Twisted Fates —A Hellsing Fanfiction
Chapter Two: Close Encounters
From the hidden diaries of Anjali Hellsing
It wasn't the proudest moment of my life, my child, that night the monsters came. They say that your mind tries to block out the most painful of memories at times in order to protect you. How I wished that were true in my case. Instead, day in and day out, I am haunted by the very images I've tried so hard to forget.
He grunted.
That was Hellsing's trump card?
This whole incident had been a mix of gratification and discontent. For as much as he enjoyed destroying Hellsing's undead pet and as much as he was about to enjoy destroying the Draculina in front of him, he would have to admit a strange sense of…disappointment over the lack of challenge they both presented. While he had fully expected to defeat the Hellsing vampire, he had also expected more of a fight from the legendary monster. Despite his surprise at encountering two vampire servants of Hellsing, the challenge simply wasn't there. As he looked down at the girl who stood transfixed before him and uttered, "This is the end," to the Draculina, a barrage of bullets caught him by surprise, shattering blades of his weapon.
He looked up to see three men approaching him in the hallway. His eyes narrowed in recognition.
"That girl is ours," he heard the man declare. "What do you think you're doing, Iscariot's paladin, Father Alexander Anderson?"
"Sir Arthur Hellsing," he spat. "For ye to come and make an appearance…I'm quite honored."
"Father Anderson, this is a serious violation of our treaty," Hellsing accused. "This area is within our jurisdiction. Withdraw at once or it will cause quite a few problems between us and the Vatican. Even Section XIII will be hard-pressed to explain this."
He grinned. Did this Protestant not know the precarious position he was in? "Withdraw, ye say?" he taunted as he advanced slowly towards the Hellsing director, his bayonets ready. "We are the agents of God sent here on Earth to carry out his punishment!" he declared, slashing and decapitating through the bullets and the guards that flew towards him as he made his way towards the Hellsing director. "Do ye think ye can make us back away, ye filthy Protestant?" Swinging his two bayonets one more time, he aimed for Hellsing's jugular.
Only to be stopped abruptly by the loud clang steel against steel.
Surprised for the second time that night, his eyes focused on the determined look his student was giving him.
"Alex!" she whispered under her breath. This close to her, he could hear the trip hammer beat of her heart as it thudded erratically against her chest. He almost smiled. The girl did have a way of making him proud at the oddest moments. "Father Alex," she repeated, holding him off just barely, her blue eyes flashing to meet what he hoped was his displeased stare.
"Integra, my child," he said condescendingly, only slightly alleviating the force of his swords against her, "ye are pointing yer weapons at the wrong person. Dare ye protect these filthy Protestants from me?" He pressed forward, almost shoving her against Hellsing who was still behind her. Surprisingly, the director remained still behind her, not moving out of the way. The man's own sword was drawn, but it remained at his side while he watched the tableau before him. "Get out of the way, Integra. Ye were not meant to stand between the will of God and the filth who allies himself with monsters."
"I like this no more than you do," she replied edgily as she looked at him through the edge of her rimless glasses.
"Then move out of the way," he repeated as he pushed her back even farther. "And let me do God's will without interference."
"Father, please," Integra muttered lowly, her words for his ears only. "You are under orders to cease and desist immediately."
He laughed. "Father Maxwell must have sent for ye almost immediately after I departed," he commented.
"Your target has been eliminated," Integra continued, "There is no need for this."
"No need?" he repeated incredulously, looking beyond her and towards Hellsing who observed them curiously from his position. "I've cut off the head of yer precious pet," he shouted, "killing him quite easily."
Instead of the reaction he had been expecting upon bringing the news of the death of his precious vampire, the Hellsing director began to laugh. "You've cut off his head?" he jeered. "Stabbed his heart, mayhap?" He looked at him with gleaming eyes. "I suggest you run away now, Father Anderson, and withdraw, as you companion has beseeched you, before the one you thought you've killed comes back to life."
And just then, the air around them began to get thicker as hundreds of bats flew in and out of the building. He heard their high-pitched screeching sounds and the flapping of hundreds of wings. Stunned, both he and Integra ended their impasse at the same time in order to ready themselves for what may be a new threat. Time and again, the bats flew around them and around the room in some strange dance only they knew the meaning of. Almost instinctively, he shielded his student with his body as he saw the bats converge and take form.
Before his very eyes, he watched as the vampire he thought he had killed take shape once more.
Pushing against him, Integra moved to stand by his side. He looked down on her blond head and saw that she had replaced one of the blessed bayonets in one hand with one of her modified pistols.
"Just as you are the fruit of the Vatican's anti-monster technology, he is the product of 100 years of Hellsing research," Hellsing declared proudly behind him.
"Cut off his head, did you?" he heard Integra whisper under her breath, her eyes intent on the vampire. "Are you sure about that?"
"I may be old," he said sardonically, "but I wouldn't have mistaken something like that."
"Master!" he heard the Draculina exclaim.
What do ye know? Perhaps the vampire was a worthy challenge after all.
He smiled.
