Once back at the bureau everyone returned to their rooms for some much needed rest. The building remained quiet for many hours, Locke and Kate talking and organizing the office that Manning had left in a panic. After finishing up, Locke insisted that Kate get some sleep as he did some work in his room, and he quietly checked on Abe, who was happily floating in his tank and dreaming of the open ocean. Locke purred as he closed the massive golden door before heading to his own room. A brief tug at his innards forcing him to withdraw to gather his calm, knowing if he did not, that he would do something he'd regret.
Though the rest of the day remained uneventful, he jumped when his phone suddenly rang well into the evening. He raised a brow, picking it up.
"BPRD, this is Locke." He replied as he placed the receiver to his ear.
"Leon, thank god you're there. It's Walter." Said an elderly gentleman on the other end of the line. Despite the distance and rather poor quality connection, Locke could almost feel the relief and slight panic in the Hellsing Family retainer's voice.
"Walter? What's going on? I certainly hope Alucard is not there..." Locke frowned, still wanting to keep his location a secret from his sister.
"She already knows we are in contact, but this is far more important. Integra and the entire world are in danger. You are likely aware of the rerouting of planes to Brazil due to a terrorist attack of sorts."
"I had heard of the reroutes... What is going on Walter?" Locke shook his head, listening intently. Walter explained what had happened with the Letzes Battalion during World War II, which Locke had already long ago learned of, and went on to explain the attack on the manor, including a more elaborate description of the Valentine brother's and their attack methods –Leon growling at the obvious attempt at making a doppelganger of him to attack his home-, the vampire and ghoul sightings in the city and surrounding areas, and how Alucard and his childe Ceras had uncovered 'Millennium' hiding out in Brazil after a heated discussion with the Vatican which shed further light on how the Nazi battalion had survived the war.
"By the gods, I never thought this was going to happen... If what you've said is correct, they've likely infiltrated every major power centre in the world." Locke sighed, leaning back in his chair as the enormity of what he had missed slowly pressed on him.
"Alucard was slaughtering civilians, at your sister's behest… World War III is coming Leon. Integra needs you here." Walter warned, sounding appalled at the actions taken by Locke's sister.
"And the BPRD, Hellboy, Abe and Elizabeth need me here! I swore an oath Walter! I am here to protect them just as much as I'm still around to protect her!" Locke snarled, sighing a moment later at his outburst. Neither spoke for a drawn out moment before Locke jumped again, letting out another snarl and then swiftly calming when Abe slipped into his room, looking at him sleepily, but concerned.
"The BPRD only recently went public, this building is safe, but London isn't. We'll go to assist there, and send agents to the white house and pentagon to assist as they can." Abe offered sleepily as Locke simply stared at him, shocked that he'd be willing to put himself in danger for strangers, lowering the receiver and covering the microphone with his other hand as he turned.
"Abe... I can't ask you to do this with me, it's too dangerous." Locke sighed, more concern and slight fear in his eyes.
"We've been through worse." Abe smiled weakly. Locke's green eyes regarded him calmly, but he nodded, turning back to his desk and lifting the receiver to his ear once more.
"Walter, I'm coming, and I'm bringing help. Because of the plane reroute we may take a bit longer than I would like, but I'll do what I can." Locke replied, albeit a bit reluctantly. "Do not tell her."
"I won't, but I'm certain she suspects. Make haste... Despite my abilities, I cannot do much against an army at my age. I worry that Sir Integra may release the seals to defeat them, you remember the warning from the journal?"
"I know Walter. Make certain she has the sword with her when she goes out, I have a plan to deal with Alucard should the seals shatter as we were forewarned."
"Of course. Farewell." Walter's voice held a hint of sadness, as he felt something dreadful would happen in the near future that would keep them from a proper reunion. Locke hung up the receiver and placed his head in his hands, elbows on the desk before him. He shook visibly, and Abe moved to gently rest a hand on his shoulder. Locke didn't move, sighing and shaking his head lightly.
Neither spoke, Abe doing what he could to be there for Locke, frowning that he would shut him out now, after what had happened on the plane and in the lake. Abe mentally pushed, urging Locke to let him in so they both could try and devise a plan. Locke looked over his shoulder at Abe, head still resting in his hands. His deep green eyes seemed to be searching for something in Abe's, though not even Locke himself knew what he was searching for. He turned away, sighing again, letting Abe in.
