Shenanigans
Chapter 8: Hide
Nerthus took her refugees to her old english house, built in the sixties and allowed to fall into disrepair ever since. It was ragged and unimpressive, unless you count the vault she built with embezzled money to store her secret library and hide out when the radar was too hot. Assembled in her living room was her sister, master, Integra, Walter, Pip, and Fabio, a newish recruit who was lucky enough to be talking to Integra when shit hit the fan.
"This is crazy," Fabio repeated, overwhelmed, running a hand through his short, sandy hair.
Integra made a soothing noise in response but Nerthus cut her off, suddenly looming over the boy who was barely a man, shivering in the face of an incomprehensible war. "Listen to me," She said calmly, forcing him to look into her crystalline ruby eyes, "Fabio, an undead Nazi army has set us up for World War III and we are the powers that be on the side of good. This is a wonderful opportunity to be at the heart of the struggle, to make history and to make sure everyone you know and love doesn't die horribly. You need to calm down and remember that you're better equipped for this than almost anyone out there. Does that make any sense?"
Fabio, who had paled considerably, nodded and straightened his spine. Seeing that he had found some resolve in her tough love, Nerthus returned to her hostess duties. She couldn't shake the niggling feeling that their recruit was going to do more harm than good. He might panic, fall through on a task, give a position away, and there was no time to train him. It made her uneasy.
She locked eyes with Alucard when he came to stand by her in the kitchenette.
His confidence is false, his voice whispered through her mind.
He's already seen too much.
Alucard and Nerthus exchanged a heavy stare that lasted so long it started to attract the attention of the guests in the living room.
"Some sort of weird vampire thing?" Fabio attempted to joke. Nobody laughed.
Nerthus turned back to Alucard, opting to ignore her guests for a few more moments.
We need to talk alone.
Alucard didn't physically acknowledge the comment, but his Master had gone back to her phone calls and the rest of the Hellsing refugees had started making the place more livable. Only Seras remained focused on them, brow crinkled, worrying about the tension in her sister's shoulders. Alucard was more deeply concerned considering what he was reading through the bond. Nerthus was worried about someone from her past discovering her here. She already wanted to move and morning didn't seem soon enough.
The sound of a key in the lock startled them all. Integra drew her gun but Nerthus jumped up and grabbed the doorknob before anyone else could react. She gazed out the peephole anxiously before letting out a sigh of relief. "It's a friend," She whispered to the guns guarding her back, turning in irritation when she didn't hear them lower, growling when her glare had no effect. She whipped around with a sigh and opened the door so fast Integra could barely see it move.
The man standing on the other side had dark features on pale skin and he looked gaunt, malnourished. His shoulder length dirt brown hair was windblown and his long coat hid a slight build with awkwardly large shoulders. He was short, yet gave off the air of looming, and he was holding a gun. Since Nerthus was occupying the entire doorway she absorbed all three quick shots from a silenced pistol without flinching. Shock registered across the man's face as she seemed to reach out across an impossibly long distance and throw him inside in no time flat.
Nerthus used her body to immobilize him against the wall and act as a buffer between uninformed parties. "Sam," She said in a calm, even voice, "it's complicated, but I need you to trust that it really is me."
The man stopped struggling and really looked at Nerthus for the first time, scrutinizing every detail, before shoving her roughly away.
"It's really me," Nerthus repeated, holding her hands in front of her in the universal calming signal.
The man still looked confused and slightly frightened but gave a shake of his head and put the gun away. "Nobody else would show up after being declared dead and write it off as 'its complicated.'"
Nerthus was so relieved she let out an audible sigh and grabbed the man, Sam, and embraced him warmly. "I was so worried you wouldn't get wind soon enough. I wish I could have helped you handle the fallout."
Sam, once he had extracted himself from the young Nosferatu's grasp, scrutinized Nerthus' appearance. "I can see you had a good reason for falling through," he inclined his chin towards Integra appreciatively, "but I'd like to know what happened to you. Why are you wearing those creepy red contacts? And when I shot you it looked like the bullets hit. I can see the tears in your clothes but the blood is gone and you're fine. What's going on, Nerthus?"
