The Story of Mouse
Integra left Sir James with Mouse and returned to her office. Alucard was sitting in her chair, with his feet up, waiting for her.
"Well, that takes care of him." informed Integra. "He has released his claim on me."
"He's still here though. I can feel his presence. So where is he?" asked Alucard, slightly annoyed that this man was still in his house.
"He's with Mouse. He knows the truth and he's willing to keep the secret." said Integra.
"Did you tell him you were pregnant?" asked Alucard, taking his feet off her desk and putting them on the floor.
"Yes?" said Integra, as she walked towards Alucard. "He is an honorable man and I will not lie to him."
Alucard laughed at her. Her sense of duty and honor was so strong, but it was the noble pride of hers that drew him to her.
"Have you thought of any names yet?" asked Integra, standing in front of her desk with her arms folded.
"Vladimir for the boy. Victoria for the girl." he said.
"If its two boys, I think we should name them Vladimir and Lionel. I'd like one of them to be named Lionel, after my father." she reflected.
"Alright." agreed Alucard.
He held his hand out to her and she came to him. He easily lifted her into his lap.
"Alucard." called Integra, leaning against him.
"Yes." he said, wrapping his arms around her.
"Tell me about Mouse's mother. What was she like?" asked Integra.
"Why do you ask?" he questioned.
"Well, sometimes, Mouse is like you; silent, cunning, and very deadly. On the other hand, sometimes, she is someone else; playful, mischievous, and musical." said Integra.
"The music she got from her mother. Mouse's mother was a Norse warrior named Lillian. She was strong woman with blonde hair and ice blue eyes. She was a valiant warrior, a skilled hunter, and a fine singer. On the nights when the moon was full, she would sing to it." told Alucard.
"Sing to the moon?" queried Integra, wondering why anyone in their right mind would sing to the moon.
"Yes. Her people were from the north. It was said that her people were called the people of Fenrir. The mythical son of Loki." answered Alucard.
"How did you meet her?"
"On the battlefield. There was a rebellion against the king. The war was a bloody one." said Alucard, waving his hand and creating the illusion for her to see. "So naturally, I was drawn to it. I used the blood of the dying to quench my thirst and to refill my winery. Then I came upon a woman. One of the few, that I had ever seen participate in battle. I was about to drain her, when a dagger entered my chest."
Alucard waved his hand and his memory become reality. Integra watched with interest as the events unfolded before her. Alucard rarely spoke of his past.
"Still fighting, I see." chuckled Alucard.
"As long as I ... breathe, I will ... fight." she gasped.
"Why didn't you turn her?" asked Integra.
"I didn't think of it. Looking back now, that thought never entered my mind. Anyway, I took her home. I treated her wounds and gave her a room in my castle. It was weeks before all her wounds had healed. I spoke with her every evening. She told me about her life and about the war. She had come from a long line of kings and now the people were challenging her authority." explained Alucard.
"Stay as long as you wish."
"Thank you, my lord."
"I must warn you though; I also have enemies that may come looking for me. If they find me, they will no doubt kill you too."
"She didn't mind the fact that you slept all day?" asked Integra, with a yawn.
"No." answered Alucard. "I asked her about it one evening."
"No, it doesn't. Valmar slept all day too; the lazy bastard."
"Husband?"
"Brother, I have never been married."
"So she protected you by day and you protected her while she slept at night." commented Integra.
"Yes. I woke up early one night and went looking for her. She was not in her room and she was not in the garden; that she had made for herself. I went out the front door to call for her and stepped into a trap. Had I been human, the trap would have killed me. I wondered who had placed it there. I found several more such traps, as I continued searching for Lillian. Each trap was placed at an entrance to my home. In her own way, she was trying to protect me. I finally found her hiding atop the main turret. She stood there, her bow and arrow at the ready, searching the surrounding areas, and waiting for my enemies." narrated Alucard.
"So here you are. What are you doing way up here?" inquired Alucard.
"Since before dawn, my lord, I have stood guard while you slept." Lillian reported, as she turned to face Alucard. "I have seen none approach today. But I will continue my watch tomorrow. I will be ready for him, if he comes for you."
Alucard smiled.
"So diligent a warrior, I thank you. However, do come inside. It's getting late and it's getting cold." said Alucard, escorting her inside.
Integra watched, through sleepy eyes, as a loving couple entered the castle and sat down to dinner. Alucard did not eat, but watched as she did. The roaring fire in the fireplace filled the room with warmth and soft light. When Lillian had finished eating, she walked over to Alucard and knelt before him.
"What are you doing? Why do you kneel before me? My home is yours. Come, get up."
"My lord, I wish to thank you and repay you for your kindness to me."
"Your company is my reward."
"Please, my lord. I have no land, no home, and no money; but if you do not find me to "unpleasing" to look upon. I offer you myself."
Alucard walked over to her and pulled her up off her knees.
"Why?"
Lillian lowered her head.
