A/N: This was going to be the second half of chapter II, but decided against it. After all I'm still learning how to write Suspense stories. Also I was looking up a ton of political themes for this chapter and for many others to come. I hope I did a good job. Well anyway, there is historically based character in this chapter (I had to make my own homage, to Sunao-sensei's use of historical figures.) and I also added some crossover characters from a certain vampire OVA/ Manga series, in honor of my friend Erica-chan. (I thought: "Since this is a fanfiction…I might as well.") Here it is folks Chapter III!

Chapter III: Come What Come May
Come what come may
Time and the hour run through the roughest day
- William Shakespeare, Macbeth Act I, Scene III

The Queen, along with her assembly of the Privy Council, had been called into an emergency meeting early that morning. Having gathered into the Counil chamber, a classically furnished room amidst a well carpeted and guilded alabaster interior, everybody was currently seated in their allocated places.

"My Lords and Ladies, I am grateful for this prompt answer to my summons, and I thank you for attending at such an early hour," began the soprano voice of Queen Esther.

The Privy Council included only five members, all of whom shared seats in Parliament and were highly respected figures in the government. Those on the council included the head of the council, the Earl of Manchester Virgil Walsh, the Representative of the Duchy of Edinburgh James Stuart, the Countess of Oxford and the Duchess of Lancaster Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, the Countess of Cardiff Victoria Ceres and the Earl of Leicester Lewis Stone.

Virgil Walsh was a highly respected figure of the House of Manchester. The wheat blonde hair that cascaded down his back complimented his wisdom-filled, grayish-blue eyes and he was garbed impeccably in a tailored black suit. Walsh had assisted the Queen in freeing the Methuselah from the underground ghettos. He believed that through diplomacy and negotiation, the Methuselah would gain freedom. However, his sister, Vanessa, thought the only way of freeing their people was through force and violence. Two years ago, she had begun an insurrection and eventually a rebellion in the Ghettos. Vanessa had gone so far as to hold the Pope of the Catholic Church hostage to achieve her goal. But the worst was yet to come when the Order of Rosenkreuz sent a warship, an ancient artifact of Armageddon, to destroy the city of Londinium and fill the peoples' hearts with fear and terror. If it wasn't for the woman dressed in a simple gown of lapis lazuli satin, currently sitting at the head of the room upon a simple throne of velvet, and the Duchess of Milan's AX Agency of course, Londinium and it's people- no- the world would probably be burning under the ravages of a second Armageddon.

James Stuart(1) was famed for his international influence, second only to his Queen, for he was one of the young monarch's few living relatives. Further, his wife was the current President of the Francian Rebublic and their daughter was to be married to the Francian Potentate Henri XI. Yet he is also infamously remembered by the Albian people for his easily exasperated temperament. But, behind the walls of Buckingham Palace, he is a father figure to the young queen and is one of the few people who has ever seen Her Majesty cry. His goatee matched his locks of finely cut coffee brown hair and his green eyes matched his evergreen attire of a gentleman's waist coat and trousers with a properly buttoned up overcoat and around his neck was a scarf, patterned with the tartan of the Stuart clan. His worn hands held a simple staff of cherry wood and silver, in remarkably good shape considering how much his over-stimulated nerves had caused him to weary the wood.

Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing was the last of her bloodline. Her father was killed by vampires when she was only eleven and then her uncle, Richard, had attempted to kill her to gain the inheritance. Fortunately, Virgil had saved her before Richard could "off" her, proving to Integra that not all Methuselah were evil. At the age of fifteen, she had begun studying at the University of Rome where she befriended a certain nun who would eventually become the Woman of Steel, Caterina Sforza. She was a worthy opponent in politics and many called her the Iron Woman of Albion for good reason. Her skin had a slight coffee cream hue to it and her white hair fell down her back with a slight curl to the end. Light blue eyes were hidden behind golden rimmed spectacles. Her black trench coat adorned her shoulders like a cape over the black business suit and trousers with a crimson ascot around her neck. A silver Lancaster cross ornamented the red silk.

Victoria Ceres appeared to be no older than eighteen. Yet looks were deceiving for she was a formidable figure to contend with in any debate. Additionally, being a Methuselah aids in the art of intimidation, especially the way her light blue eyes would blaze crimson when angered. She had once been human and she had once feared vampires. However, she no longer bore those feelings. Virgil had saved her life as well, hers from vampire a serial killer who stalked the nights of Londinium in the guise of a priest. Virgil then had given her the offer of dying as a child of the light, or living by becoming a child of the night. She chose the life of night for she felt her duty to serve her country had not yet been fulfilled. Her wheat blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail at the nape of her neck that ended with bushy spikes. She was dressed in a casual yellow woman's business suit coat and skirt. Her shirt of white was adorned with a onyx ascot around her neck, a habit she picked up from her friend and co-worker, Integra, and black leather gloves adorned her small, yet powerful hands.

