Chapter 26: Aftermaths
Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing, but any OCs are mine.
In the weeks following the end of the Conclave, I found myself neck-deep in paperwork. Letters flowed in from slayer sanctuaries all over the states. The entire community was in a state of shock following the unveiling of the true nature of the organization.
As expected, Integra had been less than happy about my affiliation with Walter. I'd gotten a rather harsh tongue lashing for being so trusting. Admittedly, she was right, but I certainly didn't miss how her tone had turned contemplative when I explained how he'd protected me. The hurt was plain on her face…and she wouldn't be as forgiving as Seras.
Walter kept his distance from the manor out of respect for her feelings. He talked very little to me when I visited the little apartment he'd purchased in London. So, I did all the talking instead. I told him any nonsensical story I could muster, no matter how insignificant I thought it to be. I still remembered how his lips tugged into a small smile when I mentioned Integra's stubbornness in regards to work.
Between the visits and the immense loads of paperwork, I began plunging myself into Abraham's journals in search of an answer to the anomalies that had plagued me since returning to the manor. Of late, the splitting headaches had become more commonplace…especially during the morning hours. Alucard hovered more than usual…seemingly forgetting about my own personal space.
The dynamic of our connection had changed in ways I'd never imagined since Az's defeat. Feeling his emotions seep into mine at inappropriate times was becoming commonplace. Small frustrations were making me want to put my fist through the wall. I'd even put out the power after Sloan asked if I was on my period.
Which…he technically wasn't wrong, but that certainly didn't give him the right to enquire about it! Perusing Abraham's journals wasn't exactly an easy task without a headache. The man certainly couldn't have been known for brevity. Most of his writing sounded more like the ravings of a madman than a brilliant professor.
It was only when I came to his journals describing the ritual to bind the Count that I finally paid more attention. Most of the process was…gruesome from what I could tell, and involved quite a bit of blood from both parties. However, there wasn't a single thing outlining any possible side effects of the binding…or any issues. It was clear that the professor had been awfully confident in himself at the time.
Sitting back, I rubbed my forehead in an attempt to stave off the constant headache. It seemed to only subside once the sun went down in the evenings…a problem of which Dr. Howard didn't even know how to solve.
"I don't know what to tell you, Ryder. You're perfectly healthy." He rubbed the top of his bald head, obviously as confounded as me.
"There has to be something!" I snapped, rubbing my temples.
"I could prescribe more painkillers." The Doctor offered.
"No, they haven't even touched it." A sigh escaped me.
"I can refer you to a colleague of mine if the pain continues." Dr. Howard sighed in defeat. "Other than that, I'm afraid I don't have much to offer you."
That had been a week ago, and the problem had persisted since.
Putting back the current journal, I tucked the next few under my arm and headed back to my room. I'd taken the time to spruce up the place with a few personal objects over the past week to try and get my mind off the pain and my mounting worry over the obscure future of the slayers. Integra had gifted me with a simple cross pendant upon my arrival back to celebrate my victory. I reached for it fondly, and cradled it in my hand, noting how the metal felt strangely hot on my skin. Huh…maybe it was just in sun for too long.
A knock on my door drew my attention, and Elis poked his head is head in. "Hey."
"Hi." I smiled weakly, waving him in.
He sauntered over and sat down on my bed, eyeing Assurance leaning against the wall. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine." I lied smoothly.
"Come on, Ryder, I'm not daft. It still hurts doesn't it?"
Sighing at his insistence, I bit the inside of my cheek and looked away.
"Doesn't Dr. Howard know what to do?" He questioned.
"He's tried everything. It doesn't change." I snapped in both parts annoyance and frustration.
"There has to be something. Are you sure it isn't just your spidey sense?" Elis raised an eyebrow.
"My…what?" I blinked.
"You know…that thing you slayers have that tells you when the monsters show up." He explained half-heartedly.
"Did…did you compare my super-human senses to that of a comic book character?" I questioned, feeling my lips twitch in amusement despite myself.
Elis shrugged sheepishly. "For all accounts, you are a superhero."
