Chapter 10

Seras woke with a start, effectively knocking her head on the coffin lid as she shot up. After taking a moment to rub her forehead, she pushed the lid open and slowly sat up, muttering something about stupid Majors and thier stupid mind talk-shows, or something along those lines; she wasnt really paying attention to herself. Absently, she looked around the room until her eyes rested on the small wall clock. 9:01 p.m.

...If anything, she had to give the Major credit on his impeccible timing.

Shaking off the remaining dull ache in her head, Seras stood up and stepped out of her coffin, trying to make herself presentable for her Master and Sir Integra's return, and for her long night of work ahead of her.

For the weeks to pass, the Major remained silent--completely silent. Seras knew that she should have been ecstatic, but even she had to admit it had been nice to talk to someone about something--anything--other than the reconstruction plans for Hellsing Manor. And even though she hated to admit it, she wished he would just say something to spark conversation.

'He did say we would talk again soon,' Seras found herself thinking a month and a half after the last conversation she and the Major had. It was nearly 4:30 in the morning, and Integra had dismissed her for the day. It was still another hour until sunrise but Seras wasnt very tired. All she had done that night was help put in new windows and doors in the Manor, where the Geese were now living, healing, and working as full-time Hellsing operatives.

Seras paused en route to her room, changed her mind, and shifted through the walls until she found herself outside. The weather had warmed slightly since last month, but there was still a pleasant breeze. In the distance, it was still dark; the fires had long since been put out, and there was still limited electricity. London had been evacuated, and only a cleanup crew and a few soldiers resided to make sure no more ghouls arose to raise Hell.

After staring at the city distance for a moment, Seras looked back up at Hellsing Manor, and took a leap upward, touching foot on the roof a moment later. She loved sitting on the roof to just think about things. Making herself comfortable and staring up at the sky on her back, her right hand absently touching the shadow form of her left arm. The feel of it still intrigued her; solid, but not. She put her arms behind her head for support.

Silence and stillness resounded for the next few minutes while Seras stared unblinking up at the fading stars. She didnt even noticed the shadow on her left suddenly sprout red eyes that stared at her until the form of her Master was standing directly over her, blocking her view.

Instead of freaking out with shock like she would have done months ago, she merely raised an eyebrow and stared up at him upside down. "Yes, Master?" she queried politely. From the black shadowy form, she saw the white glint of her Master's grin.

"You're up late, Seras," he said. "Any reason why?" Seras blinked slowly, but didnt get up.

"I'm not tired," she replied simply. "And Sir Integra dismissed me for the day. I had nothing better to do." She paused, watching her Master, who merely tipped his head to the side in apparant thought.

"Do you want something to do?" he finally asked, with, Seras didnt fail to notice, a hint of foreboding in his voice. She sat up and turned to him.

"...Like what...?" she asked slowly. Alucard's grin grew wider.

"Your training."

That grabbed Seras's attention. She stood up and faced her Master, her eyes flashing. "Really?" she said, smiling. "We can start tomorrow night?"

Something about the way Alucard grinned made her exitement drop a few points. His face seemed to shadow over, leaving only his red eyes and the white of his smile to leer at her.

"I was thinking more along the lines of right now."

Right as he said that, Seras felt an unpleasant crawling sensation in her head; like a few hundred disgusting centipedes skuttling around at random, touching and prodding at whatever. "Master!" she cried, taking a step back as though he pushed her. "What are you--!?"

"Force me out, Seras," Alucard said in a commanding voice that seemed to come from both outside and inside her head. "Use your will to force me out!" Seras glared up at him from beneath her bangs and gathered what she had to push the unpleasant crawling feeling out. She finally managed to shove the presence out of her head.

Resisting the urge to scratch her head from the itchy, crawly feeling left behind, Seras stared quite irritated at her Master, who had a thoughtful look on his face.

"Huh..." he said softly, as though slightly disappointed. "...That wasnt nearly as strong as when you were asleep..." He looked at her, his red eyes glowing softly. Seras felt a very strong sense of foreboding now, and she didnt like it at all.

