Monsters and Angels

Chapter Two


Morning found Integra at her desk, mulling over reports and sipping her morning tea. She had sent word to the palace that she couldn't possibly attend more than the main winter ball. She begged the queen's forgiveness and stated that her many duties kept her very busy. She was aware that the queen could probably care less. It was only polite to reply though.

"Ferguson," Integra said into the speaker phone, "How is the new transfer commander?"

The grizzled old soldier responded smartly, "Sir Hellsing, he is quite capable. A bit over confident but then that is nothing new to you." He was of course referring to Alucard. Integra was the only one to keep him in line.

"Keep me posted on his progress with the unit." Integra told him. Seras had already expressed a lingering doubt about the man, but was unable to nail down the cause. Integra had drawn no conclusions about him as yet.

He came from a noble family was decorated, a highly skilled soldier and an effective leader in the SAS. Many like him had come and done just fine. They would see how Adam Montgomery fared.

Alucard had taken a distinct dislike to captain Montgomery. He'd already tried talking down to Seras, but she was getting more comfortable in her skin and had let him have a fair piece of her mind.

She refused to let him make her feel less that human even though she was. Alucard had watched the platinum haired man in training. He wasn't bad, but he would never be as good as he himself was.

However, he had one flaw that in Alucard's eyes was fatal. Taking a liking above the call of duty for his master. He knew Montgomery's kind all too well. Wanted a pretty noble wife to show off. Integra was far too complex for so shallow a man. He didn't count it as jealousy, he saw it as concern for her well being.

It was his duty to see his master happy and safe. Well maybe he did take a bit too much liking to his duties but still. In all their years together he had treaded the line carefully and made certain that Integra never saw him as a father figure or even a brother.

Montgomery filed past him in the hall enroute to Integra's office. He wanted to run over some training plans with her. Hopefully impress her with his tactical prowess.

Alucard simply melted into the shadows and beat him to it.

"Your new battle boy is coming." he told her. Integra looked over her report at him. Battle boy? Ah, the new captain.

"You don't care for him." She stated rather than asked.

"I don't care for much." He agreed. She almost smiled. The knock at the door drew her attention and Alucard wondered if she would make him leave.

"Come in Captain Montgomery." She called.

The man seemed surprised when he opened the door, "Sir Hellsing, how did you…. Oh Alucard you are here as well." He said. Integra could almost feel his nerves. It was amusing, Alucard merely lounged behind her. He waited to see what the whelp would say to her.

Integra looked down her nose at the man before her, "Was there something you wanted?" she prompted when he remained silent.

He collected himself at once, "Yes Sir! I was wondering if you had a moment to go over battle plans with me? There is some new training I would like to incorporate."

Integra frowned, "Alucard and Ferguson are charge of training. Officer Victoria after them, you can run them through your list of wants." Her tone cool, measured.

Alucard smirked at the young man, who presently was turning a blotchy shade of red.

"Are you going to stand there and sputter?" he asked in a casual tone.

Montgomery narrowed his eyes, "A monster should not speak so to his betters."

Integra cleared her throat, "Captain, Alucard is my second. You will not take that tone with him or I might be inclined to let him eat you."

Alucard had smiled widely then, giving the captain a stunning view of his gleaming fangs. Her words filled with dark pride and fiendish glee. Did he believe that she would set him loose on the man? Perhaps… she'd done it before.

The captain saluted stiffly, "My apologies Sir."

She nodded, "You are dismissed."

The man had spun on his heel and left them alone. Alucard lowered his eyes to the back of her head.

She stared resolutely at the door, "Don't make more than it is, " she warned him, "I must have obedience at all levels. Even to you." Integra liked order and she would keep it no matter what.

Alucard nodded his head, "Of course Master."


Walter interrupted a moment later, "Sorry to interrupt Sir Hellsing. I just thought I would ask if I should procure your gown for the winter ball from the usual place?" He let his eyes drift over the vampire and sniffed, "Perhaps something for your escort as well?"

