Hellsing Fan Fiction ❯ Sine Qua Non ❯ Nemo Liber Est Qui Corpori Servit ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

By: Sensoo

Integra.
Integra.
Integra

The girl awoke to a strong hand gently shaking her shoulder. Groggily, Integra opened her eyes and looked around. Walter stood over her, looking quite concerned. An Ancient Treatise on Vampyrs, lay open and had been serving as Integra's headrest, rather than her inspiration.
"Miss Integra," Walter sternly addressed her. "You were supposed to get some rest, in your bed."
"I" Integra looked wearily up at Walter, almost ready to confide her troubled to him, when she saw two bright red eyes, burning brightly in the wall. Clenching her teeth, she refocused her mind on Walter's queries. "I couldn't sleep, so I came down to the library in hope of relief."
Walter clucked his tongue and quirked a brow. "What would you prefer for breakfast?"
"Muffins and marmalade" Integra grinned wickedly at the wall where Alucard had made his appearance. She was certain that he was still there, eavesdropping. "And coffee."
Walter had an inkling his mistress's dilemma. In fact, he realized the conundrum in full, but did not pry. Integra was self-sufficient enough to deal with Alucard. Fully conscious of her pride, he sufficed to drop a hint, "Perhaps you should try the archive. I am certain that you might find something useful within."
Integra nodded slowly. That was an excellent idea.
"But first, you should eat breakfast."

After serving Integra, Walter committed himself to his regular duties. It was while reviewing the household budget, that Alucard decided to conduct a formal reunion. He materialized in that same instantaneous manner he had been so fond of over twenty years ago.
"My dear Angel of Death," Alucard purred to Walter. He stood before the butler, possessing that same feral sheen to his gaze, that predatory look Walter knew all to well. "It's been over twenty years"
The Englishman allowed a light smile to grace his features. "It has been awhile, has it not, Alucard?"
"It pains me to see you so frailso weak." The Nosferatu bared his fangs. "I suppose you will still refuse my offer?"
Ignoring the barbs with practiced grace, Walter adjusted his monocle. "I am old, Alucard, old for a human anyway. I had no children and Integra is like my own. Do tell me, Alucard, what are your intentions?"
The vampire stared at him. There was a terribly long tense moment of silence before the demon burst into laughter.
"Walter! Walter! Your ploy is so foolish! Whatever fondness we share does not affect my position on this new head of Hellsing. You should know better! I suppose you are going to beg me to submit to her?"
Instead of becoming flustered, angry, or even uncomfortable, Walter smiled patiently. "You misunderstand me, Alucard. I merely inquired about your intentions. I have no desire to plead Integra's cause or to "convince" you of her worthiness; she is quite capable of doing that on her own."
Alucard recognized the confidence behind Walter's little expression, but did not reveal any sentiments. He bowed before Walter mockingly. "We shall see."

The library had always been a favorite retreat for Integra. Generations upon generations accumulated and banked their recorded knowledge here, in a vast span of black walnut shelving. Now, this mass treasure trove of literature and erudition was at her full disposal. Besides the leather-bound first editions and the slew of antiques, there was an inner sanctum to the library. Recently this chamber was fireproofed and equipped with a combination of retina-scanning and voice recognition security measures.
After breakfast, Integra returned to this vault. After going through the procedures, she entered. When she was younger, she had read Van Helsing's personal, detailed, dry journal. Yet, something had been missing. Integra deduced it had definitely been Abram who bound Alucard, therefore his private documents would shed some light upon her situation.
Perusing though the metal filing cabinets, Integra found ancient documents, organization and family-related. Reverently, she began examining the papers.
It was over three hours before she found exactly what she was seeking. A series of letter and scientific notes were carefully bound together, these were subtitled No Life King.
Taking the documents to the outer sanctum, Integra settled down at a reading desk. The ambience was low, but she had to be careful not to expose the papers to bright light.

I have created a system of locks, if you will, that release different levels of his power. It is cruder than I would like, but I leave the adjustment to future generations.

That might have been what her father had been perfecting. Skimming through more, she found papers with very familiar handwriting.

After several years of trial and error, we have succeeded in utilizing verbal or mental commands to set the Nosferatu's limits. Along with the system releases, we have separated his ability to metamorphosize from his combat mode.

Symbols of alchemy, astrology, Christianity, and Cabbalism marked the papers. Integra recognized many, but was not entirely sure of their combined significance.

The key to controlling the Nosferatu is being of the blood. The seals, marked plainly on his hands, bind him to our family. It is not quite as simple as being born into our illustrious household. The head of the Hellsing Organization must have the strength of will to conquer the Nosferatu. This is no simple feat. He is capricious and cunning. It is only through a recurring battle of wills that one may keep him under some semblance of control.
To simplify the matter, feeding him our blood also strengthens the seals. It renews the covenant of our family. This is a required procedure and not to be ignored by the squeamish. He will be a bit more complacent if kept well-fed. Still, do not underestimate him. He is very canny and treacherous. Do not allow him to lull you into a false sense of security. In that very moment when you do not give him a second thought, he will rise up against you.

