A Beautiful New Wonderland

~{01}~

Alice:

18. I was finally 18 and moving into my family inheritance from my birth mother. I was raised by my Dad all my life, lived in lower class America, and we fought hard for each paycheck, but it was worth it. My Mom, however, was a British Knight, who lived high on the hog and had very little to do with me. She'd send a card or two a year with a letter and a few dollars in a check, but that was about it. Mom was a secretive woman, says Dad, but I didn't understand why. When she died, she told me I had to get my affairs in order before I turned 18, because once I did, I'd move into her old family home, take on her family business', along with all of the responsibilities with it. I didn't know what she meant by it, but Dad said it was a government job with lots of legal red tape. I get to the house, and my jaw hits the floor. It was beautiful! A stately manor house that was fully staffed and guarded by military personnel. The driver, a man named Walter, said that when my mother died, she left everything to me, and that included him. 

" Hey, Walter, question for ya." 

" What would that be, young miss?" 

" Alice, please for the love of God, call me Alice. I don't do that formal garbage Ma did. Anyway, Ma said that I had gotten a 'Special Security Guard', but I don't see him here with us." 

" Your Mother, in all her late infinite wisdom, wanted you to live a sheltered life from the truth of her world. Alucard, as you will come to call him, is a specialty agent of your Mother's legacy. She left behind quite the job for you to grow into, and made sure your guide was someone whom she trusted. Now, follow me, I'll show you to your room, then give you the tour." 

" Can we do lunch after, I'm famished." 

" Absolutely, Miss Alice." 

I roll my eyes and take what I can get. We go into the house, and I see a man cloaked in red, his face handsome yet cold like a sculpture, hair of black wild like the wind outside. He was cool, scary, handsome, dashing...but I felt like I knew him some how. 

" Alucard, I see you're up early." 

" I wanted to take measure of my new Master. Mistress Integra spoke to me of her in high regard, I wanted to see if the words matched what I see." 

" Woah, easy, my guy, I am not your Master, no no, I don't do that freaky shit. I am not fuckin' around with that nonsense." 

" Crassness like that is unfit a lady of your bloodline." 

" And yet here I sit with attitude to match my foul mouth, big guy, so suck off that priest, why don't ya? I'll find my own room, I own this place, right?" 

I grab my bags and rush up the stairs to find the second floor was all conference rooms, while I could hear indistinct yelling downstairs. I didn't care, fuck 'em. I go up another steps and find the bedroom, with the one for me no doubt the one that was covered in a 'welcome home' banner. I rip it down, go in and sit on the floor, the wooden door the most solid thing my back has felt in ages, and it's the most secure thing I had felt since this bullshit trip. I move after a minute, unpack my stuff, and sit on the bed until I hear a polite knock on my door. 

" Enter." 

The door opens and I see Walter, with a look of regret on his face. 

" I'm so sorry for his behavior. I hadn't properly told him of your upbringing, and so he expected you to be like your mother, a woman of poise and grace. I told him to temper himself and to learn you the proper way." 

" No, I didn't need to snap. I'm sorry I got mean. I know I shouldn't cuss but it's just who I am. Grit, spit, and hard work. I've worked customer service for the last two years, so I get mean fast. I hope he doesn't hate me." 

" He couldn't if he tried. He's sworn to you by blood oath made on your mother's grave." 

" What...what was she like? Dad told me nothing, saying you can't know a person without hearing stories about them, and he wasn't exactly her biggest fan."

" Well, lucky for you, she left you a diary to read, one full of life lessons she wished for you to know. She hated keeping you away, but did it to protect you. Now, do you still want the tour and lunch?" 

" Yes, please, and I'll read that book a little later. I'm not much of a book nerd."

" Duly noted." 

I got the grand tour, and we ended with my Mom's old office. I open the door and felt my heart ache. I saw the ashtray, I saw the old leather chair, the oak desk, I knew these from the one photo of her I got to have. I walk over an sit in her desk, and somehow feel her smiling at me, as if I was where I belonged. I took the photo of her holding me on the desk, and gently touched her face. I pull out the one photo of her I had from my wallet, and slip it into the glass to cover my baby face.  

" You look so much like her. From the blue eyes and blonde hair to the fire in your belly and integrity in your heart, albeit you did make your blonde much more interesting with the black accents. I remember the first time she sat at that desk, your great grandfather's desk, I might add. She couldn't touch the floor with her feet, she was so small." 

" Right, she was a little girl to get the job, huh?" 

" 12 years old. Far too young for a job such as hers, and yet, with poise and grace, she did it and ran it with pride and power. I've seen three generations of Hellsing run this place, I can't wait to see how you'll do." 

" Neither can I. Apologies for earlier, I was out of line." 

" No no, I was the one being mean. I know I got pretty big shoes to fill, but I hope to try."

In walked Alucard, and I felt him give me an apologetic glare, before turning to Walter.

" Walter, not to be a wet blanket, but they're here." 

" Already? Poor girl hasn't even settled into the house yet! Tell them to wait, give her time! Christ she hasn't even grieved, let alone rested and had a meal! Integra is barely cold in her grave!" 

" I tried, but you know how Irons is, and my authority only gets me so far with them."

" Is this guy an old coworker of my Moms? I knew she had a government job." 

" It's more than just a government job, but yes, he is. Him and the other members of the Round Table wish to talk." 

" Wait...as in King Arthur and the Round Table?" 

" The very same, yes." 

I sat in shock, before looking myself over.

" Tell them to give me about 10 minutes to clean up and I'll meet with them in the usual spot. Can't go to my first meeting in this." 

" Now you sound less like a Johnson, and more like a Hellsing. Welcome home, Miss."