Chapter 6! This is quite a fun little piece to write, so I hope you're all
enjoying it.
I still don't own a blasted thing except the priests of the Knights that I made up.
And as always, review so that Mew knows what's going on in the minds of her dear readers.
~*~*~*~*~
It had been just after lunch when Father McCallister entered the classroom of Father Alexander Anderson's high school Theology studies to pull the former Knight away from the students to tell him of the death of Father Stanislaus Polaski.
Needless to say, the grief-stricken Anderson cancelled his classes for the rest of the day, as well as for the next day.
Through bitter tears wept in his office, he prayed that Polaski's soul be granted immediate access to heaven, for that any sins that the priest could have committed must have been cleansed during the bloodletting performed by the demon Alucard.
Yes, Polaski was a martyr, and Anderson would petition the Vatican to make the Pole a saint. He was certain the children at his parish would sign anything he gave to them, as would the adult parishioners. The usually liberal New Englanders seemed to have taken a liking to his fire-and- brimstone sermons, and while other parishes were decreasing in numbers, St. Michael's was the largest growing place of worship in the region, giving Anderson more power than he had ever known before in the service of the Vatican.
So even though he had prayed for none of this to happen, Anderson loved how God worked in his life again, giving him recognition for deeds done in His service.
But the news that Polaski had been martyred was seemingly lessened, as when he checked his email that evening, a note from Father Enrico Maxwell had arrived informing Anderson that if his former adversary Alucard made one more move against the Catholic church, he would be recalled to his post at the Vatican and pardoned for his supposed sins, since it was obvious that Alucard was back, no matter what that English swine said differently.
And as the days passed, the number of correspondences from Rome continued to increase, as vampiric activity on the European continent seemed to be increasing once again.
Anderson was about to lose everything he cherished yet again, and that was not how God was supposed to work.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Father Jonathan McCallister's calm voice drifted through the confessional screen that divided the two priests, for Anderson enjoyed hiding in a confession booth when he needed time to meditate. Though his parishioners adored his sermons, most were afraid to speak of their sins to the wild-eyed priest, so it was obvious as to why a confessional was his best place to hide from the world.
Anderson sighed, his shoulders visibly slumping as McCallister watched the silhouette across from him. "I wasn't able to expel Alucard to Hell, yet the whole reason I came here was, well, for sending Alucard back to Hell. I'm more hurt by the news that he's back than anything else John. And then he killed Polaski. He killed a bloody man of God and he feels no remorse. It sickens me to tears."
McCallister sighed, wishing to hug the other man, but because of the screen, he did not move, less to fold his hands in his lap. "Alucard is more powerful than a regular demon Alex. I know you've fought him before, and he's left you without limbs, and you've left him without a head, and you've both recovered from such injuries. Maybe he can't be killed by traditional means. Or maybe he just can't return to Hell because he has been banished."
Anderson shook his head in disgust. McCallister was defending Alucard! How incredibly dreadful! "Every demon can be returned to its proper place in the order of things, and this does include Alucard. I will again have to ask for His guidance again so that I can be a vessel through which God's work flows," he sighed. "For I will be returning to the Vatican within the week, since Integral Hellsing has not yet been able to give us the whereabouts of her pet vampire."
It was McCallister's turn to be speechless.
~*~*~*~*~
"The situation is far worse than we could have ever expected." Father Maxwell sighed as he looked over the reports sent to him from across the world. Of the original thirteen regenerators, only six were still alive and in service to the Catholic church. "It appears that the Order of the Dragon has been revived by its former master, and Miss Hellsing has refused to comment on the situation, saying that England is not having any such problems with her undead. Naturally, we believe that England's undead are masterminding this effort with the support of the Hellsing Organization behind them."
