Author's Note: As originally stated, this fic was meant to start unraveling Alucard's past. We got glimpses in the first arc that there's more than meets the eye to the stories told, but there's several layers to peel back in order to connect historical Vlad to Stoker's Dracula, and then to Hellsing's Alucard. It's not going to be a joy trip for the characters, but hopefully you readers will be entertained.

Despite a great deal of silence from readers on whatever keeps bringing you folks back to read more chapters (and a bit of negativity from a new reviewer, which I'm not going back a rewriting over a dozen chapters to suit your tastes), I was pleasantly surprised when I finally logged back in to see the views had jumped by over 1.5 thousand in the last six weeks! Wow! And the counts for various countries viewing remained consistently through the chapters, so I know people are reading this through. Let me know what you folks are looking forward to in the second arc, as it's now underway in being written.

Yes, U-M Grapevine, I am actively trying to cut dialogue down a bit. I appreciate the feedback you gave, which was consistently with some given by another reviewer whose feedback I have come to appreciate.

And ChibiDiceBotch, thanks for your reviews. Appreciated as always, and your most recent reminded me that I needed to get my butt back over here to fanfic land so i wasn't leaving people hanging. I'm trying really hard NOT to be that writer, and failing spectacularly the last few months. Again, I apologize to everyone.
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Chapter Twenty-Nine

All the Wards are Activated

After leaving Mercedes's apartment, Seras and Walter found themselves stuck in morning rush hour traffic made worse by emergency vehicles attempting to cut through the ocean of cars on the highway to get to the disaster in Center City. Xander was in the back seat of the SUV they had appropriated from Iscariot and still sleeping soundly. His guardian canine lay quietly on the floor beside him in her shadow state, ever watchful for danger and staying out of sight from those passing by in the neighboring lanes.

Walter was at the wheel of the car, having had more experience driving in American vehicles and their backward version of street layouts.

Seras was in the passenger seat, trying to get a GPS to work to perhaps find them a quicker back road to take into the city, as they were unfamiliar with the layout of Philadelphia. As she waited for the GPS to find a signal and finally load, Seras was talking to Walter in a rather chipper fashion, trying to puzzle out something that had made her rather curious yet very confused.

"…And all his behavior before we engaged Iscariot aside, there was Master's rather hasty exit from the main battle taking place…"

"That wasn't terribly odd, Miss Seras. Master Alucard was chasing after Anderson," Walter said neutrally, though he was inwardly getting frustrated with Americans' inabilities to drive properly on the highway. There were no accidents on the highway itself, and using one's accelerator to drive the proper 50 miles an hour was no more difficult than driving 20 miles an hour.

"Well, yes, I realize that," Seras said. "But there was the other operatives to also deal with, yet he left them to our care rather than taking a few minutes to dispose of them."

"We did have the objective of keeping Anderson away from Ms. Dreux-Brézé and her son, for precisely the reason that came to pass," Walter reminded the younger vampire. "Even disengaging as quickly as he did, Master Alucard nearly didn't arrive in time to keep Anderson from killing her."

"Yes, I realize that." Seras gave the uncooperative GPS an annoyed shake, though that wasn't the least helpful in getting it to work. "And Master was in an absolute fury when we arrived because of that."

"How do you judge such?" Walter asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The fact that Master threw Anderson through a building, stabbed him with his own swords, attacked as a flock of bats, heedless of witnesses or daylight, and then impaled and castrated him seemed a pretty clear indicator he was furious," Seras said candidly.

"Master Alucard is often rather brutal when fighting with Anderson, especially as he has had such difficulty in ending the priest's life."

"Yes, but how often does Master resort to such conspicuous means as transforming into animals when his guns are far more effective?" Seras pointed out. "Only when something has truly roused his anger and he wishes to make a point. Not to mention, handling Anderson's blades does hurt Master, even if it isn't as painful for him as it is for us. And Master does try to keep potential identifying links to his past to a minimum, so he usually avoids certain distinct methods of retribution when dealing with enemies, unless his anger is truly roused and he reverts back to more medieval mindsets and punishments. That all paints a picture of Master taking things personal for Anderson harming Ms. Mercedes."

