Chapter 4
Theft
The next few days were very awkward for Seras. Pip had started teasing her for the little things she did concerning Anderson. God forbid her master ever found out that she was being nice to the ex-priest. She'd never live it down,
/ What is ze plan for today? / Pip asked as soon as she opened her coffin.
"Avoid Anderson," she sighed, "I don't want people getting the wrong idea."
/ I zink zey already have an idea. /
"Yeah, well I don't care," she snapped.
Seras rose, got dressed, and headed for the firing range.
Pip followed her, of course. Pointing out how avoiding her problem wouldn't solve it, and how he thought she should just confront it and get it out of the way instead of thinking about it all the damn time, and why this was even a discussion in the first place.
She drowned him out with gunfire.
A few moments and Pip was silent. He probably decided it was best to leave Seras alone with her own thoughts or, at least, thought it better not to argue the point anymore.
"I think he's dead, Commandant Victoria."
Seras blinked and returned to reality. The first things she saw were shreds of what used to be her target twelve kilometers away.
"Oh yes right," she shook her head to clear the fogginess from her brain. "Did you want something sir?"
The young man stood up a little straighter when she looked at him. He shot her a preening smile and his pale pink eyes sparkled mischievously. He was one of the English boys and seemed proud of that fact. He nodded to her, "Sir Hellsing requests your presence in the war room."
Seras nodded and passed him, paying no attention when he saluted her.
Another ghoul-mission? So soon?
Romania
Mina grinned as she listened to the status report. Her lieutenants weren't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "Very good Schrödinger," she said finally, "I'll send Lucy and the boys."
A silent response and she hung up.
"Dymitri, Flanders," the two men perked up, "gather the necessary supplies and get Lucy. You're going to England."
"Is this the last one Countess?" Dymitri sounded hopeful.
Mina nodded. "Yes, I expect efficiency and success. If you fail, we'll have to go back into hiding until the next war."
The two men nodded, gave a quick salute, and hurried out.
Mina sat in silence for some time. She had faith in her men and their trade. Dymi had the brawn and Flanders had the experience, they also had an arsenal at their disposal. But still, she had her doubts.
No. She would not bring Max back a third time. The Nazi had wasted her efforts and resources long enough. Had failed her too much. The Hellsing Empire had fallen, they had to strike hard and strike home, if they failed there were no second chances.
Failure was not an option.
Mina's concentration was broken by a soft rapping on her office door.
"Enter."
The door opened slightly and Emma peeked in, "Countess?" she stepped into the room. She had a book cradled in her arms.
Emma was a slight woman. Small in all senses with a timid soft-looking face. Her thick red-orange hair was tucked back behind her ears and her usual red dress had been replaced with a white suit with a skirt just a little too short to be professional.
"You went into the city today," Mina observed.
Emma nodded, "To get extra supplies," she explained, "the nun you had captured. She seems unwell."
The countess's expression darkened, " 'unwell?' How so?"
Emma produced the book, "I've been keeping record of her behavior ever since her hysterics a few months ago." She turned to a page somewhere in the middle and showed it to Mina, it was full of hand-written notes. She pointed to a specific paragraph and continued, "She's been having episodes of severe pain and illness. Normally lasting anywhere from three to seven minutes. She's also showing signs of weakness, and hunger." She turned to another page and indicated the statement in her notes.
Mina thought for some time. "Who has been in her chamber?"
"Dymitri, Edna, and yourself. Maybe a maid, but no one else of significant importance."
"Hmm." Mina shut the book, "Bring her a bottle from the cooler and a glass. See what happens."
"As you wish Countess," Emma turned to leave, but Mina stopped her.
"On second thought, let me bring it to her, I think it's about time I got to know my hostage." She rose and left the room.
Not wanting to be left alone in the Countess's office, Emma followed.
Somewhere in the French Countryside
"I'm surprised Sir Integra sent all of us…" Seras said to break the uncomfortable silence that had fallen over the three of them.
Both men made a noncommittal noise.
"Ugh" she brought her hand to her forehead.
'This is ridiculous.'
/ what do you expect zey hate each ozer./
'I know. I know.'
They walked in silence for almost a mile before Seras simply couldn't handle it anymore and ran ahead.
She scaled a steep hill and looked down to the tiny farm-village below. The quaint little houses and wide open fields. She saw a cow or two, maybe a sheep here or there. It was a nice view and it took her away from the frustration that came with traveling with those two.
Then she saw a ghoul stumble its way into the village.
And another.
And another.
Alucard and Anderson had only been a short distance behind her, taking their time catching up to her. Neither seemed overly concerned with the situation.
