After what seemed to be eternity something started to clear up. The bright dot of light ripped the rotten cape of chaos, turned into a star, spreading its spikes to the limbo, revving up the realization that all that had been not real... The armored plates of darkness swirled and rolled aside, as Dr. Trawelian's serious face floated into the vision range.
"Do you understand me, Sir Integral?"
"Ummpff... - The throat was dry like an old rusty pipe and ached. Integra blinked and absently wondered what the doctor was doing in her bedroom. - Dr. Trawelian..." She squeezed her eyelids shut and opened them again, narrowing the eyes to see the sunlit surroundings better. Not her bedroom? Late morning or even noon? What's going on?
"Here are your spectacles, Lady Integra." Walter's hand gently put the gold-rimmed frame into Integra's awaiting fingers, she sat up and slipped the glasses on her nose. The bleary picture swayed, steadied and started to crystallize. She was on a bed in the Hellsing mansion' medical ward, with Dr. Trawelian and Walter standing by her.
"I remember... I passed out. What happened after?"
"You were brought here, Sir Integral."
"By Sergeant Seras? "
"No, by Alucard. Actually, he brought you both, but carried Sergeant Seras away later."
"Carried?"
"Yes, she looked not too good either... But Alucard rejected any medical assistance for her, claiming the girl to be dead already..."
Integra's face froze. A second later a powerful shout pierced the lower layers of atmosphere, stirring the hearts of rookie witnesses and informing the more experienced Hellsing-Hall inhabitants that the routine had more or less returned to its tracks:
"Alucarrrrd!!!"
"Sir Integral, you shouldn't cry, your lungs are still weak..."
"Here, have some water, Lady Integra..."
Integra disregarded the mother-hen-like behavior of her doctor and butler, clenching the glass of water in her hand. Dead?! Victoria Seras is dead? Oh God... Another life, adding to her growing burden, another name in her grievous list... Where's that grinning scarecrow?! Some master he was to the poor rookie... Hadn't she quite clearly ordered the egotistic bastard to look over the girl?!
"Do you miiiind to draw the bliiinds? The sun is too briiight..." - the voice appeared from nowhere, extending the vowels lazily. The annoyingly relaxed tone was just adding fuel to Integra's wrath.
At last. He didn't seem to hurry... "Draw them!" - the barked order was nothing but a little more clawing pain to her throat, as Walter was by the windows already. The room got sealed with thick blinds and greenish twilight filled it, making it look like a shaded aquarium.
"Good morning. - a smile of a sleepy sphynx emerged out of the wall together with its seven feet long periphery. - Feeling better today, Miss Hellsing?"
The answer was the glass, launched with full strength into Alucard's head as the only available substitute for a nice explosive bullet. Walter and Dr.Trawelian followed it with the spellbound eyes of hunt-trained spaniels, watching a close flight of a duck. The vampire casually got out of the trajectory of his master's greeting, as his brow ironically arched.
"Whoa! My lady, it's hardly civilized..."
Snarling Master of monster started to rise from the bed, being carefully but firmly stopped by her bedside guardian angels. The doctor scowled and muttered something about the blood pressure, but Hellsing leader had other worries on the current agenda.
"Shut the hell up, bloodsucker! Where's Victoria Seras?!"
"Perfect logic... First you tell me to shut up and then ask a question. Should I scribble the answer on a cardboard and hold it up? And what a language...Tsk, tsk. - The nocturnal creature moved further into the room, shrugging his shoulders. - She was in her coffin the last time I checked. Why do you ask?"
"Why do I ask?! What's her state after this night?"
The sphynx smile somehow turned into the sated grin of B.B. Wolf with R.R. Hood and her aged relative in his stomach. Before the lynch mob's... err... hunters' arrival, of course.
"Exhausted, I assume. Sleeping already."
"Dr. Trawelian says you brought her body a few hours ago and told him she was dead. - Integra's glare acquired the nailing force of a catapulted icicle. - Explanations?"
She could easily say that something was wrong here. Either by a suddenly sheepish expression of the doctor, or by...
"Mwahaha!!!"
Shucks. Yes, she had made a mistake, judging by rising spirits of the hell-designed nuisance in front of her. The vampire, still laughing, quickly crossed the room and leaned forward, placing his hands at the both sides of the bed. Alucard's sunglasses-covered red eyes studied the face of the young woman for a few seconds, his features were full of irony.
"Integra... My Master. For England, Her Majesty and St. George... Or, at least, for Hellsing and your old servants - remember the basics of your profession. How a human becomes a vampire, huh? The policewoman is dead since that night in Cheders. When she sleeps at day, for example, there's no breathing, or heartbeat, or... whatever. Any coroner would safely consider her dead. The forces, which keep us moving, have nothing to do with human medical knowledge and human medics' services."