"You truly have quite the fanciful imagination, Miss Seras," Walter said wryly, an amused smirk openly gracing his handsome ageless face. "Master Alucard has been growing increasingly more frustrated with Anderson over the years. Father Anderson had just severely injured an ally, despite Master Alucard attempting to divert that from happening. We both know how much Master Alucard dislikes it when Anderson causes complications to his plans. That it was Ms. Dreux-Brézé injured was incidental to the fact she was an ally."

"And I suppose you'll call it my imagination that they were speaking to one another in such a strange fashion before Ms. Mercedes passed out?" Seras asked, somewhat affronted and giving up on the GPS for the moment.

"Master Alucard was attempting to keep her conscious," Walter replied with impassive assessment of the situation.

"He was certainly doing it in a rather odd fashion," Seras stated with certainty. "He was even calling her by pet names and 'Lady Mercedes'."

"He frequently calls you 'Police Girl' and me 'Angel of Death'," Walter pointed out. "Calling the heiress of a noble-heritage family by such is hardly abnormal for his habit of impersonalizing associations."

"Even if done in jest, Master calling someone who is nobility by even a lesser noble title is a rather strong sign of respect, not depersonalization," Seras countered. "Especially when said noble family no longer has any weight to their titles outside of courtesy. And did you not hear the last name he called her by before she passed out?"

"Master Alucard called her 'Seer'," Walter replied. "And as she is such, it is again well in line with how he usually terms those who work with him."

"Ah, you didn't hear the attempt he made with telepathy to keep her awake," Seras observed matter-of-factly.

Walter spared a puzzled glance in Seras's direction. "No. I wasn't aware there was one."

"I'm sorry, Walter," Seras apologized sincerely, blushing faintly in embarrassment. "I forget sometimes that your skills in such aren't as strong as mine as some of your others are better than mine and you are older."

"I may be older as a vampire, but you have had a longer time being a true vampire than myself," Walter replied without rancor to the fact. "What did Master Alucard say to Ms. Dreux-Brézé?"

"He asked if his strange comments on some sort of show revision would be acceptable, and called her 'draga mea'," Seras said with a victorious smile alighting her pretty features, increasing the deceptively innocent appearance of the young vampire.

Walter raised an eyebrow but did not respond.

"And the last thing Ms. Mercedes addressed Master as was 'mein schwarze sonne'," Seras continued cheerfully. "I don't know what 'schwarze sonne' means, but I do know 'mein' is German for 'my' or 'mine'."

"'Schwarze Sonne' means 'black sun'," Walter said informatively. "It is an occult symbol in several ancient pagan cultures. Depending on sources read, and which culture is being referenced, it is, most simply explained, reportedly representative of life and death, or complete destruction and an absence of life, or eternal life that knows no death. The symbol was brought back to a limited public consciousness during the Nazi regime, as it was greatly favored by the higher ranking members of the SS and their occult practices. The meaning of the symbol, however, was kept secret. Since then, a number of books and media have utilized the phrase or concept in some fashion or other."

"Did you learn all that when fighting against the Nazis and their occult projects?" Seras asked, impressed by his quick recitation.

"Primarily," Walter conceded, a fraction of a smirk returning. "To fight one's enemies, one must know them. As I said, it was a popular symbol in those days for them. However, it is currently illegal in Germany for the symbol to be printed or depicted in any fashion, despite most of the populace not knowing its actual significance."

"Hm… Well, Nazis aside," Seras said thoughtfully, "that doesn't sound exactly inappropriate for Master, especially when the nickname is coming from a pagan priestess… Though why a French noble would say such in German is curious…"

"Ms. Dreux-Brézé also said 'Domn meu', which means 'My Lord', in response to Master Alucard calling her 'Lady Mercedes'. She apparently has a habit of likewise giving allies a name that reflects them, and seems to have formed a mutual respect with Master Alucard," Walter said neutrally. "While an infrequent happening, it does happen from time to time that Master Alucard comes to respect a human. Despite their differences and parting, Master Alucard and Sir Integra had a strong respect for one another when they were master and servant. She would occasionally call him 'Count' or 'Prince', and he would call her 'Countess'. So the terms with Ms. Dreux-Brézé does not elevate the situation as you suggest. And as the schwarze sonne was a symbol revitalized by Germans, it is likely she simply uses the term in that language for that reason. Neither are indicatory of your theory."

