Disclaimer: All of Hellsing and its characters are copyright to Kouta Hirano. Any original characters belong to the author of this fanfiction.

HELLSING

EREBUS

Here standeth the Bird of Hermes,

Eating my own wings to make me tame...

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Ghoul Ship

Tuesday Evening, January 6, 2032, Ship—Day 5...

A sick sound was made as blood and bits of flesh pulled back together to recreate Lamarr's face, reforming his other eye as both vampires grinned at one another. Alucard stood in front of Alex, gun still trained upon his current opponent. She looked up at the Count, half-expecting him to reprimand her for her disobedience. The old vampire had heard the thought, and indeed he'd give her a tongue-lashing for it later, but now wasn't the time. Scarlet pools narrowed some upon the object of his focus over the sights of the Casull. It was strange how quickly this vampire had healed himself. Just how old was he?

"Who are you?" Alucard asked.

Lamarr smiled as clammy skin began to shift, his form changing as his body glowed white during his slow transformation with tendrils of light swirling about. It was like watching the metamorphosis of a bright ghost. If Alucard didn't know any better, he'd compare the sight to that of an angel. The figure grew almost as tall as himself, hair and clothes lengthening, torso slimming, shoulders broadening. The one thing that did not change was the colour of his eyes, which was still an electric blue, much like Alucard's old hellfire eyes back in the day before he had taken on the powers of self-observation, which had resulted in the softening of the colour. When the light cleared, Alucard was faced with a man with skin as white as his, making his semi-long brown hair look slightly red, the partly wavy and layered locks brushing his shoulders. It was a handsome face, narrow with a pointed chin and a long nose with a perfect slope to the bridge.

The wooly turtleneck sweater and waterproof winter jacket turned into a dark navy dress shirt with the collar upturned to stand tall around his head. Over top was a burgundy coloured and tailored velvet jacket that reached his knees, the ends of the sleeves folded back much like a pirate's jacket, the lapels lying flat. Over his long legs was a pair of simple dark grey slacks with crisp lines. On his feet was a pair of black dress shoes with squared toes. Standing straight, he raised his bare hands with a couple of ornate rings on the fingers through is hair, pushing back the strands for a moment before dropping his arms at his sides, hair falling back into place.

Alucard's eyes remained narrowed upon him as Lamarr bent one arm in front of him as he bowed. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you face to face, Your Majesty." Alucard said nothing, but the enemy vampire's smile never wavered. "Did you enjoy my little distraction back in Halifax?" The Count's brows furrowed. "Yes... That was me, as I'm sure you've already figured out," he boasted lightly.

Recognition lit in Alucard's eyes as his lips curled into a smirk. "So, you're the one causing all this trouble. I was wondering when you were going to stop hiding. It's nice to see you're man enough to show your face to me in person, Gabriel." The stranger's grin widened. "Most villains would wait til the final showdown before personally stepping into the ring. I'm impressed, but do you have what it takes to defeat the likes of me?"

Gabriel smirked. "Yes, I've heard you've literally been waiting for ages for a true opponent to come along and bring an end to your miserable existence. Rest assured, your death will come in due time, but as of this moment, you have a couple of things that I desire."

"Oh? And that would be?"

A pale hand rose lazily to point at Alucard. "Firstly, it's your title as No-Life King. To be frank, it doesn't even belong to you. Upon your death, you took on more than a cursed life, you stole a power that wasn't yours to take. It is why you are unable to die." The old vampire frowned, puzzled by this claim, but Gabriel just smiled, dropping his hand. "But no matter. It is just as easily taken back." Now he glanced at Alex, grinning toothily, causing the girl to cringe away by a step. "The other thing...well, you already know what I seek."

"I see," he said in a bored tone, his fox-like smile replaced. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, however. I don't like sharing certain things, especially those that don't belong to you in the first place."

The enemy stood straight, resting one fist on his hip, having expected no less from Alucard. "You misunderstand, she has always belonged to me more than she ever did to you. It doesn't matter whether it's now or in the past."

At this, Alucard's eyes narrowed. Did Gabriel also make the connection between Alex and Katarina? "Alexandra," he started without taking his eyes away from the other alpha male, "leave this place."

"But—!"

