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 FORTY-THREE
Helena
Friday Early Morning, February 13, 2032, Somewhere Near Bleadon Village...
Going by the suspicion that the vampire originated from Cheddar, Alex and Seras considered abandoned areas closest to the once-hellish village. Finding no evidence of ever being lived in, they ruled those places out. Next, they looked through a couple of farming properties, but Seras detected no hint of a vampire lurking at either of them. Finally, they considered a summer cottage that was rarely used. Nothing. There were plenty others to consider, like the first missing-person's house, or any of the victims' homes.
"Ugh," Alex exclaimed, getting tired, not used to being up this long anymore, even if she was a night person. "I'd rather the vampire come to us so we don't have to do all this running around."
Seras took out a map, marked with all the potential locations, her scarlet pools scanning it. "We've looked in all the most likely places." She tapped a gloved finger over her mouth in deep thought.
The brunette stood closer, peering at the map. "C'mon, Captain, you were a police officer once. Shouldn't you have a different perspective on this sort of thing?"
"It's been thirty years, though." Alex just stared at her. "Oh, alright!" Seras began, unfolding the parchment, looking at what was left of the circled locations. After a moment of deductive reasoning, she folded it back up, leaving a single area unveiled. "I say here!" she declared, pointing to the paper as Alex looked.
She squinted her eyes, as the lettering was tiny. "Brean Down...Fort?" Seras nodded. "Isn't that a bit...touristy? It's not even circled. Seems a bit out of the way, too."
"I know, but my instincts as a vampire, and my gut as a former police officer, are telling me we should head there," the blonde explained.
Alex didn't doubt it, so she nodded. "It'd be a convenient source of blood too, depending on how many people go through there. How often does a vampire need to feed, anyway?"
"The equivalent of a pack per day," answered Seras. "But it also depends on certain circumstances. Perhaps they avoid being seen, keeping away from people so that they're not tempted. Some can handle it, others not so much. Sometimes they go so long without drinking blood, they end up killing for it later on, unable to control their thirst."
Brows furrowed as Alex pictured it. "Are we talking about this vampire, or vampires in general?"
The Draculina smiled. "Either or. That said, we should go. C'mon..."
Alex frowned at the idea of being carried again. "Must be nice, being able to fly."
Grinning, the blonde replied, "It has its advantages. Mr. Drake informs me of your fear of flying."
The trainee scoffed. "On a plane! I never actually expected to be flown across the countryside by a lone person! I got enough of that from Van jumping from one building to another like a pinball, and Alucard as a flock of bats!" She digressed. "Well actually, I didn't mind the bats, and the adrenaline distracted me from the fear of falling."
Seras chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let's go, then."
Unable to put it off anymore, Alex sighed, standing close to her captain. Secured to her side once more, Seras broke into a run, leaping into the night air, the left arm morphing into a blaze. Aware and terrified of heights, Alex clung to her commander, too distracted to even consider the cold air rushing past them. She tried to think of other things, like where they were headed. Seras believed the fort would be an ideal hiding place for the vampire. Once they got there, they would be on the creature's turf.
"Have you visited the fort before?" Alex asked over the wind rushing past her ears. Seras just shook her head. "Would they be expecting us?"
"Let's hope not!" she said, raising her voice so Alex could hear. "Most of the time they don't."
Alex frowned. Except for lately.
The meeting with the Round Table, and then the one with the King, came forward in her thoughts, recalling the facts about missing children, slaughtered families, and Hellsing troops always getting there way after the fact. Even if Seras went ahead, the blood had long since dried. It was like whoever was doing the killing, knew hours ahead of time that Hellsing was coming. Could some vampires foresee events? That was something she would have to ask Alucard, as he was considered the forefather of vampirism. Or, at least, was.
"We're here!" Seras announced, now descending to the ground. Upon landing, she skidded along the path, immediately stopping, releasing her companion as Alex planted her feet.
Both pairs of eyes looked ahead at the cliffs, a short structure erected at the top of the hill. With no moon to light up the area, Alex could barely see its shape, as the only light available were simple industrial bulbs bolted to the outer walls, tinging the darkness with yellow luminance. Looking to the left at a lower elevated level, there was a beach with a small town. If the vampire truly lived in this area, why didn't it just stick to the town down there? It was much closer.
As though hearing her thought, Seras stated, "To avoid being caught, the creature would need to hunt on grounds further away from its hiding place. It's possible they did hunt there before, and was nearly spotted. Sir Integra didn't mention any other towns in Somerset with similar missing-person cases."
Nodding, she replied, "Makes sense. Shall we go in?"
"Yes."
