Chapter 11 – SUN DOWN, AWAKE AND ARISE
Standing in the garden, Integra frowned as she mentally tried to reconcile the derelict ruins with the pretty grounds that had stood in its place a week ago. Although she would never admit it to Alucard, Integra grudgingly conceded to herself that had the circumstances of her last visit been more pleasant, she would have enjoyed her stay at the castle.
"What happened here?" she remarked. "It wasn't like this the last time we were here. It is almost as if war took place here."
"Don't you remember?"
"No, actually I don't," answered Integra. "The last part of my visit here, as far as I can remember, involved me waking up from that nightmare of Rip and engaging in a brief screaming match with you."
"Which you passed out in the middle of," added Alucard with a wry grin.
"I did?"
"And not a minute too soon may I add. You were about to hit me with one of the chairs in the dining hall."
Integra smiled in spite of herself. "I find it hard to believe that a big bad vampire like you would be afraid of a little girl like me."
"The chairs in that room my dear child," chided Alucard, but not without dry humour, "Were antiques left over from my father's time. I'm usually not too attached to material possessions but it isn't easy to find craftsmen with the necessary skills these days to make good chairs. I will miss them, the chairs, I mean. Anyhow," he continued, "Shortly after Rip's intrusion, Verdorben's lackeys attacked the castle. As I could sense that Verdorben was approaching the castle, and as I felt Walter's and Sera's presence in the village, I thought it best to return you to the safety of the flock first before meeting up with you later, of course."
Integra blinked in surprise at his last remark. "Verdorben himself attacked the castle?"
Alucard shrugged. "The damage caused when I fought his men was minimal but our fight left the place in ruins. I managed to trap him on these grounds but regrettably, I could not finish him off myself. Not without your help."
Integra stared at Alucard's. There was something strange in his voice, an emotion she could not quite identify.
"And how did it come to be that I landed up outside Walter's hotel door if I had passed out in the castle?" Integra asked. "Did I stumble down to the village in the chaos? Secondly, what do you mean when you say you couldn't finish Verdorben off by yourself?"
"One question at a time, missy," replied Alucard chuckling. "After finishing off his welcoming party, I carried you down to the village myself. I was amazed how you slept through the whole ordeal – just like a baby. However, on retrospect, it was for the best. It was impertinent that I got you out of the way before Verdorben got here and I'm not sure I could have done it without much fuss had you been conscious."
"I don't understand. What is the whole purpose of this charade?" Integra interrupted. "You couldn't have kidnapped me from England only to return me at the drop of the hat. Besides, if Verdorben is after me, wouldn't it have been more dangerous to have fostered me off to Walter? And for all intents and purposes, why would I be of any interest to him?"
Alucard laughed. "He realises as I did, the irony is his failure to fully convert you has made you the only weak chink in his armour."
Integra stared confusedly at her companion. "I don't understand. Explain yourself."
"Both of us are of his blood. I have chosen to accept what I am while you fight it. Because of your choice, you lack the strength to overcome him. However, by the same turn of the coin, because I am no longer human, I can never truly vanquish him."
"I don't understand. Why do you need my involvement in this? Won't any human suffice?"
"No. Of his children, you are the only one who remains human. Naturally, this means you are the only one who can destroy him," replied Alucard. "He cannot be slain by mortal nor immortal hand, nor by one not of his blood. Strangely, you are the only one who can fulfil the conditions. As such, all hope would have been lost had he managed to get to you. Nothing would please me more than to see you shed your pathetic humanity but not now, not until he is vanquished."
"I don't think I follow your reasoning, Alucard," she replied, crossing her arms. "Either explain yourself or stop speaking in riddles."
"Your grandfather's books were extremely helpful to pass time but to cut a long story short, no human can kill a vampire as ancient as Verdorben. In the books, it is recorded that only a child of his blood can take his life. And yet," he paused, "the conflicting rule of the game is that once a child of the blood becomes a vampire, he can never kill this sire ..."
"So he or she must abstain from blood and remain human," filled in Integra quickly. "It's almost like werewolf legend."
