AN: Progress is being made hooray! So these chapters have been becoming slowly more difficult to write even with a first draft in existence. Recently I've looked at that copy and said to myself "you see! This is why you shouldn't write at one in the morning." Anyway, I'll continue, when it comes to stories I'm not about to leave it unfinished.
Ike always thanks for your support special thanks to lilwicca1989, , Tamina Hathaway and CuriousHearts for their interest and support.
Sanders emerged from her guest suite dressed in a white peasant blouse belted with a red corset and black pants; clothing provided at the expense of Hellsing. She rejoined Alucard and the pair made their way quickly to Sir Integra's office. The closer they drew the more audible the voices behind the closed doors became. Sanders cringed she recognized those voices; this was not going to be fun. She knocked a few times since barging in didn't seem like the brightest idea. Walter opened the door from inside and bowed his head as they both entered. Two women and a man sat opposite Sir Integra, Alucard knew one of them; queen Carmen sat on the far right next to a woman that appeared to be in her thirties or forties. There was an empty seat next to the older woman separating her from the final guest, a blonde man in an expensive suit.
"Hello Lady Camelia, your highness, pig." Sanders bowed her head to each of Sir Integra's guests. Lady Camelia turned her head, she was so similar in appearance to Sanders; there was no doubt that she was her mother. Her eyes held no motherly warmth, her whole image was overly proper and clean. White skirt and blazer, cream blouse, the only contrast was the black lines of a tattoo on her neck in the shape of a flower, not even a single hair from her bun was out of place.
"Sit down Sanders," Lady Camelia said motioning to the seat beside her. Sanders stepped forward and Alucard walked towards his master to stand facing the group. As soon as Sanders took her seat her mother turned attention fully on her.
"Why is it, that one of the top ranked subordinates of my company, my own daughter who I have had trained for years has not dealt with one talentless witch?"
"Mam I have been monitoring every aspect of Ms. Blake's life."
"That is still no excuse for letting that woman slip through your fingers." Sanders tried to answer but was caught under Lady Camelia's iron gaze.
"Do you understand the trouble you cause the longer you are bound to that thing?" Lady Camelia motioned towards Alucard, who held back a snarl.
"I'll make sure to keep her safe from the monster," the man next to Sanders said slipping a hand onto Sanders thigh.
Don't you dare touch me Roan," Sanders growled but the man called Roan didn't withdraw, instead he slid his hand further up her leg.
"I always love women with a little fire." Sanders slapped his hand away and glared at him.
"I'm warning you! I will burn you alive."
"Sanders, that is no way to talk to your betrothed." Lady Camelia snapped at the now snarling woman. Sanders didn't answer, she simply glared at Roan then back at her mother.
"We were just discussing with Sir Integra how we were going to stay here at Hellsing to improve our chances at breaking your curse." Queen Carmen spoke as carefully as possible, trying her hardest to prevent Sanders from attacking whoever she could get her hands on first. Sanders slid back in her seat and straightened to face her sister as calmly as possible considering the circumstances.
"Also the council has decided to move up the date of your wedding to next week even if you are still bound to the vampire." Sanders face visibly darkened at this.
"And why would that be necessary?" She asked, her voice shaking notably from the effort of holding back her temper.
"As I said it was a decision made by the council to help secure the agreement between Roan's family and ours."
'No it's not just that. There's no way those people would push something like this up for such a simplistic reason."
"Sanders please stay calm."
"They don't trust my oath! That's it, isn't it? They think I'm going to back down from the agreement!"
Carmen reached out to try and calm her sister but Sanders was far too irate.
"And why would they trust you to keep your word? Your anger would only fuel their suspicions that you are still as childish as ever." Lady Camelia, didn't need to raise her voice, the intimidation was just as potent as a loaded gun. Sanders seethed and tried to ignore the ache in her chest favoring the heat of anger over the emptiness that the idea of the arranged marriage left. She had promised to marry Roan Sullous, for the sake of her family, for the sake of what was most important to her. "That was before you fell in love," she thought to herself. "Before you even knew that was possible."
Aside from the news about her wedding and the new guests of Hellsing manor there wasn't much left to discuss. The meeting ended soon after and Walter led Lady Camelia, Queen Carmen and Roan to their chambers so they could get settled. Sanders was the first to leave Sir Integra's office followed by the other guests and at some point by Alucard. Someone stopped Sanders mid step by clamping down hard on her wrist. The hand was cold and the grip was like iron.
