A/N: Another week, another chapter. And to Izumii, I'll gladly read your stories, but do you think you can sign in when reviewing? I'm terrible at navigating this site and really can't find any stories without some assistance, lol. Thanks everyone!!!
Strange Illness
Late the next morning found Seras wearily opening her eyes. She shuddered slightly, trying to nestle deeper within the confines of the blankets. Her dreams had been filled with nightmares of dark red eyes, the orbs looming over her bed. She could almost have sworn there had been someone in her room, their intent malicious. The experience left her exhausted, and she slowly rose from her comfortable position in the down comforter.
"Maybe the country air wasn't as healthy as I had supposed" she mused to herself. She only hoped the predicated cold had not struck her, as she recalled yesterday's adventure.
Lifting her head and staring at the sun shining through the windows, she grimaced. Mumbling to herself about the clear windows, Seras quickly rose from the bed and closed the heavy curtains, blocking the bright light from her room. Feeling a cold chill enter her bones, she assumed the wet clothes she had worn to bed had not helped matters, so she prepared for the day by putting on a heavy, well-covering dress.
Dragging her feet down the stairs, Seras made herself a simple breakfast. She did not feel any need to prepare a larger meal, her stomach already protesting against the little food now being devoured.
After her meal, Seras gathered her strength and decided to explore the grounds once more. Perhaps a short walk around the property would lift her spirits and her health, and the sun was not so bothersome as earlier. When she opened the door, however, an unexpected surprise awaited her eyes.
Walter stood in the doorway, a smile upon his lips. He bowed when Seras opened the door, but his face faltered when he saw her obvious lack of health.
"Are you ill, Miss Victoria?" he asked kindly, stepping toward her.
Seras blushed at his comment, the ill state of health being so noticeable to even a stranger. She nervously moved back into the darkened hall, allowing room for him to enter. Much to her dismay, he entered quickly and bowed low before her.
"I feel fine, merely a sudden attack of fatigue" Seras answered, smiling at the concerned retainer. She led the way to the front parlor, gesturing for Walter to sit when they entered.
"Perhaps Miss Integra should look you over. She would be happy to oblige" Walter prodded, seating himself.
The suggestion of having someone look at her condition suddenly frightened the young heiress. She had no idea why, but the thought of anyone approaching her felt like a threat to her existence. With a light laugh, she sat down in one of the parlor chairs. Seras felt exhausted merely from standing a few minutes.
"I thank you for your concern, but I doubt the condition is so serious" she answered, brushing her hands across her dress in an unconscious gesture of agitation. The conversation was straining her nerves beyond her patience, though she knew not why. "But what brings you to my home?" she asked, hoping to change the subject.
"Miss Hellsing would like to invite you to tea. If you are able to accept the offer that is" he added, his face fixed in worry.
As Walter looked at Seras grimly, the young woman once more began to fidget in her seat. The offer was out of kindness, she was sure the cold doctor would not willingly agree to such a visit, but knew not how to say no. The most prominent thought in her mind was to end the current interview as quickly as possible, but had no excuse to remove him without appearing rude. Sighing, she tugged at the tall collar of her dress, idly scratching at a wound she had not noticed earlier.
Seras suddenly stopped her nervous tugging, watching with curiosity as the elderly gentleman's eyes widened in horror.
"Is something wrong?" she asked worriedly. Seras stood and walked toward him in an attempt to comfort his sudden fear.
"Miss Victoria, you are very ill" Walter said, standing quickly. He took hold of her shoulders, guiding her gently out of the room and up the stairs.
Seras did not attempt to struggle, merely pointing to where her bedroom lay. She believed what he had said, trusting his long experience with the lady doctor. Besides, she was too tired to argue, her senses dulled by her exhaustion. Entering the room, the heiress settled herself gratefully on the bed.
"I will summon Miss Hellsing immediately" he told her, after making sure she was preparing herself to rest. "She will want to examine your case."
Seras awaited his return with patience, her mind swirling with what had just taken place. She felt guilty for bothering the retainer and his mistress with her own troubles. A half hour later, she heard the front door open and the sound of several footsteps climbing the stairs. Then the regal doctor and her trusty butler entered the room, the young woman carrying a handbag while the elderly gentleman held several large cloves of a strong smelling herb. Without ceremony, Integra set her black bag down on the night stand and dragged a chair before the heiress.
