Order 02: Club M, Part 2
Disclaimer: Insert diclaimer here...Haematitia is MINE!
WARNING: Slight Integral OOC-ness in this episode...
Note: For anyone who is interested, 75 British pounds is $133.84 US dollars.
"You wish for cloth, needles, thread and scissors? May I ask what for?" Sir Integral asked, looking up from the papers covering her desk.
"I am a seamstress in my spare time and being away from my craft dulls my senses. I made uniforms and body armour for a unit of twenty in the course of one weekend. Selling clothes is how I helped to pay medical bills when my aunt's health began to fail," I replied.
"I see. Did you make the clothes you are wearing now?" she asked.
"Yes. These were the last clothes I made before I died. Walter has been kind enough to have my things from the reform school sent here. I have sold most of the clothes already, some for over 75 pounds," I said, smiling.
"Reform school? Dear me, you are a bit of a character, aren't you Haematitia?" Integral commented, giving me a rare smile.
"Yes I suppose I am. May I sit? Thank you. I use the term school lightly here, as it was, for all extensive purposes, boot camp. We were the nonconformists, 'degenerate youth' that slipped through society's cracks. Because of the Porphyria disease that wracked my body, I was often teased. I retaliated, usually by biting the other child with my very sharp teeth. In high school, the attacks against me became worse. In the last attack, a small group of religious zealots ambushed me on my way home. I was shot multiple times with silver bullets and a wooden stake nearly pierced my heart, grazing off my ribs. I broke the law that night and killed two of them. The rest fled when they saw I wasn't dead. Another died a few days later from internal bleeding caused when I flung him into a tree.
"After being hospitalized for three months, I was taken to stand trial for three cases of murder. I was fourteen at the time, and I had a very good lawyer. With the case that was presented to the court, it was deemed that I had acted out of self-defense. After a week to put my affairs in order with my aunt, I was taken to the reform school. I have been there for three years now," I explained.
"You were shot with silver bullets and stabbed and you survived? How?" Integral asked, shocked.
"Do you have anything flammable?" I asked her, smirking.
She nodded and handed me a cigar. Focusing completely on the end of the cigar, I felt my blood turn to fire in my veins. Just as I felt as though my flesh would catch on fire, the tip of the cigar lit.
"That is what's called the 'blood bane'. My friend Alicia had it too. She was at the reform school for accidental arson, in multiple cases. Our blood turns to fire in our veins when we focus or get extremely angry. During the ambush, when the bullets entered my flesh, I went into shock and my body said, 'Remove the impurities.' So the blood bane started by itself, melted the bullets out, and cauterized the wounds. I pulled the stake out and burned it in my hand," I said, smiling at Integral's face.
"That must come in handy at times Haematitia." A pause. "You know, the two of us could be sisters. We're about the same height, our hair is the same colour, and I'm guessing your eyes were blue, right?"
"Yes, they were. An interesting thought indeed, Sir Integral, but is it logical? Both of my parents died when I was three," I said.
"I was ten at that time. Did you see them? Perhaps you were told they had died, but you never saw them," she replied, warming to the topic.
"My aunt told me that my parents had gone away and would not be coming back for a long time, but that they loved me. I knew they were dead, but I couldn't understand why. Then when I was diagnosed with Porphyria, I thought it was God's way of punishing me for not loving my parents enough. After the attack, the puddles of silver that were the bullets were given to me. I had them reforged into a cross that I still wear, though now it binds me with a great pain," I said wearily.
"May I see this cross Haematitia?" Integral asked.
I nodded and unbuttoned the top two buttons of my shirt. Hanging against my collarbones was a silver Celtic cross, set with three types of stone and inscribed with Celtic knotwork. I unhooked the chain and hand the necklace to Integral.
"What kinds of stones are these? I recognize the garnets, but I don't know the other stones," Integral said, looking closely at the necklace.
"The dark green one with the red spots is bloodstone, thought to purify blood within the body. The other is the stone of my name, haematite. It is supposed to promote the production of blood in the body. The chain is also made of haematite, as I can only have so much silver around my neck now," I said, gesturing to my chest.
"What do you mea- Oh my God! Why do you still wear this cross?" Integral asked, almost dropping it.
