A/N: A record time for writing a new chapter as a celebration for the 20k hit on my site.

Unsolvable Situation

The group, at Alucard's words, swept outside and surveyed the growing area of hostility. Each held their modified weapons, though the elder vampire was the only one with the pact. Seras was still confused over her case which held the strange object, but she had little time to wonder as the groans and growls of the creatures surrounded their position.

"But Alu-" Seras was about to argue with his previous command to play when suddenly she noted something amiss with the present scene.

Standing not more than a few yards from the group was a little girl clad in a light blue dress, her brown hair long and trailing about her shoulders. She was pale and held an unusual air about herself, all of which foretold the fangs which revealed themselves as she gave the companions a wide smile.

"Another of the Countess' playthings come to tease?" Alucard ridiculed with disgust as his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Quite the ability you have, transforming normal humans into partial vampires."

The little girl only snickered in response as the figures from the shadows gathered about her small form. Seras could see the lengthened teeth within their mouths and the red tint to their eyes as they crowded about their mistress, eager to please her commands.

"Play with me now" the child spoke, grinning as from between the buildings came dozens of staggering humans. "And my new friends."

"Human-vampire hybrids" Alucard spoke with a snarl, his eyes swiftly moving over the group of people surrounding them. "The Countess seems to have employed the lowest of standards for her army" he mocked, raising a hand upward.

Instantly shadows deepened around them all, light turning to dark and vice versa as Alucard began to activate the weapon at his side. Tentacles crawled out of the growing balls of energy emerging from the darkness, even as the creatures began to close in around their tight circle. However, the small group of companions immediately noticed something was wrong. Alucard lowered his arm with a violent jerk, his energy dissipating in a quick flash of black wisp.

"Binding spells" Alucard hissed venomously as he slipped his new toy into a vortex. "It appears we will have to play by human rules" he commented with a growing grin, his arm reaching into his coat and pulling forth the Jackal.

"Wait!" Seras objected as she clasped her arms around his own. "You can't! You'll kill them!"

"That is what they intend to do to us" the master vampire countered as he growled in annoyance. "Have you forgotten our discussion on our nature so quickly?"

"No" she replied as she shook her head, but her eyes were adamant. "But this has nothing to do with feeding and they're not vampires, so they don't deserve to die!"

A long pause ensued as Alucard pondered her words, the shadows seeming to hesitate and wait for his decision as the child vampire watched with amusement. Rip and Michael held still their breathes for the outcome, wondering whether they would have a fair chance at either combat choice. Then the elder vampire sighed deeply and returned the Jackal back to his jacket.

"If the game goes against us, we will have to kill them" Alucard spoke as he grinned widely at the chance to use physical strength against his opponents.

"All right" Seras agreed as she stood by his side in her own fighting stance, prepared for the first attack.

The group had not long to wait as the first of the creatures sprang from beside their mistress and launched themselves high into the air. They came down upon the vampires but were easily repelled with a few quick blows to the mid sections and others were simply dodged. Rip and Michael mimicked the combat choice of their other two companions and withdrew their weapons to the sides, their movements quick as they also countered with their feet and hands to immobilize their enemies.

Unfortunately, Seras' mercy was proving difficult to hold as the downed opponents quickly sprang up, battered but not out of the fight. Others added to the fray and soon the four companions were barely able to dodge most of the attacks while they could only take the other hits. The situation was getting desperate and Seras could feel herself becoming reckless with her blows as the creatures began to stand, unwillingly, with bruised bodies and broken bones.

Then, to complicate the situation, the hooded figure from their previous encounter appeared beside the small vampiric girl. The person appeared amused over the ensuing confrontation and for the longest moment merely watched as the group tried to neutralize their targets without using deadly force. The outcome was a losing situation, and Seras began to see the fruitlessness of the situation she had placed her companions within.

"Stop!" she shouted as she threw a human vampire to the side and held up her arms.

To the young vampire's surprise the attackers seemed to obey her command, but she quickly realized the child monster had halted the mutants' movements. She had only a short time to act upon her rash plan before Alucard would stop her, and they would indeed have to result to killing every villager within the square.

"Oh, why stop?" the other general asked as they stepped forward toward the surrounded group. "The fun was just about to begin" the person spoke even as they withdrew their hood to reveal a beautiful young woman. She would have been lovelier had her face not been distorted by her hideous grin of ecstasy. "I would have enjoyed your wonderful carnage of these worthless peasants" she spoke as her hand swept across the hybrids.

"But I wouldn't have" Seras countered as she set a grim expression on her face. "I plea for a bargain. My willing departure with you and the humans are set free without harm."

"Oh?" the young woman asked as she raised a brow. "You wish to bargain with the three generals of her ladyship?" she wondered aloud as a strange smirk spread across her face.

"Three?" Seras heard Rip speak behind her even as a small laugh came from a nearby companion.

"I'm afraid my game is up" Michael spoke as he stepped forward with a bow. "Perhaps if Lydia hadn't spoke, I could have played for much longer a time."

"Master?" Rip accused as she approached him with a shocked expression upon her face. Her eyes were lit with a growing fury as she shook her head in doubt. "This cannot be. What do you mean by this?"

"I mean what I mean, Rip" the traitor responded as he stepped up to Seras, who quickly repulsed at his tainted being. He seemed slightly taken back by her movement, but quickly adjusted to her new attitude toward himself. "The game is up and it's time for you all to grow up and not be so naive. The Countess, or should I say, my dark mother has been very kind to allow us such a distance into her domain."

"Mother?" Seras repeated, not believing what she was hearing. "What are you talking about?"

