George was asleep in class again. But soon a female voice pierced her dreamless sleep.
"George." the soft and lovely voice called out to her.
"Hm." George grumbled. She hated being disturbed, when she was happy.
"George, wake up." Now the voice was followed by some poking. "I need to ask you something."
"Ask me what, Vivian?" yawned George, as she sat up to face her.
"Will you go with me?" Vivian asked her purposely.
"No. I prefer boys." George yawned again.
"That's not what I meant. Come on George, wake up." begged Vivian, pulling on George's ears.
"Argh! I'm up. I'm up." George smacked her hands away from her left ear.
"Will you go with me after school to the theater room?" Vivian requested. "I want to try out for the school play. And I would feel better if you were there to support me."
George shook her head no and looked at her. "I can't. I have work to do after school."
"Oh." frowned Vivian, hanging her head in rejection. "I don't suppose you'd change your mind if I said please."
George studied Vivian's face. Vivian was a smart girl, but she lacked faith in herself. George wondered. If she said no, would she still go? Would she have the strength to stand on her own? Tommy didn't, and George rescued him. Now she had a decision to make. Would she rescue Vivian too?
"What time are the try outs?" George groaned and her shoulder's fell.
"Thank you, George. Thank you." said Vivian, hugging George.
"Ugh, let me go." George gently removed Vivian's arms from around her and pushed her away.
"Try outs are at 3:30. Don't be late, O.K." Vivian laughed at George's "shyness" and gave her a wink.
"When a Hellsing gives their word..." George nodded gentlemanly at her.
Vivian looked into George's eyes and smiled. "Someday, a man will be graced by gods to have you as his wife."
George smiled back at her and laughed. "Not if he is favored by them."
Vivian laughed too, as she returned to her seat. "George Hellsing, you are so weird."
**
It was 3:30 p.m. and George was sitting in the audience waiting for try outs to begin. She watched with complete disinterest as the director began to speak to his young would be actors.
"Alright, everyone take your places. Come, come. We will be performing one of the most enduring plays written by Andrew L. Weber, The Phantom of the Opera. Today we will cast for Raoul, the Phantom, and Christine. So all those who think they are ready to be stars, line up and we will hear you read for your part."
George yawned as she listened to several boys read for the part of Raoul. Finally, a boy named Peter was chosen to play the part of Raoul. Peter was a handsome boy with blonde hair and brown eyes. He stood at five foot eleven and had the strong build of an Admiral's son; his father being Admiral Peter Teach, Vice Admiral in the queen's Navy.
Now the girls lined up and waited their turn to read for Christine. Girl by girl, they all gave their best, and then it was Vivian's turn. Vivian stepped forward and stood center stage. George sat up and gave her, her full attention. She smiled at her and nodded. Vivian smiled to see her there and then began to speak.
"Imagine me, trying too hard. There will never be a day when I won't think of you."
As Vivian spoke, she looked at George and never once took her eyes off her. Having George there, having one there that was so strong and sure of herself, gave Vivian the strength to go on. She stepped forward unafraid and continued.
"We never said our love was evergreen. You will think of me."
"That's very good." praised the director. "Congratulations Vivian, you will be our Christine."
George stood and clapped for Vivian as the director made the announcement. Vivian jumped off the stage and hugged George.
"Thank you, George." Vivian gushed happily. "Thank you."
"You are a very good actress Vivian." George pushed her away, lifted her chin, and looked into her eyes. "You don't need me, just believe in yourself."
"I know, but it's easier with you around." Vivian smiled brightly at her.
"Well, good luck. I've got to get home and start dinner. My little brothers will be getting hungry, and little Jon will need help with his reading."
George started to walk away, but Vivian stopped her.
"George, will you watch me rehearse tomorrow."
George sighed at the annoyance, but then she saw Vivian's pleading eyes. "For a little while."
"Tomorrow then, at 3:30 p.m." Vivian waved goodbye to George.
George chuckled and gave her a most gentlemanly bow. "I will be here, my lady Christine."
**
A week later, George again found herself sitting in the theater room. Bored out of her mind, She leaned back and rested her arms on the back of the chair, as the young performers received their directions from the drama teacher. The stage was brightly lit and the props dept. was busy building the backdrops.
"Stop, stop, stop! Stanton, the phantom is meant to be menacing and yet so gentle with Christine. You are not menacing." said the director, disgustedly.
