"Nicolas"

Summary:

The Hellsing Manor has been relatively quiet since the ghoul incident, things stir up however when a former fledgling of Alucard's decides to pay his old master a visit, but is that the only thing he intends to do?

Author:

-Purgatory Bellhop

Rating:

R- I dunno, should it be PG-13?

Disclaimer:

You actually would think that I own Hellsing? I'm flattered!

AN:

Hello all, here I bring you a brand new chapter, because you see, if I didn't I would soon find myself a very dead author from some of my more intense fans.

If you haven't already noticed I have changed the title of the story to "Nicolas". Not as good as a title as I hoped would come to me, but it serves its purpose.

This story's slowing me down a bit as I hit small patches of writers block here and there, I'm really thinking about working on a dirty little one-shot to clear my head. Writer's block sucks, then again I suppose everyone is like that when it comes to their own pieces of work. I find it hard to tell.

Again, thanks for the reviews, keep them coming.

Nothing else to report besides the plot twist, and Integra makes her second appearance, so drop your pants and dance!
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"Nicolas"

Ch. 8 – I've Been Hiding

Integra glanced over the top of her newspaper for the tenth time within the hour to watch a hunched, brooding form stalking miserably about her office. The icy blonde frowned looking back down at the article she had been trying to read over, still not completely able to focus her attention towards it.

It had been nearly over a week since the vampire that called himself Nicolas decided to take up residence at the Hellsing establishment. At first his presence within the castle had been completely tolerable as far as Integra was concerned. She didn't find him too much trouble, no more than she would expect of Alucard, and her reasoning on letting the vampire stay was the assumption that he'd be well behaved under his master's careful watch. But she started noticing the changing atmosphere was beginning to thicken when she had heard about an incident between the Police girl and Nicolas involving a hairbrush. It was that night that her servant Alucard began to change in the most odd ways.

She tilted her head back from the paper once more to gaze at the brooding Nosferatu who now had his back turned to her, seemingly staring a hole in the wall by the study door.

He had been spending most of his evenings in her study, pacing along the walls or standing still in the darkened corners, claret eyes peering from the shadows. This ritual had been going on for a few nights, being borderline irritating. The first night he had hidden quite poorly as a pool of shadows and a pair of crimson eyes in the corner, soon after she had asked him to leave in a manner that was nowhere near polite (involving a paperweight that was used as a projectile), and thusly not gaining any response whatsoever. Integra eased more and more through the following evenings since he wasn't even remotely trying to irritate her in any way shape or form. All he did was stand about, occasionally vanishing when Walter came in, other times watching the older man from whatever wall he chose to lean against. And this behavior literally continued from dusk 'till dawn. That damned vampire just wouldn't leave the room!

Integra's icy gaze narrowed at Alucard, it was almost as if he was using her office to hide out.

The vampire shifted, feeling his master's stare. He turned his head sideways and studied her through golden lenses,

"Does my master wish that I leave?" He asked tonelessly, Integra really couldn't place the emotion he threw at her if any at all. She chuckled lightly, folding the newspaper slowly and placing it neatly on her flawlessly arranged desk.

"You wouldn't, even if I asked nicely…" she sat back in her chair, keeping her steady cobalt gaze on her servant.

Alucard gave no response as he turned back to the spot he had been watching on the wall before, his back to his master again. Integra furrowed her brow at the creature. This was far too odd to ignore any longer, and as much as she hated the procedure of getting anything out of Alucard she knew it had to be done. She cleared her throat and neatly folded her hands in her lap,

"Alucard." She addressed him firmly not waiting for him to face her, "Why is it you stalk about my office night after night?"

The vampire kept his steady stance, not reacting to his master's voice at all, leaving her to wonder if he even heard her at all. She cleared her throat again,

"Aluc-" She began loudly nearly missing the low rumble of his response altogether.

"…do some training." He murmured darkly, thusly sliding down through the floor, leaving her with the later part of his sentence.

That irritating being! Integra fought the strong urge to hurl something at the spot where he vanished, only clenching her hands and gritting her teeth. Well to hell with the stupid beast if he was just going to pout outright about his fledglings and put on a show for her. She didn't need to be involved in these vampiric dramatics for one, and she definitely didn't have the desire to participate in what idiocy the undead were taking part of in this estate!

Integra ripped open the newspaper violently with an irritated growl, while a small part of her mind still worried for her loyal servant…

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"Honestly Seras," Nicolas griped loudly, "If you keep brushing your hair it will all fall out…"

The older vampire had watched his lesser companion boredly. Perched on the edge of her table, legs crossed and arms folded. The blonde shot an unamused look at him over her shoulder,

"Well it's not like I'm forcing you to watch me!" She grunted grumpily, going back to the mirror, making sure that no stray black hairs had slipped by her.

Nicolas only stuck out his tongue at her back wantonly, it wasn't if he had anything better to do, and it seemed that the blonde had built up a tolerance to his teasing already. He wondered where his master had disappeared to over the past few nights, supposing he was in his master's study. He narrowed his eyes in thought. No supposing about it, he knew that's where the old Nosferatu was. But he couldn't figure out for the life of him what he'd be doing in there; surely he wasn't engaging in unmentionable acts with the Hellsing heir the whole evening… perhaps he was avoiding the Police girl and he? It was a possibility, but not a very convincing one. Either way, he wouldn't go anywhere near the study, for some reason he didn't like the woman his master bowed to, and made it a point to avoid her at all costs.