"How do you figure?"
He held his hands out and began ticking off his fingers as he spoke. "Super strength, super healing, sixth sense, chucks fireballs, conducts electricity…you just need an alter identity and you're the whole package."
I snorted. "I'm not sure I could handle the masses cheering my name…or colorful tights."
The pilot leaned back in laughter. "Yea, you're probably right. Though good luck getting the new recruits to stop calling you Phoenix behind your back."
I groaned at the mention of my new nickname. I was convinced Damien had started it somehow after an extremely heated argument with Integra regarding Walter's fate. I'd set most of the drapes in the manor on fire and singed a trail of shoe markings all the way to the courtyard in my rage. Every soldier in the manor saw the little display and started to give me some space. "It's just Ryder…it will never be any more than that." I replied firmly while knowing what little good it would do me in the long run. The soldiers made it a hobby to tease me mercilessly.
"That's a shame…I was hoping to take the famed Phoenix out for a pint this evening." He smiled lazily as I shot daggers at him for the name. "Unless you have better things to do?"
I had considered taking a nap this afternoon, but a drink was sounding better and better by the hour. "I feel like I haven't really breathed since taking down Az. Sometimes it doesn't feel real. And now we're planning an alliance between the Convention of 12 and the Slayers…its nuts."
"If anyone deserves a break, its you. The manor won't fall apart without us. Though, I admit, I doubt they'd ever find a better pilot if I didn't come back." A cocky smirk wove across his lips, and I swatted his shoulder playfully.
"Alright, I'll go."
Elis's smiled triumphantly and planted a small peck on my cheek before jumping swiftly back to avoid my fist. "See you later, gorgeous!"
My cheeks burned as he closed the door behind himself, and I shook my head at his antics. He wasn't kidding when he told me he wasn't giving up. I had to commend him for his persistence.
Eight-o-clock rolled around before I was finally ready to leave. Though it would have been nice to wear a dress and some heels, the threat of running into anything nasty on our outing had me opting for a pair of artfully faded jeans and a flowy blouse to conceal my pistol. My boots housed a few throwing knives as well for good measure. I'd have felt better taking Assurance with me, but one couldn't exactly walk into a pub with a massive scythe without raising some eyebrows.
I'd left my hair down but snuck a tie in my pocket in case it just wouldn't behave itself. The dark strands falling into my eyes were already driving me half-mad.
"Stop fidgeting, you look fine." Seras's voice startled me from my mental once-over, and I found her leaning against the bannister with a smirk on her lips.
"You're up early. Did something come up?" I chewed the inside of my cheek nervously.
"No, I just wanted to catch you before you left. Do you have a moment?" The draculina asked, her demeanor almost seemingly shy.
"Yea, sure." My headache was beginning to ease for the evening, so it would be a hell of a lot easier to carry on conversation. I'd hate to bite her head off for something trivial as I'd done with pretty much everyone else in the manor.
I concluded fairly quickly that she wanted to discuss something serious when she led me to the back of the garages…far out of earshot of any nosey soldiers. "If I asked you something…would you be honest with me?" Her back was turned to me, but the quivering of her shadowy arm and the tensed muscles of her back underneath her crimson uniform gave me the impression that something was upsetting her.
"That sounds ominous." My teeth found the inside of my cheek once more in discomfort. "What do you want to know?"
"What did the Nightmare show you and Master?"
I froze at her words, stomach churning at the mention of a dream I had tried miserably to forget. "Seras, I don't know if you…"
"I want to know!" She cut me off as she finally whirled to face me. "You've been avoiding me. Don't think I haven't noticed. And I hear you screaming during the nights."
A wince came unbidden at the mention of the night terrors that had begun to plague me since the battle. Without wanting to, my mind conjured up the vision of Mina…oh, how similar the two were. So much so, that I was certain that it had much to do with her turning. It was a subject I had been loathing to bring up again…let alone discuss it with the draculina. She didn't want to know that Alucard's decision to offer her immortality had weighed so heavily on her appearance. It even churned my stomach…and that was saying a lot. "Please don't ask this." I begged. "It was nothing…we were just being toyed with."
