Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing, though I love it dearly. But I'm not
earning any money for it, I swear! *looks around suspiciously* You can't
prove a thing!
A/N: Thanks again for all your kind reviews! I'm so glad you're enjoying all this!
Chapter Three: Sunlight Does Not Burn
Morning seemed exceptionally cool in London.
The rosy fingered dawn stretched its grip up and over the countryside, and all the creatures of the night, all the demons and nightmares, were banished again to their sleep, to await the advent of darkness. This was true for them all, that is, excluding a pair of patrons in shabby coats.
They strode along, side by side, ignoring the presence of the sun. They were unique, proud, for the light would never burn them. No matter how long they stayed in the sun, they would remain pale forever, their skin of a most ghastly hue.
Still, it was not quite true that the sun would never hurt them. But it was less than likely they would ever be involved in such strenuous activity during the daylight hours that they would need to worry about that.
They were half-breeds, Dampeals. They had no set place within the world, not in the light, not in the dark. They could go wherever they wished, whenever they wanted. But they were not free. Never free.
The shortest of the pair looked up at her companion. "Kolya?" she beckoned.
"What is it, Helen?" he answered.
She looked up at him, curiosity etched upon her face. "Why didn't you kill him?"
Kolya smiled. "Should I have killed him?"
"He'll just come back looking for us, you know."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Kolya gripped right hand in his left, and he peered into her eyes. "You don't like killing."
She smiled, and pulled him close to her. "Thank you," she said. They walked, pressed up against one another, for a while thereafter, though time did not exist, really, for either of them.
**
Alucard had been chided for close to two hours now. He greatly disliked this side of his Master, and he honestly had been considering bowing to her, disappearing out of the room, and burning himself in the sun.
If the cell had had one window he would have been spared this incessant shouting until the evening. If he had decided not to tell his Master about the Priest until the sun had set he would not have had to endure this mistreatment. It was quite annoying.
Maybe if he had brought her a few cigars. . .
"Alucard!" she shouted again, snapping him back to the present. "Tell me, now, why did you spare the Paladin?"
He sighed. He could have ripped this woman before him to pieces had he wanted. He was ever so much older than she was as well, yet still she would question him. He decided he would play with her for a bit. "You wish that I murder a helpless man? I'll remember that tonight, Master,"
She stiffened, her eyes resting upon Alucard with a spark of malice. "That dog treads upon Protestant soil."
"So you want me to kill every Catholic in England then?" he licked his lips.
Her eyes narrowed. "You were presented a prime opportunity to do away with Iscariot's premier soldier and you ignored it."
"I don't go around killing dumbstruck puppies whenever I see them." He smiled, adding, "even when their blood is soaking the ground already."
"You aren't answering my question, Alucard," she stated flatly. "Mercy has not once been a concern of yours when dealing with your enemy."
Alucard's smirk faded. The fun, apparently, was over.
"So why didn't you kill him?"
The Vampire sighed. Explaining his fun was never an enjoyable task. "Don't you see it, Master? I was not the one who nearly killed him. Why should I have finished another's task without my own opportunity for amusement?"
"That's not all there was to it."
Alucard flashed his fangs in irritation. Only once in a great while would Integra ever win an argument with him, and this was quickly becoming one of those events. "There is another undead in this country that could have killed him. It is a thing of shame to Iscariot."
"You wanted to wound their pride?" she shook her head in disgust.
Alucard narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses. His Master clearly had won, which was, perhaps, one of the most irritating things Alucard had experienced in a long while. "You humans are pitiful and ungrateful. I've killed ever so many of your enemies, but when I spare but one, a Priest no less, I earn your malice?"
"You've earned my malice for many other things, Alucard."
Alucard turned his back to his Master. "I am in need of sleep, Master."
"I did not say you could leave."
Alucard glared at her over his shoulder, and, slowly, a grin developed upon his face. "I will see you this evening, Master. Do enjoy the rest of your day. I'm sure you have so much business to attend to." He faded from the room.
"Bastard," Integra muttered. It was going to be a long day.
