Chapter XIV: Dangerous Realizations
Celes Victoria sighed with satisfaction as she sank into a steaming tub of scented water. The sweet fragrance of roses filled the large bathroom. With her enhanced senses, the scent made her want to swoon.
As the deliciously warm water engulfed her pale naked body, Celes could not resist sighing again and leaning back against the bathtub. She closed her eyes and smiled. It had been a while since she was this relaxed. She was glad she was free during mornings.
She frowned, remembering how stressful things had been for the past weeks. Miss Christina’s abduction, the increase in FREAK attacks…Celes thought she would never rest again. She thought she would go on killing FREAKS all week.
Now, she was in a bathtub in a rarely used room of Hellsing manor, taking a luxurious bath. As she grabbed a bath scrub and liberally poured some creamy liquid soap on it, she wondered how her master would react at her ‘extravagance’. Then she shrugged, squeezed the bath scrub, and began to scrub her body. Vampire or no, she was still a woman, and a girl needed some pampering every now and then. Beside, she had Lord Hellsing’s permission to do this (which she got a few minutes ago, with Lord Hellsing looking strangely at her). Her master wouldn’t counter that.
After nearly thirty minutes of luxuriating in the tub, she finally got out and toweled herself dry. She quickly got dressed in her police uniform and headed for the library.
During her spare time, she would go to the massive Hellsing library and do some research. Right now, she was looking over some books about power spots, power circles, and ley lines.
So far, she had been able to determine that the area where Lady Christina's friends first saw the vampire was an ancient ceremonial ground for long-ago mystics, thus making this a ideal power spot from which energy could be drawn. Another curious thing about that site was the fact that by the mystics once used the place to ask and receive power from the forces of darkness.
What was he summoning all that power for? Celes said to herself. He was going to do something…something big. She frowned at the thought. Drawing power…for something…but what for?
She flipped through the pages of one of the books again, the one made out of human skin and written in human blood, looking for further reference about that place. It took a few more flips when she found it. Her eyes widened as she read the part. "My God," she whispered when she finished. Snatching the book, she headed outside the library and went straight to Integral's study.
*******
"NO!"
She suddenly bolted up from her bed, her cry torn from her throat. Sheets went flying into the air as she tore away her bed sheets. Her face was as pale as a sheet, her lips just as colorless. Tiny droplets of sweat slid down from her forehead, dripping on the pale green sheets, which were twisted around her, like she had struggled against them. She could feel her heart beat like a jackhammer, like it was fighting to get out of her chest.
She swallowed hard, and took several slow, deep breaths, letting the tension slip away from her. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, and looked around.
What in bloody hell was that? she wondered, gazing at the sunlight streaming into her room. She could not remember what made her bolt up, but whatever it was, she could still feel the feeling it inspired.
Fear.
It was fear as she had never felt fear before. She wasn't someone easily frightened by nightmares. However, there had been something in her sleep or dream that made her react that way. But what was it?
Christina Elizabeth Hellsing buried her head in her shaking hands. Calm down, Chris, she told herself. It was just a bloody nightmare. You're a Hellsing, and Hell–
Christina smiled suddenly, a rueful, humorless smile. Scratch that. I'm a Greystone. Her hands curled into tight fists, her nails biting into her flesh, drawing blood. Christina Elizabeth Hellsing-Greystone. A traitor's daughter.
Her smile turned bitter. The King knows about it, and he betroths me to his second son. Does he trust Hellsing that much, or is he just being cautious? Is this betrothal a way of binding Hellsing to his family so he could keep an eye on us? So he could control us?
Christina's bitter smile turned into a smirk. Her scarlet eyes glinted with determination. I'd like to see him try. He may be the King, and I may have a traitor's blood running in my veins, but I am still a Hellsing and I will not let anyone control me, not even the King.
Then she snorted at the idea. If my mother could hear me now, she'd call it a sacrilege to think this way. She stared at the window with unseeing eyes, the conversation between her and her mother still fresh in her mind. Ah, damn it. I wanted to know about myself. My mother obliged. I should be content.
But you are not, little one?
Christina jumped at the sound of Alucard's voice in her head, so shocked she was at his sudden intrusion. The shock was quickly replaced with anger. "How dare you listen to my thoughts without permission?" she demanded of the vampire in a loud voice.
