The world kept turning without me…' Rain thought to herself, her eyes reflecting the lights from the city of London. She stood alone, atop the high walkway of the London Bridge. The wind lifted her black hair, whipping the strands around her body. All light had faded from the sky and now a blanket of night covered the city. 'If only you were here, we could share this new world together…'
The season was nearing winter, but it didn't bother her. Snow flakes floated past and Rain could catch their individual shapes. Each one was different and her sharp sight caught each curve of the tiny glittering pieces of ice. Reaching out slowly, one landed on her palm of her pale hand. It didn't melt, but simply rested there, taking a moment's breath before it would fly off again. "Frosted rain…" She whispered just as a breeze plucked the flake from her palm. "The dreams I had as I slept were of you and now, even though I am awake and you are gone from this world, I still see you everywhere."
A cold breeze wrapped around her as she brought the hand that had held the snow flake, to her chest.
'My soul will travel the night sky forever… We are eternal… We will see each other again… I promise you. Grant me my last wish. Drink my blood.'
She hung her head, his last words repeating over and over in her mind. "How long must I wait? This world has no meaning without you. The glittering lights of the city are nothing more than dying fireflies. The buildings do nothing but crumble before my eyes. All I feel is death around me… When you took me by the hand, I felt more alive than I had ever felt in my entire life. You were my world, now that world is something I can only see at a distance. That world is beyond my reach. Now, that your remains have been taken from me… the world I once knew is furthering itself from me. I promise I will hunt the humans who would take you from me. I won't rest until you are in my arms again. Only then, can I return to my undisturbed slumber."
The lights of the city continued to linger in her vision even after she closed her eyes to momentarily escape its brightness. Everything was quiet, except for the distant sounds of cars from the streets below. After a few moments she slowly opened her eyes, a familiar feeling rising up through her like a wave of heat. "Walter…"
Her eyes flashed like lightning flaring across a crimson sky. Swiftly, her figure faded into a cloud of black mist that was quickly carried away on the wind like the snow that had been falling around her.
***
"And so this story no longer makes the murders in London an open and shut case." Integral whispered. Walter knew that Rain could no longer be kept secret and if he wanted to help her, he knew that Integral must know everything he had told Celes. Alucard was also within Integral's office - seemingly detached from Integral and Walter's conversation as he stood, looking at the portrait of Integral's father which was hanging undisturbed on the wall not far from Integral's desk. "But now we have even more serious matters to worry about."
Integral's eyes traced over the letter that Christoph had sent to Walter.
"We cannot simply allow Iscariot to run free in this city…" She said, looking up from the letter to Walter who stood before her in her office. "But we also cannot let Rain run free either. She is now a wanted murderer and more than just Iscariot will be searching for her. This is a serious affair that you should not have kept secret, Walter. We must find her before Iscariot does. This is not her city to run wild in."
"I am not denying that she has killed several people. But I believe she had good reason. If she is doing what I believe she is, those people that were killed were not as innocent as many authorities think. They were carrying FREAK chips that rightfully belong to Rain. They are the original chips that were created from the DNA of her Master, Frost. She is defending her honour and her memory of Him." explained Walter, standing before Integral, who shifted slightly in her seat in order to cross her legs.
"Even after almost 60 years of slumber, she has kept her promise." Alucard replied, his eyes unwavering from the painting. "She is different from the others. She honours her heritage."
"Even if she is different, she cannot continue to kill whomever she sees fit." Integral quickly answered. "Now that Iscariot sees it to be their business to get involved, more casualties are inevitable. I want her and Iscariot stopped before this has a chance to expand into war."
"I will defend England at all costs, but I have also chosen to protect Rain. I can assure you that she is different and she means not to involve anyone else than the ones that have wronged her. She is not a killing machine." Walter explained.
Integral was silent, as she looked back down at the letter. "Then she is your responsibility. I want her stopped, Walter. Find her. If she is like you say she is, I want to see her for my own eyes. Hellsing will turn London inside and out in order to find her." Integral said to herself, whether or not Alucard was listening was not her primary concern. For the past several years, the FREAK chips had become a growing problem in London and now finally to have an opportunity to come face to face with the No Life King who had a direct connection to their origins filled her mind with questions.