"Yeah, he's repulsive. I'm not kissing him. I don't even want him touching me." complained Vivian, shuddering to shake herself of the thought.
Stanton Wilkinson was the lanky son of Wilbur Wilkinson, who was a theatrical producer. Stanton was short for a boy, at Five foot six. His black eyes and black hair made him look more like a gecko than a human.
"Hey, my father..." Stanton pointed to himself as pride as he spoke.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know. Your father is supplying the money for the production; the props, the costumes, etc. etc. That doesn't give you the right to be such a cheesy Phantom." chided Peter.
It was just at that second that George yawned. Vivian looked at her and smiled. "George could do it."
"George can do what?" asked Stanton, angrily.
"George can play the part of the phantom." volunteered Vivian.
"Ha, ha, she can't be the phantom. She's a girl. Would you rather kiss a girl?" teased Stanton.
"Wasn't all the girl parts played by boys in the old days?" asked Vivian of the director.
"Well, yes. Yes they were." confirmed the director, thinking about George.
The director and drama teacher, Mr. Jack Dickens, looked at George, who had been watching them every day for a week now. She was here only to support Vivian, but her reputation well proceeded her. Mr. Dickens knew from the other teachers that George had a fearsome personally if you pissed her off. And yet, to those that needed her help, she could be surprisingly gentle and against her better nature, helpful.
"Yes, this could work. George." Mr. Dickens called out to her.
"Yes, sir." George gave him her attention.
"Come here please, I want you to read this." Mr. Dickens motioned for her to come up to the stage.
"Yes, George. Come and save Christine from the Phantom." laughed Peter.
"No." George refused and turned her head away from them.
"Please, George." begged Vivian, with puppy dog eyes.
"Aww. Why can't I say no to you?" complained George. She sighed heavily, rolled her eyes, and she walked up the stairs to the stage.
"Maybe cause your secretly in love with her." chucked Peter.
"Shut up, Peter." growled George.
"Ohh, scary. See Mr. Dickens. George is your man." Peter praised her gleefully. "She even knows how to use a sword, don't you George."
"George, stand here and read these lines. The phantom is horribly disfigured. So he dares not to show his face to the world." Mr. Dickens pulled George towards her mark, put a script into her hands, and told her. "And yet, his love for Christine dares him to reveal himself to her and inspires him to write great plays. In this scene, you will tell Christine of your intensions. O.K., go."
George took the book and looked at Christine. "I will get you for this."
Vivian just hid behind her book. "I'm sorry George, but Stanton is really...."
"Pitiful. Yes, I know. I will do this, but I will only do this once."
"This is unacceptable! I'm the Phantom! If I can't be the phantom then I'm leaving and I'm taking daddy's money with me."
"Go cry to someone who cares." brushed off Peter.
"O.K. action." said Mr. Dickens, taking a seat.
George groaned, but otherwise began to read her part. "You have come here, for one purpose and one alone." read George.
As Mr. Dickens described the scene to her, George suddenly got the image of her father talking to her mother came to her; a monster revealing his feelings for a beautiful young woman, And just like that George became the Phantom.
"Since the moment I first heard you sing, I have needed you with me," George told Vivian with all the pinning passion she could muster. "to serve me, to sing for my music."
"Good, not bad for a first try." Mr. Dickens was impressed with George's rendition of the phantom. "However, I don't feel you being menacing."
"You have to piss her off, if you want her to be menacing." laughed Peter.
"Sod off, ya privateer." growled George.
"See." Peter ignored her quip and continued to laugh at her.
"Well, we'll save that for later." Mr. Dickens moved on to the next scene. "Right now, I want to see if you can sing."
"Sing?" George stood stunned. "Ugh..."
"Yes, this is a musical."
"I don't sing." George declared.
"Try." Mr. Dickens encouraged.
"Bullox. Alright, fine." George cleared her throat and began to sing. "Wherever you go let me go to. That's all I ask of you."
"Stop, wait, oh my god, we've finally found something that the great George Hellsing can't do. My dear, you can't sing." mocked Mr. Dickens.
George grabbed him by his collar and lifted him off the ground. "Are you making fun of me? Do you wish to die?" George throttled him.
