Chapter Six
- Broken Defences
Her dreams were obtuse. She could never figure out whom the silhouettes were supposed to represent, what world she was inside in until she would find herself in a lone room, so narrow and dark. There were two black coffins lids closed and were bleeding, literately. The crimson liquid was pouring inside out, dripping to the floor, slowly filling the chamber she was in. Just before she was about to drown, Seras Victoria always awoke, agitated and sweating despite her undead status. She felt hunger, the thirst for blood and due to the perturbing nightmares, she wished she would be able to eat kidney pie instead.
C'mon, don't be stupid. Master will scowl at you if he sees you like this, Seras thought, pinching her nose to awake herself fully. It was still morning, and even though she could move in the daylight, her body was notably weaker, sluggish when compared to her nightly vigour. Conquering the stiffness, Seras got out, slowly moving to the empty table. No one brought my blood supplies? It was quite odd, the staff did not fear her.
"My baby! My baby! Please, stop!"
"Help! Someone, help us!"
Seras froze, listening to the rattle on the floor above. Screams, gunshots, cries of help, and sobs. She realized why she was so thirsty, the smell of blood was penetrating. "Oh God," she brought a hand to her mouth, her brain working in on the implications. "Sir Integral!" she exclaimed, storming out of the room and rushing upstairs. Please God, please, I don't want to be too late, she kept repeating, holding prayers for everyone's life.
On her way up, she barely dodged the corpse of the maid that was on the staircase. Her neck had been twisted and she was holding the blood supplies. Seras tore her eyes away from her, knowing she was beyond her help. "Sir Integral, stop!" she shouted, freezing in her tracks. Integral Hellsing was wearing a ragged blue pyjamas stained with blood; her expression was blank, not feral, just empty, clearly a mark that she was being controlled. At her feet were five bodies, all lacking heartbeats, three of which carried revolvers, explaining the gunshots she had heard. The baby in her arms kept sobbing - Integral's hands were squeezing the life out him very slowly.
"She's not Sir Integral anymore," Seras heard her say as she thought of ways to approach her boss without damaging either her or the baby. The tone, though the words were spoken by Integral, had a different accent, bearing far less of the curst British taint. Dead grey eyes flickered in her direction. "Just Miss Hellsing. How far has her mind fallen..."
"You son of a bitch!" Seras growled, unable to hold her tongue, her red eyes nearly glowing in rage. She understood how delicate their position was without the government's sponsorship. Especially now that Integral had killed innocents under her own household. "This amuses you? You are nothing but a heartless monster!" Keep saying cliché phrases, keep distracting him, she thought, Master, where are you?
'Integral' laughed, her grip on the child loosening, which was a relief for Seras Victoria. "The greatest! One that was never thwarted, unlike your Master! He didn't deserve his fame. I tamed his captors instead."
"Master is a thousand times better than you!" Seras snapped, narrowing her eyes. "To start with, he doesn't hide behind Sir Hellsing and a baby! Are you so great a coward that you won't speak with us directly?"
The laughter ceased. Seras hoped that had stung the monster's pride enough as for him to do something stupid. "You'll see me soon," was the only answer before the child was thrown out, towards the window.
"No!" Seras exclaimed, leaping to save the infant. The glass shattered and she sensed the mother fainting behind her. She could not bear to see it, she shut her eyes tightly in impotence and anger.
"Seras, Police Girl, open your eyes."
Seras complied and saw Alucard, standing annoyed under the rays of the sun, holding the bloodied baby. He was lapping at him, closing his wounds before passing to her. "He'll live. Take the brat and his mother away. I will take care of Integral."
Seras nodded, dumbfounded and picked up the shocked baby. "Thank you," she muttered.
"I didn't do it for his pity human life," Alucard growled in response but she smiled. Her Master was nobler than he gave credit for, regardless of how he acted. She turned around and noticed the surviving staff, peering to check if everything was solved.
"You may come out," Seras assured with a firm nod, "Situation under control."