"That won't be necessary…" Alucard answered, looking back over his shoulder to his Master who was suddenly jarred from her thoughts. Integral shot Alucard a confused look until he answered, his lips twisting into a grin. "She is here."
Both Integral and Walter's eyes widened. Neither of them knew exactly what reaction to give. Without another word, Walter turned to leave. By this time, Alucard was already gone. Within minutes and by one command, Integral had every Hellsing guard lining the halls of the mansion, searching for any sign of her. Walter would have preferred her not to do this, for he wanted to welcome Rain, not portray her as a wanted criminal. But he also understood Integral's worry. Rain had been sleeping for so long and now she was awake and in London, carrying out her revenge. She was a vampire, something that wasn't exactly the perfect image of a welcomed guest for the Hellsing family.
Walter made his way down the hall from Integral's office to the main lobby near the front door. He had no idea where she was, but a piece of him beckoned him to the entrance. He had once heard that a true No Life King would never enter the home of a mortal or other vampire unless granted entrance. Walking down the lobby steps from the second floor of the mansion, he walked to the front door where he stopped suddenly, resting his gloved hand on the brass handle. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his fast beating heart. He was about to see a window into the past.
Opening the door, he stepped out onto the front step to look out into the court yard. It was dark, dimly lit by a few lamps that reflected light upon the light snow that floated to the ground where a thin layer of swirling mist hung just above the ground. The evening was cool, and even Walter knew that it was too late in the year for there naturally to be mist in the evening. Everything was silent and he strained his ears to listen for any sound of movement. Suddenly they caught the sound of nearing footsteps from somewhere in the courtyard before him. They were steady and unfaltering, walking slowly, one foot after the other, yet he could see no sign of movement. The footsteps stopped suddenly as he heard the sound of several guns being armed behind him. Quickly, he held a hand up, silently giving a signal for the guards to stand down as he glanced over his shoulder to look at them. Looking back to the courtyard he listened again for any sign of life.
"Rain…" Walter said, breaking the silence. "I know it has been a long time since we last saw each other face to face, and I know that I no longer look like the same person whom you met in Poland. But I assure you that it is me and on my honour I promise you that it is no one here will bring you harm. These men are here to protect Hellsing and will not shoot unless given reason."
There was still silence and for a moment, Walter wondered whether or not there was anyone even there. The air was cold and the mist still floated above the ground.
'Yes, she is here. I can feel it.' Walter thought to himself.
"Christoph sent a letter telling me what had happened." He continued, stepping forward. "I want to help you. Hellsing wants to help you. I know you are filled with grief-"
"They stole him from me…" The air whispered, almost barely audible.
"I know." Walter answered.
"I will not rest until I find him." The voice said, become clearer as the mist before him began to swirl, concentrating itself before him.
"I want to help you find him. Hellsing also offers its protection of you. But you have to stop your hunt."
"I will never stop!" Rain suddenly cried, her figure bursting forward suddenly from the cloud of mist that had formed before him. Unexpectedly Walter found himself face to face with a window to his past. Rain hadn't aged a day, but she looked more mature.
"You have to stop, for now you are one of the hunted." Walter said to her, the frustration immediately draining from her face. She looked at him and he back at her as confusion crossed her features. "Iscariot is hunting you."
"Iscariot…?"
"A group trained by the Vatican in Rome, to hunt down and destroy those they deem the children of Hell." A voice said behind Walter. Rain looked past him to a new figure that she didn't recognize. Walter turned to the doorway behind him to see Integral standing with her arms crossed. She and Rain's gaze were locked with one another.
"I am in no way connected with Rome; my search for Frost is none of their concern." Rain said.
"They have made it their concern, just as I am making it mine." Integral told Rain. "England is not your battle ground and I have made a pledge to its Queen that I will not allow you or Iscariot to fight here."
"We will help you find Frost, I promise, but you have to understand that if you fight here in London, you will attract unwanted attention and eventually more than Iscariot will come looking for you."
"They already have." Rain whispered, taking a step back from Walter.
