Here we go, part two of my double-update ~ Back to the present. I'm super-curious what you people have to say about my storyline, I almost can't wait to upload the stuff I'm working on right now! Especially because the following chapters were freaking hard. Seriously, with all the different storylines and times instead of separat dates and what the heck... I have three different lists just to keep track of everything!
Haha, I'm not complaining. ;) I love writing this too much. Have fun!
Chapter 22: Conquest of paradise
London, near Globe Theater, September 21st, 11.45 pm
It was quiet. Very quiet except for heavy breathing and a few curses. Three of them had fallen, not more, but every loss was a terrible one.
"Hou many are left?", Anderson asked.
"About half of them escaped," Heinkel reported. She sounded angry. "The Nazis are fierce." She turned to the others. "Get the termite! Burn the tainted demon meat! Burn them all to ashes!" Vicky had never seen her on fire like that. It was amazing. She turned to tell Lady Hellsing she was now in Vatican custody, but she was gone. For a second, Vicky was paralyzed with a panic not even an attacking vampire army could make her feel. But then she saw the red-headed woman at the crashed car, going through the stuff on the back seat. She found a handkerchief and wiped off the blood on her face, grimacing at the pain.
Vicky hastily joined her, praying her teacher hadn't seen how she had lost track of their prisoner for a moment. If so, the paladin seemed not particularly concerned.
"Where's your shadow?", she asked instead, exchanging the clips in her guns. Caitlyn Hellsing looked up and almost bumped her head on the roof of the car. She had gotten a black coat that looked way too big for her, a small caliber gun, and a rapier. She strapped the weapons to her belt, handing Vicky the coat, who was too confused to act like a paladin should. However that might be.
"Oh, Walter? He had... things to attend to. He'll join me again soon."
Pause. So... what were they going to do? "E-, Archbishop Maxwell, he wanted me in custody, right? You know, we can make a deal. I need to get to head quarters. Millennium will attack them and my people are totally not suited to win against such an army. Can you bring me there? I'll accompany you after we've dealt with the vampires."
Pause. What?! The paladins exchanged uncomfortable glances. The Chaos Girls looked at each other, then at Anderson, who seemed to be slightly lost himself. Vicky had expected the Hellsing woman to be arrogant, or resistant. Sure, she had not really a choice in the face of all these soldiers around her, but...
She looked at them. "Come on, we don't have all night." Vicky looked at her teacher, but didn't get an answer. That woman could not just give orders to Iscariot!
"Father Anderson, can't we just... uh... drag her along?" Heinkel stabbed her with her eyes and Vicky quickly lowered her head when Anderson looked at her. Did he recognize her? Oh God, he would kill her, and her teacher too. Or her teacher would kill her. She would never become a paladin.
Caitlyn seemed more amused than worried, even if she was just trying to hide a panic hovering over her all the time. "That's really not necessary. I'll come with you once we're done. It's my duty to protect innocent lives. We're on the same side, right?"
"O' course," Anderson said. "It's nae manner tae let ae lady walk these streets alone."
"WHAT?!", pretty much every other Iscariot gasped.
"Heinkel, get cars and assemble ae group tae take on these beasts. The others stay wi' me."
Lady Hellsing smiled, relieved. "Thank God. Oh, thanks." She took the coat from Vicky. What the hell had just happened? "Let's hurry." And off she went, with about a third of the paladins trailing behind her. Vicky threw a glance back and Father Anderson smiled at her.
She quickened her steps and caught up to Lady Hellsing. "Sorry for being rude," she murmured. "That your coat?"
"Walter put it in the car. It's not mine, no." She winced as a ghoul approached, but then pulled her own gun. The shot missed by an inch. Vicky put the ghoul down.
"Thanks," Lady Hellsing said. "I'm not a really good shooter." I see that, Vicky thought.
"You're not supposed to be here, right?"
Vicky spun. "I have the same right to fight this battle like anyone else!", she snapped.
Lady Hellsing nodded and laughed uncomfortable. "Sorry. Now I was rude. It's just, the way you flinched when Father Anderson looked at you and how the blonde woman basically stabbed you with her gaze, I figured Anderson mustn't know you are here."
"First off, the blonde woman, that's Heinkel Wolfe. She's the best paladin of Iscariot if you don't count Father Anderson. And second..." She trailed off, angry because Lady Hellsing had gotten her to talk. Why were they escorting her anyway? She was an enemy they were ordered to capture. The chief would get mad if he got wind of this. Then again, technically she was their captive, so it shouldn't be a problem. They just put out the trash on the way.
"How did you get the idea of just asking us for help? We could have as well gotten the orders to kill you."
"You are just as interested in defeating Millennium as I am. I'm aware there is a crusade coming, but as long as the civilians are out of the-" She sighed, catching not only Vicky's glance. The civilians were never left out. Or what was left of them. "The vampires would have killed me anyway if you hadn't interfered. And I can't put up such a huge fight against either them or you, right? I'm trying to protect lives, nothing more."
That logic was pretty flawless, Vicky had to admit. "Stay with the others, okay?" She hurried to catch Heinkel and Yumie. "Teacher, what are we going to do?"