She was referring to the image of the cross that was burned into my skin. Gently taking the necklace back, I hooked it around my neck and hissed as the silver touched my skin, smoke curling from the burned flesh.
"The cross protects me from the foes we fight; also, that is the first time I have taken it off since the day I had it made," I said.
The was a long moment of awkward silence as Integral collected her thoughts and became my master once more.
"Walter will make sure that you have all the supplies you need. Perhaps, you could make something for me as well," she said.
"Of course. Anything at all, Sir Integral," I said, bowing.
"Walter will give you the patterns of my official uniform as a Knight of the Round Table. I would like you to make something with the same pattern, but with some sort of protection incorporated. And hang the costs," she said.
"As you wish Sir Integral. It shall be complete the day the supplies come in, made of the best materials," I said.
Integral smiled and said, "Thank you Haematitia. Dismissed."
I nodded and walked out of her office. I located Walter in his study and arranged with him for all of my supplies to be shipped in the next day. That included the coloured cloth-of-steel for Integral's uniform, the steel plates and the cutting tools I would need for making body armour.
"Sir Integral said you would give me the patterns for her official uniform. I wish to start looking at them," I said politely.
"Of course. Here you go," Walter said, handing me an envelope, "You do realize that it is almost midnight, don't you? You and Sir Integral have had quite the conversation."
"Is it really that early? I should be going off to the shooting range then. Goodnight Walter," I said, smiling at him.
"Goodnight Miss Taylor. I shall bring the supplies down to your room when they arrive," he said,
I nodded in thanks and sunk through the floor. Feeling the call of my coffin, I stopped when I was next to it and reappeared in my room. I was spreading out the patterns on my table, when someone's hands were placed on my shoulders.
"You're learning so quickly to control your powers Haema. You remind me of Kyuuki," Alucard said.
"Who is Kyuuki, Mein Fuhrer?" I asked, the German words popping into my head.
He started and looked at me, his face neutral.
"Mein Fuhrer; she always used to call me that. I met Kyuuki many years ago, after I left Wallachia. In a small village in West Germany about 550 years ago, Kyuuki had been stabbed by traveling bandits making their way through the country. I was only about 25 years dead, so I wished for a companion; Kyuuki said yes. She became a No-Life Queen and stayed by my side for 150 years. Then, Kyuuki decided to return to her homeland, Japan. I have not seen her since then, but I always listen for her voice in my head. You act a lot like her, now that I think about it. You are like a combination of Kyuuki and Integral," Alucard said.
"She said the two of us could be sisters. She seemed very pressed to figure that out. It was odd and from what I understand, quite out of character for her," I said thoughtfully.
"Interesting. I think I'll ask her about it tomorrow. You look pale, Haema. Are you drinking the blood?" he asked.
"Yes I am Mein Fuhrer, but I don't think Miss Seras is though. She seems to be afraid to drink it for some reason," I replied, still leaning over the patterns.
My ponytail holder suddenly broke and my hair cascaded down around me, falling almost to my knees. Alucard hugged me from behind and put his face near my ear, sending shivers up my spine.
"Your blood is still so sweet, so fresh, though your body is growing cold," he whispered, his fangs brushing my skin.
I gasped slightly as they pierced my neck. Alucard began to drain me and he supported my body as it went limp. Bringing me to my coffin, he made his coat fade away and took off his tie, revealing his neck to me.
"Drink Haema. Drink, and experience the darkness on a whole new level."
As Alucard pressed me to his neck, I dropped my fangs and slid them into his neck. His body twitched as I began to drink, but he continued to hold me to his neck. Finally, I opened my eyes and saw that Alucard's body was turning into shadows. I retracted my fangs and helped him to sit up.
"Become shadow Haema. Your body knows what to do," he said.
I looked down and saw that my legs had become shadow. I relaxed and thought, Shadow. Then I realized that I didn't have a body anymore.
Come with me Haema, I heard.
I felt Alucard near me and I moved towards him. With a mental shock, I felt myself merge with him.
Welcome to the darkness Haema. This is what it feels like to embrace the darkness completely. Let's give Integral a visit, he said.
We moved upwards for a minute and I knew we were in Integral's office.