With a flash of her eyes, the flame of Seras' arm flickered and expanded, a large rifle emerging from its abyssal depths, only to be followed by a second. Grabbing them both, she smirked in a way that was similar to the No-Life King, proving she was indeed Alucard's fledgling. Alex watched in amazement, as each display of vampiric ability never ceased to surprise her. In turn, she too crossed her arms to grab each revolver resting under her arms, removing them from their holsters. Apollo and Artemis gleamed, even on a moonless night. And together, both hunters marched towards the fortress.
The smell of the sea reached their noses, as well as mildew. Entering the structure, the scent only grew stronger. The second they crossed the threshold, an unpleasant chill ran up the trainee's back. Something was completely off about this area. They were definitely in the right place. Seras murmured to Alex to keep an eye out and keep close, to which she nodded in acknowledgement. For the Draculina, this place reeked of death, causing her nose to wrinkle. Alex didn't seem to notice, but she didn't have the heightened senses Seras had. Both walked through the long stone corridors, dimly lit by the bulbs. Every room they passed, Alex would remain in the hall while Seras walked the grid of each space, making sure that the enemy was unable to sneak past either of them.
As Seras checked another room, Alex felt another chill along her spine. Looking down the dark corridor, she waited, eyes unblinking, waiting for any hint of movement. A hand reached up, pressing a button on the side of her eye gear before pulling it down over her eyes. Pre-programmed for her already, the night-vision gave her a very clear view of the hallway. She pressed another button, the digital lens zooming in. No matter the level of scrutiny, nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Finally, she had to blink, but when she did, she was startled by the image of a horrid face upon opening her eyes, making her shriek in surprise.
Seras was there in one second flat as Alex had trained her gun, ready to fire in reaction. But she had blinked again, and the face was gone. "What happened?" she asked, also aiming both rifles.
"It's...it's gone, but I definitely saw a face. It was down there," she explained, her heart racing.
Suddenly she felt like she was in one of those survival-horror games, and just got her first jump-scare. Those genres made her too tense with the anticipation, so she had rarely played them. Even with her fancy goggles, Alex was aware that Seras' vision was far superior to the tech. The Draculina's pupils shrunk, the crimson pools glowing radiantly in the dark. As she concentrated, her mind echoing the distant words of her master. Her mind's eye opened, and her vision seemed to bring her very soul down the corridor and into each room, bringing her to a courtyard of sorts, then a couple of seaside watch bunkers.
So deeply focused on her current task, Seras didn't hear a slight scuffing behind them. Fortunately, Alex had, spinning around just as a pale hand reached for her face. Surprised, she jumped back, catching herself off balance, falling backwards. Training kicking in, she rolled on her back, flipping over her head, raising Artemis and firing as she planted her feet again. The creature moved sideways, the bullet grazing what could have been their arm, eliciting a scream as the blessed properties of her Casull round scalded the flesh.
Seras spun around, yelling out as she aimed a rifle, raising the barrel and squeezing the trigger. Now aware of the danger, the monster ran off, zipping around, dodging the barrage of bullets. Ceasing fire, Seras ran ahead at the same speed, a stream of red trailing behind her. Being human, Alex jogged in comparison, huffing at her slow speed. After a moment of running, she stopped, panting, looking around with her goggles, turning on infrared. She lost them both, making her nervous.
"Great," she muttered. "Just what I need."
Apprehensive, she made her way through the passages, eventually finding herself in a courtyard. The winter air chilled her, cooling the perspiration on her skin. Stepping more into the open, she stepped up onto a stone platform, looking around to find that the courtyard lead into many paths. Was this place built to be a maze? While she stood out here, alone, she found little comfort from the light of the modern bulbs. She briefly wished Alucard was around, but her thoughts were interrupted by a strange sound. Were those footsteps?
"Seras?" she asked. "Is that you?"
Nothing. In fact, the sound seemed more like shuffling. Was it possible that...? As if to answer her internal enquiry, figures emerged from the darkness of each stone doorway. Even in the lack of moonlight, she recognized the rotting visages of ghouls. Eyes widening behind her goggles, she then steeled herself, raising both guns. Though it wasn't much higher than the main ground, the level she stood on was still somewhat higher ground. Maybe if she was lucky, some of them would trip.
"Heart and head. Heart and head," she murmured repeatedly to herself. The only experience with ghouls she had were on the freight ship, and that wasn't much. Slowly, it became clear to her that there was a surprising amount of ghouls emerging. "What? Jesus, how many of you are there?"
Knowing she was outnumbered, Alex knew she would have to widen the gap between herself and the ghouls. Just to dwindle the numbers, she pulled back the hammers on the twins and fired both simultaneously. One bullet obliterated a head, and the other shot through the heart of one, and into another's shoulder. Two out of three wasn't bad, she decided. Still, the odds were against her. If only they lined up. Blinking, she grinned with an idea before looking for an opening in the crowd, which was increasingly closing in on her by the second. Her eyes narrowed on a door farthest to the left.
