Alucard and Seras mindspeech is represented by; >>. It would have been > But wouldn't let me as the always vanished when i saved.
Chapter 10. Assassin's Bible; One must Forever Endeavour Never to Piss Off someone Who is able to Tear You Limb from Limb.
Seras was cold. So very cold. She was weak too. Why was she so weak. The cool air seemed to whisper against her skin. Despite the fact she could feel the rough fabric of her clothing still in place. Open your eyes. A voice commanded, and she obeyed.
Her lids peeled back slowly, blinding her with the sudden light. Squinting but not moving Seras allowed her vision to settle before she looked around. The room was white, it looked like the inside of a freezer. Tall pristine white walls loomed up around her. The only break a grey steel door set in the centre of one wall. She tried to rise but found that she was too weak. Simply managing to send herself tumbling from the smooth platform she had been laid upon.
Why am I so weak? She asked herself, not even having the energy to speak the words aloud.
>You have been drained of blood.> A voice offered in her mind, followed by an image of her laying on the bed whilst needles were injected into her. Drawing her precious red fluid away from her. >It was to make you more docile, less able to fight back.>
>Master?> She quested with her mind, earning an appreciative chuckle that made her feel better. >Master, where are we? Where are you?> The thought that Alucard was awake and hadn't rescued her yet made her nervous.
An image was pushed into her mind, of a ragged red figure laying seemingly asleep or dead on a stone floor. Underneath the form of her master was a pentagram scrawled in dark blood. Ancient symbols decorated it. Standing outside the pentagram were perhaps twelve people armed with rifles.
>I am... Indisposed. You must help me this time my fledgling.> The voice echoed back with a hint of sadness, or wounded pride, Seras couldn't tell which.
>But I->
>No Police girl listen, we don't have the time. Soon I will be dead. Each moment you wait this cursed spell draws away my power into a stone, locking it away for someone else to draw on. You must free me or I shall die. And if I die, Hellsing may not be far behind.> Seras felt a tear slide down her cheek.
>But master, I'm so weak. I.. I.. Can't.. move.> She sobbed out helplessly. >How can I help you? Why can't you escape?> A warm feeling seemed to spread through her, calming her mind and stilling her tears. Seras wondered if Alucard were actually manipulating her emotions. She felt light headed, and... warm, as if she were at peace.
>You will do your best my police girl. And I will ask no more from you. But you must hurry. A man approaches, he is human. When he is close I will feed you my strength. You must kill him.> Seras nodded, her earlier fear gone. >Be ready. >
There was a swish and footsteps as the door opened and the man walked into the room. Seras closed her eyes but listened to the man's approach. He walked in briskly, then paused. A soft chuckle emanated around the room, and the footsteps came again as he walked up to her.
"If you can hear me? Then I would suggest you try not to move. You're far too weak to be trying to get up." Strong arms encircled her body as the man tried to lift her back onto the platform.
>NOW!> The voice of her master screamed in her head. Fresh fire coursed through her body igniting her with it's heat as sheer power was forced through her veins. Her eyes snapped open. The man was tall, rugged, German. His eyes were green she noticed as his shocked glance met her red stare. She smiled.
"No-ST-" He got no further as her arm shot out, grasping his throat with such strength that it snapped instantly.
Seras was about to howl with triumph when all strength seemed to seep slowly out of her. Her mind becoming foggy and her limbs seeming to gain weight. Dragging her down. >Master!> She cried out in alarm.
>You know what it is you must do.> Was his reply. His voice, soft and yet commanding. She nodded, lowering her head down towards the man's neck and opening her mouth. She hesitated.
Who was this man? Had he a family? Why should she just drink his blood? For nothing more than food. It wasn't right.
>POLICE GIRL!> A mental voice cried out in anger and anguish. >What does any of that matter? He's already dead! His family is irrelevant now as he'll already never see them again. Why not drink? It won't change anything! He's a bloody corpse. No different from the blood bags you-> The message cut out, and for a moment Seras thought she could actually sense his pain, his anguish. That decided it. Nobody hurt her master!
Her fangs sank through his flesh as if it were not there at all. Piercing his skin and severing an artery in his neck. What did it matter? She asked herself, He is already dead, drinking from him won't make any difference. Before she knew it she had already drained him, blood seeped from her mouth and dripped down her chin and onto her top. She wiped her face clean then licked the remaining blood from her fingers. So sweet. She mumbled to herself as she savoured the taste.
"Master!" She exclaimed suddenly, dropping to her knees and searching the corpse for a weapon. She found a small pistol, an age-old German handgun, the Walther P96. An older version of Mireille's own weapon. Checking him she stole four full clips from the pockets of his white lab coat, stuffing them into her pockets even as she chambered a round.
