Chapter eighteen is done. As you can surely realise, things are getting to the end, which after 18 chapters has a lot of sense… I hope you'll enjoy it and tell me what you think! Anyway this isn't the last, but... it's coming.

Read on!

NOBODY IS EXCENT OF FEAR

Eric held the man while he died. His shoulder blades were pressed to his chest. His dagger was buried deep in the man's throat. When he died, Eric let him fall to the floor without any care. He looked around as he cleaned the dagger on his sleeve. Arching an eyebrow he finally decided that rooms were probably on the floor above him.

He sheathed his dagger and walked calmly up the stairs, knowing that very few men had been left behind to guard the manor. Stupid mistake. But then again, if Hellsing was already gone, and the world was about to end, nobody would really worry about the building they were livng in. Still, they should have left at least Walter.

Eric slowly walked across the hallways, opening the doors and looking inside the rooms, looking for one particular room. He killed the rest of the remaining guards on the process.

Finally, after half an hour of roaming through wrong rooms and killing everyone he came across, Eric found the room he was looking for.

Kazuhiko was still lying on the bed, of course. The paralysis was still effective. Gingetsu knew what he was doing whent he pulled it off.

He seemed to be asleep. Paralysis was commonly accompanied by sleepiness. Anyway, if you're paralysed, you don't really have much to do besides sleeping or staring at the ceiling... so sleep was good.

Eric slowly approached the bed. Someone had covered the Captain with a blanket. How nice.

Eric brusquely pulled the blanket off his sleeping form. That awoke Kazuhiko almost inmediately. Chocolate brown eyes fixed on Eric. Eric delightedly watched as emotions rummaged through them. First, curiosity, immediately followed by alarm as he saw he didn't knew the man towering over him. And slowly, they were flooded by realisation as he recognised the compromised situation he was in.

"Now, Captain Kazuhiko Faye Ryuu" Eric started as he slowly unsheathed his dagger and naturally left it into Kazuhiko's view. He was glad to see, for a second, fear in them. But it was inmediatelñy covered by a fierce look of anger in the chocolate eyes. "We shall see how to get you off that pathetic stage you have been forced into."

Eric ran his eyes across Kazuhiko's form, deciding where to test first. "They've told me pain activates the nerves. You do know it is your nerves that are asleep. Correct?"

He let the dagger's sharp edge rest against Kazuhiko's left arm. "Let's find out, shall we?" He shifted the pressure and the dagger went deep through Kazuhiko's sleeve and into his flesh, immediately bringing blood up.

Kazuhiko's arm automatically flinched. He moaned, and closed his eyes. But he still couldn't move.

"No?" Eric pouted. "Let's try somewhere else." Eric pulled the dagger out of him and observed the rest of the body. "Alright... there are areas that are more sensible than the arms... hands, face... larger muscles, too." Kazuhiko's eyes sparkled hatred, but he did not show fear.

Eric took the dagger to his hand. This time he didn't say anything, he just made a deep cut across the palm and watched the blood trickle down the arm and disappear under the sleeve. Kazuhiko's finger flinched again. He managed to move his arm weakly.

"Ok, we're making progress." Eric smiled and took the dagger to Kazuhiko's thigh. He strategically placed it over a knot of nerves there. "This should do the trick. I don't have any more time to waste on you."

Eric sank the dagger on his thigh to the hild. Kazuhiko screamed and lifted his thigh.

"Ah. There." Eric smiled and backed off from the bed as Kazuhiko quickly regained power over his muscles. "See? I did you a favour."

Kazuhiko felt his muscles coming to life and managed to sit on the bed. Eric stood by the doorway. Kazuhiko reached for the modem but didn't find it.

"You're looking for this." Eric showed the modem he had in his hand. Kazuhiko glared. "You can have it. I have no use for it. When you can reach it." He placed it on the table near the door. "Which will take you about ten minutes until you can walk perfectly. That is more than enough time for me to get to my car and leave. Oh, there's a motorcycle outside for you, and the location of the warehouse. You're supposed to be there tonight. Try not to be late. Well, more late."

"Wait." Kazuhiko stared at him. Eric stared back. "Thank you. I wanted to make sure I remember your face."

"Oh?" Eric arched an eyebrow.

"So I can find you in the battle field. You might want to remember mine. It will be the last thing you see. That is my promise to you."

Eric narrowed his eyes at him. Then he turned and left. Kazuhiko grabbed the dagger's handle and breathed in. He brusquely took it off his flesh with a horrible suction noise, and tossed aside.

He gasped and went to his feet.

break+

Gingetsu raised his eyes when he heard a strange noise. He saw Niko fall unconcious to the ground and hit the floor a few meters from him. He turned and looked behind him. Walter was too far. Gingetsu could see his wires flying around him like a spiderweb projected on the sky.

