17

Later that night, they got out of their taxi in front of the biggest house Robin had ever seen. Even in the dark, she could see it was bigger than her old monastery home. The driveway beyond the iron fence was the size of a highway. Seras paid the cabbie in cash. Anonymous, untraceable, perfect. Sir Integra walked up to the glowing keypad by the gate but she didn't touch it. The reason was obvious. If she used her personal code, then there would be a record of her being there. The harder it was for her enemies to track her movements, the better for her. Seras came up beside her and put in her own code. The gate swung open and the four of them walked in. Robin watched Sir Integra walking just a few paces ahead. She couldn't help feeling sorry for her. Being an exile wasn't easy. Maybe it would be a good thing to get her mind off things for a minute.

"Sir Integra, may I ask you a question?" Robin asked.

"You may," Sir Integra responded.

"Why do people call you Sir if you're a woman?"

Sir Integra did a double take.

"Nobody's ever asked me that before," she said. She paused for a moment as if debating whether to answer the question. "The truth is it started as a joke when I was a little girl. I attended a private school that required a uniform. The long skirt was truly hateful. I told Walter once that after I finished school I would never wear a skirt again. He told me that a skirt was proper attire for a young lady. That irritated me so much that I told him to call me Sir Integra from then on. And he did. When I met Alucard, he must have read it from my mind because he started calling me Sir straight away. Eventually, everyone was doing it. And it simply stuck."

"Does it ever bother you?" Robin asked.

"No. I suppose I'm used to it by now."

They had just reached the mansion's front steps. The door swung open easily, revealing the shadowy outline of a tall man in a wide brimmed hat.

"Welcome home, Sir Hellsing," he said in a mocking tone that made Robin shudder. She dropped back to where Amon was still following along. He stopped at the bottom of the steps and watched the stranger.

"Master Alucard," Seras cried out joyfully as she ran to his side.

Sir Integra eyed him carefully as she approached.

"You could have warned me they were coming," she told him.

"What kind of fun would that be?" Alucard asked, holding the door open for her.

Amon stood frozen in place, his gaze locked on Alucard's face in the doorway. Robin stopped just at the top of the stairs and looked back at him.

"Amon," she said questioningly.

Alucard grinned widely, showing his fangs. "Afraid? How interesting…" he said with wicked glee.

Amon narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

"Leave him alone, Alucard," Sir Integra commanded. "We have more pressing matters to attend to."

"Yes, master." The tall vampire's voice faded to a snake-like hiss as he disappeared into the shadows.

Sir Integra turned to Seras. "Victoria, call Walter and bring him up to speed. And then bring my gun up to my office," she said.

"Yes, Sir," Seras replied and scurried off through another doorway.

"Are you coming in or not?" Sir Integra asked Amon and Robin who were still standing outside. Amon moved first.

18

"Hello?" Walter's voice sounded stronger than it had the night before.

"It's me," Seras replied.

"Was the operation a success?"

"Yes. We're at home now."

"The Hellsing house?"

"Yes."

"You mustn't stay there for long."

"That's funny. Amon said the same thing."

"And who, may I ask, is Amon?"