Holstering Artemis, she cocked Apollo, running towards the less choked route, shooting a couple of ghouls out of her way, reentering the corridor. Turning left, she followed the hall, descending a flight of stairs. She could hear the ghouls behind her, groaning and funnelling down the stairwell. Turning around, she raised the firearm, breathing in slowly. After she exhaled, she squeezed the trigger, firing up the stairs, once, twice, then a third time. Sounds that were akin to screams echoed, overshadowed by the sound of Alex snapping her gun open to let the empty rounds fall to the ground, clinking like tiny bells. Opening a pouch hanging on her belt behind her, she took out a quick reloader, loading the gun's chambers anew, and snapping it closed again.
More came, and she raised Apollo once more, pulling on the hammer again. When she was about to fire again, within an instant, a couple of ghouls tore through the others, screaming like rabid animals as opposed to the other moaning, groaning, zombies. Startled that the situation suddenly escalated as they came barrelling down the stairs, she followed her first instinct, and ran.
"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!" she cursed aloud to no one, panic setting in. She refused to look back. If she did, she might trip and fall on her face, followed by a course of becoming a happy meal for those freaks. "Seras! A little help!" she called out, hoping the Captain heard her.
Seeing a door up ahead, she mentally cheered, also praying that it wasn't locked. She increased her speed as much as she was able, practically tackling the door, and nearly bouncing off from the momentum. She cried in disbelief, cursing again as she attempted to pull it open. As a sound reached her ears, she ducked and dodged out of the way as one of the ghouls ran face first into the steel door. Taking this opportunity, she ground her teeth, pressing a barrel against the creature's skull and firing.
As the first fell to the ground, turning to ash, Alex was tackled and pinned to the corner by the other, causing her to drop her gun. It snapped its jaws at her while she struggled to keep it away from biting her and turning her into one of its kind. For a zombie, it was so much stronger than her, and she found herself feeling desperate. While this went on, her eyes glanced behind the creature, seeing the horde of ghouls also approaching, her eyes widening. If she didn't deal with this ghoul soon, she was going to become a feast for these things.
She turned her attention to her immediate problem, hissing through her clenched teeth, "You're beginning to piss me off!"
Using the ghoul's strength to keep her up, she lifted both of her legs, planting one boot on its chest and the other in the crook of its arm. Having more reliable strength in her legs, she pushed, gradually widening the space between them. One hand kept the other arm away as she used a free hand to reach for her other gun, pulling it out. With a resounding scream, she pressed the barrel between its eyes and fired. As it fell back from the force, with nothing holding her against the wall anymore, she fell painfully to the floor on her rear, making her yelp.
"Ow," she groaned, forcing herself to stand.
She stared at the approaching group, then glanced towards her firearm lying on the ground. Bending down to pick it up, she raised both twins, her steely gaze locked on the enemy, ready to fire again. Before she could squeeze either trigger, a sickening sound was heard from the back of the crowd, and Alex could see large sprays of blood paint the walls, floor, and ceiling. Some of the ghouls turned their attention away from Alex and headed back the way they came. A streak of bright red zipped across the horde like a demonic blade, and Alex briefly saw a flash of blonde, giving her a sense of relief.
Seras Victoria stopped moving at high speed, gliding across the air and landing in between Alex and the lesser creatures, grinning with typical vampire smugness. With a yell, she trained her sights on the enemy and fired, flashes of light zipping through the air as bullets ripped through rotten flesh and tore the undead asunder. After a minute of this, Seras stopped, eyeing at what was left, which was nothing more than blood and ash.
"Where the hell did you go?!" Alex demanded. "About time you showed up!"
The Draculina turned to the other girl and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. Hope it wasn't too rough for you."
Alex made that epic frown, but sighed. "Well, it's over. What happened to the vampire?"
Now it was Seras' turn to frown. "I lost them. This place is like a maze."
"You're telling me. I'm all turned around in this place. I went into this courtyard, and then those bastards started filing out before following me down here! A couple of them were runners, too! I totally underestimated their strength," Alex explained, shoulders slumping.
"Well, they may be failed vampires, but they were still made by one. What's that door there?" she asked, pointing to it.
Alex turned around. "I don't know, but I was trying to get through in hopes that it'd make a decent barricade against those rabid ghouls. Unfortunately, it's locked from the inside."
"Hmm," was all Seras said as she approached, placing a hand on the door, then rapping her knuckles on it. "Pretty sturdy against a human, but it's not a problem for me."
"Oh sure, rub your amazing vampire abilities in my face," Alex replied dryly.
Seras only chuckled before rearing back her blackened fist, grinning toothily. Flying a punch forward, the force of it nearly shook the area as it dented the door, and blasted it off its hinges and into an opposing wall within a dark room. Exercising caution, Seras stepped in first, looking around the room. As Alex stepped inside, she noted that the ground was not made of stone, moist dirt slightly disturbed under her boots. There were no windows either.
