Chapter Thirteen: Hellsing Under Siege

-Present Day, August 8-

Five days after the Hawkens incident, Sir Integra informed me of a meeting with her country's defensive elites; known as a Round Table conference. She would explain the current situation with the new Ghouls and she wants me to explain the situation from the Material Plain with my own words, seeing as this was my crisis, and how they tied together. The meeting was to take place in two days, and she wanted me to promptly get my thoughts together in order to be ready for this.

I was lying on my bed in my room, wondering how were we going to get through this, when someone knocked on my door. I sat up from my reclined position, confused.

"Come in." Seras poked her head inside slowly and smiled when I waved her in. What surprised me was that Walter was with her. They both entered, with Walter staying close to the door. Seras seemed concerned about something, so I patted the bed to indicate that she could sit beside me. When she sat down and still didn't say anything, I looked up at Walter for an explanation.

"We thought that you needed some company, you see we've all been worried about you since the incident with Father Anderson. You haven't been down to practice with the others for a long time. Fargason was wondering if you'd like to join in with Seras for training tonight."

I closed my eyes, remembering those cold green eyes and blood stained blades that still woke me up in the middle of the night. I shivered involuntarily and I felt Seras grip my shoulder lightly. I opened my eyes to meet her concerned blue eyes, though they were starting to look saddened.

"Well, if I want to save my friends I can't let myself get rusty, can I?" I think Walter knew that I was just saying that to try and sound normal, but Seras lit up like a Christmas tree. I let her lead me down the familiar route to get to the training room, smiling at her childish enthusiasm. Even Walter smiled and seemed a little relieved at my agreement, was I really worrying everyone?

I shouldn't have made them worry. I came to this Plain for a reason; I don't have the time to waste pitying myself for being weak. I haven't done something this stupid since the incident with my mum four years ago, where I moped around for months because I didn't understand why she had tried to kill me. Here I was now, trying to understand why someone I didn't even know had attacked and threatened to kill me. I needed to grow up and get a damn backbone, this was getting ridiculous!

After three hours in the training room, Walter had a nice dinner prepared and I was so hungry and exhausted, but at the same time I was thrilled. A bunch of the guys were happy when they saw me and I managed to get through my paces twice, even beating my old record by a lot.

Walter seemed amused as I explained the finer details of training with him. He encouraged me to keep doing my best, to take every experience I endure on missions to the training room to simulate the fights over again, because my experiences would help me when I need it most.

That night, I dreamed about frilly pink curtains and Auntie's smile. It was the first time I ever dreamed of my family since I left home. I was starting to believe that if I had to list one of the most important things in my life that I ever took for granted; it would've been Auntie and Uncle. I missed them so much, but if I didn't get this resolved soon, I'd be putting them in more danger.

-Present Day, August 10-

Today was the first time I was ever allowed on the third floor of the mansion; Sir Integra was leading me to a room down the hall, with the doors wide open. I fidgeted a little as I tried to keep my hair from flipping out of control again. Good first impressions never hurt anyone, but my hair seems to enjoy painting me as a slob. When we entered the room, I noticed two other men were already there.

"Ah, good evening gentlemen." The two men glanced up at her, then one of them turned their attention to me. He was rounded, with brown hair threaded with silver and a groomed mustache. His misty blue eyes flicked between Sir Integra and me for a moment.

"I was under the impression that this was a Round Table conference, Sir Integra. Why is there a little girl here?"

"She has a part to play in this conference, Sir Penwood. I have already been informed of the girl's presence here today." The other man softly chided. He was older than the other man, tall and willowy; his once caramel hair was silver. He wore rounded glasses and his silver eyes were piercing.

"So that's why there is a chair by the door?" Sir Integra nodded at Sir Penwood's inquiry and motioned for me to sit in the aforementioned chair. Several people showed up, though none of them were introduced. Maybe it was because I was in uniform; they thought I was a guard for the room? When everyone was seated, I was asked to close the door before the meeting started. After completing my task, I sat back down in the chair, though Sir Penwood seemed to be content with watching my movements.

"I take it that you've discovered a way to explain why there is an uprising of vampire sightings, if you have the gull to call for a Round Table conference, Sir Integra?" The older man from earlier was sitting across from Sir Integra with his hands folded neatly on the table that everyone sat around.

"Yes sir, it has taken a while, but after thorough investigations we have discovered our first solid piece of evidence." She held up a small object and I leaned over slightly to glance at it. Sir Penwood asked the question that ran through my head before I could voice it.

"And what is that supposed to be?"

"A transmitter chip, most likely used to monitor the vampire that causes the infection. Traditionally, Ghouls are created by a vampire draining the blood of a deflowered man or woman. Now it seems that children, who were clearly virgins, are being turned into Ghouls if they were bitten by a vampire embedded with this transmitter. And that's not the worse part."

"Please continue." The older man looked as if he had aged during this meeting, and I couldn't blame him. Now it seemed that the younger generation weren't safe anymore.

"In the Badrick incident, Father Anderson claimed to have dispatched the vampire before my forces went to the location, yet they still had the Ghouls to kill. Which means; the vampires have been modified to have their spawn survive the destruction of their host, and to continue their destructive methods. We are dealing with most likely, a group of vampire specialists. Gentlemen, these people are just like us."

"This is disturbing to hear." Sir Penwood glanced around the table, at the faces that he probably knew by name, and studied each of their shocked expressions. "I'm surprised that this group hasn't stretched its grasp farther than this Plain. At least we can deal with this on our own."

"I'm sorry to say that you are wrong, Sir Penwood. Fifty days ago, a shopping center on the Material Plain was a source of this same problem." The shocked exclamations startled me, and I knew it was going to be my turn soon. "Please let me speak."

"Let her speak." Came the echo from the older man, and everyone hushed. "Please continue, Sir Integra. I want a full explanation as to why we were not informed of this sooner?"

"June 21, Material time, the Rossolue Shopping center was overrun with Ghouls. The GCSU asked the Hellsing organization for our aid, which we provided. After further investigation, we discovered a group of teenagers were the actual targets. The only survivor that is known was in a coma for a week after the incident." I flinched at the reference, and Sir Penwood's eyes widened as he made the connection.

"Sir Integra, is the survivor that little girl?" She nodded and I felt all eyes on me. I glanced from my lap and I noticed a mixture of disproval, shock, and sympathy. "Then she is a Non-Character?"

"Yes sir." I surprised all of them by answering for myself. I felt a rumble under my feet and by the expressions on everyone else's faces, they did too. The lights flickered eerily, and in my mind I saw that damn shopping mall.

"What was that?" I noticed Sir Penwood stood up sharply. "Sir Integra, what is going on?"

"Give me a moment please; I'll talk with someone downstairs." She pressed a few buttons on an intercom and spoke clearly. "Front gate, what is going on down there?"

"We are under attack, ma'am. They're Ghouls!"

A/N: Another looong chapter for you guys; had to make it a cliff-hanger, or else it would take too long to edit. Rate and review?