Integra rubbed her temples. Yes, they most certainly had the vampire pegged. It was simple enough, feed him her blood and bend his mind to her will. What thirteen year old could not do that to an ancient demon? She inwardly cursed herself for awakening that beast. If she had waited one more day, Walter would have come home, taken care of Uncle Richard, and everything would be tiptop.
"Tell me, sweet princess- how do you propose to defeat me? How can you convince me to kill my own kind?"
Integra glowered at him from behind her document. "You overstep your bounds."
"What bounds, sweet princess?"
She ignored that question and decided the wisest tactic would be to work with his second question. "You speak as if those options were synonymous."
"Well then, little princess," Alucard leaned lazily against the wall. "Why should I betray my own kind? What persuasive rhetoric can you spout to convince me?"
The girl before him inhaled deeply before addressing him sharply. "I thought you were more perceptive than that," she stated coolly. "It's quite simple, actually."
The vampire leaned closer, listening intently to her answer. It was an answer he had known for ages, but still, he desired that she recognized his different motivations.
"Vampires are, like it or not, part of a food chain. In fact," Integra commented wryly, "they seem to be on the top."
"Yes."
"But vampires also change their victims into ghouls or more vampires, right?"
"Correct."
"And ghouls, alongside more vampires, continue to parasitically procreate. No offense."
"None taken."
"Eventually, this would pose a threat to your food supply, would it not?"
"Theoretically, yes."
"Besides," she favored him shrewdly. "I understand vampires are exceptionally territorial."
"Yes," he growled approvingly. She had perfect comprehension of the issue.
"The nature of newer vampires is far less cunning or dignified than that of prior generations."
"Young people today," Alucard remarked dryly.
"Survival of the fittest," Integra stated nonchalantly. "And you, Alucard, are you up to the challenge?"
Alucard would let her gloat for a moment. He was satisfied that she could correctly summarize his baser motivations. It was a decent beginning.

Noticing that the vampire's attention had shifted elsewhere, Integra took advantage of his distraction. Abram's papers had confirmed her suspicions. They required more studying, but she already understood what had to be done. Alucard had been most accommodating in the basement. Some of that prior control had to remain. Why else had he not devoured everyone in the household?
Smirking darkly to herself and hoping to God that her theory was correct, Integra reached into the drawer of the desk and withdrew a knife. She now had Alucard's attention; his gaze flickered between her eyes and her hands, grimly assessing her motions. Deliberately, Integra rashly flashed the blade that gleamed with promise.
"Now you tell me, Alucard- because I know you have not been able to leave the mansion." It was bluff, but intuition implied that Integra was quite near the truth. "Do you hunger, Alucard? Does your throat burn with an unquenchable thirst? I know what it is that you desire." With a quick motion, she slashed the side of her left arm and squeezed. Thick burgundy liquid shone in the muted light.
Almost immediately, Alucard's eyelids drooped heavily. His crimson eyes were half-open and smoldered with lust. He licked his lips, unable to focus on anything but the sweet offering before him. In the depths of his still somewhat conscientious mind he applauded her gamble and derided his own uncontrollable cravings.
He eagerly extended his tongue, not touching Integra's bleeding arm.
She smiled down at him with satisfaction.
"How does it feel," he hissed. "How does it feel, being in control?"
"I know how it feels, vampire."
"And you love it," Alucard accused casually.
"Don't you?"
To her surprise, he grasped his slender arm between his cold fingers and forced more blood to dribble out, his tongue staying well away from the wound. Integra compelled herself to relax, allowing him to feed.
Alucard fell to his knees, eyes closed, the blood gradually dripping into his mouth. Integra inhaled deeply, her nervousness increasing at the loving, almost tender motions Alucard performed up and down her arm, alongside his rough tongue, lapping up the hot liquid flowing from her body. It was not unpleasant, and she stood there, for what seemed like an eternity, permitting him his pleasure.
"Miss Integra" Walter stepped into the room, retaining all composure as his hear nearly stopped at the sight before him.
The spell was broken. Alucard's eyes flew open and all semblances of tranquility were replaced by his mad leer.
"So comes the Angel of Death." He laughed once before bowing to the maiden. "Farewell, my princessmy lady" He then dissolved in the shadows.
"Walter, I" Integra unconsciously touched her arm. The magnitude of her actions was beginning to come into comprehension.
"Miss Integra, it is perfectly understandable. You did exactly what is necessary." His gaze wandered to the stack of archaic texts. "It seems your illustrious ancestor has provided you with quite an asset."
"Some gift" Integra snorted, unsure if he meant the journals or the vampire lord.
"Would you have preferred the good silver?"
"That belongs to me as well." Integra straightened her glasses and smiled fiercely at Walter. The older man nodded slightly, in agreement.
"That it does, Miss Integra. That it does."