait", he said. "Let me help you." Alucard jumped from the door, his feet landed flat on the ground, and he grabbed her by the waist setting her gently down on the grassy lawn.
"Thank you", she whispered breathlessly. Her servant had never offered such service before. Of course he'd never been human the entire time they'd been acquainted. His eyes held so much confliction. Damn the Vatican and their drugs! Had it not been for their damned interference Alucard would still be a vampire and not suffering from mortal emotions and failings, such as failing Seras. He wouldn't be tearing himself apart thinking of her and her death, how he could have saved her had he only ignored his master's main directive. No drinking blood from humans, nor turning them into vampires unless expressly ordered by Integra or Her Majesty, herself. Hang that infernal directive! Her eyes squinted angrily and she ordered the soldiers to full out attack and invade.
Firing a grenade towards a locked, steel door, it exploded destroying the huge, wide, metallic doorway opening a path for their invasion. Running as fast as they could bearing multiple weapons and supplies, they entered the building hoping to find the creature before it escaped into the local surroundings, killing and maiming the populace living nearby.
Alucard glanced at Integra. Pulling her close, he said, "Master, I think it best you stay close to me." He smiled briefly as she nodded. He took her hand and pulled her into the darkened, stoned, violent mire.
Inside the Vatican:
Several priests and paladins alike hunkered in an enclosed, cool, dark room. Their breaths erupting in broken, rapid gasps; hands clasped tightly in prayer. Their fear- a powerful aphrodisiac for the beast methodically hunting them within Section XIII's walls. But who wouldn't be afraid when faced with such a terrible, monstrous adversary? One who cared neither for prayers nor tears. A creature who craved only violence, death, blood and fear.
"Will it find us here?" One of the younger priests blurted whisperingly at his leader. Truthfully, the lad didn't want to be torn to pieces. Even more so, he didn't want to die. Not tonight, not tomorrow. He'd always wanted to die of old age in his sleep. And now that dream may be denied him.
The priest could find no voice to answer. With his very advanced age, he considered it a miracle he hadn't keeled over from a heart attack! Reaching out with his pale, lined hand he reached out through the darkness and patted the young man's arm in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.
"She'll eventually find us here", a calm paladin stated.
"She", the young man sqeaked.
"Yes, she."
Frightened, but curious, the young man asked the paladin, "Who is she?" Impatiently, he waited for an answer to shed light on tonight's attack. At least an answer would give it meaning. There's nothing worse than men dying for meaningless reasons, though they occurred on a daily basis in the real world. He needed to know that tonight wasn't about someone wiping out men and their existance for the sake of hiding something. That's usually how it works. He may be young but he was far from stupid.
"Her name is Seras. Do you know Paladin Alexander Anderdson?"
"Yes. Who doesn't?"
Anderson was a rather scary man, the young priest thought. Tall, built with wide shoulders, burning, intensive, intelligent, green eyes with a very violent, fanatical nature, at times. Little more than a well-oiled machine for the Vatican, and an excuse to step on a certain heiress' toes, the man was a mystery aside from his work. In other words, he usually was a man he shied away from, however, Anderson been nothing but kind and gentle to his niece since her arrival. Such a mortal contradiction, greatly varied ends of the spectrum combined into one confusion personality.
"Seras is the niece of Anderson. He'd brought her here to become the next generation Paladin/Regenator. But apparently, she'd been seeing a vampire secretly, and not just any vampire but Big Red himself."
The paladin paused upon hearing the younger man's gasp.
"I see you've heard of him too", he drawled.
"Yes. He's none other than Alucard, the very first vampire and Hunter for Hellsing. He was forcibly enslaved to that family centuries ago." The young man apalled by Seras' lack of common sense hoped the relationship had been stopped. Before she joined the ranks of the undead and they'd be forced to hunt her as well.
The paladin smiled in the darkness. "Very good. You're not completely useless or stupid after all", he sarcastically replied. "It seems that Alucard had preprogrammed her mind to deny any commands, orders or treatments given her by anyone but him. Each Regenerator treatment caused her to go beserk and no one knew why. The girl, while in vampire/paladin form took on a wolf singlehandedly and destroyed it with little effort. But her unpredicted strength and traits refused to surface unless she was angry or her very life endangered. All those in Anderson's unit, including myself, believed it all boiled down to Seras and Alucard, and whatever he'd done to her. Eventually her uncle figured out what had happened, and the last mission we were sent on to England resulted in both Seras and Alucard being bombarded with our new ammo. These bullets, designed by our very best scientist, were made to shatter the link between Alucard and Seras and turn Alucard back into a human."
