Eternal Sin
Chapter 21 – The Monster under the Stairs
Crawford Park – August 21st, 12:35 a.m.
After a tour around the impressive house, Integra gazed into her empty teacup half expecting to feel woozy by now from some kind of drug she figured Sergiu would have placed into her drink, but she did not. There were no drugs, her mind was clear and her body felt fine. Sergiu seemed content to entertain and answer her questions and tell her everything about himself as if they were simply old friends. He told her how Gage had given him all his worldly possessions and how they met in Paris over a century ago.
It was obvious Sergiu adored this man but the stuff they did together was nothing short of insane.
He told her how they used to throw wild parties for wealthy individuals who came to watch spectacles that they orchestrated while donning attire as if for a masquerade, in this very house. While men and women held masks to hide their faces, sipping on liqueurs and laughing amongst each other and sometimes indulging in steamy orgies, imprisoned hybrids or humans were required to perform ghastly acts together before them.
Sometimes it was murder… a fight to the death as if they were slaves in ancient Rome watched upon inside a great coliseum. Other times it was to observe a hybrid drinking the blood of a human once they fornicated for all to see. Tortuous endeavours, vampires set on fire, dismembered and more than once, destroyed by Sergiu's special memory blood-controlled kinetic powers. It was a mysterious endeavour that always pleased the crowd.
However, he did not explain how it worked exactly but Integra surmised it had something to do with the ingestion of a person's blood.
It seemed to her that Gage took an already torn individual and turned him into an even more twisted cold-blooded killer. His greatest joy seemed to be those that involved the death of vampires. Each swallow of tea became more difficult to put down the more grisly Sergiu's tales became. Even though she was no stranger to the atrocities of life—heaven knows she has seen her share of pandemonium and bloodshed—there were those that killed with good reason and those that did not.
Quietly, Integra ran her thumb over the handle of the delicate china teacup with pink flowers and gold trim on it. Looking around, she was aware that Alex had left them a while ago, but Lilith remained. The paladin sat next to her half-breed sibling on the soft black leather couch on her right, while Integra sat in a big matching chair close by.
The other woman was unusually silent, she noticed.
Integra couldn't help but glance at Lilith more than once as the stories were told by Sergiu. There was no doubt that Lilith was having just as difficult a time drinking her tea as well. The Hellsing woman sighed, whatever warm, fuzzy family ideas Lilith thought she had of her brother were clearly nothing more than naïve fantasies.
"And why did Gage not accept your offer to become immortal?" she asked him curiously. "If he loved you so much, why did he allow himself to die?"
Sergiu sat back and fiddled with his necklace. "I often asked him that myself, and his response was that he was tired of this life. He felt tired. He said he had lived enough, experienced enough and that we would one day meet again in another life." The hybrid placed his boots up on the black rectangular coffee table and sighed. "There was no telling Gage what to do, you understand. Once he made up his mind… that was it."
The cross-breed's words reminded Integra of her conversation with Alucard about fate and how he believed if he had died as a human that their paths would have crossed again one day… that they would be together in the proper mortal kind of way. It was such a brilliant thing for him to say. The thought gave her hope that her vampire would get here soon and wipe the licentious grin off Sergiu's face.
"Are you tired of this life, Integra? Why haven't you already become The Queen of Vampires?" he wondered and chuckled, eager to hear her response. However, his face fell. "Of course, Alucard only just came back from being gone for thirty some years. Hesitation does not win the game. You know what they say about the early bird."
Ignoring his question, Integra asked another one of her own. "Did you decide to begin this charade because of his return?"
Sergiu waved a hybrid servant over and kindly asked the man to refill their cups. As the servant did so, he replied, "Not exactly. Once I reunited with my sister six months ago it didn't take us long to decide it was time to wipe the earth of bloodsuckers. Ask most hybrids and they will tell you what a curse their lives have been thanks to those demons that created us. But since I already lived in England, I knew all about you and your fancy organization and all about Alucard and Seras. You and your government aren't the only ones that have eyes and ears. As I said before, you were a good place to start and I admit… I've always been really curious to meet you. Alucard's return was perfect timing! The world is still stinging from The Battle of London and faith in organizations like yours and of its government is thin, weak. Getting the world to believe Alucard was once again a terror as he was before Abraham Van Helsing captured him… well, it wasn't very difficult. I couldn't resist throwing Seras into that mix. Her being the creation of Alucard—it's a safe bet she needed to be put down as well."
