"Master, we've been here for two times already... Speaking of looking suspicious." - Seras stole a glance over her shoulder and bit her lip. The monkey business Hellsing vampires were up to was flawed with complications... And they made her increasingly uneasy. Maxwell's residence for this visit to London was located in a gray stone building at the backgrounds of a massive Catholic cathedral. The guesthouse for high-ranked visitors from Rome and a small park around it were hidden behind an ivy-covered picket fence, which ornamental iron bars couldn't be anything even close to an obstacle for Hellsing vampires. The real problem was the invisible barrier the house was perimetered with. It felt like those spell flimsies Anderson was so eager to toss around and probably was created by something of the kind. The undeads couldn't get in and Alucard wasn't going to give up his intention to talk to Maxwell that easy. So the two were stalking around the block, merry as a funeral bell, while Alucard planned the intrusion and Victoria monitored the surroundings. At last Master stopped and sat on the sidewalk, regarding the main entrance to the residence with grim air. His apprentice stood beside, nervously toying with an elegant chain, a fresh purchase in a nearby store, made in the name of disguise to match Master's heavy iron collar.
"M-master..."- she started, not exactly knowing what to say, but trying to break the tense atmosphere. Alucard seemed to be still irritated with her presence, as he didn't even bother to raise his head to look up at his partner, only a long ear pricked up a little in acknowledgment. The girl sighed. She had had to pass through a tough argument to persuade her senior to take her with him. He had grudgingly agreed at last; but which reason of hers had become the convincing one was still a mystery for the girl.
"Well... Now, cop, you'll have to prove yourself useful here. - the big gray dog got up on its lanky legs and pulled the lead towards the gates. - I need to have closer look at this place. At least five minutes by the gates without disturbance. You talk to the monk at the entrance and don't you dare to ruin our cover."
"Oh...But... - stuttered Victoria, making her senior dart a fierce glare at her. The girl quickly put on a firm face and nodded. - Yes, Master."
Following Alucard in the sluggish barge-like manner of a bored pet owner, giving a routine walk to her dog, she hastily considered the ways to start a safe conversation with a Catholic monk and distract his attention from her curious pet. Twenty feet to the gates... No idea. Fifteen feet... Weather? Nah. Ten feet... Dear God, what should she say?!
Five feet a.k.a. the point of no return.
"Um..."
After such a brilliant introduction Seras hesitated and stopped, presenting the monk with a sheepish look. The dog by her feet turned its muzzle aside, rolled his eyes and uttered a peculiar snorting sound. Still, acting according to his part of the plan, he quietly trudged to the closed gates and stared through them, leaving the problem of communication entirely on his apprentice's shoulders.
"Nice dog you've got, Miss." - Thanks God, the middle-aged man on guard was bored enough to start the talk all by himself! Victoria silently showered the monk with hearty blesses for his talkativeness and smiled, reminding herself not to flash the inappropriate fangs.
"Er... Thank you, Father."
"Must've noticed squirrels in the garden... - continued the monk thoughtfully, following Alucard's fixed gaze through the iron bars. - Father Anderson feeds them... He says the innocence of these creatures of God brings peace to his soul."
"Fa-father Anderson?"
"A guest here, from Italy. Works at an orphanage there... Children must like him, as animals do - he's a very kind person. - the man looked at the young girl and her melancholic pet on a leash and smiled. - If you stay here a bit longer... Father Anderson goes for a walk every night about this time. He'll be glad to meet you, I'm sure."
Seras squeezed out a bleak smile and shrugged. An occasional meeting of this sort was as wholeheartedly desired as a hole in her head. In fact, it could really cause one. Or many, taking in regard the usual work habits of the oh-so-kind Paladin...
"What's your dog's breed, my child? - the monk's attention switched to Alucard, who suddenly strained, still looking at the cottage inside the park. - Looks like he's some kind of a hound... And so big - a real monster!"