"Aye, sir." Anderson seemed bored with the news. He had known that as soon as Alucard found the weakness of a regenerator that he would spread the words of how to kill them to other vampires around the world. Asia and South America had lost all of their Holy Knights, along with the death of Polaski, which started it all, the torturing of Akimbe, which had triggered Anderson's fury the most of all the men he had mentored and trained in his image, and finally the loss of Father King who was killed by the hands of a common FREAK, albeit a five year old specimen. "Let me go to England alone. I will find out how involved Hellsing is with this mess."
Maxwell shook his head. "Alex, we cannot risk sending you on missions, and you know this. You are far too. . ." the elder looked upward, searching for the tactful way of describing Anderson's 'kill-first-question- later' style of working. "reckless for the Vatican to send on missions anymore. Fathers van Baalen, Harrison, and McCallister have been called upon to take care of the Hellsing problem."
Anderson growled, slamming his hands down on his superior's desk. "Not a one of those men could stand toe to toe with Hellsing's pet and survive! Do you want to lose any more men, or do you believe that you can just create more regenerators to do your bidding!?!"
"Calm down Father!" Maxwell shouted back, his features hardening as he stared at the younger priest across the desk from him. "If more regenerators are needed, then yes, we will create more regenerators for the service of God. And in order to have them trained properly, YOU will be needed to train these men as you trained the other men." Maxwell folded his arms across his chest, glaring out the window of his office. "Though I suggest that you train the next group more thoroughly about how to stay alive. These past recruits were quite, soft."
Anderson bowed his head, speaking through clenched teeth. "May I please say that none of the men will ever be an equal to me or a demon like Alucard, for they are just cheap imitations. God granted me my powers, not some science experiment. They are the holy equivalent of a FREAK vampire!"
"God granted the men their powers as well!"
The two men continued to stare at each other, obviously upset by what the other had just said. With a quick turn on his heel, Anderson left the office and returned to his quarters, ready to instruct his three former students on the best course of action to take against Hellsing.
~*~*~*~*~
This had been the most humiliating day of Father Anderson's life. Not only had he broken the rules set forth by Enrico Maxwell by leaving the Vatican to go to England with the three regenerators, he had been forced to wear a nun's habits to leave the city without being noticed.
Once the group had safely reached the heart of French territory, Anderson changed to his normal clothes, but still did not speak with the other three priests sharing the train cabin with him during that trip, even when McCallister and van Baalen tried as hard as they could to initiate conversation about the high school classes Anderson had been teaching in Boston or the state of affairs of the American churches, since van Baalen was curious about the scandals.
Upon reaching the English coast in Portsmouth, Anderson's entire attitude shifted from somber to that of a raving lunatic. He couldn't keep a smile from crossing his lips, though his eyes were darting in every direction, focusing on objects long enough when he heard a sound to make certain of what he was seeing, then he began to scan the area yet again, as if he knew something or someone was watching them.
Father Harrison had become unnerved by the behavior, and stepped out to another train car for a cigarette, but returned the car where Anderson and the others stayed for the rest of the journey to London proper as soon as he had finished.
The four Catholic Knights stepped onto the platform of King's Cross looking like a group of bounty hunters from comic books as they marched in line with weapons brandished and Anderson just slightly in the lead, for he had told the men he felt the presence of a Hellsing vampire in the station. They were ready to begin the battle to purge the undead monsters from the world.
With a smirk, Anderson pointed at Lieutenant Seras Victoria, the younger of Hellsing's vampires, as she stood near a magazine stand, buying a copy of the daily newspaper's early morning edition. Each of the priests fanned out in the nearly deserted station, surrounding the vampire without her realizing what was happening.
"In the name of God, impure souls of the living dead shall be banished to eternal damnation. Amen."
Seras yelped when she heard the familiar accent coming from behind her, jumping around to see Father Anderson leaning down to look her in the eyes, an action he had told his men never to do if they wanted to survive in the presence of a vampire.
"Your motto is quite a serviceable prayer, Hellsing demon. It is a pity you didn't learn how to pray before you were made into the image of Lucifer himself."
