THE ROGUE COUNCILMAN TAKE 2

We all got back into our places. Even Lord Kosan decided to take a few steps back into the treeline. Such a cooperative Vamp Lord.

"Who's there?" Tessa shouted... she shouted a little too late, so a group of men came out into the clearing before she could say her next line.

But she said anyway for the sake of the newcomers, "Show yourself!"

I guess a little Vampire Hunter TV drama was okay.

At this point, Lord Kosan decided to spring forward, "Ah ha! It is I, the Rogue Councilman!"

I face-palmed from my hiding place. I said A LITTLE drama! Lord Kosan was totally overacting. Plus, it looked like he had decided to literally take the scene from the top - which made him like one page behind all the other actors.

To make things worse, Tessa completely ignored him - in what Vampire Hunter TV show would the appearance of the vampire be ignored by the heroine? But Tessa was too shocked by the appearance of one of the newcomers, "Jack? What are you doing here?"

Wait, Jack? As in the guy who shot her dad and usurped his life research and laboratory?

I craned my neck to get a better look. This Jack guy was also another weirdo who got his clothes from a costume rack. He had on some kind of khaki hunting outfit, complete with a safari hat over his ginger hair and beard.

He had stumbled out of the undergrowth and was followed by three rogue wolves. Weak rogues, probably paid henchmen. They were dressed like pretty normal people though and looked like the kind of unremarkable dudes you'd find hanging around outside a convenience store smoking. Two of them had jeans and leather jackets. The third one was wearing an old sweatsuit that I could smell from my tree.

Out here in the woods, with Jack the Safari guide and the other hunters, they did kind of look out of place.

Another two humans came out after them. Now, these two smelled like proper hunters. They dressed in dark-colored hunting jackets and had rifles on hand, as well as huge bags for all their other gear... If you replaced the rifles for cameras, they really looked a lot like some of the paparazzi guys that hung outside Winderhill in the mornings. These two looked legit and felt a little more dangerous.

Anyway, for the sake of clarity, I'm going to be naming everyone like how I imagined their script names would be.

Jack - the man from Tessa's past.

Blue Jeans - Rogue Wolf 1

Black Jeans - Rogue Wolf 2

Sweaty Suit - Rogue Wolf 3

Blue Coat - Human Hunter 1

Green Coat - Human Hunter 2

Yup, that'll be all the extras. What did Ben call characters like these? That's right, canon folder.

"Why, Tessa, my dear." Jack drew closer with a smarmy smile, "How good to see you!"

Wow, how was it that no one knew he was a bad guy from the beginning?

"Stay away, Jack! I'm warning you!" Tessa held her staff as if readying to fight. Hellsing growled from next to her. They were perfectly posed and back to TV show script talk.

But Jack broke off, looking around he asked, "Where are the other blokes?"

He might not have any special senses, but I think he knew Tessa and Hellsing wouldn't have been hunting alone.

Luckily, or unluckily, Lord Kosan was determined not to be ignored here, "I...will...have...my... VENGEANCE!"

He sprang forwards center stage. He even flashed his red eyes and flared his flame and growled.

Ah. So vampires did growl... At least when they were acting as rogue monsters in their own weird productions.

Hellsing growled back... Or he could just be growling at Jack who had been properly frightened by the Rogue Councilman and jumped back like a very surprised rabbit.

The others drew back too, but the Green Coat hunter came too close to the silver cage and noticed the inhabitants, "What's this?"

"Hi." Fluffy smiled and waved as he did before.

"Is that Fluffy? The fight dog?" His friend, the Blue Coat recognized at once, he looked up incredulously, "How'd you get him?"

"The Red Prince too." Green Coat pointed out, "I wouldn't put them in the same cage though. Red one's bloody territorial."

Now Jack and his crew had slithered their way into Tessa's protective range and I realized they were trying to get into it from the beginning.

"I smell pack wolves." Sweaty Suit growled. He stepped up to the silver cage to investigate but Hellsing intercepted him and growled them all off.

Sweaty Suit raised both hands and stepped back, but his wolf was on the surface so when he spoke it was in low growls, "Hurry up, Jack. I don't want to meet any of the patrols... Or worse, the Blue Demons."

"Yes. Right you are." Jack agreed, "Now see here, Rogue Councilman, why on earth are you showing up now? I thought we had an agreement."

"Ah, was it you?" Lord Kosan asked.

Which was just dumb. I'm sure that your Rogue Councilman would've known who he was talking to.

"But these very kind hunters have brought the killers to me." Lord Kosan had the sense to move on with the script, no matter how badly written, the show must go on, "I no longer require your assistance to enter the school grounds for my vengeance."

Jack looked frustrated, "But old chap, you can't believe them! They're vampire hunters!"

As opposed to you? Well, okay. If I had to choose between taking the word of a scientist and a hunter, I'd have gone with the PhD. But in this scenario, they were all lying.

Lord Kosan made a show of inspecting the occupants in the cage and then considering Jack's arguments. He then turned to Tessa, "Tell me human. Are you certain these are the wolves who killed my spawn?"

