Hellsing Fan Fiction ❯ A Kiss as Cold as Death ❯ The scent of a Calla Lilly ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A Kiss as Cold as Death

Chapter 2

The Scent of a Calla Lilly

“Here is the living room,” Jade was saying as she showed Brittney around the large house that she would be living in. “It is decorated with mainly old pieces I inherited from my great-grandmother. They have been in the family for years, as has this house.” Jade was pleased to see the look of admiration that crossed Brittney's face. From the letters they had shared she knew that Brittney had a passion for antique things, and what was her house if not antique. “Ah Alek,” Jade said as a tall young man made his way downstairs.
        Brittney's first impression was one of charm and grace. He seemed to float towards them rather than walk. His dark brown hair was secured at his nape in a sleek ponytail. When she met his eyes she could have sworn they looked purple. A trick of the light to be sure, they were merely an odd shade of blue. “A pleasure to meet you,” He said and extended his hand which seemed to have been manicured. “Sorry I could not come forth to meet you earlier, but I had a glitch that needed to be looked at.”
        “No problem,” Brittney said and took her hand from his warm grasp.
        “Sharon has returned I was just about to start dinner,” Alek said and moved toward the kitchen.
        “His cooking is the main reason we keep him around,” Jade said conspiratorially, Brittney laughed at the look Alek tossed back, for she knew that he and Jade had been friends since grade school.
        “Hi!̶ 1; Brittney was startled as a blond seemed to fly in the room a virtual whirlwind of cloth and color. “I'm Sharon; I just couldn't wait to meet you. You'll be so delighted when you taste what Alek and I have in mind for dinner, why don't I show you to your room?” Jade was nearly knocked aside at the girl's exuberant grasp of Brittney's hand. Brittney was all but pulled up the stairs. The room was large with enough closet space for all her clothes. It was done up elegantly in lavender and white, with yellow lamps and trim. It was quite charming; on first glance she couldn't see a thing worth changing.
        “Alek did this?” She asked as she looked around the room. There were even fragrant candles burning in the windowsill. Calla lilies were in neat arrangements on the dresser and bookshelves.
        “You said you liked calla lilies and collected old books,” Sharon explained. “The bookshelf was my Grandmother's.” Sharon giggled at Brittney's awed look as she studied the bookshelf closer. “It fit you know, old books, old bookshelf.”
        ̶ 0;Antique,” Brittney corrected automatically, “Antique bookshelf, do you know the value of this thing why authentication should prove, if my guess is accurate about...” Brittney paused at Sharon and Alek's blank looks. Alek sauntered into the room to asses Brittney's thoughts on the room. He smiled as she seemed well satisfied. He prided himself on his sense of style and elegance.
        Jade ushered her two long time friends out of the room, “Come on you two, let's allow Brittney time to settle in, I'm sure she'd like to unpack in peace, let's go get dinner ready eh?”
        After the room had emptied, Brittney moved a flower petal in danger of being set on fire. The sun had set about an hour ago and the room had a golden haze to it. She turned on one of the low lamps and gazed out of her window. She enjoyed the fabulous view of the front lawn. An old tree outside her window caught her attention. She remembered another tree, another window, another time in another country. “I was so young then Brendan...so young,” Brittney sighed and went to lie on her bed, soon she was asleep.

        *******

        The window once clear showing the beautiful London night clouded, and turned black. First one, then two, then a myriad of eyes appeared glowing red. “Ah, so this is who I am to guard, she does smell delicious.” Alucard turned to mist and entered the room. He stood silent beside her bed and lifted a lock of her long hair. He knelt closer and brought the strands to his face. “A, yes I can smell you, but who is this? So, Saint Germaine, you did leave a progeny behind.”
        “B rittney!” Alucard vanished as the name was called and the door opened. Brittney sat up in bed gasping. She looked around the room frantically. “So sorry,” Sharon apologized, “Didn't expect you to be sleeping, fah, you must be tired from all the travel. Are you in the mood for Pasta, I swear Alek has outdone himself. Showing off for you he is, I'm sure.” Sharon paused as she noted the way Brittney was looking around her room, as if she were looking for something. “Did you lose something?”
        ̶ 0;What? Oh no, I just had an odd feeling, kind of like...” Brittney sighed, “Never mind, Pasta huh, so uh where are you from, that accent is not English?”
        “ Accent? Well here lassie, it's you with the accent, but you are right, It's Ireland I'm from.” Sharon grinned. “O'Toole is my last name, If Jade never mentioned it.”
        “Ah well. Shall we?” Brittney grinned and left the room, trying to ignore the familiar chills that slide down her spine. Alucard reappeared in the room. He picked up one of the lilies that had rested above her bed and vanished again.

        *******

        Sir Integral looked up at the white gloved hand looming in front of her. “What is this?” She asked as she met Alucard's eyes. She accepted the flower he offered her.
        “Do you not smell it?” He inquired, “try not to think and act like a human, such weakness is beyond you now, really close your eyes and smell it.” Integral decided to humor him. She gasped as her fangs seemed to grow longer.
        “Why do I feel like I'm so hungry all of a sudden? I just had my dinner.” She demanded of Alucard who dropped the flower on her desk. “You found the girl. Well who is she? What connection is there between that flower and the girl?”
        “Non e, except she was in the room with it and she touched it, so her scent is upon it.” Alucard sat in a chair across from Integral and pulled his dinner from a coat pocket. “As for who she is, well an old friend of mine had a family before she was changed, but that is not the blood that will cause problems. You see, the very old among us are very special, powerful beyond imagining, they can even be mistaken for a human in the abilities they wield. Sometimes, they can even beget children.” Alucard paused at the rapt look that crossed Integrals face, He had never seen her look so interested in anything. “Her ancestry bears the mark of Saint Germaine, an ancient.”
        “ Who were you before my family got you?” Integral asked.
        Alucard smiled, “Why is that important?”
        ̶ 0;When you ...that is...your lips were warm as if you were human. How old are you?” Integral looked away, trying not to remember the feel of his lips on her neck before he had bitten her. Alucard's laughter and flower were the only indications that he had been in the room.