Hellsing Fan Fiction ❯ Erick the Merciful ❯ Inferno and a Bucket of Water ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing, people who are ingenious do. I wrote this story as a gift for my big sis, Lady Mayam, thus letting you know how poor I am. All rights are reserved, I promise and I'm not making a profit from this.

Tensions had been too high, her fear and rage too close to the surface. All the emotions that she had repressed since she became the Lord of the Hellsing family burned through her mental walls. She could control them as well as she could an inferno with only a bucket of water. No one saw what she saw, or how she saw it. Seres had almost gotten Alucard and Walter killed with her immature ability not to listen to anyone. She was taken over by a true vampire, who of course escaped, and practically killed them both. Walter was in critical condition in the med-lab. Of course, Seres was sorry, Integra wanted to kill her for her constant childish apologizing.
Seres did not almost lose the two people who were her world tonight, she did.
Seres would mourn but could live without Alucard.
Integra Wingates Hellsing could not.
She had to shoot Seres in the chest as the true blood high tailed it out of there, and Alucard would never forgive her. He told her that he almost had freed Seres that she was his servant that his mental power over her would prevail. It wouldn't have, Alucard was delusional. Seres was all right, of course, Alucard did his vampire voo doo crap and saved her. That was the straw that broke Integra.
"I cannot have a vampire, who can be dominated in this organization. She has to go, Alucard, she almost destroyed us all."
"You unfeeling bitch," Alucard hissed, "it could have been you. It should have been you and I would feel no remorse in your death."
"Probably, but she is a security leak now, that vampire might still…
"Shut up!"
"... Have some hold over her…"
"I said shut up!"
"… so I will have to discharge her from the Hellsing."
"Is that all you ever think about? The Hellsing Organization? What about Seres? How do you think she feels about what happened? If you kick her out, I will leave with her."
"You cannot do that, Alucard, I am your master."
"See the power you have over me, Master Integra Wingates Hellsing, I will not be separated from the woman I love" Alucard said as he disappeared.

She hadn't tried to call him back; his words stung. He was in love with that useless girl. Why hadn't she seen it before? He protected her and coddled her, taking her under his wing without a being forced to. He really did love her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, she was regaining control of her emotions little by little, but part of her no longer cared. It felt good in a painful sort of way.
The quiet turned from comforting to eerie. Someone was in the room. It wasn't Alucard, this interruption lacked his flair, and she drew her gun and pointed it at where she sensed the intruder was.
"Your security lacks, Lord Hellsing, but I'm glad to see you do not. Please put the gun down, I am not a vampire, nor a catholic. My name is Erick Marque, from the Reckoning Organization; I have my papers," the shadow said, throwing a wad of folded paper on her desk. It bared the Reckoning Organization seal. "How dare you break in here!" Integra said coldly.
"I had tried to call but got no answer. Rumors flew that Andrew St. Ives had attacked your compound so I made my way over here to check it out."
"I will make a call to your superior," she opened up the folded wad and read it quickly. He was an agent for Reckoning, Rogue division. He answered only to Vincent Sinclair, himself. It had been a while since she needed to get in contact with Hellsings brother organization in North America.
"What are you doing in England, Marque?"
"Single target prerogative, Lord Hellsing, seek and destroy Andrew St. Ives, he was seen sneaking out of the FREAK chip plant that was destroyed in Canada. Rumors have him in Hong Kong and he is positively identified in two other FREAK chip bombings. He is a true blood vampire, only around 100 years old. He prefers the sneaksmens trade to actual fighting."
"What has taken you so long to silence this target?"
"Andrew skipped town quickly, he went to Russia, then to France, to German, to Finland then Norway and finally to England. I had trouble getting authorization to complete my mission. I was detained in every one of those countries just long enough for Andrew to escape. That is why I am here and reporting to Hellsing, Sir Integra."
"Why should I believe you?"
"You may call Mister Sinclair if you would like."
Integra picked up the phone and began dialing the international number but then stopped. She had lost everything and now she was prepared to take a leap of faith and lose Hellsing as well? Oh why the hell not. "Tell me what you know about this St. Ives monster, Marque," she said as she put the phone back in it's cradle.
"It will be my pleasure, Sir Integra."