Integra glanced up at Alucard, "My escort?" she asked.

Walter nodded sagely, "Of course Sir. You cannot think of leaving of the estate without one. It would be unseemly to take an armed contingent, however Alucard could most certainly handle this alone."


Integra frowned, Alucard at the winter ball? Preposterous. "I think not." She said aloud, glaring that smirking vamp, "You barely behave in private."

He chuckled and bowed low, "As you wish Master, but recall that in my life I was a nobleman too. I have been to your queen's court before. I dislike such social functions as well, but Walter has a point. Besides your last solo outing wasn't much fun for you."


They did have a point. Integra sighed, looking at the two faces before her. "Fine. Walter see to it." She conceded. Damn London society! Walter chuckled as he left the room and Alucard left her alone. Drat! She shuffled the paperwork around on her desk for a long while, her mind cataloging each fact carefully.


Her life was like a battle with hydra, every time she cut off one head, another grew. The Vatican, the Iscariots, the freaks, the roundtable organization, the queen and now the bloody help!

Thank God the day was almost over. She was silent through dinner, letting Walter prattle on about fashions this season. He was delighted to be seeing her out of her mannish suits.

She groaned inwardly as he cleared her plate. "Walter, " she said then, standing, " I am going to bed early. Seras should complete her patrol in an hour. I would wait up for her but things have been quiet of late. Have her leave her report on my desk. I'll deal with it in the morning."

Walter nodded, "By the way Sir, I think you will look lovely in your gown."

She hmpfed at him, "Walter I live in a house with the king of freaks, do you really think a dress might change that?"

He inclined his head in understanding, "Good night Sir." She strode from the room with a soft, "Thank you Walter"

The hot bath was wonderful, she had poured in a healthy amount of bubbles. It was a frivolous, feminine thing but she enjoyed it. She set her glasses on the low shelf beside the deep tub and clipped her hair atop her head. Steam hung in the cool air and she closed her eyes, leaning back.

A scant moment later she felt her skin prickle with awareness. She opened her eyes, gaze locking on the far wall.

"Can't I even have a moment's privacy?" she demanded.

Alucard slid into the room, unembarrassed. He was without his red coat, hat and glasses. His wine colored orbs falling on the mountains of fluff covering her. "I do so enjoy your baths." He told her, watching her flush at his words.

"What do you want?" she asked with a growl, "Have you no decency. Real men would not invade a lady's bath."

He quirked a dark brow at her, "I assure you, I am far more aware of what men do than you are."

He let his gaze slide down the column of her throat. Integra sank to her nose in the water.

It was not a new thing that he came to bother her in the bath. He had done so from almost the beginning. It was why she used so many bubbles, to shield herself from the crimson gaze that was slowly driving her mad.

"I have no care of your many exploits Alucard" she informed him.

He tipped his head to the side and smiled, a decidedly wicked grin on his handsome face, "Well, that is a relief to hear."

Integra reached for her glasses, wanting to see him clearly. He merely snapped them up in a shadowy tendril and tucked them into his pocket.

"No need to trouble yourself master, enjoy your bath."

Integra responded with an almost unladylike grunt. "Does it bother you Alucard?" she asked without opening her eyes.

She spoke of Montgomery's attentions.

Alucard let his gaze rove over her delicate features, "He is not enough for you Integra" he said plainly, the words familiar, he'd said them before, "He is beneath you. You need someone strong enough to give you everything."

Integra opened her eyes to meet his own, "Some one like you?" she asked.

The vampire leaned forward, "I can give you everything Integra" he agreed. She tipped her head back, nearly nose to nose with him now. The ball of heat growing in her stomach.

"Not everything" she said and he narrowed his eyes, knowing what she would say. Clever bitch. "There is one thing that I want which is beyond your powers" she continued on, patting water onto her face.

He growled low in his throat. She reached a heated hand and pressed it against his cool cheek, her fingers splaying across his flesh in a half caress. "Warmth."

