I'm alive!
It seems that whenever I update I have to start by apologizing for how long it has taken to make this. Well, I finished my lovely movie making course and after that I wanted to enjoy the summer, so that took few months. I think I may have enjoyed it a bit too much as it took a while to get my writing head to work again. But as I've said before, I'm too stubborn to let go of this story. Besides, we're almost done.
There's a lot of stuff I want to talk about at the end of this chapter so read them there.
Big thanks to everyone who took the time of day to review the last chapter: Duchess of Blueberries, hellsingfan101, flynalien, Breezy, Irena, Nosferatu, Soul93, Toki1 (thanks for a very flattering comment), t wrecks and Mimi MC. Thank you so much!
Disclaimers: same as always.
CHAPTER 37: INNOCENT AS A HUMAN
Hellsing manor 1997
In August of 1997, Princess Diana perished in a car crash. The news came as a shock and a tragedy not only to the royal family but to the whole nation as well. It was a dark day when the British Isles mourned her passing.
For Alucard it was Tuesday.
The said vampire was leaning against the office wall, dressed in his now trademark red jacket. His eyelids were barely open but he watched every move of the current Hellsing director, who was standing in front of a mirror, tying her tie.
"Why do you have to attend to this funeral? Isn't the whole point of an unofficial secret organization to stay secret? Surely you won't be expected" he said.
"It's called an English courtesy. Are all Romanians as indifferent as you or is it the centuries of practise?" the young woman dryly replied. "Secret or not, this organization is part of the British government".
Integra Hellsing had turned 20 that year. Most women of her age would be thinking of pursuing careers or further educations or relationships. Not her. Her career had been chosen from the moment she was born. She had already had all the education she'd ever need. And thinking of relationships only distracted her.
Since she had turned 16 the Round Table Council had been trying to set her up for dates. They had insisted that the continuation of Hellsing family was needed. Since then Integra had tried dating three different men who all came from good families close to Round Table.
She had gone on one date with the first man. He had excused himself all of sudden saying that the floating red eyes above her head were distracting. Alucard was not allowed to chaperone her after that.
The first impression the second man gave convinced Integra immediately that he was no good. She did however go to second date with him. It ended when he tried to get too comfortable with her and she broke three of his fingers.
With the third man they had managed to get all the way to third date when a ghoul sighting was made. The man had accompanied her to the scene and witnessed as Hellsing soldiers gunned down the ghoul. Last Integra heard his therapy was going well.
After that Integra made it clear to the Council that she wouldn't agree to any other dates they'd arrange. As far as she was concerned the only men in her life were an elderly butler who acted as a father substitute and a centuries old vampire with a wiseass attitude.
She did however find a lifetime of fulfilling love in cigarettes, much to Alucard's dismay.
"But Master, they poison your delicious blood" he had argued when he saw her smoke for the first time.
"Get the hell out of my bathroom!" was her eloquent reply.
With all the possibilities of normalcy and relaxations pushed away, Integra grew up to a very serious young woman. She mastered both gun and sword fighting. She always kept her head cool and aimed to be updated of any and every new change in the country, be it political or cultural. Most importantly she would never put anything or anyone above her duty.
And this made her Alucard's favourite project.
With only low-level vampires, ghouls and occasional midians beneath his power to kill, Alucard was in a risk of becoming bored again. In order to avoid another long cellar sleep he decided to keep himself entertained by doing something he was good at: irritating the hell out of his current Master.
It was never to disrespect her. On the contrary, the old vampire had lots of respect for the young Miss Hellsing. Her dedication to her work reminded him of his own dedication to rid Wallachia of the Ottoman Empire's rule. Neither of them made compromises or chose easy solutions. Yet in the end he had broken and chosen life as a midian. So far, despite the temptations he offered, she always turned it down.
And that's what made her who she is. If she had consented then she would have lowered herself beneath him. She would fail as he had. But for the last eight years as she had grown up never once had she come close to breaking. It was a dance between them. He challenged her, pestered her, tempted her but she never wavered. He loved that about her, or at least he felt whatever passed as love for him anymore. He couldn't quite remember how that emotion felt like.
But how long could it last? Would she ultimately fail as he had and give up her humanity in a desperate attempt to hold on to power?
He hoped not. He wouldn't feel whatever it was he felt if she did.