"This has to be where they sleep," she commented, Seras nodding in agreement. "Explains why the door was locked."
Adjusting the goggles, brown pools peered through a filter of bright green. Both girls' gazes were soon drawn to a corner on their left. On the ground, many soiled blankets were laid out, as well as an assortment of toys. A chill settled deep into the brunette's soul, as she came to a very disturbing realization. The vampire who assailed Cheddar had not only been indiscriminate in his killings, but bore a different kind of vampire in his carelessness.
Seras, it seemed, had come to the same realization, her tone low with age-old resentment, and a deep sadness, "It's a child." As a former police officer, all the puzzle pieces seemed to come together to form the picture, the vampiress casually walking over to the child's makeshift nest. "That priest must not have realized he didn't finish the job, somehow surviving his attack. I can only imagine what they went through once they awoke as a vampire." She crouched, picking up a teddy bear that had seen better days. "All vampires I've encountered were no less than young adults. Typically a little older. You've seen what their mentality is like in general."
Alex nodded, her expression grim. "What must becoming a vampire be like for a kid? Especially one who's alone? Being unable to age, what would that do to a kid's mind over time?" It was here that she felt a different kind of chill, only this was familiar, and oddly comforting. As she looked up over her shoulder, she spotted the pair of crimson pools that belonged to only one. "Alucard?"
The vampire lord regarded the nest Seras was knelt before. "To turn a child is nothing short of taboo amongst our kind. Full grown adults have trouble with the transition, even with tempered mentalities. Youth and innocence do not serve as preventative barriers to damnation. Only strength of will, and perhaps a guiding hand, can help one overcome such instincts to kill and feed."
The blonde couldn't help it, she shed tears, the liquid even cooler against her cold cheeks. She turned to her master. "Surely we can help them! Maybe if we..."
Alucard cut in sharply, "And what? Take them home after they have already killed so many humans?" Seras withered a bit, and he softened his tone, but was no less firm, "No, by now, they are too far gone. Every vampire struggles with that insatiable thirst. Imagine what that might be like for a child. Children hardly have any self control to begin with."
"You...can't expect me to kill a kid," Alex said, her tone more questioning than stating. Alucard turned to her, his expression impassive. The girl suddenly felt ill. Removing her goggles, she wandered to a wall, leaning against the cool stone with her forehead. "I can't..." she said weakly. "Despite what they did, there's no way I can do that."
Understanding how she felt, Seras stood, her tears having dried by now, her hand soon on her fellow huntress' shoulder. "I get it, I do, but Master is right. If we can't rehabilitate them, then we have to end them. I learned a long time ago that killing them is a mercy."
"A mercy?" Alex turned to the blonde, bemused. "Are you kidding me? There's no freaking way I can strike down a kid who literally can't help their own nature. That's like...putting down a dog that was only trying to defend itself, or in this case, trying to survive. Look at the numbers, Seras! This increase of killings have only been happening recently, right? Maybe it's only now that they've snapped! Yes, what they're doing is wrong, but can we really be talking about killing a child?!"
"Alexandra."
"What?!" she snapped, turning to Alucard, anger flaring violently in her dark eyes. Before she could comprehend what he was doing, his gloved hand was already cradling the side of her head. "What?" she repeated more softly, surprised by the unexpected gesture.
Kneeling down on one knee to be more level with her, Alucard locked his gaze with hers. "If your life is threatened in the face of your conviction, will you still stand by it?" At his question, Alex found herself digressing at a depressing rate. "There will come a time when you will have to decide the lesser of two evils."
Watching her expression turn into one of misery, Alucard's supposed apathy for the situation dissolved somewhat, disliking the look on her face. While this was Alexandra's assignment, he would not have such a dire decision placed on her this night. One day though, he may not be able to shield her from such. Alexandra seemed to understand this, for she lowered her head in reluctant and uncertain acceptance.
"They're clearly not in this room," Seras cut in, raising her rifles, a resolute look in her eyes now. "I sense they're still on the fort grounds though."
"Indeed." Alucard stood to his full height, leaning against the wall, replacing his wide-rimmed hat before crossing his arms.
Alex stared at his form, barely able to make out his form in the dark, her eyes having adjusted somewhat. His position reminded her that this was her's and Seras' assignment. It was like a test to see if she truly had what it took to be a vampire hunter, at least in a professional setting, as opposed to the desperate ones she had constantly found herself in. Those times, she had been accompanied by Alucard and Van. While the former was still here, he was meant to observe her, and if necessary, step in, but Seras was here too. However, it felt as though Alex had already failed, refusing the idea of slaying a child, vampire or not.
"Let's go," Alex announced, replacing her goggles before brandishing one of the twins.
