Hello my loves,

I am so sorry this took so long to upload! Thank you for being so patient with me all this time. I seem to go through fazes of 5 uploads per week to one upload per week, what am I playing at?!

Thank you for following the story this far – we are coming up to a plot twist pretty soon which is rather exciting for all parties I am sure.

Note: Thank you as always to Rhiannon ( The constant pain in my butt who makes sure I upload the good stuff you y'all ) and AnimeFan001 for your comments on the last chapter. I can't send you an inbox to thank you for your comments so…Thank you ^_^

NQ

Xxx

Chapter 32: Slip Ups

Avery POV

It had been a few days since the funeral; the orphanage was starting to get back into its usual rhythm. Over time I had managed to convince Sister Mary Joan to let me move the children to the spare room next to mine. That way I was able to watch over them without having to have Marcell move into my room. Marcell was still an eight year old boy, deserved his own space. The two could no longer share a room with the other humans, it would be too dangerous.

I was a little concerned that neither of the children were eating. We had tried everything from cereal and soft puddings, vegetables to soups and still they couldn't manage to keep anything down. I was starting to get worried. I knew the werewolf diet was carnivorous in nature but I didn't like the idea that the two children would enjoy chewing on a piece of raw meat. I mean, I understood that was the food source they required; I was hardly adverse to a bit of blood. However, I did not know what dietary changed such as this these would do to their mental state. I wanted to them to stay as human as they could for now. I didn't want the children to get a taste for blood. Unfortunately the lupine children were becoming agitated and sickly without feeding. I paced my room trying to decide what the best option was – I pulled out the brown wallet from the bedside drawer. I still had some money left from Bishop Thomas – It was time to go shopping.

I pulled on a my jacket and locked my bedroom door. Taking off down the corridor I lost my footing on the fresh varnished floor. Before I knew what was happening I had fallen head over heels and landed on top of an unsuspecting nun. Blinking a few times, I apologized to the woman underneath me. I found myself straddling her waist in the middle of the corridor it was not the most elegant landing I had ever experienced.

Heinkel POV

What was that loud crash? I closed my book and left my room, sticking my head out onto the corridor I caught site of a scene which brought my blood to boiling point. The fucking demon woman was straddling Yumiko in the middle of the corridor.

Did that whore have no shame?! Was no one safe?! My eyes widened as Yumiko blushed intensely as she looked up at the redheaded woman. First Father Anderson and now the whore was trying to seduce my best friend too! I was not about to let this lay – I could not allow this behaviour to carry on. Not in front of the children, this as unacceptable.

Yumiko POV

Oh no! This was not good, I tried to wriggle myself away from under Avery as she apologized and tried to stand herself up. The recently polished wooden flooring was not helping us in the situation at all.

"I'm sorry Yumiko, it's these floors and this bloody body…I can never not fall over things." Avery groaned as she tried to push herself off of me. I tried to stutter out an apology as did the redhead as she shuffled herself on top of me trying to get up with no avail. It was an accident, I understood that. I was not a fan of the demon but she had been a help during the battle and she seemed to be looking out for children.

My eyes widened in horror as I looked over to see Heinkel storming down the corridor. I knew Heinkel was not her biggest fan, if she was to be given the chance, she would happily rip out the offending redhead's eyes. Then again, there were few people that my German friend liked to be around; she kept to herself most of the time.

"You filthy harlot!"

Anderson POV

It had been a fairy normal day, everyone was beginning to settle back into their routines. All the children had returned to their classes and Marcell and Sarah remained under strict observation.

The redhead had avoided me like the plague since our situation in the bedroom. She had not spoken to me once, she avoided my gaze whenever we were in the same room and she hurried to leave rooms when we were left alone. I didn't know if I should be happy or concerned about her behaviour.

I was sat quietly reading over some important letters when I was disturbed by a loud bang and a what sounded to be a familiar German accent echoing throughout the stone walls. I closed my eyes for a moment and prayed silently that whatever was going out down the corridor did not involve a) My German student or B) One redheaded ex demon. Sadly, I knew better than to expect this sort of miracle, I stood up and made my way out into the corridor to try and figure out where the commotion was coming from.

"Oh for goodness sake!"

Avery POV

Well this situation had escalated quickly…

As I straddled the shy nuns waist I felt a familiar cold metal press against the side of my face, Heinkel Wolfe stood with her gun pressed to my temple. For goodness sake, I had fallen and now I am at gunpoint? Do these people have an off switch?

