Seras stood in front of the tall building on the street corner. Her head tilted back, a hand on her hat to hold it in place, as she stared up at the old architecture curiously. The city of St. Augustine was novelty in itself because, while the people meandered through the streets with their phones and chattered away about the modern aged things people were want to talk about, the city remained the same as always. The buildings were old, built with wood and stone, reaching up the skies proudly. The streets were cobblestone, some bricks still as old as the day they were first laid down nearly five hundred years ago and she could smell the years of dirt and grime accumulated between them. Grand churches and hotels, houses, and shops, decorated each road and corner. It was such a strange contradiction, the people of the future and the city of the past, that Seras found herself utterly transfixed. The air was heavy with centuries of emotions, she could taste it on her tongue, begging to be understood.
"The Casa Monica is one of the most extravagant hotels in St. Augustine," Integra commented from beside her. She too wore a wide brimmed hat to shade her from the sun. She was not adverse to the light but after dealing with vampires for years, staying up well into the night, she had grown rather comfortable with the dark of night. The weather, however, had been on their side that day as the sky was overcast and a brisk breeze blew in through the city from the ocean.
Seras was still feeling a bit woozy from the flight. She was a powerful vampire, but the open ocean still caused her to go a little weak in the knees.
"It looks it," Seras said, eyeing the stone building and the grand carpeting and furniture she could see through the front doors. The place radiated old fashioned aristocracy. "Master would love this place," she said absently.
"I have no doubt," Integra responded irritably and reached for the tin of cigars in her pocket out of habit. She was eager to check in though and pulled her hand back with a sigh. She couldn't help it, the thought of that grinning vampire sent a spark of anger blazing in her heart, he was probably off enjoying an extended vacation and whoring it up with all the woman that would no doubt be throwing themselves at his feet. While she was forced to play the part of a socialite in a city raised into its prime by the Vatican before she had ever been born. The whole place reeked of their culture and blase approach to life.
Seras laughed and lifted their bags excitedly. "Will we get to do some exploring?"
"If you want," Integra said while she followed the blonde woman in through the front doors. "I will admit the city certainly brings out the adventurous side."
Seras smiled at her boss, glad to see that she was so far enjoying the trip, she feared Integra would be a total grouch the entire time. She wouldn't blame her, seeing as how they were attending a city wide party thrown by their rivals, but it would still have been a huge downer. Over the years Integra had grown less strict, for every wrinkle she earned she gained a little more humorous sparkle in her eye. It was quite lovely to see, Seras understood what her master had meant when he said growing old was a beautiful thing.
Andrews appeared behind them, adjusting his glasses and sliding the car keys into his pocket, having returned from parking the car within the neighboring four story parking garage. He had walked as fast as he could to catch up to them in time but the only give away was the slight blush to his cheeks which could have easily been caused by the bitter breeze.
"Andrews, why don't you check us in and we'll head up to our suit before dinner," Integra ordered lightly as she took in the high vaulted ceiling and extravagant furniture decorating the concourse. There were several groupings of people milling about, talking quietly and laughing, lounging on the plush leather couches. In the very center an elegant fountain murmured quietly in the background.
"Right away Sir," he responded quietly with a small grin.
He stepped away while the women waited patiently near the entrance, bags now resting on the ground at their feet, and made for the front desk quickly.
Seras felt strange. She had never before traveled without the threat of a vampire attack, or some other random supernatural monster, and the calm atmosphere was new to her. She fidgeted, picking lint from her jacket absently for need of something to do and felt Integra eyeing her with amusement. She was excited to scope out the town, enjoy a new atmosphere, but the longer she stood there the more odd she felt. What was it that was bothering her so? Surely it could not be the lax environment. She had dealt with that often enough back at the estate.
Something just felt off. Like a heaviness in the air. It was starting to suffocate her. But when she turned to see if Integra was feeling the same she found that the woman as looking through her emails on her phone thoughtlessly, clearly not troubled.
She shrugged. She was probably just antsy to get a move on. It wouldn't be the first time she had worked herself up over nothing.
But even as Andrews returned from speaking with the man at the front desk and lifted a few of their bags himself she could not ignore the heavy air that permeated the whole hotel. It was a familiar feeling but she dare not voice her suspicious just then. As silly as it seemed she did not want to ruin Integra's chance at escaping the organization for a little while.
She lifted the rest of their bags while Andrews led the way down a large hall and to a set of stairs. She was lost in her thoughts while the two humans conversed lightly of their plans for that night. Her eyes, hidden behind dark lenses, turned to gaze out the windows as they passed. The place just gave her a strange feeling, she half expected some Victorian dressed people to be hanging out in the courtyard or for a powerful vampire to be hiding in the shadows, stalking them with his familiars, and it would not be her master.
She shook her head and laughed to herself. She really needed to get out more.
And just like that the spell was broken. Whatever cloud that had been hanging over them dispersed and she found herself relaxing.
