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Psalms for the Fallen	By : anyasy Category: Hellsing > General Views: 3357 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Psalms
for the Fallen

Chapter
7

I

The
entire morning was spent in the Vatican Museums, then the afternoon in the
Sistine Chapel, after which Integral was invited to dinner with the Pope at the
Apostolic Palace. The Papal secretary had introduced himself genially as
Father Mikaine Ganslein, and had been a highly informed, unobtrusive tour guide
with a strangely inexhaustible wealth of information on any matter Integral
cared to raise. They did not travel with a papal guard, so as to keep
their visit low profile, though Mikaine admitted wryly that to those who
recognized him, the fact of his presence was already attention enough.

�Would
it not embarrass his Holiness?� Integral had asked, in a murmur, within the
Vatican Museums. Where they passed, occasionally priests would blink at
Mikaine, then at her, then speak in whispers to each other. �Low profile�
was definitely a poor excuse, and Integral was getting greatly tired of playing
silly buggers, as it were. She wasn�t sure why: she was used to
navigating the murky world of politics, as admittedly shielded from the brunt
of it as she was by Royal mandate and the other members of the Knights.
Perhaps it was her continuing sense of vulnerability. Damn Alucard!

�Ah,
his Holiness is of the opinion that he deserves a few embarrassments at the end
of his reign,� Mikaine had replied smoothly, with a genuinely charming
smile. Integral wasn�t fooled; the man�s eyes were too quick, too alert,
to be anything but the eyes of a guard.

She
posed the question when they headed back to the palace in a chauffeured
Mercedes. �It is unfortunate that his Holiness has to suffer your absence
for our sake.�

�A
small sacrifice,� Mikaine said, and added, gallantly, �And a windfall on my
part, I can assure you.�

�Che.�
Integral snorted. �Is that what a man of the cloth should say?�

�A
man of any sort, Sir Integral, when faced with the dubious �chore� of escorting
two charming ladies around our beautiful City.� Mikaine riposted, with a wink
from the front passenger seat that made Seras hastily stifle a giggle.
�Do not worry about his Holiness. I can assure you that I am merely the
one who is visible.�

�Hm.
His Holiness did seem to care little about his well-being.�

�He
feels God calling, he tells me. That he has some sins to answer to.�
Mikaine turned away, to regard the road soberly. The silent chauffeur
ignored them. �It is my humble opinion as a servant that his Holiness oft
takes far too much upon his shoulders. In fact-�

The
reinforced glass of the car shattered, and in a split second, the head of the
chauffeur seemed to burst. Blood, viscera and gore sprayed over the
windows and seats, as Integral and Seras gasped, then Integral fell hard
against the female vampire�s flank as the car slewed crazily to the right, the
body of the chauffeur slumping onto the steering. Beside them, startled
drivers swerved to get out of their way, crashing into streetlamps, the crunch
of metal and the shattering note of glass, screams and gasped expletives loud
and discordant behind them.

�Sniper!�
Mikaine hissed, making a lunge for the driver�s wheel. �Get down!�

Integral
didn�t have to be told twice, curling up to make herself a smaller target in
the back seat of the car. �Seras!�

Blue
eyes flared into red, for a moment. �The twelfth storey of the building
we just passed, Integral-sama. Should I��

�Non,
non! You are guests!� Mikaine struggled with the wheel, shouldering the body
aside, and floored the accelerator as another shot slammed through the rear
glass of the car, the bullet screaming to a stop in Seras� outstretched
darkness, folded in a writhing, impenetrable cloak over herself and
Integral. The Papal secretary swore, as their car screeched around the
corner, and began to weave into traffic at a breakneck pace that made Integral
wonder if her life insurance covered overseas travel.

�Integral-sama!�

Integral
stared thoughtfully at Mikaine, and, deliberately, with fingers that shook only
a little from her shock, took out a cigar from the case in her suit, cut it
with the guillotine knife, and lit it. �Stay.�

�Yes,
Integral-sama.� Seras said doubtfully, though she began to scan the area around
them, her eyes the bloody red of a predator.

�It
was a warning,� Integral said shortly, her eyes narrowed. Someone wanted
her killed, or frightened off. The danger, she had to admit, was
thrilling. No one had tried to kill her since the War, and to be honest,
she had rather missed it.