Lewis Stone was a rather cold man. He never wanted the position of Earl of Leicester. His hatred for vampires began when they had took the life of his brother, who had been his father figure the late Viscount, and his real father, the first Earl of Leicester. His hatred for the Catholic Church was caused by the fact that his remaining brother who was due to gain the Leicester inheritance, had become a hypocritical priest, leaving the Earldom to fall upon his unwilling youngest brother. Though he had been uninterested in position and power, he discovered that after tasting of it his appetite for both had grown; such that he had become the very thing he had despised. His tan skin had a hint of red to it and his thin black beard and short cropped hair had a hint of gray to it, yet what stood out the most was his cold hazel eyes. He was garbed in a highly tailored suit of navy blue. The wrinkles upon his visage disguised a sharp mind and an "enlightened" self interest. Out of all the members of the Queen's secret court, he was the least loyal.

"I would not have called you together without good cause. I have credible knowledge of a threat against my life. A threat that will be perpetrated at the next full session of Parliament," Esther stated calmly.

There was a brief moment of silence as the Council absorbed her statement. Then…

"What sort of threat?" began Virgil, who was soon cut off by the overflowing questions of the others.

"Perpetrated by whom?" questioned Integra.

"To what end, to what purpose?!" Victoria asked sharply.

"Where did you get this information?" Lewis asked suspiciously.

"My Lords and Ladies, one at a time, please!" Esther pleaded.

"'Ere we go again…" James muttered under his breath, his hand then resting upon his brow.

Esther knew she should have been answering the crush of questions her statement had unleashed, yet she couldn't help but flash back to that moment in the cemetery. Where had she gotten the information? From a source so unlikely and supernatural that she had a hard time believing it herself and she was there. How would she convince them of what she had seen when she doubted it herself?

†

Sitting at the very heart of the graveyard had been a hooded angel. Around it were four towering obelisks of made of the hardest stone. From the shadows beneath the Angel's wings had appeared the mysterious singer

The midnight black cloak that had adorned the woman's shoulders blew softly in the wind. However, the hood of the cloak that concealed her face so well, it never moved from its position, despite the moaning wind.

"Who are you?" Esther wondered aloud.

"She hath gone by many names in her long life;" the woman spoke, "Seer, Oracle, Prophetess; however, her most common name is Sybil of Cumae (2), Your Majesty, Queen Esther Blanchett." she sketched her a graceful bow. "As to what she is… that will be revealed in time."

"Why are you here?" the redhead had whispered.

"She is here to warn thee, best beloved star of hope. There will be an attempt against thy life. If thou do not heed this warning, this world may fall into ash once more."

"An attempt? From whom?"

"Thou already knoweth this answer before thou even speaketh it, My Lady. The Night Lord, Contra Mundi. The one whom hath slain the Dark Angel."

"If you know whom you speak of… then you must already know who killed him…it was I who killed him." Tears began to sting her dark lapis lazuli eyes as her voice had cracked. "If there is anyone to blame for his death, it would be me, Sybil, I'm the one who aided him."

"That is not true. Even if thou were not there… the Contra Mundi, would have killed him nevertheless. The second born was no match for his power. However, you need not mourn any longer. For he lives and still walks this earth in pursuit of him."

Her eyes widened. Abel was alive? How? She saw him fall to Earth, no one can survive falling from that height! "He is…" She could hardly bring herself to say the words

The Sybil nodded.

Esther gasped. She couldn't believe it. Abel was alive. But the moment, the thought came into her mind, sorrow began to take its place. Even if he wasn't dead, he, no doubt by now, hated her. After all she disobeyed him when he had ordered her to stay in the palace, it was she who had followed him into the Ghetto and she was the one who watched him as he killed him, the one whom her heart had loved. She turned her head down in remorse and regret.

"Don't be saddened by this news," the Sybil said in the softest, comforting voice. "He bears no anger or hatred against thee. She tells thee the truth. He wishes to see thee again. She knows." Her lips curved into a familiar smile, but then her face became grave and serious. "Listen now," she continued. "His intention is to no longer claim the ARK to become this world's prince..."

"The ARK?" Esther echoed.

The Sybil then extended her index finger and pointed it to the sky. Esther followed her lead and staring back at her was a smaller, distorted moon, tainting the silver light of the Night's Eye like a lurid shadow.

After the Armageddon, there appeared a second moon, called the "Vampire's Moon." No one knows where it came from, as no one knows how the vampires came into being. Was it the Devil's own prank? Was it an ancient artifact of lost technology like the Star of Sorrow? That knowledge was lost to the Dark Ages. However, there were many whispers that when the vampires came from that moon to this world, they brought war, terror and strife with them. The humans feared and hated them once they set their eyes upon them. There was so much horror and bloodshed. Eventually, it led to that last, great war that everyone, both human and vampire alike, still feared would one day be sparked again. Esther knew how fragile the balance was between the two races. For she experienced that herself, in the time she spent in the AX, in the Empire, and in the time she spent with…him.