"But she said 'mein schwarze sonne', not simply 'schwarze sonne'," Seras argued. The former police officer was absolutely determined to examine every bit of evidence for these circumstances, from every angle, to get to the bottom of just what her Master had been up to during the last week he had been spending with the young woman. "That's a distinctly possessive address. One that can't be dismissed as a formality between those of noble blood. Just as Master calling her 'draga mea' is distinctly possessive and personal. If I remember correctly, it means 'my love' in old Romanian. Such is not the least like the sorts of nicknames Master usually gives. When was the last time that you heard Master call anyone something that intimate?!"

Seras continued without pausing for an answer, "Never, that's when. As you said, he only ever called Sir Integra 'Countess', not even 'My Countess'; nor did she ever call him 'my Count'. And with the furious mood Master has been in, I've been thinking that perhaps their comments on some sort of show are actually some sort of reference to something else entirely. Perhaps they were agreeing to change their views on what they were previously planning on for their interactions before this fight. Master's comments of such, and him referring to her as his love, combined with the fact that he said it telepathically, wanting to keep such private, and that Ms. Mercedes replied as she did, all seems rather like the way lovers would speak with one another during such a distressing moment as one of them being possibly on the verge of death and wanting to make things right with one another in case that person does die so there are no regrets."

Walter had no immediate rebuttal for that point.

"And there was what Ms. Mercedes said while I was on the phone with Master," Seras added the evidence to her growing argument. "According to Master, seers are unable to lie. Which was part of how he knew she was having a true vision of this attack when she recounted it to himself. Even if Master says she was being misleading in what she related to cause retaliatory mischief because he had done such while waiting for Iscariot to make their move and was bored, there had to be some truth in the statements for her to have been able to say them. He explained some of those things, but avoided the subject of what she had meant by he had had her pinned and necked her by saying he didn't need to give a play by play account of every interaction they had had throughout the week and we needed to concentrate on more pressing business."

"Whatever took place, it truly is none of our business, Miss Seras," Walter said properly.

Seras wasn't fooled for a moment. She had known Walter for long enough that she could tell he was just as curious as she was about that bit of information evaded and left unexplained, especially after pointing out the possessive nicknames the two had used, even if he wouldn't break propriety to admit it.

"And if one was to notice such things," Seras said slyly with a wider, canine revealing grin, "as one with women's intuition and a police officer's training does, one might notice that Master does tend to have a preference in what his brides look like. Those he has chosen to have as more than just prolonged lovers have had dark hair and eyes, pale complexions, with fuller figures instead of being anorexic sticks. Miss Lucy Westenra, who supposedly reminded him strongly of his first wife, had such features, rather than the fair features often depicted in movies. Mrs. Harker had such features, even if she was one Master only targeted in revenge for the killing of Miss Lucy. His eldest of brides when Hellsing defeated him reportedly had such features, rather than the fairer features the fictional book mentions. And Ms. Mercedes has all of those.

"Master also likes women who are strong willed and fighters. His first wife supported his war campaigns, even going into exile with him at the beginning of their marriage. His second wife married him well knowing she was marrying a prince who was at constant war and had a vicious reputation, as they had met while he was being held with due accommodations as a political prisoner. His brides before Hellsing defeated him were all women who were willing to fight Hellsing to the death, rather than betray their Master. And even though Master didn't necessarily desire Mrs. Harker, he did respect her for the fight she put up after he forced her to take his blood. Ms. Mercedes certainly proved today that she was such a woman who would rather fight and die than run or give herself over to an enemy."

Seras blushed noticeably as she added, "And given the bag I accidentally stumbled across, I would hazard a guess that Ms. Mercedes isn't without inventiveness outside of battle as well… Which we both know Master would enjoy."

"Miss Seras!" Walter reprimanded, casting a stern look her way.

"Y-yes, I know," Seras replied quickly, blush increasing. "It isn't proper to make guesses at Master's private affairs. I was only pointing it out."

"Such observations would be better left unsaid," Walter said with a shake of his head.

"Alright, well there is also this, Walter," Seras said more seriously. "While Master wouldn't ever likely admit it directly, I think perhaps he doesn't mind the fact that she has a child. Whatever has been going on, keeping that little boy safe has been high in Master's priorities. He also knew what his favorite toy was and where all his things were kept, which means he's been becoming acquainted with the boy in more than just a passing manner. Though he rarely mentions it even in passing, and I think it's so because it's uncomfortable for him to think about it, Master did once have three children of his own when he was human. Two of whom were sons. His eldest son was by his first wife, their only child together.