They found their suit, a giant lavish thing with three rooms and a large sitting area for them all to lounge in. The furniture was all dark wood, the carpet plush and red in color, and a fire place sat against the far wall between a pair of large glass panned doors each opening up onto a balcony. Heavy red drapes fell around the doors and leant the room a dark and cozy feel. It was obvious the hotel, when originally built, had been created for the inherently wealthy only. While the furniture and decor were beautiful they were also very expensive and high class.
Seras and Andrews sighed in contentment, standing in the doorway admiring the room, while Integra marched in and opened one of the glass doors determinedly to smoke a cigar. She cared not for the luxuries and would, quite frankly, sleep in a rat infested hole as long as she could smoke. But Seras and Andrews were enjoying the familiar feel of the room, it was just like the estate back home, and it soothed whatever nerves that might have been frayed over the journey. Seras knew that, had she not spent the last thirty years in the manor, she would have felt horribly out of place and uncomfortable, afraid that she would break or ruin something.
Seras stared at her in disbelief while Andrews simply sighed and moved the bags into the room, brushing his employer's attitude and lack of personal health aside like a gnat. There was a room for each of them and while Andrews had argued that it was improper for him to sleep in the same suit as Integra the woman had waved her hand away and said, "This isn't the nineteenth century, Andrews, I will not have you stay in a smaller room because of some old dusty rule about statuses." And that had been that.
Seras jumped onto one of the large plush couches happily, delighted in its softness, and let out a breath of air. It was nice to get away for a while, even though they were about to treat with the Vatican. The idea hardly bothered her, the Pope was a very kind soul from what she had seen of him in the news, and she was more concerned with learning the history of the town than anything else. There were so many old buildings to explore, ghost stories to hear, and sights to see. She only wished she were still human and she could try the food . . .that didn't stop her from trying the alcohol though. She smiled at the prospects.
"Tomorrow night we will have a private dinner with the Pope, but we are free for tonight, what would you like to do?" Integra said from the balcony, leaning against the railing and looking into the room at Sera, who's head had popped up from over the arm of the couch.
Seras blinked, "Can we go out to eat?" she asked hopefully.
Integra quirked a brow. "I'm assuming you want to visit a nice restaurant for the atmosphere and not actually its menu," she stated blandly.
Seras laughed and pushed herself to her feet, "Yes, I've never had the chance to visit any of those fancy places and even if I can't eat there I'm sure it will still be fun." She did so enjoy people watching as most women were known to. That was something that had not changed about her.
Integra smiled kindly at her and turned her gaze out over the city thoughtfully. From her vantage point the trees covered the streets and the buildings that rose above the canopies were far older than the others in America. One could really imagine they were stuck in the past. She could hear the ocean from one block over, waves crashing against the seawall that stood between the water and the road that ran along it. Both cars and horse drawn carriages traversed this road, visiting landmarks and the handful of restaurants that lined the streets. A cannon fired somewhere in the distance as an actor displayed the uses of the weaponry back in the day to a crowd of excited tourists. If she stood on her toes she could make out the top of a large cross, erected on a small peninsula of land a few miles away; this marked the location where Christianity had first touched the United States. The cacophony of sounds, each seeming to belong to its own century, left her feeling somewhat whimsical.
Seras retreated to her own room, the curtains already set free of the restraints and blocking out what little light managed to seep through the cloud cover. She shut the door behind her, throwing the room into complete darkness, and climbed up onto the queen sized bed tiredly. She intended to sleep before dinner. The long trip over the water and unusual wakeful hours were quickly draining her and while the two humans went about unpacking their things and stowing them away for their stay she would rest. It wasn't like she had much to unpack anyways. She had brought a few articles of clothing and weapons just in case but the majority of what she needed could now be conjured at will thanks to her ever evolving abilities.
She kicked her boots off and pulled the comforter up over her shoulders, snuggling down into the pillows with a tired sigh. It had been a long while since she had slept during the day. While they had been making preparations for the trip she had kicked into overdrive to get everything ready. She had informed her men, gave them a list of chores, and had sped through as much paperwork as possible. She had even helped Andrews around the estate to prepare the rest of the staff for his own absence. She was physically and mentally fried. It was nice to know that she wouldn't have to deal with anything for the next week but what to do with her spare time. It was a strange sensation.
Since she had become a vampire there had been little time to stop and think, little time to absorb what had happened, not even an hour to mourn for her old life. Though it wasn't exactly the best of lives, she had had a few good friends that she had never had the chance to say goodbye to. They probably assumed she had died in the attack on Cheddar . . .she had . . . technically. But she still existed! She still felt human. There were moments when she felt just as human as the day she died! Lasting a few seconds, these moments were flashes of emotions she had begun to forget, such as longing and nostalgia. They were small events, like when she had woken up first thing in the evening and stumbled up stairs and started to make herself toast out of reflex some years back, long after the London Blitz. If something startled her she still lifted a hand to her heart though it had long stopped beating. She would open her eyes wide in the darkness even when her vampiric sight allowed her to see just as clearly as if it were day. And she still found herself using every door and staircase despite her ability to phase and appear wherever she pleased.
Her master was meant to be the one constant in her despairing existence. The one that was supposed to teach her the ways of the night. To explain the emotions she felt and the reasons she was overcome by strange instincts that she did not understand. But she had only had him for a few months at most before his disappeared and she was forced to forge her own path blindly. It was a feeling that she was no unfamiliar with.
