The Lost Priest
Chapter 26
Legion of the Diablo
(A/N Well, I'm back for all those that didn't know. I had a great time at Animazement. I have a full detail account of what I did and the zany things that happened at the anime convention on the latest chapter of my other TB story An Outsider in Hogwarts. The chapters are going to be longer to get everything into the final chapters so enjoy the extra long chapters. )
SOUNDS/sounds
Thoughts
Telepathy
(Last Time)
William picked up the weapon and took aim at the window that Kate was standing in front of. Her eyes widened. Surely he wasn't going to fire that in here and at the window!
"FATHER, DON'T!!" the holographic nun yelled as William pulled the trigger.
SQUIIIIIIRRRRTTT!! SPLAAAT!!
Kate just froze there was no bag and there wasn't even a bullet involved. She turned around to look at the window to see it soaking wet with what looked like water and tiny flakes of sliver mixed in. She then looked back at William as he finally lit his pipe.
"A pistol that shoots blessed water and powdered silver," he said as he let out a puff of smoke. "Obviously Millennium got a hold of the Anti-UV gel and as we all know the UV-gel washes off in water. Just to make this more useful I added in the silver powder. The water has a special liquid in it that keeps the silver flakes from sticking and clogging up the small pump and tubes. Totally harmless to humans but effective against vampires, am I right?"
Kate stood there speechless for once. It was so out there, yet so practical to the point of being really useful. A child's plaything was now a deadly weapon against a formidable foe. She couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing. Only William Walter Wordsworth would come up with something like that.
"Well, do you like it, Sister Kate?" he asked with a small hopeful smile.
"At least it won't mess up my radar," Kate sighed. "It's probably one of best things you've ever came up with."
"That's nice to hear," William said, giving her a full-fledge smile. "Now all that's left is getting this item mass-produced and hooked it up to larger water tanks and putting a little bit more pressure in them for more distance and force."
(Present Time Abel and the Dandy Man)
Just what was this thing? Could something like this really exist? Dandy Man really didn't have time think about this thing call a crusnik. He challenged this monstrosity and was going to have to fight it.
Are you scared, Dandy Man? We can smell it and feel it building up within you. A voice said in Dandy Man's head as though it was merely whispering in his ear. We will slaughter you, we will torture you, and we will enjoy watching you scream out in agony and despair. We want you to beg. We want to beg for death!
Dandy Man froze as he watched this monster grin at him. It was like the devil himself was grinning at him. For all he knew it very well could be a devil. He gritted his teeth and shook with fear and anger.
"MONSTER!" Tubalcain yelled in a venomous voice. "GO TO HELL!!"
Tubalcain threw a torrent of cards from his hands at the crusnik. There were so many of them there was no way this devil could avoid them all. If nothing else he'd severely wound this monster.
He's not even trying to avoid them! Dandy Man realized as the deadly cards hit Abel head on. He can't possibly think he's invincible! Everyone, everything has a breaking point! Crazy fool!
Smoke surrounded the area where Abel had stood just a moment earlier. Dandy Man wanted to see the body. He wanted to make sure that thing was dead for good. The smoke slowly began to thin out. It couldn't be!
"HOW?! HOW CAN YOU STILL BE STANDING?!" Dandy Man screamed in fear and disbelief.
The crusnik was still standing on both feet in the same position as a visible psychokinetic dome surrounded him. He wasn't even touched by the deadly cards. The crusnik slowly advanced towards the Dandy Man with a maniacal grin still splitting his face wide open.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! We are amused, Dandy Man," Crusnik laughed, suddenly appearing in Tubalcain's face. We want to play with you some more. Please, show us more. We want more!
The crusnik slashed Dandy Man with his scythe. He grinned even more when he saw the Dandy Man turn into a mass of playing cards and materialized somewhere else. Tubalcain held a deep cut in his middle where the deadly weapon sliced him wide open. It was bad considering more then than just blood was coming out from his middle. This thing wasn't playing. Dandy Man was nearly disemboweled.
"We thought you wanted to play. Why the long face? C'mon let us have some more fun," Crusnik said licking his lips as he whispered in Dandy Man's ear. "What else can we play with? Maybe your heart this time?"
How did that bastard get behind him so fast? Dandy Man was no longer liking the odds of this game. Another direct hit, like the one to his middle, would be the end of him. He had to get away from this thing. He pulled out a card and whipped around the best he could with an opened belly and sliced the Crusnik across the throat. That bastard didn't see that one coming!
