I'm so happy to be posting this much sooner than I had planned, it's so great to finally find that writing rhythm again! Just a warning that this chapter is mostly M rated and most likely this story will be moved to the M section of fanfics but here is a warning prior to this happening.

Well then, this chapter takes place right after the last one and without further to add, enjoy! :)

Every Full Moon

Chapter 21: Madame and Mad Man

Year: January, 1930

"The cookhouse, to the left…" He jogged cautiously. The celebration had ended quite early in the morning, he expected to cross paths with someone but he had yet to have a run into anyone. The household servants were very efficient, he thought as he opened the kitchen door slightly just to make sure no one would catch him off guard. He slipped in when he heard a soft sloshing noise, he unhooked his revolver from its pouch, ready and loaded. He traversed the main stoves area and just across the aisle the noise was far more prominent. A trail of red ooze became visible as he approached the corner and noticed a male body flailing weakly.

The male had several wounds – bite marks on his neck, "Damn!" Axel exclaimed, he looked around, this man needed professional help. He wanted to call for help, this was out of his hands but before he could rise the man lunged at him, his skin already a bruised color and fangs visible.

Axel kicked the ghoul off of him and retrieved his fallen gun and shot the creature several times. His instincts telling him to run and leave the room before something else went wrong. He figured their plan had been compromised and regrouping with Evangeline would be better.

The inspector reached for the door handle and pulled but, the door wouldn't give him passage. He was baffled but continued to pull with all his might. On his last attempt to break the door open, an invisible force thrust him back, leaving him in a state of confusion and pain. There was a rising sting on his arm and the scent of iron filling his nostrils.

He felt a freezing air around him and the source was a woman with ink colored curls and a twisted smile. She was floating above him but he was too winded to react, she jumped back and from his blurry vision he could see she was pouring a liquid over the kitchenette assets. "The fire you so desperately crave," The smell of an already prominent fire started consuming the mess hall. "My you look tasty and smell of fresh airs, a pity you will just join the ashes of this place."

The fire began and the room was quickly engulfed in a heated state. No longer winded and with gun firm in grip he warned her. "Keep away from me!"

She looked at the gun in his grip and weighed her options but his scent was so engulfing she would take her chances, besides he was no Hunter. "I'll only bite." She took several steps back, gaining momentum to pounce on him.

"Axel!" Her eyes widened with the horrific realization, "Alucard go!" He sped ahead of her through the door, vanishing before her eyes. Evangeline ran out of the room and whatever the commotion was it was just ahead of her, the smell of burnt wood becoming protrusive.

She knew Axel would be saved so she continued ahead to where Ingram's room would be. Turning the hallway two figures met her.

"My darling, I'm glad you changed." Varrick was pleased to see her again, he was wearing a smile that was innocent even though with one hand he held Lourdes Ingram by her throat and the other her waist. He was using her as a shield against the guns Evangeline had raised against him. Lourdes began to sob in his grip, he hushed her softly, whispering words that would supposedly sooth her.

"Let her go Varrick." Evangeline stated, her eyes searched for any possible option that would assist her in this ordeal.

"I'll do it if you come with me." He compromised. His grip suddenly fastening on the French woman, to rush the Huntress into a decision. Evangeline lowered her guns in response and took a step forward, at least she would fare better against Varrick.

"Ms. Hellsing no!" She struggled against his hold but as she did, Evangeline noticed a trickle of blood run down from Varrick's grasp on her neck.

"Quiet!" He snarled. "I've had enough of your indecisions Evangeline, is it her or you?!" He shook Ingram violently to get his point across, she took another step toward him with her guns nearly resting at her side.

"You along with countless others have always told me to choose one possibility or the other, everyone regardless has decided for me but-" Her gun was at a perfect angle to aim at his unprotected leg and she fired. "Both of us will live!" He tripped back growling and in the process he let go of the frightened Lourdes and as she reached for Evangeline, she sees a fresh bite mark on the woman's neck. Regardless she grabbed Lourdes and positioned her behind, she was determined to shield her from Varrick.

