Return to the Waste Land

The river bears no empty bottles, sandwich papers,
Silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes, cigarette ends
Or other testimony of summer nights. The nymphs are departed.'

Chapter Three

- The Fire Sermon

Every now and then, the noise coming from her surroundings managed to distract her--the sounds of furniture being moved, the voices of her employees, the song of the birds that made the garden their home. It was more than enough to make anyone's mind steer away from their objective. But Integral Hellsing was too engrossed to give such things a mere thought. Her concentration was absolute. Nothing stood between her and what she wished.

A last quick motion of her finger over the trigger of the Beretta and everything was over. The clip emptied completely into the heart of the paper target, the burst of three bullets passing through the single hole made by its predecessors with deadly accuracy.

"Excellent shot, Sir Integra," Walter's warm voice complimented her.

Integral spun around, hiding her surprise at hearing Walter--she had not heard him enter. A mistake like that on the battlefield and she would fall to a sneaking foe. Pushing away her uncalled-for concern, Integral holstered her pistol and took off her ear protectors. "Thank you, Walter. It's a relief that the wound on my shoulder didn't affect my aim," she mused aloud, rubbing the formerly injured spot idly. "Is there any news from Detective Holmes? Any word from the Round Table or the police?"

"None at all, Sir… Everything is quiet…" Walter replied, shaking his head. Integral frowned, disliking how that sounded. She had finished supervising the hiring of new soldiers an hour ago, and all her paperwork had been finished last night. She honestly had nothing to do. "Forgive my rudeness, Integra. But why don't you take this day off?… unless something shows up, you really need to rest."

"There's…" Integral remarked, trying to find herself something to do--anything. She was an active being, and just lounging and spending precious minutes in a frivolous activity wasn't part of her mindset. Like it was a mortal sin. "...new ammunition to inspect."

Walter cocked a brow, adjusting his monocle. "I beg your pardon, Sir. But I took the liberty of doing that." He cleared his throat, smiling at Integral.

She would not snap at Walter for anything--he was her second father--but the Hellsing shot him a disdainful look. "Oh," Integral said, slightly at a loss. Should she volunteer to remove the debris of crumbled houses? That would be patriotic. "I will think of something…"

"Of course you will." Walter's smile turned mischievous, like he had been planning this for days. "Do you want me to bring you something to eat or drink in the meantime?"

"Don't bother." Integral shook her head, heading quickly towards the kitchen. "That's something I can accomplish by myself."

Integral looked back at Walter over her shoulder from a safe distance. The old butler had started a conversation with several of the surviving Mansion staff--the lucky ones who managed to escape Joleen's onslaught. The Abbey was almost empty--good domestic help was hard to find, as the stereotype pointed out. Particularly those trustworthy and strong enough to withstand Alucard's hobby of terrorizing them. Likewise with the troops. The ranks of her personal army had suffered many losses between both assaults.

Her boots shuffled across the floor, quietly striding through the main corridor and finally arriving in the kitchen. Integral scolded, noticing that the door of the fridge had been left open. How careless, she thought, moving closer to shut it. Her eyes widened when a bottle of beer slid out, flying around the room.

"Stop! You cannot drink that!" Seras broke the spell that had fallen upon the Hellsing, jerking her gaze away from the trail of the levitated container.

"Seras…" Integral started, gesturing to the object in the air. "Tell me it's just you practicing telekinesis." She could very well imagine the painful migraine she was about to experience if that wasn't the case.

Seras gulped, smiling sheepishly at Integral. "Er-Hi, Sir Hellsing. Yeah, I'm Psychic Girl now. That's right," she said, laughing nervously and leaping to snag the bottle. The young vampire stumbled forward as if someone had smacked her rump quite solidly. "You bloody…!" She caught her insult as Integral was observing the situation. "I'm not fooling you…"

"I'm afraid that your acting skills aren't completely convincing, 'Psychic' Girl."

"Well, I failed drama in high school," Seras pointed out, gaze falling to the floor. "Please, Sir. Don't call an exorcist… I promise to take care of him…"

"Seras, I don't think Bernadette is some sort of pet you can keep." Integral smirked, amused by the situation. The hairs rose at the back of her neck, indicating the chilling presence of someone dead nearby. "If he attempts to lay a finger on me, I might invite Father Anderson to bless the house." She chuckled. The cold was gone. It never failed.

Seras was crestfallen, her foot sweeping timidly at the dust on the floor. Integral glanced at her, pondering what to do. A depressed Seras could become a liability. Besides, the Police Girl had suffered enough and Integra felt overprotective of the vampire's small joy.

"Well…" Integral folded her arms, watching them with a stern expression. "What's an old Abbey without its own ghost?"