Blood flowed from the deep gash in the devil's throat. It coated the front of his armor as though it were a thick red paint. Dandy Man backed away as the Crusnik froze and brought a trembling hand up his slashed neck.
DIE, YOU BASTARD, DIE! Tubalcain shouted in his mind as the crusnik's body tottered for a moment before crumpling to the ground."I still won you fucking asshole! HAHAHAHA! I WON!"
Tubalcain turned on his heel and started to leave when he heard something moving behind him. Something was very wrong. The thick smell of ozone only intensified not lessoned. That thing couldn't still be alive? He didn't know if should look or run. For he looked he may not be able to move after that. Run or look?
We can not be killed so easily, Dandy Man. You have not won and you will not win against us.
Finally Dandy Man built up the courage to look behind him. He wished he hadn't. He watched in horror as the blood that had spilt from the crusnik's own throat was now being drawn back into him through a set of massive black wings. Yet, it wasn't just his blood but the blood of his fellow soldiers; the ones calling themselves Methuselah. All their blood was flowing into him as well, giving him more power from which to draw off of.
When he had drained the ground of every last droop of blood he spread his wing open wide as a large electrical bolt jumped into the air around his wings. Tubalcain could feel the hairs on his body stand on end.
Do know what we really are, little vampire wanna-be? Do you?! Answer us! WHAT ARE WE?!
He called himself crusnik, did he not? What did he mean by his current question? What was he really? Well, he did stop referring to himself as a singular being to plural as though he were many. Multiple personalities, perhaps? No! He couldn't be THAT, could he?!
Dandy Man's green/gold flashed in total terror at what he was seeing and realizing. This thing before him was… It was…
Yes! That's right! We are… Legion.
(The Imperial Palace)
Integra left the council room needing some air and some time to think. Her servant vampire was currently back in their proper time era. He was basically told to do what ever it took to regain the peace there. He would be out of her willpower for a while. She would be giving him not instructions and the same could be said with Anderson. There was no telling if they were working together or tearing each other up. For she knew they could be doing both.
She just needed to get some air to clear her head. The Empress was now out fighting Millennium as well was Contra Mundi and left that only herself, Maxwell, Esther, and Caterina. She didn't trust Maxwell at all, Esther was still a novice queen, and Caterina… Well, she knew what she was doing almost like it was second nature.
Beyond talking about the war and related items the two of them never talked to each other after Alucard made that little statement. What was there to say really? She didn't want to believe what the nosferatu told her, but the longer she stayed here the more Caterina reminded her of herself. Apparently, even the young Cardinal had earned the nickname, "Woman of Steel."
Integra walked down the dimly lit halls, trying to block out the sounds of gunfire and bombs. There wasn't anybody to bother her. The only ones out in the halls were android housekeepers and even they were scattered here and there lightly. All she wanted was some peace and quiet. She just left a yelling match between Esther and Maxwell. It didn't take long for Caterina to start yelling at Maxwell as well.
She rubbed the sides of her aching head. War really was a pain. The air in the hall was cooler than air in the council room. It felt better out here so hopefully by the time she came back she would feel better. She continued down the halls in absolute silence. Every now and then she would stop to look at some paintings hanging on the walls or some fancy pottery sitting on tables.
She paused to study one painting never noticing she was no longer alone in the hall. It was a nice painting full of flowers, rolling hillsides, and a bright blue brook under a warm setting sun. She wished she could be in a place like that rather than here in the middle of a war zone.
"Is that picture that fascinating?" the person behind her finally opened his mouth.
"Perhaps," Integra acted like she knew he was there the entire time. "Shouldn't you still be in the hospital wing, Father Hugue?"
"They wanted me up and moving around," he replied to her, standing beside her now, also looking at the fine painting. "Though I don't think they meant for me to go this far."
"Oh, you think," she said sharply, turning to look at him. "You are lucking enough to be alive."
His face was cut up but was healing quite nicely, with a few stitches here and there. He was in a pair of white PJ bottoms and a black terry robe. A crutch was under his right arm as he balanced on his left leg. He had his right ankle broken and his left arm was still in a sling from a dislocated shoulder with torn muscles and ligaments. He's due to have surgery on his shoulder in about 2 days.
"Someone was watching out for us, I suppose," he drawled, before letting out a hard sigh. "Shouldn't you be in meeting with the other leaders?"
"I just needed to clear my head a little," she stated pointblank.
Hugue didn't reply as they both went back to looking at the tranquil painting in the antique gold frame. Silence. Neither one of them opened their mouths for a few moments. They just stared at the painting as though they were really looking out into the open field of flowers with rolling hillside and a gentle brook under the orange glow of a warm summer evening. They could almost feel the warm humid breeze with the smell of sweet grass and perfume flowers.
