What in the bloody hell happened here thought the blonde superheroine as she approached the scene from above.
The sight left her stunned. The place resembled a low-budget action movie with an absurd amount of money spent on special effects. Half the building was destroyed with shattered glass scattered from an explosion and the pavement stained black. The doors and walls were broken and twisted.
"Oh. Down here" she heard. Looking down she noticed a police officer waving at her. She descended to find out more.
"Good evening. What happened here" she asked directly.
"I am Officer Turner. Recently there was trouble here. The owner reported that he was tied up and held captive. Someone appeared, defeated the attackers and freed him" the policeman explained.
They walked toward the secured area and continued the conversation.
"Victims. Witnesses."
"Nine dead in various conditions. Regarding the unknown saviour the victim claims his hands were tied and his eyes covered. The rescuer escaped before he could observe anything. The camera footage was removed."
Most likely a lie
It was impossible for someone to free him without being noticed. If they escaped immediately they had no time to delete the recordings so the owner probably did it.
Either way I cannot influence it unless I push him. That would result in questions and trouble because I have no grounds.
Passing through the tape she entered the interior and saw that the building functioned as a bar. The shelves were full of alcohol and the furniture looked perfectly clean as if the place had just opened.
She saw the owner nearby speaking to another officer. She overheard that he planned to sell the business and move away because he believed the city was too dangerous.
They moved toward the corpses that had not been transported yet. The scene revealed details of what had happened.
What kind of monstrous power caused this Her heartbeat quickened. She had seen burned bodies and torn apart bodies and people split by brute force. This was different. Blood leaking from eye sockets noses and mouths. Severe burns. Melted eyes and blisters covering skin. A horrifying sight.
Before she could speak she heard shouting outside. Stepping out she saw two people attempting to enter the investigation site. A man in a crimson coat and hat with tinted glasses stood calmly as if this were a picnic. Beside him a woman with long straight blonde hair argued with the police while smoking.
And who are they The blonde decided to investigate the unusual scene.
"What is going on" she asked.
The officer and the woman stopped arguing as they noticed her.
"They are trying to enter the investigation area" said the officer.
"Integra Hellsing" the woman introduced herself.
Of course. We have a meeting later today. No wonder she is here
"They call me Blond Blazer" remembering her plans she looked at the man.
Vampire. In the sun like nothing is wrong. Even without seeing his face she recognised him by his red eyes visible behind the glasses and his clothing.
"Alucard" he introduced himself interpreting her silence as waiting.
"They are with me" she informed the officer and all three entered the building.
"As always. Trouble follows you Alucard" Integra said while discarding her cigarette.
"Can you stop littering at a crime scene" the heroine sighed.
Reaching the gruesome scene Alucard approached the bodies and examined them carefully.
"Hm. Their blood boiled" he said with curiosity rather than disgust.
Everyone except Integra felt uncomfortable. They could not imagine the agony of the victims.
"... Tremere perhaps" he whispered.
He then looked at one of the thieves who seemed to have slit his own throat. His expression grew serious.
"And Ventrue" he added.
"What are those names" Mandy asked.
"Names of vampire clans" he answered calmly.
"You never told me about them" Integra said with a mix of frustration and curiosity. For years they fought vampires in Britain and he never mentioned this.
"Those we fought were newborns without affiliation or special abilities. However" he paused and spoke quietly because mortals nearby pretended not to listen "this is not the moment. Later."
They exited and saw another body. It had a hole in the chest but no blood flowed. It looked as if something invisible was still stuck in the wound. Alucard placed his hand inside but touched nothing. He then looked at the wall where the shadow fell.
The women followed his gaze and froze. In the shadow of the victim there was a second shadow shaped like a long object piercing the body.
"So the shadow was stabbed and the real body as well. What the hell" Integra swore as fear overtook her. Blood manipulation and hypnosis were one thing. This was something else entirely.
"Lasombra" Alucard whispered with distaste.
"Are you certain there was only one responsible?" He asked concerned.
"Everything suggests that yes. Why" The blonde replied.
"Exclusive abilities of three different clans"
Integra looked at him.
"So one cannot belong to more than one clan."
"Correct. Which means. It must be him."
"Who" the heroine demanded.
"The one causing the recent rise in vampire incidents. Someone very old woke up and we sensed it."
"Come to SDN. We will talk. I hope without withholding details. This is serious." After a moment of silence she received only nods.
They left the scene for specialists and arrived at SDN headquarters. Blazer brought Integra because otherwise she would have walked or used a rented car.
Inside procedures were respected because the blonde in charge would allow no neglect especially of a place she now led.
In the meeting room Blond Blazer sat opposite her visitors staring at the woman.
"Do not stare at me. Alucard knows more. He does not tell me much." she said annoyed by her partner.
The vampire sat with his feet on the table gazing at a picture on the wall.
"Alucard please."
"Hm. What exactly do you want to know."
"Do not act stupid. Speak" Integra shouted standing up.
"Fine. The issue is that explaining everything would take longer than a week. Specify. Also can I have that picture. It is nice" he said with his hands raised and pointed at the painting.
Blazer rubbed her forehead near breaking.
"Fine. Vampires 101. When a new vampire is created they are weaker than the one who created them. Less of the vampire essence. These are generations."
Both nodded. Integra already had questions.
"What about the vampires we usually fought."
"Infants. Nineteenth or twentieth generation. Diluted blood. No clan."
"And your generation" the heroine asked.
"Fifth" he answered with a satisfied smile.
"That must mean you are very strong" Blazer asked with concern.
"In theory I can destroy a city. I used to be sixth generation but I diablorised my sire and became fifth. And no asking about that, explaining the process takes too long."
"And clans."
"There are many but three matter here. Ventrue. Tremere. Lasombra. Each focuses on a different speciality. Ventrue dominate minds. Tremere manipulate blood with something like magic. Lasombra manipulate shadows. Their founder supposedly had no material form. I never saw him and I do not want to." He trembled remembering how cruel that clan could be.
"Founders" Integra asked lighting a cigarette.
" Antediluvians. Those who survived the flood."
"You mean the biblical flood?! So they are the first vampires?!" Blazer asked shocked.
"No. Before them…" he stopped and stared through the window "Oh fuck."
Outside Karl walked casually wearing black sunglasses. He looked around searching for interesting places.
Suddenly he stopped and looked up at the highest floor meeting Alucard's gaze.
"Alucard what is it" Integra asked.
He tried to distract them but failed. All three looked through the window.
But Karl was gone. No longer there.
"What did you see Alu…"
"I did not expect to meet you so soon"
The two women turned ready for confrontation. A man sat calmly on a chair wearing dark glasses and holding a plastic cup of coffee.
"Eh… How are you doing Ca.." Alucard started, but before finishing the man stopped him. "Karl. My name is Karl. And how are you doing these days? You still turning people into dinner tables?" Karl asked interested while taking a sip of his cofee.
Meanwhile two ladies were completely forgotten by those two.