Another chapter up! I believe that I have a very good idea of how this story will play out. I'm not sure how many chapters there will be at this point but I know it will be at least 2-3 more (probably more). Thank you for the reviews again! I was not expecting to have this many to be honest! Thank you for your words of encouragement rougequeen69 and snakewithwings!
Also I'm glad Master of the Boot liked my idea with Mr. Brennan. I wanted him to be realistic. He knew in the back of his mind that his family was already doomed when he made the deal, and couldn't go back on his morals and so confessed to Sir Integra when it came down to it. I think that even if Sir Integra had not known about the trap he still would have confessed. (I am speaking of my characters as if they are real... . But to me they are becoming that way!) Also I believe that there is a huge difference in drinking blood in the heat of the moment and drinking it on a day to day basis. In my story Seras realizes she must drink to survive, especially since Alucard is gone, but it does not mean that she has to enjoy it, she respects where it comes from and therefore can maintain her sense of humanity.
Thank you for noticing the detail in Mr. Brennan's name as well maroongrad! I am a believer that a name should encompass what the character is about. It is just another way to get to know them and is just as important as the description of what they are wearing and their attitude. This will also be used in the next chapter as well when we meet some new male characters of my own design.
Chapter 3: Black bird
Seras and Pip leaned up against opposite walls of the underground bunker their weapons drawn as they moved to clear the area. It had taken them several days of following Mr. Brennan before they had located the underground bunker. Without much incident, not even a round fired, the area was cleared and Seras holstered her weapon and punched the wall in defeat. The fist size hole rained broken shards of concrete and dust on the floor. "Not only did we lose sight of Mr. Brennan but now we have nothing, all that work and we got nothing!"
"Oh, not true my dear girl," Pip indicated several empty boxes emblazoned with the mark of a black circle enclosing a black cross with three dots in red across the horizontal beam.
"That's not much help, Captain..." She moved over to closer inspect the contents of the near empty wooden box. A thick, coarse, silvery dust flecked the bottom and she moved to touch it before Pip stopped her.
"Don't touch that!" He yelled pulling her hand away from the box.
She glared at him but folded her arms across her chest, "I know what that is... It's not if I was turned yesterday you know..."
"Then you should know better than to touch it!" He ran a finger in the dust before pulling his hand back in shock. He examined the digit carefully, the pain still searing into his skin.
"You can't touch it either now... You're undead as well in case you've forgotten."
He smiled quickly to spare her from worrying, "of course I know ma chere, but this, this is nothing more than a flesh wound!" He brushed his hand on the left side of his uniform before pulling out a near empty cigarette case and a pen knife. Removing the last one from the package he placed it behind his ear and used the pen knife to scoop some of the powder into the case.
"Then it shouldn't have mattered if I had touched it or not!"
"Oh no! it mattered," he took a deep mocking bow before continuing, "while you are on my watch I will not let anything hurt you." Seras couldn't help but roll her eyes at his attempt at being the gallant knight. He straightened and walked towards her, placing the case into the top pocket of her uniform. "Well come on then, we need to get his information to the boss lady."
Seras blushed as she felt his hand brush against her and glared at him.
He gave a small laugh, "I could hardly place this in my uniform... What would happen to you if you absorbed me with it on my person?"
Her gave her a playful wink before moving towards her arm. She stiffened as she felt her familiar... no she couldn't call him that... as her captain returned to her. Her ebony wings unfurled as she made her way back to the Hellsing estate. The trip was short but it gave her enough time to ponder when she had began to think of Pip as hers... Unbeknownst to her Pip had a front row seat to her internal monologue and for the first time in a long time he began to have hope that his little draculina would be receptive to his advances.
XxXxX
The figure adjusted a knob on the long range black binoculars keeping the vampire in view as she touched down and released her long haired familiar. The emblem on their patches clearly visible and identifying them as operatives from Hellsing. As they disappeared into the building she retrieved her handheld radio and depressed a button. "Black Bird to Haven, Black Bird to Haven. Site E03 has been compromised, I repeat site E03 has been compromised. Over."
"Haven to Black Bird, Site E03 compromised confirmed, proceed with plan Delta Echo Alpha Tango Hotel 563. Over."
"Black Bird to Haven, Delta Echo Alpha Tango Hotel 563 confirmed, over." The figure lowered the radio and binoculars waiting until the two Hellsing agents left the site before disappearing into the nights gloom.
XxXxX
Sir Integra examined the drawing that Pip had drawn of the insignia found at the site. The ever present William at her side. "And you said this was the only marking found... Nothing else?
"That and this powder, we believe it to be silver based," Seras opened the case and handed it to Sir Integra. "It's hard to tell if it has been blessed, but it did burn the Captain when he touched it."
Integra closed the lid without touching the powder inside. She handed it to William. "Take this to the lab and have the boys analyze the compound. Have them compare it to the metal in our own ammunition. I expect results promptly. Also set up a meeting with our own blessed metal supplier. Set it for tomorrow evening, I want to have the results of our own analysis before speaking with them."
"Of course," he left with his customary bow and heel click.
"He reminds me too much of Walter when he does that," sighed Integra.
Seras said nothing as she waited for her next set of instructions, not really knowing what she could say in the situation. She too thought often of how much alike the two people were... She had even searched William's quarters one evening when he had first been hired on. She found nothing of course but still couldn't shake the feeling of mistrust she had when she looked at him.
"Well then, Seras, you are dismissed. I will expect you to be present during the meeting with the suppliers, until then you can spend your time as you see fit." She made a gesture of dismal and motioned towards the door.
Seras placed her hand over her heart and bowed, mirroring the way Alucard had done, "Yes, my mistress."
XxXxX
The darkness of the room was interrupted only by the small glow of the candles resting in the crevices of the wall. The lone male in the room rested in his red velvet chair and made the image of a royal listening to his court. His features obscured by the shadows but the tell-tale glint off of the man's canines identified him as a vampire. The vampire waited for the woman to finish her report before speaking in a low and throaty voice thick with an unidentified accent. "I knew that they would follow the fool... His conscious took hold of him at a most inopportune time. But this too was planned for."
The only other person in the room kneeled in reverence. She still wore the black clothing from the field. Her young face was pale but did not hold the pallor of the undead, long black hair held back in a tight braid and her blue eyes were fixed on the vampire in front of her. The woman nodded, "I must admit that I was surprised to find the bunker near empty when I arrived. I did find Mr. Brennan hanging around the place, but I took care of him before he could meddle any more. And not a minute too soon, I had just finished cleaning up when she arrived."
"He served his purpose, now the Hellsing organization will have found the planted evidence and won't realize they are chasing a rabbit down the wrong hole." The dry rasping of the vampire's laugh filled the room, giving it an echo that only increased the feeling of gloom. "They think they have sprung the trap? Let them bask in their mistaken safety..."
The gleam of joy glinted in the woman's eyes. "I look forward to day I can gut that vampire bitch myself."
"She is my gift to you," the vampire stood and strode over to the woman cupping her face in his hand. "My blackest bird, my raven of death, will feed on the corpses of our enemies soon enough."