Chap. 27 – Succumbed by the beast of pleasure
Night had fallen over a day of chaos and ravage. Integra and her small battalion had finally returned, sharing the good news to the people of the fall of the King of Chaos… the ex King of Chaos, who was now asleep on the bed in Anju's house, resting up and his energy and wounds. Being angry and ramped for so long leaves one so exhausted… especially when you realise that all that anger and rampage was revolved around a misunderstanding and the concealing of emotions… the power of the heart can be a dangerous thing. Zelda could hear the village celebration of victory, as she sat by Link's bedside watching him sleep, staring at him intensely watching him as he slept away his pain. She knew that he was in pain and that truth made her tense… more pain that she brought upon him with her secrets and pride, and yet he was indeed most at fault for inflicting this pain upon himself… after all, it was his choice.
Integra had gathered the others to inform them of what happened and the reason why she was alive and well, when really she should be dead in the first place. They were informed of the second Triforce prophesy, and that she was the one prophesy foretold. She was the second Triforce… the power of three now flows through her, protected by her physical form and free for her to use however she saw fit. And because she had gained the power of the goddesses, she also had now become eternal… she will forever walk within this living plain as the light of Hyrule… and perhaps become the beacon of light within her home.
"I should have suspected, that you would be the one to hold the second Triforce…" Impa then said. "You are perfect for the task."
"So, you are the Triforce?" Enrico wondered. "What does that mean for you now… where do you think you belong… our world or this?"
"England will always be my true home," Integra then replied. "After all I was born there, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Also I still have a mission to Queen and country… a mission that I now will be honouring forever of destroying freaks… that is my true purpose as a Helsing. However I cannot deny my purpose here… therefore the Twilight doors will remain open. I had no intention of keeping those doors open; after we completed our mission here I was going to order my people to destroy the door on our side. But now I cannot do that… my rationale, nor my heart will allow me to do that without feeling absolute regret afterwards… if I do that, I will be denying what I am. Which means, everyone who knows about the door will be able to come and go as they please… meaning us."
"Why not?" Jon then said. "This place is kinda cool when you get used to it."
"Better than back home…" Rip added. "I wouldn't mind being put on permanent duty here if that was possible…"
"If that is what you want miss Wrinkle, then I'll allow it," Integra then said, basically making Rip's day, as the Austrian huntress brightened with a smile. "In fact that is a good idea. We should continue our presence here after the war… in fact, I think it would be best if all the 'Kakariko Guardians' were permanently stationed here." The Kakariko Guardians brightened; they had become quiet attached to this place… they did protect and rebuild it after all. Enrico agreed, thus giving Hienkel and Yumiko the green light to stay. They were ecstatic, as well as the others.
"No arguments here," Luke replied.
"You still have to work on half my paperwork, however Luke…"
"That's fine by me."
"Also, those who will be stationed here will have to follow Anju's orders. She will be Hellsing's Hyrule Branch Director… that is if she will accept the position?" They all looked to see Anju, who looked rather shocked at the generous offer, and Kafei who smirked at the thought of his woman being within a high position of power. "Anju will also relay my orders to you as well, if she accepts that is…"
"If you have chosen to trust me with such a position, then I will set all my effort into not failing your trust Sir Hellsing. You can count on me. But I have to ask… why have you chosen me… surely the others possess far more advanced skills to perform this important role better than I?"
"Well, if you haven't noticed by now… to be a Hellsing leader means you need a powerful partner to insure respect among the higher masses," Walter said with a smirk. "Miss Anju, your Kafei will do quite nicely as Hellsing's Hyrule ace."
Kafei was not amused, as he knew what Walter was getting at. "Old, man… I may be a monster, however that doesn't mean I am a mindless golem! If you think I will become some powerful token for your club, then you're sadly mistaken! You already have Alucard! Even if Anju wants to become involved with you, I am not some accessorily she comes with!"
"But what if miss Anju were to become injured within the line of duty?"