"Now!" he bellowed, making her jump just as the locking hatch was suddenly undone, the door going slightly ajar. "Go to Van."

Alex hesitated, regarding Alucard's back and then glancing at the other vampire. Gabriel gave her a terrible feeling. Something told her that this creature was nothing like Alucard's previous foes. Still, he would be alright, wouldn't he? The vampire king was about to tell her off again, but she finally moved, backing out the doorway. Gabriel had other plans though. Grinning, he phased through the floor and sped after her like a shadow. Gritting his teeth in annoyance, Alucard made haste, appearing instantly behind the fleeing girl just as Gabriel emerged, catching his throat, though the Dracul didn't seem phased. The sudden appearance of two powerful vampires coming up behind her nearly made the young woman trip, but managed to catch herself.

Alucard glowered dangerously towards his nemesis. "As if I'd allow a self-entitled little punk like you to lay your hands on her again." His gaze blazed violently, his devilish grin glinting in the dark of the corridor. "She doesn't belong to you."

Gabriel returned the smile, eyes manic, flashing that brilliant blue. "Doesn't belong to me?! Ever since your beloved was conceived, her entire existence has always been my property. Even in her previous life, she has always been mine."

The king's eyes narrowed. Just how old was this vampire? How do you know? The question burned at the forefront of his mind. Most of his life, he thought he knew, but now he was uncertain. It has been apparent since that day of the round table conference that Gabriel knew something of his late wife, but how was that possible. Gabriel would have had to have been there. Is it possible that Gabriel was a...? No, it didn't matter. Alucard would annihilate him like many before him. He had faced the Ottomans time and time again, destroyed his own personal enemies to reclaim his throne, spat in the face of death upon his execution, obliterated the Third Reich's Last Battalion, and even the entire forces of the Vatican. Very few have defeated him, and it has always been a human. This piece of shit was far from qualified to have even a remote chance of beating him, and even if he was, as long as Alex breathed, Alucard would never perish.

Rage was a smog that thickened between three vampires, Van's rage. He knew he was no match for the two vampires in front of him, not that he cared for the odds at the moment. His immediate concern was focused primarily on Laura. He would contend with Elijah later, perhaps try to reason with him. Memories of the past reminded him that there was good in his younger brother. But how to reach it?

"Elijah, don't get in my way," he warned. "Once I kill her, we'll both be free of her influence."

The other Drake scoffed. "Her influence, you say? I have always been a willing servant of our master. She is kind. She freed me and seeks to free others of the pain of humanity. Brother...why can't you see that she has given you that same blessing? What we both are, it is a gift, a second chance."

Silver orbs were encompassed in disappointment, the Dracul muttering, "You're such a fool. This is no gift. It is a curse. Drinking the essence of others to live is no way to live at all. We are condemned by others and our loved ones suffer for it." He opened his eyes, regarding Elijah. "Was our family really worth the sacrifice for your immortality? Our loving mother, our supportive father? Even our sibling? You sacrificed the life of an unborn child, child we as their brothers should have raised and protected. All that to become a monster."

Elijah remained silent while Laura floated down from her perch, landing softly, expelling a patient sigh, "My poor little Van. Always wallowing upon what once was and what ifs. Why can't you just accept what you are? Always living with guilt and anger in your long dead heart. Despite what you say, preaching about how our humanity should be cherished, was it not humans that torched your beloved little Katherine?" His eyes widened at that and she chuckled. "As your master, I know the deepest secrets of your heart. This should come as no surprise. Every master and servant has an unspeakable bond that no human could ever comprehend. Why do you continue to resist me?" she asked with a pained expression look of puzzlement that looked genuine. "I want us to be a family, Van. A true family."

The hunter's hands trembled. "I almost pity you. You claim such a thing as though you even understand the meaning behind such a concept. It doesn't matter, however." His hands stilled, pupils turning into cat-like slits as silver turned to a fiery scarlet. "You've committed unforgivable acts. You've tortured, murdered, and even kidnapped children. I'll never forgive you, and I will put you down, even if it kills me."

Laura watched as Van's weapon trained in on her and she tsked, disappointed. "Such a troublesome child. As your master, I have no choice but to have you punished. You truly make me sad." She turned away. "Elijah, do away with him. I've lost all interest in that lost cause."