"We'll drive to Hellsing mansion and look what we can do," Heinkel explained. "You stay with Lady Hellsing all the time, understand?"
Vicky glared at her. "But I want to fight!"
"You will," Yumie said. "Your task is to protect our captive. That's important, so don't screw it up."
"Heinkel, Yumie!", Nils called. "I found cars!"
It was a pick-up, a Mini, and a small transporter. They had somehow survived the attack and the fire unscathed and even the keys were still in the ignition. No signs of the passengers, no matter if living, dead, or undead. How convenient. A bit too convenient. "Stellan, you and Vicky escort Lady Hellsing. It's easier when we can see her as a target if Millennium attacks," Heinkel announced.
"So I'm bait," Caitlyn Hellsing said. Vicky shrugged her shoulders.
"They know what they do."
"Sure," Lady Hellsing mumbled. They got in the Mini and the tires screeched as the cars sped off. Caitlyn sat on the rear bench and stared out of the window. The smell of fire had sunken into her nose and her throat felt dry. She checked her phone. The screen was cracked, but it was still functioning. Shortly after midnight. Millennium had had its fair share of snacks for hours now. She wondered where Walter was, and if he was winning. It seemed impossible to her that he could lose. He had almost beaten the werewolf when he was still human, still a child. Now he was a vampire. And Mira? She was still on the Eagle, but she would find a way to come back. She surely wouldn't want to miss such a fight.
At least now the Iscariots were on their side. Her next step was to get to head quarters before Millennium did, let the professionals handle it, and save lives. So she was a prisoner? Who cared. She had known Enrico would have never given orders to kill her. That was not like him.
The cars came to an abrupt halt as the driver, Stellan, braked sharply. The others halted right behind them. The street was blocked by a tight line of vampire soldiers with their guns directed at them.
"Iskariot! Surrender Lady Hellsing or die!", the leader announced.
"Stellan, protect Lady Hellsing, would you?" Vicky jumped out of the car and joined the other paladins. The blonde man in the front turned to Caitlyn, studied her for a moment, and shrugged his shoulders. "Sit tight. The Wolf kills me if I let Vicky run around alone." He had a pleasant Scandinavian accent. Caitlyn had to think of Hamlet for some reason. He got out and merged with the others. Caitlyn sighed. "Awesome," she said aloud. "And now? My people need me." The Iscariots were good. Five minutes. They probably wouldn't need more time to win. She could wait that long.
Vicky frowned when she saw Stellan push through the crowd. He was supposed to take care of Lady Hellsing! But then the machine guns started rattling and she had no time to think about it anymore. She dashed behind a wall, bullets hitting the bricks, and returned fire. A stray bullet slashed across her cheek and she winced. "Damn it!"
Blood splashed in her face as Yumie, just a blur herself, sliced through three vampires at once. Whoa, let's hope I won't catch anything from that, Vicky thought. Somebody grabbed her arm and she spun. It was a young man, his clothes torn and bloody.
"Help me!", he whimpered. He was bleeding badly form the numerous bite wounds on his body. As Vicky watched, unsure what to do, he collapsed.
"God have mercy on your soul," she murmured, and put a bullet in his head.
"Du mieser...!" She turned as two bodies slammed in the wall next to her. Somehow, Hannibal had managed to overthrow a vampire with his bare hands, if only for a second. Vicky's bullet put an end to the monster's struggle and the older paladin got up, out of breath. "Thanks!" Then he drew his guns and vanished in the turmoil again.
Heinkel and Yumie were directly at the front, dodging, jumping, taking out enemies. Vicky wondered why the vampires relied so much on their weapons. They were fast enough to tear out any human's throat before he knew what was happening. They just didn't. Also, constant fire was incredibly ineffective. She saw her chance and ran across the street, avoiding the bullets like her teacher had taught her and firing at the vampires. Hey, this was going pretty well. Her teacher would finally recognize she had enough skills to fight here. Maybe she might even be proud of- Somebody grabbed her throat and she was flung into a wall. A vampire grinned at her with bloody teeth.
"Vhat is a little girl like you doing here, playing vith ze big kids?"
Vicky wrapped her legs around his arm and pulled down. He might be strong, but he didn't expect an attack. The arm broke with a loud crack and the vampire gasped, more in surprise than pain. At least he let go. Vicky crashed to the ground, stars exploding in front of her eyes. The vampire held her down, wanting to dig his fangs into her throat. Her fingers brushed her gun, but she couldn't quite grab it. The teeth came dangerously close to her throat. Its breath was hot and stank of blood.
I'm not gonna be a monster! She managed to grab her gun and pulled the trigger. The bullet only pierced the vampire's torso, not close enough to the heart, but it threw him back a bit.
"Little bitch! You shouldn't mess vith ze adults!" Then a bullet took his head off. Vicky got to her feet and brushed dust off her coat. Her legs were shaking. She rubbed her neck, just to be sure.
"You shouldn't mess with the Vatican, abomination!", she replied with all dignity you could have when your heart was hammering like the cylinder of a sports car engine. Her head was still swimming, but that vanished when she picked up her second gun and checked on enemies while she reloaded. The others were still busy, and nobody paid attention to her. Maybe she should check on Lady Hellsing. That was her job after all.
