"...And that's just about the long-and-short about it," Irene "Rally" Vincent concluded to Alucard, sitting near the old vampire. "I blacked-out for a few seconds. The next thing I knew, my head and the rest of my body felt like someone stuck a power cord up my ass and plugged it in. I later find out from Integra that I had assaulted Master and tried to bite her in the neck!" She set down the wine glass after finishing it. "This is so unreal! I don't want to hurt her, but when I get near Master, I feel this... odd compulsion to sink my fangs into her neck and drink her blood! I'm not certain if this is some phase or I'm just going crazy!" The No-Life King took this all in, sitting on his throne while carefully listening to every word the distressed vampire had related to him. "Interesting that you felt this sensation only in the presence of Seras Victoria and not around the other humans in this mansion," he said. "You were even in very close proximity to that idiot Pip and Miss Hedgley and it didn't happen around them. Well, I think that it is safe to say that you're not a danger to the humans around here." "But why only around Master do I feel it, that's what I want to know! Alucard, if you know something about this, please tell me!" Rally pleaded. "Calm yourself, Rally Vincent," Alucard said, a note of authority in his voice. "If you are worried about harming your master Seras, I can assure you that it is not possible. And as for your current condition... I believe I might have an idea what it is." Rally felt herself brighten up at the news. "Well what are we waiting for?" she chirped, "I want to get this over with, so let's go!" "Not so fast," Alucard countered as he got up from his throne, disappointing Rally. "I still have to make my report about your condition to Sir Integra, then I have to discuss this with Seras before we can resolve this situation." "But..." the dark-haired vampire sputtered, but before she could say anything, Alucard had disappeared from sight, leaving Rally to stare into the space where he once stood. However, his voice did make its appearance once more with, "And by the way, if you're still tempted to lock yourself away, like you begged Sir Integra to do, I would highly reconsider it. It's just a long, hungry imprisonment, not to mention boring as hell." "ALUCARD!? PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!" Rally pleaded, only to get silence in return. Finding no answer, she clenched her fists and shouted angrily into the air, "GRRRRRR.... ALUCARD, YOU BIG FUCKING ASSHOLE!!" XXX SIR INTEGRA'S OFFICE, HELLSING MANSION... "Is THAT what is really wrong with Rally?" Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing replied, sitting at her desk. "Well, I am certain that she found it a relief once she heard the news," she said with a sense of relief. "Now maybe she can calm down from all this excitement she was experiencing." "Oh I haven't told Rally, Sir Integra," Alucard said, standing in front of her desk as he made his report. "YOU HAVE NOT TOLD HER?!" the Hellsing leader exploded, about to bring a considerable amount of wrath upon her servant. The No-Life King held up his hand. "Please, allow me a moment. If you're concerned about Rally experiencing another of her spells, I can assure you that the disciplinary burst the Police Girl gave the last time her should be enough to suppress any more outbursts - at least for the time being." "Still, the fact you have not told her what is wrong is not acceptable!" Sir Integra countered. "Just exactly WHEN are you going to do that?" "I'm not," Alucard plainly told her. "Now before you engage in another of your childish outbursts, I am going to brief Seras about the whole thing. Besides, being Rally's master, I feel it is her place to inform her fledgling, not me." For a few seconds, Sir Integra just glared at Alucard, angry at the fact that her servant is forcing Rally to endure more anguish. However, she did know he was right; it must be Seras that will tell her. "Very well, you may proceed with your plan." Alucard grinned evilly, "I knew you would see it my way," he purred. Sir Integra just sighed, but then said, "If you say so. By the way, I was wondering about the other matter regarding Rally." "You mean the proposal the Knights of the Round Table have in mind for her? I think she'll be perfect," said Alucard, still grinning. "I cannot wait to see how she accomplishes it." "You would say that," Sir Integra answered, rather glumly. "Anyway, just when are you going to brief Seras about the first part?" "Not long, I imagine," the No-Life