The two ladies walked out, leaving behind Alucard in the room, shutting the door behind them. In the dark, their footsteps echoed softly, the only other sound the dripping of ghoul blood and entrails littered about the hallway. The dark was oppressing, and Alex could feel her heart rate picking up from the anticipation. It was too quiet. The only reassurance she had was Seras' presence beside her, allowing her to remain calm. Mostly.
The night vision function of her optical tool did little to help her differentiate between the bodies. It was still better than switching to infrared, for she doubted heat signatures would differ much between a vampire and the corpses on the ground. The human briefly glanced at the vampire next to her, envying the blonde's superior vision for but a moment. It made her contemplate what it would have been like to be a vampire. The idea made her frown, as she recalled in some cases, such an enduring existence was...torturous. Not that it mattered much in her case, for she wasn't a virgin anyway. Oh well, maybe in the next life.
"I can hear you thinking," Seras told her softly, a tone of a smile in her voice.
"Is that necessarily a bad thing?"
"Depends on the track."
"You can't read minds?"
"Hm, no. I'm just saying it's better to keep your mind on the moment. We are in the middle of a hunt."
"Right. Right..." Alex murmured sheepishly, admittedly feeling foolish for letting herself get distracted.
The pair reached the courtyard, and though there was no moon to light the area, Alex removed her goggles, letting them dangle around her neck, eyes adjusting to the minimal lighting provided by the industrial bulbs. They stepped around the bodies of those Alex had shot before, moving to the centre. The fact that it was too quiet had crossed their minds once more, and all Alex could do was have her gaze sweep across the area, trying to determine where the vampire might have run off to.
"Where did you lose them after we got separated?" Alex asked. "That might be the best place to start."
"This way."
One hunter followed after another, the pair increasing their pace. Seras felt a little more anxious than usual, but not because she was afraid. The blonde wasn't sure what to think of another vampire being turned the same night as her, though by different sires. That night seemed so long ago now. What was she to do against a child? Despite what she told Alex, Seras felt no conviction in her own words, knowing the other huntress wasn't entirely convinced either. Maybe they could rehabilitate the vampire. Surely Sir Integra could be convinced. After all, she had employed two—three if one counted Mr. Drake—vampires. Why not adopt another?
During their trek through the corridors and barracks, a strange weeping echo reverberated off the walls. Alex had heard a similar sound in movies, but the reality was far more chilling to behold. Swallowing past a hard lump, Alex pulled back the hammers on the twins. Was the crying a ploy? No doubt the child was scared. Perhaps they had really been seeking help with all those people, before their nature got the better of them, enslaved by their thirst. The young woman frowned at the thought. It was saddening to be driven mad by your own instinct.
Seras stopped suddenly, her eyes glowing more brightly. Before Alex could even ask her, the vampiress took a different turn, the brunette struggling to keep pace. One long corridor after another, they were soon upon heavy-set wooden doors with iron trappings. The handles secured by chains and multiple locks, a sign above the doors stating No Entry Permitted. The vampire smirked in a way that reminded Alex once again who her sire was, before grabbing the chain and yanking on them forcibly. The handles broke off before the chains or locks ever gave in, loud metallic clattering echoing through the air, making the brunette wince from the sharp sound.
"The curator or caretaker is gonna be pissed," she muttered.
Seras grinned somewhat sheepishly. "I guess I might've overdone it."
Shaking her head, Alex stepped in ahead of Seras, the girls looking around the space. It looked as though it could have been been anything. A mess hall, an armoury, a chapel, and so on. The hall was spacious, the main aisle lined by tall stone columns. At the other end of the room, very small windows were placed high upon the wall, letting very little natural light in. Eyes turned to the sides of the rooms, consisting of mostly old wooden crates. Alex would walked up to one, finding that its top wasn't nailed down like most, lifting the lid to find old melee weaponry bedded in hay. Seras would lift another, finding the same.
"No wonder it was locked off from public view. I don't think people picking up a morning-star or axe to play around with would end a tour well," Alex commented aloud. "Then again, in their position, I think even I would be tempted to around a mace."
Seras chuckled. "I guess we all have that little barbarian inside."
Alex grinned, but the expression sobered immediately as she dryly responded, "A bit ironic that the one we're after drinks from their enemies, sans the skull."
Why do I get the feeling Master would have enjoyed that comment? Seras could have sworn she felt amusement through her fledgling bond with Alucard. "I sensed...something from in here."
"Past tense? Did they move on?"
Before Seras could answer, a shrill shriek filled the air, and the vampiress spun towards Alex, catching sight of a shadow behind her companion! Gritting her teeth, she launched forward with the force of her legs. Alex, being human, wasn't able to react in tandem with Seras, so the older huntress barely had time to flash behind the creature, her left arm turning into a black and red blaze, swinging the appendage with such force, that the attacker was sent crashing through many crates. The impact caused a brief gust of air, stirring up dirt and dust.