The servant's eyes gleamed red, expression impassive. "Yes, my master."

"Tch!" Like hell he'd let her get away! Shells were fired at Laura's back, but a great webbing appeared in an instant like a shield for her and Van turned his gaze to his brother. "Elijah! Don't force me to kill you!"

"You could never touch me, let alone our master," he replied, raising fists with red strings hanging lack between his digits.

Jaw tightening, Van glanced at Laura's retreating form. "Get back here, witch!"

She looked over her shoulder with an amused smile. "I'm sorry I cannot stay to chat some more with you, little Van, but I have other matters to attend to." And like that, she was gone, phasing away to some other part of the ship.

Other matters? Did she mean Alex, or something else? Elijah sensed his confusion, and being the analytical vampire he knew his elder brother to be, no doubt he was trying to organize the information in his head. However, Elijah's master was counting on him to end his brother once and for all.

"You best focus on what's in front of you, brother."

Van did focus on him, eyes narrowing. "Don't make me fight you, Elijah. You're all I have left of our family. Please, see reason!"

Rather than answer, the younger Dracul outstretched his arms, multiple flashes of red zipping through the air, wrapping around Van's arms and legs, forcing him into an outstretched position, shackled by the very blood they both shared. He growled, trying to break free through force. He managed to bring his limbs back into his body, dangling in midair, eyes flashing dangerously as he bled. With a resounding yell, he aimed his gun towards Elijah, barely managing to squeeze the trigger. As expected, another shield webbing blocked the assault, and Van could hold his position any longer, appendages springing outward again, the force of it lopping off his limbs with a cry of agony.

His torso fell to the ground, his face slamming into the metal grates. Wincing, Van looked up at Elijah who showed no remorse for his older sibling's state. Deciding enough was enough, his normally smooth teeth became jagged with his frustration and anger. With another yell, black and silvery shadows sprouted from where his previous limbs had been, solidifying into new ones, actually putting a look of mild surprise on the other's Drake's visage. Van was kneeling on the floor, panting heavily, eyes hidden by his shaggy hair.

"So...there's nothing I can say or do to sway you." The realization hit him hard, his teeth grinding together before he steeled his features, raising his gaze to the other vampire. "Then I have no other choice than to kill you." He stood, his duster flapping with the movement. "It might as well have been you that murdered them. Everything you did in that woman's name, you deserve no less than death." A black tendril of his being picked up the shotgun he dropped, putting it in his hand before he raised it towards the other vampire. "Goodbye, you traitor."

Alex was panting heavily as she continued to run, grates clanging under each footstep. A scream tore from her throat as the wall exploded in front of her, causing her to backtrack on a few hops before falling on her rear. Still breathing heavily, she looked up to Alucard with his back to her, hands clenched against Gabriel's, the enemy grinning madly, peering over the No-Life King's shoulder to glance at her, eyes squinting in glee. She shook where she sat, barely remembering to get to her feet, running in a different direction.

"You're in the way, Vampire King," Gabriel stated with a warning tone.

Alucard merely grinned. "I aim to disappoint fools like you."

Black fire emerged from under his coat, canine jaws snapping at the other vampire, causing him to jump back from Alucard, chuckling. Looking up at Alucard's familiar, the black hound of Baskerville, he whistled, impressed. To think the beast had been recovered even after the Angel of Death had slain the beast. This monster truly was a force of nature. It excited to Gabriel to no end. However, he had tricks of his own. Raising an arm, the white mist opposite to Alucard's black shadows slithered from under his velvet blazer. Reaching into it with his left hand, he pulled out an old sword similar to the one Alucard had used back when he was but a mere human. However the blade was stained black, the cross hilt silver and gold wrapped in old leather cord.

Alucard reached into his own coat, his silver and iron guns emerging, a mad smile on his face. Things were certainly getting interesting. "The more I learn, the more intrigued I am of you."

Gabriel raised his sword in both hands. "My blade has never failed me. Can you say the same of your pistols?" He chuckled. "However, you and I both know it is not the weapon that makes the man, it is a man's resolve that makes the warrior."

The old vampire scoffed, grinning. "We are not men. We're monsters in the trappings of men."