King said. "And now, I believe we should be expecting Seras just about..." At that moment, the Draculina entered the office, walking though the doors rather than opening them. "Pardon me for the intrusion, Sir Integra," she began, obviously wearing a new uniform top, the previous one torn by Rally, "but Master told me he needed my presence." "Indeed I do," Alucard said. "Police Girl, I believe we should take a walk right about now." Turning to Sir Integra, he added, "I need to leave these premises in order to accomplish this. Is this allowable?" "Of course, Alucard," the Hellsing leader said, "provided I can call upon the both of you in case trouble occurs." "A walk?" Seras quipped. "But where?" The No-Life King looked up to the ceiling, then said, "Oh... how about investigating the scene of that last ghoul attack for one. The rains are gone and I believe we might find some clues about the vampire that created them." "By all means, Alucard, you and Seras may do so, but I seriously doubt any will be found," Sir Integra said. As the red-clad vampire faded from sight, Seras saluted and turned for the door. "And Seras?" she added. "Ma'am?" the yellow-clad vampire asked. Sir Integra then eyed Seras closely, "Alucard is going to tell some facts he found about what is afflicting Rally. It would be valuable if you listened." The Draculina thought for a bit. "I guess," she finally said. "And then afterward, I think I better apologize for hurting her the way I did." "If you ask me, Seras," Sir Integra offered, "I believe you may have done Rally a favor doing so." Seras just nodded as she walked out of the office. OUTSIDE A TOWER FLAT, WEST LONDON, EVENING... Legs cramping from standing too long, Elysse Morse somehow managed to get home with her purchases for the evening. "Damned bloody grocer," she grumbled to herself, "he could've told that woman not to be too demanding about the price of that item, but no... he had to acquiesce to her demands and do a price check. And about how slow the other lines were... it's lucky there aren't any closer stores or I would've taken my business elsewhere!" She began to look through her billfold, "At least I have enough money to pay Jenn, plus more for the extra time." She was about to enter the door when a taxi drove up in front of it. After paying the cabbie, a young brunette woman exited the cab. "Oh, Mrs. Morse, good evening," she said, recognizing the other woman. "Oh, it's you, Miss Hedgley," Elysse said, also recognizing the newcomer. "Oh please, it's Moria, I've told you many times," Moria Hedgley said, paying the cabbie and going to the building's entrance. "I see you've been to the store." "More like camped-out there, if the time I spent in line is any indication," Elysse added irritably, entering at the same time Moria did. "You wouldn't believe the number of people there with purchases that needed price checks. I wish they would take the time to go to a small market. Come to think of it, maybe I should've done so myself," she remarked as she called the elevator car. "Don't give it too much thought," Moria laughed as the doors opened. The two women entered the car, then called for the seventh floor. As the car made its assent, Moria decided to break the silence with, "I've gotten an extra day from my employer today - with pay. I guess I might drop by to visit you and Harold this weekend." "You seem very lucky to have such a generous boss," Elysse said. "I guess," sighed Moria, who added mentally, 'More like understanding, having to contend with a certain lesbian vampire that has taken a rather abnormal fancy towards me. If I ever told her who I have to work with, she might think I was bonkers.' Quite suddenly, though, the car stopped with a lurch, followed with the overhead lights going off, then the emergency lights coming on. "Oh dear," Elysse fretted, "it seems that the lift's broken down again." Moria just shook her head, grumbling sourly, "More like those idiots in Maintenance seems to be slacking off again, if you ask me. This is the fourth time this month! I swear, I have a half-of-a-mind to have the lease on my flat broken and move out of here!" "Now don't make such a fuss," Elysse reassured, going for the emergency phone, "I'm certain it's nothing." However, when she placed her ear to the receiver, she made a strange face. "Now that's odd," she said, "I'm not getting a reply." "Sounds like those stupid blokes in the basement had the phone shut off so they won't have their damned football game on the telly interrupted to help us," Moria snarled. Going to her handbag, she pulled out