Nerthus sighed. She already had so much explaining to do to Alucard, to Integra. Sam deserved answers as much as anybody, save for Alucard, but she just didn't have the willpower to talk it all through tonight.
"It will take time we don't have to fill you in right now," Nerthus sighed dejectedly.
"I already know," Sam paused to bow to Integra, "my condolences."
There was a heated stare that lasted a full minute before Integra turned to Nerthus and stood, sweeping a hand out before her to indicate it was time to get on with introductions.
Appropriately shamed, Nerthus slumped her shoulders slightly and did as she was bid. "Integra, this is my prodigy, Sam. It was to him I tasked the continuation of my work and left my inheritance including this house. Technically it is his now."
Integra remained stern as an old fishwife. "I expect you to keep me informed on any information even slightly pertinent to our current situation."
A flash of annoyance crossed Nerthus' face before a shadowy mask wiped it away. "He should still be in Canada. This is wholly unexpected but we can trust him."
Integra opened her mouth to reply when her phone started ringing. She exchanged a glance with Walter before leveling a heavy look at Alucard. "They're both your responsibility," she growled before flipping her cell open in one smooth motion.
Nerthus scanned the room nervously and felt the need to disentangle herself from present company and give herself some time to think. Sam will be demanding answers as soon as he gets the chance, Alucard will be demanding she give him answers first. Seras will get caught in the middle and not want to take sides...it seemed like disaster was about to boil over and she just didn't feel up to sorting everyone out. She had to do something though; all eyes were on her now.
So she grabbed Sam and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Or shadow, or something.
They wound up in Nerthus' basement which was actually nicer than the house above. It had been finished in the last year or so, with modern inset lights with a dim switch and a floor covered in dark orange carpet. It was long but tightly woven to give off more of a padded effect rather than regular shag. The walls still wore an old coat of brownish-gold paint, which might have had some influence in the carpet decision. Either way, it wasn't an all together bad place to be held sort-of-hostage by your crazy mentor back from the dead.
"I need you to stay down here until I know what to do," Nerthus explained apologetically.
Sam looked around him in astonishment and watched Nerthus reabsorb her tendrils with cool detachment. "I never dreamed it was possible."
A small fire breathed life back into the Nosferatu's eyes and she leaned closer to her prodigy, "I know, and by pure chance. Can you imagine!?"
"We have to make another run on the Vatican." They both knew this as a fact and were secretly thrilled at the prospect.
"After I deal with my Hellsing affairs. I can't return to my old life yet but I do need your help. In the meantime you'll be safe with us. So, are we back in business?" Nerthus offered her hand tentatively, her red eyes glowing in the dim electric light.
Sam hesitated but he took her hand.
"Yes, for now," he ran a hand through his hair again, "is he who I think he is?"
Nerthus knew he was speaking about Alucard without Sam having to mention his name. His historical and fictional persona had been the image of evil in their philosophical debates, the example of how things can turn out if you fall onto the wrong side of the line. They had also planned on recreating the ritual that had turned Alucard into what he is today using themselves as test subjects.
"Yeah," Nerthus replied solemnly, "he is."
Another long, heavy silence from Sam.
"Does he treat you well?" he asked, barely a whisper.
"Incredibly," Nerthus answered truthfully. She would worry about the implications of that statement later.
After detaching herself from Sam, Nerthus had some time to think on the way upstairs to the fridge. She hadn't fully realized Alucard's importance in her life. He wasn't the tormented, child-like monster that history painted him nor the war-pig demon he believed himself to be. All this time she had been so hard on him, rebellious and ungrateful. Nerthus felt guilty for never saying thanks, not once, for everything he had given her and all he had yet to teach. She was going to change that attitude starting now.
