Order 02: Club M, Part 4
Disclaimer: Insert discaimer here...
WARNING: Integral-OOCness in this one...
The two flocks of bats merged and took off, heading for the Hellsing mansion. As soon as they reached the mansion, they reformed and Haematitia looked at her ungloved hand.
The seal on the back of her hand was a diamond-shaped 'C' within a double circle. In the middle of the 'C' there was an ankh, outlined in black and filled with red.
"I think I'm going to make some gloves tonight," Haematitia said, covering the mark with her sleeve.
Sighing, she rose with Alucard into Integral's office.
"You wished to speak to us about something?" Haematitia asked as Integral lit a cigar.
"Yes. I wish to know more about Cain and Lilith and their seals," she said.
"Cain and Lilith are the father and mother of the race of vampires. Cain was the murdering son of Adam and Eve. Lilith was a Babylonian demon goddess, thought to be Adam's first wife. She became a demon when Adam rejected her when Eve was created. Those few vampires who have found Cain and Lilith are allowed to drink of their blood, the primal source. Once a vampire has drunk from either Cain or Lilith, they can put the seal of that vampire on another. 'I searched across the land, for years and years I roamed.' Finally, I located Cain in Egypt. After letting me drink from his blood, Cain said that he liked me and that he would watch over me. I never found Lilith, but I didn't worry about it," Alucard explained.
"Haematitia, may I please see the seal?" Integral asked.
Haematitia nodded and pulled up her sleeve. Integral examined the seal thoroughly before turning back to Alucard.
"You said earlier that I could place the Lilith seal on Haematitia. Why? I have never drunk the blood of a vampire," she said.
"There is a secret in your family Integral, told to me by your grandfather on his deathbed. Many years ago, one of your ancestors was in childbirth when a villain stabbed her. She was dying as her child was being born. Lilith appeared to her and asked if she wished to live. Your ancestor said yes and Lilith poured some of her blood into the wound. The wound healed almost immediately and your ancestor knew what was standing in front of her. Lilith helped birth the child, a beautiful baby girl. Suddenly the child began to spit up blood and Lilith saw that she had also been pierced by the blade. With a nod from your ancestor, Lilith saved the life of the girl. She promised that whenever anyone from your family was in danger, she would come and save them. Since the Hellsing family has a penchant for getting into trouble, Lilith has appeared to many, including your grandfather and father. With all the generations of vampire blood, you can put the Lilith seal on Haematitia," Alucard explained.
If I placed the seal on her, Haema would realize that we are sisters, wouldn't she? Integral asked Alucard.
Yes she would. Don't you think it would be a good for her to know? She has no one else here except us Integral. I think you should do it, Alucard replied.
After a moment's internal struggle, Integral said, "Very well. What must I do?"
Alucard grinned and said, "You must focus on the vampire blood in your veins. Then, you must allow Haematitia to drink some of your blood. The words to affix the seal will come to you. Perhaps Lilith herself will appear to you."
Integral nodded and closed her eyes.
I'm part vampire? No wonder Father never told me. 'Focus on the vampire blood'? I hope Alucard knows what he's talking about, Integral thought, shielding her mind.
Focusing entirely, she called out to her body, Blood of the vampire Lilith, I implore you to come to my aid.
An image of a woman filled her mind, accompanied by soft laughter. Her skin was dusty brown and her hair was coal black.
So, you are in need of my power at last, child of Hellsing, she said.
Yes, Lilith, Integral replied.
Integral opened her eyes and gasped at her newly-heightened senses.
"Here Haematitia. Take my wrist and drink. Quickly, before I change my mind!" she said, holding out her left hand.
Haematitia nodded, dropped her fangs and gently bit into her sister's wrist. Integral shuddered and fought the urge to pull away.
Now my young daystalker, invoke the words of power and create the seal, Lilith said.
Integral, whose eyes were now tinted red, nodded and said, "Germanus Sanguis Dicio Sigilla Nomen Lilith!"
As soon as the words left Integral's mouth, Haematitia pulled away and clutched her left wrist as if in pain. On the back of her hand, a seal began to appear. Much like the Seal of Cain, Lilith's Seal was also within a double circle. There was a stylized 'L' and the red nd black ankh within its own circle. The seal glowed red and Haematitia hissed in pain. The glow died down and she felt Integral's blood flowing through her veins.
Hello Haematitia, I am Lilith, mother of our race. The blood flowing through your veins, do you like it? Do you like the taste of your sister's blood? a woman asked.
