Author's notes: This is officially A/U because it contradicts what happened in the Wizardry chapter of the manga (newest issue). I thank to keelin for her edition and to everyone who reviewed. Feedback is appreciated.
Durga
Chapter Eight
- The Death
And on the third day she rose from the dead…
At first, what Integral heard were echoes of faraway sounds along with the smell of decay around her, mixed with the fragrance of roses. Her body was numb; she was unable to move due to the stiffness of her muscles. Her nerves were awaking little by little, taking their sweet time to allow some mobility.
Her mind was not in a better condition.
Integral was confused about her circumstances, wondering who and where she was. How had she gotten inside and why couldn't she make her extremities respond to her commands? It was decidedly frustrating.
Calm down and think - an order the knight would force upon her own chaotic thoughts. Soon, Integral recalled her name, her address, and the basic data of her life, which was quite the relief. Except for the fact that she was inside a bloody casket!
Of course the Hellsing had not opened her eyes yet and she had not seen the sarcophagus she was in. But Integral had not spent her life around the undead to be uncertain. There was an agitation for such discovery. Had they buried her alive? Integral had read long ago about the fates of many people believed dead who had died suffocating as they scratched on the lid of their coffin.
If that was the case, Integral would not dig her nails in a fruitless attempt of escape. A hero of war had dignity, after all. She settled to do the only thing that knew could solve this: call Alucard. And she would have done so, had she still possessed access to the seals.
Impossible! How has the connection come to be severed?! If this is one sick game of his… The corner of her lips twitched. She was angered beyond measure: the jest had come too far. Integral paused in her silent tirade, attention drifting to the noises she had heard earlier. They were voices - two, and both males to be precise. Who were they? She wondered as she listened attentively.
"Bollocks, this place is holy, bro' Burns. Let's be quick. Which one of the boxes has the Hellsing fag?"
"The one doesn't look like shit, fucktard! That one!"
"Right, no need to be an arsehole about it, Mike."
"Shut the fuck up, Will. Just go and shag the bitch, ok?"
This 'Will' was removing the top of her casket, leaving it half open. "You sure you don't want a piece of her?"
"I'm not into necrophilia, man. It's sick. Be fast, this place is giving me the creeps."
"You rape children!"
"Their blood tastes better spiked with lust. Ok?"
Oh perfect, Integral thought sardonically, I'm not going to perish suffocated. Instead, I am to be defiled by a trash vampire while his paedophilic friend shall only watch, due to his sudden attack of morals.
Integral could not allow that, she would defend her honour even if she had only her teeth and nails for weapons. But first of all, the knight needed to get up.
Will slid the lid to the floor. The wood of the cover was resistant and did not break with contact. Integral winced. Not only did they mutilate Her Majesty's English--albeit minor offences compared to the younger Valentine - but that lowlife dared to almost break her casket! Black rage blinded her, such odd possessiveness she got over this particular good. Inexplicable.
"If you hadn't arranged for Jessica and Leifu's deaths, we might have been friends, yo' know?" Will husked, bent near her face. The vampire had stepped inside, positioning himself over Integral's body. "Here comes the bride, all dressed in white…" he sing-sang in her ear, and much to her bafflement, his palm slid beneath her skirt. "Honeymoon ti-urk." Will was cut by the feel of her knee crushing his crotch.
A stronger fire cursed inside Integral's veins, stronger than adrenaline, enough to give her the impulse she craved for, in order to silence this fool.
"I suppose," Integral murmured on a tone both dry and cold, "that you haven't heard about foreplay, have you?"
"Bloody bitch!" Will had doubled himself, still pinning her body inside the sarcophagus.
"Language. Here, let me end your pain," Integral offered solicitously, proud of her bravado working so well. In that instant, she sensed it: The scent of blood. Her eyes travelled from the pierced face of the green haired punk to his loins that were still dripping the scarlet liquid on her white dress, staining it. Her mouth hung open at the sight, watering in an unnatural yearn. What was taking place? How had she been able to smash his genitals? Her own strength would not be enough.
The flashbacks of bullets firing against her fragile mortal cell overwhelmed her brain. How she had crawled to a somewhat comfortable position and… died…
Integral Hellsing had died, which was the reason why she had been buried.