Mr. Dickens looked down and right into George's eyes. "There, there is my menacing look. No, George, I wasn't making fun of you. I was just remarking that we've all heard how great you are at everything. This is the first time I've ever heard the words George can't."
George growled at him even more fiercely as she remembered that Kant was also her mother's new name.
"George, please put him down." requested Vivian, gently placing a hand on George's arm. "You remember what happened the last time, you nearly killed a teacher."
George looked at her and then dropped Mr. Dickens. "I didn't kill him. I just ruffed him up a little." insisted George.
"A little? George he was in the hospital for three weeks." chided Vivian.
"He was milking it."
Mr. Dickens looked up from the floor at George and smiled. "My word, you are magnificently menacing. Forget the singing; we'll just play a record. In the meantime, let's practice the sword fight in the graveyard."
"Sword fight?" smiled George, her interest thoroughly peaked.
"Yes, George. You and I must fight for Christine's hand." smiled Peter, right back at her.
"Now that, I can do." George grinned wickedly.
**
Opening night, there was a full house. Nervous young actors waited in the wings, while their families filed into their seats.
"We should have brought a camera." griped Jonathan, taking a seat.
"I have one." said Seras, handing it to him.
"Did you know about this?" Integra asked Alucard, as they took their seats in the audience.
"No, George has been very secretive these past few months." chuckled Alucard.
"Well, I think it's a good thing. She spends too much time training and not enough time having fun." remarked Jonathan, checking the battery life on the camera.
"Daddy, what part is George playing?" asked little Jon.
Jonathan looked at the program. "Well, well, well, this should interest you Alucard. Your George is playing the part of the phantom." chuckled Jonathan, and gave Alucard the brochure.
"Really." Alucard raised an eyebrow at him. "This could be fun after all."
"Oh, no. This could be disastrous." feared Seras.
"Don't worry, mon petite, George wouldn't do anything with all these people watching." assured Pip.
The play started and the night proceeded on. Little Jon was excited to see his sister on the stage, and he watched the play with great interest. Alucard, on the other hand, was bored out of his mind. The only reason he agreed to come along, was so that he could find out what George had been up to after school. Now that he knew, he wanted to leave; but Integra made him swear not to phase out in public. And so he sat, miffed, bored, and hungry. But then something happened. George and Peter, or rather Raoul and the Phantom, got into a fight over Christine in the middle of a graveyard; the light and the dark doing its dance yet again.
"You cannot love her like I will love her." insisted George.
"Christine is a flower, on the verge of awakening. If you take her out of the light she will die." protested Peter.
"I am death and I will never let that happen." George promised, easily dodging and parrying Peter's sword strikes.
"I will not let you have her!" Peter brought his sword down upon George.
"And I will not lose her again." raged George, and she countered his advance.
George was no longer George. George had become the Phantom, a shadow of the past replaying itself yet again. Peter was taken by surprise at George's skill. There was no kid his age that could beat him. He was an interscholastic champion. He was going to be an Olympic hopeful. He could not afford to lose this fight. Not in front of all these people.
"Damn it, George. Raoul wins this fight. Christine goes with him in the end."
"Not this time. I will not lose her to you." snarled George.
"Damn it, George. Mr. Dickens said menacing, not diabolical."
"You cannot have her count."
Alucard chuckled to himself, as he thought about the past. "How many times will I lose this fight?"
Alucard watched George defeat Peter. However, the play went on and they soon came to the end of the play, where the Phantom chained Raoul to the wall and put it to Vivian to choose the Phantom or watch her lover die. Alucard wondered to himself. If he had given Mina such a choice, whom would she have chosen. But then he thought about Integra. They were so different and yet so much alike. He had given Integra the choice and she had chosen Kant. Thinking on her now, he was sure that Mina as well, would have also chosen the light.
"You try my patience, make your choice." ordered George.
Vivian looked into Peter's eyes, as he stood chained against the wall. Peter pleaded with Vivian not to give into the Phantom's demands just to save his life.
"Christine, forgive me. I did it all for you and all for nothing."
Vivian turned from Peter to face George. "Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God, give me courage to show you that you are not alone."
Vivian walked over to George, who stood there in her Phantom costume. A costume that she had custom made to resemble Alucard's. Vivian removed George's mask, and even with the makeup covering her face to make her ugly, to Vivian, George was the most handsome tomboy that she had ever seen; tall, strong, sure, someone who would protect her, someone who would give her the strength to stand on her own. And it was these feelings that helped her to do what she did.