"Under control!" Integral shouted behind her. Seras gazed at her, her heart sinking to see the strong and steely woman on her knees, digits touching her bloodied lips as she madly surveyed the cadavers circling her. "What a joke, Officer Victoria! This will never be in control until…" she gritted her teeth, silencing herself. Her voice was so frustrated, so strained. "I nearly killed a baby!"
"Sir Integral…" Seras addressed, not knowing what to say, how to aid her. She wanted to comfort her. She saw her Master walking towards Integral and picking her up with a solemn expression.
"The call from Sir Islands was a trick," she heard him murmur in Integral's ear. "He wanted me out of here." Sir Hellsing nodded numbly and kept her gaze down. Then he caught Seras' curious glance, "I said I will help her, Police Girl. Focus on aiding the personnel instead."
"Yes, Master," Seras replied, disheartened at being left out again. No matter how hard she tried, both her Master and Sir Hellsing managed to close themselves in an inner circle. Pushing away her envy, she knelt and tried to awake the unconscious mother. It was a fortune she had not suffered a heart attack.
"Officer Victoria," Integral addressed her as Alucard carried her upstairs. Her voice was so low, she could barely perceive it. "After you finish, you may join us." Seras looked up, unable to contain her happiness but then she also looked at her Master, seeking approval.
Alucard snorted and shook his head, "Yes, you may come, Police Girl."
"I will!" Seras answered, beaming. It was selfish of her, to think of her personal comfort when so many had died, but she felt so damned alone and she was aware that they would shred that solitude. "Oh and Master…"
"What?"
"Sir Integral's Mas-Creator told me that it is possible we may see him soon," Seras told him, correcting herself on the fiend's title. Alucard's expression turned feral, the thirst of battle awaking.
"I will be waiting for him then, anxious to meet him for the first and last time."
Seras trusted her Master to set things right. He would solve everything for sure. She saw the mother awakening and reuniting with her son. Wounded and scared as both were, they were family and remained together in times of trial. So should we, she thought before meeting his Master and leader in Integral's chambers.
----
He preferred not to leave her side now, he could not risk that maggot to manipulate Integral's mind again. To twist her control into his whims. Seras had told him what the filth had spoken through his former Master's lips and because of this information, reunited with what he had found out with Abraham's lost journal, Alucard could understand the good Earl's motives. He was challenging him, Integral was a means to display his defeat as the protector to this family.
"There's nothing I can say or do to convince you to stay?" Integral asked, glancing at the oldest member of her staff. An old chef and doctor by the name of Trevellian.
"You don't need my services anymore, Sir Integral," Trevallian pointed out, smiling sadly. "What use could the undead have of a doctor?"
The chef shook his head, "No matter how much you pay, sir, and withstanding the affection I held to your mission. I won't return until the Organisation is legal again and its leader isn't controlled by the enemy."
Alucard wanted to gut the fat, old man to have spat such things on Integral's face, but she seemed to accept them, no matter how intensely she bled inside.
"Very well, I will try to have the honoraries for years of services ready for Monday."
"Good afternoon, Sir Integral, Alucard," Trevallian bid farewell and inclined his head. Both were gone, shutting the door behind them. A taxi had been called to pick them up. The Mansion was still: no more heartbeats or noises nervous feet on the floor, no more murmurs or voices. Alucard recalled his lonely castle where he had no company but his cruel Brides; he started missing what he had once found annoying.
How disgustingly human of me, Alucard scolded himself, his expression not changing outwardly. He loved to appear relaxed, with an obnoxious smirk gracing his features. He suspected that, despite their supposed irritation, Integral and Seras liked that too, that symbol of how not everything changed. "Well, we have the entire Mansion to ourselves now," he stated, giving a lazy stretch to the arms.
"Could you take this with some seriousness, Alucard?" Integral turned to glare at him. Despite her anger, what Alucard saw reflected in her eyes was hurt. "Just this once?"