"Strangely, yes. Werewolves aside, in those circumstances, my only choice was to send you to a safer place until I had contained Verdorben sufficiently enough for you to finish him off. Had you died, you would have been fully embraced and all my efforts would have been in naught. Trapping Verdorben within this castle proved a more difficult task than I had expected but it was not impossible. Although I must admit I had underestimated Walter's resources. Fortunately for me, he had not gone far with you."
Integra smiled bitterly as she walked towards the doors to the castle. She was about to turn the heavy handle when she muttered quietly, "So that makes me your trump card. I am but once more a pawn in a game beyond my control."
Alucard said nothing but watched her until she had pushed open the heavy doors. "No," he said quietly, walking towards her, "Not a pawn my child, but a deadly queen."
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Seras's eyes flew open. As she focused her vision, she found a group of villagers circled anxiously around her.
"The young miss is awake," murmured someone in the crowd.
"Where am I?" mouthed Seras weakly.
"You're safe. Your master and another has gone up to the castle."
"No ... he doesn't know who they are fighting," said Seras. She struggled to keep awake but drowsiness soon overwhelmed her.
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"Where did all these ghouls come from?" Integra cursed silently.
Deftly ducking from the ghoul that had lugged at her, she quickly shot its head off. Looking around, she was pleased to note the effect on the remaining ghouls as the body hit the ground with a dull thud. A sickening crunch was heard before the ghoul burst into dust. Earlier, the ghouls had been attacking Alucard and herself with reckless abandon. The reduction in their numbers appeared however, to have made them more wary, thus giving her time to react more carefully herself.
"You overestimate them," said Alucard, ignoring the cries of fury from the ghouls around him as he tore their heads off with ease. "Don't forget, they are but mindless zombies – their role is merely canon fodder. The leader should appear soon."
Integra smiled grimly as she scanned the room to count the remaining ghouls. On one hand, it was good news that they had reduced the numbers of ghouls to about twenty. Not bad for fifteen minutes work considering more than seventy had ambushed them as they entered the dining hall. On the other hand, she was running out of ammunition. Integra shot a wary glance at her remaining magazine clips and frowned.
'One clip left. If only I had my saber," she mumbled. "It was made of blessed silver and my best bet when my bullets were out,' she grumbled.
"Don't fret yourself out," laughed Alucard as he brought the count of ghouls in the hall to seven. "If you don't miss, six bullets are good enough to take down another six."
Integra shot a furious glare at him as she quickly reloaded her gun. With lightning reflexes that could have only been obtained by years of practice, she raised the barrel and fired six shots at the charging mob.
Alucard whistled in grudging admiration as seven zombies fell to the ground. "That was good shooting, for a human," he remarked and threw one of his spare clips towards Integra. She caught it and quickly reloaded her guns.
"Well, that's the lot I believe. Nice warm up I must say."
"In answer to your earlier remark on my shooting, let it be known that I learn only from the best," Integra replied before raising her guns once more (she had picked up an extra firearm one of the ghouls had dropped – from the looks of the drabs that remained on him, he must have been a guard or something).
Alucard's eyes widened momentarily as she fired two shots towards him but burst out into maniacal laughter as two ghouls fell behind him, one on his left and the other on his right.
"Show off," he chided good humouredly. "And I am embarrassed to say for once that the pupil has beaten the master."
About to say something in retort, Integra's attention was diverted by the feeling that someone or something was gripping her foot. Turning, she found a ghoul writhed on the floor beneath her with its other arm and two legs torn off. Integra stiffened for a moment as she recognised the poor creature – it had been the young kitchen hand who broke a stool in the kitchen. Sensing her hesitation, Alucard quickly fired a shot between the ghoul's eyes.
"There is no cure for them once they've been changed."
"I know but it doesn't make the whole matter less distasteful," she replied. "I myself have always said that the best we can do is to give them a quick release but ..." she trailed off, shuddering at the memory of the men she had to put to rest following the Valentines' attack.
Alucard looked amusedly at Integra. "I noticed you got them all between the eyes. Was it necessary mercy? Seras wouldn't have been half as precise in her shots."
