I took a steadying breath, feeling her warm presence beside me as I slumped back in the chair. She leaned in, her dark eyes blazing with that stubborn, unshakable fire that I knew well. That I both respected and, hell, feared, especially since it was exactly like her father’s.
"I can’t teach you this, Grace," I drawled, forcing myself to hold her gaze. "This ain’t somethin’ you fight with fists or spells. This thing…it knows the darkest parts of humanity. Knows how to crawl inside you and make a home out of your worst feelings or thoughts."
She crossed her arms, that rebellious spark flaring. "I’m not a little kid anymore, Hellsing, so don’t treat me like one. My father made sure I knew how to defend myself, taught me how to take on what most people wouldn’t even believe in. So don’t try to push me off like I’m some helpless little girl."
Her words hit hard, and I found myself staring at her beautiful face feeling both admiration and dread. It didn’t matter what she thought she knew; this was a whole different kind of monster. "I barely made it back, Grace. It took…everything in me. That thing, Bael, it was pullin’ me under like I was just some piece of driftwood." I stopped short, a sudden realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. "But I didn’t crawl out of that hell hole on my own, did I? You did somethin’."
She lifted her chin, her expression softening just a little. “I don’t know exactly. I just…you looked like you were dying. I just kept talkin’ to you, wanting to pull you back.”
"Pull me back?" I murmured, still stunned. I searched her face, my voice lowering. "How, Grace? How the hell did you reach me through that?”
"I don’t know," she admitted, but there was a fierce determination in her eyes. "I just kept thinking…you weren’t supposed to go yet. Not like that.”
“Did you feel anything, Grace?”
“Just a lot of anxiety, I could tell in your face that you were in pain.”
“And…” I tried searching her eyes but se avoided me and I knew she was keeping something from me.
“Don’t keep shit from me. Not now!” I shook her. “What else did you see?”
“You were hot.”
“Hot?” I whispered.
“You were hot to the touch, burning up. And your hat…”
“What about my hat?” I touched it, to make sure it was still attached to my head.
“It was…it was letting out smoke, Hellsing.”
I felt a shiver run down my spine, the intensity between us so thick I could almost reach out and touch it. "You shouldn’t have had to witness that. This is my battle to fight."
"Maybe it’s both of ours now." Her hand brushed over mine, grounding me in a way I had never experienced before.
“What you need is someone to watch over you while I figure out what to do.”
"I don’t need protection, Hellsing. I need to learn to defend myself."
My jaw tightened as I watched her, torn between pushing her away for her own good and knowing damn well she wasn’t gonna back down. "If you want to do this, then you need to be ready, Grace. ‘Cause when it comes down to it, this thing ain’tjust comin’ for me, no. It’s got its sights set on you, too. And it’s not going to stop until it gets what it wants.”
“What does it want, Peter?” She asked, her lips slightly quivering.
I slid my thumb over her bottom lip, her eyes slightly darkening at my touch. “It wants your soul, gorgeous.”
One thought stayed with me as I spoke those words to her.
And if there’s anyone who will own Grace’s soul…it will be me.
HELLSING
Isat under the dim light of theMidnight Wytch, curled up in a corner chair while I waited for Hellsing to stop pacing.
“I need to call your father.”
“He’s hundreds of miles away, there’s no need to worry him.”
“What?” He gave me a hard, pointed glare.
