A knock interrupted the storytelling. Diane rose and answered. Bernard bowed slightly.
"Your room is ready."
"Thank you." Diane turned to Seras, the vampire was on her heels. "Want to come along?"
"Sure!" The women followed Bernard down three flights of stairs and to Seras' room. Bernard opened the door to the left.
"Here it is. You should be quite comfortable." He said. Diane walked in, glancing around. A smaller bed, this one made up in black and red linens was in one corner. Coordinating curtains blocked off another corner and a matching rug covered most of the stone floor. A small bureau with a mirror, a desk, chair and several lamps completed the room. Diane turned back to Bernard.
"If you wish to decorate further, you may do so after your first paycheck. Room and board come with the job and will not be deducted from your pay."
"But the pillow will be."
"Naturally. Miss Seras is next door if you need anything. You will be keeping the same schedule. Dinner will be served in an hour. I will fetch you then." Bernard bowed himself out, closing the door behind him. Diane grinned wryly at Seras.
"Consigned to the basement."
"This is nicer then what I started with. But…"
"But I'm human, ergo I need a few more comforts." Diane walked over to the curtains and twitched them open. A freestanding rack held her one outfit, cleaned and pressed, and her armor. Diane threw the curtain back into place and whirled towards the wall, fists clenched. Seras approached slowly, knowing how upset Diane was and unsure how to offer comfort. Diane waved her off.
"Please. I need to be alone."
"Of course. I'll be next door if you need me." Seras left the room quickly. She hadn't taken two steps when a horrible wail came through the door. Clapping her hands over her ears, Seras ran to her room and jumped into her coffin.
Arucard watched from the mirror as Diane beat her hands bloody on the stone wall. Her fury was palpable, barely disguising her grief. He recognized the mood and smiled. She took it out on unfeeling stone when she wanted to tear into Hellsing. After several minutes, she stopped, wavered and dropped to her knees, gasping. She turned her head and glared at the mirror.
"Enjoying the show?" She snarled. He blinked in surprise, then slid out of the mirror, surrounding her in mist. She growled deep in her throat.
"Face me like a man." He chuckled, guiding the mist closer until all she could see was white. The mist swirled and danced, making Diane dizzy. Arucard willed her to sleep. She sighed and obeyed, toppling to the carpet. He manifested, picked her up and laid her on the bed. Brushing her hair back, he sent her the second dream, where she would learn of his defeat and capture. As her eyes flickered, he lifted each hand and slowly licked the knuckles clean, savoring the taste. Her blood burned his throat. She sniffled and he looked at her face. Tears slowly trickled down her cheeks. He smirked, wiped them away and left the room.
Diane shot up in bed, fists raised. Bernard was already out of range, looking concerned. She lowered her hands, scrubbed at her eyes.
"What happened?"
"You did not respond when I knocked. I came in and found you dreaming."
"Dreaming." Diane shivered, wrapping her arms around her ribs. Fragments of the nightmare drifted through her mind.
"Are you all right, Miss Diane?" Bernard asked, approaching carefully. Diane shoved her hands through her hair, let them fall to her sides and bowed her head. Bernard touched her shoulder and she flinched.
"No, Bernard. I…am not hungry right now. Please give everyone my excuses."
"As you wish. I will set a plate aside for you. When you are ready, come upstairs to the kitchen."
"Thank you." Bernard left the room. Diane glanced around and noticed her wallet, keys and mobile phone sitting on the bureau. He must've brought them in while she was sleeping. Why had she fallen asleep? She remembered taking her emotions out on the wall, then Arucard invading her room as mist. Looking down at her hands, she gasped. The knuckles were scabbed over. Her eyes moved to the blood smearing the wall.
"No. Don't bother." She rose, picked up her phone and wallet, stuffed them into her pants pockets. Opening her door, she headed upstairs to find some cleaning supplies.
"So Arucard's been through a similar situation. Held here for how many years? Decades? Centuries, perhaps?" She mused aloud, climbing the last flight to the foyer.
"He wants me to know. For what purpose? Sympathy? Emotional breakdown? Doesn't matter. It's my decision." Diane opened a random door, found a parlor. She moved down the hall, still talking to herself.
"That's why I put this collar on. Even...before…" She trailed off, hand on a knob. Shaking her head violently, she shoved the door open and entered the kitchen. It was empty, remains of a meal on the table, including one full plate. Diane smirked and moved to the giant double sinks. Opening the cupboards underneath, she found a rag, bucket and cleaner. She filled the bucket with water, added the solution and tossed the rag in. After a few moments thought, she left the bucket by the sink and sat at the table, dragging the plate over. She ate quickly, rinsed her plate off in the sink. Picking up the bucket, she spotted a bottle of wine on the counter, already opened. She snagged it and a glass and quit the room.