Digesting this information, the young man said, "Okay, I can believe this. After all I've seen tonight, I'll just about believe anything, but I do have a question."
Impatiently, the paladin grunted, "Ask it!"
"How do you know all this?"
"Because...I was there!"
The young priest felt disturbed by the tale of the creature hunting them. Of course she was driven by revenge, why wouldn't she be? "I can only hope she'll forgive us all."
"Stow your forgiveness speech because I can assure you she doesn't give a damn! All she's interested in is killing and painting the Vatican red. That's all she knows while in this form and I'm one of the few who can stop her!"
The unknown paladin abruptly cut off his words only to shush the young, frightened priest. There it was. A sound of soft, muted footsteps...right outside the door. Or was it?
Footsteps pounded against the tiled floor, echoing down the hallways; hoping to draw the creature to the thunder-like sound. Anxious to face this horrendous creature of legends, weapons at the ready; waiting to fire in a second's notice.
The leader mumbled something into his headset, immediately receiving orders he nodded gesturing to the soldiers to keep moving. Search out and capture. And if resistance is more than deemed safe...destroy.
And so with the leader's relayed orders they continued forwards through the darkened hallways, emergency lighting providing a bare essential amount of light stretched out along the corridors. The small amount of light sparked an eery, uneasy feeling. Despite the area's huge layout there was complete silence. No screaming, howling, growling rang out anywhere. The varitable calm before the storm. This is how the situation seemed. Everything was too quiet. Where the hell was everyone? Surely not every person in this facility had been killed already? A few of them had to have had time to escape while the creature killed others starting at the lower levels. So where were they?
"Is it here?"
The young priest, impatient for the ordeal to be done, stood up. Withdrawing a small light from his robe, he held it up letting him see the face of the paladin with whom he'd been conversing. "Who are you, paladin?"
"We don't have time for this! Put that light away", he hissed.
"Answer my questions."
Surveying the blond hair and slightly muscular build he probed again, "Exactly who are you? And is the creature near?"
Rubbing his forehead harshly, the paladin replied, "I'm Darin, son of Anderson, and yes, she's near."
Gasping, the young man couldn't believe his fortune! He'd been longing to meet with the very man before him. But the thought paled in comparison to the dangerous situation they'd been thrust into. "How close is she?"
None of the other ten people in the room strived to comment. They were so afraid of being found they made not a sound for fear of discovery and death.
Darin grabbed for his sword, finding empty air. Angrily, he cursed; immediately apologizing for his thoughtlessness. "How can I take on a lycan with no weapon?"
No one had an answer to that so they continued to stay quiet.
The young man began to speak and Darin slapped his hand over his mouth. "What is it", he muttered. "What's going on? Is she here?"
Seething, he whispered, "Yes, she's here. I feel her. She's somewhere close."
Suddenly, a great weight came crashing against the door. Bam! Again and again. Everyone but Darin and the young man cried out, screamed or yelled. Darin placed his hands against the metal feeling it strain under the creature's massive power.
Turning in the direction of the boy's breathing, Darin asked, "What's your name?"
"My n-name", he stuttered. "Why do you want to know my name now?"
"Well, if we're going to die I figured I should at least know who I'm dying with, don't you?"
Chuckling nervously, he replied, "Good point. I am Adam."
Quickly grasping Adam's hand in a firm grip Darin smirked, saying, "Nice to meet you Adam. And I'm sure it'll be a brief pleasure dying with you."
"Dying? What do you mean dying?" His eyes darted around searching for any exit but the door a few inches from their faces. Grabbing and tugging on Darin's sleeve, his voice pitched slightly a half octave higher, he pleaded, "Don't you want to try to live? Try to escape?"
Slapping him on the back Darin laughed. "Somehow I just knew I'd like you."
"Why is that?"
Pulling some material from his ammo belt Darin carefully strung it around the door frame. "You may look like a wimp, but you act like you've got guts." Darin handed him a wire and told him not to drop it. And of course Adam had to know why not. "That's the fuse and if you drop that little baby before I'm ready...you won't have to worry about the wolf getting you."
"Why?"
"What the hell is it with you and that aggravating question why?"
"I don't know...it's my favorite", he offered.
"Well pick another one!"
"Why?"
