Disclaimer: Please dont make me say it again. Ok, fine, Alucard is NOT mine nor is any other character belonging to Hellsing. Only the OC's are mine. yaddy yaddy ya..

A/N: A little bit long this chapter, but I really enjoyed writing this one. Lol, I got a 'little' carried away. Enjoy :)


Chapter 12

My footsteps shuffled at a slow trot towards the small familiar building. The white painted door hovered above just a few steps.

Something was not right. Why was it so quiet?

Slowly I turned the handle and poked my head inside, my shoulders sliding in after, followed by the rest of my body.

" Mum?" I called out into the emptiness. " Dad?"

No answer. Until finally I heard something. It was very faint, I was surprised I even heard it. The bath was running. Someone was upstairs.

I rushed up the stairs. My bag dropping with a thud on the bottom stairs as I went. Wondering - Would mum like the picture I painted for her today in class?

I reached the landing, turning towards the bathroom door - My heart skipping a beat or two.

A thick puddle a water was flooding from underneath the small crack at the bottom of the door.

Almost Soullessly I took a step forward. Then another. Then another. My hand trembled as I turned the handle and pushed it open, slowly. Inch by inch the bathroom was revealed to me.

The stark white tiles. The black lidded toilet. The sink. The small mirror cabinet above.

The bath with my mothers lifeless body in it.

What?

My eyes widened, my mouth opening in a silent shriek.

She lay floating there, naked, one slender leg hung over the side of the bath. Head fully submerged. Her body was pale and dark matted hair rippled around her like a deathly halo. A small trail of blood trickle from her nose and ebbed into the misty red water.

" Mum?!"


My head was light. Within this strange unseen darkness, I seemed to float into a welcoming abyss. Nothing hurt anymore. Of all the things I felt; I felt warm. I felt complete in an odd surreal sort of way.

Every now and then bright lights flashed. A face leaning over me with a warm expression. Its voice low and muffled as though it were some foreign language it spoke. But then the blackness would overcome me again.

For what seemed like years I just floated along this little cloud of peace. In and out of consciousness until finally, I saw the bright lights again only this time the darkness did not take me.

My heavy eyes opening to only meet… pure white. Frowning, I blinked a couple of times. My blurring vision melted away until the white began to form patterns. Criss-cross shapes that blended together until I realised I was staring at a ceiling. I was alive. The bright light was that of a lamp hovering above me slightly to the left of the unfamiliar room. I was in a room? Where was I?

A groan of pain echoed inside my head, and I realised a few second too late that it had been me.

For what felt like hours I just lay there. Sprawled across a smooth, thick quilted bed. Soft pillows propping the back of my head that seemed to whirl and make the room spin.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths, I told myself.

Where was I? Where was Adam? And Jade? Where they alright?

My mind was in chaos, worried for them. Last time I saw Adam he had been crumpled and unconscious on the floor back in the library of that manor. He had been trying to protect me from… from…

A shiver wracked through me even from beneath the warm blankets that covered me. Those eyes, I thought to myself, trembling. Glowing garnet orbs that shimmered and swirled with such an intense malicious malevolence. Watching me cower before him in fear, enjoying every second of it, savouring it like a fine wine.

I shook my head and sat up quickly, a little too quickly for my liking and the room span. My throat convulsing with nausea.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

Carefully, I slipped from the bed. My bare feet light upon the cold wooden flooring. The new and fresh nightgown I wore rose up with the movement.

Gripping the table beside me until my knuckles turned white, I waited for a moment. Trying to balance myself as the room continued to shift about unnaturally.

Finally I trudged over to the large window at the far end of the room, hissing slightly when I pulled back the curtains to reveal a harsh ray of light streaming into my already sensitive vision.

I blinked a few times and took in my surroundings. My eyes widening when I found myself three maybe four storeys away from ground level.

The gardens below, of what I could see, were grand. Acres long. Lush green hedges and spring coloured flower beds grew around the path like maze towards the imposing front iron gates.

This was not a hospital. The thought hit me like a bag of bricks. I began to panic.

My mind whirling back to that time in the library. Those entrancing, fiery eyes seeing nothing but me, never straying away from mine until I saw was darkness. What happened after that? Did he bring me here? Or did someone else find me and save me?

I glanced about the room, expecting to find some sort of surveillance camera hooked up in a corner somewhere - but found nothing. The only objects in the room was the bed, a small oak table, a wardrobe and a dressing table.

There were two doors, one I guessed led to the bathroom and the other outside into the mansions hallways. But which was which?