"Why haven't you come to see me in the infirmary?" Hugue finally broke the silence, turning to look at her with his hurt emerald eyes.
Integra didn't answer him. How could she answer him with Alucard's threat still hanging heavily over her head? Integra shied her sapphire eyes away from the painting to the marbled floor. She knew Alucard would carry out his threat without hesitation or remorse. She wasn't going to risk making him angry. The only reason she was standing beside him now was because she and Alucard were centuries apart.
"I've been busy," she answered him, still boring a hole into the floor with her eyes.
"You're lying, Integra," he said in harsh tone. "I know you weren't that busy if you could see Walter, Abel, and Astaroshe. So, why did you avoid seeing me?"
"It's complicated," she responded, turning around away from him.
Hugue didn't take that one for an answer either. She was avoiding him and he didn't like that. Why was she avoiding him? He stared at her in that black dress with the gold and white trim. Her hair with rolled up into a bun held by gold hair sticks. A few strands of hair around her face hung freely.
After a moment of waiting for her to explain what she meant by "complicated" Hugue had had enough and grabbed hold of her shoulder with his good arm and forced her to face him. He was tired of pussyfooting around like this. He wanted straight answers from her and he wanted them now.
"You're the one that's making it complicated," he bit at her. "What aren't you telling me?!"
"Let go of me," Integra hissed, rolling her shoulder. "I don't have to answer you!"
"You're avoiding me! I want to know why," he barked back, glaring down at her. "What is it that I did to you?! I want to know what I did!"
"It's not you! It's just…" she felt a knot build up in her throat.
"It's just what exactly?" he asked, placing his good hand on his hip. "And, no, I doubt it's that complicated."
It was obvious enough that he was going to get her to answer him. But she wasn't going to answer this question no matter how hard he bore those eyes into her. She wasn't going answer him. As soon as they settled things here in this era she was going back never to see him again. So, why should she answer him?
However, what happened next happened so fast she didn't really have time to react. Every muscle in her body grew stiff and her heart began to race into her throat. Everything went silent around her all but the pounding of her heart beating in her ears. For at that very moment a strong arm had wrapped around her waist and pulled her in close to him. But what made everything silent and still was the fact that also at the exact moment she felt his lips press tenderly against hers.
She wasn't pulling back or fighting back against him. She soon found herself wrapping her arms around his neck deepening this passionate kiss. When they broke for a little air they stared at each other knowing what each other wanted. It was now or never. And with Alucard so far from her, what could a little FUN hurt?
(London, England 2006)
Pip and his men did the best they could but it was time for the bigwigs now. Anderson and Alucard charged headlong into the throng of attacking Millennium soldiers. With all restrictions removed from him Alucard was able to use all his power to his advantage and he was indeed going to use everything to win back this great country and follow his master's orders.
Anderson of course had his own agenda in mind. Of course part it of was to defeat Millennium but after that was finished with he was taking out Alucard for good and bring the power of the Vatican back into this vile Protestant county. But for now the enemy of his enemy was now is partner. He would have to work with Alucard if they were going to get somewhere. Hopefully the Church had already given out the order to send out its own army to fight against these abominations.
"'Ere they come," Anderson said, holding out his blessed blade into the shape of a cross.
"I'm going to enjoy this," Alucard said, taking aim at the on coming army.
"Ye and Ah both," Anderson agreed as they charged straight into the army.
(New Human Empire)
Seras and Ion were now back to back, staring down FREAK vampires and their ghouls. They had climbed up on a high debris pile as the mass of Millennium soldiers surrounded from all sides. This was not good they were totally surrounded and to make matters worse Seras ran out of ammo and Ion's sword had shattered. Now unarmed and out numbered all that was left was to run, but running wasn't even possible now.
"Have any ideas, Seras?" Ion growled out. "The sun won't be up for another 3 hours. They won't be retreating anytime soon."
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking," Seras spat out, now watching the ghouls and FREAK vampire start to climb up after them. I wish my Master was here. He'd know what to do.
Ion quickly kicked a ghoul's head off that reached up the grab him. It was a nasty sound listening that thing's neck snap off and then roll down the rubble mound. Seras was doing the same on her side kicking or hitting whatever bastard that came to close to her. They would soon be over come by them now matter how many they knocked away from them. There were just far too many.
Suddenly something grabbed Ion's foot and started to pull him down. He got out a short yelp as Seras whipped around grabbed on to Ion to keep him from going with the vampire that had finally gotten a hold of the Count.