"Nic," Seras cut through his thoughts, calling him by the shorter name she invented a few nights previous, "If you're going to hang around here all night would you at least find a better place to sit?"

He smiled warmly at her, hopping off the smooth wood-grain surface and plopping down into one of the chairs set at the table. She gave him a small smile, although she hated to admit it, the moody and brash vampire was beginning to grow on her. Nicolas had come to visit her every night this week, usually sitting around making snide comments or poking fun at her. But it didn't feel like Master's heartless teasing, it was more gentle, more loving…

Seras shook her head, dear God; did she have to act this way around any man who gave her the slightest bit of attention? Honestly, it seemed that this bout of loneliness was going to drive her to the arms of Nicolas or even Alucard…She paused in her thoughts, why the hell was she thinking about this again? Master was master, end of discussion. She inwardly sighed at her thoughts, glancing over at the blood pack she had placed in the corner earlier.

Nicolas followed her gaze to the corner; then let his claret eyes flow back to hers, "Not hungry?" he asked, quirking a dark eyebrow. Seras snorted,

"Help yourself." She replied distantly, not expecting her guest to take her seriously as he grinned swooping into the corner to retrieve the bag. Seras froze, knowing damn well that her master would scold her…He hated when she didn't eat for one, but what would he do if he found out she had offered her ration away?

"Nic wait!" She cried rushing his straightening form, a mad grin splayed across his face.

"What…" He taunted, holding the bag high out of her reach, "…You said 'help yourself'."

Seras bit her lip lowering her gaze, "Yeah, but if master finds out…" Her eyes narrowed as she looked up at him, like hell she was going to beg for it back, "Just give me the damn bag!"

Nicolas pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows in surprise, so the kitten can roar can she? Well she'd have to try a hell of a lot harder than that. He lowered the bag a bit, taunting her with it; his eyes alight with mischief baiting the young Draculina,

"Come on Police Girl…" he egged her on giving the bag a shake, smiling as he gently called Alucard's pet name for her.

"Nicolas!" Seras screamed, damn him, he called her that again! She managed to swipe for the bag, reaching her arm as far as it would allow, only to have her wrist caught by her grinning tormentor.

"Too slow…" He drawled yanking Seras' arm upwards until she skimmed her toes against the cold stone floor. Nicolas then lowered the bag to his mouth, nipping lightly at the plastic-lined corner.

"Nic!" Seras hissed; her crimson eyes growing wide as she watched a thin dribble of blood drip out of the bag and onto Nicolas' lips and chin. The older vampire licked his lips teasingly,

"Delicious," He purred, gazing down at the blonde through heavy lidded eyes that swam with bloodlust, "How could you pass up such an exquisite meal?"

A few drops of blood remained on his chin, lingering just out of reach from the tongue that softly lathed away the liquid of life from his lips. Claret eyes locked gazes, and the room seemed to still. Seras began to feel oddly heavy again, as if her body were sinking. The mere thought of keeping her eyes open was too tiring to fathom. All she could see now was Nicolas and the blood that lay on his chin. Slowly, the blonde vampire lifted herself up, letting loose the tongue in her mouth, and reaching out for her older companion's chin.

Nicolas's eyes widened as a jackal-like grin spread across his lips. It was beginning to become easier and easier to bend the police girl to his will. He dropped the leaking bag onto the table carelessly, its red essence pooling across the wooden surface. He now used his free hand to cradle Seras' nearing head. She groaned softly, her tongue still seeking his chin while his smile grew wider still. It was only a matter of time before she would be his completely, a matter of days in fact. Let Alucard brood in his master's study, it only made his efforts so much easier. That fool Alucard. Alucard. Alucard?

Nicolas' train of thought paused as something tickled irritably in the back of his mind. Alucard was no longer in his Master's presence it seemed, and he was now wandering the castle. Not wanting to waste such an opertunity Nicolas promptly let go of Seras, dropping her limp form and disappearing altogether in search of the Nosferatu. He'd find and speak with the old corpse while he had the chance, there would be no hiding tonight.

Seras blinked bewilderedly from the floor, wondering how she went from brushing her hair to sitting on the cold stone. She pulled herself up weakly, willing her legs to hold her as she sought a seat at her table. This seemed to be happening more and more as of late, always starting with Nicolas' presence, then with his disappearance. The events might have been linked somehow, but she doubted it.

"Probably because I'm not drinking…." Seras thought weakly as she noticed the leaking bag that had been tossed recklessly onto the table. Without much thought she snatched it up and thusly sunk her fangs through the thin plastic to hastily drink her fill. While she drank, she idly wondered again where her master had been, and if he was well.

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Right, sorry again for the lateness, I feel that the ending of this chapter was really testing me and it seems a bit rushed. Hmm, perhaps I'll re-write it at a later date. But if I put off the story any longer I have the feeling I'll arouse an angry mob…

Next Chapter, "Of braids and bonding"

No, it's not a bondage chapter :p.

See you all again soon!

-Purgatory Bellhop