Gabriel smirked. "No truer words have ever been said. Regardless, even a monster like you acts like a dog, serving a human master, taking pity on some hapless human girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, foolishly clinging to her humanity even though she was no longer human. Even now, you're enslaved by your infatuation with a human who could never become what you are. You could never turn her even if you wanted to. The centuries have made you weak. You would rather let her die as a human than curse her with your dark gift."

"I'm the dog?" Alucard repeated, ignoring the latter half of Gabriel's words. "Then what does that make you? You, who would challenge me? You, who would threaten Alexandra? Perhaps you're the dog, with your tail tucked between your legs. Why else would you bother with this ridiculous farce? Vampires are not meant to inherit the earth. Yet you and your ilk make cliched claims of global dominion for vampires. Do you fear your end so much that you'd go as far as annihilating the entire human race?"

A dark smile curled on Gabriel's features. "Your opinion matters not. Alexandra is the key to a new age for all vampires. However, her blood isn't the only reason why I wish to possess her." Alucard's eyes went into slits, his smile replaced by a serious expression. "Unfortunately, I cannot keep our Eve waiting. I've waited centuries for her conception, and your execution, my dear Impaler, will have to wait."

A bang rang out, Gabriel's right arm taken off in a spray of blood. Like hell he'd let this little bastard go. Grinning, the opposing vampire's severed limb melted into a puddle and sprang to his wound, reforming his arm. Clenching new fingers to test their mobility, the Dracul looked over to his sworn enemy, smile unwavering. They charged each other as silver gun blocked the blade swinging towards Alucard's neck. Both vampires stared each other down before Alucard pushed him off, aiming at Gabriel's face, blowing his head off. The body fell, but instead of making an impact, it fell through the floor, blood and entrails disappearing. Crimson eyes gleamed as Alucard sought out his nemesis with his senses. Nothing.

"So...you can hide your presence, even from me," he murmured, impressed.

"That and more," came a reply from behind the king.

Before he could react, his torso was sliced in half, then his head severed. Black shining streaks flashed through the air at inhuman speed til Alucard was nothing but pieces. Blood and flesh puddled on the ground and a head sat at Gabriel's feet. Smiling, he pierced through the face and his essence misted over the sword and carried over the bloody mess, turning into white flames. He removed the sword and walked away as Alucard burned.

"Now stay there like a good dog." And like that, he was gone.

Crash! Dust billowed around Van as he leaned against a small dent in the hull. Gritting his teeth, he glared upwards at his brother, strings of blood floating around him like loose spider threads flowing in the wind. Elijah raised both his hands then crossed his arms, a whistle of cutting air flashing over the other containers, destroying locks on them. Van stared quizzically towards the containers, watching as the doors opened outwards, eyes widening while monstrous creatures came out into the open. They filed out, groaning and moaning, armed with guns and blades and even grenades.

Van stared in shock as the beasts came towards him, shuffling like zombies. "Ghouls? You...you brought ghouls on board?!"

"You act surprised, my dear brother. Ghouls are, after all," he began, stretching red wires between two fists, "puppets meant to be controlled." Van gritted his teeth, reloading his gun. He'd have to kill most of them with his bare hands if he were to defeat them. As though he could read his mind, Elijah put in, "If you think this is all the ghouls on board, you're sadly mistaken."

The hunter looked horrified. "W-why?! Don't tell me every storage container on this ship has..."

"Correct. This ship's acting captain got a little paranoid and so my Lord Gabriel decided to dispose of him and take on his identity, if only to get a little closer to your human. My master is releasing the others as we speak. Imagine, there's probably around 3000 containers on this ship. How many ghouls do you think are on each?"

If a vampire could sweat, Van would be doing plenty of it. He didn't need to do the math to know that it was far more than he and Alucard could handle. Even with Alex's help, she was still a novice with a limited amount of bullets. And the humans left aboard would definitely panic in the face of this threat, whether or not they had the necessary weapons. Growling, Van raised his gun at the ghouls, firing, taking out a mere handful with a couple of shells. No, this would not do at all.

"You're completely mad!" he declared angrily. "They'll kill her!"

"Fool," Elijah said, leaving to allow the ghouls to contend with the hunter. "The ghouls are under our complete control. As if we'd allow harm to come to the girl. Goodbye, brother."