"What the fuck?!" Alex cried before coughing a little.
"Are you alright?" Seras asked her immediately.
"Yeah."
The blonde sighed in relief. Had Seras been slower, it was likely the enemy vampire would have latched their jaws onto Alex's neck and torn it out. That was a scenario no one wanted. "Keep your guard up," she reminded the brunette. "This one seems to know how to hide its presence."
As Alex nodded, an unfamiliar voice filled the air, resonating off the masonry, "So you've finally come to kill me at last. It only took you thirty years."
Alex frowned. The voice sounded...mature. Adult. Weren't they after a child? Near the back of the spacious area, a short figure with long white hair and a white dress stood, their eyes overshadowed by their hair fringe. Both hunters were startled by child's appearance. They looked like a porcelain doll, excluding the Mary-Jane's, bonnet, and frilly overcoat. The little girl before them raised her head, revealing dull gold eyes. The eyes bothered Alex most. They looked too...mature to belong to a child. The gaze the young girl directed at them was something the brunette found oddly familiar. Something she had seen from one other when not hidden behind a facade.
"That hurt," the girl said in such a casual tone, as though she had been discussing the weather.
Seras sent the other vampire a wry smile. "I do apologize, but I'm afraid this human is off limits."
They scoffed. "So it would appear. I can gather you two are here to kill me, since I've been feeding off the locals."
"Maybe we can help you," Alex tried to offer. "If you come quietly with us, you can live comfortably and without fear."
"Help...me?" The girl was rather incredulous of the brunette's offer. After a moment, she began to laugh, her mirth turning maniacal. "What could a human possibly offer to something like me?!"
"What's your name?" Seras asked gently.
Looking back at the other vampire, she seemed to be appraising the blonde. "Helena. You're...familiar to me."
Taking that as a good sign, Seras took one step forward, her guns disappearing into the abyss of herself. "Thirty years ago, you were accidentally turned into a vampire by a priest, weren't you? You're from Cheddar."
Helena's eyes widened a margin. "How could you possibly know that?"
"Because I was there that night," she explained, a hand over her chest, right where she had been shot through. "I was sent in with other police officers, and everyone died, but they didn't stay dead. I thought I would die too, and in a way I did. I was saved by a man who became my master." The blonde's frown deepened, brows furrowing together as she expressed empathy for the young girl. "You must have seen your parents turn into monsters, only to perish again right before your eyes."
Knowing Seras' past, Alex could put two and two together. Had the girl revived to see her family turn into ghouls, it was likely Helena saw them turn to dust after Alucard had slain the head vampire. Thinking more on it, she couldn't help comparing the situation to Van's. What happens to a fledgling's state of mind when their vampiric link to their sire is suddenly severed, without having been freed from their servitude in the first place? She wondered if Van thought about that at times. It was clear how much he hated Laura, but if he were to kill her without consuming her blood, how would that affect him in the long run? Ghouls followed their master into death, but vampire fledglings would still remain.
Helena was quiet for a moment, as though lost in her own past. "Every time I sleep, I relive that horrifying night."
Seras' face softened. "I know."
That had apparently been the wrong thing to say, for Helena's gaze sharpened. "How could you know?! Unlike you, I had no one after that night! I do remember you. I awoke as a vampire and searched for my family, only to watch them, and my sire, be slain by the man in red. That same man shot you! I saw! And you willingly went with him?!" Her eyes turned red, her fangs lengthening as her pale hair flowed menacingly behind her like a halo of snakes. "I live as this disgusting creature, living off the blood of innocent people, and you stand there, claiming to know what I've endured?! How dare you?!"
"Seras," Alex called out with slight apprehension.
The huntress ground her teeth. "Please Helena! We can put an end to the struggle! You can live peacefully!"
The girl laughed derisively. "For someone who's physically older than I, you're not all there, are you? I may be trapped in a child's body, but I have consumed the blood of adults, maturing my mind. I can tell that you've hardly drunk fresh blood. You drink whatever to maintain your strength, but transfusions are nothing compared to drinking directly from the source!" The child smiled menacingly, baring her teeth. "I refuse to be taken lightly by a pampered vampire!"
The brunette beside Seras tightened her grip on her revolvers, hardening her features. "Don't you hear yourself?! If you can't be reasoned with, we'll have no choice!" The misery returned to Alex's face. "Please...don't make us do this!"
Regarding the young woman, Helena's gaze only narrowed. "Life isn't fair, and yours is forfeit."
In a flash, the little girl was gone, but this time, Alex anticipated the attack, spinning around as Helena reappeared behind her. As a shot was fired, Helena had moved from the spot she was just in, barely dodging the blow. Regardless, the vampire was quick to retaliate, swiping at the girl, but Seras was quicker, her shadow stretching out to serve as a shield for the amateur huntress. The young Draculina hissed, jumping away onto a wall, and then launching forward again.