"There's no portraits of them as children for me to be certain of it, but I think perhaps he might be behaving so oddly not just because he has discovered a woman who resembles his first and lost wife in appearance and personality, but because there is a young child involved who may or may not resemble one of those sons who died. Little Xander has very Eastern European features like his biological father's with his pale skin, aquiline features, and black hair. Features not entirely dissimilar from Master's when he was human, except that the boy has blue eyes, rather than the green that Master had. Master sacrificed more than just his humanity when he became a vampire; he sacrificed his ties to most of his human family to become what he now is and not drag them into his choice. Perhaps Master, after all these years, regrets his decision and wishes to reclaim what he once gave up, even if he can't ever be human again or do so specifically with those he left behind."

Walter frowned slightly to the continued comparisons made, reaching up with one hand to adjust his monocle in a gesture born of habit. "You forget one thing in all these suppositions you are making, Police Girl, that definitively proves Master Alucard's interest is strictly professional."

"And what thing is that?" Seras asked, not seeing any fault to her logic.

"It has never been in Master Alucard's nature to not pursue a woman he desires, regardless of potential negative consequences," Walter said stoically. "That was what led to hostilities from some nobility when he took his first wife who was considered below his station, renewed hostilities among some nobility when he took his second wife as a political maneuver, hostilities with locals and it being known he was a vampire when he took some of his vampiric brides, and what led to his imprisonment with Hellsing because of his interest in Miss Westenra and then strike against Mrs. Harker. Master Alucard is above reproach in most any other situation because he proceeds with superior logic to the best ends one could expect from the circumstances. However, and forgive me for saying such so bluntly, we both know a woman Master Alucard takes an interest in is inarguably a potent bane to his rational thinking that he all too willingly consumes when it presents itself.

"If, as you supposition, Master Alucard had any sort of interest in the young woman beyond an ally, a sudden whim to reform a family for himself as he once had, he would not simply leave the country once business was concluded. Master Alucard quite clearly stated before we engaged Iscariot that, once we were finished with the battle, we were returning to England without Ms. Dreux-Brézé and her son. He has also stated, now that Ms. Dreux-Brézé has been injured and Anderson and his new recruits managed to escape, that he plans to leave them with family or a friend who can be trusted for their care and hiding. He did not state that we would be permanently taking over her care or bringing them back to England with us. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that his interests are strictly professional and his behavior is motivated by such."

Seras pouted and gave a sigh, her excitement rapidly deflating with that inarguable point. "You have a point there, Walter… Perhaps my hope that Master might finally find a lady and have some distraction from constant battling got the best of me. I maintain that spending as much time obsessed on fighting Iscariot and dealing with other vampires as Master does is not healthy for him, even if it is serving a purpose. But I can't argue that Master wouldn't simply leave as he plans to if he had any interest that wasn't professional…"

"Precisely," Walter said simply.

"So who do you think Master will have us bring Ms. Mercedes and little Xander to when she is able to be moved from the hospital?" Seras asked, changing the subject to distract herself from her disappointment at being proved wrong.

"That I am uncertain of," Walter replied. "Even with my research, I am not as informed as to her connections as Master Alucard is, so I don't believe I could make a proper guess. Her family includes some doctors, so he may wish to bring her and her son to them."

"They wouldn't be very capable of handling Iscariot though," Seras pointed out. The GPS in her lap finally made a small beeping noise to announce that a signal had been found. "About bloody time!" The young vampire began typing in their desired destination as she continued speaking, "And surely Ms. Mercedes's family would be one of the first places Anderson and Iscariot will look for them if they decide to pursue ending her life."

"Indeed," Walter agreed. "As I said, I am not certain where Master Alucard will decide to bring them as her connection with the local vampires is compromised with the unknown extent of today's treachery."

"They might be safer away from connections Iscariot know they have and with those that are capable of keeping them safe…" Seras said with an impish smile returning.

"Miss Seras, if you are indicating that we suggest to Master Alucard that we keep them with us indefinitely, I think such blatant attempted matchmaking would be a poorly received idea," Walter refused immediately. "Not for the least of reasons that, while we are indeed better capable of dealing with Iscariot, in the same respect we have a rather volatile lifestyle and are frequently engaging Iscariot in fights. Such would hardly be conducive to a healing atmosphere for Ms. Dreux-Brézé and a safe one for the child."

