Thank you to my reviewers! Your support really motivates me to keep up with this story!
Exams are over, Christmas break is here, and I still find myself running around and short on writing time. Ho hum, that's life.
Please read, review, and enjoy! :)
I do not own Hellsing.
"Definitely her granddaughter," Doc muttered to himself, biting one of his gloved fingers as his eyes scanned through the stack of information. Making certain the files and folders were in order, he let out an excited chuckle, taking the now-stained glove out of his mouth. He hurried towards the large screen on the other side of the room, briefly typing on the keypad before an image flickered onto the display.
"Major? Major are you there?" After a couple seconds of staring at an empty chair, he watched the man he was searching for appear far back in the left corner of the screen.
"You found something, Doctor?" The overweight man asked, his white-clad frame growing bigger as he moved closer to his screen and seated himself.
"Yes. I compared my research on She's DNA with that of our guest. Our young guest is definitely Amelia Harker. And, I found traces of black foreign matter in her blood. I could not isolate it. It's not a virus or a mutation." The Major leaned forward in his chair. "I am sure this is what we've been looking for – it matches the description of the foreign matter present in She's blood. However," Doc's excitement fizzled out, and he continued in a careful tone, "I believe, at this point, the abilities within Miss Harker lay dormant."
"So we must 'wake her up' in order to continue with our plans."
"Yes, Major. I believe so." The doctor adjusted his spectacles.
On the screen, the fat man leaned back and twiddled his thumbs: a sign of impatience. But he continued to smile. "I see. It is unavoidable, then. You know how to bring out the monster?"
"Ah, not exactly. You will recall that we did not have this issue with She?" He reminded his superior before quickly continuing. "Right now the black matter is nearly undetectable, even with my equipment. As you put it, I need to 'wake her up;' the abilities she possesses will not manifest until I do so. I have thought of a few trials that may work: a life-or-death situation, consuming blood – nothing too serious, since she isn't immortal… If all other methods fail to awaken his blood, then I will need to use the sample of She's blood."
The Major nodded and light flashed across his glasses, hiding his eyes. "And how much blood is left?" He wondered, his tone optimistic.
Doc's shoulders sagged. "One vial."
"No room for mistakes, Doctor!"
Integra turned her gaze from the evening sky towards the office doors as Walter entered, directing a small bow her way. "Any good news?" she questioned, her tone suggesting she expected anything but.
Walter came to a stop in front of her desk.
"I'm afraid not." He raised a paper in one hand to his face. "Mr. Richards was confirmed to have arrived in Hague, but he has not been seen since Monday evening. His family reported that he left abruptly before supper, without specifying where he was going. Miss Amelia Seward's house was found empty and there was no sign of a disturbance. Her employer, Mr. Richards' father, claims that she left work Monday evening and did not show up the following morning." Walter lowered the paper, finished delivering the report.
Integra let out a disgruntled breath, a gust of cigar smoke quickly passing between her lips. "What do you think, Walter?"
"I think, Sir Integra, that whomever we are dealing with is very good at covering his tracks."
Integra's eyebrows arched upwards. "A professional?"
"Or a very lucky amateur. I'm inclined to think the former."
Integra slowly spun her chair towards the window, a frown forming on her face. "I doubt this is the work of an individual or something as simple as a ghoul. Has the Vatican a role to play in this?"
"No. Our sources report that there has not been any suspicious behavior within the Church of late. If they are aware of the events that took place, they are refraining from taking action at this moment."
"We'll keep it that way."
A troubled silence settled over them as the last of the sunset's light disappeared from the sky. Blue eyes flickered in Walter's direction. "Have the men widen their search perimeter around Hague. Double check the roads leading in and out of the town. If Amelia was last seen there, someone would have had to enter and exit the area to take her. Look at flight records and send in a request for the passenger lists."
"So we're to officially consider this a case of abduction? And what of Mr. Richards?"
"Clive Richards was a good agent. If both he and Amelia are missing, then it is probable that they were intercepted." Integra watched an wisp of smoke drift upwards, eyes calculating but distant. "Someone other than Hellsing was interested in Amelia Seward. They were cautious in taking her, made sure no evidence was left, and may have even known about our operative. There are few who possess the same knowledge of vampires as Hellsing…"
"We dismissed the idea of a ghoul, but that might have been too hasty. Perhaps a ghoul not working alone, but under an individual or organization with access to such secretive information…"
"Where is Alucard?"
"I imagine he is awake by now." Walter glanced at the darkness behind the windows with a small smile.
"Bring him here."
"Yes, Sir Integra." The butler gave a small bow and turned towards the doors to see a mass of writhing shadows appear on the wall. A figure emerged from the blackness, the shadows clinging to his frame to form a crimson suit.
"My Master." The vampire grinned, giving a slight incline of his head.
"I do not approve of your eavesdropping, Alucard." Integra warned with a pointed look at the vampire.
"My apologies. I could not resist listening to such an interesting conversation."
Ignoring his comment, Integra continued: "A few months ago I asked if you could detect Amelia Seward's presence. I want to know if you can still sense her."
Alucard blinked slowly and was quiet for a moment, his smirk disappearing. "Her presence remains, weak as it is. She is alive."
Integra sighed. "Yet you can give no more information on her than that… Then we will move on to those responsible for her disappearance. As you have fought many enemies of this country in the service of my father, you might know who we are dealing with."
"Is this a confession of inexperience?" A sharp grin was on Alucard's face in an instant.
Integra glared back. "I have said no such a thing. Now answer the question: do you know anyone who might be behind Amelia Seward's disappearance?"
"In Arthur Hellsing's time I fought armies, forces numbering in the hundreds at least. Subordinates following the final wishes of their dead commanders, the fanatics with a desire to continue what their idols began." A deep chuckle came from the vampire. "Abduction. Murder. Stealth. Their efficiency comes with experience. We are past the point of new foes; they're the same factions, the same individuals that have always danced between confrontation and evasion. Who has clashed with Hellsing using armies, the occult as their weapon and point of interest?" He glanced at the butler standing next to him. "I'm sure even Walter remembers."
Integra looked between the vampire and her butler. "Enlighten me."
Walter cleared his throat. "Alucard and I faced several adversaries in those days, each with their own – unique – agendas. However, there are only a couple of organizations that meet the qualifications Alucard mentioned…"
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!