Oh great, it's raining, AGAIN! Sometimes, it feels like England was wetter than Vietnam during its monsoon season. But this…this was ridiculous. There's been absolutely no sight of the sun for the last fourteen days. Not that a vampire should be complaining but still...
It felt so depressing, almost like…like the Earth was crying too.
Beautiful Seras Victoria was sitting on the window bench in one of the Hellsing mansion's bedrooms, observing the weather; she established an office for herself in the East wing of the estate a few years ago. She had been left in charge of Hellsing's operations ever since Integra took ill last year. Integra frequently declared she's still fit for active duty but Seras knew; she knew better than anyone that Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing did not have long before she took her last breath.
Sir Integra was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer last month. The doctors said that she only had two months, if that, left to live.
Those damned cigars; I told her that habit would be the death of her. Seras thought sadly.
Seras sighed heavily, trying hard to keep herself from breaking down, to cry like a frightened child. Integra had become like her friend, nay, more like family to her over the last three decades. After the battle with Millennium, even after Alucard had disappeared; Integra became sort-of a surrogate mother to the young Seras Victoria. She taught Seras everything she knew about anything. She taught her swordsmanship, archery and most importantly how to act like a proper lady at the dinner table. She also taught Seras how to throw at a knife and think on her feet even after sheer exhaustion. So after thirty years, Integra has done more for her as her commanding officer, than anyone has ever done as a friend.
"And now, she is forced to succumb to cancer." Seras said softly. She knew no one was around to hear her. She looked into the dark storm as it rolled in towards the mansion like a tidal wave. It looked so dark, so ominous. Almost like…
"Death's angels riding in to claim yet another soul." Alucard spoke softly in Seras' mind with a chuckle.
"Not really my choice of words, but yes… Something like that." She replied with sadness in her tone. She was too busy watching the storm clouds travel in to really pay attention to her Master's comical, albeit, depressing comment.
Alucard emerged from the wall next to the door. He took a healthy look at his former fledgling, how miserable and beautiful she appeared as she stared into the storm, as it slowly approached the mansion. He attempted to probe her mind to see what was going on in the recesses of her vampiric brain. He couldn't help but smile when he saw a strong barrier blocking his view. She must have mastered that ability in his absence.
Alucard was proud of the way she grew into her role at Hellsing and into her true nature as a vampire. He even loved the way she had changed her appearance. She had replaced her old "skirty" uniform into something more accentuating to her well-endowed body. She wore a Victorian-styled black laced-up corset, which sexily covered an equally black dress shirt. She had black pants that tucked into gorgeous thigh-high black boots. It was stunning attire for a true Vampire Queen. She even changed the color of her hair; what was once yellow blond hair, was now deep red, like the color of blood. And it even matched perfectly with her eyes.
Beautiful, just beautiful… The elder vampire thought as he looked at her, hungrily. She will make a perfect mate for me once Integra is dead.
Seras noticed her former master's presence and smiled. In the past he had always frightened her, any time he was near her, but after the thirty years in his absence; she welcomed his company any and every chance she got. Over the ten years that he's been home, she found herself having various dreams and fantasies about Alucard. More recent ones are becoming more and more sexual with each passing day. She would wake up during the night, to find herself calling out his name, secretly praying for him to come and take her in her bed. All she wanted was him. She once had feelings for the late Captain Pip Bernadotte, but he was more like a substitute for something she had wanted for so long.
Her master, Alucard, the most powerful and most ruthless vampire in the world; but she couldn't let him know that. She couldn't tell him how she fell in love him over the years. Because he didn't want her, his love was toward Sir Integra. She was his fledgling, she wasn't meant to be his lover. And that painful truth was enough to break her heart. Nevertheless, she was an adult, and she knew better than to let her humanly thoughts of love distract her from her work. So Seras decided to stay quiet and stand down to let Integra and Alucard's love flourish. She wouldn't stand in the way of their happiness; she would just have to suffer with the pain of unanswered love for Alucard. Her master.
She could feel his eyes on her; thankfully it no longer unnerved her, in fact, she welcomed him to notice her.
"A storm is coming." Alucard said, rather emotionlessly. Seras turned her head to look at him for that statement. "What do you mean?" she replied curiously. He looked into her crimson eyes and smiled brightly, arching an eyebrow, jokingly.
"Now, police girl, your senses should be stronger to sense a battle coming." He turned his eyes toward the window as he walked closer to Seras. She turned her view back towards the clouds, which were now rolling directly over the mansion. At the same time, she felt a tingle in the back of her spine. It was Sir Integra calling for her this time, not for Alucard, for her.
