3

It was late evening when Robin and Amon left the wax museum. The streetlights came on as they got on the double-decker bus that would take them back to their hotel. Robin made sure to get a seat on the upper level so she could see everything they passed on their way. Amon sat beside her like one of the wax statues they had just seen in the museum. Robin wondered how he could stay so calm in such an exciting new place. But what had she expected? He was always like that.

4

Integra leaned back against the wall so that the light from the old oil lamp caught the pages of the book in her hands. The touch of the cold stone made her shiver, but at least it was dry and there was some light. The only electricity coming into the small room went directly to the single weak light bulb fixed onto the hewn rock ceiling. The book and the lamp were the newest additions to her captivity, treasures too often taken for granted that she'd had Alucard smuggle in for her. She would have preferred to read sitting in the high-backed chair beside the table in the center of the room. But the only place she could hide the lamp was under the bed in the corner. And the bulb gave too little light to read by anyway. So she was sitting up at the head of the bed, her legs folded awkwardly in front of her. The lamp was on the floor, casting its flickering glow across the uneven stones. Integra sighed and turned the page in her book. Sometimes she wondered whether it was day or night but there were no windows to tell her. She had been trapped in that room for six days now. What was going on out there? Had the whole world forgotten her already? The only thing she never doubted these days was her decision to refuse Alucard's offer. In her mind, accepting his blood was the same as giving up on herself. And she wouldn't give up. Not ever.

"Sir Integra?"

Integra's eyes flashed up from her book to the iron door on the other side of the room. The voice was so soft, she could barely hear it. Was that who she thought it was?

"Sir Integra? Are you in there?"

Integra put her book down and rolled off the bed. In a moment she had her ear pressed close to the grey metal of the door.

"Of course I'm here, Victoria," she growled. "I can't just walk out. How did you get down here?"

"With difficulty."

"What happened to the guards?"

"They're knocked out for now. And I didn't feed off them either."

"I had no doubt. But you didn't come down here just for small talk. What's happened?"

"It looks like you're in some trouble, Sir."

Integra swallowed. "What kind of trouble?"

"Someone is setting you up on a charge of high treason."

Integra's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"We don't know yet. But the trial will be in two days. Walter says you should escape."

"So you came here to rescue me? Is that it?"

"No, Sir. It was hard enough getting in here alone. There's no way both of us could get out without being seen."

"So what does Walter suggest?"

"He said you should get Master Alucard to help you."

Integra considered for a moment. "I can't run. I would only incriminate myself by doing that."

"But the trial is fixed. You'll be found guilty no matter what you do. Unless you don't let it go forward. Please Sir Integra, get Master Alucard to sneak you out of there. He can do it, I know he can."

"I know he can too. But allowing the trial to go forward may be my best chance to find out who is setting me up."

"It's too big a risk. If you can't expose the conspiracy in time, they'll kill you."

"I'll decide what's worth the risk, Victoria. Go back to Walter and inform him."

"Yes, Sir."

Integra listened to Victoria's footsteps disappearing down the corridor outside. She couldn't help wondering why so many bad things were happening to her lately. She hated being vulnerable like this. And having to sit here in this room was infuriating. She would have given anything for a punching bag with Enrico Maxwell's face on it. Maybe reading would calm her down. She turned away from the door to go back to her book but she stopped almost immediately. Alucard was sitting in the chair, leaning it back precariously against the wall.

"How long have you been here?" she asked.

"Long enough," he replied smoothly.

"Do you think I should escape?"

"It's your choice."

"You're not going to try persuading me?"

"I know you too well to do that."

"As well you should. How long have we known each other?"

"Ten years. I know you're too proud to run away now."

"I've always been proud."

Story notes:

Double-decker bus - Some city buses in England actually have two levels. The upper level is sometimes open-air. A favorite mode of travel for tourists.