by Llarian

Disclaimer: I own neither "Hellsing" nor "Kindred The Embraced". No profit is made with this story. Rating: PG 13 for violence in context with the story line. Genre: Crossover / Action

Warning : Do not eat or drink while reading this fic - may be hazardous for your monitor and keyboard!

Crossover between Hellsing and Kindred - The Embraced, set after "Cabin in the Woods" for Kindred, not sure for Hellsing, since I've not read the manga yet but only seen the anime. Note: Frank is with Lilly now, and Caitlin has remembered the true events at the cabin. She chose to forgive Julian for his manipulation of her mind after understanding his reasons, though.

I'm choosing to ignore Hellsing's "virgin" rule. Also, I'm going with the spelling "Alucard", since in the anime there is more than just the name to indicate that Alucard truly is Count Dracula, who in turn is Vlad Dracula a.k.a. Vlad the Impaler. In case you're wondering: I found a WOD timeline that makes Vlad a Tzimisce (although they didn't go with his real date of death), and an Inconnu. For Victoria, I think there is a bit of cultural misunderstanding in the translation. The Japanese Version gives her name as Victoria Selas, Selas being the family name as in Western European tradition. But in the translation, it's Selas Victoria. I'm using Victoria Selas, simply because it makes more sense to me. :)

London, New Scotland Yard

Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing was fuming. That in itself was nothing unusual. What was unusual was the person her tirade was directed at. Short and balding, the Chief Superintendent of Scotland Yard held no resemblance whatsoever to the normal recipient of Sir Integra's wrath, her pet vampire and indisputably best field agent, Alucard. Not only was there no physical resemblance, the Superintendent flinched at nearly every word.

"So once again you failed to involve Hellsing in a preternatural case before it was too late. It is certainly not my place to judge your incompetence, Sir, but it seems to me it is on a level with your stupidity!" The young woman's voice was vitriol and shattered glass.

"Sir Integra..." The Superintendent squirmed in his seat. Although at least thirty years his junior, Integra Hellsing managed to make him feel like a rookie. An inept rookie.

"Silence! You should have realized that this..." - she stabbed her finger at the gruesome photographies spread on the table for emphasis - "... was not a human serial killer. The bites, the claw marks, the fact that he always strikes on the full moon, all that should have told you what you were dealing with. Still, you neglected to call on the experts, and innocent people paid the price for your arrogance. Only now that he has left the country did you call us!"

"At least we know where he is."

"Where?"

"San Francisco. But how can I inform the local authorities without also informing them of his nature?" For the first time the Superintendent lifted his eyes to meet the icy blue ones of Sir Hellsing.

The tall blonde huffed and lit one of her cigars.

"Then I shall send my agents there. I need you to provide them with the necessary papers." Integra Hellsing turned her back on the little man. The spineless fool disgusted her almost more than a ghoul. She deeply inhaled the fragrant cigar smoke before she continued: "They will pass as a team of detectives from Scotland Yard - no, make that an inspector and a detective. They will also require diplomatic immunity. My staff will contact you with the details. Have everything ready by tonight. The next full moon is only three nights away, after all."

"You... you are not going to send your vampire, are you?" Spineless indeed; the man's voice quivered with fear at the mere thought of the undead. Hellsing whipped around to face him once more, a smirk playing on her lips. "Of course I am sending my vampires, both of them. Who better to deal with a werewolf?"

--

San Francisco

Detective Frank Kohanek knocked on the door frame of the glass cubicle that constituted his superior's office. Lieutenant Kwan barely looked up from the case file he was studying, but waved him in nonetheless. As soon as Kohanek was seated, Kwan threw the folder across the desk.

"What do you make of this, Frank?"

The detective studied the folder for several minutes before he answered. "Ugly", he said. "Extremely ugly. I take it he's come over from Britain to pay us a visit?"

"That is what Scotland Yard believes. They're sending a team over to apprehend him."

