Integra Hellsing made her way into the shadowed mansion. She felt the twinge of annoyance from the strike earlier. She did not like uncontrolled variables in her execution of plans. This creature masked as a woman was definitely uncontrollable.
She walked into her office and settled into the plush chair. Moments later she got up and paced across the expanse of her office. Her agitation was more than the appearance of the abomination; it was Arucard's behavior as well. Not that their 'relationship' such as it was included his unquestioningly acceptance of her commands.
She turned at the sound of the light knock against the door.
"Yes."
"Lord Hellsing, you have a guest requesting an audience." Walter entered the room and bowed slightly.
Integra cocked her eyebrow. "A guest?"
"Yes Milord. Shall I escort her in?" Walter asked.
"Her?" Integra's eyes narrowed. "Come here." She beckoned Walter towards her, after her last experience with Bubbancy, the succubus type vampire; she wanted to make sure there was no such enchantment at work.
Walter stepped forward. Integra looked at him carefully.
"Did she give a name?"
"Countess Camilla Alexandre de Medici de Corternance. His 'kin', such as it were, requested that I let you know she was here." Walter cocked his head and stared hard at Integra.
"Lord Hellsing, if you wish, I can send her away."
Hellsing sighed, "No, no, send her in."
Walter bowed again and left the room. Integra pondered the title. If the Medici portion was true, then this Camilla woman could trace her lineage back to Henry IV and his marriage of Marie de Medici. Her brow furrowed again, and if this was an indicator of her age, then she was 460 + years old. That couldn't be right, Arucard was 567 years old and the woman he called 'sister' was far older than he. More than that, why should she request an audience? She could enter into any place she wished…
"Lord Hellsing, thank you so much for taking the time to see me." A woman's soft cultured voice spoke, interrupting Hellsing's thoughts.
Integra turned to face the woman and her eyes flashed angrily when she saw the same woman from earlier standing in her office.
"How dare you come into my office under the pretense of humanity." She barked. Camilla's accent had a foreign tinge that Integra could not place. No surprise, since her native tongue was likely a language long lost in the sands of time.
Camilla smiled and bowed her head. "I made no such pretense Lord Hellsing, I asked for an audience. I was not aware that species denomination was a pre-requisite as well as title."
Integra coughed, her anger buffered slightly by this woman's audacity. "You…you would dare to make light of the abomination that you are?" She finally retorted.
Camilla smiled even more broadly, revealing only a hint of the fangs concealed behind her full lips. "I would not make light of your perception, if that is what you are asking. Abomination…Such an interesting word. Derived from the Latin term abominari; to deprecate as a bad omen, to hate. Is that true then? You hate me without knowing me? Or do you believe me to be an omen of ill will?"
"Did you request this meeting to spar with me?" Integra felt her patience being tried to the limits. She wondered briefly if it was inherent to the species to be so annoyingly condescending.
"I wanted to meet the person who would so quickly issue an execution command for my demise. You apparently do not share the mixed feelings for us that your great grand-father or grandfather did." Camilla replied. She studied the fine patrician features of Integra Hellsing. She had her grandfathers penetrating blue eyes.
"Don't you speak of any Hellsing with such familiarity. You are no more or no less than any other disgrace before God."
Camilla smiled; she liked the fire in this one.
"Forgive me my presumption. The men who bore the Hellsing name, manage to always find someone to share their lives with. You, you are too proud. You are burdened by the Hellsing name and all the responsibilities. I wonder, is it hard for you? Are you lonely in this position that you command? So much for one person to handle and no one to confide in, no one to discuss issues that prey on your mind. I could tell you about the history of your family that is not captured by any book if you wanted to know." Camilla spoke softly.
"You are nothing more than an aberration with sentience. You have nothing of value to offer me." Hellsing retorted. This woman, gazing at her so intently, was unnerving her. She did not like the feeling.
"Integra Wingates Hellsing, you should not always turn away offers of friendship. I accept that you believe you have to destroy me. You are only slightly younger than I when my whole life was taken away from me and I became this aberration you speak of. I can remember the passion of convictions from that age. Sometimes, an open mind will serve you better than an open mouth." Camilla said as she turned away and headed back towards the door.
Integra glared, for once, struck speechless by the audacity of this creature. In some ways, the slightly condescending tone reminded her of Arucard and she suspected that this was where he learned it.
Camilla let herself out without looking back at the stunned Lord Hellsing.
Moments later, Walter re-entered the room, a bemused look on his face.
"Lord Hellsing, the Countess asked I give this package to you. Did the audience not go well?"
