Chapter 2: Encounter At The Library

Alucard and Seras both turn toward the door from the top of the stairs. Five silhouettes appear, framed by the light of the full moon outside. A devious cackle erupts from Alucard's throat, rumbling throughout the library.

"Come, Police Girl. Lets show them a good time," says Alucard, vanishing before his sentence is even complete.

Seras hops over the railing of the stairs while holding onto her master's hat, crash-landing on the floor below, breaking tiles in the process. She looks up toward the advancing silhouettes, which turn out to be mere ghouls.

"Master!" calls Seras aloud. "I don't have a weapon! I didn't bring my cannon with me this time!" Her voice sounds unsure as she punches a Freak in the face, knocking it backward in a stumble.

Here, take it. Use it wisely, Police Girl. I'm holding you accountable for it being scratch-less on return.

Alucard must have been in the shadows because, to the left of Seras, a silver handgun comes flying toward her. She catches it, slipping her finger against the trigger and blasting a few Freaks that had almost managed to get her.

She looks around for Alucard, but he isn't down where she was. She tilts her head upward just in time to have a glimpse of a red coat billow past her. She turns her head quickly, catching sight Alucard landing in front of her, smearing the ghouls' dust along the floor via bullets. Slowly, he stands.

"Is that all, master?" says Seras, coming up beside him.

He smirks over his shoulder. "I don't know, Police Girl. You find out."

She is taken aback, believing that she couldn't find out herself. She looks around, concentrating on anything.

Nothing.

"Nothing.." she whispers.

"Hm," mumbles Alucard, turning his head toward the door.

A silhouette appears. One lone silhouette.

Seras raises the gun, but Alucard motions for her to put it down, and she does so.

Alucard licks his lips. "Master," he says, which seems to bring about the appearance of Sir Integral at the doorway. Seras straightens, blinking.

Light falls over Integral, her face blank, pale hair as smooth as ever. She was still in a man's formal suit, which struck both Alucard and Seras by surprise. Usually, if she came out with them, she's be in more approving attire.

"Integ--" starts Seras, but is cut short by Integral giving a small choke and falling face first onto the floor.

The light shifts and another silhouette stands behind the fallen Integral.

Alucard is silent, but his brows are furrowed into disapproving anger. A small wave of unseen energy passes over the room, making Seras regain her footing.

"Well, well, if it isn't Integral's little pet and his play-thing. Having fun reading books in the library?"

A angered look also passes over Seras' face. "What have you done to Sir Integral?!" she spits out roughly.

"Quiet, Police Girl," says Alucard in a strict, commanding tongue. He admired the Police Girl's outgoing and feistiness, but didn't want her starting what wasn't needed. Seras goes quiet instantly.

The figure steps into the doorway, by-passing Integral's fallen form on the floor. It was a man, obviously. He was very lean, but well dressed; like Integral was most of the time. He seemed like a business kind of guy. His hair was achromic-colored and had that just-rolled-out-of-bed-look. But, his eyes. They were blue. Ice blue.

Cold blue.

Blue that resembles Integral's in such a great way that it was astounding.

The assertive line that the man's mouth formed was quite familiar to Alucard. He wondered why, and how this man had accomplished getting his master, much less knocking her slap out. It wasn't like Integral to let her guard down. Alucard was wary, but the novice vampire by his side was angered.

Don't do anything stupid, Police Girl, Alucard's voice sounds in her mind. I do not understand how this man has accomplished this feat and neither do you.

Seras nods softly, handing the gun up to Alucard, which he takes and re-holsters in his coat.

"Don't want to fight me, vampire?" asks the man.

"Shut up, human," says Alucard in a feisty tone, a smirk playing over his lips. "Where's Integral?"

The man laughs and points at the ground. "Here. Why? You don't believe me do you? You think it's a look-alike, made to throw you both off guard and think otherwise."

Seras looks up to Alucard, eyes a bit on the wide side, pupils dilated. "Master.. how do we know if he's telling the truth?"

Alucard smiles. "We don't."

Seras' mouth opens as she looks back to the man.

"I'm here to capture you, Alucard," says the man. "And probably your little pet, too. I need you both out of the way. You're not needed at Hellsing anymore."

Alucard cackles madly. "And how do you plan to do this? I have enough power to protect myself and the Police Girl."

The man laughs softly as well. "That is true, or so I would assume since Integral was the one who told me everything about you two."

"Who are you?" asks Alucard.

"Who do I look like, vampire?.." replies the man.

Seras' brows furrow and she gives a confused grunt, obviously stumped by the question, but Alucard says nothing for a short moment.

"You don't have proof of this," he says.

The man laughs. "Would you like a DNA sample?" The man holds his wrist outward, as if giving it to Alucard. "Taste me, vampire. See if I taste like someone you know."

Alucard seems very angered by this, and lets out a growl from deep within his throat. "What have you done with my master, human?!"

The man smiles. "Don't worry, vampire. You'll soon find out.. You'll soon find out."

The man turns as if to go out the door. Alucard has already un-holstered his guns and begins firing off round after round of bullets. The silhouette of the man seems the shatter and dissolve. Alucard stops firing, lowering his gun. The man is gone and nothing is left in the doorway; not even Integral's body.

"Fuck," whispers Alucard. He would have resulted to deeper measures but feared the safety of his master.

Seras' hand is gently placed on his arm. "Don't worry, master," she says softly. "We'll get Integral back. I promise."

Alucard smiles some, taking his hat from Seras' head and placing it on his own. "Lets go back to the manor, Police Girl. It's getting light outside.. We'll do all the hunting you can desire in the morning. I trust that man has no use to kill my master at the moment."

"Who was he--" But she is cut short, yet again, as Alucard's coat engulfs her. She sees only dark for a few minutes, then, the darkness vanishes and she is in her room, Alucard beside her.

She looks around slowly, then back to Alucard. "Thank you, master," she says, eyes creasing slightly at the edges, showing she was smiling.

Alucard cackles gently, reaching out and patting Seras' cheek in a playful manner with a gloved hand. "You're welcome, Police Girl."

And he was gone.

Seras sighs and sits on the edge of the bed. After a few minutes of silence and contemplating, she slides up onto the bed and lies down, pushing the button and descending into a morning of sleep.