a small prying bar. "Might as well see if we can help ourselves." "Are you certain about this?" Elysse said, looking with concern as Moria began to work the door. "I'm certain it's nothing." "I'm not leaving my fate to a bunch of idiots drunk on ale to get me out of a lift car," the brunette said, still working the door. "It was something my late grandfather said: 'Sometimes you are the only solution to your problems'." Moria then managed to open the door part-way, then peered inside. "I think we may be in luck; seems we're not between floors. Elysse, could you help me part these doors? There seems to be about five centimeters of clearance between the car and the floor. We'll pull them apart, then I'll try to get the others open and find ourselves out of here." Putting down her bag, Elysse then assisted Moria with the door. "I still think it's nothing," she grumbled. XXX BOUROUGH OF ENFIELD, LONDON, EVENING... "You've got to be kidding me, Master!" Seras gasped. "Is such a thing possible?" "It is, although it is quite rare," Alucard answered, looking around in the alley where they had battled ghouls the previous night. "It seems that Rally's body has decided it is time she became a free vampire, so it has taken upon itself to free itself." "But I thought it was up to me to determine if Rally is ready," the Draculina countered. The No-Life King paused. "Well, yes it is," he said. "Usually, the master observes his or her fledgling, assesses his or her's skills, then through their judgment, makes the decision to do so." He then placed his hands in a contemplative position and added, "However, there are certain... instances when a fledgling vampire has achieved certain plateaus in their education, as well as what they had learned while human, that their bodies seem to sense that they are ready to ascend to becoming true undead and then act upon it, usually without their will." Alucard then paused again, adding, "Of course, this is very rare, almost unknown; I only have observed several instances of this odd behavior personally. But from whatever I have seen, it is always very chaotic - fledglings often taking upon themselves securing their freedom... and in the process, almost destroying themselves and their masters. Seras, I believe that, because of her strong feelings towards you - I think the humans describes this as 'love' - that Rally had restrained herself to the degree she had achieved, and not wishing to harm you, she had only acerbated the problem she faces. " "That seems so odd," Seras observed. "And this is what caused this in Rally?" "I believe it so," Alucard said, looking at one particular corner. "She had achieved the necessary skills long before her turning. In fact, I it is my belief that it was because she had accepted her circumstances better than you that had brought this about." He then looked at Seras and added, "Incidentally, I was wondering about YOUR assessment on Rally's progress. Do you have anything you wish to say about it." Seras thought for a minute. "Now that you've mentioned it, Master," she began, "Rally has been progressing well for the last few months. I was contemplating asking Sir Integra about the possibility of freeing her. I know this is my opinion, but I would rather work with Rally as an equal, not as her master." "You don't really have to have our master's permission, Seras," the red-clad nosferatu quoted. "I didn't ask it when I freed you back in Aurora." "I guess," Seras replied, scratching the back of her head. She then added, "What about YOUR opinion, Master? Do you think Rally is ready?" "I believe Rally is more than ready," Alucard declared. "She has the mental discipline not to allow herself to go on a rampage to get her blood - unlike one vampire I know." "What are you talking about, Master?" the Draculina asked. The pause was brief before Alucard had spoken. "Sometime around three hundred years ago, there was this... particular vampire that was created. Although she had great potential, much like Rally, she lacked the restraint your fledgling has. You could say that, in a way, she had lacked the maturity to be a proper vampire." Seras stood amazed. "Did you ever fight her?" she asked. "Oh, about once or twice, I'm really uncertain. She always gotten away, though, then I wouldn't hear from her for a span of years - until she decides to go on a rampage." Alucard then thought for a time. "Come to think of it," he mused, "this little caper last night would be her trademark... but she wasn't to be found." "Do you think it might be her, this... vampire you talk about?" Seras asked