"… You old bastard… fine, alright!" Walter had point there.
"Alright… let's begin making the arrangements," Integra said. "Her highness needs to be informed on this decision as well."
"A Hellsing branch in Hyrule…?" Zelda wondered. Link continued to sleep while everyone crowded around Zelda, whom was still at his bedside. Integra had just informed Zelda on the idea of Hellsing continuing its presence in Hyrule by setting up a second base of operations there. This means the Hellsing organization, the Iscariot organization and Integra herself remain connected to Hyrule… Integra especially, who had become the second Triforce however will not be staying. It was a good idea, considering there will be those after her now to make their wish. "However there are no vampires here for you to destroy…"
"There's monsters…" Seras pointed out.
"That is true… perhaps this will be useful after all. I plan to marry Link, thus he will become the King of Hyrule. He will have little time to continue slaying threats. Very well, you have my permission."
"Thank you, your highness," Integra replied, while the others – mainly, the Guardians of Kakariko – cheered at the decision. "On another matter… how is he?"
Zelda looked down at Link, who continued to sleep. "He is still weak," she replied. "However he will be fine. If Link will become king, then the people must know of who he is… thus I will be arranging a public announcement to confirm the myth of the Hero of Time to be true… and that he is the Hero of Time."
"Your highness… you're lying!" Anju said. "The King of Chaos… this man… is the legendary Hero of Time? Then why… why did he betray Hyrule?"
"Remember what I told you…" Kafei said, gaining her attention, as well as the others. "People do not become cruel, cold and insane for nothing… look at Alucard and I… we lost everything and gained nothing, all the while the world threw shit at us. This why we are what we are."
"Monsters…" Alucard added. "Creatures rejected by the world and the world rejected by us. This man you see before you now, had sacrificed so much for this country, and what did he gain after pouring so much blood, sweat and loyalty for it… nothing. You all forgot, only recognising him by myth… a man who perhaps never existed… a man who is responsible for the peace you have. Not being recognised by the sacrifices one has made for everyone else would make one go insane eventually… don't you agree?"
"A hero should be contented by knowing that his efforts and sacrifices are the reasons why everything remains prosperous," Kafei continued. "It shouldn't matter if the people knew as such, however Link lost his way… too much pain sent him into insanity… just like Alucard and I. He became a monster, because he allowed himself to be consumed by the darkness in his heart. It's those like you Anju… those who do not know of his accomplishments, as well as the princess for denying his heart, that drove him into insanity… to destroy everything he made."
"I became weak…" Link was awake and overheard their conversation. "I became self-righteous… nothing but a whinging dog who wanted to be petted for recognition." He slowly sat up from the bed, as he could still feel pain from the cuts and bruises all over his body from the battles.
"Then why?" Anju then asked. "If the story of the Hero of Time is true, then why hide the truth from the people?"
"It's not that we decided to hide the truth…" Zelda replied. "It was more that time forgot. After the King of Evil was defeated, I decided to turn back time so Link could regain the seven years he lost while he was sealed within the Chamber of Sages… he remained frozen, until he was old enough the wield the Master Sword. He was only ten when he began his quest. The myth was made mandatory for every one in Hyrule to learn of, so you should know of the story, miss Anju. I thought I was doing the right thing… Link deserves a full life. So I turned back time to when he was a child… before the horror of the era of the King of Evil began… and so the rest of you could forget all the suffering you endured because of my mistakes prior."
Link sighed. "I should have told you back then before you rewound the fabric of time…" Link began. "Zelda, I lost my childhood long ago… I lost my innocence once I defeated the curse within the Great Deku Tree. Once you swing that sword and draw blood, you lose what innocence you have. That is the most expensive price you pay when you are a hero… destroying life, monster or not… you kill. I lost the every thing you wished for me to regain before you even met me. If I told you that back then, then I could have avoided losing my mind."