The other three priests moved closer to the girl, crossing their blessed blades to defend against whatever attack she decided to use against them. They were ready, and more than anxious, for a fight with one of the true undead.
To their surprise, Seras Victoria stood motionless, gasping for breath as blood tears streaked down her cheeks.
"Master said you were in America."
Anderson smirked, grabbing her arm tightly to drag her outside where day would be breaking in just a few minutes. McCallister and van Baalen followed, but Harrison remained downstairs to try to convince any witnesses to what had just occurred that the woman was a traitor to the Vatican, and she needed to be returned for her trial.
"The Lord of the Flies is a liar. Even a Protestant sow should realize that fact."
Seras began to struggle, trying to break from Anderson's steel-tight grasp so she could draw her gun and get away from him at least. Instead of giving her room to break free as he usually did, for he enjoyed the hunt most of all, he tightened his hand on her arm, eliciting a scream of pain from the young vampire.
"Please, let me go! I'll do anything for you tomorrow night, but day is coming, and I can't very well be out in the sun!"
"But dear," van Baalen smirked as he moved closer, leveling his blade at her throat. "Didn't you realize that is the best way to return a demon like yourself to Hell? Demons cannot stand the light, as it purifies them and returns them to God's good graces."
Seras bit her lip, knowing these would be her last moments of life as an undead creature. She was certain that Sir Integra would be happy to be rid of one vampire, for she knew how upset the head of Hellsing had been when Alucard brought her over into the darkness.
"Don't think this is personal Seras." Anderson purred in her ear as he held his arms tight around her waist. "This is just a way to cut off the hand that is that keeps tempting the world to sin."
The scream was horrifying as the sun's light penetrated the cloudy English sky, for as soon as the light touched the exposed skin of the young vampire, it began to decay and finally to burn to ash. The red-haired girl crumbled in Anderson's hands, and when there was no more of Seras Victoria but a pile of ashes and a police uniform, Anderson reached in to his jacket pocket and pulled out a regular sized Vatican flag, for he would want Hellsing to know that Section XIII could still pose a threat to their unholy alliance of blueblooded bitches and preternatural beings.
"Spread the ashes." He ordered the men as he walked away carrying the folded flag that was wrapped around a Hellsing police dress suit. "And say last rights for the girl whose body the demons decided to inhabit. Seras was a good girl until her fateful encounter with death. She may ask for absolution once she is in heaven, if her kind can even make it that far."
~*~*~*~*~
If the news of Alucard's supposed demise had been the highlight of her working with the Vatican, receiving a Vatican City flag with a Hellsing uniform and a note explaining who the uniform belonged to and what happened to the wearer, was enough to send Integral Hellsing into another tirade about the corrupt and archaic ways of the Catholics.
She never even bothered to remember that it was her vampires that started the deaths and renewed hatred between the organizations, but only that four priests slaughtered an innocent young woman as she waited at the train station for a ride back to her home after spending an evening at work.
She would make sure the priests had been severely punished when they reached Alucard's territory.
"Good evening Miss Hellsing." Integral looked over to the door of her office, seeing Alucard leaning against it to watch her continue the never- ending rant about the Vatican. "It really is a shame that the Police Girl allowed herself to be taken down by rookie regenerators. And to be burned in the sun." He just smirked as he sat on Integral's desk, looking out the window at the moon. "That had to be a painful way to die. I truly pity her."
But Integral hadn't been paying attention to Alucard's typical long- winded speeches he liked to give when he entered her office. Instead, she had rummaged through her desk drawers, tossing a stack of papers to Alucard before lighting a cigar.
"They plan on training more regenerators Alucard."
"I will kill them just as easily as before master."
Integral shook her head. "Those damned Catholics are trying to be like the bloody Americans and force their way upon everyone, and those damned regenerators are their way of doing it. You need to kill Anderson to make them stop."
Alucard just sighed in relief, for he had been silently hoping his master would give him those orders. "I will make you proud, Miss Hellsing."
