Morrigan didn't move as Alucard fired the Casull and Jackal at her. The noise was deafening in the enclosed space. The vines waved, Alucard snarled and Morrigan remained motionless as though he had done nothing.
Guns? You come at me with guns? You want an apocalypse and the best you can do is that? Alucard, I think you should go get some rest and come back to me when you've grown up a little.
The condescension was more insulting than her scorn had been. "I can do better than guns. You don't know what I have become." He called his hellhounds. They sprang from his body and he let go of his hold on his human form to spawn more. He could see so much more through their eyes. He could penetrate the shadows behind Morrigan to see that they were populated, although he still could not determine with what.
He pressed his attack. He wanted to taste her ancient blood. He wanted to make her pay for making him lose his temper. He wanted her to hurt and he wanted her to hurt him.
The vines carried her back into the shadows. They enveloped her form and he saw for the first time that the restless darkness behind her was filled with ravens – the carrion birds that legend tied to the Morrigan. Their red eyes glared and they launched themselves at the hellhounds. Where the hellhounds snapped, the ravens dodged. Where the ravens dove, the hounds were blinded. Alucard roared at the pain as her counterattack struck home. The ravens cawed and it sounded like laughter.
What is it that you have become, Alucard? A petulant child who doesn't know when to heed his elders? Boredom is no excuse for being impolite, boy. I'm not interested in teaching an impudent youth a lesson in manners. I have more pressing matters to deal with. Again her vines lashed out. This time they struck the walls where Anderson's binding spell still hung. The pages were torn down and the daggers casually tossed at the still howling hounds.
Morrigan was lowered to the floor and began to walk out of the room. Alucard's hounds howled again. "You will not turn away from me! We are not finished yet!" He sank into the floor in a pool of darkness. He reformed in his human guise in front of her. "We are not finished, Morrigan."
Are you dictating to me? I am treating you with infinite patience and you are not listening to me. She held out her hands. Two vines thrust up from behind her and settled themselves into her hands. She now held two living spears and looked at him with unconcealed impatience. She stabbed up, piercing Alucard's chest and pinning him against the wall behind him. I could suck you dry right now the way you wanted me to feed off of Alexander. Keep pushing, Alucard and I will not give you the death you so dearly desire, I will find a better way to punish you.
Alucard began to laugh. He laughed until it seemed that all hold he may have had on sanity had fled. He laughed as his chest split around the spears and he slid to the ground, leaving hideous wounds that he didn't seem to notice at all. "You will punish me? Oh do punish me, Morrigan. Punish me!" He shouted the last words as he leapt at her. He collided with her and pushed her backward onto the floor with the smaller vampire pinned under him. He whispered huskily in her ear, "Punish me, Morrigan. Take your vengeance. Show me your rage. Show me the wrath of a goddess, Morrigan."
He was easily plucked off of her and tossed through the wall. Morrigan rose and watched as he stood, shaking fragments of wood off of himself.
"You're still hungry. They've kept you starved for decades. You want to feed and you won't be able to keep this self-control for long. All I have to do is keep chipping at the walls and I will have what I want. Give it to me now. Give it to me!"
She smiled and shook her head. Alucard roared as she sank through the floor and away from him.
ooo
The bridge of the zeppelin was filled with activity. Men shouted updates, people hovered over their control panels and the officer in charge was yelling for someone to find the damned Major, things were going badly awry on the ground.
The man who first noticed the Morrigan's arrival on the bridge didn't have time to make a sound before he was lofted in the air by her vines. The thorns dug into him and he was an empty shell before his body could hit the ground where it was thrown. It shivered into dust in moments and all eyes turned to the newcomer.
The bridge was loud with the rustle of growth as it was filled with clutching tendrils. Every vampire was seized and drained in a matter of moments. A few had time to grab their guns, but the bullets had no effect on their verdant attackers.
When the greenery withdrew, Morrigan was alone on the bridge with the exception of a few blooming growths that took their places behind her.
ooo
Alucard felt her feed. He phased out of the wall behind her and surveyed the empty command center. The perfume of roses was almost overpowering.
She didn't turn, nor give any sign of noticing his presence. She was looking out the honeycomb windows at the burning city below them.
Didn't your master give you a charge to destroy all of her enemies? She did not order you to play useless games with me. She continued to stare down at the fire and smoke.
