Chapter 6. Assassin's Bible; The Most Important Thing to Remember When you are Travelling on a Ship of any kind, is That it is Always Far Better to Remain Above the Water, Than Below It.
Captain Pip Bernadette struggled futilely to light his cigarette, his numb fingers shaking as he repeatedly snapped at his lighter. Despite his curses, the barrier he had made around it with his hands and the fact that they were huddled inside a warehouse, the blasted thing refused to work. Snarling out a few obscenities in French he thrust the offending object into his pockets and spat out his cigarette.
Rubbing his hands together he tried to cut out the cold crisp air of London harbour at two in the morning. November the twelfth, and a damned cold November the twelfth it was too. The lot of them were currently cramped together in an empty warehouse struggling for warmth.
There was Seras rubbing her hands along her arms and muttering to herself. Pip's three chosen men, Ricardo, a sniper who was furiously chewing on some gum and trying not to shiver. Mark, a mechanic and demolitions man who Pip fancied might be handy if they needed to hotwire a vehicle. He was young faced and shy, and was at the moment suffering the cold silently, only shivering marginally. And finally there was Luke, an original member from when the Wild Geese had first been founded. He was just handy, able to use most weapons as well as being more trusty than most of the rookies. At the moment Luke was still battling the elements with his own lighter, refusing to give in to the cold, crisp air.
Sitting a few feet away from the main group were the two assassins, Mireille and Kirika who seemed to prefer their own company to Pip's own, though he couldn't understand why. They were cuddled close together in an effort to warm up. The Japanese girl seemed to be fully alert but the blonde was obviously tired. According to Walter they had been up all day. Pip and the others slept at day, because at Hellsing, work came at night.
The thought made Pip look at Alucard, the last member of their attack group, the master vampire was currently sitting on his ebony black coffin and seemingly was lost deep in thought. Pip was used to the sight of Alucard's coffin, yet his men and the assassins seemed somewhat nervous at the reminder of what he was. Pip had to wonder if that wasn't what had motivated the vampire to uncover it. Alucard did like teasing people, many times the aggravating vampire had come popping out of walls in front of Pip and his men, taking great amusement in making them jump in fright. It's a strange world Pip ruminated, when he called two vampires his friends.
"Tell me again why we're waiting here." Seras whispered to him, she had sidled up to him to talk. Pip noticed with some annoyance that his three men had slipped away from them, still scared of the vampire. It was pathetic really, she wasn't any different from humans.
"Well, for a start it's hard to get guns, coffins, knives and such through customs. We've been here for so long because ze man we hired took advance payment, and if we weren't here before him he'd leave without us." Seras gave him a condescending look which made him snicker slightly. She mumbled something about him, probably not complimentary but didn't move away.
"What do you think about them." Seras whispered quietly her eyes indicating the two assassins who were leaning heavily on each other. Pip thought he detected a small bit of jealousy deep in Seras' words and decided to pounce on it.
"Well the blonde's nice, tall, great figure. Long legs and shapely breasts-" He didn't get any further because he was interrupted by Seras' deep growl. All eyes turned to her for a moment, she hadn't been as quiet as Pip had been. She turned angrily and stared everyone down, except Alucard who's grin only seemed to widen.
"That's not what I meant." She hissed quietly to him, Pip feigned a look of innocence whilst mentally shaking his head. Seras truly didn't see herself as pretty, always thinking she was ugly or lacking in certain areas. It was amazing really. "Can we trust them?" She clarified needlessly.
"I think so." Pip answered seriously, "We spared them and offered them more money than Millennium, they're professionals not patriots. They know they have much more chance helping us than fighting us. They'll be loyal." Seras seemed convinced, Pip was sure of their loyalty. Surely they would want to thank Hellsing for sparing them? They seemed pretty determined anyway.
Mireille relaxed somewhat when she heard the mercenary captain's response to the vampire. They had been quiet, but Mireille had picked out the words, and she was sure Kirika had too. It was reassuring to be trusted by her newfound allies. If they were trusting then things would go much more smoothly for everyone.