Kohanek shook his head. He already had a fair idea of what exactly the murderer was, having been exposed to things that go bump in the night, and he didn't want other mortals involved. At the very least, it would lead to awkward questions. "We can handle him. No need for the Brits to send their people."

"Too late for that, Frank. The plane lands in less than an hour; I want you to pick the two up at the airport, give them all professional courtesy. You and Sonny will be working the case with them."

Damn. Well, perhaps he could lead them a merry chase while Julian and his people took care of the lycanthrope. Kindred where certainly better equipped to deal with a shape-shifting creature of the night than anyone Scotland Yard sent.

He sighed. "Alright, what are their names, then."

"Detective Victoria Selas, and Inspector John Alucard." Kwan carefully watched his best detective for a reaction. He was not disappointed.

"John Alucard?" Kohanek asked. He looked like he could not believe his ears.

"John Alucard." Kwan shook a warning finger at Kohanek. "Yes, I know. But Frank, one crack about vampires, and you'll be writing parking tickets for the rest of your professional life, is that clear?"

Despite the pictures of mutilated corpses he had just seen, Frank Kohanek could not help himself. The police officer was shaking with suppressed laughter. John Alucard, indeed!

"Well", he quipped once he had himself under control again, "at least the other one's not called Renfield."

"Out, Frank. And don't think that was an empty threat." Kwan had difficulty staying serious himself.

"Wouldn't for a second, Sir." Grinning from ear to ear, Frank Kohanek left the office. Wait until his partner heard that one. But then again, the ventrue probably could not appreciate the joke.

San Francisco Airport

Victoria and Alucard had gone through customs unmolested thanks to the papers obtained for them through Scotland Yard and were now picking up the suitcase labeled as diplomatic baggage that contained enough blood packs to last the two vampires for a week as well as Alucard's two guns, Joshuah and Jackal, with their special ammunition, and a modified 9mm Glock, also with silver ammo, for Victoria. The young vampire didn't regret for a second leaving Halkonnen behind for this mission. How was she supposed to bring this monstrosity into the United States anyway? Not even diplomatic status would allow her to tote a 30mm bazooka in a foreign country. Fortunately, Walter had foreseen the problem and provided her with a smaller weapon. Somehow, Victoria could not imagine Alucard loaning her one of his beloved guns.

The young vampire was deep in thought and barely noticed the curious stares that her master received and studiously ignored. Her mind was still reeling from all the new information her master had imparted on her telepathically during the flight. Having joined Hellsing immediately after her embrace, and battling freak vampires almost every night since then, Victoria Selas had somehow assumed that every country had to have an institution similar to Hellsing. It shocked her to learn that in most countries, vampires - or Kindred, as her master had now called them for the first time in her presence - lived by a code of conduct that ensured the mortals would not learn of their existence, and that this code was enforced by the vampires themselves.

She also learned about the clans. Not all of them, and not everything, obviously, since her master insisted that the time was too short to impart more than the most basic information on the subject. So he told her about the five clans who had members currently residing in San Francisco.

Ventrue, the blue bloods. Leaders and diplomats among their people, but much too alike to humans. Brujah. Once a clan of warriors and scholars, and worthy of the highest regard. Today, they were but rabble, little better than the freaks. Toreador, the artists and artisans among the undead. However, they were also prone to be shallow creatures. Gangrel. Closest to the mortal children of the night, and to the Children of Gaia. Honorable, but quick to anger, and often falling victim to the beast within, instead of governing it. And the Nosferatu, easily the most recognizable as Kindred due to their often hideous appearance. Yet her master spoke with a respect rare for him of their cunning and wisdom, and their determination. And finally, their own clan, Tzimisce. Named the fiends by their enemies, her master told her, although it escaped Victoria how such a nickname could be viewed with pride. Once a great clan governing whole regions in Eastern Europe, ruling over Kindred and Kine alike, so great in fact that mortal mages stole their blood to turn themselves into Kindred after their image, the Tzimisce, too, had fallen. The younger set, her master told her with a sneer, were prideful but lacked the courage and discipline that once set them apart even among Kindred. Cruel but weak, they were little better than the Brujah, and often did little more than squabble among themselves and bask in the shadow of the glory of days long gone. Pitiful, he called them. Victoria did not comment on his remarks, but silently resolved to judge for herself. Although she positively adored her master, she had learned early on that his views tended to be colored by his vast, century-spanning experience as well as his own more than dubious sanity.

