Author's notes: Hello everyone. Welcome to chapter 10! It's been over a year since I began this story and who knew it would end up being what got me to change my college major and transfer schools? I want to continue this story to the best of my ability. It's still very near to my heart and I intend to see it through. Thank you for your support.

Chapter 10:

What Should Have Remained Unseen

****TRIGGER WARNING**** This chapter contains the following: Suggestions of rape, torture, and emotional abuse.

December 16th 2006

Hellsing Estate

3:45 PM

Walter C. Dornez's P.O.V.

"Walter, do you have that order form for the silver filled out?" Sir Integra flipped through her disorganized stack of papers that sat in a heap on her desk.

"Yes, Sir, I gave you the form this morning," I answered as I placed her cup of tea beside her.

"Oh, here it is. Would you… send it in for me?" She looked up at me with pleading eyes that I hadn't seen in quite some time. Our crusade across London, eliminating the targets that had been provided by Miss Love nearly six months ago, had become a much larger undertaking than we had anticipated. It was certainly taking its toll on her, as well as everyone else in the estate.

"Of course, my lady. Is there anything else you require at the moment?" I accepted the sheets of paper from her.

"No… you have your errands to run today, don't you? I've kept you long enough." She ignored the tea and went straight for her cigars.

"No, ma'am, I sent Miss Love a few hours back. I believe Miss Victoria is accompanying her."

Sir Integra paused, this time switching out the cigar for the tea. "Those two? I fear for the safety of London."

I laughed to myself. The image of them wreaking havoc on the city was perhaps a little too real. "They should be returning any time now," 'Or at least they'd better be!'

"Very well. You may return to your duties, Walter. I'm fine here." She reached again for the cigar.

"As you wish, Sir." I bowed my head slightly and started towards the door. I went straight along the hallway towards my office when I heard laughter echoing down stairs. 'Ah, they're back,' I smiled and turned for the stairs. 'I should at least make sure that their errands went well,' I decided, pushing the paperwork and dusting I had yet to do to the back of my mind.

I found the two of them walking towards the corridor where Miss Love and I's rooms were located. They were giggling to themselves and Miss Love had something clutched protectively against her chest.

"Good afternoon, ladies," I greeted them as I reached for the cigarettes in my back pocket.

"Oh, good afternoon, sir. How are you?" Miss Love looked up and then to the side, her face suddenly flushing. Miss Victoria raised her hand to her mouth, laughing under her breath. "Seras, shut up!"

"What? Me? What did I do?" Seras continued to laugh.

"Just cut it out!"

"I'm not doing anything!"

"Not doing anything my ass!"

"Ladies?" I interrupted them.

Miss Love froze, her face more red than ever. "Y-yes sir, sorry sir."

"Now, it seems to me," I continued, "that you're both up to no good. So, tell me, ladies…" I flicked open my lighter and took a quick drag on my cigarette. "What's in the bag?" I eyed my apprentice specifically.

Miss Love started to sway back and forth nervously. It was Seras who stepped forward, taking the bag from her. "Oh, you know, the usual! A bomb, a gun, an obscene amount of drugs, a dead baby, and one very large knife!"

It took nearly every ounce of strength I had inside me to keep myself from cracking a smile. I felt my right eyebrow twitching. "Just how much would be considered obscene?"

"Enough to kill a man," Miss Love chimed in.

"Twice," Seras added.

'Interesting…' "Carry on, ladies." I walked past them, unable to subdue the smile and subtle laughter any longer. I could hear them whispering behind me.

The dusting was done. The paperwork was not done, but I couldn't stare at the forms and reports any longer. "How dull…" I muttered under my breath, pushing the papers out of my reach. It was one of those days. The itch to get an assignment was back again. What I wouldn't give to tear something apart, but I hadn't seen an assignment since the night I rescued Miss Love. I doubted that Sir Integra would ever allow it again. Perhaps the next time Miss Love went out I would talk my way into joining her. I might even let her get away with some unnecessary violence should she allow me to take part.

I couldn't help but laugh. There was something in the way that she dismantled her enemies that I thoroughly enjoyed, sometimes more than her charming façade or sarcastic wit.