Ceasing his work, Darin towered over the scared young priest. "Let me put it in a way you'll understand. If you don't stop the 'why' I'll personally kick your ass and send you to our beloved maker. How's that for 'why'?"
Swallowing hard, the lump in his throat trailed down to his stomach, he stated, "I understand perfectly."
"Good." The older, blond man took the fuse from him and expediently finished his work. "Okay, now everyone stand back." That was the only warning he felt obliged to give. If they weren't paying attention it wasn't his fault.
"Wh-"
"Finish that question and you'll pick your jaw off the ground, so help me."
"Sorry."
"Don't worry about it, just get against the wall. This door's gonna blow and when it does be prepared to run like hell. The lycan will be out there, hungry and ready to kill, so I advise you to run for all your worth. Don't look back no matter what you see, what you hear or who you hear. This is all the help I can give."
Rushing through the corridors, the soldiers pressed on. At the back of the formation Alucard suddenly stopped, bringing Integra to a screeching halt at his side. Head cocked, eyes intently watching, his body tense and tight, he seemed to be listening to something, trying to discern something puzzling.
Pointing up ahead, his voice low and devilish. "It's there."
"You mean the werewolf?" Integra could only surmise his meaning as he hadn't made it very clear and in the end that'd been precisely his cryptic meaning.
Nodding slightly he smiled. Then the sound of something large banging against a metallic object echoed down the hallway towards them. An angry growl emanated further down; sending chills down the groups spines. A long, loud, frightening howl accompanied the growl. "There he is. Let's go hunting." Alucard strode forward, cool and confident, no worries occupying any part of his thoughts. He was set on only one thing now...to hunt down and kill the creature roaming these premises.
His actions and words, a knife so sharp, penetrated Integra's heart. She wondered how would the creature (Seras) react when faced with Alucard. Would the shock of seeing him cause her to revert? Tapping her jacket pocket she thought, if it doesn't then I have the means resting in my hands. A vial with dark blue liquid sloshed gently as she moved to follow Alucard. Hopefully last resort means wouldn't be needed. That's all she could hope for as the sprinted towards the creature, caution to the wind.
Upon hearing an explosion and feeling the building rock, Alucard, Integra and the rest of Hellsing who were present pushed harder, faster, to arrive and contain the threat.
The door had blown off it's hinges, dark smoke everywhere and barely anyone could see the emergency lights stretched down the halls. Taking the paladins word, all of the men ran from the room happy they couldn't see or hear any sighs of the lycan. They all arrived at the same conclusion...that it'd been blown to hell with the door, but they were wrong.
Before the smoke could clear, fur, fangs and claws split the smoke and debris grabbing helpless victims, chewing them up and spitting them out. Adam was one of the last to leave, trying to assure his fellow men made escaped, but, alas, that was not to be his fate. As his back was turned, the wolf sprung; her massive jaws clenched shut tightly grinding his body, jarring his teeth, blood pouring from his mouth and wounds.
Darin's eyes closed with the image and reopened with a vow. "They'll pay for this my friend. I'll make certain they do." Slipping through the darkness, he left to find his father and see what damages they'd suffered. It'd be a miracle if they were able to recoup. And it'd take a very long time to dig through rubble and bodies to identify all those who'd perished. A long time indeed.
"What the bloody hell?"
An astonished Integra stood still, shocked by the creature before her. Alucard at her side and the soldiers behind her, she hoped one of the two managed to subdue it before it was too late.
"Master, behind me! Get behind the soldiers, now!" Alucard shoved her backwards just in time as the werewolf turned towards them, a young male in it's jaws, blood pouring down it's fur; with a swift jerking motion the body flew from it's mouth, striking the hard tiled wall. The body landing with a sickening thud as it hit the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor; leaving behind a trail of dark, red fluid in it's wake.
Snarling, the beast stared at Alucard, studying him, what little movement he indulged. He could see the telltale emotions of vengeance and pain in it's eyes. The eyes were what got him. They were as blue as the ocean on a summer's day. Who was this creature really? Didn't matter though, it had to be put down. More than enough people had died tonight for it's blood thirst.
Alucard pulled out his new weapon, Dragon, that Walter had forged for him. It'd been a pity that he'd become human. For now, he couldn't discharge his old weapons as the recoil would shatter his wrist all the way to his shoulder. Being human can really be a bitch, he mused. Just when you really need something...it's not there. He'd find a way to regain his immortality whatever it took, he'd do.