And with a chuckle, Alucard left Integral alone in her office.
I still don't own a blasted thing except the priests of the Knights that I made up.
And as always, review so that Mew knows what's going on in the minds of her dear readers.
~*~*~*~*~
It had been just after lunch when Father McCallister entered the classroom of Father Alexander Anderson's high school Theology studies to pull the former Knight away from the students to tell him of the death of Father Stanislaus Polaski.
Needless to say, the grief-stricken Anderson cancelled his classes for the rest of the day, as well as for the next day.
Through bitter tears wept in his office, he prayed that Polaski's soul be granted immediate access to heaven, for that any sins that the priest could have committed must have been cleansed during the bloodletting performed by the demon Alucard.
Yes, Polaski was a martyr, and Anderson would petition the Vatican to make the Pole a saint. He was certain the children at his parish would sign anything he gave to them, as would the adult parishioners. The usually liberal New Englanders seemed to have taken a liking to his fire-and- brimstone sermons, and while other parishes were decreasing in numbers, St. Michael's was the largest growing place of worship in the region, giving Anderson more power than he had ever known before in the service of the Vatican.
So even though he had prayed for none of this to happen, Anderson loved how God worked in his life again, giving him recognition for deeds done in His service.
But the news that Polaski had been martyred was seemingly lessened, as when he checked his email that evening, a note from Father Enrico Maxwell had arrived informing Anderson that if his former adversary Alucard made one more move against the Catholic church, he would be recalled to his post at the Vatican and pardoned for his supposed sins, since it was obvious that Alucard was back, no matter what that English swine said differently.
And as the days passed, the number of correspondences from Rome continued to increase, as vampiric activity on the European continent seemed to be increasing once again.
Anderson was about to lose everything he cherished yet again, and that was not how God was supposed to work.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Father Jonathan McCallister's calm voice drifted through the confessional screen that divided the two priests, for Anderson enjoyed hiding in a confession booth when he needed time to meditate. Though his parishioners adored his sermons, most were afraid to speak of their sins to the wild-eyed priest, so it was obvious as to why a confessional was his best place to hide from the world.
Anderson sighed, his shoulders visibly slumping as McCallister watched the silhouette across from him. "I wasn't able to expel Alucard to Hell, yet the whole reason I came here was, well, for sending Alucard back to Hell. I'm more hurt by the news that he's back than anything else John. And then he killed Polaski. He killed a bloody man of God and he feels no remorse. It sickens me to tears."
McCallister sighed, wishing to hug the other man, but because of the screen, he did not move, less to fold his hands in his lap. "Alucard is more powerful than a regular demon Alex. I know you've fought him before, and he's left you without limbs, and you've left him without a head, and you've both recovered from such injuries. Maybe he can't be killed by traditional means. Or maybe he just can't return to Hell because he has been banished."
Anderson shook his head in disgust. McCallister was defending Alucard! How incredibly dreadful! "Every demon can be returned to its proper place in the order of things, and this does include Alucard. I will again have to ask for His guidance again so that I can be a vessel through which God's work flows," he sighed. "For I will be returning to the Vatican within the week, since Integral Hellsing has not yet been able to give us the whereabouts of her pet vampire."
It was McCallister's turn to be speechless.
~*~*~*~*~
"The situation is far worse than we could have ever expected." Father Maxwell sighed as he looked over the reports sent to him from across the world. Of the original thirteen regenerators, only six were still alive and in service to the Catholic church. "It appears that the Order of the Dragon has been revived by its former master, and Miss Hellsing has refused to comment on the situation, saying that England is not having any such problems with her undead. Naturally, we believe that England's undead are masterminding this effort with the support of the Hellsing Organization behind them."
