Order 34: Alucard's Curiosity
Skey's Dorm. 12:00 P.M.
The sun was still dull. The storm ceased to lift its depression out of the sky. It wasn't like this was why Skey's mood was so displaced. In and out, she kept wondering if she really was ready for this fight. She'd proven to Anderson how ready she was, but in the pit of her stomach, she knew she feared this battle. Unlike the singular hunts, this would be a war. No tracking down a vampire and killing it. No chance to take her time and sneak up on a vampire. Just rushing into battle headlong, sword raised and praying to God she would survive. She had to. It was an order she'd taken from Anderson, but it was also her own newfound honor she wished to keep intact. Dying as a martyr wasn't her style. Her style would be standing amidst of the dead ghouls and battling vampires, bloody-faced, swords tainted crimson and the look of a warrior on her face. She would die hard. Thunder clapped its large hands overhead, shuddering the delicate windows. Skey nerves jumped from the distraction. She had to get off this subject and quit doubting herself. She got up and put her Iscariot coat on, straightening the hem and walking out.
A walk around the Art Gallery would do her a bit of good. As long as she didn't run into Maxwell that is. The hallways remained well-lit with the large chandliers hanging overhead. The paintings of many bible tales were portrayed in the halls. It gave a small relief. Ahead, someone in blue caught her eyes. Among the warm colors of the paintings, this blue outfit stood out like a sore thumb. The girl had short blonde hair and appeared to be looking around. Did she lose something? Skey took the initiative to help out. It wasn't like she was doing much anyhow. Skey's boots echoed across the laquered floor, catching the ear of the girl. Seras turned to see Skey. Being in a strange place and not being able to find Master Alucard left Seras feeling a bit vulnerable. Skey stepped back, her left eye twitching.
" You!"
" Ah! Don't hurt me! I'm only trying to find my master!"
Skey stood straight, coming out of her defensive stance. This calmed Seras down to know the girl was standing down. Both girls just stood there, looking at one another, at a loss of words. Skey never really had a conversation with a vampire (Not willingly anyhow) so...what should she say?
" So...uh...who are you again?"
Skey could only manage that. Seras beamed a child smile, her out her hand and talked now with confidence.
" I'm Seras Victoria of the Hellsing Organization! Nice to meet you! Er...again."
Skey frowned at the gloved hand Seras held out. A return frown was given to Seras who retracted her hand. Skey stood only a mere inch or so taller than Seras. Also, it seemed to Seras that Skey was more built in muscle than herself. It was hard to tell with the gray trench coat Skey was wearing. Another moment of silence passed. Both the girls just found it so unusual for them to talk. For as long as Skey had been in Section XIII of the Vatican, she'd been instructed to kill all vampires. No exceptions. Now, one stood before her but as an ally. Out of all the people in the Vatican she least expected Maxwell to propose such an alliance...but when an upcoming war with bigger game was being dealt with, one would need all the allies one could get. Even if it meant an alliance with a rival organization. Instead of striking up a conversation, Skey turned on heel and walked away. A vampire killed her real parents, and was now waging war on her new home. At the moment, any vampire bothered her whether it be ally or enemy. The past month had been one hectic month. Every anomaly one could imagine happened within a week's span. Seras watched Skey leaving. One question itched her. She had to ask...
" Why are you here and listening to that psychotic priest! I mean...just...why?"
Skey stopped in her footsteps. She'd only opened herself up once about her life and that was to someone she fully trusted. Skey wasn't one to open herself to strangers, more, a vampire.
" Why are you listening to your psychotic Master?...We all have our reasons for what we do."
Bitter air hung between them. What Skey had said made so much sense to Seras. It was true that beings, human and vampire, had their reasons for what they do. Seras stayed with Alucard and Integra because Alucard saved her. Serving Integra was just an unwanted side order. Seras felt drawn to Alucard because of his rare kindness to take her in even if he tried saying it was 'because she chose'. Was this maybe how Skey met Father Anderson? Lately, Seras had been making it a number one priority to get in touch with her vampiric side. Even so, it was a bit rude to just enter Skey's mind and rack through the memories. To win her respect and hopefully her acceptance, Seras wanted to prove she wasn't just your common vampire; thought to be insensitive and heartless.