"Oh my god, she kissed her. She really kissed her." complained Seras.
"Jealous." laughed Alucard.
"Master, that was George's first kiss and it went to a girl." Seras looked dejected.
"And you English condemn us for our theater." laughed Pip.
"In our theater everyone stays dressed." reminded Integra, as she held Arthur in her lap, so that he could watch the play.
"Shhh, you guys are going to get us kicked out." shushed Jonathan, as he filmed everything.
Vivian finished kissing George and stepped back. George looked at her. Vivian looked into George's eyes, those piercing blue eyes of hers. Suddenly, Vivian fainted. Shocked, George quickly caught her before she hit the floor. George picked up Vivian and bridal carried her off stage. She handed her to Mr. Dickens, who tried to revive her, and then returned to center stage. George was at a little loss on how to proceed without a leading lady, but that's when Peter started laughing at her.
"What's so bloody fun?" asked George, rolling her eyes at him.
"Georgie Porgie pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry." Peter sang with laughter. "Ha-ha-ha."
"Shut up. Looks like you won't be getting the girl in this play." said George, walking over to him and slapped him across the face with the back of her glove. "You're just pissed because I easily beat an interscholastic fencing champion."
Peter angrily glared at her, pulled himself free from his chains, and faced off against George. "You didn't easily beat me." he said angrily, as he pushed George.
"My dog could beat you." smiled George, wickedly, as she pushed him back.
"Argh! At least I can sing. And I thought singing would be your forte with a name like yours little Hellsing."
"Nobody makes fun of my mother's name." George growled at him.
"But your mother's name is Kant now, isn't it." grinned Peter. "More fitting I think for a girl who can't sing."
With that, a sword fight broke out between Peter and George that was definitely more interesting than the rest of the play had been all evening.
"Finally, some action." laughed Alucard, as he sat up to watch the duel that Peter and George were having.
"Master, do something, she might kill him." pleaded Seras.
"What do you expect me to do?" Alucard laughed harder. "We're in public."
"Go George, Kill Raoul!" Little Jon cheered his sister on.
"Shh little Jon, don't encourage her." chuckled Jonathan.
"Oh, god, someone stop them!" panicked Mr. Dickens, as he rushed out onto stage, to separate them.
It only took Mr. Dickens to stop Peter, but it took three adults from costume and prop, to stop and restrain George.
"George." came Alucard's mental warning. "Your mother wants you to stop."
George stopped struggling and looked out over the audience. Her whole family had come to see the play. She re-sheathed her sword and told Peter.
"Take her. Forget me. Take the boat. Swear to me never to tell, the secret that you know of the angel in hell."
"Why does this seem so familiar to me?" asked Integra, as she held Arthur in her arms.
"Because it is the story of our life, my countess." Alucard chuckled at her.
"So that's why George is acting so strange." Integra groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why couldn't they just stick with Shakespeare?"
"Oh yes, George would have made an excellent Hamlet." Alucard continued laughing. "Instead of using me as a role model, she could have used you."
"Me?" Integra balked at him.
"Who else knows more about killing ones uncle." Alucard smirked, with a knowing grin.
"Don't make me kill you while I'm holding the baby." Integra blew him off and rolled her eyes at his quip.
"Ha, ha, ha."
Back on stage, the kids playing guards took their cue and came to arrest George. As George was carried off stage by the stagehands; and the play continued on.
"Track down this murderer. Revenge for Buquet. This creature must never go free."
**
The next day, the local social paper had a review of the school's play in its pages. Integra read it aloud at the breakfast table, as Jonathan and Little Jon waited to hear what society thought of George.
"The Phantom of the Opera, put on by the Royal Albert Academy last night, was to say the least the most interesting rendition put on by a high school in a long time. Vivian Steele, who played Christine, gave an excellent performance, and may one day become an exceptional actress. Peter Teach, the son of Admiral Teach of her majesty's royal navy, also gave an excellent and vivacious performance; if not for his acting, then for his sword play against the Phantom, which were both real and exciting. George Hellsing, daughter of Jonathan and Integra Hellsing, who played the Phantom even though she is a girl, gave the most convincing performance of them all. Her passion and fire for the role gave the high school production the life that it needed to become believable.