"Holy shit!"
Alucard sprang into a run first when Seras shouted. Anderson paced him with ease.
"What-"
They all stared at the village and its over-population of zombies.
"Seems a bit like overkill don't you think?" Alucard snorted.
Seras nodded. "I think…" she squinted. "I think they're killing the livestock…"
"The livestock? What would zombies want with a bunch o' cows?"
"What would a vampire want with a bunch of cows?"
Seras shrugged, "Does it matter? We still have to kill them." She made her way toward the village without another word.
The men followed her.
Kris heard the door open from her coffin. She heard footsteps approach and the sound of something glass being set on the floor.
A soft knocking on the lid. Kris shivered.
The lid opened a crack and Kris closed her eyes.
"I know you're awake," said a female voice. A hand gently shook Kris's shoulder, "open your eyes."
Kris obeyed. She saw light for the first time in…what was it? Days? Weeks?
Months?
The woman that had opened her coffin held a lit candelabrum in her right hand, and held the coffin lid slightly ajar with her left.
Kris stood and stepped onto the floor. "Who are you?" she asked once her feet were firmly planted on the ground. The coffin squeaked shut behind her.
The woman smiled softly, careful not to show her teeth. "Countess Wilhelmina Harker," she extended her now free left hand. She was a bit taller than Kris and she wore regular civilian clothing. None of the rich, fancy fabrics one would expect of someone who called themselves 'count'. Her eyes seemed intently focused on every move the nun made, no matter how subtle. This was a bit unnerving and Kris didn't take her hand because of it.
The 'countess' picked up a wine bottle from its place on the floor, as well as a pair of crystal wine glasses. She set the objects on the coffin, using it as a makeshift table since there was no other furniture in the room. She also set down the candles.
"Terribly sorry about the conditions," she said, pouring two glasses of wine and offering one to Kris, "but we can't let you stay upstairs, what with the sunlight and all. Plus, it's easier to ward off this section of the castle."
Castle?
Kris took the glass, but didn't drink. The deep red liquid it contained was colder and thicker than the wine she was used to. "Countess Hark-"
"Call me Mina."
Kris cleared her throat, "Countess, why am I here? What do you want from me?"
Mina took a long sip from her glass, "Why, nothing at all," she said. "We just want you to be here."
"You're using me as leverage?" Kris felt a knot of rage tie itself in her throat, "What are you going to hold me up for ransom? Threaten to kill me?"
"Oh no no no." Mina waved her hand, "You're more of a…an emotional collateral."
"A what?"
"It doesn't matter right now," the countess poured herself a second glass and raised it in a mock-toast, "please drink up, before it gets warm."
Kris glared at her, "Do you think I'm that naïve? It's probably poisoned or drugged."
"What?" Mina laughed, "I've had two glasses myself, why would I poison-"
"Not the wine, the glass." She swirled the drink for emphasis, "I'll drink this and next thing I know I'll wake up on a train in North Korea."
Mina blinked at her, "Clever," she said, "but no. It isn't drugged."
Kris still didn't drink it, "I'm not one for alcohol."
They laughed half-heartedly.
"It isn't alcohol."
Kris narrowed her eyes. "Not alco-" she raised the glass to her nose. A strong coppery smell filled her nose. Her breath came short, her mouth watered and her teeth ached. She felt a sharp pang in the pit of her rib cage.
She closed her eyes and resisted the urge to down the glass right then and there. The urge intensified, so, desperate, she poured the glass's contents onto the stone floor.
Mina watched, expressionless. "So you don't drink blood?" she asked when Kris composed herself. "You should be dead by now. Amazing."
Kris could tell she was being sarcastic. "Not human blood." She closed her eyes and placed the wine glass on the coffin. "Never."
"Oh…" Mina set her glass down, "Fascinating. How has that been working for you?"
"Well enough. Until now." Kris caught her breath, "How long have I been here?"
"A few months. Give or take." Mina said, "Now, tell me—"
"When can I leave?" Kris interrupted, "The other nuns are probably wondering where I am…" she sighed and sat on the floor, "Who am I kidding? They're probably happy I'm gone. I'll bet the students don't miss me much either."
"Hmph"
Kris looked up at Mina from her spot on the floor, "Are you going to kill me?"
The Countess shook her head, "I don't plan to…"
There were tears in her eyes, "Could you? Please?"
Mina's face softened, "If my mission goes off without a hitch and you make it out alive," she knelt down next to her, "I will, personally."
"Thank you." Kris pulled her knees to her chest and hid her face.
