LETTERS FROM HELLSING XXXV

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Demanded Zelig.

"Oh." Said Seras. "Oooh, I get it."

"Get what Victoria?" Asked Stewart.

"See, I didn't notice it at first cause I can always hear Corrine when she's singing so it didn't even occur to me."

"What?"

"That you shouldn't"

"What? Shouldn't what? Spit it out girl!"

"That you shouldn't be have been able to hear her from the outer caverns. I mean I could hear her of course because I'm, well, you know but you guys..."

"...should not have been able to hear her through solid rock." Finished Stewart for her.

"Exactly. I noticed a slight shifting in the direction of the sound right about the time you guys started joking about being serenaded. I just thought it was the cave's acoustics but it was.."

"The intercoms!" Said Stewart slapping his forehead. "I see."

"But without the antenna how...?" Asked Zelig.

"Don't you get it? She doesn't need the antenna. She's tapping directly into the system somehow. She is the antenna. Well, transmitter actually."

"Like a wireless amp? Huh, strange." Said Zelig sounding more curious than concerned. "How are your doing that Corrine?"

I didn't answer. I was too busy glaring at Alucard.

"No, you still don't understand! It's not the volume it's her singing." Said Anders. "He's done something to her so it gets into your head and glick..." Anders eyes widened. He seemed to be choking on his words.

"You bore me little man." Said Alucard. "And you insult the master. I find these both unacceptable."

"Stop it." I said.

He ignored me.

"Get out of my mind." Anders whispered.

"Your worthless existence means nothing to me. Your sad little secrets even less, almost amusing in how pathetic they are. Barely worth my time. Still, Angel, you played your piece..."

Anders began shaking violently. I grabbed his arm shoving him behind me placing myself physically between him and Alucard.

"Leave him alone!"

"Temper temper Angel."

"I mean it."

"Oh, you always mean it Angel. But it's not sincerity I want from you, it's capitulation."

"No!"

"Very well." He shrugged.

Anders gasped as if in pain. "Get out of my mind!" He shouted collapsing to his knees and clutching his head.

A strange thought flashed through my mind 'you can stop him but you have to mean it.' I shook my head confused. I threw my arms about Anders' shoulders and tried to shield him as best I could but he just shoved me away moaning "Get out. Get out." over and over.

"Let him go! Let him go or else...!" 'You have to mean it'.

"Or else what Angel?" He asked sarcastically.

I paused. Or else, what? What leverage did i have? None. What bribe could I offer beside submission?

To submit to Alucard was to submit my soul. To hand him my core, the very essence of what made me still human over to his will. To be his creature totally and no longer be Corrine.

No. Submission was not an option.

'Not offer, threaten'

I don't understand.

'Only because you don't want to. Only because you're too afraid.'

I frowned, thinking hard.

Alucard shook his head and tisked.

I opened my mouth hoping for something to say but it was Burnadett who spoke interrupting our deadlock.

"Release him." He said calmly.

"Another piece on the board Angel?" Alucard looked at him incredulously. "Le Gaul parle ?"

"Yes, he speaks." Said Burnadett sauntering to the edge of the pool. "You will release my man."

"Will I?"

"Yes."

"This one looks to be more fun. Shall I play with him a bit longer?" Sent Alucard winking at me. "And if I refuse?"

"Then there is trouble. A great deal of it."

"From you, toy soldier?"

Burnadett nodded smiling thinly.

"From us." Said Marks. He was crouching over Anders protectively but looking directly at Alucard.

"All of us." Said Zelig as he and the others fanned out along the pool.

"You will forgive me if I find your threat to be an empty one."

"I think you will find us not such soft prey as you are used to."

"You know you can not win hired man?"

"Probably not. But we can mess you up real bad."

"This could be fun." Mused Alucard. "I might even let you go back for your guns."

"Oh, we have our guns." It was just then that I noticed all the geese were armed. "As you say, we are hired men. It is our job to be ready."

Alucard laughed delighted. "Ah mercenary, you do entertain."

"Stop it Alucard!"

"What was that Angel? Was that capitulation I heard?"

"Why are you dragging them into this?"

"You dragged them into this Angel, the moment you took off that robe. You thought to shame the Master? You shame yourself! You placed the pieces on the board, I merely play them"

"This is not a game!"

"It's always a game and everyone is a pawn. Best you remember that Angel."

He looked at me intently. "You can stop this you know. End the game with just one word."

