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Psalms for the Fallen	By : anyasy Category: Hellsing > General Views: 3357 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Psalms
for the Fallen

Chapter
2

I

Anderson
examined the gloves on his hands, a bubble of ironic laughter seething in his
throat. These cursed gloves, with the red, unholy pentagrams, that he had
last seen adorning the vampire Alucard�s hands. Pentagrams, where he had
last worn crosses. Out of the corner of his eyes, he watched Seras doing
the same, turning her own palms over and over, fascinated, but she recovered
quickly, looking back up to Integral.

The
incantations he had learned more quickly than she � after all, he used to be
adept at using the Holy writ � even though Seras had observed her Master
invoking permission in the past. Integral looked tired now, after the
ritual, seated back at her desk, her blade on the mahogany table, her fingers
pressed absently to the hilt, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as she made her
report via a secure line to the rest of the Knights. Anderson didn�t
bother to listen, flexing his fingers and stalking up to the window, staring in
the direction of London.

Alucard
had tried to call them, he and Seras, through the accursed blood-link between
them, and had hit the Hellsing interference, but had withdrawn without
attempting to break the seals. That meant the damned monster was in a
hurry, somehow, or too occupied at present to care. Which also meant that
they were wasting their damned time while Integral danced word games with other
Protestant filth.

��
yes, I do not know why the seals failed. No, the other vampires he
sired are under control. Yes, I put new, different seals upon them.
No, of course I wouldn�t know whether the seals would hold, since I
don�t know why the hell Alucard�s gave!�

Seras
winced as Integral�s voice rose a notch in her fury, slinking over to
Anderson�s side instead, following his gaze, her voice pitched into a low
murmur. �What do you think happened, Anderson-san?�

Anderson
considered ignoring her. Seras had been nothing but puppyishly friendly
to him despite his oft-violent rebuffs and their mutual homicidal history; save
on the one occasion he had wandered off from Hellsing and had to be
�fetched�. It was then that he had seen her new strength, her command of
the shadows, the hellish, chaotic dark magic that seemed as natural as walking
to the Midians. Within the policewoman, there was little now of the
awkward, coltish tomboy he had first seen in Ireland, more of the monster; her
eyes were now always red, and even if her tone was still polite, he could feel
her feral gaze on his back.

She
was stronger than he was now, and he didn�t like the idea.

�Dinnae
ken.�

Still,
he supposed grudgingly that he owed her, monster or not, and she seemed
useful enough. He had been somewhat surprised that Seras had agreed so
quickly and easily to the limiter. Perhaps there was more humanity in her
than he had first thought. Now that he himself was a monster, he knew how
precious that was.

�If
it wasn�t for Pip, the backlash would have been the end of me,� Seras continued
to chatter. �So don�t be too er, hard on yourself about your, er,
reaction, Anderson-san.�

Anderson
had vaguely gathered from Alucard that �Pip� was the name of the person Seras
had drunk from � the only person whose blood she had taken. She seemed to
hallucinate his presence and influence: or perhaps she did not. After
witnessing Alucard�s capabilities in London, Anderson was not quite sure what
vampires were truly able to do.

�Ah
see. Thank ye.�

He
had almost lost himself. Weakness. It galled him, that power could
have had such an effect. He knew better. He had once been an
adept. Angel Dust Anderson, Iscariot Priest, assassin, Paladin,
adept at the fervent perfection of the Holy Writ. He was no stranger to
surges of power, and yet-

��
yes, the damned bastard has gone to London. No, I have no bloody idea
why. Yes, I intend to follow him. Bind him, or destroy him.
No, I have backup. Take care of matters on your end. Yes, thank
you.�

Integral
slammed the phone down on the receiver, making Seras flinch. �Bloody
bureaucrats. Anderson. You come with me to London. Seras, you
stay here.�

Seras
blinked. �Me? Why?�

�Because
I do not think Alucard will tarry in London for long,� Integral said curtly,
�And if he wants to travel, he�ll be back for his coffin. If he comes
back, delay him for as long as possible and use the communication seal I taught
you. Understand?�

�Yes,
Integral-sama.� Seras looked dubiously at Anderson. �If you�re sure.�

�Of
course I am.� Integral placed the Golgotha stone carefully back in its wrapping,
then locked the box and carried it under her arm, holding her blade in the
other. �A helicopter on the roof will take us to London. Remember,
Seras. Don�t attack him if he comes back. Just try to delay him.�

�I
understand, sir.� Seras swallowed, looking nervous, but she saluted
again.