Integra turned her furious gaze on him and then softened. "It was an interesting audience for one so bold as to come into this house being what they are."
Walter walked towards Integra with the tastefully wrapped package in his hand.
"There is no defense of any abomination, however, the Countess is an anomaly even among the others of her breed." Walter said as he walked towards her.
Integra raised her eyebrow. "Indeed Walter? Now even you would defend this thing? I was not aware that this side existed in you." Her tone was cold. She did not like the feeling that all those around her seemed to be defending this thing disguised as a woman.
Walter lowered his gaze. He knew from past experience that the more one tried to push Integra, the more resolute she became. He passed the package over to her.
"What is this?" Integra murmured as she opened the package. Nestled in a fine silk nest a beautifully polished silver lighter gleamed at her. Integra picked it up gingerly, she noticed the Hellsing family crest engraved upon it and initials on the other side. This was her grandfather's lighter. Beneath it was a small card with beautiful calligraphy script.
I expect that your grandfather would have liked you to have this. Regards, Camilla
"How dare she…It…Walter, what do you know about this creature?" Integra said softly.
Walter saw the lighter and shook his head slightly. "Let me prepare us some tea, Lord Hellsing. This will take some time to explain." Walter said moving towards making more tea.
Integra sat down heavily into one of the wing-backed chairs near the bookshelves. She grabbed one of her thin cigars and lit it with the lighter. It flared to life immediately and she held it to the tip and puffed lightly.
Walter set the teacup down beside her and sat across from her.
"Lady Camilla has a long history with the Hellsing family. Longer than even Arucard has. The reason we know the rumors of her origin is because she told us the story of her origin. Your great grandfather was deeply enamored of her specifically. That is a tale that is never spoken of. She is fascinated by humanity. Whatever happened to her in the distant past, the horrors she has seen and more than likely invoked, never has she stopped being an ally to the cause of humanity." Walter said as he sipped his tea.
"You expect me to believe that this creature had the attention of my ancestor and she is an ally? She is an abomination against God and country." Integra replied.
"Let me finish her story then. The part that is rarely recounted. You may judge for yourself the story of the woman who you are convinced you need only destroy. If I may?" Walter asked.
"You may…" Integra said, her tone begrudging.
*-*
"Come, enter into your new home."
Camilla glared at the creature. She sidled past him. Her father, Nikolas, had only explained to her that she was to travel with the creature. No amount of pleading or questioning could get anything else out of him. Finally, he told her brusquely, "Enough of this Camilla. You shame me and you shame your mother's memory. This is your fate…"
Camilla had wept and then gathered her things. When she faced the creature it was with a stony gaze.
Camilla refused to look around her. Once she stepped in through the massive doors, she stood. The hall way was huge; three large fireplaces blazed bringing light into only brief areas. The rest of the hallway was cloaked in shadows where the torches and blaze of the fireplaces could not penetrate.
"Will you not even face me?" The creature spoke. "I have a name, it is a name that you will carry on as your own. I am Alexander, you shall be Camilla Alexandre."
Camilla turned back towards him, her eyes blazing. "You are wrong Upir, I will not carry on anything for you. If you are to feed on me, then make it quick so I can pass from this life into the next."
Alexander struck her casually and the blow sent her across the great stone floor.
"You are the one who is mistaken. You are as close to my own flesh and blood as I can conceive."
Camilla's jaw throbbed; she could feel the swelling begin beneath her fingers and the warm trickle of blood.
"There is no room for conceiving from the loins of the dead." She said darkly.
In a flash he was beside her and lifting her by her tunic. She struggled against his vise like grip.
To her surprise, he laughed. Threw his head back and laughed uproariously.
"You are indeed the off-spring of Ariana and Nikolas. I could not have asked for more." He set her down gently.
She spat at him, and a spray of blood hit him in the face.
"Tasty and yes, it does confirm, you are of my blood." He smiled, running his tongue over his lips, dark eyes glittering.
"There are two ways we can proceed and I leave it entirely to your discretion child. You may listen and hear the tale of your conception and why it is I lay claim to you. You may embrace your heritage once I complete your transformation or, we can do this in a much more difficult manner but the end result will be the same." Alexander said as he wiped the blood from his face with a delicate linen cloth.
Camilla backed away slowly. Her mind raced as her eyes darted around the large room. There was no exit except the massive doors and she knew they were already closed and locked. Still, the pride of who she was, Camilla of the Vorstand tribe, daughter of Nikolas and Ariana, refused to allow her to just bow down and accept a new name much less some heretic lineage.
"You may do your worst, but I shall never be what you are. Never." She said ferociously.