"It's a hellh... Erk... - Victoria's heart made a frantic leap at the realization what had nearly slipped off her tongue. Dratted Anderson, that should be his fault, occupying all her thoughts like that! - Just a Hertfordshire mutt, I mean! I picked him up there while visiting a village with friends... "
"A mutt, huh? Well, mutts are smarter than pedigrees, they say..."
"Oh yes, he's very smart! You'd never believe how..." - anxiously assured the girl and flinched at the barely audible but sinister growl, coming from her Master. The monk, who didn't seem to hear it, raised his brows.
"Are you all right, child? You look so troubled all of a sudden..."
"Ah-hah, nothing really... - despite the words, Victoria's facial expression was much more of the "uh-oh" category. - I've just realized... I've made a mistake at work recently. My boss must be terribly angry with me."
This honest statement was immediately proved by a violent lurch of the lead. Master seemed to lose all his interest in sightseeing, pulling his apprentice away with energy of a tow truck. Seras hardly managed to catch up with his swift movement not to be knocked down and hauled along the sidewalk in an utterly undignified fashion. An unclear shape in the deep twilight, the girl turned and waved her gloved hand: "Good bye, Father!"
"Bless you, child!" - the monk raised his hand too, when the lead jerked again and the object of the bless collided with a phone booth at the rate of some fifteen miles per hour. "Ughhh! Why on earth have you done that, Ma..." The rest of the phrase was cut off, as the two disappeared around the corner.
Looking at the quiet street, the man mused for a moment if it was safe for the girl to walk alone in the dark. Then he shook his head and smiled. Not alone. That dog of hers - what was his name? Something, starting from Ma-, perhaps... Matt? Max? The sound of heavy steps interrupted his thoughts, as he turned and greeted the guest from Italy, going for his usual night stroll.
Alucard stopped as abruptly as he started off the gates and turned to the crossing they had left a few moments ago. Victoria stopped too, bewildered, and looked down at her senior.
"Master, wha..."
"Shut up, cop, and watch."
The girl hesitated and stooped by the hellhound. This way the view was partly blocked with a car, parked close to the building, with only a narrow clearing left for watching whatever Master was expecting to see. Seconds ticked by... Nothing. Victoria blinked at the bright bluish cone of light from the streetlamp at the corner and at the moment she opened her eyes again her mouth opened too in a mute "oh". The long figure of the holy assassin was slowly walking there, mere fifty yards away. Apparently, their meeting would have been inevitable if they stayed by the gates a minute longer.
"There he goes, Mother Teresa in pants. - a voice in Seras's head dripped with bitter irony . - And I'll let him go, who'd ever believe... But only this time. Maxwell must get his surprise unspoiled, dear boy."
The girl glanced at the beast form of her senior, who silently watched his permanent enemy, and returned her gaze to Anderson. The priest slowed down, then stopped, looking around with a sudden suspicion. Seras froze under his searching stare, feeling naked without the reassuring weight of a weapon... Even if weapons were not much of help dealing with a regenerator. Ages seemed to drag by, when the Iscariots best operative resumed his ostentatious stride at last. She was still watching the empty crossing, when a menacingly soft voice behind her back made her startle:
"Now, cop, about that witty mutt part..."
Victoria carefully kept looking away, just shrank a bit.
"Turn, Seras. Look at me when I'm talking to you." - steel was clearly heard in Master's voice now and the young vampire reluctantly turned, but seemed to find the toes of her boots to be a way more interesting object for observation.
"Master, I..."
"...stuck a foot into your mouth as usual, I'm damn aware of that. - the vampire's heavy stare intensified. - But don't you - ever again..." The dog stopped in the middle of the notation and regarded the miserable expression creeping onto his apprentice's face. A few uneasy moments after the annoyed nosferatu jerked his tail and turned away.
"No flippancy about my bloodlines. Do you grasp, police girl?"
"Yes, Master! I'm sorry, I didn't..."
"Enough talk. Stay here and wait for me."