"ELIJAH!" Van snarled aloud as the enemy left, the sound of a door being latched closed. "Damn it all," he muttered, reloading his weapon. Alucard was not going to be of any help right now. He was alone. He had to get out, find Alex, and get her and the remaining passengers out of harm's way, but the odds were against him.

"What the hell is going on?!" cried one of the crew members.

"Tch!" Shamus was on the bridge with the rest of the crew. With Lamarr nowhere to be found, he was acting captain. "Untwist your knickers. I'm sure it's nothing. Whatever it is, we can fix it. It's our job to fix it!"

"Hey, Shamus! Who the fuck is that?"

Shamus looked over to where his coworker pointed, looking beyond the window and onto the deck, seeing a redhead in a black dress practically dancing atop from one shipping container to the next. They could hear her giggling over the rising wind, puzzling the crew. Laura hopped and skipped, much like a child would, clasping her hands together as she grinned with ecstasy. Oh, things have gotten so exciting. She turned, looking directly at her audience, her perfect teeth gleaming in the dark, even as it began to rain. The cold didn't both her in the least. Eyes squinting with glee, her vibrant green eyes turned red for a moment as something unlocked. In fact, it was a lot of somethings. Shamus and the others looked on, mesmerized by this stranger, until their attention was caught by the shifting of shadows. Something emerged from around corners and into the spotlights, revealing rotting and grotesque visages of horror.

"W-what?! WHAT THE FUCK?!" cried one.

Even Shamus was at a loss. "No way... Are those...zombies?!"

"Shamus! Tell me I'm just seeing things!"

The mechanic ground his teeth together. Whatever the hell this was, he very much doubted this was an illusion. "I don't...I don't know what we're looking at, Bradley. But...I suggest you arm yourselves. I have a real bad feeling about this."

"You gotta be fucking kidding me! Look how many there are!"

Annoyed, Shamus grabbed his fellow employee by the front of his shirt, slamming him against a wall, the others looking on in surprise and anxiety. "Shut the fuck up! I don't know what the hell is going on and I sure as hell don't know what those things are! But I'm not waiting around to find out before it's too late! So man the fuck up and grab a weapon! If they're zombies, we have an idea of how to deal with them! What the fuck were all those video games for?! HUH?!"

The spat was interrupted when Alex came running in, locking the door behind her. Bradley was the first to speak up. "You! This is all your fault! You and those two assholes!"

Though her patience was running thin with Bradley, she simply waltzed to a table and put her weapons on the table, causing everyone on the bridge to go silent. On her way here, she ran to her room to grab all the ammo she could carry in her pockets. She had ran to the mess hall, and the rec room, all in the hope of finding any of the crew. Finally she came here, and everyone, with the exception of those that were already deemed missing, seemed accounted for. As a vampire hunter, an official recruit for the Hellsing Organization, she felt it was her duty to protect whatever humans were left aboard.

Shamus came up behind her as she reloaded Artemis and Apollo. "What are those?"

"Our only means of defence," she answered distractedly.

"You know what's going on here?"

Alex hesitated. "There are monsters on board. Monsters I have little hope in hell defending against, and you guys...you're pretty much dead meat. You got no proper means of defence. Not against them."

"You mean those things?" Shamus asked, pointing out the window.

Puzzled, Alex walked over just as she snapped her revolvers back in place. Atop the containers, she saw a complete stranger. A woman with red hair. But her attention was caught by the approaching ghouls. Her eyes and mouth widened in terror at the sight. There were...thousands of them! Were they hiding on this ship the entire time?! Alex's body shook at the scene. No doubt they were coming towards where all the meat was. Pressing her quivering lips together, she rolled her shoulders, steeling her features. If she panicked, then her current wards would follow suit. She was completely out of her league, and with Alucard busy with Gabriel, she could only hope Van would come.

"Jesus Christ," she breathed out shakily. She looked up again and saw the redhead looking straight at her with a smug expression. It was then she had an idea of who that was. "Laura," she muttered. "That bitch." She turned to Shamus. "Best guess, how many...people can a single container hold?"

Shamus swallowed hard. "Probably about 50."

"How many containers are on the ship?"

He nearly squeaked out, "Approximately 3000."