"What do you mean?" Questioned Walter, as Integral walked up beside him.
"The men that I hunted were not simply thieves. They were Nazis."
The season was nearing winter, but it didn't bother her. Snow flakes floated past and Rain could catch their individual shapes. Each one was different and her sharp sight caught each curve of the tiny glittering pieces of ice. Reaching out slowly, one landed on her palm of her pale hand. It didn't melt, but simply rested there, taking a moment's breath before it would fly off again. "Frosted rain…" She whispered just as a breeze plucked the flake from her palm. "The dreams I had as I slept were of you and now, even though I am awake and you are gone from this world, I still see you everywhere."
A cold breeze wrapped around her as she brought the hand that had held the snow flake, to her chest.
'My soul will travel the night sky forever… We are eternal… We will see each other again… I promise you. Grant me my last wish. Drink my blood.'
She hung her head, his last words repeating over and over in her mind. "How long must I wait? This world has no meaning without you. The glittering lights of the city are nothing more than dying fireflies. The buildings do nothing but crumble before my eyes. All I feel is death around me… When you took me by the hand, I felt more alive than I had ever felt in my entire life. You were my world, now that world is something I can only see at a distance. That world is beyond my reach. Now, that your remains have been taken from me… the world I once knew is furthering itself from me. I promise I will hunt the humans who would take you from me. I won't rest until you are in my arms again. Only then, can I return to my undisturbed slumber."
The lights of the city continued to linger in her vision even after she closed her eyes to momentarily escape its brightness. Everything was quiet, except for the distant sounds of cars from the streets below. After a few moments she slowly opened her eyes, a familiar feeling rising up through her like a wave of heat. "Walter…"
Her eyes flashed like lightning flaring across a crimson sky. Swiftly, her figure faded into a cloud of black mist that was quickly carried away on the wind like the snow that had been falling around her.
***
"And so this story no longer makes the murders in London an open and shut case." Integral whispered. Walter knew that Rain could no longer be kept secret and if he wanted to help her, he knew that Integral must know everything he had told Celes. Alucard was also within Integral's office - seemingly detached from Integral and Walter's conversation as he stood, looking at the portrait of Integral's father which was hanging undisturbed on the wall not far from Integral's desk. "But now we have even more serious matters to worry about."
Integral's eyes traced over the letter that Christoph had sent to Walter.
"We cannot simply allow Iscariot to run free in this city…" She said, looking up from the letter to Walter who stood before her in her office. "But we also cannot let Rain run free either. She is now a wanted murderer and more than just Iscariot will be searching for her. This is a serious affair that you should not have kept secret, Walter. We must find her before Iscariot does. This is not her city to run wild in."
"I am not denying that she has killed several people. But I believe she had good reason. If she is doing what I believe she is, those people that were killed were not as innocent as many authorities think. They were carrying FREAK chips that rightfully belong to Rain. They are the original chips that were created from the DNA of her Master, Frost. She is defending her honour and her memory of Him." explained Walter, standing before Integral, who shifted slightly in her seat in order to cross her legs.
"Even after almost 60 years of slumber, she has kept her promise." Alucard replied, his eyes unwavering from the painting. "She is different from the others. She honours her heritage."
"Even if she is different, she cannot continue to kill whomever she sees fit." Integral quickly answered. "Now that Iscariot sees it to be their business to get involved, more casualties are inevitable. I want her and Iscariot stopped before this has a chance to expand into war."
"I will defend England at all costs, but I have also chosen to protect Rain. I can assure you that she is different and she means not to involve anyone else than the ones that have wronged her. She is not a killing machine." Walter explained.
Integral was silent, as she looked back down at the letter. "Then she is your responsibility. I want her stopped, Walter. Find her. If she is like you say she is, I want to see her for my own eyes. Hellsing will turn London inside and out in order to find her." Integral said to herself, whether or not Alucard was listening was not her primary concern. For the past several years, the FREAK chips had become a growing problem in London and now finally to have an opportunity to come face to face with the No Life King who had a direct connection to their origins filled her mind with questions.
