A/N: Yaye! Fourth chapter! I'm bouncing off the walls!! ...not really...eheheh...I'm happy, though! Thanks for those who've read and reviewed, and I hope more do so in the future! Hehee...Thanks so much ((...I've said that too much...))
Anyway, here's the fourth chapter, and no...sadly, I DON'T own Hellsing...but I honestly wish I did, and I'll own one someday!! :D Please read and review!!!
CHAPTER 4:
"It's been discovered that this Celia Pares is actually an adopted orphan." Integra said, resting a small collection of papers down on her desk. "Her real parents had been murdered just after she had been able to open her eyes."
Alucard listened silently, his legs crossed as he sat on a large chair drinking his third bag of donated blood, type A.
"The family who took her in had actually lost their former daughter to the same murderer, so they originally took Celia in to, in a way; replace the life of their former child." Sir Hellsing then moved the page to look at the next. "...After a short while, this family had begun to create a small record of child abuse against them, although many of them had been excused by authority; for reasons currently confidential at this time. Celia Pares was the victim to such ill-treatment; twice she had to be sent to a hospital, and she had to pay a visit to a psychologist afterwards to receive mental help to check for any mind-related trauma."
The nosferatu grinned, prepared to say something, but he remained silent.
"The child didn't realize that her foster family had some connections with dangerous criminals, who, according to one former survivor, had been acting much more of a hazard and more barbaric than usually heard of." Alucard glanced over at Integra as she paused to take out a box of cigars.
"They sucked blood, and would write blasphemous messages on the ceiling and walls, similar to our former 'Bonnie and Clyde' crisis. Either that or they would mutilate the bodies and hang them on the walls or stow them in the smallest compartment they could find." The stiff woman removed one of the expensive cigars from the box and pulled out her lighter.
Integra sighed lightly, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Of course, her supposed family didn't know of this problem either. The father knew the three men fairly well, however; two were his fellow employers, while the one remaining was a brother." Sir Hellsing turned towards Alucard. "These three vampires had become so bloodthirsty that they could not recognize anyone, be it a family member or fellow worker and his family."
"It sounds like these maggot vampires are spreading just like the artificial ones." The nosferatu said calmly, halfway through the medical bag of blood. "They are becoming less and less conscious of their own pathetic actions."
"I agree, but they've become much easier to manage than our FREAK vampires." Integra paused again to gather the papers, and then lit her cigar. "Now, about this...Celia Pares, Alucard,"
"Yes, my master?"
"I expect this child to be well trained. Unlike Seras Victoria, she's at an age where she depends on an adult to care for her and tell her what to do. If I hear that she refuses to drink blood or sleep within the confines of a coffin, I will not be happy; especially if these actions cause problems for my soldiers. Is that understood, Alucard?"
"Clearly, master," The nosferatu bowed his head and continued to drink the donated blood.
"Alucard." Integra frowned as he only grinned with a chuckle. "I do not approve of your disobedient actions at all. I don't want another reason for the Round Table members to call me a hypocrite!" She slammed the palm of her hand against the papers on the desk with a loud thud, which resonated through the room.
"Master, this child is only past her toddler years...She cannot do any harm in her current state; half-blind and exhausted." The nosferatu laughed. "I realize that you disapprove of my actions, my dear Sir Integra...but she would not have anywhere to go if I had not saved her." He glanced at his master out of the corner of his eyes. "A five-year-old can't exactly do anything to experienced vampire hunters, now, can she?"
"Do not complicate matters, slave! You could have easily brought her back alive, and we could have easily given her a room within a hospital; then easily send her to an orphanage! Because of your choice, she has no life behind her now. She cannot turn to a family or learn the true life of a human because you gave her a persuasive choice to join you!" The leader of the Hellsing organization pointed vigorously at Alucard. "This child no longer has the choice of experiencing the human world she was born to live in! It's because of your offer that she became a vampire!"
"I offered it, and she accepted, my master." Alucard said calmly, staring at Integra with blazing, fiery eyes. "The child you speak of had the choice of being alone or accompanying me. She chose to join me, because she fears loneliness and abandonment. If you are to blame anyone...then blame yourself, my master, for not expecting it!"
