Nicholas quietly watched and listened as the events at the hotel unfolded. He had quite the view thanks to the crow casually sitting on a tree. Honestly, the crow should stand out like a sore thumb, but everyone was to distracted by the bodies impaled on the flag poles.
Alucard was fighting the Dandy Man, and it's was going as expected. To the point where Nicholas quickly lost interest. The surge of cheap vampire imitations and the attack on the manor were only the previews. This was the opening act. His time here would soon come to a close. While he had Intergra, she alone wouldn't be enough.
Nicholas quietly went over his mental list. Besides Intergra there was Seras Victoria, Zorin Blitz, Rip Van Winkle, Heinkel Wolfe, and Yumi Takagi. He stopped for a moment. The next one he could grab would be Rip. She would be vulnerable while she's out in the middle of the sea. It wouldn't be hard to grab her and disable the ship before Alucard got there.
However, there was still some time before that happened. As he walked down the hallway, Nicholas bumped into someone he wasn't expecting as he turned a corner. It was Integra. The unexpected collision had both of them to lose balance and begin to fall backwards.
Nicholas immediately grabbed the only thing available to steady himself, Integra. As he pulled, both of them were pulled awkwardly close to each other. Realizing she was coming to see him, Nicholas asked, "Is there something you need?"
Intergra took a step back, unconsciously rubbing the hand that he grabbed. She recomposed herself and said, "Do you have a method that would allow us to retrieve Alucard and Seras?"
Nicholas thought about it for a minute and then said, "Technically yes, but it's not really meant for that." A wall of fog, roughly the size of a door formed on the wall next to them. He continued, "This usually connects to my realm but it can connect to two fixed points as long as both points don't change in the slightest. That being said, this was never meant for that purpose. So, if you want to use this method. Then tell Alucard and Seras to hold each other's hands and do not let go under any circumstances otherwise they both could get lost in there."
The fog dispersed with no trace that it had ever been there. Intergra was silent for a long moment, but then she asked, "If we chose this method how long would it take for them to arrive?" Nicholas responded, "Assuming nothing goes wrong. From the moment they enter to the moment they exit... less than ten seconds."
....
Intergra was silent for a moment as she heard Nicholas explain his option. It was a potentially high risk maneuver, but it also meant she wouldn't owe the church when extracting her agents.
Then she said, "Do it." Nicholas bowed and said, "As you wish." It was over the top, but Intergra saw it for what it was. A not-so-subtle reminder of their deal and the fact that he technically owns her soul. She left to inform Alucard of what's about to happen. The conversation went as expected, then after the gate had opened, seven seconds later. Alucard and Seras walked through with Seras clinging for dear life.
After arranging the return of the mercenary, a meeting involving the queen was scheduled. Not unexpected considering the enemy was better connected than expected. But an annoying variable was that the Vatican would be sending a representative as well.
Intergra was back in her office listening to Alucard give his report. Admittedly, she was more interested on his experience through the fog then with his fight with the Millennium Group. Alucard described a clearly marked path but described quite temptations, silently encouraging them to abandoned the path. A weaker mind would have easily succumbed. Apparently, Seras almost did. It was an experience they weren't eager to do again. She dismissed Alucard and got ready for the meeting.
....
The meeting had gone more or less as expected. Nicholas noted an distinctive difference. When Schrödinger made his appearance with the televised radio, music began playing drowning out the Major.
[Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles]
It was amusing to watch the Major's frustration as he tried to make his big speech to provoke everyone only for no one to be able to hear him. Of course, the fact that it was happening at all told Nicholas that the anchor was near where the Major was broadcasting from.
That meant he might actually have to wait for the assault on London. Given how everything was about to get really busy then it would be most probable that even if he's completely successful he won't be able to enjoy the spoils until he returns home.
Nicholas pauses at the thought. He now considers the realm his home now. When did that happened? He wondered. It wasn't when he first arrived... right? No, it must have been when he took over, right? Any sooner would've been crazy, and yet.
Deciding to put that thought process on hold, Nicholas returned to the task at hand. Namely, figuring out the best moment to make a move on a soon to be highjacked carrier. While he could sneak out there collect the fearful huntress and return without anyone the wiser. He'd have to do it when Alucard was already in route and couldn't be recalled. A plan began to form.
....
Rip Van Winkle, a first lieutenant in the last battalion. Was sitting under a beach umbrella staring at a clock. Her orders were very specific, to hold that ship at that position until the alarm rings.
The anticipation was continuously mounting as she waited. Taking the ship and disposing of the traitors had proven a laughably easy mission. And any attempt to retake the ship could be spotted from miles away. So she could be forgiven for having a somewhat relaxed guard.
That being said, she wasn't so relaxed that someone would've been able to sneak up behind her without her notice. So, it was a real surprise when a hand landed on her shoulder and an unknown voice said, "Hello, fräulein."
