A/N: Roughly forty-five to one in favor of continuing, so here's the next chapter. You're all in luck too, or if you don't like my story, in hell, because the chapters are going to be longer. Thanks again to all my readers and reviewers!
Trust is earned,
Never given freely.
The next night, Seras was awakened rather suddenly from her sleep. There was only darkness around her and for a moment she forgot where she was. Struggling to sit up, she realized there was something holding her down. Her eyes having adjusted to the complete darkness without her knowing, she was able to see what was holding her.
Staring down at her waist, she found a pair of arms wrapped firmly around herself. Looking up from her position, Seras stared straight into the red eyes of Alucard. An expression of amusement was written on his face, showing he had been watching her attempts to free herself from his grasp.
The memories of the previous day came flooding into Seras' mind. The meeting with the priest, the blade sinking into her stomach, her drinking Alucard's blood, and finally, her resurrection as an undead. All passed by in an instant, leaving her with the weight of what she'd done.
"You're finally awake, Police Girl. I thought you were going to sleep through the sunset."
"What? What do you mean 'sleep through the sunset'?" Seras had been so deep in her thoughts that she'd only partially listened to what Alucard had said. Her mind was still having difficulty grasping her new existence. After all, everything had happened so quickly the night before that she hadn't had time to ponder her decision.
"I mean exactly what I say, Police Girl. If you had been paying attention instead of letting your mind wander, you would understand."
His arms dislodged themselves from Seras' waist and she could sense he was angry with her. She could think of her decision later, when she had a moment alone.
"You're never alone." Seras jumped at the sound of Alucard's voice in her mind, her head nearly hitting the lid of the coffin. She'd forgotten about the mind link with her new 'master'.
With a chuckle, Alucard lifted the lid of the coffin off and climbed out. Holding the lid while Seras rose, he replaced the marble slab somewhat loosely. After all, sunlight could not penetrate the catacombs, nor did rats and insects dare enter the tomb. Dust also seemed to avoid the sleeping place of vampires, almost as if nature itself was terrified of their existence. The only significance for the lid was to keep hunters at bay until they awakened.
Looking at the marble coffin, Seras wondered for the first time why the sarcophagus was large enough to fit two people. She'd have to ask Alucard about it later.
"So, um...what did you mean before, about the sunset?"
"Vampires often awaken at the moment the sun sets. Those who sleep in late have a rather harsh awakening, caused by their hunger."
What he said would explain her sudden jolt from sleep, and the craving in her stomach. She would have to feed but the thought of taking the blood from another person was revolting, nearly enough to quench the thirst within her. Nearly enough, but not quite.
"Come, Police Girl. We'll begin your training tonight."
"Training?" A look of fear spread across Seras' face.
"No, not hunting" he said, knowing her thoughts. "My 'winery' is full, so we will not have to find victims for awhile."
The idea of his winery being filled with blood bottles was not a comforting thought for Seras. Someone had to have given their blood to fill those glasses, and she doubted the procedure had been done willingly. More like the blood was drained violently from their bodies while Alucard watched without mercy. Yes, that idea sounded right.
"Relax, Police Girl. I've been filling my cellar since my turning, so not as many people as you think have died." Alucard didn't like the turn her thoughts had taken. They were too dark, so unlike the feelings he had received from her earlier.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged you without asking first." Seras didn't know what had come over her, maybe it was the incessant hunger she was feeling. She had never felt so irritated in her life, but every second that went by the feeling increased.
Alucard, reading her thoughts, realized the depth of her hunger. She was newborn to darkness, so the need for blood had a tendency to override all other emotions. In time she would become used to the feeling and be able to control her hunger. But for now her mood would change dramatically every time her body needed the sustenance.
"You're letting your hunger overtake your emotions. All fledglings go through this stage in their change, but you are one of my blood. Control yourself." He said the last statement rather harshly, emphasizing that he would not tolerate her mood swings for long.
"Yes, Master." Her master's tone had managed to curb some of the hunger. The rest she could deal with without much difficulty.
Alucard approached the closed door of the tomb and literally walked through it, causing Seras to gasp. She hadn't yet seen him walk through solid objects and had expected him to smash against the wood. Opening the large oak door herself, she found him on the other side, impatiently waiting for her.
"How . . . how did you do that?" she asked.
"With time your body will learn many techniques. For now, we'll test your resistance to stronger minds. When you're able to fend off my mind control, then we'll move on to other skills."
"My body is still changing?" Seras thought her transformation as a vampire had been finished after she'd died. Apparently Alucard was holding back information.
"Of course. Some changes take centuries to arise, while others will come quickly."
Seras barely caught the tail end of his sentence, because he had rounded the corner and began climbing the steps. "What kind of changes?" she asked as she kept up with his long strides. Her life was getting more complicated by the minute.