Sitting down, Integra began to look her over carefully, with Seras nervous during the entire examination. She wasn't sure what the young doctor could do for her, but only hoped the prescription wouldn't involve frequent visits.
Integra hand suddenly brushed against the young heiress' neck, making Seras jump back in pain. She grabbed at her throat, snarling at the lady doctor in front of her. Then she caught herself, realizing how rude and animalistic her behavior was becoming. She didn't know what had come over her, and the young woman felt ashamed of her actions.
"I'm sorry" Seras whispered, once more sitting down on her bed.
"There is nothing to apologize for" Integra answered, barely listening to the young heiress. The doctor stood and began looking around the room, examining the panels and frames. Not a splinter was overlooked, and the process took several minutes.
Pausing for a moment at the windows, their curtains still blocking the light from the room, Integra looked back to Seras. Her face wore a mask of indifference, though her eyes betrayed an eagerness which confused the young woman laying on the bed.
"Why are these closed?" she asked curtly. Reaching up behind her as if to open them, she watched the young heiress' reaction carefully.
"The light was bothering me" Seras answered, watching her hands with some hesitation. She really did not wish for the light to enter her bedroom, and only sought shadows which were even now comforting her body.
The young doctor appraised her face for a few moments, before dropping her hands to her sides. Obviously feeling she had gathered the needed information, Seras watched as Integra walked to her large bag. Pulling several vials and crucifixes from the interior, the odd woman prepared the most unusual remedies for her, making Seras wonder if her sanity had fled. With the assistance of Walter, the young doctor began spreading garlic cloves around the entrances to the bedroom. She also began covering the cracks and panels with liquid from the clear vials, including the seals between the door and window frames in her thorough covering. The crucifixes were placed on the windows and door, being attached by several pieces of strings.
Seras watched the process silently, curiosity filling her thoughts. She was not one to indulge in old fashioned remedies, but she put her faith in the young doctor's hand. After all, she had no other choice, fearing the sickness would worsen if left on it's own.
Finally the two finished with their coverings of the walls and windows, wrapping the remainder of the garlic around her bed canopy. Integra then handed Seras a small pill.
"This will help you sleep at night" she instructed. "Take the medication at sunset and whenever you awaken from a slumber during the night."
The young heiress took the offered medicine trustingly, quickly swallowing the pill with the help of a glass of water handed to her.
"Walter, care for Miss Victoria" Integra ordered, turning toward her trusted retainer. "I must go and make some arrangements."
The elderly gentleman bowed in agreement, setting the chair previously used outside the door for privacy. Seras lay down on the bed, her head willingly settling down on the pillow. She soon drifted off to sleep, knowing Walter was sitting outside her door and able to come at a moment's notice.
Mr. Morley arrived late in the afternoon after Seras had been awoken for supper, having been called upon by Integra. He stood in the bedroom's doorway with a worried expression, made even more so by the smell and sights of the room. He was given permission by the doctor to enter, though the interview was ordered to be short. Quickly walking over, the lawyer gave his young employer a strained smile.
"How are you feeling Miss Victoria?" he asked kindly.
Seras returned a weak smile of her own, attempting to sit up in bed. Integra stopped her immediately, pushing her back down upon the sheets. The young heiress gave the doctor an apologetic nod, then turned her head toward Mr. Morley.
"I feel fine" she lied, trying her best to even her breathing. Even the simple effort of sitting up had caused her some strain. Seras was still able to notice Integra's eyebrow's raise in question, but the young doctor did not speak. "I was merely out in the rain yesterday and have caught a small cold."
"I see" he answered, nodding his head. He turned to Integra, his face changing to worry once more. "Would you mind if we spoke outside?"
"I, too, wish to discuss matters with you" she said, inspecting her patient one more time. Finding Seras comfortable and well situated, she left the room, followed closely by Mr. Morley.
"What is wrong with her?" he asked immediately, once the door had been shut behind them.
"Do not discuss the young lady's illness to anyone else" Integra ordered, giving a side glance to her patient. "She doesn't need undue visits from curious villagers."
"But what is ailing her?" Mr. Morley questioned once more. "I have heard of a withering sickness affecting many young people in the surrounding villages, perhaps she has caught the illness?"
"I will not disclose such information until I am able to verify the illness" the woman doctor answered. Her tone showed that such inquiries would be met with the same reply. "I wish for to see the records of the late Sir Victoria."
