Master and Servant
Written by: Atikkin
Author note: A few reviewers have made requests that the fiction "Until Nightfall" should continue with a sequel. Instead, I will make it a short story. Thank you. Have a happy read.
"What is happening to me?" the maid asks, holding her mouth.
Before her are countless dishes of the finest meals in all of London. To her astonishment, she is unable to consume anything. Her stomach churns by the moment she swallows something. Dropping her spoon into the large dish, she turns to her side and prepares to vomit into the large pot beside her feet.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Seras jumps when she finds Integra Hellsing standing not far from her. Instead of her black attire, she wears a dark green suit with a red sash resting upon her bosom. The young maid frowns, for she resembles the creature, Alucard.
"Hasn't Alucard told you of your condition?" Integra asks. "Meals that we mortal consume are not for your kind. Your source of nutrition resides within the veins of your victims. Or perhaps Alucard's, since you do not know how to hunt yet."
"I-"Seras begins. Then, out of the blue, she stands up in her seat and demands in an angry voice, "What is wrong with me?! Tell me, what did that monster do to me?"
"Calm yourself," Integra says, sternly. Approaching the girl, she places a hand upon her shoulder. "Since Alucard has not explained this to you, I will. You, Seras, have become a vampire. The night when you walked into that room, your fate was decided by Alucard. It was for that reason and that reason only, that I had asked you to leave here after you have finished with your work."
Seras' face flushes, realizing that this has happened due to her child-like mind. Lowering her head, she apologizes. But the hand on her shoulder tightens a moment before patting.
"No need to do that, Miss Victoria," Integra says. "If Alucard hadn't been toying with my music box, this would not have occurred. . . "
"Thank you," says the girl in a meek tone.
As Integra releases her shoulder, the young maid is suddenly in a state of panic.
"My family," she says. "What of my family…? I have been gone from them for nearly a week or so. What are they to make of this-"
"Stop," Integra says, raising a single hand. "There have already been arrangements in that matter."
"What do you mean?"
"I had asked my retainer to seek you family and inform them of your status. They know now that you are dead. For that, I had him make a deposit of fifty thousand pounds to care for your family's expenses. That and to find a decent doctor who would better assist your mother."
Seras opens her mouth to speak, but nothing emerges from her throat. Placing a hand over her lips, she falls to the floor and vomits into the pot. Integra frowns, finding this sight rather disgusting. She sighs, however, and leaves the youngling vampire to herself.
"Mama…Papa," the girl says, sobbing.
Wrapping her arms around her waist, she sobs violently; tears of red slide down her pale cheeks and onto the marble floor. She does not realize an old man standing not too far from her. A slight sound from his throat catches her attention. She turns to him with a look of alarm.
"Hello, Miss Victoria," says the man. "I am Walter. Sir Integra sent for me to assist you."
"Huh…?"
"Now, now, no need to cry, child," Walter says, pressing a handkerchief over her cheeks while wiping her blood stain tears off. "You will accept this in time. I am sure of that."
"Are you the one," she begins. "Who spoke with my family…?"
"Yes, young lady, I happen to be that very man who did. Please do not worry. They are in better care than they have before-"
"Am I a prisoner here?" she says abruptly.
The butler stares at her with a blank. He slowly sighs before standing up on his two feet.
"Not entirely, my dear. But know that you cannot see your friends and family again. Sir Integra will not allow it. Your current condition will alarm them and other civilians of London. You must remain in the shadows for the rest of your life. More or likely, that may be for all eternity."
"What…?"
"Do you mean to tell me…?" Walter asks, almost yelling. He groans and slaps his hand against forehead in frustration. "That bloody imbecile! Has he lost his mind not tell you these facts!"
Seras flinches by his reaction, uncertain what he is talking about. Then, in the back of her mind she senses a presence emerging from the far wall. Gasping, she finds a familiar figure emerging from the solid surface. The sight terrifies her so much that she crawls on her back until she slams against the adjacent wall.
'He's not human,' she thought.
"Have you come to realize that just now, servant girl?" Alucard asks in a silky tone.
Seras freezes and ponders how this monster could possibly know what she is thinking. His loud laughter puts her ill at ease as his lower body slides through the table.
"You have been rather sloppy with this one, Alucard. She is completely clueless as to what is going on," Walter says harshly. The elder vampire shrugs, uncaring.
"I believe Integra has done that for me."
"That girl is not her servant," says the retainer. "She's yours."
The maid frowns.
'Servant,' she thought.
Alucard grins at the old man and says to him, "becoming rather paternal, aren't we, Walter?"
The butler glares hard at Alucard before turning back to Seras.
"Please, excuse me, Miss Victoria. I have duties that I must attend to. Whatever questions you have, I am sure Alucard will be happy to explain them to you."
He steals a last glance at the monster before going elsewhere.
Alone now, Seras increases the distance between her and the beast approaching her. He stops when he realizes the fear emanating off of her. Grinning, he leans his shoulder against the wall while crossing his arms over his chest.
"Who would have thought that I had created such crap," He says. The smile on his face widen when he sees a hint of anger reflect off her ruby eyes. "But that can change."
"Am I a prisoner here?" she asks.
"No," he says. "You are not a prisoner here. But you are my prisoner until I release you."
"What…?" Seras mutters in confusion.
"Truly you cannot be that naïve to realize what you have just become. My master, Integra, even explained it to you not too long ago while you were consuming filth that humans often devour."
Seras huddles against the corner, slowly putting the pieces together. This man, an undead, has turned her into a monster. With that, he is her proprietor and she is his slave.
"You force me into this? Why…?"
The tall figure grins widely before approaching her yet again. She shivers as he looms over her, his crimson eyes boring into her newly born ones.
"I have forced you not," he says. "After I was through feeding, I gave you the choice to live or to die. And you, servant girl, chose to live."
She gasps, her eyes expanding. It cannot be! She could not have!
"Oh, but you have," He says. "You did this to yourself. Congratulations-"
He suddenly feels claws scratching against his cheek. He remains in the same position as blood runs down his pale flesh. A rough push, however, causes him to stumble back. Turning to the maid, he finds her having a fit.
"And who was it who attacked me in the first place?" she demands, almost screaming. "If you hadn't done that to me, this would not have happened you damned monster!"
Alucard whistles, pressing a finger into his ear.
"Like fragments of a shattered melody," he says. "Yet, I must admit. Adding a bit of your wrath is most amusing and, if I may, inciting."
The wounds on his face diminish instantly, alarming the girl who leaves her mouth hanging open from the shock. She takes several steps back until reaching the wall yet again. At the same time, he appears before her with great stamina. She clasps a hand over her mouth as he traps her between him and solid surface behind her; situation both of his hands at each side of her head.
Remaining a statue, his eyes begin to explore her tiny frame. His thought, indeed, agree with him that has created a pathetic one. However, there is something about this young slave that interests him. Perhaps it is her rage she has just expressed, or maybe something more…
Pressing a finger under her chin, he forces her to look at him in the eye.
"Display any hint of negativity towards me, servant girl, I promise you that your punishment would be most delighting."
With that, he vanishes before her.
The girl suddenly falls to the floor, fear overwhelming her. Placing her hands over her face, she begins to weep silently.
'Oh God,' she thought. 'What is to become of me?'
Brides
Author note: Thank you for reading.