"That won't be necessary…" Alucard answered, looking back over his shoulder to his Master who was suddenly jarred from her thoughts. Integral shot Alucard a confused look until he answered, his lips twisting into a grin. "She is here."
Both Integral and Walter's eyes widened. Neither of them knew exactly what reaction to give. Without another word, Walter turned to leave. By this time, Alucard was already gone. Within minutes and by one command, Integral had every Hellsing guard lining the halls of the mansion, searching for any sign of her. Walter would have preferred her not to do this, for he wanted to welcome Rain, not portray her as a wanted criminal. But he also understood Integral's worry. Rain had been sleeping for so long and now she was awake and in London, carrying out her revenge. She was a vampire, something that wasn't exactly the perfect image of a welcomed guest for the Hellsing family.
Walter made his way down the hall from Integral's office to the main lobby near the front door. He had no idea where she was, but a piece of him beckoned him to the entrance. He had once heard that a true No Life King would never enter the home of a mortal or other vampire unless granted entrance. Walking down the lobby steps from the second floor of the mansion, he walked to the front door where he stopped suddenly, resting his gloved hand on the brass handle. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his fast beating heart. He was about to see a window into the past.
Opening the door, he stepped out onto the front step to look out into the court yard. It was dark, dimly lit by a few lamps that reflected light upon the light snow that floated to the ground where a thin layer of swirling mist hung just above the ground. The evening was cool, and even Walter knew that it was too late in the year for there naturally to be mist in the evening. Everything was silent and he strained his ears to listen for any sound of movement. Suddenly they caught the sound of nearing footsteps from somewhere in the courtyard before him. They were steady and unfaltering, walking slowly, one foot after the other, yet he could see no sign of movement. The footsteps stopped suddenly as he heard the sound of several guns being armed behind him. Quickly, he held a hand up, silently giving a signal for the guards to stand down as he glanced over his shoulder to look at them. Looking back to the courtyard he listened again for any sign of life.
"Rain…" Walter said, breaking the silence. "I know it has been a long time since we last saw each other face to face, and I know that I no longer look like the same person whom you met in Poland. But I assure you that it is me and on my honour I promise you that it is no one here will bring you harm. These men are here to protect Hellsing and will not shoot unless given reason."
There was still silence and for a moment, Walter wondered whether or not there was anyone even there. The air was cold and the mist still floated above the ground.
'Yes, she is here. I can feel it.' Walter thought to himself.
"Christoph sent a letter telling me what had happened." He continued, stepping forward. "I want to help you. Hellsing wants to help you. I know you are filled with grief-"
"They stole him from me…" The air whispered, almost barely audible.
"I know." Walter answered.
"I will not rest until I find him." The voice said, become clearer as the mist before him began to swirl, concentrating itself before him.
"I want to help you find him. Hellsing also offers its protection of you. But you have to stop your hunt."
"I will never stop!" Rain suddenly cried, her figure bursting forward suddenly from the cloud of mist that had formed before him. Unexpectedly Walter found himself face to face with a window to his past. Rain hadn't aged a day, but she looked more mature.
"You have to stop, for now you are one of the hunted." Walter said to her, the frustration immediately draining from her face. She looked at him and he back at her as confusion crossed her features. "Iscariot is hunting you."
"Iscariot…?"
"A group trained by the Vatican in Rome, to hunt down and destroy those they deem the children of Hell." A voice said behind Walter. Rain looked past him to a new figure that she didn't recognize. Walter turned to the doorway behind him to see Integral standing with her arms crossed. She and Rain's gaze were locked with one another.
"I am in no way connected with Rome; my search for Frost is none of their concern." Rain said.
"They have made it their concern, just as I am making it mine." Integral told Rain. "England is not your battle ground and I have made a pledge to its Queen that I will not allow you or Iscariot to fight here."
"We will help you find Frost, I promise, but you have to understand that if you fight here in London, you will attract unwanted attention and eventually more than Iscariot will come looking for you."
"They already have." Rain whispered, taking a step back from Walter.
"What do you mean?" Questioned Walter, as Integral walked up beside him.
"The men that I hunted were not simply thieves. They were Nazis."