The Lost Priest

Chapter 5

Hunger Pains

(A/N: Thank you for Beta work 2stupid. It has been a great help. Now you people please start reading this nice little chapter!)

SOUNDS/sounds

Thoughts

Telepathy

CLAAANG!

"That bastard! How dare he do this to me," Integra hissed after slamming the phone down. "How dare he think he can just send out his dog out to do some sniffing before coming over here himself! That maggot of a man!"

"I take it that Maxwell is coming for a visit," Walter assumed, standing in front of Integra's desk as she lit a cigar.

"Yes, and to see Abel no less. Seems as if that Anderson gave him a very interesting report," Integra snapped, furiously holding the thin cigar in her clenched teeth. "Maxwell wants to have a word with Nightroad! Where is he now?"

"He was down in Seras' room last I checked," Walter answered as Integra stood up and walked around her desk. "He requested some very odd stuff. Rather odd stuff indeed."

"What kind of stuff, Walter?" she asked, stopping halfway to the door.

"He asked for vinegar, red wine, tomato juice, water with red dye, fruit punch, tomato soup, strawberry and cherry Jell-O liquid, a two-pack of transfusion blood, a nose plug, and a blindfold."

Integra looked at him in confusion. What did he need all that stuff for? Walter cleared his throat slightly, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Alucard is also, there keeping Seras occupied while Abel does whatever he's planning to do," he finished up.

"What would he want with vinegar?" she wondered absentmindedly as Walter shrugged.

"Something about a taste test," he said, adjusting his monocle. "You want to watch, Sir Integra? This promises to be quite interesting."

Seras waited outside her room, accompanied by her Master. She had been coming down to her room to get some sleep when her Master had stepped in front of her. Upon asking what was the matter was, he had only smiled and said it was a surprise, and now she and Alucard stood outside of her room waiting for Abel to finish whatever he had been doing for last ten minutes.

"I'm getting tired out here," she grumbled, crossing her arms and looking up at Alucard.

"Just a couple more minutes," he smirked. Abel, you about finished? Seras is getting aggravated, which is actually quite funny to watch.

I'm almost finished. I just need to pour the transfusion blood into the glass and I should be done.

A couple moments later, the thick metal door opened and a smiling Abel walked out with a blindfold and a nose plug. Seras looked oddly at him as he handed her the two items.

"What's this for?" she asked, looking Abel, who continued to smile. "Are you up to something?"

"Oh, no, no, I was just hoping that perhaps you would like to play a little game with me, that is all," he said, taking the blindfold from her and tying it over her eyes. "It's a taste test, nothing more."

"But, Abel, I'm tired. I just want to go to bed—Ouch," she yelped as she felt the nose plug pinch her nose shut. "Abel, not today, please!"

"Oh, c'mon, Police Girl. It'll be fun," Alucard said, patting her on the shoulder. "All you have do is taste, that's all. You don't even have to swallow."

"Oh, fine. Let's get this over with so I can get to sleep," she grumbled, walking into room guided by Abel just as Walter and Integra came down the hall.

"Master, Angel of Death, how nice to see you," Alucard said as they stopped in front of him. "Come for the festivities, have you?"

"Not really," Integra said walking into doorway. "Abel, how long are you going to be?"

"Not too long, Sir Hellsing," he said, picking up a glass full of liquefied cherry Jell-O. "Taste this, Seras. What did you need me more for?"

"BLEEAAAGH… Bloody hell! What was that, cough syrup?" Seras snapped, spitting the liquid back into the glass.

"No, actually that was cherry Jell-O before it would have been chilled," Abel said, taking the glass from Seras. "Now try this one."

"Seems that Maxwell is taking a special trip up here to see you personally," Integra said, crossing her arms. "Why would he do that, Nightroad?"

"Well, I did say that if he wanted to have an audience with me, he would have to come here, but I never really thought that he would, though," Abel said as Seras spit out the strawberry Jell-O. "Don't like that one either? What do think that was?"

"Strawberry something or another," She said, making a face. "How much more is there?"

"Just a few more. That was strawberry Jell-O," Abel said, handing her another glass.

"What's this - Lime or Orange Jell-O?" she asked, sarcasm lacing her voice.

"No, that was it for the Jell-O," he answered as she put the glass to her lips. "When is he going to arrive?"

"Tomato juice," Seras said, sitting the glass down.

"Good," he said, handing her another glass. "This one."

"Late tomorrow evening," she sighed, watching Seras take a sip. "Seems Anderson is on to something and it has perked Maxwell's curiosity about you even more."

"Fruit punch. Tropical flavor, even."

"Great. Next one. So, what do want me to do when he gets here, Sir Hellsing?"

"Play dumb of course," she said, watching Seras spit out the red contents into the glass. "Act like you don't know what Anderson is talking about."

"I didn't taste anything."

