Moonlit Midnight

Chapter 5

All three fell silent for the remainder of the trip. Celas couldn't help but fidget the entire way—Ballerant's presence was still affecting her. He seemed to be suffering the same, as his eyes continued to flicker toward her, gleaming. It was somewhat ridiculous. Celas licked her lips; though she had drank more than he normal allowance earlier, her mouth was still dry. If he only stopped looking at her like that, she'd be fine. If only her heart would stop fluttering, she could ignore him.

When they finally parked outside the hotel Celas all but leapt outside into the night air. A deep breath helped calm her, though she could tell her cheeks were still flushed. "Well," she said briskly, trying to refresh herself. "What now?"

"Follow me." Ballerant led the way inside, giving no notice to the handful of stares accompanying them. Celas followed just beside and behind him—certainly some of the guests had recognized the insignia on her uniform from the incident three months ago. She did her best to look reputable and non-threatening, and was relieved when the elevator door closed them in.

"Your Master must be pretty bold," Alucard said abruptly, and Celas jumped a little when he materialized behind her. "There are a lot of people in town this time of year, in hotels like this."

"Keeping up appearances," Ballerant explained. "It's necessary." They rode that elevator to the top floor—Alucard seemed quite amused by the transportation, and his manner was light and expectant. Celas tried not to notice. As they stepped out and approached the suite a dozen questions and images came over her: she had no idea what to expect. She had known only a few female vampires, and each of them different so greatly…herself included. And an acquaintance of Alucard….

Ballerant knocked lightly at the door, and a moment later was answered by another man—a skinny, angular man with dark eyes and violet-dyed hair. His gaze drifted between Celas and Alucard, as if unsure of who deserved his attention more. He allowed them all inside. "She's been expecting you."

The hotel room was nothing extraordinary—expensive, naturally, and lavishly decorated, but certainly nothing implying the presence of an immortal being. Celas crept timidly inside at Alucard's heel. He was anxious—she could feel it, and it was affecter as well.

When Lorenna emerged from the connecting room it was with no flourish, no impressive display. Her steps were smooth, patient, and graceful, tipped with high heels and bound in a knee length black skirt. Her beauty was modest: long features, low cheekbones, tightly bound auburn hair. Only her eyes stood out as extraordinary, with their fiery red tint that seemed to glow behind her glasses. They alone contested to the immortality stretched out behind her, the inhuman curl of power she held.

Celas lowered her head when she felt her master's posture straighten. Here she was, stuck between possibly two of the oldest creatures on earth. The air was thick and almost warm. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she almost thought that she could feel the emanation of power off of them, like a potent fragrance. It was…oddly intimidating.

Lorenna spoke first—her voice was clipped and precise, unlike the vampires Celas had become accustomed to. "It's been a long time," she said, watching her guest closely. A thin smile curled her wide lips. "I'm a little hurt—I thought you would have noticed me before now." She paused abruptly, like an animal catching a scent, and her sharp eyes flickered to Celas. The younger vampire gulped. "Ah, I see."

Celas ducked into her shoulders, frowning indignantly. Beside her, Alucard chuckled and finally spoke. "I'll admit I've been distracted."

"You're a lucky vampire." She crossed the room in measured strides, and her expression sobered as she lifted her hands to his face. "You haven't changed in all these years," she whispered, awed. "You had me worried."

Alucard wrapped his hands around her wrists, slowly pulling them away. "Celas." She jumped at the sound of her name. "Would you excuse us for a moment?"

"Ma…." Celas bit off her response. This place had suddenly become distant from her; she was starting to feel ill. "Yes, Master," she mumbled humbly at last, taking a step back. "I'll…radio back, and tell them we'll be a while."

He nodded vaguely. "I'll leave it to you." And without another word he stepped away, falling into step behind Lorenna. They disappeared into the adjoining room together.

Celas took a few steps back, feeling off balance now that she was alone with the two men. They were both watching her intensely. "I'm…uh…gonna be right back," she said, quickly fleeing into the hall. Neither made a move to halt or question her.

