Sorry for the lateness of the update. If you care, comcast yanked me around for a while mailing me equipment they badgered me into signing up for but not the router I need. Then, all they have to say is "oops, sorry we will mail one out right away!" and its waiting for another week or so. If you haven't already made a deal with the devil, take this as a warning! Thank you all for your support during my absence, it keeps me motivated!
Shenanigans
Chapter 4: Build a wall, behind it crawl
"You have your freedom!" Alucard cried into her ear, squeezing her tightly as if the act might somehow keep her with him. He shut his eyes against the pain, unwilling to bow to his emotions, waiting for the final pull that would sever their bond.
Suddenly, Nerthus' life force became stronger, shimmering before Alucard's eyelids like wildfire. He could feel the bond between them stretch and grow, rooting its self deeper in his being than he had experienced before, consuming a thousand lives before finally coming to a halt.
In the silence of the room, the woman stirred within the great Nosferatu's arms. Alucard opened his eyes to discover that he had cried into her mouth, and his blood had given her the strength to survive.
"Where am I?" Nerthus asked as she attempted to see past her Master's broad shoulders.
"You are in my home, Poenari Castle," Alucard answered, voice rumbling from deep within his chest.
"I failed, I can feel your shackles stronger than ever before," Nerthus lamented quietly.
"No, the bond between us is not imprisonment! I have made you, what is between us is irreplaceable, a gift to be cherished. With my guidance, you will learn what it means to be a true Nosferatu. When you are ready, you will walk the night of your own strength," Alucard explained fervently.
"You will release me?" Nerthus questioned, hope shining in her glassy eyes.
"When you are ready," Alucard replied.
Nerthus' face fell at his response. "Do you think you'll be able to string me along for a while this way?" she asked glumly.
Alucard shook the stubborn woman, frustration finding purchase in his muddled state.
"I do not wish to hold you against your will," Alucard seethed, growing tired of attempting to make the woman see reason. Of course he did not want to hold her back, he wanted to encourage her to grow into her new self and learn to stand on her own two feet. He wanted to sit back and watch the budding Nosferatu blossom into a beautiful flower, his own black rose. And deep down, he craved the companionship of a true creature of the night, though he would never admit it.
"Do you really feel that way, Count?" Nerthus asked, a small smile curving her lips.
Alucard growled as he thought of her response, shocked at the woman's ability to sense his emotions. The police girl was two years old now, and could barely master her shadows.
"Integra wishes that you return with me to the Hellsing mansion. She would like to speak with you," Alucard diverted.
"I'm not going to just hand myself over to her," Nerthus replied immediately.
A small ring erupted from the vampire's pocket, as if the blonde had felt her ears burning.
"Speak of the devil?" Nerthus questioned.
"Hello, Master," Alucard's cool voice confirmed as he answered the call. The chunky device looked odd against the stark white of his glove.
"Is everything alright, Alucard?" Integra's cool voice responded.
"Yes," came his tentative response.
"When can I expect you two to be home?" she asked.
"Your home is not my home. I will not return so you can make a murderer out of me!" Nerthus hissed into the phone.
"Nerthus! I only wish to talk to you, of your own free will," Integra stated, voice taking on an odd high pitched quality.
The woman exchanged a glance with Alucard, whom slowly nodded. She then sighed and took the phone from the Nosferatu.
"Sure, but that is all I'm agreeing to right now, understand?" Nerthus countered.
Integra huffed a sigh and took a moment to gather herself, "I understand."
The helicopter landed smoothly, though Nerthus felt as if she could toss the contents of her stomach. The Hellsing mansion sprawled out beneath her and a small contingent of officials, including Integra, were awaiting their arrival.
Alucard stepped off the plane first, holding his hand out to the newest vampire. Nerthus slowly clasped her seemingly delicate fingers around his own and let him lift her from the noisy machine. As she settled her clothing, Sir Integra approached.
"Glad to have you back, Alucard," She greeted her Nosferatu. Next, she turned her attention to the woman who shook her world.
Nerthus looked the Hellsing girl up and down suspiciously, still afraid that this was all a trick. Hesitantly, she extended her hand to the blonde.
"Hello, Sir," she nodded, trying to keep emotion from her voice.
"Nerthus, it is good to see you, too. Please, come inside, we have much to talk about," Integra replied kindly, her eyes swimming with what Nerthus could only guess was confusion.
The woman nodded and followed the last Hellsing inside. To Nerthus, the structure seemed unnaturally quiet. It was familiar, yet foreign with the strange aftertaste of bitterness.
