Chapter Two

- Enter Midnight

Born as ruler. Raised as predator. Lived as a hunter. Died as a warrior. Rose as a monster.

How ironic that he was now caged like a mere domestic animal, waiting for the Master's return home to ask permission to leave the Mansion grounds. If he were lucky enough, Integral would walk with him or make a place in her apparently busy schedule for their conversations. Alucard smirked. She was avoiding them ever since those four little words had escaped his lips:

"The choice is yours."

Integral had never replied - she had just smiled before scolding him for spoiling the Queen's present. Alucard had offered his blood, his power, his immortality and she was angry for a ruined goblet of wine? She knew how to grate on him with the same skill with which he annoyed her. Both had made an art of such subjects, a perverse hobby both enjoyed.

Who would crack first? Who would look away? He anxiously played the game without minding who was the victor. The result was irrelevant; the thrill of the execution was what mattered.

Certainly, Alucard was a sore loser, thus he sought to triumph. How difficult could it be to convince a woman who already acted as a monster to take the final step to glory?

Lazily, he lifted his eyelids, not bothered to move another articulation from his comfortable posture – his elbow supporting the weight of his head and one leg over the other. Alucard nearly chuckled at Seras' attempts to stealthily his room without being noticed. No matter how silently she shuffled on the marble floor, she was his fledgling and he always would know when she was around.

"Going somewhere, Police Girl?" he inquired from his self-appointed throne. The movement stopped and could imagine her wince. "Does Master know where are you heading?"

The door cracked open soon after his question. Almost shyly Seras Victoria entered. She smiled sheepishly. She was not in her blue uniform but in jeans and a green tank top. "Hi, Master," she greeted, "To take some fresh air… Sir Integra doesn't mind as long I don't bring more fanged friends home…"

Alucard snorted, his throaty laughed resounded in his chambers. That was something his Master would warn about since his small rebellion in turning the Police Girl. "You shouldn't lie to your Master," he pointed out, his sunglasses slipping down to the tip of his nose. "You're going to your old home."

"I didn't lie, Master!" Seras defended herself. He was greatly amused by her spirit and challenge. More quiet than Integral's but indeed there. "I never said where I would be taking the fresh air."

"Two things that are for humans and not our kind, Seras. You no longer need fresh air or those old human belongings," Alucard chided with a condescending tone. Seras twitched in response but said nothing. A lost case, indeed. "You haven't drunk your blood either…" he observed, placing a huge disappointment in his tone.

"I forgot… I did drink yesterday, Master…" Seras furrowed her brow, "Or that was two days ago?"

His hands went into his pockets where he pull out two blood bags. "Take them," Alucard ordered, tossing them in her direction. "Don't throw the blood down the drain, Police Girl."

"I don't do that anymore!" Seras caught them and stared at the packets before placing both in her purse. He was amazed how she made things fit inside such a small bag. Perhaps her powers had awakened more than he gave credit for and actually affected the matter. "When will Sir Integra return?" she asked, half turning away.

"As soon she can escape," Alucard stated, nearly annoyed by thinking of the parties.

In the beginning, he had loved to see her displease in attending such gatherings but they became more and more frequent as the attacks and missions decreased. His nights became boring. Seras, despite being a vampire, was hardly an adequate replacement in conversations. Too ethical.

He was utterly bored.

"Hmm, maybe I should leave the cell phone on, just in case there's an emergency," Seras stated, musing at herself.

"If something happens," Alucard lounged once more on his seat. "She'll summon me, Police Girl." He drew his hat down, covering his face.

"Still… you can dial me for aid instead of violating my mind."

"And what's the fun in that? Disregarding your privacy is better," Alucard laughed.

"Good evening, Master," Seras bid farewell, slight flustered, and slammed the door when she exited.

Alucard chuckled; she was so easy to rile. She had so much to learn and he was losing his patience with her slow pace. But lately he let her be -Seras seemed to grow better without his intervention.

If only the blood Seras had licked coming out his mouth had been able to sever the Master and Servant ties both shared… But alas, it had been a rooted sample that did not count. Now he was trapped living with two women who constantly refused his blood.

The greatest irony of all was that they were both the same Integral and Seras were unable to surrender completely to him because of their morals. The first was the perfect predator in mind and soul but she denied vampirism in body. The latter had the physical potential of an Eve of Destruction but she was too wrapped up in that disgusting humanity of hers.

There was the true paradox in their contrasts and similitudes. He had chosen them well. Or wrongly since neither paid heed to his efforts. Alucard blamed their parents. If only they had not made such lasting effect in their lives, he could raise them at his whims.

Alucard straightened his posture, reaching for the bottle on his table to pour the contents into his glass. The liquid was too dark and thick to be mere wine. He put down the bottle and grabbed the goblet, bringing it to his mouth. When no one was looking, he rather preferred the most dignified way to feed.

The cold medical blood was hardly high cuisine but offered nourishment enough. Alucard hoped some nobling offended her enough to make her offer the fool as one of his meals.

Hmm, Alucard thought, taking another sip still sitting on his 'throne'. This place is dead…The handful of survivors of the personnel were upstairs. Silent, they moved like automata trying to tidy everything before Integral arrived and scolded them.