further. "Possibly," was all he said. XXX THE TOWER FLAT... It took some doing, but Moria, with Elysse's help, managed to open the doors to the maid's floor. The car was only short of level with the floor about eight centimeters, so it was an easy matter that the two exited. "Hmmm... the corridor's dark, too," Moria remarked, noticing the halls were only illuminated by emergency lights. "Guess it must be a power outage that caused it." "If that's so," Elysse added, looking at an outside window, "then why is the block, not to mention the city, still lit?" Indeed as the two looked outside, it was evident that London was still brightly lit. Moria was amazed. "Something's off about this situation," she mumbled. "The power is off in here, yet nobody else is." Thinking quickly, she strode to the other end of the hall. "We better find the stairs and get out of here. I have a bad feeling about what's happening here." "What are you talking about?" Elysse said, only to get silence from Moria. However, the two only got so far before they heard an odd scraping sound, followed by a horrible odor. "That smell," Elysse gasped, struggling not to vomit, "it's... it's like something had died!" Then the two caught sight of them - a group of zombie-like beings shambling towards them, their eyes shining with an odd purple glow. "OH MY GOD!! WHAT... WHAT...?" 'They... they have to be ghouls, like Grandfather talked about!' Moria thought, managing to keep herself calm "BACK WHERE WE CAME!!" she called out. The two women then raced back towards the elevator, only to be caught in-between another group of ghouls. Thinking quickly, Moria tapped her panicked companion's shoulder. "We better head for my flat," she said. To her credit, Elysse didn't argue, following Moria to her apartment, which the two entered. After locking the door, Moria found the battery-powered lantern she had hidden in a nearby table. After turning it on and setting it down, she pointed to a sofa. "Here," she said, "we'll use that to barricade the door." Quickly, the two managed to move the heavy sofa in front of the door. With that done, the two found chairs and promptly collapsed in them. "Madness," Elysse whimpered, still running on adrenaline, "this is madness! How in the world did those... those creatures find their way inside?" "One wonders why," Moria answered back, then thought to herself, 'And besides, those 'creatures' just happen to be our neighbors. I though I recognized Mr. Haskins from above this place as one of them.' Deciding on her action, she made her way to the phone, only to make a face when she placed the receiver to her ear. "Landline's out, too," she said. "I better use the cellphone." "What good can the police do against... them?" Elysse pleaded, then settled down. "That poor child," she mumbled to herself, "she must be mad with terror because of this. And what of Jenn - and poor Emma?" "I believe I might know of someone who might help," Moria answered as she dialed, looking at the picture of her grandfather, Peter Farguson, as she did. XXX HELLSING MANSION, A FEW MINUTES PRIOR... "Is this information accurate, Walter?" Sir Integra asked, seated at her desk as she reviewed a set of files. Walter C. Dolnez, the Hellsing family butler, nodded. "I had gotten this from Sir Townstead, as you requested," he said. "It seems that, prior to Alucard and Miss Victoria's initial engagement of the ghouls in Enfield, a dispatch was made to Scotland Yard, requesting that several constables be dispatched to investigate a disturbance in that particular alleyway." "That is very... disturbing," the Hellsing leader said. "There is more," Walter added, placing a new file folder on the desk. "Earlier today, there was an inquiry by one Harold Morse, a local government worker, asking about the whereabouts of the parents of a young girl." Sir Integra looked curiously at her old friend. "Are you certain, Walter?" "Quite so. It seems that Mr. Morse and his wife were returning from an event put on by a family friend," the butler said. "Oddly, the two were drawn to the location of this girl hiding among the rubbish cans in the alley, claiming that, and I quote, 'monsters had eaten her mother and father'. Well, it stands to reason that, the 'monsters' she spoke of, were the ghouls Alucard, Miss Victoria and Miss Vincent had taken on." The pale blonde woman thought for a minute, an odd look in her ice-blue eyes. "Something is not right here, Walter," Sir Integra finally said. "Ghouls are naturally attracted to living tissue in order to feed themselves. Why in the world would they not find the