And there he was, the great vampire Alucard, standing a few feet beside her bed, protected by the shadows. Completely clad in red, he was looking at her with an indecipherable expression on his roguish face. "I am not in the mood to deal with you today, Alucard. Leave me alone. Go to my mother. I believe she wants to discuss certain things with you," she added in a voice so cold that it would have instantly frozen molten lava.
Christina stood up from the bed and pointed at the door. "Get out. By the door or by the shadows I do not care, but just get out of my room right NOW!" She let her voice rise at the last word.
To her chagrin, Alucard merely laughed uproariously. Snatching a pillow off her bed, Christina hurled it to Alucard, who smoothly dodged it. It tumbled harmlessly on the floor. "You have inherited the Hellsing temper as well, little one. Your mother did the self-same thing when she was your age. However, she shot at me rather than throw a down-filled pillow."
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Christina looked away from the grinning vampire, then she asked, "What do you want?"
"My Master has bid you to go to the study. There are important matters to be discussed."
"So you're the messenger now. I thought that was Walter's or David's job."
"I took it upon myself to deliver the message."
Just then, there was a knock on her door, which opened to reveal Walter. "Lady Christina, your–" Walter's eyes widened slightly when he saw Alucard standing in her room.
"I have already told her the news, God of Death." With a smile, Alucard disappeared into the shadows.
"Does he always come here, Lady Christina? Your mother doesn't like that." Walter asked her.
Christina gave Walter a wry smile. "Usually. He just talks with me, nothing else." A sudden thought occurred to her. "Did he do that when my mother was in my age? Visit her, I mean?"
"Sometimes. I remember there was one time Lord Integral got so mad at Alucard she shot at him."
Christina laughed. "I see." She gave Walter a curious look. "Why did he call you God of Death?" She had always been curious about Walter. He always had a gentle smile on his face, but she knew he wasn't just an old butler. She heard stories about him, especially about those deadly wires of his.
She never saw him fight, but looking at Walter's still strong, well-built body, she guessed he must had been an extraordinary fierce fighter in his younger days. She knew Walter made and designed the weapons Alucard and Celes used. He was old now, and Christina wondered if David or anyone would be enough to fill the void that would surely be felt when Walter was gone.
Walter smiled. "It was a title I acquired when I was a young man in active duty for Hellsing. Alucard and I used to work together, eliminating FREAKS and ah…Nazis. I had been quite…ah…enthusiastic with my job."
"Oh." Then she looked down at her light blue pajamas. "I suppose I should get dressed."
*******
"He was going to summon what?" Lord Integral Wingates Hellsing nearly shouted, stunned at Celes's discovery.
They were in Integra's study, discussing about last night's events. Integra was seated behind her desk, with Walter standing beside her. Celes stood in front of the desk while Alucard stood a little farther off, partially hidden by the shadows. Christina stood quietly near the window, looking outside.
Celes held up the book, pointing at the phrase in the book. "It says here that the power spot near Miss Christina's school was once used as a place to communicate with the Master of Darkness and as a place for someone to gain dark powers. It also says here that the energy gained from that spot could be used to summon the forces of darkness."
Walter frowned in thought. "So, it is possible Adrian had tried to summon some dark creature from Hell, similar to what Incognito did a several years ago."
Celes nodded. "Yes. However, I do not know what he was trying to summon. Satan himself, perhaps?"
Integra firmly shook her head. "No mortal or creature of the undead can compel Satan to come up, no matter how powerful the summoner is. Some lesser minion, perhaps, but not Satan. Whatever he was trying to summon, it is a good thing Adrian has been disposed of."
"If you're that interested to know what had Adrian wanted to summon, you could ask his human Master," Christina suddenly said from her place near the window.
Everyone turned to where Christina was. She looked at them, her scarlet eyes grave. The heir to Hellsing wore a pale green long-sleeved turtleneck sweater and long black pleated skirt. The colors made her look somber. "Adrian had to have had one. He couldn't have moved that freely and undetected in England without some kind of human protection. He had FREAKS on his side as well. As I recall, FREAKS and true vampires do not have a good relationship, so somebody who is human must be pulling the strings to coordinate things between the two."
"That is a possibility," Integra conceded, impressed with her daughter. She turned to Alucard. "Well, Alucard, do you think Adrian had a human master?"
Alucard scowled blackly. "I regret that I could not accurately tell, Master."