**
The Dampeals had been strolling for close to three hours at this point. At long last, it seemed, the dead streets of London were bustling with sleepy pedestrians, marching as ants to their respective destinations, eager for caffeine and for the day to end. Within an hour, all those mindless amblers would be inside their cramped office buildings and workshops, and the streets again would be under populated.
But these two would still be striding, for they had no exact destination, at the moment at least.
At noon, the shorter of the two led the other into a small, grassy park, and sat down beneath a tree. She motioned for him to sit beside her. "Come on, you. Sit."
Kolya did as he had been commanded, resting with his back against the trunk of the tree. He stretched his legs far out before him.
She hit him playfully on his arm. "Hey, you," she chided in a voice half stern, half kidding, "There is to be no sleep! None!"
Kolya groaned. "Five minutes, mom." He winked at her.
Helen's mouth gaped wide open at the joke.
"Just kidding, you know." He smirked, knowing he could not resist. "Mom."
She slapped his arm again, with just a bit more force. She folded her arms across her chest. "I hate you," she muttered sulkily.
He put his massive arm around her, pulling her close to him. "I hate you too," he kissed her forehead. "But I love you all the same."
"Boy, we must be an odd sight," Helen began. "I mean, look at us! We're the shabbiest people in this park, easy. And you're a giant."
Kolya raised his eyebrow, a silent suggestive gesture decorating his entire countenance.
"Shut up," she looked at him sternly. "You're bad."
"I know."
"But you make me happy, so you can stay."
He kissed her cheek in response. After a few moments in comfortable silence, Kolya's gaze drifted down into her eyes. There was something serious he wanted to discuss.
"Yes, Love?" Her smile slowly became a slight, concerned frown.
"When do we leave England, again?"
She thought for a moment. "Hmmm, the boat will get here. . . two days from now, actually."
Kolya smiled again. Two days and they would be done with The United Kingdom, with the whole of Europe, for that matter. Within a few weeks they would be calmly strolling across the United States, to settle wherever they pleased. Not that they really knew all that much about America, though. And in reality they had not yet decided that that would be where they would go, but it was a good starting point.
The two were, in a sense, much akin to the American Immigrants of the early Twentieth Century. Ignorant of their destination, but going anyway because they knew that they had hope there, wherever it was.
Helen smiled at him. "You know, we do have a bit of money left." She ran her fingers along Kolya's stomach.
"We do?"
"Yeah," she purred. "What do you say we find a nice cheap hotel?"
Kolya sprang up instantly from his seated position, a silly grin upon his face. He held out his hand to her. "What're we waiting for?"
**
The youthful master of the Hellsing family sighed as Alucard strode into view. Mercifully, he had arrived much sooner than Integra had expected. She knew that the sun still was prominent in the sky, though she could not see it.
"You're welcome, Master," he uttered before she could say a word.
Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing felt the indignant anger rise up in her again. She relaxed, slowly, deciding to let Alucard have some breathing room, for now. She was, of course, somewhat grateful for his early return. It was uncharacteristically kind of the Vampire.
"What is it you wish to discuss?" he asked.
Integra smiled. "Did Anderson tell you what attacked him?"
Alucard's eyes lit up under his glasses. "He didn't say it, Master, but the only word running through his mind was 'dampeal'."
"A half breed?"
"Precisely." Alucard let his arms fall at his side.
"What do you think the Dampeal is doing in England?"
Alucard frowned for a moment, in thought. "I can't say, really, what his purpose might be."
"You don't know, then?"
"No, I don't. Unless he came here to maim Anderson, which I wouldn't blame him for wanting to do."
Integra frowned, considering her options for a moment. "I want you to find this half breed. Kill it."
Alucard bowed gracefully to her, approval apparent in every instant of the gesture.
Integra smiled. "In the name of God, Impure Souls of the Living Dead shall be banished into Eternal Damnation. Amen."
Alucard flashed his fangs in delight. "As you wish, Master." He knew this night was destined to be enjoyable.
A/N: A shorter chapter than usual, I know. Sorry. But the next one's going to be good! I swear! It should be up on Halloween!