Alucard tried to ignore the bitter taste coming from Nerthus' consciousness as it brushed against his. The mission was simple-the Hellsing militia had tracked a freak chip vampire and Integra had ordered a preliminary test on what Nerthus called her 'freak gun.' Alucard didn't care to learn the fine mechanics of it but he knew that it used a combination of frequencies to directly attack the technology driving today's new brand of undead. It looked like a cannon and if Nerthus had been born with Seras' build it would completely dwarf her. His youngest fledgling had opted to disguise her machine by sticking it inside what looked like a mannequin, so the freaks wouldn't even see her as a threat, and disguised her own self with blue contacts and a lacy 'Alice in Wonderland dress' as she had put it. The effect she gave off was of a deranged sex kitten, which was perfect for the assignment but somewhat ridiculous in Alucard's opinion. He did enjoy the dress though, and the tight white stockings gave her and old-world feeling that made him very aroused. In that moment he inwardly lamented the slow progression of their relationship. He never expected to want to fuck a fledgling but damn was it frustrating to want an uncooperative, feverish-manic like Nerthus.
The young Nosferatu slunk into the building and he felt the threads of her mind wrapping around his own in an urgent tone. She wanted him to witness her handiwork.
Grudgingly Alucard gave up his view and dispersed himself into shadow, oozing through the walls and wires of the building and mimicking Nerthus' shadow. He was pleased to see her turn her head in acknowledgement and smile, allowing him to sense the mild feeling of relief she felt. Her master had her back-nothing can go wrong now.
The sound of the freak vampires drew closer and Nerthus fixed a complacently blank expression on her face compete with a slack-jawed smile. Next she fixed her body language, going from controlled to sloppy, not walking a straight line and letting her hands fidget with the casing on her weapon, her hair, her dress. Now she looked like Alice all grown up and fresh from the loony bin. Alucard even felt a spike of excitement roll through the bond and wash over him like a drink of cool water. Unlike her sister, Nerthus was excited. He could sense that was a part of herself she wasn't fond of but had no desire to fight it either. Instead it fueled her performance. Alucard could feel her presence diminishing to what a normal mortal's would be as she grabbed that rush of adrenaline and rode it like her life depended on it.
"Hey there sweetheart, whatcha doin' in here all by yourself?"
Nerthus shrugged and twirled her hair, a coy and mischievous smile crossing her face as she bit her lip. "I'm just walkin' with my dolly," she bent slightly over to give the freaks an enticing view of her cleavage and giggled like a prostitute, "Don't tell my daddy though. He says I can't be on my own and that dolly doesn't count; but he's wrong."
The freaks exchanged a glance that said it all and started to advance on their 'unsuspecting' prey. Alucard could feel Nerthus' rush escalate and her mind come to a pinpoint focus. The predators were the prey and she was the hunter and it felt beyond good, so good that Alucard was almost swimming in battle-ectasy himself. Yet he sensed it was something else too, the threat of danger was also making her blood run hot. She knew if her gun failed the freaks would have a split second over them to react. It wasn't enough to be life-threatening but it would be long enough to rip into her a little.
A whoosh followed by a series of clicks indicated the activation of her gun and the freaks immediately fell to the ground screaming and holding their heads.
"Oops, something's not right," Nerthus muttered to herself. Alucard watched as she dropped to her knees and stripped the shell from the freak gun and started adjusting the frequencies. The freaks' screams became almost painful until suddenly their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears started bleeding and they went limp.
Alucard couldn't help but materialize behind Nerthus so close their bodies brushed against each other. He was expecting a negative reaction but instead Nerthus just leaned against him and sighed.
"It wasn't immediate but it was a success," Nerthus cocked her head back so she could look Alucard in the eye, "Next time I'll use my abilities, and you'll be proud."
A rush of emotion's Alucard couldn't name washed over him as Nerthus' comment thundered around his mind. He was already proud of all Nerthus had accomplished. In some ways she was his teacher. With Seras it was so simple, but with Nerthus... things tended to get all jumbled up to the point that some days he felt like he only had a weak grasp on her. He loved and loathed it, but more than anything he was proud. He found a pupil that can surpass him, brimming with fire, promise, enthusiasm; and in her eyes she was just getting started. He didn't know how to reply so he just wrapped his arms around her and held on until she got tired of it and went home.
Alucard was feeling similarly overwhelmed now. Hellsing mansion had fallen and amidst the rubble Nerthus had taken charge. Nerthus had fit so easily into Hellsing life, touting the same high morals as Seras and Integra and showing goodwill to all. He had come to see her as being kind of soft in the physical realm despite her mental abilities and he 'sort of' let himself believe that he had unlocked her violent potential. Seeing an associate from her mortal life walk up to her front door and shoot her in the heart had brought him back to reality- a sensation he wasn't accustomed to and deeply irritated by.