girl?" She looked up at Walter and asked, "Do we know of the girl's whereabouts?" "Yes," Walter replied. "The Morse family is currently housing the young girl at their flat in west London." He then added, "Coincidentally, that same tower flat is currently the home of one of our employees, Miss Hedgley." "She was Fargason's granddaughter, was she not?" Sir Integra asked, remembering her late field commander, killed in the incident involving the vampire Incognito. "I remember giving the girl her current employment after the Queen had pardoned us, mostly as a favor to him." Walter simply nodded. The phone rang, bringing the two out of their reminisces. Taking note, Sir Integra answered it. "This is Sir Integra," she answered. "Sir Integra," a woman's voice called out, "I need your help!" "Miss Hedgley? Is something wrong?" the Hellsing leader asked. "We have trouble over in my flat!" Moria's voice replied. "The hallways outside are crawling with ghouls!" "What was that, you say?" Sir Integra said, alarmed. "Ghouls, a whole group of them!" Moria said. "I'm currently barricaded in my apartment, but I believe there's no guarantee that it would keep them at bay!" "Listen Miss Hedgley, whatever you do, stay there until help we get there, do not leave that room until help arrives! Am I understood?" "Yes, I believe we'll do just that! Oh please, Sir Integra, get here soon!" Moria pleaded. "Rest assured, I will, Miss Hedgley." Sir Integra then hung up, but kept the receiver in her hand. "It seems like the problem we have been discussing has once again reared its head! That was Miss Hedgley, and it appears her tower flat has been invaded by ghouls!" "Oh dear," Walter gasped. "That IS a problem. I suppose you will be calling back Alucard and Seras?" "Already on that," Sir Integra crisply said as she dialed-up the motor pool. "But right now, this requires an immediate response!" The speaker on the phone rang once before: "Berttle here." "Have a transport warmed-up and in front of the compound in two minutes! Address will follow!" the Hellsing leader commanded as she pressed another button near the phone XXX Red lights flashed in the Wild Geese's ready room, followed by an alarm klaxon blaring. Several of the mercenaries lounging around immedietly dropped whatever they were doing, either eating, playing cards or just talking, and raced for the weapons locker, where they were issued appropriate arms and ammunition. Noticing the chaos around her, Rally watched the activity as she exited the lower levels and summized the situation. 'At least it'll mean I'll have something to do rather than mopping all night,' the dusky vampire thought to herself as she joined the Geese outside. In less than the two minutes ordered, an armored personnel carrier, with Berttle driving, was standing outside and the rear door down. Outside it, Pip Bernadotte was barking orders to his men, who were racing towards it, "C'mon, we haven't all night! Move it, Move it!" He then noticed Rally also racing inside with the others. "Zo mademoiselle," he said, "joining us as well, non?" "Of course, you asshole," Rally snarled, causing Pip to cringe slightly, remembering the bad night the vampire was having. After getting the address, the APC made its way out of the Hellsing mansion, the occupants readying themselves for the coming battle. Rally sat next to Pip, almost alone in her thoughts - until she felt a tapping on her shoulder. "Here, take zese" Pip said, holding a portable radio and earpiece in his hand. "I know you have telepathy, but I don't know if you'll be able to talk to us with it. Zese will let you communicate to ze rest of us." Rally just nodded, clipping the pack to her belt and adjusting the earpiece. While she did this, Pip silently observed the dusky vampire. 'I know you that are suffering, mon ami,' the mercenary thought sympathetically to himself, 'and believe me, if I were in ze same situation, I would certainly die rather than see harm done to Mignonette by my hands, as well as Mademoiselle Moria . All I ask is... be strong. I am certain that a solution to your problem will present itself soon.' The transport soon found itself at the parameter a kilometer outside the flat. Surrounded by police barricades, the residents that did evacuate when the ghouls attacked just looked as the transport was waived through. Rally looked outside the window, already feeling her vampiric blood stirring at the prospect of battle.Several of the Geese readied themselves as the transport stopped outside the building, then departed quickly as the rear door dropped. As soon as