"His intention now… is thee," the Sybil suddenly said, snapping her out of her silent reverie.

Esther had a suspicion that he would eventually attempt to take her life, now that suspicion was confirmed. Not only was she the Queen of Albion, she was the Lady Saint of István, a heroic icon of the Catholic Church. To kill her would have not only Albion in an uproar, but also the Vatican and Hungaria. To die at the hands of a vampire or one of his minions would spark the war that he so desires to create. However his attack might be a personal issue. After all the his Order's last target was Londinium and it was also that she might have prevented him from…"I will not let him take my life." she said with determination "But, is this because I am the Queen or is it because I…" Before Esther could finish her question the Sybil had answered:

"Yes, that is true. Thou art the one who prevented him from taking the Dark Angel's body. He desires revenge, as any one who follows in the path of the Morning Star," She snarled at the name, "However, there is another reason. Time will only tell her which decision he will make. He will attempt to take thy life on the fifth of November, during the full session of Parliament. But beware, there are vipers in the court of Albion. The Bloody Rose has already sided with him. They will take control once thou art dead and will lead Albion into ruin. Take heed. Your decision will decide the fate of this world now."

And Esther was alone.

†

"Your Majesty?" Virgil queried. "Are you alright?"

The members of the Council were staring at her quizzedly. Had she really paused for that long?

"The threat…" answered the Queen, after taking a breath calming herself, "is an assassination attempt against my life on the day the houses of Parliament meet on November the fifth. Whomever and whatever is intent upon killing me is uncertain, but I have a suspicion as to whom, due to my… reliable resource. However, I fear what the people should feel, should their Queen miss Parliament. That is the reason we have assembled here."

"I understand your concern, Your Majesty," began Virgil Walsh, who had kept his calm demeanor. "This is not only a difficult decision for you, it is also a harder choice for me. However, if your resource is reliable and accurate about this assassination, I believe you have all right to cancel the Parliament session. The House of Lords and the House of Commons would understand."

"Forgive me for my frankness, Lord Walsh," cut in Lord Integra, "You have too much faith in the understanding of the people. Not many nobles nor the Albian media would be so understanding. Besides the Knights of Tudor would see this as a sign of weakness in our Queen and we all know the concern regarding their ideals."

Many knew the Knights of Tudor. They were the radical faction of the Albian people who didn't believe in peace or coexistence between humans and vampires and dared to question the Queen's decision of freeing the Methuselah from the Ghettos. They believed that the Queen was corrupt for having sided with the Duchess of Milan in terms of peace and diplomacy between the two races. They would, if they could, replace her with another candidate of their party to achieve their goal of "purity." Many suspected the High Chancellor Adam Sutler to be their leader, but there was insufficient proof of his ties with them. Skipping a session of Parliament would show a sign of weakness the Queen could not afford to give them.

"No, Integra," began Victoria Ceres. Normally, the Countess of Cardiff and the Duchess of Lancaster would be on the same side, but apparently, today was not such a day. "The Knights of Tudor would use that opportunity to take control once she was dead."

"Integra and Victoria on a different side of the debate… that's shocking." Lewis whispered under his breath.

"Your Majesty." Victoria addressed the Queen, "My concern is for more than your safety. Should you die, the people of Albion would be in chaos and so would your home country of Hungaria and the Vatican. Should the assailant be a Methuselah, it would mean the next Armageddon."

"I object, Your Majesty," began the languid voice of Lewis Stone. "I happen to agree with Lady-"

"Lord Integra." The Countess of Oxford corrected.

"Lord Integra," Lewis continued, his voice thick with annoyance. "Those Tudor Knights would definitely view this as a sign of weakness should you cancel Parliament. You cannot allow the House of Blanchett to be intimidated. You have already made unpopular decisions that have caused others to question your ability to rule," he finished, glaring in Victoria and Virgil's direction.

Virgil sighed heavily. "If the source is accurate, we cannot dismiss this so lightly."

"How reliable is the source?" Lewis countered. "We would have heard of it." Lord Chamberlain Lewis Stone, the principal official in charge of royal household, hated being caught "unawares" as it were.

"I trust it to be reliable," Esther answered.

"Your life is too valuable to take chances with," Ceres insisted.

"Besides, if you cannot cite whom or what your reliable resource is, the people of Albion would be in an uproar should you cancel Parliament," the Earl of Leicester declared.

"In what way would not citing the source infuriate the people?" Integra retorted. "It seems only to be a problem with you not trusting your Queen rather than her people."

"My concern is how the Queen will be viewed after canceling a full session of Parliament on something as insubstantial as a 'reliable source'."