"You mean that… he can stay, Sir Integra?" Seras' eyes gleamed in happiness, rising her face to level the Hellsing's gaze.

"Unless you have something to say against it, Captain. But I warn you not to contradict direct orders."

"Thank you! Thank you!" Seras beamed, losing her composure for a second, bending to hug Integral. The Hellsing patted her back, overwhelmed by such an… outburst. Nonetheless, she followed suit. She had had enough of despair around her. This was a welcome change. Seras let go as soon as she realized what she was doing. "I mean. Of course not, Sir! Thank you, Lady Hellsing!" The vampire saluted formally, stepping back. "Captains Bernadette and Victoria ask permission to withdraw."

"Granted. Have a good day, Seras." Integral inclined her head, eyeing her--their--exit with a thin smile. Once they were gone, the knight turned her attention to her original purpose here: getting something to drink.

Turning back to the refrigerator, Integral pulled out a jar with orange juice and poured some into a clean glass before returning it to its proper place. Goblet in hand, the Hellsing left the kitchen, moving towards the Hall. That was perhaps the most elegant chamber of the Abbey. Tastefully furnished in an Edwardian style that blended well with modern technology, the living room lacked the tarnished painted walls that were so common in the rest of the building. Sitting down, Integral brought the glass to her lips and turned on the T.V. set.

Integral busied herself with the mundane routine of flipping through channels as her body enjoyed the comfort of the couch, despite the dampness that the storm had left. It had been raining straight for a week, and undead activity had decreased as well. Vampires and children had one thing in common: neither was fond of water. She took another sip of her juice, the liquid refreshing her dried throat. When had been the last time she had sat like this, alone and relishing a common habit like watching television? It seemed like ages. No doubt the last time like this had been years ago, before her father passed away. Integral wondered why--this was certainly not the first time that she had had nothing pending to take care of.

Ah, yes. There was a reason why--and that reason had just materialized behind her.

Integral shot him a brief look, then turned her attention back to the screen. "Do you want anything, Alucard?" She felt sluggish, far too comfortable to be unnerved by her servant's games.

"Maybe," Alucard answered, in a tone somewhere between annoyance and amusement. Was he provoked by how she was ignoring him? Integral could not tell-- the No Life King was hard to decipher, even for her. "I was just… curious why my workaholic Master is now adding sloth to her list of deadly sins… when there are more… interesting ones to commit."

Integral bent down to the coffee table, placing the empty goblet on the glass surface. Both eyebrows hiked up at his comment. "This is part of my duty, Alucard," she said in a silky tone. The knight had learnt how to choose her words wisely enough to not acknowledge or encourage his taunts.

"Watching that box? Reading?" Alucard snorted in mockery, grabbing The Times' pages. "How very… peasant of you, Integra."

"I'm not going to the Odeon, Alucard. Reading newspapers and watching the news is a must" Integral pointed out, pausing her channel searching at the BBC. "What kind of leader would I be if I weren't in touch with the rest of the world?"

"The world is on the streets, not inside that little screen."

"If that's all, Alucard," Integral said, tone verging on boredom--her patience for games of wit was waning, "You have my permission to 'see' the world as long you respect the normal restrictions." It was her way of saying: 'Be a good boy. Behave and you will be rewarded with a taste of freedom.'

"How very generous of you, my Master. But I'm busy with your last assignment." Chuckling, Alucard vanished. Integral followed the melodramatic display of vermilion and black mixing into an hypnotic twirl until he was gone. Left again in cherished solitude, Integral increased the volume of the television, paying special attention to the reporter's speech.

Vampire were the most popular item on the agenda. They were everywhere in the headlines.

First up was a number of scientists who wanted to research the condition, labelling it as an mental illness combined with extreme anaemia and haemophilia. Obviously, that did not explain the lack of pulse. She snorted with laughter, hearing their pseudo-theories.

The scene switched to a gathering of several religious leaders, many Anglicans among them, discussing the possibility that these were signs of the End Times. This surely will improve citizens' hope, Integral mused sardonically as the setting shifted again: people protesting the lack of security. Politicians debating if they should consider vampires legal citizens. The UN starting an Assembly on the topic of whether human rights apply to the undead, and how.

Even Greenpeace had adopted them as a sort of cause celebre; they claimed the leeches were some sort of endangered species. Ridiculous!

Integral could not bloody believe this. It was a big circus with vampires as the stars of the show. She felt disgusted. At least her Institute killed them with the utmost respect-- divine punishment was an honour. The issue was becoming muddled, with the public turning the Midians into some sort of misunderstood heroes when they had caused so many tragedies.

Vampires were 'in.' Humans had passed to a second plane.