She stifled a yawn as she snuggled back against the wall she was leaning on. Thanks to her thick clothing, the wall and Kirika's body pressed up against her she was quite warm here, a nice place to fall asleep. Her heavy eyelids began to droop, making the scene go dark as she succumbed to her fatigue.
Kirika's hand around her wrist tightened, cutting into her tiredness like a knife. Even as the firm grip cut the blood supply to her hand. Mireille looked at Kirika about to complain but the words froze in her mouth. Kirika's reddish brown eyes were closed, but her brow was furrowed.
"Kirika…" Mireille whispered.
"There's people coming." Was the girl's answer, Mireille felt her throat go dry as she looked at her companions. What should she do? Should she tell them, and if so how? Why would they believe her?
"There are people approaching." She piped up, keeping her voice deadly serious. Everyone's faces rose, with a mixture of confusion, doubt and apprehension painted between them. She almost swore in anger, they didn't believe her.
"I know." The tall vampire Alucard replied, suddenly dispelling everyone's doubt. The men were up, firearms clutched protectively to their bodies as they searched and made for appropriate cover. Alucard stood but remained where he was, even as Seras pulled out a small handgun and moved to the edge of the warehouse.
Mireille looked at Kirika as if seeking direction, everyone else seemed to fit into a kind of rehearsed roles. As if they had done this uncounted times before and were working together as a perfect team, all moving as pre-arranged to be most efficient. It made Mireille feel left out, but also for professional reasons it meant that Kirika and herself could not depend on them for aid. Team work would be at a minimum for them.
Kirika drew her Beretta snapping it back to chamber a round, Mireille followed suit with her Walther before stepping slowly into the shadows offered by the wall of the warehouse. Why were they acting so suspiciously she had to wonder, surely it could just as easily be dock workers approaching? And yet somehow she knew that wasn't so. Kirika had stepped into the shadows on the opposite side, as soon as she touched them seeming to merge into them.
Silence…
For the few minutes that came before any attack Mireille suffered from the strange pre-battle lull that all felt. Was it a mistake? Were they simply normal people who had passed them by? Was it ever coming! As always she schooled her errant thoughts away and instead checked her Walther to make sure all was in order. The clip was firmly in place, a shot was chambered. She had cleaned it only the previous day, washing away all traces of dirt and grime before it could form rust, or clog up the inner mechanics. Only a fool allowed their weapon to jam thanks to poor maintenance, and in this line of work she couldn't afford to be foolish. Not with both hers and Kirika's life on the line.
She risked a glance towards Alucard, shivering slightly at the sight of him. Standing alone, in the darkness next to his coffin he cut a fearsome figure. His long black hair seemed to wave madly in the air, even though there was no wind to stir it. His face was again covered by shadows, but she was sure his mouth was twisted into an insane smile, his fangs glittering in the darkness.
She searched for Seras and found the young vampire crouched with her back to a wall and her handgun held firmly in her hands, she had he barrel pointing to the ceiling as she searched for points of entry with her bright red eyes. Despite being crouched in the shadows she was quite obvious to a determined searcher, not melting into the shadows with the skill of Kirika or herself. Not that she needed to Mireille conceded.
She began to look for everyone else when there was a large muffled thump, Mireille raised her eyebrows as she realised it was the sound of an explosion, the bang muffled by the steel, it was probably against the door of the warehouse. There was a sound of scraping metal, and then the large steel doors slowly fell inwards, the sounds of tortured metal sounding like a felled tree. A large hole was left in the doorway where none had been before.
A long lone piercing gunshot echoed throughout the warehouse, seeming to rebound off the walls. Mireille looked back to where it had come from to see a single barrel fire off another single round. Thank God, a sniper. She thought to herself smiling. It seemed that the threat was not enough to keep their enemies away however, as a mass of creatures came shambling through the custom made doorway.