Once outside the room, Celas allowed herself a deep breath of fresh air. Away from the others' presence the air was chill, and it spread goosebumps up and down her arms. She tried to rub them away. "What is going on, here?" she muttered miserably, leaning her back against the wall. "Master…." For all that he had laughed, and made threats of death-matches between his vampiric comrades, he had greeted Lorenna with respect and affection. He had not even given the third vampire a glance. Celas shook her head in confusion. "I hope Lady Integra doesn't find out about this…."

--

Alucard seated himself with a dull flourish, hat and glasses shed, watching Lorenna's familiar, measured movements. Unlike her earlier statements, she had changed a great deal; there was maturity in her now, the kind of ancient grace a vampire was supposed to have. He smiled. "You grew up, little girl."

Lorenna turned toward him and, chuckling, took a seat of her own. "Times have changed," she replied easily. "You should see in the States—they are all so young, so eager. They need direction."

"And I suppose that's how you came up with the name 'Mephistos'?" he teased. "Catering to these modern brats?"

Lorenna shook her head humorously. "That's for the humans," she explained. "That fool Sanfeld is still looking for a man. He's here now, I understand…?"

"Along with his Mr. Zimmerman," Alucard confirmed. "They're intent on hunting you down—and keeping it a secret from me."

Lorenna returned his gaze with a frown. "Then perhaps he can read me better than I thought. You are the reason I'm here."

"As I imagined." Alucard continued to watch her, a bit of charmed nostalgia gleaming in his eyes. She had still been fresh when he saw her last, a century ago—bold, desperate, and fierce. She had aged well. More than that, though Celas's aura was still distracting him, he cold at last sense the extra fire in her presence. His focus narrowed—he should have thought this through more completely. "You know that I—"

"I'm not here to free you," Lorenna interrupted knowingly. Her voice was quieter just then, as if with regret. It didn't suit her. "I have up on that notion long ago. But…there is something else I can offer you." She pushed out of her seat, moving instead to kneel before him. "My Master—my King. Let me repay you for the immortality you granted me."

----

Celas jumped when the door behind her opened not more than ten minutes later. It was Alucard, looking much as he usually did, with a chuckle in his face. He closed the door behind him without explanation. "We're finished here," he reported, and already his form began to fade. "We'll return to our patrol."

"But Master," Celas protested, "What about…about Ballerant? And the others…?"

By now Alucard had vanished, though his voice remained, a dim echo in the carpeted hall. "They're Americans—they are out of our jurisdiction, for now. Besides, I wouldn't want to deprive Zimmerman the chance to use his amazing new mystery weapon."

A cold sickness welled in the back of Celas's throat. "You mean Mephistos…." She cut herself off before she could finish what he might have considered an offensive inquiry. "All right," she said instead. "I'll…go back to the car." With one last glance at the closed door she made her way out to the parking lot once more.

It wasn't until they were heading back to the institute that Alucard spoke of the entire incident. They had left the main city and were speeding past lines of trees when he materialized suddenly in the passenger seat; Celas nearly leapt out of her skin in surprise.

"We're not reporting in about Mephistos," he told her firmly, though he was smiling.

"Master, don't sneak up on…." Celas trailed off when she realized what he'd said. "You mean…you're not telling Lady Integra?" she questioned, mildly shocked at the prospect.

"She doesn't need to know just yet."

"But…but she's your master," she continued to protest, baffled and wary. "I thought—"

"Lorenna was once one of mine—she deserves more dignified treatment."

Celas gulped—she had feared such an explanation. It made sense, of course, that a vampire as old and powerful as Alucard would have desired a few followers, but everything about all this was making her uneasy. "That's how you knew her…."

"A hundred years ago, just before the origin of Hellsing, I shared my blood with her," Alucard explained. His gaze was cast straight ahead, his smile worn and twisted like a scar. "She was an awkward youth, but loyal and eager." He chuckled. "Not unlike you."

Celas bit back an indignant grunt. "And she's…been living in America?" she asked curiously. "Why is she here? If…I can ask…?"

Alucard tipped his head back. He had been expecting such a question sooner or later. "There's something about Bright Midnight I neglected to tell you," he began to explain, still smiling in that same quiet, all-knowing way. "When it occurs is not dependant on the vampire herself, but the Master who created her. They say it is more convenient for the Master, that way." He chuckled darkly. "Which means that Lorenna, being once one of mine, is also in Bright Midnight. She wants to bare me a child."