No mystery the 'Unliving Church' had so many followers. The circumstances were favourable to them.

Irritated, Integral turned off the TV set and rose. Her hand searched out and found a loose cigar inside her pocket. She had to ration them carefully. The economic chaos had caused a lack of some… unnecessary supplies, including her beloved cigarillos.

Walter busted in just when Integral had lit the cigar. "Sir, I'm very sorry to bother you. But Detective Holmes called. It's urgent for you to meet him at the bank of the Thames, at the Embankment Station."

"Tell him I'll be there." Integral exhaled a curtain of smoke through her mouth, enjoying the nearly-forgotten aroma of tobacco. Then she exited, picking up a long coat and going to her car.

Night had nearly fallen on the city. Grey, heavy clouds had covered the light of the sun, threatening to continue the rain of the previous days. Not a single drop fell, however. A brown fog swirled at ground level, haunting the landscape.

After rejecting the aid of her chauffer, Integral started the engine of her Rolls Royce. She loathed driving through Central London. The nostalgic air of former glory overcame her senses. The proud movements were gone, lost in the Nazi bombing.

It was far too late for the construction workers to be around. Integral spotted the machines and several lost tools, though. They were visible everywhere she looked, for there was so much to rebuild--the courts of law, the Bank of London, The Bridge, the Tower… She shut her mind to the memories of the buildings. That way her shattered pride for what she had failed to protect would be less.

On the bank of the Thames, Albert Holmes was waiting. Along with him, there were several police officers, wielding flashlights against the river's increasing obscurity, attempting to discern anything beyond the mist. Integral parked the vehicle and trotted towards them.

"Good evening, gentlemen. Did you call me, Detective?"

Holmes nodded, smiling. "Greetings, Sir Hellsing." He gestured her to come closer. "Certainly I did… I apologize for the late hour, but it's an urgent matter. "

"It's all right," Integral remarked. "I'm nocturnal… My job requires it." A small joke on her part. Most vampires hid from the destructive daylight. "What is it?"

"Sssh," Albert put a finger on his lips. "Listen to that."

Integral's eyes narrowed, fixing her senses on the perimeter, trying to gather anything. Then she heard it: low, painful moans coming out of the ruins of the bridge over the river. Many. To the common ear it would appear the source was injured animals. But they weren't. The knight recognized the inhuman quality at once. It belonged to one of the creatures she fought.

"Ghouls."

Holmes nodded. "The construction workers kept disappearing when they went to investigate what made those noises."

Realization struck the Hellsing as she strode towards the ghouls. "Of course. That's why they vanished…" she explained. "Rain blinded them… they tried to 'cross' the river without realizing the bridge was destroyed. They fell into the rubble and running water didn't allow them to move."

"Precisely the conclusion I arrived at," Holmes agreed. "They hid from the light within the brick and steel tubes of the former bridge. Do you need any help, Madam?"

"No," Integral replied re-holstering her Beretta, exchanging the clip for a filled one. "You and your men stay over there. This is my duty."

Integral jumped gracefully onto the path, dodging the decayed hands that tried to grab her leg and drag her down to the undead lair. She wrinkled her nose, smelling the awful stench of corpses. Through an opening, Integral scrutinized her targets. Twenty, thirty ghouls at most. There should be more in hiding in similar places through all the river. They could not move; the running water effectively disabled them. That could be used to her advantage.

Smirking, Integral pulled up the trigger. The burst silenced three of the crowd. The rest sought to lunge forward, but the watery prison held them. Pulling out her Walther, she continued with a rain of bullets that hit the zombies' hearts and brains, turning them into ashes. For several minutes, Integral kept up her insistent attack until they were no ghouls standing.

When she had completed the task, the moon had risen completely. Clouds had been driven away by the wind. A red mist filled her vision, not allowing Integral to watch her steps. With a failed motion, the knight slipped on the moistened surface and fell down toward the river. Instead of a splash, Integral found herself leaning against something… hard… Arms were cradling her with a strong grip.

Integral looked up. It was dark, but not enough to keep her from recognizing the glittering fangs of her servant, Alucard, smirking down at her. "What…? How…?" she sputtered.

"Look down." Alucard released her, amused, but did not go far. Instead, he remained at a distance far from decent.

Integral straightened her clothes, noting with dismay that both pistols had been lost to the dark waters during the fall. As far as she could make out, they were in an old boat. The oars were made of shadow tendrils and moved of their own accord, taking them away, following the river, avoiding the fallen Cleopatra's Needle. The obelisk diverted the flow of the Thames by its very size.

"Why are you here?" Integral asked, breaking the silence.

"No reward for the gallant hero?" Alucard inquired, with a seductive tone. Upon seeing her expression, he added. "I was hunting the ghouls. The ones you took care of were the last ones left."