So it was that she missed the first reaction the police officer sent to pick them up exhibited.

Frank Kohanek had been waiting for the pair at customs where he could hope to catch the names of the passengers disembarking from the British Airways flight from London. He had not been given pictures of the two, and so had no idea how they looked. But the moment he saw them, he knew. The girl seemed almost normal, and he may not have noticed anything out of the ordinary except that she wore shades despite it already being dark. The man however... to Frank Kohanek, everything about him fairly screamed Kindred. It wasn't the long crimson coat in a style of a century past, or the matching broad-rimmed hat, or the fact that he, too, wore shades. No, it was the presence, the usually subtle difference in the vibes Frank had learned to recognize as unique to Kindred. It was so powerful in this man that it set the detective's nerves to tingle. The vampire fairly stank of power, a power that unleashed could shatter the earth and turn the sky to blood, of that Frank Kohanek was certain. And yet that power was held in check with an ease equally as frightening.

So he hung back and followed the pair as they made their way to another desk where a suitcase labeled as diplomatic baggage already waited for them. Of course, the fact that they were Kindred changed a few things. There was no need now to not truly work with them on the case. In all probability, they would try and protect him from the knowledge he as a mortal was not supposed to have. Frank saw the tall man sign for the suitcase and exchange a few words with the customs officials.

"Inspector Alucard?" Frank addressed the man as he stepped up to the desk. Alucard slowly straightened and looked down at the mortal from his formidable height of 6'3''.

"Yes?" The voice was deep and melodious.

"Detective Frank Kohanek, San Francisco Police Department. Welcome to the United States." Frank held his hand out at the Kindred. Alucard - naturally Frank doubted that was indeed his name, and suddenly things clicked into place for him - Alucard made no move to shake his hand, but instead looked at him with an amused smirk on his face.

"And now you are going to tell us that we are not needed, since you are quite capable of handling the case yourself, and the two of us can get on the next plane home while you do the work for us. Is that so, detective?" The question was asked with a dark chuckle in that expressive voice, and the smirk grew into a full grin.

Kohanek grinned back, determined not to be cowed by the Kindred. "If it were anyone else, yes. But I know your breed, Inspector, and I don't think I could get rid of you so easily." He put extra emphasis on the word "breed" and was rewarded with another chuckle.

Alucard allowed his shades to slide down his nose so he could peek at Kohanek over the rim.

"An educated man. So rare to find one these days", he commented and finally proceeded to shake Kohanek's hand. "In that case, you may call me Alucard. And this is Victoria." He indicated the girl standing next to him.

"Hmm... Good evening, Detective", she stammered, laughing a little nervously.

"Detective Selas." Frank inclined his head. Now that he got a closer look at her, she seemed barely out of her teens, perhaps not even that, and certainly only a few months into her second life. No older than Sasha. Alucard's fledgling, no doubt, and he had to bring her along because she was too young to be on her own yet. The three started walking towards the exit, Kohanek taking Victoria's suitcase. Although as a Kindred she was bound to be much stronger than him, it never hurt to remember ones manners.

"Hotel first, or would you like to start right away?" He addressed the words to Alucard, but to his surprise it was Victoria who answered: "The precinct, if you don't mind, Detective Kohanek. Our suspect will most probably strike again in only two days, which leaves us precious little time to prepare. We need to determine where he is most likely to seek out his next victims."

