After the delivery of the military equipment that Integra had ordered through Alex's organization, everything in Hellsing seemed to have returned to normal once more. Or at least that was what Alex wanted to believe — when Integra yet again forced him to sit in her office so that he would always stay within her sight and under her full, unremitting control, as if she were afraid of losing sight of him even for a single instant, even for one second.
This time Alex wasn't even planning to work. Since Integra was so eager to control him and know his exact location every single second — he would give her exactly that opportunity. But at the same time he would do absolutely nothing. Alex simply sat in Integra's office, watching a movie through headphones to keep himself occupied in some way, while simultaneously putting the finishing touches on the last drafts of his insane plan that had long been brewing in his head and now demanded those final decisive strokes.
He understood perfectly: he had about one week left for preparation and execution. And that one week would be more than sufficient. If he had managed to completely rebuild the entire system in Valhalla in just one week — then one week would be more than enough to bring the London plan to life, with a huge margin to spare, leaving time for refinements, for checking weak points, and for making everything look completely natural and unforced.
While Integra was absorbed in her usual work, she kept raising her eyes to Alex from time to time — trying to figure out exactly what he was writing in his notebook. Once again she could not hear his thoughts through their contract. And her controlling nature demanded to know absolutely everything — without the slightest exceptions or loopholes, without even the faintest shadow of anything left unsaid that could worry her or make her doubt.
When Alex stood up once more to go get coffee, Integra waited exactly five seconds — just to make sure he had truly left and wouldn't suddenly return. She set her pen aside, the thin cigar still clenched between her teeth, walked over to the sofa where Alex had been sitting, and picked up his notebook as though it were the most natural thing in the world, part of her everyday routine.
Integra felt not the slightest guilt for snooping. Hellsing was her territory. Her office. And Alex belonged to her as well. Therefore everything that belonged to him belonged to her by right and unconditionally — including the most secret thoughts and notes he might try to hide.
Calmly opening the notebook, she began turning page after page, unhurriedly, absorbing every detail, every line, every symbol.
At first — notes about rune combinations and where and how they could be applied in a wide variety of situations, with annotations about compatibility, potential risks, side effects, and ways to minimize them. But the further she flipped through, the less she understood what she was seeing. Drawings of strange weapons, prosthetics, names of companies she had never heard of and hadn't even suspected existed.
Then — creatures that at first glance resembled ghouls, but the more pages she turned, the more horrifying and fundamentally wrong these beings became. Unnatural, distorted, nauseating just by their appearance — as though reality itself refused to accept their existence and tried to force them back into the nothingness from which they had crawled.
Amid the chaos of incomprehensible symbols and a language she neither knew nor understood, only one phrase stood out, written in clear, confident English handwriting: Necromorphs.
Integra froze, staring at the creature. She didn't understand what it was, but she kept turning the pages — unable to stop, as though some force was pulling her forward, compelling her to look. Further on — even more nightmarish forms that sent chills racing down her spine and squeezed something unpleasant tight inside her chest.
And finally — a page with two strange obelisks: one red, the other black. They were similar yet differed in details that made her skin crawl and her mind refuse to believe what it saw. Beneath them — just one phrase amid the chaos of hieroglyphs: Convergence is at hand.
"Don't stop, Mistress! Keep turning the pages! I want to see all the madness he has written!" — Alucard's insane, delighted laughter rang out in Integra's head, full of ecstasy and anticipation, almost childlike curiosity toward something forbidden.
"Do you know what language this is?" Integra asked coldly, trying not to betray the unease that had already begun creeping in.
"No idea at all. It's an ancient language. Extremely ancient. So ancient that no one knows anything about it anymore. But that's exactly what makes the situation even more interesting. Creatures whose distorted, unnatural, insane appearance fills me only with awe and the desire to behold this nightmare with my own eyes. A language that will never be known…" — once again came Alucard's mad laughter, now almost ecstatic, brimming with hunger.
Without answering, Integra continued turning pages. She reached a page with a drawing of a planet — atop which rose a black obelisk covered in the same runes. This obelisk looked different from the previous two — far more sinister and somehow complete, as though it had already achieved its purpose and was merely waiting for the final step, the last breath. Beneath the drawing — the caption: One of those whose names must not be spoken. And one more short inscription: The Cage.