Integra hung up her mobile phone. She had just gotten off the phone with Vincent Sinclair, and felt a little bit better about her decision to trust Marque. She was given picture identification as well as his file. His code name was Erick the Merciful, which he had given himself; Integra enjoyed his sense of humor. She had Marque transferred to Hellsing until his mission was completed. If nothing else, she had another rogue in Hellsing.
He sat on the floor and combed through his own paperwork. He was texting someone on his mobile phone. She did not mind Erick's presence; he was oddly comforting. He had long black hair, with strange bluish highlights, it was tied back into a loose ponytail. His skin was strangely tan, and traces of scars, it appeared he had them removed. Something told her that his skin was soft and very firm. She repressed the urge to touch him. He dressed in black and midnight blue. The midnight blue trench coat brought out his warm honey colored eyes. When he first came in he wore a bandana around his head, to keep his bangs and stray hairs that must come out in battle out of his face. His outside of form fitting pants and shirt were both black and probably had some armor properties. He also wore black gauntlets, and thick hiking boots. He must have really stood out at Gatwick when he arrived.
"Just as I thought," Erick said, with a smirk on his face.
"What?" her icy tone was back.
"Domination of a vampire has to be done by the exchange of the master's blood to the slave and for the master to partake of the slave's blood to show dominance. For complete control of the subject requires a lot of blood."
"A high level blood bond?"
"Yes, and unless this stupid Seres child is dead then Andrew cannot leave the country. He might have blood bonded himself to her accidentally. He won't get far now, we might actually have him, Sir Integra."
"Will he come back looking for her do you think?"
"I doubt for a while, he will have to figure it out for himself. Ha! St. Ives thinks he is so smart. If I may make a suggestion?"
"If it's worth hearing."
"Keep Seres off active duty and make someone baby sit her. Maybe her sire, perhaps? Vampires are quite vengeful, as you know when their fledglings are attacked."
"The last thing I want is Alucard…"
"Yes, understandable, but she will be St. Ives target and you want the target silenced right? I can try to rattle his bones a little and make him desperate. I could use an active mission, I'm tired of chasing him around, and being locked up in prisons."
"That is your duty and sworn honor to the Sinclair family."
"And Vincent is my reckoning, Sir Integra, but I wish to prove my usefulness to you in battle. If I do not live up to Hellsings standards then you may send me home."
"You just want to kill things."
"That to."
"At least you are honest," Integra smirked almost in spite of herself, "I'll see, Marque, but for right now I'll have a room set up for you. Come see me at nightfall."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Integra, I will make sure you are not disappointed in your decision."

