Shenanigans
Chapter 6
Nerthus sighed and cupped her hand to light the end of a cigarette. The forest behind the Hellsing mansion unfurled before her like a blanket of dying sunshine. She could see the thick underbrush where the trees parted and every now and then her keen senses picked up on a small predatory animal moving through the gloom.
The woman exhaled as a knot of dread continued to work its way through her insides. Thick crimson droplets fell from her eyes as she took a small plastic bag from her pocket and scooped out a handful of small white pills. She sighed heavily. This habit has really become quite expensive...
She felt her anxiety fade as soon as the capsules hit her stomach and was grateful for the temporary placebo; it gave her a moment of peace to feel the cool November air on her bare arms. A laugh escaped her lips as she realized she was happy that she could no longer sweat. The uncontrollable perspiration was one of the most unsavory side effects of her addiction.
Familiar waves of energy swirled through her system and washed the bitter thoughts from her mind. She sighed and stood from her seat on the roof and ground out her cigarette beneath a large black boot. The thunder clouds had broken and now she felt that an outing was just what she needed to soothe her spirits. With her vampire speed, she moved stealthily among the grove of apple trees behind Hellsing manor and deftly scaled the fence.
Nerthus felt a rush of freedom as her high peaked and the yawning trees presented themselves to her in all their decaying beauty. She ran as fast as she could into their depths, laughing wildly, following the wind and letting it take her where it may. Eventually the woods gave out to a fertile cattle field and a smattering of small farms across a rural landscape. Nerthus found herself fascinated as she wandered the settlements and ran her fingers across the worn timbers of fences and barns. The tenants seemed to be sleeping soundly through the night to get ready for the hard day's work ahead.
A single light shone through the cracks of a dilapidated shed and Nerthus could hear the unmistakable groan of a human woman. She approached cautiously and her mouth watered when the wind brought with it the scent of fresh blood.
"Please," the girl pleaded in a meek voice, "you don't have to kill me."
Nerthus peeked in the door and witnessed an old farmer standing menacingly over a young woman chained to the floor. She watched as he approached her and ran his hand seductively along her bruised thigh.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt you," he apologized.
"Then let me go, please," the girl begged, "I'll keep my mouth shut, I promise!"
Without warning Nerthus slipped into the barn and crept up behind the farmer. She felt vampiric hunger burn with the drug and send adrenaline crashing through her system. She wanted to dominate this man and devour him completely; the evidence given was all she needed to allow herself to do so.
One pale hand clamped down on the man's shoulder, not even allowing him to jump. When Nerthus spun him to face her he gasped in horror. "The father, the sun, and the holy ghost, in the name of the Lord..."
Nerthus threw her head back and laughed deeply before sinking her fangs deep into the man's neck. He struggled as hard as he could but Nerthus merely crushed him closer, breaking his bones as he caved in to her unnatural strength. She looked at the girl who had been watching her in terror.
"W-what are you?" she asked.
Nerthus wiped the blood from her mouth and grimaced at the dirty captive. With clumsy movements the vampire ripped her chains from the floor and motioned her out the door. "I'd run right now if I were you, little girlie."
"I'll never forget this, thank you," the girl gasped as she clattered over the threshold and into the darkness of the night.
Nerthus gasped and braced herself against a table lined with lacy garments as fresh blood swirled through her system for the first time. Her heart raced as a warm tingling sensation swept through her body and she felt as if for the first time she was truly at peace with the world. She stumbled out the door and into the grass and marveled at the sprawling constellations above her.
Raising her bloody hands to the sky, Nerthus let out a victorious battle cry.
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
Integra was startled when Nerthus came crashing through the front door of her large estate at dawn. She had risen early to bring Pip up to speed on the day's work and get some of her own reports done.
The baby vampire leaned on the door and blinked at the assorted soldiers and staff that had stopped to eyeball the intruder. She was somewhat dazed and clung closer to the oaken timbers while the Hellsing employees watched her fish hurriedly in her pocket. Nerthus produced a closed fist and proceeded to ingest whatever was in her hand. She seemed to settle down after that and started a trembling journey into the west wing of the mansion.
"Nerthus, your quarters are in the other direction," Integra called from the top of the staircase. Her newest Nosferatu seemed not to hear her as she slunk further away from sight. Integra raised her brow and gave a sigh. "Alucard!"
"What is import enough to wake me, Master?"
"Go deal with Nerthus."
Alucard peaked his ears and opened up his senses to the woman he had been seeking to avoid. "Of course, Integra."
The auburn haired woman gulped as panic threatened to choke her. Doorways twisted away from her as she reached out to touch them and the walls seemed to stretch infinitely high above her. Where am I? She wondered as one shoulder bumped against an impossibly hot wall. The sound of her skin slapping against stone echoed in her ears from someplace far away.
With a start, she realized that the walls were on fire. Flames curled and tendrils danced out to lick her skin. The smell of burning hair filled the air as she muffled a scream and began to flee. Nerthus skidded into the door at the end of the hall and threw herself away from the inferno, rounding the corner and smiling when a staircase came into sight.
A large shadow loomed before her as a disfigured face inspected her own. Nerthus fell back and shuffled against the wall, throwing her hands in front of her face when the figure began to laugh. She felt the call of her master as if a realm of cold water separated their realities.