"Obviously it wasn't nothing. Look at you! You're barely eating and all you do is fight off headaches. Please, Ryder." Seras pressed, her crimson eyes flashing with fervency.
When her hand covered mine, I snatched it back. No, I wouldn't be the one to tell her this. Perhaps she deserved to know…but it would break her. "I can't. You don't need to know this, trust me." The old nausea I'd felt over the vision gripped me once more. I'd known about Alucard's old obsession…but he'd taken it too far. It was likely he thought no one would ever figure it out, but it didn't make it any less wrong. Strange that I could forgive the slaughtered SWAT teams and the numerous times he invaded my personal thoughts, but I couldn't get past this. I didn't understand it…that's what it boiled down to. Trying to understand it would be impossible. No, Alucard needed to come clean. It wasn't my responsibility to pull the rug out from underneath her like that.
I'd tried to speak to him about the visions, but every time I tried to breach the subject, he'd find some way to piss me off. It took me a while to realize it, but with my fuse so short as of late, I couldn't help exploding on him every time. It was damn frustrating. And I could bet three months of my salary that Seras would go postal if I mentioned it for him. Sorry, buddy…you're going to have to dig yourself out of this one.
"Is it really that bad?" Seras asked outright, a shadow passing over her expression.
"It's definitely going to change your perspective." I grumbled, folding my arms over my chest as I felt Alucard's ethereal tendrils probe my head. Fighting off the headache all day had left me drained and unable to push him out as usual. Goosebumps broke out along my spine as his presence filled the void in the back of my head. He hadn't spoken yet, but he didn't have to. He was snooping for a reason.
Her eyes flickered over my expression as her lips drew into a pout, obviously realizing she wasn't going to get much out of me. Carefully, she reached out and brushed the faded scars on my neck. "You're important to him."
I sighed, blowing a gust of air out my nose. "I know. But so are you."
She shook her head, a secretive smile playing on her lips. "But you're different. I think you know that you are."
A dry chuckle escaped despite myself. "And that scares the hell out of me. You ever figure out why, you let me know."
We moved past each other, and I heard the floorboards creak as she hesitated. "Liz?"
"Yea?" I answered hoarsely, wanting to brush the conversation under the rug as fast as possible.
"I can take it…whatever it is. So…whenever you're brave enough to tell me why…come find me." Seras whispered, her voice brimming with old pain.
A smile came unbidden to my lips as I mentally chastised myself. It was easy to forget that the spritely vampire wasn't always the charming, bubbly individual I knew now. Her childhood, much like mine, hadn't been easy. Neither of us had the luxury of innocence for very long. She was a fighter…and I suppose I could see the appeal there in Alucard's case. No, I knew it wasn't completely her appearance that drew him in. I just worried that's all she would see if she ever found out the truth. "Of that, I have no doubt. I'll see you later."
I'm going to kill you till you stay dead, or I get bored…whatever comes first. I snarled at Alucard's subconscious. I told you I had things to discuss with you, and I'm not going to leave until I get answers this time!
"What a dreadful mood. And after all the fun we've had…" He crooned, his voice bouncing around hard enough in my head to bring forth another splitting headache. My cheeks flushed at the mention of his nighttime activities. He'd upped the ante in our mental war last week with the dreams. Most of them were, for the most part, typical Alucard…just a lot of blood, guts, and horrifying visions of impalement. But a few were skirting into uncharted territory between us…and that terrified me more than the horror-induced dreams.
The scars left by Alucard's bite itched as my mind conjured up one dream in particular. It had started off so normal I'd almost thought it real.
Sparks shot up from the forge as I hammered out the stubborn piece of metal. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I tossed the finished haft blade in the cool water and gathered my supplies. Finishing the modification to Assurance could wait. For now, the shower was calling my name.
