Order 28: Martyr
St.Peter's Square. 9:30 P.M.
Wind was starting to pick up. International Weather channel had reported a storm coming in off the Mediterranian coast. Skey's hair blew to the side in a shining brown sea of waves. She sat on the steps waiting for Anderson to get done talking with Maxwell. Even with her back turned to the both of them, she could feel Maxwell's hateful glare. No matter what was sacrificed on her part, even her humanity, the first image of her was imprinted in Maxwell's mind. His first assumptions would stick with him like his personal religion of belief in chaos to 'help the world'. This shouldn't bother her. Not like this. What Skey wanted to be and what Skey is conflicted. What she wanted to be was the regal, highly regarded and respected Iscariot agent she felt she should be. Mature, calm and business-like. To have no emotions attached to her. She wanted to be like the other Iscariot agents. But she felt so much like a child. Everyone else was seasoned and knew everything. All their attitudes were unselfish and imperial compared to her own. Maybe that's why Heinkel hated her. Both of them always bared teeth at each other. Skey came to think of it as Heinkel being a veteran of the agency while Skey was the young beginner. Why there was such prejudice based on experience in any company, agency or work place, Skey didn't know. She felt that the reason she was always so sassy with everyone was because they didn't accept her. It was bad that Maxwell didn't accept her but it felt worse to know that the others didn't. Skey felt singled out; an outcast once again. Footsteps echoed a path down the stone steps. Anderson tapped her head, getting her to snap out of it.
" Come on. time tae go hoontin!"
Both entered the black car that awaited them in the square. Both settled into their seats and they were off down the road out of the Vatican. It was unusually quiet. The mood in the car was cold and unbearable. Skey persisted to be silent and drawn in. Anderson began feeling bad. What he did to her in the training room wasn't fair to her at all. He endangered both their lives. Anderson stopped thinking about her and started on what Maxwell said to him. Thankfully, Skey sat away enough for his voice not to be heard. God knew if that child heard what he said, it guilt her heart forever. Even if it wasn't her fault.
" That girl is not good for us, Anderson. I kept telling you this. And look at you now! Need I remind you for the rest of your life how soft you've grown? You're not the same Anderson anymore. Not since bringing in that harlot and into the walls of God of all places! How many times have you walked to that coffee shop and through that way where those other harlots work? You've never gave them the time of day to even confess a sin, nor eyes of sympathy. Not that they even deserve it. Then one day...you dare to bring one in. " She who made all the nations drink of the wine of the anger of her fornication." Remember that."
What Maxwell failed to see in Skey, Anderson saw. But what Maxwell said was right. Skey was changing him no matter what way Anderson wanted to look to avoid that truth. And it was an oddity for Anderson to give this particular harlot the time of day. For whatever reason given by God or one of his angels, Anderson did stop and did give this one the time of day. And till this day, he never regretted it. With his age, there wasn't time to look back and regret on decisions already made.
" Whit's wrong, Skey? And dinna think O' lying til me. Ah'll know."
Those sheepish eyes turned to him then back to the passing, dark scenery. She sat back and closed her eyes. It was her way of saying she didn't want to talk about it...but she would. Anderson was ready to give her his full attention.
" Why does everyone hate me? I mean...I know you and Yumie don't, but that's only you two. Out of how many agents in this organization? It just feels like the young idiotic priests see me as some kind of eye candy, the old ones think of me as this harlot child, and the girls hate me to no end for something I didn't do. I don't think...I feel so out of place. I know I'm getting the hang of what it is to be an Iscariot agent...but what's it worth if no one's going to care? I could disappear off the face of the Earth and only you and Yumie would know and care. (Sighs) Do you really think...No, did you even think I would be happy here? There were so many consenquences with picking me up. Not for you or the others, but me. I...would have been better off dead than to live the rest of my life shunned and hated."
Nothing could have angered him any more than this. He grabbed her upper arm and tugged her across the seat. Skey fell against his right arm and looked up to a rather mad Anderson. there was a spirit that burned in him she hadn't seen before.
" Ah ne'er want tae hear ye speak thon way again! Ye hear me! Ye live nae because Ah mak ye, Skey. Yer living because ye WANT tae! It's been ae year. Aif ye really felt so oot O' place, and thinking yer better aff deid, ye would hae ended it ae lang time ago. Dinna let them get ye doon. How many times dae Ah hae tae tell ye tha'? So whit aif they a' hate ye? Dae Ah? Does Yumie? Nae! Quit doubting yerself...Ye hae come ae lang way fae whit ye used tae be. Jus remember...Ah was there tae rescue ye in yer weakest moment. Ah would ne'er pick up jus any girl laying oot on the streets. Ah picked ye up cause...Ah know ye got something special in ye. It's only noo tha' ye figure oot wha' thon is."