A knock on the door and entrance of the old family butler pulled the vampire out of his musings.
"Sir" Walter said. Referring Integra as sir had become easier for him as years went by. "We have a lead on our media case".
"I suppose I have some good news to tell the old men at the funeral then" Integra said. She was buttoning her jacket.
"Media case?" Alucard asked.
Walter walked over to the desk and started typing on the computer keyboard. Alucard hadn't gotten around of figuring this mysterious device yet. Back in the early years of Hellsing he had been fed with prisoners sentenced to death. Nowadays Alucard received his much needed blood from hospitals in small plastic bags. It sustained him but didn't give him as vivid memories as drinking blood straight from someone does.
I do miss sinking my teeth in someone's neck.
"Alucard, stop drooling over my carpet and come here" Integra said. She was standing behind Walter, watching the computer screen over his shoulder.
On screen there was a video playing of a young man in his early 20's. He was sitting in a chair and looking straight to the camera. Suddenly his neck jerked back and a strange wound appeared on his throat. The man seemed to struggle, like fighting an invisible enemy, but he soon went limp and fell to the ground. The video ended.
"Someone filmed a vampire killing a human and put it on Internet" Integra said evenly.
"Not just this one. There are three more of these 'snuff films' posted the last two months. So far majority of people who have seen these videos believe them to be a hoax but they are gaining too wide attention. Not to mention all the people appearing on these videos have been identified by the police to be missing. All of them lived in London" Walter said.
Alucard smirked. "This Internet is pretty dangerous".
"It took time but our reluctant friends in MI6 have finally managed to pinpoint who is uploading these videos. A certain Miss Kimberley Malloy, age 26, lives in Central London. Works for one of our less respected newspapers" Walter told.
"And she's the one filming these killings, most probably setting them up or assisting in them? You humans never fail to impress me" Alucard said with a grin.
"She might be under the vampire's control. She may not have a free will in this" Integra said.
"And what if she isn't mind controlled? What then?" the vampire asked, staring intently the young director.
For a moment Integra was silent but then she started walking to the door.
"Walter, have our men collaborate with MI6 and keep an eye on Miss Malloy. I want her every move to be followed, so we can be there when she makes contact with this vampire, preferably before more videos are made. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a funeral to attend to".
###
"So, I just have to sit here?"
Mike Brewster had been enjoying a pint in a pub when suddenly an attractive blonde woman named Kim had come to talk to him. She said she was working for a newspaper and they did video interviews with random people. She had papers to prove she worked for newspaper, was very beautiful and said there would be a small pay even. So of course Mike agreed.
It should be noted that Mike rarely gave much thought into anything he did.
Kim led him to a studio where they had lights and a camera already set up. Mike sat in a chair in front of the camera while Kim hit the play button.
"So what do I need to do?" he asked.
"Oh not much really" Kim said. "My partner here will do most of the work".
Mike was about to ask where the partner was when a sudden foul smell hit his nose. He didn't have much time to react to it when he felt someone's hand on his head. With a strong grip this someone pushed Mike's head backwards. Mike nearly screamed when he saw the red eyes, sharp teeth and sickeningly rotting flesh of the vampire holding him. The vampire brought his teeth closer to Mike's neck when...
"So this is what you kids watch these days?"
Startled by the new voice in the room Kim turned her head up to see a vampire appearing from the ceiling, dressed in red coat and hat, with red sunglasses. Alucard floated elegantly to the ground and turned to Kim.
"About time you led us to him. I've wanted to see who the new star is" Alucard said, wearing his trademark grin. He then turned to the other vampire in the room. "Though I have to say it's a good thing we don't leave a reflection. You haven't really been taking care of your complexion".
The vampire was still holding the trembling Mike's head in his hand. "Who are you?" it grunted.
"I take it you're not the brains behind this. By the smell of it you've been living in the sewers. Let me guess, you got turned to a vampire but left on your own? Without any guidance you've been forced to live in caves and rat holes, preying on random victims?"
The vampire gave a loud snarl, pushed Mike out of the way and leaped like a leopard towards the intruder. Alucard swiftly pulled a gun out of his jacket, aimed and fired. Before Kim could blink her vampire partner in crime exploded to ashes that scattered around the studio.
