The Lost Priest

Chapter 23

Last Ditch Effort

(A/N ATTENTION PLEASE! This will be my last chapter for a while on this story and others. I have school, I'm looking for a job, and I have other home projects I need to work on. So I apologize in advance for not being able to update.)

SOUNDS/sounds

Thoughts

Telepathy

(Last Time)

"Well, think of it this way it gives us a break," Walter said, crossing his arms.

"Oh yeah, some break. We're going to be nervous wrecks until the storm passes over," Asta sighed. "Could this day get any worse?"

"HUSH! I think Murphy's ghost is listening in on us," Abel said, putting a hand over her mouth. "And he's applying his law wherever he sees fit! Don't give him any more ideas!"

"I think you may be right," Walter groaned, rubbing the sore muscles in his shoulders. "We didn't get to go home, we started fighting a war, the war turned into a fiasco, and now there's a raging tornado outside. We're good."

Alucard turned his head towards the door with a peculiar look. They weren't alone in the building and with what he saw with his third-eye wasn't anything good. He only had time to yell out a warning.

"GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR!"

KAAAA-BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!

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(Present Time)

There was no time to move, no time to think, before the bomb went off. Extreme heat, large debris, and the sheer force of the explosion swamped them. Everything went black and the sound of the explosion mixed with roaring wind was deafening. They were buried under what was left of the burning building. Who was hurt, who was alive for that matter? They couldn't see anything and it would be unwise to move something could shift and crush them or even someone else. They had to wade out the storm the best they could and hope help would come for them.

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It was quiet, dead quiet; just the snaps and crackles from burning material could be heard. She didn't know what time it was and how long she had been there. All she knew was she felt very weak, a sharp pain in her chest making it hard to breathe, and she couldn't move. She didn't even have the strength to yell for help.

She was scared. Was she going to be found in time or was she going to die here all alone? She was so very scared. She began to cry making it only harder to breathe. She was also getting panicked. She needed to stay calm but who really can stay calm in situations like this? When one's life is hanging by a thread and one is fully aware of it, how can one really stay calm?

For Asta it had been a good two days since she was thrown so far from the building. She had only recently regained conciseness. She didn't know anything other than darkness around her. She didn't even know that she was thrown 100 yards from the building she started out in with a metal rod in chest, and completely cover in large rubble and debris. The rod was wedged in so tight that very little blood pooled out but over the course of two days that little bit was becoming quite bit. Every time she attempted to move it would aggregate the wound and loosen the rod ever so slightly that I would begin to bleed.

Why hadn't they found her yet? We're they still looking for her? Did they know where to look? Could they even get to her? Thoughts like these and more flooded her mind. Was she going to die here? Would they ever find her at all? What happened to the others? Were they dead? Were they alive?

All Asta could do was wait and hope that someone would find her in time. A minute would pass by and it would feel like an hour. She knew if she died it battle it might be quick and she died with honor and pride, but this was very slow and painful. She figured Alucard would find her with his telepathy or something, but she didn't hear the nosferatu's voice in her mind. She felt very lonely. She wanted someone with her. She'd even take that godforsaken Maxwell at this point.

SNAAAAP!!

What was that? Asta questioned herself.

Was something above her giving away? Would whatever that was holding up the rubble collapse at any even moment, bringing who knows how many 100s to 1000s of pounds tumbling down on her?

SNAAAAP!! CRUMMMMBLE!! GROOOOAN! SNAAAAP!!

She couldn't tell where it was or what was breaking. Abel was right about Murphy's ghost; he really had it in for them. She closed her eyes she couldn't really make out anything even with small smoldering fire that rested not far from her. Perhaps while she out the fire ate away at what was holding up rubble above her head and it was finally giving way. If was going to come down on her she didn't want to watch it come down.

KRAAAACK!! CRUMMMMBLE!! GROOOAN!! MUMBLE… SNAAP!!

If the damn thing was going to come down than it had better hurry up! She felt like she was in old Edger Allen Poe story she read while at the Hellsing manor. The Pit and the Pendulum but this time the pendulum was the crumbling building above her as it slowly moved down.