She wanted to react, to reach for her gun, to call on her soldiers, something! Instead the man continued to speak.
"Blood is the currency of the soul, when a vampire drinks blood they consume the soul of whoever dies from the feeding. However, your group are artificial vampires, when you feed the souls from your victims never separate from their bodies and thus, no matter the circumstances, you create ghouls. Ghouls that don't need you to stay in the land if the living. Now, what will you do when someone can claim your soul without drinking your blood?"
Rip froze for an instant. She gathered what was left of her courage and asked, "What are you implying?"
The man answered, "Even if Alucard were to appear and devour every piece of you or if the Major decided to burn you to ash. You will find no release in death. You are already mine."
With a sudden burst of resolve Rip grabbed her musket and aimed. Only to find the man was no longer there. Had it been an illusion created by the mixture of anticipation and boredom?
As if to answer that question he appeared behind again, this time she was fully wrapped in his arms. The he said, "Of course that doesn't have to be a bad thing." Her body was frozen once again, but this time with her musket in her hand and finger on the trigger. She said, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor! Mine is the bullet that punishes all without distinction!"
She managed to pull the trigger with all her available might. The gun fired and the man let go. She turned to confirm he was dead only to find no one there. Then she heard his voice in her ear say, "You have a spine after all. I hope that is still the case the next time I see you."
She immediately turned, but only a whisp of black fog could be seen dispersing over the ground. Her troops were asking what was happening since she fired the shot from her musket. Even the Major was asking what was going on. Or at least that is what she thinks, it was hard to tell because every time he tried to call music would begin to broadcast. The latest one was particularly loud.
[The Cup Of Life - Ricky Martin]
....
Flames roared as the ship struggled to deal with the fire fight happening on the deck. Alucard had made his entrance with his usual intimidating flare. One in charge, a woman with a magic musket was hiding in a corner.
Understandable, her bullet failed to kill him and now her troops were fighting and dying while shouting that they needed to hold on because it's not time yet.
As the last one fell and the flames die out, the only sound that could be heard was the ringing of an alarm clock. For some reason that sound caused there leader to have regained some resolve. She shouted something then fired her gun.
The bullet repeatedly tore through Alucard's body. Ripping flesh and breaking bones. Then he caught that pesky bullet with his teeth. And crushed it.
The look of absolute terror she had was priceless. Grabbing the gun he began to shove it through her shoulder. She should've screamed in pain and started bleeding. But instead she started to turn into darkened ash and fell a part.
Anger began to well up with Alucard. He had been denied his kill. His first thought was that it was the Major's doing. However, he prefers to incinerate his subordinates. This was someone else. Then it dawned on him.
This ships engines were likely disabled, and even with his abilities it would take several hours for his return. He had been lured out of London.
He sat down at the bow of the ship, and it began to move despite all the damage it sustained. Someone had denied him. Someone had tricked him. He was going to get his pound of flesh, one way or another.
....
Nicholas was at the Manor, just sitting on the roof. He was enjoying the night air before the attack begins. Intergra went to a special meeting to discuss tactics in dealing with the Millennium Group. She had decided that Walter would be the only protection she required.
So, Nicholas was left behind with Seras and the Wild Geese mercenary company. He stretched as another bell sound hit his ears. Someone else had been caught in an old snare. The first few times he immediately rejected them without looking but now he looked through their backgrounds before deciding. It was a good way to pass the time, and it was a reminder of how much time he was actually spending here.
Then another signal hit, it wasn't a new toy caught in a snare, but a signal from the crows telling him the war blimps made it to British airspace. The curtain was about to rise on what should be his last night here.
...
Intergra was driving down a stretch of road at barreling speeds desperately trying to get back to the manor. Walter had separated earlier to buy her time.
Suddenly her car jerked hard right and began to spin. After a moment of disorientation shr saw several enemy soldiers closing in. Fangs showing from their twisted smiles. She immediately grabbed her pistol ready to shoot whenever they tore open the door. However, an inhuman scream send an undesired chill down her spine. The screams of the soldiers immediately followed.
After a moment of silence, the car began to groan as steel was being torn a part. Then the car roof was ripped from the rest of the car. She immediately trained her gun at the opening ready to fire. However, standing there hands extended was a samurai and a knight.
Intergra recognized them as Nicholas' and then it clicked. She had given her soul to him, of course he would have his killers protect her, right? They helped her stand, and an idea popped into her head. They were going to escort her to her destination. She paused at the notation. Intergra immediately recognized that the idea wasn't her own.
As they began to walk, Integra found her questions seemingly being answered on their own. Including a big one. What benefits was there for letting Nicholas' anchor being destroyed and having her debt be collected? The answer; if they didn't the anchor would naturally release snares that would pull more and more if this world into his realm. That's would be problematic especially since his realm had a filter that would reject unwanted additions and expel them into a void. Intergra let out a sigh as she now had to contend with the fact she had asked the questions and didn't like the answers.