Next Chapter: The Perfect Night
At long last, Alucard and Kolya meet face to face! I won't spoil anything more! Enjoy!
A/N: Thanks again for all your kind reviews! I'm so glad you're enjoying all this!
Chapter Three: Sunlight Does Not Burn
Morning seemed exceptionally cool in London.
The rosy fingered dawn stretched its grip up and over the countryside, and all the creatures of the night, all the demons and nightmares, were banished again to their sleep, to await the advent of darkness. This was true for them all, that is, excluding a pair of patrons in shabby coats.
They strode along, side by side, ignoring the presence of the sun. They were unique, proud, for the light would never burn them. No matter how long they stayed in the sun, they would remain pale forever, their skin of a most ghastly hue.
Still, it was not quite true that the sun would never hurt them. But it was less than likely they would ever be involved in such strenuous activity during the daylight hours that they would need to worry about that.
They were half-breeds, Dampeals. They had no set place within the world, not in the light, not in the dark. They could go wherever they wished, whenever they wanted. But they were not free. Never free.
The shortest of the pair looked up at her companion. "Kolya?" she beckoned.
"What is it, Helen?" he answered.
She looked up at him, curiosity etched upon her face. "Why didn't you kill him?"
Kolya smiled. "Should I have killed him?"
"He'll just come back looking for us, you know."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Kolya gripped right hand in his left, and he peered into her eyes. "You don't like killing."
She smiled, and pulled him close to her. "Thank you," she said. They walked, pressed up against one another, for a while thereafter, though time did not exist, really, for either of them.
**
Alucard had been chided for close to two hours now. He greatly disliked this side of his Master, and he honestly had been considering bowing to her, disappearing out of the room, and burning himself in the sun.
If the cell had had one window he would have been spared this incessant shouting until the evening. If he had decided not to tell his Master about the Priest until the sun had set he would not have had to endure this mistreatment. It was quite annoying.
Maybe if he had brought her a few cigars. . .
"Alucard!" she shouted again, snapping him back to the present. "Tell me, now, why did you spare the Paladin?"
He sighed. He could have ripped this woman before him to pieces had he wanted. He was ever so much older than she was as well, yet still she would question him. He decided he would play with her for a bit. "You wish that I murder a helpless man? I'll remember that tonight, Master,"
She stiffened, her eyes resting upon Alucard with a spark of malice. "That dog treads upon Protestant soil."
"So you want me to kill every Catholic in England then?" he licked his lips.
Her eyes narrowed. "You were presented a prime opportunity to do away with Iscariot's premier soldier and you ignored it."
"I don't go around killing dumbstruck puppies whenever I see them." He smiled, adding, "even when their blood is soaking the ground already."
"You aren't answering my question, Alucard," she stated flatly. "Mercy has not once been a concern of yours when dealing with your enemy."
Alucard's smirk faded. The fun, apparently, was over.
"So why didn't you kill him?"
The Vampire sighed. Explaining his fun was never an enjoyable task. "Don't you see it, Master? I was not the one who nearly killed him. Why should I have finished another's task without my own opportunity for amusement?"
"That's not all there was to it."
Alucard flashed his fangs in irritation. Only once in a great while would Integra ever win an argument with him, and this was quickly becoming one of those events. "There is another undead in this country that could have killed him. It is a thing of shame to Iscariot."
"You wanted to wound their pride?" she shook her head in disgust.
Alucard narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses. His Master clearly had won, which was, perhaps, one of the most irritating things Alucard had experienced in a long while. "You humans are pitiful and ungrateful. I've killed ever so many of your enemies, but when I spare but one, a Priest no less, I earn your malice?"
"You've earned my malice for many other things, Alucard."
Alucard turned his back to his Master. "I am in need of sleep, Master."
"I did not say you could leave."
Alucard glared at her over his shoulder, and, slowly, a grin developed upon his face. "I will see you this evening, Master. Do enjoy the rest of your day. I'm sure you have so much business to attend to." He faded from the room.
"Bastard," Integra muttered. It was going to be a long day.
