Monsters and Angels

I played hooky today and updated! Enjoy everyone! AND PLEASE BY ALL THAT'S HOLY REVIEW!!!! ;)
"" is spoken
'' is thought

Chapter Eleven


Integra slid into the leather interior of the car, snow softly falling from the sky. Beside her Alucard's wide shoulders filled the seat and she felt small. She always felt that way around him, a heady mixture of small female and caged invincibility. Her monster.

He did cut a dashing figure tonight. No doubt the heads of London's finest would be turning, whispering as to who he was. Luckily, they didn't know WHAT he was. That was private information, known only to Integra and her Majesty.

There had been a time when the queen had balked of having him near, but then one day her opinion suddenly changed. Integra supposed that she had finally come to see the advantages of his service. Alucard sifted through her thoughts, lightly , unnoticed.

She supposed wrong. He, in his usual fashion had found that woman in her bedroom and sat her down for a long talk. She hadn't the time to see to the young Integra and as he pointed out, he had all the time in the world.

He'd used just a touch of his extensive powers to persuade and lull. Now, not only was his presence accepted but the queen seemed to like him… was still wary but liked him. It was best that way, he could attend these functions with her. Walter had done it once, but now refused.

'A lady does not dance with her butler.'

Alucard felt the irritation rolling off his master and peered over at her.

"You are screaming of agitation." He remarked.

She tapped her foot, giving him a peak of… what the hell was that? A sneaker?

"I hate this." Integra announced and he laughed at her.

"Petulant child." he reprimanded lightly, "Fearless to ghouls and monsters and the terrors of the night, trembling at a ball."

She was about to tell him where he could take his opinion when his gloved fingertips brushed down her arm, "And you ARE trembling Integra."

She shrugged his hand away, "I didn't ask your opinion and I am not here for your amusement" she said fiercely, "Have some sympathy."

He arched a dark brow at her and flashed a fanged grin, "Sympathy? You wish that of me? Of all the things I can give you ask that?"

She leveled her gaze on him, let it become arctic. "And what is it you would give me Alucard?" she asked, too lightly.

He frowned, "I have told you master, I shall lay the very world and all within it at your feet. I shall keep you young and beautiful and strong and I shall deliver to you, the heads of your enemies."

Integra nodded, "Most of this is mine already by your hand, but there is one thing Alucard." She told him then.

The car slowed at the large circular drive of the castle. Alucard waited patiently to stop, before climbing out. Across the top of the car he asked the question he hated most, because with it came his hated answer.

"And what might that be?"

Integra smiled in the moonlight and snowfall, a pale shimmering goddess to his eyes. Those pale flakes dusted in the places he wanted to touch, to taste.

She pressed her little gloved hands to the car and leaned forward, "That would be to warm me."

That said, she turned lightly on her heel and headed for the stone steps.

Alucard cursed softly under his breath as he came alongside her, neatly looping her arm through his. The picture of the elegant couple. She looked up at him and he plucked her glasses from her nose. "Alucard?" she began but he cut her off easily.

"You have no need of them tonight."

With a grumble about no cigars and nothing stronger than sherry and champagne she allowed him to lead her to the top of the stairs. They paused as was customary and were announced with all the pomp and circumstance that only England could muster.

"The Honorable Sir Integra Hellsing and escort, Count Alucard Rovisbin!" the stuffy butler called out. A sea of white faces turned to stare, most, typically older English nobles…dour indeed.

Integra didn't smile, though she did manage a curtsy before he was taking her down the stairs. "Nice introduction." She quipped.

Alucard shrugged one shoulder, "Well I was a prince in life, but began as a count, it fits I suppose."

She chuckled, "And Rovisbin?" He looked across the room, "A tiny huddle of humanity that bored me."

She sniffed. "Well at least you remember them."