"That word being?"

"Master."

"Never."

"Come now Angel, you're already on your knees. You don't even have to mean it. I just want you to say it front of the Police girl and Walter and all of your new friends."

I shook my head. If I said it he would make damn sure I meant it.

"Just one little word Angel and it will all be over."

But it won't be over, I thought. It will never be over. He will just use your love against you again and again until there is nothing left. And who will he threaten next time? Seras? Your son?

You can stop this, stop him but you have to mean it. You have to be prepared to ... I closed my eyes unwilling to finish that thought. Unsure if I was willing to make that sacrifice. Because I would have to mean it. He would know if I was bluffing.

"Don't you want to save them?"

"Son of a bitch." Said Sherman.

"Bastard." Whispered Marks.

"Steady." Said Burnadett. "You use us against Chanson vampire? This is not, nice."

Alucard snorted.

"Enough of your games. You release my man now."

"Or?"

"Or we do our job and kill a vampire. Your choice."

"Oh yes?" Alucard said literally pulsing with pleasure. I am not sure if the others saw it, but for a moment I caught the barest glimpse of his true nature. Seething, boiling blackness, barley contained by Hellsing's restrictions and not even remotely human. "Well in that case.."

"Alucard," Came Walter's voice cutting calmly through the tension. "Perhaps you and I could continue this conversation in the hall." I was so busy fighting with Alucard, I had forgotten Walter was still there.

LETTERS FROM HELLSING XXXIV

“Illusion,” I rasped “not real.”

“The hell it was!”

“Not real.” I said, as much to convince myself as him.

“No? Just look at the state of you girl,” he said gesturing towards the deep lacerations on my leg “illusions don’t do that!”

“It’s not that bad.” I said cringing at such an outright lie.

“What? Are you kidding me? It’s down to the bone. You’ve cut her down to the bone you bastard!”

“Please,” I begged Anders, “I’m OK, really.”

“Stand Down Anders” Said Burnadett.

“But look at her Capitan. We’re supposed to be killing these monsters not giving them people to play with!”

I heard several muttered sounds of assent from the men as they took in my injuries. The room was turning hostile.

“Please.” I whispered “Please don’t.”

“What the hell kind of operation is this?” He shouted at Sir Integra. What’s wrong with you?”

“You over step yourself Mr. Anders.” Said Walter.

He turned to Walter and asked sadly. “Why are you letting him do this to her?”

“Interesting piece to place on the board Angel. Albeit a stupid and weak one.”

“Leave him alone.”

“Enough!” Said Sir Integra firmly. “Mr. Anders, this is my house and my charter. If you do not care for the way I run this operation, there is the door. None will stop you from leaving. Otherwise, you will never question my authority or dedication to this cause again or I will show first hand what pain and cruelty truly are.”

She turned to Alucard. “Don’t think for a moment I don’t know that you are sticking your oar in here. You had better show some results soon or I will be taking your little toy away from you.”

“Walter.”

“Ma’am?”

“Sort this and report to me in the morning.”

Walter nodded.

She turned on her heel and began to stride away. She had just made it to the entrance when Alucard’s voice carried across the cave.

“Ask yourself this. How is it that you heard her singing well before the antenna was hooked up?”

She spared Alucard one brief glance, her face completely devoid of emotion, then nodded to Walter. “Sort this.” She said and was gone.

LETTERS FROM HELLSING XXXIII

“I’m sick of these illusions.”

“Are you sure it’s an illusion Angel?” He asked as a dark blob detached itself from the blackness and began slouching towards me.

“What else could it be?” I asked a bit frightened. Something was not right. It was moving closer now, small, dark and vaguely human shaped, humping towards me on uneven limbs.

“Your punishment Angel. Punishment for you insolence penance for your failure”

It was much closer now I could begin to make out some detail. It was human or had been at some point I was pretty sure. The body was badly damaged and portions of its limbs seemed to be missing. Its head hung down between its shoulders bobbling loosely as if its neck were broken. It dragged itself towards me, using its forearms to pull its ragged, useless legs along the gravely bottom of the pool. A strange trail of ichor floating behind the body marked its passing.

“Reach out to it Angel. Reach out with your mind, tell me what you feel, what you ‘see’.”

I shook my head not wanting to obey but unable to look away, drawn to it as much as it seemed to be drawn to me. Something was tugging at my mind, calling to me, crying piteously for my attention.