I waddle uncertainly towards the left one, lifting a hand and ever so slowly turning the handle so as not to make any sound. It open an inch with a creak and I peeped out to find an open corridor.

Pictures and various paintings mounted the elegant flower patterned wallpaper. A small table stood just to the side of the door with a lamp on it.

Not knowing or caring where I was going I wandered out into unknown. A sudden feeling of deja vu overcoming me.

My feet shuffled quietly upon the rich maroon carpet. My steps leading me from hallway to hallway. Lefts and rights. Sighing miserably here and there whenever I came across the infamous picture of a child embracing a large Doberman hound. The same one had passed nearly five times already. I was going circles!

A sudden muffled thudding of steps heading my way made my heart thunder from behind my breasts. Instantly I reacted and dashed to the left and hid around the corner. The footsteps, to my horror, followed my direction. A few more steps and whoever it was would find me.

The very thought of it being the imposing vampire creature sent my feet moving with courage. I sprinted left, and then a right, and then another left. Not really knowing where I was going. Not looking where I was going until I took a sharp right and crashed into a solid wall.

I laid upon the floor, disgruntled and my head pounding. My dark hair loose and splayed around me like a river, falling into my face.

It was only when I heard numerous rumbles of laughter did I move it out of my sight to see… a man?

He was tall, not overly but taller than most. His eyes dark like melted chocolate, a glint of mischievousness in his gaze. His face was what you could call handsome, in a soft and boyish looking way - a bit like Adams. What got me the most was his attire. A uniform. Thick black boots that rested either side of my own two bare feet. Baggy khaki coloured combat trousers and jacket. A black padded leather holder strapped around his chest holding … I swallowed nervously… a gun.

A soldier? I could do nothing but stared at him wide-eyed as he towered over my fallen form, my mouth parted slightly from surprise and exhaustion.

More laughter followed after that and it was then that I noticed the crowd of men behind him. All of them wearing the same uniform yet each with a different unique hairstyle or face. They all looked at me, some with surprise that matched my own and some grinned at me, some hidden intent hiding behind it.

I waited. My eyes falling back to the lone soldier in front of me. His own grin stretched across his impish features; I even caught a glimpse of gold in place of a tooth.

" Well look here fellas. An intruder?" He chimed almost innocently.

I didn't like the look he was giving me. It was a strange smile, but for some reason the smile did not reach his eyes.

I shuffled back on my palms, edging my way away from him. Carefully rising up to stand on my unsteady feet, still edging away from him. Who were these people?

" A girl." Another broader man laughed from behind him, wiping at his mouth with the back his hand.

Why did I have a funny feeling this wasn't going to turn out well.

" And a pretty one at that…What shall we do with her?" My attention went back to the man in front, his dark eyes roamed over me from head to toe like a child eyeing a sweet in a candy store window.

I didn't like this, I didn't like this one bit.

I took a step back. Then another.

" Going somewhere, princess?" Dark eyes asked me, taking a step forward in union with mine.

Without a word I whirled around, my hair flapping about me as I turned to flee but felt something hard and solid wrap about my wrist.

The sudden jar it gave me made me hiss in pain as I felt the joint joining my hand to my arm being crushed.

I was turned around to meet the soldier who held me in a firm grip. My body wriggling and pulling aimlessly to escape his hold. His smile growing even more at my struggles.

" Calm down, I'm not going to hurt ya." He laughed and then leaned forward to grab my other flailing arm, " Jesus Christ, she's like a snake. Keep still will ya? I told I'm not going to…"

I interrupted his word abruptly with a sharp knee to his 'delicate parts.'

He let out a hollow grunt and double over in agony. I took this as my chance to run and instantly tried to dash through the handful of soldiers. They were too busy fussing over their captain to notice me slip past, or so I thought.

" Grab her!"

Uh, oh. Not good. Not good.

Another pair of rougher, broader hands grabbed for me and I reached for the nearest object. A white vase, resting on a small side table. I grabbed for it raising it back and sent it crashing down on my assailants head.

I heard him moan and slump to the floor.

Before I had time to take a deep breath, another came at me from behind. Steel arms wrapping about me and squeezing. Winded and somewhat stupefied, I propelled back with my feet against the wall. Sending both me and the one that held me sprawling over the table with a clatter.

My head hit the floor with a thud and I felt the nausea rise again. White stars dancing behind my eyelids and a dull throbbing echoing in my ears. Stunned I sat up and touched my temple. My fingers brushing a soft fabric, crimson wetness seeping onto my fingertips. A bandage? I had forgotten about my injuries and now my skull was aching so badly, like snow white had her seven dwarfs mining away at it from the inside.