"Be warned. I will know everything that's going on in this household. Then I will decide." She said aloud in the hallway, tossing her head. She hurried back to her quarters and kicked the door shut. The wine and glass went on her desk. Diane rolled up her sleeves and got to work scrubbing the wall. She broke into song as she cleaned; an old American number that suited her mood perfectly. Feeling rather pleased with herself, she tossed the rag into the bucket, leaving the cleaned stones wet. A quick stretch, then she took the cleaning supplies back to the kitchen. Bernard was there, tidying up. He turned and nodded.
"Feeling better?"
"Better? No." Diane looked for another sink. Bernard pointed to a stainless steel one in the corner. She walked over and dumped the bucket. "But what does that matter?"
"It would make your stay here easier." He said, putting the food away. Diane stared until he met her gaze.
"How long has Arucard been here?"
"Hmm. Let me see." Bernard shut the fridge door and crossed his arms.
"My uncle Walter worked with him in World War Two, then he was locked in the basement for twenty years, then Sir Integra released him and put him to work as a garbage removal unit. So, I would say about 100 years, give or take a decade or two. Why?"
"He's been a slave all that time?"
"Slave?"
"What else would you call it?" Diane stashed the bucket under the sink and held up her wrists. The bands shimmered.
"I put these on by my own free will, but they may as well be shackles. Can you honestly say the gloves Arucard wears are there by choice?"
"I suppose not."
"Can I use my mobile in the basement?" Bernard blinked at her.
"No."
"I'll be on the steps." Diane turned and walked out. Bernard stared after her, bemused. Seras appeared next to him.
"Not many dare to ask those kinds of questions." She said thoughtfully.
"I am afraid he is getting to her."
"Would it matter?"
Diane made herself comfortable on the second step, using the solid banister as a backrest. Pulling out her phone, she dialed.
"Are you crazy?" A gruff voice asked in German.
"No more so then you." Diane responded in kind.
"Diane! Hell, woman, where are you?"
"A permanent guest of the Hellsing Organization, Hector."
"They actually caught you?" Hector sounded stunned. Diane smirked.
"It took their red pet."
"Damn. Where do they have you?"
"In London."
"LONDON?"
"A suitable punishment." Diane's tone was grim.
"How long?"
"Death or retirement." Hector swore a blue streak, making Diane laugh. "You are so good at that."
"You gonna do anything?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"There's something going on here."
"Bad?"
"Don't know yet. You can't run from Hellsing, not with the pets. I'll die on my own terms, not on theirs."
"Your funeral."
"Wasn't it always?" Hector chuckled, then sighed.
"It's been fun, Diane. I will miss you." His tone was final, with a hint of sadness.
"Make me look good, Hector." She matched his tone.
"Understood." Diane hung up and sighed heavily. She could almost hear the snip of Fate's scissors slicing through her. Tucking her phone back into her pocket, she stood and strolled down the stairs. That bottle of wine was calling and didn't a dead woman deserve a toast in her honor? She slammed the door behind her, smirking at the echo. Let them all know. She grabbed the bottle and flopped back on the bed. Scootching up to the headboard, she held it high.
"Here lies Diane Richter, gang member, novice vampire hunter and overall smart-ass street rat. May she rest in peace, because I will not." She drank deeply.
The dawn found Diane sober and bored. Seras phased in without knocking.
"Good morning! Ready to go shopping?" She said cheerfully, dressed in street clothes and a large floppy hat. Diane stretched and stood.
"Sure. It's a good thing I still have money." She grabbed her coat and threw it on. Seras led her out of the mansion and to the garage. They climbed into a Cooper and Seras drove them into the shopping district.
Three hours later, they arrived back at the mansion, loaded to the windows. Bernard met them at the back door. He looked over the mound of packages and sighed.
"How much of that is actually Diane's?" He asked. Diane rustled her load and breezed past him. Seras grinned and followed, carrying several boxes of electronic equipment. It took one more trip to get everything downstairs.
Another two hours passed before Diane threw herself into bed. She turned on her side and surveyed her room. A new computer sat on the desk, jazz trickling out of the speakers. A stack of music disks were beside the keyboard, ready for loading. Her closet bulged slightly from the new clothes, shoes and her one uniform. Two of the bureau drawers were now full and the mirror reflected a small collection of glass perfume bottles. A clock ticked quietly above her head, alarm set for seven pm.
"This works." Diane shut her eyes and quickly fell asleep.