Monsters and Angels

Chapter Seven

The paperwork was pushed the following afternoon. Captain Montgomery of course objected but Integra's word was final. End of story. The man had bowed to her, "I am saddened by your decision Sir Hellsing." He had said and left the room.

Walter had met him in the hall, bags in hand. "Do let me help you to the car sir." He said brightly, whistling as he turned and led the way. Montgomery scowled at his back. Oh they'd all be sorry for this. This was an embarrassment. HE could not be expected to take this lightly and he certainly wouldn't.

When the car left the drive, Integra dismissed him from her mind. She had far too much work to do, not the least of which was cleaning up the rather nasty mess he'd left her in. She picked up the phone and made burial arrangements for the fallen.

Her ears caught the sound of what could be described as whale song but she knew only too well that it was far more sinister. Alucard and Seras were communicating on a primal level. From across the house it seemed. She listened for a moment, wondering whatever they were talking about.

It was a haunting sound, one that she didn't mind, but others did. Ferguson for all his battle experience was in Walter's words, "Completely freaked out" by it. She had grown accustomed to it. Alucard had seen to that. Vampire song was a hunting tool that evolved into a language of his kind.

It was instinct that allowed others to comprehend it. He had used it more than a few times around Integra in battle and even to her. Humans tended to freeze up when they heard it and he'd not wanted that to happen at a crucial time.

Integra closed her eyes as the sounds floated through her house, not overly loud but nearly tangible in the air around her. "Vampire sonar" she mused against her unlit cigar, "How clever." They should be sleeping for God's sake, what were they doing talking?

"He is trouble." Alucard said from inside his coffin.

Seras agreed, "We've not heard the last of him have we?".

Alucard negated that idea. No, certainly not. The problem with humans and their desires was the willingness to justify any action to achieve it. He didn't feel he suffered the same malady, his excuse was always the same. He did it because deep down he wanted to.

This Montgomery was no doubt capable of stirring up all manner of trouble and Alucard deeply regretted his master's decision to simply send him back where he came from, Alucard would be pleased to send him back to his maker. For once, his usually merciful fledgling was ready to do it herself. It did make a parent figure proud.


Walter had been deliriously cheerful the remained of the afternoon. She'd even spotted him below her office window, waving a happy farewell to the dismissed man. 'Great'. He had gone about his duties that afternoon smiling brightly.

"Walter you can stop gloating." Integra told him dryly.

Walter was unrepentant, "I am simply happy Sir. I've a right to that don't I?".

She wanted to bang her head against the desk.

What the HELL had she done to deserve this. Her day was crap. Short a captain, down thirty men, a gloating codger of a butler, and two chatty vampires. Did it get any worse?

Apparently, it did she thought as the phone rang. The little light flashing to alert her that the royal staff was calling. Well just perfect!

"Sir Hellsing." She all but snapped into the phone, "Yes. Of course, I am aware of that. Indeed. Yes I shall be attending. I have already sent the reply. Good day." She finished the conversation and frowned.

Thirty men dead and they worried about whether or not she remembered to have an escort to the ball! Tilting her head back she did something completely out of character, she wailed to the ceiling, "God damn it all to hell!"

Her shout bounced off the old walls and echoed through the halls. Deep underground, snug in his coffin bed, her red eyed monster grinned wildly at his master's distress. His rich laughter rising up from his chest and right to her ears.

She seriously considered walking down into that darkness and shooting him. He read her thoughts and replied in a mockingly seductive tone, "Yes master come down into the dark. Come down and play with me."

She slammed the door of her mind shut with a silent obscenity.