She stood up from the bench, in time to bump right into Alucard, who placed himself right front of her. Seras didn't know whether to embrace him or run away from him. He had been gone for thirty years and now it's been ten years, however Seras had no words that explain her love for Alucard. Normally, he stood much taller than her if she stood flat on her feet; but thanks to her boots, her line of sight was no longer to his chest but to his lips. Seras was so close that if Alucard tilted his head down, his lips would have been right on hers.
Seras looked away from his red eyes; they seem to glow in the dark when she looked into them. There were so...So hypnotic...She wished that she could become eternally lost within them; but that won't happen.
"Master …I must go, Sir Integra is calling me." Her voice was low and soft, almost a whisper. He gave her a look down from head to toe and back, like he was admiring the look of her body. "You may go, Seras Victoria." He said in an equal voice, and then disappeared right in front of her. Seras felt the chill, from the absence of his body, sweep over her when he left. It's cold without him.
Seras sighed. She, then opened a dark portal, leading into Sir Integra's bedroom and entered it. The doctor said that Integra was to remain bed-ridden for the remainder of her life; but it wasn't to be expected of the head leader of the Hellsing Organization. She forced her body to remain mobile, even in its delicate condition. She refused to become an invalid; no matter how many days of life she had left.
Seras entered the room, she caught of sight of the still-beautiful 62 year-old Integra, standing tall next to her bedroom windows. Seras opened her mouth to speak but decided to remain silent until Integra acknowledged her presence in the room. Integra turned her attentions from the tall windows and faced the same vampire that she had, over time, grown maternally fond of. When Alucard had disappeared, Integra was not so concerned for her own lost, but she saw how devastated Seras was when she found out that Alucard was gone. She expected the girl to go berserk; Seras instead became withdrawn. It almost uncomfortably quiet when she had returned to Hellsing. Integra feared for her men about Seras' unpredictable nature. As a result, Integra took Seras under her wing, not only to make sure the young vampire wasn't left to herself but so she wouldn't feel as lonely as she was now that… that Walter was gone... Now that Alucard has returned, and everything was relatively back to normal. When he had finally returned home ten years ago Seras and Integra were nothing, but ecstatic; however there was something off about Alucard's attitude towards Seras. But it seemed that Alucard was becoming "softer" towards her, in a way that Integra had never seen in the elder vampire.
Finally, she noticed Seras near the door, standing quietly at attention. "Seras, there you are." Integra said in a soft and raspy voice. "I want to discuss some business with you. Come with me." Seras followed Sir Integra out the door, towards the library. As they entered, Seras saw an older gentleman sitting at the drawing desk, waiting for them.
"Miss Victoria, it's a pleasure to meet you." The gentleman said in a kind voice. Seras was puzzled, she didn't know who this man was, but she was surprise that he was not afraid of her. "This is Mr. Thomas Harsdon; he is the Hellsing family's lawyer. He is here to rewrite my will."
"But Sir, why? You still have a few more years in you left." Integra knew that Seras was trying to lighten the atmosphere and smiled at the gesture but she knew that her time was fleeting and wanted to take care of this business before she passed.
"Alright, Sir Integra, ready when you are." Mr. Harsdon said, with a fountain pen in his left-hand, ready to write.
"To the staff of the Hellsing estate, I give a raise in salary of 20%. To the soldiers of the Hellsing organization, I give you the private collection of weapons and enough ammunition for them to sustain you for approximately fifteen years. To Seras Victoria, I give you the Hellsing Organization for you to command, should you choose to lead it."
Seras had to look away from Sir Integra, so she wouldn't see her tears of blood roll down her face; Integra knew it was painful for Seras to hear, but it had to be done; so she continued on.
"To Alucard, I give back your name and your freedom on the moment of my death. I pray that the world shall survive your reign as the freed No-Life King of the Vampires. And may God forever bless her Majesty and the Organization. Signed… Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing."
Seras' tears flow as she listened to Sir Integra read off her last will and testament. She was surprised and flattered that Integra trusted her enough to give her the organization to command; that gesture was out of respect and love. Seras remained silently as the lawyer put the finishing touches on the will, asking Seras to sign it as a witness and finally stamping it as proof of authentication.
"Always a pleasure. Thank you, Sir Integra. God bless and take care." Mr. Harsdon placed the rewritten will into his briefcase, stood up, tipped his hat to the two women and walked out the library. Sir Integra said nothing to Seras. There were no words to soothe the painful tension in the air. But when she saw the vampire crying tears of blood out of heartbreak, she gave a small smile. She, then, walked over to Seras and hugged her. Integra embraced her in the deepest hug that she had ever felt. Seras struggled to hug her back, out of pain and hurt she felt in her heart; she didn't want to lose Integra, but there was nothing she could do.
Seras didn't even see the tears flowing from Integra's face as they hugged, for what seemed to be forever.