Integra kept turning pages — trying to grasp at least something, to catch any thread that might explain what she had seen. But everything Alex had written was in a language she could not read. Just as she was about to turn the next page and see the final entries — Alucard's voice sounded in her head:
"He's coming back."
Integra calmly closed the notebook, placed it back on the side table, and returned to her desk. What she had seen gave her abundant food for thought — and at the same time planted an unpleasant chill deep inside that she could not ignore, something that had settled there and had no intention of leaving.
Taking a sip of whisky and lighting a fresh thin cigar, she tapped her finger on the desk, reflecting on everything she had seen. And the more she thought — the clearer it became: there were far more pages in Alex's notebook than appeared at first glance. This realization only intensified her interest and at the same time her irritation — because she still could not fully penetrate his thoughts and secrets, and that feeling of powerlessness was unbearable to her, almost painful.
When Alex returned with a cup of fresh coffee, Integra didn't even raise her eyes to him — continuing to work, though her thoughts were far away, circling obsessively around what she had discovered.
"Next time ask Walter to brew your coffee," she said in an even tone laced with faint, almost imperceptible irritation.
"I would say 'yes' in that situation. But the walk gives me time to think," Alex replied carelessly, sitting back down on the sofa and making himself comfortable as though nothing had happened.
Integra made no comment on his words. Alex noticed that the notebook had been slightly shifted — and only gave a quiet inner smirk. All his notes had been deliberately written so that no one except his family could understand them. Thanks to the wedding rings he had created for his wives, they could read any language — even ancient ones forgotten millennia ago.
But Alex wasn't lying: a simple walk really did give him the chance to think properly, to sort everything out, to find the optimal path. While he had gone for coffee — he had already come up with a solution for how to make the plan perfect and avoid arousing any suspicion, even from those watching his every step, every breath.
For the rest of the day he put the movie back on through his headphones — so as not to be distracted by stray thoughts. He thought he would be able to finish watching in peace. But someone else had different plans.
"An interesting way to pass the time, my chosen one," a lazy feminine voice sounded in his head, full of mockery and curiosity, almost playful.
"Well, it's still better than just sitting in the basement staring into emptiness and waiting for something interesting to happen," Alex replied calmly, not looking away from the screen.
At that moment Alucard really was sitting in the basement staring into emptiness. Instead of irritation she burst into loud laughter — Alex had described her current state perfectly, and for some reason it amused her, made her feel alive.
"Pahahaha! You're right. Damn right. All of this is just one endless monotonous life," Alucard laughed, leaning back on her throne, letting the laughter echo off the walls.
"I don't know. Maybe ask Integra to put a TV in the basement? Or at least get internet down there. Life goes on, and every single moment something new is happening," Alex said, taking a sip of coffee.
"Are you saying that as Death? Or are you, like Seras, still clinging to your humanity and yearning for 'normal' things?" Alucard asked with genuine intrigue, real interest — almost thirst — in her voice.
"My life has never been normal from the very beginning. I simply do what I want. I came to Hellsing because I wanted to. I made a contract with Integra because I wanted to. I am where the most interesting things happen, where I can experience something new. But the one thing that remains unchanged in my life is my love for my family," Alex said, pausing the movie so the conversation could continue, letting the words hang in the air.
"Family? You have one? And what exactly does your family give you? Love? Warmth? Care? All those feelings are temporary. They fade with time. Family is merely a weakness that can be used against you. And I know that very well. Ask my Mistress what family means to her. She will tell you the same thing. Family is weakness," Alucard said in a lazy tone, yet a barely noticeable shadow of doubt, almost a crack, slipped into her voice.
"That is what only those who cannot protect their family say. Pathetic weaklings justifying their own weakness. Don't want your family used against you? Kill all your enemies. For you and Integra, family is weakness. For me, family is the place where I am waited for. It doesn't matter to them who or what I am. They accept me completely. They don't need to control me. They don't need to subdue me. They know I will always return to them and always give them my love," Alex replied calmly, gazing at the ceiling of Integra's office as though the answers were written there.
Alucard, sitting on her throne in the basement, gave a faint smile upon hearing those words. Alex was not lying. Of course Integra had heard the entire conversation — but she was not the type to intervene just to prove she was right. She simply saw no point in it.