Kafei snickered. "And if that happened, then the threat of the falling moon in Termina never would have occurred," he said. "And my temple and castle would have never been defiled by you and your noble ambitions."
"It is hard to believe that a monster like you can produce the kindest of reincarnates," Link then said to Kafei. He then smirked. "And the most bold. He was going to sacrifice his happiness if he failed to retrieve the mask that was stolen. Wait… if you were watching, then why didn't you help him? You may have been sealed, however I am certain with all that power of yours, you should have been able to help from your crypt somehow… all mighty King of Ikana."
Link had a point. "Shut up! All that was trying to say, is that if Zelda never turned back the clock, then the events that were destined to happen after would never have occurred. You saved Hyrule and then you went on to save Termina. You would never have the experience that you have now… doesn't that count for something?"
Kafei had a point. "Shut up."
"Ha, I win."
The night went on, as the sky began to brighten for the light of dawn. The sun was yet to show itself for sunrise. No one had slept, as they didn't feel like sleeping, still feeling their adrenalin from the war. Zelda was alone with Link, both indulging within their desires, which they have for so long kept secret from each other and even from themselves… each other's, touch, compassion and love. They embraced each other on the bed, Zelda wrapped within Link's arms, as he braced his body on hers. He had wanted a moment like this from her for so long. Kafei hadn't touched Anju compassionately for a while, and was beginning to feel the need to caress her, which he did so as they sat outside her house bathing within the rising sunrise. Anju enjoyed his need to show his love for her, as they watched the slowly dwindling movement below within the main square of the town… early birds who were just beginning their day.
Integra and Alucard were back at the Helsing holiday manor enjoying the peace, silence, and being alone together. She felt a little tight wearing her green suit jacket, and so the took it off and hung it on a chair by Alucard, who sat at the table. She lit up a cigar while she told Alucard of her change and why she came back to life after being stabbed in the heart. Now finally fully aware of the situation, Alucard finally understood why Integra became so in need to keep a link to Hyrule. She then took a puff of the cigar.
"Now I understand why her highness, and Kafei's woman keep referring you to as the second Triforce," Alucard said. "The goddesses themselves chose you."
"Alucard, I am now eternal like you," Integra replied, after blowing out the rich smoke of bourgeoisie. "However I am not one of the undead like you, but frozen in this state forever… I no longer age, I am now immune to disease and to mortal appendage damage. I could heal a broken bone and be fine the next day for this is where time has froze me. Everyday, I will wake up in the same state as I am… ever seen the movie 'Groundhog Day'? However unlike Bill Murray's character who woke up to the same day, time has not stopped for me in that way… just my mortal body clock has become frozen. Alucard… you could drain me dry and never be able to turn me, for I will wake up tomorrow in the same state as I am. I will always be human, for I was internally frozen as a human."
Alucard smirked. "Are you saying I can take what I want… to drink as much of your blood as I please and when I want?"
Integra smirked. "Well… secretly, I always wondered what it would feel like to be at the mercy of your hunger… Dracula. You would know how to make a woman feel relaxed and at pleasure when your teeth are punctured at their neck… and I know you do. But you already knew that secret pleasure of mine, didn't you?"
"What made you wonder why I offered as much as I did? Still, your offer is just as appetising… to forever feed on your rich Helsing blood… your great grandfather must be turning in his grave. In fact, all this talk is making me hungry."
"Go ahead. It's not like I'm in danger of losing my humanity… for us this is just simple, harmless pleasure."
"A great sinful pleasure."
Alucard rose from his seat and approached Integra, his red ruby eyes glowing in anticipation for her blood… blood that was once forbidden to him, blood, which only he could have at Integra's will. Integra just stood there allowing Alucard to have his way, as he slid off her blue cravat and unbuttoned the first few buttons on her white blouse. He opened the blouse wider to expose her chest. He pushed the blouse over her right shoulder and gathered her hair, her neck now completely exposed. He could smell her sweet, rich… and now powerful blood, which was pumping through her veins.
