Epilogue
Integra watched the scene with a quiet sigh of relief; both of her officers had been returned. Looking at Alucard now, as proud as ever but oddly compassionate, she almost couldn't imagine how such a king had come to betray her. Despite her better judgment she felt assured that he was, indeed, still hers.
"It seems to have ended well," Walter remarked quietly beside her, watching Celas with blatant relief of his own.
"Yes, it does." She frowned. "Though not without casualties."
Sometime after the matter's conclusion Jacob had slipped away; she could see him speaking to Varjak on the upper stairs. He glanced at Integra only once, and his eyes were sharp, as if accusing. They were even more so when they found Celas. He then departed with several of his soldiers in tow, leaving a pair to tend to his wounded officer.
"So…Sanfeld is dead," Integra mumbled. She took a step forward. "Victoria. Are there any other vampires here?"
Celas, who did her best to wipe her face before replying, shook her head weakly. "It was only the three of us, Ma'am. One was…from the countryside, and the other was the last of Lo…of Mephistos's."
"You'll be punished for this, you know."
Celas lowered her head. "Yes…I know." She curled a bit closer to Alucard. "I'll accept it."
Integra nodded shortly, then signaled to her men that they were free to depart. "Look after her, Walter," she instructed. "Make sure she's well fed and confined, and have the courtyard cleaned up. I'm going to confirm what Varjak said."
"Yes, M'Lady."
Integra climbed the stairs as Alucard surrendered his vampire to Walter's care, her attention rising to the limping form of the woman above. As soon as Varjak laid eyes on her she hissed a curse. "You worthless shit. Aren't you going to kill her? She's a fucking vampire—they killed our commander!" She moved as if to strike the woman, but the soldiers aiding her—and what appeared to be a broken arm—easily halted her.
"Hellsing is deeply sorry for the loss of your officer," Integra calmly replied as she brushed past.
"Goddamn bitch—you ignorant little slut!"
Though she was tempted to respond, her principles prevented her from striking an injured child. With the consolation that Varjak would not be among them for long she continued down the corridor, following a collection voices to where the man had fallen. Her mood sobered at the sight of Jacob kneeling beside his former commander; Mark Sanfeld's throat had been torn out.
"He was a good man," Jacob murmured, aiding the soldiers as they began to zip the body into a long, black bag. "He hated me, of course, and I can't say I liked him, either, but he killed vampires." He pushed slowly to his feet as the job was finished. "The vampires responsible have been disposed of?"
"Yes." Integra took a careful step closer to him. "It was only the two. I'm sorry, Jacob, for your loss."
Jacob continued to stare down at the concealed corpse as if he hadn't heard her last remark. "And your agent?"
"She is safely back in our care," Integra replied evenly.
"I see." A short paused followed. "You will do nothing, then."
She had expected such from him, and in truth could not blame him for it. "I am sorry," she repeated, "but she is an officer under my responsibility, and I will deal with her as I see fit."
Jacob's eyes thinned. "I see." He nodded to his men, who lifted the body between them and began to depart. It was a long moment before Jacob spoke again. "We're leaving, Integra," he said quietly, but with all the firm authority she'd ever heard in him. "I'm taking my men home, and I can't say we'll be back."
"I know." Integra felt a certain weight swell in her gut as she watched his stern profile. For all that she had resented and rejected this man he was, for better or worse, one of her oldest and most trusted friends. She knew better than to think he could ever vanish from her life completely, but there was a bitter taste at the back of her throat as she stepped back, away from him.
Despite his declarations Jacob was still for several long moments, pretending that she wasn't there beside him. They were silent until he took the first step; Integra said nothing as he wordlessly followed his men away from the stains of drying blood. Integra's quiet sigh chased the clap of his footsteps down the hall.
A short hour later preparations of Mithril 6 were completed, and its soldiers were eager to depart. The officers of their sister institute were present to send them off despite some remaining tensions between the two groups. And none more so than between their leaders as they faced each other to bid their farewells. Jacob had recovered somewhat from his shock of the night's earlier events, but his manner was still subdued, his fingers stiff. It was ironic that now, when so much responsibility had been forced upon him, he would most remind her of the boy she'd known so long ago. It made her smile subtly as she greeted her ancient friend. "Jacob."