Alex's eyes widened, as well as the others. "Did these...containers all come from the same client?" Slowly, he nodded, and her trembling returned. Alucard, I'm way in over my head...

She looked at the approaching ghouls again, finding that Laura was gone. She'd worry about her later. The immediate threat was those freaks. She had to come up with a plan and fast. Think of the basics, she told herself. That was step one. What were the common weaknesses of vampires and ghouls? The girl looked to the rest of the crew, seeing their fear as if her own was reflected right back at her. No doubt they needed an explanation, but there wasn't any time for that.

"All you need to know at this instant is there are three ways to kill or slow those things down. First," she said, raising a thumb, "you cut off and blow off their heads. Two," her index came up next, "you sever them from or pierce through their hearts. And third," finally her middle finger rose, "this won't necessarily kill them, but it is one of their weaknesses, being silver. Blessed silver is more effective. These are unholy creatures that will kill you, draining you of all your blood and eating your flesh like you're some kind of happy meal. These things are nothing like the zombies you've seen in video games and movies. These are ghouls. They're failed vampires."

"Vampires?" one repeated in disbelief. "But that's not possible!"

She had no time to convince them to believe her, so her patience had reached its peak by this point as she bluntly stated, "It's your fucking funeral if you don't want to believe me. Right now, I've got the only weapons capable of killing these monsters, which leaves the rest of you pretty fucked. I'm not going to pretend I'm invincible and say I can protect you all, because that's fucking impossible for me. I'm barely trained for this, which means the rest of you needs some way of defending yourselves before they have us cornered in here. Get it?!"

Bradley growled, "What about your boyfriends?"

"They're a little busy," she snapped then turned to Shamus, tossing him one of her guns, the young man nearly dropping it. "Don't scratch it."

"What about the rest of us?" one asked.

"You got weapons of any kind in here? Knives, pistols, hell, even flare guns?"

"Yeah," Shamus replied. "Not enough for all of us, but we have a couple of guns in case of pirates."

"Fine," she said. After some of them grabbed those guns from a locked gun rack, she looked them over. "I doubt those will be enough, but they'll do." Alex sighed, heading to the door. "We'll need a more secure location. They're not as strong as regular vampires, but I'd be more comfortable in a sealed steel room then in this crap shack.

"I know just the place," Shamus put in. "The engine room is well sealed, plus there's some tools in there we can use to makeshift some other weapons?"

Alex looked at him and nodded. "At this point, it's all we got. Ready?" No one answered. She didn't blame them. The feeling was mutual. Swallowing, she swung open the door just as a ghoul jumped through and on top of her. "AH!"

The others panicked, but Shamus was the only one to react the opposite, trying to pull off the ghoul. However, it wasn't his interference that got the monster off of Alex, but the fact that it recognized Alex as its master's target. Suddenly it turned on Shamus, who fell back, struggling to keep its teeth away from him. However, it was too strong, even as a corpse, and he was certain that he was about to be eaten. A bang rang out as blood and ash sprayed over the consoles and floor. The mechanic panted, sitting up at the dirty clothes filled with nothing but dust. He and the crew looked at Alex, a hardened expression on her face, teeth ground together, breath shaky.

"T-thanks," he said.

She inhaled, lowering her gun, murmuring a, "Yeah." Walking to the door again, she saw many ghouls already blocking their way. Somehow, she didn't think they'd make it to the engine room. "Pipes," she decided. "Whatever you can swing around, use it, because we're stuck here. I wasted too much time."

Some of the crew began to break down, especially Bradley. "We're gonna die!"

Defeated, Alex locked the door again. "Is it possible to barricade the doors and windows? Do we have anything in here?"

"Everything is pretty much bolted down," Shamus stated. "We're fucked, aren't we?"

Alex sighed. What could she say? There was no way she could protect everyone, and they were surrounded on all sides by ghouls. She wishes Alucard and Van were around at that moment, which made her realize... "No, we're not. There's still hope. We just have to hold out awhile longer."

