Vlad sat up slowly, ignoring her protests that he was still bleeding. He stared at her for a long time before he spoke.
"Integra," he began, bloodied hands cupping her face.
Integra couldn't move, sitting motionless, eyes wide as she returned his stare.
"I have not been completely honest with you."
No conversation that started with such words ever ended well. Integra thought. Was this going to somehow destroy the small hope she'd began to invest in Vlad? She, who feared nothing, suddenly wished that whatever he was about to say wouldn't be their undoing.
Maybe she was spending too much time with Seras, but there was a part of her that wanted this thing with Vlad to be more. That was willing to explore whatever this thing between them was. Or maybe it was past midnight and she was too exhausted, too overworked to care. She honestly didn't know.
"I did receive a call the morning I found you in Club M, but it was not anonymous," Vlad began carefully.
Integra wasn't expecting that and she couldn't help feeling that, that wasn't what he'd originally meant to say either.
But his words intrigued her nevertheless. He'd lied and she wanted to find out why. "What do you mean?" Integra asked.
"It was from a vampire, who calls himself Alucard," Vlad explained, his gaze trying to gorge her reaction. "I believe you are already familiar with him?"
Integra couldn't help but remember how she and the vampire in question had entered Club M. She doubted people got any more familiar than sharing a coffin.
"Integra?"
"The name sounds vaguely familiar," she said airily. After all it wasn't a lie. The name did sound familiar, because she did know its owner. "How do you know, this Alucard person?" she asked, shifting the spotlight from herself.
Vlad seemed to weigh his reply; she'd taken him by surprise it seemed. "I know he's dangerous," he said instead. "Not someone to be trusted. I've run into all sorts of dubious characters in my line of work, Alucard being the most."
No one knew this better than Integra. After all, she was the one who'd been knocked out and left vulnerable. The least the vampire could have done was leave her in her bedroom. Seeing how he'd practically made himself home in it.
Turning her thoughts back to the present, Integra realised she'd have to change the subject quickly. Vlad wasn't the decorated detective he was without being damn good at his job. The last thing she needed was him sniffing behind her own background.
"Your wound is clotting," she said, effectively changing topic.
"I've suffered through worse," Vlad commented as he took a deep breath.
Was he playing along with some ulterior motive?
Glancing at his wound, she wondered how he was able to withstand the pain. Now clean it didn't look as deep, but it still wasn't the type of injury one had, then proceeded to sit casually on the couch making conversation. There was something nagging her at the back of her mind, as if she'd forgotten something.
"Integra?"
She dabbed alcohol sodden cotton wool over the wound once more, before placing bandage patches over it.
"Promise me something."
It had probably been wishful thinking, hoping Vlad would just drop the Alucard thing.
Heaving a sigh, Integra looked up at him. "Are you in a position to be asking me that?" she asked, standing up. Her eyes searching for the gauze of tape she'd seen earlier.
"Stay away from, Alucard," Vlad said, gripping her wrist.
Integra freed her hand, located the gauze and turned back to him. "I can take care of myself," she deadpanned.
"I don't doubt that, but Alucard has an ulterior motive," he insisted. He made to rise, but Integra pushed him back, straddling his lap to prevent any more attempts.
"And you don't?" she asked, tearing off a piece of gauze.
He didn't reply. They fell into silence before, Vlad broke it.
"Is this necessary?" he asked amused.
It would seem she'd won the argument.
She snorted at his question, using the tape to close the wound. "Shut up," she muttered.
He chuckled, hands grasping her thighs, "I'm wounded and you're straddling my lap," he remarked. "If this isn't taking advantage of me then I don't know what is."
"I'm not taking advantage of you," she said as she ran her fingers over the edges of the gauze to insure it wouldn't peel off.
"Anyone ever told you, you look like Florence Nightingale?" Vlad asked with a grin.
"You're delirious," she remarked as she caught his chin between her fingers. "And none of my peers were alive during her time- so no." She added just as she made to get up.
"Stay," Vlad uttered, his hands holding her down.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "And what exactly do you hope to achieve holding me in this position?" she asked.
He smiled. "Nothing, "he answered pulling her closer so their chests were almost touching.
"Nothing?" she echoed doubtful. "Then why are we so close?"
"Shock is setting in, I'm practically freezing here," Vlad said, before adding, "And we both know, nothing cures shock faster than body heat."
Integra's lips twitched, but she was able to control the urge to smile. "Is that so?" she asked, her fingers tracing his jaw.
What are you doing Integra? This is dangerous territory! It sounded like her conscience, so she shoved it at the back of her mind.