" I understand...you know, I met Master long ago...when he changed me, he wanted me with him in the Hellsing Organization, even challenging his own master's authority with doing so. I won't ever understand why. But that's my reason for staying so loyal to him...won't you please tell me then your story? Kind of like a girl chat?"
" I won't tell you anything but this...yes, Anderson DID save me. He found me during my lowest of lows, picked me up and from then on was trained in the arts of Vampire Hunting. I am forever grateful to him for saving me like he did. He could have passed me up, leave me to die fucked up where I was...but he did not. Our 'masters' hate each other, but at least in that perspective, they are alike."
So she was right. Seras couldn't ever imagine the Paladin Anderson acting so kindly. The only time she had ever seen him, he would have the crazed look in his eye and be preparing to strike her down with bayonets. But to think of herself in Skey's shoes, wasn't that how she saw Master Alucard? Only to be a bloodthirsty vampire with no morals, no sense of heart or emotion? Se would be wrong of course and apparently Seras herself had been wrong.
Alucard had been watching his fledgling talk to the Iscariot girl. He'd hidden himself in a dark corner of the Art Gallery. Seras went the other way to go find him while Skey headed her own way. Alucard himself wanted a little chit-chat with Skey. After seeing what he saw in Anderson's mind, he could only imagine what kind of images laid within hers. Silently, he emerged behind her, following her like her shadow. The hallways became a bit dimmer down a certain route. Somehow she had found out he was following her. She whipped around like a cobra and spat at him three blessed daggers hidden within her sleeves. The daggers sliced through his forearm, thigh and side. They burnt like no tomorrow, reminding him of the same pain Anderson's bayonets dealt him before.
" Argh! You stupid girl!"
" You were the one following me, vampire. I want to know why."
Alucard had been caught. Apparently, Anderson had taught his protegee quite well. The vampire took the daggers out and threw them to the floor, letting his impure blood splatter across the pure tiles. He saw the disgust in the girl's eyes. Not as if he care what she thought of him anyhow. Again, she demanded to know the reason he was following her so Alucard stopped stalling and explained.
" I just want to have a simple 'chat' with you. (grins) What? Afraid I might 'bite' ?"
The girl's eyes were hard as stones. Fear had been drained out of her. She seemed so different from before. Before, he could sense the fear she had, but now it was gone. Whatever she had been doing since he fought Anderson had been working to prepare her. Now he could see the warrior within her. To see if he could produce fear in her, he stepped close, coming toe to toe with her and staring down. The woman stood up straight, her own eyes staring into his icily. A chester cat grin split his face, revealing the long incisor teeth. Still, she stood ground without a hint of backing off.
" Get out of my face, vampire."
" Hmhm, you are very spunky. You might want to watch that mouth.It may land you in trouble someday."
The girl took two steps back, turned and walked away calmly. Alucard quickly disappeared into the floor. He rose up from it in front of Skey, stopping her from running off. His large shadow laid over her small frame easily.
" How rude to run off. I told you, I wanted to have a little chat with you. (grins) What? Too afraid to?"
As quick as his tongue moved, her katana sword became unsheathed and slashed across the front of him. The blessed magic radiated painfully through his chest cavity. Alucard stumbled back stunned, blood running down the front of his shirt and coat. His playful attitude eroded to show the less wanted side of him. No smile, no emotion was in the face ofhis attacker. Alucard took out both guns, aiming them at the girl. Her head cocked back and now the most blank of smiles came to her lips. Both were at a standstill.
" You'll pay for that, Iscariot girl."
" I've heard that so many times. It's a rather tiresome line."
The girl took a large leap in before Alucard could catch the movement in her feet. She spun on one foot, the coat ruffling as it followed her around. The sword cut across his knees, sending yet another burning sensation through his nerves. Alucard in retaliation fired his Jackal thrice, two making their target.One flew through her chest, the other through her stomach. She continued to stand, grasping her stomach with one hand. Alucard could see no blood flowed...so...she was a regenerator now?
" (growled) EXACTLY like your teacher, aren't you? A pitiful defect just like him."
Laughter rose from her lips. The second katana was drawn. Alucard knew she'd prove to be a good fight and maybe while fighting he could get her to talk. She rushed him again, swinging the katanas in well precepted attacks. Alucard was agile though as vampires were, the blades missing him by centimeters.
" So! Why here, Iscariot girl! Why! (blocks her right sword with his gun) Why in the Vatican! What brought you here!"