"I didn't think you would that was water. Just four more to go. So, I play dumb, what if that doesn't work and things get out of hand?"

"Send them home with their tails between their legs, naturally."

"Tomato soup."

"Very good. Take this one. As much as you would like me to do so, I don't like going into my alternate form all that much. If I'm not careful I could do some things I don't mean to."

"Wine."

"What kind?"

"I don't know I'm not connoisseur on wine."

"It's red wine. Just two more. Here you go."

SPIIIIT!

"EEEEE-YUCK! ABEL, DID YOU GIVE ME VINEGAR?!"

"I'm sorry! Here! It's the water; it'll wash the taste out," Abel shouted, actually handing her the glass full of donated blood.

Seras quickly took that glass from him and guzzled down the whole glass of blood without really realizing what she had just taken into her mouth. The four others standing in the room waited to see how long it would take Seras to realize what she just swallowed, and a little less than a minute later she spoke.

"That wasn't water," she finally stated, smacking her tongue against the roof her mouth. "What exactly was that?"

"Want more?" Abel asked, picking up the unused plastic bag filled with blood. "I still have quite a bit here."

"First, I want to know what that was," she asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"Do you feel better? A little more energized, even?" he asked, taking the empty glass, ripping open the blood bag, and pouring the contents in the glass.

"Well… Yes, I do," She asked as Abel took hold of her hand and placed the full glass into it. "What is this?"

"Just drink it," he said as the blindfolded vampire brought the glass to her lips.

Seras swallowed down the thick red liquid, still trying to figure out where she had tasted it before. It was foreign yet familiar to her, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. All she knew was that she liked it a lot and that the pains in her stomach were going away. She quickly finished up the glass and handed it back to Abel.

"Nicely done, Crusnik." Alucard lightly clapped along with Walter and Integra. "Nicely done, indeed."

"What are you applauding for?" Seras asked as Abel untied the blindfold and pulled off the nose plug. "What was all this about anyway, huh?"

"Seras, the whole purpose of this was to get you eating properly," Integra said stoically as the female vampire gave her an awestruck look. "What you just did was drink down two glasses of transfusion blood. I asked Abel personally to get you eating, and now that you've a fairly decent meal, you WILL continue to eat on a regular basis. Do you understand me, Seras?"

"Uh… Yes, Ma'am," she answered back, saluting Integra. Abel, that was a dirty trick!

No, it was a good trick, Police Girl. If he hadn't gotten some sustenance into you, you would have collapsed within the next day or so. If a vampire doesn't eat, they can't maintain their bodies. I've told you that more than once. You will go dormant and shrivel. If you think a vampire needs a lot of blood now wait until blood is reintroduced to you after going dormant… Do you understand, Police Girl?

Yes, Master. Please use my real name for once! It's Seras Victoria!

I like Police Girl better! Hahahaha!

The following evening Abel waited in a small conference room back in his black AX uniform. The room was light green with white trimming and ceiling. The table was red cherry wood and highly polished, with matching high-back, cushioned chairs. Burgundy carpet covered the floor, scenic pictures in nice frames hung neatly from the wall, and a small crystal chandelier hung over the table, illuminating the room.

"It's almost 10: 30," Abel hummed, looking at a grandfather clock at the front of the room. "I thought they were supposed to have been here at 10. Maybe I heard wrong… I feel kind of stupid now and I haven't eaten anything... It's been over 12 hours."

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Abel looked toward the door as it was opened by Walter. Two people were escorted inside. Abel recognized Anderson, the first to walk in, immediately, but he didn't know the other man at all. This must be Maxwell, his mind told him. Maxwell looked like a fairly decent man, but arrogance and pride poured off him like a large fountain. Abel realized that as Maxwell took a seat across from him, with Anderson seated beside him.

"Good evening, I am Archbishop Enrico Maxwell, you must be Father Abel Nightroad. I know you already met Alexander Anderson," he said, putting his hand out as Abel reached out to take it. "So, tell me, Nightroad, where are you originally from?"

"London, actually, Your Excellence," Abel said with a soft smile. "I was around 3 when I left for the States and then finally at age 14 we moved to Rome, Italy. Oh, God, I am lying through my teeth. TO AN ARCHBISHOP, EVEN!"

"Is that so? Well, then, why did you feel the need to serve our Lord?" Maxwell asked, resting his chin on the back of his gloved hand.

"To repent, of course," Abel said with a large, empty smile. "To have all my past sins forgiven by God. Now that's the truth."

"So, what kind of sins did you commit?" he asked, as the smile fell from Abel's face.

"I stole valuables and injured a lot of people," Abel said, knowing the real truth of his past sins. "But I never killed anyone, thank goodness."

"Hmm. Well, enough with the small talk," Maxwell said as Abel looked a little confused. "Father Abel Nightroad, we cannot find your name in any of the church records. Is your real name even Abel Nightroad – or is it something else?"

