Hellsing Fan Fiction ❯ Amoare ab Hostis ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

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'Gorgeous...'

It was the only way Walter could think of to describe the chapel around him. Despite his best efforts, he could not remain caustic and remote when faced with such beauty. He knew it was a point in Alucard's corner that he'd been right, that Walter would enjoy this visit. However he couldn't bring himself to care right now.

Polished dark cherrywood gleamed all around him, the pews lined with deep maroon velvet cushions. The antique feel to the colors was breathtaking in its simplistic ornateness. The floor beneath him was plushly carpeted in a shade only slightly lighter than that of the pew cushions. His feet made no noise as he walked slowly towards the alter, his neck craned to take in the magnificently rendered scenes from Biblical scripture in oils on the ceiling above.

As he passed by, stained glass windows threw spectrums of color all around him. Filtered greens, reds, golds and violets swirled in his vision. He twirled experimentally in them, closing his eyes and letting the miriad of color play behind his eyelids. When he opened them the very tips of his eyelashes glinted gold in the sunlight, sparkling like fairies in his field of vision.

Was this what they meant by Heaven?

"My Children," a deep timbre spoke from his left, breaking the spell the place of worship had held over him.

Nearby stood a man of average height, his receding hairline as clearly evident as the paunch growing beneath his ceremonial robes. The light caught the bald patch on the top of his head, making it shine like the carefully polished pews.

"Do you come seeking salvation?" He asked jovially, his tone at once kind and patronizing.

Walter wrinkled his nose in distaste of the man. Men like him were the reason he didn't attend church. He didn't feel that his belief in God was held accountable to priests, pastors or ministers. His faith was his own. He didn't feel the need to justify it to this man, or any other.

Alucard noticed his look of displeasure and grinned in his direction, stepping forward to partially obscure Walter from the man's vision.

"No, Father," he said, bowing his head as though in reverence. Though Walter knew it was really to shield his demon's red eyes from the human's gaze. "We've merely come to gaze upon the beauty that God's children have built in honor of their Creator."

Nodding, the priest stepped forward, his rosary beads clinking quietly. "I understand, my Child. It is in the midst of what we can accomplish through our Lord and Father that we feel truly closest to him."

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes impatiently, Walter set off and away from the two talking men. It irked him somewhat that Alucard was playing this charade. The vampire made a mockery of religion and the people who lived their lives by it by pretending that he was one of the faithful. Sighing, Walter shrugged the thought off. After all, Alucard had been kind enough to show him this place. He shouldn't judge him too harshly.

Coming upon the alter, the dark-haired boy watched a small ceremony taking place. He didn't know what was going on, exactly. He'd never had any involvement with Catholisism, having only ever attended a Protestant church a handful of times in his life. He watched as smoking herbs were waved from inside silver chalices, and water from a smallish pool was sprinked over a cluster of young boys.

He noticed one boy in particular. He was younger than himself, probably aroung nine or ten years old. He had hair the color of cornsilk and looked to be the same texture. His skin was pale as buttermilk and his eyes as green as cut grass. The boy was beautiful, to say the least. Walter didn't feel in the least bit ashamed that he was staring.

He felt Alucard approach from behind him and knew instinctively that the vampire was following his gaze to the blonde boy. He heard him draw a sharp intake of breath and glanced up to see an expression on the older man's face completely unfamiliar to him. It was distant, glazed-over even, and thoroughly wistful. Walter smiled slightly, amused and annoyed at the same time.

It seemed he had competition.

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He couldn't help but gasp. The boy was exquisite. Everything about him screamed the kind of softness that one would only find in one so young. Baby soft skin and satin-sheen hair. All wide eyes and pouty pink lips. The vampire nearly groaned as the boy bent low on his hands and knees and kissed the hem of the priest's robes before him.

And then the ceremony was over and the group of boys were rising. The tiny blonde glanced over and caught he and Walter staring. The world stopped and time slowed to the space of a heartbeat as long-lashed jade green eyes locked with his own. He watched them widen fractionally in recognition as they took in the glowing coals beneath the brim of his wide hat. Hmm, interesting. The young one knew what a vampire was.

What was even more fascinating was that the boy didn't back away or run screaming in fear. He stood there, glaring the vampire down, his small elvish face set and stern. A dangerous smile curved Alucard's lips, and he felt the pin-prick of sharp canines against them. His fangs had elongated of their own accord. Apparently, the demon in him found the blonde pixie appetizing.