>Master?> She asked as she slammed into the wall by the door, listening for any sounds from the other side. There was only silence.
>Find me Police girl, you will know where I am, just as I always know where you are.> She nodded, her face set in a grim frown. She'd tear this place apart to find him if she had to. The door swished open.
Surprisingly, Seras noted that the building they were in was actually made from stone. The strange refrigerator she had been in seemingly being a newer construction. She could hear dripping as rain water seeped through the cracks in the brickwork. Dropping into small puddles that had formed on the stone floor.
Closing her eyes Seras concentrated. She could feel her master. A pulsating presence in the back of her mind. An ever present reminder of their vampiric ties. He wasn't that far, a few hundred metres. She ran to the end of the corridor, pressing her body against the stone wall at the intersection of a corner. She could hear them, no.. She could smell them! The tang of sweat that showed her next enemies were just humans, no match for her.
"-unt I said, Nein mein fuhrer, zis cannot-" His companion never found out what he had said as the man's head was suddenly realigned. The neck twisted and the body slumping against the wall.
"Wha-!" He died too. A sharp knife piercing his back and a hand clamping over his mouth with inhuman strength. The man's glazed eyes searched for his death. A shadowy figure stood above him, it's face smiling with an insane quality. "Vam..pi..re." He expired.
"That's right scum. A vampire." Seras whispered quietly. "And the rest of this stinking place better beware."
There was a loud click behind her.
"Get the girl on ze bed." A deep voice commanded, and Pip and Luke hurried to obey, lifting Kirika quickly and placing her softly on the bed. Laying her down without harming her. The small Asian girl's breathing was laboured and she was sweating profusely. The German doctor they had quickly paid rushed up to her and inspected the wound, poking and prodding.
"She'll be okay. She'll be fine won't she?" Mireille demanded, her voice close to breaking. Kirika would be fine. She was always fine. But right now she wanted to hear someone else say so too. The small girl's wound was serious. The bullet had hit her from the side, driving the bullet deep into her hip, where it was still lodged.
"Get ze woman out of here!" The doctor commanded harshly, not even turning as he instructed the men. Pip turned to her with an apologetic face.
"You heard the doc' miss. You can't help 'ere." Pip placed an hand on her arm. But Mireille was far from reasonable.
"No! I won't leave her, she's my friend. She's my other half!" She cried out even as Pip clamped his arms around her and carried her out of the room. At first she struggled wildly, kicking at his legs, since his embrace immobilised her arms. But as soon as Kirika was out of her vision, her struggles stopped and she started crying. Her muscles sagged and tears poured from her eyes and down her cheeks.
"It'll be fine." Pip comforted, his French accent thick and heavy. "As you say, she has survived much. I doubt zis bullet would stop her." Mireille knew that his words were meant to comfort. But they only reminded her why Kirika had a bullet in her.
"It's all my fault!" She sobbed wildly as Pip opened a door with his foot, carrying her inside.
"That's not true Mireille and you know it. I'm locking the door so please don't try and get out." Unfortunately she did know. She knew it was her fault. She had allowed her judgment to become clouded with emotion. Had she acted professionally then Kirika would have been free of the sewers on the first attempt. Instead she had gone off looking for her, not trusting to Kirika's skills to protect her. Placing her and Kirika in more danger as a result.
"It's all my fault..." She cried helplessly, slumping to the floor and curling up into a ball. Trying to protect herself from the awful reality.
Seras felt her eyes widen. The hairs on the back of her neck prickling. That's what you get for mouthing off. She silently reprimanded herself. She tensed her muscles and prepared to spring away. As soon as she heard the hammer strike she would dive. With her reflexes she might make it.
"Ahhhhh!" The man cried out in pain and fear. The sweet smell of blood permeated the air, like an intoxicating perfume. He was wounded. Spinning and falling to the side Seras took the scene in at a glance. There was no time for confusion at what she saw. Instead she sighted on the lab coat man and squeezed the trigger of her new gun. It kicked wildly in her hand, sending three bullets at his chest.
After the man had died Seras allowed her gaze to stray to the confusing factor. Pallid skin, hunched form. A torn and bloody white lab coat. Empty, soulless eyes. Oh-my-God. Seras thought as her mouth dropped and her mind froze.
"My... Ghoul?" Master is going to kill me! She mentally told herself. If Integra ever found out... Well,.. best make sure she never did find out.
She raised the gun, sure that the bullet would be silver. After all you didn't equip anti-vampire guards with useless weaponry.