"Treason, Seras" Michael replied as he laughed lightly. "Should it not be obvious. Even God has his Michael as his right hand, should I not be hers?" he asked, though his face then became serious. "But she only wants Seras, no one else" he explained, pointedly staring at the soon-to-be mother.

"Then, boy, I have no more qualms in killing you" Alucard spoke up as he leveled his new weapon upon the younger male vampire.

"Do so and I cannot guarantee your bride's safety" Michael threatened as he wrapped a hand tightly around one of her arms.

"No" Seras whispered as she shook her head and allowed herself to be led toward the other two generals.

"Don't worry about us" Seras attempted to sooth, rubbing her stomach as she gave him a soft smile. "We'll be fine. There's strong blood in us both" she whispered as a black void suddenly engulfed both her and the three generals.

The two vampires were left alone, both angered at the betrayal and prepared to take vengeance on their targets.

Seras watched forlornly as her mate and loyal companion disappeared from her view, leaving her in the company of a traitor and his brood as the dark mist around them dissipated. As the night sky once more glowed overhead she turned a scowling expression toward the vampire who still held her arm, his touch disgusting her senses. With a wrench she broke free and looked about to where they had arrived.

Seras was not surprised to see an ancient castle not far from where they stood, its towers looming over the surrounding countryside. Ancient and knotted trees stood around as if frozen in time while the ramparts had long fallen into disrepair. However, the faint sound of music and laughter could be heard within the walls, showing the monolith still held life. The two female generals began walking toward the large gates which signified the entrance as the traitorous vampire came up beside her.

"Come, Seras" Michael said in a polite tone as he offered his arm for her to take in her own. "The Lady wishes to speak with you."

"Don't use my name" Seras snapped as she bluntly disregarded his offer and strode ahead with the others.

Michael, a look of slight pain in his eyes, followed after his former comrade as they passed through the crumbling gates and into a large courtyard. Seras could see light shining through one of the numerous passages which dotted the inner walls, and the merrymaking was now much louder to her ears. She was gently pushed in the direction of the light as Michael came up behind where she had hesitated, leading her to growl in annoyance as she shot him a venomous glare.

Seras allowed the two females to lead the way as they entered the lit corridor and strode leisurely down the hall toward a large room. To her surprise, the way opened wide to reveal a banquet area filled with numerous vampires and servants laughing gayly and enjoying one another's company. However, everything stopped upon the arrival of the new visitors and all eyes turned upon the young vampiress. She blushed at the attention and was about to retreat to the previous passage when a single person stepped forward to greet the small group.

The woman was tall and slender with pale skin befitting a vampire, while her dark black hair shown out against her glowing countenance. The woman smiled graciously at the new arrivals, but Seras had the feeling the gesture of warmth was nothing but a cold facade. She was inwardly repulsed at her presence and tried not to show the fear which crept into her mind as the stranger approached the unwilling companions.

"A welcomed return for my generals" she announced as she placed a coddling finger under the child vampire's chin. "And I see you have brought what I asked for. Well done" she congratulated as her eyes turned fully upon Seras. "And my dear child" she cooed as she swept open her arms and strode toward the captive. "Welcome to my castle, my guest of honor."

Seras blinked in confusion at such a title given to herself and looked around as all the other guests nodded their head in agreement. They seemed like mere puppets bending to the will of their hostess, and she could only assume they were the prodigy of the Countess who surely stood before her.

"You have guessed right, Seras" the Countess spoke as she laughed lightly. "What quick wit and an interesting mind. Such great talent, also" she noted as she stopped mere inches from her unwilling guest, her hand reaching up with a long finger and allowing the claw to drag along her neck. Then her features turned into an ugly scowl as she noted the insolent look upon the young vampire's face. "Oh, but what a pathetic excuse for a vampire" she sharply spoke, suddenly drawing her nail roughly across the skin and opening a wound. The Countess looked at the blood with a hungry eye as her gaze wandered downward to Seras' stomach, a hand following her sight as she ran the fingers along the barely showing stomach. "Ah, but you will be useful, my guest of honor" she reiterated as she stood back and waved to the others to leave.

"What are you babbling about?" Seras questioned as everyone left the room but the generals. "If you wish for Alucard to sire you a child, he will never want to have a child with you" the young vampire snapped, shivering at the revolting touch of the elder.

"Oh, but you misunderstand me" she answered, her hand stroking along the pale skin. "I merely want your child."

"What?" Seras uttered quietly, her face contorting into confusion as she stepped back in defiance.

"I want your child to raise" the Countess replied offhandedly, smiling as she looked upon Seras' stomach with hunger. "A little brat to raise as my fledgling, and Alucard's progeny will do well for such a role."

Out of the corner of her eye, Seras noticed an expression briefly pass across Michael's face. However, the emotion was so fleeting, and the situation so dire, that she pushed the puzzlement to the back of her mind.

"You can't have him!" Seras hissed as she covered her arms over her stomach and growled in protection.

Around Seras a sudden vortex of dark shadows began to form, quivering in the air as the sound of wailing filled the room. Shards of ink ejected from the swirling mass as whips emerged from the vampiress' very being. The three generals covered their faces to keep the tendrils which shot out of the circle from damaging their eyes, but the Countess merely looked on in joy.

However, her amusement quickly ended as one of the whips suddenly cut into her chin, causing a thin line of blood to dribble down her neck. She scowled and, with one deft movement of her hand, cut into the wind with her own dark magic and knocked Seras to the ground. The mother's concentration was stunned and she was drawn into sleep as all her powers were too rapidly and harmlessly dispersed about the room.

"Interesting" the Countess noted as she stepped forward to loom over Seras' fallen body. "It will be a joy to see if having a son will bring me such power."