"I think we'll train on the private balcony tonight" he said, ignoring her question.
"What if I refuse?" Here she stopped walking. His unwillingness to give her information was making her angry, and she would not go any further until he answered her question.
Alucard halted and turned slowly. The look in his eyes made Seras' blood freeze. There was no anger, just a knowledge of how in control of the circumstances he was. He was older, stronger and wiser than she, and Seras had no chance against him.
"Police Girl, you have no choice but to obey. The blood in your veins is not yours, but mine. It will listen to my every command."
Alucard turned away from her and began to walk down the hall, putting an end to their conversation. Seras followed grudgingly, not liking where her new life was taking her.
They made their way from the top of the stairs, which Seras noticed were situated on the hallway she had escaped to when she'd first entered the castle, to the main entrance hall. Climbing the grand staircase, she marveled at the large window at the top. The view showed an inner courtyard, surrounded on three sides by the castle. The fourth side was a large stone entranceway with two large wooden gates placed in the center. Judging by the lack of ornamental masonry, the yard had been used in preparation for battles.
Turning her attention back to the staircase, she noticed two halls, one leading off to her left and the other to her right. Alucard turned to the right and began walking down the long corridor. The second floor almost seemed to stretch on forever, though Seras could just see where the end of the hall turned to the left. Doors were placed on each side, evenly spaced and exquisitely carved. Obviously the rooms were made to accommodate noble guests.
As they neared the extremity of the hall, Seras noted a large stained-glass window situated in the corner alcove. The picture showed a beautiful woman wearing a fifteenth century dress. Looking into the face, she noticed with a start that the woman looked almost exactly like her. The only differences were the woman's dark brown tints of her hair instead of the fledglings own red, and portrait's eyes were a strange green. Those eyes bothered Seras, they seemed to watch her every move.
Thankfully, Alucard turned off to the left and they began to climb another staircase. This also led to another long hall, though there were some differences. Where there had been many doors along the other corridors, the third floor had very few, only half the number of the others. When Seras looked out the windows to her right, she was shown a large balcony. The platform spanned the entire length of the floor and looked out upon the side of the castle.
Coming to a stop in the middle of the corridor, Alucard opened the glass doors which led out to the balcony. Seras joined him in the cool night air and closed the doors behind herself. Turning, she gasped at the view before her. The snow capped mountains in the distance glistened in the rising moon, reflecting the clear night sky above. Approaching the stone railing surrounding the balcony, she could see the forests spread out beneath her like a green carpet. Ending at the base of the hills, the trees gave way to rocky bluffs and deep canyons etched into the mountains.
Sneaking a quick look at Alucard, Seras observed with relief the return of his old grin. Maybe he had forgiven her outbursts and was in better spirits. Gathering her courage, she decided to ask him a question. She actually wanted to resume their last conversation, but didn't want to ruin the unspoken truce between them.
"Are there other techniques a master vampire and fledgling share?" Seras was more than a little nervous with how he would answer. She had come to terms with the mind link, but the idea of being forced to do his every bidding was still bothering her. She had learned to take orders in the police academy, but blind commands she had never followed through with. There was always doubt in her mind, the questioning of whether she should follow such instructions so obediently.
"Master vampires are able to do much with their fledglings."
Suddenly, Seras felt herself walk toward the edge of the balcony. Her feet were moving on their own! As much as she tried to gain control over herself, there was no sign of her slowing as she climbed on top of the thick stone railing. She was going to fall!
With a single ear piercing shriek, she walked off the balcony and began to plummet the seventy feet to the ground. Then, she felt a pair of hands grip around her waist and her fall was abruptly stopped. Breathing heavily, she looked into the smiling face of her Master.
"Wha . . . what was tha . . . that? Seras stammered out, as she struggled to curb the breathing she no longer needed.
Then she remembered they were floating in midair, somewhere between the first and second stories. If her heart had been beating, she would have definitely felt it stop. On instinct, Seras clutched Alucard's coat. She was terrified of falling from his grasp since there was still enough of a drop to seriously injure her.
"I am also able to control your movements, Police Girl." He was enjoying her fear, especially when she clung to him. This was going to be a fun night.
"What?" Seras yelled, getting very irritated with his lack of sharing information. Especially when they pertained to her own body.
He began to ascend toward the balcony, holding Seras' waist loosely so she would grip his coat tighter. Releasing her when they had reached the temporary 'training ground', he watched with amusement as she tried to regain her balance.
"Did I forget to mention that? It must have slipped my mind" he said, giving Seras one of his trademark grins. Obviously his humor had returned and he had been teasing her. Hopefully he'd only been teasing.
"Master, is there anything else you'd like to tell me?" She was having a difficult time keeping her anger in check, but was able to stop herself from trembling with rage.
"Oh, I think not. At least, not at the moment. I may remember something later. Now let's try it again."