Youth and Innocence

Chapter 10

Standard disclaimer: Kohta Hirano and his publishers, each in their own awesome way, own Hellsing and all of its characters... I have no stake in them.

10.

Laughter and crude language filtered down the hall where the agents had their offices. Leung poked his head out as Walter and Alucard walked in, bantering easily about different ways the night's activities could have gone. He willed his face to go blank as he called out to them.

"Hey Pat! Good lead, wish we'd had her weeks ago. I need to stay here and fill out a report, but if you're still looking for a fight, I have an errand to send you on." Walter's good cheer wasn't as contagious as it would've been if the large vampire hadn't been behind him.

"First you'd better check in with the boss. She's been waiting up for you," Leung stepped back involuntarily as Walter and Alucard stopped walking and came to rest right in front of his door. He showed no other outward sign of discomfort, but the vampire smiled an evil grin and tilted his head, one red eye glinting at him as a lock of hair mercifully blocked the other.

Walter checked his watch, "In her office?" His voice was calm, but no trace of good humor remained.

Leung's voice seemed to come back to him slowly, "No, I guess she thought you'd come in the front, she's out in the foyer." He put his hands behind his back to hide their shaking.

Walter murmured his thanks and he and the 'pet' wandered on in silence, watched by several agents, all leaning out from behind their small desks.

Integra had moved one of the large, almost throne-like chairs out of the library and had sat reading for a while, waiting for her agents to return. Her book and glasses had tumbled to the floor and she laid in a curled position, looking quite a few years younger as she dreamed. Walter and Alucard both stood, captivated by the sight.

Walter remembered the many times he'd carried her sleeping form upstairs. Sometimes, when she'd been quite young and he'd still been active as a butler, he'd carry the baby up to the governess, giving the couple more time together. Later, he'd often come across her as she was now, curled up in one of the giant chairs, surrounded by schoolbooks, head on one of the large oak tables in the study. He'd feel a surge of paternal pride as he laid her down in her bed, still dreaming. Silly to remember that now, he thought, but doesn't she look like an angel in her sleep. He turned his head to see Alucard's face, apparently with darker thoughts. He put up a hand to stop the vampire approaching her.

Alucard feigned innocence. "Shouldn't I carry the child up to her bed?"

"No," Walter's voice was rougher than he'd intended, "I had her moved into her father's room." They stared at each other for a few moments. Decades before, Arthur had put wards and charms up to protect his room from the undead. Alucard had helped to plan some of them and was used as guinea pig. There was no way for him to enter the room. He sneered at Walter and continued toward Integra.

"Now see here, Midian!"

Alucard put up one finger, moving it to his own lips and pointing at the sleeping girl. Walter lowered his voice, "I'm serious Alucard. I don't want-"

"What you want is irrelevant, old man." Alucard's red eyes were glowing in the darkened entryway, "She is my master now and I will not be bound by anyone's desires but hers." He turned back to look at her, ignoring Walter's shock. "Do you know what she thinks of you?"

"She thinks I'm a Judas, I know. We spoke earlier, so I know what she thinks. Thank you very much," He spoke softly, watching Alucard carefully. "I'm not trying to take Hellsing from her and I told her so."

Alucard's face almost cracked with suppressed laughter, "She sees you as a monster," he turned to relish the humans response, "She thinks you're as bad as I am."

Walter looked from the vampire to the sleeping girl, a feeling of shock he couldn't hide working its way through his system. "I..." Like most vampires, Alucard was an excellent liar, but Walter knew he derived more pleasure from telling unpleasant truths. Still, how could she... everything he'd ever done had been done for her family.

Alucard hissed softly, almost chuckling, then put his hands on Walter's shoulders, "Come now, don't you have some business to finish?" He directed the man back the way they'd come until he felt Walter shake his assistance off.

Once in his office, Walter sent a message to the other agents, then settled down to write up the notes from his "date" with Emily McMillan. Alucard settled himself behind Walter, wishing he had a hat to shield his eyes from the florescent lights. Not only did they glare, they also had an audible sing that annoyed him. He closed his eyes and put up his feet, incurring a glare from his friend which he ignored. After all, humans usually assumed that he couldn't see them with his eyes closed.

"I am terribly sorry if the accommodations are beneath you," Walter said in a sarcastic tone. Alucard grunted in response. The clacking of keys continued until Alucard moved his feet and looked to the door. A hand knocked once, then opened the door.

"Walter? Oh," Pat Leung stood looking at the vampire.

"Thanks, Leung. That was quick," Walter strove for a casual tone. "Are you up for a little breaking and entering tonight?" That garnered him the agent's full attention.

"Always, Dollnez! You know me!"

