Despite a welcoming gesture made by Walter for Rain to enter the Hellsing mansion, she did not move from her place several feet from Walter. She watched him for a few moments, silent, her eyes blank until slowly she lowered her head and stepped back.
"I cannot stop…" Rain said apologetically. "No matter who hunts me, no matter what dangers, I live for Frost, something I am certain that you know. To stay here would put your entire house in danger."
She looked to Integral, whose expression was cold. "I cannot give an explanation as to why the Nazi's have led me here to London. All I know is that they have his remains and they plan on using them for FREAK production." Rain explained. "I can't let such sickening acts continue."
"Iscariot will hunt you." Integral pointed again.
"And what else is new?" Rain scoffed, shaking her head. "Since I can remember there has always been some group somewhere that has taken up the hunt against us. It no longer matters who decides to fight me – every hunter is the same as the one that preceded it."
Slowly she turned to leave.
"Something led me here… Premonitions of possible futures have filled my thoughts since I awakened from my long slumber." She said softly.
"What have you seen?" Walter questioned.
"Horrors." She answered, looking back over her shoulder to look at Hellsing's steward. "A great evil approaches and it is coming to devour us all…"
Without saying another word, she looked back and began to walk away. Before Walter could say anything, her figure vanished as fast at it had appeared. Walter's mind was racing with unanswered questions and he knew immediately that change of plans had to be made. Rain would not give up the hunt so easily and now with Nazis and the Iscariot Institution becoming a factor in London's safety, Walter knew that a battle was unavoidable.
Integral turned to go back inside, but came face to face with Alucard who was standing in the doorway. "Follow her, Alucard and take Celes with you. If a great evil is indeed approaching, I want it stopped before it gets anywhere near here."
Alucard grinned, as Integral passed him, most likely returning to the confines of her office. History was about to repeat itself, and as the great plot unfolded, Alucard knew that he would have no worries about being bored.
***
Rome, Italy
1632
In 1614, under the direction of Pope John Paul, the first exorcism rite was sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Since then, priests under the direction of the Vatican in Rome became the deliverance ministry. By evoking the power of Jesus Christ, exorcists would expel the demons from the spirits of possessed mortals. Unfortunately, such an occupation was not without risk. The greatest danger to the exorcist is becoming possessed by the Devil or demon himself. This is the reason why an exorcist must feel as free of sin as possible and feel no secret need for punishment. Otherwise, the Devil can easily entrap him…
Magnus Celer was one of the first exorcists under the direction of Pope John Paul V. Since 1614, when the exorcism rite had been first sanctioned, he had been there. He was a trusted and respected member of the Vatican in Rome and a loyal friend to the Pope himself. His purpose was to help save those who had fallen from the light. Kind hearted, he lived each day, following the word of the Lord, the word that he believed would save anyone's soul from the burning fires of hell… even if the soul was his own.
Magnus had dedicated his life to his work, as there was no doubt in his soul about the power of Christ. God was everywhere and He watched everything, and no act by a mortal would be unpunished or unrewarded. Everyone would be judged at the moment they died, and those deserving of heaven would proceed to Saint Peter at its pearly gates, and those that had sinned would be doomed to burn for eternity in the fires of Hell.
"Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne…
Deus, qui glorisae Virginis Matris Mariae corpus et animam, ut dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur…
Spiritu Sancto cooperante, praeparasti: da, ut cuius commemoratione laetamur, eius pia intercessione ab instantibus malis et a morte perpetua liberemur…
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum...
Amen…"
The woman looked like death. As Magnus stood at the woman's bedside, his gaze traced over her deteriorating features. Her closed eyes had sunken in their sockets and her skin was a pale grey. Stringy white hair clung to her now cold skin.
"The servants had found her this morning." The young priest next to him said. "They said that they had heard nothing during the night."
Magnus's black priest robes ruffled as he reached forward gently and touched the tips of his fingers to her forehead Slowly he traced them down over her nose, mouth, chin and down over the nape of her neck where the came to an abrupt stop. Moving several of the strands of hair out of the way, the man's eyes stared carefully at the two small puncture wounds on the side of her neck.
"She was visited by a demon during the night." Magnus whispered. The younger priest's eyes widened, and immediately formed the sign of the cross. "It drained the life from her."
