Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

Hellsing: Coat of Arms	By : KDKB Category: Hellsing > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1360 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: We do not own Hellsing or any characters. We also do not make any money from this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter 4: The Girl in the Fire

          By the time they were ready to leave, it was well after one in the morning. It had taken several hours to finish debriefing the team of men she had managed to scrounge up from the bowels of the manor; the attack on the mansion of a few days past had left their numbers dwindling to well beneath a hundred experienced soldiers, leaving her with a few good men and a less than impressive gaggle of new hires. Her inexperience, coupled with the slightly startling revelation about the existence of vampires, had dragged out what should have been a short and easy debriefing into four hours of questions for which she barely had the answer, let alone the ability to articulate. However, with the help of one of her mother's regular bodyguards, she was finally able to get everyone on the same page.

          "Thank you, Andrew," she muttered, rubbing her temple to try to ward off the headache that had been building in the back of her brain for the past hour and a half. "I'm not sure what I would have done without you."

          The kind-faced older gentleman gave her a quick salute, then flashed her a reassuring smile. "You did well for your first debriefing," he said cheerfully, patting her lightly on the shoulder. "Your mother would have been proud."

          "I keep trying to tell myself that." She watched the men talk quietly amongst themselves as they prepared for departure.

          "Ah, lass, don't worry yourself. You'll find yourself used to it in no time. From what I've heard, your mother was only a wee girl herself when she took over this organization, and she did some incredible things, she did."

          "Of course she did," she grumbled under her breath. When he gave her a questioning look, she shook her head. "Never mind. Go ahead and get the men out to the passenger terminal. We're taking the armored van, aren't we?"

          "Aye."

          "Good. I'll meet you there in a moment."

          He gave her another salute, then called to the men, instructing them to follow him to the terminal. There was a rustling of booted feet, then the squad slowly filtered out of the room.

          When the last of her team had disappeared down the hall, she let out a shuddering breath. All the frustration and anxiety she had been afraid to show in front of the men looking to her for direction was now obvious on her face and in her stance, and she allowed herself a brief, childish moment to kick viciously at the base of the stone wall.

          "I really wish I was asleep right now," she muttered to herself, trying to ignore the stinging sensation in her toes. With a final sigh of resignation, she steeled herself against the unknown and started off after her team.

          As she was heading for the looming darkness of the hallway, she noticed Seiryu standing by the entrance to the foyer, his tall, dark shape looming eerily in the shadows. "Still no sign of your pet?" he asked his tone cheery but forced.

          Anna groaned inwardly. "No, and I'm worried about her. Have you seen her since we parted ways?" Uninterested in a lengthy conversation, she did not slow her pace.

          "I went looking for her a while back. Even circled Integra's grave several times." Cocking his head to the side, he inspected his fingernails, seemingly unfazed by her obvious desire to keep moving. "My guess is that one of the demons got to her."

          Anna stopped in spite of herself, an unprecedented wave of dread crashing over her already shaky resolve. "W..." She cleared her throat, willing the fear from her voice. "Wouldn't you have been able to...I don't know...sense them or something?" Her fists clenched at her sides as she waited for his response. If Seras Victoria was no match for these creatures, what hope did she have?

          "Only if they are in the immediate vicinity. Should your toy vampire have decided to wander outside of these walls, chances are I would be unable to sense an impending attack."

          "Seras..." She swallowed hard, feeling hot tears stinging the backs of her eyes. She felt his hands close around her shoulders, and she steeled herself against his touch.

          "Your team of inexperienced men are no match for a demon," he murmured, his thumbs making slow circles on her army-style jacket. "Please, let me come with you. You have my word that I will obey your every command without question. I simply wish to protect you."

          Blinking rapidly, she chewed her lip and turned to give him a stern look. "...if you accompany me, you must promise you will not interfere with our mission, no matter what happens."

          "As I said, you have my word."

          She studied him a moment longer, then slowly nodded her head. "Alright, then. Let's go." Pulling out of his grasp, she ducked her head and resumed her hurried pace.

          "Indeed," he murmured, waiting for her to put a few steps between them before starting off after her, the shadows of the dimly lit room obscuring the self-satisfied smirk that twisted his lips.

          The night never seemed so dark as the compact armored car approached the field of the dead at the devil's hour. Stars pierced the blackness but offered little light, and the moon was no more than a starless pit of darkness against the night sky.

          The quiet murmur of the state-of-the-art engine sputtered to halt as the driver stopped the vehicle in front of the gates to the cemetery, his eyes darting nervously to the digital clock on the dash as he announced their arrival in a quivering voice. Anna took a deep breath, wondering if her inhuman companion could hear her pounding heart.

          "You first," she told him flatly, nodding toward the door. "Make sure we are clear."

          Seiryu inclined his head, then grabbed the oversized handle and slid open the thick steel door. Sliding silently to the ground, he took a brief look around, then gestured idly toward the car. "There is nothing here."

          Unable to suppress a sigh of relief, she unbuckled her harness and stood, securing her weapons twice before stepping cautiously out of the vehicle. "Come on, men," she called, attempting to sound confident when all she wanted to do was cry. "Let's get this over with."