She was days away from the ball and Alucard was becoming increasingly more difficult. He knew, damn him, he knew that he was slowly overpowering her. He'd been chipping away at her defenses for years and she'd let him do it. Now her position was shaky at best.

~~~

Alucard DID feel her weakening and it made him happy. The ultimate revenge against his jailers would be to corrupt the heart of the brightest star among them. He already knew that she loved him, lusted after him and fought it diligently. The proud former Hellsings were no doubt spinning like tops in their graves.

He'd seduce her, claim her, change her and he would have the vengeance he sought as well as the woman he desired. Ah yes, it was good to be him. So very good. He was assured of his victory because in this matter Integra's true opponent was not him, but herself and that made it even sweeter.

'Fight me master, beat yourself against the wall that is my power, exhaust youself on meaningless battles with yourself and then fall into my arms. I shall grant you peace and solace.'

He finally fell into his coma-like sleep, tendrils of his power lingering in the halls of the house to assure the safety of those inside. Integra always felt his power when it moved and it moved around her today like a strange shimmering dark mist. Her watch dog, her infintely dangerous demonic pet. Shouldn't every girl have one?

~~~~

Itegra was poking her dinner around on her plate when said pet made his presence known. She had expected him to sleep later than usual given the long day he'd put in.

"It's impolite to play with your food master."

She frowned at her potatoes. "You're one to talk."

He watched her listless actions. Poke, poke, poke, poke.

"What ARE you doing?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

She sighed, "Not eating my dinner, I thought that was obvious." He watched as she continued to do so.

"Something on your mind?" he asked then, sinking into a chain opposite her. She ignored him. It irritated him as much as it amused him. "Sit there all night Sir Hellsing, I am still going to be here."

Integra snapped her bright blue eyes up to his. It was a sight that never failed to affect him, though he'd not be admitting that. Without prelude, she reached across the table and ripped his yellow glasses from his aquiline nose. Her gaze bored into his and had he been human he might even have wanted to squirm from the intensity of it. "I... will... not... lose." she ground out.

He smirked at her, his tone dry when he replied, "We could both win." The nerve of him! He didn't even pretend to be suprised. She pushed her plate away but he caught the edge with one long finger and pulled it back before her.

"Eat."

She pushed the plate away once more, "I'm not hungry." she informed him coldly.

He growled at her, "Stop being a petulant child. You haven't been eating like you should."

His remark mader her cheeks burn with anger, "How dare you check up on me?" she demanded. He merely quirked his brow and sat back.

"Indeed." he muttered darkly, "Now... eat or I shall shove every morsel down your pretty throat and that would hardly be dignified."

She set the fork down with great care and stood up. "No Alucard. I am the master and I do not obey your commands." She then turned to walk away but her vampire had different ideas.

Integra found herself pinned against the wall, his fiery eyes burning holes in her very soul, "Be wary master. Far too easily do the proud fall to ruination." he whispered against her lips.

She clenched her hands in his lapels and shoved hard, but his body was like stone and did not yield. He brushed his lips against hers for a fraction of a second more, barely pulling back he gave her air and indignation. Integra opened her mouth to tell him where he could go but she never got the chance. His tongue swept into her mouth, cooler than her own.

Her eyes went wide as he ravaged her mouth, his fangs pressing against the soft flesh. So easily torn, but he did not. Integra tried so very hard to keep herself from sinking. But his passion and his power overtook her and he felt her slump against the wall.

Her hands no longer pushed but held fast. Her eyes had fallen closed and she moaned softly. Her second kiss... from her monster. The world could crumble and she'd not care so long as he was there.

Alucard felt her acceptance of his kiss and gentled his actions before slowly pulling away. He pressed his thumb against her lower lip, a brushing caress.

"You must be careful master," he said softly, "I sense danger around you."

She opened her eyes as he took his glasses from her breast pocket, she opened her mouth to ask him, but he hushed her with that thumb.

"I will always protect you Integra, you must trust that."

Then he was gone, as he so often was and she was still against the wall, blood heated, heart pounding and lips bruised. Trust him? Yes, she did and she knew that it would be her downfall one day. One day she would forsake all for him. This had to stop.

Alucard brooded in his rooms, her taste lingered on his lips. Warm and sweet. Vibrant... alive.