Integra scoffed. "Clearly our goal to defeat monsters is the same. Why not let us fight together?"
Lilith grunted at that.
"You come from a monster-hunting family, Integra. My family consists of hybrids that I rescued from a life of rejection, fear and pain. I have given those creatures a purpose, to help me fight against vampires, and in return, I gave them a safe place to live. Beneath these floors is a sanctuary and out there in those houses are families—hybrid families—they work for me. You destroy creatures like us, how could we possibly work together? It is your oath to kill me, not join me. I don't believe you. Besides, my sister is highly against your methods, so she says, and family should stick together."
"I agree that family is most important, without it… we really have nothing," Integra concurred. "And I promised my family I would never give up on them."
Lilith was watching her warily now with those piercing green eyes.
Sergiu picked up his cup to sip from it, letting his eyes roam over his guest. Integra's charcoal suit jacket and pants were tattered and torn thanks to whatever methods his sister and Alex used to get her here. He sensed a small scratch on her shoulder as well… he could smell it. It made his teeth ache to taste her pure virgin blood, but that would come soon enough. Her platinum hair appeared unkempt and there was a smudge of dirt on the side of her cheek.
The hybrid also noted the strange medallion Integra wore around her neck.
He stood up hastily and held out his left hand to Integra. "My lovely guest, I must apologise for hoarding you this way, rambling on about frivolous things when you are in such a state. How can you possibly feel at home like that?"
Integra eyed his offered hand carefully with its manicured nails and long, slender fingers. She noticed a ring on his middle finger depicting the Evil Eye. "I… I don't know what you're going on about."
"I'm speaking about your torn clothing and disheveled hair—your face is dirty. Allow me to rectify this for you. Come, I'll make you feel more comfortable." He waved his hand out for her to take again in such a friendly gesture.
Integra held her ground. "I don't think so. I'm fine like this."
With a tilt of his head, Sergiu looked at her dubiously. "Oh, come on. You can't possibly be telling me that you'd rather parade around like that?"
The hybrid was making her uneasy but she wouldn't show it. "It's just a suit and I don't care what I look like when I'm a corpse. Let's continue our conversation," Integra encouraged firmly.
"Lilith, why don't you go check on Alex but be sure you keep your eyes peeled. You know, in case Integra's powerful military friends are searching for her like the diligent little bunnies that they are, hmm? Who knows what kinds of tricks they have up their sleeve." The half-breed looked over at his sister to be sure she acknowledged him.
The ex-Iscariot got up. "Sergiu… don't do this. God will not forgive you."
"Fuck, God!" he shouted unexpectedly, which startled his sibling. "I don't give a shit about God. Don't start preaching to me again."
Lilith closed her eyes and appeared to take in a deep breath. "Be sure to keep that St. Benedict medal on her though… it acts as a barrier between her and anything supernatural. It's just a precaution."
She turned to leave the room.
Integra stood up and implored her to stay. "Lilith! How can you turn your back on this? I thought you and Father Anderson's purpose was to cleanse the earth of evil supernatural freaks. How is your brother any different than that warthog, Enrico Maxwell?"
"That's simple," she replied grimly, "Sergiu's my brother… he's family. Besides, I'm no longer an Iscariot, remember?"
Sergiu had heard enough. He grabbed Integra by her red necktie, receiving a prick by the pin on the silver crucifix he dislodged from his rough handling. He cursed as the silver cross fell to the hardwood floor with a loud thud and stuck his bleeding finger into his mouth.
Integra took the opportunity to smack him hard across the face. "How dare you touch me like that? Who do you think you are?"
The half-breed simply gaped at her for a moment before he burst out laughing, hooting and cheering. "Wow! Now that's what I'm talking about. That is the fire that kindles Alucard's cold, dead heart." He mindlessly inspected his bleeding index finger, relishing in the pain. "Such a prickly woman," he mused. "No wonder that old bat came crawling back to you."
"Everything about you disgusts me," Integra sneered. "Do not presume for one moment that you understand anything about me."