More hands reached for me. Two men this time. My hands instinctively flailing around for a something to use as a weapon. My fingers brushed something hard and wooden and I lifted it with a swipe in the soldiers direction.

The sudden swoop of a broken table leg coming in their direction sent them back a few steps. Enough time for me to get up on my feet. My hands gripping the wooden leg, albeit shakily, like a baseball bat.

Whose next? I thought to myself determinedly, Bring it on.

I glanced around each of the men in turn as they shuffled about on their feet, slowly edging forward, obviously waiting for me to be off guard so they can jump me again. Each and every one of them looked angry or tired, one even had a nice bruise blemishing his cheekbone from where we both fell over the table together.

Well, its their fault. They started it, a voice inside my head argued, If they didn't mean me harm why wont they just let me pass. Its all that guys fault… Wait.

I looked around the men in front of me for the guy with the dark eyes, but he wasn't here.

Where did he go?

In the corner of my eye I saw a soldier nod at something behind me, it was so small a gesture I could of missed it, but it was there.

Before I could do anything, my wooden weapon was wrenched from my grasp. The harsh tug sending me sprawling into the person behind me.

I knew exactly who it was.

How could I have been so stupid.

Suddenly I was pushed back into another, arms fast and with the strength of powerful cobra wrapping around me from behind.

For a moment I struggled, wriggling around in the soldiers powerful grip until he gave me a threatening squeeze. It was only a light embrace but it hurt enough for me stop and become helpless once again.

The soldier across from me, the one with dark eyes, laughed at me but it was a bitter laugh. One that sounded bored and in pain at the same time.

" Bet you thought that was pretty funny didn't you." he grumbled, stalking over to me.

I could nothing but lay defenceless and weak against the giant that held me.

He stopped literally inches from my face, his face red with anger and embarrassment.

The thought that I had made him look bad in front of his friends made me want to smile, but I held back not wanting to motivate him into beating me to a bloody pulp.

" You idiot. I already told you I wasn't gonna do nothing to ya, but maybe now I've changed my mind. Maybe we should teach you a lesson for being so impolite to your superiors, little girl…" He hissed in my face, his large gloved fingers wrapping menacingly around my neck.

With my arms pinioned against my chest I couldn't move or fight back, I could only tremble as those fingers slowly began to close around my throat.

" What do you think guys?" He asked them never taking his eyes from me. A chorus of grumbled 'yeah's echoed all around me.

I stared into his eyes, my own searching his desperately.

" Please let me go." I pleaded pathetically, my courage now down to the size of a pea. My heart thundered and ribs aching from the lack of air.

The captain gave out a mirthless chuckle and only proceeded to squeeze. He leaned in towards my face, his breath merely brushing against my cheek.

" You know, you look kinda cute when you beg. Those big eyes staring up at me…" I watched in suppressed horror as he lowered his gaze to my parted mouth and leant forward.

The hand at my neck preventing me from turning away. His lips, soft and warm, barely inches from mine.

A heart beat. A second. An inch. That's all it would take for him to take it - take my first kiss.

Please don't take my first kiss, its not for you.

But then, he pulled away suddenly. Confused. An elegant brow furrowed.

Then he caught sight something over my shoulder.

His face paled.

" oh shit."

Everything after that seemed to go so fast. Once moment I was trapped in a bone crushing bear-hug and the next I was on my back on the floor. Gasping for breath, holding my throat as though it were broken.

For a while I just stared up at the ceiling, my lungs burning for fresh oxygen. The echo of running footsteps followed by a howl of terror resounded to my ears and seemed to shatter the silence.

" Ah, please! No! Let me go!"

My eyes on their own accord closed tightly, the image of Daniels lifeless body writhing in deaths grip seemed to haunt me even from behind my closed lids.

" Let me go!"

" You were given strict orders, soldier, to leave the girl alone." A new, deeper, voice joined the other.

My eyes shot open with a flash. I knew that voice. Deep and resonant like rumbling thunder before the storm. Deadly and yet entrancing at the same time with a thrilling mockery.

My head lolled to the side slowly, dreading what I would see when I looked. I expected blood. I expected a limp, immobile body slumped on the floor. Or feet dangling and squirming as life was squashed out him like orange juice.

What I found, was not what I expected.

I could not help but gape, my mouth falling open.

There stood the dreaded vampire from the basement, his broad imposing back to me as he held the poor soldier upside-down by his ankle. The captain struggling and begging, his face red from were the blood had rushed to his head.