Oh God… that means. She could feel her fangs now. How they had passed imperceptible was a mystery, a denial of her own mind. Integral's canines elongated to hiss at the foe above her. Smirking wickedly, she wrapped his hip with her legs, grinding to the point of breaking his spine.
"Motherfucka' Mike! Help me to kill the heartless bitch!"
Integral watched his display, bored by his antics. She thought his struggling to release himself out of her crushing grasp was truly undignified. "Is that all? No wonder Alucard finds you incredibly stupid." With a quick blow, her hand plunged inside Will's chest. Scourging for the heart, she yanked it out with an icy detachment.
Now, who is the heartless one?
Blood… The organ was soaked with the precious elixir. Temptation was too great; no sins could result for feasting upon the enemies of God. Therefore, Integral brought it to her lips and sucked it dry before eating it, sharp teeth easily gnashing it into bits.
An intense aching on her jaw snapped Integral out of her induced blood lust. She had forgotten about Mike - a bald, black skinned giant with a serpent tattoo on his arm. And he had hit her on the jaw with a chain. Her lashes lowered, relocating the chin to her original position. She would not underestimate this one anymore. With a growl, Mike lunged on another attack, yet Integral was expecting it this time. Wisely, she used Will as both shield and a medium, capturing Mike by the chain - making it encircle his neck.
"What the-"
Integral took advantage to latch onto the punk, tackling him to the crypt's floor. Her hungry mouth descended on his throat, tearing it apart to acquire the wanted doses of plasma. Her fingernails morphed into claws as she kept him down, beneath her weight. When the knight finished her meal, Mike had a glassy, unfocused gaze and no blood left in his system.
The effects of bloodlust wore off. Integral regained her composure and looked around. Her eyesight no longer necessitated glasses. Moreover, details were clearer now, like seeing the world under a microscope, most fascinating. She felt like a newborn however, not lost and insecure like most fledglings did, the knight had risen by herself. Integral was not a mere half vampire or anyone's servant.
Integral was a full vampire. A true Queen of the night and the night called for her to explore its wonders.
A pang of remorse crossed Integral's system in the midst of her victory. She had desecrated the rest place of her ancestors. And had not she tainted the line with vampirism?
But I wasn't bitten nor did I make a deal with the Devil. I died for my country, Integral reasoned, making her way outside the family crypt. And for my country I came back.
Her irises glowed in determination, her pride was not as important as her duty and the holy wards did not tickle her, as it should have been. Perhaps, Integral mused, This is all God's will. I'm blessed to continue my labour until the Final Judgment to compensate for the lack of an heir.
Once more, Integral's spirit strengthened with such revelations. She would follow her fated path until the end and honour her oath to defend the holy Protestant lands. Preoccupied by more important matters, the Hellsing never questioned herself, why she was wearing a white gown and a crown of flowers instead of a military uniform, as it was proper for her rank. But then again, she had so much time ahead to ponder that.
-------
"How? You were dead. I even stayed to attend to your funeral."Alucard's question struck her as hilarious. Was he so daft? The older vampire knew perfectly how.
"The same way you rose. Or are you going to tell me you were virgin and a vampire bit you? I'm not gullible."
Alucard's lips pursed up in a sadistic smirk, there was an unspoken smug satisfaction. "Inhuman in life, acting as a true vampire while mortal. No need of a bite or chip to bring that out after your demise. Impressive."
"Flattering won't change the fact you and I are enemies now," Integral pointed out, drawing a silver rifle out of her coat.
"I didn't expect otherwise," Alucard's face contorted in fury before relaxing again, masking his emotions. "Clearly you didn't consider me an ally anymore. Two centuries and you didn't bother to send me a word."
"You told Walter and Seras the consequences would be terrible if someone of Hellsing followed you, Alucard. Don't blame me, but your poor semantics."
"Enough talking," Alucard re-holstered his Jackal, loading and aiming ather heart. "Shall we?"
"You still have that? Sentimental." Integral cracked her neck, stretching the arm holding the weapon, pulling the trigger to fire. A bolt was shot with such might that if she was not a vampire it would have thrown her backwards.