"Yes," he practically hissed as the pads of her fingers fleeted over his lips.
Integra watched his Adam's apple bob, his eyes liquid as he stared at her. She ran her fingers over his thick eyebrows almost as if in a trance.
"Our partnership has been compromised," she mused, dropping her hands to his shoulders.
"That's not the only thing being compromised," Vlad quipped dryly.
Integra lips parted slightly as she felt cold fingers on her sides under her shirt. Her back arched away from the wandering hands, pressing her chest against Vlad's. She closed her eyes to allow herself a moment to think and collect herself. This proved difficult when peppered kisses rained down her neck.
Her fingers were digging into his shoulders. "You're injured," she hissed, his tongue darting around her jaw. She felt shivers run down her spine, while mentally trying desperately to get a grip.
"Are you going into shock as well?" Vlad asked huskily, gently nibbling her bottom lip.
"I-I-I..." Integra didn't even know what she was trying to say. What had his question been again? She wondered frantically.
"You're trembling all over," Vlad murmured, his breath on her lips.
Why wasn't he kissing her already? She wondered annoyed. He'd already gone this far, might as well finish it. She opened her eyes, staring down at him. He was smirking smugly up at her, eyes dancing with mischief.
"The next time I kiss you... I want you to beg me to do it."
Bastard. She thought darkly as she untangled herself from him. There were tiny beads of sweat on her skin and her clothes felt unbearably hot.
"It will take more than that to make me beg," she said frankly.
He chuckled. "In my current state, it wouldn't have been much of a victory anyways," he conceded. "But don't forget this injury is temporary."
She held his gaze.
"I do intend to set you aflame."
/
"Stop."
"I promise I'll be gentle."
Seras shoved hard, pushing her boyfriend off herself. "I thought we decided to wait until our wedding night," she said annoyed, as she sat up.
Pip groaned as he rolled to his side, back turned to her. "You decided that," he reminded her sullenly.
"Which you respect because you love me," Seras said earnestly. There was silence. Narrowing her eyes, she poked Pip on the side. "Right?" she pressed.
"Right," came the defeated reply.
Seras bit on her lower lip, nervously curling her toes. Perhaps she was being too hard on him? After all before dating her, Pip had been a self proclaimed womanizer. And now she'd practically made him a monk, granted a lecherous one. But a monk nevertheless.
Leaning over him, she dropped her chin on his shoulder. "Pip, is there anything I can do to cheer you up?" she asked.
"Pity sex?"Pip suggested hopefully.
Seras could swear that's all Pip ever thought about now. What happened to the charming man, who used to regale her with exciting stories about his many adventures?
She swatted his arm. "You're a pervert!" she accused.
"And you're cruel, Mignonette," the Frenchman pronounced as he sat up. Seras watched him slide of her bed and grab his jacket, searching its pockets before taking out a crushed cigarette box.
"You know I hate the smell of those things," she said, wrinkling her nose.
"I won't light it," Pip said as he sank into her armchair, the cigarette dangling between his lips.
"Pip?"
"Yes mi amour?"
Seras couldn't help the blush that spread to her cheeks. Pip certainly made it difficult for her with his charm and rugged looks. Integra and her mother didn't approve of him, but Seras was in love. He was like every girls fantasy come to life! He was good looking, had sculptured abs and not to mention that accent. How could she not fall for that? Especially when you factored in the hidden sweetness under the bad boy persona.
"What do you know of, Vlad Tepes?" she asked him.
Seras had been a campaigner for Integra to date again and she was happy to see her show an interest in a guy again. But she didn't know much about Vlad Tepes and like any good sister she wanted to make sure he wouldn't hurt her. Though there was little that could shake Integra, she wasn't completely invulnerable either.
Pip shrugged. "He's a detective," he replied offhandedly.
Seras narrowed her eyes, she could tell he was being evasive. "Pip?" she pressed.
Her boyfriend heaved a sigh. "You know my work is confidential, Seras," he said warily.
"So?"
"So, I can't tell you about it," Pip replied.
"I'm your girlfriend," Seras reminded him.
"Seras..."
"Pip," she echoed.
They held a staring contest for a minute, before Pip dropped his eyes. Muttering about enchantresses who used their beauty to get their way. Seras inwardly smirked in triumph.
"I don't know what you want me to tell you," Pip said honestly.
"Is he dangerous?" she asked practically. If anyone would know whether a person was dangerous or not, Pip would.
Pip opened and closed his mouth before stewing over her question for a while, before replying, "All men who carry guns are dangerous, Mignonette."