I stripped down without preamble and jumped in without waiting for the water to warm up. The chilly droplets brought forth a shiver as I craned my neck into the spray, relishing the feeling of the cold water on my forehead. Once the spray warmed to a point that would be painful for ordinary people, I stepped back to grab my shampoo. My brow furrowed as I backed into something that was decidedly not the wall. Before I could turn, however, a hand brushed my wet hair aside. Cool, smooth lips pressed against the curve of my throat. Goosebumps raised along my skin, and I bit back a moan at the heat that pooled south of my waistline as the hands wrapped around my waist.
Shock had me nearly pulling away at the long-fingered bare hands touching me. The nails were sharp…almost like claws. Ever so lightly, the nails dragged a trail up my stomach ending just below my breasts. An unexpected huff of disappointment left me as the hand trailed back down, and feathers tickled the back of my neck.
"What…the hell…are you doing…in my shower?" I breathed, trying hard to focus on speaking…and the fact that Alucard wasn't wearing any gloves. The sight sent involuntary sparks zipping between my fingertips.
He didn't answer right away…seemingly content with taking his time exploring my body. With every sweep of his hands, he drew closer to a place I was growing desperate for him to touch. I was reduced to a quivering mess before he finally indulged in speech, his fingers spread out over my stomach. His lips brushed against the shell of my ear as he whispered to me. "Shall I leave, my Master?"
The sharp points of his nails grazed the side of my breast, and I let out a strangled mewl before clapping a hand over my mouth to silence it. The things he was doing to my body were turning my brain into mush. It was becoming more difficult to reason why letting him continue was such a bad idea. "Q-quit messing with me. This isn't a game."
"A game?" He purred, his breath causing me to shiver. "Whatever made you think this was a game?"
"I thought you were supposed to be a gentleman. News flash: a gentleman doesn't ambush a lady in the shower." I hissed, attempting vainly to bat his hands away. If I'd been in a better state of mind, I would have just ordered him out.
"I seem to recall you adamantly insisted you weren't a lady." Leaning down, he nipped at my neck in what could almost be considered a playful manner.
Drat. He was right. "Touché." Finally managing to catch his wrists, I held his hands up to examine them. My eyes caught on what looked like relatively new burn marks on his skin…in the distinct shape of my fingers. "Did I do this?"
He hummed an affirmative noise. "Didn't that father of yours ever teach you not to play with fire?" In a swift movement, he released his hands from my grip and spun me to face him. It took all my self-control not to follow the rivulets of water trickling down his chest. Heat crept to my cheeks as I studied his build. A true triangle, his broad shoulders and chest narrowed at the waist. The smattering of dark hair on his chest brought out a strange sense of ease. Slowly, I allowed my eyes to travel upwards. Those perfect lips of his were pulled into his usual smirk, and it took a herculean effort not to roll my eyes at the sight. It didn't take a brain surgeon to guess where his gaze was currently directed. I skirted over the sharp cut of his jaw and observed how his ebony hair clung to his moon-kissed skin.
When it was becoming impossible to ignore any longer, I pulled back and chanced a look into his impossibly red eyes. The hunger in his cat-like eyes was palpable, and my teeth found the inside of my cheek as I found him studying me as intently as I'd been studying him. "I don't burn…fire wasn't an issue." I finally found my voice again…just in time to lose it when his smirk widened, displaying a single sharp fang.
"Now who is being impolite?" He taunted.
I snorted. "If you didn't want me to stare, then you shouldn't have stepped into my shower. Besides, maybe I'm just looking for a weakness?" Of course, I wasn't, but I wasn't about to stroke his ego by admitting that I was checking him out.
"And?" A single raven eyebrow curved upwards. It was a silent challenge. Somehow, Alucard always had a knack for turning everything into a contest. Perhaps it was just purely for the pleasure of winning. I wondered idly if he ever got tired of winning all the time.
"Nothing yet…I'll tell you if I find anything." I chanced a smirk. Feeling bolder, I reached up with a shaking hand to trace the rippled planes of his abdominal muscles. Something akin to a purr escaped from somewhere deep in his chest, and I was about to question him when his hands rested on my hips again, cutting off my train of thought momentarily. "I'm not sure if anyone's ever told you…but you've been hit with the pretty stick one too many times. It should be illegal."