Celas sputtered incredulously, and was close to swerving the car in that moment of lost concentration. She curled her fingers tightly around the steering wheel to help keep her steady. That wasn't enough to keep her from exclaiming, "What!? But…but Master, that's…but…."

The old vampire laughed at her reaction; he seemed to be greatly enjoying himself. "I was startled, to say the least," he admitted.

"But…but that's..." Celas continued to sputter. She fought to regain her composure. "Master…but why? I mean…." She blushed furiously. "You didn't…."

Alucard chuckled again. "No; no, we didn't. She was merely proposing the idea."

"How did you answer…?" Her fingers tightened, and her breath caught, but she didn't dare look at him.

Alucard's features twisted devilishly. "I told her I'd consider."

"Oh." Celas sank a little lower in the driver's seat, following the sickened retreat of her stomach. She should have said something—certainly there were dozens of questions she wanted answered. But she couldn't conceive a single inquiry. All she could do was shake her head.

"In any case, there is no need to report them," Alucard continued. "They've done nothing to earn the wrath of Hellsing."

Celas continued to shift. "But Master, won't Lady Integra be upset if she finds out?" she asked timidly. "We're supposed to hunt down Mephistos, after all."

"It wouldn't be the first time I found a way to upset her."

She bit her lips together and fell silent once more, glancing uneasily at his profile. He was smiling—he was enjoying keeping secrets from Integra. As her servant she wouldn't have thought it even possible. Celas, at least, knew she'd never be able to disobey her master. And as far as children went…shouldn't Hellsing's ancestors thought of things like that? If Alucard wasn't able to hunt on his own, certainly they had thought of his attempts to….

Celas blushed furiously; all it took were those simple thoughts to spread a dull heat through her flesh. She tightened her fingers and willed her damnable hormones to calm. Alucard was her Master—Alucard had other things to worry about, more important concerns and…interests.

"Master," Celas said abruptly, praying her voice would not tremble. She stared straight ahead, chin high and expression forcibly calm. "You've known Mephistos for—"

"Lorenna," he corrected with a subtle grin. "Mephistos is a name for humans to use, not between us."

Celas gulped—his interruption had spoiled some of her constructed courage. "Lorenna. You've known Lorenna for a long time." She licked her lips. "And since she wants…for you…does that mean…you two were…in love?"

Alucard chuckled softly, and she risked a glance in his direction. He was still smiling, eyes hooded and vague. And when he spoke, he sounded almost…old, for the firs time in her memory. "You have a lot to learn about being a vampire, Celas Victoria."

It wasn't any kind of answer, Celas thought with dull disappointment. She wasn't sure what to make of it. So she stayed her tongue, and kept her eyes trained carefully forward the rest of the way back to the institute. Alucard smiled the whole way.

Celas spent the remainder of the night wandering around the Institute; she knew better than to assume Alucard wouldn't find her if she wasn't in her room, but maybe if she looked busy, purposeful, he would leave her alone. She…wasn't sure she could face him right now.

"You have a lot to learn about being a vampire, Celas Victoria."

His words floated back to her, making her cringe as she stepped out of Hellsing's front doors. The sun had risen, but had not yet cleared the line of trees. She closed her eyes a moment to enjoy the warmth. In her months at Hellsing she'd come outside occasionally, tasting a bit of sunlight to keep her refreshed and…human. Now, however, comfort did not come quickly for her. Her stomach was still twisted in anxious knots, and her fingers were cold. She couldn't stop thinking about it.

"You have a lot to learn, Celas Victoria."

With a half-hearted scowl Celas ventured further outside, trotting down the stone steps, watching the creeping progress of daylight over Hellsing's taller spires, like a spread of dull flame. The image made her shiver. She was sick of fire. She just wanted to find someplace and curl up and sleep for ages….

Her reprieve was cut short when she spotted a dark figure stretched across the Institute's front lawn—some kind of body, by the look of it. She crept forward curiously, and was surprised to see the face of one of the man Integra had introduced her to the other day. A few moment's concentration produced her with his name. "Um…Mr. Zimmerman?" she questioned meekly. "Are you…all right?"