Anderson
grinned, and adjusted his now-unnecessary glasses with a forefinger. �Out
o� the depths Ah cry t�ye, Oh Lord; Oh Lord, hear my voice. Let yer ears
be attentive.�

Integral
had just proved herself to be a brilliant tactician. Seras was the childe
more likely to follow Alucard. By only taking Anderson to London, it was
clear that she intended to encounter and bind him there. And with a few
words, carefully bypassing the contentious possibility of Alucard�s betrayal,
and by sounding reasonable and tired and stressed, Seras would likely try to
delay Alucard out of loyalty to Integral, even if the vampire returned
to the mansion.

And
also, on the other hand, by taking the �weaker� childe out by her side,
with said sired vampire wearing a limiter � Anderson had no doubt that he was
actually bait for the monster, for all of Integral�s words. In his
current condition he was vulnerable, and were Alucard to attempt to leave
London undoubtedly Integral would be able to use the situation to her
benefit. After all, Alucard had shown himself to be fairly attached to
his childer.

Good.
They had to pull the creature�s fangs before it consumed Europe again.
Before it tainted the homelands of the true believers.

II

Alucard
had managed to arrive in London with no mishap, and strolled through the
deserted streets, grinning to himself, the memory of the bloodbath still fresh
in his mind. A river of blood had run through these streets, the caked
remnants dark and thick with flies and maggots in the alleys and the tunnels
and the avenues, the cars silent hulks resting on filthy streets. Even
looters had kept away from London, haunted, bloody London, and the reclamation
efforts were so far confined to the very edges. Corpses still remained as
bloody pennants of rotting flesh on their spikes, Iscariot, Hellsing,
civilians, Millennium.

Alucard
sidestepped a car and stepped over the body of a child, folded over a cat, and
decided that he had done enough sightseeing, flowing as darkness over death to
the museum. He had been there before, on guard duty to his Master, and
had picked a fight first with the now-deceased Enrico Maxwell, and then, by
default, with Alex.

Alexander
Anderson could fill him with the thrill of battle like no other, even now, when
the blood of the living no longer beat in his chest. Certainly Alucard
would not tolerate any attempts to take Alex or even Seras from him, not
even from Integral. While his childer still amused him, they were his.

So
thinking pleasant thoughts, he drifted past the slumped bodies of security in a
seething wave of darkness, red eyes opening and closing in the turmoil of
shadows, over the few bodies of sightseers and tourists who had been ignored
evacuation procedures. The scent of rot and decay was sweet, even if the
warm blood that interested him had long caked dry for the worms.

Pity,
pity.

Alucard
continued to drift past gorgeous paintings and sculptures, shifting in and out
of his various, favorite forms, until he reached the Great Court. Then,
out of courtesy, he became as human-shaped as he could: without the limiter, it
took effort simply to remember having to stay in the distressingly
small, weak form. Cravat, crimson, broad-brimmed hat, coat. There
was still a flickering light from the fluorescents above, under which his
shadow, at his feet, was restless with laughing monsters.

Before
him, perfectly composed, was a woman, her pale porcelain flesh unmarred, her
hair a sleek, rich, sensuous gold that tumbled over her shoulders to her waist,
obscuring her full breasts. She floated a foot above the ground, naked,
looking at the paintings thoughtfully, her long, pink nails curled at shapely
hips. Her face was agelessly young, and her lips curved into a faint
smile at his approach.

�Vlad
Tepes.� She did not speak English, but somehow, he understood. Her tone
was archaic in its cadence and honorific, ancient, but rich now, feminine,
rather than the dry papery whisper he had heard in his dreams. �I
apologize. I will take my leave. I know that this is your hunting
ground.�

�The
borders have fallen far in the last hundred years, and my territory is long
unmarked. Your apology is unnecessary,� Alucard acknowledged, deciding
that there was no harm in being gallant until he could discern how powerful
Lamia was. �My Lady.�

�You
told me once of the edges of your playground, a few centuries ago. I
remember,� Lamia said, dismissive of his proffered excuse for her
trespass. �This place called �Europe� is yours as you say, child, for I
sense no others of our kindred on these lands that are a match for your
power. I will return to Libya� what the mortals now call �Africa�.
Much of what I was has returned. Do not worry, I will not hunt on your
territory.�

Alucard
reflected that he had not ever had so polite a conversation with another
Midian. Usually they fought first, scenting dominance, and then, only if
it suited them, if neither could kill the other, would they resort to
words. Was this how the ancient Nosferatu behaved? He was curious.

Lamia
smiled, baring delicately pointed fangs, as though sensing this. �You
approach me like a child, Vlad Tepes. I apologize if my word gives
offense.�

�Before
you I am indeed a child.� Alucard stifled his pride in favor of his
curiosity. �There is little I know of the Nosferatu. Of the older
ones, like yourself. When I met other No Life Kings, there was no
protocol. Yet your tone suggests there is one.�

�There
is no sense to meaningless battle over hunting grounds,� Lamia shrugged.
�Long before you ruled Europe there were others. We kept to what was
ours. Are you curious, child? I could tarry a while. It has been so
very long since I have had company.�

�It
would be my pleasure for you to do so, Lady.� Alucard supposed there was no
real harm, thinking matters over. He could sense Lamia�s power, sense the
depth of her evil behind her cherubic smile and impossible beauty, and as much
as he felt it would be fun to let loose, to measure himself against her,
again, his curiosity won out, at least for now. What were the Nosferatu
like, in ancient history? How had Lamia been sealed? What had she meant by
blood-magic? Bored, he was fairly happy to learn, for the moment.