"I refuse such a demand" Mr. Morley shook his head, narrowing his eyes. "You have no authority nor reason to look at his personal records."
Seras listened to the conversation through her tired senses, the sounds floating through the thin walls. She barely comprehended what was said, with her attention more apt to turn to the strange remedies the lady doctor had assigned to her. Turning her on side and looking to the windows, she stared at the long cloves of garlic hanging from the curtains bars.
Seras wanted to escape the room, not caring what Integra had said. Without help from the sleeping pills, she knew she would not have been able to slumber during the early afternoon. Both her mind and body were filled with loathing for the prescriptions assigned to her, though she could not understand why. Garlic had not bothered her before, and she suspected the other remedy may be the majority of her problems. Though how the sight of the crucifixes could cause her grief was unexplainable.
Realizing Walter had entered the room with the intention of speaking to her, Seras turned her attention to the kindly retainer.
"Miss Victoria, Miss Hellsing feels you will be able to rest tonight on your own" he said, giving her a relieved smile.
Seras eagerly nodded her head in agreement, not wishing for anyone to care for her. She disliked being pampered, and merely wanted to rest. With one last worried glance over his shoulder, Walter left the room. A few minutes later, after the conversations had ended and everyone had wished her a good evening, the heiress heard the front door open and shut behind the three visitors, echoing loudly in the lonely home.
Seras sighed in relief at the quiet surrounding her. Having been given charge of herself was freeing, and she only wished to dispose of the outrageous prescription. But a small voice in her mind was telling her not to disregard the instructions of the doctor, no matter how ridiculous they appeared.
Seras instead turned her head toward the bottle of pills placed on her night stand, wondering if she should take one. Her breathing had evened out and she no longer felt as exhausted as earlier in the day. The bright sun had also set below the fog filled moors, ceasing another discomfort. Brushing off the voice in her thoughts for this one disagreement, she attempted to amuse herself with several books, reading for several hours.
At about midnight, Seras heard the sound of someone knocking at the front door. Sliding her legs over the side of the bed, she pulled a long robe over her scantily clad body. She moved down the hall and stairs as fast as her feet would allow, hoping the guest would be patient. A majority of her strength had returned, but she still felt weakened by her condition. By the time she had reached the door, the knocking had long ceased. Tentatively opening the wooden portal, she smiled at who stood in her doorway.
Alucard bowed before her, his attire as elegant and immaculate as the last time she had seen him. Seras noticed he once more wore the tinted glasses, hiding his gaze from her. The young heiress performed a short curtsy while trying to be as decent as possible, concerning her clothes were hardly appropriate for a caller. She opened the door wider for his entrance, giving him a gracious smile.
The tall gentleman accepted her offer gladly, entering the hall and taking her hand in his gloved one. He bent down and kissed the tender fingers, making Seras smile behind her free hand. Leading him to the parlor, she lit the few candles in the room and gestured to a tall, regal chair situated in a nook meant for conversation.
"I have heard you were sick" Alucard said, settling himself in the chair.
Seras' mind told her there was something she was overlooking, but the young woman was enjoying the visit too much to pay more than scant attention. She sat opposite her guest, feeling better than earlier in the day. Possibly Integra's medicine had begun to work on her body already, though there was doubt in her mind. Prescriptions did not often work so quickly, so perhaps her quick recovery was from the enjoyable company.
"Yes, though I feel much better" she answered, feeling grateful for the concern. "I haven't seen you for a number of days, have you been well?" She asked the question merely from curiosity, the pale color of her guest's skin making her worry about his own health.
Alucard smiled at her inquiry, crossing his legs comfortably in the chair. "I am often not well, having many bouts of ill health. But do not worry" he soothed. "Of late my condition has improved, as I am sure yours will as well."
"I thank you for your comforting words, Alucard" Seras answered graciously. She was having difficulty keeping the coming exhaustion from her words, her malady regretfully returning after her short exertion downstairs.
"Perhaps we will soon be able to take another walk along the paths" he spoke. "But for now, I will leave you to recover." Alucard uncrossed his legs and stood from his chair with a low bow.
Seras, as the hostess, also rose, giving him a weak curtsy. Suddenly the room began to spin around her, and she could feel herself falling. With the sensation of being caught, her eyes closed and she fell unconscious.