**
The Dampeals had been strolling for close to three hours at this point. At long last, it seemed, the dead streets of London were bustling with sleepy pedestrians, marching as ants to their respective destinations, eager for caffeine and for the day to end. Within an hour, all those mindless amblers would be inside their cramped office buildings and workshops, and the streets again would be under populated.
But these two would still be striding, for they had no exact destination, at the moment at least.
At noon, the shorter of the two led the other into a small, grassy park, and sat down beneath a tree. She motioned for him to sit beside her. "Come on, you. Sit."
Kolya did as he had been commanded, resting with his back against the trunk of the tree. He stretched his legs far out before him.
She hit him playfully on his arm. "Hey, you," she chided in a voice half stern, half kidding, "There is to be no sleep! None!"
Kolya groaned. "Five minutes, mom." He winked at her.
Helen's mouth gaped wide open at the joke.
"Just kidding, you know." He smirked, knowing he could not resist. "Mom."
She slapped his arm again, with just a bit more force. She folded her arms across her chest. "I hate you," she muttered sulkily.
He put his massive arm around her, pulling her close to him. "I hate you too," he kissed her forehead. "But I love you all the same."
"Boy, we must be an odd sight," Helen began. "I mean, look at us! We're the shabbiest people in this park, easy. And you're a giant."
Kolya raised his eyebrow, a silent suggestive gesture decorating his entire countenance.
"Shut up," she looked at him sternly. "You're bad."
"I know."
"But you make me happy, so you can stay."
He kissed her cheek in response. After a few moments in comfortable silence, Kolya's gaze drifted down into her eyes. There was something serious he wanted to discuss.
"Yes, Love?" Her smile slowly became a slight, concerned frown.
"When do we leave England, again?"
She thought for a moment. "Hmmm, the boat will get here. . . two days from now, actually."
Kolya smiled again. Two days and they would be done with The United Kingdom, with the whole of Europe, for that matter. Within a few weeks they would be calmly strolling across the United States, to settle wherever they pleased. Not that they really knew all that much about America, though. And in reality they had not yet decided that that would be where they would go, but it was a good starting point.
The two were, in a sense, much akin to the American Immigrants of the early Twentieth Century. Ignorant of their destination, but going anyway because they knew that they had hope there, wherever it was.
Helen smiled at him. "You know, we do have a bit of money left." She ran her fingers along Kolya's stomach.
"We do?"
"Yeah," she purred. "What do you say we find a nice cheap hotel?"
Kolya sprang up instantly from his seated position, a silly grin upon his face. He held out his hand to her. "What're we waiting for?"
**
The youthful master of the Hellsing family sighed as Alucard strode into view. Mercifully, he had arrived much sooner than Integra had expected. She knew that the sun still was prominent in the sky, though she could not see it.
"You're welcome, Master," he uttered before she could say a word.
Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing felt the indignant anger rise up in her again. She relaxed, slowly, deciding to let Alucard have some breathing room, for now. She was, of course, somewhat grateful for his early return. It was uncharacteristically kind of the Vampire.
"What is it you wish to discuss?" he asked.
Integra smiled. "Did Anderson tell you what attacked him?"
Alucard's eyes lit up under his glasses. "He didn't say it, Master, but the only word running through his mind was 'dampeal'."
"A half breed?"
"Precisely." Alucard let his arms fall at his side.
"What do you think the Dampeal is doing in England?"
Alucard frowned for a moment, in thought. "I can't say, really, what his purpose might be."
"You don't know, then?"
"No, I don't. Unless he came here to maim Anderson, which I wouldn't blame him for wanting to do."
Integra frowned, considering her options for a moment. "I want you to find this half breed. Kill it."
Alucard bowed gracefully to her, approval apparent in every instant of the gesture.
Integra smiled. "In the name of God, Impure Souls of the Living Dead shall be banished into Eternal Damnation. Amen."
Alucard flashed his fangs in delight. "As you wish, Master." He knew this night was destined to be enjoyable.
A/N: A shorter chapter than usual, I know. Sorry. But the next one's going to be good! I swear! It should be up on Halloween!
Next Chapter: The Perfect Night
At long last, Alucard and Kolya meet face to face! I won't spoil anything more! Enjoy!