A/N: Next chapter! Yay! Please forgive me for any Dracula mistkes in this chapter. I'm afraid this one's a tad shorter than the others lately, but I'm still working out some plot twists for later… this is really just to explain what the hell Alucard and Integra have been up to for the last two months. Well, that and to sate everyone's hunger for updates. Bon Appetite!

Z.R., D.I., and N-L.H.: Thank you, and I'm glad Eva's speech had such an impact.

Vampyr'sDaughter: I might be that cruel… or I might not…

Safrawr: I'm glad I changed your opinion. Eva does sound kinda like Integ, huh? DAMMIT! I wanted to avoid that… ; ) oh, well.

Oblivionknight7: Hard question. My automatic reply would be 'yes,' for mainly the reasons Eva voiced in her speech. Then again, I don't approve of the taking of life, so it would be a difficult existence. (I have no such scruples in Halo, however…)

Alucard's Familiar: Thank you for the in-depth review! I will definitely try some of those tactics out. As for the 'good stuff': Thankyouthankyouthankyou! I love Eva… and she seemed a good way to put Seras on the right track. The girl needed it. -Laughs, confused, because it isn't all that funny- That's okay, no sweat.

The door opened, spilling more light into the dim room. Alucard looked up from his position of being sprawled in his chair, smirking at the outline of his Master. "So soon? I had not realized it was time again." It was a lie. He knew exactly what time it was, and had been anticipating it. Then again, she didn't know that. The figure turned and vanished from sight, although he knew she was waiting.

He rose from the chair, and clomped up the stairs.

Integra closed the door after he emerged, and then she started down the hallway. He followed her, silently. Each evening, she came for him like this, and 'aired him out.' They'd take a walk, and he'd probably get to feed at some point. Not off of her, much to his disappointment, for that would break the physical seal. She would occasionally produce blood out of nowhere. He didn't ask, she didn't tell. It was better that way. Not that he really cared that much, but he didn't want to find out she was bleeding bums. That would be disgusting. Yes, it was better not to know.

They found themselves in the gardens, in a small courtyard made of flagstones. She wordlessly walked over to a bench, where something red and intoxicatingly good lay. She returned, and blood bag in grip, went back to torment him with it. Each time, she made him pay her back for what he'd done. Not that the Nosferatu really minded… not when she looked so satisfied with herself, so in control… it made his blood sizzle in his veins.

"How am I supposed to drink this, Master? I don't have my arms free to hold it." The vampire leaned in close, his nose half a foot from hers. His eyes glinted with perverse amusement, and the rest of the statement went unsaid. –So you're going to have to hold it. She smirked evilly and stepped back, looking at the blood packet in her hand. "Oh my, what a terrible waste, then." She looked back into his eyes, and turned the hand holding the blood bag palm up, tilting it downwards, slightly, and then opening it. The bag slowly rolled off her palm, lingering on her fingertips before hitting the ground between them with a wet plop. Her eyes held a cat-like look of satisfaction, his a look of fury.

Both of them looked down at it. She spoke first, gesturing to it with a hand. "It's really a pity, because I hate to litter." She then turned and strolled down the path, admiring the flowers in the Hellsing garden. Alucard had to stop himself from screaming with rage and helplessness. He closed his eyes, and opened them. She was out of sight, although he knew exactly where she stood in the garden. Such was their connection. He growled, knowing that he needed to drink, and knowing how humiliating this was going to be. She was kind enough to leave me in peace.

He bent his long legs, coming down in front of the blood on one knee. He then bent over, taking the packet gingerly in his mouth, burning with shame and anger. He picked it up off the ground, and tilted his head back, careful not to break it on the way. He bent his back in an arc, so the blood was now straight up in the air, and then gently, he punctured it with a fang. The liquid ran into his mouth, and he swallowed it greedily. Blue eyes watched him from behind a white rosebush, full of amusement, and maybe a little wonder.

It was gone far too quickly.

He spat out the empty plastic, cleaning the excess blood from his face with a flick of his tongue. With a rustle of leather and creak of metal, he stood, and then clomped down the path after his master. She will pay for that.


Integra closed her eyes, briefly, enjoying her victory. She opened them, and took a second to literally smell the roses. These days, she had more time. The Queen Herself had awarded Sir Hellsing and her family members long gone immense honors for long and loyal service to Her Majesty, in the face of peril and death. Of course, Hellsing was still kept on reserve, because they could never know if there were truly no more vampires. They'd downsized considerably. She only had the guardsmen, and Walter. But that didn't matter. She'd used some of the extra funds to hire more help, forcing Walter to take it easy. The man deserved it, more than anyone else she knew.