Seeing that smile, Integra stifled a groan. She was going to kill 'Rico for sending her here. That man knew how much she hated this island. Furthermore, he knew what a profoundly laughable assignment it was for her to attempt to stop her very own teacher. Looking back at the Hellsing director, she took comfort in the fact that at least the man was safe for now. She had been lucky in that regard because Alex could care less whether this one died or not. She didn't know what the consequences would have been had the director been hurt in this incident. However, as she turned her gaze on the reformed vampire, a new worry surfaced.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said regarding Alex's feelings for midians and this midian in particular. Perfectly understandable in her book, but also perfectly inconvenient at this time. If Alex had cut off its head and, she was sure, pierced its heart, then this monster was more than just the run of the mill freaks she had gotten so used to encountering in her missions. While she had partly expected a stronger vampire—Enrico had given her a hint that it would be—she had not expected this level of power. Surviving a beheading as well as a heart-puncture was unheard enough in itself; but this vampire not only survived it, it seemed unaffected by the whole experience as well.
She looked closely at the blessed bayonets held by Alex in both hands. She, more than most people, knew the damage those could do especially under Alex's care. To think that the Hellsing vampire could be this powerful…again, she looked at their resources. If Alex's decapitation of his head with blessed bayonets hardly made a dent in the Hellsing vampire, then none of their current weapons were going to be effective should the vampire attack both of them in earnest.
Beside her, she could feel Alex shaking with an almost unholy excitement. Knowing that she lost the advantage of placing her body in front of Alex's target the moment the vampire started to reform, Integra began to calculate the odds of her being able to stop Alex from attacking the midian. Given her position beside him, she could always just step in front and trust Alex not to skewer her instead of the vampire. That was the thought process she was working with when she ran in front of the Hellsing director. However, given the current circumstances—namely her being human and the current target being a vampire of tremendous power—it seemed that stepping in between the action might not be the best option. Whatever the outcome of this next attack was going to be, she was quite sure the vampire could take care of itself.
Again, she looked at her teacher. This time, it was Alex that worried her. Gripping her sword in one hand and her modified Berretta in her other hand, she braced her body to prepare for an attack. There was nothing she could do to stop Alex from attacking that Hellsing monster. The only thing she could do now was back her teacher up and hope they both survive.
"Back away, child," she heard Alex whisper next to her. "This one is mine."
She snorted. "You could have him," she replied. "I'm just back up." She glanced sideways at him. "I don't suppose I could stop you, could I?" she tried one last time.
"Nay," he responded, almost apologetically. "Stay behind," he ordered, just as he jumped for his kill.
She barely saw him move, so fast was his attack. She heard the swords as they cut through the air and sliced though the arms of the midian. At the same time, her eyes barely caught the blur that was the vampire as he himself went for Alex. All she knew for certain when she jumped behind Alex was the voice of the Hellsing director behind her.
"Not her," he called out to his vampire.
And somehow, she knew he meant her. For whatever his reason, the Hellsing director had ordered his vampire to spare her.
She smirked. Perhaps Arthur Hellsing was more like Enrico than she gave him credit for. He must believe that there would be consequences if she got hurt. Either way, Arthur Hellsing just gave her the advantage she needed to use at the end of this fiasco.
She felt the brush of air against her skin as the midian moved past her following Alex's attack. She turned back and watched the vampire's arms flail as they were cut off by Alex's bayonets. In an instant, however, she watched in fascination as shadows emanating from the vampire stretched out to grab, form, and re-attach those same arms. The vampire laughed maniacally, sending shivers down her spine.
"Who are you?" she whispered, more to herself than to the midian.
Behind her, she could feel Alex's displeasure at the unfolding events.
"Father," she said softly, touching one of his arms with her free hand. She had dropped the bayonet, knowing how useless it would be for her against the vampire. If Alex could not harm him, her own attacks using the same weapon would be fruitless.
"And that's how it is," she heard Arthur Hellsing call out in front of them, by his vampire. "So what is your decision, Father Anderson?"
"I see," the paladin replied.
She squeezed his arm in response. She wanted him to leave. Now. To fight was futile at this point and she was unwilling to lose her teacher because of his stubbornness.
"At this rate and my current choice of weapons, I cannot kill him," he spat. He looked down at her, almost awaiting her orders.
She sighed with relief. He was being reasonable. They might just both live to fight another day at this rate. Deliberately, she stood in front of him, between him and the vampire and Hellsing director who stared at them in interest.
"Leave me," she murmured. "The helicopter is just outside. I have transport to the Vatican ready at the airport."
"Are ye sure?" he asked, ignoring the other around them, concern for her apparent in his gaze.
She gave him a reassuring smile. "I hardly think any harm would come to me at this time," she replied. "Arthur Hellsing knows that we owe him at this point. He's not about to lose that advantage by killing me with his vampire."
He looked down on her and then at their present company.
"I don't like the idea of leaving ye here with vermin," he stated. "I have a feeling Father Maxwell would be a mite testy if anything happened to ye because I didn't drag ye out of here with me."