"Master," she said with a slight waver to her voice, "cant we just continue this tomorrow night...? When I'm fully rested?" She waited in silence while her Master seemed to consider it. He finally shook his head.

"No," he said, then Seras felt an even stronger, even more disturbing presence in her head, much deeper this time. She nearly screamed from the sudden intrusion, but instead, she immediately went on the defensive, trying to push him out. However, he wasnt wavering one bit, and her resistance was pushed aside almost easily.

"Concentrate, Seras! Force me out!" Her Master's voice bore into her head, ringing loud and painful. Forced mind entry, or 'mind-rape', as Seras so affectionately called it, really sucked. She was just grateful, however, that he hadnt reached that certain level of her mind that contained the Major. She didnt know what she would do if her Master discovered her secret.

She cried out in pain when she felt her Master give an even stronger shove into her mind, just touching that level she tried so hard to protect. "No...stop it...!" Her Master paid her no heed and pushed on. Almost... "...Stop..."

Crack

Seras really did cry out when she felt the pressure of being pulled into her own mind overcome her body. Everything went black and red for a moment before she was suddenly thrown into her mind world; only this time, the black void looked as though red were trying to penetrate it like dawn breaking night. She felt panic rise in her chest, and looked around wildly before her eyes settled on the Major, who had a look of almost anger on his normally passive visage. He reached for her.

"Nehmen meine Hand!" he commanded, holding his hand out. The sheer tone of his voice made Seras feel as though she should obey without a second thought, but she hesitated. The Major's golden eyes flashed almost blindingly; threateningly. "Gib mir deine Hand JETZT!!!"

Just the frightening sound of him shouting gave Seras the incentive to do as she had been commanded. She took his outstretched hand, and cried out when he pulled her to him, almost chest-to-chest. She was just about to demand what the hell he was doing when she found out just what he hell he was doing. The Major's golden eyes began to glow; really glow, until even the whites of his eyes were overcome with the golden light. Seras then became aware that a barrier of almost the same gold light was being formed around them; growing and pushing outward until it touched the invading red and forced it effortlessly out of the black void.

Seras was torn between amazement and downright fear as she stared in awe at the Major. He looked like a demonic holy being; someone she couldnt believe was killed by a mere mortal sword. And was residing in her mind! She wondered wildly how he hadnt been able to overcome her! She was barely aware that all of the invading hue of her Master had been completely forced out and the golden light was receding until the Major's eyes stopped glowing, and faded back into a regular solid golden hue.

After the barrier had flickered into nothing, the Major looked down at her, and his arm unwound itself from around her shoulders, as though he had done nothing extraordinary. Seras stared at him for a second before being forced out of her mind and into the physical world, where she felt her body and mind fatigued to the point of nonfunctional. She swayed on the spot before collapsing on the roof in a heap of pain.

Alucard stared at his fledgling in complete shock. He had mean to go all the way into her psyche, play with some images, and have her force him out in anger; just as he felt she would learn best. Instead, he barely cracked the outer shell of the psyche, and was forced out by a golden-white light; something he knew wasnt normal at all. It was powerful, and it had forced him out with no effort at all.

But what disturbed him the most was that the light contained a presence he felt was familiar; something like an incomplete memory he never quite experienced, but still felt familiar. He continued to look at Seras, who was struggling to get up, then looked at the eastern horizon. The sun was coming up. The pained sound of Seras struggling to stay upright drew his attention back to her, and he swiftly shifted over and caught her before she fell. She had passed out.

Alucard stared down at her for a few moments before disappearing into the shadows and reappearing in Seras's room, where he gently laid her down in her coffin and closed the lid. He remained looking at the coffin for a few moments before turning and leaving to find his Master, all the while feeling that something was not quite right.

Ummm...ja, for those of you who dont know what Major is saying: 1) Take my hand. 2) Give me your hand NOW. Mmmyep...

Chapter 11 Preview

..."I still dont understand," she said, staring at the Major in exasperation. "How were you able to keep Master, of all people, out of my head?" The Major sighed and gave her a look from over his glasses.

"It ist like I told you," he replied softly, "I am not human. Besides..." His face suddenly broke out into a grin. "You dont even know the half of vhat I can do...or vhat I can teach you..."