Integra was the one she had depended on. She had plenty of experience with vampires and though she was only human she had kept excellent notes for her to read through. It was just enough to give her a basic understanding but Seras wasn't complaining. Anything was better than nothing. Yet she would still rather have her master there to guide her. She had spent endless nights tucked away in the library or Integra's office, anywhere where there was a window she could sit by and read under the moonlight, struggling through nearly a century's worth of knowledge. The majority of the notes were handwritten and accompanied by detailed sketches, she particularly liked the entry on vampire bats as the drawing of the little winged rodent was adorable, but the more recent notes beginning with Integra's father were typed and neat. Lacking in the creativity of the older generations. And she began to understand her master's yearning for the past a little bit more and wished she could share her thoughts with him, but it was not to be. Not yet anyways.
Even as she drifted off she heard his quiet chuckle.
"Something's not right."
"Sir?" Andrews looked over to Integra from where he stood, folding her clothes away into the dresser.
"The air here is foul with death, Seras noticed it too, but I have had no reports of anything from America in years," Integra explained. She stood at the window with a hand over her mouth in deep thought. "The Vatican may have very well of led us into a trap."
Andrews slid the drawer shut and stood, "I doubt the Pope would seek to destroy the Helsing Organization. We will have to investigate the matter. I am sure we will discover something after the dinner tomorrow night."
"Hmm," Integra hummed in response, watching the people on the streets below with a cold eye. They did not walk the streets with fear, there was no hesitation in the flow of night life, nor were there any rumors of vampires floating about. Yet there was such a heavy atmosphere hanging over the city.
Ever since the attack on London the world had changed. At first it had reeled from the attack that had spread across the world, appalled by the existence of monsters, but humanity, as it always did, had quickly stepped up to the challenge. Groups of monster hunters had arisen, ignorant of many of the secrets organizations like Hellsing and the Iscariot had, and stumbled about killing FREAK vampires and other supernatural creatures alike. She had no doubt that America was any different, especially with shows like "The Walking Dead" airing, she was sure they were itching to shoot some bastards themselves. Even she herself had grown bored with the lapse in monstrous activity though she would never admit it.
"Have you decided on a restaurant for tonight?" Andrews asked, interrupting her thoughts briskly.
"You know I never care for that sort of thing," Integra answered flippantly, waving the butler off with a sigh.
Andrews smiled, "Then I shall do some research and make a few calls. The reservation will be made for Eight O'Clock. I am sure that will give our little bat some time to rest up before sunset." He bowed briefly before dismissing himself. He left the room altogether in search of the front desk, intent on asking for recommendations.
Integra watched him leave and then listened to his retreating footsteps down the carpeted staircase before stepping out into the sitting room and making her way over to the large desk set on the other side of the room, facing the windows. Her laptop was already up and running on the dark wood surface. It wouldn't hurt to do a bit of research on the area and while she sat her gaze often drifted over to the phone. There was no real evidence to back up her suspicions and she wrestled with the want to send for her troops. It would seem ridiculous and the men would probably think she was just missing the old days, making mountains out of mole hills, and would show up wearing pitying looks. The thought alone irritated her and she slammed the laptop shut with a huff.
She drummed her fingers against the desk in thought. There really was not much she could do other than to remain vigilant and keep her eyes open. The Pope would be a valuable asset in regards to the secrets of the town. She would gauge whether or not he was trust worthy after the dinner planned tomorrow and then decide on how to proceed with her concerns. Until then she could either sit around driving herself mad with paranoia or she could explore. The thought was a silly one considering her character but she had never before been to Florida let alone St. Augustine. The air was fresher and the people lively and the combination was somewhat invigorating. She would wait until Andrews returned to decide on what to do with the rest of the evening before Seras woke. She did not trust leaving the vampire on her own, asleep, while she went off gallivanting across the city. She didn't need a maid walking in and coming across something with a little more bite than the average family dog.
She reached for the remote and switched the television on, searching for the news. She'd be damned if she just sat around doing nothing. Might as well learn what she could. She would keep her eyes and ears peeled for any suspicious occurrences that would hint at their usual prey.
When Andrews returned, claiming that the deed was done, Integra had only grunted and continued to search through the web. She had spent the past hour scanning websites, reading every ghost story tethered to the old city – hundreds – and was beginning to grow rather irritated with the lack of substantial evidence of vampire activity. The news was playing in the background and the anchorwoman, wearing a particularly disgusting shade of pink, was covering the upcoming events for the city's annual celebration. There would be a wine festival, several marathons, and reenactments to attend and at the very end a grand ball that, surprise surprise, only the richest could attend. It would be held at the Lightner Museum which had originally been a part of the Ponce De Leon Hotel, now Flagler College. The building was across the street and although it was smaller than the college it was no less extravagant. In its very center on the third floor a ball room was built with a square cut out of the center to look down over the first floor where a pool used to be but had since been filled in and turned into a restaurant. It was a curious set up and would no doubt prove an excellent arrangement.
