Seras sat at the fire watching the werewolves with growing trepidation. They had been there too long, she was certain of it. She needed to get Hans and leave. Unfortunately that would prove difficult since he seemed to be quite happy to be around other werewolves again. Sighing, Seras put her chin into her hand and rested her arm on a knee.
Hans must have noticed her discontent, for he leaned over and slid an arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. Seras smiled up at him and then grasped the front of his uniform.
"We really have to go, I'm sorry." Hans actually made a face at her, before gracefully standing, pulling her up with him by the hand.
Michael and Sonja noticed and stopped talking, watching them intently. Seras smiled around the campfire at the werewolves and made a noise in the back of her throat when she realized they were all silent, and watching them.
"We have to go, we must be back to the vans by dawn. I just wanted to let you all know how happy I am that you'll be joining us over at Hellsing. Please send representatives as soon as you possibly can. Thank you."
With that she nodded at Michael and Sonja, and started to walk away. She was a few steps gone before she noticed that Hans wasn't with her. He seemed to be silently conferring with Michael and Sonja. Seras paused, tucking a strand of hair behind one ear and waited for him to be finished.
After a few moments Hans loped over to her side. Together they entered the woods and walked along the hiking path. There was a full moon and Seras enjoyed being in the woods at night. With her vampire vision it was like it was full blown daylight and she was easily able to see where she was going.
'That vent better than I expected' Hans suddenly said in her mind. Seras paused and glanced up at him. The moonlight played over his face and she was struck by how thoughtful he looked. Nodding, she took his hand and continued walking.
'It vill be nice to have verevolves around once more.' Seras felt her stomach twist at his words and she stopped once again and held out a hand to make Hans stop as well.
"I'm sorry, okay? It was an accident! I didn't bloody mean to change your life so dramatically. I'm just...I'm just so sorry." She was mortified to feel angry tears pricking the corner's of her eyes and she dashed them away. Hans put his hands on her shoulder's and squeezed gently.
'Don't cry, I know it vas an accident. Ve vere trying to kill each other, I can't imagine you vere able to think of doing such a thing intentionally.' Seras kicked at the ground and hung her head.
'Es ist alle richtige kleine' Hans' voice was a low murmur in her mind as his hands slid down to wrap around her waist.
She didn't know what he had said, but his tone was comforting, as was his closeness. She could smell that piney, woodsy scent coming off of him and it calmed her down. Taking a deep breath, she gave him a watery smile and shook him off.
"I'm okay now, thank you." Hans watched her uncertainly for a few moments before nodding and they began walking again. Seras wondered what time it was, but didn't dare pause to look. They hurried along until Seras suddenly noticed that the woods were silent. Something else was there with them.
Crouching down, she whipped her head around when something flew over her head and crash landed near a tree to her right. Hans snarled something in her head, but she was bowled over by a huge body. Hans was knocked to the ground as the thing or person swung around and leapt onto her.
Crying out in shock, she managed to kick the weight off of her, but she couldn't dodge the hand that reached out and sliced her cheek with sharp fingernails. Shoving away, she managed to get to her feet and put a hand to her cheek, breathing heavily.
The scent of blood was thick in the air, and Seras only barely managed to stand up before the thing was on her again. Kicking her hard, it knocked her back onto the ground and straddled her. Seras looked up into blood red eyes and pale face, and realized that this was the stray vampire. The vampire was male, with blonde hair and a thin face. Seras was shocked by his strength.
The vampire hissed at her, and Seras bared her own fangs. The vampire drew back as if surprised, and got off of her. Seras looked for Hans and saw him lying on the ground. Enraged, she flew at the vampire, who merely grabbed her by the hands and fended her off. This vampire was so strong!
"What did you do to him? I'll bloody kill you!" The vampire laughed, a sound that reminded Seras of dried, rustling leaves. Leaning forward, the vampire sniffed her and licked his lips.
"You are of Alucard's blood, I can smell it. Such a strong draculina yet I have you under control. I could use one such as you." Seras blinked up at him.
"Who ARE you?"
"Call me Max. But my name doesn't really matter. You can just call me master."
"She already has a master."
Alucard dropped to the ground and gave Seras a pointed look as he took out his Jackal and aimed it at Max. The other vampire just laughed again and pulled Seras closer to him. Seras began to struggle, and he let go of one of her hands to casually backhand her. It felt like getting hit with a tire iron. Dazed, Seras groaned and hung limply in the vampire's grasp.