"HELLOOOO, ANYBODY DOWN THERE? HELLOOOO!"

Asta's breath was caught in her throat. Someone was coming for her after all! But she could barely get her voice over a whisper. Dammit!

"ANSWERE ME! IS THERE ANYONE DOWN THERE?!"

The man's voice was getting closer. All of the groaning and snapping must be from the people above her. They didn't know how unstable it was and that it could give away any moment now. She needed to tell the man but she couldn't speak loud enough and she couldn't move.

She could hear him tell someone he was going down, and the another man told him to be careful. She heard something that sounded like digging just as the rubble shifted quite a bit. This time those above her felt it and she could hear people scream to get off the debris. The man that was originally coming after her was told to leave as well until they could figure out where the weak points were.

Her hope was lost. It maybe hours or even days before they figured that that out. She couldn't wait that long! She wanted out now! She was having a hard time remaining conscience. She didn't know how much longer she could keep her eyes open.

She heard the digging again and started to see some light. It looked like artificial light shinning down from the hole. Well, she didn't have to worry about the sun for now. She could barely make out the dark silhouette of a person's head as he reached into the hole with a strong light.

The light was very bright and covered quite a bit of ground as he slowly moved it about the large hollowed cavity. The light was slowly creeping towards her. She wanted that damn man to hurry up and put it on her so he would get her out of there. Slowly the light moved and the man caught the first glimpse of her boots with the metal armor shining back up him.

"I FOUND SOMEONE DOWN HERE! GET ME SO ROPE! I'M GOING DOWN!"

"IT'S TOO DANGEROUS YOU NEED TO WAIT UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT—"

"BY THE TIME YOU FIGURE THAT MUCH OUT THE PERSON COULD BE DEAD!"

"THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT PERSON'S EVEN ALIVE! YOU WANT TO LOSE YOUR LIFE ON SONEOME THAT COULD BE ALREADY DEAD?"

"YOU SAID IT YOUR SELF, 'COULD BE'! THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT!"

Asta watched with half opened eyes as a long thick piece of rope fell from the hole, and a good bit landed on ground. She watched the man carefully climbed down careful not the hit anything that could shift the rubble. As soon as he touched ground and pulled the light off his waist and shown it towards were he saw the boots. Attached the boots was a tall blonde woman barely stare back at him amber color eyes and a steel rod in her chest. He wondered for a moment if she was still alive until he noticed her half opened eyes were following him.

He walked over her and knelt down before her. Her vision was growing blurry and darker with each passing moment. Her hearing was getting muffled as he talked to her. She didn't want to go back to sleep. She might not wake up this time. She was fighting as hard as she could to remain awake.

"Hold on! We'll get you out of here," he said, putting a warm hand on her cold face. "You need to stay awake! You need to keep your eyes open! Stay with me…"

Asta's vision became black as her eyes closed down. The man didn't want to the shake her in fear of damaging something more. He pulled his radio off his waist he needed to get help down here for this woman and fast.

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(The Palace)

What a mess! What a total mess! First the city was bombed and then summer storm decided to destroy a lot of what was left. Augusta was on her last leg. They still hadn't found Walter or Asta yet. Seras, Alucard, and Anderson were doing well. Hugue was the hospital wing of the palace due to stay for at least 2 weeks along with Abel who was going to be discharged tomorrow. Tres was almost scrap metal except he could still talk but he would sputter out random nonsense. Ion was lucky after getting thrown from the building he managed to pull himself up and get underground using an opened manhole cover. His injuries were nothing more than some bruised body parts and couple broken ribs.

Integra was very nervous for Walter's safety as Augusta was worried for Asta's. They really hadn't had an attack since the storm. They were grateful for that blessing at least. Cain was still trying to figure out what to do about Millennium and how to go about getting rid of them. Catherina was spending her time working with the other leaders or visiting Abel. Esther was spending a lot of her time keeping in contact with Albion as Maxwell worked with Vatican as long Catherina was in the room.