Alucard laughed quietly to himself when he caught Kohanek's expression. The girl was even using the correct terminology.

"She is a police officer, you know. Went through police school and all that."

"Master! I mean... uhm... Inspector!"

Alucard chuckled again. It seemed to Frank that the man was constantly amused, and perhaps he had been wrong about his identity after all.

"It's alright, Police Girl, the detective knows."

"Knows what?" Victoria was visibly puzzled.

"What we are, of course. Don't you smell it?"

Smell? Kohanek fought the sudden urge to check if his deodorant had failed. He had showered before coming on duty, like every day.

Alucard grinned. "No offense, Frank - I may call you Frank, yes? - but you fairly reek of Ventrue. And..." He inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma. It was familiar, although from a time long past. "And Toreador. Tell me, how is Lilly Langtry these days?"

Frank blushed as crimson as Alucard's ridiculous coat when the implications of the Kindred's words sank in. "I...o God, I'm sorry, I had no idea. I certainly didn't want to rub it in your face, man!"

The human's obvious embarrassment brought another smirk to Alucard's features. "Frank, what was between Lilly and me was over even before your grandfather was born. Besides, unlike Lilly, I'm not the possessive type."

"You can't imagine how glad I am to hear that."

"Master, he knows what we are?" Victoria asked, eyes wide behind her shades.

"Why, yes, he recognized me. A truly educated man." There was slight mockery in Alucard's deep voice, but Frank was not sure if it was directed at him in particular or the stupidity of humans in general.

"You know, I had almost started to doubt myself." The three had reached Frank's car in the lot and loaded the luggage into the trunk.

"Oh?" Alucard's eyebrows appeared above the rims of his shades.

"No offense, Alucard, but in that outfit, and you constantly laughing, I very nearly pegged you for a Malkavian."

Frank half expected the Kindred to fly into a fit of rage, but Alucard only... laughed. It started as a deep chuckle that shook the man's shoulders, and soon turned into a maniacal howl that lasted long enough for a mortal to be completely out of breath. He actually had to lean against the car to steady himself.

"Now you do me too much honor, Frank", he gasped between giggles after he had halfway recovered from his fit. "I'm Tzimisce."

"I'm actually glad to hear that." On Alucard's quizzical look, Frank continued: "Because it means I was correct, your Highness."

"I haven't been called that in centuries." Dang, but he was starting to like this mortal. He had style, and he didn't stink of fear. Two points for the Detective.

"Master... Malkavian?"

"A great clan, Little One, possessed of hidden wisdom", Alucard explained, and then, with a truly evil grin, rotated his index finger against his temple to indicate insanity. "But they're also totally cuckoo, the lot of them."

"Oh", Victoria uttered. And "Oh!" again when she remembered that her master truly appeared more than a bit unhinged most of the time.

The three climbed into the car, and Frank drove to the precinct.

"So you intend to work with us, Detective?"

"Course I do."

"But you are aware what we are facing, are you not?" Alucard purred.

"A werewolf, yes. And you are aware that I know the lay of the land, while you are strangers here."

"There is that", Alucard conceded.

"I guess I can also ask a few of the local Kindred to help, call in some favors. I want this guy off the streets, preferably before he kills again."

"In that, I agree with you. However, working with local Kindred may not be the best idea."

Kohanek looked at the vampire riding the front passenger seat. "Clan rivalry? Julian at least has more sense than that."

"And I do not? We shall see. Watch the street, Detective. We may be immortal, but you are not."

--

Traffic was easing up now that the rush hour was over, so they arrived at the precinct in decent time. Frank ushered the British guests into the bullpen when he spotted his partner Sonny. Now this was going to be interesting. Sonny still had no idea that Frank knew his friend and partner was Kindred, and Frank was waiting for the right moment to spring the news on him. Perhaps the time had come tonight. He would enjoy seeing the Ventrue squirm a little for all the time he had lived a lie. He smiled to himself when he saw the Ventrue gape at the newcomers. Making a beeline for Sonny, he greeted his partner: "Sonny, hey, good to see you. I'd like you to meet our guests from Britain."