"Don't let go of me," Ion cried out, looking up as Seras through his helmet visor.
"I'm not letting you go, Excellency," she said, pulling back. "Let go of him, you fucking asshole!"
"Not likely, bitch," the FREAK called back. "I'll take you both down with me!"
Ion felt like he was going to be torn in two from this painful game of tug-of-war. He cried out in pain feeling joints dislocate. He didn't want to die not like this! He had so much to look forward to with Esther to die like this. Seras had both his hands and the offending vampire had both his feet and they were just pulling with all their strength to get the poor count to go one way or the other.
Suddenly a bright blinding light flashed down the sky hitting the FREAK vampire that was holding Ion. The vampire just exploded as did other surrounding vampires and ghouls. Seras quickly pulled Ion back up to her held on to him tightly as more bolts of lightning rained down around them.
Following the bolts of lightning other ghouls and FREAK vampires were turning to dust around them. Seras and Ion clung to each other as every single ghoul and vampire around them exploded or turned to dust. Finally the area around them grew quiet. They slowly released each other and gazed upon the decimated Millennium army that had just surrounded them a few moments ago.
They looked up to see some beings circling them; one looked like a six-winged angel and the other was a small fairy. It was her Majesty Augusta Vradica and Lord Contra Mundi. The God really does work in mysterious ways after all.
Seras and Ion quickly climbed down to greet the young looking Empress and the Leader of the Rosen Cross order. It was the first time Seras has really seen the Eternal Empress. She really didn't look anything like Cain and Abel but she too was crusnik.
"Thank you," Seras and Ion bowed to them.
"Where are the rest of your teams?" Seth asked.
"They didn't make it, your Majesty," Ion said, turning shameful eyes to the ground.
"We tried our best to keep everyone alive but…" Seras added, rubbing her hands together nervously.
"It's a war. You're not expected to save everyone around you," Cain deadpanned, crossing his arms. "Even crusniks are incapable of doing something like that."
But their guilt still weighted heavily on them. They were the leaders of their groups and they were the only ones that made it out alive. Those men and women trusted them and they let them all parish. They were loosing this war unless by some miracle and the tides change in their favor everything will be lost.
"I suggest you return to the castle to get more ammunition and another blade," Cain stated. "We have a little less than three hours before the sun rises. Now hurry!"
"Roger," Seras said with a salute as she and Ion hurried off.
"Seth?" Cain said, looking towards his right as if looking at something that could not be seen.
"I feel it too," she answered him.
"It's 02. I wonder what has him so riled up?" Cain mused, not liking the negative vibe.
"I'm almost scared to know," Seth said, taking off in the direction Abel was currently at. "Coming, Cain?"
"Of course," he replied following after her. There is something every wrong. I fear the worst. I don't know why I'm wishing for this but I hope Abel's okay.
(Crusnik and Dandy Man)
Abel was advancing on Tubalcain. It was getting weirder by the second. Abel's skin had begun to turn black with blue electrified markings. Even his wing designed was changing shape and what was a crown of silver hair on his head was now a crown of ebony. In his hands he was now holding a black double-edged scythe.
"St-stay away from me, y-you freak," Dandy Man shouted, pulling out more cards only to have a bolt of lightning sent at the cards in his hand from the Crusnik's scythe.
The cards and his hand exploded. The smell of burnt flesh filled Dandy Man's nostrils but pain was even worse. This thing was literally taking him a part bit by bit. Slow torture like he had said. No doubt he wouldn't stop hacking away at him until he DID beg for death. But something had to turn around in his favor, right?
"Now your leg," Crusnik grinned, suddenly appearing behind Dandy Man.
"My leg—GAAAAH-HAAAA!!" Tubalcain screamed out in pain as his leg from the knee down detached himself from rest of his body.
Dandy Man quickly fell to the ground, rolling in anguish and horror. His middle, his hand, and now his left leg. He rolled over to see the grinning monster, standing over him. His body was shaking and losing a lot of blood. He'd die soon anyway.
"We can't have you think that. We haven't finished playing with you yet," Crusnik laughed, putting the end of his scythe on the end of his bleeding left leg.
A searing hot pain ran up his leg and the smell of more burning flesh blasted his nose. That bastard had cauterized the wound to keep him from bleeding to death. After seeing the wound was sealed shut the Crusnik knelt down and flexed his long razor sharp talons at him. Dandy Man suddenly felt like he was a victim from Nightmare on Elm Street and he was staring up at Freddy Krueger or maybe something far worse.
