Vampire of the Opera

Upon his return, Alex went right to Integra and reported that the vampires were dead and their bodies properly disposed of. He didn't mention the last vampire's attack; he figured he didn't need her disapproving scowl at the moment. After that, he went into the shower, the warm water like heaven, washing away the sweat, blood, dirt, and death from his body.



He came out of the bathroom to find Seras laying on his bed in her normal Hellsing uniform, a light-brown jacket and skirt/short combination, brown gloves, and boots with white stockings that came up to her thighs. He would have berated her on the intrusion-what if he had come out with any clothes on?- but he was too tired. Besides, he had his pants on, though he was shirtless, so he was decent. On the bedside table was a tray with a glass of water, a chipped ceramic bowl of stew, and some crusty bread. One whiff of the food and he realized just how famished he was.



"I'm guessing the mission went well?" Seras asked, eyeing him carefully as he placed his coat on the back of a chair. "Oh, Alex, your back!" she said with dismay. Though he was a Regenerator, scratches from vampires always left scars on his body. From her tone, he guessed he was sporting a few more.



"It's fine," he said, sitting beside her, waving away her concern. "How was yer day?" he asked, balancing the tray on his lap and ate his warm meal.



"Took out a vampire in the main city," Seras said with a grin. "600 meters, running along the rooftops; got in right in the heart!" She beamed with pride. Being a vampire guaranteed her perfect sniping abilities, but she couldn't help but light up at her skills. Many of the other people in the organization would have been scared of her, but she was so cheerful and happy that many forgot that her diet consisted of medical blood. Only when she was extremely angry did one have to worry about their lifespan.



Alex downed the glass of water in two gulps and could already feel a little better. "No casualties, aye?"



"Everyone's fit and fine. In fact, no one's gotten hurt in a long time. It's almost as though that, even though we're not as strong as them, they've forgotten it, and we can kill 'em very easily without anyone getting hurt. It's strange." Seras did not seem to realize she had referred to herself as human once again.



"Ah'm glad to hear it," he said. There was a silence for a moment, before Seras jumped up, saying "Oh! Sir Integra wants to see you in her office ASAP."



"Alright then." At least she had waited until he had a little food in him. Alex finished up his food, gave Seras his tray to return to the kitchens, and quickly threw on his shirt and boots before making his way down the numerous wooden corridors to the small office.



Behind a small desk sat Integra, now wearing her black two-piece suit with red tie, a silver cross tie-clip on it. A cigar hung from her mouth, small wisps of smoke coming from it. Alex hated the smell of cigars, but he never said anything to her; he knew it was one of the few ties to her old life she still had.



Integra had been raised among English royalty, her organization the one in charge of protecting the Queen and England. Now she was here, having moved her entire operations to an abandoned opera house on the edge of the city after the Hellsing estate had been attacked. She was still used to having someone else light her cigars for her, but she was becoming more and more used to the idea of independence every day.



"Alexander?" He looked up to see her staring at him. "Sorry," he mumbled, realizing he must have been staring into space. "Jist thinkin' aboot the pas'."



"A favorite pastime for those who remember the world before the Undead War," Integra said. It was during that war, a war between Nazi vampires and humans, that had cost Integra her home and forced her into hiding.



"Ya wishe' to see me," Anderson reminded her as he stood in the door. Though it was a large office, bigger than many of the other rooms in the whole building, it was miniscule in comparison to her old one.



"Yes. I wonder, what are you going to do if we do eradicate all the vampires from our world?"



Anderson raised an eyebrow at the question. "Tha's a bold statement, even from ya, Sir Integra. Werewolves could always be our next target, I suppose."



"I mean after we become the dominant life forms once this planet once again, Alexander," Integra said seriously, hands folded as she bored into him with her icy eyes.



"Iffen yer askin' if Ah'll be leavin', then no. Ah like it 'ere, surprisingly, even with the company," he said with a chuckle. Not only was he referring to the many mercenaries that made up Hellsing's numbers, but also the fact that Integra was Protestant, and he Catholic. It was a wonder they even got along, but he ignored that fact, and so did she. It was an unspoken agreement to disagree on the matter. "Why th' sudden concern?"



"I ask because there's a good chance it'll become true." Integra spoke with her usual air of confidence, and leaned back in her chair, hands folded in her lap. He almost expected her to put her feet up on the desk, but she was still English, so she still had manners.



"We've just received word from London that its a clean zone," Integra continued. "Of course, that can't be guaranteed, but there's a chance we can return to the city."



"Really now? Are ya considerin' it, then?"



"Of course. After all, this was only a temporary situation at best."



"Ah dunno," Anderson said, stroking his stubbly chin, as though in deep thought. "Ah mean, your house was attacked 'ow many times?"



"Twice," Integra said through gritted teeth. That was one thing she did not need to be reminded of. Ever.



"Exac'ly. Ah hate to say it, but this place is ae better headq'arters by many stretches o' the 'magination."



"Stop being spiteful, Alex. You're only saying that because this place reminds you of your dorms at the Vatican." Integra smirked, thinking she had hit a sore spot for the former priest. Baiting her underlings was a hobby of hers.



The big man shrugged, not wishing to fall into her trap, or into an argument. "Say whit ya want, but Ah've said me piece aboo'tit, and let it be the end o' it."



Integra's smirk lessened. She hated it when her toys didn't play along. "Fine. That'll be all. And Alex," she said as he turned to leave. "Try to get some sleep tonight, understand?"



Anderson grinned. "Of course, Sir Integra. You too," he said as he left.