Andrews straightened the pillows on the couch before retreating to his room only to return moments later and examine the bookshelves against the far wall.
But Integra did not care about the ball. She had not even bothered to purchase a dress before flying over, and she had not brought any make up or hair products to beautify herself. No. She cared about the strange aura that hung over St. Augustine and why its people seemed so oblivious to it.
Seras on the other hand had gone ballistic at the idea of a formal dance. She had grown up in an orphanage, gone to public school, and joined the police force immediately afterwards. She had been raised amongst commoners all her life and had never had the chance to partake in such extravagances. Even within the Hellsing Organization she had experienced more of the noble lifestyle than she could have ever hoped for. When Integra had absently let it slip that they would have to attend the draculina had literally bounced off the walls with excitement and had gone in search of the perfect gown. Integra hadn't seen the dress she had decided on, Seras had announced that it would be a surprise and had said no more on the subject, Integra had not dogged her for more information, deciding that she did not truly care enough to. She was sure the girl would wear something appropriate and that was all that mattered to her.
Andrews stood by the windows now, running his gloved finger over the wooden frames for the glass pans carefully.
Integra dropped her eyes down to the right corner of her laptop, noting that it was only seven and Seras had yet to rise from her cat nap, before glancing up at Andrews who had taken to refolding towels in the small linen closet between his and Seras's door.
"Andrews!" she snapped.
The butler paused and looked over his shoulder at her with a curious, "Sir?"
"Quite fidgeting, the room is in perfect order, neither I nor Seras require anything at the moment, so sit down and relax for the next hour!" She watched as the man fiddled with his fingers before awkwardly making his way over to the couch and obediently sat down. He seemed rather lost without a task to do. "Why don't you clean and organize your weapons, isn't that what you usually do on your off time?"
"I left them in the trunk of the car, sir," he answered somewhat dully and placed his hands in his lap. It was true. Whenever he had finished his chores for the day the ex MI-6 agent would see to it that his weapons were taken care of, even if they had not been used that day. The few brief years he had spent with the agency between his graduation and employment with Hellsing had been filled with much action and strict training that had instilled an ingrained habit of checking and rechecking his hidden trove of guns and blades throughout the day. The reason he was feeling so restless was no doubt due to the lack of said weapons but he had forgone bringing them up to the room in favor of not causing a scene in the hotel.
Integra's response was cut short when Seras stepped out from her room, stifling a yawn, and glanced between the two curiously. "What are you two on about?" she mumbled. She had pulled on a pair of jeans, a loose fitting black long sleeved top, and a pair of short heeled boots just after waking. It had been Integra's voice that had woken her but she wasn't irritated by it, she hated napping as it was. She suspected it was a trait from her old life that caused her to feel anxious whenever she woke from one, as if she were wasting time, but one quickly learns that when you become a vampire time is of little consequence. You had all the time you needed if you were careful enough. She was no fool though, she knew there was no such thing as true immortality, her master had made sure of that. He had made sure of a lot of things. But nothing she could really use later when he was gone.
"Did you sleep well?" Andrews asked pleasantly from his seat on the couch, glad that he could have someone to dote on.
Seras smiled, "I did, thanks."
"Now that you're up we can make our way to the restaurant," Integra said as she stood and pushed herself away from the desk.
Seras perked up as the woman retreated to her own room to change into something more appropriate for a casual dinner than her rather stern and masculine suit. Just as she was closing the door behind she called back to Andrews, "Put on some jeans!"
Seras turned back to face the butler in time to see him wilt under the command. She chuckled as he made his way over to his own room. The man was just too professional for his own good. Now that she thought about it she could not recall ever seeing him without a pair of gloves and a suit jacket. Well, expect for that one time. She had accidentally stumbled into his room once during his off time and it had probably been the most awkward moment in her existence. Their had been an unvoiced pact never to speak of the event again.
Seras took the time to stare out the window down at the streets, filled with excited people, and smiled. She may not ever enjoy the sunlight like she used to but sometimes the night life could be just as good. She recalled the times she had been out an about with a few rare friends, getting into all kinds of trouble, and it was fun just because it was night. It was dark and mysterious and they should have been home in bed, doing homework, and preparing for the next day. That had been a long time ago.
"Alright," Integra said as she closed her bedroom door behind her, now dressed in a pair of black slacks and a more feminine white blouse. It was as close as the woman was going to get to a more girly attire, Seras knew, and so she only shook her head.
Andrews came out of his own room in a pair of jeans and a button up black dress shirt and dress shoes.
That was also the closest he would get to casual.
Seras rolled her eyes and allowed the off the job butler to lead the way out of the room. The two women followed behind him while they descended the stairs and stepped out into the crisp night air. All around them the sounds of the night life murmured, soft live music and chatter, was occasionally broken by a loud laugh or round of applause. Seras could hear several TV's blaring sports games, the droning of well taken care of vehicles, and the rolling waves of the ocean not far from them. The Casa Monica was one block away from the water front and while the humans couldn't see it as it was blocked by the Castillo De San Marcos, the fortress built centuries back that now acted as a tourist attraction and museum, she could both smell it and hear it clear as day.
