Alucard's Request

It had only been two days. Two days since her Royal birthday party. Two days since her affair with her servant, Alucard. Two days and now Integra stood before the queen.

"This is really getting tiresome." she thought.

Integra thought back to the day of her birthday. She and Mouse had successfully weeded out all the knights but two. Mouse and James had even fought a duel; the winner would get to keep her. James had outsmarted Mouse and stolen a kiss from her. Integra smiled inwardly. James was a good kisser, but none could ever compare to one of Alucard's kisses.

All around her were the knights, each seated in their "honored" chair. Integra glanced at her chair. It was empty. She inwardly shuddered, as if her chair being empty was a prophetic message. Her attention returned to the present as she heard whispering. She looked at the knights. They were supposed to be her allies. They were all supposed to work together to defend Queen and Country. So far all they had done was gang up on her and ridicule her, betray her and imprison her. They seemed more like hungry jackals than her allies; and today was no different. Although they didn't know it, Integra's hearing was very good.

"She's wearing that awful green uniform again."

"I agree. She looked more suitable in a dress; a real credit to her gender."

"Who knew such a cold hearted harridan had grown up to be such a lovely young woman."

"She'll be too busy with the children to run the organization. We'll easily gain control of it once she becomes pregnant."

Integra clinched her fists and began counting. It was all she could do to control her tongue and keep her emotions from raging out of control. Then she thought about Alucard. He wouldn't stand for anyone else but her controlling the Organization. He'd kill them all, devour their souls, and take control of them. Integra smiled at this thought. Try and take Hellsing from her. Wasn't gonna happen; not now, not ever. Suddenly, all became quiet as the Queen spoke.

"Congratulations Sir Hellsing on your engagement to Sir James Wellington."

"Yes, you have chosen well. My son will make an excellent husband and sire many strong children." smiled Sir Wellington, with great pride.

Integra groaned. Look at that smug bastard, beaming with pride as if HE had done something great. She cringed at the thought of having him as an in-law. She had killed her uncle Richard when he tried to take Hellsing from her. She wondered how much jail time they would give her if she shot him too. Whatever the sentence, it would be worth it. However, Integra was tactful if nothing else.

"Thank you, your majesty." said Integra, forcing herself to speak politely. "I look forward to meeting him again."

Just then the doors opened. All eyes turned towards the newcomer. It was Sir James. Integra raised an eyebrow at him. At the party, he had been wearing a black tie and tux. Today, he was wearing his uniform of the Royal British Army. He was in his late thirties, early forties. He had short brown hair, military styled and cut. His walk gave him away as a military man, a man of duty, honor, and purpose. So far Integra approved of his manner. He was very different from the fops that they had presented to her before. He strode forward and stood beside Integra. He bowed to the Queen.

"Your majesty."

"Sir James." acknowledged the Queen.

"My apologies for being late, your majesty."

"Sir Integra Hellsing. Sir James Wellington."

"Sir Wellington." addressed Integra.

"Sir Hellsing." he answered in like, as he bowed to Integra.

"Well now." began the Queen. "The engagement will be publicly announced to the rest of the world. You two will be allowed to court for six months and then you will be married on the 13th of November."

"Yes, your majesty. By your command." said Integra and James, simultaneously.

"I know that they both of you are only doing this out of duty to the crown." stated the Queen, softly. "But I do hope that someday you two will come to love each other."

Suddenly, the room got very very cold. The room's temperature dropped, frost formed over each window, and every cup of water in the room turned to ice. The breath of each person in the room could now be seen and an eerie silence hung in the air. Integra sighed heavily, as she knew what was coming.

"Oh, no." she groaned.

"Alucard don't do this." she warned him, mentally.

Suddenly, Alucard stood beside Integra. Integra turned and looked at him.

"Hello, master." he said, with a very toothy grin.

"What the hell are you wearing?" she asked, slightly more surprised by his dress than his presence.

"Like it? It's supposed to be the latest style."

She looked at Alucard's clothes. He wasn't wearing his usual red hat and coat. He was wearing black 3 piece suit with red pin stripes, a white dress shirt, and a red tie. His glasses were gone, but he still wore his gloves. He looked pleasantly normal, but that in no way diminished the powerful aura death and destruction that surrounded him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, in a steady, cold tone.

"Claiming what is mine." he answered, with a low growl, as he stared at James.

"Integra, what's he talking about?" asked Sir James.

"You don't want to know." said Integra.

"Integra Hellsing, you'd better get that monster of yours under control!" demanded Sir Island.

"Alucard." called Integra.

"Ten minutes, master. No more." stated Alucard, as he walked toward the Queen.

Integra thought about it. He would be much easier to deal with later, if he got this off his chest now. Besides, he was behaving. No one was dead, yet.

"Ten minutes." she consented. "No more."

"Integra Hellsing!" shouted Sir Wellington.