"Get off of Yumiko you dirty harlot!" The German woman growled as I let out a groan. I was getting so tired of this shit. "Heinkel sweetie put the gun away before I curse your ass." I growled, the blonde woman hissed and pressed the gun up against my head harder.

"Heinkel she slipped it was an accident. Put the gun away and help me up." Yumiko exclaimed from under me. I raised an eyebrow slightly shocked that I was not actually being fed to the proverbial dogs in this situation.

I was quite pleased that all the children were in classes or with their friends at this point – they would not have approved of the scene at hand. I shut my eyes and let out a loud groan, I was not in the mood for this I was in a hurry to get into town, I was not planning on seducing the young nun at this point in time. Maybe on my next day off I could delve into that territory – it had been a fair few years since I enjoyed the company of another female. She was a nice looking woman, her skin was soft but she was rather timid…

"Get up!" Heinkel shouted at me breaking me from my perverted inner monologue. I was getting so tired of this woman and her attitude, once upon a time I could have sparked her up and sent her screaming around the building on fire – now I was lucky if I could hurt her feelings.

Just when I thought this situation couldn't get any worse I heard a familiar gruff voice echo down the corridor. "Alright, what is going on here?" The Scottish priest asked with a groan, he was not amused I could see that.

Rolling my eyes I let out another sigh and looked up at the blonde priest, I think this must have been the first time I had looked at him in the eye since the funeral. I had made it a priority to avoid being around the Iscariot priest for the time being –with concerns that he may have read a little too much into the kiss than I had intended I did not want to be dealing with that level of drama at this moment in time.

Heinkel POV

"Heinkel put the gun away – come on now, show a bit of restraint." Father Anderson snapped at me as he made his way up the corridor. I snorted, was he really in any position to talk to me about self control and restraint? He was hardly leading by example at the moment.

I rolled my eyes and placed my gun back in its holster with a growl. "You are telling me to restrain myself?" I retorted with a little more malice than I probably should have. I swallowed a little as I watched the priest's expression change into a calm rage, bowing my head slightly as took a step back the priest narrowed his eyes at me and shook his head. I had overstepped my mark, I knew it. "What was that Wolfe?" he asked calmly, his voice had a hint of anger which made me slightly worried.

Anderson POV

I must have heard that wrong, there was no way Heinkel would step that far out of line. I couldn't believe my ears, I was fuming – she was condemning me of being careless and unrestrained. How dare she? It was not her place to comment, I knew my sins I did not need a constant reminder being held against me by my own student. I was aware of the vow I had broken. Did she think I relished in my own sin -in my own foolish desires?

I must have been glaring at the German for longer than I should have been. Avery decided to finally comment on the situation. Which was odd, considering she was always the one to make the first comment – why was she on the floor? Why on earth was she straddling Yumiko? In fact, come the think of it this was a peculiar scene to come across.

"Alright then… as much fun as this exchange has been I need to get going could somebody please help us off of the bloody floor?" Avery huffed as she tried to push herself off the floor, sliding very awkwardly on the varnished floorboards. I reached down to help the woman up much to her own despondency as she groaned and pulled herself up with the help of my arm – eyes avoiding mine the entire time. I watched as she brushed herself off, trying to get the varnish marks off of her knees, her black trousers now ruined.

Heinkel helped Yumiko up who was still blushing, I shook my head slightly at the whole situation. It was surely a huge misunderstanding, I don't think Avery would be stupid enough to drop tackle one of the Iscariot members in the middle of the hallway…especially not in such tight trousers. Oh Lord save me from temptation!I shook my head and turned myself to face the two Iscariot members – Yumiko was trying to calm Heinkel down a little as the German woman was still seething with intent to kill. "This has all been a big misunderstanding!" Yumiko squeaked as she lowered her head in shame.

"Yes, I am sure she tripped and fell onto your lap?" Heinkel growled over to Avery who stood with glaring at the blonde woman, arms crossed with a pout across her face. She was as unamused by the antics as the rest of us. "Actually yeah, I kind of did. The floors have just been polished and I don't wear horrible church shoes like you three." Avery snapped as she pointed to her heeled patent boots- I had to admit Avery had adjusted her wardrobe over the last six months, she thought we had not noticed the tighter clothes, and the higher boots but we did. When you work and live around those who dress modestly, those kind of changed stand out.