"None so eloquent as you, dearest." He chuckled, his skilled fingers drawing lazily circles on my hipbones.
"Doesn't change the fact that you're still messing with me." I deadpanned, dropping my hands to stop the movement of his so I could think clearly. "What do you hope to gain by seducing me?"
Leaning forward, he traced my jawline with his lips agonizingly slowly. "Much."
My insides squirmed at his evasion. This little dance we were doing was dangerous. Sooner or later, one of us would do something we'd both regret. No…I would be the regretful one. As far as I saw, there were only two paths laid out before me: either I'd kill him or give in to the encompassing darkness he offered. Neither option was overly appealing to me, and the latter I still didn't know was even possible. And either way…Alucard would win by getting exactly what he wanted. It seemed the Count's proclivity towards manipulation hadn't changed a bit. My hands flared up despite the shower water still raining onto my backside, and I pushed him back to a more respectable distance. The water hitting my back sizzled loudly as my aspect warmed my skin to harsh temperatures. "You'll need to make up your mind eventually. How much do you really care about me if you're fine with the pain it'll cause me if I manage to actually kill you?"
His crimson eyes flared dangerously, and in one swift movement he pinned me to the opposite wall. "I may be a monster, but never question my affection for you!" He thundered, frightening me more in that moment than he ever had before. "Of course, I care…it just doesn't matter! Only you can hope to kill me! Nothing can change that…NOTHING!" The sharp tone of his voice lashed my skin harsher than Az's whip.
Acting on pure instinct, I shoved him away hard enough to send cracks spiderwebbing up the tiles of the shower. A mad smile spread over his lips as I turned tail and pushed the shower curtain aside, yanking the towel off the hook and sprinting away. I got a few steps out of the bathroom before he slammed into me, knocking me to the ground. I winced as blood welled on my cheek where my face made hit the ground. Flipping me onto my back, he leaned down to lap up the droplets of blood with his unnaturally long tongue. Gritting my teeth, I sucked in a breath and snorted a small burst of fire in his face. Instead of having the desired effect of distracting him long enough to run, he simply grinned maniacally. "What's the matter, Slayer? Lost your nerve?" His voice had turned rough like the snarls of a hunting lion.
When my shaking hands reached out to his face, the insanity began to slowly dwindle from his blood-red gaze and his grip on my arms slackened. "Are you afraid?" He asked, his tone both mocking and hesitant. The worry, while closely guarded, was there.
I took a few moments to catch my breath. "A little." I admitted, knowing I couldn't hope to lie to him.
While he didn't offer an apology, he leaned down to pepper my face with kisses. I cursed myself mentally for responding to his touch like I did. The vampire must have sensed it, because his fangs flashed as he dove to suckle on my neck. I bit down hard enough on my tongue to draw blood just to stay quiet. The very thought of Integra finding me in such a compromising position made the heat creep up my cheeks.
With a roguish grin, Alucard took my lips roughly, tongue delving into my mouth no doubt to lap up the blood. I arched involuntarily in his grip before he pulled back. "Shall I stop, my Master?" He crooned softly.
I opened my mouth to respond when a sharp pain lanced through my head, cutting off my next thought. Taking my hands off his shoulders, I grasped the sides of my head at the familiar pain.
"Time to take up, my dear." His wintery breath washed against my neck before I felt the sting of his fangs.
I'd woken with pain in my head and my neck…though there had been no physical signs that he'd bitten me again. Still, the dream had at the very least driven my brain directly into the gutter. Thoughts that would have had my father turning in his grave flickered through my mind. Worse was the fact that Alucard heard and saw all of it. His Cheshire cat grin had yet to leave his face ever since.
How many times do I have to tell you to knock that shit off? Or are you goading me in the hopes I'll snap and murder you? I snorted.
"Murder implies that I am human." He replied, the smile evident in his voice. "And we both know that I am far from that."