Varrick had only been immobilized for a moment and he had regenerated quickly, already taking an offensive stance before her. The Huntress stayed ready, this time Varrick wouldn't win but just as she raised her guns to begin her assault a force began to tug at her heels.

"Not today…" A voice warned. Varrick stood down as if he could hear the voice also. She felt herself slipping through the floor, with one final tug she fell into darkness. Lourdes' pained cry was the last thing she heard.

She landed brusquely on the wet ground but it wasn't enough to immobilize her. She quickly rose to her feet searching through the vast dark space. The only thing this surrounding had provided was an icy ambiance which was freezing her lungs and slowing her down as she tried to advance.

Her vision bleak and the sound of splashing continued, "does blood bother you? How about bodies?" A voice called out. A light from above presented itself and as Evangeline took a look around she was mortified with what she saw.

The bodies of her loved ones, those already lost were spread across the floor in a river of blood. There was a scream tearing through her chest but she had to suppress it. This isn't real… It was an illusion because her senses told her that much.

"Show yourself monster." Evangeline demanded, she averted her gaze from the floor and walked on searching for the mastermind.

A laugh echoed and then a woman materialized from the blood soaked ground to look down on Evangeline. "The famed Huntress we formally meet." Her dark hood was pulled back, a pale woman with dangerous ruby eyes looked at her with an expression of both hatred and pleasure.

She didn't raise her weapon in reaction because her voice struck her as familiar. "Are you that afraid of death? You should have dealt for a life far from this one you carry, a farmer's wife perhaps…" The Vampiress took a few steps that brought her right in front of Evangeline, nearly sharing the same breath.

The Huntress looked at her with tearful eyes, she recognized the voice. It belonged to the Vampiress who had mocked her and most grave of all, the one who had decided to end her mother's life. "You killed my mother and were the cause of countless deaths."

"Yes I take full credit for it, you deserve this pain and much more for siding with that beast you dubbed Alucard." The Vampiress' eyes began to swell with tears of her own but they ran red. She had only ever seen Alucard cry this way, why was she this miserable? Those tears fell with such profound misery, the young Huntress couldn't look away and her curiosity grew.

"Why are you so against him?" But, in a fraction of a second her curiosity became dread, a darkness had coiled around her body without her noticing. She had been entranced in a sudden pity that she felt for the nightwalker before her but, it must have been manipulation on the monsters' behalf.

"I'm sure you must be aware of the things he did long before you were born." Her face contorted with the deepest hatred and Evangeline cursed herself for not seeing through her obvious deception. Evangeline tried to reach for her weapon but as she did the darkness constricted her, causing the slightest movement, even speaking to become painful.

"Everyone was just a food source to him." The Vampiress' uncontrollable laughter of anxiety ripped through the estranged place they were in. "What did he care, about a woman named Andreea that was to be married the following day? He drunk her nearly dry and left!" She approached Evangeline who was almost completely immobilized. "What you don't know is that you shall be next." The ghostly limbs released Evangeline slightly, one arm of darkness pulled on the blonde woman's neck exposing it to the Vampiress. Andreea traced a fingernail over Evangeline's neck flesh, she was envious that the young woman had no marks on her skin unlike her.

"None of that justifies what you've done!" Evangeline squirmed out of Andreea's obscure clutches and she fell back on the ground. Evangeline reached for her gun and aimed ahead but she didn't see the pale woman, she looked around for her but the surrounding was just too pitch-black.

"Still unconvinced I see," Andreea's voice echoed.

"Where am I?" Her surrounding's had changed, she was looking upon a woman who resembled Andreea getting ready for bed, a smile of complete bliss playing on her lips. The woman reached for her candle but another hand took it before she did. An raven haired man had pounced on her and covered her mouth preventing her from yelling. Her muffled voice begged for help but the monster didn't let go.

He turned to look at Evangeline and froze her into place, that beast was her Alucard. He didn't take care of his appearance, his clothes blood stained and sharp teeth molded into a sadistic grin. Andreea beneath him struggled as he found her struggle humorous.

