HELLSING WITCH HUNTER: 1616
DIANAPRINCE31
Ch. 26: Panic at the Gala
Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing.
Sure, she agreed to attend the Queen's gala, but Integra was really regretting the decision. The royal broad was beginning to get on her nerves and all because of the rumors that were flying around the royal court. The Hunter shook her head, idiots, they were all a bunch of idiots. Neither she nor Albrecht was going to end their friendship over rumors, so they ran the risk on how to it may 'look' to everyone else. She sighed; "Let's get this over with."
Elsewhere in the mansion, Seras was giddy with excitement, she had never been to any galas at the palace and this was a big deal. Maybe she could find a cute guy to dance with her, as long as she didn't have to stand next to Integra all night.
"I just realized, I don't know anyone there, Sam."
"You know me" said Sam grinned. "We could make out near the champagne tower."
"I don't think so. But this could be a great opportunity to get to know some people."
Sam scowled, "I'm fine not knowing any of them. There is more venom among the nobility then there is in a King cobra. They say one thing and do another, as one of the King's Hunters; they will try to take advantage of your position. They are not above using you to get what they want."
"You sound like Sir Integra."
"For once I will take that as a compliment. Sir Integra is the only person of nobility who is honest about her dislike for us."
"That's not true, Sam. If she did not like us, we would not be living here."
"Ok maybe she tolerates us, now let me zip up your dress unless you want it to fall off sometime during the night. I wouldn't mind that."
"That would hilarious, meow!" laughed Schrodinger as he skipped down the stairs. "Then everyone would see Seras' boobs!"
Seras aimed a swat at the cat-boy's head, "If you act like a pest, I'm going to hog tie you in the stables!"
Integra appeared in the living room to see Schrodinger in a headlock by Seras and not really disliking it, Sam cackling like an idiot and Walter trying to freethe boy from Seras' grip, which proved to be quite strong. Integra rolled her eyes, the indignities one must suffer; "If you're going to act like a bunch of asses, you can stay here." As Seras shoved Schrodinger away from her, she said; "Your brat started it."
"I don't care who started it, you're a grown woman Seras, act like it."
Schrodinger gave Integra his most innocent look and whimpered; "She nearly broke my neck, mom!"
"If you keep talking about women's breasts in that crude manner, a lot worse could happen, like having your balls ripped off."
While the cat-boy cringed at the thought, Sam chuckled; "Dressed like a lady, talks likes a sailor."
"Let's get this nonsense over with. If I'm lucky something interesting may actually happen."
Walter sighed; "As long as you don't slap the Queen, Sir."
"Now there's a thought, Walter."
Red Palace- Ball Room Entrance
King Albrecht and Queen Wendy stood decked out in their best, greeting the guests as they were announced. They royal couple both wore a deep emerald green as their chosen color. The king wore a suit of green and silver. The jacket was emerald with silver buttons and the coat of arms stitched on the right breast pocket in silver thread. He wore light green groves, while the handkerchief and ascot were silver with silver stripes and black shoes.
The Queen's light green dress had many silver frills on the sleeves, the bodice and on the wide skirts. Emeralds and floral designs of exotic were sewn into the skirts. The satin materials of the dress sparkled in the light. She wore a string of tiny emerald and diamonds that connected to a large rectangle cut of the green stone. On the Queen's fingers wore several rings of emeralds and diamond, on her ears, she wore earrings of green pearls. The tiara on her head was bright silver with an emerald teardrop that rested on her forehead.
The royals smiled kindly at the guests as they stepped out of their carriages, all wearing different styles of dresses from different countries and fashion designer. With each carriage that did not bear that insufferable woman, Integra, the more the Queen had hope that the Hunter would not show up. It would be a good night indeed. Or maybe not. A sleek black carriage pulled up by four golden horses entered through the gates. Behind the carriage rode four men armed with rifles, yet wearing elegant leather armor and suits, riding on four matching bay chargers. The king smiled there was only one person he knew to own more one of the rare golden breed of horse known as Akhal Teke from Turkmenistan. As the footman opened and helped each passenger from the carriage, the Queen's smile grew more feigned. Seeing Integra at the dance ruined her night and what the Hunter was wearing was the final insult. It was a one-shouldered slimming evening gown of dark blue with hints of shimmering green and purple, the colors of a peacock. With the top being of a delicate tricolored silk and the bottom of the skirts trailed behind Integra in the shape of peacock feathers, which were turquoise, gold, light blue and light green. Each 'eye' had a crystal embedded in it. She wore blue high heels, which added height to her elegant, yet imposing figure. Integra wore a set of white gold and sapphire necklace and earrings.
