Chapter 14
Elena sat down in her chair, the light rising behind her. But she kept to the shadow of her chair.
'What was that?' Elena thought, 'That was hell, truly hell….' Once again she looked up to Integra's portrait.
"I'm not you…" She spoke out loud. "But I'm trying…" The phone rang Elena picked it up subconsciously, she suddenly found it next to her head. "Hello?"
"Miss Integra, the troops are back. Walter is on his way up to deliver the report."
"Where's acting commander Tomson?"
"I'm afraid he didn't make it back." Elena silently put the phone back without answer.
Walter gently climbed out of the back of the Hellsing vehicle. It parked in the usual spot, except only half of the vehicles came back to their stationary spots. None more were on the way. Walter sighed and recoiled, as his muscles were bruised and sore, from strain and attack. He was covered in blood, most not his own, his clothes were torn and he still had that limp in his leg, the stitches were torn and his leg was bleeding once again. But he limped up the steps of the mansion on the way to Elena's office.
Elena swore and banged her fists on the desk, her hair was ragged and she had bags under her eyes, but she felt so utterly useless. She gripped her hand on the handle of her drawer to get another cigar. She really needed one right now. But she yanked it far too hard an the drawer gave away, she cursed again as the items spilled out on the floor. She kneeled on the floor to put it back in, when something in the back of the chest of drawers caught her eye. You wouldn't find it unless you knew it was there, but right at the back was a small box nailed to the top. Elena took hold of it and pulled, the nails were so old and rusty it came away easily. This desk was an antique, never been replaced, only well looked after. Inside the box was a small key. She dropped the box on the floor and totally forgot about the drawer and her cigars. But she was curious…where did this key go? It must go somewhere important, you wouldn't just hide any old key here. The key looked ancient and rusty, about 100 years old. But not worn, as if it had never been used. This took her mind off Walter's impending report, something drew her in and longed for her to find its lock. She picked herself of the floor and her feet began to lead her. As if she knew where to go…
Walter finally reached her office, he pushed away the servants who wanted to take him to the infirmary. He is not as bad as some, he could wait his turn. He reached the door to her office and pushed the door open.
"Welcome back angel of death…" A cruel voice spoke inside. Walter entered further in. Somehow his vision was blurred. Butt he managed to make out the same clothes as Seras sat on the desk, Elena was sat in her usual position in her chair. But as his vision was clearing slightly he noticed that the figure was too tall and big to be Seras…Elena turned to him.
"Don't you have someone else to annoy Alucard?" A sudden spasm sent him falling to the floor. His eyes were watering, but he rubbed them with the back of his hands. It was bright in the office once again. But there was no one in here…
'What was that?' He thought. A steady drip alerted him that he was still losing blood. Luckily just before he passed out one of the servants that didn't give up easily rushed in.
Elena let herself be mentally dragged to the library, the library of the Hellsing organization. It had every single record in this room. Books lined the room, dust covered almost everything. No one really came in here anymore. Not since Integra's time.
'If this room has every single record in it. Then it must have the lock that fits this key…' She thought. She looked down at the key held loosely in her hands. A sudden unbidden image shot into her mind. The six-eyed dog, for barely a moment, but that image frightened her, more then any werewolf or vampire or freak in her life. She knew she should be in her office, it seemed childish to go chasing a dream like this at such a time. But that's exactly how they gained their greatest ally, Seras. But speak of the devil, as Elena began to look around the library Seras' voice spoke behind her.
"Shouldn't you be in your office master…" Elena whipped around.
"Don't scare me like that…Are you alright?" Seras smiled,
"Of course, you shouldn't worry about me. But Walter was taken to the infirmary." She shrugged. Elena gasped, Walter! She rushed past Seras.
Seras watched her leave,
'What was she doing here…?' Seras thought. She caught a loose thought from her master. 'A key? To what?' Seras glanced around the room her eyes squint in suspicion. But she saw nothing out of place and walked out of the room closing the door behind her.