Alucard caged his arms on either side of her head, his hands gripping the edge of the tub, "I cannot warm you this is true master, but I can make your body burn hotter than the fires of hell" his words finished with an audible snap of his teeth coming together.

Integra felt his anger roll over her like the tide. So it did bother him. Alucard was capable of jealousy. It delighted her, but it shouldn't have.

"Montgomery is handsome" she stated casually. Alucard's frown increased as he pushed away from her and sank into his seat once more.

"Hmmpf."

"And he is not without pedigree."

"Dogs have pedigree"

"And you'd know that too. I have been thinking of late Alucard"
"Have you?"

"Mm, indeed. I am not getting younger and without a Hellsing to control you.. Well you'd be free"

"Yes I would"

"That must be a delightful thought to you. That my life is all that stands between you and freedom"

"I am yours master"

"But you would have no master"

"You are still young, there is no reason to think on this now"

"I am almost thirty"

"Barely out of nappies!"

"Old enough to be married"

"You? What man is worthy?"

"Worth has little to account for when need is present"

"What are you babbling about woman?"

"I need an heir, a child to raise, a new master to hold you"

Alucard regarded her steadily, she had given this thought apparently, much thought. He should have embraced the fact that she was utterly human. She would die and leave him free.

Leave him. He did not like to think of that.

He was surrounded by death and he didn't mind it … even enjoyed it. But not hers. An unlife without her temper and fire was a bleak winter that he would not enjoy. He'd survive but he'd mourn her forever.

He had no intention of letting that happen of course. "Integra, there is much to be considered in the undertaking of creating a child".

She nodded, "Oh yes I know. Still, he seems fit enough for the task, wouldn't you say?"

He had pinned her again to the wall and tub, and she laughed aloud at his anger.

"You would mock me? Tease me?" he demanded. She was unimpressed with his tantrum. He released her but remained close, "You play dangerous games master".

She smiled at him, "I have dangerous playmates" she reminded him.

With an exasperated sigh, he splashed water in her face, "So you do master brat" he rose and strode away. Turning once more before vanishing into the wall, "The captain, Integra is not for you".

Of course he wasn't, but she did love to bait the monster. Now she knew why he did it so often to others… it was bloody fun.

~~~~~

When Integra had been a mere sixteen, the unthinkable had happened. She'd gained her first love. Puppy love... but to her young heart it was everything. He was older than her, a captain in her forces and unfortunately he did not have a problem with using a young and naïve noblewoman to gain more stature and power. Walter had disapproved of course and Alucard tried time and again to convince the butler to let him kill him. It would be much easier that way after all.

Despite his and Walter's best attempts she had fallen hard. It was only to be expected. That was what sixteen year old girls did, centuries didn't change the nature of the beast. And while Walter clucked like a worried hen, Alucard seethed with anger. She was his, only his. He wanted no one else in her heart like that. That was a place that he wanted reserved only for him.

Luckily the bastard had been found out before anything serious had come of it. He'd been found cavorting on the lawn in the wee hours with a trashy looking girl not much older than Integra herself.

Integra had sadly been the one to find them. She'd been sneaking from the main house to see him on guard duty. Alucard was certain he knew what would have happened under different circumstances. He'd not spoken to her for days because of it.

The man had only succeeded in stealing Integra's first kiss, but she had cried for hours. Anger had come after that and she was determined that she would not fall again…ever.

Alucard had vastly different ideas of course. The captain had been swift to request transfer back to the SAS and Walter had encouraged Integra to let him go. She had, and not looked back.

Good thing too, for Alucard was nothing if not vengeful and he had snapped the man's neck cleanly. Tragic riding accident the papers had called it. Oh yes tragic indeed.

He'd chuckled about it for days but made certain that Integra never knew. He was not supposed to be able to kill anyone without her permission… that didn’t mean that he didn't. The seals not holding as well on him as they had years earlier. Not that it mattered, his master was in no real danger from him anyway.