It was a few minutes before nightfall; the sun was beginning to set. Integra stood up and walked to the window. It was a rare that she permitted herself these simple pleasures. A knock at the door only half disturbed her thoughts. "Come in," she said and Marque complied.
"It's a beautiful evening, Sir Integra, I'm sorry I'm early," he walked up next to her and stared outside and upward.
"Good evening, Marque, you are just in time. I have a feeling Alucard is just wakening."
"Will he come down or will you have to summon him?"
Integra didn't answer him, she didn't know the answer herself, and not that she would admit that to the cocky American. "I have thought about what you said earlier. I do have an assignment for you."
"I am honored."
"You just want to kill things."
"That to," he paused, "and what about Alucard…?"
"That is none of your concern, Marque," she began to snap at him when a knock on the door disturbed them, "Who is it?"
"Seres Victoria, Sir Integra."
No, she didn't want to see her right now; she never wanted to see her ever again. "I am in conference right now," she said, mentally added, 'With a drop dead gorgeous American sharp shooter who is alive.'
"It's important."
"This might be Alucard's way of sending an olive branch, Sir Integra," Marque whispered.
When did he move that close to her? "Come in," Integra cleared her throat and turned around to see the skimpy dressed vampire, who was also skimpy on the brains enter. She gave Marque a side-glance, would be become taken with her as everyone else was?
Marque looked at Seres with great distaste and whispered into Integra's ear, "You have to be kidding, right?"
Integra swallowed a laugh and watched Seres stare blatantly at Marque as well as how close they stood next to each other. Seres is so easy to read.
"Is there something you wanted or are you here to stare at Marque?"
"Oh sorry, my master said you wanted to see me?"
"Is that a question or is that a fact? If it is a question how am I supposed to know?"
"I guess what I mean is, will I be allowed to remain with Hellsing?" Although she asked Integra, she stared at Marque.
"I am Erick 'the Merciful' Marque, of Reckoning: Rogue division. I've been temporarily assigned to Hellsing to silence Andrew St. Ives, the true blood that attacked last evening. I don't like being stared at and I hate pathetic, weak, practically naked women playing at hunting the undead."
"How dare…"
"You will remain as an inactive member of Hellsing. You have been blood bound to Andrew and him to you. He cannot leave the island without you."
"Blood bonds are funny that way."
"Marque?"
"Yes, Sir Integra?"
"Shut up."
Marque smirked but said nothing; Integra could see his reflection in her mirror. "You will not leave the grounds and will be guarded constantly. You run a high risk of being dominated again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
"Good, you are dismissed."
"Will you be requiring Alucard this evening?"
"No, I don't think so. Marque and I can take it from here; if I need to talk to him I will summon him."
Seres walked out of the room. She looked like a dropped child. "I doubt you will have to wait long for Alucard to arrive," Marque leaned against the window frame with his arms crossed.
"You think so? You don't know Alucard well."
"From what I've heard about Alucard… well he doesn't like to share."
"I don't think… never mind, I have scheduled a meeting with my commanders, you may give everyone a report of Andrew, also some ideas about how to make our security more effective."
"Anything to be useful."
"Until then there has been a rise in murders in a small town outside of Salisbury, police reports are blaming them on a vampire cult that moved into the area only a few days before the first murder. All police units that tried to arrest them have been turned into ghouls, mind taking care of it?"
"My pleasure," Marque smiled and bowed.
Who is that man?
'None of your business, Alucard.' Integra responded.
The one standing near you, who is he?
'Guard Seres, your love, and I will summon you when Hellsing has need of you.'

Erick Marque was quickly gaining favor with everyone, he was social, and for being a rogue, he worked well with others. Walter was no longer in critical condition and was conscious. Both of his legs were paralyzed because of a spinal injury and the doctors doubted he would ever be able to walk again. Seres and Alucard had spent a lot of their time down there with him. Integra had gone down to see him every night. She could feel Alucard's eyes bore into her, it hurt. Then again, she felt everything more acutely lately.
"Alucard as been spying on me. I think he is intrigued. I ran into Seres tonight as well. Your vampires want me gone. I'm not afraid of them; I thought their antics would amuse you."
"Rarely anything amuses me anymore."
"What is my mission this evening?"
"Nothing, find Andrew that is what you are here for."
"I have some leads to follow after last night. He is making more freaks as mere cannon fodder, and probably a lot closer than you would like. Good evening…"
"Wait, I do have a small mission for you first."
"Really?"
"Yes really, you will accompany me to see Walter tonight," she snapped at Marque.
"Won't your vampires be there?
She glared at him but didn't answer. "Oh, this will be fun."
No time to waste, we both have work to do tonight," she stood up and headed down toward the med-lab. Marque was close behind. She felt eyes on her and she knew Alucard was watching. Serves him right for being insubordinate, and not thinking he could be replaced, vampires' version of mortality as Erick puts it.
When did she start referring to Marque as Erick, Integra wondered silently in the back of her mind. They made their way to the underground levels, which took longer than normal. It was like walking through a jello mold.
You are bringing him down here, aren't you? Fine, I get to meet him at last.
The doors opened up by themselves, shadows moved around the hallway that lead to Walter's room. Erick… Marque, dammit, had that smirk again; she could feel more than see it.
Maybe this wasn't the wisest of decisions. Too late. They stood in front of Walter's door and to go back now would give Alucard a victory over her, which she would never allow to happen. Marque opened the door for her and smiled, "I promise to behave."
Damn his smile was contagious. "May I have that in writing, Marque?"