"Integra." He faced her, but she could see that some of the light had faded from behind his eyes. She couldn't help but wonder if he had truly abandoned his pursuit of her. "I'm sorry for the trouble we've caused."
"We've had worse," she replied easily enough. She offered her hand, as it seemed like the most he would allow.
Jacob considered a moment and at last slid his hand around hers. "Take care."
"And you too."
He began to withdraw, but when Integra saw his turned back her voice leapt in one last attempt to close that unfamiliar gap between them. "I'll keep in touch."
Jacob paused in his gait and glanced back. At first it looked as if he would continue on without comment; but to Integra's relief a grin spread across his face, and he opened his arms in subtle invitation. With a roll of her eyes meant in jest she took the extra steps to return the friendly embrace. He chuckled quietly with the same elation she felt. "I'll look forward to it."
A thin smile flickered briefly over Integra's face as she pulled back. She was satisfied, and he seemed to be as well. Even if things did not return to how they had been, they had settled, more or less, in their friendship. It was all she could hope for. As she retreated, as the vehicles began to pull away, she felt a familiar presence beside her. She would never admit how much the return of that consistency pleased her. "Do you think I made the right choice?"
Alucard, by now clad once more in his usual, red-coated attire, chuckled ironically. "You're the master; I have no right to question you."
Integra's lip curled despite herself. "I can't believe that after all that you haven't changed. And to think I almost considered sealing you away like my father did."
"I think you'd miss me."
For the first time in what felt like weeks Integra chuckled openly. But rather than respond she changed the subject. "How is Agent Victoria?"
"Adjusting," Alucard replied evasively. "I'll look after her well enough, don't worry. She's still one of yours."
"Good." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "And you?" Her expression hardened. "This kind of incident can never recur. I will not be lenient a second time."
The vampire smirked as he raised his gaze to the west, where a pale moon was beginning to set. "Let's just say I've gotten it out of my system. You won't have to worry about me any more, Integra."
"Who said I was worrying?"
The two shared a glance—hers stoic and his humorous—and then with an amused chuckle Alucard stepped back into shadow and vanished. Integra's gaze remained on the spot he had formerly occupied only briefly before she, too, turned to depart. Walter met her at Hellsing's grand doors, and together they returned to the institute's interior.
Far above, sitting perched on the edge of Hellsing's battalion, Celas watched the whole scene transpire. She couldn't hear any of the words exchanged but she was almost glad for that, as she already had enough on her mind. She wrapped her arms around herself against the night's cold chill. Good for them—they had all reconciled, and she still had so few answers.
"Aren't you supposed to be restricted to your room?"
Celas jumped, twisting to see the form that had appeared so suddenly behind her. "Master!" She gulped. "I…I'm sorry, I was just…" She turned back. "…uneasy."
She heard Alucard step forward, followed by a ruffle of fabric, and to her surprise his thick red coat fell heavily across her shoulders. It was warm and the material softer than it looked; she tugged it hesitantly tighter around her. "Master…?"
Alucard took a seat beside her; she snuck a few glances at him shyly. He didn't seem to be upset with her, but she was still uncertain. She couldn't see his eyes behind his tinted glasses, but he was smiling faintly as he reached into his shirt cuff. To the officer's surprise he pulled free a small black bat and let it hang, squeaking quietly, from his index finger. "This," he told her evenly, "is all that remains of the vampire Ballerant."
"Ballerant?" Celas echoed incredulously. She peered at the small animal very closely, its tiny, lazy movements. It almost seemed to watch her. "He's…alive?"
"In a manner of sorts." He shook the finger slightly and smiled in amusement at the bat's annoyed chirping. "He has lost most of his power; he probably doesn't even remember his name. With time, he may regain himself. A year, a decade—he was a powerful vampire once, and he will be again someday."
"He's…he's alive," Celas whispered wondrously, reaching out. She hesitated before she could touch it. "Ballerant…" A short bark of laughter escaped her, and she shivered, as if on the edge of tears. "But why?"
"Because he was one of Lorenna's," Alucard explained. "It's against my nature, you know, but Lorenna was a noble vampire who did much for our people in America. Those vampires will need guidance." He tilted his head back slightly. "More importantly, he kept his word to me."