If I didn't know better…I'd almost peg you as jealous. I ventured as I stepped downstairs to find Elis waiting in the foyer tossing a set of car keys in his hands idly. The pilot flashed a full-megawatt smile as he noticed me. "Almost thought you were standing me up for the draculina for a minute there."
"Why would I be jealous? After all…" Alucard trailed off as if amused by the turn of the conversation. "You belong to me."
It took a herculean effort not to linger on his dangerous declaration. A snort passed my lips, and I adopted a coy look. "Well…you know I have a thing for a vampire in uniform…"
"RYDER!" Came Seras's embarrassed shriek from somewhere in the manor. The high-pitched sound very nearly broke the windows in its intensity.
"Ma Cherie! It's going to be weeks before I get that out of my head." Pip's voice filtered from the walls, both parts appalled and suggestive.
"I concur." Elis grinned suggestively, and I shoved him in the shoulder as I passed.
"Come on. Let's go before I pummel you and you're forced to limp into the pub." I grabbed him by the collar, dragging him out the front doors.
To my dismay, Elis bypassed some of the tamer pubs in favor of a night club Desiree had dragged me to once. I'd never been a fan of the pounding music and lack of proper lighting. Even a block away, I could feel the bass in my feet through my boots.
Elis gave me a side glance, then draped his arm over my shoulder with an encouraging smile. "Try to look excited, Phoenix."
I simply grunted at him as he led us to the front doors. The burly blonde bouncer gave us a quick once over, then nodded and stepped aside.
Elis led us straight up to the bar and ordered. A few scantily clad women dancing nearby stopped to eye his backside appreciatively.
Once our drinks were out, Elis lifted his glass. "To a resounding victory over the forces of evil."
I met his glass with my own with a chuckle. "And terrible music."
"So, I hear you're planning quite the alliance." Elis spoke, his eyes sweeping the ever-growing crowd on the dancefloor.
"Planning and executing are two different things. Olivia and Sloan are trying to gather the Elders together in one place. But most of them haven't been willing to talk to me."
"Why not?" He took another drink, brows furrowed in concern.
"Well, they don't exactly trust me after the whole Tower Incident." I grimaced, downing more of my drink in an attempt to wash away the guilt I still felt over the whole situation. "And they're reluctant to put their trust in Hellsing based on its reputation in the past. I don't blame their mistrust after discovering all the skeletons in the Conclave's closet."
"Can the Knights do anything about it?" Elis questioned, leaning closer so any passerby wouldn't be able to overhear our conversation.
"I don't think so. Luckily, half the Elders have agreed to at least participate through conference call at the next Round Table meeting. If all goes well, they'll talk to the others on our behalf." It wasn't likely, but it was our best option without coming across as overly assertive. I wanted this to be their choice. If they refused, it would destroy any chances of making the slayers a formal power.
"And if it goes terribly wrong?"
I hesitated, taking a moment to down the rest of my beer. "I've thought about that, actually. Integra and Desiree too. We agreed it would be in their best interests to still have formal training…done the right way this time. Since I won't be directly responsible for day to day activities when…" I bit my lip at the direction of my thoughts and shook my head. "The point is, I'll have time to make a difference for prospective slayers. And this time, no one will have to worry about death threats and torture."
Elis waved down the bartender to order another round of drinks. "Hell, I guess anything's an improvement after the Conclave. Those kids are going to love you, Ryder."
A smile came to my lips at his encouragement. "Thanks, Elis. It means a lot to hear someone say that."
"Hey, I'm always on your side, babe." The pilot winked and offered me a martini. "Now, enough with the heavy. Let's get drunk."
It wasn't too hard of a request after five flaming tequila shots. The three women I'd noticed on the way into the club eventually slid between the two of us and began making conversation. Two; both dark haired with caramel toned skin, hung on Elis's every word. I couldn't quite remember their names even though they'd introduced themselves a few moments ago. Through my alcohol addled mind, I could ascertain they were…exceedingly beautiful. In fact, if it weren't for the drunkenness, I would have felt a lot more self-conscious in their presence.