"What could she be up to?" I wondered out loud. I suddenly felt the urge to be by her side, practicing with her. 'Miss?' I called to her. I waited a few moments. No response. "That's odd." 'Miss Love, can you hear me?" This time I waited a minute or two and still got only silence. "Damn it, girl." Her lack of reply was giving me a sinking feeling. She never took more than a second or two to respond to me. We hadn't exactly experimented much with this ability. Did we have a cap on the distance that could be between us? But even if such a thing did exist where could she have run off to?

I got up from my desk and started down the hallway. She was nowhere on the third floor, which was to be expected. She rarely left the subbasement or 1st floor when working. I decided to check her room next since it was one the way.

I went to knock on her door, but it was already cracked open. I stopped, my hand frozen against the wood. I closed my eyes, tried to focus. Was she in there? I could hear something. A drop? Running water? I opened the door and stepped inside, quickly shutting it behind me. I glanced around her room. Her bed sheets lay in an untidy mess. I sighed. She was the worst with remembering to keep her room together.

In the center lay a crumpled plastic bag and another ball of fabric. "Did she forget to put her towel in the laundry again?" I strode over to her bedside and unwrapped the mound. It was her clothes. "Agh, daft girl can't even take proper care of her-" I stopped midsentence when I found myself staring down at her bra and panties, black and covered in lace. "She… wears this sort of thing?" I could feel a deep red spreading across my cheeks. Before another thought could enter my head I crumpled up her clothes and tossed them back on her sheets. The undergarments she chose to wear were none of my concern or interest. I went to her WC door and knocked on it. She must be showering. Although that didn't explain her lack of response, at least I knew where she was. "Miss Love?" I called out loud.

This time there was complete silence. The running water I had heard was not there anymore. Why wasn't she answering me? "Miss!" I slammed my fist against the door, but she still didn't answer me. My mind was starting to race. If she was ill or injured she would still somehow manage to answer me. 'The comments made by her and Seras… those had been jokes, right? She wouldn't really have brought something like drugs or explosives in the estate…?' Truthfully, I was worried about something much worse. The image of her sprawled on the floor, with her body ripped to shreds, my recurring nightmare, began to seep back into my skull. "Miss Love? I'm coming in!" I grasped the door knob and pushed it open. A small wave of warm steam rolled out to meet me. I turned towards the tub on the left and saw her arm hanging limp over the edge.

"MELODY!" I lunged forward tore back the shower curtain, pulled her out of the water and held her tightly. "Melody…"

In my arms she looked up at me with her red eyes. "Ma-master?" her voice squeaked out.

"Melody? You're…" I found myself trailing off as my right hand brushed against her cheek.

She reached up to her ears and pulled on the thick black wires that were connected to them. They looked like ear plugs. "Master, what are you doing?" her voice was still a quiet whisper.

"Y-you weren't responding, and I…" My words disappeared again as my eyes fell, tracing the path of a water droplet that slid down her neck on to her exposed breasts and stomach.

Two realizations hit me all at once. First: she was fine. Second: I was holding my apprentice, naked, in my arms and I was staring at her. The water that still clung to her pale skin soaked through my gloves and the sleeves of my shirt. There was smear from a bar of soap on her neck. She smelled softly of flowers. I traced loose strands of her black hair back to her face. Her cheeks were burning a bright red.

"I'm sorry, Miss…" I let go of her, suddenly mortified with myself. I stood up and used my right hand as a shield, covering my eyes. "I am terribly sorry, Miss, I-I thought-" I stopped myself. What I thought didn't matter. I turned and walked out, closing the door behind me, and then out of her room straight to mine. I gently closed my door and then leaned back against it. "Damn it," I cursed between my teeth. I made my way to my own WC and locked the door. Leaning over the sink, I dared not to look at my own reflection. The images of her figure were etched into my brain. I wished that I felt nauseated by my thoughts. I wanted to vomit, purge the image of her body from my mind, but it refused to leave. The curves of her waist and the water droplets that hung on to her breasts were the only things I could see. "Just go away already, like you always do," I begged, but my body wasn't listening to me this time. "Damn it all!" I gripped the edges of the sink. "Damn it…" I shut my eyes. I was no longer above giving in.

