moonshadows | First action

She flinches slightly as the shot is fired, but her eyes are steady.

“No tears for your uncle?” A purr, hardly more than a whisper, accusing and promising at the same time. She puts the gun down and stands up, one hand on the wall for support.

“He was not my uncle. He was not a Hellsing.” Her voice is steady, cool, as she limps slowly across the body-strewn floor.

I stand and watch her; her back is straight, her head up. “What are my orders, master?”

She starts up the stairs. “I am going to take a bath and get cleaned up. I will not require your services until after that.” She hisses slightly; the pain is distracting her.

I bow. “As you command, my master. You have but to call me, your loyal servant, and I shall appear.” Once she is out of sight, I turn to the bodies. No sense letting them go to waste…..

I am finished long before she is, and wander through the familiar halls while she dresses. They are quite empty of people. I find her in the study, about to pick up the phone. She does not see me until my hand forces hers – and the receiver – back onto the base of the telephone.

“I did not call for you!” No fear, only anger in her eyes as they bore into my own.

“Do not call the authorities, master.”

“Why not”

“You are head of Hellsing now; this will be your first official act and set the precedent for how you, and Hellsing, will be seen and treated.

“And what of it?” she shoots back. “My father is dead less than three days. I am newly-orphaned, and my only relation tries to kill me! I think I am quite justified in calling the police!”

“Of course you are…” I soothe, taking a step back, hands up and eyes slitted almost shut. She lifts the receiver again. “…if you wish yourself and Hellsing to be seen as a little girl who turns to others at the first sign of trouble.”

The receiver goes back on the hook and she turns to face me. “Then what shall I do about-“ she waves off to the side. “Someone will want to know what happened, eventually. When the police come knocking at the door, accusing me of murder, what would you have me tell them?”

“Why, nothing.” My tone is light, just shy of mocking. I open my eyes fully and give her a measuring look. “You are head of Hellsing. You answer to nobody but the king-“

“Queen.”

“-queen. If anyone questions your actions, simply inform them that it is a Hellsing affair, and none of their business.”