Mireille knew instantly that they weren't human, their skin was pallid and their gait a shambling unbalanced lurch. They held no weapons in their hands and their heads seem to droop unnaturally. There was no intelligence in their empty black eyes.
"Fire!" A harsh voice called out. Muzzle fire blazed from the male soldiers as the press of bodies was cut down, the semi-automatics seeming to cut through their ranks like a scythe through corn. Mireille conserved her own ammo, waiting for more important targets. They were not long in the coming.
Fast as lightning a small group of people seemed to shoot into the warehouse behind the barrier of putrid flesh made by the advance guard. Another sniper shot rang out but the target seemed to sway out of the way with unnatural speed. Mireille's quick eyes took in the details, five men, or from the looks vampires. They looked entirely normal, except that they moved with far too much speed. Unlike Alucard and Seras however their eyes were a mix of colours. They lacked a certain noble grace too. As if they were simply pretenders when compared with the likes of them.
A few loud gunshots announced Kirika taking part in the fight, her small lithe figure bounding across the space between the walls with inhuman grace, enough to match any of the vampires she fought. Her Beretta jumped in her hand, screaming death at her foes, even as her bullets whizzed unerringly towards her chosen target.
The vampire took one shot low in the thigh, stumbling to the floor momentarily but soon rising to his feet and turning towards the young Asian assassin. Mireille took aim on a different one and fired still from the shadows, the bullet struck her target high in the back, this time it had more effect than Kirika's. Her target seemed to freeze in shock for a moment before seeming to collapse in on himself as he faded into dust. Months of decomposing occurring in only a few seconds.
She turned back, her eyes searching as she looked to who most needed her help. Her first glance was to Kirika, as it always was and always would be. The girl was just finishing off her target, the gun kicking in her grasp as she filled the body on the floor with bullets, not stopping until it too turned to dust. The men had already taken care of the mindless things and were too searching for help needed.
Alucard of course needed no aid, one lay dead at his feet and he was currently brutally toying with the other, first disarming the creature before pulling one of it's arms off and then blowing it's head away. Seras was faring less well, she was entangled with her vampire, trying to wrestle the man to the ground. Mireille was sure the girl could not win her battle, she was small and slight and the man was surely the heavier of the two. Yet after a few moments it became obvious that Seras was in control. A quick shift and a flick had her on top, and a few point blank shots later had him as dust.
It had ended in less than a minute, and yet it had felt like a long time. They were all uninjured too or so she assumed, there were no moans of pain, nor screams of the departing. Pip and Seras hurried to the impromptu door in the wall and jumped out, each looking a different way. Seemingly satisfied Seras came back in as Pip ran out.
Mireille made instinctively for Kirika, wishing to reassure herself that she was still there. The small form of Kirika was standing still, but hunched over slightly. Mireille came around her and tried to see what she was looking at.
"You're hurt." Mireille gasped, her heart giving a sudden lurch as the worst possibility shot into her mind. Kirika interrupted with uncharacteristic speed.
"It's not bad Mireille. Just a scratch, bullet went through skin but nothing important." Mireille breathed out a deep sigh of relief, her heart returning to a regular beat. Kirika's words reassured her, she was after all a very accomplished field surgeon. No doubt one of those things Althena had taught her in her training to be Noir.
"I'll dress it." Mireille offered, Kirika simply nodded in agreement allowing Mireille not to feel helpless. Or so Mireille assumed, Kirika seemed more sympathetic to her than she was to herself at the moment. Perhaps she knew how much it hurt to think you had lost someone.
" 'Ey up!" Pip's voice hollered, "Ze transports 'ere!" They all looked at each other for a moment before hurrying outside, each looking forward to different things. Mireille was looking forwards to a warm room and the chance to inspect Kirika's wound herself. After that incident at the manor she was understandably scared about Kirika being hurt.