Evangeline could no longer look as the scream of Andreea filled the place, the Huntress covered her ears and looked away but then once again there was a strong grip around her. "Oh this is very real, that is I on the night I was disgraced, damned, take your pick." Evangeline refused to look as the screams became far more pained, this was beyond words. "Look, this could be you!" Something sharp pulled back her eye lids and she was forced to see the act move somewhere that only nightmares went. "Not all of us picked him willingly, look girl!" Andreea's words were soon drowned out by moans and groans. He was a complete beast taking advantage of every inch of her.

"Stop it!" The moaning continued being the only thing she could hear. Andreea made her see every last minute of the heinous act, up until the Lord of shadows left the blood soaked bed and the woman nearly in pieces.

The memory was over and Evangeline was released by the Vampiress, she landed on her knees and her reaction was stuck. "You are stronger than you look but no matter, my gift of foresight should finish persuading you." The space shifted once again but to a now familiar dwelling. Though, the picture was anything but pleasant, she saw herself impaled on a branch of a tree that was deep in the forest that resided near the Hellsing estate. "So much pain." The heartless vampire said with a hint of glee.

Evangeline ran to herself, "no." She commented, looking at herself in this state, it was as if she could feel the wound burning her. She tried touching her image but there was nothing she could do, the bleeding soon surpassed her white silk night gown and began to drip on the ground painting it.

"Yes, should you continue on this path this will be you're outcome." Evangeline was too distracted with the mirror of herself that she failed to sense the Vampiress sneaking behind her with a dagger of her own. "Trust me death surrounds him." There was no shadow Evangeline could see that would enable her to prevent this blow…at least that's how things seemed to the untrained eye.

No matter how deep in pain the Huntress had revealed herself to be she was never caught off guard.

"The things he did are unforgivable but I can't judge him." There was a weapon Evangeline had developed that required modified wires and her sturdiest gloves. She had the wires act as barrier behind her and she felt them tug at her fingers, she knew Andreea had tried to strike her down. She turned to face the pale woman: her hand was lifted with a knife raised high, enough to give a finishing blow. Now she was still much like a fly who was far beyond trapped in a spider's web. "What happened to you…I can't begin to comprehend how it must feel but, one thing I do know is that the way you sought justice was wrong. Hurting others in the process shall never be the way."

Andreea began to bleed as the wire cut into her, "you are just like him, I'm in pieces a second time…" She neared Evangeline, knowing her wounds would be too great she let them cut into her just to get her point across, to look into the eyes of the Huntress. "So be it… I, Andreea Coven leader have warned you." She accepted her fate and soon turned to dust.

The shadow covered room soon began to take its original form and from the looks of it, she had been dragged into the basement of the estate. Evangeline allowed herself to take a breather for just a second before another pressing thought took her over and got her legs to run upstairs; how was everyone?

She pushed through the cellar doors and it was absolute chaos. Her vision was blocked by the deep haze of smoke. It stung her lungs when she pressed ahead but as she did the fire consuming the house had made its presence.

There wasn't much time to think as she could pass out from the inhalation of smog, she tried retracing her steps from before she was kidnapped. That's when she noticed a shaking figure leaning against the walls of the foyer.

The figure turned around sensing her, "help me." She slumped to the floor, exhausted.

"Lourdes?" Evangeline ran to her and tried to move her but she was resilient, not even wanting to be touched which was a contradictory statement of what she had just asked. Evangeline noticed the fire began to creep up on them. "Lourdes we have to leave!"

"I can hear him, I don't want to." She grabbed onto Evangeline's coat, her red eyes showing utter fear. The newborn Vampiress, let go of the Huntress and held herself as she began to emit an ear piercing scream. "I don't want to be this!"

"I could take care of you." Evangeline tried to comfort, the fire was getting closer and soon there would be no chance of a clean escape for either of them.

"He wouldn't want me like this, kill me please." The distraught woman eyed the weapon hanging from Evangeline's belt. She noticed the woman had a reason to live, although that someone sounded severe, she tried to reason with her anyways.

