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Iscariot

Cat woke up to the toll of church bells at around twelve o'clock. Her head was sore from too much sleep and the sun was shining brightly into her window, for she had forgotten to close the curtains. She lazily kicked off the covers and scooted to the edge of the bed. She laid there looking out the window for a while trying to decide what to do. She had had good days and bad days ever since her parents left her and today was a bad day. She felt lonely despite the house full of people and she felt unwanted despite the invite to the party.

Finally after almost a full hour of watching the clouds go by she pulled herself up out of bed and set to getting dressed. She went to the armoire and took her white dress out from between the other beautiful gowns inside. She wondered if she would ever get a chance to wear any of them. When she had opened the armoire and discovered them Integra informed her that they were hers as a girl. Cat had tried a few of them on when no one was around and found that they fit perfectly.

After she was dressed she went into the bathroom and decided to just get completely ready. She combed out her hair and decided to leave it in the loose curls it always had in the morning. She pulled half of it up with a clip and pulled two chunks out to hang on either side of her face. She thought about putting on makeup, but then chose not to. She was probably already over dressed, but at least she would look nice. If this boy was having a party with his parents out of town he was most likely well to do. This meant that his friends had well to do parents and they would all appreciate nice things.

Cat looked at the clock and sighed. It was only 1:30 and time felt like it was inching by. She wondered how early Colin had wanted her to come. Surely now was too early but maybe six o'clock would not be. She decided to pass some more time she would take a shower so she striped back out of her clothes and took down her hair and got in. She wanted to just lie down and go to sleep in the spray of the warm water, but being found drowned in the shower was too degrading.

After she was done she got dressed again and dried and put up her hair. She went down the hall to check on Muta and give him some food then she headed off towards the library. She wanted to find out something about how the Hellsings came upon Alucard, but she had not had time. She wondered if it was a really big secret that he could not know about or if it was just some lame story about how he was a good vampire and wanted to work for them. She wondered how old he was and how he became a vampire. She thought that it would be fine to ask him, but he would probably ignore her. He of all things should not be put off by a bold question, but every vampire had been human once so maybe he still had those kinds of feelings about certain things.

When she got to the library she peeked in and was sorry to see Walter. She loved him very dearly, but she did not think he should know she was sneaking about and looking for information about Alucard. She did not like anyone around when she was reading either, it made her feel obligated to talk to them. She thought that sitting in the foyer would be a bit pathetic, but she could not think of anything else to do so she headed down the grand stair case.

She looked at the large grandfather clock across from the front door and was disappointed it was just barley reaching three o'clock. She sat down on the cushioned bench and stared at the door.

Maybe if she stared hard enough someone would knock on it. She wondered if Integra ever had visitors. Since she had been here no one had come. No friends or relatives, not even anyone from the protestant knights she had heard about. They probably did all of their meetings on the phone unless it was something terribly important. The front door must be lonely never having anyone coming through it. The entire house was lonely. She decided that at four o'clock she would go and get Alucard. Maybe she could get him to tell her an interesting story.

She laid her head down on the bench and closed her eyes. She sang ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall in her head. She always fell asleep before she finished.

She snapped awake at 4:30 to the sound of a truck loudly honking as it drove by.

She got up and headed to the freezer to get a couple of blood packs. It was a bad idea to wake him up without feeding him and if she was sweet maybe he would be more obliged to tell her a story. She headed down to the basement and slowly pulled the heavy doors opened and peeked inside. She could never tell if he was in there or not until she got all the way to his coffin. Even then she was never sure if he was there when it was closed.

She carefully stepped down the stairs and shuffled her way towards where the coffin hovered a few feet from the ground.

"Alucard?" she tested.

No answer.

"Alucard are you in there?" she put her ear up to the coffin to see if she could hear anything.

Still no answer.

"Alucard answer me if you're in there please," she rapped her fist on the hard wood of the coffin, but no one answered her.

She gave up and carried the blood back to the freezer and headed for Integra's office.

She could hear Integra on the phone so she just went inside. Integra jumped a bit when she saw Cat and she brought her finger to her lips quickly.

Cat quietly walked to the chair and sat down to listen.