Esther decided to check up on Abel. She hadn't seen him since he was first brought in. Seras decided to join her. As they started down the medical wing. They were shoved to the side as two orderlies threw open the doors and a group of about 5 nurses and doctors rushed someone by them. They couldn't tell who it was other than that the person looked like they had metal rod running through him or her.

"Who was that," Esther asked one of the orderlies.

"I'm going to have to ask you two to come back later," the orderly said, closing the doors.

"We just want to know who—damn," Seras bit out as the two orderlies shut the doors in their faces. "I guess we wait then."

"I believe her name is Astharoshe Asran, Your Majesty," a man spoke from behind them. "I'm sorry I didn't come to you immediately. As soon as I arrived I was asked to help look for survivors among the damage. I don't know if I found her time."

"Virgil Walsh!" Esther beamed, turned around to meet the blond Methuselah, before running up to him and nearly knocked him over with large bear-hug. "You didn't tell me you were coming here!"

"If I told you, you would have told me not to," he said plainly pushing her off him gently. "When I heard about the storm I quick bored an airship and came here. I was worried about your welfare."

"Well, I'm perfectly fine, Virgil," Esther said, before turning back to the doors. "What about Asta? How is the Duchess of Kiev?"

"Not good. She was barely alive when I found her. I couldn't keep her awake when I finally got to her," Virgil said, looking at the doors as well. "When I was coming up I got word they just found a Walter C. Dornez. They should be bringing him up here shortly."

Both of the women sighed heavily with relief that the last two remaining members of their team was alive not necessarily well but alive. He looked back at his queen and then at the busty blond vampire beside her. This was the first time he had ever stepped foot on the Empire's soil and he wondered just how many woman here were that big in the chest. Duchess Mirka was, Duchess Astharoshe was, and so was this young woman right here. He kept the comments to himself especially in front of his queen.

"Virgil, this is Seras Victoria," Esther said, putting a hand on Sera's shoulder. "She works for Sir Hellsing."

"Ah, so that would mean you are that Nosferatu," He asked as Seras nodded. "I've read quite a bit about you from our ancient archives. You were even involved the RMP I believe."

"What is the RMP," Esther asked.

"It's nothing you need to worry about," Abel said, coming through the doors with a light limp. "It's old history."

"Father Abel," Virgil grinned and gave the priest a hearty handshake. "I see you weathered the storm quite well."

"Compared to Asta…" Abel said, rubbing back of his head. "I didn't really get to see all that was going on. They just shoved me out the way and I heard them say something about emergency surgery after the x-rays and an ultrasound."

"Oh, Abel, Mr. Walsh said they just found Walter," Seras said with a small grin.

"Well, that's great news," Abel grinned back. "I know Integra will be glad to hear that. She was so worry about him."

"Frankly I think we all were," Esther said with large sigh. "Everyone's back at least."

SLAAAAM!!

"I'VE GOT IT," Cain shouted as he slammed a door opened against a wall farther down the hall.

"Got what?" Seras asked as Cain finally noticed that he wasn't alone in the hall. "Another idea that will end in a fiasco?"

Cain just slinked back into his "study" and closed the door back. Abel just shook his head and the women stifled a laugh. Virgil just stared at the door Cain came out of and then ducked back into. Wasn't that THE Contra Mundi? The very person that attacked the Albion Palace, along with Londinium, and killed Farther Abel? What was he doing here? Esther didn't mention him before.

"Isn't that…" Virgil asked turning around as the three people beside him nodded. "Why is he here?"

"He offered us some help in getting rid of Millennium," Esther explained, noticing Virgil looked a bit flustered that the world's enemy was actually inside the Imperial Palace along with the Queen of Albion. "His first plan ended up in that horrible fiasco but he has proved useful in other areas. But we now know Seras can handle him if he gets out of hand."

"He frickin' paranoid around me," Seras laughed. "It's awesome!"

"How did you find that out?" Virgil asked.

"Well…" Abel began.

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(Flash Back, Yesterday.)

Abel sat up in his hospital bed with Catherina sitting right beside, holding his crutches. The doctors wanted him get up and move around a little bit to workout his knee he dislocated. He took the crutches from her and stood up.