"Given the circumstances, there isn't exactly any place…" Seras's response was cut short as a flash of prismatic energy slammed into her.

A second burst of magic hit Walter within a second of the first. His quick reflexes and senses had given him barely enough time to see the energy hurtling towards them and slam on the breaks to avoid an accident, and then a horrific fiery sensation was flowing through his veins.

A third flash of magical light was seen in the backseat, though it died momentarily.

Artemis began to grumble and growl quietly at the surge of energy pulsing through the car. The lights in the front seat flashed for several seconds and neither vampire was able to move or speak.

The sigil laced lights disappeared after several seconds, leaving both vampires deeply unnerved and sore. The hell hound quieted down when the energy dissipated, but was now keeping her golden gaze on the two vampires in the front seat.

Walter and Seras glanced over at each other in question, ignoring the honking vehicles around them. Walter's hellfire eyes widened as he saw a faintly glowing symbol on Seras's prominent chest. Seras glanced down when she noticed the direction Walter was staring in and saw the symbol as well.

"W-what in the world?!" Seras exclaimed, finally recollecting her wits enough to manage that much. She rubbed frantically at the mark, her ample breasts shaking with the movement, but the mark didn't disappear.

Walter could feel a small burning on his chest and knew without looking what he'd find should he investigate.

"It would seem," Walter said, somewhat shakily, "that we are under some sort of enchantment."

"What?!" Seras yelled, halting her attempts to wipe away the mark and looking up at the older vampire in fear. "From who? And how?"

"I am not certain," Walter replied. "Ms. Dreux-Brézé is an enchantress, but she is unconscious at the moment. Even were she not, it would not make sense for her to cast magic on allies while weakened, especially without warning. Iscariot has magic users, so it may be their doing somehow."

Seras's expression became even more worried. "Do you know what these symbols mean, Walter?"

"I do not," Walter admitted, stoic disposition slowly returning. He smoothed a few stray strands of his hair back with his palms, strands that had come loose while he had been jerking in pain from the magical energy. "They do not resemble those that were used to bind Master Alucard to Hellsing's service and my knowledge of sorcery is somewhat limited to only those areas I've needed to learn."

Walter realized they were stopped in the middle of the highway and tried to turn the key in the ignition to restart the car. He found that the key was still turned, but the car itself was no longer functioning for some inexplicable reason. He used his telekinesis to make the car's wheels roll and the blinkers light up to signal car trouble to get them to the shoulder of the highway.

As he did so, Walter said cautiously, not wanting to further alarm Seras, but becoming concerned himself, "I think it may be wise, Miss Seras, for you to take a look about and see if there are any signs of Iscariot's operatives in the area."

Seras nodded tentatively and stretched out her senses. After a minute of wary search, Seras finally sighed and retracted her psychic sight.

"I can't find anyone suspicious looking, Iscariot or not," Seras reported. "Why are we pulled over to the side of the road, Walter?"

Walter nodded once to her first comment and instead asked, "What options does the GPS have for getting us off the highway and to a quieter route? I believe we should make our way to such and then alert Master Alucard to what happened."

Seras glanced down at the forgotten GPS in her lap, only to find the screen once more malfunctioning. "Bloody hell! It's lost signal again and now the screen is on an error!"

"I am hardly surprised," Walter said dryly. "The car is not moving of its own volition either."

Seras's expression became panicked. "The car isn't working either? Now what are we going to do? I doubt we can move all this stuff and the little one in any fashion that won't draw attention from the humans around us! Someone could be coming for a fight at any moment and now we don't have normal means of travel?!"

Walter removed his cell phone from his pocket and saw it was not working. "Miss Seras, I don't suppose your cellular phone is operational, is it?"

Seras checked her phone and saw that it wasn't. "No! That's not working either! What the bloody hell is going on, Walter?!"

Walter saw movement in the backseat and glanced over his slender shoulder.

The shadowy form of the hellhound was shifting to the far back of the SUV and her jaws grew and became unhinged. Artemis proceeded to gulp down as a whole each of the suitcases, Seras's gun case, and Mercedes's chest of magic supplies. Golden eyes turned to the two vampires expectantly and the demonic dog gave them a small snuff, then looked at the child she was duty-bound to protect.