Gunfire rang out in the cargo hold, blood and ash all over everything. The hunter vampire stood above the countless remaining ghouls on a catwalk, panting. They were climbing up after him, blocking the exit. Even with his added strength, Van didn't think he could force himself through that crowd. There was too many. But he had no choice. Time was running out, and he needed to be at Alex's side if Alucard wasn't. Knowing him, the Count likely told her to run from whatever threat he had sensed earlier. Most likely Gabriel. Van's eyes narrowed. He wasn't as practised as Seras and Alucard were in using vampiric abilities, but now was a good time as any.

Standing on the ledge, putting away his gun, which he had no more shells for anyway, he leaned forward and down he went, flipping frontwards before crushing one ghoul to dust as he landed. With a growl, black and silvery shadows emerged from his being, whipping around him like boneless appendages, slicing through ghouls while his eyes gleamed red. He ran towards the exit, tearing through the creatures like paper with a resounding roar.

"Get out of my WAY!"

Leaping up towards the door, he swung around his leg, the force of his vampire strength causing the door to burst right off its steel hinges. He skid to a stop right next to the fallen door, now a complete dented mess, picking it up with one hand and tossing it back down the corridor towards the ghouls filing in, blood splattering as though he just popped a giant zit. For the moment, the broken door was stuck in the opening, and just for good measure, more of his shadow essence stretched across the distance, claw like hands grabbing the door frame and sealing the door entirely, bending the metal to be immovable. However, it wouldn't remain like that for long, he mused, running off. He needed a more reliable weapon.

"Why aren't they coming in?" Shamus asked, staring out the window. "They blind or stupid or something?"

Alex joined him, watching the ghouls. It's me they want. "Or something," she confirmed. Alucard, Van, where are you guys? "Either way, we have no way to barricade ourselves, and that crowd is far too thick. They'd easily tear us apart."

Everyone was silent for a long time, but Bradley spoke up, both out of fear and anger. "We're dead! No one is coming for us!"

The huntress sighed, pocketing her gun for now. The ghouls apparently had no intention of coming in, not while she was here, so for the moment, they were safe. But for how long? And would Hellsing's finest come before the ghouls changed their minds about not feasting on their bones?

"Hellsing," she muttered to herself. It suddenly clicked. "How far off are we from reaching London?"

"We're like a little over halfway there. Why?" Shamus replied.

"Is your radio working? I might be able to call in some cavalry." Honestly, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to reach them, but on the off chance things got worse, she didn't think even Alucard and Van would be able to save them.

Upon that declaration, the sound of gunfire cutting into their conversation. Alex's eyes widened as she headed to the source, staring out the front as continuous flashes lit up the sides of the containers, ghouls groaning out as they were slain in waves. The crew gathered behind Alex as they watched a black figure jump at an inhuman height, the deck's light's piercing through the rain at Van Drake's back, eyes glowing red. There was a roar, and muzzle flashes lit up both his hands as streaks of fiery light rained punishment upon more of the ghouls, entrails splashing everywhere. Rain began to pick up, water mixing with blood. Alex peered through the misted window to see a long belt of sorts hanging behind Van. Was that...ammunition?

The vampire landed atop one of the containers, a wave of rainwater expelling outward. Two gatling-styled guns were strapped to his arms as he handled them easily as though they were pistols. They were at least half the size of a typical minigun. Far too unwieldy for a human to hold with just one hand. However, being a vampire had its advantages. Van stared at his latest project with approval, the black iron and gold titanium accents, the typical Hellsing Arms stamp on them. On one in cursive writing, labelled this monster the Gravedigger. The current belt empty, a simple press of a button on both guns, and the belt fell loose, dropping around his feet. He reached backwards, each gun snapping into the side of an ammo unit on his back, pulling on both guns, a new belt was already attached.

Alex was ecstatic. "Van!"

"The fuck is with his eyes?" one asked. "Don't tell me he's one of those monsters!"

Alex was far too grateful for Van's appearance to snap at him. "Boys, consider yourselves lucky, because help just arrived."

The rain was beginning to pick up then, soaking the vampire hunter. His sharp teeth glinted as he scowled, clearly having lost patience with this whole fiasco. Having evened the odds a little, he took aim upon the marching creatures, raising their own weapons as they fired upon him. He zipped from one location to the next, avoiding the assault, jumping into the air again, just as lightning flashed, the wind flapping through his coat. Taking aim once more, a great roar overtook the air, the skeletal barrels revolving before letting loose a barrage of hell upon the monsters.