She was in a somewhat secluded spot off the main street. She needed to peek around the corner to see what was happening. The paladins had formed a line to return fire. Vicky frowned. That weren't all of them. Impossible that they had been decimated like that, right? She couldn't see her teacher either.
Whatever. She was a paladin like everybody else, so she stood in one black front with all of them, refusing to look around and seem nervous. There was a pause. The vampires, still at least three dozen, had formed their own line, machine guns ready just as the paladins were ready. They looked at each other, the paladins emotionless, the vampires with wide, bloody grins. "Vill you surrender?", the leader asked.
"Never," Vicky said in a reflex, all alone, and loudly. Pretty much everybody turned to look at her. She felt her face flush and covered it by trying to act like a leader.
"We are the soldiers of Judas Iscariot. We are the paladins of the Vatican, protecting the true faith from ungodly creatures like you. And you actually expect us to surrender?"
The vampires broke into laughter. "Did you hear zat? Vhat a nice little speech by ze youngest and most vulnerable of zem all!" The vampire's head exploded. There was another pause, when the enemy was unsure what just had happened. Vicky had seen the muzzle flash from the roof on the right, and raised her guns. Screw it, if she was already playing the leader, she could do it right. She started firing, so the vampires would look at her and not see the ambush.
The three or four sniper rifles took out the one or other vampire, but the enemies were too busy with the other paladins to notice. Vicky ducked under a blow that would have taken her head off and pressed the muzzle under the vampire's chin before pulling the trigger. Something was not right.
Somebody pushed her and she landed on her knees, almost losing the guns. A vampire tripped over her, kicking her ribs in the process. Vicky gasped and tried to get up. If she was to die here, she sure as hell wouldn't be trampled to death. She saw something roll over the ground with a metallic clatter even audible over the fighting. Shit.
"Grenade!", she shrieked at the top of her lungs and dived behind a wall. There was a deafening explosion and rubble rained down on her. Every sane person would have stayed under cover and assessed the situation. That was how the police and all special forces did it. For a second, utter and complete silence reigned as everybody recovered from the explosion. If they had made it out at all, that was. Vicky had a really bad feeling. She rolled over the ground to the next cover, avoiding the vampire jumping at her by chance and bringing her weapons up. The air stank even more than before.
She pulled the trigger three times and then dashed through the crowd. She could see some had fallen victim to the trap, but not only the fighters of Iscariot. Occasionally, there was a shot from above. And then it was already over. The last vampires fled to join their other troops, dragging the wounded with them. It weren't many. Iscariot didn't leave things unfinished.
The remaining paladins gathered, now joined by the snipers, and Yumie who had whirled through the chaos all the time, deflecting bullets with her katana or simply dodging them. It was the first time Vicky had seen her in action and it was just as impressive as everyone had described it as.
A hand pressed down and ruffled her hair. "You were supposed to watch Lady Hellsing," Heinkel hissed.
"I left Stellan with her," Vicky replied defiantly.
"How many are left?", Yumie asked.
"We lost four paladins, Hannibal, Luca, Sören, and Stellan." Vicky felt her face grow ashen. Stellan was dead? Then what about their captive? She wanted to run to the car, but Heinkel grabbed her arm. Her green eyes were icy with anger.
"You stay with me from now on," she said sharply. "And no single-handed attempts anymore." Vicky nodded miserably. "Yes, teacher." She had already been mad, Vicky was still mad at her teacher, not even because of the slap, she had already forgiven that. But what hurt most was the disappointment she saw. She just wanted to be helpful, a warrior like her. But nobody seemed to see what she could do. Nobody was on her side. Maybe never had been.
They committed the bodies to the flames, friends and foes alike, then got back to the cars. Heinkel and Yumie joined Vicky in the Mini. The seats were empty. At some point during the fight, Caitlyn had packed her stuff and run off. Vicky shrank a bit more into her seat, although her teacher didn't even say anything. "Lady Hellsing is on her own again. She's probably on her way to head quarters. We'll check there first," Heinkel said into the radio.
"Are you sure she will make it across the city on her own?", Angelo asked.
"I wouldn't put it past her. I'm not sure why she didn't take the car either. Be on the lookout, we meet at Hellsing mansion."
"Do you have a map?", somebody, Vicky couldn't place the voice, asked.
"Something along that line," Yumie said, already typing into her phone. The perks of modern technology. Speaking of which, Vicky cursed herself for not getting a headset of her own. She could have saved a few lives if everybody had heard her.
"Nice speech," Yumie told her out of the blue. "That was pretty brave, playing the bait like that." Vicky winced, but her teacher didn't even look at her.
"Thanks. I... just wanted to give you a bit more time."
"It was stupid," Heinkel said, swerving around a ghoul. This small car was not made for breaking through anything. The others took care of that. "If they're stupid enough, they might think you're one of our leaders."
"Oh, don't be so mean!", Yumie interrupted. "She did well. What are you two bitching at each other about anyway?!"