Jacob was laying on his back ion the grass, face upturned, eyes half-closed and peaceful. "I'm fine," he replied softly. She followed his gaze to the tree line. "I'm just waiting for dawn."

"Oh. All right." Celas frowned, shifting on her feet. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

"No, not at all." He glanced at her briefly. "Shouldn't you be inside?"

"I'm all right," Celas replied awkwardly. "I'm not…really a full vampire, so I'm okay at dawn, at least."

"Ah, I see. Will you join me?"

"Huh?" She frowned, but after a moment seated herself at his side. It was a bit odd, sitting like this, when this stranger was meant to hunt her kind. Her kind….

She felt like she had met a lot of new people these past few days—these past months. New officers, new commanders, Garret, Ballerant, Mephistos—all of them taking her as their own. All claiming to be "her kind." And h ere she was, a woman vampire sitting calmly next to an American Hunter, waiting for the sun to rise.

Jacob folded his hands behind his head, the very picture of ease. "You were out with Alucard tonight, weren't you?" he asked suddenly.

Celas sputtered, caught off guard by the sudden question. "Um, yes, I was." She prayed silently that he wouldn't ask—

"I heard you killed three vampires—I read your report. I assume they were all English?"

"Yes," Celas answered quickly. "Yes, of course they were."

Jacob's gaze did not wander from the tree line. "I don't know if Integra told you, but we came hunting an American vampire. We don't even know how powerful he is, only that many vampires are loyal to him. It's a somewhat unusual occurrence among vampires, you know. This city…has some secret for him. Some purpose."

"I see…." Celas bit her lip, wondering if Jacob suspected…but he wasn't even looking at her, and his voice was calm and even. He was just talking. "I'm sorry, sir," she said at last. "I don't know anything."

"I know. It's all right." He closed his eyes. "I'll find him."

They sat silent that way for a while, Celas with her knees tugged against her chest, Jacob Zimmerman stretching out beside her. How curious, that he was so calm; to be so comfortable next to a vampire, especially when the rest of his Institute treated her with such disdain and suspicion. Though maybe her level was so low he didn't consider her worth worrying about.

Nevertheless, it was quiet, and Celas's brain was too filled with questions to let it remain that way for long. "Do you think vampires can love?" she murmured, a question meant only for herself. Somehow it had found a way to her lips, and she was startled by the sound of it. It was already too late to call the words back.

Jacob was eerily silent, his breath even an easy, his face unchanged. He almost looked…asleep. And then his eyes opened, slowly, flickering back to the tree line. "Yes, t hey can," he replied at long last. Celas jumped again at the sound of his voice. "Not commonly, maybe. But possible."

"All of them?" Celas tried to still her questions—she was going to give something away—but she couldn't. She was desperate for answers, wherever she found them. "Even the really…."

He took his time in answering again. "Yes. All of them." Abruptly he sat up, bracing his weight against his palms. "The sun's up."

Celas blinked, and looked for herself; a corner of light was slipping over the trees, bit by bit, to spill over her folded arms. For the first time, she winced; when she glanced down there was a dull red burn dying for forearms. A thrill of panic spread through her, and with a gasp she leapt to her feet. She was stopped before she could think to do anything else, however, by a firm hand on her shoulder. Jacob was standing before her, his larger form blocking her from the sun.

"You're all right," he told her calmly. He smiled. "Let's go inside. We should both be sleeping."

Celas ducked her head, feeling ashamed and somewhat sick. The sun, since her change, had always left a bit of a tingle in her flesh, but it had never burned her. She couldn't think of what had changed until…she licked her lips. In a moment of intuition she remembered the taste of fresh, warm blood—Agent Varjak's blood. The first blood she had taken from a living human.

"It seems," Jacob said quietly, "that you may be more of a vampire than you thought."

Celas gulped, her gaze lowering slightly. But…she wasn't as surprised, as upset as she should have been. She…was a little more of a vampire. And though she couldn't help a flash of uncertainty, she wondered if Alucard would be proud of her for that.

