Chapter 5 – Venture Into Darkness
Seras knew she was dreaming. Reality never looked like this. The vampire knew that she was in a far away land, a barren countryside surrounded by dark mountains. The skyline was haunting – a blood red sky the backdrop in her mind's nightmarish portrait of…of…she just didn't know. It certainly wasn't England. Or Ireland. The land looked much too vast to be anywhere near her Majesty's Kingdom. The sound of wolves drew her attention to a castle, not anything like the one she was sleeping in. No this one was dark, foreboding. What the young vampire saw in front of the castle made her scream inside and tore at her humanity. What monster would do such a thing? And yet strangely she felt drawn to the sight as she walked closer. It was the same feeling that made you look at the car wreck as you passed it on the road – almost wanting to see mangled steel and flesh. Tall silver poles lined the pathway to the dark castle. The bodies of men, women, and to her horror, even children, were suspended on the poles. Their faces holding their last emotions frozen on their faces: terror, pain, betrayal, and dismay. The blood all drained from their bodies, soaking the ground below.
Seras shivered as she neared the castle. She knew this was still a dream - a nightmare, but sometimes dreams had a way of crossing over into real life. The vampire knew when she entered the castle she would find out why she had been brought here. Seras already had guessed who. There was only one person who could create horror on this grand a scale: her Master. She was terrified of finding out why.
"Welcome, Police Girl, to MY castle, my kingdom. It is a bit different then the one you're sleeping in, is it not?" Her Master greeted her. He looked quite different. He did not have on his usual red Victorian coat, hat, or sunglasses. Her Master looked quite like the Grim Reaper himself. Alucard was dressed in all black: pants, shirt, and overcoat. His long black hair flowed down past his shoulders. He wore no sunglasses. His crimson eyes were glowing with malice. Seras wished that her Master were wearing his sunglasses as the look in his eyes sent a chill through her body.
Seras was not happy. She was both mad and terrified. Alucard never entered her dreams. He may have talked to her in her sleep but he had never done this. The Nosferatu had never entered her mind and created such a nightmarish illusion. And why was he doing this now – when she had just been reunited with Pip? Did he relish destroying her happiness?
"Master – what is this all about?" Seras decided she was not going to be afraid. This was after all just a dream, was it not?
"Good evening Seras Victoria. How did you enjoy my display? It is a recreation of one of my masterpieces – created when I was a human. Not bad for a mere mortal. I could do much better now though."
Seras was horrified. She knew Alucard was a monster. But, the fledgling thought the reasons for that were whatever the Hellsing family had done to him and his vampiric nature. She had no idea that her Master had been such a horrid monster in life.
"Master. How-how-how could you do that? There are innocents out there, children! Why would you do that?" Seras felt tears start to well up in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly – Alucard would see tears as a sign of weakness.
Alucard smirked, "They were weak, a drain on my kingdom. The children were not innocent. They begged alongside their parents. The children would grow up to be just like the adults. Beggars, asking for handouts, not working, or contributing anything to my kingdom that I fought for, they did not deserve to live. My country was stronger with them gone."
"But why Master, why are you showing me this?" Seras knew she could not argue with Alucard. This was who he was, who he always would be.
"Because Seras Victoria, I wanted you to see what happens to those who are weak, those who don't do what is asked, those who betray." Alucard glared at Seras as he spoke these words - accusing her of some deed not yet committed.
Seras did not know why. She had never betrayed him. But, the young vampire guessed neither had those impaled on the poles. "Master, I'm not weak. Not anymore. I've always done what you've asked – always completed my missions. So why?"
Alucard grinned maliciously. He could sense his fledgling's fear. Good that is the way it should be. "So Seras, are you looking forward to tonight?" Alucard walked towards the girl, shortening the distance between them.
"Tonight?" Seras started walking backwards. She had never seen Alucard like this before – not with her.
"Yes, tonight - your date with the Captain. Do you mind if I watch? The corruption of innocence excites me, Police Girl."
Seras was appalled. She did not like this side of Alucard - not at all. "Yes I mind if you watch! Don't you dare! What happens between me and the Captain is…private." Her face was now completely red. Damn her Master knew how to embarrass her to bloody hell.
"But Seras, nothing is truly private when you're my servant. Did you enjoy feeling your Captain's arousal when you kissed? You don't have to answer - I know…you did enjoy it."
"Alucard please! Why are you doing this? You don't care about me, about who I shag or don't shag. So just leave it be. Leave me the hell alone, Master!"
Alucard smirked. He loved irritating his women. Even though he did not desire the Police Girl, she was his. He had created her; she was his fledgling. "You're much to easy to rile, Police Girl. And no I'm not going to leave you alone. Just remember, I can go inside your mind whenever I please. I'll know when the Captain is ravaging your body and how much you enjoy it."