"She isn't my master anymore. She released the seals and she is too injured to re-impose them. I am my own man again, just as you are free once more." He didn't ask how she knew Integra's order, but he wondered. He hadn't felt her in his mind. Did she get it from him, or from someone who had witnessed it? Anderson, perhaps? "But, if I wanted to hold to her orders, you would be defined as one of her enemies."
She shook her head. She has no reason to fear me. Not at this time.
Alucard laughed at the thought of Integra fearing anyone. "Integra doesn't fear. She doesn't fight because she fears, she fights because she is a warrior."
So you do know respect for something. I am intrigued. Perhaps I will make an effort to meet this woman.
"You will not!"
You are too easy to manipulate, Alucard. It takes no effort to make you dance to any tune I desire.
Alucard had started forward, teeth bared and hands reaching to grab her before the meaning of her words sank in. She was effortlessly directing his every action and had been doing so from the moment she awoke. She had made him dance and perform and he had not seen it. His hands dropped to his sides.
His inner conflict was unbearable. He wanted to fight, to destroy, to rend and be rent, but he did not want this woman to use him. He would be no woman's puppet ever again. He was not a human to be manipulated for her amusement.
He forced himself to slow his thoughts. He forced himself to remember every moment from the instant she had awakened forward. The only time he had actually struck a nerve with her was when he brought up Anderson. He was jubilant as he realized that she did have a place he could hurt her. He could make her do what he wanted. He would be the one in charge. He would still have his battle.
"You're right. I have been easy to manipulate. You have shown me the error of my ways. I will leave and fulfill Sir Integra's order. I will kill every one of her enemies on the ground and in the air." He sank through the floor.
ooo
Back on the ground it was still chaotic. The air was thick with a pall of smoke that blocked the sun. London reeked with the stench of butchery. Alucard released his slaves once more and began the delightful task of killing every German and every Catholic he could find. It was soothing to immerse himself in death. It helped him to calm himself after that woman's provocations. As he cut through the living, he amused himself with fantasies of her rage when he ripped her little regenerator apart and the fight that would follow.
He paused for a moment when the zeppelin he had been on exploded. Debris rained down on the city. He could feel that Morrigan was still nearby, but he couldn't pinpoint her location. He smiled. She would come to him when he was ready for her.
Eventually he caught Anderson's scent again. He knew the priest wouldn't have left the fight. He would be there until his end. The Iscariot had rallied some of his cohorts and they were doing an admirable job of killing the Nazis around them. Alucard watched from a distance for a few minutes. Anderson had been fun to play with and it was fitting that his final use would bring Alucard something he so dearly desired. He felt almost fond of that crazy priest for being his ticket to such a wonderful climax to the day.
Eventually he tired of watching and swept down into the thick of the Catholics. A berserk little nun ran at him with a sword. He casually knocked her away. Yumie was flung against a wall and slid to the ground, dead or unconscious. He listened for a moment. Unconscious. Maybe he'd feed from her later. Virgin nuns were so rare and delicious.
Another woman was pricking him with her silver bullets. He turned his back to Anderson, commanding some of his slaves to run interference as he advanced on her. She was interesting as well. Section XIII came up with the most intriguing people. He wondered how this woman had gotten dispensation to run around in priest's robes. She must be something special to get that sort of treatment. He completely ignored Anderson's shouts and backed the delicious woman against a wall. She punched him in the face and if he'd been human, he probably would have broken bones and missing teeth. Instead he grabbed her hands and grinned at her. He pressed his face against hers, inhaling, bringing her scent into him and savoring her fear and anger.
He was just about to drink from her when Anderson's hands pulled him away and spun him into a vicious head butt. At the same time his intended prey shoved her guns into his back and shot into his kidneys. He may not have much use for those organs, but it still hurt like hell to have blessed silver blast through them. He snarled in Anderson's face.
Anderson backed up, "Come on ye bastard. Come fight someone who can fight back!"
Alucard laughed to hear the woman behind him mutter, "Thanks a lot," in a tone that was anything but thankful. Maybe she should be his next child. She had more spirit than Seras. He sent a command to his slaves not to harm her while he was busy.
"Yes, let us say our final good byes." Alucard moved in to grapple Anderson. As they tumbled across the ground, Alucard could smell roses. "You smell of her, Judas Priest."