Gingetsu turned back and literally opened a way towards where Niko had fell. He decapitated and cut through everything on his way that wasn't wearing a Hellsing or SBC uniform.

Slowly, but surely, he got to Niko's side. He slaughtered the creatures that were already on her. He looked for some place where he could place her and keep her safe but he didn't find any clear space.

Ultimately he decided to take her inside the fences. He had seen Alucard and her break the spell shield, and the metal fences seemed fragile.

He collected her in his arms and ran to them. Three werewolves intercepted him. He shifted his sword, but with Niko in his arms it was rather impossible to fight them. He could conjure a laser...

But it wasn't necessary. Walter's wires flew around him tearing the three creatures apart. Less than a second later the butler was beside him.

"I saw Miss Niko falling." He explained.

"Good. Open the fences."

Walter obeyed. Before Gingetsu could focus his eyes on the wires the fences flew open. Gingetsu and Walter went through them carrying Niko. They were followed by a flood of creatures willing to take Niko's powerful blood.

Gingetsu went to his knees and set her carefully on the floor, still holding her upper body. He stared at her.

"Walter" he called. The butler backed off to look at him while still rejecting his enemies. "Cover me."

"Yes, Lt." Walter stepped in front of him, protecting him. He half turned to see what he was doing.

Gingetsu seemed hesitant. He was holding Niko with her back against his thigh, holding her shoulder with his arm. In his other hand he still held his sword. Then he lifted the sword and lightly sank it in the floor beside him.

After another hesitation, he quickly ran his wrist through the blade and made a deep cut in it. Blood started running out inmediately. Walter gasped as he saw Gingetsu prestly push his wrist against her lips.

"Drink, Niko." He murmured shaking he slightly.

Niko's lips started working on their own accord. They stuck to his wrist and sucked the blood out directly from the vein avidly.

Gingetsu crouched lightly. A swoop of pleasure came over him. He immediately pushed it away, but somehow remained, and he felt dizzy. Niko's eyes popped open. She drew up her hands and took his arm firmly, but not hurting him.

Walter kept staring as she fed off the Lt., her eyes fixed on his visor. After what seemed an eternity to Walter, she blinked and backed off, gently licking the wound. Walter noticed Gingetsu was pale and shaky.

"You gave her too much, Lt." He said, worried. "Far too much."

"I'm fine."

"Gingetsu, you should rest." Niko slowly, elegantly raising to her feet, looking down at him with tender eyes. "We will take care of it from here."

"I said I'm fine." Gingetsu stood. He swayed a little but inmediately regained balance. "We need to get in that warehouse. You have to help Alucard."

"He will be alright, he is powerful..."

"He is out of his league." Gingetsu repleid codly, touching his temple, apparently having a headache. "Go."

Niko stared at him, analyzing the situation for a second. She was worried about him. She could feel too much of his blood running through her veins. It was quickly mixing with her own, already mixed with Alucard's and she felt now more powerful than ever. She didn't want to leave Gingetsu in that weakened state... but then again, he was right about Alucard. He would need her help. And Walter could guard Gingetsu... but he was injured.

Finally she nodded her head and took off, flying towards the building.

Gingetsu remained still a moment, gaining back his full senses. When he felt capable of continuing, he made a gesture to Walter and started walking in that direction.

Then he stopped.

A heavy silence flew around them, save for the battle sounds at their backs.

"Well, well, well... what do we have here?" a very known voice asked in amusement. "Leiutenant Colonel Gingetsu, and his newer loyal pet. Where did you leave my Prince, Clover?"

break+

Alucard studied the scene as fast as he could. He saw Integra lying on a black stone henge, her blood running down the marks on it.

The blood went into some kind of pool, where it mixed with other kinds of bloods. Around them, like in a circle, sorcerers stood still chanting, though the ritual seemed stopped for some reason. Between every sorcerer there was a young girl tied up and on her knees. Most of them were crying. In a wider circle behind them there were important mirrors and glass pools with cristaline water. Apparently they were using everything that could maybe help. Not leaving anything for the chance...

He diverted his red eyes to the man standing near him. He seemed a common human, dressed in a grey sport suit with a white dress shirt. He wasn't very tall. But the dark aura emanating from him was enough to set Alucard's senses off balance, when it was combined with the sharp pain he was already in.

The man looked at him smiling pleasently. He clapped his hands three times at him. Alucard glared pure hatred.

"Welcome, Vlad Dracula. Or is it Alucard, they call you now?"

"You are Shamshiel." Alucard growled.

"I am indeed. Very clever."

Alucard brusquely jumped on him, claws and fangs ready to attack. But he was rejected by something he didn't even have the time to see, and flew right to the other side of the warehouse.

"That, however, was not so clever." Shamshiel commented smiling. Alucard stood again, getting rid of his glases, hat and coat. "Oh... did I make you mad? How rude. I apologize. Let's have a civilized talk, shall we?"