Alexander shook his head. "It pains me that you make this choice, and yet, somehow, I knew that you would." He nodded his head and Camilla found herself trapped by unseen restraints. She felt herself being forced down to her knees and try as she might, she could not push against the force.
"I will come to you again in a fortnight and give you the choice again." Alexander said before walking away into the darkened hall where the flickering lights could not reach.
Camilla watched as he disappeared into the shadows. "If this is all, then the answer will be the…" She could not finish her retort as excruciating pain ripped through her body.
In the days and nights that followed, Camilla came to conscious awareness when the pain and horrific visions faded only briefly. She was peripherally aware that she was being cared for; there were hands that wiped the caked sweat from her flesh. Clean cold water was placed against her parched lips and she would drink. There was dried meat and fruit as well, but it was rare that any food of substance could stay down.
Camilla had no idea how many days and nights passed, if it was only a fortnight or a year. One day, the pain subsided and as she shivered, still in the great hallway, still in the position she had been forced to, her muscles screaming in protest for the torture of that position, she saw well-crafted shoes before her.
"I ask you again child, what is your choice?" Alexander spoke softly.
Camilla heard a sound and at first was not sure what it was. After a moment she realized that it was her own whimpering.
She tried to speak. Tried to form the words that would let him know she would hear what he had to say. Her lips and mouth did not agree.
"You need only think it. Very well then. Let us get you recovered enough to hear and understand the tale." Alexander said and when the force that had bound and kept her released, Camilla collapsed to the floor, her muscles spasming. In a moment she passed blissfully into a dark unconsciousness.
When she awoke, she was in a deep feather bed. She had been cleaned and she could smell the aroma of the oils that had been worked into her flesh. She tried to move and found, to her relief that she could. It was painful and there was no small amount of stiffness. She turned towards a sound and saw a young house servant entering the room.
"How long…" Camilla's voice came out as a croak and then cracked. The servant ran over to her and reached for the water bucket beside the bed. A small ladle was raised to her lips so that she could drink the water.
"Thank you." Camilla voice was still raspy, unused except to scream for the past few weeks. "How long have I been…"
"Milady had been sleeping for 4 days." The servant replied, bowing slightly.
"4 days? Milady? You mistake me for someone else, I have no title…" Camilla replied, confused.
"Do you need anything else Milady?" The servant said, no acknowledgement to her questions.
"I need for you to stop calling me Milady." Camilla said as she settled back into the bed. The servant only nodded and exited the room.
Camilla stared at the ceiling above her. What madness had she found herself in? She knew she was too weak to try and escape just yet. The room was light with large open windows; she could feel the breeze coming in through them. Where was she? How long had they traveled before arriving here? She tried to remember the journey here. It was isolated; the last village they had passed through had been at least 3 days before arriving here. Was it near the sea? She sniffed the air, perhaps it was, she could smell the salty tang of salt water.
"You have finally awakened? And of course, your first thought is that you are trying to determine how to escape." Alexander walked into the room.
Camilla watched him as he entered the room. It was daylight.
"I cannot blame you for believing the myths of the ignorant, that is half the protection we have. If you wish, I can tell you the story of who you are, to me and to this world." He sat on the edge of her bed.
Walter paused in his story of the young woman named Camilla. He watched Integra before he began to sip his now cold tea.
"How could you know the story of her origin? It is the one thing that all abominations keep secret. That is why we cannot determine how they, the true vampires, are created." Integra said, reaching over to light another cigar.
"That is where the tale actually ends. We do not know what Alexander said to her. She told the story to your great-great grandfather. It is rumored; he captured the details in a journal that has since been lost to the Hellsing family. However, some parts we know without the journal as it is a story repeated from time to time."
"I have never heard of this tale." Integra replied coldly.
"There are few that have Milord. Camilla had asked that her tale never be told unless she has arrived. Your father never knew the tale of Camilla. The gypsy myth he knew as do so many but you are the first since your grandfather to hear this story." Walter said calmly.
"Are you saying my father never knew of Camilla? That is a lie." Integra rose out of the chair and began pacing.
"I did not say that Lord Hellsing, I said that he never heard the tale of Camilla. He knew of the woman. Everyone who has ever worked for the Hellsing organization knows tale of her.
Integra's icy blue eyes narrowed. "Everyone except the current head of Hellsing organization?" She asked curtly.
Walter lowered his gaze. "You did not know of Arucard either until your father told you to go there for safety. There are many secrets within Hellsing, some I know, and many I do not. We have been around too long and dealt with creatures that measure decades as we measure days. You know the tale now."
"So, the story ends there?" Integra paused in her pacing and faced Walter.