Seras frowned at his answer, it was vague and didn't reveal much. But sometimes getting the talkative Frenchman to speak about subjects he didn't want to divulge- could be as difficult as pulling teeth.
"If it helps, I think he has met his match in your sister," Pip said with a reassuring smile.
Seras returned it. "You're right, Integra is more than capable of taking care of herself," she said.
Pip grinned at her, a wicked glint in his eye. Seras arched an eyebrow, "What's with that look?" she asked.
"You're irresistible when you're in police girl mode," he said with what Seras knew to be his 'smoulder' look.
"I am a police girl," Seras reminded him. Doing her best to seem unaffected by the look he was giving her.
Pip stood up, walking towards her, "Which makes it all the sexier," he said, crawling on the bed towards her. "That uniform drives me mad."
Seras blushed furiously, but stood her ground. "No hands," she warned. "I mean it too- I plan on being pure until marriage."
/
Something had to be said about having lived for centuries. You learned things, mastered them and relearned them all over again. Right now, Alucard was learning patience anew. He was impulsive, as a creature usually ruled by his desires it was only expected. Yet now he had to tread carefully.
It was like playing chess, his fingers hovering over a certain piece yet knowing that if he chose wrong, he'd be forced to make that move and live with it. He couldn't afford to make a mistake.
Integra Hellsing was as fascinating as he'd always known she would be. Her drive was a force he found both enthralling and thrilling at the same time. And he'd expect nothing less from someone who had Hellsing blood running through her veins.
"What have you done?" he demanded, shaking her shoulders.
The nine year old girl, tried to shrink away from him, "Let me go!" she cried. Had he not been in his current state of mind, he'd applaud her bravery. She must have been scared beyond believe, but she didn't break down into sobs. Her tears of fright from when she'd first stumbled into his tomb had long since dried on her cheeks.
"I doubt scaring her will help matters," the Other intoned. "What's done is done."
Alucard tore his eyes away from the girl, turning to the figure hunched against the wal., "Do you realise what she's done?" he demanded.
The Other shrugged. "She's broken the bound between us and her family," he replied.
"There is no us!" Alucard snapped, "There's only me... and she didn't severe the bound entirely."
"You no longer have to answer to Arthur," the Other pointed out.
That was true of course, but now he was bound to a little girl. He was angry at the situation, but she had no idea that this would happen. And from the scream she'd emitted when she found him, she'd also been unaware of his existence.
"It's simple you know," the Other said.
"I won't let you kill her," Alucard said softly. She was just a child, a frightened one at that. He turned back to the girl, her blue eyes staring up at him. "But I can make her forget."
And make her forget he had. He doubted Integra had any recollection of that night, 15 years ago. The memory if still there, was hidden deep within the recesses of her mind.
Turning back to the present, he sipped casually on his goblet, awaiting the approaching footsteps. The door behind him swung open, the light in the dimly lit corridor casting the shadow of the figure on the floor. He turned his chair with no effort and inclined his head to the side, a smirk marring his features, "It's been a long time Angel of Death."
The retired assassin did not return his smile, instead giving him a grimace.
"So you've returned, Lord Alucard," He said, hands folded behind his back.
Alucard shrugged. "You can take the dog out of the gutter, but you can't take the gutter out of the dog," he mused, swirling the contents of his cup.
"I see," Walter remarked, a glimpse of light reflected on his monocle.
"Tell me old friend," the vampire began. "How is Arthur faring?"
Walter remained stoic. "Sir Hellsing is in good health," he replied ever the faithful retainer.
Alucard chuckled darkly. "I care nothing for his health," he said honestly. "I meant about the position his dear daughter is in?"
There was a twitch on Walter's face, but he quickly regained his composure. "Position?" he asked with as much innocence, as one like Walter could get away with.
The vampire leant forward, eyes dark crimson orbs. "I never took you for an actor, Angel of Death."
It was Walter's turn to shrug. "I fear your cryptic words elude me," he said calmly.
Alucard sat back, folding his leg over the other. "Well it's only a matter of time now," He said, more to himself than the butler.
"Perhaps, but you seem quite confident of the outcome..."
"I am."
Walter nodded and turned to leave, but paused,. "Tell me Lord Alucard," he began, back turned to the vampire. "What happens when she doesn't choose you?"
And Walter's senses haven't dulled at all. Alucard thought, begrudgingly applauding the other man for using that card against him. It would seem that he, Alucard, had underestimated more than just Vlad. Would he never learn not to underestimate a formidable opponent?
But if there was one thing, he didn't need to relearn, it was victory. He'd lost only once before and swore never to lose again.
"Then I'll kill her," he said simply.