Yet Alex's words had struck her. In the past she too had had a family. A family that betrayed her and was ready to kill her for power. Ten years ago that day she had lost everything — and personally ordered the destruction of the guilty to purge Hellsing of traitors.
Over those ten years she had built an iron cage around her heart — so that no one could enter. That loneliness made her resemble Alucard. Integra looked at Alex and understood: she could not give him what he valued so highly — the family he loved.
She even considered becoming his family — to bind him to herself. But she knew she could not give him the kind of love a family gives. She did not understand how to love. Dozens of ideas flashed through her mind about how to tie Alex to Hellsing — and above all to herself. But all those ideas were meaningless: he had made it perfectly clear that family came first for him.
Integra did not know why she had become so attached to a man she had known for less than a week. But she knew one thing for certain: she did not want to lose him.
"You're right. I speak that way because I could not protect my family. I simply don't have one anymore. I did… long ago. All of it has been erased by time…" Alucard said almost lazily, yet a note of weariness — almost sorrow — slipped into her voice.
"Ask yourself, Alucard: do you consider Hellsing your home? If yes — then you have a home. Even if Integra is your Mistress, ask yourself: do you consider her your family? If yes — then you already have a family. You turned Seras into a vampire — calling it a momentary lapse or weariness from monotonous boring life. But now Seras is part of your family. You created her yourself. Even after becoming a monster — you still reach for that feeling… for a family that will accept you as you are. I am not asking or forcing you to change. You are who you are. And the you of today is the result of the path you have walked. Just try looking at the world from a different angle. You always look into a dark mirror where only your own reflection stares back," Alex said, lifting his gaze to the ceiling of Integra's office.
"Perhaps… you are right. Who knows. Maybe I want such a place too… a place where someone will wait for me. Even if I am a monster… You truly are interesting, my chosen one. Your words have made me think about many things. Perhaps this is exactly what I have been waiting for so long… Now I want even more to see how you will change my life with your presence. Will you show me other colors of this world — or will you paint my world in even darker shades of black and red. I will be waiting… for you," Alucard said quietly — and her voice gradually faded from Alex's head, leaving behind only a faint echo.
Having finished the conversation, Alucard rose from her throne and surveyed the dark basement — the place that had been her dwelling for decades. She placed her palm against the cold wall — lost in thought after speaking with Alex. She had not expected his words to affect her so deeply, to stir something inside.
But at the same time it was something new for her — something interesting and captivating that she had not felt in a very long time. Alucard had always considered attachment to people temporary — something that eventually fades. She had already forgotten the faces of people she once knew. All of it had become echoes of a distant past.
Alucard walked along the wall and thought: could Alex give her something new? Something eternal — like herself? Something that time would not erase? Something that would bring something new into her boring life every single day?
Thinking about it, Alucard broke into a wide smile. She clenched her fist — crushing the stone in the wall — and yanked sharply, leaving a long claw mark along the entire length of the wall, as though marking her awakening.
"Prove to me that I did not choose you in vain… I want you to shatter my boring life and show me more new and astonishing things. Show me new facets of madness. So that I will have the desire to wait for them… just as I waited for you. I want you to prove that you can even change my Mistress. I can already feel how she is changing merely from your presence. So become that storm that brings change into our lives…" Alucard said, returning to her throne.
Back on her throne, Alucard put her red glasses back on and closed her eyes. But the smile did not leave her face. She could sense it: great changes were coming — the kind she had waited for so long. And she was certain — she would see them. What intrigued her most was that she did not know how everything would change. And that uncertainty gave her considerable pleasure.
Alex, meanwhile, returned to watching his movie — as though he had not just had a conversation about life and family with an ancient vampire living a monotonous existence. He finished the film when the sun had fully set and evening had arrived.
Putting his phone away, Alex stretched lightly and stood up from the sofa — preparing to leave Integra's office. Integra, who had been working the whole time, noticed that Alex was getting ready to go somewhere again.
"Where are you going?" she asked without looking up.
"Going for a walk with Seras," Alex replied carelessly.
"Did I give permission?" Integra asked in a cold tone.
"I promised Seras a walk through evening London — and she will get it. I keep my word. Always. And don't forget: you said I must inform you where I am going and with whom," Alex said in the same calm tone, looking Integra straight in the eyes.