Artemis was raised to intercept the attacking vampire, but no shot rang out. Alex knew she had a shot to take her down, but the huntress hesitated. When all was said and done, she could not pull the trigger. The first time had only been reflex on her part. Gritting her teeth, she simply rolled out of the way at the last second. The two vampires clashed, but as Alex got to her feet, it was clear that Seras was superior in power and technique. When Helena gave chase, Seras simply leaped away. When the girl attacked, the other would use her darkness to block the attacks. Eventually, the physically elder vampire grew to have enough of this cat and mouse, her blackened arm backhanding the child into more crates.
The pale child emerged from the wreckage, perhaps a little bruised and definitely irritated. "I'll kill you!" she declared, almost reverting to a childish tone. "I will not be put down so easily!" Knowing she had no chance against the more experienced Draculina, Helena set her sights on Alex.
Realizing this, Alex blinked then gulped. "Um, I think we've made her mad!" A menacing aura began to surround the child, Alex taking a cautious step back as Helena stepped forward. "Shit..."
A loud bang rang out, and everything went silent. Both girls stared in shock as the child before them was now down an arm. Helena didn't register the loss at first, her eyes merely wide in surprise from the sudden noise. As the side of her dress grew more soaked, she finally looked down, noticing the blood. Reaching over with a shaking hand, she tried to put a stopper on the flow, her face gradually twisting into pain as she collapsed to her knees on the floor. Then came the tears, and the sobbing, the thirty-some-odd year old vampire reverting back to how a child would react to finding their pet dead. The huntresses stared at each other in question, neither of them having fired a shot. The echo of footsteps reaching their ears. Scarlet and brown pools turned to find Alucard entering the room, his Casull gun hanging at his side, smoking from the recent discharge.
"Master?"
Under his large hat, he sent his fledgling a look from behind his amber shades. "You two were taking far too long for a single inexperienced vampire," he reprimanded lightly. "Did I not say that this creature could not be saved?"
His servant hunched her shoulders, lowering her gaze, but Alex ignored the feeling of being scolded, instead focusing on the crying little girl. "Do you not see that, Alucard? Mentally, she may be older, but she's still trapped in the body of a child! Have you no sympathy for what's happened to her?!"
The vampire lord regarded the child, his expression impassive. "Given the chance, she would kill you."
Alex actually growled. "God damn your stupid shoot-first mentality!"
He sighed with a rare show of mild exasperation, removing his glasses. "Alexandra, had you continued to hesitate in the face of innocence, you would be snuffed out and turned into a ghoul. That is something I will not allow."
The brunette was taken aback, not by the truth of his statement, but of his declaration, reminding her what she was to the old vampire. Something bubbled dangerously close to the surface, and it took a great deal of restraint to keep herself from saying what she was burning to voice aloud. Alex badly wanted to remind Alucard that she was not Katarina, but this wasn't the time nor place. That wasn't the main issue right now.
Reigning in her anger, she began to tell him, slowly and calm, hoping to make her case, "I am well aware of the danger, Alucard. I'm saying we should at least, particularly in this case, try alternative methods than outright killing the target. Look at her, Alucard. Thirty years old or not, she is still a kid."
While Alucard would normally never bother with empathizing with the enemy, he decided to indulge Alexandra, turning his head to stare at the young Draculina. The creature sobbed pitifully, grasping their wound, an aura of fear and sadness permeating the air. To the untrained eye, she really did look like a child, basking in hopelessness. Rather than say anything, he approached the vampire, and both Seras and Alex tensed, thinking he was about to finish Helena off.
The child's weeping had quieted somewhat, her form tensing from his approach. When the footsteps stopped, she opened her eyes, looking up. Eyes widening in recognition, she breathed out, "It's you... You killed the one who turned me." Alucard was silent, staring down at her as her own face softened with wistfulness. "I remember being...happy. Listening to my father's vinyls on the old gramophone, reading all sorts of books with my mum." Her head lowered. "I'm so tired... And I miss them. I didn't choose this...half-life. I loathe to behave like the very monster who did this to me, but I can't stop. I tried to resist for so long, and it's getting worse. I even kept everyone I...killed. I thought, even as mindless creatures, their company would stave off this void in my heart."
Alucard knelt, arm resting on his propped knee. "Your thirst is becoming unquenchable. You were turned, but then your master was killed, leaving you alone to fend for yourself. As you did not drink the blood of your master, that bond was never properly severed, and the effects are making themselves known. Feral madness will consume you, as well as a thirst you can never satisfy." Waiting a beat, he then added, "That is the fate that awaits you."