Albrecht could not stop staring, as much as his brain was telling him stop, his eyes wanted to take in all of the vision that just stepped out of the carriage. As Integra glided up the stairs, the king took in everything from the jewel encrusted bun with the few stay strands curling down the sides of her face, to the way the dress showed off her curves and finally to the train of colorful peacock feathers. He barely noticed as the other two Hunters curtsied to him or the obnoxious joke made by Schrodinger, but he did notice that whatever the boy said earned him a pinch on the ear by his mother. The Hunter greeted the Queen first which only received a haughty glare and a sniff. Nevertheless, it glanced off her like water off a duck's back and she curtsied and greeted the King. As he kissed her hand, Albrecht murmured; "You look magnificent tonight, Lady Hellsing." Integra raised an eyebrow; "While I thank you for the compliment, it is still 'Sir Hellsing', I can go about stark naked and it will still be 'Sir Hellsing', Your Majesty." While the Queen looked aghast, the King laughed loudly; "Of course, as you wish Sir Hellsing." Integra took the time to straighten the King's ascot saying, "When will you learn to tie this properly?"
"I thought I had it tied it properly."
As the Hunter went inside, Sam said "His ascot was not crooked, Hot Lips."
"It was off by three fourths of a millimeter, easily detectable."
"Sure, cuz it was not to piss off the Queen." Integra gave Sam a quizzical look and said, "I have no idea what you're talking about" before leaving the group.
"Okay, she is enjoying this, I know that" sighed Sam.
"That's not good," said Seras shaking her head.
"I know, making me all jealous and stuff."
"I was not talking about you, Sam."
"And we have to keep an eye on her brat". Sam was clearly not listening to Seras, "Where is he anyway?" Seras pointed to the tables lined up against the walls. On them were foods of all kinds and Schrodinger was piling his plate with a ridiculous amount ignoring the scornful looks he was getting. Sam joined his seconds later, while Seras once again shook her head, "At least wait until His Majesty gives his welcoming speech."
Why one was not allowed to smoke at these events was a mystery to Integra. While the King was giving his speech, the Huntress was praying for the end of the world because she would have to stay for an acceptable amount of time at this gathering of noble imbeciles. Speaking of which, she was barely paying attention as another young nobleman was complimenting her all the while his eyes gazed over her body with lust. One glare sent him scurrying and Integra chuckled as the man bumped into several people in his haste to get away. As a servant walked by with a tray of champagne, the Hunter grabbed two glasses, chugging one and nursing the second.
Wendy was not enjoying herself not in the least, even when some ladies bought up one of her favorites topics: fashion. It was always fun among the Queen and her friends to try to identify which designer each guest was wearing. Alternatively, to judge how pretty or ugly each dress was. However, tonight the game was no fun as many women wanted to know whom Integra was wearing, but was greatly afraid to ask the Hunter. They also knew better than to ask Integra such a frivolous question because it bored her. Integra felt that one's mouth should be used for more important topics of conversation or creative insults at the very least. Now Integra was not such a rude bitch refusing to talk to anyone, she was raised with manners and knew how to engage in polite conversation, and excused herself if someone bored her. However, that could not be said of Sam and Schrodinger, who had to get painful reminders not to act as if they were raised in a barn and not to eat all the food as if they were starving. "Go find a man, Sam and if you're lucky he might take you home," said Integra blandly.
"I'd rather much prefer to stay with you" was the answer along with the assassin licking her lips. Integra was tempted to slap her.
The time went by quickly and soon the time for eating mingling was over, it was time for dancing. First, the faster music was played to get people in the mood to dance off the calories and then the slower music was then played for the waltzes. Wendy was in no mood for dancing or merry making and quite loudly refused Albrecht when he offered his arm to her. Let him dance by himself or some other nobleman or the scullery maid for all she cared! In addition, she would have reveled in the idea of the king having no dance partner, when she noticed the silence in the ballroom. In the middle of the room stood Albrecht and Integra standing face to face. The two stood for several minutes talking, but too softly for anyone to hear what was being said. Then the King took the Huntress' hand and the band began to play. Some fool decided to fiddle with the lights so that the spotlight was on the two dancing and the rest of the room was darkened, no one dared get on the dance floor. No one dared to move or even speak. The only sound that could be heard was the music and clicks of cameras; yeah this was going to make the morning papers. For nearly half an hour, the floor belonged to the King and the Hunter and when the music finally ended, everyone was silent, as they had no idea how to react. Should they applause? Cheer? Boo?
