The Lost Priest
Chapter 20
The Enemy of my Enemy
(A/N Yes, this chapter has hit the big 2-0! 20 chapters at last. Wow amazing. Well, according to what was in the last chapter I'm sure you all are waiting to see what happens next. So start reading it.)
SOUNDS/sounds
Thoughts
Telepathy
(Last Time)
Way off in the distance a shadowed figure watches as the capital city, Byzantium went up in smoke. Normally he would be smiling about this but this was something else entirely. He did not like these new upstarts thinking they could just take over. No one was going to take over HIS world. It was his and he would be damn if let this group take it away from him. There was going to be hell to pay.
(Present Time: the Vatican)
Father William managed to sneak the young Pope out of the Vatican walls. Alessandro was dressed like an alter boy and he had a cloak hanging over he head to hide his face. The guards were everywhere barking out orders to one another about the upcoming war and to find his Holiness.
Alessandro kept his head down and stayed real close to William. They needed to get to air ship hangers. Kate was already there. With all the confusion no one paid much mind to them. They quickly boarded the Iron Maiden II and hid Alessandro in a spare cabin.
The young Pope was nervous as he sat on the crisp sheets of the bed. He didn't know if he could do this or not. He was dressed back into his proper vestments. He constantly pulled at his collar as though it was choking him. He was so scared of what his brother might do him, but he had to have faith in his sister. She knew what she was going after all, right?
A few minutes later Alessandro felt a jerking motion go throughout the whole ship. They had started moving. Soon they enough the ship was airborne and flying over Rome. The Pope waited as William came back and retrieved him.
"It's time, Your Holiness," William said, wrapping an arm around Alessandro's shoulders as they walked down the corridors. "Everything has already been planned. Everyone is with you on this, and you have our full support."
"Thank you, Father," Alessandro said, rubbing a tear from his eye.
"Don't be scared. As Caterina would say, 'we must stay strong in our endeavors,'" William quoted. "I believe that's one of her favorites."
Alessandro laughed a little as he was brought to the bridge of the airship. He followed William inside looking at all the people, screens, gadgets, and controls that filled the room. He soon saw Sister Kate standing in front of a chair with a camera and microphone in front of it.
"Your Holiness, please take a seat. We are working on overriding all other radio and visual communication devices," Kate said as Alessandro sat down the chair and William walked up to the camera. "We will get the word out through all of Rome. Do not worry. I doubt they'll take action upon us with you onboard."
Alessandro swallowed hard, pulling at his collar again. He listened to all the things going on around him. He didn't even understand half of what was going on. He could only pray this would work. This had to work somehow.
"Everything's a go," one of the radio operators said, looking at Kate and William. "We have full control of the airwaves in Rome and the Vatican."
"Then the rest is up to you, Holiness," Kate said as Alessandro sat up strait and looked into the camera.
(The Vatican)
Everyone was in panic trying to get radio and visuals again. There was nothing happening but white noise. Francesco was in an uproar about this mess. He was barking orders left and right to get everything back online.
"WHAT ARE YOU IDOTS DOING," he shouted. "THIS IS NO DOUBT SOME ATTEMPT BY THOSE BLOOD THIRSTY MONSTERS TO CRIPPLE US! GET THOSE CONNECTIONS UP!"
"Your Eminence, we are picking up a signal on every frequency," a radio operator spoke as everything crackled and snapped followed by muffled voices in the background.
"What is this," the Cardinal snapped.
"We're getting visual as well," anther operator announced. "Good Lord, it's his Holiness!"
"WHAAAAAT!" Francesco hollered, looking at all the monitors that lit up with his little brother's face. "What is going on?! Where is this coming from?"
"We've tracked the signal coming from the Iron Maiden II, Sir," the first operator spoke.
"That's Caterina's airship. Does her treachery know no bounds," His face was as red as his robes. "I want that THING shot down right now!"
"We can't! His Holiness is aboard the Iron Maiden," A third operator announced.
"He's WHAT," Francesco bit out, bitterly.
"Um, hi, everyone. I, uh…" Alessandro pulled at his collar again.
(The Iron Maiden II)
"What's the matter," William whispered. "Go on. You have to get the word out."
