Amusing isn't it, how just after last chapter, when I said that I didn't support the AlucardxSeras pairing, that I'm doing it right now? Well, let me explain. I don't support the pairing as a romance, but I do believe that after a little while, they might form a father-daughter or teacher-pupil sort of relationship. But romance is right out! That said…on with it.
Prompt: Forever and a day...
"Master!"
Seras was ecstatic.
He was back!
Master was back!
Home!
Here!
He chuckled at her from his prone position on Integra's floor, shadows wavering over his face as skin and bone regenerated, and she beamed.
She had learned that trick in the war, before he had even left!
His gaze flicked to her, and his smile grew just a little.
"Hello Police Girl. Noisy as ever I see."
She flushed and squirmed a little, and he returned his gaze to Integra.
They had their brief reunion, and she stood there smiling in pride.
Master was home! Master was home!
He finished and stood, leaving Integra to go back to her bed as she stood aside respectfully, beaming at him.
She followed him happily down the hallway, despite his near standoffish silence.
"Master! It's so good to have you back! I missed you so much and so did Integra! Did you see-"
"Seras, stop."
She came to stumbling halt, her babbling words ceasing within an instant of the proper use of her name.
Her master turned to her, and she stared at him, half in fear, half in hope.
He was so…enigmatic, she wasn't sure if she was about to be rebuked or praised.
She gasped softly as a cool glove met her hair, like the gauntlet had done so many years ago, and ruffled it gently.
"You have done well Seras. My Seras Victoria. You have kept our master safe and whole throughout these many years. Well done, my fledgling."
She beamed at him, feeling as if her heart was about to pop free of her body, light-headed from the genuine praise and respect in his eyes.
"Master!"
He smiled absently at her, and then cocked his head a little.
"You have matured greatly, Seras Victoria. Will you take my blood and be free?"
She stared at him, hopelessly lost by the sudden offer.
Being free held a certain appeal, not having to be held down, but do as she pleased, go where she liked, that seemed very enticing.
But…that meant being on her own.
No Master, no Sir Integra, no family.
She would be alone again.
Like back at the orphanage.
On her own.
"If you please Master, sir, I quite like things the way they are. Now that you're back, that is."
She looked sheepishly at her feet, only to jolt as he ruffled her hair again fondly.
"I thought you'd say that. How many familiars have you taken?"
*Not bloody enough if you ask me, she's only really eaten me so far.*
She half smiled at the familiar voice as it encircled her, shadows rippling along the hallway they were in, and Alucard grimaced slightly.
"So he's still around is he?"
"Master! He's a very good helper and I haven't really needed…anyone else."
Her protest turned sheepish as he gave her a sharp look.
He then sighed and shook his head just barely.
"But just the one?"
*Eh! What's that's supposed to mean?! I've been a bloody good familiar for mignonette!*
Alucard's lips quirked upward as she hid a giggle.
Pip could be so amusing sometimes.
Alucard's face turned somber however, and he stretched out his hand to her, hovering above her forehead.
"If I may then, I would like to give you a little something to help you grow."
She nodded hesitantly, and he placed his hand on her head.
Pure, unrestrained power flooded through her, like a lightning bolt to the hundredth degree, and she clenched her teeth around a yelp.
It stopped, and she looked up shakily as Pip's presence fluttered anxiously around her, saying things in French that wavered between concerned endearments and words she very much wanted Alucard to not understand, directed at the elder vampires between the croons.
Suddenly his presence was gone, and she started anxiously, looking around frantically as the comforting aura of the soul that had been fused to her own for thirty years was torn away.
"Master?!"
He rolled his eyes, making a patting motion.
"Calm down Seras, I just ushered him out of the way. The energy I just gave you might affect him badly."
Unspoken was the "Not that I care, but I know you'd be very upset."
He then half-smiled and ruffled her hair again, then, in a shocking display of affection, put his arm around her shoulders.
"You've grown into a very powerful member of our race Seras. I am proud to be your sire and I look forward to teaching you in the years to come."
He then melted away, and she already felt the faint tingles as Pip slowly worked his way back into her system.
She felt as if she might burst from happiness, and she hurriedly wiped the bloody smears away with the back of her hand.
Now that Master was back, she had the father figure she had so longed for most of her childhood, and they could protect all of England from the monsters forever and ever, even after Integra died.
Prompt: High.
"Master…are you sure?"
He gave her a cold look.
"Of course I am. You'll be fine."
This of course, came from the regenerating No-Life-King that did this all the time.
Swallowing hard, she peeked over the towering skyscraper and all the nightlife rushing about, what seemed like miles beneath them.