"I can tell what you were thinking in there Sanders. I've known you all your life. How dare you disgrace our family and our people by associating with undead souls?" Sanders refused to look at her mother even as Lady Camelia tightened her grip.
"I assure you I have no idea what you're talking about," Sanders answered with feigned ignorance. It was clear to her that her mother was only angry because she suspected Sanders growing feelings for Alucard, but she had no proof and Sanders planned on keeping it that way.
"Don't pretend. You are my daughter Grasandra Dracavitch so trust me when I say I know you better than you know yourself." Camelia pulled hard on her daughter's arm forcing her to turn her head. Sanders stared into her mother's cold brown eyes.
"He's a thing, a parasite, one of lowest of the supernatural. Worst of all his kind were created by sin."
"Sin you say, funny you mention that. Wasn't it you who taught us forbidden magic was the sin of our people, the great taboo? Yet Carmen is queen and your pride and joy. She's your single greatest achievement." Sanders spoke clearly and calmly; her mother still had her arm and could easily over power her.
Alucard kept watch, he felt highly protective of Sanders as she talked to her mother. When he tried to get a feel for what kind of woman Lady Camelia was he felt something abnormal about her more so than Sanders. She wasn't human but she was more than just a witch. He watched as Lady Camelia stepped away and walked off after Walter who had been waiting at the end of the hall. Roan followed after her like a pathetic little lamb. Once the pair had walked further away Alucard approached. He noted the slump in her shoulders as the tension flushed from her body leaving only the emptiness. As if by instinct Alucard reached out towards Sanders but with reflexes like a cat she swatted his hand away.
"Don't! Please… Please just don't."
""It would be better if you don't touch me" then she walked ahead of him until she felt the faintest shock waves from the curse. The elder vampire shrugged his shoulders, that much drama in such a short amount of time was far too bothersome for him to fully concern himself with.
He followed Sanders towards the mirror blocking the sub-basement; annoyingly they had to pass Roan who smirked at the young woman then the absurd little mortal tried to initiate conversation with Alucard. The vampire growled and flashed his fangs at Roan. The weakling flinched tried to appear casual as he walked to the opposite side of the hall, avoiding eye contact as much as possible.
Alucard and Sanders walked down the sub-basement steps.
"I don't like him if that's what you're wondering," Sanders said as they descended. Once downstairs Alucard sat on his chair and watched the female. She stood near him but still slightly apart.
"You never told me you were betrothed."
"I didn't think it concerned you!" Sanders snapped. Tears began slipping past her eyelids, she didn't want to be mad at him but her emotions were so uncontrollable that her mind was slipping into anarchy.
"Why are you crying witch?" Alucard pulled Sanders closer to him and wiped the tears from her face with a gloved hand. She put her hands on his face as well, and then moved them to his shoulders and neck. He slipped his arms around Sanders waist pulling her closer so they could embrace. The kiss was warm and sweet although brief. Sanders pushed on Alucard's chest seperating the two of them, severing their connection.
"I'm sorry," she looked like she was going to cry again.
Sanders turned and saw Carmen in the entranceway of the chamber looking as ethereal as ever.
"Alucard may I have a moment with my sister?" Alucard complied and walked from the chamber and out of view. Without a word Carmen opened her arms and her sister buried her head in her shoulder clinging to the safety and security her warmth offered.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to help" Carmen whispered as she stroked her sister's back.
"Are you sure there's nothing at all?"
"You gave a binding word. The council, they like their traditions, only a unanimous decision could reverse it…"
"I wish I had done everything differently. I wish I had lived a little more for myself, I wish I didn't have to keep wishing."
Slight change in POV:
The vampire watched from the shadows; he wasn't eavesdropping intentionally; he simply didn't want to leave Sanders completely alone. He hated knowing that she was unhappy; he hated knowing she was crying over him of all things. Alucard had slaughtered armies, toppled empires and massacred the innocent without batting an eye. Right now he hated himself for his past, how could he have been so selfish to want to drag her into his world. He was a monster. He had no beating heart, no soul to speak of. There was no possible way for him to love her the way she deserved to be.