"I just don't understand where you got this information from," she paused to listen. "Yes you've said it was a sighting, but exactly who sighted it?" she rolled her eyes. "You get your information from members of the paparazzi? Don't you think that's a bit pathetic?"

Cat wondered what was going on. She thought perhaps they were referring to Alucard. Maybe someone from the news paper saw him doing something weird.

"No I am not avoiding the question I've told you already we are not hiding anything!" Integra started to flush. "What in the world would we be doing with a sixteen year old girl!?" "Yes I know very well what you think we would do with one but that is not the case." "There is no case at all! We do not have a girl here!" "Your witty jokes do not amuse me Maxwell." "You will do no such thing! Do you understand me! If you come within fifty miles of this house I will set my entire army on you!" she slammed the phone back on the receiver.

"So…am I a secret?" Cat did not think it mattered if she stayed here. It was not as though she was being used as some sort of weapon.

"No that is not the problem. They think that you are a vampire created by Alucard," Integra rubbed her eyes and slouched in her chair. Cat had never seen her look so frustrated.

"Well why didn't you just tell them who I really am instead of saying no one was here," she wondered if Integra was embarrassed to have her here.

"The Iscariots knew your parents as well. They originally wanted to employ them, but your parents chose to come here instead. They did not agree with the way Iscariot operated. The Iscariots always held a grudge for them after that. I don't think it would be wise to tell them we have their daughter here. They may try to persuade you to join the other side," Integra pulled out a piece of paper and began writing a letter.

"But you know I would never leave here, no matter how enticing they could try and be I love it here. I love everything about this place and what you do. I love all the soldiers and I love you and Walter. I love Alu…," she stopped and her eyes widened at what she had been about to say.

Integra laughed heartily, something Cat had not been expecting, "Well is that so? Even then it would be unwise to let them know. We try and keep them away from here as much as possible. There is a treaty we have with them, they protect their side we take care of ours, but of course they find ways to get over here and nose in our business. Did you need something?"

"Do you know where Alucard is? I want to hang out with him before the party. I want him to go too," she twiddled her thumbs.

"You want to…hang out with him? That is the first time I have heard that in a very long time," she signed the bottom of the letter and folded it up.

"Yeah, I'm just kind of nervous about going alone. He was invited too you know," Cat relaxed in the chair a bit. "Who are you writing to?"

"The Queen, I'm warning her that Iscariot may be visiting soon," she put the letter in an envelope and stamped it with the Hellsing coat of arms.

"Do you think they'll still come here even after you told him there wasn't anything going on? That's not very friendly," Cat thought that Catholics were supposed to be good people.

"No, it is not friendly at all, but they will come, perhaps in a month or so. Things are slow now so they have no excuse to check up on us, but if there are any out breaks of freaks they will use that as an excuse. You will be meeting them all too soon in my opinion," she licked the envelope closed and put it in the out box on her desk.

"So do you know where Alucard is?" it was nearing five and Cat wanted to find him soon. She hoped he was not hiding.

"Did you check his coffin?"

"Yes."

"Did you check the library?"

"No, I didn't know he used the library."

"Oh yes, check the library," Integra went back to working on the computer.

Cat got up and went to the library. Just as Integra had assumed he was there. He was sitting in one of the plump leather couches with a very large leather and gold leaf bound book opened in his lap.

Cat walked up to him, "What are you reading?"

"The book of your God," he flipped the page.

"The Bible! Why on earth would you want to read that?" she sat down next to him.

"It is very interesting and I like to have a laugh once in a while," he flipped another page and smiled. "Have you ever read it?"

"No. I don't think I believe in God," Cat sat back farther on the couch and bounced her feet up and down.

"Is that so?" he turned another page and held the book up straight.

"Yes, I don't think I have ever had or seen a reason to believe in him. I've never seen God, nothing wonderful has ever happened to me, my prayers have never been answered. So no, I do not believe there is a man in the heavens who watches over anyone or judges where they should go when they die," she slumped back in the seat and looked at the large wrinkled pages. The words were not in English.

"I see," he turned another page.

"Do you believe in God?" she thought it was a funny question to be asking a vampire.

"Of course. In many of them," he flipped a big chunk of pages at once.

"Do you believe in their God?" Cat decided that the other Gods he believed in would make a good conversation for later.