The blast hit Alucard on his chest, forcing him to fall back; the silver missile penetrated his lungs, grazing his heart. Integral recharged the rifle, tips stroking the firearm's muzzle with sick affection. She was expecting him to heal and rise, licking her lips in anticipation. There was no more anger, it was replaced by excitement that at last, she would test her limit against her family's so called greatest achievement. The knight was competitive and would not settle forsecond.
Stand up. Integral mentally ordered, cue to her thought was Alucard on his feet. The injury was already closing, clothing sewed itself.
"You missed the heart."
"I didn't. You moved a few inches. That was enough."
"Point taken," Alucard appraised her rifle. "Lee Enfield? And you called me sentimental about my Jackal."
"It's patriotic," Integral remarked, shrugging and pushing the trigger again. This time, Alucard ducked, taking off running, his body low to the ground. He rolled on the floor, opening fire to the flare of her hip. The exploding round blew from her thigh to the left side of her waist, blood dripped in great quantity. She winced, gnashing her teeth to the rooting skin touched by the blessed bullet. She returned a few steps before rebuilding her limbs.
"I see your regenerative skills are par to mine," Alucard's smirk widened, circling the Hellsing with a dangerous gleam shining inside his eyes. "It's been a while since I have had a challenge, former Master."
"And I haven't had a chance to display the totality of my abilities yet. None of my foes had been worthy enough."
"Luke Valentine was asarrogant as you are."
"He didn't have the Hellsing experimentation to back up his words," Integral said honestly. There was no need to hide the fact she perfected herself the same way her forefathers had improved her former servant.
"Is that so? Then show it!" Alucard demanded, discharging the first round of bullets completely. Integral inclined her head, ready to acquiesce his 'polite' request. She hopped backwards, returning the fire with one loud shot herself as she dodged his assault. Seeing that Alucard was changing the empty clip, she leapt forward, pushing herself with the aid of the wall. Unsheathing her sabre to an incredible speed for undead standards, Integral severed his head with a fluid movement.
Integral landed, knelt with a smug smile, knowing the initial upper hand was hers. Alucard certainly should have set playground rules; she was allowed to use all weapons at her disposal. The Hellsing straightened her posture when the pool of blood behind her, came back to the mockery of human form. They remained still for a while, located so close, back-to-back, holding their fire until the electronic clock indicated the arrival of the new hour.
Simultaneously, the vampires turned around, as if they had agreed in this mutual attack. Integral gutted him, shoving the sword deep in his abdomen; his intestines fell to the ground, shifting into worms and caterpillars that were crawling in the pond of blood. For his part, Alucard fired at her forehead; in consequence the knight's cranium exploded. Her headless body collapsed, twitching.
It hurt. Nothing had hurt her more since the experiments. No other vampire came this close to defeat her. But she was far from over.
Silence reigned between the former Master and servant; it did not take long for both to recover. Integral's body vanished, reforming completed as the bugs crept inside Alucard, closing the hole. He looked exhilarant at the brawl, grinning madly. Integral was smiling too, but colder, as if she was scrutinizing his next move.
"Change of settings?" Integral placed the sword back to its sheath. It was time they would stop playing and get serious. Unlike Alucard, she measured time as a mortal; every second counted in her line of work.
"Ladies first…" Alucard bowed before waving his hand, creating a powerful wind. The small hurricane was enough to toss Integral trough the airport window, as if she were a mere ragged doll.
The knight cured the bruises made by the glass, licking the blood off her face. "Always the gentleman, Alucard," she laughed, shaking her head at his stunt. One could think centuries had taught him something about treating women properly. But she was not seeking chauvinism; she wanted to taste his blood.
"And you, the principles of feminine incarnated, Integra."
Integral snorted, laughing at his words. For an instant she had a glimpse of the past where they fought alongside, but the idea was fleeting. Alucard joined the enemy party. He was a bloody betrayer like her uncle. Show no mercy - stop daydreaming.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Alucard asked innocently, attempting to peer inside her mind. Integral shot him a fulminate glare as she created a barrier not allowing him to pass.
"You have pried my mind during a decade, Alucard. Nothing has changed much for you to bother again."
Alucard let go a throaty chuckle. "Ready for the last waltz?" he inquired as his body turned black, red eyes popped out staring intensely in her direction.