He decided to head out into the hall. Seras was coming down to visit him and Hugue, even though Hugue wasn't too thrilled about it. He decided to meet her half way. Catherina was walking right beside him in case he should fall, which he had already done earlier that day.

"Hey, Catherina, I was just wondering if—"

SCREEEEEEECH!!

"EEEEEEEEEYYYYYAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

"SSSSHHHHHRRRIIIIIIEEEEEEKKKKK!!"

"What—was—that?" Catherina asked, looking at Abel.

"I don't know," Abel said, scratching the side of his face. "But think Cain just met Seras. Though I'm debating which scream belonged to him."

A second later the doors to the hospital wing flew open and Cain rushed passed them in a hurry. Before the doors close they could see Seras standing in the hall looking awestruck as to what just happened.

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"He screams like a girl," Seras said as Virgil still looked confused. "It's a long story let's just say he… Well, let's just say he can't decide between blondes and brunettes.

"Ain't that the truth," Abel chuckled. "I better go see what his big idea was. He's not coming out as long she's here."

Abel limped down the hall and knocked on the door 3 times. Before Cain peeked out to make sure Seras wasn't around. So far he still hadn't placed Alucard, Integra, and the others. He even doubted that Cain remember be masquerading around as soldier calling himself William Walter Wordsworth. He couldn't wait until he met the real Wordsworth.

"She's not with you, is she," Cain drawled and Abel shook his head. "C'mon."

Abel stepped inside as Cain shut the door.

"So, what's this new idea you got," Abel asked, taking a seat across from his brother.

"The smaller time devices there are three, correct?" Cain asked and Abel nodded.

"Yes, that is correct," Abel stated. "Why?"

"It is obvious we need someone who can help with the time traveling Millennium. Someone who knows more about time travel than anyone else," Cain said, looking at Abel with peculiar grin.

"But he's dead, Cain," Abel said plainly but Cain's grin only widened. "What? What is it? Ah… But there only enough energy in those for one trip."

"One trip per device so three trips in total. Think about it," Cain stated as Abel blinked. "We use the master control and program it not to activate the second device until after I snatch Isaak. It will be simple."

"Good luck talking Seth and others into letting you use the devices," Abel snorted, crossing his arms. "After that little fiasco a few days ago I seriously doubt…"

"It will be a piece of cake. Isaak will be able to rebuild the original device and he might figure out something else to stop them from coming here as well."

"This doesn't change the plan, does it?" Abel sighed. "When they start building their machines here we will still seize control of them and use them to get to their base, right?"

"Absolutely. That part will still be in affect," Cain assured him. "But we need to get Isaak here and quick. It's only a matter of time before they return. I can assure you this is my last ditch effort."

"Last ditch effort, huh?" Abel mused as Cain nodded. "Among how many more last ditch efforts can we expect in the future?"

"Abel, please… Just help me do what I need to do and I can assure you this time that you and the others won't be disappointed," Cain said with a sweet grin and Abel groaned. "Give me the control of two of the three devices and I will return with Isaak and we can start over from there."

Abel sighed in defeat. Isaak would be someone good to have around when dealing with time devices. He would have to let his brother do that if it would truly help. Abel nodded in agreement as Cain's grin widened.

"Thank you, Abel, I can tell you right now you made a wise decision," Cain said as Abel stood up and moved towards the door. "All you have to do is help me work them down so we can get Isaak back."

"Tell me, Cain, is there any other reason why you want Wizard back so badly?" Abel asked, not turning to look at his brother.

"Whatever do you mean, Abel," Cain asked in a light voice. "It's purely for salvation against Millennium. No other alternative means are involved."

"Oh, that's good! For a second there I thought you only wanted him back because you were lonely in bed," Abel jabbed, rushing out the door before Cain could get a bitter reply out of his mouth.

(A/N That's the end of this chapter. Now like I said until I can get some other things done, my stories may take a while to update. I hope you enjoyed it. I'll see you all later. Also, Ninja's Wings, I'll be working on your portrait over the next few days. I finally have some time to work on it.)

Millie M. Banshee