Integra clicked her tongue in annoyance. "No," she spat, her voice dripping in sarcasm, "I was trying to be funny. "As much as I got my shooting skills from Walter, showing off I learnt from you."
Alucard smiled uneasily at her words.
"What's that look supposed to mean?" Integra asked before she peered around the corners carefully for any ghouls that might still be around.
"Integra, there is something I must ..."
"Well, having fun aren't we?" interrupted a shrill voice from the other end of the hall.
Integra and Alucard stiffened involuntarily. They stared warily at the dark corridor from which the voice had called. Integra's eyes widened as a familiar figure emerged from the darkness.
"Let us pass Minerva," snarled Alucard as the other vampire stepped into the hall. "I don't really care if you are Minerva or Rip. I've killed you once and I can do it again."
Rip van Winkle (or the former Lady Minerva) laughed. "I doubt it dog. In any case, even if you are immortal, the same cannot be said of your charge. You have no idea how much I thirst for this wretch's blood!"
Integra glanced uncertainly at the vampire who had once been her grandfather's wife. "Lady Minerva. I beseech you. Please let us pass. I need to get to Walter. He's hurt, I know it."
Rip shook her finger warningly. "Ah ah ah, dearie ... worry about yourself instead, slut. You can't help him if you can't save yourself."
"Hold your tongue Rip or I will tear it from your filthy mouth," warned Alucard.
"Oh yes, the knight protests," mocked Rip. "You were always on her side, weren't you? I wonder what allure this harlot holds for you too. Did you enjoy a romp or two in her bed? Or did the three of you spend more time together than you were letting on?"
Integra stared at Rip in confusion. Why was this woman, who was once family, now a vampire? Why was Minerva filled with so much hatred for her mother and Walter?
Integra had no memories of her grandmother as the old lady had passed away when she was very little. All she could remember of Lady Minerva was her stern expression – something that was captured in all the old lady's portraits. Integra remembered how they had always unnerved her as a child. The portraits in her father's study seemed always to be scowling at her.
But the portraits had been of an extremely aged Lady Minerva – until Alucard's confirmation, Integra could not tell that the portraits had been of this same woman now standing in front of her.
"Please Lady Minerva, let us pass."
"Hold your tongue, you hussy. Are you stupid or hard of hearing? You shall get to your lover only if you can defeat me - which I seriously doubt. You've escaped me too often, you adulterous bitch."
"What?" cried Integra, more confused than before. "What are you talking about? We're talking about Walter; it's father's best friend."
"Fine man your father was. If it hadn't been for that Indian bitch, he would never have abandoned me and Arthur," snarled Rip. "You've inherited her blood, you slut. You stole my son and I will never forgive you for shaming his bed and bearing that bastard."
Rip smiled oddly as she aimed her gun at Integra. "Enough talk, hussy, it is time for you to cross the Styx and join your mother. That shameless traitor will follow soon. Lord Verdoben has promised me both your heads, so ready your fare for Charon."
With alarming speed, Rip sped towards them. Integra barely ducked as the vampire fired a rapid series of bullets towards her.
"Beware the silver in the bullets, wretch," mocked Rip as she laughed insanely. "You put quite a few in my son's body that night you awoke this dog. Let me return the favour for my poor, poor, Richard."
Even as she lunged towards Integra, Rip fired her rifle in Alucard's direction.
"Integra, be careful," growled Alucard as he ducked behind a column, "there are bullets coming from behind towards you."
Instinctively Integra turned her head. To Integra's horror, the bullets that she had ducked earlier were heading in her direction. She rolled quickly onto her right to avoid both the bullets and Rip. Integra smiled in secret satisfaction as the vampire caught off guard, ran into a wall.
Alucard's cry of warning woke her from her short moment of triumphant. "Don't dream, child! They're heading in your direction again!"
Integra ran in desperation, weaving between the columns in the room as she sought to avoid Rip's bullets. A quick glance from the corner of her eye confirmed what she feared. Although two bullets had been stopped by the columns, a good number was still trailing her. It was almost as if there was a detection device on the bullets. How else would they be following her and Alucard as if missiles?
Alucard fired at Rip from behind an upturned table – a curse left his lips as her bullets quickly diverted their course to neutralise his attack.
