Part Two

Sure enough, Integra appeared in the doorway. Upon seeing the fire and the chair left empty for her sitting before it, she quickly made her way around the tables toward the warmth of the hearth. She dropped down into the chair and let her body sink into it. She turned her head to Alucard; the vampire was watching her intently, his face expressionless. He appeared to be fine; she, on the other hand, could still feel her dry, cold lips and knew they must have been blue. She turned back to the fire and leaned forward, sticking her icy fingers out toward the flames.

"Are you okay, Master?" she didn't turn back to look at him when she replied.

"Yes, I'm fine now."

"I didn't know that ice was there."

"I figured as much." She smirked. "I guess when you're in your hell hound form, you too react to extreme temperatures."

He nodded. "Yes. It's the only downside of that form. At least…the only one I can think about at the moment." He paused and then continued, "I guess one other downside is that I am also susceptible to…more beastly instincts. That explains why I didn't think to change forms and teleport out of the water."

"That would have helped, yes. Though, I know what you mean. I hadn't even thought about that option until you mentioned it." She leaned back now, inspecting her nails and the color that was returning to them. She picked up her long hair and felt of its dampness. It was heavy when it was wet like this; she pulled it together and laid it over one shoulder without even thinking. This action revealed to Alucard her neck and upper back which was riddled with long, red marks, crisscrossing each other. Alucard eyes widened; had he done that? Flashes of his attempts to get out of the water came back to him. He remembered hearing his master's voice and then her hands pulling him out of the icy pond. And then…yes…he remembered now. He had gotten impatient and scratched Integra while she had tried to help him.

Integra wasn't aware that there were actual marks on her neck. She hadn't seen them or felt them since she was outside. She had forgotten all about the stinging sensations she felt earlier by the pond.

Alucard reached a gloved hand up and gently let it trace the marks. Integra had been staring into the flames and when she felt Alucard's fingers near her neck, she jumped just a little bit. She turned her face to Alucard's. He was looking at her, lightly caressing the scratches. "Do these sting?" he asked.

"Just a little, I guess." She replied.

He frowned. "I didn't know what I was doing." The tone in his voice was strange. He sounded almost sad. He stood up and Integra figured he was going to disappear like he was apt to do when he had shown just a little too much of a side of him he didn't want to show. Integra thought nothing of it as Alucard got up and walked between the chairs and behind her. She continued to stare into the flames, now stretching her bare feet toward the fire to warm her toes.

All of a sudden, cool lips replaced gloved fingers, tracing the red marks on her lower neck area. She drew in a shaky breath, but didn't move to stop him. He leaned over her, gently holding onto her upper arms as he moved over her neck. He breathed in the scent of her skin, paused, then returned to the marks. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Master."

"It's o—" she was going to say it was okay, perfectly understandable, really, when a cool, moist tongue dragged itself softly over the long scratches.

"I'll take these marks away, my Master." He licked at the marks, no doubt enjoying the little blood that remained on them.

Integra was feeling much warmer now. No more blue lips and nails; now, she had pink cheeks and wide eyes. She didn't know what to say though. It felt good, though she would never admit it. She had to be careful just thinking it. In fact, it was easy enough to just not think at all; to just sit back and let the vampire believe he had been a bad dog and that he had to clean up the mess he made.

Alucard licked at bare skin now. No rough marks remained. He hated to stop; he sensed that his master was really enjoying this. He smirked and glanced at her face. Her eyes were closed, relaxed. He continued on her neck for a few seconds and then, swiftly, moved so that he was in front of Integra, leaning down, a hand on either side of her on the armrests, and he smoothly bent forward and touched his lips to hers. He gave her a gentle kiss but did it forcefully enough so that she wouldn't be able to turn her head away from him. She gasped and he chuckled, opening her mouth a little bit with his own. Just as he did, though, he felt another presence approaching. He pulled away and quickly vanished through the wall just a moment before Walter stepped into the doorway of the library.

"Miss Hellsing?" he asked the back of the chairs. There was a long pause.

Suddenly, "Hmm?"

"Miss Hellsing, I was just wondering what you would like for lunch. That is, if you are hungry." He craned his neck to try to see the young leader, but only caught a glimpse of her blonde hair over the back of the chair.

"Oh. Um, yes, I think I would like some hot soup. It doesn't matter what kind"

"Yes, Miss. Are you feeling all right, by the way?"

"Oh yes! Just fine. I was just relaxing is all."

"I see. Lunch will be ready in the dining room shortly."

"Thank you, Walter." She heard his footsteps recede down the hall. When she was sure she was gone, she looked all around the room and then reached back to feel of her neck. Nothing. No marks, no scratches. Nothing. Hmm. Well, that was nice, but…he's still going to pay for my skirt, she thought. With that, she stood up and walked out of the library.

The End