It halted a few feet in front of me. It was small, no larger than a child. Its skin was pale, bloated and bruised. It appeared that something or some things had been nibbling away at the areas exposed by its tattered clothing stripping away flesh exposing bone and muscle. I felt my bile rising as I stared at the small, wormlike remnants of fat still clinging to its flesh waiving gently in the current.

“Don’t you recognize him Angel?”

I bit my lip concentrating. Something nagged at my subconscious like a shiver running up my spine but my mind kept batting it away before I could grasp it. “I…don’t…” The head caught the currant, floating up so that I could now see what was left of its face. Waves of horror crashed though me I gasped out most of my air. “No, it’s not possible.”

“Of course it is.”

“It’s not real!”

“Isn’t it?”

“No! She would never let you.”

“Wouldn’t she? He’s just a little souvenir.”

“It’s a lie! It’s not real! Not real!” I began to panic kicking away at the hand on my ankle, my foot connecting with the soft flesh, digging into the skin tearing it away from the bone. “What did you do? What have you done?” I sobbed losing what precious little air I had left. Flesh and blood began to mix with the ichor clouding up the water but I could still see it through the gory chum. Still see those sad eyes begging me for help. Still see the single hand it had left loosely waving in the current back and forth in a cruel parody of that day in the theater. I squeezed my eyes shut but I could still see him.

Somewhere, far away I could hear Seras screaming my name begging Alucard to stop. My head was spinning I was close to blacking out.

“Turning our back again Angel? Still not going to save him?”

My eyes snapped open black fury replacing all fear. I let loose a torrent of rage at him hurling my anger and frustration back into his face. He laughed at me. Laughed! A stream of profanity spewed from my mind. Words I didn’t even know I knew. Words that were not even in English and that woman from the first night was there again in my head shrieking along beside me.

“There you are.” Sent Alucard thoughtfully. “I was wondering when you would show up. Perhaps we should...”

Something hard slammed into me. Rough cloth grated against my back as strong arms wrapped themselves about my waist tearing me away from those fingers, away from that thing and propelling me to the surface.

As we broke through, I was slammed by light and sound. Seras was still calling my name but I couldn’t see her or answer. I was shoved up against the side of the pool and I felt hands under my arm pits lifting me up out of the water. Seras was clinging to me sobbing my name over and over. I tried to tell her that I was OK but I couldn’t seem to breathe. Something landed beside me with a wet slap. I heard a muffled curse as I was torn from Seras’ grasp and thrown over a wet knee. Strong hands slammed down on my back driving that knee painfully into my diaphragm. Water spewed out of my lungs and, for the first time in far too long, air, sweet blessed air, was sucked in.

Another thump, a bit less rough this time, and more water spewed out. I took a deep shuttering breath to say thank you and promptly threw up more water. This process was repeated two or three more times before I could finally breathe without a corresponding purge. I was still coughing and sputtering though so I simply nodded my head to indicate that I required no further thumping the knee collapsed and my rescuer and I landed in a tangled heap on the ground.

I closed my eyes for a moment until the dizziness passed then turned to see whose lap I was sitting on and ended staring into the terrified eyes of Anders. “What...” he whispered softly, “What the hell was that?”

LETTERS FROM HELLSING XXXII

The pool was deeper and further across than I remembered. As I began to swim, my now unbound hair started to tangle itself under my arms. So much for the graceful exit I thought to myself as I reached over with my left hand to pull my hair out of my armpit. The errant strands obligingly responded by wrapping themselves about my wrist. It seemed to be getting longer. I angrily tugged my wrist free only to have my hair whip around and begin wrapping itself around my torso pinning my other arm to my side.

“Angel”

I growled with frustration trying to swim with one hand.

“I’m not finished with you yet.”

I’m finished with you. I thought kicking my legs and trying to ignore the hair wrapping around my waist.

“Are you listening to me?”

“No.” I thought back at him as I tried to pull away the hair which was now clamping down my thighs.

“You stupid girl, you think you’re being clever? You think you can just walk away?”

My hair was now down to my knees its weight began dragging me down.

“Do you know what happens to little fishes who turn their backs on the shark?”

I stopped struggling and allowed myself to sink hoping to push off the bottom and propel myself to the surface.

“This time Angel, I won’t just break your arm.”

My feet hit the gravelly bottom; I bent my knees to push off.