My eyes were glued to my papers. It was well past 11:00PM, but I didn't feel like going to bed. Who knows what sort of horrid nightmare would be waiting for me tonight? The things that had occurred today were not things I wished to experience again. I'd rather put it off awhile longer.

"Master?"

I looked up to see Miss Love standing in the doorway. The muscles in my shoulders tensed up.

"Yes, Miss?" I lowered my eyes back to the paper in front of me.

'We have things we need to discuss, sir.' I could hear her voice echo in my head.

I had no right to deny her. I put down my pen and met her eyes. "Yes… I suppose we do."

'Not here.' She held up her hand. 'Alucard is awake.'

We soon found ourselves walking the outskirts of the estate. Sounds of late night training between whom I assumed to be Alucard and Miss Victoria were echoing in the distance. Miss Love had yet to say a word.

"Miss, would you allow me to explain?"

She nodded silently. Her right hand reached up to her neck, like she wanted to reach for her cross, even though she knew it wasn't there. I still had yet to give it back to her.

"I was looking for you. I kept calling and you didn't answer. I was worried, I thought-" I stopped myself again, the images of her naked body were back.

"I'm sorry for worrying you sir. I didn't think you would need me so soon." She glanced up at me.

"Don't do it again," I heard myself say. I cringed at my own words.

"Yes sir," she replied. "Can I make it up to you?"

"Pardon?"

"Are you hungry, Master?" she asked with a smile.

"Well…" I thought back and realized I hadn't had dinner. "Yes, I suppose so."

Miss Love leaned up against one of the many trees that sat at the edge of the estate and pulled a throwing knife from her belt. She rolled up her left sleeve and motioned for me to join her. "Well?"

Something about the suddenness of it made it feel wrong. I had come to accept and enjoy Tuesday evenings with her. It was a few brief seconds of satisfaction. But was it really right for me to do this? Then again, if she was really willing to let me have another drink, how could I say no?

2:00AM and I still hadn't gone to bed. I had stayed up with Miss Love in the basement. We sparred and practiced with our silver wires, challenging each other to see just how far we could push our movements. She had become so fluid and quick, I found it hard to believe that this was the same girl I had to teach to walk almost a year ago. She still needed experience. She hadn't beaten me yet, but she only admitted defeat when there was nothing more we could destroy.

"I'm going to bed!" She paused to yawn. "Good night, Master."

"Good night, Miss." I watched her disappear behind her wooden door.

I found myself wandering back into my office. I had left my desk in a disastrous state. I should at least tidy up some of the papers before going to bed.

I saw his shadow before I heard him. "Good evening, little angel." Alucard stood in the corner by the window.

My whole body seized up. What could he possibly want this time? It seemed to me that the only time we interacted these days was when he felt the need to stir up more trouble between Miss Love and I.

"Good evening, Alucard," I greeted him, keeping my focus on collecting my pens and sorting papers.

"What's wrong, angel? You seem tense," he chuckled.

'There is no way he could know,' I reminded myself. 'Not at all!' "Did you come here for a reason, Alucard? Or are you simply here to pester me? As I recall, you have a servant you could be terrorizing instead."

"Oh come now, Walter." He strode over to the red chair by my bookcase. "I'm dropping by to see how things are going between you and the little girl."

"Fine, thank you. She's developed into a skilled fighter," I said.

"You seem quite proud of her," he remarked under more quiet laughter.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be? Mel—Miss Love is a talented young woman and one of the most effective weapons Hellsing has at its disposal."

Alucard did not respond this time. I could see his red eyes fixed on me.

"Not that this isn't a riveting conversation, but I had best be going. I have to be awake again in three hours or so." I started to walk towards the hall, but stopped mid step. "Actually…" I turned back to him. "Could you explain something to me? About drinking blood, I mean."

"Oh?" He grinned. "What is it?"

"When you drink blood, do you…" I paused. It felt almost embarrassing to be asking him this sort of thing, but I couldn't imagine asking Miss Love. "Do you see images flashing behind your eyes?"

