"Make sure that you look both ways before you cross the street, Master Integra. Make sure that you don't talk to strangers and keep out of the way of the flowing foot traffic, and PLEASE please don't let Alucard do anything…untoward or otherwise stupid." Walter took a deep breath and released it, adjusting the teenager's blazer collar. "You must be careful, even with your servant with you. There are people out there that could take you away and if I never found you…"
Integra blinked a few times and then smiled. "Walter. Honestly. If they captured me, then they would bring me right back. Alucard has informed me that I am an absolute screaming brat, and therefore that there is little chance that I would be captured. Now Walter, stop worrying, and know that I am thirteen years old, hardly too young to go visiting one of England's great landmarks."
Walter looked skeptical. "I don't doubt your capability to guide yourself in that direction and then get home safely. I wonder about Alucard's ability to escort you there without causing massive death and mayhem that would bring the entire country into a fury. Please don't let him do anything stupid, Miss Integra because then we would really have a crisis on our hands and might even have to lock him up again in the dungeon. And you wouldn't want that for your little servant, would you?"
Alucard rose from the floor behind Walter, eyes narrowed behind his orange glasses as he sipped from a straw which was in turn shoved into a pack of blood. It was a macabre Capri Sun, Integra noted, and she was amused by such a comparison. "You doubt my capability of transporting master from here to there, from there to elsewhere, and then from elsewhere to here once again, Walter? I'm shocked." He took a long sip of the red liquid, sighed in refreshment after he swallowed. "I'm simply appalled. It would seem that you no longer trust the man that once accompanied you into dangerous territory."
The butler smiled and turned to the vampire, bowing slightly. "It's not that I distrust your ability to go from here to there, there to elsewhere, then from elsewhere to her, it's the point that trouble seems to follow you wherever you may go, and in going with Miss Integra, you might inadvertently cause trouble which could compromise her safety. So Alucard, if you would, please refrain from harming anyone while you are with her unless they are trying to harm our master in the first place. Be sure to look both ways before you cross the street, Master Alucard. Make sure that you don't talk to strangers, and keep out of the way of the flowing foot traffic, and please, PLEASE don't do anything untoward or otherwise stupid."
The No Life King sucked all of the life out of the straw, then tossed the empty blood pouch into the garbage can that wasn't far away. "So in other words, babysit, don't have any fun, and make sure that I leave all life within the great Kingdom of Britain untouched and unscarred for tonight. You are so good with words Walter. However shall I survive with your specific instructions? The very nature of the vampire is to walk in the night and wreak havoc, and you've just stripped away my ability to do any of that."
"Ah, but Master Alucard, you will be walking the night. And I'm sure Miss Integra shall be quite irritated with your company, so you may wreak havoc in that manner."
"I suppose so. You're right, old butler. Then, master." He dropped to a knee in front of her, a wicked smile playing across his features. "Shall we take our leave of this musty place and partake of knowledge in the dead of night for the sake of our little brain?"
"Vampire, little is the last word you would use for my mind, and knowledge is partaken in daily. The dead of night is simply a convenient medium so that you may accompany me and offer a tour."
"That I may, Master, that I may." He stood from his position and offered his arm to the teenager. "Shall we, Master?"
"We shall, Alucard." Master took servant's arm like a lady would a gentleman's and wandered out of the door with him.
Walter took a deep breath and sighed, shook his head as he closed the door behind them. He feared for the people around them, not Integra.
**********
"Alucard, why is the sky so utterly clear some nights as if it is beautiful and then other nights, it is murky and depressing, as if it doesn't want anyone around?"
"It's the moon, master." The silky smooth words tumbled forth from the vampire as he stared up at the sky. "The moon sets the mood of the play. The play that occurs after the sun disappears and darkness reigns. The beauty of the night is in its solitude, its pride, its sights, and sounds."
"I don't know if I like the darkness that much." She turned her head up to look at the tall man. "I'm scared of the dark."
"Master, you should never fear the dark when I'm around. I shall protect you, as shall Walter until the day that he dies. However, I shall never die. I will always protect you, and kill whatever lurks in the dark waiting to pounce upon your back."
"Alucard, do you miss being human?"
"I miss the ability to die."
"Is that all?"
"I miss not the frailties of the human body. Living throughout the centuries, my mind has clarified in the ways of life and death, despite the fact that this body has known neither of those. I am who I am, and I am neither yet I am both. Humanity can only see in the short term for the human life is very short. But that is enough of that talk." He smiled in almost a kind manner down at his master. "We're almost here." He gestured up to the tall clock that was before them. "Master has tolerated much in the journey. Are your legs tired?"
"Yes, can we rest?"
Alucard chuckled as he leaned down, lifted the girl in his arms and shot off toward their destination. Integra held back a scream, as she was far too used to her servant's antics. It'd been a year since she found him in the dungeon during her uncle's attack, and privately she was glad that she had. Not only for being alive, but also for amusement and witty bantering back and forth.
**********
Alucard sighed softly as he wandered slowly up the side of the building. "Master, does it please you? The sights and sounds? The lights?"
Integra clung tightly to her servant, her hair flicking slightly in the wind as she forced her eyes open, to look around. "Please don't drop me… I'm scared of heights, Alucard!"
"Ah, master, we'll have to cure you from that." He turned around so that his front was facing the ground, parallel with it as a matter of fact. "Does it please you? Look… Above us is the large clock tower. Below us is city street. Have you ever seen anything as beautiful?"
Integra took a deep breath and released it in a shudder. "Yes, the ground."
"As it were." Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth as she slipped from the vampire's arms. Integra screamed the entire way down, flailing for something to grasp onto, but finding no hand or foothold. When she ran out of breath, she screamed more until…
Everything came to a sudden halt. Her hair was still fluttering around, her glasses were askew on her face, and all she could see was black. Black hair. She clutched at it tightly as she trembled, squeezing her servant tightly. "ALUCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD!"
"Ah, you'll never lose that set of lungs. It defines your personality so well, Master."
"TAKE ME HOME, ALUCARD. I'M TELLING WALTER!"
"As you wish Master. He might even ground me." Alucard ignored the people around them as he offered a malicious grin. They parted as servant walked down the street with master in arms, trying to comfort her.