"No, not in their God," he continued to stare at the page as he talked. Cat figured he must be able to read at the same time.

"Read me something," she saw him look over at her, but she kept her face forward.

"What would you hear?" he began flipping through the pages searching.

"Something interesting," she doubted anything in there could interest her.

"Very well then," he turned to nearly the back of the book and began, "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude."

"Iscariot?" Cat wondered if it was a coincidence.

"Iscariot indeed," he snapped the book shut. "Come, we will go to your party."

Cat looked up and saw it was seven o'clock. Time had flown by impossibly fast. "You're really going to go?"

"It would be rude to not show up after I was invited," he stood up and looked down at her with a grin that spread widely across his face.

"Okay, but I don't want you to drive," she got up and led the way out of the library and down stairs. A car was already waiting out front and Cat and Alucard got in.

"Where to Miss?" it was the driver from yesterday.

Cat pulled the piece of paper with the address of the party out of her shoe and handed it to the driver.

"Ah my granddaughter is going to that party tonight. Do you mind if we stop by and take her? She'll be glad to meet you," the driver turned around and smiled.

"Of course. Is your sister okay?" Cat buckled her seat belt and got comfortable for the long ride across town.

"Oh yes she's feeling much better. She's going home today, I think she'll be much more comfortable there," he pulled out onto the road running up the curb a bit.

"And you didn't want me to drive," Alucard scoffed.

"Does Integra know you're going with me?" Cat did not know what the rules for Alucard were. From what she had seen there were not many.

"She will put two and two together," Alucard had left his large coat behind, but still wore his hat. He pulled it down over his eyes.

Cat watched the sun set out the window. She hoped the party would be fun, she was not much for dancing or socializing, but maybe his house would be big enough that she could get away from all of that. She wondered why Alucard was interested in going. It was not as though he enjoyed talking to other people. She was pretty sure there were very few things he did enjoy. She could think of one thing he did enjoy doing, but he must know better than to do that without permission or in such a public gathering. She absently touched her thigh.

"Here we are Miss," Cat looked up and saw they were pulling into a gated neighborhood. "I'll just run inside and get her and then we'll be off to your party."

"Okay, please take your time," Cat was not all that excited to get to the party soon. She liked the car rides to places more than she liked the actual destinations.

The driver got out and went up to the house. He entered without knocking.

"Alucard, why are you going to the party?" Cat was sure he would lie, but she could not help asking.

"I am supposed to keep an eye on you. You never know when Iscariot could come and try to kidnap you. This party would be a perfect place for them to rush in and swipe you with no one knowing."

"You're lying; you said Integra would figure out where you've gone. This means she doesn't know you've gone. Which means she did not tell you to keep an eye on me," Cat wondered if the party was a decoy and he was really planning on going somewhere else.

"I do not need Integra to order me to keep an eye out for you. Don't you think I care about your safety, Katherine?" he peeked out from under his hat to look at her.

"No, of course not," she touched her thigh again.

"You learn very fast. You're much smarter than the other teenage girls I have encountered though the years," he went back to pretending to nap.

"Just don't do anything that you know Sir Integra would tell you not to," she looked over at him when he laughed much too happily. "I mean it Alucard."

The driver, whose name was Edgar, was coming out of the house with his granddaughter now. Cat watched as her mother smiled at her and waved goodbye from the door. As they came toward the car the girl began walking towards Alucard's side, but Edgar quickly took her arm and led her to the other side. Cat took off her seat belt and slid to the middle next to Alucard. She supposed the driver was too wary to have his granddaughter sit next to him. He held the door opened for her and she got in. She began to smile at Cat, but her attention was caught no doubt by Alucard's bright red hat and her face dropped.

She faltered for a moment and then pulled herself together and smiled again, "Hi, my name is Krissy."

"I'm Cat, it's nice to meet you. You're grandfather speaks fondly of you," she smiled at the girl reassuringly.

"Don't forget your seatbelt Kissy," Edgar pulled out of the driveway and back through the neighborhood gate.

"Grandpa I told you not to call me that around other people!" Krissy looked more embarrassed than Cat thought she would be. She thought it was nice that he had a nickname for her.

Edgar only chuckled and turned on the radio.

"I like your dress Cat it's really pretty," Krissy sat with her back leaning part way against the door. Cat guessed she was trying to keep herself as far from Alucard as she could.