"Lourdes we can help you, I can-" Alucard could provide some sort of guidance or she could hide her in the cellar.

"No!" She hissed, "Stop this please, it burns! His voice, his hatred! Stop it!" It had been her butler – Varrick who had convert her into a monster; his voice ordered and she was bound to carry out his will. She was desperate but Evangeline refused the outcome though, as the seconds ticked by the other routes began to vanish.

The flames were consuming the walls around them, the art on the wall melting at the touch of the heat and Madame Ingram refused to move. Time was up and again they take an innocent from her, "please Evangeline." Lourdes was struggling against the voice that laid claim to her. It struck Evangeline as unbelievable and unfair that a woman so full of life moments ago was suddenly begging for death, a sentence of death the young Huntress had to carry out.

"It will only hurt for a moment." Lourdes shuddered and the painful crimson tears began to fall. Evangeline kept a straight face and locked her gaze with Ingram as she introduced the sword straight through her heart. "I'm sorry, I failed to protect you and countless others. Rest now." Lourdes convulsed and blood began to trail from her chest now as Evangeline pulled the sword out. She grabbed Ingram's now lifeless body and rested it on the floor gently as a sign of farewell.

Evangeline tore her gaze from the now lifeless body of the once kind woman, she didn't want to leave her body but there was no time so with a heavy heart she sprinted down the hallway to find Axel and, or Alucard.

The flames were becoming unbearable, on her way she opened every door making sure no one was inside. On her quest to find an exit, she ran by the kitchen but she came to a stop and returned when she noticed the door was blocked from her end and as she approached it she heard a light thud coming from the other side.

"…In here…anyone please…" A raspy voiced pleaded in near whisper.

"Get back I'm going to break in!" The doors had been hammered shut, long planks of wood spread across the door and no way she would be able to pry it open with her hands. She took out her fire arm and shot through the wood and once there were enough holes she kicked the door down.

She coughed into her sleeve, the air surrounding was thin and so much smoke was surrounding the area but in all that haze she noticed a figure slumped on the floor.

Axel was doused in water, he looked as if he was able to contain the fire in the kitchen but it hadn't stopped it from spreading to the rest of the house. His expression was so relieved, Evangeline dove to grab him as they couldn't dwell in this ambient any longer. He swung his arm over her shoulder for support and she paced them out of there, "this was all a trap. I'm sorry I compromised this." His voice was hoarse and he kept his eyes low.

"Let's just make sure we're all out of here." She needed to get him out but on their way they checked if anyone was still in their rooms.

When they reached the exit they were met by almost the entire staff, they were crowded by help immediately. Evangeline took off her coat and placed it on Axel, the air was freezing even though the mansion was burning down. "Stay here with them, I know they're still here." She slid one of her guns discreetly to him and headed off into the furthermost edge of the garden where she could sense Alucard and Varrick were.

Hidden behind the maze garden and tall robust trees was a deadly fight going underway. Alucard and Varrick were within reach yet they were out of each other's clutches. "The same thing will happen to you Alucard, she'll just move onto that idealistic fool Axel and you'll be forgotten." Varrick sent a dark wave of tentacles toward Alucard but he dodged them sending a barrage of silver bullets in return.

Though Varrick was ready and set up a defensive wall with his shadow powers. "Join me, I'm willing to share when I'm not in the mood." His lust for her had driven Varrick mad and the true obscure, beast-like nature that dwelled within Alucard was stirring. He had gone out of his way not to get so riled up while fighting Varrick, Evangeline had asked him to deal with things with the utmost care and secret but everything had a limit. True they were close to the estate and they could be overheard with what he was about to unleash but he was furious, he was beyond caring. One thought in mind: it was time to annihilate Varrick.

"Alucard out of the way!" Her voice called out, he stopped the attack and moved out of her way as she speeded toward the vampire unafraid. A faint, glistening string caught his eyes and his opponent was immobilized. "Now Varrick, what were you trying to achieve?" Evangeline had him tied up with the same wires she used to defeat his master and she knew he could sense her blood still clinging to her wires.