“This time, I’m going to break you.”

I pushed off shooting towards the surface only to be brought up short with a painful jerk.

“Got you little fish.”

I looked down to see what was holding me. A pale arm was thrusting out from the gravel its thin, bony fingers were wrapped about my ankle anchoring me to the bottom of the pool. I tried to pull my leg out but it only tightened its grip squeezing painfully. This was not good.

“Let go of me you sick bastard!”

His chuckle rolled over my mind like fly filled honey. “When you ask so sweetly what can I say but no. I have you where I want you Angel, why should I let go?”

“Let go!”

The hand squeezed still harder its purple black nails digging into my flesh.

“Never Angel, I will never let you go. Not until I am bored of you or you are dead. But I might let you out of the water. Just admit that you are nothing, that I am your master. Submit to my will and live”

“No!”

“As I see it you have three choices; Submit, die, or grow a pair of gills. Don’t you just love choices?”

“I am not a ghoul! You are not my master!” I sent kicking furiously at the arm.

“That just leaves you with two choices.”

I was rapidly running out of air so I forced my self to calm down and think.

“How are those gills coming Angelfish?”

“It’s not funny you know.”

“It’s hysterical from where I’m standing. Come on, you can do it Angel just split those oxygen molecules away from the hydrogen. “

Son of a…

“You know Angel, not everything down here is dead.”

I froze, pulse pounding in my ears. The lights seemed to have gone out along the back wall. I squinted into the darkness straining to see. A shiver ran down my spine as I felt, rather than saw something moving toward me from the far end of the pool.

And now back to our regular programming

And now back to our regular programming.

A RANT

And now, a brief time out from our regularly scheduled programming for a wild and unfounded accusation.

WHO DID IT?????!!!!!!!!

I KNOW IT WAS YOU!

A large portion of Corrine's diary has gone missing and a certain, so called, former Associate Professor Evil (like that was ever a real title). has recently been spotted skulking about the D.C. metro area, plotting with varied Sith lords and mooching food at asundry holiday parties.

I even heard he was filching goodies from his dear auntie's (the really cool aunt no less who buys him great gifts like socks and educational reading materials! [so I've heard, ahem]) Christmas stocking.

So now the next several entries have gone missing (along with my glasses, you little so and so) and we were just getting to some good bits with bloated dead bodies and blood and stuff! But no, someone went and took them didn't they? And now my several million concerned readers will not know what happens next and they will all cry! Plus, my notes were in there and I tell you what, that Corrine's handwriting is harder to read than Sanskrit and I CAN'T READ SANSKRIT! I swear it's like trying to translate clay cuneiform tablets.

I don't know what these things go for on the black market but could it really be worth the oceans of misery you have generate?

Huh?
Is it? Huh?

I just hope you are pleased with yourself.

And this had better not be some stupid attempt to join the ELE because I've seen several of the application videos and they all had far more evil plots than this and were set to music even. So there.

Unless....

Unless of course you were paid by the Hellsing organization to steal them in which case oh how tediously common criminal of you.

Well, either way, I know who your mother is and after she finishes laughing she will punish you severely. Take away you evil pop-tarts or something. And just see if you ever get anymore socks from me!

That is umm.... that is what I would say if I were your aunt (the real cool one)...if I were her, which of course, I , ahem , am not. Never met the woman...but I hear she is real cool so stop stealing her candy!

LETTERS FROM HELLSING XXXI

We all turned to see Sir Integra stalking angrily towards us across the bridge. Walter stood at the control panel by the cave’s entrance his hand firmly on the power switch of Stewart’s poor abused stereo. He gave it a final disparaging glance before striding over to stand behind Sir Integra who had halted at the foot of the bridge to glare at us.

“Captain Burnadett,” she said coolly, “would you care to explain the meaning of this little gathering of yours?”

“Of course M’dame.” Said Burnadett slipping on his best alter boy expression and turning up the Gallic charm. “We were assisting Private. Zelig with his final technical run through before tomorrow night’s presentation.”

“Technical run through was it?”

“Oui M’dame.”

“Just testing the equipment.”

“Exactement.”

“I see.” She said, selecting a cigar from the case which had magically appeared in Walter’s hand. “This…music,” She paused, igniting her cigar with practiced ease from the lighter Walter now offered her, “and charming little dance demonstration,” she said waiving disparagingly in my direction, “are they also part of tomorrow nights presentation?”