"The restaurant we will be dinning at is called Pete's Alley," Andrews informed as they walked, playing the tour guide despite never having been there himself. He was doing a rather good job at it though, he seemed right at home on those streets, but then again, he seemed right at home no matter where he was. He reminded the women of Walter in that aspect, it was just something in the way he carried himself, maybe it was a requirement of all good butlers? Seras resisted the urge to giggle.
"Pete's Alley?" Integra questioned dubiously.
"Yes, it is a rather unique establishment. It spans one block with an alley in between. One side is dedicated to quick service pizza and the other is a high class Italian restaurant. It is very popular among celebrities," he explained cheerfully. "I took the liberty of investigating it myself and I have no doubt that it will be to your liking Sir Integra."
"I'm sure," Integra responded dryly. She highly doubted any restaurant that served pizza could be considered high class, at least not that she had ever been exposed to, but Andrews had rarely failed her in the past so she gave him the benefit of the doubt and said no more.
Seras ogled every store front and shop they passed, mesmerized by the elegant and unique clothing's and jewelries displayed in their windows. It took all she had not to physically press her nose against the glass in wonder while the other two glided through the streets like posh natives.
"If I were still alive I would buy you all the jewels in the world, Mon Cher," Pip voiced in her mind.
"I highly doubt you would have had enough money to do such a thing," Seras responded dryly, "But I guess it's the thought that counts."
"You wound me!" Pip cried.
She could picture him holding a hand to his chest as if to steady his long dead heart. She rolled her eyes with a smile and pushed away from the window that displayed a rather elegant ring that had caught her eye. Integra and Andrews had walked on ahead of her and she could just barely make out the tops of their heads through the crowd. They had taken a side street that lead onto the main road of the original town. It was small and paved over with cement, the entrances to the street itself had been blocked off so only those traveling on foot could traverse the small street that was layered with shops and old time houses. Even though the sun had sunken beneath the horizon there was still much activity. As their small group moved on towards their destination they passed many a magician, pirate, or Victorian dressed woman.
"There are several bars and restaurants with themes such as those that are meant to draw tourists in," Andrews explained, pointing to an old time tavern with several people dressed in medieval garb standing out front and ushering people inside.
"How cool!" Seras chirped. She had never before had the opportunity to partake in any kind of dressing up except for a few Halloweens.
"I am sure you will enjoy many of the reenactments over the next week then," Andrews said with a chuckle.
They stopped in front of a small restaurant and sure enough a sign hung over the door that read "Pete's Alley" in a curious font. The building itself was brick and several stories tall, but it was very thin, and squished between two other buildings. The building to the left was sadly vacant but the old decrepit atmosphere fit right in with the ancient historical aura of St. Augustine. To the right was a small boutique.
Andrews moved to open the door for them and bowed as they passed by, Integra leading the way with straight shoulders and a no nonsense expression while Seras followed behind excitedly. True to his word, the front of the building was nothing but a small pizza parlor lined with booths on one side of the wall while the other side was a long padded bench with various tables placed in front of it for extra seating in the small clustered room.
Andrews marched ahead and lead them past the counter to a small door in the back of the room that opened into a laughably long and thin hallway. This was the 'Alley' that Pete was talking about Seras realized. The floor was old ornate tile and the hallway was lit by old fashioned mounted lamps that gave off a calming yellow glow. They traversed the alley in orderly fashion while Seras craned her neck to and fro, taking in the painting on the walls and the kitchen itself as they passed. There were several people working within the steamy room and she only got a glance before Andrews ushered her on in amusement.
Seras lagged a bit despite his prodding however, when the iron sent of blood reached her nose, her ears immediately perked in a strangely animalistic way. She would have assumed that it was blood from some kind of meat or someone had pricked a finger as was common in the kitchen, but the overwhelming wave that hit her was far too powerful for just a small finger prick.
"Seras!" Integra snapped from down the hall.
She pouted thoughtfully before jogging ahead to catch up with the older woman. She could investigate later. A cigarless and hungry Integra was not the kind of person you wanted to tick off. She had learned that the hard way on several occasions over the years.
Andrews pushed the last door open and they walked through a small outdoor seating area and then into the restaurant itself. Seras could still smell the crisp and fresh night air when the door swung shut behind her and the low lit restaurant, filled with the smell of bread and rich sauces, swallowed it up. Chandeliers hung from the high ceiling and illuminated the dark maroon painted walls from which grand paintings and potted plants hung. Servers in black hurried about in a controlled and graceful manner while guests, both elegantly and casually clad, murmured to each other over candlelit tables. The moldings and doors were made of a dark wood that lent the place a very Victorian feel and small private rooms set off to the side with open doors provided an idea of the kind of guests the restaurant received as the occupants were well groomed and dressed in expensive garb.
A hostess, a young perky red head, approached them cheerily and led them to a table in the center of the restaurant after asking them how many were in their party.
Andrews, ever the butler, pulled out both women's chairs before allowing himself to be sat. The hostess placed the menus down in front of them before leaving them to their own devices.
