"The Mina Parker?"
"One and the same," Diane slammed the glass down. "He wants me for my soul. He showed me everything in dreams."
"So that was what you meant," Bernard said, folding his arms.
"He had been invading your dreams?" Seras' eyes bugged out.
"Ever since he captured me," Diane stroked the Scotch bottle. "What to do about it, that's the question."
"Why dreams?" Seras mused aloud. Diane blinked at her. Seras frowned, thinking.
"He wants you for what? A mate?"
"A wife," Bernard corrected, staring at Diane. "He once had three, but they were all destroyed."
"By Professor Hellsing and Jonathan Parker. And a few other people, but they don't count as much," Diane shrugged.
"Is that what you want?" Bernard asked abruptly. "Dracula's wives were nothing more then slaves. They existed only to serve him and he fed them at his whim."
"I DON'T KNOW!" Diane screamed, jumping to her feet. The chair fell over.
"I know him more intimately then anyone else alive. There's a temptation there, I'll admit it. It calls to the monster in me, strongly. The desire to hunt, to feed, to revel in the death I caused. It's not a new feeling," Bernard and Seras gaped again. Diane rolled her eyes.
"Oh, please. You can't tell me you didn't sense it, Victoria. That faint whiff of a kindred spirit? A feeling of mutual interests?"
"Well, yes, but…" Seras trailed off, looking at her friend with clearer eyes. "You enjoy it?"
"I've killed humans, Victoria. Rival gang members, would-be rapists, a bystander who just got in the way. I haven't led a sheltered life. I'm nothing like THEM."
"I think we should go now, Miss Victoria," Bernard said, moving towards the desk. Diane grabbed the bottle before he could.
"The Scotch stays."
"I won't clean up after you," Bernard met Diane's gaze.
"A suitable punishment," Diane smirked. Bernard's lips twitched before he bowed and hustled Seras out of the room.
"I'll be next door if you need me!" Seras called over her shoulder. The door shut firmly and Diane sank back into her chair.
"Is that what you want, Arucard?" She asked the room. "A wife to dote on you?"
"Such creatures do not interest me," Arucard appeared, leaning against the desk. Diane turned a sour look on him.
"Then what do you want my soul for? A toy? Another hound to be summoned when you feel like playing?" The vampire laughed.
"Foolish little thief. You found your crypt and you still do not see."
"I see I'm a prize you've been chasing through the years. I'm revenge against Parker and Hellsing for defeating you."
"Your pride is amazing, little thief," Diane sputtered. Arucard moved away from the desk and pulled her out of her chair by her hands. He held her arms out and studied her closely.
"My pride is all I have left!" Diane snapped, trying to pull free. Arucard's grip tightened.
"Liar," Arucard smiled deviously. Diane stopped moving, staring up at him.
"You don't want me for me. You're playing one of your infamous sick games."
"Games require two," Arucard released her hands and disappeared. He reappeared behind her, bending to put his mouth right above her ear. "I always win."
"Now who's lying?" Diane moved her arms back, slapping her wristbands against his sides. Arucard hissed, grabbed her arms and bent them behind her back. Diane chuckled.
"Check," She whispered, leaning into his grip. Arucard's smile slipped, changed into something much more satisfied.
"Check," He vanished, sending Diane stumbling backwards until she regained her balance. She looked around the room, smirking. The smirk faded.
"Oh hell," She toppled back onto her mattress, staring at the ceiling. Confined to quarters indefinitely. Plenty of time to think.
Diane woke suddenly, looking wildly around the room. Her hands clutched her throat, the cool silver reassuring under her fingertips.
"What the hell?" She whispered. Slowly getting out of bed, she moved to her mirror. She sighed at the reflection, frowned when she remembered something. Not all mirror-makers used silver as backing these days. Shivering, she leaned against the dresser and opened her mouth. Normal human teeth reflected back. Poking her canines dubiously, Diane sent her fingers fluttering down to the collar.
"I have to know," She said aloud. Reaching back, she loosened the collar just enough to pull one side back and look underneath. No puncture wounds. She checked the other side. Smooth skin. The collar snapped back into place.
'I'm going crazy,' Diane thought, glaring up into a corner. A faint red light gleamed; observation camera. Suicide watch. Bernard had installed it the first night, after she had fallen asleep. She now got dressed in her closet, tight as the space was, just to be on the safe side. Turning to her desk, she toggled on her computer and checked the date. Five days since that incident in the crypt. Five days of semi-isolation. Oh, she had company. Bernard brought her three square meals a night; Seras visited her whenever she wasn't on duty, usually with a bottle in her hand.
Diane's lips twitched as she turned on her music. Whatever reputation she had with the personnel of Hellsing, now they could all think of her as a lush. A plaintive, haunting tune poured out of the speakers and Diane nearly punched the monitor.
"Not this again!" She slapped the keyboard. The computer made a funny squawking noise and changed the song. Diane glared at the equipment.
"Every time I turn you on, the same damned song. Are you TRYING to drive me into his arms? Is that it? Did he reprogram you or something?"
"Are you all right?" Victoria asked, walking through the wall. Diane whirled on the vampire.
"No! I am not all right! I haven't been all right since I MET that red demon and his big guns!" She shouted. Victoria bit back a smile.
"I just woke up from sharing one of the most passionate moments I've ever had and the ramifications are beating me to death!" Diane collapsed to the floor, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Victoria flew to her side, kneeling in front of her.
"Is it really so bad, Vikki?" Diane asked softly, looking up. Victoria gasped at the nickname.
"It takes some getting used to," She answered. Diane held the vampire's gaze, green eyes fusing with red. The music program switched back to the first song.
"I'm scared," Victoria gently pulled Diane in for a hug, stroking the human's back.
"I'll be here, no matter what you decide. We're friends, right?"
"Friends. Right," Diane returned the hug. "Thank you, Victoria."
"You're welcome, Diane," Victoria released Diane and sat back on her heels.
"Does this mean you've decided?" Diane rubbed her collar, lips twisted.
"Not yet," Victoria opened her mouth, closed it when she saw the look on Diane's face. She smiled, showing off her fangs.
"You will tell me."
"Of course. Can't keep secrets between friends now, can we?"
"No. Bad form."
"Perish the thought," The friends laughed and stood up.
"I'll send Bernard down with your breakfast."
"Danke," Seras quit the room. Diane tilted her head, looking at herself in the mirror. The music wrapped around her and she stood, turning to face her reflection. Holding out her hand, she sang the bridge to herself. As the final refrain filled her ears, her hand fisted and she put it against her heart.
"This ends. Soon."