Kirika swallowed a gasp before it could come out from her mouth. The pain was bearable after all, and she didn't want to worry Mireille over such a minor wound. Kirika knew how terrifying it was when Mireille was hurt, how her own heart seemed to freeze and her mind die. Was this a sign that Mireille felt the same towards Kirika as she did to her partner?
"This is our room." Mireille remarked quietly, inserting the key into the metal door and opening it with one hand, she shouldered it open and helped Kirika in. In reality Kirika didn't need to lean on Mireille, but she knew it made the blonde feel like she was doing something, and it wasn't entirely unpleasurable for Kirika either. The room was stark and functional, two single beds spread wide apart and two small bunkers for storage. There was another door presumable leading off to a bathroom and a single round window in the metal wall.
Currently the view outside was of the receding docks of London, the sight swaying in the distance. The sight made Kirika feel somewhat queasy, a feeling she poked within herself curiously. Was it a sickness? Some illness, perhaps the wound had been infected. She realised that her head was spinning somewhat too, and her throat felt furry. She frowned and tried to dispel it, light headedness after a wound was never a good sign.
"Here we go." Mireille encouraged lowering Kirika down onto a single bed, Kirika let herself be positioned by the older woman. Trusting in the blonde's own first aid training to see her bandaged. She felt her jacket being opened and her shirt being lifted up, the cool air making her shiver slightly. Mireille frowned, her blue eyes becoming icy as she inspected the wound. Kirika smiled slightly at that thought. Mireille tended to frown at things she didn't like. As if by turning her stare on them she could scare them into righting themselves.
And, Kirika had to concede, that with people it certainly worked. Mireille's glare was icy and sharp like knives. She knew that if it was turned on her she'd get out of it's way as quick as possible.
"It doesn't look so bad." Mireille announced after she had bandaged it firmly. Kirika thought for a second before replying somewhat hesitantly.
"Thanks, I never would've known." Was all she said, there was a stunned silence from Mireille and for a second Kirika thought she'd done wrong. The blonde assassin's face came into her view for a second and the amused smile chased away any sense of foreboding on Kirika's part.
"Is that so?" Mireille asked sweetly, her smile turning teasing. Kirika looked away slightly and Mireille gave a small laugh. In truth Kirika had longed to tease the blonde back. Ever since the manor Mireille had been most teasing towards Kirika. It wasn't disliked by the young girl, in fact it made her happy. It was a form of playing, a childhood dream she'd never had. But with her own limited knowledge and introverted nature it was a game that only Mireille could play, and that made Kirika feel slightly left out.
Kirika had started figuring out how to tease. It was hard, much harder than killing people that was for sure. At first it had consisted of deeply analysing each and every one of Mireille's own taunts. Finding the teasing part in it and figuring out why it was teasing.
In Kirika's conclusion it was all about highlighting the other person's mistakes in a humorous light or to tease by highlighting similarities between their current situation and a more humorous one, or by using analogies. Sometimes Mireille would lead Kirika on as well, explaining something in ridiculous detail and then laughing madly when Kirika believed her. Kirika almost blushed when she remembered how Mireille had convinced her there were people in the radio, speaking to them.
Teasing was all extremely complicated, but Kirika was sure it would be worth it. Just if anything to allow her to get Mireille back for her own ribbing.
Just then the room seemed to sway and Kirika's face took on a pained expression as her stomach seemed to do a somersault. Mireille's expression became suddenly serious as she gripped Kirika's shoulders.
"Kirika! What's wrong." Kirika fought her dinner back down her throat, the struggle only being won when the food had reached the vicinity of her neck. She swallowed again and explained what she was feeling to Mireille, hoping desperately that the more worldly woman would have an answer for her.
However when the blonde burst out in laughter Kirika almost blushed. A feeling of intense embarrassment taking dominance over her nausea. Oh great, she was sure she'd just made a fool of herself. That would definitely be a black mark for her on the teasing game. Mireille's silvery laughter continued for what seemed to be an age to Kirika, the time only serving to make her more uncomfortable.