Magnus stared at the dead woman for several minutes. She was not the first. For months, woman and men, young and old, rich and poor had all fallen victim to some sort of darkness that would devour their life during the night, leaving nothing but an empty corpse to be found in the morning. And it had been for months that Magnus was searching. He had gone through every resource and he had only found one possible answer – a No Life King. Turning from her, he immediately left, leaving his apprentice to watch over the body as it would be prepared for burial. The most he could do now was return to the Vatican and continue his searching through his books. It was already nightfall by the time he left the home of the deceased woman and Magnus had no plans in resting now until he could track the creature down. Little did he know as he walked the streets that led to the Vatican that finding his creature would be easier than he had first assumed. High above the streets from the roofs, he was being watched. Even when he entered the safety of the grounds of Vatican City, a gaze remained locked on his figure from afar. As Magnus reached out to open the Vatican entrance, he stopped suddenly. A cold chill went down his spine, but he could not explain why. Shaking the feeling of restlessness, he opened the door and walked inside the main building.
Returning to his room, where both his bed and study were located, Magnus closed the door behind him before walking to his desk were piles of paper, books and personal notes were scattered. Incantations, prayers and rites littered his small work space. He was desperate to find the method in expelling the demon from Rome, even if it meant giving his own life to do it. Sitting down, he poured himself into his work, sorting through his endless scribbles and notes, trying desperately to piece everything together. Absentmindedly as he did this, he fingered the crucifix which hung around his neck. After several hours, the words became blurry and began to blend into one another, as his concentration faltered. "How will I ever find you?" He asked no one in particular, tapping his fingers on the desk.
"Perhaps you have been looking in the wrong place."
Immediately Magnus looked and stood up from his chair. "Who's there?" He demanded to know, looking around the darkness of his chamber. Silence was his reply, and he strained his gaze to see into the shadows beyond the light of his desk candle.
"It is the one you have been searching for…" The voice said into his ear. Magnus spun around, to find himself face to chest with another man. Crimson eyes stared down at the priest as ivory hair hung down over his pale face. Clad in high class black 17th century attire, he seemed more like wealthy aristocrat than the creature he had been looking for. He wasn't what Magnus had expected at all. "It is so nice to finally meet you face to face, Magnus Celer. I know you have been waiting for this meeting for a long time."
Magnus stepped back but was stopped by the desk being in his way. "How did you get in here?"
"My dear, Magnus, you underestimate my abilities. I go where I please." He smiled, brushing several white strands of hair out of his face with his black gloved hand. Urgently, Magnus reached for his crucifix and pulled it up to point it directly at the man.
"Demon, you will succumb to Jesus Chri-" He gasped suddenly in mid-sentence when the man reached out and grabbed Magnus's wrist with such a firm grip, that a pain shot up his arm, causing him to nearly drop the cross.
"Foolish mortal, your little toys have little effect on me, I am too old." He laughed, bringing his free hand up to Magnus's neck where his slender fingers curled around it, holding him firmly in place. "I've been watching you, Magnus…" His voice calmed as he drew in close to Magnus's face. "Do you think that I wouldn't take notice of your interest in finding me? How naïve you are… It is amusing…"
"You do not belong in this world, demon." Magnus said, despite the tighter grip forming around his neck. "The power of Christ compels you to-"
"-return to Hell?" The man asked, pushing Magnus back as he released his grip, but not before he Magnus one last push back, causing him to nearly loose his balance. "I expected more from you than recited rites. The Catholic Church has dulled your mind. You are young and you have so much potential in you, yet you remain here, in this place…"
Magnus adjusted his collar while regaining his composure. "Why have you come here?"
"You are very well known among those of the night, my dear human. I had to see you for my own eyes." The Vampire replied, a grin tugging at the edge of his lips. The tip of a white canine peeked out from below his upper lip and immediately Magnus turned from him. How was it even possible that a creature such as this could enter the house of God? "I have come with a preposition with for you-"
"I do not make deals with the likes of you. You murder innocent humans to gain strength; you truly are a tool of Satan." Magnus said, casting a glance back at his unwanted guest with narrowed eyes.
"I do not slaughter mercilessly, my friend. I am simply an angel of death." The Vampire spoke, looking towards Magnus. "I feed off the blood of humans for that is what I must do to survive, just as you eat the flesh and blood of animals to remain living. Do not brand me such a monster when you do not see the world with open eyes. This place has blinded you, just as it blinds all those who follow it."
Magnus was about to reply, but was stopped before he even had a chance to open his mouth. The Vampire's hand was once again entwined around his neck, so tightly this time that it he thought his neck would be crushed. Spots danced in front of his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak, but no words could come out.
"Consider this my greeting and farewell to you, my dear human…" He said, drawing Magnus's face closer to his own. "But not before I give you my departing gift…"
Magnus's hand gripped the crucifix in his hand tightly as the Vampire drew his lips to Magnus's neck.
