II: He's Subservient

Hungry. Oh, he was so, so hungry. Every inch of him screamed, demanded for this woman to be his. Suddenly, he didn't care how beautiful she looked, how she seemed to have the right to command him, how he had wanted to worship the ground she walked on. She smelled so good, it was a wonder he did not sink his razor-sharp teeth (curious, when did they get there?) into her immediately. He tackled her to the ground first, digging his nails into her wrists from how tightly he gripped her.

He was unaware of how she stared up at him, unaware of the emotion buzzing in the back of his head, which had become mortal terror rather than simple fear. He just wanted to eat her.

She had whispered some sort of word that became garbled in his ear before he pounced on her. What that was, he did not care about either. What he did care about was why he was still hesitating.

They were mere inches apart. His eyes felt hot in his head, almost as if they were glowing. Some dark matter within him started to sing; a horrific cacophony of voices praising her blood. Delicious sweat beaded on her golden brow, and he could see the pulsating red nectar rushing through her neck. He slowly leaned down, feeling that every centimeter that the distance between his teeth and her throat closed, that he was doing something revolutionary.

Her voice broke through his ravenous haze. "Alucard, I order you to release me!"

It did not hurt, the buzzing on his hands. It felt as if it should hurt him, which was why he blinked and looked at where her wrists were clenched in his firm grip. Twin pentagrams glowed against the bright white of his gloves. They meant something, he just knew it. Or, at least, they used to mean something. Who was this woman, that she could evoke such a strange reaction from him?

The glowing seals on the backs of his hands gave him enough of a pause to break free of the spell that her scent put him under. Though she still looked very tantalizing, he felt he had regained enough self-control not to hurt her.

The grip he had on her slackened, but he did not release her just yet. Furrowing his brow, he leaned over until he was situated directly over her head, and could look her squarely in the eye.

"Who are you?"

0o0

Who are you? The question repeated over and over in her mind as she stared up at him. Suddenly, it all made sense. Integra did not know how, or why, but somehow, Alucard did not remember who he was. And if his soul was not intact, there was no way she could be his master.

This moment would define whether she lived or died. If he had no idea who she was, he had no idea what his servitude meant. He had no idea how he had come to be, and she would act as his only tether to the past. She was the only one capable of helping him, and that gave her leverage.

A strange, twisted thought made her lips twitch ever so slightly. This poor, idiotic beastie. If he had killed her right then and paid the old seals no mind, he could have been free. But now, she had a chance.

"My name is Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. And I am your master."

He stared at her without speaking for several unnerving moments. And then barked with laughter. "If that's true, then you aren't a very good one."

Integra gave him a very angry look. "It would be easier if you knew who I was."

"Ah, but I know who you are now," he purred, leaning close enough that their noses nearly touched and gazing at her through hooded eyes. "Ms. Hellsing, yes?"

"Sir."

He grinned. "What an interesting woman you are! Oh, how I wish I was fortunate enough to know everything about you. But that sort of thing takes some time. The fact of the matter is, however, that you are rather powerless against me. So let's start with you telling me just why is it you think you're entitled to call yourself my master."

"You haven't bitten me yet," she countered.

He smirked and tilted his head, glowing crimson eyes hooded as he watched her languidly. "Perhaps my curiosity outweighs my appetite. …You smell delightful, by the way."

Holding back a repulsed shudder, Integra glared up at him. "One who does not understand who or what he is cannot be entitled to deny anything, can he?" At his shocked silence, she continued. "For centuries, the Hellsing Organization has dealt with dispatching members of the undead. Dispatching in that we have both employed, and exterminated, vampires. I suggest you decide quickly which one you would rather be."

0o0

He had dealt with many different emotions upon awakening. Confusion, the fear in the back of his mind that strangely did not belong to him, bloodlust, amusement, and frustration.

Now, he was… well, the way this woman spoke, and the way she looked as she demanded his obedience, the way that defiant gleam in her eyes made him think twice before crossing her…

He was turned on.

This woman, without a prayer, without any power that God did not grant her, demanded his servility. This mortal, beautiful, stunning woman… she deserved his respect. No; "deserved" was not a strong enough word to describe her. She imposed it.

"Stunning. Absolutely stunning. I'm impressed, Sir Hellsing." He licked his lips and glanced down at her neck, but he knew that for the moment, he would not bite. Not yet. "Perhaps I'll follow you rules after all, if only for curiosity's sake. Truce?"

Though it was repressed, he noticed her sigh of relief. "Truce. Now get off."

Her order was soon followed, and he levitated backwards, drawing her up with him. The surrounding humans dressed in Kevlar vests with guns trained on him seemed to calm down upon noticing that he had no ill intentions. Yet.

"So. I'm a vampire," he murmured as he bore his eyes into theirs, watching as each one shrank back from him in fear. It would explain that ever-present hunger that did not seem to vanish even after the woman, Integra Hellsing, distracted him.

"Yes, you are. Do you remember anything at all?"

He turned to her then, looking her in the eyes. Unlike the others, she did not so much as blink. "I am uncertain. I may have remembered you. I had no idea who you were or what your name was, but I knew that I respected you; though that could have just as easily been the effect you have on everyone; such a proud woman, you are. As you are my master, I suppose those symbols on the back of my hands were put there by you."

"They weren't," she said. Integra gestured for his hand, and he was quick to put his in hers. The contact sent jolts of pleasant electricity through his arm. The symbols faded to a dark grey as soon as he released her, no longer that irritated red that buzzed strangely. "My family has kept you as a weapon for generations, as I said before."

"Ah," he nodded, remembering. "Your ancestor. Very well. And I suppose that under normal circumstances, I would be writhing on the floor if I did not heed your command."

She gave him a wry smirk. "Oh yes." And then the amused look became apprehensive. "But something happened in that bank that not only caused you to forget yourself, but the seals no longer work on you. Are you certain you don't remember anything?"

He watched the way the wind made her hair sway gently. It looked so long and soft. He suddenly felt the desire to run his fingers through it. "If I did, I would tell you. But I did wake up with a bullet hole in my head."

Integra snorted. "You've had your head blown completely off your shoulders before. I don't think that would be the case."

"Unless, of course, it was a blessed bullet." When she looked at him strangely, he shrugged. "Aren't creatures of darkness repulsed by holy objects?"

"…Yes, of course. But even still, it would not be enough to kill you."

"But it would cause damage."

She looked disturbed. "Well… yes. I suppose you're right. But even blessed bullets don't normally have such an effect on you."

He narrowed his eyes. "If that is the case, how might we go about curing my… temporary loss of memory?"

The breeze drifted through them once again, flapping his coat behind him and spreading the scent of dampness. It would rain soon, he felt. "That's what we're going to find out."

To speedfanatic05: Thank you so much! As always, your reviews never fail to bring a smile to my face.

To AmericanWildDog: Yes, the story will have multiple chapters. I actually have another chapter already written out, so be expecting another one coming soon! Also, that you thought Alucard would actually eat Integra made me laugh. You know... the evil laugh of writers who have a few tricks up their sleeve. Thank you!

To the last two people who left a comment: I apologize if you wrote out a long review and I am not responding to you. Truth be told, this website is acting strangely, and I am unable to see what comments you put. For the first two days, I wasn't able to read any of the six reviews people left me. I hope the situation is resolved shortly.

Thank you, everyone, for your support! Your wonderful reviews give me such a confidence boost!