"Alucard, I want you to do something for me," she then said. "When your finished… go outside and bathe yourself within the sunrise."
"Are you mad… that would surely scorch me to an permeant death… especially a sunrise, where I have seen defeat many times."
"Trust me, Alucard. You will be drinking my blood, which is now riddled with the power of the Triforce. You drink from that, and you will be blessed with the light. The goddesses gave me a wish before I descended, and I wished to see you walk within the light once more. This is how you will fulfil my wish."
"You wished for that?" Integra just smiled. "Integra…"
"Just hurry up and drink already."
She didn't need to order that twice! Alucard took his time softly caressing Integra's neck with his gloved hands. His touch felt like something was crawling down her neck… it felt good. Unlike the vampires rogues that she frequently kills, Alucard knew what he was… a medium of compassion, indulgence and pleasure. He knew how to elegantly feed with the victim feeling like she was having sex with him. The first… the fountain point of all vampires… Dracula. She could feel his breath on her neck, as he hissed for her soil of life, still he wasn't satisfied with taking the smell of her blood in yet. He finished his attack off with multiple kisses, his lips softly touching her milky tan flesh… then chomping into it with his fangs piercing her perfectly toned skin. She could feel her blood being drained; it felt painful… and then pleasurable at the same time. No wonder why mostly whores became female vampires; they would have yearned for this indulgence.
She didn't feel weird, apart from the river of blood draining from her neck. She didn't feel tired, nor did she feel that she was dying; as she said before her body was internally frozen, and so her body won't recognise the change until she goes to sleep tonight, where her body would fix that error until she was like she was before. All she felt was this sinful feeling that was too hard to ignore… to be at the mercy of such a monster who represented all the lustful and compassionate emotions of a human's imagination. The occult monster of lust and indulgence… the vampire; it was the reason why Victorian authors wrote about vampires… because like sex, reading about a vampire and their moment of attack stirred up the same emotions and pleasure. Now satisfied, Alucard released her from his hold leaving his mark upon her neck. He wiped her blood from his teeth, still feeling aroused by finally having what he always wanted for thirteen years… her.
"How do you feel, Alucard?" she then asked.
"…Blessed."
"Go outside."
The sun had now risen from the earth, blessing the earth with the rays of a new day. They could see the rays from the dining room windows. Alucard headed towards the front door at the entrance of the mansion. He stopped to hesitate. The sunrise… the sunrise had always been his enemy… it was the sign of another day of inhumane torture as a child, the sign of a new day of crusade struggle as a king, the sign of defeat at his execution before signing over his life to the devil for eternity, and the defeat against Abraham van Helsing. With Integra's blood coursing through him, he had been blessed to have the power to walk within the very thing he hated, however he trusted her word. This was one sunrise we wouldn't be defeated from.
He opened the doors and immediately shielded his eyes, for his eyes hadn't seen the sun at this strength in the day for over a century. Eventually his eyes adapted to the light and could now look at the sky, his eyes filled with an array of strong oranges, reds and blue. For the first time in his life, the sunrise looked magnificent to him, as he allowed the morning rays to bless its light upon him. The sunrise was no longer his enemy… perhaps this was because he was partnered with a ray of light of his own… Integra. The stepped down from the entrance steps and continued to gaze at the sunrise. He wasn't burning, he wasn't in pain… her blood definitely blessed him.
Integra watched from the door with a cloth pressed on Alucard's bite mark, which he left on her neck. Even though the bleeding wouldn't be a threat to her life, her natural reflex was to try to stop the bleeding. It was a sight to see… Alucard walking under the sunrise… she couldn't have wished for anything better. He turned around to see her at the entrance smiling at him. He smiled back… he felt human for the first time in over five hundred years. Integra stepped down and approached him. She gazed into his eyes, before pulling him for a kiss. The vampire and the eternal iron maiden continued to kiss under the sunrise.
