(A.N. Thank you very much to everyone who read and reviewed this! And
thanks again to my husband for reading and reviewing)
Whomever it was that turned Elle into a vampire, they had probably made a mistake. She had been a rather cheerful, plump, rather kind-hearted woman in her thirties at the time, and she continued to be a rather cheerful, plump, kind-hearted woman with an unfortunate need to drink human blood.
I had encountered her on a few occasions before and after my time in the Hellsing dungeons, and as she was more of an amusement than a threat, I had left her unharmed. She took enough non-lethal snacks from those who slept in the nearby park to stay alive, and occasionally Walter would slip me a few extra blood bags for her. Walter and I were keeping her a secret from Integra. Even though Elle was such an inoffensive old thing, there was no telling what Integra might do to her.
Inoffensive or not, Elle had somehow managed to live a rather long life as a vampire, and I was hoping she might have some insight into vampire-human relations. I needed some help with these feelings that I was so unaccustomed to.
Elle greeted me cheerfully and put the blood away for later. Her curly blonde hair had not turned white, so she seemed to be doing well for herself.
"Well, Alucard, what brings you to see me? I hope I am not an object of concern at Hellsing?"
I smiled the way I always did when Elle spoke. She had cultivated a French accent despite never having crossed the English Channel.
"No, it's nothing like that Elle. I'm just wondering about something. have you ever felt an attraction to anyone, since you've been in your present form of life?"
"An attraction to another vampire? No, dear, I was always afraid they might stalk me throughout eternity." She gave a little shudder.
"What about a human?" I asked.
"A human? Why yes, quite a few. Especially my dear Philippe."
I smiled again. His name had probably been Phil.
"And he was such a sweet man, and always treated me so kindly."
At least Elle didn't seem to think it was foolish to feel some of the softer emotions. Though sweet and kind were quite low on my list of adjectives to describe Integra.
"So Philippe returned your feelings?"
"Oh yes, he loved me dearly, and never seemed afraid of me even though of course he knew what I was. He was a true gentleman. He used to meet me nights and take me dancing. Such a graceful dancer he was."
I couldn't quite picture dancing with Integra. But I did allow myself a brief image of holding her in my arms, and it was a pleasant distraction. Still, there was one issue for which I had to interrupt Elle's reverie.
"But he grew old."
"Oh yes, he would have made a terrible vampire, even worse than me. He grew old, and died, and was kind and handsome to the last. And you are wondering whether it was worth it. Yes, it was worth every minute of it."
I nodded. I really didn't want to think of Integra growing old and dying, but I could imagine knowing her being worth that experience.
"But tell me about this human lady," she went on. "There must be one, since you are asking me such questions. What is her name?"
"Integra."
Elle looked shocked. "Sir Integral? Your employer? The one with the very strict attitudes regarding the undead?"
She began to laugh. "Really, Alucard, you must love a challenge. You have always portrayed her to me as such a bit- er, a headstrong woman. "
I laughed. If Integra had not had that quality, I would not be in the trouble I was in now.
"You're probably right that it's an impossible situation, especially as it seems I have competition," I said.
Elle waved a hand in dismissal. "Well, that is nothing to you, whoever it is can't survive long if you are after him."
"I can't kill a Hellsing employee, Elle. I'm under seal. And Integra would do something awful to me."
"You're quite resourceful, Alucard; I have confidence in you."
I was glad someone did. But as she spoke, I had finally begun to formulate a plan to reveal Jackson as the coward he was. And then, well, then we would see if my courage measured up to the challenge of Integra.
Whomever it was that turned Elle into a vampire, they had probably made a mistake. She had been a rather cheerful, plump, rather kind-hearted woman in her thirties at the time, and she continued to be a rather cheerful, plump, kind-hearted woman with an unfortunate need to drink human blood.
I had encountered her on a few occasions before and after my time in the Hellsing dungeons, and as she was more of an amusement than a threat, I had left her unharmed. She took enough non-lethal snacks from those who slept in the nearby park to stay alive, and occasionally Walter would slip me a few extra blood bags for her. Walter and I were keeping her a secret from Integra. Even though Elle was such an inoffensive old thing, there was no telling what Integra might do to her.
Inoffensive or not, Elle had somehow managed to live a rather long life as a vampire, and I was hoping she might have some insight into vampire-human relations. I needed some help with these feelings that I was so unaccustomed to.
Elle greeted me cheerfully and put the blood away for later. Her curly blonde hair had not turned white, so she seemed to be doing well for herself.
"Well, Alucard, what brings you to see me? I hope I am not an object of concern at Hellsing?"
I smiled the way I always did when Elle spoke. She had cultivated a French accent despite never having crossed the English Channel.
"No, it's nothing like that Elle. I'm just wondering about something. have you ever felt an attraction to anyone, since you've been in your present form of life?"
"An attraction to another vampire? No, dear, I was always afraid they might stalk me throughout eternity." She gave a little shudder.
"What about a human?" I asked.
"A human? Why yes, quite a few. Especially my dear Philippe."
I smiled again. His name had probably been Phil.
"And he was such a sweet man, and always treated me so kindly."
At least Elle didn't seem to think it was foolish to feel some of the softer emotions. Though sweet and kind were quite low on my list of adjectives to describe Integra.
"So Philippe returned your feelings?"
"Oh yes, he loved me dearly, and never seemed afraid of me even though of course he knew what I was. He was a true gentleman. He used to meet me nights and take me dancing. Such a graceful dancer he was."
I couldn't quite picture dancing with Integra. But I did allow myself a brief image of holding her in my arms, and it was a pleasant distraction. Still, there was one issue for which I had to interrupt Elle's reverie.
"But he grew old."
"Oh yes, he would have made a terrible vampire, even worse than me. He grew old, and died, and was kind and handsome to the last. And you are wondering whether it was worth it. Yes, it was worth every minute of it."
I nodded. I really didn't want to think of Integra growing old and dying, but I could imagine knowing her being worth that experience.
"But tell me about this human lady," she went on. "There must be one, since you are asking me such questions. What is her name?"
"Integra."
Elle looked shocked. "Sir Integral? Your employer? The one with the very strict attitudes regarding the undead?"
She began to laugh. "Really, Alucard, you must love a challenge. You have always portrayed her to me as such a bit- er, a headstrong woman. "
I laughed. If Integra had not had that quality, I would not be in the trouble I was in now.
"You're probably right that it's an impossible situation, especially as it seems I have competition," I said.
Elle waved a hand in dismissal. "Well, that is nothing to you, whoever it is can't survive long if you are after him."
"I can't kill a Hellsing employee, Elle. I'm under seal. And Integra would do something awful to me."
"You're quite resourceful, Alucard; I have confidence in you."
I was glad someone did. But as she spoke, I had finally begun to formulate a plan to reveal Jackson as the coward he was. And then, well, then we would see if my courage measured up to the challenge of Integra.