"Walter!" Elena barged into the infirmary. "Are you alright?" Walter was sat on a bed, his leg was lifted while the nurses cleaned it. Walter tried to smile,
" 'tis but a flesh wound' as they say." But Elena didn't believe him as he winced in pain. But Elena tried to have a serious face.
"Walter, give me the report." Walter looked back to her and took a breath.
"It was a complete disaster, it was lucky that dawn came when it did, I doubt that even I'd be here. We've lost fifty percent of our own forces, mostly the ones who were working with inexperienced police and army soldiers. Twenty five percent of those were put down by us who were bitten. But the police and army soldiers did not fare so well, seventy five percent of the armed police were killed and seventy percent of the army soldiers." Elena was horrified, how were we beaten so badly by a bunch of freaks. "If they attack again…well, I'm afraid for England and his majesty." Walter sighed.
"There done." The nurse got up and moved to another patient, Walter inspected his new stitches before getting up from the bed, he saluted.
"Fit for duty Miss Hellsing." Elena shook her head.
"Enough with the formalities, I'm just glad your alive." She smiled.
"When ghouls attacked you could always take them all out at once if you took out the head vampire." Elena whirled around once again, Seras was stood in the doorway.
"What are you saying?" Seras shook her head.
"I'm saying that if we take out whoever's leading this little freak army then that'll stop them, if not kill them all." Seras crossed her arms and leant on the door frame. Elena thought for a second, she was about to answer when a servant shouted from behind Seras.
"Miss Hellsing! An urgent call for you!" Elena huffed.
"Now what?" But Seras remained in the doorway. She merely smiled at her.
"Move!" Elena ordered. But Seras grinned and her glasses lowered slightly to reveal her ever so slightly menacing eyes.
"What's the magic word?" Seras mocked. Elena didn't have time for this. She pulled out her gun and aimed it directly at her forehead. Seras' grin grew wider, showing her fangs.
"Or so help me I will shoot you." She spat.
"Ever the polite one…" Seras joked before stepping out of the door into the corridor. Elena ran down the corridor to her office, she picked up the phone.
"Hello?" A man's voice appeared on the other end.
"This is a message from his majesty, the United States army wished to help us in our plight, and will be sending reinforcements for tonight…"
"…I doubt that will help…"
"…Yes, well.." He carried on. "..We will also reiceve forces from the Vatican section thirteen…"
"What!" Elena interrupted.
"They offered their assistance in this matter, and this is a chance we cannot refuse…Please assist them, they are on the way to your mansion to aid you and your troops…" The line went dead. Seething in anger Elena placed the phone down.
'Section thirteen here? Anderson…Max Enrico…that basterd!'
"Oh are we receiving guests?" Seras' mocking voice appeared near her. Elena hadn't noticed her before. "Then I will have to wear my best…" She pretended to brush herself down and fix her hat.
A few hours later….
Elena stood at the steps of the Hellsing mansion, the same mansion that has stood for generations as a barrier against the evil that walks the night. This was merely another test that she had to overcome. She watched with a almost unmatched anger as the cars of the Vatican pulled up. One stopped just in front of the steps. And out came Max…He straightened his jacket and walked calmly up the steps. Walter stiffened next to her.
"As a representative of the Vatican, section thirteen let me offer my sincerest condolences." He offered his hand to her. She didn't take it.
"Representative? Aren't you the leader?" Elena questioned. Max stiffened and a look of pure hate filled his eyes for a second.
"After our little tiff, the pope replaced me with a more suitable candidate…." He said quickly. Before stepping aside to reveal the new leader of section thirteen. A girl dressed in white robes as if she was from the past with pure black hair stepped out. She seemed so innocent, her eyes sparkling in the light. But there was something amiss about her. But Elena let it go and the girl bounded over to her. She smiled a heartfelt smile and held out her hand. Suddenly wanting not to offend the girl she took, they shook.
"I'm Rebecca. It's a pleasure to finally meet you Elena." She smiled and bowed a little. Max next to her looked almost disgusted at the display. Elena felt like laughing, but there was business that needed attending.
((AN: Ah, the Vatican returns. I thought Rebecca had a nice innocent ring to it.))