Chapter 17 – Point of No Return

"Integra Hellsing!"

Heinkel exclaimed as she pointed her guns at Integra while smirking. "You whore. I knew from ze start zat you vould eventually give in to ze devil. Your name and honor vere nothing more zan a mask. Up until now, you still govern zis estate, making the Penwoods do all your work. Did you promise zem the gift of immortality if you felt satisfied of their work?"

The council started to mumble after Heinkel's testament. Heinkel's companion, Dante, stood next behind her, observing the situation. Sheldon remained stunned. He didn't know what Heinkel was talking about. He never knew anything about the creature standing in front of them… He tried to recall everything that he learned but none of them ever mentioned about the truth behind Hellsing's last bloodline. He started to doubt everything he ever worked hard for, knowing that the creature before him, called Integra Hellsing, was an undead vampire. What he knew was that she died as a human, leaving Alucard and Seras under the Penwoods' command especially in dealing with freaks. He thought to himself if everything he and his bloodline had worked for were faithful… But seeing as he was betrayed by uncovered lies before him, he didn't know what to do…

Was it all just a fraud? Did this monster used his family to work under her indirect command? Did his father know about this? If so, why wasn't he told or informed? There were endless of questions pooling inside his mind while the council were already coming into conclusion; but they kept a quiet conversation to avoid necessary movements from the enemy. Though it was clear that the vampire before them was protecting them, the act that she committed and the choice she made were acts of treason for lying and abusing her power of authority to obtain the power of immortality. It was clear that she had betrayed the trust of all their ancestors, including the Queen whom she swore to follow.

Another fact was that the Penwoods were traitors from the beginning, ever since Integra's death was issued. They've been keeping her under obfuscation for more than a century now. Their mumbles became more than audible enough and that was when Gawain accused Sheldon.

"What is the meaning of this, Sir Penwood?! You collaborated with a traitor! Even helped her in maintaining her properties!" Gawain reached for his gun and pointed at Sheldon.

There was total chaos brought by the situation. None of them knew who the enemy was any longer. Heinkel smirked and Integra kept her guard. Sheldon stood his ground, eyeing Gawain. He was never a traitor; that, he needed to point out. He did everything because he was destined to do so. He patiently waited for what Gawain had to say.

"I knew something was wrong. I also knew of the history of your family. During the attack on London, a century and a half ago, your ancestor was suspicioned to be a traitor. It was because of that that I was doubtful of you Penwoods here in the council. It's rightful for you to be executed in this very moment." Gawain said darkly.

But Sheldon would have none of that. "I have my rights, Sir Gawain. In all honesty, I don't know what's going on. What you're saying is out of my knowledge, and this situation is out of hand. I don't know anything about Integra Hellsing's existence! And if it really is she, who is intervening between us and the Section XIII, then I wouldn't know. My father never told me anything about her! …Except for Alucard and Seras."

"Then your ignorance would be the cause of all of this!" Gawain clicked his gun but Heinkel laughed.

"Go ahead and kill him! Either way, all of you vill die by our hands in ze name of God!" She chuckled more devilishly.

That made Gawain stop but it only made Sheldon more confused. Deep within him, he knew that his family was only forced to abide by the duty left for them. He had felt that someone else was pulling the strings so that he and his ancestors would be the marionette, obeying every command. Deep inside, he wanted to break away from it because like his father, he would never have time for his loved ones, causing an internal conflict that would lead to misunderstandings and destruction of bonds. Even though his father never showed it, he had the feeling that his father was keeping a distance; building a wall between them. He never wanted that because it made him work hard… to get the attention of his father. Then, all of his diligence crashed down, finally knowing that his suspicions were justified.

He clenched his fists, at the same time, his body began to shiver from his anger. "This is your doing!" He turned and pointed at Integra. "I felt like something was wrong but I followed my father, because I believed he was right! In the end, we were mere puppets in your disposal, to bid your desires! I want you killed! I don't care if I have to sell my soul to the devil if it means the end of your existence!"