The truth as he saw it now was as such: Nerthus' past life wasn't fun and games, techy no-casualty burglaries for an underground christian book club. She was dangerous before he turned her and now she had the means to pretty much do whatever the hell she wanted. He had to look at her for who she was instead of seeing the illusions he wanted. He needed to know her, and there was one sure way of doing that.
Nerthus was so hungry she felt almost feral. The funny thing was, she felt no urge to sleep whatsoever. Usually by the time the sun rose she succumbed to the irresistible urge to lay dead for the day. As she ascended the old wooden staircase common to most basements everywhere, she couldn't help but want a drink and envy Seras her blessed unconsciousness. A break from the chaos was what Nerthus needed yet couldn't get. There was simply too much to mull over, too many plans to hatch and discard before nightfall when the rest of the house awoke.
Alucard's eyes fixed on her back as Nerthus crossed the kitchen to put some blood in the microwave. She could tell he wanted her close and only her extreme thirst kept those legs from marching right over to the kitchen table. When she was finished with the microwave Nerthus turned and tossed Alucard a freshly heated bag and watched him from across the room as he bit into the packaging and drained every last drop. Her own stomach growled fiercely as the first luxurious gush washed down her parched throat. Being a vampire is more upkeep than humanity, Nerthus reflected to herself, why should that be if we are dead in every mortal sense?
I have a secret room where we can have some privacy, Nerthus rumbled in Alucard's mind. She found it difficult to keep the want from her inner tone and the general sense of need. In recent months she discovered how comforting the presence of her maker could be. It was an irresistible connection and Nerthus couldn't fathom why Seras rebelled against it so hard. She was starting to accept her vampiric qualities more enthusiastically though. That was a good start.
Alucard sent a powerful blast of deep emotions which Nerthus couldn't untangle. There was a baseline of desire that sent a hot wave through Nerthus' body and flattered her immensely. Master was craving her blood.
Nerthus couldn't resist throwing herself in Alucard's arms and dispersing them. She had taken quickly to this form of travel and used it with such abandon that Integra had to put a moratorium on it in the mansion. Nerthus had been appearing all over the place, suddenly without announcement, and had eventually caused one of the elderly cooks to have a heart attack. When Integra had asked for an explanation all Nerthus had done is shrug and tell her it was in her nature now.
She was still in Alucard's arms when she placed them in her secret library. This was the most impenetrable room she had ever constructed and it housed her most precious collections. Not even Sam was privy to this secret despite his access to the safe house above and status as her successor. She had intended the discovery of this as his trial after she passed.
"Wars are being fought over this information even as we speak," Nerthus spoke aloud in a loving tone. She broke off from Alucard to float dreamily around the room. "So many mysteries of the world are explained here, including us, and a myriad collection of other mythical creatures." She could sense Alucard's impatience and turned to study him.
A small frown had pulled his lips into a pout and his strong jaw was clenched, the shadow of his immortal stubble reflecting the soft electric glow from the lights. He was too vexed to will it away. Those lean shoulders weren't set which told Nerthus he was feeling affectionate while more than a little pride was leaking through the bond. He was looking sharp in a crisp black suit, unencumbered by that ridiculous coat and hat that hid his warrior's physique. Nerthus beamed all over with love of many kinds. This being, no matter his past, was her truest companion and master. He had never turned her away when she had come to him in the middle of the day to just be near him. He chose his moments carefully to press her. Alucard had sought her out many times when she was feverish with obsession and half-crazed from the loneliness of her burdens. She had grown to love his many dark moods, the gentle ones, the violent ones. She even loved the way they raged against each other from time to time and feared the day they would truly be at peace.
Alucard could read every ounce of this from her mind and Nerthus made no move to conceal it. He was still pouting as he pondered her great outpouring and his brow had furrowed just a little. The younger Nosferatu found the expression quite endearing. The candlelight was soaking into his hair and those enchanting crimson eyes. Nerthus could feel his presence gathered behind them in it's entirety and she let it envelop her. Her Master's own desire had sparked another burning flame in her. The long tension in the air was broken by mutual agreement.
