Integra straightened when she heard the intake of breath, but there was something in the act that made goosebumps rise on her skin. Her eyes twitched as they failed to move to the corner of her office on her first try. Alucard's eyes were wide as they focused on one of the innumerable books Walter had jammed, neatly, into the shelves that lined the wall. A white glove lifted, hovering near a book she could not see from her angle behind her desk. She blinked when he spoke in a manner that made her uncomfortable.

"May I read this, Master?" He was so focused on whatever he was looking at that he did not notice Integra's building disturbance. He never spoke to her in such a servile manner…with a submissive and seeking tone as he had now. There was always a sense of arrogance or equality when they spoke though he would feign to be the servant under her.

"Yes?" Integra could not hide the confusion in her answer, but Alucard was oblivious. She flinched at the sharp hiss and the smoke that billowed from Alucard's hand, the glove smoldering as the hand pulled away from the book. The vampire made another sound that was between a hiss and a disappointed sigh. He spoke without turning to face her.

"May I remove it from the shelf?"

By now Integra was standing, supporting herself with her hands on her desk, not caring that they were wrinkling some of her papers. For the first time since she was a twelve year old child, Integra doubted Alucard's loyalty and a shiver of fear shook her shoulders for an instant before she marched from the desk, towards the vampire.

"What's going on, Alucard? What is this?" She stopped next to him and her eyes shifted through the volumes, resting on the one that had a smudge of ash clinging to its binding. It was an old, red leather journal. The surface was beginning to crack, suggesting the time it had endured.

"It's Abraham's diary."

Integra's eyes grew wide and she turned sharply to Alucard, looking up into his face as the red orbs were locked on her.

"He never let me near it."

Her lips frowned, postponing her words. "Why? And why would you want to read it?" The seal. The seal….. The words were pounding her mind like a second heart. Could he be trying to escape Hellsing? Is he really….?

"I don't think it has anything to do with the seal, Master. Please do not tremble before me."

Integra's hand found the diary and she took it in her hand as she strolled to her desk. Alucard lingered but eventually followed her, silently. Integra was seated when she opened the diary. She noticed instantly where the weight of her vampire's eyes fell and she glanced at him before skimming though the words and flipping through the pages.

Dates, names, thoughts, reflections…nothing of research or of the seal…then she caught Alucard's name repetitively as she got further into the content of the journal.

…name him Alucard. The vampire is quiet now, after the seal has settled. He had never completely awoken when Jonathon's knife was plunged into his heart, and then, afterwards, Holy artifacts had prevented his waking as we returned to Great Britain. The seal was completed when he was in this state, so he is rather unsure of his whereabouts or of what has happened. His confusion and disbelief is obvious, but it is interesting that he has also curiosity and rapture burning in his eyes….

Integra moved on, finding the vampire's name often, but she passed it by, searching only for the seal. She did not find any information on it. Calmed by this, she cut off her sigh of relief and handed the journal to the vampire. Her brow knitted when he did not take it.

"I can't touch it." His face was emotionless, but the words made some pity spark in Integra's chest and she nodded before she spoke.

"You may take it and read it."

A glove reached out, hesitating for a moment, before Alucard grasped the journal. He drew it to himself slowly, watching its path towards him. Then his eyes flicked to Integra's and he blinked, the way in which he did it gave the illusion of a short bow, and he left by walking through the door opposite to Integra's desk.