The smile fell off his face. "Well, yes, but not often. Who is your source, little angel?" He raised an eyebrow. "Because you certainly must have noticed that it must be fresh for you to see them clearly."

"Oh, of course…"

"Then I'm curious, Walter, who is it?"

"Does it matter?"

"No…" he answered. "I suppose it doesn't." Alucard shifted around in his seat. "You're seeing their memories, Walter, their entire lives are flashing inside your head. Are you looking to slow them down?"

I nodded.

"You need to go in there in search of something specific. Focus on the memory or information you're looking to extract and you'll be able to hone in on it," he answered, but still had that look of suspicion on his face.

'Interesting…' I thought. "Good night, Alucard. Thank you."

"You're still not going to tell me who?" he persisted.

"No, I'm off to bed. Perhaps some other time." I walked out and closed the door to my office behind me. I had no intention of ever telling him anything.

"Are you sure?" I asked as Miss Love rolled up her sleeves. "You did just let me drink from you a few days ago."

"I offered that to you as an apology, sir. It didn't negate our arrangement." She smiled.

I was a bit surprised, but thankful at the same time. I would get to taste her blood again and I could finally put that advice Alucard gave me to use. But what would I look for?

"Master?" Miss Love looked up at me with a puzzled expression. I blinked a few times, realizing that I had been staring off into space. "Master, are you alright?"

"Oh, yes, sorry. I was just thinking."

"I know," she said with slight grin.

I knocked her upside the head, gently. "I'm sure."

For a few moments our eyes met. The candy red color of her irises was so different from the bright blue I saw every night in my nightmares. It was softer, but still cut through darkness like headlights. There were times I wished her eyes had never turned. Why couldn't she have retained her harsh blue eyes? As much as I loved to watch her become the fighter she's turned into, I sometimes wished she had never-

She turned her head, as if she had realized I was staring at her. Her cheeks flushed suddenly.

'Shit…' I cursed myself. How could I be so careless to think about this sort of thing when she was standing right next me? This lack of sleep was starting to take its toll.

"Should we get started, sir?" she asked. Her voice sounded so cold, like she was talking about beginning a training exercise. It was almost upsetting. Wasn't this-? 'No.' I stopped myself. This was an agreement we had made because I am a pathetic excuse for a vampire, nothing more.

"Yes," I answered.

As the knife started to glide across her skin my mind began to race. What would I look for?

She looked up at me; her red eyes seemed a little brighter now. What was she like before now? Could I look that far back? Would she let me? Surely she could hear my thoughts.

"Ready?"

I nodded. Was she not going to stop me? Moments later, her blood was running down my throat and the images started.

'Focus, focus on her eyes.' I thought. The images started to slow down and then stopped. 'There!'

"Hey Mel?" A girl with shoulder-length brown hair stood in the doorway. Was she talking to me?

"Yeah?" I said, only darting my eyes up from the book in front of me for a moment.

"Dinner's ready," she answered, and then stood there, tugging at the bottom of her shirt.

"What is it, Connie? You look like you wanna say something." I closed my book and swung my legs over the edge of my bed. I looked at the girl. I didn't know her, but I felt like I did. Something about the way she stood with her shoulders hunched forward felt familiar. Why did she look so nervous?

"Could you help me with my psychology homework tonight?" she asked.

"You're taking psychology?"

"Yes, they just started offering it as an elective," the girl responded, wringing her bunched up shirt.

"Sure why not?" I walked up to her and ruffled her hair. "Let's go see what Mum cooked up for supper."

She nodded, a weak smile creeping on to her face and disappeared out of the doorway and down the hall. I reached for a light switch and closed my door behind me.

The hallway was dark. The wooden floor creaked under my bare feet. I turned the corner and shuffled down a narrow staircase. I turned to the left and walked into the brightly lit kitchen where an older man with dark hair that was starting to go gray sat a wooden table. His round glasses hung on the tip of his nose. By the stove, a woman with short brown hair stood with her back turned, one hand on her hip.

I felt lightness in my chest when I saw the older man. "Dad!" I hurried over to him. "I didn't think you'd be home yet!"