Rising on it's hunches, the lycan stood showing the former vampire it's impressive height. Alucard immediately replied that that didn't mean shit to him and he was growing bored. Infuriated, the werewolf charged Alucard and Integra screamed out, "No, Seras! Don't!"
Alucard stopped in his tracks as he heard his beloved's name. This couldn't be...this couldn't be Seras. No. It couldn't. His mind wouldn't accept it.
Seeing the creature barreling towards him, fear struck deep. He wanted to live, not die. This mortal emotion- fear motivated him. But also, he had to face the fact that for now he was mortal. And he could die just like every other human being.
Heart pounding, adrenaline racing, he raised his gun instinctively, painfully aware of his duty. But that didn't stop it from hurting like hell all the same. Watching in amazement and confusement, Alucard, seeing the beast hurtling towards him full speed, observed the creature in mid-run as as it began to revert phases.
There was a sound of a muted weapon firing.
"No", Alucard shouted. "Don't shoot! Hold your fire!"
A projectile streamed past the former vampire striking Seras in her neck. With a roar she tore it from her flesh, flinging it to the side. She continued to run towards him, the weapon having no effect.
Suddenly, all her werewolf aspects and traits retreated. Fur, teeth and claws pulled back into the skin; disappearing under her flesh.
A very human Seras collapsed mid-stride, falling to the cold ground. "Alucard", she whispered. "Where are you?"
Kneeling down besider her, he gathered her shivering form into his strong, muscular arms. "I'm here", he answered, where I belong." He glanced up at Integra who'd ordered everyone to shoulder their weapons and stand down, he whispered, "Thank you."
"Here, Alucard, wrap her in this." Integra threw a large blanket in their direction; smiling with relief that she was safe at last, and that she was indeed alive.
Alucard suddenly had a strange look on his face. "Integra? Integra something's wrong...she's shaking, but she's not breathing!"
Integra verified his statement and ordered him to get her to the helicopter. "Hurry! We'll fly her to the nearest hospital and Hellsing's too far, so we'll have to depend on one here. Hurry!"
Alucard rose to his feet, running like the wind with Seras wrapped tightly in his arms. Even though he was mortal, she was still tiny compared to his towering frame. Boots slapping against wetness, he didn't pause to look for he knew what it was. It was blood.
Within moments, he'd reached the helicopter, carefully tucked her in and waited for Integra. She, and the rest of the soldiers, had been right behind him all along. Everyone loaded and ready the chopper geared up for landing and quickly completed all required procedures before taking off.
The helicopter gently lifted into the air, heading for a local hospital.
Alucard, sitting beside Seras, who lay still and silent, took turns with Pip and several others in manually breathing for Seras until she could accomplish it on her own, as they flew through the skies. All the while he whispered fiercely, "Don't you dare die on me, Seras! We've gone through too much to lose each other now!"
A sharp pain resounded in his head and instantly he could feel what she felt, hear her thoughts. Wait a minute, he said. Her heart beat sounded erratically in his mind, her mental cries assailed him. If I can feel, hear and see this that must mean...and as soon as they'd come, they'd gone again. He could only hear and feel what he heard and felt. He could hear no heart beat. Through her he could feel nothing at all, now. Something snapped their link, interrupting the brief transmission between them. Why? Once again so many questions with no answers.
Sighing, he held tightly to her as Integra announced, "We're here."
Touching down, a medical team raced out onto the pad, opened the door, placing Seras on a gurney; rushing her back inside for expedient medical treatment.
Both Alucard and Integra rushed in with the team only to be halted outside the trauma department and ordered to wait outside. Strangely, the former vampire continued to be assaulted off and on mentally with Seras' pain and anguish. How could this be? Either he was mortal or vampire? Confused he wondered, so what the hell am I?
Sitting together yet alone, the brunette and blond due suffered under an oppresive silence. Wanting to comfort him yet knowing it wasn't her place...was strange. Never in her life had she wanted to hug him or talk to him and make things better. He was her servant and her friend. And for once she was grateful to Seras for bring back the softer, saner side of him.
Hours later, still no word, they begun to fear the worst. The soldiers and The Geese had been instructed to return to Hellsing and await further orders. With no one else there, Alucard and Integra were left alone to ponder on the evening's events.
Abruptly, the doors burst open admitting a young, male doctor. Alucard and Integra leaped to their feet, hope in their eyes. Anxiously awaiting news, she asked, "How is she?"
Expelling a breath, wearily he sighed. "We have to talk."
A/N: Ok...back to you Ludifer...hope you have fun with this... :)