Tessa nodded jerkily, but before she could speak, there was a gunshot.

It was Blue Coat.

"I call dips." Blue Coat declared, "This is my kill."

"Wait... You're not supposed to shoot him you idiot!" Jack yelled, "We need him alive."

Whenever Jack raised his voice, his face and neck would turn pink.

Gar decided to step out now, "Now, what be you up to Jack? And don't say nothing. We've been working together for years now."

"Who knew vamp hunting was so easy?" Green Coat marveled.

The two hunters went over to where the Rogue Councilman was slain. Because Lord Kosan didn't dodge... Again. I guess you couldn't teach an old vamp new tricks.

"Sorry boss, but something's really messed up here." Sweaty Suit told Jack, "Not sure what, but the boys and I aren't gonna hang around no more."

"I'm not paying you if you leave now." Jack threatened.

The rogue wolves hesitated. They looked undecided suddenly. I think Sweaty Suit wanted out, but his two friends wanted to get paid.

"Don't worry, we've bagged the vamp." Blue Coat stood up, " You think we'd bag you lot too? If we were going to hunt wolves, it'll be..."

Blue Coat's eyes fell on the cage, "Let's bag these two pretty dogs too."

"No! Stick to the plan you idiots!" Jack yelled.

Hellsing stood between the silver cage and the two hunters. Gar shot one of the hunters in the shoulder.

"S***, old timer!" The Green Coat staggered back.

And then he screamed. I couldn't see what, maybe he tripped over the Councilman's body but he went down.

Blue Coat started shooting at Green Coat. Green Coat's screaming ended with a gurgling sound.

Hellsing didn't move so between his head and Gar, I couldn't see. But Tessa took another step back. Mor and Dan came out guns in hand.

"He's still alive!" Blue Coat shouted, "Somebody help!"

But nobody looked like they were in a helpful mood.

"Why should we?" Gar shrugged, "That was our kill to begin with."

"You can keep your money. I'm going." Sweaty Suit decided.

His buddies looked reluctant, but they also seem to trust Sweaty Suit's instinct.

They turned tailed and fled.

"Cowards!" Jack yelled, turning pink again, at their retreat.

And then there was silence.

Jack looked at whatever was happening on the ground that I couldn't see, but his face was a picture that said a million words. I decided based on the stench of blood, the sounds, and the look on Jack's face that it was probably better that I couldn't see.

EJ however obviously didn't think so. He kicked the cage door open, breaking the lock - which Mor had kindly left unlocked for him, and stepped out to check it out.

Blue Coat shot but EJ naturally dodged. Because who would just stand there and take your silver bullet? (Please take notes Lord Kosan.)

"So much red." EJ said sounding pleased, and then he swung a punch at Blue Coat, catching him in the jaw. This was followed by a flying kick. The Blue Coat dropped his gun. Hellsing picked up the fallen weapon while EJ batted the Blue Coat about.

"Get lost Jack." Hellsing took aim.

Jack scrambled backward, "No! Tessa! Stop him! Please!"

Tessa looked determined. She stepped forwards, but Mor and Dan beat her to it. They blocked her out and joined Hellsing.

"We'd been wanting to do this for a while now." Mor said cracking his knuckles.

"Gar! Gar! Talk some sense into your men!" Jack tried to reason with Gar, "Who else would pay you upfront in cash?"

Mor grabbed Jack by the scuff. I was quite sure Jack was going to get his face bashed, and maybe Jack realized it too, but he went hysterical, "I was the one who did it! I hired rogues to kill off the Councilman's son and his friends and convinced him to go rogue to seek revenge! I was the one who tipped off all the hunters about the rogue rampage in the school! It was a perfect opportunity."

By now, Jack had turned such a dark shade of pink, it was borderline purple. He broke off in mad laughter, "Imagine the chaos. Who'd be any wiser if a couple of vamps and oh... I don't know, some humans went missing? It would be pinned on the rogue vamp and I would've gotten the research material of the right age bracket."

"Do you know how hard it is to get human test subjects?" Jack bemoaned.

"You're mad!" Tessa gasped belatedly.

Like I think we all figured that out way before you, girl.

Anyway, Ki suddenly came out of hiding too, he had his phone in hand, "Beg your pardon, Lord Kosan, but can you make him repeat that again?"

So Lord Kosan obligingly made Jack repeat the performance, with all the color changes under his ginger hair.

The humans, however, looked more shocked to see the Rogue Councilman stand up once again. He had healed, but there was blood dripping down his chin and his fangs were still protruding. He also moved like a broken doll, so something might have healed wrong.

"Jack's being controlled by the Rogue Councilman?" Tessa gasped, finally putting the two and two together.

The Rogue Councilman bowed gallantly, "I have found the pesky human who dares stir up trouble with my nest. Thank you for your assistance."

And then he turned and limped away. Slow painful gaits, dripping dark red blood at each step.

Mor and the others looked to Tessa, "Do we shoot him?"

It's not like Lord Kosan would dodge.

But Tessa shook her head and whispered, "He was able to enter my mindshield magic."