Ch 10: The Calm After the Storm
"I want to apologize, Miss Constance, for doubting you." Walter said as he helped Constance reach her room. The pain in her ribs was making walking difficult.
"No need to apologize, Walter. If I'd have been you, I'd have thought the same thing. It's not like I made my intentions known right off."
"Since you mention it, what are your intentions here?" Walter said. "It must be rather important to send you to us."
"I wish I knew what my real mission was." Constance answered with some difficulty. "But it's information that I am not privy to, which makes this a whole lot harder. I'm given advice in bits and pieces without being allowed to see the whole picture." Constance's frustration was evident from the tone in her voice.
Walter smiled and attempted to relieve the doctor's frustration by quipping brightly, "Well, they say the Lord works in mysterious ways."
"You're telling me." Constance answered with a smile of her own.
When they reached the room that was hers once again, Constance thanked Walter for his help. "Call me if you need anything. Sir Integra insists that you take some days off to regain your strength. Until then, rest well."
Once Constance was alone, she pulled her shirt off and examined her wound. It was not her broken ribs that she was looking at, but the nasty cut in her shoulder that had appeared when she healed Alucard's wound. Her gift was her curse, she thought. She could take pain and injuries away from people in need, but as a consequence had to bear the pain herself. Ever since she had known about this ability, she had seen countless people that she wanted to save from death, but could not because it would destroy her own frail human form. She could not allow herself to die until she completed her task on this earth.
Ceras and Pip were walking down the dark halls of the house. Alucard had already disappeared to god-knew-where.
"Did we really see that back there, or am I nuts?" Ceras asked more to herself than anyone in particular.
"Looked pretty convincing to me" Pip answered, looking at Ceras with eyes that were still as wide as saucers. "So if you are nuts, which I have always thought you were, they'll have to lock us both up"
"Oooh, I thought you were being serious." Ceras said as she looked at Pip in irritation.
"I was being serious. I really do think you're a nutjob." Pip quipped as his trademark smile passed across his face. With that, he walked out of the front door into broad daylight where he knew Ceras could not follow him.
That was definitely something else, Pip thought as he walked into the bright sunlight outside. He didn't know what to make of the whole situation, but did not think that the doctor posed a threat for the time being. I guess all we can do is try and make the best of it. Pip knew from experience that the only way he would leave the Hellsing organization with his face and his sanity in tact was to try and make the best of the situations that presented themselves.
Jerk, Ceras thought as she watched Pip leave. But as frustrating as it was, she was glad that Pip had been there to see the amazing event in the dungeon with her. She felt that at this moment, he was the only one she could have talked to about it.
Integra was at her desk creating a thick cloud of smoke with her cigar. A snifter of brandy sat on the desk before her. She needed a drink after witnessing the scene in the dungeon. Why is it that non-human creatures seem to find their way here, of all places? Integra was contemplating this question and what this turn of events would mean to Hellsing when Alucard dropped through the ceiling.
"Well, that was a turn up for the books, wouldn't you agree, Master? He was smiling that smile of his as he leaned against the desk.
"I'll say" Integra answered, not in the mood to argue with her chief agent at the moment. "I'm curious to know why you were so quick to believe her."
"I had thought she was unusual when she first came here. You of all people must know that I can read the thoughts of humans. I couldn't read her. During the battle in the library, she moved faster than any human could possibly hope to move. Not to mention the blade that she touched was blessed beyond anything a human has been able to do in my long experience." Alucard explained.
"The question is, now what do we do?" Integra asked. She was sure that this could mean trouble for them.
"There is nothing you can do for now, Master. All we can do is allow her to stay and continue her service for you. After all, I hear that she is an excellent doctor." Alucard said. "I also think that it is crucial to keep her from those who may want to try and use the power that she possesses."
"I agree" Integra said. "I think the Vatican would be especially interested in her. See to it."
"Orders acknowledged. Good evening, Miss Hellsing." With that, he was gone and Integra was left alone to finish her brandy.
"Good work" the voice on the other end of the line said "I want you to watch her, we won't make a move for a while yet." The man on the phone in the back of the seedy bar said "Yes, sir" before hanging up. Father Enrico Maxwell relaxed in his chair. This was not the kind of information that he was expecting, but it was useful nonetheless. He was sure that the opportunity to use this information would present itself soon.