"I.. I'm fully aware of that! But why did the girl feel so bad, then? You had to carry her!"
Alucard's irritating smirk faded, as he stood up straight and glanced at the butler.
"It was an unfortunate misunderstanding. Walter hasn't briefed you about the events of the past night yet, I assume. All right, I'll do this chore... "
The wrinkled surface of the unlidded coffin bed moved and wavered like the fake sea in 'The Tempest' staging, as a muffled sneeze emerged from its depth. An incomprehensible murmuring brilliantly reached its evolution peak - the last few words "...omebody talking 'bout me? Jeez..." were practically understandable - and pitifully degraded to another sneeze, followed by angry grumbling. The round bulge under the sheet fidgeted and the silky fabric slipped down to demonstrate the awed world a mess of strawberry blond locks, a fragment of a forehead and a closed eye. The eye slowly opened and after a short hesitation got shaded with long lashes again.
Victoria Seras half drifted out of her sleep, but it didn't mean she would leave the warm and temptingly cozy nest she had made among the satin bed sheets. No way! She sleepily grunted and swirled under the coverlet, turning on the other side and curling into her favorite pose of Morpheus worshipping. Still, the interrupted hibernation didn't resume, as if something was distracting the firm intention of Victoria's senses to log out. She curled tighter and rubbed her cheek against the coffin cushion. That's it. A faint scent, bitter-spicy, so familiar... The scent of her Master. Now she recollected... The crimson eyes opened widely at the vivid memories of what'd happened a few hours ago. Unbelievable... But still real. With a soft chuckle the girl touched her lips with the same gesture her Master had made then... the one which had seemed to set off something like a thermonuclear reaction - one movement causing and dragging along another, increasing acceleration and heat. The kiss had been slow. Ridding each other of clothes had been slightly faster. The bodies, meeting in the entwining circle of hands, as if being attracted to each other with irresistible gravitation - that had been fast. Stumbling to the bed without breaking another kiss had been really an instant... After that point time had just lost its meaning. Centuries could have passed in the outer world, unnoticed.
Uh-oh! She hadn't expected that long, long night to be so eventful... And to have such a grand finale. Seras blushed a bit, as mere memories of it sent waves of lust coursing through her flesh. The kiss marks on her body seemed to glow in the dark through the layer of the coverlet... Every touch, every movement, every moan or whisper flashbacked in her mind. The girl rolled onto her stomach and stretched her naked body on the place the long and lean figure had rested, propping his head with one hand and idly drawing ornaments of caress on her skin with the other, after they had unlocked their embrace at last. "Alucard, my Master... Not human, I said then... - Victoria inhaled his scent, still present around her, and lingered in it. The girl closed her eyes, a smile wandering on her lips absentmindedly. - A creature from Hell... Well, that's the man I chose, that's my territory." She suddenly smiled wider, thinking of the childish beliefs about the forementioned creatures she had harbored long ago. "At least, you don't smell of sulfur."
Victoria lay there in the soft warmth of her bed and relaxed afterglow, curled into a ball in a cave with satin roofing. Alucard had left while she had been deep in her slumber, being apparently summoned by his never ending duties in Hellsing. He would probably return soon... As for now, she had the rare luxury of lighthearted feeling-happy-doing-nothing. She was gradually slipping into a nap again. Of course, it would be so much better if she had somebody to share this peaceful feeling - to cuddle into his arms, to just feel his reassuring presence... But the only one she longed for was unavailable at the moment. Wishes are whimsical in their determination to become reality... Ouch!!!
The peaceful doze was shattered by something really heavy, landing on Victoria's body. In such cases a drowsy brain usually grasps the idea of something truly terrible going on, following the instinctive axiom that to overestimate a threat is by all means safer than to underestimate it. The same happened this time - the ex-policeman's mind hastily rummaged through the menu of innerving theories like the end of the world; earthquake; thieves and murderers; the Thames, founding its way into the dungeons; aliens' attack; Jan Valentine resurrected and being hyper about it... All this and a whole lot more flicked through Victoria's head; and her resulting opinion was expressed in the no less conservative instincts-based method. Determining, at all events, to sell her afterlife (which had just started to gain... er... attractive details) dearly, she made a frantic struggle for it, hitting her hands and legs in all directions and yelling like a baby-banshee, dragged to a dentist. At last something gave way and the girl's head came wriggling out of the bed sheets' cocoon. Upon seeing what was lying in her lap Victoria gasped and pulled a bit shaky hands from under the fabric to her mouth. Her eyes darted to the door, where the solid bolt sat in the same place she had slid it to a few hours ago. How?!
Alucard heard the familiar pattern of footsteps and somersaulted in the air, throwing his body out of the corridor's ceiling and landing in front of the walking butler, managing not to spill any precious liquid from the unpacked medical blood sack in his hand.