His eyes widened for a moment, "so you did kill Andreea, well that's our heart you took." He didn't seem to care that she was dead but perhaps he was feigning disinterest.

"Why go through all of this? Who were you trying to get to?" He looked at her and barred his sharp teeth at her, "answer damn it!" She huffed and pulled on the wires, it was enough to cut through some of his skin but far from being hurt he seemed amused with how distressed she was getting.

"You obviously." He looked toward Alucard who knew would always get provoked when she was mentioned. He had been so close to getting him to release his power but he had underestimated Evangeline's capabilities again, for still being human she was very resilient.

"Not just me, you monster-"

His cackle interrupted her, "I'm not the only monster here. I'm sure she showed you." He nodded toward Alucard, who had enough of this. In a flash he had gone from being at her side to gripping Varrick's neck with his bare hands, there gazes full of equal disdain for one another. He furrowed his expression and Varrick simply laughed again, they were having some inner conversation they didn't want Evangeline to hear.

"I'll find the answers myself." She said pulling on the near invisible strands, she was in charge of this conversation and didn't take lightly to being left behind.

"In due time…" Varrick peered from over Alucard's shoulder to look at her. She was about to take one final tug on the wires but Alucard ripped his head clean off his shoulders. As he did, instead of turning to ash Varrick's body and head melted into a pile of simmering blood. "What?" Evangeline exclaimed, his blood had managed to melt through her wires and her new weapon was no more.

"It wasn't him, he's stronger than before." The head of the creature had melted through Alucard's glove and onto his skin but he soon healed.

"What are you saying, this wasn't Varrick?" When killed he was supposed to turn to dust but, then how?

He grinned but Evangeline knew it was his way of showing how irked he was with the outcome. "It was a projection of himself made of flesh and bones from his victims and concentrating his shadow powers. He can't possibly be channeling this from far, he must be close." He was about to begin his hunt when she grabbed onto the end of his coat.

"I would ask you to pursue but, I feel like that's what he wants and I'd rather finish dealing with what happened in the estate tonight while you guard the area." She let go and took a few steps back.

"Evangeline?" She dodged his gaze. He had changed for a fraction of a second, he wasn't who she had been with this entire time, his obscure nature had been released and she just couldn't deal with him, with the way she was feeling.

So again she rejected his touch and turned to walk back. "For once just do as I order, we'll discuss things back at the manor…" Her voice expressed that what she said was final and he would respect it but he knew the conversation they would have back at the mansion would be serious and he could possibly lose her for good.

She made her way back and noticed that the fire had been handled considerably by the fire brigade but the lavish house had suffered damage. She made sure the staff was accounted for, Axel mentioned quietly what had happened in the kitchen and that answered the question of one of the missing members.

Even if it wasn't her duty, she made sure all of them had a place to stay for the night, managing to rent rooms and provide travel for the personal as she felt a great deal of responsibility for them.

The sun had begun to rise as everything was accounted for and when she saw that nothing else could be done she left with Axel.

The drive was silent, she had a lot on her mind but Axel felt that the quietness was too dreary and it wasn't right for her to confine her worries.

"This won't be my favorite report to see come to life on a page." He began to say, not sure exactly where he wanted to go with this conversation it was best to start with how she was feeling, "Ms. Hell-"

"Evangeline is fine. I'm glad you're alright." She interrupted catching onto his intent of cheering her up.

She just voiced her concern for him again, not to mention she had just once again given him permission to be on first name terms with her. He nodded in appreciation, "even within the confinements of that room I kept hoping you were fairing far better than I."

"Just barley and afterwards, well…" She had defeated the leader yet the loss of Ingram felt like a monumental failure and on top of that she didn't know why this had happened, why Lourdes was special to them because knowing the monsters she fought, they always had more than one motive when they acted.