"Master, sister!" a woman's voice called from up ahead. The party turned, and none were unhappy to see Seras Victoria make her way down the hallway.
"What about a little love for me, eh?" a man spoke from the right of Integra. Seras gave him an annoyed expression and turned her head to face her sister.
"It's good to see you, too," Nerthus broke the tension, casting a tentative smile at her newest friend.
Seras beamed in response, and used her supernatural speed to cross the distance and trap Nerthus in a hug.
"It's a good thing we are vampires," the woman laughed nervously, returning the gesture to find it brought unexpected warmth to her weary form.
Then, silence fell. It seeped into the bones of everyone present-regardless of their emotional investment in the meeting. Integra shifted her glasses and formed her mouth into a thin line, Alucard merely gazed down upon Nerthus; his thoughts a complete mystery, his face blank and unyielding.
Without a word, Integra turned and led the vampires into her office, taking her throne behind a beautiful wooden desk.
"Nerthus, there is no easy way to break the ice. So, I'll start. I realize that we have had some serious misunderstandings, but I'm willing to compromise if you are," Integra started.
Nerthus sucked in a lungful of air and thought about her response. There was still a lot of anger and confusion clouding her mind, though she understood well enough where the conversation was going. This only added to her unease, and strengthened the need for her intense consideration.
"I am a free woman, Integra, there is nothing to compromise," Nerthus spoke slowly.
Integra Hellsing sighed, "I understand how you feel. Really, I do. However, if I allow you to run free my duties dictate that I do everything in my power to hunt and kill you. Do you understand?"
"You would send my own master after me. How, ironic? Or perhaps cruel. Integra, this organization is yours, it's what you make of it. How old is the doctrine that binds you to your duties, hmm? Forged in a time when humans still let their misunderstandings and fear govern many aspects of their lives. I am no murderer, I will not kill to further my existence. If you cannot see that I am an intelligent, responsible, vampire capable of furthering mankind's knowledge-and yes, Integra, I am still mankind-then you are a fool. Worse, actually, because you would be snuffing out a light that could bring centuries of good to this galaxy," Nerthus ranted.
"Centuries of good from a child of darkness?" Integra balked.
"Yes! Do you not see, with my prolonged life I have untold amounts of time to build upon my own research. Without the end of my mind, and the struggle of another to continue my work, I can quickly and more efficiently produce the results I need-whatever they are. If I decide to research the stars, there would be spaceships decades sooner. I can learn to advert famine, drought, starvation. I can teach others to do these things too, and further my research independently. I could unite intelligent minds all over the earth, unify them for the good of our species. Don't you see, if you stand in the brightest light it will only blind you. However, if you stand in the darkest shadow you can see everything around you," Nerthus paused, out of breath.
"Do you really believe you can manage all that while still afflicted by your thirst?" Integra asked smartly.
"Of course, I'm part of the prescription generation. I've been addicted to more drugs than I can count. Yet how have I not damaged my brain, ruined my own life and others do? In addition to that, how the hell have I made a positive difference in the lives of so many while struggling with many of my own afflictions? Easy-responsibility and balance," the woman persuaded, attention not budging an inch from the blonde behind her desk.
Integra sat back and surveyed Nerthus, more to let her sweat than anything else, "And you believe yourself fit to judge right from wrong?"
"I know."
"Do you now?"
"Is this an interrogation? Of course I am, we all are. Some of us are worse at it than others, but it's our natural right given to us by the Divine Light."
"Fair enough," Integra remarked, drawing the heated Nerthus to a halt. The two women regarded each other for a long moment, each mind awash with scattered thoughts.
"So what do you want, Nerthus?" Integra finally asked.
"I don't know. I've been reborn, my life a theoretically infinite chasm yawning before me. I guess I just want to think about it," Nerthus replied.
"Well, you cannot go back to your old life," Integra pointed out.
"Yes," Nerthus validated.
"Then why don't you start here?" Integra tested, her tone cautious and gentle so as not to spook the headstrong woman.
Nerthus considered this for a moment, "It would seem the most prudent, given that Alucard is my master. However, if you wish to employ me as a mercenary you must take the responsibility," Nerthus stated firmly.
"The responsibility?" Integra repeated, confusion knotting her brow.
Nerthus gave a definite nod of her head, "Yes. If a life is taken before they can pass into the next realm by my hand, it will be my duty to linger with them until we can both pass. I know that it's heaven or hell for you, so I'm asking you to respect my beliefs. The oath I speak of will relieve me of the responsibility of the souls that I kill."
"Fair enough."