"You just want to be certain that she shows up because you want to look good in front of the House of Lords, you social climbing -" she then said a word that wouldn't have been appropriate in any language concerning a man's relationship with his mother.

"How DARE you!" Lewis screeched and rose out of his seat. "You question my honor, you filthy VAMPIRE?!" His face became flushed with anger.

"I'M not the one who is trying to kill off our sovereign!" Victoria then snapped back rising from her chair to stare her crimson eyes into the Earl of Leicester's. "Or spark another Armageddon you son of a-!"

"ENOUGH!"

The room went silent.

"Could ya both sho' enou' compassion to stop vexing an ol' man's poor nerves (3)?" James then broke the silence that he kept during the meeting, twisting his staff so fast could have erupted into flame. "And Ceres would you PLEASE stop using that fou' language 'ere? Those words alone would make a sailor blush!"

Lewis alternated between glaring at James and glowering at Victoria.

"Your Majesty," began James who still hadn't shared his opinion.

"Yes, Lord Stuart?"

"I do think you should take the necessary precautions and attend Parliament. This way no one would be angered over your absence and perhaps we could solve the issue at hand, if there should be an assassination attempt." He then stroked the head of silver of the staff with his index finger.

Esther got the message immediately. The necessary precautions was in actuality a plan that was inspired by the Duchess of Moldova and the Empress of the New Human Empire -Who was not only her closest friend but also her beloved's long lost little sister, though Esther dared not to tell her about her involvement in his "death." However, over the past two years, she had an inkling that Her Imperial Majesty was hiding something from her.- It was Cardinal Sforza, Lord Walsh, Colonel Spencer and Lord Stuart's suggestion that should there be an attempt on her life she should have some form of plan to counteract this ambition.

"Very well… I will attend Parliament and I shall then take the… necessary precautions. Thank you for attending. You are all dismissed," Esther finished.

And all was said. As her advisors filed out of the meeting chamber, she once again drifted back in her thoughts to her meeting with the Sybil and the way in which it had ended. There was something disturbingly familiar about her, yet she could not place from where or when she recognized her.

†

"Sybil?" Esther called. "Sybil?" she called out louder, looking all around the graveyard for any trace of her.

My Heavenly Father… she thought. Did you just send me an angel, like you did once before? When I had lost all hope? Then her eyes fell upon the gravestone were the fresh poppy still lay.

"Father Nightroad…" she asked aloud, "is it true that you have forgiven me? Will I see you again?"

You have to ask? Really?…I am your friend. I will always be on your side.

She heard him! She heard his voice again. Bringing her comfort and hope as he did once before. She then looked up to the dark moon, like she was challenging evil itself, and held her rosary tightly in her right hand.

"I won't let him defeat me… I won't be defeated…because I am not alone. Never. I won't let someone like him defeat me. I won't give him my life." she said in the most solemnest of oaths, for the words of his promise filled her heart and gave her courage. The same courage she had gained to speak to her people on the night before she had ascended the throne that was rightfully hers.

"My Heavenly Father. Watch over me. Yet most importantly watch over him. Wherever he is."

Next chapter: Sibylline Prophesy
Avert not, thine eyes

Terminology

Lord President of the Council - the cabinet minister in the U.K. government who presides over meetings of the Privy Council.

Prince of the World / Morning Star - titles that once belonged to Lucifer/ the Devil, like "the Prince of Darkness". Quoted from Isaiah 14:12 and Luke 4:5 - 4:7 NIV.

(1) Based off of the King of Scotland James V. It is historically accurate that James was the husband to Marie de Guise, and father to Mary Stuart, the future Queen of Scots. However, he never knew his daughter, for he died a few months after she was born. Moreover, his exasperation isn't a historical trait; he is also based off of the famed Angus Mac Badger from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. (I had to watch the Disney version of the movie for a Literature class project long ago. I felt like I had to add that specific character trait.)

(2) Based off of the famed Seer of the Roman Empire. She also makes an appearance on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome and in Virgil's epic The Aneid. However this character will show up in more chapters to come.

(3) Indirect quote to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The original quote was made by Mrs. Bennett to her husband with: "You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves."

A/N: So how did ya'll like them crossovers? No, I'm not a devoted fan of Hellsing but I liked Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing and Victoria Ceres/ Seras Victoria, I felt like I had to add them in. Kudos points goes to the one who can spot the Bizenghast and the "My Fair Lady" references. For once this chapter ends on a more cheerful note that it's predecessors but I still have some loose ends I need to tie up before Chapter IV is finished. The dress Esther is wearing can be found on this peculiar, yet wonderful web link: (Remove the spaces. Now I understand why people say that FF. net is picky. (Hacks program with pickaxe.))

Please R&R I would greatly appreciate that.

Mysteriously Yours, ObsidianEmpress