I felt Integral turn towards us and she said, "Alucard, reveal yourself."
Move slightly away from me and tell yourself to become flesh again, Alucard said.
I separated from him and thought to myself, Become flesh.
Integral suddenly began laughing quietly and Alucard laughed out loud as I realized that I was naked. I quickly covered myself with my hair and nodded.
"My apologies Sir Integral. I have not gotten used to moving as shadow yet," I said, a blush starting to rise to my cheeks.
Suddenly I felt Alucard's greatcoat being placed on my shoulders and I sank into the folds, slipping my arms into the too-large sleeves.
"I will teach you how to bring clothes on your body next time," Alucard said, putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you Mein Fuhrer, I will appreciate the knowledge," I said.
"Haematitia, could you give us a moment? Alucard and I have something discuss," Integral asked, turning to me.
"Of course. I believe I will go to sleep now, if that's all right," I said.
Both nodded and I walked out, my bare feet making no noise on the floor. I cast my mind around and saw that Walter and Seras were both asleep.
I went to my room and looked at myself in the full-length mirror. My reflection looked small and pale within the folds of Alucard's greatcoat, but I could see the similarities between myself and Integral. I went to my closet and changed into a silk nightgown I had made. Putting Alucard's coat back on, I climbed into my coffin, closed the lid, and fell asleep.
"You wished to speak to me, Integral?" I asked, focusing back on her.
"What do you think of Haematitia?" she asked, turning away from me
"As a No-Life Queen, she is a prodigy. She is progressing with her powers even faster than Kyuuki did...Yes. As a person, she reminds me of you when you were that age," I replied.
"As I thought. Of course she would remind you of me. Why wouldn't she, being my little sister?" Integral mused, turning towards me.
"She's your sister? How are you so sure?" I asked, my mind reeling.
"When my father died ten years ago, he entrusted Walter with a letter to be given to me when I turned twenty years old. It told me that I had a sister, seven years younger than I. My mother Kala died while giving birth to my sister. For some reason, my father didn't want her to live with us, so she was given to aunt's family, the VanHelsings. Her real name is Haematitia Hayden Regina Hellsing, Lady Hellsing, heir to the Hellsing family. If I never have children, she will be the eternal heir to Hellsing," Integral explained.
"I see. That explains why her blood tastes different. It is the blood of the Hellsing's that runs through her veins, not that of the Taylor's," I said, thinking out loud.
"Does she suspect anything yet? I was quite forward with her earlier," Integral asked.
"I think she does suspect a bit. She made a comment about you being very interested in pointing out similarities between the two of you. You've never struck me as being quite that blunt Integral. What got into you, I wonder?" I replied, deliberately bating her.
"I've never had a sister before, Alucard! When I found out about Haematitia, I had to make sure that it really was her. If you had a brother or sister, wouldn't you want to know about them?" Integral asked.
Images of Mircea and Radu flashed through my head as I replied, "Yes, but...never mind. You are a confusing creature Integral."
"Since you have now taken my younger sister, do you still desire to take me into the darkness as well?" she questioned me.
"If you were as I was, you would be able to see the answer in my mind," I replied, not answering.
I can read it on your face, without having to see it in you mind. And you know what my answer is already, Alucard, she said in my head.
I nodded and replied, Yes, I know your answer, though I don't like it. Nevertheless, I won't press it tonight. Good day to you, Miss Hellsing.
With that, I sunk through the floors until I came to Haematitia's bedroom. I opened her coffin and looked down at her still form.
"You are stronger than you could know, Haematitia. You're of noble blood, indomitable will and personal strength. You are just like your sister was at your age. I hope she will join us in eternity, a family of the damned. But until she does, you will become perfected. And we shall raise the Police Girl to the darkness as parents raise a child. And now, goodnight, my queen of blood," I said.
I brushed the hair out of Haema's face and closed the coffin lid. I then went down to my own room and cleaned my Casul. Pouring myself a glass of bloodwine, I toasted Queen, country, and the Hellsing family. I drank deeply from the glass, still tasting Haema's blood in my mouth. Finishing the wine, I climbed into my coffin and fell into a sleep plagued with memories of old friends and family.
An inbetween episode, but Part 3 is on the horizon! R&R please!