Alucard couldn't help but agree with it there.

Feeling a tug on his sleeve, he glanced down to meet annoyed gray eyes. It would seem that Walter did not approve of his obvious lust for the boy. Alucard couldn't blame him. After all, he was trying to seduce the dark angel next to him, not the pristine jewel in front of him.

"He's barely off his mother's tit," the darker boy growled in protest, before turning and stalking away.

Looking away from Walter's huffily retreating back, Alucard turned his gaze back to the blonde near the alter. He was still staring at him with that defiant, furious look in his eye. His small body shook slightly, more likely from anger than fear. He found it quite curious that this child should know what he was. And more so that he would not be afraid of him. Indeed, the boy looked ready to attack him. However, the priest that had been performing the ceremony chose that moment to turn and witness the strange interaction. His dull brown eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion at Alucard, before they turned down to the boy at his feet.

"Come, Alexander," he ordered quietly, and the blonde moved to follow. But not before casting one last venomous look over his shoulder at the vampire.

Sighing, Alucard took a long, covetous glance at the enticing, delicate nymph before following after his fallen prince. Walter didn't speak to him when he rejoined his side and Alucard held out an arm across is chest to stop him. It brought the boy up short and black hair whipped riotously around a pale, pointed face as Walter threw his head back to glare daggars at him.

"What?" He hissed.

"You're jealous," the vampire intoned lowly, his voice warm and sensual.

"No, I'm disgusted." Walter rebutted.

He tried to pull away but Alucard maintained a firm grip on his arm, pulling him closer. He wanted more than anything to kiss the stubborn set to his mouth away, but he knew better than to make such a bold move in the position he was in. The place he was in.

"Why? Because I want him?" He asked, and sighed when Walter looked away. "I won't deny it. But not more than I want you."

Uncertain gray eyes rose to meet his and for a moment Alucard thought the boy was going to continue arguing with him. However, he was pleasantly surprised when the reluctance in those mesmerizing orbs gave way to hope.

"Really?" He asked in a small voice, betraying his youth and naivity.

"Mmm," the vampire murmured in assent, lowering his gaze to sweep over the slender, deliciously inviting body of the dark beauty before him. "But you asked for time, remember? You cannot expect me to wait for you to come to me, little one, and remain celibate. I will take my pleasures elsewhere until you are mine."

"And then?" Walter asked, lifting his chin in challenge. "When I come to you? Will you still take your pleasure elsewhere, as well?"

Alucard shook his head. "Not if you do not wish it."

For a moment Walter watched his face, accessing him and judging his honesty. When the boy seemed satisfied he nodded, taking a step back from the vampire.

"It's getting late. We should be heading back."

Nodding, Alucard made to follow Walter's retreating back. On his way out the door, he heard whispering in an alcove above him.

"Alexander? You can't be serious!" One voice hissed furiously.

"I understand your concern," another voice answered more calmly. "But it's out of my hands. The Pope himself chose him!

"The Pope! The Pope knows of this...this insane undertaking!""Yes, he does. And while he does not approve of such methods-"

"Of course he doesn't! No one in their right mind would!

"...He agrees that something must be done."

"But not this, David. Please, reconsider. It simply isn't right! It goes against God's will and the way He intended for us to be! Think of poor Alexander..."

A sigh. The sound of rustling fabric as a hankerchief was brought to dab at a damp brow.

"I'm sorry, Nathan. If I could change things I would. I love Alexander as much as you, as much as any Father. However, I'm realistic that certain sacrifices must be made..."

"But not Alexander..." the one called Nathan pleaded. "He's such a good boy."

"We must use the best. It is cruelly ironic, but it is the way things must be."

Nathan sighed deeply. "I suppose you're right. He does have The Gift, after all..."

"Hey!"

Alucard jerked back into awareness, focusing on the suspicious face of Walter. The boy was staring at him with a look of extreme curiousity. He guessed that he had been trying to get his attention for quite some time now.

"You coming or not?" He asked warily, a look of concern knitting his brows.

"Yes, sorry," Alucard didn't know quite what he was apologizing for. "I suppose I was lost for a moment."

"Good thing I found you, then." Walter smirked. "Else you'd be trapped in Italy with your little blonde boy toy come midnight."

Alucard chuckled. "Oh, what a horrible fate that would be."

Walter punched him on the arm, not lightly, but he laughed nonetheless. Together they sought out away from the towering monestary behind them, away from Rome, and away from a piece of the past that would come back to haunt them years later.

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