Integra immediately picked up her menu to scan through the selections while Seras examined their surroundings with a childlike curiosity. This was not the first time she had ever been in a rather posh environment but it would be the first time she had been in one without the threat of monsters or politicians at the round table conference. She listened to the soft jazz playing over the speakers and the laughter of flirting women happily. She turned back to focus on their own table and reached for the drink menu excitedly. Alcohol was the one of the few things she could still consume as a vampire and she had become quite the expert on it over the years. She thumbed through the laminated booklet while she half listened to Andrews speaking with Integra.
"While you are to dine with the Pope tomorrow night I will remind you that the Vatican will be present of course," Andrews said quietly while he read through the menu. He sat across from Integra and next to Seras at the table so she had a good look at what section of the menu he was looking at. Strange, she didn't really peg him as a pasta person. He was always so fit and trim she had thought he would have avoided the carbs.
"Of course," Integra responded with an irritable sigh, wishing they had requested an outdoor table so she could smoke. She glanced through the windows longingly at the other guests who were partaking in tobacco.
"It would be best to remain on guard. While the Pope has had a change of heart I doubt the Vatican itself ever will," he continued.
"I have no doubt," Integra growled.
"Especially if that woman, Wolfe, is present-".
"Thank you, Walter, I know!" Integra snapped, slamming the menu on the table.
Several of the nearby tables turned to watch on curiously as the two argued, wondering what gossip they could gain from the situation, and whether or not they were of anyone of importance. Which they were. Just not to the general public.
Andrews mouth clicked shut and he resisted the urge to sigh. Integra had slipped up several times in the past and called him by the ex Hellsing butler's name without realizing it. Often times he brushed it aside but he could not help the twinge of frustration he felt at the situation. It appeared, however, that this time she had realized her mistake and she closed her eyes in an attempt to gather her thoughts.
Seras watched on worriedly, concerned for two of the most prominent people in her life, and shifted her gaze between the two. She noted that Andrews had taken on a rather slumped posture and Integra wore an expression of frustrated regret. She felt her own sadness well up at the thought of the late Walter and dropped her gaze to the table cloth.
"I realize that I have quite a large pair of shoes to fill," Andrews spoke up after a long minute of silence. The two women lifted their gazes to him in surprise. "But I am determined to prove that I am worthy as his replacement."
Integra remained silent for a moment before a kind smile washed across her face, "I am glad to hear it."
Seras grinned. Integra would never apologize for something so trivial and she was glad that Andrews had already observed that and had valiantly stepped up to smooth over the situation. It was true that Andrews was an excellent butler and agent of Hellsing, but his first few years with them had been rough, filled with many mishaps and screw ups on his part, but he had come to them with copious amounts of experience and had learned quickly. He was well on his way to Walter's level and as far as Seras was concerned, as long as he didn't betray them to vampire Nazi's then he had already surpassed him. She chuckled quietly to herself and returned to her scouring of the menu.
"Good evening, my name is Peter, and I will be assisting you tonight."
They all looked up from their menus to greet the tall man pleasantly. He was dressed in a black dress shirt and slacks as all the other servers were but a crisp and freshly cleaned white apron hung from his waist and a red bow-tie was fit snugly beneath his shirt collar. He was a blond haired blue eyed gentleman without a doubt.
"May I start you off with a few drinks?" he prompted as was expected.
"I'll have a gin martini," Integra said flatly.
Peter nodded professionally and scribbled it down in his note pad and turned to Seras expectantly.
"Can I get a pinot noir?" Seras asked hesitantly.
He smiled at her and noted her beverage before turning to Andrews.
"I'll just have a sweet tea if you don't mind," Andrews stated with a smiled.
"Of course, someone has to have a clear head in the group," Peter agreed with a chuckle. "I will be right back with those." He gave them a curt but friendly nod before moving away to see to their beverages.
"He was nice," Seras commented as soon as he was out of ear shot. She watched his figure trail through the restaurant in interest.
"You should have ate before we left," Integra droned dryly, her eyes trailing over the other guests in the restaurant who had since turned their attention away from the table upon realizing there would be no further argument.
"I don't mean like that!" Seras exclaimed.
"Oh?" Integra turned her gaze onto the draculina curiously with a grin working its way onto her lips. "Yes, I do recall that even your master used to partake in nightly company every once and a while."
"Sir!" Seras cried, fighting the small blush that managed to work its way onto her pale undead cheeks. "I was just making an observation!" she scowled and crossed her arms, leaning back into her chair with a huff. Next to her Andrews covered his mouth and chuckled.
She was saved further, or perhaps more, embarrassment by the return of Peter carrying a small tray with their drinks balanced on top. He set the drinks in front of their proper owners before straightening with the tray under one arm.
"Have you decided?" he asked.
"Yes," Integra began, "I'll have the redfish."
When his eyes turned on Seras she grinned nervously and waved him away, "Nothing for me tonight!"
He blinked and scrunched his brows together in concern, "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Seras answered, "It's alright."
"I will check on you later just in case then," he responded with a smile before turning to Andrews who ordered the spaghetti. Peter made a final note in his book before snapping it shut with another polite nod and once again gliding away to another table.