"It was an accident, she did fall onto me." Yumiko sighed hopelessly as she was dragged of down the corridor by the blonde woman. Leaving Avery and I to stand in an awkward silence for a few minutes until one of us spoke.

Avery POV

Well that was certainly interesting…I stood in silence as I watched the psychotic blonde drag the timid nun away from us and down the corridor. "Charming woman…" I muttered under my breath. Honestly, what just happened was mostly a blur I had been trying to get to the market, I had not planned on having a gun pulled on me by a crazy German catholic and I certainly did not want to be this close to Alex at this point in time. I was actually trying to avoid any potential death or pain inducing situations – but as usual that was not working out as I planned it.

"She means well…" Alex sighed as he scratched the back of his neck and cracked his neck to the side making me grimace slightly. She didn't mean well, of course she didn't mean well! She hated my guts with a burning passion which would never die. I knew it, he knew it and anyone with fully functioning eyeballs knew it.

I rolled my eyes and turned away from the priest, trying to remember which way I was supposed to be heading. "Avery we need to talk…" I heard him sigh as he moved closer to me; I panicked slightly and slid to the side avoiding any gap in personal space. "Sorry Priest, I am very busy – I need to go to the market." I exclaimed as I began to walk down the corridor as quickly as my human legs would take me. Anderson followed me down the corridor, he had longer limbs than me, he was faster than me…it was not fair.

He held the main door closed as I tried to move past him. "You can't keep avoiding me Love." He chuckled down to me as he moved in front of the door blocking my exit, crossing his arms over his chest he stood and stared down at me.

"I need to go and buy a carcass…" I said dryly, thinking it best to quickly change the subject. I was not in the mood to discuss any topics with the Iscariot Priest. I needed to get into town before the end of the day – Anderson would not stop me.

"You-what-now?" Anderson choked I shook my head and sighed as I tried to push past him – it was like walking into a wall. With a small groan I stepped back and crossed my arms and glared up at the green eyed priest. "The kids they won't eat Alex, they need raw meat in their diet or they will go feral." I explained in a low voice, making sure our conversation topic was not echoing down the corridors. Only a handful of people knew about the children and their condition and we wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible.

"Aye, I know that. Don't we have some meat in the kitchen?" Anderson asked quietly as he looked down at me. I didn't realize until this point how much of a looming figure Anderson actually was. He must have been about seven feet tall, his body had been enhanced during the regeneration tests – he had to have been, no human looked like that! He was mostly muscle buried beneath his clerical robes – I had had the fortune of seeing them first hand. So different from Walter in every possible way, Walter was thin but toned; Anderson was a huge bulking figure. Walter was well-mannered and elegant while Alex was gruff and brazen. Walter gave off an air of cool sophistication but deep down he hid his colder, violent centre. Alex on the other hand gave off a menacing aura to all he met but from what I had seen deep down he cared deeply for people and his faith – the two couldn't be any more dissimilar.

"No, there is mince that is all…the rest is all frozen. The kids need fresh meat they can rip into not the pre-packaged crap." Anderson shushed me with his hands he was showing his distaste for the situation, it was obvious. I knew he was finding the situation to be morally testing – he was a fish out of water, having two werewolf children in his orphanage all his instincts were telling him that he had to kill those who had turned from God but he couldn't do it – he knew the children were innocent victims not bloodthirsty monsters but it was conflicting none the less.

"So I am going to the butchers down the road to get some meat for the two children. If you wouldn't mind moving slightly to the right, your looming presence is blocking the door." I sighed as I motioned to the large wooden door behind him.

"Do you need a hand carrying the meat back?" Anderson asked as he stepped to the side. I shook my head quickly and pushed my way out of the door – I did not need anyone with me for this, I also did not feel like being around Alex all afternoon, not as we were both avoiding the main issue. "No, I am sure I can manage on my own Alex. Cheers for the offer." I shouted back as I hurried out of the building leaving the Scottish priest standing slightly confused.

Anderson POV

Just when I thought that woman could not get any stranger – she surprises me. Shaking my head I shut the large wooden door and made my way back over to my office, I still had to finish off the paperwork for the last month.

