Alright, this is probably the darkest chapter. And it's sort of long in comparison to the previous ones.
The seal that I had so fervently hoped would never be needed beckoned me to Integra's aid for the first time eight years after it had been created.
I had been at the site of a series of presumed freak attacks in Northern England, along with more than half of Hellsing's troops. It had been a standard 'search and destroy' mission; the freaks responsible had been numerous but weak. I had been wrapping up, instructing troops to care for the wounded and reorganize, when I received a desperate cry for help from Integra. Pausing only briefly to yell out hurried instructions to the second in command, I wasted no time teleporting to Integra's side.
As soon as I saw the situation, I knew I was too late; there was nothing that could have been done even if I had neglected my duty and left the troops I had been leading without guidance. Four mid-level true nosferatu had taken advantage of the distraction caused by the northern freaks and attacked Hellsing manor. The remaining troops had been drastically insufficient, and had been virtually annihilated before Integra even had the chance to realize the seriousness of the situation. Although I had found myself where Integra and John were still making a stand, I could immediately tell that the situation was barely salvageable: Integra was bleeding profusely from what appeared to be a bite wound on her shoulder.
In my blind rage, I shredded my way through ghouls and vampires alike, knowing full well that one of them had bitten my human master and closest friend.
I returned to where she lay bleeding after coming to my senses only minutes later, kneeling beside her. Now that I was closer, I could see that the wound would not have been fatal if it hadn't been from a vampire.
John had knelt beside me at some point, and Integra now called to him softly. He bent over her until she could whisper into his ear with minimal movement. His face stiffened; although I had not heard what was said, I could guess at its nature. I did, however, hear what was said next with painful acuity.
"Kill me, Seras."
Although it was what I had been expecting, I was still stunned by her abruptness even as she lay dying.
"You know as well as I that I would be doomed to become a ghoul otherwise." She grimaced in pain as she moved herself to a sitting position and turned towards me. The pain in her expression as she looked at me was less physical than it was emotional. "And as much as I love you as a sister and a friend, I could never wish such a burden on my husband."
Her eyes were determined, and I stood from where I had been kneeling, attempting to steel myself against the atrocity that I knew I had to commit.
I managed to keep my composure as I had raised my gun to shoot her, once through the heart; an expression of sublime peace took hold of her face as I ended her life. Only afterwards did I collapse to the ground, grief stricken sobs racking my small body. John pulled me into a companionable embrace as my sorrow ran its course and I attempted to calm myself.
"Where are the boys?" I asked after several minutes of silence.
John led me without a word to the small basement room where the twins had been placed under the guard of the new Hellsing retainer. I lost my composure once more at the sight of the two boys I considered as nephews, breaking down into bloody tears. They were huddled together, frightened both by the noises they had heard from the floors above and my emotional frailty.
"Aunty Seras, where's mother?" Geoffrey asked softly, a look of panic in his blue eyes that were so much like his mother's.
I knelt and pulled them both against me, the reality of their fates as Hellsing heirs only now sinking in.
Sorry for killing off Integra. Really, I am. Although it was my plan from the start, it still makes me sad to do it.