"Well, I'd like you to team with Alucard and check out this church," he held out a paper with the information, but the other man didn't take it. "Is that going to be a problem?" Walter's voice held more than the simple question in it; there was a hint of danger as well. Alucard watched the two men.

"I can do it by myself," he swallowed dryly. Leung looked at Walter's hand, still extended with the church location. He itched to grab it, but...

"What are you worried about, Agent?" Alucard's tone was not lost on them.

"Alucard!" Walter said sharply, "Integra has seen fit to loan you to us for the night. You will behave yourself in the field. As Leung said, he can do this himself. I want you to get him in and then take backup, in case there's trouble."

"What, again? Babysitting?"

The centuries old vampire sounded vaguely like a whiny teenager and Leung felt himself relax ever so slightly. Perhaps there was more to him than just the dreadful hunger? "Walter?"

"Pat, if you feel you can't do this, I'll see if Draper is free. You know I wouldn't send Reynolds to a break in." Stephan Draper was a thin, tall man with a keen sense of humor and a killer sniper. In a fixed location situation, he was fantastic backup. He could handle a break in, but wasn't Walter's first choice as his hand to hand was poor.

"Relax, old chap," Leung had found his courage again and took the paper from Walter. He nervously eyed the languid creature who was tapping his fingers along the chair's arm and looking out into the hallway.

"I'd like to come along."

The men fell silent, mouths agape as they looked at Integra standing in the doorway. She looked tired, but had clearly tried to smooth out her dress and hair before she came into view.

"Good evening, Master," Alucard rose and bowed to her. "It's a fine night to go out."

"No," Walter's voice was firm. He looked between Alucard and Integra, "Miss, it wouldn't be wise. This is a... well we don't know what we'll find. It may well be a nest." He didn't think she could command her way out of a dangerous situation. Alucard would protect her, of course, but if something should slip through his defenses... "You haven't been trained on missions, Lady Integra."

"And just how does one get trained without going out on a mission?" She tried to stare him down, but the sharp gray eyes, one now accentuated by a monocle for writing, showed no flicker, no intimidation.

"There is another side of your training that we could get started on," he gestured for Leung and Alucard to leave. "This is the bureaucratic end of things, but it is very important."

Integra watched them leave, fuming. Walter doubted that she was impressed by his busy work, but he was serious. This was every bit as important in the long run. As she turned to glare at him he handed her some papers. "We need to contact your fellow Knights and alert them to the break in. Then we'll need to make certain that the proper authorities are aware to keep harmony between the Queen's services." He sighed. "Alright, Miss, when we're done I'll take you to the location. We can wait outside in the Bentley."

Integra looked a little mollified and reached out for the information. "I do want to go out, Walter. I need to know what it's like for them." She watched him nod, at least he took her seriously.

"Miss, I will personally take you out on a mission once I feel your training is advancing. If you'll just try to be patient." He paused, trying a different approach, one she might be able to understand, "If protecting you distracted Alucard, he might miss a danger to Leung. It would be very bad for morale if he came back from this gig with an agent in a body bag." He could see that sunk in. She straightened up and suggested they go up to her office to make the necessary calls.

Patrick Leung was less than thrilled to be seen with the vampire trailing after him, but he went to change and got his gear as quickly as possible. Using breath control, he was able to put up with the heebie jeebies that crawled up his spine each time he met the crimson eyes. "How do you want to travel? I'll be taking a car."

Alucard exited with him, but looked up at the sky before answering. There were more clouds forming, but dawn was still three hours away. "I'll meet you there. Don't make me wait." He melted into shadows, then bats and was gone before Leung was able to close his gaping mouth.

In the quiet neighborhood, as people lay dreaming, an old door creaked open. A young vampire walked outside, turning left toward the small graveyard. He sniffed for a second and then walked to a tombstone nearest the parking lot. Sitting down on the small bench next to it, he seemed to be thinking. As it was a foreign occupation for him, it took all of his concentration. From a Darwinian perspective, this would be considered a bad thing. A white-gloved hand erupted from the creature's chest and he was troubled no more with thought.

Alucard wiped the dust from his trousers and cursed the agent who he sensed was only now parking a Renault, blocks away. He had already dismantled the guardian charms he found around the church and was tired of waiting. The graveyard behind the sanctuary was still in use as the recently interred testified. Hellsing may have to return to put these down in a few days. These low filth spawn feel like they'll take a while to manifest, he made a mental note to report it to Integra.

The soul is not one single entity, as is commonly imagined. Upon death, it shatters, breaking down into its component parts. There is the trauma of separation with the corporeal that can take hours or days, depending on the strength of the master vampire. A whisper of the soul remains in the fledgling, but the master vampire either consumes or pushes the rest of the soul out from the corpse. If the master is weak, it can be as long as a week before the new vampire rises, a hideous mockery of a true Nosferatu. Without their master, these would be little more than ghouls, but he was getting ahead of himself. He had to kill their master yet.