Even as he struck down multiple numbers of the beasts, something caught his attention and he flipped in midair, firing at the other end of the ship, an explosion ringing out. Alex and the others braced themselves while the ship shook, and she looked up, clearing the mist from the window to see the fires blaze. Van snarled, just before micro-sized wires flew outwards in flashes of red, catching the ends of each Gravedigger in tight knots, however, Van had foreseen this, grinning. As if he wasn't going to make a gun that was resistant to such a dangerous skill. Rather than break free, he pulled, yanking himself towards the fires just as Elijah burst from the flames, swinging his arms forward. Van aimed forward, firing at his brother, which blasted through the thread. Surprised, Elijah dodged the onslaught, landing on a container, and Van landed opposite of him.

"So, you made yourself some new toys."

The older Dracul glowered at his brother, pointing the end of one gun towards him. The heavy pattering of rain filled the silence between them. Click! The barrels whirred, unleashing a barrage of bullets, the younger vampire blurring out of harm's way, his silvery-blue eyes turning red. Van was still firing when he noticed some ghouls climbing up and before he could react, some fired on him. He winced a little as a few bullets passed through his flesh. Ceasing fire, he jumped away and resumed shooting, heads exploding, bodies tearing apart from the assault. Elijah had other plans though. He wasn't going to make this easy for his foolish brother. When the hunter landed, his hand began to freeze up, and his blood began to boil. He choked, falling to his knees as his skin seemed to crawl. What was going on?!

Elijah approached him, his hands mimicking the sensations his body was feeling. "Do you know what they call me?" he asked monotonously. "It was deemed fit to call me the Puppet Master. But you've already experienced this power of mine once before. Only this time..." A flick of the wrist, and Van was standing, raising one of the guns under his chin. "Alucard isn't here to protect you from yourself."

Van growled. "Cowardly...tactics. You always were such a sore loser." It took everything he had not to pull the trigger.

Elijah half-smiled. "This coming from the one about to lose his head. Don't think you'll be able to grow that back, not with those blessed rounds."

Back on the bridge, Alex looked on fearfully. If she didn't do something soon, she was afraid Van might really be killed this time! Everyone in the room yelped when multiple banging was heard, the bloodied hands of ghouls beating against the tempered windows. Once again they started to panic as they looked towards the door. Unlike the windows, the door itself wasn't made to withstand much force. Alex went between the door and the others, drawing her sights on the door, sweat beading on her forehead, shoulders and knees shaking every now and then. They were trapped, her with minimal training and limited bullets, and Van was in a dangerous predicament of his own.

A soft chuckle penetrated her senses and she spun around, coming face to face with a Draculina. Laura stood with her arms loosely crossed in front of her chest, looking on them with lackadaisical amusement. Placing a hand on her cheek, she eyed Alex hungrily, sending chills through the girl.

"Hello, Alexandra..."

A/N: Sooo, it's been awhile. I'M SORRY T.T I've only started to get back into the mood for this one. And if any of you follow me specifically, you probably know about my thing about trying to post once a week. Well, that failed miserably and I'm so far behind in weeks that I'm not gonna force myself to stress over catching up, because at this point, it's impossible, and I won't be following that regime anymore either. So again...sorry. A lot of things have happened. I moved to a new place, and I started working at the candy factory again which stresses me out mentally and physically. I'm, like, literally...broken. But, I'm back...for now. I rewatched the OVAs and Hellsing Abridged and it got me back in the mood.

Funny tidbit, I randomly googled Vlad the Impaler and Katarina, and I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THIS AT ALL recently, but there was apparently a woman named Katharina that he was completely head over heels for and even wanted to divorce his wife at the time to marry her but was denied and even when she died, he didn't get the chance to marry Katharina since he was imprisoned. But, he had like...five kids with her anyway, and when he died, she died like a couple of years later, having never spoken since his death. I was astonished to learn this. I just picked the name Katarina because I was thinking of Catarina Sforza from Assassin's Creed and thought how awesome she was (even though Katarina is practically nothing like her). So there you have it.

I don't know when I'll be able to post the next chapter because I'm refusing to make any promises. At the earliest though would be next week. So, sorry once more and hope this chapter will tide you over until then. Thank you all for being so patient.