"Oh Kirika." Mireille managed to get out after another few moments, the blonde wiping away a tear of amusement. That was another sore spot with Kirika, the time when she'd tried to comfort a Mireille she had thought to be crying, only to find out people shed tears when highly amused. How Mireille had laughed then too! "You're just sea sick." She explained between snickers, Kirika raised a sombre eyebrow in inquiry, deciding to simply ignore Mireille's mirth at her expense. At least the way Mireille was treating it suggested that this sickness was not as serious as Kirika had first feared.
"It' just that some people don't react well to boats or ships. It's the rolling of the waves or so I'm told. The rocking and rolling makes them feel sick. It's nothing to worry about, it usually goes away after a day as well, when you get your sea legs." Kirika didn't bother asking what sea legs looked like, being pretty sure she'd be teased mercilessly for it. Still Mireille's explanation may have tempered her worry somewhat, but the words "Rocking" and "Rolling" had brought back the sickness, as her mind suddenly latched onto the fact that the room was swaying.
"Hey, don't throw up on me." Mireille warned, having caught sight of Kirika's face as it turned a tinge greenish. Kirika looked away, trying to focus on the metal wall of their small cabin, but that too seemed to be moving, back and forth with sickening motions.
"I don't like this." Was all Kirika could manage to say in return, and yet it felt like too much even to her.
"I know." Mireille comforted with a hand on Kirika's cheek, the small girl almost froze at the warm contact. "Try and get some sleep, the journey will have ended by tonight." Kirika nodded against Mireille's hand as the blonde woman stood and moved away, to the other bed.
Kirika felt her heart beat increase, the pounding in her chest telling her that she was frightened. It took her a few moments to realise what was causing this reaction. She was alone. In a small cramped bed with no one else and Mireille across the entire room from her. There was no way she could take comfort in the blonde's presence. Could not be reassured by her warmth. She wanted to say something but was unsure what she could say. How could she voice her worries to Mireille without alienating her?
Deciding that she couldn't say anything Kirika tried to snuggle into the sheets, seeking the warmth she knew was there. But all she felt was the rough fabric clinging to her, smothering her in it's folds. Before she could stop herself she heard a small whimper escape her throat. Ashamed she hid herself from Mireille, using her back as a barrier.
"Kirika?" Mireille's voice was laced with concern, Kirika felt her eyes moisten slightly at the warring emotions inside her. She heard Mireille crossing the floor hesitantly and tried her best to make her eyes suck back up all the moisture, not wanting Mireille to see her cry.
A light hand on her shoulder made her roll over slightly and her moist brown eyes met the soft blue orbs of Mireille. The blue eyes seemed to widen as they looked at Kirika's, the concern in them escalating as they searched her eyes for a reason. Kirika felt her eyes begin to shed more tears as she gazed into Mireille's face, the concern only fuelling her sorrow.
"It's alright." Mireille comforted moving away quickly from Kirika's sight, she thought for a moment that Mireille's words were the only comfort she was to receive. But she soon heard the sounds of Mireille straining to do something. There was a muffled thump that Kirika realised was the sound of Mireille's mattress hitting the floor. "Stand up a sec." Mireille asked, and Kirika rose from the bed, her head hanging in shame.
Mireille must think me weak. Kirika mused sorrowfully to herself as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. This tear however was of a deep happiness, that Mireille cared enough to do this for her. The bed was made on the floor, sandwiched between the two bolted metal bedsteads so that they would not slide apart. Mireille climbed in and then looked up at Kirika, a small smile on her face as she held the covers back beside her. Kirika felt another tear roll down her cheek as she beamed at Mireille and promptly climbed in, snuggling in as close to the blonde as she could physically get.
She felt Mireille's arms go around her back and hug her close, probably in an effort to chase away any last sadness in her. At least if that was it's aim it certainly worked. Kirika looked up from her position against Mireille's chest and saw Mireille's face smiling down on her.