He wore a black hoodie, and black jeans, all the better to hunt in. She was a little shocked to see that he was barefoot, when she looked down at the ground to see if Hans was okay. Hans was beginning to move, and when he sat up she let out a sob of relief.
"Maximus Aurelius. To what do we owe this pleasure?" Alucard's voice was less than pleased, and his eyes never left Max's face. Max bowed mockingly, never letting his grip loosen on Seras.
"Alucard, it's been centuries. Did you think you killed me back in Rome? So sorry old friend, but I lived. You did try your best though I'll give you that." Alucard's mouth flattened into a straight line, and he shot his gun.
The bullet whined past Seras and found it's mark, but Maximus just laughed and leapt into a tree, holding onto Seras. Furious, Alucard leapt up into the tree as well, shooting a few more times but missing his mark as Max dodged the bullets and used Seras as a shield.
"Maximus I don't know why you're here, but you better let my fledgling go. She isn't a part of this."
"Oh but isn't she?" Max moved higher up in the tree and spoke into the darkness. Seras didn't like the feral, wicked shine to his eyes. Whirling her around so that they were face to face, he bit her fiercely and Seras cried out in pain.
"Maximus!" Alucard roared, standing on a branch, looking up into the tree, trying to sight them. Max drank from her until she was weak, and then he pulled away. Tucking a strand of her hair behind one of her ears, he kissed her hard, Seras tasting her own blood on his lips. Then he held her out so that she was dangling in mid-air, and let go. Seras dropped like a stone, too weak to even scream.
She was snagged out of the air neatly just before she hit the ground. Hans cradled her in his arms, his maroon eyes infuriated. Looking up at him, Seras smiled gently and then passed out. Hans jiggled her, spoke to her with his mind insistently, but she didn't wake up.
"Take her back to the van, I'm going to deal with this...problem myself." Hans nodded up at Alucard and raced off, Seras bouncing in his grip as Max laughed from somewhere in the darkness.
When they got back to the van, dawn was beginning to lighten the night sky, it's pearly color slowly stealing away the darkness. The Wild Geese were all geared up to go into the woods, and some seemed disappointed when Hans showed up. Then it changed to worry as they saw Seras in his arms, still not awake.
"What happened?" LeBlanc roared. Hans gave him a dirty look, and climbed into one of the vans, holding Seras gently. Running a hand down her cheek near the cut Max had given her, Hans bent forward and kissed her on the lips. She stirred and smiled, and Hans felt relief wash over him.
Alucard materialized in the van a few moments later and hollered for them to get moving back to Hellsing. Hans noticed he was in quite a snit. Muttering to himself, Alucard crossed his arms and glared at the floor. Hans rolled his eyes and brought his wrist up to his mouth. Nipping his wrist, he held it to Seras' mouth.
The scent of the blood brought her around. Grasping his wrist, she drank greedily for a few moments until Hans began to feel slightly light headed and pulled his wrist away. Alucard glowered at them as Seras sat up, and pushed away from Hans' encircling arms.
"Did you get him?" she asked, her voice slightly raspy. Alucard snarled at her but then shook his head, 'no'. They sat in silence for a minute or so before Seras hesitantly glanced over at Alucard.
"Who is he?"
"Someone I know from long ago. He is older than me, he was a Roman soldier in a legion that traveled to England where he was bitten. He is insane, he has no qualms about killing humans. He must be the one killing humans in Sherwood Forest. I'm surprised he came forward and attacked you. I would have thought he would want to stay hidden so he could kill more. Now we know about him and must deal with him. I just...don't know how." Seras sat flabbergasted at Alucard's speech.
A vampire older than Alucard? That meant he was probably stronger. She exchanged a worried glance with Hans, then held onto Hans' arm as they hit a pothole and she bounced off of the seat. This wasn't like Alucard. He actually seemed...worried.
'How ist your cheek?' Seras put a hand up to it and frowned. That Maximus had sharp fingernails. He had cut through her like her skin was hot butter. The wound was deep but would heal with no scar. One of the perks of being a vampire. It was already closing as they drove along.
"It's alright Hans. I'll be okay, he just took me by surprise." Alucard snorted and pulled out his gun. Turning it to and fro, he stared at it unhappily.
"That vampire could kill you with a flick of his fingers. I don't know why he seemed so taken with you, unless it's because you're mine." Seras looked into Alucard's red eyes and suddenly felt afraid. Why had that vampire not killed her? Sure he drained her and then dropped her from the top branch of a tree, but he hadn't snapped her neck or drained her completely. He had been playing with her like a cat plays with a mouse. Like he had just found a new toy that he was enamored with.