Mina watched her for a few moments and left without another word.
When she was far enough away, Kris stood back up. She caught a glimpse of the hallway and the lock on the outside of the door.
"Lord, give me strength," she whispered into the darkness.
"What's the total?" Anderson called to the vampires.
"53 over here!" Seras called back.
"57!"
"With mah 54 that makes… 164."
"Not counting the ones that fled." Seras was right next to him now.
"That's an insane amount for a place this size." Alucard said thoughtfully, "Someone's doing this on purpose."
"Just like the rest o' ye?" Anderson scowled.
"The rest of us don't shoot for this kind of overkill."
"Maybe they were expecting more troops…?" Seras shrugged and both men looked at her.
Anderson nodded, "We haven't found a single vampire on any o' these missions, maybe they're banding together to compensate for the war."
"I doubt it," Alucard scoffed.
"Ye got any better ideas?"
They stared daggers at each other, and again Seras felt uncomfortable. Several tense moments passed.
"You know," she said, more loudly than she probably should have, "speculating here isn't going to help us. I say we go and report our findings."
They didn't respond, but followed her when she left.
Sometime later Anderson's phone rang.
"Yeah?" a pause, "Whoa. Slow down and speak English."
Seras and Alucard stopped to watch him.
"A coup?"
The vampires looked at each other then back to Anderson.
"Heinkel don't… Oh… How man- Just you? Well ah guess that's okay then… what the hell were ye thinking?" He sighed, "Alright. Meet us in England in three, maybe four, days." A second later he hung up.
Two questioning stares later, "Section thirteen disbanded, Heinkel's joining Hellsing," was all he said.
They didn't ask any questions.
The troupe arrived at the Hellsing headquarters a day earlier than Anderson had quoted Heinkel.
From the gates they could tell something was amiss.
No one was in the courtyard, or the main hall.
There was no sound. No talking, no laughter, no footfalls.
Silence.
The three immediately scattered searching the entire first floor.
Nobody.
They regrouped, readied their respective weapons and headed to the second floor.
What they saw was devastating.
Shreds and tattered bits of what were once human beings littered the wood floors in all directions. Some were recognizable, some weren't. Blood splattered all over the walls and the heavy smell of decay perfumed the air.
This looked so familiar.
Seras remembered the carnage at the graveyard.
"Lucy…"
All eyes turned to Alucard, who said nothing more.
"Sir Integra!" Seras called down the hall.
No answer.
"Yes, yes," he laughed, "Everything went swimmingly, Countess."
Schrödinger tangled the phone cord in his fingers listening to the Countess's praise.
"She's en route as we speak with Dymi and the Bat." He smiled victoriously, "I'll catch up. I just want to fan the fires a bit. Yes, yes countess. Auf Wiedersehn." He hung up.
When he did the door burst open on the other side of the room.
"Velcome home!" he said, spreading his arms out wide.
Alucard, the girl, and the 'priest' stood in the now splintered doorframe.
"Where's Integra?" The master vampire sounded like a rabid animal when he spat the words out.
"Hmm… I believe she's in….Belgium right now."
"WHAT?"
The vampire rushed at Schrödinger, who accepted the heavy collision stoically. He seemed unfazed by the obscenely large pistol aimed at his left temple.
"What did you do?"
"Hey hey! Don't blame me, I vas just following orders."
Anderson and Seras advanced, but not with the same ferocity as the vampire that pinned him to the desk.
"Whose? Whose orders?"
Schrödinger laughed loudly, "The countess's! She said destroy, I destroyed. I personally think I did a rather fantastic job, don't you?"
Alucard shot him. Blood, brain matter and teeth smeared across Integra's desk.
"Mina…" Seras stared at the oozing mass that was the cat-boy, "She told him to… to come here? To come here and kill everyone."
Alucard looked up and stared at Anderson, they seemed to come to a realization.
"No, Lass. He was here the whole time. Since the first attack."
"Maybe before" Alucard finished.
"But everyone died in the first attack at the graveyard! He couldn't have been with the troops!"
Schrödinger's body vanished leaving only a bloody stain on the desk.
"Vell, I can see vhen I'm no velcome. Farvell!"
They whirled around and saw the boy standing in the doorway. He smiled to Seras with a strange, superior glint in his eyes.
His eyes were pink.
"No…"
And he was gone.
End chapter 4
Woo. I have plot development! Yay.
It's good to see people like this story. With any luck this'll be as popular as CoC by the time it ends. But if it doesn't I can live with that.
Review as you see fit.
Or don't.
It's up to you.