II

The
team of Adepts, fresh flown from Vatican City, surrounded Bran Castle under
cover of magic. The members of each team of four were dressed in gray
robes with a single sign of a white cross on their backs. Each team save
one comprised of specialists at barrier creation. Settling down at
predetermined points around Bran Castle, the Adepts began to chant, in perfect
timing, perfect unison.

Soon
a spherical barrier surrounded Bran Castle, which began to contract, slowly,
ever so slowly, a pale, white shimmering cage designed to detect and trap evil.

The
team that stood apart waited on the road to the gate. Battle Adepts,
their blessed staves furled tight with holy pennants inscribed with the Writ
and edged in thrice-sancted silver. The leader, a tall, bulky man with
deep russet hair and fierce, green eyes, held a floating ring of gold above an
outstretched palm, the diameter of a circlet, which glowed faintly.

�The
castle is still tainted with evil.� The man said.

�Aye,
Franz. The vampire still resides. Soon the kekkai will trap
it.� A slender figure beside the man followed the contracting sphere with mild
curiosity. �Think you he will attempt to break free?�

�Our
enemy is Vlad Tepes, the Impaler, the most feared vampire in Europe. Do
not assume anything,� another man remonstrated, compact and hunched, his long
blonde hair drawn in three silver rings down his back. �Lady Eles.
Our snifters led us here, but it has been too quiet.�

�I
but asked a question, Jan.� Eles retorted, if not unkindly. Under her
hood, her thin mouth was creased on a face akin to a spiderwork of delicate
wrinkles, and a pale wisp of silver hair curled under her chin. �It has
been a long time since we had a challenge.�

�Heh.
We both know you�re looking forward to seeing that regenerator.� The final
member of the team, a short, squat, dark-skinned bald man snorted. �Your
Divine Experiment, gone so fey.�

�It�s
been a long time since I was in the laboratories, Christopher.� Eles retorted,
though her eyes continued to follow the sphere. �The Anderson Project was
handed to Iscariot when I joined the Ninth.�

�Only
because the subject became mentally unstable, so I heard.� Christopher
sniggered, a wet, huffing sound. �A failure.�

�A
regenerator failure. So unlike our Franz.� Jan chuckled lazily.
�Limited regeneration. Limited capacity for the magic of the Writ.
And a mind that broke under the side effects of the prototype drugs. What
a battle that would be! A perfect regenerator� against one corrupted by vampirism
and insanity.�

�Do
all of you normally talk so much before a mission?� Franz retorted curtly, as
the sphere contracted past the castle walls. �Come.�

They
strode up to the gate, following the circlet. �Allow me.� Jan kicked at
the metal, which crashed inwards with a screeching clash of steel.

�Warning
our prey?� Christopher sniggered again. �How sportsmanlike.�

�Che.
If he is anything like what we were told, he has already sensed our coming.�
Jan retorted, stalking up to the main door and shoving it open with enough
force that the double door slammed into the old stone.

�Careful,
Jan. It�s a national treasure. A piece of World Heritage,� Franz
said reproachfully.

�It�s
an infected place. Evil is rank to the stone.� Eles stepped into the
foyer after Jan distastefully. �Better we burn it.�

�I
am not so sure I�ll like to be the one explaining that to His Holiness,�
Franz said dryly, following the contracting sphere. Something was trapped
within it, but wasn�t making any effort to resist. Suspicious now, Franz
quickened his step, scaling the stairway to what looked like the bedroom, the
rest fast on his heels.

The
sphere stopped contracting two meters in diameter; in the center, a writhing
mass of shadow that coalesced into a bald, thin man with a jagged wound in his
throat, who smiled and bowed politely in their direction, too graceful to be
anything but doll-like.

�Welcome
to Bran Castle, gentlemen, lady. Would you like some tea?�

�That
is� not Vlad Tepes,� Franz blinked, stating the obvious, as Jan suddenly
began to chuckle, harsh and pleased.

�No,
I am afraid that Lord Alucard has departed the premises.�

�Where
is he?� Jan smirked.

�Unfortunately,
I am not privy to such information. My name is Oscar Robsen. He has
bid me to give you a message. Would you hear it, gentlemen, lady?�

�Why
not?� Christopher shrugged, with a sigh. �Goddamn it. The freak saw
us coming.�

�
�The children of the night come to those who wait�. That is all,
gentlemen, lady.� Abruptly, Oscar dissolved back to writhing shadows, like a
wax figure melting grotesquely under heat, whose struggles became weaker, and
weaker, and then he putrefied into accelerated decay that soon became a lifeless,
still stain on the ground.