Integra took advantage of the situation to fire her remaining bullet at Rip. She prayed that the bullet would hit its target before Rip was aware of its presence – but luck was not on her side. Snarling in anger, Rip raised her gun and fired against the oncoming bullet.
'Now Alucard,' screamed Integra silently as Alucard fired his guns at Rip at the same time.
Integra grimaced as a bullet grazed her knee. Two shots had hit her in the arm. As she held her bleeding limb, Integra glared angrily at her triumphant foe. The dull sound of an empty barrel in the middle of Alucard's last attack sounded the bitter fact she and Alucard had no more ammunition left. While one of their bullets had gotten the vampire in her shoulder, thus slowing Rip down somewhat, it was hardly enough. A numbing pain in her knee made Integra keenly aware that she was not as lucky as she had thought - one of Rip's bullets had found its way there, rendering her almost immobile. Tossing off Alucard as if a rag doll, Rip laughed as she took advantage of Integra's incapacity to pelt the injured Integra with a torrent of bullets.
"Give it up you fools. With Lord Verdoben in this place, there is no way I can lose. Not quite the easy target I had been then, am I, Alucard?"
As her death seemed almost imminent, Integra could not help but close her eyes in a rare moment of terror. She heard a strange laughter from Alucard – one that sounded like a cross between anger and insane pleasure. Integra struggled to open her eyes but they resisted. When she could finally open them again, she was shocked to see a bloodied and bullet riddled Alucard standing in front of her. In a moment of desperation, Alucard had thrown himself in front of Integra, shielding her from all the bullets Rip had meant for her with his body. Integra watched horrified as Alucard's body disintegrated into a bloody mess. Laughing manically over the spilled remains of Alucard, Rip pressed the butt of her rifle furiously on the ground - spreading what was left of Alucard all over the dusty castle floor. Satisfied with her handiwork, the vampire approached Integra once more.
"No more bullets left girlie. Good fighting for a human but not quite good enough. I know he's not so easily defeated but the time he will need to regenerate from this is enough time for me to kill you. While I would love to put so much bullets through his remains that there won't be enough of him left to form anything, I might have more pleasure tearing him apart myself."
Integra laughed. "I don't think so. Minerva, I pity you."
"What?" came the shocked reply. "No matter, say your prayers, wretch. Your dark hero should meet you in hell soon." Still smiling, Rip placed the barrel of her gun against Integra's chest.
About to pull the trigger, Rip screamed in surprise as Alucard lifted her by her throat from behind. She tore at Alucard screeching, but found herself clutching at air. Alucard was out of her reach.
"How did you?" she asked.
"Simple, I am who I am. Like our play acting?"
"Let go of me. Put me down now dog or you and my gun will have some words to exchange!"
"Rip, you are absolutely pathetic for one of our kind," laughed Alucard. "Can you not fight with anything other than firearms? No matter, say your goodbyes before I tear your head off. For the fact you were once a Hellsing, I will make this quick and relatively painless."
At his words, Rip stopped struggling. As she stared at Alucard, an evil smile crossed her face. Turning then to look at Integra, she lifted a bloodied finger in her direction, "Hellsing? Speaking of Hellsing, that brat will never know will she? How long do you intend to keep it from her? The horror and the shame of it all ... the horror and the shame ..."
"You talk too much," warned Alucard. His voice appeared calm but fury was written all over his face.
Integra closed her eyes as images not from her own memories suddenly invaded her mind. Of the images, the most vivid was that of a woman and a child being carried out Alucard. Both of them were covered with blood. As the Alucard in her vision looked up, Integra was surprised to see a look on anguish on his face. Just then, a great pain seized her head and Integra fell to her knees, clutching her head.
"She does not know. Does she? She doesn't know your inv-olve-eme-nt in her ..." sputtered Rip as the hold on her throat tightened.
"Hold your tongue!" bellowed Alucard.
As the train of images broke, Integra looked up weakly. "No. Don't kill her yet. I have things to ask her. Alucard, let her down first."
"She thinks she is her own ch-"
"Goodbye Minerva," said Alucard darkly. "No more will I tolerate you."