"We know that she rejected the tale and the transformation and suffered again. It was, according to her timeline, a full season before she completed her transformation. It is unknown if it was voluntary. She did not say, only that it happened." Walter stood and picked up the tea tray.
"You expect that this should make her any less of an abomination to me? She is that which this organization was created to destroy. Whatever her tale, lies more than likely, does not change that mission." Integra turned away from Walter and walked back towards the window.
"Amen." Walter murmured as he left the room with the tea tray.
Integra put out the cigar and clasped her gloved hands behind her back as she gazed out the window again. She was troubled by Walter's defense of the creature. Arucard she expected, although she was surprised that he was not up to the challenge of besting a true vampire. She did not like the behavior that this woman invoked.
She sighed and turned back to her desk. She had new reports to review. The incidents of FREAKS were on the rise again.
"Did you satisfy your curiosity?" Arucard sneered as he and Camilla sat high above London, settled on the Tower of London.
"She has quite the will. Yet, I sense she is lonely. You offer her your attention?" Camilla replied, watching the stream of tourists and commuters swirling and eddying at the base of the tower from the subway station.
Arucard snorted. "You forget, I am not like you. I have no fascination for their paltry passions."
Camilla raised her eyebrow. "Indeed. That was a recent development for you then. I do not speak of passion anyway, I speak of loyalty. You are loyal aren't you? You never did tell me how you came to be captured by Hellsing."
"And you have never told me of your transformation."
"There is nothing to tell there. It is all my re-spinning of history anyway. I know you care for your young ward. This is some agreement between you and she, yes?" Camilla smiled as she deferred the topic yet again.
Arucard sat beside the woman who was the only thing left that resembled what he would call kin. He made no reply. They had shared many things, despite her aversion to killing of 'innocents' as she put it. Arucard made the point that there was no such thing as an innocent when it came to humanity.
He supposed in a way that Seras reminded him of Camilla. Her tenacity to cling to what she considered was human about her.
"She is intriguing as well. You say you offered her a choice and she chose to become as you and I?" Camilla stretched against the backdrop of the dusky sky.
"Twice I gave her a choice, twice she has stayed." Arucard shrugged.
"I would like the chance to speak with her again. Will you permit it?"
"As if I refused would affect your decision. I will warn you again about Hellsing, she is a dangerous one to set your eyes on. I know you like the challenge but you should be careful."
"I think I understand. This mission of hers consumes her. I could offer her insight, I knew her grandfather and her great grandfather. I did not know her father except as a very small child. If she will not hear it from me, then I can pass it on to you and you can tell her. She obviously trusts you. Come, take me to your off-spring, I wish to speak with her, she is not comfortable communicating like this, is she?" Camilla stood and stretched her arms.
"She likes to speak, out loud. Sometimes I forget and it startles me when she replies in her speaking voice." Arucard stood as well, towering over the small woman.
In a blink, the silhouetted figures were there and then gone.
*-*
Seras wandered through the grounds of the Hellsing estate. She was walking past the well-kept garden when she felt that sensation along her spine. Except, this time it was so strong she almost shivered.
"Master?" She called out questioningly.
The instead of one, two forms materialized before her, the familiar form of her master, and again the woman.
Arucard did not speak he merely nodded towards Seras.
"It is a pleasure to officially meet you Seras, or do you prefer Victoria?" Camilla said, smiling at the young woman.
"I…Seras is fine." Seras replied, stammering. If her Master was sharp edges and dark corners of fear, this woman was the opposite. She exuded a presence that made Seras feel both calm and frightened at the same time. It was a strange feeling, this comforting disconcertion.
"You have no need to fear me. I assure I mean you no harm." Camilla touched the other woman's arm lightly.
Arucard snorted. "Perhaps it is you who should be on guard, Seras orders are the same as mine, to kill you on sight."
"Oh…I…" Seras realized that he did speak the truth. Although she did not know how she could possibly even begin to attack this woman.
"You are correct. I am currently trying to negotiate a cease-fire on that front. We'll see if the peace treaty holds." Camilla laughed and her laugh was a beautiful, clear sound.
Seras smiled in response. This woman was everything her Master was not. They were, she suspected, two sides of the same coin.
Camilla slipped her arm through Seras's arm, "Will you walk with me and speak? I am curious to know about this struggle you face. I am told you have made the choice both to become as we are and to stay indebted to my brother. I am intrigued."
Arucard shook his head as Seras allowed herself to be led deeper into the garden. He looked up at the window where Hellsing normally stood. She was not there. There was something brewing in the night tonight, her could feel it