"We won't forsake you, Sir Hellsing!" Seras Victoria exclaimed from Integral's left. She had been quiet all the time, waving sadly at the departing personnel. "And when Walter comes out from the hospital in a few months, he will help us."
"Thank you, Officer Victoria," Integral replied grimly, "But I don't share your positive outlook of the situation. Perhaps if I was certain of my control over my own body, things would be different."
Since when does Seras look on the positive side? Alucard mused, watching the two women's interaction. He was both glad that they had set aside any tension and weary that they should grow too close and excluded him from everything. Noises from behind the door, footsteps on the foyer, someone walking though lacking the vital signals of the living. "Intruder!" he exclaimed, euphoric to taste the battle coming. Pulling out his Casull, he aimed towards the door, anticipating it until Integral blocked the way.
"Sir Integral!" Seras exclaimed, not bothering to veil her concern. He did not scowl at her, her worry was not misplaced. Integral's body was trembling, her gaze was troubled, she was fighting for control. Suddenly, the scent of the intruder hit him, the stench that Integral had carried the night when she had been changed into a vampire.
"Seras, restrain her, I need to take the trash down," Alucard ordered, lips curling up into a sinister grin. He pushed Integral into his fledgling's arms; the two women struggled with each other and while Integral was more feral, Seras had an edge on physical strength. He was about to kick the door down when the intruder knocked, twice. Was he that daft? Giving out his position for him to easily shoot his limbs off?
"Greetings," the voice came out from behind the gates, cultured and lacking a determinate accent. "I told Miss Victoria I was going to pay a visit to you. Now, Mr. Dracula, you really should lower that gun and open the door. Keep in mind that I won't be alone to suffer the damage done to my body."
"My gun, my good Earl? How can you imagine we would ever be such rude hosts?"
"You forget, I have a pair of two lovely eyes that are watching your movements, Count," he put it mildly. Alucard turned to gaze at Integral, who had calmed down in Seras' hold, grey eyes staring at him, waiting.
"The door is unlocked. I am not your manservant," Alucard snapped, holstering his Casull. He could not wait until Walter was out the hospital to repair his Jackal. He took a step back when the knob was lowered, and soon a pale man with sharp features and dead grey eyes emerged from the outside. He smiled at him, caught between smugness and politeness. Alucard leered and put himself in front of Seras and Integral, shielding what did not belong to the upstart. "Lord Ruthven," he addressed him, shielding his ill emotions with a detached amusement.
"Ah Dracula," he bowed, "Then you aren't an illiterate beast after all. You have read other classics aside for Stoker's so called masterpiece. Or maybe it was the sweet lady Hellsing who guessed where the Earl of Marsden was from."
Jealous of my fame among mortals? Alucard smirked mentally, noticing the contempt in his tone. "Perhaps it's you who lacks in culture. The Irishman was clear about how I learnt English from reading books."
"Point taken," Ruthven stated petulantly, waving off the issue altogether. "Don't hide such beautiful ladies behind you, my dear Count."
"Yes, Master," Seras spoke, snarling as she held Integral tightly. "How else will I punch him if you are blocking my way?"
"Charming flower you have chosen," Ruthven pointed out, approaching, circling under his careful gaze. "I am not worry about you, Miss Victoria. You are tainted, no matter how much you try to hold on to your humanity. You chose this life, didn't you? That woman you are holding is more innocent than you."
His words were poisonous but true. Alucard knew Seras had understood what he was when she had chosen vampirism, that was why he was irritated at her constant denial. Ruthven's lack of tact was a blow to Seras. She visible displayed that as her grip on Integral loosened.
"I am stronger, I can protect and serve better!"
Ruthven let go to a soft laugh, licking his lips with a malign light in his eyes. "Can you? Could you save your team mates from Iscariot? From the Valentine Brothers? From Incognito's forces? From Integral herself? What about Helena and that MI-5 agent? You couldn't even help your Master properly! According to the reports given to the Queen, those clips you delivered him were employed to harm him."