the back was emptied and the door secured, Berttle exited as well, grabbing his machine gun and ammo in the process. A group of ghouls were waiting as well, moaning and growling upon sensing fresh meat leaving the vehicle. The Geese positioned themselves in a line about twenty meters in front of the monsters. Pip, with Rally next to him, took an assessment of the situation facing them. "Okay men," he called out, "whatever you do... aim carefully! If you don't, we could be facing hard times ahead, not to mention wasting very expensive ammunition!" Silently acknowledging, the Geese took aim. "Ready... FIRE!!" The Geese fired as one. However, they seemed to be having a tough time trying to stop the ghouls. Despite being armed with silver-alloy bullets that had been blessed, the ghouls continued to advance. However, in time, many of them did drop, which allowed the Geese to advance towards the building's entrance. Rally was firing as well, Purgatory blazing as she managed to take down ghouls easier than the human troops. It was while this was going on that she heard a crackling over her headset. "What?" she shouted, annoyed at being distracted in her job. "Rally," Sir Integra's voice sounded, "I need you to find your way inside and to the sixth floor." "I'm a little busy right now, Integra!" Rally called out. "Can't this wait?" "I do realize your situation but this is urgent!" the Hellsing leader answered. "Miss Hedgley and a companion is trapped in her flat by a group of ghouls and urgently needs to be rescued!" 'Moria!' Rally thought of herself, alarmed. "Okay, I'm on it!" she replied. Turning to Pip, she called out, "I need to get to the sixth floor, but since Master isn't here, I'm going to need some back-up! Could I spare one of your men, Pip?" "Oui, you can spare ME!" Pip replied. Turning to Sergio, he called out, "You're in charge, mon ami! Just make sure zese damned ghouls don't advance into ze street!" Sergio nodded in turn. "Okay, zo how are we going to get past zese monsters?" he asked Rally. "Oh I think I've got an answer," she smirked, grabbing Pip by the waist. "Just don't get any ideas while we're at it, though." Before the mercenary could object, the two found themselves teleporting away from the street. The next thing Pip realized, the two of them had materialized on the sixth floor. Releasing her passenger, Rally couldn't help but notice that Pip seemed visibly shaken. "Merde! Why... why didn't you... warn me zat you were... going to do zat!?" the mercenary managed to say between gasps. "Sorry, Pip. Believe me, it was the first time I did that while carrying a human," Rally replied with a smile. "Eet's forgiven, zat's for certain," Pip added. "Right now, I'm smelling something, and I can tell you eet's not at all pleasant." "Right," Rally snarled, seeing a group of ghouls pawing at a door in the gloom. "I say we clean this mess up quickly," she added, pumping Purgatory. "Oui. Let's," Pip grinned, slamming a clip into his machine gun. XXX "Oh my god, they're trying to break through!" Elysse cried, backing away from the door. Moria was already in front of it, brandishing an automatic pistol she got from her bedroom. "I know that, just stay behind me!" she called out, slamming a clip in, loading the chamber and making sure the safety's off. As the sound of the ghouls made themselves louder, the young brunette couldn't help but to feel afraid of them. However, she steeled herself as she cocked the hammer and took aim at the door, ready to fire. All of a sudden, though, the sounds of a machine gun firing, as well as shotgun blasts, made themselves evident for a few seconds, then silence. After a few seconds of this silence, a loud banging came from the door. "MORIA!? MORIA, ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? ANSWER ME!!" a frantic female voice called out. Recognizing the voice, Moria raced over to one end of the sofa. "Elysse, grab the other end of this thing and help me haul it off!" she yelled. "Are you certain it's safe?" the other woman asked as she grasped the other end. Moria didn't answer as the two moved the sofa away from the door. And just as quickly, the young brunette raced to the door and opened it, recognizing the face on the other side. "Rally Vincent," Moria said, feeling relieved. "So help me, this is one instance I can safely say that I'm glad to see you!" "Glad to hear," the dusky vampire said, who then noticed that Moria was not alone. "So, who's your friend?" she asked. "Oh her? She's Elysse Morse, a neighbor of mine," answered Moria. "Rally, is there any way you can get us out