Alucard snapped his head toward me and his lips slowly curled into a smile. Laughing happily, he swooped his arms around me and held me tight, running back to Integra. We were both laughing, and my heart felt as if it were going to rip its way out of my chest.

Doors were for losers, apparently, because Alucard curved straight into the hallway wall and ran through multiple rooms. Each wall we passed through was a little less intense for me. Finally, we morphed through the wall of Integra's office, still laughing.

"What's going on?" Integra asked, looking at is as if we were insane. I can't argue with that, I guess…

"She's decided!" Alucard exclaimed, putting me down.

"I'll do it," I announced, grinning.

She sat with her fingers interlaced, leaning on her desk. She smiled coolly, and nodded her head. I noticed that she had a cigar in her mouth. She probably always did, but I'm just not very observant.

"Now you're completely sure of this?" Integra asked me. She seemed calm, but I could see the excitement in her eyes. I wasn't sure why-- I couldn't be that helpful…

"Yes," I replied. "Alucard went over everything with me, and reassured me that it'll be fine. I realize that it's sort of irreversible…but I'm willing to…sacrifice myself."

"Well, I'm glad," she said. "With Alucard, you'll be completely safe. I'm sure you'll be great."

"Thank you!" I said, and Alucard and I began to leave the room.

"Alucard," Integra called as we were at the door. Both of us stopped and looked back at her. "Continue to teach her with the remaining time."

He nodded and turned back around, putting his hand on my back to lead me out again. We walked aimlessly.

"So what are you going to teach me?" I asked. I didn't think there was much left for me to learn…

"Well, do you know about ghouls?"

"Yes."

"How they're created?"

"Yes, their blood is completely drained and they become mindless undead who follow a vampire's orders. They're defeated by being shot or stabbed in the head or heart…but they can be killed with anything, right? It doesn't have to be silver or anything?"

"Correct," Alucard said, impressed. "and no, the weapon doesn't have to be silver, but it works better. I'm pretty sure Integra filled you in on everything you need to know. You can just ask me anything you find is important, I guess."

"Okay," I said. "Well first off, where are we going?"

"Oh…I don't know," Alucard admitted, laughing. "We could just walk around for now. I'm sure we won't get lost."

We traveled slowly around the mansion, taking random upward stairs until we reached the top floor. I noticed that the rooms on the upper floors had wood floors and plaster walls and seemed a lot comfier than those on the lower levels. I saw yet another set of stairs.

"Ooh, can we go on the roof?" I asked. I wasn't very fond of heights, but I figured it'd be fun. Alucard nodded, and we walked up the last flight of stairs. When I opened the door, the wind nearly pushed me over. I steadied myself and pushed the hair out of my eyes. Luckily, there was a sturdy wall around the edges of the roof.

I ran to one of the walls and looked over. Alucard swiftly made his way over to me. The view was breathtaking. Too bad I'd never be able to see it like this again… Wait…

"Alucard?" I said, talking loudly because of the howling wind. "I can't go in the sunlight after this, right?"

He smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry about that sort of thing," he said. "Remember, you'll have some of my blood transferred into your body. And as I said, I'm no ordinary vampire."

My face brightened. I was so lucky to have come across him. He made being a vampire seem so much more enjoyable. If I were going to be turned by any other vampire, my life would be horrible.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "There's one thing I want to do before I…well…y'know…"

"Oh? What's that?"

"I need to have some peanut butter…for the last time," I said, giggling. I knew that all a vampire's system could handle was blood. And peanut butter was my all-time favorite food. After that evening, I'd never be able to eat it again…

Alucard laughed at me. He held out his hand to me and I took it. We made our way back into the building and down the stairs. There was another kitchen, closer to us than the other one, so we went there. The two of us searched the cabinets for peanut butter. I found a big jar of it. It hadn't been opened yet. I always loved the look of new peanut butter…it's so smooth and good-looking.

I dug a spoon into the center of it and pulled it back out, admiring the creamy substance. Taking a deep breath, I began to lick it. When the spoon was clean, I laughed. Alucard sat across from me at the table, smiling and shaking his head. He had a bag of medical blood.