Alessandro nodded his head and removed is hand from his collar. He had to do this or more lives would be lost. He looked strait into the camera and grasped the microphone firmly in his hand. Had to do this, he just had to. He cleared his throat.
"Good evening everyone. I am his Holiness, Alessandro XVIII. I have a very important announcement to make. As we all know we are under attack by people we believe to be vampires or rather Methuselahs, but do not be fooled. These are not like the Methuselah we are accustom to. They are different and very violent from anything we have ever seen before.
"We are on the brink of war with the Empire but whether you wish to believe this or not, the Empire is not responsible for this attack. As I speak the Empire and Albion are also under attack by the very same people. You have to believe what I say. My sister Cardinal Caterina Sforza is no traitor to the Church, regardless to what my brother, Cardinal Francesco di Medici wants you all to believe. He wants to hide the truth from everyone, so he may start his war. He didn't even want me to speak to my sister to understand what was going on. I managed to get help from on resident priests to contact my sister. We must not go to war with The New Human Empire.
"This is no time to go to war with them. We would only end up aiding this new threat that wants to take over the world. This new threat calls itself, Millennium. It is run by a person know only to us as the Major. I have spoken to both of the leaders from Albion and the Empire. We all want to help and put an end to this brutality that has taken hold of us all.
"Please everyone put your efforts into fighting Millennium, and not ourselves or the Empire. Both the Empire and Albion are willing to help stop this new threat, but we must work together on this. All of us together. Please! Before its too late! I'm asking everyone to aid the Church, Albion, and the Empire, or everything may be lost to us all forever."
William turned off the camera and microphone. Kate had everyone restore communications to Rome and the Vatican. Now all they had to do was wait for a reply from the Vatican.
Alessandro stood a little weak in the knees as everyone on the bridge applauded him. He was turning pink in the face and he slumped a little. He was wandering what would happen now.
"You did very well, Alessandro," Kate said. "I have Cardinal Caterina on the another line. Would you like to speak to her?"
"Yes, please," the Pope nodded and followed the hologram to a radio console.
(The Vatican)
Everyone was staring at Francesco and none of them looked happy. Some looked angry, some hurt, and some surprised, but all were speechless. Francesco looked like a deer caught in headlights. He slowly stepped away as everyone in the control room started toward him.
"Is this true, Your Eminence," someone spoke from behind Francesco. "Why would you hide the truth from us?"
"I didn't know," the Cardinal said, turning around to face Brother Petro. "How was I to know all this was going on?"
"The Empire was trying to contact us but you refused to speak with them," a radio operator admitted.
"Is that so? Why would you do that," Petro said walking up his boss. "You endangered so many lives by doing that!"
"Don't you dare talk down to me, Brother Petro," Francesco bit out fiercely but he was barking like a scared dog. "Don't forget where your loyalties lay!"
"My loyalties are to God, the Church, and the Pope, but you seem to have fallen out of my list," Petro snapped, grabbing the Cardinal by his robes. "Are you that hungry for war with the Empire that you would actually do something this stupid? We have lost a lot of good men and women out there! We need all the help we can get! This is something far worse that what any Methuselah can do!"
"What are you talking about," Francesco growled.
"People are being slaughtered and coming back to life as walking murdering corpses," Petro yelled in the bastard's face. "Even children are attacking us! Get those damn lines up to the Empire and to Albion right now! We need to know how to stop these things before it gets any worse!"
"Don't you dare order me around," Francesco hissed, pulling himself out of Petro's grip. "YOU'RE FIRED!"
"That's not going to work. You have fallen out favor of everyone in the Church. I heard his Holiness's report and with the vote from your fellow cardinals I was ordered to place you under arrest." Petro stated as he pulled out a set of handcuffs.
"Damn you," Francesco yelled, pulling out a small pistol and shot at Petro.
The small caliber bullet grazed Petro's left cheek. Petro stood there for a second or two in surprise before he finally grabbed hold of the fighting Cardinal, knocked him to the ground, and pulled the gun out of his hand.
"Get off me," Francesco yelped under the weight of Brother Petro and his armor. "Let go of me this instant!"
Petro said nothing as he slipped the handcuffs around Francesco's wrists. He finally got up off him before pulling the angry cardinal up to his feet. After that little incident back in Albion where Francesco had practically left the young Pope's fate up to the Methuselahs he had little respect for the man, but this was the straw that broke the camels back.