Sitting down I let out a long sigh, I was tired and this whole situation was getting out of hand. The children now needed to eat raw meat, what would be next? Would they need to hunt? What did they hunt? Normal werewolves hunt live prey…were the other children in danger? Could we afford to house them in this place for much longer? I cared for the children but I had to think of the wellbeing of all of the children in the orphanage and having two potentially feral newborn werewolves rubbing shoulders with young children – it was too dangerous.

As I flicked through the paperwork, one letter in particular stood out. It was rare that we got a letter of this kind – an adoption application for two of the children. A large grin spread across my face as I read the application, it was for Marcell and Sarah to be adopted together I was shocked – no one had come to see the children, that was the usual procedure - parents would come and spend time with the children in question making sure there was a bond between them before we vetted them for adoption.

My happiness was short lived as I remember the children and their current condition – there was no way they would be able to be adopted now, they would be a danger to a human family especially one with no prior dealings with supernatural creatures. This just wasn't going to work, as I read down the page I was caught off guard by the name of the applicant. My smile returned tenfold as I looked over the name of the potential parent - Miss Odette Avery.

"Of course you'd want to adopt them." I chuckled as I leaned back in my chair and reread the paperwork. I could help but laugh, I knew how much Marcell wanted a mother and how much Sarah needed someone to take care of her now she was a were-child they were a great match for each other Avery had grown close to the children and they trusted her which was the most important thing. Avery being an ex demon would have no issues dealing with their conditions – it all seemed to work out well.

I know I should have been happy about the adoption but the more I thought about it, the more something didn't settle well with me. Why would Avery apply for an adoption? She lived in the orphanage with the children? It was practically already set up, why now did she need to get the adoption established? Was she planning on leaving? No, she couldn't be – where would she go? She couldn't leave she had nowhere to live, no income – it would be illogical.

I sat for a while thinking over my options, after a short while I took out my pen and wrote my response to the application. It pained me to do it, they couldn't leave….she couldn't leave me now…I felt myself starting to panic as I thought over all the possible reasons why Avery would want to leave and take the children. Had I scared her off with the kiss? I ran my nails across my hair as I thought about the fact that I could have scared the demon off from her own salvation – if she left she would return to the dark magic, I knew she would – she was drawn to it, it was her nature. I couldn't let that happen.

3POV

Across the pond a highly stressed Sir Integra sat at her office desk looking over the letter from Bishop Thomas. She had not received any contact form Iscariot since the attack on London over a year ago – so this letter was most out of the blue. However, the contents of the letter shocked her deeply.

"Alucard, must you always hang around in the walls?" Integra sighed as she took a sip of her scotch. She had been around Alucard long enough to be able to sense when he was hovering around the area. There was always the sense of impending doom which followed him; the rooms would feel cold like the air itself had been chilled. It was not hard to miss after all this time.

Integra did not move to look at the vampire as he faded into her office; she was too caught in her thoughts to deal with him at this point. "My apologies my Master, what troubles you?" Alucard asked in his usual low echoing voice as she made his way over to his Master's desk.

"This bloody letter – is not what I wanted to read this morning." Integra snapped as she slapped the paper on the table leaning back and taking another mouthful of scotch, letting out a small sigh as the burning liquid ran down her throat Integra closed her eyes and ran her hands through her long blonde locks. "There was a massacre in Rome – An orphanage right in the heart of Iscariot territory." Integra sighed as she looked up at her servant who was looking down at her with a blank expression. She knew he did not care if innocent people lived or died, he was a demon it was not his place or even in his nature to care in the least. "Well if they were not our sworn enemies I would understand why you were so put out Sir." Alucard began before he was off by Integra once more.

"Iscariot means nothing to me but something is not adding up. An attack at the heart of Vatican territory…it's smart…suicidal but smart…" It was true, Iscariot were there enemies but they were also their rivals, if the enemy had got to them now. What would they be planning for them if they found out there were still alive? She could not afford another attack like the one from the Valentine Brothers or worse – her team were still not 100%.

"It does seem very well planned even for demons." Alucard remarked as he looked over the letter which his Master had placed on the table ". It is not sitting well with me at all – it reminds me of a story my father told me once." Integra began as she lit up a cigar and took a long puff.

