The Lost Priest
Chapter 9
Integra's Encounter
(A/N Yay, chapter 9 is here at last! So, hurry up and read it.)
SOUNDS/sounds
Thoughts
Telepathy
(Last time)
"Crusnik, above you," Tres stated as Abel and Seras looked up to see a cargo-laden net fall from a crane.
"SERAS!" Abel grabbed her hand and threw her out of the way as the large wooden crates crashed down on where he was standing.
"ABEL! ABEL, NO!" Seras yelled from her place on the ground. "ABELLLL!"
(Present Time)
Seras got back up and ran towards the broken crates and tattered cargo net. She quickly searched through splintered crate pieces and multitudes of spilt animal feed and ripped the thick net apart to get to him. Meanwhile, Tres was walking toward the crane's operating cabin, guns out and ready. Seras paused, her eyes narrowing at him.
"Tres, help me," Seras snapped. Tres only shifted his eyes toward her as he continued to move toward the cabin. "Father Tres! Abel needs—"
Suddenly, the crates, feed, and net erupted, knocking her backwards. When she looked up she saw Abel standing with his large scythe clenched tightly amongst the debris that was now burning and smoldering. Her eyes widened his shock as she gazed at him. She had seen his massive black wings before, but never like this. An immense electrical surge jumped skywards from them. Her hair felt it was standing on end and she smelled so much ozone in the air to point that the scent of it burned her nose. Yet again, Abel scared the unlife out of her.
Abel was looking at the large crane with his fangs bared as he spotted Tres moving toward the cabin. He started moving around the other side of the crane. They were determined to get this troublemaking vampire. He walked right past Seras as she sat on ground, shaking.
"Don't come near me," he practically growled, not turning to look at her.
She jumped slightly at the tone of his voice; it didn't sound like him at all. She could feel the power coming off him in tsunami-sized waves. Seras remained in her place as Abel and Tres advanced on the on the crane's cabin. Suddenly, on Tres' side, something bolted out from the cabin.
The android quickly started firing at the vampire as it tried to make a run for it amongst all the cargo and crates. He managed to hit the vampire in the arm as it ducked behind the crates and began to pursue it but saw a flash of light come down from the sky, tearing through all the wooden crates. He backed off as he saw a black angel descend from the sky to land lightly among the burning crates and cargo.
Abel slowly walked towards the burned vampire as he struggled to move through to smoke and fire. But he only found a concrete wall in his path and the black-winged figure was almost on top of him now.
"Keep away from me," the vampire hissed, pulling out a pistol from his charred coat pocket. "Bloody Hellsing puppet, I'll kill you!"
Abel just chuckled at him as he advanced even further on the FREAK vampire. The vampire began to shake as he looked into those burning red eyes; there was no fear in them, just raw hunger, power, and malice. His body was paralyzed; even his trigger finger couldn't move. Fear filled every bit of his being as he stared into those burning red eyes.
Abel stopped two feet in front of the gun with a demonic smirk playing on his lips. He reached out with his hand, scratching the seared flesh of the vampire's hand with long sharp nails, and grabbed hold of the gun's barrel. He bent barrel upwards before jerking the gun out of the vampire's hand.
"Who are you?" the vampire asked, backing up into the wall as Abel put his hand around his neck. "Let g-go of me! Wh-what the h-hell are y-you? M-monster!"
"That's right… I am," Abel said, pulling the vampire away from the wall. "You're not my usual kind of vampire I feed on, but you'll do for now."
"NO, NO! STOP!" he yelled, trying to pull away from Abel. "AAAAAGH!"
Abel just grinned as he pulled the vampire's head to the side and bit in. The vampire let out a gasp as he felt every bit of his blood being drained from his body.
"Th-there's still…" he whispered, causing Abel to stop. "Not alone… One more… You w-won't win…"
"Then I guess I'll have to finish you quickly," the Crusnik smirked, licking the blood from his dark lips.
With one swift motion he sent his hand through the vampire's chest, piercing the heart. The vampire went limp in his arms and Abel just dropped the corpse to the ground and walked off, licking the blood from his hand.