“No. M’dame. We have finished with the testing. This is just a little informal gathering.”

“How cozy.” She said. I felt the weight of Walter’s stare and stepped back a bit from Sgt. Marks trying to casually hide the flask behind my back. Walter raised one eyebrow slightly, who was I trying to fool?

“And this testing of the equipment Captain, I assume it was successful?”

“Oui M’dame.” Burnadett replied suspiciously.

“No technical flaws?”

“As far as we are aware, no.”

“I am afraid Captain, that Walter and I have stumbled across a slight technical glitch in the system which we feel needs to be brought to your attention.?”

A puzzled frown crossed his face. “M’dame?”

“Yes, it seems this new antenna you have installed has somehow gotten hardwired into the main communication lines and is currently bleeding its signal into the intercom system.”

“…”

“And the telephone system.”

“…”

“Throughout the entire house as well as the barracks.”

“No.” said Zelig beginning to turn purple. “No, it’s not possible!”

“Any yet, I assure you it is happening.”

“But,” Said Stewart, “How?”

“You tell me.”

A soft chuckle at the edge of my hearing. A mild throbbing pain between my eyes. Alucard was approaching.

Stewart frowned, thinking. “The lines must be crossed somewhere but I assure you ma’am that the antenna was placed with the utmost care. I can’t understand how the radio signal could be bleeding into the intercom, much less the phone lines.”

“No. It was not a bleed over from the radio we were receiving.” Said Walter firmly. “It was a direct feed from this room.”

I blanched as the ramifications of Walter’s statement sunk in. That would mean… “Um f-for how long?” I squeaked.

“Fifty two minutes.” He said. “As nearly every room on the estate was affected, it took us some little time to find you.”

“Oh dear.” I whispered.

“Oh dear is correct Ms. Doyle!” Snapped Sir Integra. “For the last hour you have been serenading not only Walter and myself but the entire staff! We are trying to close out the quarterly budget and are forced to endure your caterwauling about draft dodging cross dressers and large reptiles consuming major Japanese ports!”

“Really Angel, it’s enough to wake the dead.” Quipped Alucard emerging from the shadows.

Sir Integra spared him an annoyed glance. He grinned and tipped his hat to her. She turned away with a derisive snort. He winked at me then settled back against a stone pillar. A sneaking suspicion began tugging at the back of my brain.

“Ms. Doyle!” Barked Sir Integra snapping back my attention.

“Yes? what? Sorry.”

“Sorry?”

“Yes, that is to say I hope my singing wasn’t too disruptive to the staff.” Alucard looked far to pleased for my liking.

“It most certainly was.”

“Well, they enjoyed the Pat Benatar but felt that you’re Janis Joplin was a bit overreaching” Sent Alucard.

“Hey! I nailed that!” I accidentally shouted back to him out loud. Oops.

“Ms. Doyle, are you drunk?” Asked Sir Integra.

“What? No, of course not!” I said fervently wishing for a better place to hide Sgt. Marks’ flask than behind my back. My head began buzzing.

I glared at Alucard who was leaning up against the pillar smiling serenely up at the roof of the cave.

“You set me up.”

He shrugged.

“You...”

“Sir Integra please, I assure you.” Began Burnadett.

“No Captain, this will not do. I know you allow discipline to be quite lax within your squad and I have turned a blind eye to certain, incidents off of the estate but this is my house! My home and I will not have it turned into a discotheque!

And you, Ms. Doyle!” She said turning back to me. “This is not the first time that you have caused a disruption. I know you may feel you are on vacation but this is a working estate with a serious mission not, may I remind you, a resort hotel. You will cease interfering with my staff!”

Unfortunately, hard liquor makes me both stupid and brave.

“Vacation?” I gasped “You think I think I am on vacation?!” I had to fight to contain the hysterical laughter that was bubbling up inside me. “Let me assure you ‘Sir’ Integra, I suffer no illusion that I am on vacation. As to this not being a resort hotel? That is a fact of which I am painfully aware and fortunate too as otherwise I would have to register a serious complaint about the masseuse!”

I calmly handed Sgt. Marks back his flask then, never breaking eye contact with Sir Integra, untied my robe and shrugged it to the floor. “Now, if you will excuse me.” With a final glare at her, Walter and especially Alucard, I turned on my heel and casually strolled over to the pool ignoring the muttered curses and gasps of the others as I passed and dove in.