Not being able to say the rest of her phrase gave Axel a view into her thoughts. He knew she was demanding but there really was only so much she could do. He didn't want to test his luck with her further but he rested his hand on top of hers. "We all need rest now, things will get better I'm sure." She didn't shutter or move away from his touch. This was an indicator that he had a chance, things could only get better between them and better yet Alucard hadn't showed up during this to shadow her but he couldn't exactly be angry with the vampire that had saved his life. The vampiress had been ready to tear him to shreds but Alucard did it to her before she could do it to him but he still left him in the kitchen while he was fainted, no doubt a more pressing matter had presented itself. More like in Alucard's life anything was more important than his rival.

The rest of the ride truly was still, Axel nodding in and out of sleep while she was still lost in thoughts.

They dropped off Axel in a nearby inn on the way to the Hellsing estate as he didn't want to impose on their hospitality.

"I'll inform you if anything comes up." He would have to go back to the crime scene later that day to make sure no one had truly seen the vampires and that the case would be seen as an accident. He didn't like the idea of covering up this attack as a simple misfortune all for the sake of peace but he had to follow orders. He would protect Evangeline from the harsh judgment she might receive.

Evangeline nodded his way as he offered a small smile of comfort and then she was on her way.

When she arrived, it was nearing the time of the day that the servants began their daily duties. She entered her home and all was calm. She hesitated near the entrance to the library but didn't wish to speak to him just yet. Her sluggish steps made the walk upstairs longer than it needed to be.

Evangeline had never been happier to see her room, if only for a moment she could forget all she saw. Entering her room she saw the familiar sight of Walter curled under the covers of her bed, holding onto one of her riding gloves, wanting to feel her hand in his. Yet, there was an unfamiliar sight, her vampire seated at her rest chair.

"We must speak." He rose and gave a light bow to her. Clearly he knew she tried to avoid him before but he wouldn't let her do it a second time.

She passed by him, throwing her coat on the floor and turning toward the window. "She showed me something," she really didn't know how to begin this dialogue, "I had read what you were like in my grandfather's journal..." Her whisper trailed off into silence and her gaze turned back to Walter.

"You said it yourself: what I was like." He argued. "Does it matter to you what I once was, when I'm no longer like that. Wasn't I absolved?" She had performed a ritual and said that he was forgiven and that they were bound to share the same fate.

"There are things that can't be erased." Yes he wasn't that kind of monster Andreea had showed her but he had been like that, it was no mere illusion, it had happened.

"You accuse me of never speaking about myself because I know you'll be frightened away." His past was not for the faint of heart. "You live with death at your door and I will not flood you with more stories of the same nature especially when I caused it." He would not deny what he once was, he had done it to survive and to protect his existence but soon that very eternal existence had no purpose until Mina and then she had come across him.

"What is it that you want with me? Don't say it's to protect me because that's when I was naïve but now," It was hard to keep her voice low as to not wake Walter up but in doing so she wasn't able to express through her tone exactly how she felt. She found that tears of frustration began to flood her eyes.

"You are still naïve if you didn't realize." He countered, she knew what he felt but she didn't want to recognize it.

"One day it won't be enough for you – you'll force..." More than say what she thought, she was narrating the events she saw take place with Andreea.

"What you are inferring to will never happen." He would give her that choice, "I won't make the same mistakes with you, haven't I demonstrated that much?" She wasn't being reasonable with him again, "you're letting these thoughts seed into you when you know the truth." These vampires just wanted to divide them, if she drove him away it would be fatal.

"I know you would never harm me deliberately and I trust you but, not with my love." She stated. At some point she had fallen in love with him but there will still be things that she couldn't overlook, she could try but her judgment, the Hellsing name didn't permit it.

"Is it Axel, is that who-" He couldn't bear to lose her to a mortal, especially someone so inadequate but he knew she was more complex, she wouldn't just give herself into an infatuation.

"No." Saying this word hurt, "I just want peace, someone who could bring me that." She wanted someone who could warm her, like the sun caressing a frosted landscape, permitting the flowers to bloom.

"Didn't a little girl once wait for me in the gardens of her estate just to spend a quiet night of company and conversation? It was of great importance to her to see her yearly visitor." He was fiddling with something in his hand.

"Alucard-" He didn't let her speak. He moved closer to her, taking her hand.