"I need you to say, 'The souls that die under my orders are my responsibility.' Verbalization is crucial for anything dealing with the astral planes."
"The souls that die under my orders are my responsibility," Integra spoke firmly, meeting the woman's ravenous stare. She felt a little uncomfortable, and just a little more uneasy about what she had been doing her whole life. If a bloodthirsty vampire would not kill because she believed strongly enough that she would be responsible for the souls of her victims, then perhaps there was a shred of truth to it.
"So where do we begin now?" Nerthus asked despite herself.
"You're asking me?" Integra spoke in surprise. Alucard chuckled, interrupting the tense air that had settled around the two women.
"What the hell are you laughing at?" Nerthus asked in annoyance, though it only made the Count laugh harder.
"Alucard," Integra spoke sharply, effectively halting his velvet voice.
"Yes, Master?" Alucard asked mockingly.
"Show Nerthus to her new quarters," she ordered.
"New quarters?" Nerthus questioned.
"Yes, I thought you might enjoy Alucard's wing more than Seras," Integra stated wryly.
"Why doesn't she like it?" Nerthus immediately asked, growing suspicious. She had the sneaking suspicion that this was going to be more of a punishment than a comfort upgrade.
"She isn't ready to admit to her vampiric needs," Alucard explained disdainfully.
"Well, you can show me what it looks like," Nerthus sighed, locking gazes with Integra one final time before exiting the room after her Master. They walked down the hall silently, the woman trailing slowly behind the man, thinking about the day.
Nerthus looked at the small dragon on her ring as she fought to trample her emotions. She felt a raw, resonating sadness that squeezed her heart and left her feeling hollow and confused. She wanted to be alone, yet she ached for company. She realized that she longed for a companion and despite her new 'family' she felt profoundly alone. This point caused a deeper ache in her-the need to lick her wounds unobserved. It swept through her powerfully, and caused her to bite her cheek in impatience. She just hoped that Alucard wasn't feeling chatty, though she also wished that he was. It seemed she wasn't exactly free of the mortal coil after all.
"Alucard," Nerthus broke the silence.
The tall Nosferatu turned to face his protege, "Yes?"
"Have you ever seen the Symbol of a dragon under a tiny cross?" she questioned.
Alucard turned more fully to face the woman before continuing on, "Yes."
"What does it stand for?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"No reason," Nerthus replied, conscious of her impulse reaction to fidget with her ring.
"Don't lie to me," Alucard warned in a deadly voice.
"Okay. There is a reason, but I'm not ready to tell you yet," Nerthus shot back, annoyed.
Alucard was upon the woman before she realized he had moved. He summoned his shadows and commanded them to wrap around her limbs, holding her in place.
"What the hell, Alucard?" Nerthus screamed in confusion.
"Do not keep secrets from me," Alucard explained.
"Who are you, my mother?" The woman countered.
Alucard drew closer to the snarling Nerthus. He paused for a second, and in the breath of a heartbeat a small pup formed from a pool of inky shadow. One dark eyebrow lifted as he peered out from under his glasses.
"I am your Master."
"If this is how it's gonna be, I don't want any part of it. Either stop restraining me during your wild mood swings or free me from your spell," Nerthus demanded.
"And why should I do that? Not to mention, you don't know the first thing about being a vampire," he teased, his soft voice carrying a deafening weight.
"I'll figure it out," Nerthus grunted, resorting to physical attempts to liberate her trapped limbs. The warmth she was beginning to feel for Alucard had suddenly gone cold, and she found herself resenting him for his actions.
The Nosferatu did not miss this-he had been monitoring her thoughts closely. He was surprised by his own reaction; disappointment that he had strained the fragile bond they were just beginning to form. He withdrew his shadows as he removed his glasses, boring into her crimson eyes with his own.
Nerthus looked around in confusion as her bonds slipped away. When she faced Alucard once more, she found she could not break her Master's gaze, those glassy orbs of his seeming to glow with his inner fire. Disappointment flooded her as she realized her image of the mighty Vlad now lay shattered on the floor. He had always been a role model for her-never take shit attitude and the guts to back it up. He was larger than life, and now very much alive.
Alucard stepped closer to the woman, feeling much like Integra. He was starting to think that the woman was more like a bird, easily startled into flight if he didn't make a cautious approach.
Nerthus began to shake as he drew near, quickly reaching her breaking point. She felt as if she had reached her maximum capacity for bullshit, and was going to explode from the overload. She was tired of maintaining a barrier between her and the world. Gods! Could a woman not get a moment alone these days?