Freedom Chapter 1
By J.L. Pitard
Standard disclaimer: All characters belong to Kohta Hirano and his publishers. I have no stake in them...
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Her data had been based on reports by various law enforcement agencies, but it seemed to be all out of date now. Missing person's reports, odd sightings, animal mutilations and the like were no longer in any coherent pattern and the flow of the reports seemed to be slowing. She should have been able to breathe easier knowing this, but her concern over Alucard's behavior prevented any relaxation. He was calm, professional and respectful. Very strange.
As there had been several nights of missions with nothing to kill, he should have been more on edge. There was the stepped up training he was doing with Seras, but...even that should have had him on edge. Instead he reported when requested to, taking his leave without any of the accustomed harassment.
Something was wrong.
Integra was watching the storm clouds gather and swallow up the approaching sunset. Walter and she both thought it was best to research the cross image rather than ask Alucard about it. She wanted to know its significance before confronting him. Why would a vampire have a cross on its body unless it was punishment? Then there was the snake eating its tail. If she had the staffing, she'd have agents scouring the tattoo parlors to find similar designs, but she did not. She sighed.
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Walter had been called to the front gate.
"I'm sorry sir," a young man explained as he neared the sentry's post, "but this man seems to have a letter to deliver."
They approached the guard on duty and the man in question, still outside the gate. From afar, the man looked like he was in jail and accustomed to the place, but Walter knew that, if anything, they were the ones behind bars.
"Can I be of service?" Walter asked the soldier. He recognized the man as Waltham, the special ops soldier scared into guard duty.
"Sir, this gentleman asks to deliver a message to someone who is not at this address."
"And I'm not going until you takes it," the man growled.
"Ah," said Walter, "and this would be to whom?"
"A Lord Alu-card, at this address." The man presented the envelope for Walter to see. They had apparently been over this a few times before he appeared, but Walter appreciated Waltham keeping the man for him.
"Thank you, Mr.?" The man shook his head.
"I'm just the message boy and I'm not leaving until you take it. I don't even care if you throw it away, just that I can't take it back." There didn't seem to be anything sinister about the rich paper with its ornate hand done calligraphy.
"There is no one here by this name, but we will accept it and dispose of it properly." Face saved on all sides and the man was clearly relieved. He fairly ran back to his rather shabby hatchback. He'd left it idling on the drive, probably expecting to drop off the card and go.
"You've run the tags?" He asked Waltham.
"Of course, sir. Originally on a Toyota owned by H. Paterson near Stilton, but sold and we're having a bit of a hold up at that point. I'll have the report sent to the house, shall I?"
"Hmmmm. Yes, that would be fine." Walter was concentrating on the envelope as he walked back up the stairs to the house. A discreet person would deliver the card without opening it...and Alucard would be up soon for his meal. Discreet indeed.
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Alucard woke as he heard Walter's familiar footsteps on the stone stairs. He didn't like to be surprised in his coffin. Of course, Walter did not like to watch him eat, so Alucard would usually remain in the shadows or in the stones themselves until Walter left. Tonight Walter remained and Alucard saw the envelope beside the blood bags.
"Good evening, Walter." He said as he melded back into solid form. Walter nodded and handed him the envelope, as if in parody of a proper butler. They had a good deal of history between them and Alucard's eyes glinted with humor.
Alucard admired the paper and the handwriting; it fairly reeked of centuries gone by. He looked over the note, an invitation. No details of when or where. It was to be assumed. Alucard put the heavy linen paper to his nose, like a sommelier and then, to Walter's astonishment, licked the paper. Satisfied, he crumpled the note and put it into the shadows in his coat.
Walter said, "Good news, I take it?"
An evil grin answered him. "Didn't you read it before me?"
As there was no honest answer to that, Walter busied himself with Seras's meal.
"Walter," Alucard reached a hand out to stop Walter and felt the old man's pulse quicken. Muscles tensed beneath his touch. The vampire laughed, but decided to ignore the reaction. "Tonight, Police Girl will need something fancy, but she will need to be able to fight in it."
Walter had the grace to conceal his shock. He nodded, finished setting up her tray and left.
Alucard watched Walter's back as he closed the door. He pulled the note back out and continued to lick the bloody signature thoughtfully.