of here?" Rally suddenly felt uncomfortable. Certainly she could teleport Moria out of the building, but she didn't know about the other human. "Well, I might," she pointed to Elysse, "but I'm not certain she can keep her mouth shut. Look, all I ask of you is that you and your friend stay in here until..." "YEEEAAAAUUUGGGGHHHH!!" All four individuals turned to hear an anguished scream of a woman around the bend. "Mon dieu!" Pip exclaimed, bracing his machine gun. "There's someone else on this floor!" "Tell me something I don't know!" Rally replied sarcastically, racing to the sound of the scream. Pip soon followed her. However, Elysse, forgetting what Rally had said, raced out of the room, following the sound. "Elysse... wait!" Moria exclaimed, keeping her gun in hand as she followed. They didn't take long until Rally and Pip found the source of the scream. A figure was hunched over the corpse of the female victim, sounds of slurping being heard. "OKAY, HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!" commanded Rally, drawing a bead on the figure. Said figure turned around. It looked like a teenaged girl, fangs flashing as she looked as if she didn't like having her dinner interrupted. "Okay, now drop the victim and don't move, so that I can get a good shot at you!" Rally added. However, the girl didn't seem inclined to obey, her blood-red eyes - the same color as Rally's - flashing as she prepared to defend her meal. "OH MY GOD... JENN!!" Elysse screamed, having encountered the others. "What in God's name?" Moria gasped, seeing the whole situation. However, the vampire in question - Jenn Wooley - snapped out of her rage and recognized the two behind Rally and Pip. "Mrs. Morse... Miss Hedgley?" she gasped, getting up and starting to advance. "DON'T MOVE!!" Rally yelled, pumping Purgatory. "You know, it's bad enough that FREAKs like you give the rest of us vampires a bad name, but having to turn an entire building into your buffet table... that's just low!" "What... what in the world is she talking about?" Elysse whimpered. Pip turned to the two women. "Zat girl's a vampire, possibly a chipped one," the Frenchman said. "Look, eet's dangerous for you two to be around, zo..." "Captain Bernadotte, that is ridiculous," Moria said, whispering to Pip. "I've known Jenn Wooley for two weeks and I can tell you she's no vampire." "How can you be certain, Mon Chere?" Pip asked. Moria then whispered information into the Frenchman's ear. In the meantime, Jenn looked around, confused. "What are you all talking about?" she whimpered. Then she got a look at the body near her. "OH NO!! WHAT... WHAT...?" "What do you think?" Rally smirked, edging closer. "You drank the blood of some of the residents here and turned them into ghouls." "But... but... I was only babysitting Angela for the Morses," pleaded Jenn. "I fell asleep... and the next thing I knew, I'm over here!" She collapsed to her knees, crying. "Oh Gram... where are you? I need your help!" "Rally," Pip whispered, walking closer to the vampire, "I think ze situation eez a bit more complicated than you think." Pointing to Moria, he added, "Miss Hedgley informs me zat ze girl was out and about this morning when she left for work, eating toast before going to ze store." "What? But how...?" Rally sputtered, but then everyone's attention was turned to another ghoul shambling towards them; a female, and from the looks of it, originally middle-aged. Elysse immedietly recognized the ghoul. "Emma!" she gasped, shocked. Jenn also identified the ghoul. "Gram?" she added. All of a sudden, images flashed in her mind; a vaguely-cognizant memory of attacking Emma Wooley. "Oh God... what have I done?" Still confused by the various reactions, Rally decided to turn her attention to the ghoul approaching. "I'll deal with you later, right now I better take care of this ghoul!" she snarled, then drew her aim. "I'm sorry I have to do this," Rally whispered. "But don't worry... I'll end your agony soon." She then began to squeeze the trigger, only to find a hand grabbing the barrel at the last moment. BLAM! The next thing Rally knew, she saw Jenn's shocked face, the slug penetrating her heart as she pulled the barrel of Purgatory into it. "What the...?" she gasped. Jenn coughed up a bit of blood. "I had... to make it right," she gasped. Glancing towards, the ghoul, she managed to say, "I'm sorry, Gram. I... didn't...", only to collapse to the floor, her body billowing into ash. At the same time, the ghoul approaching also crumbled into ash, joining her granddaughter and the other ghouls as powdery