Slowly he reached his hand into his pocket and withdrew a small object of no apparent value, a laminated gum wrapper. It was one of the few things his mother had ever given him. Under her madness she did not even recognize him, but he could remember looking in her eyes. She knew him, deep down, he knew it. He knew it was sentimental and silly like his Gran had said, but he always though this wrapper was proof she really did recognize him and wanted to give him something, anything.
Part of him always though he was fooling himself but he refused to believe that. It was his prized possession. He knew deep down that his parents still loved him, under all the madness, but now… now they were dead.
His mum and pa were dead, killed by a monster. What Integra said had struck a nerve. Was the Ministry of Magic really to blame? Was Hellsing always too late to save lives?
He shook his head. That didn't matter, what mattered was the question he needed to ask Integra, the question backed by a conviction, an anger unlike any he'd ever felt before. He never had much, only his family, but he treasured them… and now his parents were dead.
Fighting back his own uncertainty, Neville walked up to Integra.
" Neville…" he began.
The girl turned around, looking angry. Integra was really scary when she was angry and Neville immediately felt put back.
"What is it, Neville?" Integra growled.
"I... I..." he stammered.
"Spit it out Longbottom!"
"I want you to teach me how to fight Vampires!" he exclaimed. With that said, the rest of his words flowed rapidly and with strength. He'd gone over the hump of his own uncertainty. "A vampire killed my Mum and Pa! I don't ever want to see 'em hurt anyone again! I'll stop 'em if I have to! I want to know how to fight them! To… to kill them. You family's been vampire slayers for a long lone time... Could you teach me? Please?"
Integra's features softened from her hard rage to understanding, and slowly she placed her hands on his shoulder. "I'd be happy to Neville, but you have to understand something. It's not a game. When you fight a vampire you do so for your life. Do you understand me?"
Neville nodded.
Integra smiled. "Good,"
The girl paused for a moment same smiled, as if she was reliving a fond memory.
"Neville," she asked, "Why are Vampires so feared?"
He paused, "I don't know."
"Vampires are full of weaknesses," she began, parroting her father, "The power of God repels them, crossing running water makes them sick, they are sensitive to natural light, and the only place they can rest is in a small, dark coffin… but even so they are said to be invincible."
She breathed in deeply and continued, "Its not because they can control wolves and bats. Its not because they are so hard to kill. Its not because they drink blood and can create countless companions and servants. It’s a very simple thing."
"What is it?" Neville asked, enthralled buy Integra's speech.
"They are strong," She replied, "Vampires are incredibly powerful. Super human reflexes, amazing coordination, a six sense, physical strength, special powers, stamina, the ability to drink blood, transformation, immortality… all of these are incredibly dangerous, but the most dangerous think about a vampire is their capacity for violence. Their brutality is their greatest strength. They can easily pull a human apart like an old rag doll… and they know it. That is why they are dangerous. They have this power and they know it, they know what they are capable of and they know how to use it. Do you understand?"
Neville nodded, a tad paler than before and much more sobered.
"Do you still want to fight them?"
He nodded.
"Good," Integra replied off hands, "Then I will teach you."
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(Posted Mon, 07 Mar 2005 09:22)
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