Integra struggled to her feet, determined to make Alucard let Rip down. It was however, too late. As Integra watched, black flames erupted from Alucard's hand. Within seconds, the flames had engulfed both vampires. Rip screamed in agony as the black flames devoured her greedily. The flames did not appear to have any effect on Alucard. Rip was soon reduced to nothing but a pile of dust. Snorting in disgust, Alucard walked out from the flames unharmed. At this moment, the flames died out, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.
"What did you do that for?" demanded Integra. Running up to her companion, she shook the vampire furiously. "She was about to tell us something important."
"And you believe she would have told you something for your good?"
At his words, Integra froze. She turned slowly to stare at the pile of dust at Alucard's feet. Releasing her grip on his coat, she muttered quietly "I ... I'm sorry Alucard but ..."
Alucard said nothing but the look on his face was almost sympathetic.
"I wanted to know," she said sighing as she lowered her head. "I suppose I should be used to this. This is not the first time someone in the family has tried to kill me."
Alucard said nothing but placed his hands on her shoulders. "We're almost there. Come on now."
Mutely, Integra nodded. She took one last look at the pile of dust that had once been her grandmother, before pulling open the oak doors before her.
'Verdorben will pay for what he has done,' she swore as she stepped over the doorway. 'I will not forgive him for this.'
To Integra's surprise, she found Alucard and herself standing in the middle of a lush tropical garden. The doors which had just been behind them, had disappeared.
"Stop your foolish tricks Verdoben," cried Alucard. "I know my dinning room does not lead to the garden. Pansy magician games will get you nowhere."
A low laughter was heard.
Turning in the direction of the voice, Integra saw a figure sitting under a huge tree in a corner of the garden. "Who's there?" she called out uncertainly, trying to catch sight of the person's face.
As the figure got up and began walking towards them, it said, "So my dear brother, we meet again."
'Brother? Is he Alucard's brother?' Integra wondered before recognising the owner of the voice.
It was Walter.
Integra looked horror-stricken at an equally surprised Alucard.
"You don't look too happy to see me," said Walter as he approached. "It has been a long time, hasn't it, brother? We have not met for more than a few centuries, if my memory doesn't fail me."
Alucard snarled angrily in response. "Leave Walter out of this, Verdorben. You've always been a coward but blackmail of this sort is beneath even the likes of you!"
An evil smirk crossed Walter's face. "But dear Alucard, you've destroyed my last human host. So surely you cannot expect me to refuse this man who so willingly walked into my web, old as he is."
Integra tried to take a step forward but felt as if she had been petrified. She could not move a muscle.
"Run, I'll deal with him first," hissed Alucard as he reached for his guns.
"I ... I can't move."
"What?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Verdorben snapped his fingers. A multitude of dark shadowy hands burst out from Alucard's and Integra's shadows, grabbing onto their respective surprised owners.
"What dark sorcery is this?" yelled Alucard as he struggled furiously against the hold on him.
"Coming from you, it is hilarious. You think you can defeat me? Arrogance has always been your forte and your weakness Alucard," mocked Verdoben. "It is true that you got the better of me by surprise the first time but if this gives you the idea you are anywhere close to my powers, you are sorely mistaken. Yes it is annoying to have to let you have the pleasure of destroying my body once more but it is a fair trade for the girl."
"Damn you monster," cursed Alucard. "You have tricked me!"
"Don't struggle so, my foolish son. Your powers are useless in my presence," laughed Verdorben. "But it's the girl I'm interested in at this moment," he said, turning towards Integra.
Integra blinked as she swallowed the tears that were threatening to spill out. Sharp pains were wrecking through her whole body, especially where the hands were holding onto her.
"I'll never become your child," she snarled defiantly, determined not to show her signs of her physical discomfort. "I am Integra Hellsing and I will never become a vampire!"
Verdorben laughed. "No, I'm not going to embrace you tonight. That is too merciful for one with your pride. Instead I am going to do this."
Integra stared in amazement as she realised that she and Walter had been transported to the highest tower in the castle.