She was speechless. What he said was true. Skey gave up the fight and admitted he was right. Since when did she care what anyone thought about her? A smile graced her face once again and it made Anderson more at ease. Her arms wrapped tightly around him. Anderson laid back, a bit off set. After justifying it was okay, he patted her head and rumbled a hearty laugh.
" Thas the Skey Ah know! Ready for ae hoont, Skey?"
" Yup!"
" Thas ma girl! and whit are we gaun tae dae when we find ae vampire?"
" We're gonna slaughter it and turn it to ash!"
Twenty minutes later Skey was taking refuge behind a wall. A flood of bullets was chipping off wood with a deafening roar. This vampire duet were not very strong vampires. She kept them busy. As far as they knew, it was only her. They ran out of ammunition and when they did, Skey turned and faced them with crossed katana swords. Both vampires were male. The tall one had ashen brown hair and narrowed red eyes. As soon as they saw her eyes, the diamond blue, the description of the gorgeous girl their master wanted flashed through their memory.
" Our master has been wanting us to find you and rescue you. Come with us. you're to be our queen, miss Skey."
" I decline. I am happy where I live. though sometimes I doubt how I am visioned in the Vatican, I nonetheless love the people and respect them for taking me in and taking care of me. Malakai never did that for me, so why should I run to him? Father Anderson has taken superb care of me and raised me to be the killer I am today. So, if you value your lives, I wouldn't stop fighting so quickly."
Distraction was the only role Skey played. Anderson was already behind them and before they sensed that danger, bayonets severed their heads, and the bodies dropped to the ground in a heap of dust. the two nodded to one another and walked to the waiting car down the block. They were given only one assignment for the night. Silence was bridled between them as they strode down the cold sidewalks of the night.
" Ye know...this will be the first night tha' we actually get some rest. It's only aboot ten thirty, or ten thirty-five. We deserve it though, richt? We hae done ae lot this past month Ah think."
He was right. And the realization of how fast this month was passing was unbelievable. What was great about this month was that it had been one of the most active and vigorating months of the year. Every day held some kind of surprise. Not always a good one, but still a surprise that gripped and squeezed them until emotions of all kinds boiled to the the surface. It was bringing the best out of Skey. Gradually, she was changing and be molded to be the perfect agent. Reigns had finally been slipped onto her and tamed her into submission and liaision to her responsibilites. Anderson turned his head up to look forward. The car was there but someone stood there waiting for them.The driver was inside smoking a cigarette. Both skey andAnderson stopped and made themselves a bit more conscientious about their surroundings. The resumed. The man was aware of them. Skey was shocked. This man, was her father!
" Daddy! You escaped?"
He nodded solemnly and looked to the priest looming over him like a skyscraper. Anderson was aware by Skey's story of what her father was now. And the scowl represented Anderson's feelings for the man. It was hard for him to restrain from killing the man.
" I've come to you, skey to warn you of Malakai's plans. Please, I know what I am and that I am a threat to humanity, but...I don't want to be! you'll surely kill me, that I know but before I do, I want you to take me to the Vatican. I want to tell you everything I know and hope it'll be of help. It's all I want to do. Help. (looks up to the priest defiantly) For God's sake, I know I am a creature of the night but it doesn't change the fact that skey is still my daughter! And it doesn't change the fact that that beast Malakai killed my wife! Let me repay my debts in life with the information I know that will hopefully be of help."
Anderson had his doubts but he turned to Skey. There was a nod of acceptance. Skey knew this man far more than Anderson did and he trusted her judgement. The sad thing is after all was said and done, he would have to be exterminated.
" Yes, I know I have to be exterminated, Father...and that is fine with me. But I do not want just anyone to do it. I want my own daughter to. I will only permit her to bring me peace."
" Aye...Weel, let's get gaun. Vampire...ye better nae be lying aboot anything."
All three entered the car. The driver turned his head to see the lanky vampire and it puzzled him. Yet, asking any questions about it would only delay them. Time was not of great quality. They lived everyday in fear of a surprise attack by this ancient vampire. The car's engine hummed and off they were down the cold street heading to the Vatican.
Interrogation Room. 11:00 P.M.
The vampire sat in the room. Lights had been dimmed due to his eyesight. Maxwell, Anderson and Skey all stood in a room looking through a window at the vampire. It was set up like that of a police interrogation room, where ones could watch an interrogation going on without the suspect knowing. Maxwell was fuming when he learned of the two bringing a vampire into the Vatican but after all was explained, he couldn't be happier. For the past week or so, they all had been a high security alert, blind to when the vampire Malakai would strike. Or if he even would. Maxwell granted Anderson the 'honor' of questioning the vampire. Skey would be watching the conversation through the window-mirror structure between both rooms. As would Maxwell and two other priests associated with running the agency. They took seats while Anderson walked out and entered the interrogation room. The vampire only moved his head as to see who was entering the room. Anderson sat down across from the vampire, his arms tingling to reach for a bayonet and end this...but his instincts had to be restained. This vampire had information they needed.