Sonny grabbed Franks arm, his gaze never leaving Alucard. "I need to talk to you, Frank. Alone." With that, he dragged his partner into an empty interrogation room and closed the door behind them. All the while he could feel the other Kindred's eyes burn into his back like twin suns.

"Get rid of them", he demanded without preamble.

"Hey, come on, Sonny, Lieutenant's orders, professional courtesy and all that stuff."

"This is our turf, Frank. We can handle that." Frank could almost see the wheels turn in Sonny's head. How to get rid of the two? How to keep the mortal safe? Frank was pretty sure Sonny would run to Julian first chance he got.

"Look, Frank, I called London and asked around a bit. This guy they sent us? He makes Dirty Harry look like a choir boy! We don't need that here."

Was this the best Sonny could fabricate? A sly grin spread over Frank's face. "I see. Or is it because they're Tzimisce? You know, Sonny, I feel really ashamed. Here I tell Alucard that Julian at least is above petty clan rivalries, and then his childe, my partner, turns around and proves me a liar."

To his credit, Sonny still tried to deny everything. "What are you talking about, Frank? I don't even know what the word means... this Tzimi...whatever. This is not about vampires again, is it?" He paused for a moment. "Frank, you're risking your career, you know that, and I'm starting to get really worried about you."

He was good, Frank had to give him that. The concern sounded genuine. Yes, this was definitely the moment he had been waiting for.

"Cut it out, Sonny. I know what you are."

"Alright, Frank, that's it! I don't know what happened to you, but you need help."

Yes, just as expected. Now for the trump card.

"I saw you at Archon's funeral, Sonny."

But Sonny still wasn't ready to call it quits. "And why should I not? I knew him, okay? You're going to make an issue of it?"

"A funeral at night, Sonny. For a man who's been dead for over a century. Look, I know your rules, but I also know most of the Kindred in this town. Hell, Sonny, I never thought I'd say that, but I consider your Sire a friend, so cut the crap, okay? Talk to Julian about it if you must, but give me some credit, partner!"

"Oh crap." Sonny seemed to deflate before Frank's eyes. "Listen, Frank, you know the rules."

"I know them, Sonny, and I'm in too deep already. And you should know by now that you can trust me, partner."

Sonny wiped his brow. "Right." He then changed the subject. "What are we going to do about them? I don't want him involved, Frank."

"There's nothing we can do. We're stuck with him. 'Sides, he's not that bad, buddy."

"Not that bad?" Sonny echoed. "You've no idea what he is, Frank!"

"Actually, I do. And what's more important, I know who he is." He shook his head. "Don't judge him by his clan alone, okay?"

Sonny shook his head in defeat. A Tzimisce. He had to work with one of the fiends, with an enemy of the Camarilla and all that it stood for. Frank must have lost his mind. Either that, or the mortal didn't know half of what he claimed he knew.

In the bullpen, Alucard had usurped Kohanek's desk and was now lounging in the detective's chair, feet propped up on the table. He found the whole situation rather amusing. To find a mortal who actually knew about his kind outside Hellsing - that was a stroke of luck he hadn't thought possible in this time and age. Although this partner of his, Sonny, had dragged Kohanek off into a supposedly noise-proof interrogation room, Alucard's acute vampire hearing enabled him to follow their conversation quite easily. So, the Ventrue whelp was scared spitless of him, hmmm? Sonny's fangs had probably retracted completely into his gums with fright. Quite an amusing thought, actually.

A shadow fell over him, and he looked up lazily. The shadow belonged to a man of Asian descent who was eyeing him with an air of irritation.

