Author's Notes: This idea has been playing around in my head for some time now, so I thought I'd try to bring it to life! There are so few stories on the site that feature Seras as a little girl and that focus on her childhood in detail. So, I hope you find the plot as interesting as it sounds in my head. Thanks in advance for the support, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing. This wonderful series belongs to its creator, Kouta Hirano. However, the orphanage's appearance and most of the minor characters I have completely made up to facilitate my story's plot. This is an AU after all.

Rating: T for now because of violence and language. May or may not change to M in later chapters. We all know that the Hellsing series itself is rated R - 17+ for the same reason, so please do not report me for sprinkling my chapters with the F-bomb here and there.

Full Summary: After the murder of her parents, young Seras Victoria emerges from the traumatic events as a fiery child with a penchant for violence. Labeled as a troublemaker at her orphanage, she constantly finds herself fighting with the other kids in order to survive. What she does not realize is that she is everything but alone: a mysterious, dark stranger with glowing red eyes has been watching over her, waiting. When Seras is suddenly adopted by the wealthy, noble Hellsing family, the ancient vampire just may have his opportunity to claim what is his. AU; AxS.

Follow Me into the Darkness

Prologue

Unearthly Guardian

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It was barely eight in the morning when hell tore through the Victoria residence.

A young girl scanned the living room with sluggish eyes, looking for any signs of life, to no avail. She was alone in her misery, and the only company she had as she slowly bled to death was the noise of her screeching. Even so, the strain proved to be too much for her tiny throat as her shouts soon withered into a spasm of coughs, causing more blood to leak from the corners of her mouth.

Her body had almost entirely ceased functioning. No matter how stubbornly she pulled, she could only slide her weight across the floor a mere inch at a time. The pain in her side was immense and sent sharp electric shocks throughout her body each time she wriggled about.

The cold wooden boards felt marvelous against her cheek, and she ignored the sticky sensation of blood and tears smearing her face. Sleep tugged persuasively at her mind. If only she could rest her eyes there for just a moment...

"No...not like this..."

How many minutes had passed? The sun's warm summer rays filtered through the window but could not penetrate the chilling touch of death covering her skin. Her gaze locked on the telephone resting on top of the kitchen counter, but it was still so far away.

"I'm not...going to die..." she whispered, thrusting her arms forward as she continued to pull her body. Her voice became a chant as she moved in spite of the pain. "I don't want to...die...I'm not...going to die...I don't want to die...I'm not...going to..."

The girl froze in alarm as a tall figure unexpectedly entered her field of vision, his imposing figure blocking the kitchen doorway. She twisted her head upward, but at her angle, she could not gaze up high enough to see the stranger's face.

"You will be fine, little one." His deep voice resonated in her mind, and her heart clenched tight with emotion. Whoever this man was, his voice was so very comforting to her ears. Before she realized what she was doing, she extended her arm once more and grabbed hold of the stranger's boot.

Fresh tears escaped from her eyes. "Please...my parents...the bad men, they..."

"Your killers have been silenced," the stranger announced. "I have taken the privilege of executing your revenge. For one so young, you did quite the number on one of them."

Quiet, maniacal laughter echoed off the walls, and the girl shivered involuntarily as she questioned her judgment. How could she not have heard him approaching? The boots he was wearing would surely have created heavy footsteps.

"They had to pay..." was all she could reply.

Brows knitted together in labor, the girl struggled to roll her body until she was lying flat on her back. A wave of dizziness flooded her senses as her eyes tried to capture the stranger before her. Her vision was beginning to shatter, but she could make out a hunched, masculine figure. He was perched on one knee, looming quietly over her body as his eyes observed her.

"Do you...work with my dad...?"

"I have never met your father, but my resources informed me that he was a highly courageous and respectable policeman."

Her lips twitched in the tiniest of smiles at the stranger's compliment.

Despite the daylight flooding the room, the darkness was growing at a staggering rate, so impenetrable that the world had become enveloped within a sea of shadows. Or maybe she was just that close to death, and the world was closing in on her. All that accompanied her in the tight, black void were two radiantly glowing red orbs above her face.

"You have very pretty eyes, sir...Are they real...?" the girl asked, deliriously.

"As real as can be," the stranger all but purred.

"You're not like me...are you...?"

"How do you mean, little one?"

"...Human..."

"Indeed, I am not. You got me," he teased, lips breaking into a toothy grin.

"Are you here to take...me away, sir...?"

"The time is not right, little one." The stranger covered her hand within his own. She couldn't help but feel so petite and frail up against his impressive stature.

"What do you—" she began.

"The human paramedics are here," he interrupted. "Stay strong, Seras Victoria, and do not fear the darkness."

At this time, the girl was fighting to hold unto consciousness, but the sound of a door breaking open jolted her mind into overdrive. An influx of footsteps surged into the living room, and several voices pieced together over her head in an incoherent mess.

"Area looks clear—"

"Two casualties, one severely injured—"

"Shit, the chief—"

"Single gunshot wound to the chest—"

"Not the time to lose your composure, Murphy—"

"Signs of forced entry to the kitchen door—"

The girl groaned and curled into a ball as an unfamiliar presence settled next to her. She could feel hands and contraptions methodically prodding her body.

"Stay with me, sweetheart. How old are you?"

"I'm...I'm...almost seven..."

"Do you remember who are you?"

"...Seras..."

"Ok, Seras. My name is Daphne Price. Listen very carefully, all right? I'm going to lift you on this stretcher and get you to the hospital so we can take care of you. You're in safe hands, and you're going to pull through just fine, so try to relax for me."

"Where did...the man go...?"

"What man, darling?"

"There was a man...just before you...entered. He was...comforting me while you...were on the way..."

"Oh, sweetheart," the paramedic frowned while fixing her to the stretcher. "You must have dreamt it. There was no sign at all of other people when we got here. Stay with me, darling. Be a strong girl for me."

"No...I..."

The girl peered through half-closed eyes as she was rolled out the front door, but there was no sign of the stranger at all. Darkness had finally overpowered her mind, and she blacked out to the gentle sounds of birds and passing cars.