Celas stared at him, somewhat baffled by what she was hearing. Alucard had never spoken about vampires in such a way. "Our people…." She remembered suddenly how much Ballerant had looked after her, the things he'd taught her—what Garret had taught her. "Garret—what about Garret?"
"The other vampire? He is gone." His voice deepened slightly, not with anything resembling regret, but…something different. "Not even I can refuse a direct order from my master."
Celas bit her lip, but she tried not to let her disappointment hold her for too long. She was grateful for all Garret had done for her, but it was too late to feel guilty about involving him now. When she started to speak once more Alucard lifted his hand, and she paused, waiting for him.
"Killing Sanfeld will be a small help to them," he said thoughtfully. "Zimmerman will inherit the institute, taking him off of active duty on the streets. There is no agent that can take his place in terms of skill, because of what he is. As long as they can keep ahead of Zimmerman's planning, one by one vampires will be spared."
He jerked his hand, and with a flap of leather the bat—Ballerant—fluttered off into the night. Celas watched until it was nothing more than a dark speck. At least one of them had been saved. But as she returned her gaze to Alucard she was filled with questions one more, and she licked her lips nervously. "Um…Master?"
Alucard turned to face her curiously. "Yes?"
"Um…I…." She hesitated, unsure of where she could possibly being. In the end she hadn't expected the question that sprang from her first. "Did you really love Lorenna? I know you said I didn't understand, but I'm a real vampire, now, so…I thought…."
Alucard regarded her with great interest, even taking off his glasses. "Is that so?" There was something in his tone, however, that indicated he already know everything he might have told him.
"Well…." Celas shifted, feeling suddenly restless beneath Alucard's bright eyes. "Yes. If Integra finds out I'll be in trouble—I didn't want to, but I was so thirsty—but I—"
Alucard blinked slowly. "You'll just be more careful next time."
She released a quiet sigh of relief. Alucard wasn't mad—he may have even been proud of her, judging by the gleam in his eyes. Sitting up a little taller—and pulling Alucard's coat more tightly around her—she returned to her former concern. "Okay. So…did you?"
The old vampire chuckled at her expectant features. "When you grow as old as I am," he said lightly, "you'll come to understand that humans have different ways of thinking than we do." He turned his head to stare out over the courtyard, to the last sliver of the moon over the trees once more. His expression was almost wistful. "Lorenna was the last vampire I changed before I cam to Hellsing. I can't say I loved her as humans love, but I was fond of her. She will always be one of mine."
Celas ducked her head, inordinately pleased. "Like…me?" she asked sheepishly.
Alucard's laughter was warm, and it filled her with tingling pride. "Yes, Celas, like you. You'll always be one of mine."
Celas hummed happily to herself, hoping the blush in her cheeks went unnoticed in the dark. And just when she thought she couldn't be more satisfied and content an idea came to her, one that made her quiver in excitement and uncertainty. "Master…." Slowly her posture straightened; she had grown up so much already, she felt she was ready to know the rest—to be the kind of vampire Alucard wanted her to be.
"Yes?" Detecting her hesitation he watched her patiently.
"I want…I mean, would it be okay if…will you ever offer your blood to me again?" she asked timidly.
Genuinely surprised by the request, Alucard regarded her evenly; only his eyes displayed his interest. "Do you understand what it will do to you?"
Celas nodded anxiously. "I do…I think." She gathered her courage and tried again. "It will make me a better vampire. And…even if you won't really be my master anymore, I'll still be yours." She wriggled a little closer. "Please? I want to be strong, like…the others were."
Alucard's vibrant eyes thinned slightly, and a slow grin parted his lips over his pointed fangs. "Very well." And with no more spoken between them he tilted his head, sweeping his coarse hair away from the smooth, pale flesh of his throat.
Celas licked her lips, tracing the form of her teeth. She was about to learn at last what it really meant to be a vampire. Cradled by the silver moonlight and castle shadows these were her last thoughts as she leaned in, shivering, to taste the first drops of her master's blood.
[ah, that's it! Thanks to everyone that followed the story this far—I really appreciate all your reviews. If any of you are at Anime Central 2003 look for me, I'll be dressed as Celas. If you come say hi I might even have a treat for you ^_~
Oh, and there may be a sequel, but probably not for a while…]