"Are you going to throw me into the ravine below?" she asked angrily, struggling even as the hands held her fast.
"No, not you," chuckled Verdorben. Walking to the edge of the tower where part of the wall had collapsed, he laughed sinisterly. "Just him ..."
Integra watched in horror. "No," she screamed.
"Say goodbye," said Verdorben as he stepped into the darkness below. "He did love you so."
Integra fell to her knees as her shadowy bonds disappeared. "Walter!" she screamed in anguish. She struggled to get up and to take a step towards the spot from which Verdorben had jumped. However, the searing pain which was now concentrated in her head was so intense that she could no longer see anything.
'All is lost,' she thought before she passed out.
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One week later, in London ...
Integra flipped the medical reports worriedly. It had been one week since Doctor Trevor had found them and arranged to fly them all back to England. Her second greatest worry had been how she would explain her absence from Hellsing to the Round Table. Fortunately, the good Doctor had the good sense to cover her absence with the excuse of a relapse of pneumonia.
'I guess that leaves only the question of how we were going to explain the drastic change of hair color. Perhaps I should speak to Seras about a good hairdresser,' thought Integra.
She looked up as she heard a small knock on the door.
"Sir?"
"Yes Seras?" said Integra to the young vampire who had just entered her room.
"There's something that has just arrived for you."
"Leave it there please. It's almost time for me to go see Walter. I'll attend to it, whatever it is, in a while."
"Sir, pardon me for saying this," stammered Seras, "but I think you should come see it now."
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"My goodness," Integra gasped as Seras caught hold of her. "It cannot be ..."
As much as it horrified her, Integra found herself unable to tear her gaze from the portrait. There was no mistake, someone had finished the portrait of the woman with the white hair, the same one that had caught her attention in Alucard's castle.
"But why? And how could he have known that this would have happened?" she stammered, looking confusedly from Seras to Pip. "Is this some prank?"
"We received a call from the British Museum this morning, Sir," said Pip. "They informed us that an antique from Romania had arrived for you. We were most surprised to see this ourselves. Stranger still is the fact that as Seras took hold of the portrait, she had a vision of Alucard painting this picture of you."
"I am afraid that is so Sir. This was sent with to the Museum along with the portrait," said Seras uncertainly, holding out a thin yellowish envelope. "Perhaps you should have a look at it."
Attempting to steady her shivering fingers, Integra broke the seal on the envelope.
Dear child
You have asked me about Amelia. There is so much to say and so little time for this story that is not mine alone to tell.
It is as you have been shown - your father is not Arthur. Arthur never knew that Amelia was his half-sister nor did he know of her affair leading up to your birth. He was bitterly suspicious of me at one time – how ironic that the only thing testifying to my innocence is the fact vampires cannot sire human children.
However, trust not the visions – as I warned you, Verdorben is a corruptor of all things, even of what appears to be the truth. Be patient little child, in a while all will become known.
I suppose you have figured this as much. I do not know whether my confirmation of your parentage comes as a blow or a relief to you. There are however, two more pressing issues I have to bring to your attention. I suspect from recent events, that our mutual enemy had not acted alone. I cannot rest until I have tracked down his accomplices. Until I find them, my revenge on the demon cannot be complete. I will return as soon as I can. Be patient, it may be two moons before we meet again. In the meanwhile, watch your back. Your fiancee and his family are not to be trusted, nor is Commander Josef all that he seems. There are traitors even amongst your troops: trust no one until you are sure they are worthy of it.
Hold your counsel carefully but I believe my child will be a useful ally.
Secondly, while it is your choice whether or not to accept the match the Queen has arranged for you, will you marry the son of your mother's murderer?
We will meet again and when all is done, I swear I will reveal the whole truth about Amelia to you. Take care of your father until he awakes – hate him not, he never knew.
Alucard
"What is wrong Sir? Sir?"
Integra said nothing but stared at the letter in her hands.
Inside the room, the curtains fluttered wildly. The leaves outside the window however, stood deathly still.
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Sitting beside the oak tree in Alucard's ruined castle, a man smiled. "We will meet again Magus. We will meet again ... wait for me my little brother."
END OF PART ONE