"Go on…"

"Once, before the Vatican and before Hellsing monsters still roamed the earth am I correct?" Integra asked. "Yes Master. Demons have been around since the dawn of time." Alucard replied as she looked down at her. "I was told that before we began to exterminate demons they had their own social system. Is this correct?" Integra asked. "Yes, there are certain branches of demonic races have their own monarch and hierarchy. Much like you humans do with your Queens and presidents. It is not seen as much now as it used to be I have to say – it is rare I come across a well cultured demon."

Alucard was impressed at the knowledge of the human woman, not that he should have been surprised; she had been raised by Lord Hellsing and Walter both expert demon hunters and Avery – a demon who would have had knowledge and connections with the underground societies from her time roaming the earth. Her knowledge was expected.

"These covens, do you think with the impact the London massacre had demons are trying to rebuild their hierarchy. " Integra asked her tone laced with a hint of worry, this did not go unnoticed by her servant who nodded to her in reply.

"It very well may be or they have already got their new sovereign."

3POV

In a small family butchers shop in Rome stood one very confused and slightly horrified elderly woman. The short white haired woman stood behind the meat counter of her family butchers looking wide eyes at the redheaded woman who she was serving. Avery stood on the other side of the counter with a big grin on her face, she did not realize how strange her order sounded – even to a butcher. It was not everyday a young woman walked into a butchers and wanted a whole cow carcass.

"One more time my dear, you would like what?" The elderly woman asked as she leant forward across the counter, squinting her eyes as she listened to Avery's order once more."I would like to buy a cow carcass." Avery smiled back to the elderly woman who nodded slowly as she pulled herself back, content in the confirmation she was not going senile and she had in fact heard the order in the first place. "A whole carcass, are you sure?" The elderly woman asked again as her son walked in from the back room. He was a large balding man, sweaty and covered in blood from his trade. He was relegated to the back room where he could cut up the flesh that would be sold.

"Yes Ma'am a whole cow carcass please – the freshest one you have." Avery smiled politely as the elderly woman nodded. " Mike can you prep this young lady a cow carcass please." and tuned to her middle aged balding son who nodded slightly in shock as he walked back into the back room to collect the carcass.

"Alright – is there anything else I can get you?" The elderly woman asked with a smile as she turned back from her son, who had made his way into the back room. Avery was looking over the sliced animal flesh which lined the counter behind the glass she soon became lost in deep contemplation.

She never understood how humans could look down at vampires and other demons who fed off of the essence and flesh of humans yet in the same breath -pay for someone to kill another animal for their own pleasure. They sat down to eat a cow carcass during the week – she had seen humans eating steaks and whole chickens but the idea of vampire sucking blood or a werewolf eating raw meat was intolerable. It never made any sense to her. Avery used to be quite offended by the idea that humans thought themselves superior than demons in that sense. Humanity had their blinkers on so tightly they couldn't see the similarities between themselves and hellish creatures they sought out to kill. She supposed it was humanities knack at self preservation – they thought they were on the top of the food chain; they had the tools to kill animals which – if they were left in the wild – would be the cause of the human's death. Lions, tigers, bears all of these animals were monitored, studied and kept in zoos their very existence kept monitored by specialists; their breeding controlled their diet monitored. If they had the chance they would do the same with demons, they would be monitored day and night, studied and used as weapons just like the animals which they had in zoos. Humans were not superior to demons; they were nothing more than cowardly monsters who denied their own sins.

"Dear? Would you like anything else?" The older woman asked as Avery snapped herself from her thoughts. Shaking her head apologetically the redhead began to relay her second order to the older woman. Once again the woman gave her a strange look, Avery wanted Offal. The internal organ of an animal; that was not uncommon to order at the butcher but not the sheer amount Avery wanted.

"Some offal are you sure?" The elderly woman asked once more as she pulled on a pair of clean gloves before she went over to the counter and began to weight the pieces of flesh. "Yes some kidney, hearts and liver would be great. I will take them with me now if you could get me a few bags full. Could you deliver the carcass I am afraid I can't carry it?" Avery asked with a smile as she watched the woman slowly place the animal organs in plastic bags. "Yes, of course just….um… could you write the address down and I will send it out in the morning..." The older woman said with a weak smile as she finished sealing the bags of flesh.

"Thank you Ma'am. I will probably be back next week for the same order." Avery said with a smile as she collected her bags and handed over a handful of bank notes with a smile. The older woman smiled back at the strange woman who turned on her heel and made her way out of the shop with a quick goodbye, leaving the elderly woman looking on in wonder.

What a strange woman…