"So? How has it been?"
Walter slightly rolled his eyes, losing the stiff mien he was wearing.
"And how do you expect it to be? She's definitely not happy."
Alucard chuckled. His keen senses allowed him to hear all the words, the angry feminine voice was incanting in Integra's study. The stubborn girl had insisted on returning to work immediately and the doctor grudgingly allowed it at last... But the next topic in question left him standing his ground firmly - his strict recommendation would be no smoking for at least three days. That was a hard blow.
Integra sat at the desk, helplessly looking at the empty ash tray and cursing. She hadn't realized before how strong this habit become. If not to smoke, she needed a cigar to hold in her fingers, to feel its dry smell... The box of Cubans from her table had miraculously disappeared, as well as from the other places she had used to keep them. She had just checked and couldn't help but to vent her frustration aloud. That were not plain obscenities commonplace humans usually pepper around in such situations. No, Sir Integral Wingates Hellsing's powerful intellect was coming forth with long, carefully thought out, comprehensive curses, embracing the past and going away into the distant future, laced with colorful, juicy, substantial epithets and similes. At last she trailed off, sulkily puffed away a blonde lock from her cheek and picked up the first envelope from the stack of the new mail, being brought by Walter.
The man and the vampire in the corridor looked at each other.
"The storm is over?"
"Guess so. But still, I'll keep an eye. By the way, Alucard, when you volunteered to fetch her lollipops as an adequate replacement of cigars... Wasn't the result of such a kind suggestion a bit obvious?"
"Hah. I was just trying to be helpful."
The butler only sighed and shook his head, starting to walk towards the staircase again. Alucard overtook him and walked by his side in the same stride.
"Walter, I want you to look for some information. - the vampire's voice sounded grave now. - It's about that Maxwell's call... I feel something wrong here. Have I told you that he never asked to call Integra to the phone? He called to her own office and in her usual working hours... But still didn't bother to ask whether he could talk to her directly, just proceeded the conversation with me - and he can't stand that, you know, he hates my kind to the guts, that racist."
Walter stopped in his tracks and sharply turned to the vampire.
"What are you hinting at?"
"I'm not hinting. I strongly suspect that Maxwell tried to pull the old trick of picking the chestnuts from fire with other person's hands. Their intelligence works perfectly, we have to admit that - Holy Inquisition left well-trained followers. Elisabeth lived on the Continent before coming here. I guess, Iscariots found out about her arrival and true intentions quite a time ago and decided not to interfere for a while, staying in London and watching the situation closely. Their logic is pretty clear. If Elisabeth had managed to behead Hellsing in a one blow - fine for them, England would have fallen into their influence field. On the other hand, if she had failed, they'd have pretended to make a nice gesture towards us - giving us a warning and sending Anderson rampaging on English territory with the lame excuse of aid... Enrico might think he would gain from this situation in any case."
"Your reasoning is a wee bit paranoid... - Walter set his lips firm and tilted his head, looking intently at his old friend. - But this conspiracy theory makes sense. I'll do what I can... And as fast as possible."
"One thing more. Integra shouldn't know about this investigation... So far, at least."
"That goes without saying. Lady Integra is troubled enough already."
"Exactly... - Alucard's eyes narrowed and he suddenly smiled. - Oh. She's fully awake now. I have to go."
"My, what a sudden commotion! - Walter's mouth curled in an exceptionally irritable smirk, as the retired Angel of Death stood akimbo and eyed the vampire. - Anxious to bring Miss Victoria her breakfast to bed, huh? Never mind me, I fully understand... How do you, vampiric folk, call this time? "Honeysun"?"
"We don't tend to give silly names to things, as you, humans, do... Besides, I go there to train her on new tricks, she really needs it at the current moment, so drop these insinuations."
"New tricks? Training? Oh yes, I got an eyeful of one training session of yours last night...Curious euphemism."
Alucard just snorted and rolled his eyes.
"Spare me of this envious old geezer's attitude, Walter."
"I'd rather appreciate to not hear such words from a being whose own lifespan fits the mammoth's crap age category, Lord Alucard."
"I'm not that old!!!"
"Whatever you say... Just go. One shouldn't make a lady wait, should he?"
"Bah! Save your etiquette lectures for someone else, would you?!"
Watching the vexed nosferatu disappearing in a puddle of supreme blackness, Walter couldn't help but to congratulate himself. He had managed to score a decent one... Rare fun. Heh-heh. Now back to the business... The day promised to be active.