The amusement left Sergiu's face and he grabbed her by the necktie again. Integra stared him down without a shred of fear, she tried to yank her way out of his hold but he did not let go no matter how hard she tried. He was much too strong. Sergiu chuckled darkly as he hauled on her to follow him causing her to stumble as she tried to keep up. She lost a shoe along the way up the stairs to the second floor. Once at the top, he dragged her down a hallway past a few closed doors.
The hybrid stopped at an opened door that led into a well-lit bathroom. He effortlessly launched Integra into the room and she flew across the white-tiled floor like a ragdoll. "Undress," he ordered and taunted. "Pretty girls don't get to wear nice things unless they clean up first."
"You're crazy!" she stormed at him.
He came at her and yanked her up by her long blonde hair. "So they say," he jeered. "Now… undress." This time he said it more peacefully.
"No…"
Sergiu smiled. "Fine, then I'll just have to do it for you."
Trembling with rage and adrenaline, Integra stood with her chin held high as Sergiu meticulously disrobed her. Piece by piece her clothing left her body, leaving her naked and covered with goose bumps. The only thing she wore was the talisman around her neck. She noticed how the creature's eyes went to the bloody scratch made by one of Lilith's blessed commando knives on her shoulder.
Integra had to think fast. "Perhaps you could… perhaps you could wash my hair?"
Sergiu's gaze met hers. He studied her face thoughtfully and said, "Are we finally going to be agreeable and stop fussing? If so… I would be delighted to do that for you." Instead of turning on the water, he was still studying her face inquisitively. He reached out for her eye patch, but Integra flinched away. "I just want to see what those stupid Nazi's did to you. It was them that did this, right?"
She just nodded.
"Stupid fools," he mentioned. "What a waste, I'm glad I lived out of town on that day, let me tell you." He removed her patch and revealed her partly re-grown eye. He blinked at her with confusion. "Oh, that's so strange, it's like you still have part of your eye. It's as ugly as sin… I thought there would be nothing left. Why didn't Alucard heal this for you with his vampire blood? I mean, I would do it for you but not all hybrids work the same as true vampires. I have to drink blood to heal myself… to stay strong and young."
"As if I would pollute myself with his foul blood." Her reply was callous even as she lied through her teeth.
The hybrid howled with amusement as if that were the funniest thing. He replaced the eye patch gently back over her damaged eye. "You really are something else, aren't you?" He scoffed. "Tell me. Are you able to see anything out of that eye, anything at all? Light, perhaps?"
"No, nothing," Integra answered.
Without another word, Sergiu went about filling the big bathtub with hot water, while Integra internally pleaded for Alucard to hear her calling for him. If she could say it aloud, she would be screaming his name at the top of her lungs. She knew it was because of Lilith's holy artifact around her neck that he could not hear her, or perhaps… Judy never woke them up. A swirl of panic tightened her guts. No. No. That was just foolish thinking. She had to have faith. She could do this. I must endure.
Sergiu looked over at the Hellsing woman, standing there appearing aloof and detached not even covering herself up with her hands like most people would. He inspected her from head to toe, slim body, small breasts, long legs, a cute rear end and all that smooth tanned skin. For a fifty-two year old woman she was doing pretty well for herself.
The hybrid said something to her in a language she did not understand. "What did you just say to me?" she said, noting how he was watching her. It made her feel sick.
"I was speaking the language of the Roma," he shared. "I haven't felt like speaking it in a very long time but looking at you brings me back to the days when I was Jaelle's son. I said to you that, your beautiful skin colour reminds me of the Roma people."
"Jaelle…?"
"My gypsy mother… the woman to whom I broke my promise." He looked away for a moment as if in deep thought. "She made me promise not to drink blood, not ever—that the darkness would take over my heart. It's like she knew what I was before I knew it myself. But I kept my promise for forty years… perhaps she was right and the darkness ate up all that was good left inside of me." Sergiu expressed softly, contemplating that. He looked back over at Integra who was staring at him silently. "Come, get in the bath… it'll make you feel better. I promise not to hurt you. Not yet, at least."
That underlining threat was always there, lurking and waiting to pounce.