He had a few more minutes as the agent was walking toward the church yard, so he pulled out an old memory... his last fledgling... Lucy. He cursed Van Helsing out of habit, but Alucard had to take responsibility. It was his own pride that killed her, underestimating the human. Searching his soul he found more than a little respect for the old doctor. That respect mutated into a different emotion when he thought of the Dutchman's great granddaughter. He smiled.

Agent Leung slowed as he approached the grinning vampire. It had picked the most obscene place for them to meet. His imagination had long ago died and graveyards were just another workplace to him, but tonight? Here? It reeked with imminent death. "Oy, vampire," he hissed, then braced himself for the scathing gaze.

"There is a nest. You will enter the offices, get what you need, while I play with them."

Leung was taken aback. He was used to taking orders from Walter in the field, but from the enemy? "How many?"

"A few," Alucard shrugged, "it's not an exact science."

Leung's anger rose, "Are you leading me into a trap?" How could they trust this creature? "Walter told you-"

"Walter's my bitch and Integra's only a child. You are left to be my plaything," he paused, savoring the sound of that for a second before he turned away. "I think that covers your fears, no?" The man couldn't speak so he went on. "Would that it were so." He looked at the Gothic structure in front of them, imagining it on fire for a second before turning back to the diminutive agent. "You are not to get yourself killed. If you want a fight, I'll oblige when we return to Hellsing." He restrained a smile as the man's pulse raced. The drop-out with an attitude and skill in martial arts... Alucard sensed Leung had matured into a drop out with chemical dependences and a serial killer's itch. Like almost all of the surviving agents, Alucard had checked him out mentally before he was brought on board. Arthur trusted the vampire on such matters. Of course, the men were unaware of him, or thought of him as a creepy child who haunted the halls now and then. His master forbade him from talking with them. All except for Walter. Walter had started the agency, in a manner of speaking. Prior to taking on the orphan, Arthur had planned to follow his father and grandfather's method of recruiting friends and various thugs into posses, doing raids and disbanding. With Walter, Arthur saw the possibilities. Now Integra would expand on that. It pleased Alucard even as it annoyed him to think of her needing more than himself.

Leung said nothing and they crossed the graveyard. Alucard turned to a shadowy fog, entering then ushering the human inside. They proceeded together toward a hallway that ran along a row of offices and from there to the main chapel. Leung watched down the hallway as the vampire opened the sanctuary doors and began his distraction by insulting the unseen enemy. With a roar of gunfire, Alucard was down. Pat's stomach sank. All talk and threats, but nothing to back it up? How typical. He worked the locks quickly, needing to get his work done as fast as he could while they congratulated themselves. Soon they'd hear his heartbeat and then he'd be toast.

The great hall was in shambles. Pews were overturned, fabric hung from the walls in shreds and blood streaked the beautiful works of stained glass. The vampires howled with laughter at their coordinated reaction. Then the corpse of the interloper began to laugh along with them. Icy tendrils of shadows crept along the aisle as the vampires fell silent; the new voice did not. "Releasing control art restrictions, level two."

Alucard intended to take his time with this lot. They couldn't kill him, he doubted they could even challenge him. That left them only the option of entertaining him. His Cassull emerged from his shadow form, ringing out as it rained holy pain on the gathered fools. They would not die quickly, that was too good for them. Alucard watched as one tried to regrow his lower legs, dragging himself by his arms to find a hiding place underneath the overturned high altar.

"Who are you?" A young female called out to him.

"Jesus," he taunted. "You get to be the money changers. Now run!" He chased her, feeling another one gather courage and remember which end of the pistol to use. Alucard took a hail of lead bullets to the back without slowing down. "Why don't you wash my feet, young one?" He moved in front of the female. She looked around, confused and angry. Perhaps she'd missed her Bible studies, he mused. He grabbed her head and pushed her down, letting her bloody tears fall on his boots before crushing her head to dust.

"What the 'effing Hell!" Another young one screamed, franticly looking for his leader, Alucard guessed that was the one hiding in the chancel, the one he was saving for last.

"Did they promise you immortality? They lied. You are trash, nothing more than scum in the baptismal font." He directed his voice to the altar, but looked at the scattered fledglings trying to regroup, five left in all. "What other lies have they told you? What have you sold your soul to? Do you even know?" Indignation seemed to rise in them, giving them renewed strength. He smiled. "By all means, come and meet your maker. I can give you peace." Without bothering to turn his head, Alucard swung his heavy gun to the right and took the chest out of one brandishing a large candle stand. "Next." He kicked over a wooden pew, tearing a chunk out with his left hand. Advancing toward a heavy male vampire who had the sense to try and start running for the open doors, Alucard allowed his familiars to attend him and pinned the idiot down. He looked into scared eyes and winked, just before driving the wood in. Though the church had been desecrated by the pack, the old wood retained enough of the prayers, said by believers through the century it had seen service, to burn as it blinded. Alucard left this one alive, his screams adding to the chaos. He stood between them and freedom. A door slammed toward the back of the altar and Alucard remembered the sacristy and hallways that sometimes lead back to the rector's office. Damn, have to cut playtime short.