Integral turned to Walter. "Do we have any information or indication about another human has a vampire?"
Walter shook his head. "No information whatsoever, Lord Hellsing."
Alucard smirked. "Have you checked among the knights, Master? The last time something similar to this happened, it was a Knight of the Round Table who started it."
"You will hold your tongue, Alucard. I will not have my order slandered," Integral said in quiet voice, though her ice-blue eyes were as hard and as cold as arctic ice.
Alucard's answering smile was bland. "As you wish, Master, but do remember, I warned you."
Walter cleared his throat. "Speaking of the knights, we received a message from His Royal Majesty that Lord Michael Jonathan Harker's knighthood ceremony would be held today."
Christina and Integra traded a look. One eyebrow raised, Christina asked, "Isn't it a bit too early to knight him? I mean, it's only been a day since his father died."
"His Highness probably took in consideration the current situation at hand." The Knights of the Round cannot afford losing a single member, Integra thought. Especially now, with another undead threatening the realm. Though Michael Harker was poorly suited in his newfound role as a Knight of the Round Table, they needed someone to fill in the vacancy the elder Harker left.
"The vampire Adrian is dead, but who led that attack? Some FREAK?" Celes wondered aloud.
It was Christina who answered. "I think it is Adrian."
Integral frowned at her daughter. "That is nonsense. Adrian is dead."
Alucard looked intensely at Christina. "Are you questioning by abilities, little one?"
Integral was startled when Alucard called Christina 'little one' and by the expression in the vampire's eyes. Christina, however, met Alucard's gaze head on, not hint of fear in her gaze. "No. I'm not questioning anyone's ability. However, if my theory of Adrian having a human Master is true, his Master could have revived him."
There was a moment's silence in the room. "Walter," Integra said, a grim look on her face. "Send some troops to investigate the place where Christina was taken. You will go with them, and try to determine if any resurrection magic was used."
Walter nodded. Integra turned to Celes. "Continue your research. I want to know if there are other power spots similar to the one in my daughter's school. And if there are, someone will be there to defend it just in case anyone or anything tries to summon power from it."
"Yes, Sir Hellsing."
Integral flickered a quick look at her daughter, who had a frown on her young face, then turned to the others. "The meeting is adjourned. Alucard, Christina, remain. There are matters I wish to discuss with you."
When the others had left, Integra said to her daughter, "You are coming to the ceremony. The King and your betrothed will be there. We will be leaving in an hour for Harker Mansion." Christina nodded, though her face did not reveal whatever she felt at the prospect of seeing her secret fianc?.
"Oh? Your daughter is engaged, Master?" Alucard asked in a mocking, amused voice. He smirked at Christina who stood still as a marble statue. "And who is the unlucky man?"
"That will be enough, Alucard." Integra's voice was as sharp as a blade. "Christina is betrothed to the younger son of His Royal Highness, Prince Henry."
Alucard grinned at Christina. "Ah, so the little one will become a little princess in the future." Then his grinned widened. "And she will be a little queen, and her children will inherit the throne."
Integra's hands clenched into tights fists. She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when Christina replied in a calm voice, "That is a bit too ambitious, Alucard. It is the second son I am marrying, not the Prince of Wales. I have no desire to be the Queen of England. Besides, I am not a little one. At five feet, nine inches, I am hardly little."
Alucard laughed. "Well said, little one."
Integra found herself a little lost at the bantering between Alucard and Christina. The two obviously knew each other well. Integra did not like Alucard spending so much time with her daughter, but she had no choice.
Christina turned to her mother. "May I go now, Mother? I must get dressed for the knighthood ceremony." When Integra nodded, Christina smiled, bowed slightly, and left the room. Integra watched her daughter leave, wondering what she was thinking.
When the door closed, Alucard remarked, "They do not trust you still, Master."
Integra whipped round. "What are you talking about Alucard?"
The vampire bared his sharp pointed fangs in a fearsome grin. "Your precious King. He does not trust you. He seeks to bind Hellsing through marriage so he could keep an eye on you and your daughter. He fears that Hellsing may grow too powerful and too headstrong to be controlled."
Integra's eyes blazed with blue fire. "Keep your filthy lies to yourself, vampire. I have no wish to hear them."