"We're not-"
"Uh... Heinkel, Yumie, you know we can hear you, right?", Angelo's voice came from the radio. The rest of the drive through this fallen city was covered in awkward silence. The airships were still threatening overhead, but on the outskirts, it almost seemed normal. There were small damages, but not as bad as in the inner city. And everything was deserted. Not even a ghoul was to be seen. It looked like in a post-apocalyptic movie. Maybe, in a few years, somebody would make just that, called The Battle of London, or some more epic title. The only question was, would the Iscariot organization be the bad guys? Or the heroes?
Hellsing mansion had a wide park around it, and a driveway stretching into eternity. But the zeppelin over it was easy to spot. The mansion was under attack. No.
It had already fallen.
Cape Gris-Nez, September 21st, 2016, midnight
"Lisa, there you are. Look." She joined Enrico at the top of the cliff. The horizon was lighted by red and orange, topped with black smoke. "Look how it burns." She nodded slowly, not daring to look at him, but she could hear the smile. He didn't seem to notice his slight accent either, another indicator how excited he was. She winced when he laid his hand on the small of her back. Enrico didn't seem to notice. "Il purgatorio. Meraviglioso."
"Sir?" That was Bernard. "The Iscariot organization and Anderson have captured Lady Hellsing. They engaged the Last Battalion in the course of that task and split up. It seems like one part has set out to fight Millennium at Hellsing headquarters."
"What are they up to?", Lisa asked, confused.
"I suppose Caitlyn had the nerve to ask for their assistance," Enrico answered. He sounded amused. Lisa dared to turn her head. She didn't like that grin. It scared her. "It would fit her, being so dewy-eyed. Whatever. Where is she now?"
There was a short discussion. Enrico didn't turn around, but Lisa did. What were they on about? She didn't trust the other Section leaders. Makube hadn't bothered to show up again, probably still licking his wounds from the defeat everybody was already talking about. But the others were just as corrupt and dangerous, as far as Lisa was concerned.
"Uh... It seems like she could flee while Iscariot was busy fighting off a troop of Millennium's soldiers. There were seven dead in total among the paladins," some other priest Lisa didn't know said. There was a brief silence. Looks great for our organization, doesn't it?
Enrico sighed. "They know their primary objective is to capture her. Don't engage Millennium more than necessary."
"London is in ruins," Finch said with a grin. He had a soft voice, almost hypnotic. There. No wonder Enrico was flipping out if everybody here was a psychopath. "Since the attack the conflagration didn't stop. Never has the capital of the heathen empire known such fear. The number of dead is beyond estimation. And as their tally increases, so do the ranks of the undead."
"Somebody warned them," the dragon said. "They started to evacuate shortly before the attack began. It was only a few minutes, but still."
Lisa clenched her fists in what she hoped looked like anger. "Could the traitor be in our ranks?"
The Section leaders looked at her like they noticed her for the first time, although she had not been talking to them. Enrico still hadn't turned around. He was watching the English coast and London, lit by flames, and seemed as happy as he could be. The dragon slowly, almost invisibly, shook his head, a regretful expression on his face. A moment later, it was gone. Maybe she had just imagined it.
"God has banished them," Enrico said. "How they've clung to their heresy on this Babylon on the Thames. It serves them right."
"Indeed it does", Finch said. They laughed. Lisa turned back to the red sky, so they wouldn't see how angry she was. These bastards! None of this was right. Mass murder was not God's work. She wanted to tell her brother, make him see reason, but she couldn't. Not here. If she started a fight with him in front of everybody, maybe... Maybe she would lose the last bit of connection they shared, a connection she had never expected to become so fragile.
"What about America?"
"Chaos," Bernard reported. "The White House is burning even now. It seems like a presidential aid turned into a vampire during a cabinet meeting. Fourteen people were slaughtered, including the president himself."
"Sounds about right," Enrico said softly. What about Canada? Wouldn't he ask about that? Sure, the government was quite a bit away from Richmond, but...
"Our American bishops await orders."
"They strike only if the vampirism spreads. Otherwise, we will not get involved," Enrico decided. Lisa could only stare at him. What? WHAT? He just wanted to leave them to themselves?
"Enrico..." He raised a hand and Lisa hesitated. But he hadn't even tried to silence her. He hadn't heard her. Lisa was not even sure anymore if she had spoken aloud.
"Let the world's policeman tend to his own house for a change. And while they are distracted..." Lisa spun, forcing Enrico to let go of her. Metallic footsteps approached, organized, in perfect unison. Chrk, chrk, chrk. Metal on grass. Armors.
"Yes, Sir," Finch said. "I thought the Americans would react to what is going on here. This is unusual."
"It is no matter. So long as they stay out of our way. Britain, Hellsing, and Vladimira are my only concerns. The Vatican is content to let the Major be since they were bedfellows since the last war." Lisa's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding? You said yourself this partnership was a disgrace, you can't -"
"Lisa, please don't interrupt," Enrico cut her off. A grin spread on his face and he clenched his fist.