Hearing this, Integra gripped the pen in her hand — and it snapped under her strength. She didn't even notice. She had plenty of ways to separate Alex and Seras and keep both of them inside Hellsing.
But Alucard's voice sounded in her head: "Let them go and take their walk. Then they will definitely return." Hearing that, Integra frowned slightly — but quickly realized Alucard was right.
Calmly taking out a new pen and lighting a thin cigar, she looked at Alex with her cold blue eyes.
"Only until midnight. Seras must remain in Hellsing," Integra said coldly.
"As you wish. And now I'm off," Alex said, waving goodbye and leaving the office.
Integra said nothing — merely watched him go until the office doors closed. She was one of those people who perfectly understood who they really were. And from the conversation between Alex and Alucard she understood: she could not give him what he valued so highly — the family he loved.
She even thought about becoming his family — to bind him to herself. But she understood: she could not give him the kind of love a family gives. She did not understand how to love. Dozens of ideas flashed through her head about how to tie Alex to Hellsing — and above all to herself. But all those ideas were meaningless: he had clearly stated that family came first for him.
Integra did not know why she had become so attached to a man she had known for less than a week. But she knew one thing for certain: she did not want to lose him.
Alucard didn't even bother to comment on her Mistress's strange thoughts — she merely watched in silence as Integra pondered absurd things.
Meanwhile, outside at the entrance to the estate stood Seras. This time she had decided to wear casual clothes — because on all previous walks with Alex she had been in her Hellsing uniform, which wasn't really suitable for evening strolls around London.
So Seras had asked Walter to bring her normal clothes. She wore a light blue jacket, under which was a long white T-shirt partially tucked into high-waisted slim dark jeans, and low-heeled boots — so she would be a little taller. After all, she was shorter than Alex — and she didn't want to look so small next to him.
While waiting for Alex, Seras even wondered how he would react to her outfit. Looking at her clothes, she wasn't sure if she had chosen everything right.
"I hope it's not too much…" Seras muttered, checking her appearance.
"You look great," Alex's voice suddenly sounded right beside her.
Hearing him so close, Seras couldn't help but revert to her usual clumsy manner — she almost fell because her legs got tangled. Before she hit the ground — Alex caught her by the hand, preventing the fall. This only made Seras even more embarrassed — because once again she had made a fool of herself and looked clumsy in front of him.
Alex tried not to laugh so as not to offend her.
"Ready to go?" Alex asked, pulling the Fenrir motorcycle out of his inventory.
"Do you like it?" Seras asked shyly, watching as Alex got on the bike.
"If you're asking about your outfit — it suits you very well. Now hop on," Alex said, patting the seat behind him.
Seras smiled genuinely at his words, jumped onto the motorcycle, sat behind him, and wrapped her arms around his waist. Once she was settled — Alex started the engine and immediately headed toward London — for a walk and to unwind.
Throughout the entire ride Seras couldn't stop smiling. When they reached London, Alex stored Fenrir back in his inventory and began their stroll through the streets together with Seras.
They immediately bought coffee for themselves. After Seras learned that she could drink coffee thanks to the blood candies Alex had given her — she started drinking no less than ten cups a day, trying different flavors the candies provided.
Alex and Seras walked the streets and chatted about whatever came to mind. Their walk eventually led them to Big Ben. Even though visiting Big Ben at that hour was impossible — Alex beckoned Seras to follow him.
Seras didn't understand what he intended to do — until they slipped inside unnoticed. Having been a police officer in the past, she didn't want to break the law — even after becoming a vampire.
"Hey, this is illegal. Maybe we should leave?" Seras asked, watching Alex pick the lock.
"It only counts as illegal if someone sees signs of breaking in. No evidence — no crime… Perfect, it's open. Get in quick before anyone sees," Alex said, grabbing Seras by the hand.
"But still…" Seras began — but Alex had already pulled her inside.
Once inside Big Ben, Seras could only sigh and let Alex drag her up the stairs. But she kept looking back — thinking someone might have noticed them enter.
When they reached the very top, Alex led Seras out onto the balcony — so she could fully enjoy the views of nighttime London. Seras was still resisting the fact that they had broken in — until she stood at the top and saw the lights of the night city.
Seras's eyes widened at the beauty of the view. She immediately went to the railing and leaned on it — to get a better look. Seeing the smile on her face, Alex calmly climbed over the railing and let his legs dangle down.