          Her team fanned out around her, weapons drawn as their eyes cautiously surveyed the area. Seiryu took his place at her side, and she found herself grudgingly grateful for his presence as they started across the grassy knolls.

          After what seemed like an eternity of jumping at every crunch of a twig beneath their feet and terrified shots being fired at every whisper of the wind, they finally made it to the towering front doors of the Hellsing mausoleum. Anna fumbled for the keys, tugging them from her belt loop and fitting one into the lock. The bolt turned silently, and the door swung open before them, revealing the shadowy interior of the ancient house of the dead.

          "Get the lights," she told Seiryu softly, returning the key ring to her belt and letting her hand come to rest on the butt of her pistol. No sooner had the words left her mouth than the old electric bulbs flickered on, the faint hum of electricity pulsing through ancient wires echoing quietly through the dusty chambers. The Hellsing coat of arms hung on its chains from the vaulted ceiling, casting a long shadow on the marble floor of the passageway between the burial rooms.

We are on a mission from God.

          Anna's eyes darted across her family's long standing declaration of purpose. "Right," she whispered. She found herself wishing she had grabbed her mother's cross pendant from her jewelry box.

          The doors slid closed behind the group as they made their way into the heart of the mausoleum, reverently passing the stone coffins that lined the tiny rooms to either side. Candelabras caked with centuries of wax stood silent vigil next to the tombs, and the floor was littered with dried flower petals from generations of respectful visitors. The candles, however, were newly replaced, their tiny flames burning steadily in the dim light.

          Silent dread weighed in Anna's heart as they approached the chamber at the far end of the hall. She had only just laid her mother to rest, and now she was back to tear open the wound once more. Avoiding the silent grave for just a moment more, her gaze flicked to Seiryu, whose eyes trailed along the names engraved on the fronts of the coffins, occasionally darting to the shadows flickering in the candlelight. "Sense anything?"

          "Not yet."

          She nodded, chewing her lip as the group finally approached the resting place of the deceased mistress of Hellsing. The stone carving of Sir Integra lay atop the casket, cold rendered hands folded serenely across her marble breast. Seiryu regarded the sleeping statue with disdain mixed with grudging respect, then turned to Anna. "The time is 2:45AM," he informed her calmly. "What do you plan to do, when the time comes?"

          She paused, realizing that she had carefully planned for everything but the actual purpose of their mission. "I'm...not sure," she admitted. "Honestly, I'm not even sure what to expect."

          "How do you intend to identify yourself to Alucard?" he persisted. "He has been gone from this world for so long that he doesn't even know you exist." He laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Just so you know," he said icily, "should he decide to turn on you, I will have no qualms with removing him from this plane once more."

          She pursed her lips, then pulled out the necklace that had been tucked into her shirt, revealing a large, silver ring which bore the Hellsing crest. "This belonged to my great grandfather. Since we were unable to locate Seras, I suppose this will have to do." Tucking the trinket back into her collar, she gave her companion a stern look. "Additionally, you are not to make a move without my command. Do I make myself clear?"

          "Your mother really did a number on your judgment when it comes to that freak," Seiryu growled. "To her, he was not merely a weapon; he was a beautiful, fallen angel of darkness that had hidden her heart away with her better judgment." The single candle burning in front of Integra's resting place fluttered as he blew out a snort. "I hope that you are not so foolish."

          Anna paled, but forced herself to remain calm. "I asked if I made myself clear."

          His lip curled into a sneer. "As you wish."

          The family tomb fell silent. The dissonance of six different watches could be heard ticking away the seconds; soon it was 2:59AM, and everyone braced themselves for the unknown.

          Finally, the minute hand of every watch reached the twelve. The distant toll of Big Ben sounded faintly in the darkness, dolling out three mournful tones. A dozen pairs of eyes exchanged fearful looks, and the sound of safeties being removed and barrels being cocked rustled through the room. Anna's gaze was riveted on the casket, a bead of sweat trailing down the back of her neck.

          A cold wind trailed its fingers across the occupants of the room. The dim electric lights went dark. The flames from the other rooms flickered out one by one, and soon the only light in the room came from the single candle before them. Seiryu moved closer to Anna, and she found herself clutching at the hem of his sleeve. Andrew motioned to his troops, and they cocked their weapons in anticipation; the hour they had awaited was at hand.

          The wind picked up, and the final candle went out in a puff of smoke.

          However, the darkness lasted only a moment; in a sudden roar of flame, the candle was relit by an unseen specter, sending sparks flying toward the ceiling in a blaze of light. Anna let out a strangled cry, taking an unwitting step back as she shielded her eyes with her arm. "What's going on?" she demanded frantically.

          Seiryu made no reply; he simply stared, unblinking, at the spectacle before him.

          Anna bit her lip, then forced herself to turn her eyes back to the blaze.

          A shadowy shape took form in the depths of the fire. A few moments later, she could barely make out the slender frame of a young girl. She seemed to be no older than twelve, with long black hair flowing in shimmering waves down her white-clad back. Straight cut bangs brushed her pale forehead, complemented by long black draped over large eyes as if in sleep. She hovered amidst the flame for a moment, then slowly came to rest at Anna's feet.
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Hellsing: Coat of Arms