Inside she felt nauseous but Integra had to dissimulate, keep up the bluff, whatever bought her some time. Her people would come—they had to. She stepped into the bath and sat down, the water felt nice but she could not truly enjoy the tranquility it offered.
She sat there stiffly, arms around her bent knees that she brought up to her chest. She glanced around the huge mansion bathroom. It was quite glamorous, with soft yellow lightening and pristine white tiles and fittings. But it was big and empty, it felt cold and void of something important. There was a stand-up shower closer to the door and a long two-sink countertop opposite from it with a silver-gilded framed mirror. It was modernised just like all the other rooms in the house.
At first, Integra was afraid Sergiu was going to attempt to get in with her but he retrieved a small stool and parked himself at the foot of the tub where her head was instead. "Relax and let the hot water do its magic," he voiced in a soothing manner, dipping a sea sponge into the water before brining it across her arm, bathing her.
A small part of her felt like her uncle Richard was bathing her—she felt like a weak little kid again. She sat there in silence for a while as he dutifully washed her, listening to the water trickle and lap around her body. Integra closed her eyes in hopes to block out this memory.
"Tell me, Ms. Hellsing… did that old bat ever do this sort of thing for you?" he inquired and twittered with impish thoughts. "I bet he couldn't foreplay his way out of a wet paper bag."
"I have no desire to share my personal relations with someone like you. But since you put it that way… that 'old bat' you are referring to has a gentler more intoxicating touch than you'll ever hope to possess," she so daringly claimed. "That's all I'm willing to share on the matter."
Sergiu simply smirked. "I'm sure once I'm finished with you, you will agree that my touch is much more sensual than his. There's no way an ancient and vile creature like that is as passionate a being as I am."
Integra nearly snorted. "That 'being' was once a ruler of a nation not a pathetic worm such as yourself, so don't you dare compare yourself to the likes of him. Yes, he ruled with questionable methods, horrible ones, but strong-willed ones… he fought for what he felt was just. You will never understand that kind of passion. His long years have changed him greatly, but that passion still rests in his soul. No one can ever take that away from him."
"Hrmph, you're in love with him." Sergiu sniffed indolently. "The obedient Hellsing—protector of the crown… falling in love with the monster under the stairs. What would your family say? Oooh! The scandal. Everyone loves that sort of juicy gossip."
"Tch! Look who's talking about monsters under the stairs? I've never been afraid of a little opposition, half-breed. That has never stopped me from fulfilling my duty. But what does it matter, anyways? You're going to kill me," Integra reminded dryly.
Sergiu picked up the shampoo with a chuckle. "It's almost a shame that I put down your King—you would have made a most perfect Queen. Imagine the two of you ruling the Hellsing Organization… that's a pretty impressive picture, don't you think? Why, it almost makes me shiver."
East End, London – 1:05 a.m.
The people loitering out on the street at this hour of the night did not know what to make of the swarm of helicopters and flashing vehicles that sped through their normally quiet neighbourhoods. They tore through the city like a red and blue wave of noise.
It seemed like all hell was breaking loose somewhere in the city.
Alucard was the first one to arrive on the scene. He beat everyone to the location that the military and police were racing to get to so quickly. And by the sounds of their sirens, they were a few minutes away still. He would have to get on with it without them.
To be perfectly honest, he preferred it that way.
The vampire stood out front of a complex nestled between a row of similar buildings along the street, a square-shaped structure consisting of four floors and many apartments. It was fairly run down on the outside, yellowish brick and old metal-framed windows. A few of the windows appeared to have blankets or sheets serving as curtains.
Without even entering, Alucard already knew Integra was not inside. He could not feel their connection at all. Nothing. It served to frustrate him further but it didn't mean he couldn't go hunting for some answers. There was no holy barrier around the building and he could smell the foul scent of non-human creatures dwelling inside.
Somebody had to know something.
He walked through the squeaky black iron gate that led to the front lobby that still required a punch code to enter the premises. Feeling a little impatient, Alucard shot the panel without a moment's hesitation with the Casull and kicked at the door, breaking the glass easily with his heavy boot.
He could have pulled the door open properly, or simply glided through it with his intangible powers, but where was the fun in that?
Besides, it served another purpose, which was rousing the tenants living in the building. The hybrids. Many hybrids. They came out of their apartments and into the hallway to inspect, annoyed that they were being disturbed until they realised who was disturbing them.