The vampire laughed and before Integra could react, the table was no longer between her and Alucard. The chair she had been sitting on was pushed against the wall, and Alucard was in front of her, his arms outstretched, blocking her escape. "How long must you delude yourself, Master? Even your own daughter knows about this," he taunted. "She at least has the sense to open her eyes and mind."
"Remove. Your. Arms," Integra said slowly but firmly through gritted teeth. "Or I will cut them off."
Alucard did as he was told. However, the grin remained on his face. "Think about it, Lord Hellsing." Then he slipped into the shadows.
Damn him, she thought, taking a deep breath. Damn him to hell. Nobody could really understand why she accepted the King's offer. It wasn't simply because of duty or obedience to the Crown or an alliance. There was another, more compelling reason why she wanted her daughter married to the younger prince.
Integral wanted to somehow protect her daughter. With Christina a part of the Royal Family, there would be a decrease in the possibility that some Knights might question her succession and legitimacy. She would be safe.
*******
Michael Jonathan Harker's knighthood ceremony lasted well into the afternoon. Christina didn't really pay much attention to it, since ceremonies, no matter how important, had the tendency to bore her.
"Bored, My Lady?" Prince Henry, her betrothed, asked her in a low voice. He was standing beside her in their place of honor near the altar.
Christina gave him a small smile. Prince Henry was quite a handsome young man. He had light brown hair and pale gray eyes that sparkled with hidden mischief. He was about three years older than she was. She heard he had a lot of fangirls. "No, Your Highness. I was merely admiring the chapel. I am thankful it was not destroyed."
The prince smiled at her. "You must call me Henry. We are affianced, after all." He looked around the chapel, glancing at its magnificent rose windows and crystal chandeliers. "Yes, it's a good thing those ghouls did not damage the chapel. Hellsing did well. They responded as quick as lightning, so I am told."
For am moment, Christina stared at him. Not quick enough, she thought. If we had been quick enough, we wouldn't be holding this ceremony in the first place. J.J. Harker would still be Lord Harker and Rachel would still be alive. Then, lowering her eyes, she replied quietly, "Thank you, You–I mean, Henry, for your kind words."
"Is he here?" Henry asked, his voice scarcely above a whisper.
Christina gave him an odd look. "He?"
The young prince looked around nervously. "The vampire Alucard. I am told he often comes with you and your mother. Is he here with you?"
"I'm not quite sure," she lied smoothly when she noted the look on the prince's face. Actually, she knew and felt that Alucard was lurking in the shadows somewhere, but there was no need to tell the prince that. "I don't think he's here, though. Even if he is, there is nothing to worry about."
It was the prince's turn to give her a strange look. "Do you fear him?"
"Fear Alucard?" She thought about that for a moment. She couldn't recall a time in her life that she had been afraid of Alucard. Even as a little girl, the first time she had met him, she was not afraid. In fact, she found herself more comfortable and safe being with Alucard than being with most humans.
She remembered the time she and Alucard used the shadows to go back to the mansion after Alucard fought and defeated Adrian. Clasped in his arms and travelling in the darkness of the shadows, she had never felt so secure, so protected as in that moment. Being with Alucard felt so eerily right.
She smiled at her fianc?. "Fear Alucard? No, I do not." Henry gave her another strange look, but he did not talk to her about Hellsing or Alucard after that.
After the ceremony and the banquet following that, Christina and her mother toured the mansion. As they moved about, assessing the damage on the house and its overall structure, they found themselves in Joseph Jonathan Harker's study.
"He's not very neat, is he?" Christina remarked to her mother as she glanced at the pile of papers scattered all over the room–on the floor, the shelves and especially on the desk. Books were piled in small, untidy towers in many corners. A used tray was dumped near the foot of a cabinet. The smell of dust filled the whole room.
Integra entered the room cautiously, looking at the things on Harker's desk. A flash of light caught her eye, and she would herself looking at an old, yellowed photograph of young Joseph Harker and an equally young Christopher Greystone.
Integral felt like her all her breath was knocked of her. With shaking hands, she lifted the photograph. There he was, standing beside a laughing Joseph Harker. Christopher was younger, his black hair longer, falling down his shoulder. He was smiling, his reddish-brown eyes bright with laughter. He was holding a huge fish in one hand, a fishing rod in the other.
"My God," she whispered. Christopher and Joseph were friends? How come I never knew of this?
"Is there anything wrong, Mother?" Christina asked, noting the expression on her mother's face.