He turned to look down at her upturned face, "I remember all of them." He assured her, though he certainly didn't sound sorry…. And he wasn't.

~~~~

With a groan Integra began moving from clutch of people to the clutch. Greeting, barely smiling. Her entire body spoke of her desire to be ANYWHERE but here. There was a certain hierarchy here that stated in unspoken terms that certain persons were to be sought out and greeted first.

Alucard moved with her through the crowd as she obeyed this law. He was pleasant, giving the proper words when needed, managing to lace them with just enough innuendo that only his master caught it.

She was simply going through the motions and while her voice was pleasant and the words leaving them were also nice, her thoughts were another matter all together. As the hours of talking slowly wore on, Alucard found himself listening in on more than her conversations.

"Sir Hellsing!" a rotund woman said brightly, her eyes full of false cheer. 'What is SHE doing here?'

"Good evening Lady Haversham." Integra replied, 'Great. Bloody wonderful.'

"How have you been Integra? I do keep meaning to make an appointment and visit you." She went on.

"How thoughtful but really there is no need." Integra said politely, 'There isn't enough food on this island for you and you prattle on like a beetle.'

"But a woman of your years, alone there, well it just seems cruel to leave you like that." The elder insisted. 'Of course you are a Hellsing, born freaks really. Too bad, she isn't half bad looking.'

"I really must tell you that a visit is not needed Lady Haversham," Integra replied coolly, " I have important matters to see to and my staff is quite capable." 'Bloated windbag'

Lady Haversham attempted a look of dismay, attempted and failed. "Ahhh, very well if you insist."

"Oh I do very much." 'Can we move on already?'

"Very well but should you require anything…." 'Self important whore and with him… who is he?'

"I don't. Thank you." 'Pompous bitch'

~~~~

Alucard was already laughing as good-bye's were said. She glared at him from her shoulder, "What IS so funny?" she demanded in a whisper. He pressed his hand against the small of her back, ushering her through more puffed up peacocks.

"She is a pompous bitch." He agreed.

Integra stepped on his foot in retaliation, "How dare you intrude on my thoughts?"

He grinned a lopsided grin, "All I had to do was look at your face." he lied.

She straightened her skirt, "You are a terrible liar Alucard." He nodded, "Perhaps, but then I don't need to lie."

Integra glowered at him a moment more. She greeted, she graced, she was going to be sick. Looking around she spotted the garden doors, "I need air." With that said, she cut a clean line through the room and stepped onto the snow covered stone terrace. The quiet was a relief.

She looked up at the many stars and thought for not the first time that if she'd had a sibling she could have made them go along with this farce. The bright ballrooms and teetering laughter, they were not for her. She knew that, and so did they.

"The night suits you Sir Hellsing." A calm smooth voice came. Integra turned to see Montgomery framed in the cheerful light of the doorway. He stepped into the cool air and leaned against the stone banister.

"They are SO boring" he commented easily and she barely stifled a laugh.

"One would think that this was your element Montgomery."

He lifted an eyebrow and then smiled warmly, "I suppose that is true but did you see Lady Haversham? If she puffed up any more she might burst. Not that she'd be missed much."

Integra did chuckle quietly at that. She'd been a little concerned that he would be angry over being sent back to the SAS. He didn't seem to be.

"How are things at the unit?" she asked.

He laughed, looked sheepish, "Well you know what they say… old dogs and all that."

She nodded and smiled. Montgomery poured all his charm into talking to her. Alucard was not at her side at the moment and he pressed that to his advantage.

When he noticed goosebumps on her arms, he spoke, "It's a bit chilly out here, would you like to go back inside? Maybe spare a dance for a former comrade?"

She supposed it couldn't hurt and so she linked her arm through his and let him lead her inside. Alucard had watched the whole thing. He'd sensed another undead when they had entered and of course the most likely target would be his master.

What he hadn't known was that it was the captain. Integra had no way of knowing he was not alive anymore. She'd figure it out soon though. Of course the man had a healthy blush to his cheeks which meant that he'd fed…. And recently.

He'd be warm to the touch for hours yet. Alucard made his way inside and found his master at once, his eyes falling on her lithe form. In the hands of her enemy, dancing a slow, sweet waltz.

She didn't look wholly comfortable but she appeared more at ease than if she'd been alone. Alucard, not wanting to make too much of a scene waited for the song to end before approaching.