Idiot humans. So weak and fragile. Especially the babies. The infernal cries and sobs were unbearable to his sensitive senses. The only use they had was as aperitif.

Why had his Master had to hire the spouses of the soldiers as maids?

Alucard gave a final stretch before re-settling himself on the couch. He had had this new hobby since the wave of stillness started one of searching more comfortable ways to sit in his own chair and another to guess the number of emptied blood bags he should throw to the ground until someone had the courtesy to clean his room. It was starting to reek.

No one came. Not even when Integral had slipped and nearly fell down.

They were too frightened of him?

Alucard missed Walter. He hoped his old friend would be back from the hospital soon before his Master complained about the stench and forced him to 'search and destroy' the source.

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The bus trip had taken longer than Seras had planned After the first hour, she grew bored and started tapping her fingers on her chin. Sixty minutes later, she was not the only one who did not know what to do. A couple of teenagers occupied themselves with snogging behind her seat. She looked through the window, to the streets, unsuccessfully attempting to ignore the kissing noises.

At least the pervert that had sat next to her was long gone. A flash of fangs and glowing red orbs clued him that Seras was no one to mess with. The pair was moaning now - her cheeks reddened. In a public transport no less. If she were still in the force, they would be behind bars for the display.

Perhaps I should spook them, Seras pondered. She was ready to make her best 'Queen of the Night' interpretation when the movement of the bus ceased. She looked to corroborate the street name. Her stop. Quickly, she gathered her things and stood, making her way to the exit, glad to leave the odour of sweat and the bubblegum-covered seats behind.

She should have learnt how to drive. But she had never found time. When Sir Hellsing was not busy, Seras promised herself to request a lesson or two. She hoped she would not overstep her boundaries. Integral had been more pleasant and open to her after the incident with Incognito. Was she grateful for her rescue? Or was it just the fact that the new recruits were sparse, rookies and untrustworthy and she had no one else to talk with? Alucard was not a choice, she knew that her leader had been avoiding him, and Walter still remained in the clinic.

It's over a year, Seras thought, wondering why the hospital had retained Walter for so long Integral had told her that he felt good and healthy already. No thinking of that now, Seras. You wanted to take a break from Hellsing, didn't you?

Suddenly the smell of blood overwhelmed her nostrils. Inwardly, she licked her lips as the beast inside her stirred. Then was a scream, like someone's soul was torn out of the body. Seras looked around her. No one seemed to notice. Was it beyond human hearing? Or were they simply choosing to ignore it? Almost immediately, she headed towards the source of the cries. She retrieved a handgun from her purse, praying she would not be too late.

Seras panted, running through the dark, murky alleys inhabited only by homeless folk with glassy eyes and resigned features. She paid no heed to them, stepping closer and closer to her target. Silence. It was silent now. She diminished her speed, an unseen barrier suffocated her. Her neck tingled, the wounds caused by holy knives re-opened.

Oh no, no, no… Seras thought, unable to continue. Her feet touched a fallen bulge. She looked down and gasped, pupils dilating. A corpse was beneath her, eyes sunken, half denigrating grey skin. His mouth was open wide, enough for Seras to recognize the elongated canines. He burnt at her touch as if it were blessed.

Iscariot… so that has been hunting the Freaks down… Seras heard a noise in front of her but did not bother to check. Fear defeated curiosity. She spun and ran without looking back, passing the broken windows covered with wood and the glances of the inhabitants of the forgotten houses.

She heard footsteps behind her, the sound of something metallic brushing on a sheath. She gulped and kept up her race. Seras Victoria would not die in that lonely alley. Not that night, not like that. She was not ready to face that crazy priest.

Just a little more, Seras told herself. She could see the exit, the people laughing and passing without any worries at all. No one feared a bogeyman that filled their bodies with bayonets. No one was frightened of the tall preacher in the corner. As the shadows of the buildings shifted to indicate an open street, Seras' spirits heightened. She would be able to blend with the people without problems. Relieved, she hid her handgun.

The eerie footsteps also lost themselves in the multitude of citizens, unrecognisable now. Seras looked around her, attempting to spot the imposing figure of Anderson. She would not leave until she was certain that he had lost her track. A hand probing her shoulder cut her searching. Seras slowly turned around. To her relief, she did not find the Paladin but a timid-looking nun. She was Asian, wore glasses and innocently smiled at her.

"Excuse me, Miss. But you dropped this," the sister said, handing her the cell phone.

She had forgotten to close her purse on the run! "Thank you so much, sister!" she replied, taking the offered phone and checked if it was functional. "Where did you find it?"

"I'm a missionary, Miss," the sister replied, "I had a task with the poor homeless." Her face contorted in grief. Seras' suspicion of an agent of Iscariot was diminished. The nun looked inoffensive.

"Take care, Sister. It's a perilous neighbourhood," Seras recommended. "Bye and thanks again!"

The nun bowed and shook her head; her hand trembled as if she were nervous. "It's a pleasure to aid those in need. God bless you, Miss." And then she returned to the alley very fast. What was she running from?