"You can add resisting arrest to your list of charges against you," Petro said, pulling Francesco towards the door. "You better hope and pray all you get is a very long jail sentence, because you're on the edge of being executed."
(The Empire)
There was only a slight bit of relief when connection was made with the Vatican and word that Cardinal Francesco was arrested. In his place would be Brother Petro and Sister Paula. Caterina had just finished speaking with her little brother and congratulated him on job well done; she was in the council meeting, along with Esther, Sir Hellsing, Walter, and Maxwell.
Sir Hellsing was telling everyone how to deal with the threat along with the unwanted input by Maxwell. Everyone was exchanging ideas and methods about going about getting rid of this threat. Things were looking grim. They had to do something and fast.
Alucard, Seras, and Anderson had long since joined in the actual fight out in the streets. The numbers were great if not overbearing to fight back. They had to drive Millennium back. Citizens were running everywhere this only caused distractions for everyone. Some of them were even fighting the soldiers to get to hold of their weapons.
The palace guards were having a hard time keeping everyone from flooding the gates. They weren't winning the battle against the citizens and were soon over powered. The gates were flung open and the populist rushed inside. More guards rushed out trying to hold them back but it was hardly doing any good.
Word spread quickly to the Empress about the breach at the palace gates. She excused herself before heading out to see just what was happening. She quickly ordered everyone down to the underground corridor and chambers of the palace. This was all she could do. She ordered medicine, bandages, food, water, and bedding sent down there with the refugees.
Nothing seemed to be working to hold them back. They didn't have much silver in their arsenal what little they did was just about gone. Silver was toxic to them, so silver mines were few and in between and why would they keep so toxic in great amounts? They had to wait until the Vatican could give them a shipment.
Seras was with Alucard and Abel in crusnik form soon caught up with them. They explained to each other about what they knew on what was happening. This was definitely not good. Nothing seemed to be working. For an Empire of vampires they were poorly stocked to deal with vampires but then again the vampires here were living beings and not the living dead.
"Abel, behind you," Seras shouted as Abel whipped around and cut 2 ghouls in half. "They just keep coming and coming! There's no end!"
"Crusnik, I know you have more power than this," Alucard said, firing off around into one freak vampire and a ghoul. "Why are you holding back?"
"Why are YOU holding back," Abel returned the question, slicing three freaks in half.
"I asked you first," Alucard replied.
"Don't even start that," Seras bit out, blowing a ghoul's head off its shoulders.
"Well—excuuuuse us," Abel said, sticking out his tongue slightly.
Seras rolled her eyes as she heard her master laugh. It must be a guy thing. But both did have a good point why weren't they fighting at full force? She had seen her master fight with more power than this and Abel as well. It was puzzling.
But she really didn't have time to think about it as 6 ghouls came at her. She knocked the heads off of 2 before shooting the last 4. Always one right after another it seemed. This was not going to turn out well. She was starting to feel tired.
BOOOOOOM!!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAGH," Seras screamed and another bomb went off behind them.
The building crumbled around dust, smoke, fire, metal, glass, and concrete totally surrounded them on all sides. They couldn't see a thing and the sound of tumbling building was deafening.
The last thing Abel saw was a large chunk of concrete and metal coming right at Seras. He couldn't do anything. He had to avoid getting crushed as well. But he couldn't see and it was hard to breath. The only way to get out of this was to get airborne. Even that was still too dangerous; the building was still coming a part and without being able to see he could collide headlong into a large piece of falling building.
There was another explosion as more debris came falling down. Abel looked up only see large shadow growing in size and darkness. It was coming too fast. He couldn't move. Why is it that sometimes when no matter who much you mind says "run" your legs refuse the order? Abel had no time to contemplate the thought he as he felt something impact him.
He was knocked forcefully to the ground, sliding a ways long the broken ground and glass shards. He didn't see what hit him or what was laid on top of him. He had his face down to the ground, be he was glad at least it was a person and not a 10 tons of building. Perhaps it was Alucard that knocked him out of the way. The person was too big to the Seras.
