Captain Fergusson was in a tough situation. Obviously, he should decide something but... He rubbed his bald head with a hand as he always did feeling uneasy and looked up at last. His eyes met a stubborn gaze of deep red eyes belonging to his most troublesome rookie.
"You see, Victoria, I understand and approve your intention to train more... It's OK to practice shooting but close combat techniques... It's dangerous for your sparring partners, you haven't learned to control your power yet! Look, what you have done! The poor fellow was transferred to Hellsing 3 days ago and is injured already!"
The eyes of both turned to a human-shaped hole in the wooden inner wall of the training hall. Victoria sulked.
"Sir, I'm sorry about that little accident, but that was not my fault he..."
"Enough, Sergeant Seres. You will train alone so far. Dismissed."
"Yes. Sir."
The girl turned away sharply and stomped away to the door. Fergusson sighed.
"I'm too old for this... Oh, well. I'd better go see Walter. Some good old brandy and a little chat with the old chap. That's all I need now." - the officer's face brightened a little and he headed to Walter's headquarters - the castle's kitchen and its vicinity.
His female subordinate walked down the dark stone staircase, leading to her windowless suite. Her usually cute young face bore such an expression this time that a passing by clerk reflexively gripped a silver cross on his neck and muttered the first words of a prayer. Victoria was in the mood to kill.
"That jerk! Grabbing my ass like that and thinking he would get away with it! And I'm blamed for it in the end! Three fractured ribs - feh! Big deal! I should have crippled the damn rookie for a lesson..." - muttered the furious girl through clenched teeth, drying her hair after the shower. Her clothes were thrown on the bed in disorder and Victoria herself didn't bother to put on anything but a towel, - And the others are not better - any excuse to avoid me is OK for them! Captain Galice, you were the only one, who treated me decently here..."
"What's up, police-girl? You look like a tigress with a toothache! Heh-heh-heh!" - came suddenly from behind her back.
Victoria swirled around so quickly that Alucard hardly managed to jerk his head away. Still, a blow-dryer, gripped in a hand like a sword of vengeance, knocked vampire's shades down. Crackle! The fragile construction ended its existence on the stone floor.
"Oops! Broken again! I'm running out of stock already... " - Alucard stooped down and observed the remnants of his favorite accessory with regret.
"That's your fault. Jeez, Master, sneaking up like that... - Victoria gestured angrily and quickly pulled up the towel, slipping down her body. - Have you ever heard the word "privacy"?"
"Oh yeah. Sometimes you and Integra are so alike... Making such a fuss about nothing. Ha! Women!" - Master circled around the room and settled down at the table. - Integra has caught a flu and thus her personality's become even more… hm... explosive. I've never believed it would be possible, heh-heh-heh..." Alucard absent-mindedly picked up a felt-tip pen and started to doodle on a magazine, lying on the table. George Bush on the cover immediately got round glasses, long strands of hair around his face, a cigar between his teeth and a 'Search and destroy!' speech bubble above his head. The vampire chuckled with satisfaction, observing his handiwork.
"I have to dress, Master!" - Victoria glanced gloomily at her senior, holding a heap of clothes in her hands.
"No objections... Go ahead." - Master wasn't going to understand the hint.
The young female sighed and went to the wardrobe. Standing behind its open door, she quickly slipped into clothes and closed the door with a loud bang.
"What's the matter with you? - the sound seemed to attract Alucard's attention to his subordinate. He raised on his feet and towered above Victoria. She turned away.
"Is it serious? Or you've just broken a finger nail or something like that?" - Alucard took Victoria's chin and turned her head, making the girl look into his eyes. Victoria snorted and gave up. She needed to vent that out after all...
"...and Captain doesn't let me spar! He says I'm too dangerous and can't control my strength… Duh! So I have to do everything alone. Everybody here treats me as if I have a plague or something..." - Victoria's lower lip trembled treacherously. She bit it angrily with her canines and looked down on the floor. Suddenly she felt two heavy arms on her shoulders and saw Master's serious eyes quite close to hers.
" I know how you feel, Seres. Alienated, right? Humans don't understand what we are... And it's in their nature to fear, hate or despise everything they don't understand. Not all of them, though... But still, you will have to get used to this. Just don't give up, cop. After all, there are two of us in this place now... - Alucard smiled. - I'll train you personally - consider yourself my apprentice! Tomorrow we'll start with your education seriously."
"Really? - Victoria wiped her eyes and beamed. - And why only tomorrow? I mean, I am off duty now and... Are you busy, Master?"
"Sure, I am. And you too, cop. We have to go and buy me new glasses... The ones you've ruined were the only remaining pair from the batch I bought last month."
"And how many were there in the batch?" - inquired the girl, starting to grin.
"A dozen, as usual... It's one of my biggest expenses, you know!" - Alucard made a 'woe-to-me' face and Victoria couldn't help giggling.
"What a tragedy indeed…Looks like I'm obliged to join you, Master. I'll be ready in a minute..." - the girl turned to the mirror.
"Fine. Let's meet upstairs. I'll be at the porch." - the vampire dissolved in the wall.
Author's note: in spite of some reviews, I'm shameless enough to continue the story. I guess it's just because I have fun writing it... Well, I hope you'll have fun reading it as well.