Meanwhile beneath them, their sobbing caught the ears of the fledgling one. She ascended to the first floor of the manor, finding the retainer, Walter, sitting on the lowest stair. Her wide red eyes showed concern for all, perhaps fear, she had never heard anyone sob in this house. She stood before the butler at attention, biting her lip for a moment in unease.
"Is that...My master...and...Sir Integra?"
"Yes. Leave them alone." he whispers in reply, his head down, eyes to the floor.
"Why? What happened?" She replied with haste, shaking her head.
"Sir Integra has been diagnosed earlier with cancer, Miss Victoria. There is no way to save her, she will die soon." A single tear escaped his eye, crashing onto the floor.
Her mouth widened. Her master wept over her now, but he wept at all, she had never known him at any emotional weakness before. Now she could clearly listen to the sobs, the dreadful moans of despair, her jaw seemed to drop. She could hear what they spoke, though not all was understandable, her heart seemed to disintegrate as she heard her master's master speak the true name "Vlad Dracula".
"Walter, there has to be something we can do! Master Alucard can-" The old man interrupted her,
"She will refuse his offer, she will never give in. She...will be deciding what will come of Hellsing within this week."
"No! Why would she want to die?!"
"Miss Victoria, Sir Integra does not want to die, I assure you. Though, she wants to remain human for her legacy is dependant on it."
Taking her right hand, he looked into her eyes as they began to slowly walk out of her dim office as sunset turned to night. Crimson stained her hair, her face, her suit, the vampire's tears running down her holy cross. She rested her head against his shoulder while they approached her private bedroom. Her once vibrant eyes appeared dull, the whites red from her excessive weeping. She opened the door, holding it ajar for the servant to enter through. Closing and locking it behind her, she approached her bed, taking a thin tissue from her night stand to cleanse her face, while he removed his hat, long coat and bloodied gloves, tossing them aside.
She knelt before her bed at it's edge, placing her elbows on the surface, clasping her hands together with her cross between them. Her head bows as she begins to pray in silence, as he turns his back, having nothing to say to her god.
"Master!" He heard his fledgling cry out to him, he could hear her running steps approaching. "Master Alucard!" She invited herself into the room and stands in awe, seeing the bloody face of her master stare in sorrow back at her.
"Police girl, I want to be alone with Miss Hellsing tonight." He spoke to her firmly.
"Sir Integra!" She called out across the room.
"No, Police girl, let her pray to her cruel god, it will take a miracle for her to live, though she is strong, she will fight it. Let her be as she wishes."
"Master, I...I'm sorry..."
"Neither of us could stop this enemy. Let me be with her alone."
He turns his back to his fledgling, kneeling behind the praying woman, putting his arms around her waist. The young one looks at them as her eyes fill with blood, she turns away, shutting the heavy door behind her. "So, I be damned. Amen." She hears the woman say strongly.
She allows him to hold her there, dwelling on her short future, what must be done. He does not read her mind, this is no time for games, nor treachery, as he is silent, she considers his offer briefly, and she knows she cannot accept. They rise together and join each other on her soft bed, he lays on his side and holds her close, kissing her gently while her body rests against him. Her right hand touches his face and runs through his hair, remaining on his neck. He removed the white gloves from her delicate hands, the tie from her neck, and the suit jacket covering her. She lied on her back, looking up at him, there would be no more tears for now. He gives her a genuine smile while he leaned down, disrobing her to undergarments, having far too much respect to take that upon himself, this was what she always did for herself. She nods at him as he bears all of his cold flesh to her for her, and she allows him the sight of her once again.
"Vlad, stay with me tonight." She says solemnly
He kisses her deeply once more, she rises to sit, her back straight, her hair behind her shoulders, she trusts him with neck exposed. He placed an arm behind her shoulders, and his other hand on her leg.. His cool lips ever so carefully kissed her neck, he could feel her blood rush. Placing a gentle kiss on her throat, his eyes well with sanguine tears, for she has denied his offer to be forever. As he looked at her face, he could see she was tired, he softly nods his head and lies down, letting her sleep against his chest, keeping his arms around her as if to protect her from the growing plague within her body.
He would not sleep, not that the time is when he should walk, though he knows these are the last nights with her in his arms. He wars with tears, forcing them back, he will not bloody her light hair with them, and his face is stained far too much.