He greeted me with an arm around the shoulder and quiet laugh. "And miss our first dinner with you home? I wouldn't dream of it."

I gave him a playful shove and walked to the sink to wash my hands.

"My goodness, Melody, what on earth are you wearing?" The woman looked me over. Her face was scrunched up into a look of disgust.

My right eyebrow started to twitch. "Mum, it's just a night gown," I said calmly.

"Go change, it's below zero outside," she ordered.

"It's just a night gown," I stated.

"You look like a bloody prostitute!" she shouted.

"Denise!" the man yelled.

"Well, would you look at her, Charles? She might as well be walking around naked, flashing the whole God-damned neighborhood!"

"That's enough!" he argued.

"You'd have to be insane to wear something like that! And just look at her sister! What kind of influence do you think she's having on Constance? Just because she wants to throw her body at any man that passes by doesn't mean she has the right to drag her poor sister down to hell with her!"

I took off out of the room and sprinted back upstairs, slamming the door behind me. I threw myself back on to my bed. I could hear the argument still raging downstairs.

"She just got home for God's sake! Can't you go one night without ragging on the poor thing about it?"

"What, so I'm just supposed to let her walk around the house, looking like a slut?"

I wanted to cry. I was trying to, but I couldn't get a single tear to come.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on my door and the girl, Constance, slipped inside.

"Mel?"

"Yeah?" I answered, though I didn't really want to talk. I wanted her to leave.

"I think you look pretty."

"Don't let Mum hear you say that, or she'll crucify me," I spat back. I looked back at her, her eyes were wide and big tears were starting well up and spill over the edges.

"I-I'm sorry," she choked out.

The longer I looked at her the more I realized this girl couldn't be more than fourteen. There was still something bugging me about how familiar she felt. Something about her hair, her loose clothes, her big eyes. Had I seen her somewhere before? No that would be impossible; this… this wasn't even real. Was it?

I pushed myself back to my feet and walked up to her, pulling her into my arms. "It's not your fault, sweetie. It's better for you if I'm not here."

"But I miss seeing you!" she cried into my chest, hugging my waist.

I smiled. "Let's get that homework of yours done.

"Tell me what this part of the brain is?" I pointed to the unlabeled diagram in front of me. Constance scrunched up her face.

"The frontal lobe?" she said hesitantly.

"And what does it do?"

"Long term memory!"

"Yes! Good, now let's—" My words were interrupted by the sound of smashing glass. I took a quick glance at the clock on the nightstand. It was nearly midnight. I had heard the footsteps of what I assumed to be my—Miss Love's parents going to bed a few hours ago. I rose to my feet.

"Mel?"

"Shhh," I hushed her. "Stay here, Connie, and don't make a sound."

"Mel, wait, don't!"

"Stay put!" I ordered and slid out the door, shutting off the lights and gently closing it behind me.

"Melody!" a man's voice whispered behind me.

"Dad?" I turned around to see Miss Love's father standing in the hallway.

"Get back in your room and stay with your sister. I'm going down."

"Dad, wait! Stop!" I called after him, trying to keep from shouting. I had a sinking feeling that I knew what night this was. I shouldn't be seeing this.

When he disappeared around the corner and down the stairs, it was quiet. Then there was the sound of a struggle, more broken glass and a loud thud, ending in some quiet laughter.

My legs started shaking. "Daddy?" I whispered, and started down the hallway. The stairs did not creak when I walked down them this time.

'Don't go down there, Miss!' I wanted to shout, but no sound came from my throat, and I knew that even if I could speak, it would make no difference. I was starting to separate from Miss Love. I could feel it. The longer this went on, the more aware I was that this body and these memories were not mine. My own thoughts were breaking off from hers.

We hid and peered around the corner. Miss Love's father was on the floor and there was blood everywhere. His chest had been ripped open. Two men wearing nothing but black stood over his body. I could feel and hear the heart in her chest stop for a moment. We backed up against the table in the kitchen. She couldn't keep her breathing under control.

'You've got to calm down! They will find you! Breathe girl, breathe!' I found myself trying to shout again.

Our hand bumped into something on the table. we grabbed hold of it and held it in front of us.