"Nerthus," she heard his familiar voice call through the chaos of a yawning void.
"Alucard? Where are you? What is happening?" the woman called.
Out of nowhere a large tentacle wrapped around her wrist and began pulling her to her feet. Nerthus could only see darkness and flame all around her. Odd shapes sailed past, sometimes a serpent or a wicked sea beast.
"Nerthus!" Alucard's voice called louder.
Tortured cries began to emanate from the flames around her as Nerthus struggled to stay clear of the monsters.
"Alucard, I think I'm in hell!" the woman squeaked, fighting another tentacle monster as it made another swipe for her. She dodged beneath it but more appendages whipped out and bound her arms. She opened her mouth and screamed as she fought the demon with all her might.
"No, you're right here with me. Reality is all around you, but you have to find it." Alucard's voice wrapped around the woman like a soothing blanket. She took one last look into the terrifying jaws of the kraken before envisioning her Master's crimson stare.
Nerthus opened her eyes when the screams had faded and the heat of flame had been replaced by a musty draft. She found herself laying smashed in the corner of a large hall in the Hellsing mansion; Alucard was wearing a look of mild concern as he loomed over her disheveled form.
"Alucard, what happened?" Nerthus questioned firmly, the light of terror still fading from her eyes.
"That is what you should tell me," he replied, standing fully and casting her an annoyed glance, "Now get up. The next time you wake me from my sleep I will punish you."
"I'd like to see you try," Nerthus shot back hotly as she gathered herself from the floor. She felt her head spin and the floor seem to grow impossibly near.
Alucard sighed and sank his fangs into the woman's wrist before she had enough time to react. Nerthus' blue-gray eyes flickered to the floor as her master thought carefully about what he tasted. "You drank from a heavily intoxicated man," he stated with a hint of amusement.
"Are you going to get me in trouble with Integra?" Nerthus asked carefully.
Alucard laughed and pulled Nerthus to her feet. "No, it is in your nature."
"Well, the man deserved it anyway," she defended.
"The local authorities have labeled you a hero."
"They know it was me?" Nerthus' eyes became wide as saucers.
"No, the girl you freed couldn't remember your appearance."
"Has my soil come in yet?"
"Soil?" Alucard asked, taken aback.
"Integra said she would have some soil shipped in so I could sleep on it. She said it would make me stronger and I really need a pick-me-up," Nerthus explained, grateful that she could no longer blush. She felt a little stupid explaining herself.
"Where were you born, Nerthus?" Alucard questioned, "It is getting tiresome to be awake, why don't we retire?"
"Sure," Nerthus replied as she began to trail after Alucard, "I was born in the bustling city of Sighisoara, just like you."
"Is that so?" Alucard raised a speculative brow.
"Yes. It is probably what fueled my obsession with your history. I grew up surrounded by your lore and taught to hate you for being a monster, but when I did research of my own I discovered otherwise. I still forget from time to time that you are the same person."
"In many ways, Vlad is long dead."
Nerthus snorted and the vibration caused her head to spin. She lost her footing and landed hard on the floor, waving Alucard away when he drew near. "Its okay, I'm just feeling weak. Last night really took me by surprise."
"Perhaps you should rest in my coffin tonight?" Alucard suggested tactfully.
"Gee, what happened to the asshole vampire I first encountered?"
"Our bond changes the situation," Alucard purred and shot Nerthus an ambiguous look.
"Speaking of that-"
"I'd rather not."
Nerthus was taken aback by Alucard's flat tone. On instinct she began to fidget with the golden ring adorning her finger. "It is actually kind of important, Alucard, I've been having visions." She paused as they entered Alucard's chambers. "The bird of Hermes is my name, eating my wings to make me tame," Nerthus read as she studied her Master's coffin, "Hermes is the guide to the underworld. How appropriate."
"What kind of visions?" Alucard demanded, turning his fledgling to face him fully.
"Relax," Nerthus spoke. On instinct she brushed his hands off and took two steps back. "They're about you, Seras, and myself. I think we are supposed to make something similar to the Order of the Dragon."
"What?" Alucard laughed, "The Order was formed to defend Christianity and extinguish evil."
"You don't think I know that? That is why I said something similar, to protect other Nosferatu like us and eliminate the freaks and savages."
Alucard was genuinely stunned. He focused on Nerthus and let her thoughts and emotions flood his mind. He saw flashes of himself sitting at the head of a large table, his fledglings and friends flanking his sides. Soon he was shaking hands with Alexander Anderson himself before watching him twirl Nerthus into a grand ballroom. Integra argued with Maxwell nearby before he shot her a sly compliment and the two began to laugh conspiratorially.
It all seemed so clear to him as Seras called everyone's attention and began an introduction speech.
"Hello everyone! I think that our hostess here has forgotten who exactly deserves the credit," a drunken Nerthus spoke as her sister handed her the microphone, "Quite frankly, we would all be at each others throats right now if it wasn't for her!" The audience let out an uneasy laugh.
Alucard had to erect barriers to stop the influx of information. Blood rose in his throat at the thought of shaking hands with Vatican scum. "Let's talk in the morning."
"I'm patient," Nerthus smiled.