Monsters and Angels

Chapter Four


Integra woke feeling rested and refreshed, ready to take on the day's work. With a yawn and a stretch she made her way to the window and tugged back the heavy drapes. She stared in shock at the bright sunlit grounds below. The sun was already high overhead. She'd overslept!

Dressing the quick efficiency, she headed to her office. She grumbled about the wasted hours and she threw the door wide. There a smiling Walter stood, steaming breakfast tray in hand. "Ah good morning Sir, I heard you moving about and brought your meal".

Integra glared at him, "It's nearly noon Walter," she snapped at him, "Why didn't you wake me?"

Walter looked stunned, "Sir, I would never wake you when you seemed so tired the last few days".

She sat stiffly at her desk, "Everyone in this house seems very concerned about what I do and do not do" she commented, picking up a bite of quiche with her fork.

Walter watched as she ate gustily. "Well you can hardly blame us Sir, someone has to take care of you".

She eyed him over her food, "That is my job Walter, to take care of myself and all of you".

He nodded, "Still stubborn, but even you need help sometimes". Integra didn’t argue with that and deep down she was grateful that they cared enough to meddle.. Even if it was tiresome at times.

"Have I missed anything today?" she asked, biting into a scone.

Walter shook his head, "Nothing important Sir. Oh.. That Captain Montgomery came to see you this morning. I refused to wake you." Walter was unrepentant.

Integra raised pale brows, "You dislike him too?" she asked.

Walter shrugged, "I'd not be opposed to his meeting a ghastly end" he admitted, "Oh do lets give him to Alucard and Seras".

Integra snorted with unladylike laughter. "I am not feeding my men to them, so stop it this minute. Alucard doesn't like him. Come to think of it Seras doesn't care for him either. Put him on the watch list, I'll monitor his performance myself."

Walter was delighted, this was tantamount to probation and could very well result in the captain's release. There was something about the man that bothered him, something that hinted at untruth and scheming.

Oh yes, he'd be watched all right. If Sir Hellsing wished, he'd pack for the soldier and see him gone. Why, he'd even carry the bags.

While Walter was away, Integra finished her budget report for the roundtable members and began the rundown of the next operation. Deep down, she rather hoped that something large would happen.

Then she could devote all of her attention to it and be excused from making social appearances. She didn’t think that she should feel guilty for that either, after all God had never had to attend one of London's balls.

Jotting down notes on her file, she turned to scan the large map behind her and then turned to tap away at her computer. A crisp image of the quarter came into view on her screen and she carefully reviewed recent attacks against the plan forming in her mind.

She'd let the new commander lead this one and watch how he fared. It shouldn't be too difficult for him and besides, Alucard would be nearby should anything go wrong. It irked her to depend so much on him, but he was the best candidate for this line of work. Her secret weapon, her ace.

~~~

It was into the dark hours of night that she worked. Montgomery had been briefed on the upcoming operation and he embraced his orders with enthusiasm. Integra managed to get caught up on her reports and filing by the time she was ready for bed. It was less to do tomorrow and that always made her happy. Turning off her desk lamp, she rose and headed for bed.

Alucard had been 'absent' tonight, she supposed he was sulking in the dungeons. He did seem to enjoy that. She suspected he was hiding from Walter. The aging butler had certainly 'decked' the halls today while she had been plugging away in her office.

She turned on the steps and surveyed his handiwork. Well it was festive. The reds, greens, golds scattered about her mansion almost made it feel like a home rather than a live-in operations base. With a small smile, she made her way up to her rooms. A hot bath and bed sounded heavenly.


An hour later found Integra sleeping soundly. Seras was in her rooms, cleaning her Halconen cannon. "Bloody mess" she muttered, tossing a soiled patch from her barrel into the wastebasket. She was nearly finished and was glad of that. The night had been long and she was looking forward to putting the weapon away and taking a hot bath before reading a few chapters from her new paperback romance before the sun rose.

Her master had recently discovered her new reading habits and had teased her relentlessly. Walter had of course overheard and secretly he had stepped in. Seras Victoria now found a new book tucked beneath her ice bucket each Sunday.

She shoved one last patch down the barrel and pulled it through. No grime. Excellent. She tucked her cannon away and gathered up the cleaning supplies, neatly putting them away in a trunk at the foot of her bed. She stood straight and stretched, cracked her neck and gathered her bathing items. "Hot bath and hot house wife love after" she giggled.

Integra woke hard, hours later, sweat on her brow. What had woken her from her sound sleep she wasn't sure. Her heart was pounding a furious tattoo. The air chilled almost imperceptibly and she narrowed her eyes at the shadow swathed corner.

"Alucard, what are you doing here?" she snapped, her voice still deep from sleep, and the lingering weight of her rest clung to her mind.

he vampire separated himself from the corner and approached the bed. "You called me" he said simply.

Her eyes locked on his and widened a moment. Perhaps she had, it would not have been the first time. But she hadn't called to him for some time. The vampire watched her closely, exerting a small amount of his energies to soothe her. Not to much that she'd notice though.

"Was it a nightmare master?" he asked quietly. She shook her head, couldn't remember.

"I'm fine" she insisted, "You may leave". The contrary creature stood rooted to the spot. She felt her temper flare that he had not obeyed at once. "I notice that you are still here" she said coolly.

The vampire smiled in his usual way, "As I shall always be" he assured her.

Integra sighed, yes, she supposed he was right. Alucard would one day see her put into the ground. That she would grow old while he remained young was something that she hadn't fully come to terms with. It was the way things were however. "I said I was fine Alucard. Get out and let me sleep", she said then. Her voice held no anger at her servant.

Alucard watched her fluff her pillow, making a big show of ignoring him. He stood stock still, not quite ready give over victory just yet. She settled herself back against the flesh warmed cotton, a moment later she opened her eyes to stare at him. He hovered just above her.

"You try my patience servant" she told him in a low growl.

He quirked a dark brow at her. "I am merely ascertaining that you are in fact fine master" he responded in mock innocence, "You often called out to me when you were a child and I always came". That was true, he had. She felt a slight glimmer of guilt at snapping at him, though he should be used to it. He was loyal to her and she knew he did care.

Integra had secretly fallen in love with him after his kiss so long ago. He'd not touched her in such a way since then. Years had gone by. She knew that her feelings for him were beyond dangerous.

A vampire had no heart and when you thought that they were indeed to be trusted that was when they turned on you like the savage beasts they were.

But she had learned to trust him long ago. It was a game of sorts they played, the battle of the wills, the war for supremacy. She believed deep in her heart of hearts that he would never harm her. If course Integra had learned early on that harm and hurt were two vastly different things. She knew that he could read her emotions and her thoughts and so she suppressed her feelings viciously. Shrouded herself in a cloak of cold indifference. It was better that way.

The keen monster caught her emotions and smiled wickedly. Integra saw that look and frowned, "What are you looking at?" she demanded heatedly.

He tilted his head to gaze upon her, "Careful master," he warned, "One might think you cared for your monster".

Her frown grew, "Then one would be wrong. Good night" An effective dismissal and the vampire complied.

When only his face was visible from the shadows, he laughed down at her, "Little liar". He left her in her bed sputtering with righteous indignation over his words.

When she was certain he was gone, she pulled the covers up to her chin and allowed herself a small smile, "Ass" she muttered.

In the bowels of her dungeon the great undead sprawled elegantly in his high backed chair and mimicked her smile. He'd already checked the house and grounds one last time before dawn, ensuring that everything was as it should be. Then he simply sipped his favorite wine and waited for the morning to come.