One of the women, a blonde with dark blue- almost violet- eyes leaned against the bar next to me, a wry smile on her crimson lips. There was a smattering of freckles across her nose that added to her strange magnetism. "Melisse and Wanda seem to like your boyfriend. I hope it won't cause any trouble." She eyed me carefully, as if expecting me to jump up and drag them away from him by their hair.
"We're just friends. Besides, he could use a little de-stressing anyway." I grinned to reassure her.
"You sure? They can be a bit…aggressive in their pursuit of men." The woman giggled, but there seemed to be a real threat in her tone.
I snorted. "He's a big boy, he'll be fine."
Her head cocked to the side a bit as she seemed to study me. I was about to question her silence before she spoke first, shouting over the music. "My name is Anna."
"Liz." I responded, reaching out to shake her hand.
"Would you like to dance? I really don't want to watch that." Her nose crinkled as Elis stared back and forth at the dark-haired beauties…his eyes glazed from alcohol and likely desire.
Why the hell not…I'm drunk enough not to care. "Sure." I hopped up to join her as she maneuvered through the crowd…her crimson cocktail dress swishing. Plenty of both sexes in the crowd turned to admire her as she passed, but she either didn't notice or didn't care. Once she found an open spot, we found a rhythm, swaying to the heavy beat. It didn't pass my notice how she kept studying me when she thought I wasn't looking. I tapped into my sixth sense a few times but came up with nothing unusual.
After dancing several songs, my bladder began to protest against my heavy drinking. "Hey, I'm going to hit the bathroom." I leaned in close so she could hear me over the crowd and music.
"I think I'll join you." She replied, snatching my elbow in a move that would have bothered me if not for the buzz of alcohol. I reasoned that she probably didn't want to lose me in the crowd.
Once inside, I took care of my business while Anna fussed over her golden blonde locks in the mirror. I couldn't understand what she had to worry about…her hair as well as her makeup was flawless. On the contrary, my eyeliner had run a bit on my left eye, and a frown drew across my lips as I studied the smudge.
Anna giggled and grabbed a paper towel and wet it in the sink. "Here, let me help." With a care I didn't expect, she began carefully wiping away the smudge. "I feel I should be honest with you, Elizabeth." She sighed, and I felt my brows compress at her use of my full name. "My sisters and I hoped to run into you here. We've heard some interesting things about you."
My muscles locked down on me and suspicion began to eek through my happy buzz. "You…know who I am?" I kept my tone neutral.
She nodded as she tossed the paper towel away and advanced slowly on me. It began to feel like I was being cornered. A small voice in the back of my head cursed my lack of situational awareness. "We do. Unfortunately, we had…very different ideas on how to approach you. Luckily, your friend provided a decent distraction for my sisters."
Panic seized me. "What have you done with Elis?"
Anna snorted and waved me off. "No harm will come to him. It is you I'm concerned about." Ever so slowly, her eyes locked with mine, and a numbness spread throughout my body. Her hand came up to cup my chin, and a lump lodged itself in my throat as I found myself unable to bat her hand away. I'd let her completely ensnare me in her strange ethereal grip. Another hand fluttered up to graze the prominent scar on my neck. "I see he has already laid a claim to you. It is not too late."
"Too late…for what?" I questioned, my mind struggling to think through the cloud of drunkenness and the woman's strange power.
The color in her irises swirled momentarily before deepening into a horrific shade of red. When her lips parted to speak, I noticed how her teeth had elongated into fangs. "Don't be afraid, Phoenix. I do not aim to be your enemy."
"I find that hard to believe." Gritting my teeth, I fought against the invisible restraints, trying to reach the grip of my pistol. I'd heard of such vampires that could ensnare their victims with a glance. It was likely I faced a succubus…a creature many slayers believed to have been hunted to extinction. They could worm into your head and make you believe anything they wanted.
"My former Master will tire of you eventually…as he did with us. There is but one thing that will break his hold over you now."
Icy talons sunk deep into my chest. "Who is this Master of yours? Why try to help me?"