"Guhh-uhhh." The ghoul moaned loudly, looking at her intently and dipping it's head slightly. A quick death is all we can give them. A quick death. She repeated over and over to herself like a mantra. The creature moaned again, and she almost thought she could understand it's meaning. It wasn't like understanding speech, more like when you had a pet dog. You could understand the sounds it made even though it was just whining or barking.
It looked miserable. And sounded sad and abandoned. No, Kill it! She shouted at herself, already knowing that her resolve was weakening. It couldn't be.. could it? It was an ugly zombie with flesh dripping from it, but she found it... cute?
"Ewwww, gross." She moaned. But it was true. The creature was looking at her with such an adoring look. Like a puppy would when it wanted food. How could you kill something like that? Her mind was incredulous. How could anyone in their right mind compare a nasty, ugly, smelly zombie to a cute puppy?
But then, maybe it was her vampiric heritage. Perhaps it altered her perceptions of what would have normally been a natural sight to a vampire. Though obviously not to a young girl.
"Gahh, fine you can come with me. But you need a name... Greg. That's your name." She explained with finality. The ghoul nodded and let out an appreciative groan. Though she wasn't sure if it was about the name or the fact he could come with her.
>Greg the Ghoul?> A weak voice muttered incredulously in her head. >Police girl, that's awful.> Blushing slightly Seras was about to reply scathingly when he cut her off. It was only then that she'd noticed how weak he sounded.
"Right,.. Greg." I can't believe I'm keeping a ghoul for a pet, "We need to rescue my master. You have to keep quiet, kill anyone who tries to harm me." He nodded quickly and sidled up to her. Indeed his movements were much quieter, and he didn't utter a sound.
Not stopping to think on the strange happenings anymore Seras walked doggedly on. Determined this time not to rush into any trouble she couldn't back out of.
Men got in her way. Men died. A bloody trail of ruin marked her path. The bloody corpses, their faces twisted into eternal pain heralded her coming. They were humans, and fools to attack her. But the dead, they could not pass on their new found wisdom. So more came. More died.
Greg continuously proved his worth to her. Not a shambling parody like the FREAK ghouls she was used to fighting. Greg was sure footed and swift, and armed with a gun, though he rarely used it. Instead tearing men apart and only shooting when she was in trouble.
"Nice work Greg." She complimented the creature, who was at this moment gnawing hungrily on a man's severed arm. She was fairly surprised to find that this didn't gross her out. Time changes all things it seems.
"Where am I?" Kirika asked fuzzily, looking around her with heavy eyes. Everything was dark, and misty. There was no sound, except for a dripping that sounded like someone had left the tap on. It continued for a while before intensifying madly. Before Kirika knew what was going on it was a crescendo. And it was getting closer.
A large wave appeared before her, on the dark horizon it crashed towards her. She tried to move, to force her limbs to take her away, yet they would not respond. The towering wave formed into a cyclone before it reached her, a towering column twisting up into the darkness.
"Move!" She cried out as her limbs remained frozen to the spot, what a time for panic to set in! The cyclone drew air into it, creating a wildly whistling wind that whipped around her and pulled her towards it.
Snarling she tried to pull away but the force increased and without warning she was sucked struggling into the centre of the vortex.
It was ... calm. The walls of the cyclone roared around her, and yet she remained dry, floating lightly in the centre whilst the tumult went on around her.
"And the sins will never fade." A voice intoned ominously, the voice sending shivers down Kirika's spine. It was so familiar, yet so... different. She span to find the source but was confronted only by walls of water. The water darkened.
"Uhh." She grunted as the walls became darker and darker turning into a substance she knew so well. The thick now red cyclone still roared loudly, but now she could feel blood splattering on her face and her clothing.
"And you will carry them to your grave." The voice repeated, and this time Kirika thought she recognised it.
"Mireille?" There was no reply for a second. And then a figure walked through the red walls. Kirika sighed in relief. Long blonde hair, short black skirt and red top. The blue eyes looked at her with a strange expression. "Mireille I'm so glad to see you." Kirika said, trying to move closer to her, yet still finding that her legs refused to obey. Mireille smiled.
"-No!... No, it can't..." Kirika stopped, tears already welling in her eyes. The teeth! They were... "Mireille no." Kirika sobbed quietly aloud. Mireille's face crinkled in amusement as her fangs seemed to elongate.
"Yes Kirika. I am perfect now. I have been made into a perfect being." Her voice harboured no regret.
"You were already perfect." Kirika replied with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"No! I was human. Blinded by emotion and limited by silly rules. Now I am beyond that. Beyond you!"