"Be careful…" Seras said in a panicked tone, noticing his actions.
"Come on. Better sit next to me. What could possibly happen if we sit like this?" Alex said with a smile, patting the spot beside him.
"I don't know… Maybe the wind will blow us off — and we'll fall. And it's really high up here," Seras said, peering over the railing to see how far down the ground was.
"You're a vampire — it won't kill you. And me even less so," Alex said, shrugging lightly.
"Well… you're right about that… But what do you mean 'and me even less so'?" Seras asked, climbing over the railing to sit next to Alex.
"You forgot that I fought your Mistress? And somehow didn't get hurt," Alex said, looking at Seras with an empty gaze.
"Oh… Right. I kind of forgot about that… Um… So you're not human either?" Seras said, nodding awkwardly and looking at Alex with caution.
"I thought you weren't going to ask. Do you really want to know?" Alex said, chuckling lightly.
"Well… Yes," Seras replied, sensing something strange in his behavior.
"Well… I am Death," Alex said, narrowing his eyes slightly at Seras.
"The wind is so strong here… But did you just say you're Death?" Seras asked, starting to think she had misheard because of the wind at the top of Big Ben.
"Yeah. I'm Death. Scythe, cloak — all that stuff…" Alex said, nodding with a smile on his face.
At that exact moment Seras's brain short-circuited. The shock was so strong — that her hands gripping the railing slipped. And before she realized it — Seras began falling downward.
Seeing this, Alex realized he shouldn't have brought Seras to Big Ben. He lightly flicked his finger — returning the shocked Seras back to her place. Seras herself didn't even realize she had started falling and been returned. Right now a real hurricane was raging in her head.
She didn't know — should she be afraid, run away and hide — or something else. Seeing her stunned expression, Alex began telling her the version he was already used to — to explain everything to Seras.
Listening to Alex's story, Seras mechanically nodded like a robot — trying to process everything he was saying. But all she really understood was that he was Death only in words. She didn't even grasp what he said about splitting himself into two parts.
But the more Alex spoke — the more confused she became. Soon she simply decided to accept what had happened — pretending she hadn't heard anything and nothing had happened — just to calm her already frayed nerves.
"Can I ask one question — and then we change the subject? It just feels really weird to me that I'm sitting on top of Big Ben with Death himself," Seras said with a strained smile.
"Mmm, go ahead. Integra and Alucard already asked their questions. So it's only fair if I answer yours," Alex said, lighting a cigarette.
"Um… What is the meaning of life? I mean — everyone is supposed to ask that. Or not?" Seras asked, blurting out the first question that came to mind.
"I don't know," Alex said, spreading his arms.
"What do you mean 'I don't know'? You're… well, you know… Death. Shouldn't you know the answer to that?" Seras asked in surprise, staring at Alex with eyes full of shock and disbelief.
"I was only Death for a few days — and I got bored of it. Every living being has thousands of paths they can take — or have already taken. Every moment the Library of Death is filled with a new life story of a new person — and every moment many stories come to their end. People have always asked questions, searched for meaning. But the answer has always been one. It's life. Live, walk, look at new things, meet people. Your story has already begun — and the ending is always the same. But what your story will be like — only you decide, Seras. Even if your heart no longer beats — you are still alive and can see this world as it will become in the future. So enjoy every moment you see," Alex said, poking his finger into Seras's chest — causing her to blush.
"You don't have to poke my chest with your finger. That's sexual harassment… And thank you for answering my question. Even if it was in such a weird way," Seras said, pushing Alex's finger away with a reddened face.
"Well, they're softer than I thought. And it was an accident," Alex said, clearing his throat dryly.
From his words Seras's face turned even redder. Looking at Alex — who was nodding as though everything he did was perfectly normal — Seras, instead of being afraid of him because he was Death, started getting angry at him for touching her chest.
Seras clenched the hands gripping the railing — and under her grasp the railing cracked and nearly broke.
"Idiot! You should ask before doing something like that!" Seras said, swinging her leg at Alex.