"Inspector Alucard, I presume?" On Alucard's lazy smile, he continued, looking pointedly at the vampire's boots: "I do hope you are comfortable, Inspector."

Alucard's smile grew wider. "And now you are going to ask me whether my dear departed mother taught me any manners", he purred. "Tut, tut, Lieutenant, you did not even introduce yourself."

Kwan stared at the man. Alucard had a point there, but he wasn't about to let himself be challenged in his own department. Alucard peered at him over the rim of his shades. Did the man actually have red eyes? Well, that explained the shades, but certainly not Alucard's idea of fashion. The British were supposed to be eccentric, but the Inspector seemed to take that to a new level. Kwan wondered if the man was certifiable, or merely color-blind. He sure hoped it was the latter. Only then did he notice that Alucard had correctly identified him; the Inspector must have some powers of observation and deduction, to say the least. He was plain-clothes, his name was only on the office door at the other end of the room, and he had not come from there. Alucard must have read the name and rank, and his own behaviour told him the rest. But still Alucard's cocky, arrogant attitude galled Kwan.

It was then when Kohanek and Toissaint returned, the dark-skinned detective looking surly and apprehensive.

"Gentlemen, my office", Kwan snapped. He turned on his heel and strode towards his glass cubicle, nearly running over the petite strawberry blonde who had been hovering nearby.

"Sorry, Sir", the girl squeaked, neatly stepping aside to let him pass.

Kwan took his seat in his office and watched to detectives and the eccentric inspector file in; the girl came in last, closing the door behind her. So that was Detective Selas. She certainly looked young for her rank. At least she knew how to dress properly.

"I may assume you are all aware of the case?" he asked. There were nods from Kohanek, Toissaint, and Selas. Alucard, who was leaning against the doorjamb with his arms crossed over his chest, only smirked.

"I need not tell you that there are lives at stake here; I want this perp off the streets before he kills again. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir", Kohanek answered.

"If he stays with his usual pattern, and there is no doubt that he will, he'll strike first in two days, shortly after moonrise, in a much-frequented park", Selas piped in. "We... uh... we need to establish which one."

Kwan looked at her directly. "Very good, Detective. What do you propose we do?"

"Set up a perimeter, have plain-clothes officers patrol, Sir." The young detective's voice had wavered at first, but quickly grew more assured.

Kwan nodded. "That would be a good course of action. Unfortunately, we do not have the manpower for that kind of approach. Unless you can pinpoint exactly where he is going to strike, and prove it to me, it's just the four of you." He pointed at each officer in turn.

"Hn... don't worry, we'll get him."

Kwan frowned. "Don't get too cocky, Inspector. The way I understand it, you failed to apprehend this killer before. That's why he's here now in the first place. And let me tell you something: I don't like it one bit. I would have preferred it if you had done your job right the first time."

The infuriating smirk never left Alucard's face. "You assume too much, Lieutenant", he informed Kwan. He didn't elaborate further, so Selas jumped in again: "We're with a special unit. We got called in only after the suspect fled Britain. You know how it is..." She let the sentence trail off, her voice having turned into a nervous squeak again.

Alucard nodded.

"I see", Kwan commented. "Any ideas, then?" He let his gaze sweep over the four police officers.

"I thought I'd talk to Luna first", Kohanek began, but was cut off by Kwan: "Let Luna be, Frank. He can't possibly have any connection to this case. I don't want you to harass a prominent citizen because of a personal vendetta. Is that clear?"

"Luna owns a newspaper", Frank protested. "He has people on the streets, he may be able to help, have them ask around. He's been a real... prince with sharing information before." He put extra emphasis on the word 'prince'.

Alucard got the message immediately. "I think that is a very good idea. We should use every resource available if we wish to apprehend the suspect before he kills again."

"Very well then. But be polite. I don't want Luna's lawyers breaking down my door, you hear me?"

"I'm reading you loud and clear, Lieutenant."

"Alright, then. Go get him."

--