"I am not so forgiving!", he exclaimed. "He and his kin will feel a crusader's wrath. On this night, we reclaim Britain from monsters and pagans," he took a step forward and spread his arm wide, making Lisa stumble back, "for the glory of our mighty God!"
She wanted to run to him, shake him and tell him what madness this was, that he had to come back to his senses. A hand weighed heavy on her shoulder. The dragon shook his head. She turned around and was unsure if she should be scared or amazed by the endless ranks of white and red armored knights. Every one had an automatic cannon, a white triangular hood, and a red cross on their uniform. Are you freaking kidding me?
"I kill the faithless and demonic," Enrico said, and his voice didn't sound like it ever had. It was an inhuman growl, more fitting to a monster than her brother. "Just like you have taught me, Father!" Lisa clenched her fists and closed her eyes for a second. God. Make this stop. You cannot want this. Oh Enrico...
"From the Order of the Sword of Corlante, I pledge onto thee three hundred and forty souls!", a man with a blue sword-shaped cross instead of an eye slit and with an Italian accent announced.
"From the Order of Calatrava la Nueva, I pledge one hundred and eighteen souls unto thee," the man with a typical crusader's visor and a Spanish accent announced.
The third had a cross on the forehead of the hood and a bird's mask. He spoke with a slow Italian accent. "The Order of Santo Stefano di Toscana pledges two hundred fifty seven souls onto thee."
"And from the order of Malta, two thousand four hundred fifty-seven souls."
Lisa turned back to her brother and felt her insides turn to ice. Enrico had his hands behind his back, staring out at the British channel with a wide, evil grin. That was the only appropriate description. His green eyes seemed to be glowing. He laughed softly, then turned around and walked through the middle of the Section leaders to face his crusaders. The four leaders stood at the front. Enrico looked them over with a content smile, not like he used to, but at least not as scary as before. Lisa couldn't have moved, even if the dragon would have let her go.
One row after the other, the crusaders bowed down to Enrico. The four leaders knelt down last.
"The Holy Father has ordered us here. He has promoted you in absentia to the rank of archbishop, as befits your task." Enrico grinned. "Congratulations, Your Grace," the knight said. "We, the faithful here assembled, form the knights of the Ninth Crusade. We are yours to command, Archbishop Maxwell." The leader of the Knights of Malta pulled out a red sash woven with golden ornaments and offered it to Enrico. "Deploy us as you will."
Enrico looked at him with a content, greedy smile, only superficially trying to seem humble and dignified. He grabbed the sash and draped it over his shoulders. "AMEN!" The dragon's hand tightened on Lisa's shoulder. In her panic the weirdest thought she had was why Enrico didn't even bother to put the ponytail over the sash. Normally he didn't like scarves over his hair. Lisa prayed.
"I accept this with all of my being!" He turned to the crusaders.
Dear God, I'm not asking much. Forgive him. He is not himself. I will take care of the rest.
"Your target is London!", Enrico exclaimed, his voice almost a snarl. "Destroy it! Let this new era of Catholic might, this reconquista, now begin!" The crusaders straightened up.
"Amen! Amen! Amen!", they repeated, over and over, while Enrico watched them, perfectly satisfied with this sight. Everybody joined in except for the new Archbishop and Lisa. She was too frozen to say anything, and if not, 'Amen' would have not been her choice. The crusaders turned around like one and began to walk to the helicopters, exclaiming "Amen" over and over. Enrico started to laugh. Finch, Bernard and the dragon turned around, confused.
"To think that a bastard, despised and spat upon by polite society, would be made an archbishop, and given an army." He laughed again. Lisa was speechless. That was what this was all about? She managed to shake off the dragon and grabbed her brother's arm. "What the hell are you talking about?", she hissed. "What does that have to do with anything? What about our parents?" For a moment she almost thought the wild arrogance and ecstasy of power in his eyes cleared.
"Director!" A young blond boy, one of the trainees from the orphanage, pushed his way through the adults, his face pale and scared, clutching a small pile of papers.
Enrico turned around, annoyed. "Well, what is it?"
"Look." He handed Enrico the stack of which turned out to be photographs. "It's that carrier. The British one."
He leafed through the photos. "These coordinates... it's moving again? That's absurd!"
"After all the damage it took? That's impossible!", Finch snapped. Without a word, Lisa took the photos from Enrico's hands and handed them over. Finch and Bernard almost bumped their heads over them, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Director, it's speed is just a few knots, but this ship is definitely heading..." The boy hesitated. "To London." So Vladimira the vampire queen was on her way to return to her master.
"Alucard is coming," Finch said nervously.
Enrico grinned and walked back to the edge of the cliff. The helicopters were already boarded, the engines warming up with a howl. "Let her come. Hellsing, Millennium, and Vladimira alike will perish at our feet. The Lord will use us as a sword and lay their forces into dust. Now go. Our time as the tool of God's holy wrath is begun!" His hand cut through the air, down, signaling the begin of the Ninth Crusade. With a roar of engines, the first helicopters started, heading over them for the other side of the channel. Enrico turned around and walked to the glass cube that would protect him while he gave orders from up high.
Lisa wanted to follow him, but the dragon blocked her way. "It would be best if you stay here," the giant man said.