Integra merely looked at him, keeping her guard against the two Iscariots. Gawain and the other members of the council heard Sheldon's statement, and realized that he told the truth. All of their attention were on Integra; all of their objectives were becoming one: to destroy the vampire in front of them. Heinkel smirked in agreement and Dante readied for an attack.

"Zat would mean you vould coordinate with us zen, Protestant Knights. I believe zat ve stand in ze same ground." Heinkel glared at Integra with a smirk.

"Kill Integra Hellsing! The long traitor hidden in our midst!" Gawain ordered, and the other members pointed their guns at Integra and fired.

Heinkel cooperated by doing the same, and Dante charged at Integra with a fist ready to strike. Integra just stayed where she was, allowing the bullets and strikes hit her being… but none of them hit…

Is everything in order?

Yes, Master Integra.

In front of her was Seras with her arm formed into a barrier, not letting Heinkel's bullet pass through, neither would Dante's palm harm her. And behind her back stood Alucard, with the knights' bullets embedded in his whole being, shielding Integra from them. He chuckled darkly with delight.

"Truly, some things never do seem to change." He regenerated his wounds. "I believe it's time for us to leave. My Master is tired, and I already had enough of you humans, and your foolish criticisms!" His shadows started to envelop Integra and Seras.

"Don't let them escape! Annihilate them!" Sheldon screamed.

The knights fired but it was no use. Seras's shadow already surrounded her two masters, protecting them. Heinkel glared at the younger vampire with a smirk.

"Next time ve meet, I vill kill you for good." She said darkly, glaring with the intent of pure massacre in her eyes.

"I'd be expecting." Seras said, glaring back with a challenge, together with a smirk.

The three vampires faded into shadows until they were completely gone. As soon as they left, all eyes turned to Sheldon. He will be judged by the King, together with the knights. As the knights were about to leave, hostility still remained between the remaining parties; but they nodded in a temporary truce until they dispatch the vampires. In the meantime, the knights have decided to indict Sheldon, and incarcerated him in the palace dungeon until he was called for trial. He wasn't worried about what would happen afterwards; all he wished for was his family's safety.

The day of his trial came. He stood before the throne with his hands cuffed behind his back, and the king's royal guards surrounded him, not allowing escape. The other Knights of the Round Table Conference were seated in a line below the sides of the king's throne. All eyes bore through his being but he stood, unaffected, because he was innocent. The trial took considerate time until the king finally declares…

"Sir Sheldon Penwood, you are hereby sanctioned in jail for being culpable of treason by concealing the existence of a former member of the Round Table Conference— Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who is also marked as a traitor by the current Knights of the Round Table Conference, for the act of betraying her vow to the crown, country, and its people, by allowing her pet vampire to turn her into the same creature that it is, a century ago. Along with the DNA results that the Section XIII had given me, it was proved that the former, Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, made false events of her death, and cooperated with the deceased Sir Gregory Penwood, to aid her in concealing the truth, along with his descendants… You, Sir Sheldon Penwood, are to be executed in the near future. The time shan't be revealed."

Sheldon said and did nothing, knowing that he had no power to object the highness. There was deafening silence until they heard a shout, calling out to Sheldon and His Majesty… Caroline came, objecting everything that she had heard. The guards held her arms to cease her but she fought against it. This made Sheldon beg to the king to let her sister go. When the king said nothing, Caroline began to state…

"I have a letter from our deceased father to his son, Sheldon Penwood! On his final request, he begged me to deliver this letter to my brother." Caroline's words echoed in the whole premise.

"I shall read it." The king stated.

Caroline wanted to protest but she found no strength left within her. One of the guards took the letter from her and gave it to the king. Once the king received it, he inspected it, assuring that it was not forged before opening, then read its content. Caroline was free from the hold of the guards, and she allowed herself to settle in his brother's arms, embracing him tight. Sheldon held her but his mind was stuck within each word that came out of her sister's mouth. He wasn't mistaken; his father is dead, and left him with a letter. After a few minutes, the king began to speak once again…

"I do not understand. Your father has claimed that he held every secret unknown to you… which means that you know nothing about Sir Integra Hellsing, and her accounts with your ancestors. Am I correct?"

"Yes, your Majesty." Sheldon nodded without no emotion.

