By The Grace Of God

{10: An Empire Falls}

{Alucard}

With a lunge, our steel sang, and she was fighting as well as expected of a knight. Integra had little actual metal in the art of swordsmanship, but I knew she was a intelligent fighter. With every parry, she would counterattack, and it was proving to be an actual dual, and she was sporting quite a few cuts, her lance did some holy damage, but not enough it was permanent. I shrugged it off, and when my senses told me my coffin was messed with, I knew my family was safe. I unleashed my hounds, and she instantly felt regret and fear. 

" Earn my freedom, you say?! You underestimated me, didn't you! I am Count Vlad Dracula, and you will not command me anymore, simple knight! I'll see you in hell, Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing!" 

I bore my teeth deep into her neck, my shadows surrounding her like a snake's coils, her heartbeat singing in my ears as it faded into nothingness. Her virgin blood was perfect, O negative, just as I had guessed from what little tastes she'd give me. It was perfect, and the final shudder from her body before death took her, held words I'll never forget.

" You were my everything."

I knew she harbored feelings, I knew she had a desire to be with me, I knew it, especially given how she treated Alex. I knew all this, and I've known it for years, but I also knew it was impossible. I feel her body go limp, her once golden skin now a sickly shade, those blue eyes a shade of horrid that was unsurprising of a drained corpse. I clean my lips, and fall to the ground, a searing pain in my hands and back, my body writing in agony as the spells casted upon me vanished, the seals were gone, and I was back to my normal self, a self I haven't been since the late 1800's. I stand, and feel the weight of my armor, quickly swapping it out for my traditional suit and tie. I walk over to the desk, and see on it a will and testament document that had been finalized. I pick it up and read, sitting down on the desk as the words hit me.

' I, Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, here by state on record that should I pass under strange means, I am listing my sole benefactor to the Hellsing Organization and the family fortune as Alexander Julian Romonov-Anderson, to whom the company shall still run under his power and he shall have say over all assets known to the Hellsing Organization, including but not limited to; The house, the staff, the soldiers, and Item number 3722852, also known as 'The Red Dragon'. He and his family will have full legal rights to run the Organization and live in the house just as so many before have. Should they deny the right and forgo taking it on, then the Organization shall shut down and be converted into a museum, and Item number 3722852 will be released into Father Anderson's custody. This is my living last will and testament, and as a dame under Her Majesty, this is legally binding.' 

She already freed me, but she needed to be dead to make it truly official. I actually felt slight guilt at how hard I had been, but knew what would happen had I not been. I take the document, pocket it, and make my way to my family in the basement. I'll have Alex take the offer, I'm free either way, and we'll rebuild the house. Remodel it so it's not the same one, make it more of a home for Dria. I get to the basement, and I pull off the top, and see Alex sound asleep with Dria, and it was so precious. I couldn't wake them, not now, but I must, so they know I'm alright. 

I gently touch the side of Alex's face, and he in turn leans into it, looking up to see me. 

" You did it, huh?" 

" I did, and with it came a bit of a bonus." 

" Oh, like what?" 

" Well, Integra left Hellsing to you." 

" She did what now? Are you off yer heid, love?" 

" Here, read. It's legal and binding. Even Her Majesty signed it." 

Alex handed me Dria, and looked over the document, while I pricked my finger on her little tooth and let her suck on it to help sooth her nerves since she was fussing. 

" It is. Oh my god it is final. I'm the heir. I'm in charge. I...I don't know what to do." 

" Well, it's simple really. You take the offer, we demolish and rebuild this house, you cash in on what is due from Iscariot, you leave Iscariot, and dedicate yourself to this new cause."

" Are you sure? I thought you'd want to leave England after all of this was said and done." 

" I do, and while the house is being rebuild, we can take a small family vacation on the company's' dime. It'll be good for all of us to be refreshed and ready for the next few years." 

Alex got up from the coffin, and stood by me, still a good foot taller than me, but I didn't mind. 

" But it all does fall to you so what are your orders, Master?"

I gave him a cheeky grin, and knew exactly what was next. Alex simply loomed a bit over my, his nose mere inches from mine, and his breath was hot on my skin. 

" First, I make a few phone calls, get all the legal stuff out of the way, and then, pet, I get to relive that night of bliss all over again."

I repress a shiver of excitement as we make our way upstairs to start a new life as a family, doing what we did best.