" Ye sae ye got information for us, richt?...Weel, tell us whit it is. Whit is this Malakai planning?"
" After he killed my wife, I ran away...I came to him on hands and knees, begging forgiveness for deserting him. As 'kind' as he was, he accepted me. I went back cause I knew if I could get some information about what would be going down...I could run away again and come here to warn you. Once I learned my daughter was part of the Vatican, I couldn't bring myself to be her enemy. Not after what I had to do...giving her up for adoption was the most painful thing... and then learning that now I stood at opposite ends of her, it was crushing. Well, I learned what I had. Once I found the time to escape I did and ran and hid until I would see you or Skey. What Malakai is planning to do is...a mass attack on the Vatican. Vampires from all different countries allocated in Rome under his cry. They moved in daytime...cloaked heavily, veiled heavily. Malakai plans to overrun the Vatican and burn it all down...and hang every Iscariot agent. He wants to find Skey and make her his empress, his vampiress queen. He would then target the Hellsing organization in London and any other upstart vampire hunting organizations. He planned to carry this out this coming Wednesday. Late at night he said. An army of over thousands of vampires will come."
" (rubs his temples) O' great...Was thaur ae order he mae carry this oot as?...Sae, find the lass first or burn doon the gardens first? Was thaur ae order or list O' how this was tae be accomplished?"
" No...I don't believe so. His tactic is to storm the place, kill any in his way, find Skey then burn everything in sight. It's not much of a planned battle tactic."
" Where is he?"
" Last I knew...in an apartment basement. I think it's a running apartment complex though...It'd be hard to storm a nest of bees when you have innocent bystanders."
" Shit...(stands up and paces) this is not guid at a'...Is thaur ae way for us tae draw him oot...?"
" Sadly I think the only way you can beat his army is...to remain here, bring in the Swiss guard, every available agent you have, and prepare for a battle in hell. This way, you're expecting them which they won't know. And you'll be prepared."
Anderson nodded then left the room. Maxwell was so disturbed by the news, he had left. The two other priests were talking feverishly about what should be done, or what could be done. skey's father remained in the room, laying his head upon the table and waiting for the enevitable. Skey was standing close to the window, tears running down her cheeks. Her real father was going to die a martyr not to vampires, but to the human race. A hand jerked Skey out of her sorrow. A sympathetic Anderson grimaced and gestured her to enter the room and to finally put her father at rest. At first, she hesitated but she summoned up the courage, justifying this as putting her father out of his misery and letting go in peace after so many grueling years of depression and heartbreaking decisions. Anderson followed behind her and stood, posing at a witness to the kill. The vampire stood up and came before Skey, kneeling down. A smile...how could he smile in the face of death?
" Father..."
" Skey...you turned out as a well to do woman it seems. I can see in your eyes, you've been through hell many times and came back. But this priest, he saved you, didn't he? (looks to Anderson) Thank you so much...for taking good care of my daughter. I'm in debt to you even after death. (turns back to Skey and takes her hand) Your father had made many a unsavory decisions in his life, the worse being letting you go still with regret. I am just glad you turned up safe and sound. You're so beautiful, like you mother. I cannot apologize enough to you for what may have been bestowed upon you. But livig a life with us...poor and dirty, I didn't want you going through that, honey. You're doing well here it seems...stay with it, ok? (lets her hand go and bows his head, showing his neck) I don't expect you to forgive me, Skey. All I ask for is deliverance from hell...my God blessed daughter."
Skey fought the lump in her throat to break down and cry. Two steps it took for her to be standing at his right side, her sword unsheathed and poised in the air...Anderson secretly blessed the hapless lad and closed his eyes, holding his hands in front of him. A prayer, though short, was uttered.
" Lord, oor Father in heaven...please watch o'er this man...though tainted by the devil briefly, he died tae help humanity, yer people. Mae thaur be ae place in yer sanctuary for him. Amen."
Skey's father smiled a smile of complete happiness and nirvana...the cutting metal sang the song of sorrow as its owner brought it upo the air so precisely. The sound resonated for the second that the song flew through the pretty throat of Skey's father. End...his body turned to ash, falling in a woosh before her. Two wet spots laid before the heap of dust. Two tears he had left behind for the last moment of his sorrow. Skey sobbed quietly, sheathing her sword and standing there in disbelief. Didn't the Bible say to 'Honor thy mother and father'? But she had killed her own father! Still, he had told her to do this for him...still, Skey found it heartless to use that as justification.
" Skey...go til bed and get some rest. It's been ae lang night."
She wobbled over to Anderson and fell upon him in a hug. Now in all truth, her family was dead. The only family she didn't know was dead. This all wouldn't have happened if Malakai hadn't entered her life. And so...another large timber was thrown into the fire.
