Sighing happily, Ramsden plopped himself down at his chair and rested his feet upon his desk. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a silver phone and began dialing numbers. Bringing the phone to his ear, Ramsden chuckled as he watched the frightened little girl bring her knees close to her chest as she sat across from him.

"Good evening, Sir Augustus Ramsden…vaht good news do you honor me vhit today…?" A voice asked from the phone's speaker.

"A thousand pardons, your greatness…but I indeed bring good news for you today…" Ramsden said happily, leaning back in his chair. "The Hellsing's organization is being monitored…I am happy to say that with in two month's time, their newest addition to their vampire pets has been rendered dead and confined…it will be of no worry…their leader…Sir Integra Farbrook Wingates Hellsing…continues to kill and destroy our "Prototypes"…but she is no threat to our latest productions…"

"Are ze completed yet?"

Clearing his throat, Ramsden unloosened his tie. "In good time, my dear sir…in good time…" He assured. "I would like to inform you though…I have made a "personally donation" to the cause…" He said evilly, looking over to the young girl.

"In my recent travels…I have come across an orphaned…eh…subject I might say…un documented…un wanted...and perfect for experimentation…"

"Have you now….heh…vaht is the race?"

"She is part African decent…her mother…killed in an ambush of their village…as for her father…" Ramsden laughed underneath his breath. "He is unknown…but it is clear…this child is of mixed blood…and has no one to claim her…"

The voice in the phone laughed delightfully. "You have done vhell, my servant…you have proven yourself a vorthy soldier indeed…I cans hear ze lust for vhar ins your voice und it brings excitement to my very being…when ze flames of out triumph blaze through ze the corpses ofs our enemies I shall welcome you ins to my home und we shall watch the symphonic master piece zhat is vhar…" His voice then became very low. "Ze final judgment is coming…"

Standing from his seat, Ramsden smiled gratefully. "Thank you…my Fuhrer…"

Snapping his phone shut, Ramsden laughed as he placed it on his desk. He slowly walked over to where Eloise sat and kneeled down before her. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he gave her a somewhat nurturing glace. "Are you frightened, love?" He questioned. "There's no need to be…you are in safe hands…"

Eloise wiped her tear filled eyed and looked up at the man. "I...want…go home…" She whispered fearfully.

"I'm afraid you cannot my dear…but just look around you…" Ramsden said, raising his hand and guiding her eyes around the room. " You with in a castle's walls…the hallways are glittered with gold and diamonds…your room is filled with presents and riches that any little girl with dream of…and yet you still wish to return home…home to where your mother and friends where slaughtered…you truly wish to return there…?" He questioned with a grim smile. "When you're older…you shall be brilliant…the first of your kind…and these wonders around you shall seem like nothing...and the memories of your old life shall grow faint…"

Eloise sniffled. "I want…mother…" She cried softly. The door of Ramsden's office opened and two men dressed in black suits entered.

"We're ready when you are, Sir…" The one to the right said.

Ramsden smiled as he stood and looked down at the frightened little girl. Your mother is dead…and I'm all you have left…" He snickered, turning to face the two men. "Make sure she's strapped down…stage 4 injections…directly into the blood stream… "

The men bowed, then walked over to Eloise and took her by the hand and walked her towards the door. As the young girl slowly walked past Ramsden, she looked up to his grim expression. No signs of affection…no signs of remorse…just a horrifyingly…simple smile.

"Hang in there, love…" He winked evilly.


"Well…I never truly said I was good at this sort of thing…" Seras sighed, licking the strawberry icing from her fingers. "But I thought it be proper if I were to make it."

Seras looked down at her culinary masterpiece and smiled. Walter, who stood beside her, began placing little black candles in to the small cake.

"Well…I dare say that you shall be the only eating this tonight, my dear…" he chuckled, placing the last candle in. There were twelve of them. "But…I do believe James would have very pleased…Miss Victoria…"

Seras' eyes grew soft as she counted the candles in the small cake. "Hmm…it would have been lovely…for James to be with his father today…"

Walter took the plate that the cake rested on in his hands. "He would have had just as much of a lovely time if it where to just be you…" He reassured turning to leave the kitchen. Seras stood there for a moment, but then quickly followed him. They walked down the silent hallway, making sure not to make unnecessary noises. It was a quarter after twelve…and it was James' twelfth birth day.

His dungeon was separate from Alucard's and lay hidden behind the large mirror that stood in the hallway. After Walter pushed the mirror aside, he turned and faced Seras. "How long will you be down there?" He asked.