His lord growled quietly then placed the cigar in her mouth. "I will not allow any vampyric faults to belong to me. I am responsible for my army, not you or your toys. You, Alucard, are in full responsibility for those two toys of yours. Your newest one, I expect, will not give this organization any trouble at all, is that understood?!"
"Yes...perfectly, my master." The no-life-king gave her a snide grin before turning his attention to the door as someone knocked on the other side.
"Excuse me, Sir Integra; Miss Celia Pares is here to meet you."
"Of course. Send her in," The leader ordered, standing up slowly from her seat. Her vampyric servant simply sat lazily in a large chair against one of the walls, looking over at the door.
Walter opened the door a bit, and a five-year-old child squeezed through the small space, straightening up and looking up at Sir Integra with her left, visible red eye. The leader and master of the Hellsing Organization watched her silently as the child bowed her head. She then stood up straight and saluted, a bit too hard against her own forehead, but she remained still and straight. Integra raised an eyebrow when she heard the small thump as the child's hand collided with her head in the respectful movement, as well as an audible "ah" as she nearly made herself fall over.
Sir Hellsing watched the child pause to glance around the large room. It only had a cabinet under a large portrait, while the desk that Integra stood behind only had a large chair as a companion. She also spotted a chair in the shadowed area of the room with someone sitting upon it that she could barely recognize as Alucard.
Celia turned back and looked up at Integra as the woman approached her. "I am Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing. I am the president of the Hellsing Organization, and master of the nosferatu Alucard," She gestured to Alucard with her head. "My subordinate has been so bold as to give you un-life. From now on, you will follow the orders of me, Alucard, Walter, and any commanding officer within our organization, as well as Seras Victoria."
If Celia understood any of it, the screwed up look on her face didn't help.
"Do you understand, Celia Pares?"
The girl smiled a small, nervous grin and nodded.
"She's only five, Integra. She doesn't understand military protocol." Alucard chuckled then glanced over at the child. "From now on, you must listen to my master," He nodded towards her, "Walter, the Police Girl, and all the other soldiers here. Listen to us as if we were your family." Integra growled under her breath at that statement, glaring over at her slave; and Alucard chuckled softly at her reaction.
"Oh—um...o-ok—I mean! Yes sir!" She nodded vigorously and saluted, though still rather confused.
Integra frowned. "This is ridiculous." She turned to her vampire servant. "I shouldn't have allowed you to bring her here. We could have sent her to an orphanage or a children's hospital to help her, but you decided to change her small life."
"I'm flattered, Miss Hellsing." Alucard grinned wildly. "But just as both you and the Police Girl made a choice...she made a choice not to be left alone to die."
Celia listened silently, feeling both ignored and rather humiliated at the fact that she still didn't jump to a good start with the leader of the organization. As they spoke to each other about her; she stared down at her boots, fiddling with her hands behind her back, her eyes shadowed from her bangs. After a while, she realized that Integra had called her name repeatedly. "Celia Pares!"
"Um—uh—yes!" She looked up quickly at the powerful woman, feeling much, much smaller than she already felt.
"From now on, you are a soldier of the Hellsing Organization. Don't disappoint me."
"Y-yes...S-sir Integra..." The child mumbled.
"You have my permission to leave." Integra said, turning away to return to her seat at the desk. Celia thought that it appeared to end the conversation. She frowned lightly in resolve and made a note in her mind to remember this first meeting.
Walter entered the large room immediately and gently tapped Celia's shoulder to get her attention. She quickly turned and followed after him again as he led her downstairs to the large foyer.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait here for a moment for Alucard. He's most likely speaking to Sir Integra about you."
"O-okay...Oh! Um—thank you, Mr. Walter!" The child called, watching the butler leave.
"I'll meet with you again soon. However, don't be afraid to call for me."
"Um—...uh—okay!!" She nodded quickly, watching him leave.
After a few moments, she glanced down at the floor, and then sat down on the steps with a tired, pained sigh.