Order 35: Rainy Days
Vatican Garden. 1:00 P.M.
Overhead, the storm still hung. The light greys mixed with wisps of white.Only small sprinkles of rain fell from this swirling sky of these greys and whites. It didn't stop some priests and sisters from enjoying a short visit in the gardens. Lately, the priests and sisters have been visiting the garden for a break. Some let their thoughts run and some just wanted to be out of the buildings to pray to God. Everyone was having their fair share of stress. What Skey didn't know is most of them blamed her for this bringing of Armageddon. They were aware of why the vampire was waging an unholy war upon their home, their religion. While Skey and Anderson walked through the garden, only he noticed these scoured faces aimed at Skey. Either she didn't notice them or she was trying her best to ignore them. A strike of lightning streaked the sky but only a low rumble of thunder shook. The storm was quiet in Anderson's opinion. There's been storms across the world that he's read about that have caused such havoc and disaster uncomparable even to some earthquakes and volcano eruptions. He found himself fortunate to not having to live in the United States where tornadoes swept across the plains and hurricanes battered the Southern coasts. Even in Japan were earthquakes shook the islands on a daily basis. Compared to such countries, Italy's minor storm currents were like inferior swirls of clouds. At least these storms were harmless and pleasing to watch. You had no reason to fear them.
" What's wrong, Father Anderson?"
The soft voice broke Anderson's concentration on the sky. He hadn't even noticed he stopped on the path to look up! Skey was standing there beside him smiling. Inside, he laughed. Wasn't it ironic that they, and the ones around them, were at peace when all knew there was going to be a battle very soon? Even Anderson hadn't known a time when the Vatican's priests, sisters, cardinals and arch-bishops were at a solemn peace with one another. One would guess in such a predicament, that people's attitudes changed when they knew that death wasn't far off. Anderson couldn't say the same for himself. He'd been flirting with death for so long and if it had changed him, it only changed him for the worse.
" Father Anderson?"
Skey was waving her hand in front of his blank eyes. He finally came to and the two of them sat down on a bench. He was abnormally quiet. She wished to know what he was thinking, but to ask something so personal was a bit rude. So instead, she tilted her head to the sky and let the faint drips of rain fall on her face. Rainy days always was the kind of days when Skey felt so open minded and thoughtful. It made you sit down and watch it while your mind broke loose from your hold. Just rainy days were the the days that there wasn't much to do but that. It wasn't always bad. Sometimes she remembered fond memories despite how limited they were. Like when she first met Yumie and Heinkel. Skey would never forget that day! She'd only been under Anderson's instructing for a week. It had been one long, grueling week under his authority. It was one of the days no training was required but a day of being preached to from the bible. They were in the library sitting at one of the large wooden tables. He'd given Skey a small journal to keep her thoughts in about the lessons from the bible he taught. Skey had thought then of him as an excellent priest. The voice he held was commanding and always grabbed your attention. The way he preached mesmerized her and kept her focused than when she used to go to church with that awful foster family. That lesson had been interrupted when Yumie and Heinkel approached them. Skey remembered vividly Heinkel's hateful stare at her. It always made Skey feel so self-conscious. Skey could only picture Heinkel then as some kind of wolf who stared down at its subordinate. She'd taken the look from almost every other priest and sister she'd seen. Heinkel's stare was the last one she's put up with. While Yumie was discussing his next assignment, Skey had stood up and snapped at Heinkel.
" What the hell's the matter? All of you guys give me that same, disgusted look! I'm sick of it! If you got a problem with me, say it! I've taken quite enough of everyone's negativity!"
The blonde took a step back in surprise. Skey suspected the woman didn't expect her to make an outburst like that in front of Father Anderson. The woman was gravely mistaken to make such an assumption. She turned to Anderson and while giving Skey dagger eyes, said, " You should teach that whore some manners. I'm surprised you vould even let trash like that in the Vatican." Father Anderson never said anything about it, but Skey remembered the angered face he showed when Heinkel left the library. Yumie stayed behind and explained the rest of his assignment given to him. Afterwards, Yumie came to Skey with a smirk and held out her hand. Skey shook it absent-mindedly.
" Yumie Takage. You're Skey Seryc I presume."
" Yeah...um, hi."
" (laughs) Father Anderson told me you've taken up katanas. Maybe we should train together one day. Swordswoman with swordswoman."
The woman Yumie then left and from then on, Skey and her had been friends. Whenever Anderson wasn't available, Skey would seek out Yumie to train with. Sometimes, she would give Skey pointers too and let her practice them with her. From that, the two started to get to know one another. Skey never told her much of her past, just how hard it was. Finally finding a friend gave Skey a little more confidence. To have at least one friend, made almost everything bearable. The low growling of thunder made Skey open her eyes. The memory was closed and put away. It was only Monday. Only today and tomorrow was all that was left before the big fight. Somehow, it was just too short of a span. The days would disappear quickly and then the longest day of their lives would dawn. Wednesday would be one of the most hectic days. Maxwell had to prepare the agents, the Swiss Guard had to be replaced and the Pope himself would be leading them all in a prayer that morning.