"And how do you imagine that? I'm giving a philosophical speech about life — and then I ask: 'Hey, Seras, can I touch your chest? It's needed for a more dramatic effect, so everything looks right in this moment. And it's not like I want to touch your chest. I'm not a pervert. I'm just curious. And anyway I'm Death — I can touch whoever I want and nothing will happen to me,'" Alex said, dodging Seras's kick, jumping back and standing on the railing with his hands behind his head.
"You yourself said you're no longer Death. Right now you're just a pervert who touched a girl's chest!" Seras said, clenching her teeth in anger and pointing at Alex.
"Um… Okay then, Seras, let's start over. Can I touch your chest — for dramatic effect in our dialogue?" Alex said with a wide smile, looking at Seras.
Hearing that, Seras froze for a moment — then looked down at her own chest as though considering his words. But immediately after that a vein popped on her forehead from irritation — and she attacked Alex.
Even though they were at the top of Big Ben — there was no danger if they fell down. Seras attacked Alex, teeth clenched in anger — and once again tried to grab or hit him.
Alex dodged in time — still walking along the railing and not letting a single one of Seras's strikes reach him. Seras didn't even notice that they had been on the railing the whole time.
"Die, pervert!" Seras shouted, delivering another kick.
"I can't — I'm Death. Hahaha," Alex said, doing a backflip, pushing off the railing with his hands and jumping farther away from Seras.
"You yourself said the previous Death was killed!" Seras said, timing it perfectly and leaping at Alex.
Alex could have dodged — but he became curious what would happen next when he ended up in Seras's hands. And in that same moment Seras wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck — to make sure he couldn't escape.
And when her anger and embarrassment reached their peak — the only thing she could do in that situation — was bite Alex on the head. Not like a vampire — but like a girl experiencing anger and embarrassment at the same time.
But what Seras hadn't accounted for in that moment — was that she had literally pressed Alex's head so hard against her chest that he was completely buried there. At that moment Seras looked not like a vampire — but like an angry hamster gnawing on Alex's head to show her anger and hide her embarrassment.
But soon it began to dawn on her what position they were in — when she felt Alex's hot breath on her chest. Seras froze — and very quickly realized what was happening. Her face instantly turned bright red when she felt Alex's face rubbing against her chest.
Seras immediately released Alex and jumped back.
"You… You… You did it again!" Seras said, pointing a trembling finger at Alex with a face red from embarrassment.
"It wasn't me who pressed my head to your chest. You did that. Though yes — it was nice. So which one of us is the real pervert now? I prefer pure and innocent love. And you did that to me. Ah, my heart is broken," Alex said, making a sad face and clutching his heart.
"No! I'm not a pervert! You did it!" Seras shouted, starting to panic.
"You can tell that to the police when I tell them everything you did to me. Who will they believe? Me — a very handsome and charming guy? Or you — a very cute vampire girl who's stronger than any guy?" Alex said, hiding his smile behind his hand.
"I'm not a pervert!" Seras shouted again, panicking even harder.
At that moment Seras was panicking and didn't even know what to do or how to respond. Watching her panicked expression — as though she was thinking how to get out of this situation — Alex couldn't hold back and burst into loud laughter, clutching his stomach.
Hearing Alex laugh, Seras froze for a second — staring at him — and then she herself started laughing, finding the whole situation extremely ridiculous and funny. Alex and Seras kept laughing — until they gradually calmed down.
Still smiling, Alex sat back on the railing and patted the spot beside him — so Seras would sit next to him. Seras smiled and this time sat closer to Alex. After all, she didn't consider him Death — she thought a guy like him couldn't possibly be Death — even if he said smart and philosophical things.
But what had just happened between them still brought her pleasure and made her feel the normality of life. But she wasn't going to say that out loud. Because yet another awkward moment had occurred between her and Alex — one that made her feel terribly embarrassed.
To be continued...
(Damn, okay, I'll admit it. I really wanted to get the Hellsing Ultimate plot started already. But I can't just jump in. I had to show one more date with Seras to finally get the plot going. So that there wouldn't be any stupid questions about the relationships between Alex, Seras, Integra, and Alucard later. You could say that during his week in Hellsing, Alex got closer to the girls, albeit in a strange way. But as I already said, the plot deadlines are really tight. And so, I wanted to squeeze the most out of Alex's week in Hellsing. And so it goes. Peace, love, and an awkward vampire girl.)
Early access to chapters on my patreon: p*treon.com/GreedHunter