"All day and night…" Seras whispered, taking the cake in her hands.

"All…day and night, miss?" Walter questioned, a little worried. Seas nodded her head.

"Walter...confined or not…he is my son…and a twelve year old boy should have his mother there for every blessed moment of his birthday, don't you agree?"

Looking at Seras for a moment, Walter gave her a weak smile. "Fully..." He whispered. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small box of matches. Lighting the candles, Walter began worry. "Are you sure that you want to do this, dear? It may be very difficult to see him for the first time…he may not look the same as you remember-

"I don't care!" Seras cut in, shaking her head and trying not to hear what he had to say. "I… I don't care…I know…what he will look like…I...don't care…" Seras finished.

Resting his hands behind his back, Walter bowed. "Very well, Miss Victoria…I shall return for you midnight tomorrow…"

Taking a deep breath, Seras nodded and turned around and began walking down the stone stair way. She jumped a little after hearing Walter close the mirror door. After calming herself, Seras continued to walk down into the dungeon, with only the light of the candles guiding her.

When she had reached the bottom, a tingly feeling came across her when she saw a dark figure lying against the wall, chained and strapped down. Her hands began to shake. She didn't want to see him. She didn't want to see her precious child chained like a dog against a wall…but knowing that leaving was no option…she continued walking forward. Finally…she had reached him.

There he was…with his head hanging from his shoulders…sat her no twelve year old little boy…chained, strapped, and confined against a cement wall in a cold damp dungeon. His dress cloths had been removed and replaced with a black leather garment that kept his arms crossed, preventing his escape. His hair had grown longer and was blocking his face from Seras' view.

Slowly kneeling, Seras placed the plate down on the ground before James. She carefully made her way to his side, trying not to disturb the body. With shaking hands, she reached and brushed the hair from his face, only to quickly close her eyes before actually seeing. Maybe when she opened them, he would be looking back at her smiling…but she knew that wasn't going to happen. It had been two months since his death…his body…would surely be in the process of decomposing…

Opening her eyes, Seras gasped when she had seen that he looked the same as he did the day he died. His skin was a creamy pale color and dark black circles where under his eyes, but other than the obvious, he looked the same. Tears filled Seras eyes as sat back and looked at her son who only seemed to be sleeping. Slowly moving closer, Seras was able to wrap her arms around his neck. She shivered after feeling just how cold he was in her arms. The most painful thing Seras had ever felt was hugging her child and feeling no hug in return. Holding him close to her, she began to hum the birthday melody. "Happy…birthday…my…dear James…"

Her voice grew shaky towards the end of the tune until finally she broke down into tears. Stroking his long ebony colored hair, Seras wept and wept. Through the corner of her eye, she looked at the soft lovely light of the candles that lay upon the small cake. They shined ever so strongly, until a small breeze brushed against Seras' tear swollen cheeks and blew the candles out.


"Alucard…." Integra began, leaning upon the corner of her desk. "I believe…you and…need to talk…"

Alucard sat silently across from her. His arms where folded and his eyes held great displeasure.

"Today…today is the anniversary of James' bir-

"I am well aware of what day is, my Master…" Alucard cut in. Integra grew angry at his disrespect, but looked passed it quickly.

"Alucard...I dare say that you and I are not on good terms…we haven't been for some time now…" Integra whispered bluntly, taking out a cigar and placing it in her mouth.

Alucard just smirked. "Two months…" he corrected coldly. "To be exact…"

Standing up straight, Integra walked over to the marble fire place that stood in her office. The flames grew dim. "Normally, Alucard…in regards to your feelings towards me…I wouldn't give much of a damn…but I will tell you that right now you are cursing my name for all the wrong reasons…"

"Am I now, Master?" Alucard asked sarcastically. "And just what are those reasons?"

Slamming her hand down on the frame of fireplace, Integra spun around and faced her servant who sat there calmly. "Your child was born under my roof…lived with in my walls and was raised by a little girl who could barely take care of her own damn bloody self! And this went on for almost twelve years! I hated the whole thing…I hated the situation that you placed both Seras and this organization in!" Integra then rested her hand on the arm of the chair that Alucard sat on, and pointed her finger so that it was directly in her servant's face.