Before Seras turned to leave, she took a final glimpse at the kind sister. Her eyes widened slightly – there were drops of blood splattered on the edge of her dress.

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Alucard stretched for the sixth time since Seras had left. Despite himself, he was starting to miss her presence. She made a bad vampire but he was bored out of his mind alone in the basement.

The night was in all its splendour outside. He could sense everything - see through the animals' eyes. The breeze was moving the branches of the trees and the moon shone above in morbid glory. A perfect evening to hunt.

From his post, Alucard heard the bells of the grandfather clocks a floor over him tolling. He thought it was a pity that Big Ben had not been reconstructed yet after his little…clash with Incognito. But sacrifices must be made. He counted the sounds until they died out and the Mansion was left in silence once again.

Enter midnight, Alucard mused, And here I am. A No Life King grounded inside like a dog. He laughed voraciously, remembering the last time Integral had forbidden him to come out and play in the courtyard. His 'Hound of the Baskervilles' stunt had not amused her at all.

Alucard reached for his half empty goblet of blood, eager for a few drops of the precious elixir, when a sharp pain shot through his body. It was so powerful that it forced him to drop the glass. He attempted to search for the source of it but his mind was blinded by the waves of some piece of himself escaping out of his system… Vanishing… Fading… Burning out…

He twisted on his chair.

Alucard gritted his teeth. His hands burnt. His gloves were shining as the Hellsing sygil glowed on the walls of the room, lifting from his white cloth until it was gone. Only then could he open his eyes and see as a free vampire for the first time in more than a century.

He was unable to feel Integral anymore. A mixture of dread, excitement and anger bathed him. What had just happened? Alucard was a tad confused about how to act. He had dreamt about this day but now he only could remain motionless, unable to take advantage and action. But he also had imagined he would have Integral chained at his feet when he recovered his Masterhood.

But it did not matter, did it? Details, details.

He was no longer a slave or a servant. Not a bloody pet for human Masters. He would now wreak chaos everywhere once more. He laughed at that idea, of sitting on a throne surrounded by impaled corpses.

His infernal smirk faltered. If he had achieved freedom, Integral must have died. Alucard gave a growl that frightened all the inhabitants of the house. She was under his protection; no one should have laid a finger on her again. It was a fluke; he had failed.

Alucard rose from his chair. Vengeance was what he claimed now. Someone had taken away his chance for retribution to the line. His work for a decade. His little girl. They would pay for it; he would make sure. He had access to all his power now.

But when he tried, he could not summon any demon. Only the wolves of the zoo answered his call, howling and gnawing at the ill tended bars.

Why did he feel so weak? Where were his ultimate abilities, the ones that old Abraham and Arthur had given him?

"The seal function is not sealing your power, Alucard. Your power is always free for you to use but it does guard the power we granted you as well with part of your will," he remembered Arthur explaining three decades ago. "As long as a Hellsing is your Master, the seal will be with you."

Alucard lounged on his chair once more, grinning bitterly at the speech. He should have known there was a catch for his abilities. Without the seal, without the powers it granted him, he was no longer the ultimate undead.

Everything had a price, even his freedom. If Alucard had known, he would have not been so eager to purchase it.

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Seras awoke on the kitchen floor of her apartment. It seemed forever since the wave of pain had left her listless. She checked her body. She was not wounded. If it was not her…

Something must have happened to Master, Seras concluded. She was not concerned, and attempted to get up. Her legs were shaking from the small effort. No one rushed to see what was going on. The building she used to live in was empty except for a few floors far from hers.

It was a blessing in disguise, otherwise her neighbours would be shocked they saw the 'missing in action' policewoman walking to her apartment with normally. Nor had she known them for a time, Seras had just moved to London when she had been transferred to the D-11 a month before the mission in Cheddar had occurred.

Seras sat down, taking a break to recover her strength while glancing at the picture of her childhood with her father. What should I do? she asked him, knowing he would not reply. Sir Hellsing must have the same monologues with the portrait of her predecessor, or that was what Seras liked to think. Time to contact with my other 'father.'

"Master?" Seras called to him aloud. "Master, are you okay?"

Nothing. Was he playing at being difficult again? She sighed and leaned on the seat. The digital version of a Beethoven tune sounded from her purse. Her cell phone, someone was calling. Seras opened the bag and tracked the number. She did not know it. "Yes? Hello?" she answered, hesitantly.

"Senior Officer…"

Integral… it sounded like Sir Hellsing… but there was something strange in her voice. "Sir? Are you-"

"Listen to me carefully," Integral replied, interrupting her question. "You know where the party was, don't you? Come to retrieve me at once. Look for an open balcony window and slide in. Search for me by following my scent… I'm on the second floor…"

"Sir… what's going on?" Seras asked, blinking in confusion. Why had she not summoned Alucard? Something was very, very wrong.

"I can't explain this now, Officer! Just follow my instructions! And bring me fresh clothes to change into and a packed of blood."

Blood? Clothes? What kind of wild party had Sir Integral attended?

Author's Notes: Thanks TeaRoses for editing this chapter! And to everyone who reviewed.