Sir Hellsing walked down one of the corridors formed from the stacked crates, accompanied by two of her armed men. She wasn't going to just sit around this time; she too was going to do her part in the field. As she turned the corner she heard a gun to her right go off. She caught a glimpse of the gun's flash before she saw one her men go down. She quickly pulled out her own, only to have it shot out of her hand and another bullet go into her last escort.
"Damn you," she bit out, holding her bleeding hand. "Who are you?"
"One of God's true servants, you Protestant sow," the man bit out, stepping out of the darkness with a gun in one hand and the other hand in bandages and a sling.
"Maxwell," she bit out. "What are you doing here, bastard?"
"Finishing a job I started a few nights ago," he snapped, pointing the gun at Integra's head. "Where is he?"
"You mean Abel?" she asked as Maxwell stepped closer. "I don't know."
"'You don't know?' Ha! The demon is more cunning than anything I've ever seen," he snarled through his teeth. "He must be destroyed! He dared to have the audacity to turn Anderson against me! 'A promise to never kill' is what that monster told him, and Anderson believed him!"
"Yes, that's what I've been told as well," Integra smirked. "Anderson came to me personally and told me the same story."
"He's did WHAT?" Maxwell shouted, utterly infuriated. "You're dead!"
"That is no way treat a lady," a hooded man dressed in a long cloak and holding a staff said, stepping out from behind Maxwell. "I'll ask you to please drop your weapon."
"And just who are you?" Maxwell asked, turning the gun on the cloaked man.
In a flash of light Maxwell saw something slice through his gun like it was wet paper. The gun's barrel hit the ground, soon followed by the other half as Maxwell dropped it in shock.
"My name is Father Hugue de Watteau," he replied, pulling off his hood to reveal elegant, aristocratic features and long, wavy blond hair. "If you wish to continue this fight, you will lose. Now take your leave."
"You dare strike an Archbishop?" Maxwell hissed in a fierce tone as the blond priest just glared at him.
"I care not for who you are," Hugue said dully, walking passed the Archbishop and moving over to Integra. "Just get out of my sight."
"I will not," Maxwell bit out, pulling out another gun from his coat. "I'll kill you both!"
"BASTARD!" a woman yelled, landing the ground beside Maxwell, grabbing him by his bad wrist, and throwing him into the wall of crates, knocking him out. "Degenerate Terran! Garbage!"
"I didn't need your help, vampire," Hugue said, turning to look at the tall, blonde Methuselah before pulling out some bandages from under his cloak. "May a see your hand? It needs to be taken care of."
"You're welcome," she snorted, turning to look at the woman he was helping. "Excuse me, madam, I am Astharoshe. Have you seen a goofy-looking idiot priest with glasses and long silver hair by the name of Father Abel Nightroad?"
"What if I said I did?" Integra smirked as Hugue tied off the bandage around her hand. "What would a Draculina like you want with him?"
"Hmph! That is not your concern," she snapped, offended by the slang term. "Just tell us where he is. It is of the utmost importance that we find him quickly. Ugh… This place stinks. It reeks of death."
"Like I told that asshole over there, I don't know," Integra snapped, glaring at the Methuselah. "He could be anywhere on the grounds."
"Good enough," she said, turning on her high-heeled boots. "Hugue, I think it's time we split up."
"Don't order me around," Hugue deadpanned, giving Asta a nasty look. "It's bad enough that Lady Caterina and your ill-fated Empress saw fit that we'd be working together. I have very little tolerance for you and your kind."
"You will not speak ill of my Lady Empress," Asta snapped, pulling out her spear. "She is what keeps the peace between Methuselah and the Terrans in the Empire. If negotiations are to continue, we need to work together and find Abel. And I'll be damned if I'll let you screw it up because of your grudge towards my kind!"
"What negotiations?" Integra asked, looking at Asta. "What Empire and what Empress?"
"Again, that does not concern you," Asta said sharply. "Just find Abel, Hugue. We lost track of Tres, which is bad enough."
Hugue just snorted at her and walked off into the darkness of the warehouse. Asta was about to do the same when she heard a gun cock behind her. She turned around to see Integra aiming her pistol at her.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?" Asta snapped.