Walter and Seras exchanged glances and then looked into the backseat again.

"I suppose we can leave the car as stranded pedestrians and walk down the shoulder of the highway until we reach a discreet place to dematerialize into shadows ourselves," Walter finally said. "It is still early morning. So long as we stay in the shadows, no one should notice us. Once we reach Center City, if the guardian canine is willing and able, she can retrieve our belongings from the hotel room and we can then find a van as Master Alucard suggested for transporting Ms. Mercedes. While downtown, we will be able to find a payphone to call Master Alucard from and make him aware of this development."

Artemis gave another snuff and a nod of approval to the plan.

Seras nodded as well and both vampires exited the broken vehicle. Seras retrieved Xander from the back seat, carrying the bundled child in her arms and letting his head rest on her shoulder. Walter walked ahead of Seras, warily keeping watch for signs of attack and adjusting his gloves in case need arose to defend them with his most effective of weapons.

The hell hound slunk out of the car and darted in zig-zags along the shadows beneath cars moving on the highway to keep out of obvious sight.

When they reached a spot along the highway where there was a small stand of trees nearly ten minutes later, the vampires hopped the guard rail and entered the cover of those trees. The hell hound darted after them and came to a stop near Seras and Xander.

"Perhaps we should try reaching Master now with a telepathic poke?" Seras suggested, having had more time to think on the matter with a less panicked perspective. "Rather than wait until we are downtown?"

"That may be a wise course of action," Walter agreed. "Master Alucard may wish to issue a different order of action with this development."

Seras nodded and stretched out her senses. As the stronger of the two servants in mental powers, she had an easier time reaching her Master's consciousness for such things. After a brief bit of concentration, she felt her Master's presence and nudged at it with her mind, trying to get his attention.

"Yes, Police Girl?" Alucard's faintly entertained voice echoed in her mind after a few seconds of wait.

"Master," Seras said nervously, "there's been a bit of a complication to the plans."

"And that would be?"

"Well, you see, there was a strange surge of energy that hit Walter and I. I think it may have done something to Xander as well because there was a light in the back of the car, but he didn't react to it. Perhaps that was because he's in a hypnotic sleep. We now have these strange marks on our chests, but the boy doesn't, and all the electronics in the SUV, including the vehicle itself, malfunctioned. We had to-to…" Seras's rapid explanation fell stuttered into silence as she felt a fair amount of irritation suddenly on her Master's side of the mental connection. "M-master? What is it? Do you know what happened?"

Alucard was silent for several seconds. He finally asked in a perfectly neutral voice, "Where are you two and the boy right now?"

"We had to walk down the highway a little bit and are currently in the shelter of a stand of trees," Seras explained hesitantly. "Ms. Mercedes's hound did a nifty little trick of swallowing all the luggage, so we were able to not leave behind anything you ordered us to bring."

"I see…" There was a few seconds of silence. "And you said the magic affected the boy as well, but there is no symbol on him?"

"Yes, Master," Seras replied. "Master, do you know what is going on? Did it happen to you as well? Is this something done by Iscariot to try tracking us all down?"

"No, it was not done by Iscariot," Alucard replied stoically. "What were you and Walter's plans once reaching the cover?"

"We were going to shift to our shadow forms to make our way downtown as fast as possible and continue with your orders of retrieving our belongings by having the hound swallow those as well, and then appropriate the van for transportation. Unless you wish to alter those orders given the circumstances?"

"No, those orders remain. I will have further instructions for you by the time you are done."

"Master, do you know what just happened?" Seras asked insistently.

"Not precisely, but it was not Iscariot's doing and I do not believe that it will immediately impede our plans, so follow your orders as they are for the time being."

"Yes, my Master," Seras agreed, knowing not to argue with her Master when he used that sharper tone of voice. She felt Alucard break the telepathic connection and glanced over to Walter. "Master didn't seem more than momentarily surprised to hear what happened, and he said it wasn't Iscariot's doing."

"Did Master Alucard say what caused this occurrence?" Walter asked.

"No, he didn't, but I think he knows."

Walter nodded once. "And did Master Alucard say anything as to our directives?"