"I want to apologize, Miss Constance, for doubting you." Walter said as he helped Constance reach her room. The pain in her ribs was making walking difficult.
"No need to apologize, Walter. If I'd have been you, I'd have thought the same thing. It's not like I made my intentions known right off."
"Since you mention it, what are your intentions here?" Walter said. "It must be rather important to send you to us."
"I wish I knew what my real mission was." Constance answered with some difficulty. "But it's information that I am not privy to, which makes this a whole lot harder. I'm given advice in bits and pieces without being allowed to see the whole picture." Constance's frustration was evident from the tone in her voice.
Walter smiled and attempted to relieve the doctor's frustration by quipping brightly, "Well, they say the Lord works in mysterious ways."
"You're telling me." Constance answered with a smile of her own.
When they reached the room that was hers once again, Constance thanked Walter for his help. "Call me if you need anything. Sir Integra insists that you take some days off to regain your strength. Until then, rest well."
Once Constance was alone, she pulled her shirt off and examined her wound. It was not her broken ribs that she was looking at, but the nasty cut in her shoulder that had appeared when she healed Alucard's wound. Her gift was her curse, she thought. She could take pain and injuries away from people in need, but as a consequence had to bear the pain herself. Ever since she had known about this ability, she had seen countless people that she wanted to save from death, but could not because it would destroy her own frail human form. She could not allow herself to die until she completed her task on this earth.
Ceras and Pip were walking down the dark halls of the house. Alucard had already disappeared to god-knew-where.
"Did we really see that back there, or am I nuts?" Ceras asked more to herself than anyone in particular.
"Looked pretty convincing to me" Pip answered, looking at Ceras with eyes that were still as wide as saucers. "So if you are nuts, which I have always thought you were, they'll have to lock us both up"
"Oooh, I thought you were being serious." Ceras said as she looked at Pip in irritation.
"I was being serious. I really do think you're a nutjob." Pip quipped as his trademark smile passed across his face. With that, he walked out of the front door into broad daylight where he knew Ceras could not follow him.
That was definitely something else, Pip thought as he walked into the bright sunlight outside. He didn't know what to make of the whole situation, but did not think that the doctor posed a threat for the time being. I guess all we can do is try and make the best of it. Pip knew from experience that the only way he would leave the Hellsing organization with his face and his sanity in tact was to try and make the best of the situations that presented themselves.
Jerk, Ceras thought as she watched Pip leave. But as frustrating as it was, she was glad that Pip had been there to see the amazing event in the dungeon with her. She felt that at this moment, he was the only one she could have talked to about it.
Integra was at her desk creating a thick cloud of smoke with her cigar. A snifter of brandy sat on the desk before her. She needed a drink after witnessing the scene in the dungeon. Why is it that non-human creatures seem to find their way here, of all places? Integra was contemplating this question and what this turn of events would mean to Hellsing when Alucard dropped through the ceiling.
"Well, that was a turn up for the books, wouldn't you agree, Master? He was smiling that smile of his as he leaned against the desk.
"I'll say" Integra answered, not in the mood to argue with her chief agent at the moment. "I'm curious to know why you were so quick to believe her."
"I had thought she was unusual when she first came here. You of all people must know that I can read the thoughts of humans. I couldn't read her. During the battle in the library, she moved faster than any human could possibly hope to move. Not to mention the blade that she touched was blessed beyond anything a human has been able to do in my long experience." Alucard explained.
"The question is, now what do we do?" Integra asked. She was sure that this could mean trouble for them.
"There is nothing you can do for now, Master. All we can do is allow her to stay and continue her service for you. After all, I hear that she is an excellent doctor." Alucard said. "I also think that it is crucial to keep her from those who may want to try and use the power that she possesses."
"I agree" Integra said. "I think the Vatican would be especially interested in her. See to it."
"Orders acknowledged. Good evening, Miss Hellsing." With that, he was gone and Integra was left alone to finish her brandy.
"Good work" the voice on the other end of the line said "I want you to watch her, we won't make a move for a while yet." The man on the phone in the back of the seedy bar said "Yes, sir" before hanging up. Father Enrico Maxwell relaxed in his chair. This was not the kind of information that he was expecting, but it was useful nonetheless. He was sure that the opportunity to use this information would present itself soon.