"Good work," Integral appraised, monitoring the movements of the vessel. Alucard needed it to avoid contact with running water? Most certainly that was the reason. "Well, we can certainly head to land, then."

"Why the rush?" Alucard said huskily, leaning to her ear. She was momentarily speechless, but she managed an outraged glare at his gall. "Always the Virgin Queen, Integra?" He asked, kneeling in front of her. The motion provoked a brush on her clothes, awaking sensitive spots in her nipples. "But you forget… that even Elizabeth I had a Robert Dudley…"

"History lessons about England now, Alucard? What's next?" Integral tried to collect herself. "Move."

"I'm a servant, my Master," Alucard said with a tone caught between a growl and a purr. "This is my place." He laughed. The chilling sound comforted Integral. That was the monster she knew very well. "I read a lot about the British Empire before travelling a century ago," he commented as he took the knight's hand with uncommon gentleness. "I must confess the concept of the Virgin Queen fascinated me…"

"That's...interesting." Integral tried to retrieve her hand without avail. Alucard had snared it. What she felt next stunned the Hellsing. Despite being covered by the glove, she was aware of his mouth descending over the back of her hand. Alucard was kissing her like a gentleman of ages ago. "What are you doing?"

"Hush, Elizabeth," Alucard murmured against the material of her glove. "No one will know about you and the Earl of Leicester." His tone was alluring, as were his eyes, glowing crimson, fixed on hers. It was bewitching. Her muscles relaxed and Alucard chuckled at his victory.

It was like there was no one else in the world that mattered except them and the boat.

Grazing his fangs across the cloth, Alucard bit down hard enough to pierce the leather but not her skin. He removed her glove with his teeth playfully and spat it out. Integral shuddered at the contact of his cold lips with her warm flesh. Her heartbeat fluttered, breathing became faster. How come such a small thing was so incredibly erotic? She silenced a moan.

The spell was broken by the sharp pain caused by the vampire's fingernails opening a cut on her wrist. Integral reacted too late, for Alucard had already turned over her hand and was licking at the palm with his long tongue - his hungry mouth met the bleeding wound, sucking the blood out of it eagerly.

Integral was torn between allowing the vampire 'swoon' to overwhelm her in blissful pleasure or struggling. Sensing her hesitation, Alucard slid a hand down her thigh, travelling inwards until it found the joint of her legs. She gasped, lowering her lashes as his thumb rubbed the sensitive nub of flesh through her pants. His spidery fingers, meanwhile, positioned themselves where her entrance ought to be, stroking lightly. Teasing her, testing her limits, turning her body against her rational mind.

For an instant of blind passion, Integral wanted to feel him inside her--as a vampire and as a man. But she was not a woman driven by emotions, but by logic. Integral was a creature of order, not of chaos. Besides, the bastard was taking advantage of her fluke to have a longer meal.

"Enough, Alucard. Get your hands off me."

"As you like," Alucard removed himself from her side and stood, grinning and displaying his bloodied teeth. She wanted to hurt him but refrained. Alucard would enjoy her violence. "Good evening, my Gloriana." Shadows swallowed them completely. The darkness chilled Integral to the bone. She found herself inside the immense abyss only her servant could access.

Suddenly, a flashlight illuminated her face. Integral realized the vessel on which she had been travelling was now tied to the shore near Holmes and his search team. There was no trace of Alucard around.

"Sir Hellsing!" Albert called out, helping the cops to pull the boat aground. "Are you all right? My God, you're bleeding." He aided her down and offered a handkerchief.

Integral rejected the help and climbed out by herself. "I'm well… The ghouls are gone."

"What happened? We lost contact with you… and then you just… reappeared…"

"Nothing. I was sidetracked during the mission… Wondering why the world seems to fancy the undead. The majority of them are repulsive," Integral said defensively. Not Seras. Not Alucard, her traitorous mind reminded her.

How Alucard had that effect on her was as worrisome as the cult's growing influence over her country. Integral wouldn't allow that to happen again. She did not want to think about it anymore. It was fortunate no one saw them. Or, at least, she hoped no one did.

"Certainly," Holmes chuckled. His tone gave the impression that he was aware of a well-guarded secret that shouldn't be revealed. "Fire is everywhere, Madam. Be careful, as there are many kinds of flames, and some burn hotter than others."

Author's Notes: Once again, Asenath was kind enough to edit this chapter. And thanks to the reviewers. Another AU things: I just get my translated version of volume sixth, and Joleen did not manage to destroy the Mansion. I thought she did when I read the Japanese book, oh well. For all AxI fans, check my profile to join the C2 community of the pairing :)