" Father Anderson?...You're prepared to go into battle this Wednesday, right?"
" Ye know, Ah am prepared tae fight...prepared tae lose ma life in the name O' the church. But...as for prepared o'erall, yin can ne'er be fully prepared for anything. A' we can be ready tae dae...is tae be ready to step into battle wi' ae sure foot. Ah'm ready for tha'. Are ye?"
" Yeah, I am. I can't say I'm eager for the day to arrive, but I am ready to fight."
" Tha's guid then."
" ...Father Anderson, you know...that Alucard asked me a question. I didn't know how to answer it either."
Not something he wanted to hear about. Whenever someone brought up the subject of Alucard, his mood became sour and hard to deal with. Anderson folded his arms across his wide chest, tilted his head down and his voice became dark and pessimistic.
" Oh? Is tha' so?...Whit did he ask ye?"
"...He...he was rude enough to ask...how you made me feel..."
Anderson's eyes became a bit alert. Why would Alucard ask her such a thing? But the question even intrigued him. What did she think about him? He never thought of asking her himself. Something deep in him wanted her to say something praising about him. Not that he wanted her to glorify him, but just to say he was doing a good job. Worries about maybe pressing her too hard made him fear she was more distant then she should be.
"...So...whit did ye sae?"
" Well, I said I thankful he saved me...and that I looked up to you. You don't think I would tell that vampire anything else would you?"
" (chuckles) O' course nae! Jus...weel, truthfully, the question kaind O' made me wonder too."
" Well then if you're curious about what I think of you, I'll tell you. You're nice and smart. I look up to you because you're strong and you helped me start looking up instead of looking down. And as much as you hate to admit it, you do have kind of a short fuse. When you feel strongly about something, you're merciless. You argue to the end. Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad. Depends on how you look at it. And at times, you do scare me...especially when you're angry. You vent and shout like a mad dog. Like this morning in training. What made you so irritable?"
"Ehh, it was nothing important. Is thaur anything else ye think O' me?"
" Well, you're a good teacher and a really good preacher. Like now, I was just remembering back when you were preaching to me from the bible. I used to fall asleep in church cause the priest had such a dull voice. Yours carries and it shakes the person when you talk. Another I respect is you express your opinions instead of keeping them quiet. You have a lot of understandinf the bible and life itself. You've been around for a long time I take it."
" Aye...sometimes Ah think Ah been around for ae wee bit too lang...Ah've seen ae lot in ma life. It isnae ae pretty story, Ah'll tell ye tha'."
" Hey, I've seen a lot for my young age too."
" (smirks and ruffles her hair) Aye, ye've see things Ah cannae e'en imagine in ma dreams. But whate'er disnae kill ye, makes ye stronger. Come on, Skey...let's go back inside."
Maxwell's Office. 1:30 P.M.
Integra had called a meeting with Maxwell in his office. Both sat on opposite sides of his desk with a cup of tea. Integra's mouth was adorned with the usual cigar and her eyes were cold as ice which was usual. Maxwell only sat back in his leather office desk. Rain was drizzling outside. The small droplets formed together and would streak down the window every now and then. Either didn't want to give the first words to open up the conversation. The two would always disagree on each others' ideas and that would lead to a blown out argument of who was stronger, who was right and so on. The only reason Integra even complied to help Maxwell out with this vampire epidemic was she didn't want him to fail then the vampires come to England and run a muck there. The best chance the Vatican had to exterminate such aged and strong vampires was to create an alliance with another vampire hunting organization. At least, this was how she saw it.
" Well, you called the meetin, Sir Integra...what is it you want?"
" Have you already figured the formation and placement for each Iscariot agent, guard and Hellsing agent? My men want to know their locations."
" For your information, I have not yet. I was going to get that started tomorrow morning."
" Why not now? You have time to waste, Maxwell."
" Do not order me around on my own turf, you filthy Protestant."
" Tell me this, Maxwell...if you are so sure of yourself, then why would you dare to call me and dare to ask for our aid? Even though you're not willing to admit it, you know this little 'problem' is well way out of your control. THAT'S why you called us in for an alliance. I could have said no, but it is my duty to protect the Protestant church of England and the Queen. If it means I must ally my organization with you Catholics to protect my country, so be it. You will learn to show respect to those whom you request help from or they may never come to your call again."
Maxwell had no comebacks for that. Everytime he had an argument with this woman, he always lost! Maxwell grinded his teeth in anger, but didn't dare to spit back at Sir Integra. As she said, even though it was hard to admit, he needed her aid. That all knowing smirk only heated the embers in the fire and still he somehow found control to keep his negative words contained.
" Fine then...if you want the agents' locations mapped out this instant, I will do it. Just leave my office and I will meet with you in the morning about it."
Integra put the cigar out on his desk, burning a black hole into the nice oak. She stood and left the office, closing the door gently. Once the door's lock clicked, he slammed his fist on the desk and knocked down a few paperweights. She made a fool of him once again and it was getting tiresome to always lose like that. One of these days, he thought, he would be able to show her up. Until then, all he could do is bide his time. And of course...map out the formation of the agents.