Victoria nodded and silently watched her senior, heading to the crossing they had left several minutes ago. The gray beast soundlessly flung away, a melting shadow on the edge of darkness. Victoria watched him turning to the left and disappearing from the sight. Where did he go? No explanations... And no doubt, still pissed. Oh, bloody hell... Everything seemed to go wrong this evening. Seras softly groaned and rested her gloved hands on the smooth metal of the car, brooding about for how long she should wait now. And... Surprise unspoiled? Was that supposed to mean... He still hoped to find the way into Iscariots stronghold?
Having made sure the way was clean, Alucard walked back to the dead end he had left Seras in. Damn, he hadn't intended to draw her into this scenario... He just had no particular reason to and plenty of reasons not to. What had gotten into him to let the policewoman join? He lingered at this thought and chuckled. Yeah, right. That cop's thought he had fished out of the whirlwind in her mind, right before he was going to cut her jabber off with a firm "no"... It was funny, it was weird, it was absolutely ridiculous... A fear?! Hah. Humans and undeads feared him and that was perfectly natural. But fearing for him? Now, that was a brand new concept... Surprising enough to make him quit the argument. Alucard stopped at the corner and listened to the voices, which disturbed his musing. Oh, great. A brawl already. The hellhound maneuvered closer, unseen by his apprentice and some human, whose face was purple almost to the point of glowing in the dark.
"...I'm calling the police! - the man made a demonstrative gesture with a cell phone in his left hand, holding Seras' elbow with his right one. - I'm sick and tired of you, street punks!"
Victoria looked increasingly huffed, but restrained herself.
"Look here, sir... I was just waiting for someone here. I didn't mean to do anything with your car. I only leaned on it. My apologies for that, but it isn't a crime."
She tried to sound as soothing and reasonable, as possible. Alas, it didn't stop the bellowing.
"Waiting?! Here in the dark? Wearing gloves in summer and with a chain in your hand? Hah! Don't give me that bullshit!"
Every phrase was punctuated with a shake, given to the captured elbow of the young vampire. Pretty soon Victoria's patience crumpled and she tried to reclaim her limb from the grip. Her push was considerably gentle, but made the man sway and stagger a few steps back. Unfortunately, it didn't cool the head of the righteous protector of his wheeled property. It only gave him another wrong idea.
"Don't you try fighting with me, you brat, or I'll paint you black and blue, I swear! I have a black belt and..."
"Black belt or red garter - it's irrelevant. Why don't you shut up, you noisy twit?" - the bass reverberation of a scornful voice came from somewhere very close. The man hastily swiveled here and there, but the only other person in the quiet dead end was that obnoxious little scum. She had the cheek to grin and murmur matter-of-factly:
"See? I was just waiting here. For him."
"For whom?!"
"For me. Are you not only dumb, but blind too?" - something moved by the side of his precious new Jaguar and a big dark dog stepped into the stripe of light.
For once, the man lost control over his vocal cords. The dog walked closer and sat down on the pavement, tilting the heavy head: "Satisfied? Then climb into your piece of junk and get the hell out of here. You're annoying, human."
The face of the scandal-stirrer was a curious study of eyes boggling. As in answer to it, blazing red sparkles started to appear on the high forehead of the hound. Eyes. Two rows of eyes were opening in order, making some sort of a nightmarish domino effect. The dog's body blurred and twisted, as a human hand tore its back, wielding an enormous black handgun. Being pointed right into the man's face, the weapon's muzzle appeared to be of a coconut size to him. The unreal creature on the pavement barked a short laughter and pressed on: "What are you waiting for?! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!"
Enough was enough. Uttering a sad little squeak, the tall figure in a three piece suit folded and fell on the ground with the grace of a sack of potatoes.
"Mwahaha!" - for the first time since Walter had brought the disturbing news Alucard's mood started to improve. - See, Seras? You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. It's a fundamental law of social life."
Victoria avoided to comment this wisdom and quickly bent over the senseless body to check its pulse. Succeeding to confirm the signs of vitality, she stood straight and presented her Master with a crooked smile.
"You are really into dramatic effects, Master."
"So what? Nothing like a bit of entertainment now and then. - a fanged smirk flashed on the height of seven feet, finishing the brief moment of shape shifting. - Besides, don't try to pretend it wasn't amusing."