"Oh thank you, Alucard picked it out. This, by the way, is Alucard," she leaned forward and pulled his hat up so Krissy could see him better. Cat thought that he did not look as scary when you could see his face fully.

Alucard was courteous enough to look at Krissy and grunt.

"Um…hi," Krissy tried smiling but it came out more like a grimace.

"Nice, Alucard," she smashed the hat back over his face.

"So who invited you to the party?" Krissy looked eager to forget that Alucard was in the car.

"Colin did, he told me to come early, but I thought that was kind of weird," Cat felt comfortable with Krissy. She did not seem as artificial as some of the other girls Cat had met.

"Oh yeah I think I heard him mention you," she giggled a little and covered her mouth.

"You've got to be kidding," Cat sighed.

"Nope, and do you know who else has mentioned you?" she started to giggle even more.

"Who? I barley ever go out who could you know that I know?" Cat was suspicious. She did not like people talking about her even if it was good.

"Lucian," Krissy had gone into a fit now, holding her stomach and letting her hair fall into her face so she could hide the fact that it was turning red.

"How in the world do you know Lucian?" Cat had scooted away from her as if being close would cause more unnecessary information to spill from her lips.

"He's my brother silly. You really didn't know? I thought grandpa would have told you by now. He's just as big a gossip as I am," she took a deep breath and straightened up.

"No I didn't. Well, what does he say? He must not talk about me that much you're exaggerating," Cat felt her cheeks turning pink.

Krissy could not keep composed any longer. She burst out laughing, "He doesn't stop going on about you! Ever since you showed up it's been non stop! He's completely smitten," she was smiling from ear to ear.

Cat heard Alucard snicker. "Oh, stop telling me about it! It's embarrassing," she could not imagine facing Lucian now after knowing all of this.

"He's going to be at the party you know," she looked very pleased with herself. Cat was sure Lucian would hear all about this car ride and how she had reacted.

"I think I'll just stay in the car when you all get out," Cat slumped down against Alucard. She heard him grumble, but she did not care. The middle seat did not have anything to lean against.

"Oh come on Cat, I won't tell him that I told you. He would be too mortified. He's very shy," she smiled like she meant it.

"Yes I've noticed. It isn't that I don't like him Krissy. I do very much, but I've never thought of boys that way. None of them were ever nice to me before now. I'm not sure I'm ready for anything like that," in times like these, Cat wished more than ever that her mother had been around. She considered for a moment to ask Integra for advice, but quickly realized that she had not had a mother either.

"That's good to hear. Lucian was always very strange and my mother and I are very relieved for him to be interested in something normal. From the way he describes you my mother is already fond of you. We all are Cat, despite what you may think you're very popular," she looked out the window dreamily.

"But I haven't even gone out with anyone. I don't go out at all," Cat looked at her curiously.

"Perhaps not but once is enough. Word travels very quickly between us all," she looked at Cat and smiled.

"Us?" Cat was starting to feel like she was being dragged into a cult.

"The kids that live around here. Most of our parents are in the army or some kind of Special Forces unit like Lucian with Hellsing, and you of course. Our parents are gone most of the time so we all stick together. We've kind of made our own little community," she went back to looking out the window.

"Right…," Cat gave up on personal space and rested her cheek on Alucard's arm. He was so much taller than her she did not even need to bend her head. She closed her eyes and soon had fallen asleep to the gentle sway of the car.

The next thing she knew Krissy was shaking her awake, "Cat wake up we're there."

Cat looked around groggily. She was glad she had not bothered to wear makeup or she would have looked a mess, "Where is Alucard?"

"As soon as we stopped he set you upright and got out. I'm not sure which way he went, but come on! A lot of people are already here. You slept through all the traffic we hit it's nearly eight o'clock.

"Okay okay I'm coming," Cat clambered out of the car and waved to Edgar as he pulled away.

"So what do you want to do first?" Krissy locked her arm in Cat's and led them towards the front doors.

"I don't know, I think I should go find Alucard," Cat looked around at the trees warily.

"Oh don't be a party pooper Cat he can take care of himself!" she pulled Cat up the steps and knocked on the door.

Just before it opened Cat heard someone scream.


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