'Forgive me, Christ Jesus…' Was the last thought Magnus could think coherently as he fell into the Vampire's dark embrace.
"I cannot stop…" Rain said apologetically. "No matter who hunts me, no matter what dangers, I live for Frost, something I am certain that you know. To stay here would put your entire house in danger."
She looked to Integral, whose expression was cold. "I cannot give an explanation as to why the Nazi's have led me here to London. All I know is that they have his remains and they plan on using them for FREAK production." Rain explained. "I can't let such sickening acts continue."
"Iscariot will hunt you." Integral pointed again.
"And what else is new?" Rain scoffed, shaking her head. "Since I can remember there has always been some group somewhere that has taken up the hunt against us. It no longer matters who decides to fight me – every hunter is the same as the one that preceded it."
Slowly she turned to leave.
"Something led me here… Premonitions of possible futures have filled my thoughts since I awakened from my long slumber." She said softly.
"What have you seen?" Walter questioned.
"Horrors." She answered, looking back over her shoulder to look at Hellsing's steward. "A great evil approaches and it is coming to devour us all…"
Without saying another word, she looked back and began to walk away. Before Walter could say anything, her figure vanished as fast at it had appeared. Walter's mind was racing with unanswered questions and he knew immediately that change of plans had to be made. Rain would not give up the hunt so easily and now with Nazis and the Iscariot Institution becoming a factor in London's safety, Walter knew that a battle was unavoidable.
Integral turned to go back inside, but came face to face with Alucard who was standing in the doorway. "Follow her, Alucard and take Celes with you. If a great evil is indeed approaching, I want it stopped before it gets anywhere near here."
Alucard grinned, as Integral passed him, most likely returning to the confines of her office. History was about to repeat itself, and as the great plot unfolded, Alucard knew that he would have no worries about being bored.
***
Rome, Italy
1632
In 1614, under the direction of Pope John Paul, the first exorcism rite was sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Since then, priests under the direction of the Vatican in Rome became the deliverance ministry. By evoking the power of Jesus Christ, exorcists would expel the demons from the spirits of possessed mortals. Unfortunately, such an occupation was not without risk. The greatest danger to the exorcist is becoming possessed by the Devil or demon himself. This is the reason why an exorcist must feel as free of sin as possible and feel no secret need for punishment. Otherwise, the Devil can easily entrap him…
Magnus Celer was one of the first exorcists under the direction of Pope John Paul V. Since 1614, when the exorcism rite had been first sanctioned, he had been there. He was a trusted and respected member of the Vatican in Rome and a loyal friend to the Pope himself. His purpose was to help save those who had fallen from the light. Kind hearted, he lived each day, following the word of the Lord, the word that he believed would save anyone's soul from the burning fires of hell… even if the soul was his own.
Magnus had dedicated his life to his work, as there was no doubt in his soul about the power of Christ. God was everywhere and He watched everything, and no act by a mortal would be unpunished or unrewarded. Everyone would be judged at the moment they died, and those deserving of heaven would proceed to Saint Peter at its pearly gates, and those that had sinned would be doomed to burn for eternity in the fires of Hell.
"Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne…
Deus, qui glorisae Virginis Matris Mariae corpus et animam, ut dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur…
Spiritu Sancto cooperante, praeparasti: da, ut cuius commemoratione laetamur, eius pia intercessione ab instantibus malis et a morte perpetua liberemur…
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum...
Amen…"
The woman looked like death. As Magnus stood at the woman's bedside, his gaze traced over her deteriorating features. Her closed eyes had sunken in their sockets and her skin was a pale grey. Stringy white hair clung to her now cold skin.
"The servants had found her this morning." The young priest next to him said. "They said that they had heard nothing during the night."
Magnus's black priest robes ruffled as he reached forward gently and touched the tips of his fingers to her forehead Slowly he traced them down over her nose, mouth, chin and down over the nape of her neck where the came to an abrupt stop. Moving several of the strands of hair out of the way, the man's eyes stared carefully at the two small puncture wounds on the side of her neck.
"She was visited by a demon during the night." Magnus whispered. The younger priest's eyes widened, and immediately formed the sign of the cross. "It drained the life from her."