At the sound of the firearm a group of Hellsing soldiers broke through the door and aimed with their guns. Integra stepped in behind them.
"The target has been silenced for good, Master" Alucard said.
"Good. Secure the area and confiscate all the evidence!" Integra commanded and the soldiers moved out of her way. She glanced at Mike who was trembling on the floor. "Scram" she said sharply. He did just that and ran past all the soldiers.
Finally Integra turned her cool gaze to Kim who answered it with a defiant glare. "I knew it" Kim said. "I knew government was hiding the truth. You've known of the existence of these creatures all along!"
"Is that what you were trying to do? Reveal vampires to the whole world?" Integra asked.
"I saw one of these creatures when I was young but nobody believed me. People like you kept the truth hidden back then also. Something had to be done. People have the right to know these monsters exist!"
"So that justifies all you've done then? Allying with a vampire, providing him with people to kill?" Integra coldly said.
"They were necessary victims. I work in media, I know how it works. If I had gone to newspapers or TV stations they would have just laughed at me. But this way I got people to notice. Questions will be asked and truth will be uncovered, sooner or later!" Kim screamed triumphantly. "Do to me what you will. I didn't kill anyone. All I can be accused of is filming something".
"So you're innocent then?" Integra asked.
"Innocent as a human" Alucard said with a broad grin.
For a while there was silence between the three as Integra's sharp gaze never moved from Kim.
"You're right" Integra finally said. "We cannot give the evidence found in here so the human law has nothing on you".
Kim smiled.
But then Integra spoke again. "However, your crimes are beyond that of human law".
Kim was startled as she felt a sudden presence behind her. She turned to see Alucard there, watching down on her.
"Well, in that case..." the vampire said as his arms wrapped around Kim. "It's been a while since I've got to eat from a human. Let me enjoy this".
The horror of the situation suddenly dawned to Kim and she turned her head to Integra, just as Alucard's teeth sunk to her neck. No scream came from lips but Kim's eyes pleaded to Integra, who did nothing but stared back, never breaking the eye contact. Not even when life left Kim's eyes.
Alucard let go of Kim's body, letting it drop ungracefully to the floor, and licked the blood around his lips. "That... how is it you humans say... hit the spot?"
Integra took one of her small cigars and lighted it. She took a long hale before turning to walk out. However she soon felt Alucard's arms wrap around her and smelled the blood on his breath.
"You play cold, but that was hard for you. It's never as easy to condemn a human being to die as it is to kill a monster. Don't you wish to be free of all hard choices, Master? I could take them all from you" Alucard whispered to her ear.
For a moment Integra was very still but then she untangled from his grip. "You just never give up, do you?" she said and marched outside.
Alucard grinned. The dance would go on. The more she turned him down the more the unidentified feeling increased.
To be continued...
Okay firstly I apologise for the lame Street Fighter joke at the beginning. I just couldn't resist.
Secondly, I'm sure those of you who have seen the original 13 episodes long Hellsing anime, were able to recognise that the events in this chapter were inspired by episode 4 called "Innocent as a Human", which is also what I named this chapter. While that anime is not the best anime ever made it is what introduced me to Hellsing before manga and OVA series. And I liked that episode in the series. Since it didn't have anything to do with manga I thought of including it to my story.
Thirdly, in the synopsis of this fic it says "some Integra x Alucard in later chapters". I realise that I may have been little misleading with that. If you asked me do I ship Integra and Alucard, then yes, I do. However, I do not see them as a romantic couple that go for long walks on a beach and moonlight dinners. To me their relationship is constant challenging and fighting. At the same time I do feel they care for one another, they have a very strong bond which is brought by their circumstances. I think they're the kind of "in another time, in another life" couple.
So yeah, I hope I don't disappoint too many people with the lack of fluff in here.
Finally, when I started this fic... what, four years ago then? My life was very different back then. I had lots of free time and I started this huge ass project. Now if I had planned this better this fic might have been finished long time ago then, but as it is now I have always less time and energy for it.
Originally I had a plan to expand this story way beyond where the Hellsing storyline ends, but given how long that would take I have a new plan: I will finish the Hellsing arc in three chapters and then I'll write a long epilogue for this story. Hopefully I'll get all this done before next summer so I don't cross five years mark.
Any opinions?
Anyway, that's all for now. Next chapter coming still in 2012.