Note: Thank you to all the reviewers! You have been a very big help! ^_^ I try to read most of my reviewer's own stories and comment on them, but if I haven't, don't fret! I will soon. This is Chapter 4, yes. The last "chapter" was just a "relief" which was just basically a conversation that helped the story progress but it wasn't part of a major chapter. Anyway, onward! And, yes, I know it is short! x_x Sorry!
Chapter 4: The Admirer's Letter
"Write it, now."
"Never.. I will not do your dirty work."
"Write it! Or I'll make sure to imprison you within The Black Box!"
"..But, master.."
"Write it!!"
"This is blasphemy.."
"No one gives a God damn! Write it now, or I'll do the unthinkable!"
"..Fine."
"Good boy."
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Walter lightly sets the teacup down on the desk, absent of Integral's paperwork. He places two lumps of sugar in the warm tea, the spoon giving a tink as it's placed in the cup. "There you are, Miss Hellsing," says Walter, straightening himself some.
"Thank you, Walter." Integral sets down her pen, rubbing her temple with three fingers. After a moment she picks up the cup of tea, taking a sip. She realizes that Walter was still standing in front of her desk, an unfinished air about him. "Yes, Walter?" she asks, blue eyes looking at him from behind wire frames.
"This came today," Walter responds, arms extending to place a enveloped letter on the papers in front of Integral.
"So? I get tons of mail, Walter. This small one is of no importance."
"Ah, Miss Hellsing. Look at the front. Look at the writing."
Integral eyes Walter as if he was up to something before setting down the tea cup and turning the letter up to read. "Penned script. So?" Integral didn't seem to understand.
Walter gives a small cough. "It's an informal business letter, Miss Hellsing. Written by hand and not by computer. It's odd, Miss Hellsing, that there is no return address or seal on the back. It cannot be of anyone you do business with, could it? This letter seems to be of casual kind."
"Casual?" repeats Integral with a questioning tone. "Who would send me casual letters? Alucard?"
Blinking at Integral, Walter says, "Are you saying that you think Alucard sent you this as a joke?"
"Yes, I am."
"No," says Walter. "It can't be Alucard. The handwriting is very different. Alucard's handwriting is more reserved and straight, while this one is more elegant and.. American." Walter seems as surprised as Integral about his observation of the handwriting being American.
"An American.. in England?"
Walter shrugs, unresponsive. He didn't have an alibi for that one.
A soft sigh escapes Integral's tired lips. "Fine, I'll read it when I'm finished straightening these few papers. Thank you, Walter."
Walter gives a polite bow and turns, exiting out the doors in which he came.
"Hmph. First tons of random phone calls and now mysterious casual letters. What next, expensive presents?" Integral wonders if the phone calls and this letter are related in anyway, but she dismisses the thought as she begins stacking papers.
Once each paper is in its own stack and they are all straightened, Integral seats herself, picking up the letter and turning it over in her hands. Using her thumb, she pries the flap on the back open and slips the pearl-colored paper from the sheath-like envelope, unfolding it, eyes scanning it horizontally.
To Miss Integral Wingates Hellsing:
You do not know me, Miss Hellsing, but you will soon enough. I wrote to you to accomplish two things:
1. Express my feelings toward you; and
2. Ask something of you in return.
I'm not good with these sort of things, mostly because I have never experienced any before-- until recently. I could have easily told you verbally, but I feel I can express my own self better on paper.
Miss Hellsing, I have seen you before. I have watched you, listened to you, anything you can think of. You have enthralled every last fiber in my being. I wish to tell you-- sing, express, anything! to you --how wonderful you are, but, sadly, there is not enough words in the English language to do so.
Integral; Miss Hellsing, you are the most extraordinary woman I have met in this world. You truly outdo most any girl alive with your stern beauty. Your eyes-- those rounded, Caribbean-hued orbs --have captured my inner most tongue, which is why I cannot find the words to match such power and exquisiteness.
And speaking of power. You could control anything you set your intelligent mind to! Working with confidence and order is part of your moral, which I admire greatly…
Integral set the letter down quickly, blue eyes wide, coal-ish pupils small as a needle's eye. She couldn't believe-- couldn't fathom --what she was actually reading. What was worse, it was written. Written by someone's own hands; came from someone's own thoughts and inner most feelings. This letter was so personal, that whoever wrote it, probably did so in secret. Integral knew now that the phone calls and this letter were very related.
"Bloody hell," she mumbles, lifting the letter back up, the only reason she wanted to continue was just to finish.
…You must believe me, Miss Hellsing. This is no prank; no joke of any kind. I do not mean to cause you humiliation or stress. I only wished to express deeply the way I felt toward you. I had to bring it out in the open and present it before I even thought about talking with you.
So, after getting that over with, I wanted to ask you something. Miss Hellsing, would it be possible for you to meet me sometime? Say, tonight, or tomorrow night, around midnight? It's very important that you come alone, and to the park. I need to discuss a matter with you that could signify your life being in grave danger. That is anything other than what I want. Please, Miss Hellsing, meet me. Tonight, around midnight. I'll expect you there, alone. Thank you, in advance.
An Admirer
Shocked, Integral drops the letter on the desk. Her hands run over her eyes and forehead. She was not only confused, but very suspicious. It came to Integral as no surprise that there was no signature. She hadn't expected one. Still, who was this man? Why did he want to meet her-- alone? And what was this about her life being in danger?
A sigh escapes Integrals lips. She lifts the teacup shakily, sipping, but coughing slightly. The tea had gotten cold, which meant Walter should be back any minute to retrieve the cup.
"What in God's name is going on?" mumbles Integral gently.
Behind her, from within the shadows of the curtain, Alucard grins wickedly, fangs flashing. He had been watching, given a tip from Walter that this letter could mean something important. He knew his master would not show or tell him anything about the letter if it was private business. Yes, maybe Alucard was spying, but he had a good reason. He valued the life of his master, and cared not to let anything harmful befall her.
With a small rustle, which made Integral jump and turn, Alucard dissolves into a faint shadowy mist, returning to his chambers below. The last image he leaves before vanishing fully is his wide, Cheshire grin.