Tucking the photograph into one of her pockets, Integra turned to her daughter, a calm look on her face. "Nothing is wrong, Christina."
Just then, one of their men appeared. He bowed briefly then handed Integra a white slip of paper. "Lord Hellsing, there is an urgent message for you."
Integra took it, and scanned its contents. When she was finished, she turned to Christina. "We are going to Greystone Estate."
*******
Anna Katrina Rothschild sat on her bed, reading a book when she thought she heard something.
Anna.
What was that? She glanced around her room. The curtains on her open window billowed slightly as a sudden cool breeze entered the room. There was no one there. Shrugging, she went back to her book.
Anna. It’s me.
Lifting her eyes from her book, she found herself face-to-face with Rachel Marie Kent.
Stifling a scream, Anna quickly bolted away, jumping out of her bed. She clutched her chest, breathing heavily. "Bloody Christ, Rachel! You gave me fright!" She stared at her friend. "What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in? What happened?" Rachel was unusually pale and she was wearing a pale blue gown that reached her ankles. Anna gaze focused on her eyes. They were no longer in that rare shade of violet. They were in an even rarer shade of red.
"Rachel? What happened?" This time Anna’s voice had the hint of fear. She slowly backed away, trying to put as much distance between her and Rachel. She glanced at the door. Maybe if she ran fast enough, she could get past Rachel quickly enough and get out of her room.
Rachel just smiled and took a step forward, her arms outstretched. Her scarlet eyes bore into Anna who despite her fear found them fascinating and compelling.
Rachel made a beckoning gesture. Come with me. And without hesitation, Anna took a step forward.
*******
In the Hellsing manor, Celes came into another startling discovery. Clutching the book in her had, she rushed into Hellsing’s communications room as fast as inhumanly possible. "Get me Walter fast!" she barked to the startled soldier. I hope I’m not too late! Please, let my message get there on time!
"Yes, ma’am." The soldier quickly pushed some buttons. He seriously did not want to piss off one of the Hellsing vampires, especially when there was an alarmed expression on their faces.
*******
Walter C. Ddollneazz stood still for a moment as he stared at the ruins before him. In place of the mansion was rubble of stones and other construction material. It was if a massive earthquake had passed through the mansion and reduced it into nothingness. Alucard had truly done a thorough job in eliminating the FREAKS and the ghouls, but did he have to destroy the building itself? Damn, but it was going to be hard detecting magic.
He looked up. It was already evening when they reached the place. They had to work fast. Sir Integra would want early results. He glanced at the soldier with him, a young man by the name of Marcus Trelawny. "Secure the area. I want to make sure no one will interrupt me."
The soldier nodded. "Yes, sir. We–" No sooner than the soldier had spoken that a bright gush of blood came from his mouth and chest. With a horrible gurgling sound, he fell into the ground.
"Well, well. What do we have here?" a smooth musical voice said from the darkness.
Walter crouched, his deadly wires already extended. A figure with light blonde hair emerged from the darkness. There was a smirk on his handsome features.
He licked the blood dripping from his hand. "So you’re Walter, the God of Death. You don’t look all that impressive to me. You shouldn’t really have come here, old man."
Walter’s transceiver suddenly cackled on. Celes’s voice came out it. "Walter! The place where you are, there’s another power spot there. Be careful!"
Walter allowed himself a small smile. "Thank you, Miss Celes. I will be careful." Then he turned off the transceiver and focused his attention to the vampire in front of him. "So you survived Alucard."
Adrian smiled. "Naturally. So you know about the power spots." His smile turned into a malevolent grin. "Perhaps your visit here will not be in vain. I need a human’s blood to summon the energy. Yours will do nicely." He took a step towards Walter. "Then after I’ve finished with you, the Hellsings will come next."
Walter tightened his grip on his wires. He knew he was old, and that he wasn’t as skillful as he used to be, but he would use every ounce of strength in his body to delay or defeat this monster. "Don’t be so confident."
"Oh?" then before the vampire could react, a wire came whizzing towards him. Adrian dodged it, but not before it slashed his right cheek.
"Shall we begin now, vampire?" Walter grinned as Adrian roared, and leapt towards him.
~T.B.C.~
Yes, Eden...you are now up-to-date....hope you liked the Alucard-Christina moments.
Stella, thanks for reading.
