A/N: Damn this chapter for mocking my words! Hope everyone's liking these new additions, even if this one is short. And in answer to Ice Appeal's curiosity, all the comments I made in chapter twelve will be dealt with. Thanks to my readers and reviewers!

The choices one makes

Leads to outcomes one has earned.

After several more falls, Seras had been able to ward off his mind control. The moon had crossed the sky, so Alucard had decided to finish the training for the night. Besides, Seras' hunger was returning tenfold and Alucard was getting a little thirsty himself.

As they retraced their steps down the floors, Seras started to become nervous. She had only drank blood once before, and only because the hunger had overridden her inhibitions of blood. But now she was in control of herself and would knowingly be drinking the liquid.

Walking down the hall leading toward the kitchen, she began to tremble from the ever increasing anxiety she felt. Thankfully, she was behind Alucard so he couldn't see her shake.

They entered the kitchen and Alucard motioned for Seras to sit at the table while he went into a small room off to the side. A few moments later he came back carrying a bottle and two champagne glasses. Apparently the side room led to the cellar and was also where he kept the fine china.

Setting the glasses on the table, he easily popped open the cork of the bottle and began to pour the blood into the containers.

Seras watched with undisguised eagerness as the glasses began to fill. The feeling of hunger was practically radiating from her. When Alucard had filled the glasses full, he handed her one and took the other in his hand.

"Drink, Police Girl. The blood is a nineteen sixty-three vintage, a good year. The blood in Romania was uncommonly sweet during the Cold War, probably caused by all the tension and fear." Chuckling, he took a sip and watched Seras out of the corner of his eyes.

With her hands visibly trembling, she slowly lifted the glass to her lips. Her body was screaming for her to drink, but something was holding her back. A voice in the back of her mind, like some pitiful child caught in the grips of a nightmare and yelling for the horrible visions to stop. However, the child wasn't yelling for visions to stop, but for Seras not to drink the blood. Some last bit of humanity was trying to save itself from being extinguished by her new vampiric cravings.

Her self-control silently impressed him, but she would have to give in eventually. Vampires could not die from lack of blood, but they would become incredibly weak. The condition would progress until they were unable to move, much less defend themselves from attack. He refused to see one of his own digress into such a pitiful state.

"I can't do it." Battling the hunger, she gently put the glass down on the table. Rising and turning around, she began to walk out of the kitchen. But before she reached the doorway, a hand fell on her shoulder.

"You will drink even if I must force the blood down your throat" Alucard's voice whispered in her ear. There was determination in his voice, making Seras cower in his grip.

She was so weak compared to him, how could she fend him off? But wait, she had strength now, not equal to his but maybe enough to escape for a short while. Only, he would catch her no matter where she went and eventually he would make her drink. A rush of anger filled her at the thought of unwillingly losing what little bit of humanity she had left. No! I won't let him! Not now, or ever!

With a violent twist, she wrenched out of his grasp and turned to face him. Her eyes had become a dark red, almost black, and her mouth was curled up into a snarl.

Before Alucard could react, she shoved him away from her. He flew over the table and hit the wall with enough force to crush a few ribs and leave a very large dent in the masonry.

Seras could only stand there and gape at her own actions, as her Master began to rise. Terror was also holding her in place, the belief that Alucard was going to kill her, or worse, making her feet feel cemented to the floor. But he began to chuckle. Soon his maniacal laughter was filling the room as she slowly regained control over herself.

"Stop laughing!" Her anger was practically bursting from her, caused by the hunger and his unconcern for her feelings.

"What strength! What power!" he said between fits of laughter. "You'll make a fine No-Life King someday, Police Girl."

"I don't want to be a No-Life anything! I just want to live my old life!" she practically yelled, turning her back to him.

"The choice was yours, Police Girl" he said quietly. Standing, he slowly began to approach her unnoticed. His cat-like walk made no noise on the stone floor.

"I know, but I didn't have enough time to think! I...I just didn't know the guilt would hurt this much." She was again about to leave when a pair of arms encircled her waist, drawing her close to a warm body. Alucard had pulled her into a hug.

"Only those vampires who have forgotten their humanity do not go through the guilt. Be thankful you have some soul left, and enjoy the feeling while you can. Everything fades in an immortal life except the hunger." He slowly released his hold on her, and disappeared into a wall of darkness, leaving Seras alone to ponder his words.

"And drink the blood, Police Girl. That's an order."

"Yes, Master" Seras answered, sighing as she lifted the glass. She would try once again to drink the liquid, if only for her Master's sake.