"We are going to enjoy this, Dandy Man. We ARE going to enjoy this a lot. Too long we have waited to take control of this body and do what we wanted to do," Crusnik grinned, slashing his claws along Dandy Man's face. "You are nothing like a true vampire! You pitiful piece of shit! Alucard would have regenerated himself by now! Pathetic worm! If you think would have gotten off easy with Alucard you'd be dead wrong.
"Given the chance he'd probably be doing the same thing to you we are doing but he might end it a lot quicker than we will. We like watching you writhe in agony. We want to hear you scream until your voice no longer functions. Now scream!" Crusnik hissed, picking up Dandy Man's only remaining hand.
He put and long black talon along the top of his hand. What was he planning this time? The crusnik grinned even wider as he filleted Dandy Man's left arm in a flash from the top of his knuckles right up to his shoulder cutting away every piece of cloth, skin, and muscle, leaving only the white bone of his hand, lower, and upper arm showing. The long strip of meat was resting on the ground looking like a long bloodied filleted eel.
Dandy Man had let out a scream that was truly heart wrenching. The crusnik only laughed at him even more. He then reached up above Dandy Man's head grabbed the white wide-rimmed hat that had fallen from his head.
"Nice hat," Crusnik grinned, looking it over before putting it on his head. "Ours now. You won't be needing this hat anymore without a scalp. Don't worry we shall take our time. First we'll remove a little hair, yes? To see what we are doing before we make our cut.."
"NO! PLEASE, NO! STOP IT!" Tubalcain screamed as the Crusnik sat on his wounded middle and grabbed a handful of hair already digging in his claws.
"This little bit can go," he pulled with little effort, listening to the tearing of the skin and Dandy Man's agonizing scream. "What a charming sound! Now how about this little bit on this side?!"
He grabbed another handful and pulled and did it about 2 more times. He looked down at Dandy Man as he closed his eyes in horror and pain. The Crusnik slowly traced a talon along Dandy Man's lower eye lid.
"We want you to see what we are doing," he said, cutting way the lower and upper eyelids from each eye.
"KILL ME! KILL ME NOW YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Tubalcain screamed at him, finally begging him to finish it.
"We are having too much with you right now to kill you," Crusnik laughed, putting split in Dandy's man's lower lip. "We aren't going to release you just yet!"
"D-DIABLO!!" Dandy Man yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Si, Señor Tubalcain," Crusnik smirked about to cut into the man's scalp when he heard something land near him.
"If you will not release him then I will," a small feminine child's voice spoke from the shadows. "I will be the one to give mercy to this poor damned soul. Step away from him, Abel, or you too, will fall prey to my power."
Out of the darkness a small figure stepped out with glowing red eyes. Her visor was up out of her face revealing the same type of being that was currently torturing Dandy Man. Dandy Man looked on surprise as the Crusnik started growling at the girl and got off of Tubalcain's middle.
Starting from his remaining foot and on up he began to crystallize and turn to dust. This must have been the person that destroyed the Warrant officer's hands was Tubalcain's last thoughts. Soon the false vampire turned to nothing but dust, soaking in a pool of blood. The crusnik glared at the little one with total loathing. How dare she intrude on his fun like that!
"Abel, what were you thinking?!" Seth growled, lowering her weapons, advancing towards her brother. "We don't torture people like that!"
"Don't go any closer to him, sister," Cain said, stepping between her and his brother. "Abel's not the one in control. THEY are in control of him. THEY are the ones who are to blame not Abel. We want to speak to Abel Nightroad if you all don't mind."
"He's not here anymore, only us," Crusnik hissed, glaring daggers at them. "We control his body now as our own vessel."
"We want to speak to Abel Nightroad," Cain repeated but only got a growl in a response.
"Cain, what are we going to do?" Seth asked, looking up at her elder brother. "What if our brother is lost to us?"
"If we cannot bring him back, then there's only one option left," he said, hearing Seth gasp.
"No! No, you can't do that! I won't let you," Seth barked, pulling on Cain's leg. "Not again! I don't want to lose him again!"
"You've seen what he did to that Millennium soldier. Given the chance that THING will do far worse," Cain snapped pushing Seth away from him. "Let's just pray we can get Abel back before it comes to that."
(A/N I'm leaving it there. Sorry, but I have to keep your interest. I've noticed that reviews have started to slack and so I'm trying to keep you all interested until I get to the end. Next chapter I hope will have a lot more Alucard in it and I have a plot twist coming soon as well to make it even longer chapters. This chapter wasn't as long as I wanted it to be. With some luck I should have this story finished before the end of summer. Buh bye!)
Millie M. Banshee