Setting the peanut butter and spoon aside, I debated whether or not I should ask him something. He probably knew what I was thinking, but didn't say anything.

"C-can I try some?" I asked him. He smirked, nodding. He handed the cold bag to me, and I moved my lips toward the straw poked into the top. I stopped centimeters from it. "Wait a minute…you don't have AIDS, do you?"

Alucard laughed. "I'm pretty sure I don't," he said. I laughed, too. Thankfully he knew that was a joke.

Slowly, I lifted the bag of red liquid again. Just think of it as fruit punch…fruit punch… I thought to myself. I took a small sip and kept it in my mouth for a moment before swallowing. I really had no idea how to explain it, but it wasn't my idea of mouth-watering…

I must've made a disgusted face, because Alucard laughed again. "Don't worry," he said. "It'll taste much better once you're a vampire."

"I sure hope so," I said, handing him back the blood.

Time was going by much faster than I had wished. I was at a loss for human things that I wanted to do one last time. It was about noon, and Alucard and I decided to take a walk outside. The wind had died down, and it was sunny and warm.

"Hey," I said, after a silent spell. "am I going to have to call you 'Master Alucard' from now on?"

He laughed. "Not unless you want to," he replied.

"Just checking," I said, smiling. "because I really didn't want to. I mean…I'm not really afraid of you, and I know you well enough to just call you by your name."

"Huh, well if you're not afraid, maybe I'll leave you dead and bloodless," Alucard said in a serious tone. I stopped walking, shocked and scared. He turned, grinning, his fangs gleaming in the sunlight. "I was only joking…jeez I'd never really do that."

"You…are…a meanie," I said, walking past him.

Alucard laughed. "I can't deny that."

We walked until the sun started to set. I was actually getting anxious. Jeez, it was like waiting for Christmas…

By the time we got back to the Hellsing estate, it was 6:00 P.M. I normally went to bed around 9 or so. Maybe we could do it early?

"You can't wait, can you?" Alucard asked, smirking.

"I'll admit it's a little nerve-racking, but no, I can't wait," I answered, shrugging.

"I will see if it can be done a little sooner," he said, which lifted my heart. We walked through the front doors, and he stopped. "I'll bring you to your room and then come back here to ask Integra. Wait for me, and I'll come down to let you know."

"Sounds like a plan," I said, smiling. That morning, I felt so upset about all of this, but now I thought it couldn't happen soon enough.

Alucard dashed down the stairs and into my room, placed me on my bed, waved to me, and walked quickly back out. I lay down, thinking about the near future. All of about 10 minutes passed by, and Alucard returned.

"So?" I asked, springing up.

"Integra said that we could do it now," he replied, taking a seat in the chair beside my bed.

"Fantastic," I said, grinning. "But uhm…I have an issue with my neck-- I get easily grossed out. So could you be…gentle?"

"Of course," he reassured. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I answered. Now that it was going to happen, I was a little shaky. Alucard moved forward in his chair, and I did the same on the bed. I held out my hand as if asking for something. He raised an eyebrow. "I need something to hold onto, and I figured you wouldn't mind if I held your hand…" He slowly lifted his hand and took hold of mine.

He leaned forward, opening his mouth. I held on tightly to his hand, squeezing it as he got closer. He stopped. My eyes were closed, but when I noticed that he wasn't biting me, I opened them.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I don't know if I can do it," Alucard said, quietly.

"Well you wanted to taste my blood, didn't you? Just think-- you finally get to."

"It's not that," he began, pulling his head away. "I just…I don't want to hurt you."

I felt relieved by that-- at least he wouldn't get the urge to tear into my throat. It was obviously going to hurt, and I knew that. Pain wasn't exactly something I loved, but I could take it.

"Just don't think about it," I whispered. "I assure you that I can stand a little pain."

Alucard leaned back toward me, holding the back of my head with his free hand. I could tell that he was smiling. He breathed on my neck, moving closer still. My hand increased its grip on his hand, and I put my other arm around his neck, panic-strickenly toying with his hair. My eyelids were tightly clamped together, and I clenched my teeth. I felt his tongue slide over my flesh, and then he bit.