"Is that…?"
"It's the Night Walker!" One of them hissed hysterically.
"What! You mean…"
"Alucard!"
"Fuck off you say, isn't he supposed to be dead? We've been lied to."
"I bet he's looking for the leader." Someone said in a whisper but Alucard certainly overheard that.
A breath later, he was holding the long silver barrel of the Casull to that particular hybrid's head, an older woman with short grey hair wearing a pink nightgown. The creatures peering at him a few feet away, from his left and right, all startled and some yelped or cowered, as they did not see him move so quickly. A couple even slammed their doors shut and hid inside their houses. It was evident to him that many of them were young and inexperienced half-breeds, not all of them understanding their powers.
"That's right. Your leader, where is he?" Alucard questioned the woman who had mentioned it first. "Tell me what you know or I will get the answers from you one way or another."
The threat was very real and the grey-haired hybrid wisely decided not to fuss. "He usually stays on the top floor. The whole top floor is his apartment when he stays in the city."
"Look mister, we mind our own business and do what we're told. We just live here… Mr. Gillingham gave us a place to live when no one else would." A male hybrid mentioned, coming to the defense of the old woman in Alucard's crosshairs.
"Stays in the city? Mr. Gillingham?"
"That's the name of the man that lives upstairs but he's not here right now," the older woman assured.
"Do you know where else he lives?" The No Life King demanded, still holding the gun to the woman's head.
"No, I don't. I have no idea where else he stays. It could be anywhere really. What I do know is that when he summons us to fight the vampires, we're supposed to go to his aid. That's the price we must pay for our freedom to live peacefully in this place." The hybrid woman shared with him.
She was telling the truth.
There was a tug on his long red coat and Alucard looked down at the source. "Are you going to kill us, mister?" A brave young hybrid boy questioned him, looking up at him as if he was looking up a tall tree.
These creatures were not evil. Yet, they were still monsters, freaks. Some of them probably feeding off humans and drinking their blood to maintain strength. Pitiful. They were a miserable excuse of an existence. They served Sergiu and his purpose but under a form of duress. Alucard grumbled at the half-breed youth who could not be more than five years old. He retracted the .454 from the woman's head and was about to ask them what Sergiu looked like, however…
Makube and Heinkel showed up along with the new anti-freak squad. They saw Alucard with his weapon drawn and assumed he was under attack.
"We've got your back, Alucard!" The squad leader shouted and without any further consultation, opened fire on the lot of hybrids standing in the dim hallway.
The creatures screamed.
Gunfire erupted and bullets ripped through the half-human, half-vampires in a bloody act of impulsiveness. The boy next to Alucard was stilling clinging to his coat with a silver bullet lodged in his head, his dead eyes staring up at him before he turned to blue ashes.
"Fools!" Alucard cursed and vanished.
He reappeared in an apartment above the mindless butchery one floor below. He stood among a mess of books and empty pizza boxes in someone's living room. A fast hybrid ran out the door and into the hallway on the second floor heading for the emergency stairwell heading up to the roof.
Alucard disappeared again and reappeared on the rooftop just outside the door leading to the roof. When the hybrid burst through the door Alucard grabbed him by the scruff and dragged him out of the two helicopter spotlights roving over the surface.
He let go of the frightened hybrid and the creature backed up and tripped over a vent, landing on his arse. He held his hands out in front of himself in defence. This one had orange eyes that glowed like an animal in the dark and he pleaded with the red-clad vampire. "Please don't kill me! It wasn't my fault I was turned into something like this."
But Alucard didn't care about that. He said briskly over the noise of the helicopters. "You must let me drink your blood—"
"—oh fuck!" whimpered the half-breed. "That's what I thought. Please, mister! I don't want to hurt anybody. I hate the taste of blood just so you know. I'm not like some of those hybrids."
"Silence!" Alucard growled. "You're wasting my time." He grabbed at the man and without haste sunk his teeth into his neck. He just needed an image of Sergiu's face and surely, one of these creatures knew what he looked like. That's all. With a few swallows of repulsive hybrid blood he got just what he wanted and dropped the snivelling, shaking crossbreed to the pebbly roof like refuse. The creature scrambled backward from him holding a hand to his neck like a wounded child.