"But this is miscreant! I need a legitimate investigation, and answers. It would take time, but I cannot allow this trial to be reprieved! I have been warned to keep dubiety against the Iscariots. I would be deprived of the time to prepare for any unforeseen acts that they may commit." The king said, his panic almost betrayed his formality.

Halden Islands excused himself… "If I may, your Majesty?" He took out a legal statement from his father before his father fell to his demise. "My father, Sir Howard Islands, had also given me a letter before he died. He told me to give these to you."

Halden took a bundle of folders and a journal and gave them to the king. Time passed as the king studied the reports that Islands had given him. Upon receiving the answers given by the Islands' chromatic report, he finally understood. He stood then looked at Sheldon.

"Sir Sheldon, you should be very thankful of Sir Islands for he had relatively justified your accounts. I shall believe what your father had said and kept secret from you. What Sir Halden Islands had given me was the chromatic reports of Hellsing's activities, and accounts recorded via papers. It contained the conspiracies that Sir Islands' ancestors had about the vampires, especially the vampire, Alucard. Since he was bound by the Hellsing blood, he would have never followed your bloodline. Thus, if Sir Hellsing did pass away, the only answer to what would happen to him would be his freedom. It would seem that your father knew that this was coming; and in order to protect you, he kept the traitor's existence a secret to you. I, now, understand. It wasn't you who betrayed us, but your father… Therefore, instead of being executed, you will be under my direct orders to coordinate with Section XIII in search for the three vampires, and their annihilation. Is that clear, Sir Penwood?" The king's lip curled slightly as if to smile.

But Sheldon was unresponsive, holding his sister in his arms. He was relieved; but deep inside, he contained the grief, pain, and sorrow of the news that his father had died. He told himself that he would look to find out what happened but he couldn't think straight. He gritted his teeth; he wanted revenge. He clenched his fists; his eyes were filled with unshed tears. He cursed inwardly; he will see to it that the Hellsings will pay. Once he composed himself, he looked at the king and bowed.

"Yes, your majesty. Please see to it that the damned will faithfully receive their judgement. This, I swear." He looked at king with revenge in his eyes.

"Very well. Everyone, everything is settled. My order is to be followed: Search and destroy. Slaughter those monsters who dare oppose our country. Understood?" The king stood.

Everyone stood in attention, all eyes to the king, bowing and saying in unison: "Yes, your majesty."

Royal orders were soon issued throughout the military forces to kill the Hellsing vampires.

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"Chief Makube, everything is going according to plan. Dante and I are vaiting for your following orders." Heinkel spoke, talking to Makube via video chat, using a tablet.

She and Dante settled in a monastery nearby London. Makube instructed them to cooperate with the Protestant Knights considering their temporary truce. Furthermore, the two agents would wait for further instruction about what to do next.

"Very good. Sheldon Penwood would either be executed or maybe not, given the right circumstances. If he is killed, then it would be time for us to invade London once more, massacre the impurities, and take over the crown for the sake of Christianity. If he is pardoned, and found innocent, then we wait for a little more. I'm sure he will want revenge for the death of his father." Makube said with grime in his tone.

"But Chief Makube, his daughter and vife vere saved. No doubt zat, zat bitch saved zem. Vouldn't you think zey vould try to defend zat whore's deeds? And vhat if ve vere to be asked to accompany zem in finding ze vampires?"

"You will follow them while waiting for my instructions. I need further preparations to arrange the crusade. Meanwhile, Heinkel, I need you to sneak into harbors in London… You know what to do…" Makube grinned. "Did you receive what I sent you?"

Heinkel nodded and showed him a long brown envelope. "Yes, sir." She opened the envelope and took its contents out to study them. They were biodata and photographs. It took her a moment before she absorbed everything. "Chief..! Don't tell me… Everything was true?! Zis is impossible!"

Makube's laugh was resonant in the chamber where he was; and it was clearly heard through the speakers of Heinkel's device. "Most of our history were never recorded, Heinkel. Who would've thought that God's greatest weapon has been living among us? This is classified information, Heinkel. Let no one else find anything about this. That weapon has been under Section 3: Matthew, The Top Holy Artifacts Handling Organization. Because of our highly advanced bioengineers, that discovery was, in fact, precisely verified. The 10th crusade will set everything aright."