"Uh-huh... Drop dead amusing. Well, nearly - for him. I've thought he popped an artery or something... - the blonde received a who-the-hell-cares shrug in answer to her remark and inquired, - Shall we leave him here? I wonder where he will run as soon as he regains consciousness - to a psychiatrist or to the closest church."
"Hmph. It's pretty easy to guarantee his absolute silence."
"How?"
"To suck his blood dry. A foolproof method."
Victoria cringed and vigorously shook her head.
"Stubborn as usual. All right. - Alucard picked the prone body by the collar and glanced at the car. The driver's door obediently opened and the man was arranged on the seat of the root of his recent troubles. The vampire critically regarded the installation and concluded. - This will do. He'll pass the whole thing for a weird dream without any further ado."
"Are you sure?"
"I've already mentioned the best way to be sure."
Seras approached the Jaguar and decisively closed the door, bottling its unconscious owner inside.
"Where are we going now, Master? Home?"
"No. - Alucard grinned as a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes. - To the Underground. Have you forgotten? We've got a visit to pay. And if a frontal assault didn't work, let's go subterfuge."
Alucard and Victoria were sitting in the third car from the front of the train. As midnight was close, the tube was poorly populated. However, Alucard had meticulously chosen the carriage with the lest amount of people. The only other passengers were an old lady, sitting close to the door, and two dozy youths in baggy clothes in front of the vampires. They looked peaceful and relaxed, reclining their heads on each other. Their reposeful attitude could be a result of an extreme tiredness... But apparently it had another reason - a strong emanation of alcohol came from the lads, surrounding their bench with a smelly aura. Victoria wrinkled her nose and noticed the similar grimace on the face of the old woman across the littered aisle. The lady glowered at the sleeping doves and moved her gaze on Victoria. Having regarded her with the same disapproval, the old woman compressed her lips in a thin line and looked away. Seras frowned. What's wrong? She sneakily looked over her clothes. Everything seemed to be OK. Hm. The girl craned her neck to look at her face in the window glass in front of her, but the reflection was too dim. She squinted her eyes to her nose, still trying to figure if she had anything on her face. Alucard, whose attention had been drawn by an accidental push in his side, chuckled.
"Lovely expression. Don't forget to make it next time you take a pic for Hellsing ID."
Slightly embarrassed, Seras quickly returned her eyes to the normal position. When she looked up, the old woman was staring at the vampires again. Her attention was starting to bug Victoria.
"Master, that old lady in the corner... "
"Mm?" - black eyebrows rose above the sunglasses in lazy interest.
"She's glowering at us all the time. Weird..."
Alucard shrugged.
"Being weird isn't considered an atrocity among humans. If it were, three quarters of these old islands' population would be in jail."
"Yes, but... Maybe she guessed what we are?"
"Getting paranoid, Seras? - No Life King's laugh was almost a sneer and the girl stiffened unhappily, but a moment later a low voice in her mind continued. - Most humans don't believe in our existence now... Even when they become a prey, they stay unsuspecting till the last minute. They just don't want to suspect, and this tiny block in their minds would always make them turn a blind eye to things not fitting the picture. To save themselves from truth they would find a comfortable explanation to any strangeness... Including the fact that one eye of yours is blue, and the other - red. You've lost your lens somewhere, cop."
Seras hissed through her teeth in dismay. How hadn't she noticed it earlier? Damn. To ruin the cover like that... Alucard only smirked, apparently amused with the whole matter.
"Big deal, the lady probably takes you for a crazy goth. Like that Manson fellow Walter showed me on TV once... Funny kid."
"But I'm not dressed black!"
"That's why I said 'crazy'. When will you reset your obsession with pink at last, police girl? It's outrageous."
"As soon as you reset your habit wearing riding boots with a suit, Master."
"And what's so wrong about my boots?"
"Same here. What's so wrong about pink? Everyone has their own habits."
"Habits?! Bah. They don't deserve this name until they're a century old. At least."