Alucard rapped his hand lightly against the cold stone, imagining what its texture might have felt like against his real skin. His fingers curled slightly, so that his glove-bound fingernails quivered when drawn over the old cracks and stone seams. He knew these walls so well by now, every inch and blemish. Every breath of air, every step. This was his castle, his homely prison. High above, his master slept peacefully in the cradle of dawn. And below, the twisting tendrils of his seal's power bit at the base of his skull. The weight of a thousand years' memories swirled, fog-like, behind his eyelids. He did not lose himself easily to this sort of reprieve, for in truth he was not greatly disturbed by his present standing. He was supplied with ample nourishment and amusement, which was all he required. He was still respected, often feared, and despised by a few. Such was the eternal existence of vampires, and should he ever come to regret the seals branded against his palms, they were only in brief fits of dull fury, of stirred resentment that passed as easily as a breath of cool, night-changed air.

He was satisfied, here.

Lorenna had tried to free him, once. When her power was yet fresh, and her heart full of fire, she had laid siege to Hellsing in its fledgling years. He had stopped her, by use of all his tricks, and cast her away in a guise of death. Hiding her survival from his master was the greatest courtesy he could show her, as sure as he hid her now. She was, after all, one of the last that even remembered his given name.

Alucard was drawn from his thoughts by the sound of a name spoken; that of his own, last vampire. He attuned his senses in time to catch the last of the conversation.

"—out for her. There's something she's not telling you."

"I hope you're not implying that our Miss Celas is capable of deception, sir."

"I don't want to imply anything. But she's been fed recently, and not by you. Just keep track of what she's eating."

"I understand, sir."

Eyes thinning slightly, Alucard investigated the matter. He slipped through the wall just in time to see Jacob striding briskly away, Walter watching his retreat. He had been hoping to avoid a situation like this; he should have also known better than to underestimate Jacob Zimmerman's intuition. All the same he was grinning when he greeted Hellsing's faithful retainer. "Is our friend causing trouble already?"

Walter glanced at him with a thin smile. "Nothing quite so dramatic. Though he was expressing some concern in Miss Celas's behavior. Something about her being affected by the sun…?"

"She's my vampire," Alucard replied simply. "It was bound to start affecting her sooner or later." It was true enough. Not the proper explanation, but truth nonetheless.

"I suppose so." Walter didn't sound entirely convinced—and good for him—but the matter passed easily. He did, after all, trust Celas, and her master. In that slight betrayal Alucard felt no guilt.

"You're up late, old man," Alucard teased, cocking his head to the side. "I thought you would have left care of our Lady Integra in the hands of the dear Mr. Zimmerman."

Walter returned him with a doubting expression. "Hellsing may be fond of Mr. Zimmerman," he related evenly, "but that has no effect over my duties."

"Of course not." The vampire smirked. "I should thank you more often, for taking such good care of my master. It saves me trouble," he said ironically.

To this Walter chuckled, adjusting his monocle. "At the risk of offending you, it is not for you that I do so. Serving Integra is my duty, and my privilege."

"Ah, perhaps." Alucard's smile curled dryly at the edges. "It'll be a shame when that human life of yours runs out, Walter," he said, crossing his arms. "One last battle would be appropriate, don't you think? A lasting legacy for the Angel of Death I once knew."

Walter's smile deepened, and he faced Alucard with the amused wisdom of the old. "Serving and protecting my master until the end of her days is my only duty now," he told the other. "Her children will be my legacy."

Alucard stopped, his eyes widening a moment behind his glasses at those words. Walter couldn't have known anything, and yet…. The vampire smiled, slow and subtle. "Yes, you're right," he murmured, tugging his hat a little lower over his face. "That's very true."

"Sir Alucard?"

"It's nothing." He chuckled. "Integra's children will be rambunctious little rascals. They should make for interesting masters someday."

Walter was forced to agree. "It would be nice, to watch the growth of another Hellsing," he admitted nostalgically.

"Sorry, Walter. I don't share my blood with old men." Alucard laughed and took a step back, preparing to depart. "And don't worry about that police-girl—I'll look after her well enough." Without waiting for a reply he slipped backwards into the wall from whence he'd came, and from there returned to his coffin. He had reached his decision. And even if it meant another defiance, another imprisonment, it mattered not. In the end, he would merely be awoken by another child of Hellsing.

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