Releasing the restraints on his hell hounds, Alucard's shadow selves separated. He watched with a smile as his dogs devoured the ones in the sanctuary, while he was free to listen for the heartbeat of the agent and the scrambling sounds from the loose master vampire. He patted the head of the first hound to return.

This was definitely the mother load of evidence so far. Leung had financial records, computer files and letters stuffed into his backpack and was feeling proud of the fact that he hadn't needed that monster's help after all. The gunshots, screams and growls from the sanctuary indicated that Alucard had served his purpose, at least his body had been a distraction for the beasts. No one had come after him... yet. He cursed himself for that thought as he heard a thumping noise outside a side door to the office. You're not safe until you're back at Hellsing, he reminded himself. A bit safer tonight without that vampire around, he bit back the laugh that tried to escape as he crossed the office to the main door. The thing outside the side door came crashing through, rolled and then launched itself at him, claws extended.

Leung was no easy target for the enraged vampire. Blessed bullets blew through the vampire's shoulder as he knocked Leung down and its head was thrown back by an elbow to the chin. From the knees down, his legs were not quite there, just stubs, blood and shadows. As long as he could keep the human pinned, he could get the blood he needed to regenerate. The vampire used his superior strength to maintain the upper hand, despite the fight his victim was putting up. He knew he had to succeed, he had to get nourishment before the monster arrived. He felt the ripping pain as his fledglings died and he lashed out, slicing the Leung's chest with his long nails. To his shock, the man smiled at him and threw him off with a judo roll. The smell of blood was overwhelming and the vampire flew back at him, desperate for the red nectar.

Leung took the offensive, pummeling the vampire until his hands were pinned in the iron grip of the crazed creature. The vampire bent him backwards, face straining toward the blood. Leung tried to flip, but the creature's stubby legs had become more solid and his enemy used them to sweep him down. Once again on the floor, he braced for the attack, trying to get his hands free and moving his legs to cause damage and get free. There was no way he would give up his mortality to this weak vampire. It came as a surprise, therefore, when the creature was lifted violently off of him.

Alucard grinned down at Leung, "Some help, Agent?"

Patrick Leung had seen many things in his many years as an agent for the Hellsing Organization. He liked to consider himself above the emotions that flowed through his veins and trickled between his legs. Watching the No-life King's face split open into two parts, razor sharp teeth lining the edges and seeing it rip the head nearly off of the writhing vampire, then wrap inky black tendrils of darkness around the body before devouring it? No, he'd never seen one vampire consume another. Leung considered that word for a few minutes before movement came back to his muscles. Consumed. Yes, that was what he witnessed. Alucard, his face back in place, turned to him, hand extended as if to help him up. Leung stared at the white glove, strangely clean in the bloody office. He sighed and reached for it. "I was holding my own," he choked out the words as he got to his feet. His cheeks burned with shame over losing control of himself.

"But of course," the vampire purred, reaching a hand to Leung's chest and rubbing the shallow wounds there. Fresh blood oozed past the coagulating mess. He resisted the temptation to bury his head in it and lick the agent clean. The man's sanity looked like it could only take so much. But wonderful feelings were flooding through his form at the thought of holding the human down and working his tongue gently to tease the flow of fluid to the surface. Alucard pulled his hand back, large tongue cleaning his gloved hand. Red eyes burned at the man who backed away. "Go back to Hellsing," he said, his voice revealing too much of the repressed desire. "My Master has arrived."

Leung kept his eyes on the vampire as he moved slowly to the door. He focused on his breathing, the pain lessening as he focused inward. He ran all the way back to the car.

Alucard focused inwardly as well. "Limited control release complete," he felt her presence moving closer and exited to meet her. The Bentley slowed down as Walter saw him. What a lovely machine, he thought. He'd always had a soft spot for transportation. The window lowered. "All targets have been silenced, my Master." He bowed to her.

"Agent Leung?" Walter didn't bother speaking loudly, he knew Alucard could hear him just fine.

"Shaken up, but otherwise he'll be fine. He's returning now." He looked at Integra. "Would you like a full report?" He saw how hard she was fighting the pull of sleep.

"Yes, I think that's wise," she yawned, but sat up straight. "You want to ride back?" She gestured to the wide space to her side.

Considering his current mood, he thought twice about sitting close to her. "I will meet you in your office."