Magnus stared at the dead woman for several minutes. She was not the first. For months, woman and men, young and old, rich and poor had all fallen victim to some sort of darkness that would devour their life during the night, leaving nothing but an empty corpse to be found in the morning. And it had been for months that Magnus was searching. He had gone through every resource and he had only found one possible answer – a No Life King. Turning from her, he immediately left, leaving his apprentice to watch over the body as it would be prepared for burial. The most he could do now was return to the Vatican and continue his searching through his books. It was already nightfall by the time he left the home of the deceased woman and Magnus had no plans in resting now until he could track the creature down. Little did he know as he walked the streets that led to the Vatican that finding his creature would be easier than he had first assumed. High above the streets from the roofs, he was being watched. Even when he entered the safety of the grounds of Vatican City, a gaze remained locked on his figure from afar. As Magnus reached out to open the Vatican entrance, he stopped suddenly. A cold chill went down his spine, but he could not explain why. Shaking the feeling of restlessness, he opened the door and walked inside the main building.
Returning to his room, where both his bed and study were located, Magnus closed the door behind him before walking to his desk were piles of paper, books and personal notes were scattered. Incantations, prayers and rites littered his small work space. He was desperate to find the method in expelling the demon from Rome, even if it meant giving his own life to do it. Sitting down, he poured himself into his work, sorting through his endless scribbles and notes, trying desperately to piece everything together. Absentmindedly as he did this, he fingered the crucifix which hung around his neck. After several hours, the words became blurry and began to blend into one another, as his concentration faltered. "How will I ever find you?" He asked no one in particular, tapping his fingers on the desk.
"Perhaps you have been looking in the wrong place."
Immediately Magnus looked and stood up from his chair. "Who's there?" He demanded to know, looking around the darkness of his chamber. Silence was his reply, and he strained his gaze to see into the shadows beyond the light of his desk candle.
"It is the one you have been searching for…" The voice said into his ear. Magnus spun around, to find himself face to chest with another man. Crimson eyes stared down at the priest as ivory hair hung down over his pale face. Clad in high class black 17th century attire, he seemed more like wealthy aristocrat than the creature he had been looking for. He wasn't what Magnus had expected at all. "It is so nice to finally meet you face to face, Magnus Celer. I know you have been waiting for this meeting for a long time."
Magnus stepped back but was stopped by the desk being in his way. "How did you get in here?"
"My dear, Magnus, you underestimate my abilities. I go where I please." He smiled, brushing several white strands of hair out of his face with his black gloved hand. Urgently, Magnus reached for his crucifix and pulled it up to point it directly at the man.
"Demon, you will succumb to Jesus Chri-" He gasped suddenly in mid-sentence when the man reached out and grabbed Magnus's wrist with such a firm grip, that a pain shot up his arm, causing him to nearly drop the cross.
"Foolish mortal, your little toys have little effect on me, I am too old." He laughed, bringing his free hand up to Magnus's neck where his slender fingers curled around it, holding him firmly in place. "I've been watching you, Magnus…" His voice calmed as he drew in close to Magnus's face. "Do you think that I wouldn't take notice of your interest in finding me? How naïve you are… It is amusing…"
"You do not belong in this world, demon." Magnus said, despite the tighter grip forming around his neck. "The power of Christ compels you to-"
"-return to Hell?" The man asked, pushing Magnus back as he released his grip, but not before he Magnus one last push back, causing him to nearly loose his balance. "I expected more from you than recited rites. The Catholic Church has dulled your mind. You are young and you have so much potential in you, yet you remain here, in this place…"
Magnus adjusted his collar while regaining his composure. "Why have you come here?"
"You are very well known among those of the night, my dear human. I had to see you for my own eyes." The Vampire replied, a grin tugging at the edge of his lips. The tip of a white canine peeked out from below his upper lip and immediately Magnus turned from him. How was it even possible that a creature such as this could enter the house of God? "I have come with a preposition with for you-"
"I do not make deals with the likes of you. You murder innocent humans to gain strength; you truly are a tool of Satan." Magnus said, casting a glance back at his unwanted guest with narrowed eyes.
"I do not slaughter mercilessly, my friend. I am simply an angel of death." The Vampire spoke, looking towards Magnus. "I feed off the blood of humans for that is what I must do to survive, just as you eat the flesh and blood of animals to remain living. Do not brand me such a monster when you do not see the world with open eyes. This place has blinded you, just as it blinds all those who follow it."
Magnus was about to reply, but was stopped before he even had a chance to open his mouth. The Vampire's hand was once again entwined around his neck, so tightly this time that it he thought his neck would be crushed. Spots danced in front of his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak, but no words could come out.
"Consider this my greeting and farewell to you, my dear human…" He said, drawing Magnus's face closer to his own. "But not before I give you my departing gift…"
Magnus's hand gripped the crucifix in his hand tightly as the Vampire drew his lips to Magnus's neck.
'Forgive me, Christ Jesus…' Was the last thought Magnus could think coherently as he fell into the Vampire's dark embrace.