"But not once… NOT ONE SINGLE TIME…did I ever feel an ounce of hatred towards that child…he was brought into this world a damn noose tied around his neck…what I did had to be done…in order for you to ever see him again…what I did had to have been done…"

Alucard looked into his master eyes for a moment. They held such anger…such rage…but underneath there was a hint of sadness...a hint of regret. Alucard's expression remained dull.

Integra stood and turned her back to Alucard. She inhaled her cigar deeply, and then slowly blew out. "I am some what artificial, Alucard…I am steel when I need to be…but only…if I can be…those eleven years that you where not here…your son did not live unloved with in these walls…" Integra walked over to her large window and looked down upon her lawn where she used to see James playing.

"I am not heartless…regardless of they may think…I am not stone…James...your son…this was the only way I could save him from world…he was not like you, Alucard…he didn't hate the world in return…immortal or not, they would have killed him…he lived through the goodness that was in his heart…and…it pains me to say that I didn't see that until the very end…" Integra lowered her head and clenched her hands together.

"His life…was of more value than mine…yours…or any other on this whole goddamned planet! Because he embraced it…because…he was grateful for it…" Bringing her hands up and holding them open in front of her, Integra's voice became shaky. "And I…took it from him...I took something so precious and dear…but this is the world we live in…and this is the business I have chosen…this is my curse…my damnation..."

A small smile came across Alucard's lips as he watched as Integra turned around to face him once more. "I have given you back your life, servant…but now…I feel as though that I have taken part of it away again…and for that…" Integra's eyes grew stern. "I apologize…"

There was silence after Integra had said those words. Alucard unfolded his hands and rested them on his knees to stand. As he stood, Integra kept her distance from him. Never had Integra feared her servant…though she did acknowledge his strength.

"Such meaningless and pathetic words…" Alucard whispered, causing Integra's eyes to open wide. "You are far stronger than you give yourself credit for, my Master…for it takes strong hands to kill an innocent child…but it takes a strong sense of being to repent for it…" He finished, making Integra fold her arms.

Alucard's crimson eyes glowed through the darkness of his hair. "An exchange of understanding between Master and Servant…is far more pleasant…than a simple "I'm sorry"…don't you agree?" He asked.

Integra nodded, causing Alucard to chuckle to himself. "Than all is forgiven…and no more words of the matter shall be spoken…" He whispered with a small smile, and turning to leave.

"Alucard..." Integra exclaimed, before he was able to leave her office. He turned around and faced her. "Although our…exchange as you may call it is finished…there is still the matter of Germany…" said Integra, turning to sit in her seat.

Raising an eyebrow, Alucard walked back over to her desk and questioned. "Germany, Master?"

Groaning, Integra poured herself a cup of brandy. "Hmm… yes…they've been at our throats for God knows how long…and that damn fool, Augustus...insists on leaving Hellsing in the bloody dark when it comes to this uprising war…he refuses to cooperate and has no regard for Her Majesty's wishes…they end up becoming his own anyway…"

Alucard stroked his chin with his thumb. "Hehe…so it is war…how fascinating…"

"How predictable…" Integra intervened, resting her hand on her head. "I don't know what the hell is going on…and frankly…its beginning to piss me off…the only order I can give as of now is to begin basic training and to recruit more soldiers…I have had no word from Her Majesty...and I am to supposedly trust the word of Sir Augustus Ramsden…against my better judgment…"

"But does it not excite you, Master?" Alucard questioned, raising his hands before him. "Does it not fascinate you…how man can find delight in the spilling of their brother's blood…does it not bring a stirring sensation to you, my Master?"

Integra's expression grew angry. "You're an idiot, Alucard…war is not to be celebrated but despised! There are no wars in which all the soldiers return home, do you understand? How dare you praise its name!"

Laughing loudly, Alucard turned to leave her office, causing Integra's rage to grow even higher. "War does not murder, my dear Master…there is choice…for what are weapons with out a wielder?" he chuckled, leaving Integra's office.

She sat there for a moment, staring down at the picture of her father. Clenching her hand in a fist, Integra slammed it against the small frame and caused it to shatter. "Damn you…" Integra whispered. "Damn you! Damn you father, damn you!" Integra shouted, resting her head in hands. "How…how can lead these lads into war…how can I march them to their deaths…am I just to continue taking lives…?" Integra wept silently. "How…how can I bring myself to be…you, father?"

I'm very sorry this took so long...I just needed some time to think is all...I have a pretty good idea of where I'm going with this story...I apologize for the long wait to all of you have been so kind as to leave me such nice comments...please review and tell me what you think :)