remains. "I don't get it," Rally said, scratching her head. "She pulled my barrel into her and killed herself. Wait a minute... the ghoul fell apart after she died. That means she was a TRUE vampire, not a FREAK!" Upon hearing this, Pip went for his radio. "Sergio," he called out, "are you still fighting ghouls?" "Si, Capitan," the Spaniard answered. "A few of them crumbled, but we're still facing a whole group of them! We were able to advance into the building when they did, but these monsters just continue to fight!" While this discussion was going on, Elysse's head was shaking in disbelief with events. "Vampires... here? Then that means... oh my god!!" She then broke into a run past Rally and Pip. The dusky vampire tried to reach out for the woman, but Elysse had eluded her grasp. "LADY, WAIT!! IT'S DANGEROUS!!" "I'LL TRY TO STOP HER! MADAME, WAIT!!" Pip called out, making pursuit. Summoning her courage, Moria managed to walk up to Rally. "I overheard what Pip's men said," she began. "There's another vampire in there, do you believe?" "I'm afraid so, Moria," added Rally. "Look, the Geese are still fighting ghouls downstairs, so I think it's safer if you stick with me." She then looked at the gun Moria was holding, "Can you shoot that?" she asked. "Grandfather Peter taught me how," she agreed. "Good. Stick close to me. I'm certain Sir Integra's already called Master and Alucard, so they shouldn't be long," Rally said as the two women followed Pip, but then thought to herself, 'But I hate to think what will happen when that sensation I had earlier hits.' XXX "Little one? Where are you?" Elysse called out as she made her way to her flat, and nearly panicked upon seeing the shattered door. "I'm sorry I took so long! Oh God, where are you?" Her calls were rewarded by hearing crying in a nearby closet. Acting quickly, she opened it, seeing the six year-old girl huddled in the closet. "Oh there you are, are you alright?" "The monsters came back and took Jenn," the girl whimpered. "I thought I was next, but I went in here!" "Well don't worry... the monsters are gone," Elysse said, hugging the girl. "You're safe now." Just a few seconds behind, Pip managed to find the woman, who was hugging the girl. He was about to speak when he caught a horrifying sight - the girl's expression had changed from fear to satisfaction as she prepared to sink her fangs into Elysse's neck! "MADAM - LOOK OUT!!" he yelled, pulling Elysse out of the girl's grasp. "What are you doing?" Elysse said indignantly. "I had just saved that girl and you..." "That was not nice, you foolish human," a new voice said. Pip and Elysse's attention was turned to the girl - who's eyes now shown with the same orange-red gleam that Alucard and Seras had. "I was about to another meal when you interrupted me," she said in an all-too adult tone, fangs displayed in a predatory smile. "Wha... wha...wha...?" Elysse sputtered, shocked. "Oh don't worry, now that I know that this human is here, he won't interrupt me... ever again!" the girl snarled as she lunged towards Pip. However, as soon as she did, the Frenchman opened fire upon the vampire - only to find the girl dodging the shots. Pip was about to become the pint-sized bloodsucker's next meal when a shotgun blast forced her to retreat. "So, it looks like we've found the source of all the trouble... a pre-school vampire!" Rally said as she pumped the spent shell out of Purgatory, Moria also taking aim. And soon they found they were not alone. Alucard and Seras soon appeared next to them, with the Draculina standing next to her fledgling. "Sorry about earlier, Rally," Seras began, "but I'll explain later. Right now, let's deal with this." "Uh... yeah, Master," Rally replied, noticing that she didn't have the urge to attack Seras. 'Maybe that whole bit tonight WAS a passing phase,' she thought to herself. The No-Life King, however, turned his attention to the childlike vampire. "I should have thought you were the cause of all this trouble, Angela!" he growled. "Even after three hundred years, you still have no sense of restraint!" Angela just smirked. "Oh really?" she chirped in mock surprise. "And just what kind of judge of vampire conduct are you... Prince Vlad?" Surprised, Rally turned to Alucard. "She... she knows who you really are!" she gasped. "A long story, Rally Vincent, to be sure" Alucard answered, still eyeing Angela poisonously. "Indeed it is," Angela said, still smirking, "and I guarantee you this - the explanation that will follow will not be enough to save you all!"
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