Lisa broke free. If she was scared of something now, it was surely not him. "Don't tell me what is best for me! I'm going with him. He needs me."
The dragon slowly shook his head. His dark eyes were full of pity. "You will only see carnage and horror. It is already too late. Spare yourself this torture. You cannot save him anymore."
"Like hell I can! Even if it's to late, it's my duty. I won't let him down!"
"Duty?", the dragon asked softly. "What duty? Why would you hurt yourself like that?"
"Because we're family." She cut him off before he could say anything. "I don't expect you to understand. Family doesn't end with blood. Now leave me alone."
The dragon didn't try to stop her, but she heard several chuckles and confused questions as she ran past the other clerics. Of course, they didn't risk their lives. They also weren't honored with a promotion, so that came around, presumably. She didn't really know how this cube worked, but she managed to jump on the truck and bumped into her brother just before it was sealed.
For the first time in several minutes, he seemed to really notice her. "What are you doing here?", he snapped. "I said you stay here with the others!"
"Screw that! I'm not gonna let you go alone." Without being asked to, she pulled his ponytail out under the sash and arranged everything correctly.
Enrico rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Mum. Lisa, you're afraid of heights. We're going to fly the whole night in a glass cube."
"I'm good," she said with clenched teeth. She had to shout to be heard over the rotors of the starting helicopters. "Try to stop me." Enrico sighed and waved a hand. The cube was sealed.
"Try not to stand in the way." They lifted off the ground and Enrico took his place at the front, over his lectern, framed by dozens of microphones. She saw the on/off button at the edge of the tabletop. So far, they were shut off. Under the table Lisa discovered the sword Yumie had brought back from the US weeks ago. So that was his big surprise?
She felt a bit dizzy when she looked down at the stormy black water under them, but it was not as bad as she had expected. The burning London was coming closer quickly.
"Rico..." Her throat felt tight. He leaned against the lectern and grinned at her.
"Isn't it a wonderful night?", he asked. "The Vatican will rebuild Catholic Britannica. And we will be on top, we Iscariots. You and me." He spread out his arms. Lisa accepted the invitation and hugged him, leaning her head against his shoulder as they saw London approach. "Always and forever."
He said something else, but she didn't hear it. The only thing she could think about was if the dragon was right. If her brother as she knew him was already gone or if she could still save him.
"Oh yes. Always and forever," she repeated quietly. "Until the end."
London, Stamford Street, September 22nd, 0.30 am
Caitlyn pressed herself into a dark hallway as vampires ran past her. Maybe she just should have stayed with the Iscariots. They would assume she would go to Hellsing mansion and she would, if she found an opportunity. But most bridges were already destroyed and alone by foot she would need an eternity, if she made it at all. At least the fires were dying down by now. Hopefully, Iscariot would reach the mansion in time. She on the other hand needed to find somewhere to issue orders from, take care the people were evacuating or at least hiding, until the reinforcement arrived. Enrico would be determined to bring this disgusting Major down. She would join him. Once Walter and Mira were back, nothing could go wrong anymore.
She felt violently sick from all the carnage. Men, women, children, slaughtered without a difference. At first she had tried to take out all the ghouls she found, but she just couldn't. She was shaking too badly, she was tired and in shock. She could have prevented that. Hell, Britain could have prevented that! But no, they didn't even give out a warning and instructions. Eight million people lived in the city, not counting the numerous tourists. Most of them were already dead.
She shrieked when a ghoul tried to grab her and beheaded it with her rapier. So Mira's fencing lessons had not been for nothing. Caitlyn shoved up her sleeves. The coat was too big for her, but she didn't want to abandon it and carrying it around over her arm was no option either.
The cell phone towers had probably not survived the attack, as she couldn't get a signal.
"What are you doing out there?" She gasped and almost stabbed an elderly man peeking from a doorway further in. "Get in, before the monsters do." Without waiting for her answer, he grabbed her and dragged her inside. Then he barricaded the door again. Not that any of it would really help against a vampire trying to get in. The small kitchen she was standing in was damp and hot.
At the table sat a young woman, probably the man's daughter, reading a story to her child. The girl could not be older than four and had wild blonde hair. She had been crying, just like her mother.
"Daddy?", she asked and looked up, but sagged when she saw Caitlyn instead of her father.
"Dad, who is that?", the woman asked warily. "Didn't we say we don't let anyone in?"
"Karen, she was all alone out there." The next moment, Caitlyn got water in the face and the old man pressed something to her forehead. She blinked and wiped her face with a handkerchief he gave her. "See, she's not a vampire."
Karen shrugged her shoulders, not convinced. "Who are you?"
"Caitlyn Morris," she introduced herself. "Sorry for just appearing here, I... was on my way across town."
"With all these monsters on the street?", Karen's father asked. He looked her up and down, the bruises on her face, the too big coat, the rapier and the gun. "Are you with the military?"
"Kind of. Are you three alone?"
The little girl tugged at Karen's sleeve. "Mommy, is she nice?" She slid off her mother's lap and walked over to Caitlyn. The woman jumped to her feet and swooped the child up before she reached Caitlyn, scowling. "I don't know, darling."