"Do you realise you're not sea sick anymore?" She asked with a hint of amusement. Kirika felt her face turn into an amazed expression as she realised the truth of the blonde's words.
"Thank you." Kirika whispered earnestly, closing her eyes and drifting off, Mireille blew on her cheek to keep her awake for a bit longer.
"How were you shot?" She asked and Kirika woke up instantly, she too had analysed this. It went against all she was taught, she had acted perfectly, the manoeuvres in good time and her shots accurate. She Shouldn't have been hit!
"They're not human." She said after a moment, "He didn't dodge behind cover to avoid my shots. He took them and kept firing." Mireille nodded her understanding. Killing these monsters was going to be different from killing simple thugs, these creatures were too unpredictable. "Can I sleep now?" Kirika asked in a slightly amused voice, ready for one parting shot at Mireille. "I do have my teddy bear now." She added closing her eyes and cutting out Mireille's face, full of false indignation.
Seras looked out over the railing at the side of the boat. It was more of a ferry than a ship, a great metal hulking monstrosity of steel plastered with iron. She hated boats. It wasn't that they made her sick, in fact she found the rocking almost soothing. It was the knowledge that she was surrounded by deep inescapable water. A power that could drag her under the waves, sapping at her strength. She told herself it was foolish, with her incredible inhuman stamina a swim across the English Channel should be easy. And she didn't need to breathe, so if she wanted she could walk along the bottom of the ocean. It wasn't like there were sharks here either.
In the end she had to concede that her fears from her childhood were still affecting her, even now. It was moderately embarrassing, though she didn't blush. Another thing was worrying her. She had enjoyed that fight far too much. She ran the scene back through her mind.
The Vampire noticed her crouched in the shadows, she raised her gun and took aim along the barrel, one eye closed as she exhaled and began to pull the trigger. He howled wordlessly, and yet to Seras it seemed to have meaning, it was a challenge. Before she could stop herself she had snarled back at him and lowered her gun, spreading her arms wide in contempt of the pretender filth before her. He was less than her. Less than human, less than a vampire. Like master said, mere dogs at the beck of their pathetic leaders. Worthless scum.
The FREAK leapt at her with the speed only an undead could match, his face was twisted into a victorious smile as his weight bore her to the ground. Making them hit the hard concrete with enough force to make them both grunt. The creature hissed angrily at her from his position on her chest, voicing his dominance over her. The sound had reduced her to inarticulate fury. Dominance? Over her! This pathetic bio-engineered maggot! Hah! With her free hand she delivered a crushing blow to his Solar Plexus, driving all the air from his lungs with the force and making him double over in pain.
Smiling like a lunatic she wrestled him down closer to her, bringing his neck within reach of her fangs, his face twisted with fear and sweat as he realised his fatal mistake. She prepared to pierce his neck and drink his blood when the voice of her master entered her mind.
Seras. Yes! How beautiful. But his blood is not worth the effort. Her master's mental voice was full of both pride and something else, a raw untamed pleasure that made her shiver in anticipation. But he was right, this scum wasn't worth her teeth. Closing her mouth but smiling evilly she bucked the lower half of her body, flipping him over her head. She was a moment behind, rolling on top in almost the same moment, the gun in her hand before she even realised it was there.
His face was full of terror as she pointed it at his upper chest and blasted away, pumping six shots into his chest and splattering his black blood all over her face. Master was right, it tasted foul. She had woken up then, realised what she had done. The pleased smile had fallen from her face, to be replaced by a grim expression.
The need for action had kept her from self-analysis. But now she was free to wallow in her guilt. And wallow she was going to do. She hated herself for it, the lack of control, the raw untamed lust she had taken in extinguishing his life. Of course he had to die. He attacked her and death was his reward. But she could have sent a single shot into his heart, a quick painless death, instead of toying with him so. It was ... Cruel.