At first, Abe reeled, the emotions and memories washing over him in a flood, then stopping and focusing on what happened in the lake. He could see hear and feel every moment through Locke's eyes, the jagged and mismatched teeth of the Kelpie piercing his flesh, her swiftly lifting him up and dragging him into the water, his lungs screaming for air.
Something happened when the Kelpie made move to tear him apart, the venom of her fangs mixed with his blood changed, and caused a reaction that was completely unprecedented. And not to mention something that Locke had been doing everything possible to avoid.
His consciousness was pushed aside as his instincts kicked in. His body changed, grew more muscular, his lungs seemed to be able to process air from the water of the lake, his eyes adjusted easily to the dark muddiness of the water, and he sprouted a tail. His hands turned to wicked talons and feet lengthened, legs changing from a plantigrade to digitigrade format. His face contorted into a monstrous shape, fangs lengthening and curling as all of his teeth became small daggers. He reached up, digging his talons into the Kelpie's flesh deeply, causing her to shriek and release him.
That was where the memory concluded, where Abe had appeared and distracted her enough so that they could defeat her. Where Abe had shredded one set of her gills, and Locke -though changed- was able to destroy the others with his fangs and talons so that the Kelpie slowly bled out. But why hadn't Locke let go when Abe had? Why couldn't he surface on his own?
"That's just it Abe. I couldn't. My instincts were controlling my actions. I wanted blood, and when I regained control and returned to my normal form... All the water in my lungs and wings weighed me down... Not to mention the venom was still in my system..." Locke explained quietly, wings quivering.
"But you're alright now. You aren't sick, you didn't drown. Your skin is still warm and you're still breathing."
"I am sick Abe..." Locke replied, hissing lightly, spinning around, eyes glowing a light red. Abe recoiled, almost falling onto the bed. Locke seemed shocked, turning away, hugging himself lightly. More than the obvious blood hunger welling up in him, his last and best kept secret fighting his rational thoughts.
"But... You can't be. You look as good as you did when you got your wings back." Abe faltered, seeing Locke shaking lightly, knuckles white where he strained to keep himself in the chair at his desk.
"Appearance wise I'm fine. But mentally... it's all I can do to keep from attacking you right now and draining you... Ever since the Kelpie bit me I've felt… Different. Like there's something growing in power inside me and I can't stop it…" Locke breathed raggedly, his voice almost cracking. He turned away, Abe watching him in awe. Lockes' wings, beautifully pristine and shining rather brightly in the low light, moved to shelter Locke as he leaned forward, hugging his shoulders lightly as he fought to keep himself from lashing out. Abe said nothing, moving slowly closer to him as he shied away slightly. Though very quiet, Abe could hear him sobbing lightly as he drew closer and gingerly ran a hand along Locke's wing. It twitched once, moving to cradle Locke's shuddering form more closely before Abe gently moved it aside with one hand, lovingly cradling Locke's face with the other.
Locke slowly allowed his gaze to be guided up to meet Abe's, and crystal tears shone on his cheeks. He tried to turn away again, and was surprised that Abe wouldn't let him.
"Abe... I don't... I don't want to hurt you." Locke breathed, still shaking lightly, his barriers and masks torn aside, showing the lonely uncertain soul hidden beneath the cool, calm and yet oftentimes hot-headed exterior. Abe smiled, shaking his head and cleaning away the tears on Locke's face.
"You won't. I know you won't. You're too strong for that." Abe stated, moving to sit on the bed not far from him, beckoning him to follow wordlessly. Locke turned, frowning a bit, his uncertainty nearly overridden by his hunger, the reddish glow of his eyes slowly fading to a pale golden glow. He ever so carefully rose and moved to stand before Abe. Neither said a word, Locke taking a few moments longer before moving to lean over Abe, one knee on the bed next to him to keep him from falling over or onto Abe as he nuzzled the flesh of Abe's neck, growled lightly, and, after a long moment of hesitation, Abe feeling Leon tensing and shuddering lightly before he cautiously sank his fangs into Abe's throat.
Abe gasped, the feeling of euphoria much stronger than either of the previous occasions he had been bitten, and his entire body feeling at once numb and overstimulated. Locke pushed him down onto the bed, fangs still in his throat, and Abe writhed slightly, not wanting him to stop. Even as he felt himself slowly becoming more and more drowsy, he wanted more. It was just so much, and his entire body loved every moment. Locke however, fought to keep control, pressing his body against Abe's before snapping alert and withdrawing.