" Please put me down." He gasped, trying to grab at the vampires thick boot for balance.

The vampire looked different this time. Gone was the tight creaking black leather and in its place was a finely pressed dark suit and boots, covered by a flowing garnet coat. The fine tatters on its bottom grazing the floor like feathers. A blood-red fedora hat graced his black head and orange tinted glasses hid his fiery gaze from the world.

Before he looked frightening, now, he truly looked menacing.

He looked as though he was made of blood, even the very clothes he wore seemed to ripple and swirl like crimson mist.

" What on earth…"

I turned abruptly, watching as a dark haired man walked towards us. His black swan-tailed suit moved with him as he seemed to glide across the hallway. He looked like someone of great importance. Standing regal and rigid with pride, looking no older than thirty.

His pale cool eyes flickering from me to the tall figure whom held the captain inches from the ground.

" Here you are," he finally said to me, a strange mysterious twinkle in his gaze. " I've been looking for you. You should be resting, Miss Johnson."

I just frowned at him. Who was he? Was I suppose to know him? How did he know my name? I think I hit my head too hard earlier.

Elegantly he leaned forward, pale gloved hands reaching out to gently grasp my arms, helping me to stand.

His thin aristocratic lips quirked, a strange contaminating smile that made me want to smile back if it wasn't for the situation I was in.

I took his help, gratefully. Carefully rising up to steady myself on my feet.

" Thank you." I muttered bashfully, heat rising hotly into my face, realising for the first time that I wore nothing but a thin night gown.

He chuckled warmly at me.

" Forgive me," He said releasing me, " I am William, the man servant of this manor. And this, " He said indicating to the figure I had come to fear greatly, " Is Alucard, I believe you've met before."

I could only nod in reply. A dangerous glint of orange reflecting off the vampires shades as he turned towards me. With a grin.

I swallowed hard.

" If you will, Miss Johnson," the butler, William, spoke up again. " The lady of the house is expecting you. If you would follow me, I would gladly show you her office."

He turned to walk away and I almost followed, but stopped…

" No don't leave me!"

My eyes wandered back to the soldiers form almost in pity. I could almost taste his fear. Didn't blame him either.

" Something the matter, Miss Johnson?" William asked from a few feet away.

I wanted to walk away with the kind butler and accept his help, but the idea of leaving this man to his 'fate' made me reconsider.

" What will happen to him?" I whispered it quietly, I was surprised he even heard.

" What?" Mr Williams eyes furrowed in puzzlement but then he followed my gaze to where the vampire stood grasping the screeching man. " Oh, him. Alucard, please release him. Would not want to cause mess in the hallway now, would we?"

Albeit, disappointedly, the vampire dropped him. The captains body landing with a thud head-first to the floor.

Without a word or whimper the dark eyed soldier scrambled to his feet and sprinted away and into the empty hallways.

A soft hand landed on my shoulder. " Now if you please, Miss Johnson." William said, patiently giving a graceful twirl of his hand for me to walk with him.

I followed him stride for stride, not once looking back even though I felt those burning orbs on my back as I turned the corner.

We trudged along for a few moments in silence. Neither of us speaking. All I could do was marvel at the grand structure of the building. The lush carpets. The expensive and rare art that we came across. This building seemed to be worth millions.

William finally spoke up as we approached large white double doors. " Please wait here while I introduce you and let her ladyship know you are here."

I waited merely seconds before he returned and gesture with a sweep of his arm for me to enter.

" Sir Hellsing will see you now."

Cautiously, I shuffled into the room. My bare feet meeting cool wooden flooring, chilling them somewhat.

The rooms itself was ridiculously spacious and held only a single oak desk before a wide clear window. Another chair lay on the other side of the desk. For visitors, my guess was.

My eyes riveted to figure perched regally behind the desk. Her dusky grey suit. Her thin elegant looking reading glasses. Long blonde hair reflecting the odd strand of grey here and there.

I frowned, my legs suddenly becoming weak.

" Mrs Handcock?"

She smiled at me in welcome, but I felt tears swamp my vision.

What was going on? Why was she here?

My heart chilled suddenly, and it all began to click into place in my mind like puzzle pieces - She knows about the creature from the basement. It brought me here to the manor. She controls it. It lives here with her.

A sudden sensation of betrayal overtaking me. All this time, all this time it had been her? Had she planned the whole thing?

" Hello Elizabeth," She welcomed carefully, watching my obvious discomfort.

" Welcome to Hellsing. Please take a seat."