The person on top of Abel slowly got up but kept a strong foot on Abel's back to keep him down. Abel puzzled what was Alucard, if this really was Alucard, doing. He needed to get off him so he could back up. The crusnik soon felt a surge of energy around him and the dust and smoke began the thin instantly. The air was faintly smoky now and he could see everything thing around him. Well, what he could make out from his place on the pavement. But first…
"Alucard, get off of me," Able bit out.
"I'm not this 'Alucard,' Abel," the man spoke and Abel's blood ran cold. "You're like a cockroach. You just keep coming back."
"CAIN," Abel shouted, rolling over to sit up as Cain jumped back. "I'll kill you!"
"I suggest you don't, Abel," Cain stated, placing his lance right under Abel's chin. "You need all the help you can get."
"You expect me to believe you that you're just going help us because you want to," Abel snarled, swatting the lance from his throat and called his scythe back into his hands. "I seriously doubt you're that noble."
"Then be the fool my dear brother," Cain growled. "I don't want these upstarts here no more than you do! They'll ruin everything I have planned!"
Abel stood up and held his scythe firmly in his hands but Cain only lowered his weapon. What was Cain doing here? What was really his game? He could only wonder about this.
"In the long run, Abel, facing me will be a lot easier than taking down a whole army of these—whatever they are," Cain said with a smirk. He knew Abel was listening. "So, for once let's put our sibling rivalry aside, hmm? It'll be for the greater good in the long run."
"Why would I want to work with someone who will only try to destroy the world again after he just finished saving it," Abel replied with venom. "That makes no sense! I won't have any part in what you're scheming!"
"Actually, I think you do but your pride and honor won't allow that," Cain walking up to his younger twin. "Let's face it, Abel, I need you and Seth as much as you both need me. Like I said you have a better chance against me than you do against them. Combined we have more than enough power to destroy them all, just like back then—"
"SHUT UP," Abe yelled baring his fangs at Cain but the older crusnik only smiled.
"My bad. I forgot, that's still a touchy subject with you, isn't it," Cain smirked, reaching out and placed a gentle hand on Abel's face. "I do believe you're shaking. Hmhmhmhm… You scared I'm going to kill you again? I have no desire to dispose of you. I only want to help right now. I have a plan that could work."
Abel slapped his brother's hand away but the smirk did not leave his elder brother's face. He gripped his blood scythe so tight that his knuckles were turning as white as his hair. He didn't want to trust or have anything to with Cain. But something told him inside that Cain meant what he was say.
"What is your plan," Abel hissed out through his fangs.
"First I need to see out dear little sister," Cain said with a sigh. "And you are just the man to help get me an audience with her Majesty."
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Abel said under his breath.
Cain followed after Abel by his side. Abel was too kindhearted for his own good. Cain liked that trait in his younger brother. That's what made him so easy manipulate.
Seras watched as Abel and another man that looked great deal like an older version of Cain walk off. Her legs were pinned under a large piece of metal and concrete. She couldn't go after them and she had no idea where her master was at. All she could do was lay there. She had lost too much blood to get the strength to pull her legs out.
"You look pathetic, Police Girl," Alucard spoke, walking up to her. "Laying there on you belly. Get up."
"Uh, Master, if you haven't noticed I'm stuck under tons of building here," Seras growled as her Master groaned.
"I guess I was expecting too much of you," Alucard sighed, lifting up the chuck of wall off her legs long enough for her to squirm out. "Sometimes I wonder if I ever made a mistake turning you."
Seras turned her eyes from her master. That was cruel thing to say. She was trying her best after all, but nothing was ever good enough for him. No matter how far she thought she progressed it would never truly be enough to satisfy him.
"As for Abel," Alucard said staring off the direction he left in. "I really hope he know what he's doing."
"That was Cain with him, wasn't it," Seras said, looking back up at her master. "What is he doing here?"
"He wants to help us fight back Millennium from the looks of things," Alucard said, picking Seras off of the ground. "I know what he has planned. It would best to get you inside the palace. The sun's coming up and the shield might not be up for very much longer."
"The UV shield," Seras puzzled.
(The Palace)
"You're Majesty August, you have visitors," a servant announced walking into the council room.
"Not now, Drago," Augusta snapped. "I have no time right now. Tell them to wait."