Luckily, they did not have to choose because the sound of glass shattered the silence. Several men in black crashed through the windows cutting down whoever was in the way. Chaos ensued as the guards rushed into the ballroom to engage the intruders and protect the King. The bad thing was the King was standing in the center of the room, so the assassins knew who he was and made a beeline for him. Though some of the guards were able to reach the king, however they did not stay alive long enough to be of much use, at least to the king anyway. They did however provide Integra with a sword and she used it to carve the first assassin's guts out of his abdomen, then eviscerating the second from head to groin. The king was not at all defenseless and grabbed one of the black clad men and with a roar like a lion threw the sod into one of his fellow killers, a sickening crunch could be heard as the two bodies collided. Not to be left out, Sam grabbed a carving knife, while Seras grabbed a spear from a dead guard and joined the fray. Even Schrodinger grabbed a silver tray and smashed one of the assassins in the face.
Meanwhile the guests screamed and scrambled to find a place to hide or the nearest exit, some were killed in the process. Killing the defenseless guests was the black clad assassin's new tactic in hopes of getting the King to surrender himself to them and it would have worked if not for Hans who charged into the ballroom tossing each Hunter their Demon blades. At the sight of the demons being awakened, the assassins balked and decided that a hasty retreat was a good plan. The only problem with that idea was that the Hunters were not taking prisoners; well actually, they would only need one for questioning. That night the surviving guest saw why Integra, Sam and Seras were the King's Hunters and that demons really did eat human flesh. By the time the battle was over, blood stained the walls and floor, and body parts that the Abysmal Demons did not consume littered the ballroom. The guards helped carry out the dead and the wounded and Wendy threw herself into Albrecht's arms crying hysterically. She had hid behind the thrones that were on the platform and it was not a particularly a good hiding place. One of the assassins had made their way towards her and it could have been tragic had not Seras had not thrown the spear she had into the man's head killing him instantly. Wendy had also seen the wild anger in her husband's eyes as he fought to protect his guests. She was no longer mad at him and she clung tightly to him as he cried.
Hans was holding the only assassin left alive tightly, but he was not saying anything, so after searching for weapons, he was dragged off to the dungeons by the guards, but not before Sam reached into his mouth and pulled out a molar. "What is that?" asked the King.
"A fake tooth filled with cyanide, assassins use it so if they are caught they could kill themselves without giving up any information" answered Sam. The king decided that the use of a contraption called the 'tongue puller' to be used. This device forced the wearer's mouth open so that he could not bite off his tongue, which was another way of suicide. The man was strapped to the dungeon wall; he would be questioned early the next morning. Right now seeing that the guests were okay and identifying the dead took priority. After the removal of the bodies was finished, the King sat tiredly on one of the chairs, this was not what he had in mind for a gala. He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder and saw that it was Wendy. "My Queen, are you alright? You are not hurt, are you?"
"No, if it hadn't been for Seras, I would have been…" She couldn't bring herself to say it. All the guests had left and the only ones left were the Hunters and the royal couple. Seras was talking to the Queen who promised to reward her. Sam was conversing with the Captain of the Guard on ways to figure out ways to find out who the assassins were and who had sent them, while Integra was talking to the King with Schrodinger standing close by, smiling at his bravery. Loosening his ascot, Albrecht said; "Go home and rest, Hunters we will deal with the assassin tomorrow."
Hellsing Estate
Sleep did not come easily to Integra as the events of the night ran through her mind, the dance, the attack on the king, she had prayed for something interesting to happen. Guess one should be more careful for what they prayed for. Schrodinger twitched in his sleep, most likely from a dream caused by the night's events.
The Hunter got out of bed and headed for the stables. Integra gave Baskerville four pears to apologize for waking him from his sleep. The stallion didn't mind, since he would do anything for his mistress. The Hunter vaulted on to horse barebacked and they raced across the silent moonlit pastures. Integra gazed at up at the moon and couldn't help but smile remembering the look on the Queen's face when she first saw her dress. Patting the velvety neck of the stallion Integra said "That's going to be in the newspapers tomorrow" and she could only imagine how the queen would react.
Chapter End
Author's Notes: Me and describing clothing. I had to do it, I am not ashamed. Sorry for late updates and posts, my awesome readers. So, if anyone knows what questioning an assassin is like, there is a lot of blood. So join the Hunters as they pry some information out of the assassin. See ya in the next chapter.