"Are you implying that I'm a conman?" Abel snapped in shock, standing up from his seat and glaring at Maxwell.

"I never said that, but since you seemed to have branded yourself as one…" Maxwell smirked, looking at Abel's half surprised, half angry face. "Now calm yourself, 'Abel,' there's no reason to become angry; after all, it was you who said you were a conman."

"You're twisting our words around, Your Grace," Abel snapped. "I never said I was a conman to begin with; you were the one who implied it!"

"But you only clarified that when you said I was implying that you were one," Maxwell continued to smirk as he glared at Abel's angry, crystal blue eyes.

"I don't have to put up with this." Abel sighed and turned his back on Alexander and Enrico. "I'm leaving. I'll have Walter show you the way out."

"Anderson," Maxwell said, motioning for him to attack Abel.

Anderson quickly pulled out one of his bayonets and threw into Abel's back; the blade through his chest to protrude out the other side. Abel painfully turned around, about to pull out his handgun, when another one struck his hand and six more entered his torso. Blood started running down his mouth and robes, soaking the spot where he stood.

"Show us your true face, you monster," Maxwell said as Abel used the table to brace himself from collapsing. "Give us the pleasure of destroying in your demon form!"

"I don't know… what you're… talking about…" Abel choked out, coughing up blood. "I'm human… just like… you are…"

"If you were as human as you say you are, you would have been dead by now," Maxwell said, taking a bayonet from Alexander and holding it to Abel's throat.

"You're stupid…"Abel gasped out, pushing away the bayonet. "Your attack is… Taking place here… This house has cameras… surveyed constantly…"

"Do you really think me that stupid?" Maxwell snorted, taking Abel's gun and pointing it between his eyes. "Posing as one of us, the true servants of God. You Protestant filth get worse every year."

"Catholic, Protestant… What does it matter…? They are different ways of worshiping but… but both still believe in… the one true God, his Son, and the Holy Spirit… That's what really matters, right…?"

Maxwell looked at the bleeding, broken form before him. He spoke the truth, but it was that very difference in worship that started the whole thing. Oliver Cromwell had helped in, or maybe even started the pushing and shoving, creating the divide. The true battle has long since ceased centuries ago, but there was still a small fire smoldering between them. Maxwell only wanted to add fuel to that low flame and bring back the wars.

"Maxwell," Anderson spoke up. "Ah think tha' is enough nae."

"Anderson, are you telling me what to do?" Maxwell asked harshly, turning to look at the man beside him.

"Nay, but Ah am sayin' ye went ae wee bit tae far," Anderson replied. "Ye were the yin who order me tae attack him. Ah saw no reason for it."

"Don't tell me you're going soft, Paladin," Maxwell said in a monotone, now pointing the gun at Alexander as Alexander watched Abel's lips mutter something very quietly. "I know where the one point where you can't regenerate lies. Don't order me around again. I'm an archbishop and you're a priest. I stand higher in the ranks than—What's with you? Why do you look so—"

Drip! Drip, drip, drip! Drip! Drip!

Maxwell froze in place as he felt thick, lukewarm liquid run down his face from up above. He slowly looked up to see all 9 bayonets surrounding from up high, all soaked in blood but for the one he had held up to Abel's neck. They were literally floating in the air.

"ARCHBISHOP ENRICO MAXWELL, THAT IS ENOUGH," the voice was deep and threatening, yet the voice was familiar, too familiar. "This is your last warning to get out of here unscathed."

Maxwell turned around to see a dark figure with long white hair reaching up towards the heavens, long fangs, clawed fingers, pale skin, and red eyes that burned more vibrant than any vampire's. So, this was his other form. A menacing form to behold, indeed.

"So this is the real you," Enrico asked, turning towards Abel. "I see now. Integra likes collecting vampires like someone would collect porcelain dolls. You're her dolls, the broken dolls that no one else will take. Vampire rubbish!"

"I am no mere vampire, Your Excellence. I am something even Alucard has a problem dealing with," Abel said, opening the palm of his right as his blood formed his into trademark scythe. "Tell me, have you ever considered this? Humans eat birds and cattle and vampires drink the blood of humans. I, however, feed on vampires. I am a Crusnik. Your blessed blades are dangerous and would have killed a normal vampire, but I am stronger than them. I am also more volatile if provoked severely. I suggest you leave with the grace of God and return to Rome immediately."

"How dare you order me around, you monster," Maxwell snarled, firing off a round and hitting Abel's shoulder.

"The only monster here is you, YOUR GRACE. You wish to start a war, but I wish to avoid one. You want bloodshed, I want preservation," Abel replied calmly, like nothing had happened. "You call yourself a man of God because you do his work, but your work is not what he teaches. Tell me, Maxwell, just who is really the monster here? You even threaten your own comrade. Would you like to know how you are going to die? I know a lot. A lot more about you than you know about yourself. Anderson here was surprised when I told him some of what I knew about him."