Integra just raised an eyebrow as her fellow knights started whispering and shouting their disapproval of her decision. Integra smirked at them. They were practically pissing their pants and all Alucard wanted to do was talk. As Alucard approached the Queen, three of the palace guards rushed to defend her. The readied their rifles to shoot him if he came any closer. However, Alucard just grinned and said…

"Stay."

Each man froze in his tracks. Alucard smiled, as three human statues looked at him with hate.

"Alucard." addressed the Queen.

"Your majesty." he bowed.

"You have something you wish to say."

"Yes, your majesty."

"We will hear you." consented the Queen.

"Have I not been a good servant?"

"Yes, you have. You have served Hellsing and the citizens of England well these last five hundred years."

"Have I ever asked you for anything?"

"No, you have not. Is there something that you want?"

"I want Integra Hellsing." announced Alucard.

"What!" asked the Queen, in complete and utter shock.

Of all the things he could have asked her for, never had the Queen expected this. Integra's insides sank as the room broke into an uproar. More whispering, more protesting, and more calls for Integra to curb her monster. Integra couldn't help but wonder. Were they objecting because Alucard had claimed her or were they complaining because they could see their hold on her slipping away? Who among them would challenge Alucard for her?

"No, you can't have her!" shouted one.

"This is unheard of and unholy! You can't give her to this demon!" shouted another.

The Queen merely raised an eyebrow.

"Giving me orders now are they? No wonder Integra hates them so much. They really are a presumptuous lot."

"Integra Hellsing control your pet!" shouted yet another.

Neither Integra nor Alucard paid them any attention. Only the two of them existed in space and time, as they spoke to each mentally.

"Now you've done it." said Integra.

"You are mine and no one else's." stated Alucard.

"I'm sorry Alucard, but I can not grant your request." stated the Queen.

"I will have her." he insisted.

"Alucard, if you were human. I would give her to you. I know how strong you are and I know how much she relies on you. But, you are not human, you are a vampire. Even as a dhampire, the child would still be a monster. I'm sorry. Integra must marry a human." declared the Queen.

"So be it. If you will not give her to me, then I will take her from you." growled Alucard, turning his back on the Queen and advancing on Integra.

Integra remained still and she remained calm, despite the noise and commotion going on around her. She could hear them, the knights, shouting and protesting; but all she could see was Alucard, grinning wickedly, and coming for her. She had no reason to fear him. He had only come to talk. He wasn't in kill mode …yet. Suddenly, James moved and stood in front of Integra.

"No." he said. "I will not let you harm her."

"Stand aside human." demanded Alucard.

"I will not." he retorted.

Integra looked at James, as if seeing him for the first time. This man didn't even know her and yet he was willing to stand up to Alucard for her. He was either very brave or very foolish. She was still trying to decide which, but she had to stop this now, before it got out of hand.

"James don't, I'm not worth your life." said Integra, hoping he would back down on threat of death.

"You are to me." he said, not taking his eyes of Alucard. "What kind of man would I be if I let a monster run off with my future wife and did nothing to stop him."

"And what will you do to stop me, human?" grinned Alucard, fangs and all.

With that Alucard disappeared and reappeared behind Integra. He wrapped his left arm around Integra and pulled her to him.

"Alucard, let me go." demanded Integra.

Sir James turned around to see Alucard holding Integra tightly. Integra struggled to escape his grasp, but could not. Sir James stepped forward, drawing his sword as he went to challenge Alucard. Alucard pulled out his Jackal and aimed it at Sir James.

"Don't." commanded Alucard. "I only came for Integra. But I won't have you stop me."

"Then you'd better shoot me. Cause the second you leave, I'm coming to take her back." declared Sir James.

"James don't! Alucard stop, don't you dare shoot him!" ordered Integra.

Alucard stared at Sir James. This human honestly loved Integra, or thought he did. He hadn't even met the real Integra until today and already he was willing to die for her. Alucard delve deep into his mind. He could see the childhood of Sir James, alone without a father that didn't want him. (Sir Wellington wanted nothing to do with him until today. Today, he had a use for his son as Integra's husband.) Alucard could see the young man growing up in military school. He had developed a code of honor and a will of iron that surpassed the other boys. He could see the solider that this man had become, the sacrifices that he too had made for Queen and country. He could see why Mouse had chosen this man for Integra's husband. Just like Integra, his life had been sacrificed to serve the conceited needs of others. Alucard lowered his gun. Sir James stepped forward, thinking Alucard was giving up. The thunderous click-boom of Alucard's Jackal reverberated throughout the hall.

"ARRAGHGHH!" screamed Sir James, as he fell to the floor, holding his side.

"Alucard!" shouted Integra.

"Relax. It's only a flesh wound. He'll live." stated Alucard to Integra.

Hearing a shot coming from inside the Queen's audience hall, the palace guards rushed into the room. They levied their guns on Alucard.

"Hold your fire!" ordered the Queen. "Do not harm Integra."

With that, Alucard grinned and then both he and Integra disappeared.