"What the hell?" The man complained.
Alucard licked his lips clean. "Thanks, I have what I want. Go on. Get out of here if you know what's good for you." Alucard told him and turned his back on the hybrid. He doubted the creature would get far with all this military and Iscariot presence. They could take care of it. His master was not around and she did not give him any orders to kill anyone. These creatures were of no threat to him. They were not the enemy. At least not yet, since Sergiu had not given them such orders.
He went to the fourth floor, to the apartment the woman downstairs said belonged to the leader that stays here when he is in the city. There he discovered a very posh and expensive looking place with thick red curtains and white leather couches. There was a glass coffee table in the middle with a crystal tumbler on top, filled with a half-inch layer of amber coloured drink. The fancy apartment inside was concealed well by the neglected outside of this building. It was all a smokescreen, Alucard realised.
The place smelled of stale perfume, blood and sex. The No Life King grinned from ear to ear.
"Come out and face me, you coward. I know you are there. Come and face me or I will shoot you down from where I stand. Believe me, there is no drywall or wood strong enough stop these twelve millimeter, exploding hollow point rounds."
He was speaking about The Professional, the newly acquired handgun that he now held out before him at his concealed target.
However, it was not a hybrid creature that stumbled out of the bedroom and down the hallway towards him. It was a human. It was a handsome, young Asian fellow with long black hair tied back in a ponytail. He was dressed in black pyjama bottoms without a shirt, his slim physique making him look almost feminine. It would appear that he was recently disturbed from his sleep, too.
"Am I in trouble? I just live here with my boyfriend. He doesn't stay here all the time and he's not here at the moment." The man explained hurriedly, he sounded frightened but not ignorant to the kind of creature standing in his living room. He also spoke with a polite British accent.
"And is that boyfriend's name, Sergiu Medrea?" Alucard wondered.
The man crossed his arms over his bare chest uncomfortably and nodded. "Yes. Around here, he goes by another name, Jamie. I call him Sergiu. He uses a lot of other names, actually."
"Oh—and what names are those?"
The man sighed as he thought it over. "There could be others but the ones that I know of are Peter Mansfield, Marcus Lal, Jamie Gillingham and Hyde Kukucka."
"Hmm, that last one's a bit of mouthful, don't you think?" Alucard considered thoughtfully and smirked. "Well, you've been surprisingly helpful."
"I'm not stupid. I know that there is no point trying to fool someone like you. Are you a hybrid or a full-out vampire?" He questioned.
Alucard's smirk turned into a wicked grin. "That would be door number two."
The young man nodded. "I knew this day would come," he claimed and looked towards the door. "They're going to come up here any minute and kill me, aren't they?"
"You mean the anti-freak hunters storming the building?" The vampire king said softly, his voice almost tranquil even as the reign of gunfire exploded beneath them. "Yes, they will, or… I could make it swift for you," Alucard offered and slipped the gun back inside his long coat. "They are still busy on the third floor but they will be here soon."
The building shook a little from a distant explosion and the human wandered closer to the tall, dark creature in his apartment. Without any lights on, Alucard was mostly a dark silhouette with glowing red eyes, eyes that had become more sensual looking in the prospect of fresh blood. The young man tilted his head to the side a little, exposing his long smooth neck and pointed to a bite mark already there. "He doesn't bite very often but once in a while Sergiu feeds from me. I don't mind, he has always taken good care of me. Go on. Make it quick. Drink."
"You know you will die."
"I know—but I'd rather not die by the hands of the people destroying all the hybrids in the building. I don't want them to know I was just Sergiu's plaything. Please… just don't let me turn into a ghoul."
Alucard accepted the offer and gently took hold of man's bare shoulders with his gloved hands. He could already taste the virility flowing inside this human. The delicious nectar of his lifeblood was so strong… no wonder Sergiu kept this human around like a pet, a mindless blood pet. His scent made Alucard's mouth water and he ran his tongue along the backs of his fangs. Until this moment, he had not realised how thirsty he felt. It had been a very long time since he drank fresh human blood straight from the vein.
"I promise. I won't let you become a ghoul," Alucard reassured.