"Oh, I think you know of whom I speak. As for why I help you…I have suffered much, that is all I can say." Her hands left my face, and the ethereal hands that held me in place began to slacken. "I will find you again. Count on it."
The succubus ducked around the corner, and the binds released me. Startled, and still bogged down by the inebriation, I stumbled around the corner nearly running into a woman strolling into the bathroom. She gave an angry huff as I pushed past her, searching for a familiar crimson dress in the crowd. Curses ripped between my lips as I shoved past dancers impeding my path. With a crowd this thick, it would be easy to hide and make an escape.
Elis!
A gasp rattled from my lungs as I swiveled ungracefully to peer at the bar. The pilot and the dark-haired succubi were gone. "Fuck!" I hissed as I scanned the crowd on the dancefloor once more. I had hoped that I would find him dancing goofily there, but no such luck. My stomach clenched as a memory from a similar night out drove my panic up a notch. I swear I'll never drink again…just please let him be alright. I pleaded silently. Apparently, my sixth sense was either functioning terribly…or those two creatures could disguise themselves. Either way, I was running blind.
My panic mounted tenfold when I found Elis's Hellsing jacket discarded outside of the club…dotted with flecks of blood. My grip tightened on the heavy leather as self-deprecation crashed down on me. I'd let myself become complacent again and someone else was taking the fall for that. Consumed with fear, I pulled out my phone and dialed a familiar number.
"Miss Elizabeth." Walter's calm voice filtered through the speaker. "Is there something amiss?"
"Yes…Elis is missing, and I ran into some…company at the club. I think they might have taken him, and I need help tracking them down. God…what have I done?" I whispered into the phone, gripping Elis's coat tightly. The scent of his cologne wafted to my nostrils, fanning the flames of my fears.
"I will be there shortly." He replied, ending the call abruptly.
Within a few minutes, Walter arrived, startling me as his spidery presence washed over me. "Are you inebriated?" He asked, the shock evident in his tone.
"We can discuss how stupid I am later!" I snapped. "Can you track Elis or not?"
Walter's lips pressed into a thin line as he took the coat from my arms and brought it to his nose. "I'm hardly a tracker, ma'am."
"Try…please." I begged, feeling a sickness build inside me with every minute we wasted.
The former retainer's eyes roved over my face, no doubt noting the panic in my expression, then nodded in acquiescence. "I'll see what I can do."
I followed behind numbly, barely registering the strange stares sent our way. No doubt seeing the bedraggled woman following the regal English gentleman like a puppy dog was rather hilarious. "What have you gotten yourself into?" He questioned while his keen eyes roved over the streets and alleyways.
"I…It's my fault. I didn't recognize them before it was too late. Succubi…I think." I tried to explain in my miserable state.
The alarm flitting across Walter's expression filled me with dread. "How many?"
"Three. One…one cornered me in the bathroom and the other two kept hanging off Elis." The shiver that wracked my frame had nothing to do with the cold. I'd heard of the horrors their kind could inflict on their victims before the inevitable feast.
"It can't be…" Walter mused, ducking into an alleyway so quickly it left me stunned for a moment. Stumbling after him, I nearly ran into his backside as he stilled.
"What is it?" I pressed.
"The trail ends here. There's nothing else."
"That's impossible!" Shaking on unsteady feet, I leaned against one of the buildings and fought back nausea. "They couldn't have just…disappeared."
"You're quite right. But, keep in mind we have yet to see a discarded weapon." He reminded me. "Elis needs you to keep a clear head, ma'am."
My shoulders slackened under his chastising tone. He was right. I'd have time to kick myself in the ass later. But, I'd never forgive myself if he got hurt…or worse. "Let's go. I've got two bullets with those twisted sisters' names on them."
AN:
Sorry for the extremely long wait for this chapter. I've been busy with various things and haven't had the time I usually do to devote to writing. What little time I did have was spent staring at the screen of my computer and kicking myself for not having the energy to write. That being said, I'll be going on vacation this next week, so I will try very hard to get an update out before I leave.
Thanks again to all following the story so far! Please review and let me know what you think.