"Aye, sir." Anderson seemed bored with the news. He had known that as soon as Alucard found the weakness of a regenerator that he would spread the words of how to kill them to other vampires around the world. Asia and South America had lost all of their Holy Knights, along with the death of Polaski, which started it all, the torturing of Akimbe, which had triggered Anderson's fury the most of all the men he had mentored and trained in his image, and finally the loss of Father King who was killed by the hands of a common FREAK, albeit a five year old specimen. "Let me go to England alone. I will find out how involved Hellsing is with this mess."
Maxwell shook his head. "Alex, we cannot risk sending you on missions, and you know this. You are far too. . ." the elder looked upward, searching for the tactful way of describing Anderson's 'kill-first-question- later' style of working. "reckless for the Vatican to send on missions anymore. Fathers van Baalen, Harrison, and McCallister have been called upon to take care of the Hellsing problem."
Anderson growled, slamming his hands down on his superior's desk. "Not a one of those men could stand toe to toe with Hellsing's pet and survive! Do you want to lose any more men, or do you believe that you can just create more regenerators to do your bidding!?!"
"Calm down Father!" Maxwell shouted back, his features hardening as he stared at the younger priest across the desk from him. "If more regenerators are needed, then yes, we will create more regenerators for the service of God. And in order to have them trained properly, YOU will be needed to train these men as you trained the other men." Maxwell folded his arms across his chest, glaring out the window of his office. "Though I suggest that you train the next group more thoroughly about how to stay alive. These past recruits were quite, soft."
Anderson bowed his head, speaking through clenched teeth. "May I please say that none of the men will ever be an equal to me or a demon like Alucard, for they are just cheap imitations. God granted me my powers, not some science experiment. They are the holy equivalent of a FREAK vampire!"
"God granted the men their powers as well!"
The two men continued to stare at each other, obviously upset by what the other had just said. With a quick turn on his heel, Anderson left the office and returned to his quarters, ready to instruct his three former students on the best course of action to take against Hellsing.
~*~*~*~*~
This had been the most humiliating day of Father Anderson's life. Not only had he broken the rules set forth by Enrico Maxwell by leaving the Vatican to go to England with the three regenerators, he had been forced to wear a nun's habits to leave the city without being noticed.
Once the group had safely reached the heart of French territory, Anderson changed to his normal clothes, but still did not speak with the other three priests sharing the train cabin with him during that trip, even when McCallister and van Baalen tried as hard as they could to initiate conversation about the high school classes Anderson had been teaching in Boston or the state of affairs of the American churches, since van Baalen was curious about the scandals.
Upon reaching the English coast in Portsmouth, Anderson's entire attitude shifted from somber to that of a raving lunatic. He couldn't keep a smile from crossing his lips, though his eyes were darting in every direction, focusing on objects long enough when he heard a sound to make certain of what he was seeing, then he began to scan the area yet again, as if he knew something or someone was watching them.
Father Harrison had become unnerved by the behavior, and stepped out to another train car for a cigarette, but returned the car where Anderson and the others stayed for the rest of the journey to London proper as soon as he had finished.
The four Catholic Knights stepped onto the platform of King's Cross looking like a group of bounty hunters from comic books as they marched in line with weapons brandished and Anderson just slightly in the lead, for he had told the men he felt the presence of a Hellsing vampire in the station. They were ready to begin the battle to purge the undead monsters from the world.
With a smirk, Anderson pointed at Lieutenant Seras Victoria, the younger of Hellsing's vampires, as she stood near a magazine stand, buying a copy of the daily newspaper's early morning edition. Each of the priests fanned out in the nearly deserted station, surrounding the vampire without her realizing what was happening.
"In the name of God, impure souls of the living dead shall be banished to eternal damnation. Amen."
Seras yelped when she heard the familiar accent coming from behind her, jumping around to see Father Anderson leaning down to look her in the eyes, an action he had told his men never to do if they wanted to survive in the presence of a vampire.
"Your motto is quite a serviceable prayer, Hellsing demon. It is a pity you didn't learn how to pray before you were made into the image of Lucifer himself."
The other three priests moved closer to the girl, crossing their blessed blades to defend against whatever attack she decided to use against them. They were ready, and more than anxious, for a fight with one of the true undead.