"No…" Seras' voice was low, tiny; she took a few steps back, and her eyes were moistening in tears. Integral set herself free, but did not move. Her eyes were aware for a moment, glaring silently at her Master.
"But it's the truth, it's all written down in the files I have accessed, the losses. You just accepted vampirism because you were afraid to die. Were you truly worried about the others, you wouldn't be acting so ridiculously pathetic," Ruthven spat, mockingly. Alucard noted how convincing he was, a quality he would have admired if the vampire had not crossed his path.
"It's not true! You are-"
"Lying? Look at this," Ruthven touched Integral's shoulder, pushing a strand behind her ear. "You couldn't even stop her from come to me. You always arrive too late."
Alucard knew when enough was enough; making Seras face the reality of her condition was one thing, but destroying her completely was not among his plans. She looked like someone had wounded her mortally; those words had pierced deeply her defences. "Don't you have anything better to do than insult my fledgling?" He wanted to move against him, to rip out his tongue, although he could not, he had Integral as hostage.
"Perhaps I have a couple of better things to do with my servant, since yours is out of reach," Ruthven murmured, combing Integral's strands. "But destroying them is very amusing, breaking these women to pieces. The stronger they are, the more delicious are their falls. I used to think you would agree with me. But being a guardian dog affected your mind, Count."
"A dog, am I now?" Alucard asked, removing his sunglasses to meet his eyes. He tried to hypnotise him, perhaps he could make him donate blood to Integral and resolve their problems, but the block he found, the resistance took him by surprise. He grabbed his head, in pain of the shock he had sent that had returned to him. "You…"
"You may be superior in fists brawls, Count but I am superior in mental games in more ways than one," Ruthven elaborated, Alucard wanted to protest but the other vampire's voice enthralled and penetrated him in a way no one had done before. He could not help but listen and hold up his words, whatever they were. "How else would I have had such a fine control over the first of my progeny?" he smirked and kissed Integral's neck, making her shudder. "So weak under my thumb, the mighty Sir Integral Wingates Hellsing! And you are an utter failure, Dracula. Look at you, defeated by the man I ruined, and given the simple task of protecting and serving his family from me. A duty you failed miserably at as well, didn't you?"
Alucard could not stand for such words, would not allow him to insult his pride; he took the Casull out again and nearly pulled the trigger, when Seras leaped at him, pinning him to the ground. "Stop, Master! You'll hurt Sir Integral!" she pledged, and his grip on the Casull lessened as he nodded, glancing at the fledgling on the top of him.
"See Dracula. Women are whores, they jump on men at the simplest excuse," Ruthven laughed to Seras' embarrassment. She stood up, tucking her skirt down and looked at him apologetically.
"I am sorry, Master."
"Don't be sorry, Police Girl," Alucard rose after her, straightening his coat. "Only a fool complains when a pretty woman jumps over him. And unlike Ruthven, I renounced forcing them a century ago."
Ruthven laughed, leaving Integral's side to lean on a wall. "I never forced mine. Integral is special, an exception. She wouldn't be shamed by sex, after all… That would not ruin her."
"And vampirism did?" Integral asked, spitefully. She had retained her control and turned to glance at Ruthven. "I should destroy you, Ruthven. No matter if it takes me with you."
"Vampirism? No that isn't what I mean," Ruthven shook his head and Integral felt his hands over her breasts, folding them through the suit. She swallowed hard as she kept her glance on him. Alucard was about to jump onto his throat if he continued with the humiliation. "That's your greatest fall, losing control absolutely to me, you know that very well. And even if I am destroyed and you survive, my last command will linger in your mind," he cleared up, half in warning, half in taunt. "My bloodline has a strong hold in minds and wills."
"Make your point Ru-Master!" Integral demanded. Alucard tasted how hopelessly she was to utter that word aloud. He made her say it. "What have you come here for, aside from bragging about your victory and putting it in our faces?"