"SHUT UP!" Maxwell screamed, firing off another round, only to have Abel vanish without a trace before appearing behind him, grabbing his wrist and braking it, causing him to dropped the gun. "AAAAAGH! Damn you! Y-you will pay for th-that!"

"Anderson, will you please escort his Grace out of the mansion," Abel commanded, rather than asked, despite the phrasing, turning towards the Regenerator. "His wrist has an acute fracture and most likely requires pins. I apologize for my actions, but you left me without a choice. Now go. I'm in a rather nasty mood."

"Ah understand, Nightroad," Anderson nodded, pushing Maxwell towards the door. "Until the next time we meet."

"This isn't over!" Maxwell shouted from down the hall as Seras ran into the room to see what had happened. "Mark my words, you demon!"

"Father Abel," She asked stopping behind a few feet away, somewhat worried. "What happened? Christ, you're covered in blood! Are you all right? Do you need to go the infirmary?"

"Get out of here…" he snapped as his voice got deeper, with a growling resonance to it. "GO!"

"Abel, you're scaring me." She swallowed, taking a step back. "What's wrong with you? Tell me!"

"OUT," he roared. Seras, get of here! Please! Leave me in peace!

"Father," she whisper, holding her ground. "I won't go until you tell me what is wrong!"

SLAAAAAM! Click!

Seras whipped her head around to find the solid oaken door tightly closed and locked. Before she could turn back to him, she felt a viselike grip on her neck. She looked up at the man holding her so tightly. This wasn't Abel; this being was something else, something evil. There was a sadistic grin on his face; he was enjoying her pain, his eyes reflecting the same twisted enjoyment, along with hunger. He licked his lips, scraping his tongue lightly along his long fangs. His long nails were digging into her throat and neck, causing her blood to run down his fingers in thick trails.

"Abel, st-stop… You're hurting m-me…" she chocked out, trying to remove his clawed hands from her neck. "Stop i-it, Father, stop… A-Abel…"

He just continued to stare down, happily watching her try to fight him off. He bent down slightly and started to run his tongue along her pale, apprehensive face. Seras began to shake at this point and her voice was now locked away in her throat. She had a gut feeling he was going to kill her or something. He then removed one of his blood soaked hands and lightly licked his fingers, all the while looking down at her insanely.

"Don't worry, Seras," He whispered, leaning down into her ear. "I'll try not to kill you just yet. I can see why Alucard liked you so much. You do taste rather good."

"A-A-Abel…" she whimpered. "No… m-more…"

"But I'm rather hungry, Seras," he said as Seras saw his black wings come out and encase her, bringing her closer into him. "Human food is good, but I do need more than that to survive."

She shook her head as best she could in his tight hold. His smile widened as he slowly rubbed the side of her face with back of his hand. Her blood red eyes began to water, and tears began to slowly run down her soft cheeks. Her pale pink lips quivered. She was a beautiful example of a female, vampire or not. He leaned his face into her yet again, staring right into her terrified eyes, which were filled with tears.

"You're a beautiful woman," he coming a little closer. "Very beautiful, my dear."

Her eyes widened as she felt something soft yet hard press against her lips. She started to feel limp as she notice his other hand was no longer around her neck but around her middle, bringing her right into him as his right hand reached back to cradle her head.

Bloody hell… was all she thought of as she found herself reaching up, wrapping her arms around his neck.

BAAAANG!

(A/N: That is the end of chapter 5. Well, I did have the romance genre down, so why I not put it in, huh? Please review.)

Millie M. Banshee

Beta: 2stupid

(BN: I thought Abel didn't care if he lied to an Archbishop? After all, isn't that what he's been doing to Francesco and Alessandro? And isn't Alessandro the POPE?! Oh, BTW, happy Chinese Asian New Year 2007!)

(A/N Ah, yes, the year of the pig (boar). Those born of the year of the pig are said to be reliable, sincere, tolerant, caring, industrious, persistent, and brave. They are also shy, have a one-track mind, short tempered, and headstrong. Best job for a pig is a teacher, nurse, or researcher. Good with rabbits (like me), sheep, and tigers. Bad with snakes, moneys, and other boars (go figure). Oh, here's something interesting I found this on the internet. It appears that those born under the year of the rabbit are also, and kid you not, are born under the year of the cat in Vietnam. That's right. I'm a rabbit and a cat. For the most part the Vietnamese and Chinese zodiac are every bit alike except they threw out the rabbit and put in the cat. Too bad Kyo-kun is under the curse of Chinese Zodiac because in Vietnam he'd fit right on in and it would be poor Momiji who would be out. Also it's too bad Tohru is born under the year of dog and not the rabbit because then she would have been a cat.)