"Tell us to wait? How rude of you," a man spoke, knocking the servant out of way as another man helped him back to his feet. "My dear Augusta, I see you're doing well."
"What are you doing here, Cain," Augusta yelled. "Get out of my house!"
"Abel, have you lost your mind letting him in here," Esther bit out.
"I figured I won't be welcomed here but oh well," Cain said, walking up to Augusta.
"That's far enough, Cain," Integra said, stepping before Cain with a gun in her hand.
Cain stopped to regard this strong-willed woman. She looked vaguely familiar somehow. He couldn't place a finger on where he had seen her before. He just shook his head and dismissed the memory as simple déjà vu.
"Now, there is no need for any of that," Cain said with a smile. "I come here with my sword sheathed and a most interesting proposal."
"We don't want anything to do with you or your Order," Caterina snapped. "Abel, get him out of here!"
"Lady Caterina, I think it would be best to hear him out for once," Abel spoke up. "He has come up with a very good plan."
"Are you actually serious," Augusta almost yelled. "Abel, he killed you once! Why would let your murder and the enemy of the world help us? Once this threat is gone he'll just turn back on us!"
"Yes, but wouldn't you rather face me one on one than a whole army of these creatures," Cain mused as August and the other remained silent for a moment.
"I haven't forgotten that one crusnik alone is enough to destroy a large city in less than one night," Augusta stated. "I haven't forgotten a thing about back then when I participated with you. That was a large mistake I will not make again."
"Yes, and what sweet memories they were," Cain grinned even wider. "This undead army is German is it not? I believe it's called Millennium."
"What are you getting at," Maxwell barked out. "You know how to beat them?"
"Of course I do," Cain said, turning towards Maxwell. "I'm German myself. I have an insight that surpasses even my siblings' knowledge. I don't know how they got here but they started a war in the early 21st century."
"Tell us something we don't know," Integra snorted.
"They lose but they didn't go down easy," Cain said, walking towards her but Integra didn't remove her gun's aim from his heart. "As for right now we all know that the sun will be up within the hour. The UV shield is still up and running is it not?"
"Yes," August drawled. "Are you implying we shut it down?"
"Yes, I am. But not right now," Cain mused stopping right in front of Integra. "We'll leave it up. It won't take them long to realize that something stops them from going up in a puff of smoke."
"I get it. We lead them out somewhere in the open and then turn off the shield," Esther said as Cain nodded.
"Exactly, but let's take this even a step farther," Cain continued. "Not all will be stupid enough and some may make it to safety. The Empire's army is equipped with anti-UV gel and clothing in its arsenal does it not, for when the army has to leave the safety of the UV shield?"
"Hm, so we would have the advantage in the light as well," August snorted. "After we beat them back then what?"
"We find the source of where they're coming from and block it," Cain announced.
"Well, there's got to be someway they're getting from there era to ours. The Major already stated that the device that Tres dropped is what got them here," Mirka stated. "But making that many small devices would be costly in time and money. So wouldn't it be logical to think that they made some larger models."
"That's very big possibility. We do still have the original device up," August stated.
"Actually, Empress, the original device has been dismantled and the plans erased," Ion spoke weakly and the August groaned. "You had me personally look over the dismantlement of the time device."
"Well, that's shitty," Integra grumbled. "We still have the smaller versions we were going to use, right?"
"Yes, but they only have enough power for one last trip and for very little amount people, and reconstructing of larger devices will take some time," Augusta muttered.
"Who says we have to make large devices," Cain spoke again. "They have to have someway of getting back to their time and transporting weapons, right? Who's to say they're not going to construct some here as well?"
"So, we use their devices to get to their base and cripple them," Maxwell mused. "But finding them is going to be a problem. And who's to say that they won't keep changing positions every time they arrive? In the end there may be a large number of time devices scattered all over the place!"
"We just have to find all of the devices before that scenario happens," Esther bit out.
"You make it sound so easy," Maxwell growled. "This is not going to be a walk in the park!"
"I'm not stupid," Esther barked back. "I know that!"
"Do you have any more ideas," Alucard said, walking into the room. "I've been listening for quite some time I must say your plan sounds almost solid."