Integra walked along the corridor of the basement in a wide pace. She wanted to talk to Alucard about his actions during her unexpected La-La Land tour, provided by that vampiric bitch; maybe.. maybe even thank him... Somehow, mere "thank you" was like a lump in her throat - unable to swallow, but too hard to spit it out too... looking into the ancient red eyes, always gleaming with sarcasm. Sometimes she had almost expected to see the reflection of a little girl in a white blouse and blue skirt in these slit pupils... It was too annoying to admit. Sighing about that, she slowed down and stopped by the corridor's turn, leaning against the wall. A few yards away from this turn was the place, favored by Alucard at most after his coffin and - alas! - her study's ceiling. He would sit there in his big chair, alone, deceptively relaxed, reminding of a predator in a cage. She would walk up and stand in front of him, doing her best to look cool, stern and unperturbed... He would raise his eyes at her, grinning, and say...
"Spread your knees, it's uncomfortable."
These words were pronounced by Alucard, there could be no mistake, and they had the effect of a bucket of icy cold water to snap Integra out of her brooding. Another voice, a high-pitched one, readily answered: "Yes, Master!" and something soft rustled. Lady Hellsing froze. What the hell were that vampires doing there?! No, it couldn't be... And in the middle of the corridor of all places...
"That's better. A nice pussy you've got. So soft and really smooth. Here, let me... It feels great, eh?"
"Ohhh, Master! Yes!"
"You are pretty good for a beginner, Victoria" - Alucard's voice sounded pleased. Integra felt a burning wave of heat, flooding her pale cheeks and moving rapidly onto her ears and neck. God almighty, what should she do? Stomp in, turning her eyes aside carefully, and give that wretched couple of bloodsuckers a piece of her mind about such a total lack of shame? Tiptoe away? Make some noise to let them know somebody's around? She felt like boiling inside. Oh yes, now she completely understood the reasoning of the people, who castrated their pets... The ultimate truth was that some bloody pets were just begging for this procedure.
"By the way, Miss Hellsing, what are you doing there for five minutes already? Lacing your shoes?" - Alucard's voice made Integra startle, pushing her body around the corner, as a bunjee-jumper pushes himself into a suicidal-friendly jump. Her look darted around in an awkward manner and finally met surprised eyes of one vampire and amused - of the other. The undeads sat in front of each other in big chairs and Seras had a huge black cat in her lap. The cat lazily opened its eyes - one blazing red pair first and then the other three sets on its forehead - and looked at the stunned Protestant Knight with a mix of pity and superiority, as only cats and lawyers can do.
"Look, lady Integra, here's my familiar! I was able to summon it last night! - chirped the ex-policewoman, beaming. Despite the long canines her smile was still a bit childish. - You can stroke it, it's very calm! Aren't you, Pussycat?"
"Ah... Hm... Lovely kitty. - stuttered Integra, not quite enthusiastic to touch the animal, which had just yawned, casually demonstrating an impressive assortment of teeth and fangs. - Good for you, Sergeant Seras."
"How do you feel, Lady Integra? Here, please take my seat."
"Indeed, Miss Hellsing, your face has an unusual color... Not a fever, I hope?"
Despite the polite neutrality of Alucard's tone, his Master's trained ear caught the notes, acknowledging her suspicions. Oh, joy... The disreputable mirth was sparkling in the No Life King's eyes. He apparently guessed about the scandalous thoughts she had harbored during her unintentional eavesdropping. Integra decisively ruddered the conversation to another topic.
"The progress is undeniable, of course... But isn't it a little too early for Miss Seras to develop such skills, Alucard? She's quite a fledgling as a vampire... No offence, Sergeant."
"Normally it would really be too early, but Victoria had an accidental breakthrough last night. Caused by stress, I believe. The present state of affairs is still far from the conscious usage of these tricks... She was able to summon this animal but can't control it now. See?"
Victoria was kneeling beside the cat, urging it to go get acquainted with Lady Integra. The supernatural feline kept ignoring the variety of girl's commands and pleads, absentmindedly washing its face. Only being pushed directly to Hellsing leader's feet, Pussy grimly sniffed her shoes and brushed its fuzzy tail against Integra's leg with a reluctant little movement. Obviously considering the ritual finished, it lurched on its side and started to lick its belly. Victoria cast an apologetic look at her commander, but Integra just chuckled.
"Another stubborn addition to our growing pandemonium. I see... Well, I'll order Walter to provide the beast with food daily. I doubt it'd consume usual cat food or something like that though... As you can't control it so far, it's going to live here for a while, correct?"
The cat suddenly raised its head and affirmatively mrowled.
Author's note: Well, here's another chapter at last. And another original character. Sort of... By the exception of the eyes' color and their quantity, Pussy is a portrait of my cat Cleopeter, whose name was Cleopatra at first. Yes, I'm SO observant sometimes, that I noticed certain details of Cleo's anatomy only when he was about 6 months old and totally got used to his name. The only excuse I have is that he's pitch-black and very fuzzy.
Anyway, I hope this chapter hasn't bored you away. Your opinions are welcomed, as they urge me to go on with this story, proving that someone's still reading it...