"No! It was glorious." A deep voice corrected from behind her. She didn't need to turn to know who it was. She knew he thought it so, and knew just as much that he could sense her guilt and was furious at it. "It was the rage of a true Nosferatu."
But I don't want to be a true Nosferatu. Her mind whispered, she was sure Alucard picked it up, but for once he didn't mention it. She didn't want to be a true vampire, not if this was what it was all about. She never wanted to lose control, never wanted to hurt anybody.
"You know." Alucard began, and Seras turned to look at him, those two words sounded utterly too...human for her master. "Vampires and humans, we're not all that different. We each survive by eating the flesh of others, we drink blood. But how is that more disgusting than gorging on the cooked carcass of some long dead animal?" All of a sudden Seras didn't feel very hungry. "At least our food is fresh and clean. We experience emotions; anger, fear, betrayal, happiness. They're all there. Why do you so despise what you might become?" Seras lowered her eyes, not wanting to look at her master, who for once was not wearing his glasses. His eyes seemed entirely too soft, even his voice, normally so bland, was comforting.
"I don't know. But what I did back there was not human. I-"
"Reacted in anger. Can you claim that humans are always in control when angry? That filth expressed his dominance over you, claimed to have power over your life. A graver insult there is not for us. You were angry, and so you should have been, the only reason you toyed with him is because you failed to control that anger. Don't blame your actions on being a vampire, that cruelty was of your own making, cruelty is a human definition, for human actions. Your humanity is what made you tease him as you killed him. Can you not see?" He demanded fiercely, strangely, Seras had the distinct impression that he was trying to comfort her at the same time as educate her.
"Yes but-" She began.
"No! There are no buts. There are no rewards for our actions, no punishments! Only consequences! You lost control and as a result the scum died. But think about this, what would have happened had you stayed in control? He'd still be dead. There is no difference, the end is the same and the means are irrelevant. When you injured that rookie four days ago you did so because you thought he had sexually assaulted you! That's a human insult and it was because of your human limitations that he suffered so badly. A Vampire would have seen it as a compliment, and he'd still be fine. The reason you keep torturing yourself is because you refuse to leave your humanity behind, wrongly believing that vampirism is evil and humanity is so much purer. Grow up Seras! The most evil, dangerous creatures on this planet are you humans, you pollute, you destroy, you build giant cities with nuclear abilities. Humans are the scum of this earth."
Seras was forced to take a step back, only stopping when her back bumped into the railing behind her. His eyes were glowing fiercely red and his black hair was billowing wildly in the wind. And was it her imagination? But it had seemed to grow longer in the time he had spoken. He had a mad look about him, and she sensed… darkness. Why then, did the sight excite her, making her lip her licks.
"It's evil to kill humans, simply for food." She whispered, not willing to let him win the argument.
"So the chicken would say to the human if he could. At least we only kill for food, we don't hunt humans to extinction for their skin. Nor their bones to make ornaments with, humans are disgusting. They are parasites." Seras' shoulders seemed to slump, she was tired and wanted to go to sleep. She didn't want to listen to master insult humanity as a whole, especially not when he was so damned right about it.
"I'm going to bed." She announced firmly, declaring that the conversation was over. As she passed Alucard by she felt his gloved hand touch her face slightly. She froze at the contact and as soon as it was there it was gone, the only sign that she hadn't imagined it being the tickling sensation on her cheek.
"I have told you the truth Seras. You'll never be happy with who you are until you realise that and accept it as the truth. Only then can you be truly content."
"I am happy!" She hissed at him as she hurried away, she knew he didn't have to see the tears forming in her eyes to know she was lying.
"I have done my best, my police girl, the rest is up to you now." Alucard muttered to himself as she left the deck. He knew she couldn't hear him but it wasn't for her ears anyway.
For those who have not read or watched Hellsing, there will be explanations about what it is they do, and who the shambling mindless creatures, and the pretender vampires are. In the Next chapter.