Like a caress, Alucard wrapped his arms around the smaller man, cradling him carefully while he leaned in, opening his mouth full of razor sharp teeth. He found that sweet spot and sank his teeth into the tender flesh, closing his eyes to savour the warm gush of blood.
The young man released a small cry.
The human grasped onto the front of him, fingers tightly gripping the fabric of his red coat. Warmth washed over Alucard, flooding right down to his toes, spreading to his fingertips. And for a moment, the vampire felt his body extrude heat. He felt the verve of life, the closest thing he can ever feel to being mortal.
It was perfect.
And when he sucked out the last drop, pulling away from the dead young man, the door burst open and soldiers filed into the apartment like ants. They arrived just in time to watch Alucard plunging his hand right through some poor soul's heart.
A/N: I'm sorry Integra! I thought it would be great to get the Iscariot and the Convention of Twelve AND Hellsing working together to achieve a goal. It wasn't a pretty thing by any measure. Also wanted to tie up stuff at the London gang hideout and thought it would be fun to have the crew create some havoc, while also letting Alucard out of his cage for a while. And he got a snack out of the deal lol! What can I say? Mayhem and Hellsing kinda go hand in hand XD! But the gang is getting warmer. Will update again soon! Stay tuned and hold onto your hats cause it's going to be a helluva bumpy ride!
These next couple of chapters were THE most difficult to write. So. Much. Stress... *headdesk-twitching-drool* I often ask why do I do this to myself? Because I love these characters XD! Writing is like breathing... must do it. It makes everything sweeter. It's a rush. Keep faith...after all the drama here the sweetness will return.
Next. Chapter 22 - Whore of Babylon. A turn of events takes Integra by surprise, as things quickly get out of hand and finds herself at the mercy of a madman who reveals the extent of his incredible power over blood. (The title of chapter 22 is a nod at Alexander Anderson where in the Hellsing manga he refers to Integra as Babylon, which is also a nod at the Whore of Babylon from The Bible Book of Revelations-there are also many other names for this character which you will see in the next chapter and you will understand why Anderson chose this moniker).
Reviewers: You guys are the best! Seriously, it brings me much joy and sometimes even tears to see people enjoying the madness! Thank you! *loves*
AmericanWildDog: Many thanks for your thoughts. Indeed, I kinda wish I had more Heinkel and Makube in this fic but they just didn't work out like that. I mean that entire way Section 13 operates is interesting, no? Like how are paladins created exactly? Or what kind of mission do that go on? The dynamics of their world. That's probably thinking way too much about it, but they are questions that linger in my mind. Oh cool about the next chapter description. It's nice to know it's appreciated! I'm happy it's helpful. As for Integra... oh, man... it was difficult to write her in this situation and it only gets crazier for her. She has nerves of steel for sure!
Sarah Rose 29: The Iscariot knew about his hideout cause it's implied they got the info out of Winmore Crane. For that The Convention of Twelve and Alucard and Seras can be thankful cause this hideout trip will not be for naught. Thanks darlin' for being such a faithful reader!
A Fan: You are TOO kind! Many thanks hun for your thoughts and comments! It's great to hear that you enjoy the writing and the characters. I'm over the moon! Indeed, long live Integra x Alucard *hearts*
Alexis: I laughed so hard at the part where you mentioned tea with British villains LULZZ! No kidding, right? It adds to the madness of it all. But yes, Sergiu has been in England for so long. So happy you enjoyed those flashbacks... thought it would be nice to ease the tension for a moment. I know, right? Those Twelve guys are probably ready to wet themselves being locked in a small space with an angry Alucard XD! Thanks soooo much for reading!
speedfanatic05 - It means so much to me that you took time to read this story! Thank you very much! Your thoughts are indeed welcome and enlightening. Yes, I have heard from many readers that my style is to the point but not in a bad way. Part of me worries about venturing to far off said path when my intentions are to keep this in the Hellsing universe. I wanted the feeling that this is like a continuation of Hellsing itself. So my aim was to try and achieve that goal. Aww, I'm honoured... I want nothing more than to bring other fans like myself the joy of adventure and a little romance for our favourite Hellsing muses. If you lost yourself in my fic than I have accomplished my mission! *grins* It's lovely to have you as a reader/reviewer!