Skey kept up her stamina, meeting Alucard's attacks with her own offensive ones. Neither were getting hits on the other, but it didn't stop them. As for his question, Skey felt no harm in answering it.
" Father Anderson did! That's all I'll say on that account!"
Alucard snuck his arms in easily, grabbing her wrists. With a firm squeeze, his thumbs' tips digging into her wrist, she dropped the swords. She growled and tried biting at him. It amused him for a second or so that she would resort to fighitng to the tooth and nail. What he expected was for her fighting and stuggling to abate, but instead, he found her knee in groin! He recoiled, letting her go with a growl. Now, being a vampire, the privates were hardly ever used if not never. Just cause this was true, didn't mean being kneed there didn't hurt! He straightened and was about to aim his gun until he felt her boot swing hard across his jaw in a roundhouse. He couldn't be beaten by a girl! He aimed again, shooting five rounds off of his Casull. They hit their target but she persisted. Her attacks weren't as strong, but it didn't damper her agility. Oh, she was fun!
" (grins) I suppose then! That you're thankful!"
" Of course!"
Skey went to roundhouse him again but he caught her ankle with a smirk. He twisted her ankle, making her flip over and hit the floor on her back. He was wising up to her attack methods. Alucard stomped his foot down on her stomach and aimed the Jackal at her head.
" So, here is my past question. How does he make you feel?"
" What kind of question is that!"
Skey struggled under his foot. She managed to wrap her legs around his that was holding her down. The attempt to knock him off failed. Skey knew she was strong but a physical match with a vampire was rather one sided, favoring the vampire.
" I said, How does he make you feel, Iscariot girl? Answer me!"
Truthfully, Skey never thought about how Anderson made her felt. Mostly thankful for being able to have another chance to live. Thankful as well for making her stronger and aiding her in gaining courage and belief in herself. The bond, if that was what Alucard was aiming at, was more or less friends or a child and father bond. One could never imagine it further than that. Skey even grimaced at the idea of that. So how did this vampire want her to answer his question?
" Anderson saved me, you idiot. Since that, I have been ever thankful for him. He gave me a second chance to live instead of dying on the streets! I look up to him, but nothing more you sick freak!"
Alucard laughed in her face. He could see exactly what she was thinking. He would wait till she fell asleep. One's true feelings only come out usually in dreams. Something was disturbing the flow of the air...just as Alucard turned his head, a bayonet flew through his chest and with such power it knocked him off the ground! Footsteps echoed in his head as he looked to see Anderson approaching him with such a sour face.
" (Chuckles) the Judas priest! What a surprise."
" Stay away fae her, Alucard!"
Alucard witnessed the priest help Skey up and overlook her for any serious injuries. Not seeing any, he started enquiring her about what happened. Their voices were soft, trying to hide them from Alucard. Foolish, Alucard thought. Being what he was, his hearing was very precise. Once he was sure she was ok, Anderson approached Alucard. Alucard stood up and brushed himself off. The grin never left his face. Anderson was more than pissed. It was one thing for one of the priests to mess with Skey. Another for Maxwell to mess with her and scold her. But for a vampire to mess with Skey, most of all, Alucard, heated Anderson's blood like nothing known. Once Anderson was within arm's length he punched Alucard across the face. Alucard continued to stand. Frankly, he was getting tired of letting these people get hits off him. If he was to realyl fight them, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"Ye are ae guest here...unwanted, but necessary. Aif ye mess wi' Skey again, believe me Alucard, ye'll regret it. Ye'll see ae side O' me ye ne'er seen afore. Noo, get oot O' here. Ah dinna want tae see ye around her again."
Alucard bowed sarcastically then walked off down the hall. He tipped his hat down to hide his eyes and smirk. Just from the fight, and how Anderson stepped in raised so many questions in Alucard's head.
" As you wish, Vatican whipping boy."
Though the remark rubbed Anderson the wrong way, he let it slide pass. He turned to see Skey simply watching him. She had a few bullet wounds but withstood them. And from the looks of Alucard she got a piece of him. Anderson knew Alucard wasn't trying hard, but it was remarkable he'd let Skey get him like that. A smile formed on her lips and she beamed up like a light. He chuckled, forgetting about Alucard. They started walking out of the Art Gallery, Anderson's arm around her. He gave her a light noogie.
" Aye, nae bad at a'. Aif ye faced him, Ah think yer ready tae battle noo!"