My sister? You mean to say that Sir Integral is my sister? Haematitia asked, shocked.
"Yes, the two of you are related, two daughters of the same noble blood," a voice said.
Everyone turned to the door where a woman had just materialized. Her long black hair hung loose against her bronzed skin and simple white robes. Her only adornments were a pair of earrings and an ankh necklace. Her eyes were dark red and she smiled, revealing her long canines. Haematitia gasped and dropped to her knees in a bow. Alucard bowed deeply at the waist and even Integral bowed her head.
"You have no need to bow before me, my Children. It has been thirteen years since I saw you last Integral, and Haematitia I have not seen since the day you were born. And you must be the infamous Alucard. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Cain has spoken a great deal about you," Lilith said warmly.
"If I may ask Lilith, how is it that I was diagnosed with Porphyria when my sister Integral was not?" Haematitia asked, rising gracefully.
"Porphyria? Is that what they are calling your state of existence these days?" Lilith asked, shaking her head.
"What do you mean Lilith?" Integral asked, sounding curious.
"Haematitia is not human, nor ever was. Your mother Kala was in India about a month after Haematitia was conceived. One of your father's enemies tried to stab him and Kala took the blow, damaging her lung and heart. Arthur fled with her, trying to stop the bleeding. By the time I got to them, Kala had already lost quite a large amount of blood. Though they were wary of my motivation to help, Kala agreed to take my blood."
But, because of the amount of blood that Kala had to take and how close to death she was, Kala became a dhamphir, half-human, half-vampire. She was mortal, cursed with a vampire's craving for blood and basic powers of illusion and control over nocturnal creatures. Arthur would have destroyed me right there, but Kala stopped him. By Kala becoming a dhamphir, Haematitia also became a dhamphir in utero."
Kala learned to drink blood with little trepidation, once she learned that she was pregnant. But as the pregnancy progressed, Kala became weaker and weaker. By the time we figured out why, it was already too late. Even though Kala was regularly drinking blood, Haematitia had no external source of blood to feed off of. Haematitia, I know this may be hard for you to hear, but you are the reason your mother died," Lilith said, putting her hand on Haematitia's cheek.
"It is information I needed to know Lilith. So I am guessing Father had his personal doctors diagnose me with Porphyria to hide what I truly was. And so no one at Hellsing got too curious, he sent me to live with my aunt, Lady VanHelsing. So I am a dhamphir. That explains why I didn't die the night of the attack. My body, besides having the blood bane, must have also been healing itself," Haematitia said quietly, thinking out loud.
"Do you remember the crazy woman in red you passed that night? It was me, giving you a warning: "Do not go, stay away! Death in that direction preys!" Lilith said smiling.
"I knew I felt something strange about that woman! It was my dhamphir blood recognizing you as a vampire. I should have listened to your warning," Haematitia replied.
The sun's first rays entered through the window and everyone winced.
"I must leave now, but remember that I am always nearby. Integral, Haematitia, your parents would both be proud of what the two of you have accomplished. Farewell," Lilith said, disappearing.
"Alucard, could you please leave us?" Integral asked, closing the curtains.
"Of course. Good day to you both," Alucard said, vanishing.
"Haematitia?" Integral said tentatively.
I opened my arms and smiled as Integral fell into the embrace.
"I've been trying to find you for years Haematitia. I've never thought I would be able to see your face," she said, tears falling down her cheeks.
"I never knew I had a sister, much less the director of the Hellsing Organization. I'm happy to know that I'm not alone in the world anymore," I said through my own blood tears.
We sat in Integral's office for almost two hours, talking about the last seventeen years.
"Did you like the uniform I made for you?" I asked.
"Yes! Cloth-of-steel is actually quite comfortable and it fits perfectly. Thank you," Integral replied.
There was a knock on the door and Walter came in bearing a tray laden with food and a pot of tea.
"Good morning Sir Integral, Miss Taylor. Alucard said the two of you were in here talking. I brought breakfast for the both of you," he said cheerfully.
"Thank you Walter. Haematitia, do you think we should?" Integral asked, giving me a look.
"Yes Integral, I think we should," I replied, grinning wickedly, "Walter, you might want to put that down."
Walter put the tray down on Integral's desk with a nod and stood looking at us with curiosity and a bit of apprehension.
"You can tell that Haematitia and I look quite similar, correct Walter?" Integral asked.