Seras had quite enough. Why was he insisting on ruining her happiness? "Master, what is it that you want?"
"Finally, she gets it - about time Police Girl. Yes I do want something."
"What is it Master?"
"As you may have guessed I have a certain history with your host, Fiona."
"I should've known."
"Yes we were what humans call – lovers. She was not at all like Integral. No Fiona is much more free spirited. Like a wild mare, she is not afraid of desire. She was never afraid of being close to me. She begged for it."
"Master, this is all very interesting but is there a point to it?" Seras did not want to hear about her Master's sex life. No that was just too weird – kind of like your parents talking about their escapades in the backseat.
"Yes Police Girl there is! Now be quiet. Integra's father ruined everything. Fiona had agreed to drink my blood, to make herself more then what she was. Leon found out and imprisoned me. Locked me in that cell for 20 years. He also poisoned Fiona's mind against me. Told her lies. She now both fears and hates me."
"And you want me to what Master?" Seras was still utterly confused as to why Alucard was telling her all of this and it frustrated her to bloody hell.
"I merely want you to help me gain access to the castle, Police Girl. I'm not going to harm her. No I just want to see her again – to finish what I started 20 years ago. To give her the choice."
"You want me to help you so you can turn her?" Seras thought that Integra would not like this at all.
"No Police Girl. I want to finish what was started all those years ago. We were rudely interrupted by Hellsing and his soldiers. I will ask her again and abide by whatever her choice is. Your host fears me now. She needs to know the truth, not the lies she was fed."
"I don't understand Master. How can I help?" Seras looked at Alucard, trying to read his intentions.
"Right now I cannot enter the castle. Fiona's family has used magic to keep me away. There is a spell – it is impossible for me to get inside."
"Master I don't know anything about magic. What do you want me to do – hire a witch?" Seras giggled but Alucard stared coldly at her.
"I'm losing my patience with you Police Girl. I will tell you how you can help!" Alucard glared at her with so much hatred in his eyes, the Police Girl stepped back. "Next to Fiona's bedroom there is a small room. You need to go into that room and find something and destroy it. That's all Seras Victoria. It's not hard at all."
"What kind of object is it, Master?" Seras asked although she did not want to know.
"The object is a parchment with symbols on it. On one side there is a red pentagram and on the other a black dragaon. It resides in a wooden box with Fiona's family crest."
"And how am I supposed to find it Master?"
"It is inside the room, in the desk drawer. There is a wooden box with a key. I will get you the key. All you need to do is get the box and get rid of it – that can't be too hard for even you."
"Master – I don't know about this. I don't think Sir Integra would want me to do anything of the sort. I am a guest at this castle. How would it look if I were to help you and something went wrong?"
"Seras Victoria you are my servant – not Integra's. Remember that."
"But, Alucard what if I get caught? I just don't feel right about this."
"Seras you do not have a choice. I am ordering you to do this. Do you really want be a traitor – like those outside this castle?"
His fledgling's reaction was apparent in her eyes: surprise, hurt, betrayal. She couldn't remember Alucard threatening her directly.
"Master. I don't understand. How could you?" Tears started to fall from her eyes and she did not wipe them away. If her Master felt like this about her, then she didn't care about appearing weak.
"Remember Seras Victoria. I am a monster. I punish those who betray me. So don't even entertain the idea of running to Integra or Fiona with my plans. If you do, you shall die for real, a slow and painful death – like those peasants."
Seras thought death might not be such a bad thing. Perhaps she could be with Pip – forever.
"And Seras – vampires can't become ghosts. Our souls are damned. We go straight to hell."
Seras looked back at her Master, feeling nothing but hatred and contempt. Why did he have to do this to her. This week was supposed to be her time. She should be having pleasant dreams about her night to come with Pip.
"I care nothing of your feelings for me, Seras. Remove the box. You'll have your chance in the morning. I'll see you tomorrow either way. I truly hope I don't have to impale you. It is such a painful way to die."
Alucard's evil laughter rang through the vampire's head, waking her before the sun went down. She lay awake for hours thinking of what she would do. One part of her felt like she couldn't betray her Master. He did say he wouldn't hurt Fiona. On the other hand, she was a guest. Seras did not want Fiona to be defenseless against Alucard. And she would be doing just that. What the Police Girl wanted more then anything was to call Sir Hellsing up and tell her of the Nosferatu's plans. But, that would be betrayal and she wasn't sure if she was ready to die just yet. Seras knew there had to be an answer: A middle ground – somewhere in between betraying her Master and betraying Fiona as well as Integra. She decided that she would talk to Pip about it when she awoke. Seras knew he would be able to help her somehow.