Finding the Past
It was really nice day, sweet, but not to tart. The grass was growing, the birds were singing, and Integra was in a really foul mood. Her phone hadn't stopped ringing since the Vatican had received her gift; four single white lilies and four dead Iscariots. But more disturbing than this was the fact that Alucard had discovered the source of all the "demon" disturbances. She and Alucard had somehow unsealed the gates of hell, held beneath Stonehenge. Now driven to find answers, Integra scoured her family library.
"It has to be here." said Integra, taking yet another book off the shelf.
"Master, it's unhealthy to push yourself like this. It…"
"Shut up, Mouse. I don't want to hear it." she scolded. "Ah, here it is. This one."
Mouse looked up at Integra as she came down from the ladder.
"I have read every book in this library, since I was a child. This is the only book that I can not read." said Integra, wiping the book free of dust. "As that you are far older than I am, I am hoping that you can read it."
"Whoa." said Mouse, with awe, as she took the book from Integra. "This isn't a book. It's a pact."
Integra looked strangely at Mouse as her eyes seemed to glow; not red, but orange.
"What? What do you mean a pact?" she inquired, now a little worried.
Mouse opened the book. Suddenly, the entire room was filled with light. Both Integra and Mouse shielded their eyes. When they could see again, they were standing in a destroyed city. The moon was hidden by the billowing smoke from a city in burning ruins. Buildings were destroyed or still on fire. Black smoke filled the air and the dead bodies of men, women, and children lay scattered everywhere. The cry of the still dying echoed through the air as the stench of death paraded through the streets.
"Where are we?" asked Integra, looking upon the destroyed city.
It saddened her to look upon it. It too much reminded her of England after Millennium had destroyed it.
"Not where, when." corrected Mouse, surveying the land in awe.
"NO!" screamed a male voice.
Both Integra and Mouse turned towards the mourning voice. They saw a single man standing alone, the body of his beloved wife at his feet. Suddenly, the air was filled with a dark and evil laughter.
"Damn you Zataan! I swear will kill every living vampire!" shouted the man.
Integra and Mouse looked to the vampire. He was massive. He was a master no life king. He looked more demon than vampire; his fangs were still dripping blood. He had dark hair, long and unkempt. Dark eyes seemingly hollow sockets and yet piercing to the soul. And a dark countenance, one that radiated death, anguish, remorse and damnation. Soon two more joined him, Lunos and Stellas, in mocking the last standing human in the decimated city. Mouse and Integra stared in awe at the daring stupidity of this human taking on three vampires, with no weapons, and no hope of winning. Needless to say, the vampires, with their superior strength and speed, made sport of the poor human. They clawed him, punched him, and kicked him. The wretched human lay broken and gasping for life, as he lay upon the ground.
"Go on kill me now." he shouted, completely exhausted and expended.
"No." laughed Zataan. "It will hurt more if I let you live. Live in the city that I have destroyed with the woman you love, but could not protect. Ha Ha Ha."
The three vampire left, leaving the human to die alone.
"Mouse." called Integra, hoping that she had answers.
"Don't look at me. I got here when you did." said Mouse, just as confused as Integra.
She had no answers for what was happening, but she had seen it all before. She had seen so many families destroyed by vampires, whether for food or power. This scene and many like it ran through her mind. She growled low and deep as she renewed her vow to help Integra Hellsing kill them all.
"God!" cried the man, hands outstretched towards heaven.
Mouse and Integra again turned to watch.
"How can you let the evil one and his children destroy the good which you have created! Please, I beg of you. Grant me the power to destroy is evil and avenge my family, my cities, and you!" he shouted.
"So this is where you too disappeared too." said a familiar voice.
"Alucard." acknowledged Integra.
"What's going on? Who created such a powerful illusion?" he asked, with deep concern.
Alucard didn't like unknowns in "his" house and certainly not ones that could harm Integra.
"The book did." said Mouse.
"What book?"
"Technically, it's not a book. It's a pact." explained Mouse. "Something that can only be activated by the contractor or his heirs."
"But the book, ah pact, didn't activate until you touched it." said Integra to Mouse. "But that would mean…"
All three were brought back to the past with a thunderous voice coming from heaven.
"Abraham. I have heard thy plea. I will give you a warrior with which to vanquish your enemies and to protect my people." boomed the great voice.
"A great warrior, I thank thee Lord."
"However, I require that you and your warrior guard the gates of hell.