The former Director had found herself with an abundance of free time, and was still overwhelmed. She woke each morning expecting a mountain of paperwork, and harsh duties to carry out. Yet there was less work each day, and the duties that had been passed down through her family, the actions that slowly destroyed her each and every minute, were gone. When she really and truly realized that, she could have cried. But, Hellsings did not cry. She had to be strong, for her me-

But there were no more men, and no reason to be strong. And the tears were of joy.

Still, she did not let them flow.

Integra wore the same suits, and walked with the same air. She spoke in the same manner, and kept a sharp tongue. Now, however, it was without the same weighted shoulders, or the feeling of one who is doomed. She'd changed her schedule as well. Paperwork in the early hours, then tea and the morning paper, then target practice, then a brisk walk, then watching the daily drill, then lunch, more paperwork, some time to just read or relax (which she hated, but Walter insisted. She'd actually read some good books, though…) Then dinner, the evening paper… and lastly, Alucard before bed.

Speak of the devil… He rounded the corner, his face blank. She returned her attention to the roses, more to anger him than to look at them. True, they were beautiful, and she enjoyed them, but there was really only so much time one could spend admiring a flower. The scuff of his boots on the stone stopped, and she looked over at him. He'd settled down on a bench, and was watching the floor.

"You're sitting down and staring at stone for most of the time each night, Alucard. I'd think you'd want to do something different." His only answer was a grunt paired with a growl. She smiled, satisfied. I got to him this time. He really didn't like having to stoop so low.


There was silence for a time, and then Alucard broke it. "So, Master, how long will this go on? Eventually someone will notice I happen to still be undead." Her expression didn't change, and her answer was rather flat.

"Until vampires resurface. The Queen and I both know you aren't dust, although I reported your death, and she accepted my report. However, she still assumes you are locked away, and returning to a corpselike state." Integra stared into the distance.

"Why Master, that's treason!" He grinned, and felt a little better about himself when she snapped back into focus, and clenched her hand into a fist. Truthfully, what she said had surprised him. He didn't think she cared… his thought was paired with a grin. "You truly are a traitor to the Crown now…" She turned her face to him, and she was furious.

"That was out of line, Alucard."

The No-life King smirked. He knew just how far out of line he'd stepped. In actuality, he was… honored that she'd compromised the thing she held dearest for him. And Seras too, he supposed. Has the Ice Queen melted? The question answered itself when the swift slap caught him unawares. No, of course not.

"Watch yourself, vampire, or I may just leave you to rot in the dungeon. Ungrateful beast…" She turned her back to him, and fumed. Alucard smiled. The last bit had stung more than the slap, but he knew very well it was just the nature of game they played. Hurt and be hurt. Dominate and be dominated. Test the limits. Cross the lines. Those were the rules and the object all rolled into one. There were times one or the other had gone too far, and he had a sneaking suspicion this was one of those times.

"So," she said, her tone conversational, "how does it feel, Alucard? Fierce and terrible Vlad Tepes III, Dracula himself, on his knees drinking dropped blood. Subservient to a mere mortal woman… I can only imagine how it must be… oh, how the mighty have fallen." She didn't turn to face him.

Alucard shot to his feet, growling.

Before he could speak, she continued. "Do NOT insult my honor, Alucard, for you yourself have little left to speak of. Understood?" He snarled at the back of her head, and then clomped off down the path, seething.

A lazy smile spread across Sir Hellsing's face, and she allowed herself a chuckle.

Integra found him a little while later, sulking near the petunias. He'd hopped up onto a planter, and his legs dangled off the edge. It was tall, forcing Integra to look farther up than normal. "It's almost midnight." His tone was wary, cautious.

She gave a curt nod. "Yes, I know. It's time to go back." Authorative, calm.

He made no move to leave. Instead, he fixed her with his gaze. "My… apologies, Master."

She returned the look. "Mine as well, Servant."

Then he slid off the planter, and to his feet. There was nothing else to say tonight, so they walked back to the Mansion together in companionable silence.

The metal door closed with a heavy thud that resounded in the small stone room. Alucard descended the short stair leading up to the exit, and made his way back to his chair. She certainly pulled that out of nowhere… She'd said he had little honor left. Funny thing was, Integra was right. And I hate it when she's right.

He dropped into the seat, picking a leg up and resting it on the table. Still, the vampire felt better for feeding, even if it had been in such a humiliating way. So, this is the cost of being the ultimate undead. "Hmph."

At least boredom hasn't really settled in yet.