"I lead," Integral quickly remarked, her own form was melting in velvety shadows too but instead of eyes, mouths cracked open. They salivated acid at the sight of her foe.
Integral and Alucard spoke no more; unable to do anything but charge towards each other. They were measuring their might, by fighting darkness against darkness. In a bat of an eyelash the sky turned pitch black, swallowing the airport and circling zones in the bottomless Abyss. Alucard's mastership of such obscure tricks was greater than hers, Integral did not hold his experience, his tendrils were wrapping around her slender body, tightening in a crushing grip. What she did not have in practice, the knight made up by raw potential. By dripping saliva on his orbs, she managed to blind him momentarily, gaining sufficiently to slide away and scheme a new strategy.
Alucard yowled savagely at her cunning escape, Integral was certain he was angry at his own careless technique. His shape morphed, fusing himself with the shadows. The whole place became a maze, walls of pure darkness moved to smash her, and spidery arms gave chase for her, trying to shred her with claw-like fingernails.
The monsters are real, Integra, an orchestra of voices whispered in her mind, And the king of them wants your head. Integral pushed such distraction out of her head. She had to concentrate in the present, in her fight.
The arms drew closer and closer.
In order to avoid them, Integral lost solid substance in her mass, passing through them, as if she was a ghost. Sir Hellsing realized the battle for control of the Abyss was his; she never pretended to win that one. It was in her plans to keep this Cat and Mouse game until she put in motion her real tactic.
"Come on, Integra… I thought you were going to fight me," his voice taunted, like a whisper near her ear. But her felt his presence further, it was just one of his illusions. He was not intimidating her. "Where are your awesome powers…?" Alucard demanded. "Stop holding back."
Integral lifted a brow, pausing her path. "So you know," she uttered, her senses expanded to detect were she was now in equivalent of the real world. With her own shielding abilities, she hid this from Alucard, confusing his senses. The other vampire entered into a state of complete obliviousness when he battled, it was fairly easy to accomplish this feat. He was quite simple minded in that sense, his actions on the Nazi Naval Vessel that left him stuck in the middle of the ocean was plenty evidence of that.
"Of course."
"Show yourself," Integral demanded. With a mirthful expression, Alucard appeared a few meters before her. He was upside down, eyes trying to read her intentions. "I cannot continue this battle much longer," she hated to admit it, her pride was at stake, but the soil warned about the situation inside her territory. The massacre of her people, sense of duty, was greater than personal honour. "So I propose a deal."
Accept.
"I'm listening."Please, accept.
"I'll display my 'awesome powers' as you put it so bluntly under one condition…" Integral made a dramatic pause, struggling for her choice of words. "The first one to fall in astate of final death will lose. If you win, we can continue this clash until you feel sated. If victory is mine, you'll allow me to go and help Hellsing. Neither of us can be destroyed for good, that should lift a burden from your soul." Her tone turned sarcastic at the end.
You must accept!
"More than you think, Integra. Fine with me," Alucard rose his Jackal to her direction. "This will be fairly easy."
Check.
Integral mimicked his movement by charging her Lee Enfield; her features became a stoic mask, betraying no emotion. She was unreadable that way, the knight was clever to notice that pride had been his downfall, thus she would not follow his steps.This was the last resort.
She fired first, missing on purpose, concentrating on the domain of shadows around her instead. Alucard, who guessed it was some careless fluke of her part, proceeded to return her courtesy, shooting three bullets in her direction.
Checkmate.
The ploy succeeded. Integral misted herself out of the way as she lifted the Abyss influence, gaining the ownership over Alucard's, if only for several seconds. That was all she needed to move the cloak of protective shadows around the airport zone.
Integral saw Alucard's dazzled face watching her actions; it all happened too fast for processing them correctly. He stared only at how his bullets pierced the aircraft's combustible tank, immediately flaring up the plane. The flames engulfed his form right away, reducing him into ashes. The fire extended to the building, burning down the installations. The Abyss contained further damages, well predicted was the evacuation of the perimeter.
Meanwhile, on a safe distance, the mist transfigured into a horde of white cranes that set their path towards the Epping Forest.