"No. I'll kill you."

"How rude! I had been told you were a gentleman. Now now, let's just speak for a second."

"We'll speak in Hell." Alucard attacked again, this time displaying more of his powers. But he still couldn't have access to his higher levels: Integra was out. Again, he was easily rejected and sent backwards.

"You'll hurt yourself." Shamshiel calmly commented. "Would it not be better if you would just listen to what I have to say?"

Alucard bared his fangs at him. Shamhsiel didn't even flinch.

"What an unreasonable young man." He said, narrowing his eyes open. "If you won't do it yourself I'll have to do it for you."

Alucard was paralysed. He widened his eyes staring at Shamshiel.

"See, I have control over you because you are a being of darkness. I rule the night, and so I rule you. Now, from ruler to servant, I will be kind enough to offer you a deal."

Alucard narrowed his eyes.

"Come with me." He said in a low, calm voice. Alucard stared. "Join me. I will give you things you can now only dream of. Freedom, power, you can even have your kingdom of Wallachia back. I can do these things... I can give you what you want most. You will have your kingdom of destruction, of death, the one you wanted..."

"I never wanted that." Alucard cut in a low, cold voice. "What would be the point of ruling over a cementry? I do not want dead servants, I do not need them."

"Perhaps... but what about freedom?"

Alucard didn't say anything.

"That you cannot have. If you insist in saving Integra you know she will have a son and pass you on to the next generation of Hellsings. She won't let you free... and then, you will be put aside like Arthur did, until you are needed again, like a simple war weapon... alone, in the dungeon, again." Alucard looked away, his face emotionless.

"That you cannot handle, Alucard. You could never handle loneliness very well. Not to mention you have become quite fond of one particular young vampire..."

Alucard's eyes shot back to him. "Leave her alone." He inmidiately said in a growl, anger growing in him again.

Shamshiel chuckled. "I will think about it. Depending on your answer."

"I said..."

"I heard you. You can have your future with her, if you join me now. Be free to take her wherever you want to, whenever you want to. Make her your mistress of the undead, your No Life Queen..."

His voice died. Alucard had his eyes closed, images roaming through his mind. Images of the life he could have with her, with Seras, if he agreed... freedom...

He slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Shamshiel, face expressionless.

"She would hate me if I did that…" He said very low. "She would never love a coward. She would never come with me if I agree. That's not the man she fell in love with. I would rather die like this and let her know I fought that live with her rejecting me, and with my tail between my legs. But surely" he added, smiling a hard, cold smile. "you already knew that, almighty Shamshiel."

Shamshiel's smile disappeared. His eyes opened and he glared at the vampire in front of him.

"I thought you would be smart enough to come to your senses." Shamshiel said slowly. "But I must have made a mistake. Obviously, I overestimated you."

Alucard felt the paralysis leaving him and moved his hands and arms as he straightened. Still his head down, he raised his eyes to meet Shamshiel's gaze. He would probably kill him now. All he could think about was he had failed Integra and betrayed Seras, by leaving her alone. Hopefully, Niko and the others would come in time to stop the ritual once he was gone. If Shamshiel was anything like himself, he would take his time torturing him before... that should give them some time to...

"However" Shamshiel smield a wicked, cold smile and opened his third eye on his forehead. "I know a way to make you help me."

"How would that be?" Alucard used an indifferent, uninterested tone.

The eye on Shamshiel's forehead started glowing red. Alucard felt a tad uneasy about it, but immediately hid it.

A red light glowed in front of Shamshiel. Alucard arched an eyebrow.

Then the light expanded and transformed into a figure, and finally, into Seras.

Alucard's eyes widened. For the first time in centuries he was scared. Terrified.

Seras gasped a little, grabbing her chest, then looked up and around. She focused on Alucard and smiled a confused smile. She felt secure with him around...

Shamshiel ravelled an arm around her neck and pressed her back against his chest. Alucard moved but immediately stopped, scared. Seras squeaked, surprised, and took her hands to the arm around her neck. She tried to fight it, but there was no point.

She closed her eyes and moved, but Shamshiel restricted her body as easy as if it were the one of a little child.

Seras opened her eyes and looked at Alucard, scare mixed with a plea in her eyes. And then, inmediately, that was replaced by courage and a firm will. She wasn't going to be the damsel in distress. She wasn't giving up.

If only Alucard could be as brave as her right now... but he diverted his eyes to the place in the circle that the vampire should be occupying.

For the first time after nearly four centuries, the No Life King wished that someone or something above or beneath him was watching, because if it did not intervene soon... he would be in that spot.

Very well, chapter 18. Things ARE getting a little dramatic I know, but, learn to excuse me... things did get out of hand in this last chapters. I made it too big, I guess...

Kisses and Luck

Namariel Out!