To their surprise, Seras Victoria stood motionless, gasping for breath as blood tears streaked down her cheeks.
"Master said you were in America."
Anderson smirked, grabbing her arm tightly to drag her outside where day would be breaking in just a few minutes. McCallister and van Baalen followed, but Harrison remained downstairs to try to convince any witnesses to what had just occurred that the woman was a traitor to the Vatican, and she needed to be returned for her trial.
"The Lord of the Flies is a liar. Even a Protestant sow should realize that fact."
Seras began to struggle, trying to break from Anderson's steel-tight grasp so she could draw her gun and get away from him at least. Instead of giving her room to break free as he usually did, for he enjoyed the hunt most of all, he tightened his hand on her arm, eliciting a scream of pain from the young vampire.
"Please, let me go! I'll do anything for you tomorrow night, but day is coming, and I can't very well be out in the sun!"
"But dear," van Baalen smirked as he moved closer, leveling his blade at her throat. "Didn't you realize that is the best way to return a demon like yourself to Hell? Demons cannot stand the light, as it purifies them and returns them to God's good graces."
Seras bit her lip, knowing these would be her last moments of life as an undead creature. She was certain that Sir Integra would be happy to be rid of one vampire, for she knew how upset the head of Hellsing had been when Alucard brought her over into the darkness.
"Don't think this is personal Seras." Anderson purred in her ear as he held his arms tight around her waist. "This is just a way to cut off the hand that is that keeps tempting the world to sin."
The scream was horrifying as the sun's light penetrated the cloudy English sky, for as soon as the light touched the exposed skin of the young vampire, it began to decay and finally to burn to ash. The red-haired girl crumbled in Anderson's hands, and when there was no more of Seras Victoria but a pile of ashes and a police uniform, Anderson reached in to his jacket pocket and pulled out a regular sized Vatican flag, for he would want Hellsing to know that Section XIII could still pose a threat to their unholy alliance of blueblooded bitches and preternatural beings.
"Spread the ashes." He ordered the men as he walked away carrying the folded flag that was wrapped around a Hellsing police dress suit. "And say last rights for the girl whose body the demons decided to inhabit. Seras was a good girl until her fateful encounter with death. She may ask for absolution once she is in heaven, if her kind can even make it that far."
~*~*~*~*~
If the news of Alucard's supposed demise had been the highlight of her working with the Vatican, receiving a Vatican City flag with a Hellsing uniform and a note explaining who the uniform belonged to and what happened to the wearer, was enough to send Integral Hellsing into another tirade about the corrupt and archaic ways of the Catholics.
She never even bothered to remember that it was her vampires that started the deaths and renewed hatred between the organizations, but only that four priests slaughtered an innocent young woman as she waited at the train station for a ride back to her home after spending an evening at work.
She would make sure the priests had been severely punished when they reached Alucard's territory.
"Good evening Miss Hellsing." Integral looked over to the door of her office, seeing Alucard leaning against it to watch her continue the never- ending rant about the Vatican. "It really is a shame that the Police Girl allowed herself to be taken down by rookie regenerators. And to be burned in the sun." He just smirked as he sat on Integral's desk, looking out the window at the moon. "That had to be a painful way to die. I truly pity her."
But Integral hadn't been paying attention to Alucard's typical long- winded speeches he liked to give when he entered her office. Instead, she had rummaged through her desk drawers, tossing a stack of papers to Alucard before lighting a cigar.
"They plan on training more regenerators Alucard."
"I will kill them just as easily as before master."
Integral shook her head. "Those damned Catholics are trying to be like the bloody Americans and force their way upon everyone, and those damned regenerators are their way of doing it. You need to kill Anderson to make them stop."
Alucard just sighed in relief, for he had been silently hoping his master would give him those orders. "I will make you proud, Miss Hellsing."
And with a chuckle, Alucard left Integral alone in her office.