"Zen… That thing is just vaiting for its awakening? Chief…! How do ve know if it's under control? Or even, it has control of itself? Anderson… It vould be ze same as Anderson!" Heinkel said in consternation.

"You, of little faith, why doubt? Fear not, and let your hands be strong. That thing has been with us ever since the end of the London War. In the beginning, he was just a common preacher. Yet, after saying his vows to God, he had made a miracle."

"Vhat do you mean, Chief?" Heinkel looked at the screen sternly, with many questions forming in her head.

"We are not the only ones, Heinkel." Makube grinned mischievously once again.

"Zen… vhat about zat thing…?"

"Allow me to elaborate… He wanted to join the paladins after his final vows. He was put under the examinations… And miraculously, his body was never harmed nor was he put under suffering. Our agents entitled him as 'Archangel' for he was like an angel itself that came from Heaven. His body was pregnant of talent, resisting all of the pain, and not allowing him to feel anything. He slept peacefully like the dead; and his vital signs were astonishing. It piqued our agents' curiosity and decided to crucify him." Makube paused when Heinkel's face turned surprised with enlightenment.

"A crucifixion…?! Chief…! Zat… Don't tell me zat ze true cross and the rest of Helena's nails were used…!" Heinkel gasped for air.

"Correct. The reaction of his body to the holy relics was perfectly in synchronization. Because of that, he was recognized with many titles, and was even debated for canonization… A living saint… But as though the examinations to his body was never considered as a miracle, as is still scientifically concomitant, he is never going to be a saint. But… He will be our greatest trump card." Makube's grin widened.

"I see…" Heinkel calmed.

"He is still crucified; his body and strength, being preserved. Some of our bioengineers, expert neurologists, are making sure that he will be in a mentally perfect state when he enters battle. Heinkel, when the time comes, I want you to be prepared. Conserve your strength, and God will guide you to justice. Our time to shine in the name of Jesus will soon be at hand… Where is Dante, by the way?" Makube looked at his screen, searching for his friend.

"Uhhh…" Heinkel sweat-dropped and moved away from the screen, showing a sleeping Dante on top of the dining table behind her.

They came to the monastery later than they expected. The mother superior immediately settled them with dinner and a room to stay, together with a few nuns. They ate their fill, and finding that it was later in the night, the nuns and mother superior took their dismissal, telling their visitors to feel at home. But once Heinkel started to contact Makube, Dante already fell asleep with his head resting on his arms on the table. Later on, when Heinkel and Makube's conversation deepened, Dante was already on the table, curled, and sleeping like a wolf cub.

Heinkel sighed. She always had such a peculiar partner. "Vell, Chief, good night."

"A-ah… Good night…" He logged off.

Heinkel left Dante in the dining hall, and went to her quarters. Everything was exactly like the war before.

A/N: Sorry for the late update. I was stressed because I had an exam for shifting to another course, I'm brainstorming for the future chapters (for I fear there might be conflicting situations), it's hard to write Section XIII because of their preaches (lol), and in all honesty, I used too much words in this chapter that weren't in my mental vocabulary. (I have to thank my brother for the list of those vocabulary words, btw. lol)

The title of this chapter should've been the title of the previous one; but because my mind doesn't always function properly, that's what happened. So the title of this chapter is from Starset's song: "Point of No Return". I hope I pass the exam... The nervousness is eating me alive, and I can't cope with it. I also have to finalize some things in chapter... uhh... 19... Did I promise that my other favorite chapters are 18 and 19? I was clearly mistaken... Did I also tell you guys that I'll be writing shorter chapters? Uhh... I don't know anymore. So sorry... What do you guys think? Should I make this story a bit more longer or not? Hahaha! Help me decide so that I can write faster. lol.

Anyways, nervousness attacks. Hope you guys like this chapter and I hope it cleared why Henry was secretive, and how Sheldon became that way. If there are questions, please review, or PM me. Suggestions are welcome as well (especially before I reach my final decision!)

And as always, Tschüß und Auf Wiedersehen!