"I...I don't know either but what are we going to do Alucard?" Alucard shook his head and leaned back against the wall of the van, closing his eyes.
"I'm not sure yet. I need to talk with Sir Integra. She needs to know about this. I was hoping that the vampire killing humans in the forest was one of the rogue Nazi's. An easy kill." He opened his eyes and smiled at Hans, showing all of his sharp, white teeth.
Hans didn't react, which Seras was glad of. He just stared back at Alucard and sneered. Seras straightened and held up a placating hand.
"Stop it both of you. We have to work together, this is serious!" Alucard looked away, disgruntled and Hans looked over at her and winked. Seras socked him on the arm and he laughed silently at her.
'Feeling better I take it?' he said. Seras nodded and leaned against him, closing her eyes. She was punch drunk from her experience and had suddenly gotten so tired. Hans slid an arm around her and pulled her close. She fell asleep with his scent lingering in her nostrils.
When she woke up, it was to a loud knock on the door of the van, and someone telling them they were back. A storm had rolled in, so they could get out and not get burnt by the sun. Alucard immediately vanished and Seras walked alongside Hans a little slowly.
When they got to her room, Hans helped her take off her clothes and get into the shower. There he shampooed her hair and she relaxed, enjoying the feel of his hands on her scalp. When they got out, she pulled on pajama's and laughed at the look on Hans' face.
"What?" Hans hooked a finger in the waistband and pulled it down a little. Seras smiled up at him as he kissed her, sliding his whole hand into her pj bottoms. When his fingers found her she jumped a little but enjoyed the sensations starting to build.
When she came, he held her and let her shudder in his arms. Then he brought her to her coffin and got her settled. Seras was a little confused because he didn't join her, only smiled a little and then closed the lid. She lay in the darkness wondering why he hadn't stayed, but sleep found her quickly again.
When she woke it was nighttime and someone was banging on her door. Getting out of her coffin, she opened the door to Alucard, fist raised to pound on the wood again. He shot her an indescribable look and told her that they were to meet with Sir Integra.
Seras dressed quickly and left her room to walk up to Sir Integra's office. Hans joined her when she passed his room, and they walked together without talking. Seras shot Hans a few hesitant looks, but didn't broach the subject of last night.
When they got to Sir Integra's office, she stood with her back to them, looking out the window smoking a thin cigar. They stood, waiting as Alucard materialized into his usual seat. Then she turned around.
Seras was taken aback, Sir Integra looked wretched. She had purple smudges underneath her blue eyes as if she hadn't slept. Seras felt a little guilty that she was rested, but just fidgeted until Sir Integra snapped at her to be still.
"So we have an issue on our hands then? This Maximus Aurelius is here for whatever reason we don't know, he doesn't like Alucard and he is potentially stronger than Alucard." Alucard's face grew sour at Sir Integra's words but he didn't speak.
"Is that about right, Alucard?" Alucard looked up, and steepled his fingers in front of himself before snarling "yes" in response to Sir Integra's question.
"Bloody brilliant. You," this time she pointed at Seras with her cigar, "need to train more. If that vampire rolled you like he did you are not nearly living up to your potential as Alucard's child. Train until you can't train anymore." Seras nodded and snapped a salute at Sir Integra who lifted the corner of her mouth in the ghost of a smile.
"Alucard you will remain, we have much to discuss. Seras you go train with Hans. This is serious and must be treated as such. Even though it's one vampire, he is as strong as one of those bloody Millennium bastards, the Major's puppets." Hans jerked at her words, but then held himself still, his face a disapproving mask.
"Go on then," Sir Integra said, dismissing them. Seras walked out of the room with an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know how they were going to make this right but she hoped that they could.
GERMAN TRANSLATION
'Es ist alle richtige kleine' - It's okay little one
SHOUT OUTS
Yue moon - Thank you! Hope you keep reading and reviewing :)
Max000 - Here's an update, I didn't forget about this story, I promise!
Merp - Yah I know, no dead werewolves! Yet. I liked Sonja too. Thanks for reading! :)
Stormpage - Thanks a lot, I appreciate it! I'll definitely check your stuff out on deviantart, I do have an account that's 18 + :D
Kiwi4life - Yes Alucard is still jealous, and we did get to meet some new characters. They'll be back! Seras was definitely uncomfortable drinking blood in front of people. Glad you liked it! :)