"Did she not feel at peace with me?" It was obvious she needed time to think and that was understandable as a mortal, decisions are everything, one false step was all it took to derail happiness but with him she would never need to watch her step. "I have years, decades and centuries to ponder things. You do not." She felt him drop something onto her hand, "I'll wake when you need me." He fazed out of view leaving her with memories of the past.

She looked at her hand and noticed the necklace he first gave her, Pur Inima "Pure hearted…" She felt unworthy of wearing it. She put it near her bedside and changed into her sleeping garments and curled into bed all the while she remembered the Vlad from her past; in his gentle arms he had cradled her. That was the Vampire she knew, one who served her and was loyal. Somewhere in those pleasant thoughts she was able to conceive sleep.

She turned in her bed hearing a voice shouting through the halls, "where is she?!" It was a man's voice but her senses were still clouded by sleep and she was unable to identify it. She rubbed her eyes and noticed Walter sitting up and looking towards the door. He got out of bed and headed toward the door.

"Don't hide!" The male voice screamed, she also heard Margaret pleading with the man. She jumped out of bed and got to the door before Walter was able to open it. She told him to stay behind her as she opened the door, she only needed a crack to see.

"Valen?" He was holding his sword at his side and his gun in his dominant hand.

Margaret, was still in her nightwear and she tried to plead with the man but he pushed her aside brusquely, "out of my way! Hellsing where are you!" She was about to step out, whatever his problem was he had no right to treat anyone this way let alone shout in her household.

Walter gave the door a tug, making it creak and Valen turned around gun raised, "there you are!" She pulled Walter back and shut the door. A gunshot was heard outside, she locked the door before he could charge inside but the door could only handle so much. "You can't hide in there forever!" Valen began to kick it with all his might.

"Mama?!" Walter began to wail as the door swayed back and forth with each kick.

There was no escape and she didn't understand what had possessed him into such a violent state. The answer could wait, she needed to get her son out. She had some rope in her room and the best way out was the balcony, she tied a firm knot and told Walter to hold on. The last object she grabbed was her sword, the only weapon she kept in her room.

She swallowed her fear and went over the balcony with Walter holding on tightly to her. She wore her gloves to ease the tension as she slid down. Evangeline was halfway down when she heard a breaking noise. Steps approached and when she saw him peer down the balcony at them, she automatically reached for her sword and sliced the rope so he couldn't follow. Evangeline was able to land on her feet but the harsh landing did sting her bones.

Valen growled and that's when she heard the clicking of his gun; she held Walter to her chest, covering his eyes with her gloved hand and began to run in a zigzag formation. There were only three things she could hear: Walter's frantic cry, her pulse beating in her ears and the gunshots aimed at her. She could feel the bullets at her heels.

She reached the front gate but she could see Valen coming for her. She was breathing heavily and noticed that many of the guards were laying in a pool of their own blood. There was no choice she had to keep running, carrying her child didn't permit her to carry many weapons but at least a handgun would do aside from her rapier.

"You let them kill her!" Valen screamed angrily behind her, she kept running but the realization of who he spoke of was almost enough to paralyze her sprint. Lourdes she mouthed and that's the severe man she thought of in her last moments. She was breathless and she understood everything.

So this chapter has a lot to take in, fight scenes around each corner and conflict always.

So this chapter focuses partly on Alucard's past and as we saw he was no saint and according to Evangeline, she always ends up feeling guilty after an argument. Not to mention this chapter has some things allusive to Eva's past and even I got a little nostalgic I must admit since this story will tur 2 years old this October. How time flies...

Valen lost his marbles here at the end. More on that in the next chapter.

Just a friendly reminder that I still have a fun Hellsing poll on my profile page as I've gotten some vocal readers expressing who their favorite contender for Evangeline is. Results are visible so vote for your favorite!

Anyways, thank you, thank you thank you (can't say this enough)! To all my reader: to those of you who favorite, follow and review (Dragonmaster789 and NightlyRowenTree) these grateful words are for all of you readers!

I'd love to know what you're thinking so if you can leave a review!

Well, till next update! :D

-roseimagine