A/N: Sorry for the long delay, my imagination and I are having constructive differences. Thanks to everyone!!!!!

Concentration

Seras walked dejectedly down the hall to her room, her head hanging in disappointment. Her mission had been a near complete failure. She now had the necessary time to train, but had no one from whom to learn. With a loud sigh, she reached her room and pushed open the door.

"Miss Victoria?" a voice suddenly asked, making Seras' head jerk up in surprise.

Walter was before her, standing next to her table with a worried expression on his face. The No-Life Queen cursed her own negligence, being caught so unaware.

"Walter, what are you doing here?" she asked, shuffling her feet nervously. Seras had hoped to have time to herself to cover her obvious disappointment.

"I merely came to check if you were all right. Your behavior earlier in the evening was certainly...strange" he spoke. His concerned look deepened at the young woman's agitation.

"Oh, that" she said. Seras had completely forgotten the experience, her fear at losing her humanity to her hunger having overridden all other thoughts.

Then a sudden idea came to the young vampire, one which made her new training more useful. With the impending stress upon her body, she would surely need a larger amount of medical blood. The young vampire gave him a small smile as she walked over to the table, seating herself in the single chair.

"I'm alright, but can I ask you a favor?" Receiving a positive nod from Walter, she continued. "Could I have another packet of blood a night? Um, because, you see..." Seras said, stumbling on her words. She could think of no clear explanation to give to the elderly retainer.

"No need, Miss Victoria" Walter interrupted, giving her a knowing smile. "I have already been informed of your training. I will gladly bring you the needed blood tomorrow, after your session is over." With that said, he left to attend to other chores.

Seras inwardly sighed, relieved at finding the retainers mind already resolved. She wasn't sure how to explain her increasing needs for more blood, and refused to lie to the kindly retainer. Laying down on her bed, the young vampire wondered how she would begin her training, completely ignorant on how to start. She suspected the techniques involved some form of physical training, along with the more obvious mental teaching.

Rolling over on her side, Seras drifted off into another troubled sleep.

Opening her eyes, Seras realized with numb horror she had returned to the room. But there were now many physical differences surrounding her. The darkness was now beyond penetration, she could not even see her hand held before her face. Now she also felt as if she were in a large room, the sensation of being surrounded by surfaces entering her mind. She held her arms out before her, hoping to find any of the solid substances she now felt.

"Has the kitten lost her way?" a mocking voice called

Seras stiffened, her arms falling to her sides and her hands clenching into fists. The title kitten, the nickname her D-11 squad had affectionately given to her. Only one person would know such a treasured memory, and being willing to use such a painful reminder on her. She turned her head from side to side, trying to pinpoint where the noise had come from.

Suddenly a hand brushed against her back, as a deep chuckle resounded through her body. Seras jumped forward with a shriek, wishing this nightmare would end. But the noise of amusement grew louder, echoing off the confined space and drowning out her own scream of terror.

Seras quickly sat up in her bed, slamming her head into the closed lid and falling back with a groan. She lay still for a moment, holding her bruised forehead and recollecting her senses. Curling into a tight ball, she slowly calmed herself with a few deep breaths. Her body was shaking and a cold sweat of blood had soaked through her nightgown. She let out one last shuddered gasp, wondering why her dreams were becoming more frightening with each passing night.

Then Seras realized how foolish she was being, fretting over such a commonplace occurrence as having a nightmare. Her dream was already fading from her memory, and she knew she needed her strength for tonight, or her training would be a complete failure. Discerning the time of day, the young vampire realized the sun would not set for several more hours. Resigning herself to falling back into sleep, she situated herself comfortably on the pillow and drifted into a blessedly dreamless sleep.

The young vampire awoke at sunset, her mind alert though her body screamed for more sleep. But this night commenced the beginning of Seras' training, and the No-Life Queen was determined to prove her abilities. With a positive outlook and the will to push herself, she began her routine for the next few weeks. And strangely, she could not recall her dream of the previous night. She was aware of having a nightmare, but what had taken place would not come to mind.

Brushing her useless thoughts aside, she dressed and drank the single packet of blood placed on the table. Seras had decided to practice outside on the extensive grounds, finding a perfect spot near the edge of the woods bordering the Hellsing compound. Here her training would not be interrupted by anyone, other than the possibility of Alucard and Walter finding her.

Seras sat down in her spot, stretching her legs out before her and settling her hands in her lap. The young vampire began by relaxing her body, concentrating on the grass beneath her and the air around her. Unfortunately, her attentiveness was less than astounding, thanks in part to the disturbed sleep of the past few nights.