Victoria winced. A certain someone was such a snob sometimes, really... And oversecretive too. She sat back and started wondering what could bring them to the house behind the holy seal. Her senior had briefly mentioned some 'other possible ways', before dragging her to the tube... But didn't bother to explain anything more.
Meanwhile the train slowed and stopped at a station, where the old lady got off, carrying the secret of her indignant glances away along with three packets and a handbag. No one entered, and the doors hissed closed.
"How convenient..." - murmured Alucard, took off his glasses and carefully tucked them into the inner pocket. His ruby eyes sparkled brightly in the lights of the salon, casting a calculating look around. The train was speeding up in the tunnel, occasional screeching of metal against metal eerie in the silence of the car. The next station was about five minutes away.
Victoria looked at the older vampire with curiosity when he suddenly rose to his feet.
"What's the matter, Master?"
"Nothing special. We're getting off."
"But the station..."
Without any further discussion Alucard stretched his arm and pulled Seras up. Still holding her hand, the nosferatu slyly grinned:
"Have you ever jumped from moving tube trains, Seras? Rare fun, that."
The startled expression on his fledgling's face told volumes without words and he laughed.
"Thought so. Come here. Hurry, or we'll miss the turn."
Still hesitating, the girl made a step to her Master. Somewhere behind Alucard's back one of the spirited away bums moved and uttered an inarticulate noise.
Holding Seras under his arm, the vampire quickly walked through the wall. The half-awake fellow on the seat mumbled "Fucking Matrix..." and blinked. Then he dropped his head on his friend's shoulder and returned to the spinning world behind his eyelids.
Concrete walls with cables running along them were replaced by old flaking limestone when the undeads passed the next T-turn, provided with a rusty iron door. Judging by its appearance, nobody had opened it for at least thirty years. This corridor was considerably narrower and the first signs of claustrophobia stood to attention in Victoria's case. Something else answered the roll-call in her head too and this whispering presence was extremely disturbing. The feeling grew with every step and in an attempt to hush it Seras stammered:
"Is it far yet, Master?"
"We're almost there. Follow me."
Oh yeah. Right. Follow the white rabbit... The girl sighed. Not that they were going to Wonderland though. About hundred yards more and Victoria came to a halt not to run into her Master's back. Alucard stood, pressing his gloved hand to the wall to the left; his profile hidden with suddenly long hair.
"We've come, cop. Here, touch."
The girl reluctantly obeyed and at the moment her palm touched the rough surface, her teeth clenched with an audible click. A flood of dark energy rushed into her, making the blood boil in her veins. Screams... Black billows of smoke, filling the sky... Mournful sound of bells... Gutters, full of garbage and rats... Half-coherent pleas of the dying... Howls of a dog, being beaten to death... Decaying corpses in a rattling death wagon... All this flashed on with growing speed, melting the borders of sanity with every second. Straining the last grains of self-control, Seras broke the contact with the wall and staggered a few steps back, pressing a hand to the burning forehead. She was shivering, and, as Victoria absently realized, the salty taste in her mouth came from bleeding imprints of teeth on her lower lip.
"What... - the voice was hoarse and breaking; Victoria swallowed a lump in her throat and went on. - What was that?"
"The reason why old cities are preferred by vampires. They have cursed places like this, storing human suffering. - the nosferatu still held his hand on the stone of the wall, his eyes shone in the dark. - Have you felt it, Seras? I see that you have... It's even stronger underground. All the centuries haven't weakened its energy."
"You haven't answered my question!"
"It's a plague pit. They died in heaps back then, and were buried in heaps, and exhausted priests failed to attend all the burial sites where they were needed. This is one of such places... I've found a breach in the holy barrier at last. It's our way up, police girl."
The undead blonde took a involuntary step back, looking at her senior with widened eyes.
"Through this?! I... I can't... "
"You can and you will. - Alucard's eyes narrowed. - You've gotten too far to say no, cop."
Victoria only shook her head, stepping back again and bracing herself with both hands.