"Listen, I'm not here to... whatever. You need to lay low, so Millennium doesn't notice you." A second later, there was a knife at her throat. The old man hastily pressed his granddaughter's face to his body and carried her out of the room. "It's okay, dear. Mommy's with you in a second."
"Millennium? You knew about this?", Karen hissed.
Caitlyn dropped her rapier. "Whoa. No, we didn't know they would attack London. It... it was all such a mess." For a moment, she felt like crying. Does honor matter more than a life? Eight million lives? Why does it feel like all of this is my fault?
"Karen, listen, I know we're at war right now."
"And you want to tell me it's going to be alright?", Karen asked with a shrill laugh.
Caitlyn looked into her wild brown eyes. "No. It's not going to be alright. A lot of people have died, because the government made mistakes, and all organizations made mistakes, and because the Major is a crazy bastard who wants to kill us all. But we won't let him. Not because of honor or duty to this country, but because no more innocents should die. War is wrong, that's what I'm saying. And it will end tonight."
Karen stared at her, then let go with a helpless laugh. "Lovely. You talk like you know about this. Are you with the Lords in their guidance quarters outside?"
"No. I'm with the Hellsing organization."
"Never heard of it."
"I know. Doesn't matter. You people have CB? I need to talk to head quarters."
"Out back. If you know so much, what do we do against these..."
"Vampires," Caitlyn said. That was all they needed to know. Better not confuse them. "Holy water and garlic are mildly effective, as you already know, but if you want to kill them, just shoot or impale them. Take out the head or the heart and they're dead for good. Silver is most effective."
"I see. Let's go to the CB." Caitlyn picked up her rapier and Karen led her into a back room only lit by candles. The old man was rocking the little girl on his knees. She ran to her mother and hugged her tightly until Karen picked her up.
"What's her name?", Caitlyn asked.
"Peggy," the little girl said. "And I'm... uh..." She showed her fingers. "Four."
Caitlyn smiled. "A big girl already, I see. You take care of your Mommy, right?" The girl nodded with enthusiasm. It was nice to see she was not scared.
Peggy's grandfather showed Caitlyn an ancient radio that looked self-made. She put on the headphones and tried the regulators. She had learned to use a CB radio after she was made head of Hellsing, but since then she had not needed any of that knowledge. On all accessible wave lengths was confusion, terror, and chaos. On some the Round Table had issued an order for everyone to stay inside if they could, seek shelter, and not engage in battle. Somebody had recorded Sir Penwood message and put it on repeat. Caitlyn gulped when she heard his voice again.
But then she suddenly heard a voice that seemed just as familiar. Pip Bernadotte.
"Pip! Captain Bernadotte, it's Caitlyn! Can you hear me?"
The radio crackled so hard that her ears hurt, but then there was Pip Bernadotte's voice. "Lady 'ellsing? Zank God, we already zought somezing might 'ave 'appened to you. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, what about you? Millennium is on their way to you."
"Are zey? We are somewhat bored around 'ere. Seras! It's Lady 'ellsing. She's fine."
"One of their zeppelins is headed for the HQ. The Iscariot organization is on their way too. The group is led by a blonde woman named Heinkel Wolfe. They'll help you against Millennium, but you need to bring that zeppelin down first."
There was an explosion and the line cracked loudly. Caitlyn almost ripped off the headphones. Her ears were tingling after the noise. "Captain Bernadotte?"
She heard him cough. "Zere zey are. Au revoir, boss. See you after zis is over, I 'ope." Then the connection broke. Caitlyn took off the headphones and leaned back. Okay, that was not so bad, right? They were warned, they would work with Iscariot and defeat Millennium. Her ears hurt and she felt a bit dizzy.
The old man gave her a cup of water. "We stored some," he said. Caitlyn only realized how thirsty she was when the water touched her lips. She drank the cup in one big gulp. "Thank you." The man filled it again and she drank it too, slower this time. It was a blessing after so many hours.
"So, you're not some random agent of this Hellsing thing," Karen said. She looked Caitlyn over again, then sat down her daughter. "Go with Grandpa, love, alright?" The girl nodded and followed her grandfather.
Karen crossed her arms. "You're their commander, huh? That gun is loaded with silver, I bet."
"Can you shoot?", Caitlyn asked.
Karen blinked. "Yeah. Sure."
"Good." Caitlyn opened the straps holding the holster. "Then I hope you're better than me at it." She put the gun on the table. "Protect your daughter. I got to go. Thanks for letting me use the CB." She turned to go and had a cold hard rectangle press into her neck. Not that she was particularly surprised. She had seen Karen's plan from the beginning, but her men were more important.
"That rapier looks pretty valuable. Don't you think you should leave it here as a thanks for our hospitality?"
"You want to send me out there unarmed?"
"I don't give a shit if you get eaten by those beasts. You military commanders are all the same! You sent my husband to his death without as much as "Sorry". He was a pilot, you know?" She suppressed a sob. "He promised to come home for Peggy's birthday."
Caitlyn realized who she was talking to. "Is your name Ortiz?"