Helena was silent, eyes shielded by the fringe of her hair. During Alucard's explanation, it finally donned on Alex why he was firm in his belief that this vampire could not be saved, nor spared. All this time, she assumed that he simply didn't care. Well, maybe he didn't, but he was being logical based on experience, while she was preaching compassion. Based on Seras' focused expression, she could gather that this was news to her as well. Alex's thoughts turned to Van then. Did he know this?
The Draculina's voice interrupted the huntress' thoughts, "Can you free me of this fate?"
"Yes."
"Then please, do what you must. I'm tired..." Her gaze turned to the other two, weariness having set in her golden gaze. "Thank you, and I'm sorry. For everything."
A hand cradled the back of the child's head, the hunter tilting her gently. For a brief moment, Alucard glanced over his shoulder, half expecting Alexandra to protest again, but she was silent, even if she exuded a bit of apprehension. Good, then she finally understood. The little girl closed her eyes just as Alucard opened his jaw wide, latching onto her throat. She did not make a sound, and the blood flowing from her wound slowed to nothing within moments. Seras could hear the beat of the child's heart slow, then stop. The girl's remaining hand fell, limp against the floor.
Brown pools remain fixed on the scene before them. This was a mercy, Alex would tell herself, inwardly chanting it inside her head. While this was better than cold execution, she didn't have it in her to like this any better. Perhaps it was because she was human that she felt this way. Maybe it was ingrained in her to want to put a stop to needless death. There had already been so much of it lately, but her mouth remained shut. Helena wanted this. Alex would not disrespect that. And Helena's body turned to ash as the first rays of the sun shone through the tiny windows.
Friday Mid-Morning, February 13 2032, Outside of Bleadon Village...
Seras had remained behind to clean up the any evidence, while Alucard returned to the bed and breakfast with Alex, packing in silence. The blonde returned, having already arranged for a ride back to London. Now in the back of another truck, Alex had the freedom to think in the time it would take to get back. Alucard was back in the form of a teen girl, and both huntresses didn't really want to look at him when he appeared that way, reminding them of Helena. He didn't comment on it, instead resting his eyes.
Halfway through the ride, Alex grew tired of the silence. "Why didn't you say that before?" she asked, still not looking at him.
Despite that, Alucard knew the question was directed at him, his eyes remaining shut, his voice his normal baritone, "Say what?"
"Why she couldn't be saved, and please don't say, 'because you didn't ask.'" She was not in the mood for any of his smart-assery.
This time, his eyes did open, the intensity of their glow barely glaring through his dark shades. "Would that really have changed your opinion on the situation?" She didn't answer. "This was your first official case. It was not my place to provide all the information. As a hunter, you're required to make judgement calls. And you did make the call. You gave her the choice."
Blinking, Alex turned to Alucard. "What? How did I do that?"
"We all make choices, Alexandra. Good, bad, or in between. It doesn't matter. You chose to be compassionate based on the information presented to you. You could have simply listened to what I told you, but instead, you followed a different path. I for one would have simply have ended her and been done with it, but that's not your way."
The girl blinked, turning to Seras, who had started to listen to the discussion. "I can't tell if I've just been commended or not." Seras smiled, but said nothing. Well, you're no help, Alex thought.
"It's more of an observation," Alucard eventually provided. "My Master may not entirely agree with your stance, but the case is resolved either way. That will be enough to satisfy her."
The tension eased slightly from Alex's body. While Alucard had been...neutral, it had helped her feel more at peace with the end result. A couple of things still rattled about in her thoughts though. "I'm sorry."
One of those rare instances occurred, where Alucard was actually left puzzled, the vampire blinking. "For what?"
She hesitated. "For a couple of choice things I wanted to say, but didn't."
Alucard stayed quiet, but had a feeling what she spoke of. He had felt her emotions with such clarity at the time. Even now, she still had those feelings, but were mild at the moment. However, she clearly did not want to linger on that subject with Seras in close proximity. Inwardly, the ancient sighed. That was a discussion they would need to share later in private.
"Does Van know?" she asked suddenly, "About what will happen to him if he kills Laura without drinking her blood?"
The mood darkened considerably, and even Alucard was reluctant to answer her. "...Yes."
A/N: Yes, I reused a character from the old TV show, rather loosely. There's quite a bit of foreshadowing in this and the last chapter. Gawrsh! I can't believe it took me YEARS to finally get back to writing for this story. I have plans for the next chapter, and it's meant to be...dramatic AND fluffy. I'm not shackling myself to a fixed writing schedule, as I only write when most inspired and when the plot bunnies are gnawing on me. Anyway, please follow or bookmark the story if you want to read more of it whenever I get around to posting. I'm still getting notifications years after going on pause, so clearly some people are still enjoying my stuff. I'm out of practise too. I may end up replacing chapters with edits I've done. Doubt they're perfected, but they should be less painful to look at. And in case you haven't already, I posted chapter 42 just before this one, so make sure you've read that. Ta-ta!