"I want many things," Ruthven stated, tapping his chin, "I want Dracula to admit that I am the best vampire out of us two, for starts. I want his fledgling to serve my needs for the night. And most importantly, I want you, my Sleeping Beauty, to become my travel partner in Noel's place. Admit my superiority of your own accord."
Alucard lifted a brow, Pretentious little thing, I won't lie to appease his jealousy. He chuckled before proving unable to hold his laughter any further. "Blackmailing us? Is that the best you can do, punk?" he asked, disappointed. Even the old vampires were immature. "Perhaps we are failures, as you stated but you are one yourself. Even if you surpass us the mortal world would hold me as an icon, and you? Your tale will be dusting in libraries."
"I cannot protect them as you said," Seras took the word, "But I can protect myself at least. I wouldn't shag you even if I were mad."
"Unless you plan to control me as far as following you in those trips, Ruthven," Integral answered, placing an emphasis on his name, making Alucard proud of the fact that she was able to fight his mind control a bit. "I rather don't expect to indulge in another second in your disgusting company. I didn't like you when I was human and I thought you were one as well, and I certainly loathe you now."
Ruthven grimaced, his grey eyes turning as cold as the ice. "So be it then. You have sealed your fates," he took a step towards the exit before pausing, glancing at Integral. "You can still come with me," he offered again. Alucard's smirk widened when his former Master did not even deem him worthy of a response. "Very well, this will be a déjà vu then," he nodded, continuing on his path. "Don't gloat for 'standing me up'," he advised as he kept on walking. "Because your bravado is a mask to your insecurities. A last scream of your fading ego. Tonight, you'll look at each other carefully and this empty Mansion and my words will sink in. Make no mistake, you three are utter failures. Good evening," With that final message, Ruthven turned and bowed, closing the door behind him.
"Good grief," Alucard said when Ruthven left, but neither Seras nor Integral replied. All was quiet, with only the sounds of the forest and the retreating footsteps breaking the stillness in the atmosphere. He kept smiling, despite his inner conflict, the turmoil of emotions he would never admit he felt: insecurity.
He glanced at Seras and knew what she was thinking: failure to protect those she had promised to serve.
Alucard now looked at Integral, and from her trembling fists, he wagered what she was feeling: failure for not keeping the dignity and control she was supposed to inhere.
And me, Alucard pondered, lowering his immense hat to conceal his pensive mood, I failed to guard the one I vowed to obey. A single vampire had come, waltzing into their lives and, without firing a single bullet, had broken their defences completely. He could not help but laugh in pure bitterness.
----
Ruthven was torn after he left the place. He felt like he had obtained no more than half a victory as he walked out of the foyer and towards the waiting car at the edge of Epping Forest - he disliked being a loser, even partly. His mental powers had granted him a fairly quick, yet fleeting victory.
Dracula was too self-centred to block him, believing himself superior in all areas, the childish git. Integral was at his mercy, and that police woman was easy to impress. Even if they did not fall apart completely, they would never forget the humiliation at his hands, nor how he had changed their feelings and guided their thoughts to a half truth concealed in lies. But the triumph was not complete; he departed alone and not with his chosen companion at his side.
It seems I have the same bad fortune as before with potential travel companions, Ruthven thought with detached amusement, extracting a cell phone after entering his vehicle and starting the engine. He dialled up the Customs number, where the Iscariots had been detained for carrying weapons without both the government's permission and the assorted paperwork.
"Noel Aubrey here," he greeted, employing another of his aliases, this one in honour of two former victims. "Allow the clergymen to pass," his voice rolled with convincing power into the human mind he was speaking to. "Return their weapons to them as soon as possible, with Her Majesty's blessings." He hung up, driving away from the place. Luck evaded him in this area, Integral would be the second potential partner he lost to the Catholics' hands.
Author's Notes: Edited by Lyanna Kane, Goh Si Jia and Dreadnot (thank you girls). Lord Ruthven/ Earl of Marsden belongs to Doctor Polidori. He's the vampire of his tale: "The Vampyre." A work previous to Dracula and the model for the male aristocratic vampire.