"They remain the same as before: retrieve our belongings and appropriate a van," Seras said. "He didn't voice disapproval of us doing so as we have reconsidered, so I think we can continue with that change. We are to let him know when we are finished and he'll have further orders for us then."

"Then let us get that task done," Walter said with a faint note of resignation.

"Do you think this had something to do with Ms. Mercedes?"

"If Master Alucard is saying it was not Iscariot, then it is fair to assume it was something by Ms. Dreux-Brézé's doing, as she is the only other magic user we know with involvement in these current circumstances," Walter said logically. "Whatever was done, if Master Alucard wishes us to continue with our orders, then that means it is not anything we should be terribly concerned with for the time being. When we rejoin Master Alucard, we can then find the appropriate moment to inquire further."

Seras nodded, only marginally appeased by that rationalization. The mark was still aching slightly on her chest and it was rather disconcerting.

Walter shifted into his shadow state. Seras followed a few seconds later, shifting Xander with herself to make it less conspicuous to carry the sleeping child. Both vampires and the hell hound started towards Center City as quickly as they could, using what long stretching shadows were available in the early morning light as cover.

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Mercedes's best friend Val had seen the live reports being broadcasted on all news channels of the 'terrorist' attacks on the Archdiocese and at various locations around Philadelphia on the TV in the emergency room of the hospital her grandfather was currently checked into. Val had tried to reach Mercedes to find out if she was okay, as one of the newest sites reported to be attacked was Mercedes's apartment building and the building across from it, and had found she couldn't reach Mercedes. Val's phone had died before she could try calling a second time, having been left on all night to make calls to family as she waited for word on her grandfather's condition.

With worry already present from her grandfather being hospitalized, and then that development of not being able to reach her best friend, Val went outside for a smoke and to charge her phone in the car jack. Her grandparents had bought her the car, and part of the conditions for her getting to keep it was that people weren't allowed to smoke in it. As her grandparents didn't know she smoked, Val had left her phone charging while she smoked a distance away to keep any stray smoke from entering the vehicle and tipping her grandparents off to her secret bad habit.

Val was leaning against a fence and smoking the third in a chain of cigarettes to try calming her nerves, when a bright prismatic light came flying towards her and entered her chest. The young woman dropped her cigarette in shock. There was a momentary flare of brighter light and a warm sensation spreading through her body, following the course of her arteries and veins, and then the light disappeared.

Val stood stock still, gaze stuck on her busty, t-shirt covered chest in deep surprise.

And now this on top of everything else that had happened this morning…

"Oh fuck… oh fuck…" Val began to mutter in instantaneous fear. "The wards were activated… The wards were fucking activated!"

Val saw people looking in her direction as they walked towards the hospital and realized she was babbling out loud about things that were likely better not overheard. The redheaded human walked across the parking lot to where her car was currently idling, trying to keep herself from panicking as she considered the ramifications of the enchantments becoming active.

'Fuck, fuck, fucking fuckity fuck,' Val thought frantically, pulling open her car door and unplugging her phone from the charging cord. She punched the speed dial number for Mercedes's cell phone. 'Please, Mercedes, answer your gods-damned phone this time!'

Mercedes's phone went straight to voicemail.

"Son of a fucking whore!" Val yelled furiously at the phone as she hung up. "Christ crucified on the cross! You just got reamed out for turning your phone off yesterday, and now you did it again today?!"

Despite her outburst, Val was far more afraid of that lack of answer, especially as the wards had been activated. That didn't bode well for her best friend, nephew, and their state of wellbeing. And she knew that it had been caused by harm to one of them, as they were the only two besides herself with the wards in place and connected together.

"Bloody fucking hell," Val said more quietly. "Ok, think… Who else can I try to call and might know something?"

After a few seconds of thought, Val had a potential answer and slapped her palm to her forehead for not thinking of it immediately. "Liam! If anyone would know what the fuck is happening, and why the hell Mercedes's ward was activated, it's got to be Liam."

Val pulled up her contacts and found Liam's cell phone number. She dialed the number and, thankfully, it rang. 'Please, please, please, answer your fucking phone Liam!"

Liam answered on the seventh ring.

"Hello Valarie," Liam's voice was extremely strained. "I was going to call you shortly. Have you heard from Mercedes at all this morning?"

"No, I haven't heard from her since late yesterday afternoon. That is why I'm calling you," Val said in clipped tones, worry rising. "What the fuck is going on over there, Liam?!"