'A candle stick?' It looked silver to me, but she couldn't possibly know that.

We started to move forward. When we reached the corner we snuck a look around it. I felt the sinking feeling in my gut go deeper. Her heart skipped again as we watched them shove their hands into his chest. But this time I could feel rage starting to build up inside her. We leaped out from behind the corner and slammed the candle stick into the shoulder of one of the vampires. His arm flung up and sent us flying into the already shattered glass coffee table. I could feel a sharp pain shoot up our right side.

"Dumb cunt." He got to his feet, rubbing his shoulder.

"Wot did she 'it you with?" the other asked.

"The fock if I know, but it bloody well hurt!" The first one stood over her and whistled. "Well, would you look a' this? She's all dressed up loike she was waitin' for us! How koind of you, sweet'eart!" He picked us up by the neck and started running his hands down our chest.

'Don't you fucking touch her!'

He grasped our night gown between his fingers, like he was going to tear it off. The heartbeat in our chest was getting louder. 'Let go, please don't!' But before he could, heavy footsteps came pounding down the stairs.

"Mel!" Constance rushed in.

"Connie, run!" we screamed.

"Shut yer mouth!" He knocked us across the face and then dropped her back into the pile of broken glass. Another shot of pain went coursing through our back.

The vampire was going after Constance now. Another set of footsteps came crashing in. "Constance!" Miss Love's mother started screaming. "Oh, my God, Charles!"

"Andy, I'll 'andle the girl, you can have the woman," the one cornering her sister said.

"Wot about this one?" He pointed to us.

"Oh, I don't think she'll be gettin' up any toime soon. She can wotch!"

"Suit yerself." He shrugged and was suddenly in front of her mother.

"Melody, get up! Don't just lay there; help your sister, God damn it!"

We reached for the candle stick again, but then eyed the cast-iron shovel and prong by the fire place. We reached and took the shovel and started to push ourselves to our feet. We went for the vampire that had Constance, lunging at him, and slamming into his skull.

He turned and looked back at us, his eyes glowing with anger. "Big mistake!" He pulled the gun at his side and pulled the trigger. The bullet shot straight through our left leg.

Even during her nightmares I had never heard her scream like that. I felt dizzy. This was too much. It was too intense. The next thing I knew, we were tied to a chair. The vampire we'd struck over the head was now standing in front of us, the other holding Miss Love's mother and sister.

"Wotch closely, ladies! This is wot will 'appen if you try anythin' funny loike she did." He shot through the right leg this time. I couldn't hold the connection any longer. I was only watching now, like her sister and mother, I could only watch as he tossed the gun and pulled out a knife and started to cut.

And then it was over. I was in my room. Miss Love was beside me. I took one look at her and before I could stop myself, I pulled her in by her wrist and locked my arms around her.

"Master?"

"Just be quiet. Let me do this," I whispered. To think that she lived through such a thing? I was perhaps only thirty minutes away. We could have stopped the whole chain of events. We had known about those two for weeks, but we let them continue their murdering spree. Hellsing could have stopped it.

She stayed quiet while I held her. I could hear her breathing gently into my shirt. It was a relief. I did not know her then, but the idea that a disgusting monster like that had put his hands on her, had hurt her like that, made my blood boil.

"How much did you see, sir?" she asked.

"Too much." My grip tightened. There were so many things that I wanted to say. Sorry, was the first thing that came to mind, but sorry didn't mean anything. No, I wanted to tell her how glad I was that she made it here. I wanted to tell her that I understood why now, with that young girl on her first assignment. But all I managed was, "No wonder you got drunk. Stupid girl…"

"Sir?"

"Keep quiet. Just a little longer, please," I said.

I didn't care at this moment that she was my apprentice. She was too important. Some how she need to know it. She needed to know that I couldn't allow myself to let her go.

TBC

Author's notes: Hello, everyone. It's been months. I know. This chapter was delayed due to college. It was also a very difficult chapter to write. I'm moving outside of what could be considered Walter's personality. How would he deal with this type of situation is merely my speculation since there is so little known based on canon information. The rest of the story may be like that. I ask you to bear with me. I will see this story through, but it will take time.

Ryo Wei