He
was still unsure about what she had meant about dominion, but he supposed that
he could, at the very least, persuade her to stay her conquest to Africa.
That continent was of little interest to him, while this one tended to spawn
all manner of fascinating humans.

III

There
was no place to land on the ruined streets, and they�d had to settle for being
dropped off via ladder onto the street outside the British Museum. Or at
least, Integral had climbed down the rope ladder, while Anderson had jumped,
floating down light as a leaf onto the stained asphalt. He could sense
Alucard in the building, Alucard and something else, something darker and
ancient, and could not tell how he could do so, sniffing the air, baring his
teeth into a mad grin as he surveyed the rotting corpses, already disregarding
the sunlight.

�The
nations ha� fallen into the pit they have dug, their feet are caught in the net
they have hidden. The Lord is known by his justice, the wicked are
ensnared by the work o� their hands. Amen.� Anderson could feel the
repulsion of the blessed metal within his coat, and welcomed it. The
bloodlust was coming.

A
cold voice cut through his compulsion. �Paladin Anderson. What do
you sense?�

With
some effort, he restrained his thirst, straightening and gesturing at the
columned fa�ade of the Museum as they let themselves through the open
gate. Above, the helicopter circled, then left.

�There�s
another monster. Ae No Life King.� Anderson�s grin turned manic, for a
moment. �They�re nae fightin�. Ah dinnae ken wha� they�re doin�.�

�Alucard
and another vampire? Not fighting?� Integral mused, sounding puzzled, then
suspicious. �Did he just turn-�

�Nay.
This one feels auld. As strong as yer pet monster, could be.�
Interesting! Interesting! �Nae fightin��

�As
strong as Alucard?� Integral repeated, disbelieving. �Impossible.
There are no vampires active in this day and age who are as strong as Alucard.�

�The
Iscariot files wouldnae agree, woman. There be monsters beyond yer
Protestant shores, the like o� which ye�ll dinnae ken. But none as strong
as Alucard in Europe, Ah ken.�

He
followed the blood-link, impatient, longing to simply shift to shadows and
speed to Alucard, to see what manner of monster had just made an appearance,
but the limiter blazed hot on his palms, for a moment, and he whirled, glaring
at Integral, who smirked.

�Patience.�

�Bitch,�
Anderson retorted, without much venom, sidestepping a bloated corpse of an old
man.

�For
a priest, Paladin, you have a mouth that is remarkably foul.�

�Ah
disnae care wha� manner o� tongue Ah use t�speak t�heathens, woman.�

Unfortunately,
the infuriating woman only chuckled. Integral�s impossibly calm tone
annoyed him. She was dressed for battle, in uniform, a coat pulled over
her shoulders, the Golgotha stone in a pack slung at her hip, her blessed blade
at the other. He had clashed against it before, in Ireland, but had not
sensed its inscribed power until he had become the very creature it had been
made to cast out.

�They�re
not moving still?�

�Nay.�

�Strange.�
A thought seemed to suddenly occur to Integral, and she made a face.
�Perhaps they are� hn, I would not put it beyond Alucard. If it isn�t
battlelust he feels, perhaps-�

�Ah
am ae priest,� Anderson said sharply, �An� ye�ll be careful nae
t�discuss perversion an� sin afore me.�

Integral
stared at him thoughtfully until, to his irritation, he looked away. The
irony was clear in what he had just said. He himself, a priest, if a
fallen one, and even given circumstances, had himself engaged in
perversion and sin, with a monster. God would not forgive him. But
even so, what remained of his humanity refused to hear Integral
out.

�They�re
nae doin� that, anyway,� he added gruffly. �All Ah can sense is
curiosity. They�re just talkin�.�

�That
makes sense,� Integral allowed, if doubtfully. �Alucard has always been
curious about other vampires, especially if they are powerful. But he
treats Europe as his territory. I doubt he would endure the presence of
another.�

Another
corner, and they were picking their way through the abandoned cafeteria.
Outside, under the harsh afternoon sunlight, Alucard was sprawled on a chair,
one long leg crossed over the other, talking with a naked woman floating in the
air before him. For a long moment, Integral and Anderson could only
stare, the weirdly peaceable scene oddly out of place, then the bloodlust
roared into his veins, and the words of the Writ came unbidden to his
lips.