"This gun has silver bullets in it," she stated as Asta's eyes widened. "Now, unless you want to lose your life, vampire, I suggest you tell me why you are here for my subordinate."
"Your subordinate," Asta blinked. "Abel works for the church, so why would he be working for you?"
"For shelter, food, and money. What else?" Integra asked sarcastically, still holding out the gun. "Abel is a valuable asset to me and my organization. Therefore, I would like to know what your business with him is."
"You wouldn't happen to the infamous Sir Integral Wingates Fairbook Hellsing, would you?" Asta asked coolly as Integra smirked at her. "I've only recently heard of you. Hugue was looking forward to meeting you face to face. Too bad he didn't realize who you were."
"So, if you know who I am, then you know what I kill," she smirked as Asta just glared at her. "Tell me, do you know of a group called Millennium?"
"Whispered rumors only. The fact that they're a Neo-Nazi party is about my extent of knowledge," she replied. "By orders I am not to get involved in any battles of any kind while I'm here. I'm sorry, but I must find my Tovarish."
"'Tovarish?' You mean your partner," Integra stated.
Asta did not reply but took off in the direction opposite from the one Hugue had taken. Integra watched as she disappeared almost instantaneously into the darkness. Well, her Tovarish was most definitely not that Hugue person. From the look of things, Hugue hated vampires and was not very sociable, either. This Astharoshe seemed very regal and held herself with great dignity, unlike these other vampires she'd been fighting recently. They also knew Abel and were looking for him. A vampire and yet another priest that Maxwell did not recognize… also, who were this 'Lady Caterina' and this 'Empress'? Ever since Abel showed up, things have been turning upside down.
Sir Hellsing ran off in the direction Asta had run off in order to see if she could find the Methuselah again. She wanted answers now. She'd even shoot that Astharoshe if need be to get the answers out. As she continued to run down the dark corridor of large crates, she could make out a door that was still partially open, leading outside. She pulled her coat closer to her body as she ran into the cold night air.
She looked around the shipping yard and could hear faint gunfire from where she stood. The waning full moon was the only thing lighting up the dark yard. She scanned the shadows best she could when she saw a tall figure leaning on some crates. The person then pushed off said crates and started to walk towards her. As the figured moved into the moonlight, she recognized the person as the man Abel had been with earlier that evening, although she couldn't quite remember his name.
"Sir Hellsing," he said in a dead tone.
"Yes?" she replied cautiously, keeping her hand around the trigger.
"Please follow me," he said, turning on his heel, and started to walk off. "I was ordered to escort you to Seras Victoria."
"Halt," Integra ordered as Tres came to a stop and turned his head to look at her over his shoulder. "I want an answer! What is going on here?"
"A vampire has been assaulting the shipping yard. Father Nightroad has silenced the first target. A second hostile vampire has been confirmed," he said flatly as Integra's eyes narrowed. "Father Nightroad is currently in pursuit of the unknown vampire. I was ordered by Nightroad to find you to bring to Seras Victoria."
"Do you mean a vampiress by the name of Astharoshe?" Integra asked.
"Negative. Astharoshe is not a threat; she is on special duty for Cardinal Caterina Sforza and the Empress Augusta Vradica to find Father Nightroad, as is Father Watteau and myself."
Integra just looked a little puzzled as she stood, staring at the man before her. She cleared her throat, drew in long breath, and let it back out.
"Okay. That didn't help at all, Mister… What is your name?" she asked.
"Father Tres Iqus. If you will please follow me, Sir Hellsing, I have my orders," Tres replied as Integra walked over him. "Thank you."
Tres and Integra walked together in silence in the maze of crates and cargo nets for a couple of minutes. Every now and then Integra would look at her escort. She noticed something quite odd; the man never blinked, not even once. Also, the clothes he wore were a good deal bigger than what he should be wearing. They looked a great deal like Abel's.
"Are the clothes you wearing Abel's?" she asked casually.
"Positive. Father Nightroad gave me his clothes to replace my own," Tres said, cutting a corner. "However the clothes are not of efficient size and are therefore a hazard. Upon reporting this to Nightroad, he just laughed. I was unable verify what he found funny."