That's really far down.
"But Master…do we have to learn from such a…high building?"
He smirked slightly, looking perfectly calm and relaxed, despite the height.
"Yes. This way, when you fall, you'll have enough time to think and change before you hit the ground."
Before I hit the ground? As in I will hit it?
"Stop dawdling and jump."
She shifted anxiously, chaffing her upper arms.
"Master, I really don't want to jump from something so high…"
"Very well then. I suppose I'll have to push you."
She yelped as his gloved hand rested in the small of her back and nearly shoved her off the brink, clinging desperately to the lip of the room and hanging on by a slim margin.
"MASTER!"
"Either jump or be pushed. You have those two options."
Swallowing hard, she gingerly shuffled so her feet were resting on the foot-wide lip of concrete, staring at the rushing cars below.
I can always use my shadow arm to form wings before I hit the ground, so really there's nothing to be scared of, right?
"That's the spirit. Now jump."
She saw his hand drift towards her and hurriedly stepped forward, her heart nearly stopping as her foot met no resistance and she started plummeting through the air.
Chittering bats swirled down in a swarm around her, and Alucard's eyes seemed to gleam at her from every one.
Concentrate. You can bend the shadows to your will, now do the same to your body. Become mist. Become a bat. Your choice, but I suggest you do it quickly.
She struggled to shift into the fluttering forms that chattered encouragement around her, but she remained stubbornly human as the ground loomed closer and closer and her undead heart pounded harder and harder.
Change! Change! Change change change change change!
Fifty feet above the sidewalk.
CHANGE!
She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for the smack and the burst of pain, curling in a ball out of sheer instinct.
Thmp.
Her eyes shot open as she landed, soft as a feather, in the arms of a certain grinning vampire.
"M-m-m-m-m-m-"
Her tongue didn't seem to be fully functioning yet, and all she could do was stutter as her Master grinned at her wolfishly.
"You honestly think I would let you fall? Please, can you imagine how much our Master would yell at me?"
She went limp with a little gasp of exhaustion, still trembling hard, and felt herself slowly lowered and righted so she was standing on her own, albeit shakily.
His hand clamped encouragingly on her shoulder.
"Now, how about we try again? I saw you start to blur just at the last second."
Under the circumstances, she did the only thing she could do.
Her legs wobbled, her head fell back, and she fainted.
Several moments later, her eyes dragged open, and she shrieked as she realized she was on the brink of the building roof again, and she was being pushed forward.
"MAAAASSSTTEEER!"
Prompt: You're never alone.
Seras ran faster, her Harkonnen abandoned somewhere along the line.
This was no petty FREAK, out to make a quick meal.
This was a strong, natural vampire, and as a very weak, very young fledgling, she didn't stand a chance.
She was just glad Master was here, or she might be dead.
Well, deader.
She whimpered as the spine embedded in her shoulder flared, grabbing it in her fist and tugging hard, yanking it out with a spurt of blood.
Nausea flooded her, and she felt the world spin around her.
P-probably was poisoned…
She vaguely registered her knees hitting the dirt, and struggled to gain momentum, to rise to her feet, but she failed and her cheek touched the dank earth as she whimpered pathetically.
Need to get away…
She choked out a yelp as another spine pierced her knee, holding her in place.
No!
She struggled frantically, managing to snatch at the projecting spur of bone and yank it from her leg, crawling away desperately.
I won't be weak! I won't give up! Not again! Not again!
Suddenly the familiar sounds of her Master's guns boomed across the clearing, and she stopped moving with a weak gasp, feeling blood start to pool beneath her wounded shoulder and knee.
Soft thuds against the packed dirt.
Swishing fabric.
Shadow over her.
"You always seem to find yourself in these sort of situations, don't you Seras?"
She held back the whimper, knowing her Master wanted her to be strong, but was unable to hide the sticky tears flowing down her cheeks.
She felt his hands scoop underneath her body, cradling her like a child as she was raised to his immense height.
There was a soft whisper, and she managed to start as his bare hand touched her face, his glove dropped carelessly onto her stomach.
"Hmm. Feverish."
She moaned softly, leaning into the curve of his arm.
It felt nice to be held.
He chuckled softly, as if he could hear her thoughts, then there was a grunt as she smelled something delicious.
"This should hold it off until we get you back home."
Blood.
Master's blood.
Her mouth watered, and she was unable to resist as he put his bleeding wrist to her lips, swallowing when her mouth was full, feeling the strange, intense heat fade a little.
The blood was lost to her, and she whined softly as his hand was taken away.
"Don't worry my fledgling. I'll take care of you."