She laughed. "Then you can tell him it's his fault for sending me here in the first place," she responded. "Father Alex," she continued softly, as she nodded her head towards Arthur Hellsing, "he won't let any harm come to me. Just as I could not let any harm come to him under your hands. To do so would cause quite a ruckus between our two Organizations."
He smiled then and turned back to the vampire. "Let's meet again, Hellsing. Next time, I'll slaughter you all." Then he turned back to her again. "Be back tonight, child," he admonished her softly, for her ears only. And, in a flurry of holy writs, she watched as he vanished before her sight.
If it wasn't for the fact that she was surrounded by Protestants and their filth, Integra would have rolled her eyes. Her teacher always had to have the last word. Looking around her at the slaughter of both men and ghouls, she turned to the Hellsing director.
"My…apologies for this incident," she began, swallowing the bitter taste of crow in her mouth. Enrico would owe her for this. "It was…most unfortunate."
Arthur looked closely at the young woman before him. He, more than anyone, knew how much looks can be deceiving. From all appearances, she appeared nothing more than an envoy sent to set matters straight. She was dressed in the typical Vatican black, from the turtleneck and the loose-fitting pants that she wore. A silver chain holding a cross hung around her neck like a talisman, the only accessory she had besides her weapons. If he hadn't seen her move as fast as she did to block the Regenerator's attack, he would dismissed her as nothing more than another ambassador of Iscariot. Pondering that thought, he looked back at her and noted the way her blond hair fell almost to her waist.
Alright, so maybe not so much an ambassador of Iscariot. He knew that those uptight idiots would have had something to say about that little bit of vanity this woman displayed.
For what may be the umpteenth time since he saw her, he looked more closely her face. Then again, maybe he wouldn't have dismissed her without so much as a by your leave as well. There was something oddly familiar about her.
As the silence stretched out among the four left standing, he cleared his throat. "Who are you?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
She smiled. "I am of Iscariot," she replied. She looked around and he noticed how her eyes strayed between the two vampires. "I must admit that our intelligence may be a little out of date. We knew of one vampire that worked for Hellsing, not two."
Belatedly, he looked at Alucard and Seras. "Are you alright, Alucard?" he asked.
"Yes, Master," the vampire replied with a laugh. "It's been awhile since I lost my head, is all."
"An attack on Hellsing operatives with intent to kill," he stated, looking at the clear, blue eyes of the young woman in front of him. "Your organization has a lot of explaining to do."
She inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Father Alex believes firmly in his duty to this world," she replied diplomatically. "While I cannot fault his intent, it is unfortunate that we should all meet under these circumstances." She peered at him from the edge of her glasses. "You know, do you not?" she asked softly.
"That an unknown organization is on the move?" he asked her, managing to elicit a knowing look from her eyes. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. That is one of the reasons why I am…holding off my demand for restitution regarding this incident."
Her eyes widened.
Ahh…he had managed to surprise her.
"I would, however, like to introduce you to two of my associates," he informed her, "so that there won't be any confusion next time we meet."
"That won't be necessary," she stated, a hint of distaste escaping her voice.
"Oh, but I insist," he replied. "Alucard, Seras please introduce yourselves."
"As you wish, Master," replied the tall vampire as he approached the Iscariot operative. He watched the vampire execute a graceful bow in mock formality. "I am called Alucard," he said with flourish, removing his hat in the process.
The woman looked at him then Alucard in askance.
"Police girl," Alucard called out to Seras.
Just then, Seras finally approached them with her Halconnen in tow. "Seras Victoria, ma'am," she mumbled with a slight bow of her head.
From the stance of the young woman, Arthur could almost see her internal struggle over the present circumstances. She did not want to acknowledge the vampires, that he much could tell at once. Her problem now stemmed from the fact that her organization just violated several treaties, and she wasn't in any position to do anything that he might consider an insult. Especially given the fact that he had foregone restitution at this point.
For what seemed like hours, he could see that she reached a decision.
"I am Integra," she stated calmly, looking at all three of them. "Integra Maxwell." She looked back at him. "But now is not the time for pleasantries. I am in favor of making haste from this place. Perhaps we may discuss this incident at a later date?" she asked, the epitome of politeness itself.
Staring at her, he nodded. "Yes, of course," he answered, admiring her stately manners.
"I am sure that Father Maxwell would like to handle this matter himself as well," she said as she began to walk away. "I will set up the appointment." With a nod towards the two vampires, she exited the building as silently as she came in.
"This is interesting," commented Alucard beside him.
"The Regenerator was quite a surprise, I take it?" he asked offhandedly.
"Yes," he replied. "But then, so was the human."
Arthur winced. "Yes, well, I must admit that it's been awhile since I've had a woman stand in front of me to protect me from an attack, but today seems to be quite a red-letter day for all of us."
"Father Alexander Anderson of the Iscariot, was it?" Alucard queried.
He nodded. "We've heard of him, of course," he replied. "But this may be the first we have encountered him in battle."
"What about Integra?" Seras interrupted. "She was able to block the blades against Sir Hellsing."
"We have no intel on her," he answered, his curiosity peaked. Integra Maxwell? "I'll get Walter working on it first thing."