The three made light conversation while they waited for their meals, or lack thereof, and continued to observe the people around them. Naturally Seras and Integra turned to people watching, pointing out interesting characters among the crowd of guests, and making whimsical judgments as was their habit. Andrews did his best to play along but his heart wasn't into it when Seras's imagination ran rampant and she started to invent elaborate back stories and dramas for their fellow patrons. Integra made noncommittal noises when this happened and would take to watching her young friend with a wistful smile that showed her age.
When their food arrived Seras sipped from her drink politely as they ate. There was not much conversation to be had while the humans tested their Italian cuisine and she was loathe to interrupt them. The smells wafting from their food often dredged up memories that she enjoyed reminiscing over anyways. While they still made her mouth water she knew that if she were to take a bite she would only taste ash and so opted to live vicariously through them instead. Her eyes glided over to a couple talking quietly at a corner table. The woman had elegant dark hair swept up into a bun and was wearing an expensive looking black cocktail dress. The man seated across from her was a brunette, a little older, but still very easy on the eyes. Speaking of which, he had a rare set of grey peepers that bespoke wisdom Seras seldom saw in the people of the modern world. She noted the sparkle on the woman's left hand and the mirroring gleam of silver on his.
How nice it must be, she thought absently, to live such a normal life.
"Don't be like that, Seras," Pip admonished lightly with a hint of sadness in his own voice.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean anything by it," she voiced in her mind. "Sometimes I just wonder . . ."
"If you hadn't become a vampire you would be dead," Pip said, "you would not have gotten the chance to live a normal life either way."
"You're right," she agreed with a quiet sigh and took a sip of her wine. She owed her continual existence to her master and the thought weighed heavily on her mind often times. It was not the same as being born into the world with no choice and in that sense she owed him a lot. He had given her the option and she had accepted without a second thought. He had taken responsibility for her, offered her a new home, and taught her what he could in their short amount of time together with nothing to really gain for himself.
The image of him standing before a blood red moon his back to her but his face turned just so to look at her over his shoulder, glasses shinning in the pale light, flashed across her mind for just a moment and she perked up curiously before slouching back in her chair.
She scanned the room looking for another subject to study and settled upon a single man sitting at the bar. He was dressed in a nice suit, sipping at what had to have been one of the many drinks he had swallowed that night, as he was slouched over, head resting in the palm of one hand. He looked rather bummed, she noted, and watched him shoot back the rest of the amber liquid sympathetically. A cellphone sat next to his hand and he glanced at it frequently, waiting for a call or text message that it appeared would never come.
That was something she could understand. She chuckled halfheartedly and continued on, pausing on a rather good looking man in another corner. He was seated at a table with a few other men and woman, all talking and laughing quietly. They seemed a bit more proper than the majority of the guests there, with proper posture and speech. They were all eating the soup she observed curiously. Despite the five other good looking people sitting at the long table he was the only one to draw her attention. They were seated in one of the private rooms, the doors still open, and her position was just right enough to allow her to view him with ease. He was wearing a black pinstriped suit and red dress shirt. His black hair was a bit on the messy side but his facial structure was what really drew her eye. It was so familiar . . . When his eyes lifted to hers she immediately looked away irritably.
"We have a whole day to fill tomorrow and I refuse to spend it wasting away in a hotel room," Integra spoke after finishing her fish. She set her fork down and took a sip of her martini before continuing, "Is there anything specific going on tomorrow, Andrews?"
Andrews set his own fork down, wearing a thoughtful expression and said, "There is a reenactment to take place at the Castillo De San Marcos, other than that nothing more takes place until later in the week."
"Hmm," Integra hummed thoughtfully and took another sip, "I read something about a wild life preserve not too far from here, I'm sure Seras would like the chance to see some animals."
"That sounds great!" Seras exclaimed happily. "I've only been to the zoo once before and it was for a class field trip so I never really got get a good look at all the animals."
Integra laughed, "Alright then."
Andrews let out a sigh but smiled. Here they were in a historic town filled with museums, shops, and tourist sights and the two wanted to go to a zoo. Should he have expected anything else?
Peter returned then to check up on them, he noted their empty plates happily and asked, "Would any of you be interested in a desert?"
Integra leaned back in her seat and let out a sigh, "I would actually."
While the two ordered their deserts Peter sent Seras a curious look, "Are you certain you don't want anything?" He broke the line of proper speech and leaned forward to speak to her quietly. "Forgive me for seeming forward but we do cater to people from all walks of life . . ." he trailed off awkwardly and gave the people around them a pointed look, causing Seras to follow his line of sight to another couple sitting across the restaurant. She scrunched her brows together in confusion, not quite understanding what he was getting at, but it suddenly clicked and she sat ramrod straight in surprise.
"No, I am fine, I ate before we left!" she squeaked.
Peter took on a rather relieved expression, his smile returning, before walking away.
Integra and Andrews had continued the conversation without her but as soon as Peter was well out of her sight she leaned forward with her elbows on the table and her hands on either side of her face, fingers laced across her brow.
"Sir?" she said quietly.
Integra glanced over at the woman curiously, "What is it?" Seras had taken on a worrisome tone of voice that she often attributed with danger or the threat of punishment.