"Damn it! Can you do a single thing without arguing or refusing?! I'm sick and tired of that! - Alucard felt rage rising in him, as the memories of the girl's constant reluctance came to his mind. Starting from the blood drinking matter... He bared his set teeth and gripped Seras's shoulders with both hands. - When you asked me to take you along, did you think you would walk to Iscariots' place like a princess of state, treading on rose petals all the fucking way?! You stupid stubborn..." He abruptly stopped, meeting the gaze of eyes of the same ruby shade as his. Tears silently welled in them; their look was filled with hurt. He slowly exhaled and unclenched the fingers, which had dug deep into Victoria's flesh. He didn't let go of her shoulders though; only came on one knee to level their faces.
"Victoria... You are a vampire - not human. Ways and means you are due now are not always human either. You must learn about them if there's a chance to do so, no matter how terrible or repulsive they would seem to you. One day or one night you may need them - badly. We are immortals... or die in the attempt to be them. - a palm with a sealing sigil on its back slowly slid up and cupped the cheek of the girl, gently brushing the tears with its thumb. - I really don't like the idea of the latter for you."
Seras's stiff shoulder relaxed a little under his touch and, strangely relieved, he continued: "Besides, all we need is a point of destination to teleport to. Teleportation doesn't take any time, and it'll take a split second to leave the spot once you're done. Did you really think we'd be crawling there, among rotten bones and worms? Hmph. It's ridiculous. Unforgivable faux pas, as Walter once said, referring to a harmless joke I had played on that stuffed moron of a Knight from MI-5..."
This time he managed to bring forth a faint smile on Victoria's face. Smiling back, he whispered: "Nothing bad can happen to you, while I'm beside. And I will be. Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
"Good girl."
Having briskly touched Victoria's lips with his mouth, Alucard got up and locked his arms on the girl's waist. Seras put her hands on his forearms and looked up into his face.
"Ready?"
"Uh-huh."
"Houston, do you hear me? All controls - clear, we are going up!"
The world blinked. As soon as their feet touched the tiled floor on the other end of their instant travel, the vampires made a leap aside to leave the cursed spot. Only then they looked around. The vast dark place turned out to be an H-shaped basement and Alucard muttered: "Bull's eye." Victoria nodded and walked a few feet to look around the corner. For a couple of seconds she peered into the dark, then rapidly withdrew and grabbed her senior's sleeve.
"Master! Anderson must be here! There's somebody by the far wall, he's all studded with blades and the body hasn't turned into ash yet!!!"
Alucard's hand dived to the holster under his coat, as he quickly approached the corner and stopped there, scanning the surroundings. Suddenly his shoulders began to shake and Seras twitched in worry. Her worry increased, as strange sounds started to reach her ears. Master was... grunting? Did the contact with the plague pit finally get to his mind? Oh no...
The nosferatu turned. His red eyes were brightly twinkling above the left hand, firmly pressed to the lower half of his face. He leaned against the wall and glanced at the alarmed girl. The peculiar grunting became louder, turning into a muffled laugh.
"Seras... You..." - a violent fit of cackling broke Alucard's voice and he covered his mouth with the second hand, still with the Jackal in it. Managing to stomp his joy down a bit, he finally continued:
"No wonder the guy hasn't turned into ash yet... Heh-heh... Do you know whom have you seen? The dude's name is St.Sebastian and know what? He's made of porcelain! Mwa-hah... Damn. And there are no blades - there are arrows, and they are bloody porcelain too!"
Seras quickly peeked at the object in question and felt blood rushing into her cheeks. Oops... A screwup. She sulkily glowered at the Very Annoyingly Amused vampire and mumbled:
"The statue is of a human height... And well painted to boot."
"Oh, sure! Quite humanoid! Heh-heh... Despite the fact it lacks a nose and two fingers on the hand..."
Victoria shielded with half-offended half-awkward silence and pursed her lips. When the last chuckle faded away, Alucard sighed:
"You never cease to amaze me... You are priceless, Victoria. Now, let's go. The surprise party in Maxwell's bedroom is just about to start."