�Ah
will nae fear the tens o� thousands, drawn up against me on every side; arise,
o Lord, deliver me, o my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw, break the teeth
o� the wicked! Foul creature o� Babylon, die by my blade!�

�Anderson!�
Integral snapped, but he ignored the burn on his palms, drawing his bayonets
from his robes, charging at the monster with the face of an angel, as she turned
to regard him with mild surprise. She held out a hand, and Anderson�s
charge abruptly halted.

�This
one� is also Nosferatu. The other� a human.� A female voice spoke, but he
did not hear the words, only its meaning. �Curious. Is this what
you mean by the world changing, Vlad Tepes?�

�It
is different,� Alucard agreed, looking only amused by the interruption.
�Forgive my get, he tends to be a little impetuous.�

�We
were all this young once.� The female vampire said graciously, as Anderson
glared into her red eyes and snarled his frustration. �Though� how
strange. I sense he is young yet to change his appearance, but he seems�
old, to be a virgin.�

�He
used to be a priest.� When the female vampire cocked her head curiously, Alucard
added, maliciously, �A holy man.�

�I
know what priests are.� The vampire smiled. �You are audacious, child, to
turn a holy man. Do you not fear the wrath of Heaven?�

�Heaven
is a quiet observer of late, my Lady. It does not suffer to punish or to
smite the monster, leaving it to the hands of humans.�

�Curious.�
The creature turned her unblinking gaze to Integral. �This human,
however� her blood is quite interesting.�

�And
who might you be, monster?� Integral growled, her hand drifting over to the
pack at her hip, only to be caught by the darkness from Alucard�s shadow.
The female vampire ignored her totally, glancing at Alucard
questioningly.

�England
is my hunting ground, Lady Lamia,� Alucard said, as though reminding her,
resting his cheek on his palm.

�Her
bloodline engendered your binding.�

�Aye.�

�You
served a human?� Lamia said, her tone distasteful.

�It
helped assuage my ennui, for a time. And, as you say, they have a curious
blood� that makes them fair resistant to our powers, when spilled.�

Alucard
grinned maliciously as Integral spat on her wrist � she had bitten through her
lip � and took the Golgotha stone from its pouch as the shadow shrank away from
her blood. Lamia recoiled, hissing, her eyes narrowed and dangerous,
sensing the danger of the artifact to their kind, but Alucard merely stared at
it, his expression dispassionate and bored.

�Hoh,
Sir Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. That is a dangerous thing to
show a vampire.�

Integral
merely sneered. �Anderson. Zero release, approved.�

Instantly,
Anderson was shadow, slipping out of Lamia�s grasp, howling for blood as he
formed arms out of the writhing cloud, the bayonets gleaming in the sun.
Likewise, Lamia flickered into thousands of white, hissing snakes, which parted
as the blades arced through her form, laughing playfully in a thousand sibilant
hisses as she easily kept away from his blades, then his snapping shadows,
flowing with inhuman, weightless speed, across the flagstones, over overturned
tables, then finally behind Alucard.

�So
bloodthirsty for a holy man.�

�The
definition changed a little since you were last on Earth, Lady Lamia.� Alucard
made no move to restrain or encourage Anderson, only watching, amused, at the
priest�s berserk, ineffective attacks on his quicksilver opponent.

�Perhaps
we should continue our conversation another time, Vlad Tepes. I will be
in Libya should you seek me.�

�Farewell,
my Lady,� Alucard drawled.

�When
I begin Dominion, you will hear from me again.�

�Dominion?�
Alucard straightened from his slouch, but Lamia was suddenly a cloud of white
egrets, which arched up into the sky, and he sunk into the chair again, pulling
his hat over his eyes and chuckling through gritted, pointed teeth.
�Strange. Very strange!�

�Alucard.�
Red pentagrams arched into the air, painting themselves before Integral, drawn
in her blood.

�I
wouldn�t try, my Lady,� Alucard glanced at her with a lazy smile, as Anderson
picked himself back into his human shape from the shadows, casting his head
this way and that, growling as he watched the female vampire escape, then he
turned on the next best target, lunging towards Alucard. Only for the
vampire to reach out languidly with an arm that was suddenly shadow, and choke
him with writhing skeins of darkness that leeched at his strength, inflexible,
unbreakable, making him gasp in surprise.

Anderson
had tried attacking Alucard many times, since becoming a vampire, and had never
felt such raw strength.

�As
to you, my wayward childe, you have been quite impolite.� Alucard got to
his feet, as the pentagrams began to encircle him, still unimpressed, grinning
as Integral narrowed her eyes.

�And
a hint for you, my �Master�, for old times. The binding will not work on me,
Lady Integral. Not with only your blood.�

With
that, he teleported, taking Anderson with him.

-tbc-
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Psalms for the Fallen