Anderson's eyes narrowed and he brought his knee up into Alucard's midsection. "Ye're not worthy of knowing what She smells like, demon."
Alucard was shocked. He was clearly and completely taken aback. Of all the reactions he had expected from Anderson, a defense of Morrigan was not anywhere on the list. His surprise gave Anderson enough leeway to fling Alucard off of him onto the ground. The priest rolled over and lunged at Alucard as he lay unmoving a few feet away.
Anderson shoved two knives into Alucard and was rewarded with not groans, moans or screams, but a terrible laugh. Alucard began laughing and did not stop. He rolled on the ground laughing hysterically. Anderson stabbed the vampire again and again and the laughter only escalated. He was beginning to think that his old enemy had finally snapped when Alucard's laughter cut off and his eyes locked with Anderson's.
Alucard had taken him by surprise and the vampire caught Anderson's mind before he could put up any defenses. A bloody veil obscured Anderson's vision and when it cleared, Alucard had pinned him to the ground and was staring intently into his eyes. He could feel the same violation of his mind that the Morrigan had inflicted on him earlier, but the vampire was only searching for one thing. He felt the memories of what Morrigan had shown him seized and examined. He relived every moment of the glory and terror she had revealed and relived the moment when he fell.
Alucard drew back. He threw back his head and laughed. Anderson bucked him off and pulled himself up. Alucard looked at him with delight as he stood, "Judas Priest! Such a fitting name." He leveled a pointing finger at Anderson, "Apostate!" His laughter rang out above the sounds of battle.
I told you he is mine! Alucard's laugh cut off abruptly as an angry shout hit him with an almost physical force.
The Morrigan appeared. She rose up from the ground in a fury. Humans and vampires alike shouted in fear. Alucard merely watched her, looking smug.
Her vines spread out around them, filling the street. Shadows moved restlessly around them. She rose into the air and looked down on Alucard with rage reflected by the lashing of both the rose vines and her hair.
A vine reached out and pinioned Alucard. He could feel the thorns dig into him and his blood flow out of him and into her. I have no more patience for you.
She turned and looked at Anderson. Alucard was not privy to what passed between them, but after a moment Anderson looked to the remaining Iscariots and shouted orders to withdraw. He retrieved Yumie from where she had fallen and exhorted the priests to hurry.
The German vampires were not given that option. Her vines showed no mercy as every one of them was torn apart.
And then it was just the two of them.
Alucard had allowed himself to be restrained. He knew that she would not back down now and felt that he could wait until the setting was right for their conflict. When she had her vine slam him into the wall and then came closer to look at him, his smirk began to fade.
I'm going to hurt you now, Alucard. When I'm done hurting you, I'm not going to kill you. You're already getting more than I wanted to give you, I'm not going to give you release as well.
The vines descended from all directions and tore into his body. They scourged him like whips and then she tore him apart and waited for him to act.
The scattered pieces of Alucard began to laugh once more. They formed mouths and eyes and grasping tentacles. They wrapped around her vines and pulled. They sank teeth into her many tendrils and bled them as her thorns had bled him.
He summoned his slaves from their scattered places and sent them to attack her. They were met with hordes of ravens that swarmed in and plucked out eyes and gouged throats. After a time, the ravens flew into a central mass of shadow that broke apart into a pride of lions. The lions pounced and savaged Alucard's phantoms.
Alucard's hellhounds met the lions. The air was filled with a bestial cacophony. The animals bit and clawed, roared and howled. The battle spread, leveling city blocks that were already badly damaged.
From above in the zeppelins the watchers saw a tide of blackness spread over London. On the ground, Anderson was gathering his people as they ran from the center of the destruction. His Goddess whispered in his mind, telling him to get his companions as far from the epicenter as possible. She warned him not to stop until they were well outside of the fallen city.
The battle raged through the day. The vampires on the ground were swept up in the dark tidal wave that spread over the city. The humans that did not heed the screaming of their survival instincts to run, run, run were sucked in and digested, mere fuel for the conflagration. Nobody that the darkness touched survived.
Near evening, the tide turned. Where the darkness had been spreading, it now receded. Slowly, slowly, the wreckage of a once proud city was revealed.
Eventually it was over. A dead silence settled over the wasteland. In the center of it stood one survivor standing over a fallen form. The limp body was picked up and a shadow swept them both away.