"Because, I love you." she whispered.
Alucard roughly lifted Lillian's chin and kissed her hard.
Integra blushed and looked away as Alucard and Lillian made love in Lillian's bedroom.
"Alucard." stated Integra, clearing her throat.
"You wanted to know about Mouse, this is how Mouse was made." chuckled Alucard. "Why be shy about it now. You were in the same position only a couple of nights ago."
"Alucard!"
Alucard laughed at Integra.
"However, all things do come to an end. Then came the night when she discovered what kind of man I truly was." said Alucard.
Integra saw the door to Alucard's chambers burst open. She saw what Lillian saw; a monster of a man, biting the neck of his helpless victim, and drinking his blood. Lillian shook her head, her eyes wide with horror.
"My god, no." she screamed.
A frighten woman ran from the room as fast as her legs would go.
"Why didn't you go after her?" asked Integra, looking up at Alucard.
"I had waited too long in feeding. I was too hungry to follow her. Besides, you saw the fear in her eyes. Had I chased after her then, I would have only frightened her more. It took me over a year to find her again."
"Why so long?"
"By the time I had retuned to normal, she had taken my best horse and left. While I was searching for her, I ran into your accursed ancestor, Abraham Van Hellsing."
Integra yawned again and her eyes closed.
"Am I boring you?" asked Alucard, with a grin, as he looked at Integra's sleeping form.
"No." she said, eyes still closed. "What happened? Did you ever find her again?"
"As I said, it took me over a year to find her. And when I did, it was because my blood was calling out to me."
"Shhh, don't cry. Ohh, my poor little mouse. Are you hungry?"
Lillian slid out of bed, away from her husband, and went to pick up her daughter.
"So this is why you came looking for me, that night." said a voice from behind her.
Lillian turned in surprise and came face to face with Alucard.
"Hello, my lord." she said, unafraid. "This is Kalle, your daughter."
Lillian handed Kalle to him. Alucard took her and Kalle stopped crying.
"She knows you're her father. She always cries when Ivan tries to hold her."
"Ivan?" said Alucard, looking past Lillian, at the man sleeping in her bed.
"I am sorry, my lord. But I was alone and pregnant with your daughter, I had no choice. I had to think of Kalle."
"He only wants your blood to stable his hold of your throne." said Alucard, as he read Ivan's mind.
"I know. But Kalle is all that matters."
"She's so small." said Alucard, returning his attention to his daughter.
Alucard placed his index finger on her nose. Kalle woke up and bit him. Alucard pushed back her lip to reveal two tiny fangs. He smiled with a father's pride.
"She's my little mouse." said Lillian, taking her back.
"Lillian." said Alucard, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, my lord."
"You once asked me what you could do for me to repay me. Protect my daughter. Do this for me."
"That I swear, my lord." promised Lillian.
"Listen to me well. Because she is my daughter, people will fear and hate her. Watch her carefully and never let her drink blood. If she does not drink, she should be fine. She won't become a monster, like me."
"You're no monster. I am a warrior of the Halas clan. I have seen what monsters men can be and I will never think of you as such."
Alucard stared deep into Lillian's eyes. And then kissed her lips, one last time.
"Van Hellsing still hunts me. If he finds me, he will kill her. So this will be the last time that you will see me."
"As long as I have Kalle, I will see you everyday."
"She does look like me." smiled Alucard. "Goodbye, Lillian."
"Goodbye, my lord."
Integra's snoring stopped Alucard's tale. He stood with her in his arms. He disappeared and then reappeared in Integra's room. He undressed her down to her underwear, put her favorite dark blue pajamas on her, and then placed her gently in her bed. He coved her with blankets and said goodnight.
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NOTE: Kalle "Mouse" Halas is the only "living" child sired biologically by Alucard. She came to Hellsing after her mother died, brought there by her father. Since the Hellsings didn't know that Alucard was her father, they treated her as one of his "turned" children and made her part of their organization.
After several missions, it became clear that Mouse was a more effective hunter if she hunted alone. Over time, Mouse became the second most powerful hunter in the Hellsing organization. Due to her young age, she was allowed to befriend the Hellsing children. She taught them all about vampires and how to hunt them. Her games of hide and seek were very effective in teaching the Hellsing children the proper way to hunt vampires. She also taught them how to fight the controlling mind powers of the vampire and how to focus their minds to see through their illusions.
Being so close to the Hellsing children, allowed her to escape the inhuman testing that was done to Alucard. (Being that the master of Hellsing had no wish to upset his children.) However, Mouse grew so unpredictable and violent, trying to free Alucard; that when ever they tested on him, they would bind her in silver chains in the very room that Integra had found Alucard.
Through the years, father and daughter have served Hellsing and England more loyally than any citizen of England. Mouse obeys Alucard in all things, but will often test the limits of her growing powers by trying to kill him. This Alucard takes in stride, as that it is often the only amusement that he has in his downtime.