"I really do not have time to explain everything right now, Val," Liam replied. "But suffice it to say, there was a fight that took place between Iscariot and some vampires that were not mine."

"Yeah, no shit there was a fight! It's all over every news station!" Val said heatedly. "And fuck what the news casters say; I know that kind of damage isn't terrorists! And I haven't been able to reach Mercedes to find out if she's okay! And from your response, you don't know where she is either?!"

"No, I am attempting to find both her and Xander right now," Liam said. "The fight spread out from Center City and they disappeared during the chaos."

"What do you mean 'they disappeared during the chaos'?! How'd they even get involved in this mess?!"

"Val, I do not have time to waste trying to explain everything right now," Liam's voice became quite a bit flintier. "If you have not heard from Sunshine, I need to get off the phone with you so I can continue contacting those who can aid me in finding her. As it is, I was on the phone with her grandparents when you called. They have not heard from her either, her grandmother is in quite the panic from having seen the reports on the news as well, and I had to waste time trying to calm her and keep her from another heart attack. Time that should have been spent searching for Mercedes and Xander. I am doing everything in my power to locate my son and consort, for the sakes of all who care about them, so please allow me to do so."

"Well you had better step on it, Liam!" Val snapped back. "Her anti-vampire wards were just fucking activated, my neck sure as hell isn't sporting any bites, so clearly something has happened to one of them since they 'disappeared'!"

There was silence for a few seconds on the other line. Finally, Liam asked quietly, "Her wards were activated? Are you certain?"

"No, there are a million fucking reasons why a bright light would go hurtling into my chest and sending a wave of energy through me that I'm still feeling the tingly aftermaths of!" Val said sarcastically. "Yes I'm certain! So find a couple minutes to explain to me what the fuck is going on and why the fuck someone over there bit Mercedes or Xander!"

"Val, none of mine bit my Sunshine or my son, I can promise you that," Liam replied icily.

"If it wasn't one of yours, then who was it?!" Val asked relentlessly. "Stop acting like a cold Ventrue fuck and tell me what is going on, Liam! I love Mercedes and Xander just as much as you do! They're my family too! I have a right to know what the hell is going on! How did this happen?! Why weren't you keeping them safe like you're supposed to?!"

"I was trying to keep them safe!" Liam's voice actually raised to nearly a yell, the first time Val had ever heard such from the usually even-tempered Elder. "I had Davin and Marrick watching over her and Xander while I was dealing with the primary groups of enemies personally! Then, just as a group of Iscariot's special members broke away from the fray, the high-rise the other Elders and I were in exploded!"

Liam must have collected his fraying temper because his voice became more level. "I had to extricate myself and those who survived out of the rubble, and get us away before anyone could notice anything strange. While doing so, I lost track of exactly where the enemies were. They managed to make it to Mercedes' home and their damnable blessed weapons killed Davin and badly wounded Marrick. Marrick was barely alive enough from his injuries to use his powers to escape the enemy so he could then alert me to what happened. There was a fight between Iscariot and Mercedes, she was injured, and then the leader of the enemy vampires showed up and engaged Iscariot. Who exactly won was unknown as the fight ended and both parties disappeared before I arrived, but we were fairly certain it was the vampire that kidnapped her and Xander. If her wards have been activated, then it confirms he did. That vampire is not someone friendly to the Elders and if he has Sunshine and Xander, and the wards have been activated, it is all the more critical I find them as quickly as possible."

Val was quiet for several seconds, having been stunned by the news that Davin was dead. She was also even more worried now with the news that Mercedes had been injured before the wards were even activated.

"Davin is dead?" Val asked in barely a whisper. "And Mercedes was injured? How bad was the injury?"

"Yes, Davin is dead and she and Marrick were injured," Liam said icily. "The extent of Mercedes's injuries are unknown as we have not found her yet, but from signs left behind, they were quite serious. Now, unless you have anything further to tell me, I need to turn my attention back to finding my family before any more members are lost. I assure you, I will call you when I have found and retrieved Mercedes and Xander."

"Yeah, okay…" Val said quietly. "Just get them back safely, Liam. Please."

"Believe when I say, I am doing everything I can."

The phone line went dead, leaving Val staring at it blankly, with no answers or assurances to her fears and more worried questions piling up in her mind by the second.