On the other hand, the immaturity of the players was also revealed when they lost all professionalism, by allowing their personal feelings and grudges to contaminate their performance. Vivian fainted when kissed by George, thus proving her virginal nature. While George and Peter, nearly killed each other when Peter commented on the event by calling her Georgie Porgie. All in all, it was a fine performance by those, who in time, if they grow up, will no doubt be names to remember."
"Does that mean he liked the play?" asked Jonathan, buttering his toast.
"Yes." said Integra, taking her breakfast from George.
"Yea, George!" cheered Little Jon
George just ignored his outburst with a smirk and served him his breakfast. "Eat your breakfast little Jon or you'll be late for school."
"Yea, first day of school, first day of school!" Little Jon kept cheering.
"Is he always so cheerful or have you been feeding him sugar behind my back?" asked George, giving Jonathan the evil eye.
Integra just chuckled at her. "You forget George whose genes he shares."
"Oh, brother." groaned George.
"Yes." piped up little Jon happily.
"And George." Integra called to her, as she folded the newspaper and put it down.
"Yes, sir."
"I expect you to look after little Jon." Integra instructed her. "Take him to school and bring him home."
"Right, just like Walter did me. That means I can drop him off, come home, and get my work done. Or go back to bed and get some sleep without teachers throwing erasers at me."
Integra raised an eyebrow at her. "Nice try. But you're still going to school."
**
After school, George was sitting under a tree, waiting for little Jon's classes to be over. Suddenly, a shadow blocked out the sun and George looked up.
"Hello, George." Vivian stood before her and smiled at her.
"Hello, Vivian." George smiled back.
"Did you read our reviews?" Vivian pulled her hair back behind her right ear.
"Sir read them to us this morning." George nodded.
"And what do you think?" Vivian cocked her head to the left.
"I don't think about it, because I could really care less. I am not looking to become an actress or a world class fencer...." George told her honestly.
"Yes, I know. Your only desire is to become a great soldier like your father." smiled Vivian.
"Speaking of desire, why did you give your first kiss to me?" asked George.
"Because of everyone I've ever met, you're the only one I deem worthy to have it. You came to rehearsal to support me, you saved me from Stanton, you can't sing a note and yet you didn't quit. You could have always quit." smiled Vivian, as admired George.
"It's not in my nature to quit." George chuckled.
"And that's why I like you George. Don't worry I have no intention of going gay." Vivian waved her hand in front of her, as if shewing away a fly.
"That's good. Because some day, a young man will enjoy the pleasure of a drink from your soft lips." George gave her an evil grin.
Vivian blushed and a little boy with soft brown hair jumped into George's lap. "Hello, George."
"Hello, little Jon. Let me introduce you to a friend of mine."
Little Jon stood up with George, she took his hand, and she introduced him to Vivian.
"I remember you." Little Jon smiled at her. "You were in the play too. You kissed George."
"Yes, I did." chuckled Vivian.
"No wonder George likes kissing you, you're pretty." Little Jon laughed.
"Why thank you little Jon." Vivian brushed her hair back with her right hand again.
"Are you ready to go?" George looked down and asked Little Jon.
"Yes. Can I ride up high?" Little Jon pointed to her head.
"O.K." said George, picking little Jon up and placing him on her shoulders.
Vivian couldn't help but smile, as she watched them walk home. George was so...perfect.
"Oh George, why couldn't you really be a boy." Vivian wished to herself.
"George."
"Yes, Jon."
"Do you know what?" Little Jon looked down at her as he rode on her shoulders.
"What?"
"I heard that you've been a bad girl." He announced.
"And who did you hear this from?" George chuckled, thinking back on all her old teachers.
"My teacher, Miss Perry. She says that you're a naughty girl that's destined for ruin."
"Heh, heh, heh. Oh, her. I am a naughty girl Jon, but I'm destined to rule the world."
"Can I be your prince?"
"Only if you eat your vegetables and stop trying to sneak candy into the house. Speaking of which, what's in your book bag?"
"Nothing." Little Jon looked away.
"Really? That's good, cause if you eat too much sugar little L-card will suck your blood while you sleep. He loves candy too." George laughed.
"No, he wouldn't." Little Jon feared, wondering if George was telling the truth. "Would he?"
Vivian laughed. "Definitely, a perfect husband and father. I wonder if I ever will find a real man like you George."