Is this man that dense? Integra thought, following him to an opening where a large shipping crane sat near the water with a smoking piece of wood littering the ground.
Seras was on the ground, holding her legs close to her body, as they walked up to her. Tres stopped a ways back, but Integra continued to walk towards her. She stopped about four feet in front of Seras, who hadn't even looked up to greet her.
"What do you think you're doing?" Integra asked, crossing her arms as Seras pulled her legs even closer to her body. "Answer me, Seras! Get up off the ground and do your duty! That's an order, Seras!"
Seras just turned her head completely away from her human master. Integra clenched her teeth together in anger at the defiant vampiress before her. She was about ready to give the wench a verbal assault when she heard Seras' small voice.
"I… saw him…" she whispered.
"Saw who?" Integra queried. "Who did you see?"
"Abel. B-but he… wasn't Abel… I d-don't know how else to explain i-it… he just…"
"Seras, you're not making any sense."
"She is referring to the Crusnik being at 80 percent level output," Tres said as Integra turned to look at him. "At that level, Abel's power is very volatile and highly lethal. He can generate extremely high levels of electrical energy and focus them into powerful attacks. He also has the ability of flight and his speed, strength, and regeneration are increased substantially."
"Let me guess, you got scared and cowered here," Integra huffed. "Did he attack you again?"
"No, S-Sir." Seras answered quietly.
"Then get up off your arse and keep fighting," Integra snapped bitterly. "You got scared, now suck it up! I will not tolerate a cowardly vampire in my Organization! GET UP AND FIGHT, DAMMIT!"
"Yes, Sir," Seras said, getting to her feet and grabbing her large firearm from the ground.
"Go with her, Father Tres," Integra said, looking at the icy man behind her. "Keep an eye on her."
"Positive." Tres said, walking over to Seras. "Seras Victoria, where do wish to proceed to from here?"
"That way, I guess," Seras said, pointing to where Abel had walked off to as she turned to look at Tres.
"Didn't your mother teach you it's not polite to point?" came a woman's sharp voice from the direction Abel had disappeared.
Seras turned to see she a tall woman dressed in black leather with long blonde hair and a red streak down the middle of her bangs. In her hand was a long spear with a glowing green tip. She walked over to the three of them and stopped six feet away.
"There you are, Tres. I've been looking everywhere for you since you disappeared about three days ago," Asta huffed, looking at the android before looking at an agitated Integra. "Nice to see you again, Sir Hellsing. I can see you're in a better mood."
"I suppose you find that comment funny, Astharoshe, was it?" Hellsing bit out. "Have you found your Tovarish yet?"
"No, I have not. Tres, let's go; we have to find Abel. I want to leave here as quickly as possible," Asta ordered, still glaring at Integra. "I can't stand it here any longer."
"Why are you looking for Father Nightroad?" Seras spoke up as Tres walked away from her and went to stand beside Asta. "And who are you?"
"I am Astharoshe Asran, Viscountess of Odessa and Duchess of Kiev," Asta replied haughtily to Seras. "I'm on a special duty assignment for the Empress Augusta Vradica and Cardinal Caterina Sforza to find Father Nightroad."
"Asran, you are to look for Nightroad, not gab," Hugue said, walking towards them as Asta glared daggers at him. "Tres, have you picked up Nightroad's signal?"
"Positive. Identification signal points to 5,098 feet north of this location," Tres answered.
"I suppose you're going to suggest that we hurry," Asta sighed, turning on her heel as Hugue ran past them. "Tres, let's move."
"Positive." Tres said, starting to move beside Asta.
"STOP," Seras snapped, running in front of the two.
"Out of my way," Asta ordered.
"What are you planning to do with Abel?" Seras snapped, holding her gun up to Asta as Tres pulled out his own guns and pointed them at Seras.
"I'm taking my Tovarish back home with me," Asta bit out. "Now, remove yourself from my path."
"So, Abel's your partner. Seras, stand down," Integra smirked, walking up beside Seras. "Tell me, Duchess, is Abel just your partner, or is he a little bit more to you?"
