9
The next day there was a cool breeze blowing off the river. Robin pulled her coat closer around her neck as she and Amon approached the high gates of the Tower. The first tour group was already gathering and the two of them joined it, taking note of every soldier and guard they passed along the way. It would be tough to get through this net and even tougher to get back out with an escaped prisoner in tow. Of course, Seras had warned them about that the night before. But it didn't seem to hit them until they saw it for themselves. This rescue mission would be a challenge.
10
Integra's ears perked up as the echoes from the noisy tour group reached her cell. Of course, they wouldn't see this place, or even the hallway outside the door. The authorities had closed that part of the Tower just for her. She almost felt honored. What would those tourists think if she started screaming right now? She smiled at the thought. The tour guide would tell the visitors it was one of the ghosts that haunted the Bloody Tower. Would he be wrong?
11
Later that afternoon, Amon and Robin sat on a bench in Hyde Park eating fish and chips again. Seras would be able to come out in a few hours, but for the moment things were quiet. Robin glanced at Amon. He sat as calmly as ever beside her on the wooden planks.
"Why did you decide to help her?" she asked.
"Why did you?" he responded.
"Her story was sweet," Robin said. "But what made you say yes?"
"I don't know. No reason, I suppose."
"No reason?"
"No reason."
"It'll be an adventure."
"Mm hmm."
"You're ready for another adventure?"
"I suppose so."
"Why not. Our last performance brought the house down."
They both smiled at that.
"We'd better not repeat that," Amon said. "We're breaking into a historical landmark this time and we're in enough trouble as it is."
12
The evening brought a chill to the air. The famous London fog covered the streets like a thin blanket. Seras clutched the four cloaks she was carrying tighter against her sides. The Tower loomed ahead of her with all the welcoming atmosphere of a graveyard. Somehow, it didn't seem right to be doing something like this without Master Alucard. It couldn't be helped, Seras told herself. That was why she had brought in outside help. Not only were they strong fighters, but adding an unknown element to the mix would slow down pursuit. The last part she had come up with earlier that day. She hoped it would impress Sir Integra when she explained it to her after the fact. Amon and Robin were waiting in the nearby park and Seras made sure to approach them from the front. She didn't want to end up with a gun in her face again.
"Did you scope out the Tower?" she asked.
"Yes. We're ready," Amon said.
"What are those for?" Robin asked, pointing to the cloaks hanging from the vampire's arms.
"A little extra insurance," Seras replied. "If they can't see our faces, it'll be harder to track our movements later on."
She gave each of her partners a cloak and threw another over her own shoulders.
"Who is the last one for?" Robin asked.
"Sir Integra," Seras said. "Hopefully, we can release her quietly so that they won't know she's missing until we're gone. All they'll see is three anonymous people come in and four leave."
"You have this all figured out, don't you?" Amon asked.
"Actually, I'm just making it up as I go along," Seras said with a goofy grin.
Story notes:
The river - The Thames River runs through London. It's the city's vital shipping lane.
The ghosts - The Tower is full of ghost stories. Guards have seen a woman in white floating up and down staircases, heard wailing from the torture chambers and rattling chains. In fact, the ghosts are one of the Tower's most famous attractions.
Hyde Park - A famous park in London where politicians and activists used to gather and make impromptu speeches. They would often use soap boxes as make-shift podiums, inventing the phrase "standing on a soap box."
London fog - A combination of cool air and high humidity causes fog to gather. This happens so often in London that the "London fog" has become world famous.