Nerthus felt herself break into a thousand particles that vibrated with Alucard's own. She let their presences mingle and relished the feel of his mind passing through hers. She urged him to an agonizingly slow place while they disentangled themselves and allowed their bodies to return to their original form. Nerthus used her vampiric strength to tear the clothes from Alucard's body and relish the utterly perfect and soft texture of his skin. He was warm to the touch as always and his cheeks were still flushed from the reheated blood. Even relaxed, Nerthus could feel the unbridled strength humming through his body with a heart stronger than any beast's.
Alucard was obviously shocked by Nerthus' actions but not enough to miss a beat. He returned her gesture and marveled at her own slow pulse as it accelerated fiercely. He wanted to truly admire her body for the first time, the rich chestnut hair with porcelain skin and apple breasts. She had embraced her new nature enough to lose all of her original eye color but the deep crimson that came from his own blood was irresistible. He didn't realize that he was seeing inward until Nerthus' life was on this tongue. She had guided his fangs into her neck expertly and without resistance. He closed his eyes again when tears threatened to overwhelm him. Through the bond he could tell that she was happy to share her strength with him. No fledgling had ever stepped out of his shadow before, had ever considered themselves his equal. She needed him for companionship instead of survival.
Nerthus eased Alucard down on right onto the cold stone floor. She had to struggle to fight the rush of endorphins and dizziness from blood loss. Her vision was spinning with snatches of her life and she watched her mortal coil play out like a film as Alucard exulted and lamented with her. He didn't relinquish her until he had gotten her very essence. The brief break in their connection was wrenching and now Nerthus hurried to indulge in the wild blood of Alucard.
As always his mind was a mystery. He had lived for centuries, distraught and heartbroken, pining for the essence of his love to come back to him. His harem was unsatisfying, though he loved them, and they inevitably went feral or mad in a world that couldn't reconcile their existence. Before that were horrors of war and captivity. His brutal reign as Vlad Tepes. She could taste the steel and fire that had been his world. She could see though his eyes the night they met in that hospital and the months they had spent together since.
Nerthus forced herself to release Alucard before she took too much. In the afterglow of the blood exchange both Nosferatu slowly realized that there was an extra tether between them. In startling clarity modern technologies were understood to Alucard and all of his vast experience as a vampire was available to Nerthus. It was like they had become the same being, yet still retained their separate personalities. Their telepathy had been heightened as well although they could still isolate themselves if they wanted. Neither resented the other wanting a bit of privacy.
Alucard wondered over Nerthus' accomplishments. She had ruled as he had in her own small kingdom and fought to carve a place out for herself that fit just right. He understood now her passion and frustration with science and the need to understand the world even if it was in uncertain terms. He wanted desperately to have her then. Nerthus had the body of a goddess and the mind of a madwoman and he loved her for it-but the thirst. The thrice damned thirst! He could feel it burning Nerthus as visions of them sharing prey, stalking back alleys and haunting the city together crossed both their minds. It was curiously hard to say who they had sprung from.
Integra has no qualms about killing the morally corrupt, Nerthus persuaded Alucard.
He knew that only held true in self defense and could tell that the young Nosferatu's mind was set. He was inwardly thrilled and afraid of the thought. It had been centuries since he had openly roamed the streets in search of a meal. It threatened to bring his old self back and he wasn't sure he wanted that...
Nerthus was now privy to his deepest thoughts if he wasn't careful and picked the hesitation right out of his mind.
We've evolving, Alucard could tell she genuinely meant that, do you want denial to be a part of that?
He knew the answer before the thought was even fully formed. No, he did not want to deny his nature. He resented the world for forcing it on him despite his deep affection for his captor, Integra. He had allowed loneliness to stifle him but with Nerthus at his side now, he felt he could allow himself to just be.
The elder nosferatu cradled his fledgling's face and kissed her. It was love and a new kind of freedom that gave them hope for the future. Maybe the damned didn't have to be miserable all the time.