"Alucard, arise."
Mouse, Integra, and Alucard stared in fascination as Alucard appeared and struggled to stand before Abraham Van Hellsing. His black wings unfolded as he stretched.
"You were a fallen angel?" question Mouse.
Alucard said nothing as he stared at the scene before him. Was this right? Is this how it happened? Just how many lives have I lived?
"Sinner, prove to me thy sincerity."
Alucard looked around him, then he reached behind him and tore off both his wings; and then he presented them to God.
"So that's what the text on your coffin means." reasoned Integra.
"Here is your warrior Abraham."
Abraham looked at his new warrior. Dread filled him as he realized what he was.
"But he too is a vampire."
"He is a sinner and bears the mark of his crime. In time he will atone, by killing those he sought to join. Neither you nor any of your kin must ever come to know him. If you break this commandment, the covenant will be broken and the gates of hell will open and again your world will be destroyed."
"I will never align myself with the children of darkness. I despise them to my core. But what should happen if one of my children be taken against their will?"
"They must be willing. But should the gates be opened only the blood of an innocent Hellsing will atone for thy sin."
"Oh, boy." said Integra, suddenly understanding everything. "Wait a minute, I thought my ancestor captured you."
"Not that Abraham Van Hellsing…" said Mouse. "Look around you, this war is older than all of us."
"Alucard? You don't remember any of this, ...do you?" asked Integra.
Alucard looked at the scene unfolding before them. Then he looked at Integra with serious eyes.
"No, I don't." he said, and then he returned his gaze to his former self.
"So I guess that book by Bram was…"
"A complete and total work of fiction. I've been telling you that for years." said Alucard, with a smirk.
"Then everything my family ever said was a lie." feared Integra, at the pointlessness of it all.
"Not a lie." said Alucard. "Just watered down and embellished truth. Vampires are demonic monsters that prey on life. You are the guardians of light and life. Its just that time and tradition have clouded the true meaning of why you fight and why I exist."
"Ok. So basically my ancestor prayed to God for help and he gave us you…" began Integra.
"Man, he's got a wicked sense of humor." laughed Mouse.
Without a word, Integra backhanded Mouse. Mouse was caught by surprise as the blow landed against her, and grinned as she wiped her bleeding nose.
"We were supposed to look after you and you us. Alucard, I'm sorry for all my family has done to you. And while trying to atone for one sin, we have committed another." finished Integra. "This is all my fault. I have broken my family's convent."
Integra stood looking at the carnage around her. If they didn't find a way to stop this; this is what the world would look like again. Integra's feelings ran deep. She was completely disturbed and distraught by the situation. She began to pace.
"You regret becoming my wife?" asked Alucard, still staring at himself, his voice full of cold indifference.
"I regret you not being human." said Integra, with equal indifference. "I do not regret my actions."
Mouse smiled. The world is falling down around them and yet they do not care. They will stand beside each other, through heaven and through hell.
Once again, the book flooded the room with a blast of light. Once again they stood with Integra's family library.
"I'm blind!" cried Mouse, in mockery.
"Why don't you go kill something." growled Integra, tired of Mouse's jovial behavior. "Go seek and destroy our enemies!"
"What and leave you two alone?" chuckled Mouse. "Besides, we're safe until sundown."
"Then go and make Integra's lunch." ordered Alucard, harshly.
"Ok. Alright. I'm going." relented Mouse, with an evil grin. "No more copulating while I'm gone. You might bring the heavens down on us as well."
"MOUSE!" yelled Integra, looking for something to throw.
Mouse disappeared before Integra could throw abook at her. She growled at Mouse's light-hearted attitude in the seriousness of their predicament. She gave Alucard a dirty look. He just raised his eyebrow at her.
"She's your daughter. You beat her." she demanded.
"So what do you wish to do about this?" he asked.
"We have to close that door." she said, firmly.
"We're a little short on innocent Hellsings." said Alucard, with an evil grin, as he remembered their many affairs. "And you are no longer innocent."
Integra said nothing to him. She just started pacing the floor, again. He could tell what she was thinking about. And it didn't please him at all, not one bit.
"NO." he said, fiercely.
"It is the only answer. I am the only Hellsing left." she said, still pacing, her heart full of sadness.
"Would you really kill your own child? MY child?" questioned Alucard, as he grabbed her by the arm and forced her to stop pacing.
"As you like to remind me, I have killed my own kin before."