"'Almost', huh? So, tell then, what is your next idea," Cain said, turning around to meet Alucard. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
"You could but now it not the time to discus the past," the nosferatu in red grinned. "If you're going to invade a base full of the undead wouldn't it be wise not send normal humans?"
"So, we send in Methuselahs. But that will stretch our defenses here very thin," Augusta stated but Alucard only grinned wider.
"The humans can handle things here given the right weapons and proper leadership of course," Alucard said, looking at everyone around him. "We will win if the Contra Mundi speaks the truth."
"Well, it sound like we've got a plan," Caterina grinned. "Get news out to Albion, the Vatican, and every other allied nation that's with us! They will regret ever coming here and destroying our world!"
(A/N That was chapter 20. Yay! Please review! Oh, I have an added story. A true story in fact. It's funny and some maybe a little gross.)
Chicken and Dumplings
Friday evening. I just came out of my bedroom after working on a pencil portrait. It was raining down in buckets and dark out. My mother had announced dinner was ready. At first I went to the cabinet to find some sort of cookie or candy bar. Nothing seemed really good.
My mom had just finished making chicken and dumplings. One of my most hated dishes. For years no matter who made them I just couldn't stomach them. I would rather jump off a cliff than eat them. But my stomach growled and I was too lazy to cook anything.
"Want some of this," my mother asked as she fixed herself a bowl.
I stared at the pot for a moment or two. I turned my nose up at it. My stomach was growling to be fed, but I would be damned if I ate at that!
"No—uh, yeah," I said as my stomach gave on last request for food. "I'm not really fond on dumplings."
"You don't have to eat it," my mom said plainly to me. "Your father's the one that wanted them."
"I know. I'm just too lazy to fix something else," I grumbled as I grabbed a bowl and went to get some out of the pot but my mom closed the lid. "Mom, I was going to get some!"
"Oh, I'm sorry," she tells as she heads into the other room.
I removed the lid and looked at them yet again and my stomach turned. I'm debating if I really wanted the dumplings or not. I reached into the sludge with a large serving spoon and got some out and placed it in my bowl. Some fell out of the pot and landed on the stove almost like pile of slime. It reminded me of something Mike Rowe for Dirty Jobs had to trump through. I shuttered as I closed the lid and cleaned up the slimy dumplings.
I walked into my parents' bedroom and sat down next to her with a folding table. I took my first bite and it felt like I had just swallowed a peppery chicken flavored worm. Not even half way through my bowl I could no longer stomach the dumplings; I felt sick from it. I got up to look for something to get the taste from my mouth.
I happened to find the last three fun-sized 3 Musketeers bars in the pantry. I grabbed them and walked back into my parents' room. I sat back down where I had been eating. The bowl was still sitting there ready to be thrown out. I opened a bar and took a bite. That sure got the taste from my mouth.
I took one last bite of my chicken and dumplings and to my surprise I found it wasn't as bad as before. I looked back the chocolate bar in my fingers and then back the dumplings. I had found a way to stomach chicken and dumplings. Just add 3-Musketeers bars on the side and everything was just fine.
The following day I ate the some odd combination in front of my father. He scrunched up his nose and gave me a disturbed look.
"What are you eating," he asked me.
"Dumplings with chocolate," I announced, happily. "Want some?"
"YUCK," he announced before he turned around to mom who was in living room, reading. "Rose, do you know what she's eating?
"What," my mom asked looking up him.
"She's eating chicken and dumpling with 3-Muskerteers bars," he stated.
"She did that last night," Mom said, going back to her book.
"It's not as bad as you think," I said, putting a spoonful of dumplings in my mouth followed by a bit of chocolate.
"Then I suppose you like dill pickles and ice-cream together too then," he said as I looked back up at him.
"Actually, yeah, I do," I said truthfully.
My father looked at me like he was going to puke. I figure out why I had to have chocolate with my dumplings. My mom's recipe calls for a lot of black pepper and salt. With me if I have something salty I have to have something sweet. I also can't stand a lot of black pepper, and since chocolate is made of milk and milk gets rid of lot of tastes such as pepper… Well, you get the idea. I know it sounds gross but sometimes what sounds gross isn't as bad as we think.
Do you have an odd food combination that you would like to share? I would love to read what other people eat.
Millie M. Banshee