"I noticed when we first arrived that there is an overpowering scent of blood here," she began, her eyes remained steadfastly on the older woman in front of her. "But I brushed it aside and now I am regretting that."
"What do you mean?" Integra questioned sternly.
Andrews had taken to scanning the restaurant, wondering what had Seras in such a state, and froze. "She means that we are among a rather alarming amount of the more dangerous nightly crowd," he muttered darkly. He leaned forward and steepled his fingers, resting his chin atop them, appearing as nonchalant as the rest of the guests.
Integra needed no more information to understand. She leaned back within her chair comfortably with a sigh. It seemed their suspicions had been correct after all. She would have to make a call back home and figure out their next move. America was out of her jurisdiction but she couldn't exactly leave a Vampire infested town to fend for itself.
"He said they cater to people from all walks of life," Seras quoted nervously.
"Did he now?" Integra said absently, now taking in the previously thought to be tomato soup that all the red eyed patrons were indulging in. "How peculiar . . ." she muttered. She spotted their waiter across the room heading in their direction and lifted a hand to signal him.
Peter returned to them obediently, still wearing his pleasant smile, "Ma'am?"
"I would like to cancel our desert, something has come up that we need to see to. Would you mind bringing us the bill?" Integra lied smoothly.
"Of course!" Peter responded assuredly and hurried off to cancel the order before the kitchen got around to making it.
"What do we do?" Seras asked darkly, her mood having shifted in the mere moments it took Integra to speak with the waiter. The threat of a fight sent her dead heart beating again.
"Nothing, there is too many, nor is it our place," Integra said quietly, but neither of the other two at the table missed the undertone of frustration. "We'll do as the Americans say and 'get the hell out of dodge'", she muttered.
Seras nodded curtly and watched as Peter returned with their bill. She ignored the rest of his spiel and focused on the vampires around her without physically looking at them. Now that she had been made aware of their presence she was floored to realize that their numbers far surpassed her fingers. How could she have not noticed them? Master would be disgusted with her, Andrews and Integra were human and so had an excuse, but this was not something she should have missed. She should have known the second they had come within a mile of the building. How?
Integra paid in cash and as the three stood, casually pushing in their chairs and chatting about the upcoming trip to the zoo, but Seras noticed another stand as well. Across the restaurant, from one of the few private rooms she had been observing, the familiar man moved towards them. She could see his crimson eyes from out of the corner of her own and she fell behind Integra and Andrews as they moved through the door into the small outdoor seating area, bare of any occupants. She would be the first person in the line of fire, if there was any, and she sorely hoped there wouldn't be, but by the way he followed after them she doubted they would get away without any trouble.
He strolled through the restaurant with a strange expression on his face and as the door swung shut behind them, muffling out the chatter and soft jazz of Pete's Alley, she saw his brows lift in surprise.
Integra and Andrews continued ahead but as soon as the door had shut it opened immediately after and the vampire closed it behind him and stood to face Seras who had turned upon his entrance. With her shoulders squared and her feet spread apart she posed quite the image, even if she wasn't wearing her uniform. She placed her hands on her hips and scowled, "Can I help you?"
Both Andrews and Integra turned to watch as the man straightened, wearing a small smile, and bowed at the waist.
"I could not help but notice," he began, once again standing straight in front of them. His voice was soft and pleasant, not the kind of tone any of the three were used to hearing from a vampire.
"Notice what?" Seras prompted irritably.
"You, my dear," he answered with a chuckle, "your blood practically sings of the one who made you."
"What?" she exclaimed. That statement sounded far to personal for her liking.
Integra stepped up just behind Seras, eyeing the vampire from over her shoulder with an intense expression hung between her brows. Andrews had pulled a knife from his sleeve but remained where he was.
"The No Life King," he added. "He was the one who gave you your unlife and sent you down the path of darkness." He stepped forward and reached for her hand, lifted it to his lips, and placed a gentle kiss over her knuckles. "It is an honor to meet you, Draculina."
"What?" she repeated, though this time her voice was laced with nervous apprehension. She glanced over at Integra who was scowling at the act.
"What are you playing at?" Integra snapped. At some point or another a cigar had found its way between her lips and she was now gnawing at the end of it as if the act alone would end the vampire's existence.
"There are no games here, Sir Hellsing . . ." he trailed off. "I would have thought you would have left the organization, Draculina, after the death of your master." He looked at her with such a melancholy expression that she found herself relaxing under his gaze. His mouth formed a tight line as he fell silent and took a moment to gaze into her eyes searchingly.
"No, I . . ." she struggled to explain herself and then wondered why she felt the need to do so at all.
"Why are you so interested in my former servant?" Integra questioned darkly.
The man lifted his gaze to her solemly, "All true nosferatu are. At the time of his passing we wept and mourned for the end of his life marked the end of an era. He was our King, our savior, and even under the reign of Hellsing he was a figure to be admired. . ." he let out a deep sigh and stood back from them, taking in the three thoughtfully. "And I'm surprised you haven't noticed the resemblance," he pointed to his face in a sudden turn of emotions and chuckled, "Vlad was my big brother."