"O-of course not," Asta snapped, her face turning slightly pink. "A-Abel is just my friend! Nothing more! How dare you insinuate anything between us!"
"A bit snappy at the question, weren't you?" Integra smiled as Asta snarled in anger.
"Damn Terran," Asta growled, jumping up in the air and landing a good ways behind them. "Tres, move it!"
"Positive," Tres said, running after her as he cut a corner.
"Seras, I want you to follow them," Integra ordered, pulling out one of her cigars. "Try not to let them know you're trailing them."
"Yes, Sir," Seras nodded, hurrying after Asta and Tres and out of sight.
"This is proving to be a very interesting evening, isn't it, my Master?" Alucard said, coming out from the shadows.
"What do you think you're doing, Alucard?" Integra retorted, glaring at her undead servant. "I don't recall summoning you here."
"Hahahaha! No one said you did, Master. I'm just watching. I'm not taking part in any of tonight's festivities. I saw Abel as well," Alucard grinned evilly at her. "I must say he has power. Perhaps even enough to even destroy the world, if he wanted to."
"I pray to God that you're not planning on fighting him again," Integra huffed, lighting her cigar. "So, if you saw Abel, then you must have seen the dear Viscountess. What are your thoughts on her, Alucard?"
"Va-voom," Alucard sneered perversely as Integra murderous glared at him. "Haha! Well, she is very interesting. No, she's unlike any vampire I've ever seen before."
"What do you mean?" Integra asked her curiosity perked. "Is she one of the FREAK vampires?"
"No, she's not, nor is she one of the undead," Alucard mused as Integra's deep blue eyes widened. "She is something else all together. Think of her as a living vampire. With an average human body temperature and a beating heart. She could be something new from Millennium, however."
"I'm not so sure about that, Alucard," Integra sighed, taking a puff of her cigar. "When I asked her about it, she seemed a little lost on the subject, only saying she knew it as some Neo-Nazi party and nothing else."
"But you don't trust her, and that's why you sent Seras to trail her," he said, looking at his master in a sly manner. "As for that man, Tres, what were your impressions on him?"
"He's very dense," Integra stated flatly.
"What if I were to tell you that he wasn't human—or organic, for that matter," the vampire said as Integra gave him a weird look.
"You're saying he's some type of machine," she said incredulously, breathing out some smoke.
"I believe you humans would call him a 'robot'. Or maybe 'android' would be a better word," he replied. "Father Hugue is most definitely human, and he is a skilled swordsman as well. I wouldn't mind going one on one against him sometime."
"Figures," Integra sighed. "There is still one more thing I find odd."
"And that is?" Alucard asked.
"'Caterina'; isn't that strictly a feminine name?" she asked, tapping the ash from her cigar. "It's not an androgynous name like 'Ashley', is it?"
"No, though I'd pity any man named Ashley to begin with. That, and 'Percy'," he hummed. "Why do you ask, my Master?"
"Tell me if this sounds right to you. CARDINAL Caterina Sforza?"
"'Cardinal Caterina Sforza?' Where did you hear that?"
"Tres, Hugue, and Astharoshe were sent to fetch Abel by a Cardinal Caterina Sforza and an Empress named Augusta Vradica. A female cardinal, Alucard? Any ideas?"
"Heinkel dresses like a priest, so… But you do have a valid point. I guess we'll just have to figure it out. If you'd allow me to go back into action… Let's say, right now, for instance…" He grinned at her like begging child would do to his mother.
"If you weren't dead, you'd be dying to fight right now. Fine. Your sentence has been lifted. But do NOT start another fight. Am I clear on that, Alucard?" She bit out in a huff, blowing smoke out of her nose.
"As you wish, Master," Alucard smirked, bowing to her as he slipped back into the shadows.
"Something tells me this is going to be a long night," Integra muttered, massaging her poor, nicotine abused nose.
(A/N: Wow what was a long chapter. I hope you all enjoyed. Sorry it took so long.)
Millie M. Banshee
Beta: 2stupid
(BN: Sorry I didn't beta it before… heh heh… I concede.)