Karen pressed the gun down harder. "How do you know that?"
"Your husband piloted one of the drones we sent for the HMS Eagle. He was on his way to you when... when the attack began."
"Of course. And whose fault is this mess? Yours! Yours and the other Lords! What do you care about us?"
"More than you think." Caitlyn opened the strap of the rapier and it clattered to the floor. "I really hope you make it. Take care of your daughter and yourself. She'll need a mother. Family's all you have."
"Get out!" Karen opened the door and pushed Caitlyn outside. She stumbled into the wall. "I really hope royal filth like you gets eaten, so this cursed country can catch up to today." Karen slammed the door and barricaded it again. Caitlyn leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Miss Evangeline had been right. The world was bad and scared people were the worst of all. In the end, everybody only thought of himself.
Now then. Somewhere in this chaos there would be weapons. She would have been more comfortable with her own, but that was no option. All she had was Sir Arthur's coat and her wits. That should be enough. Maybe the rest of Iscariot would pick her up again.
A bright light came down from the sky. Caitlyn stepped out of the doorway and stared up at the pyrotechnics creating the shape of a winged being. Fire rained down, a colossal, bright golden figure in the dirty night sky.
There was a long, astounded pause. Everywhere the people that had not yet fallen victim to Millennium or the ghouls came from their hideouts and stared up at the figure. Even the vampires had stopped. That's no angel.
A deep, actually quite pleasant voice echoed over the city. The sound quality was a lot better than the Major's. Finally. About time. She could hear the sizzling of the pyrotechnics, the sound of helicopters and above that the deep voice with now a bit more than a hint of an Italian accent while reciting Latin.
"Christus vincet, Christus regnabit, Christus, Christus imperat. Silvester quartus, summo pontifici et universalis papa, pax, vita et salus perpetua."
Now she could see all the helicopter with their strong spotlights, a whole swarm of buzzing insects. Enrico stood in a glass cube on a truck that hung from a helicopter. Well that had to be quite the comfortable spot. She didn't speak Latin, but recognized the name of the current Pope, Silvester IV., and wondered why it amused her that Enrico was obviously unable to pronounce a Latin C and G correctly. He just couldn't hide being Italian. She couldn't wait to talk to him. But that might have to wait until after the battle. Unless she let herself get captured again.
"Et emni clero ei commisso pax, vita et salus perpetua."
"Angels!" A woman cried. She clung to her crucifix. "It's angels!"
"How right you are!", Enrico's voice echoed over the speaker system. Caitlyn froze. Shouldn't she have seen this coming, like she should have expected Millennium's attack?
Pride went before, ambition follows him. He was unstable. She had known it on that first day in the museum and then again at the conference. Sympathy always got the better of you, didn't it?
"We have come for you! We are the righteous soldiers of the angel of death! And tonight the inquisition will render its judgment!" More fiery angels appeared in the sky. It would be beautiful if she didn't know what it meant. Enrico Maxwell's crusade had arrived in London. "England is guilty! The heathens are guilty! You are all now sentenced to your DEATH!"
A collective gasp went through the crowds that had gathered on the streets in hope of salvation, but nobody thought of running away or hiding.
"Death, death, death, DEATH!", Maxwell exclaimed joyfully. He changed to a smug voice. "I can offer you my pity, but forgiveness? NEVER! Now prepare to be purged from the Earth! Mowed down like grass! Crushed like bugs!" He broke into a horrible, maniacal laughter.
Caitlyn stared up at the crusaders, the man she had thought to be her ally, the man she might have fallen in love with just a little. How could she have been that delusional?
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see. This war was everybody against Hellsing. She had set her cards on the person who manipulated her best. She was barely more than a child, somebody still trying to find his place in the world, somebody who wanted nothing more than to be loved. And now all the innocents would have to pay for her mistake.
Du mieser = You damned (mies literally means bad colloquially)
Il purgatorio = purgatory / meraviglioso = wonderful.
Enrico's Latin speech in English (see manga vol 7): Christ will win, Christ will rule, Christ, Christ reigns supreme, to Sylvester IV., most high bishop and pope of the entire world be eternal peace, life, and salvation. And to all of those clergy devoted to him, be eternal peace life, and salvation.
In the manga, it was John Paul II, but since he died in 2005 I had to change that. As I admire the current Pope Francis (though I'm neither Catholic nor religious) and that would be completely unlike him, I didn't want to take him for that role. So I just invented a new Pope. Historically, there was a Sylvester IV., but he was an antipope from 1105 to 1011. Since he wasn't a 'real' pope I figured it was okay to take that name. The original Sylvester was the guy associated with the Donation of Constantine, so the reclamation of Britain kinda fit into the whole thing. I'm not gonna explain everything here, you can google that. (If I'm making sense that's good, if not I'm not surprised either.)
catsvsdogscatswin: First off, thanks for the review again. And second, there you have Enrico being a complete bastard. Was fun writing that. ^^
I was always somewhat irrtated by the fact he doesn't even put his ponytail over the sash. I'd go mad. And can you really say "our time IS begun" ? Because that's what he says. I'm not a native speaker and that somewhat confuses me.