Ab incunabulis [From the cradle]

When we had arrived in the Infirmary, the doctor said that Karin’s leg was fractured and that she had a deep gash on her thigh. She would be alright within a week. That was all I needed to hear. I was put under full anesthesia for my shoulder to be put back in place. The last thing I saw before the darkness engulfed me was the man who saved my life, taking off his sunglasses and red orbs staring at me. That feeling was back, the one that sent chills up my spine and squeezed my chest. And He …he looked…pleased and…amused…nenorocitul…rade de durerea mea. [Fucker…laughing at my pain (in Romanian)]



When I woke up it was dusk. I couldn’t tell if it was morning or not.



- What time is it? – I asked no one in particular since I couldn’t even gather up the strength to look around.



- Six P.M. – a feminine voice answered. It was Sir Integra. – He’ll be here any second tormenting the hell out of me.



- Who do you mean?



- Alucard of course.



- Alucard?



- The monster that saved your life.



- Monster? What do you mean? He may look a bit scary but he’s certainly not a monster.



- You do not know a thing little girl. He is a vampire. The worst kind, a truly powerful one, true Nosferatu.



- Vampire? – I asked, again



- Yes Girl…Vampire. – His voice rang in my ears and the feeling was back tickling my spine. I realized then that I was sensing his presence.–



- So… - I said – Vampires do exist…



- Yes. You don’t seem too startled by the idea. – Alucard told me. –



- I’m not. Alucard? – I started –



- Yes…



- Who are you?



- I am the Vampire Alucard, the Hellsing family pet.



- Come here. – I asked him.-



He came to my side, as I lay flat on the bed, and bent over so I could whisper in his ear.



- Interesting anagram Count Dracula.



He stood up straight and grinned at me.



- And who might you be? – He was asking for details since I only gave him my name and no surname. –



- Silvia Badea Ioana. I am a 22 year old girl from Romania.



- A Romanian huh? Well this should be interesting. – He said leaving Integra and I alone. –



- You have been quiet…- I said to Integra –



- I was just trying to figure out why you were attacked.



- What were those things that attacked us?



- Gouls. They are the result of vampire attacks on deflowered humans.



- I see…so…what did they want from us?



- I do not know…that’s what we’re trying to figure out. Until then you and your friend will stay at Hellsing manor under Alucard’s supervision. That will mean we will have to set up your rooms in the sublevel.



- Great…I’m spending my vacation in the Hellsing basement.



- Be thankful you’re not spending it dead…or worse.



- True…Thank you.



- Don’t mention it – she said as she left me alone in the hospital room with my morphine drip…I couldn’t even see where Karin was…I hope she’s all right. I thought drifting back to sleep –



The second time I woke up it was clearly night outside. I was feeling less hazy than the first time so I decided to get into a sitting position. My head hurt a little but other than that I was all right.



- Finally! – I herd Karin’s voice. – I was wondering when you would wake up. The doctor turned off your morphine drip hours ago. How are you feeling?



- All right I guess. You?



- Fine. My leg stopped hurting two days ago.



- Two days? How long have I been out?



- About five days. Your shoulder really took a good tug. The ligaments were almost severed. The doctor said sleep helps the recovering process. Does it still hurt?



I tried to move my injured right shoulder. It was discomforting, but not truly painful.



- Acceptable. Have you been told about the Gouls?



- Yes. Walter has briefed me on the situation.



- Walter?



- The Hellsing family butler Walter C. Dornez. Or at least that’s how he introduced himself.



- Oh…And have they found anything out?



- Not that I know of…but they figure they weren’t after me…- she said thoughtfully –



- Are you saying that the Gouls wanted to kill me?



- I believe so.



- I’m sorry…



- For what?



- That you had to suffer for my sake.



- Are you insane? This is the most fun I had in my entire life. Call me crazy, I was scared shitless so to say, but the outcome is great. We get to spend time with the most notorious Vampire hunting organization in the world.



- You are crazy! – I said laughing –



- Maybe…but you can’t deny, you had a bit of fun too, smashing up those things.



- Yeah…- and a disturbing thought came into my mind – And watching Alucard massacring them was kind of …hot.



We both laughed at that. We spent a little time discussing what had happened in that old building and we laughed at how scared we actually were at the time.



- What time is it – I asked looking at the bright full moon outside through the large windows of the infirmary. –



- About fifteen minutes past twelve, but I don’t feel sleepy at all.



- Well… we ‘have’ been sleeping all day.



- True – Karin said, while looking around –



- Something the matter?



- Not really – She said getting out of bed –



- What are you doing?



- Just wanna take a look around.



- Ok…Can you help me with this? – I asked motioning to the IV drip.-



She carefully took out the needle from my vein and helped me up. My legs were a bit numb from not being used for so long but after a couple of stretches I could walk normally again. We were both dressed in hospital gowns, but not the type that left the back uncovered, thank God.



We decided to head for the main door leading out of the Infirmary, but just before we could turn the knob and exit I sensed the Master Vampire’s presence.



- Alucard! – I said exasperated, turning to face him. -



The Nosferatu was staring perplexed at me through his orange sunglasses and his lower half was still inside the wall he was passing through. It took him a few seconds for him to snap out of it and step toward us.

- How did you do that? – He asked in his deep baritone. –



- Do what?



- How did you know I was there?



- I can sense you. – I told him truthfully, like it was the most natural thing in the world. –



- No one has been able to do that…not even other Vampires.



- I guess I’m just special like that. – I said smiling to him –



TBC