"You don't mean that." Kirika begged, not even sure herself. Mireille's smile dropped suddenly. Seemingly walking on air she walked up to Kirika and took her chin in her hand. The grip was painfully strong.
"No?" She asked, tilting Kirika's head back and exposing her neck. "Then let me prove it to you." Her head descended and Kirika screamed in fear, pain and sorrow as she felt Mireille's fangs pierce her neck.
"This isn't real!" She screamed with all her strength, already knowing it to be a dream. Yet that knowledge did not ease the pain. Not the pain of the bite, but the sorrow she felt at having been so rejected. But this was not real. Mireille was still alive, still human. And she would still be with Kirika.
"No. But it soon will be. Your love will be ours." A voice challenged, laughing before fading away. Mireille's face had changed, it was now bleeding from a hundred holes, maggots covering the torn flesh of her face. Her hair dishevelled and covered in blood. Her eyes saw nothing.
"MIREILLE!"
"We're here." Seras stated, smiling appreciatively when Greg instantly dropped his meal and ambled up to her, looking at the large metal door before her. It was unremarkable, and not unlike hundreds of others that they had passed. Yet Seras knew this was the one. She could feel her master behind it.
"Greg use your gun for once?" The creature nodded and fumbled a new clip into his own Walther. It had amused her when Greg had discarded his old gun for another Walther P96, obviously wanting to imitate her. Cute.
>Master?> She asked.
>Twelve men. Six skulls, destroy a skull I'll do the rest.> Was his choked reply. His voice was strained and his message reflected his pain. Settling a mild discomfort on her shoulders.
Twelve men with silver loaded rifles. Not good odds at all. Best to just free master and let him handle it then. Taking a deep breath Seras readied herself and raised her foot.
Four inches of steel. The sheer metal door buckled as if struck by a truck. The loud clang as the door fell inwards echoing down the corridors for miles. The men were struck dumb as they looked at the queen of death standing in the open doorway. Seras hadn't realised, but her hair was waving wildly and was streaked with blood. Her clothing was practically red, and blood had dried on her chin, in streaks coming from her mouth.
Her gun fired wildly, seeking any targets she could take before the shock wore off. Three fell before they opened fire on where she had stood but a second before. But she was now charging across the open space towards the nearest glowing white skull. It was facing her, though she almost thought she could see a shimmering wall connecting it to the others.
A feeling not unlike being punched by Alucard hit her in the lower back. Sending her tumbling to the ground next to the skull.
So.. close... She sobbed as she waited for the silver bullets to riddle her body. Guns fired and she closed her eyes.
Arms encircled her. The skin cold and the weight that pressed around her light. She heard a cry of pain. A muffled scream of both pain and sorrow. Her eyes snapped open.
"GREG!" She screamed in purest fury, she felt him answer with a grunt and a tight hug before falling in on himself, turning to dust before being blown away. Her arm raised, full of new power born of anger and grief. Another bullet struck her, and another. But she didn't care. There were tears in her eyes. They would pay. And who better to exact vengeance. Her arm fell.
The white skull imploded upon itself in a silent explosion, sending each person reeling as a gust of wind flew out in all directions. Seras was vaguely aware of screams as she began to black out.
"Nobody harms my child!" The voice was full of fury.
"Mireille!" A voice cried in an excited French tone. "Mireille!" She awoke with a start, coming out of her small ball that she had been curled into. Pip was there, his face flushed but nonetheless twisted into a smile. She knew the message before she heard it. Of course she did. Why would the fool be smiling otherwise.
"She's gonna make it!" He cried happily. Less than thirty seconds later and Mireille was with Kirika again. The small girl bound with bandages and a packet of blood pumping the precious fluid she had lost back into her. Her face was white, but she had stopped sweating and was returning to a normal temperature.
Mireille had hold of her hand, not willing to let go, to lose that contact. Kirika's palms were sweaty, but the feeling was bliss for Mireille. It just confirmed that she was holding onto a live being and not some empty shell. Kirika was alive.
"I'll never let this happen again." She swore, tears stinging her eyes. "I'll be stronger next time. And I'll be professional. I won't let emotion rule my actions... I promise." Emotion would not rule her.
Only managed to make one chapter this week. But it's a longer one! Sorry about that, I promise to do better next time. Thanks for the reviews. And "Anonymous... for now." I like having loads of reviews, I want to improve and the more ideas the better. Everyone's input is welcome. (I do read them all, and accept all advice.) On that note, if you can suggest a better summary then please tell me.
Oh yeah, is my rating too high? I have it on "M", but he (anonymous..) suggests I put it lower. But my fic has swearing and references to sex in it. Tell me someone.