Outside,
there was a howl of a wolf, answered in a heartbeat by a dozen more, then the
first, human scream.

Franz
began to smile, slow and faint.

III

�Alucard?�
Integral�s voice was faint under the static. He had placed a call to her
once they were safely on the way out of Romania. �Bloody� this encrypted
line is so unclear.�

�Lord
Hellsing.� Alucard crossed his long legs on the table of the dark train,
watching the countryside speed past. �You sound like you are in a good
mood.�

�And
you seem to be returning early.� Integral sounded faintly smug. �I
wondered if you would pick up on that hint.�

�I
am not yet so slow that I cannot pick up on the nuances of your speech, my Lady
Integral,� Alucard said dryly. �Mentioning that the line was not secure
as well leaving comment about the involvement of the Inquisition within the
space of a few minutes was quite the sledgehammer. I left them a little
surprise at Bran Castle, naturally.�

�Tsk.
I hope you didn�t set fire to it. It�s a piece of World Heritage.�

�Why
would I set fire to my own property, Lord Hellsing?�

�How
should I know? Things seem to wreck themselves about you.� A pause. �What
about the priest?�

�Him?
He�s been well behaved. Studying, if you must know.� Alucard glanced
across the table, where Alex looked up long enough from his book to glare
sullenly at him. The train was partially filled with old books, some
pertaining to Lamia, and some that Alex had chosen to take with them.

�The
library?�

�Sealed
again. I took the relevant books with me. They might find my
library if they look hard enough, I suppose.� Alucard took a sip of wine,
forced himself to savor the bitter taste. �How are matters on your end,
Lord Hellsing, if they have already moved so quickly?�

�Someone
shot at me today,� Integral said shortly, tightly.

�You
are uninjured?� Alucard realized the faint spark of interest within him was concern,
and had to grin.

�It
was a warning. They merely killed the driver and ruined one of my
favorite suits. Seras had to be pulled off the warpath, however.�

�Where
are you now?�

�In
the Apostolic Palace, under tight security. Seras is beside me.�

�Do
you need me there?�

�No.
I do not think this is the work of his Holiness.� Integral said idly.
�And your teleportation unsettles my stomach.�

�The
Ninth?�

�Aye.�
The hard, savage tone to Integral�s voice made him chuckle, harsh and wicked in
response, his shoulders shaking, his eyes narrowing.

�You
like danger, don�t you, my Lady? It excites you. You like the shadow of
death and the finger on the trigger pointed at you. You like the whisper
of war and the edge of the grave.�

�Poetic,�
Integral replied curtly, irritably, refusing to be goaded. �I will return
as soon as possible to Hellsing manor.�

�Do
try not to get shot out of the sky in my absence.�

�So
gallant, servant,� Integral drawled, daring him to refuse, and Alucard
merely snickered, admiring her gall, in thrall to her indomitable will.

�When
are you getting married, Lord Hellsing? I would be so very disappointed were
your interesting bloodline to die with you.�

This
jibe never failed to work, at least. There was a long, strained pause,
then Integral snarled into the phone. �Idiot! Blooming idiot! Come back
at once to England! Now hand the damned cell to Anderson!�

Laughing
wildly now, Alucard sank deeper into his cushioned seat, but tossed the device to
the priest.

�Sir
Hellsing.�

�Anderson.
Thank you for your work.�

Anderson�s
lip curled. �Ah�ve been lookin� into the books, but Ah dinnae see nothin�
o� use, yet. We took as much as we could carry.�

�I�ll
leave it in your hands,� Integral said soberly, then added, to Alucard�s
surprise, �My apologies.�

�Ye
think Ah dinnae ken why ye took me instead o� Seras?� Anderson inquired
wryly. �Ah still have yer word, Sir Hellsing, an� ye have mine.�

�Aye.�
Integral sighed, then seemed to harden back to her steel, and said something
that made Alucard cock his head in curiosity. �The matter of the
Ninth. Project Anderson-�

�Project
Anderson was ae failure, Sir Hellsing,� Anderson said, his voice suddenly
cool. �So Ah have been told. T�aint nothin� o� notice.�

�The
team on your tail-�

�Ah
can guess who they be.�

�So
long as you are forewarned. See you in England, Paladin. Try to
keep your sire out of trouble.�

�Wait.
Ye said ye had ae deal with the Pope-�

�Thirty
pieces of silver, Judas Priest.�

Anderson
blinked slowly, then he chuckled, rough and low. �Bought an� sold,
already?�

�Aye.�

�They
ha� overtaken me in ae narrow pass wi�out escape; an� there is no rest fer me
in my trial.� Anderson�s voice was low, bitter, but resigned. �Ah
suppose Ah should thank ye?�

�Curse
me instead if you wish,� Integral�s tone was indifferent, steely, then it
softened, a fraction. �If you would believe so, his Holiness the Pope
thinks your soul already departed for Judgment. Take solace in that,
Paladin Anderson.�

�Nae
Iscariot soul ascends t�Heaven, Sir Hellsing, but Ah thank ye fer the
sentiment.� Anderson switched off the cell, and handed it wordlessly back over
the table to Alucard.

�The
Anderson Project,� Alucard prompted, making no move to touch it, and Anderson
set it down on the table, turning back to his book.

�Ah�ve
nae wish t�discuss it.�

�I
could look.�

A
hard, fierce glare greeted that suggestion, then Anderson took a deep breath,
and forced his eyes back down to the words. �Ye could, and Ah wouldnae be
able t�stop ye.�

�Hn.�
Alucard smirked lazily for a moment, thinking this over, then decided that he
could cede his immediate curiosity for the moment in favor of playing with
Alex�s mind, slouching further into the seat and yawning widely.
Anderson�s eyes widened slightly in surprise, at the lack of an invasion,
looking confused as he stared at his sire searchingly, then he turned back to
the book.

Besides,
Alucard supposed, he could always ask Integral: by this time, she likely knew
more about it than Anderson himself. He rather regretted the short nature
of their holiday, but he supposed that it couldn�t be helped. In any
case, he did have all the time in the world, after the problems were resolved.

A
part of him that was older than the limiter railed at his returning, insisting
that he should point the train elsewhere, deeper into Europe, but he ignored
it. Integral Hellsing had long understood how to control Alucard where
her ancestors and even her father had not, how to keep him on the knife�s edge
of usefulness and loyalty, and that was via keeping his interest, via
submitting enough curios to him to keep him sufficiently entertained.
Life without Integral Hellsing would turn utterly boring fairly quickly,
and Alucard knew it; she controlled him simply by devising matters in which a
world without her as his master was filled with infinitely more ennui
than the opposite.

Now
he had a handful of concurrent puzzles. Lamia, the �deal� with the Pope,
this so-called �Project Anderson� � ah, his Lady must have intended him
to hear that, must have known it would rouse his curiosity � the Inquisition�s
involvement. So very entertaining, and so very cunning.

IV

Integral
sat up from the communications table, and swept her hard gaze upon
Mikaine. �Now, an explanation. Why did you stop me from sending
Seras?�

Mikaine
sighed. They had changed out of their bloody clothes, and sat in a
guarded room in the Apostolic Palace, waiting for the Pope to finish a
conference with the Archbishops of Africa. �Word twists quickly in a
place like this, Sir Hellsing. It could have been a trap. Word
could have out that you had tried to kill me.�

�That�s
ridiculous.�

�Nevertheless.
The matter of a papal candidate is always a time of internal turmoil, within
Vatican City, now more than usual. You are here in the City via the
Pope�s invite, Sir Hellsing. Your actions must be flawlessly
innocent. You must have a perfect, ironclad alibi at any time.�

�That
is why you are with us?�

Mikaine
bowed lightly. �Yes. In the eyes of the Pope and in that of many
Cardinals, my word and action are inviolate. Due to the assassination
attempt, you would have to cut short your visit from the Vatican City, I am
afraid. We will forward to you a catalogue of pertinent books and ship
any you wish to peruse.�

�Thank
you very much,� Integral said dryly, �But I still feel like I have walked
straight into a tinderbox.�

�The
Pope did think your arrival might stir up matters-�

�A
sniper is stirring up matters?� Seras folded her arms, her eyes red and
wary. �Then what do you call-�

�Seras.�
Integral interrupted sharply, and the female vampire bit her lip.

�Sorry.�

�We
are all on edge. But, thankfully, we have prepared for this
eventuality. We will smuggle the two of you out of the Apostolic Palace
in disguise and fly you both back to England.�

�Disguise?�

Mikaine
grinned. �We have quite a few spare habits��

�As
nuns?�

�Ah-�

�I
refuse!�

�Eeh�
Integral-sama� but��

�You
stay out of this, police girl!�

-tbc-
- 6
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- 8
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Psalms for the Fallen