Seras repeatedly tried to focus her mind on her body, practically digging herself apart to find any hint of power. All of which was to no avail. She dropped back on the ground with a sigh of frustration, only to shoot back up with an audible squeak. Her former master stood behind her, his frame bent low over her body. Their faces had been mere inches from each other when she had leaned back, and staring into the ruby eyes of a psychotic vampire was not a pleasant experience.

"Alucard, bloody hell!" she yelled, leaning her head back. "Must you be so quiet?!" His passive face only furthered to anger her, as he began stalking around her in a manner similar to a predator. "What do you want?" she asked, knowing the comment was rude but caring little. He had startled her once too often.

"Seras" Alucard warned, though his grin remained on his face. He stopped his pacing, standing before her with the moon at his back.

Seras slowly hung her head in defeat, knowing she had overstepped her authority. She could feel his displeasure, rather than see the emotion. Though he was no longer her master, he still deserved the respect of her sire. And he was much more powerful than her.

"I'm sorry, Alucard" she apologized, raising her head. Seras thought she saw a flash of displeasure in his eyes, with something more hidden deeper. But she shook herself from her foolish thoughts. Of course she noticed displeasure, he despised her very existence.

But then, what was he doing here?

"Was there something needed?" Seras asked, standing and brushing the grass from her uniform.

Alucard silently held up a blood bag, its dark contents shining in the glare from the moon. Seras' eyes snapped to attention, their gaze locked on the delicious meal. She was barely able to restrain her hunger, the sudden appearance of the sustenance causing her mind to nearly collapse.

"Walter was coming to bring you your dinner. I offered my services in the task." Alucard held the blood just out of Seras' reach, taunting her.

The elder vampire's smirk grew larger, as Seras' hand suddenly flew toward the bag. Only to meet with empty air. She growled at him, angered that the rightful nourishment was being held from her. But taking a deep breath, she calmed herself and held out her hand, palm up.

"Alucard, I don't have time for your fun. I'm trying to train" she said, gritting her teeth. The strain upon her mind and the hunger gnawing at her stomach were fraying her meager patience for the elder vampire's 'game.'

The mention of her attempts at practice raised an interested eyebrow, while Alucard's grin now nearly covered his entire face.

"Perhaps you will show me what you have learned?" he asked mockingly.

At his question, Seras blushed and hung her head in embarrassment. She had yet to feel even the slightest twinge of power from herself, though she had been dutifully concentrating for the last hour. And now any hope of continuing her training was quickly slipping from sight, with her former master the object of distraction.

Sighing, Seras shook her head and raised her gaze to meet the amused and cold eyes of the No-Life King.

"May I please have my meal, Alucard?" she asked, still holding out her hand. Her pride currently meant little to her, and she knew the idea was unimportant to the creature before her. He would have no other reason for teasing and mocking her so. And the thought of escaping to her room with the needed nourishment conquered her fatigue, at least for the moment.

Alucard's eyes suddenly blazed red, his lips curling to form a perfect frown. A low growl escaped his mouth as he looked to her hand, his brow lowering in dissatisfaction.

The unexpected emotion made Seras step back in surprise, only to have a hand roughly grab her arm with superhuman speed. Suddenly the blood bag was shoved into her chest, with the instinct to grab the object keeping the meal from falling to the ground.

Disappointment was the only readable emotion in his eyes, and Seras' blood boiled at the look of disgust. His primary response toward her had always been such, and she was tired of seeing such an undeserved expression. She had been thrust unknowingly into a world of power struggles and endless bloodshed, performed her gruesome duties for Hellsing with no complaints, and had been a loyal, albeit not entirely obedient, servant to the monster now standing before her. What more was he asking of her?!

With a sudden snarl, Seras dropped the bag hanging from her arm and lunged toward the surprised, and equally amused, master vampire. She barely missed cutting a deep gash across his chest with her lengthened fingers, as Alucard quickly vanished from where he had stood.

"Perhaps the kitten wants to play?" his voice echoed around her, though she could not find where he stood.

Seras' head snapped up at the mention of her old nickname. She slowly turned toward where the voice had eminated, her eyes narrowed in anger. So he was in my dreams!!! she thought, feeling emboldened by the satisfied feeling in her stomach.

Alucard suddenly appeared in front of her, making her stumble back in surprise. "You are having dreams?" he asked, catching Seras off guard. His tone was actually filled with curiosity, and his eyes were set on her with an expression of interest. The sneer had disappeared, with not a hint of disgust nor hatred on his face.

Seras scowled at him, not amused by his antics. He'd had enough fun at her expense and she wasn't willing to give him more information to laugh at. Besides, he'd invaded her thoughts once again, and she was tiring of such a personal intrusion. Turning toward the mansion, and with her back toward Alucard, she walked quickly away, ignoring his question entirely.

Alucard merely watched her go, his grin slowly returning as he pondered her thoughts.