Chapter 5: Waking Up Alone

Anderson let Integral in. It had been months since he had seen her and she had only grown more beautiful. He berated himself for the sinful urges he felt whenever he was around her. He was happy now wasn't he? Anderson had only his orphans to care for now without the politics and distasteful duties he had working for Enrico. The knowledge that he could have had her haunted him every night. He pushed the ill thoughts from his mind and let her in.

"Good evening, Sir Hellsing." He greeted her.

"Hello, Father. Is she awake yet?" Integral asked about Seras.

"Not yet, Sir Hellsing but it should be soon. We can go wait in her room so she'll hear us."

"Thank you, Father Anderson." Integral said as she followed him into the room. Seras was still sound asleep. She wondered what her reaction would be."

They sat a small table that was next to the bed. Alexander poured Integral a glass of water as she lit a cigar.

"I thought you should know that everything went well." He said

"Oh? So the Captain's soul is no longer inside of her?" Integral asked.

"I don't believe so. We will know for sure when she wakes up."

"Well, thank you, Father Anderson for helping her, and Pip. I wish he 'd come to me. I think he was rather embarrassed after that pass he made at me."

Alexander didn't say a word. He couldn't blame the Captain for trying to kiss Integral. He only wished that he were not committed to God so he could kiss her soft lips.

"Father Anderson? Are you listening?" Integral smirked; she knew why Alexander got so distracted around her. And she loved having that power over him.

"Yes, Mam, I'm sorry. It is my duty to help tortured souls and I owed you that much." He continued to stare at her face.

They both heard Seras start to stir in the bed. Integral got up and went to her side. She stroked her hair and Sera opened her eyes. The vampire looked alarmed at first but smiled when she saw Integral.

"Sir Integral? Where am I?" She asked trying to remember the last few hours. She looked over and saw Anderson and everything came back to her: Pip convincing her to come here, Anderson stabbing her in the neck with something sharp, and then her world going black. Seras slowly got up considering her options. She didn't want lose control with Integral here.

"You're in Father Anderson's orphanage. Do you remember coming here?" Integral told her.

Seras nodded still considering attacking the priest. Then she became painfully aware that something was wrong, missing. Pip, she thought. She felt totally empty; the feeling consumed her. Looking at Alexander a new feeling was rising within her: rage. This was all his fault. He had done something to Pip; she just knew it

Seras got up and ran towards him, ignoring Integral's pleas to stop. She punched him with all of her power hard in the jaw. She smiled as the blood dripped onto the floor. She bent down on the ground and dragged her finger through his blood before sticking it in her mouth. She sucked on her finger as she moved it in and out of her mouth. This mad the Priest squirm. She laughed before she continued the fight. Seras continued to punch him hard but the Catholic just stood there, not fighting back. Taking her anger out on someone felt so liberating. She punched him for almost an hour before her muscles grew tired. When she felt Integral's hand on her shoulder, Seras stopped.

Integral pulled Seras into her arms as the vampire sobbed. It wasn't weakness. Integral herself had cried for those men she had lost. Seras was mourning the loss of her lover. She couldn't imagine how much that could hurt. Integral had never been that close to anyone. The pain was part of the reason why. It was too easy to lose someone in this business. Caring for her men, her vampire's was enough.

Seras let go of everything as Integral held her. The pain inside of her was consuming all of her. Although being in Integral's arms was a small comfort her pain grew. She was never going to see him again, hear his voice inside her head, feel him inside of her body. She almost fell asleep again as Integral stroked her hair. After awhile she knew it was time to go.

Alexander watched the two women go and shut his doors. He said a prayer for their souls and went to bed himself. The hour was late for those with human souls. As he drifted off to sleep he could think of nothing but her. The priest hoped his dreams were as pure as an angel.

In the woods, a black hound with red eyes and sharp teeth watched Integral and Seras get into the car. Alfred was driving. After they left, the hound shifted into the shape of a man. He would honor his Master's wishes and not go into the orphanage. He would fight the priest someday but now was not the right time.

From the looks of things, everything had gone as he had planned. He had not caused the darkness inside of the Captain's soul. No, that had been the man's own doing. He had, however, assured the Captain's choice to sacrifice himself. The vampire had not intended on getting involved. Seras Victoria should have taken care of his rebellion. But when the bastard made advances on Integral, he had changed his mind. He wasn't jealous; it was obvious the attention was unwanted. Alucard had however pried inside the Captain's soul and he could feel his desire, his hunger for Integral. She was his Master and no one would harm her under his watch.

Alucard chuckled as he remembering the dream he entered in his wolf form. It had been so much fun devouring Seras in the dream. The best part was the pain it caused Pip. And the dream had its desired effect: Pip sacrificed his soul to save Seras from himself. Human, are so utterly predictable, even when they're dead.

As Alucard transformed into a black raven and started his trip back to Hellsing he thought about the Captain. He wondered just where the young mercenary's soul had ended up. Certainly not heaven, not with all of his sins. Purgatory was not much better then hell. He grinned thinking of the torture he would have to endure in either place. Alucard had to fight the urge to return to the paladin and tell him just what he'd done in his attempts to help. Another time, Alex, another time.

Seras was resting in his coffin when Alucard came inside her room. She hoped that he wasn't going to holler at her. Tonight had been bad enough.

"Master?"

He walked over to her coffin and appraised her condition. A little worn emotionally but she would be fine. "Good evening, Seras. I brought you, some blood." He tossed the bag to her.

She smiled at him. Alucard had never brought her blood. "Thank you, Master. I was going to get some in a little while."

"Don't get used to it, Seras. I had to get some for myself and it was on the way." He bit open his pack of blood and started to drink. "You'll be needed for missions right away but I guess you can have tomorrow off."

"Thank you, Master." Seras replied. "Was there anything else?" Alucard was watching her and it made her nervous as hell.

"No, I think that's it." Alucard patted her on the head before going out the door.

Seras looked at him in disbelief. "Why does he do that? Does he honesty think I'm a little kid?" She laughed as she remembered what Pip had said when he did it before. It is better he pat you on the head then shoot you there.