Author's note: Please be aware that this whole story line actually takes place after the anime, in a completely different direction to the manga.The events may hint slightly to the FREAK chip infestation, for reasons of continuity, but this is my interpretation on how events unfold post Order 13 in the anime.

Okay so now we see why and how Seras became the way she was in Chapter One. Back track a few years (still post anime) to the beginning of her training. Sorry for the Star Wars reference: couldn't help it. I hope it fits well. Abit of humour, some gratuitous blatant Seras fanservice and a helping of angst for this the third chapter. R&R and please suggest where you would like to see this go for Chapter Four.

Chapter Three: The Last Days of the Kitten

FIVE YEARS EARLIER

Seras bit firmly on her lip as the pain raced up her arm, hitting her tear ducts and tempting them to water. (Or bleed, in the way a vampire's eyes do.) She breathed in sharply between her teeth as she looked at the horrific burn on her right hand.

'Bloody Hell,' she muttered.

'Careful, Miss Victoria,' Walter said, wincing a little, lowering his sword. 'If you are going to use a blessed sword then you must remember to avoid touching the blade.'

Seras dropped her sword to the floor. 'I think I'll give it a rest for a bit.' She did well with the practise sword, which was harmless to her. However, every time she tried to fight with the real one, she faltered, a dangerous thing to keep doing.

The sword was a magnificent weapon. Walter had been industrious enough to craft it in secret, from the bayonets that Father Anderson had been kind enough to leave behind – even if they were lodged in Seras, Alucard and various members of the Hellsing Organisation. It had a three-foot long blade, which curved only a little, and was thin and razor sharp. Typically, Walter had engraved 'We are On a Mission from God' in a gothic design on the blade. The hilt, of course, had been crafted from oak, for the sake of the vampire for whom it was made. This way Seras could at least brandish the blade without fear of becoming a victim to it herself. If only, Walter thought to himself, she could wield it without cutting herself all the bloody time.

'Quite right, Miss Victoria. Tomorrow we will work on slightly more advanced attacks – but let's take this slowly.'

'Yes, Walter.' She sighed in quiet relief that the hour-long lesson was over. 'I'll hit the shower now I think.'

'Very good, Miss Victoria.' Walter said, watching her walk to the door of the gymnasium. A devious grin played across his lips. Swiftly he reached into his back pocket, launched a throwing knife at Seras, and was impressed to see the young vampette turn and kick the weapon away. His satisfaction was interrupted for only a moment when he realised she had sent it directly back in his direction. He caught it between his palms, just centimeters from his elderly face.

'Your reflexes are coming along very nicely,' said the butler, smirking at the smug Seras Victoria. 'We are at least making some progress.'

'See you in a bit, Walter,' said the pretty vampire, and walked out the door. At that moment the old butler couldn't help noticing how very cute her butt was. The thought was shaken out of his mind by the voice behind him.

How is our young padawan getting on, Angel of Death? It was Alucard, and he had been watching Star Wars again. Not that a vampire such as Alucard would have a DVD collection – he'd pinched it from Walter one particularly quiet day. (He gets very bored, very easily.) Walter chuckled a little at Alucard's choice of words.

'She's learning well enough,' he said fondly, 'but if she has any hope of being any good with that sword, well, she will have to try much harder.'

She will try, Walter. Our young police girl is stronger than she thinks she is. However, she will have to unlock all her potential before she has any hope of matching the Paladin in battle.

'True enough, Alucard, but in the meantime she has proven to be a most valuable asset to the Organisation.'

Alucard grinned, remembering an incident Waterloo station, where she left the soldiers slack-jawed in amazement, having single-handedly kicked the asses of five freaks in one go. It was fair to say that she had 'vamped out' on that occasion, as it had been fondly described. But these acts of wanton violence still disturbed her, and she would snap out of it quickly. On more than a few occasions she had been so shocked at what she had just done that she would leave the crime scene and try to convince herself she was not turning into a monster.

Those freaks are mere playthings to any real vampire. She will never become a fearful warrior if she cannot embrace the ways of the true Nosferatu.

'Ah,' said Walter, 'you mean drinking the blood.'

My blood.

'Yes. Well, maybe she'll turn to the Dark Side soon, Alucard.' Walter said flippantly. 'Until then, you'll have to be a patient Jedi and wait for her to come to you.'

Police Girl, I want to talk with you.

The vampire's head appeared through the wall of Seras' bedroom without warning, and only his voice gave his presence away. Seras gasped in surprise, whipped the sheet off the bed, and quickly covered her nakedness.

'You know, it's much more polite to knock, Master.' She said, indignant, and more than a little embarrassed. Alucard ignored the outburst or the fact he had entered the private confines of a woman's bedroom without invitation. He glided into the room and solidified in front of her.

'I was just about to go to bed, Master, what do you want to talk about?'

Alucard didn't seem to be listening to her. Instead she caught him staring at, perhaps through, the thin white bed sheet, under which she began to feel very exposed indeed.

'Stop that!' She snapped, hurling a candlestick at his head. 'Perhaps I should dress first?'

Hm. I suppose, if you wish, Police Girl. The choice is yours.

'Yes it bloody well is. Could you turn around please?'

After a stubborn pause Alucard rolled his eyes and made an about turn. He chuckled maliciously to himself when he heard he trip over a chair in her hurried bid to grab clothes.

'Okay, you may turn around now.' Seras announced a few moments later. Alucard turned to face the red-faced vampire in – pink pyjamas? He raised an eyebrow in amusement.

'It's the first thing I could grab,' she said, shrugging it off. 'So what did you want to say, Master?'

That's precisely it, Police Girl. Being your master. Why do you wish to remain submissive to me?

'I… Master, please, you know I can't answer that question.'

You made the choice of your own free will, remember? It was a choice for you alone to make. You are so very strong willed, Police Girl. You were so brave that night. To sacrifice your life, and join me, that takes courage.

'I wasn't brave, Master. I was selfish.'

Is it selfish not to want to die? No Police Girl, you made the ultimate sacrifice in order to uphold what you believed to be right. Without yourcourage to face the unknown that priest would have got away.You are far braver than you think. You have in you what it takes to become a true undead.

'That's just it, Master! I feel like I'm becoming so inhuman! I fearthat the person I used to be will just wither and die. I don't want to forget who I was, as you have.'

Alucard felt a pang of resent for that remark. It was a nerve only Integra had struck before.

You want to defeat the Paladin? You'll never get close until you drink my blood. You will always be weak.

'I can't do it, Master! Ask me to do anything else. I'll do it. I'll train to fight, I'll learn to be as agile and strong as possible – but ask me to drink your blood – I can't.' Seras turned away from Alucard.

Why? Alucard was impatient, his voice raised.

'I just can't!' She yelled, clenching her fists. 'I just can't…' she repeated, quietly.

Alucard fumed. Fine, Police Girl, have it your way. I'm through reasoning with you!

He stormed over to the table, and grabbed to bag of blood that had been waiting for her. He turned on Seras and thrust it into her chest. She grabbed it involuntarily, flinching at her master's anger.

Drink up, or you will become as weak as a kitten!

With a dramatic turn on his heel, he stormed out of the door, only going through it normally so he could slam it behind him. Seras flinched again at the bang of the wooden door. She looked at the blood bag in her hands. Remembering her master's last words, she angrily squeezed the bag tightly between her slender fingers. It burst, splattering her pyjamas.

'DAMN YOU!' She screamed.