"Well yes, of course... Does this have to do with the letter I was entrusted to give you when you turned twenty?" Walter asked.
"Yes Walter, it does. That letter told me that Mother did not die of a wasting illness as Father led everyone to believe. She died giving birth to a baby girl, seven years younger than I. The letter instructed me to find my sister and to bring her back to the family. So now I present to you Lady Haematitia Hayden Regina Hellsing, heir of the Hellsing Organization," Integral said, standing up and hugging me.
Walter stood in shock for a minute and then bowed to me.
Lady Haematitia, I welcome you back to the Hellsing family. Please, let me know if there is anything you need. I am happy to serve the daughters of Hellsing," he said.
"Thank you Walter, you are so kind," I said, smiling.
He nodded and walked out, shutting the door behind him.
"You should eat before the sun rises much higher. We don't want you to burn," Integral said, gesturing to the small chest full of ice.
I opened the chest and found two packages of blood.
"Integral, there's a note here from Alucard that says you must drink blood at least once a week, now that the vampire's blood has been awoken," I said, reading the note.
I handed her the package and the note and she read it, smiling to herself.
Opening the package, Integral smiled at me and said, "Well, bottoms up, I guess."
I drained my blood pack as I watched my sister try blood for the first time.
"I used to hate the sight and smell of blood, but now I like. I guess I really do have vampire blood in my veins," Integral said as she finished.
The sunlight suddenly burst through a crack in the curtains and I hid my face.
"I'm sorry Integral, but I really must be getting to sleep now. I should have been in my coffin hours ago," I said, standing slowly.
"Of course. I should apologize for keeping you up for such a long time. Goodnight, dear sister," Integral said, hugging me.
"Good day Teggie," I said, grinning.
"What did you just call me?" she asked, blinking in amazement.
"Teggie, short for Integral. I think it's cute," I replied, laughing.
"Haema, I swear you are the damnedest creature-"
"Good day to you, Sir Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing," I said, walking out the door.
By the time I reached the stairs going down to the main floor- only a hundred feet or so- I felt like I was going to lose consciousness. As my legs collapsed underneath me, I felt strong arms catch me. Looking up, I saw red eyes framed by jet black hair.
"Mein Fuhrer...Alucard. I'm sorr-"
"Hush Haema, and I will bring you into the darkness. Close your eyes now and rest," he said.
I did as he had told me and closed my eyes. I felt us sinking through the floors, much deeper than my room was. I heard a door open and I opened my eyes. Alucard's room was full of candles, their flames glinting off ebony furniture inlaid with platinum.
The lid of Alucard's coffin rose up and he placed me in it gently. I expected him to close the lid, but to my surprise, he climbed in with me and the lid shut. His coffin was large, but with two people in it, it was slightly crowded. I was pressed right up against Alucard and his arm was over me. Even though it was completely dark, we could still see each other perfectly.
"You came to me a week ago, didn't you, Mein Fuhrer?" I asked him.
"Please...Haema, just call me Alucard. And...yes, I did come to you," he replied softly.
"Then I am no longer a vir- Lilith said that I was preg-"
"Not even Lilith can tell such a thing this early on, Haema. You may not be," Alucard said.
"And what if I am? There would be no doubt that you were the father if it turns out that she's right," I replied, starting to drift off.
"If you actually are, then we will raise our child in our ways and they would become the heir of Hellsing. Now sleep, and you will be watched over by the Angel of Darkness," he said, kissing me gently.
"Goodnight Alucard," I replied, losing myself to sleep.
Over the next few weeks, I woke up in Alucard's coffin most nights. Walter started bringing blood for both of us down each morning. Each night, I wondered if Lilith had been right when she told me that I was pregnant.
"Stop worrying about it so much Haema. Your mind is reeling and you seem tired all the time. It's still too early to tell," Alucard said, hugging me from behind.
Lilith suddenly appeared and said, "Actually, it's not too early to tell Alucard. Lady Haematitia, I am pleased to announce that you are carrying twins. The Hellsing family and the King of Wallachia shall have heirs once again. Even I am not sure at this stage of pregnancy, but I believe you are going to have a boy and a girl. I wish you luck during this wonderful time."
With a nod, Lilith vanished as quickly as she came, leaving Alucard and me in shock. We stood there for a minute until I finally found my voice again.
"I told you so Alucard."
R&R please! Order 03: Sword Dancer is in the works!