A/N: A delayed but nonetheless given chapter. To Fairchilde: I have no idea where this is going either, I'm just playing everything by ear. And Sagitarious Devil: if I make these chapters any longer they'll have to take longer to write.
Recovery and Relapse
Seras awoke the next morning with a bright smile and renewed energy. She slowly sat up in her bed, happily realizing her fatigue had worn to nothing. She stretched her arms above her head and looked over to the chair Walter had sat in. Seeing no one, she decided he had gone downstairs to make himself some food. Her stomach suddenly rumbled, reminding her how little she had eaten over the past few days.
Bouncing out of her bed, she sifted through the drawers of her bureau and found a suitable dress. While buttoning her blouse, her eyes wandered to the windows and her mind recalled the previous evening with barely a tinge of emotion. She was now unsure whether the whole unfair had not been brought about by her illness, a hallucination of sorts.
However, a shiver still crept up Seras' spine as she remembered the figure veiled behind the curtains. She had been so terrified of the strange being, but at the same moment had felt a strong pull. Shaking her head confusingly, she wondered at her disagreeing emotions. If her condition had truly brought such a vision to her eyes, she sincerely hoped for a quick recovery of her health. Nightly repeats of such an event would surely fray her nerves and lead to her insanity.
A sudden knock on the door startled Seras from her thoughts. She quickly finished dressing and called entrance to the visitor.
"Good morning, Miss Victoria" Walter greeted, walking into the room.
Seras noticed he was carrying a tray loaded with delicious looking appetizers, her stomach once more giving call to its needs. She looked up to him and smiled, receiving one in turn.
"Thank you" she said, graciously taking the tray. The bedroom being too stifling for her tastes, she walked down the stairs and into the study. Entering the large room, she set the tray down on the desk and sat down in the master chair. "How long are you expecting to remain?" she asked curiously, watching as the retainer seated himself in the chair opposite hers.
"Until I am relieved by Miss Hellsing" he answered. "She shall arrive later in the day to examine your progress. I am very glad to see such improvement in your health, Miss Victoria" he added with a smile.
Seras answered his pleasant face with one of her own, taking a utensil in hand and satisfying her hunger with the meal. After finishing the plate, leaving not a morsel on the smooth surface, she sat back and sighed in gratitude.
"I see your appetite has returned, Miss Victoria" Walter commented with a smile.
"Yes, I am feeling quite well now" Seras answered. "But Walter, may I ask a question of you?" she inquired hesitantly. The subject of her illness appeared to trouble both Miss Hellsing and her retainer when brought to conversation, and she feared a rejection for what she now wished to know.
"Certainly, Miss Victoria" he answered, standing and taking the now empty tray from the desk.
"What is the malady afflicting me? I have seen the strange remedies and have felt the affects, but I cannot fathom what sort of illness this is" Seras asked curiously, her eyes watching the retainer carefully. "Miss Integra has been kind enough to tell me some of the details, but I still know so little."
Walter sighed, standing before the desk and turning his head to the windows to his right. "Miss Integra believes your symptoms show all the signs of an attack of anemia, though not a particularly terrible one." Noticing the confused expression in her reflection on the mirrors, he chuckled. "Anemia is the loss of blood, meaning your body has less blood than is needed to keep you healthy. However, such a disease is not known to be contagious and we are most perplexed as to the sudden emergence of you malady. Have you perhaps had such an illness before?"
"I do not recall ever being sick in my life" she answered honestly.
Walter shook his head sadly, apparently disappointed with her answer. Though Seras could not guess why he would grieve for her previously healthy state of life. "Miss Integra has also speculated your trip along the moor may have been another factor to your sudden fit. She would wish for you to avoid such walks for quite some time, if the idea is not disagreeable to you."
Seras' face became downcast at the retainer's words, one source of enjoyment taken from her lonely days. Her mind, however, was confused by what Walter had told her of the disease ailing her. Had not Miss Hellsing spoken of a carrier the previous night, upon asking what name she had whispered when awoken? She shrugged off the troublesome thoughts, owing the gentleman's different explanation as being the latest diagnosis from the young doctor; of which she was sure to hear of later by the woman herself.
"I believe I will now return the tray to the kitchen, if you are done with your questions" Walter suddenly spoke, quickly leaving the room without another word.
For the next several nights a watcher remained by Seras' bedside, usually Walter though Integra had taken one shift. They were to be a source of security if another episode similar to the first night would occur. However, her nightmare did not return and she slept soundly The days passed by quickly and soon she felt strong enough to be on her own, though the kindly retainer reminded her the doctor's house was not far off if she was ever in need of assistance.
After all, she had merely been advised not to venture into the moors, not to explore the grounds.
Seras stepped outside into the cool night air, breathing deeply as the mist swirled around her tiny form. She smiled and looked to the sky, noticing the crescent moon shining brightly against the starlit heavens. Taking a few more steps onto the lawn, she gazed longingly at the mists floating above the moors in the distance. Sighing in resignation, she continued on her errand to inspect the grounds. She actually enjoyed the dark shadows more than the daytime sun, the air calm and all the nocturnal animals boasting their noises to the night.
However, Seras' fun was soon ended as she stumbled upon the remains of a half-eaten animal in the far corner of the back lawn. Holding a hand to her nose to fend off the stench, she took a few tentative steps forward and suddenly stiffened. The blood on the poor beast, which she was having difficulty recognizing, was still fresh and bleeding from the wounds. Apparently she had almost interrupted a creature's meal and was about to hasten away when she stopped in her tracks. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as a long, low howl was heard, the noise coming from the forests directly to her left.
Seras began walking once more and unconsciously quickened her step when the noise abruptly stopped. Upon reaching the corner of the house she gratefully took hold of the strong structure, a reassurance to her safety. Walking around the mansion by way of the side path, she found herself again standing before the front entrance. Hesitantly she turned to where she had come from, her mind telling her the danger was over but her instincts still warning of peril.
Seras nearly shrieked when a hand fell upon her shoulder, though she instinctively flinched away from the intruding person. Swiftly turning to confront the threat, she breathed a loud sigh of relief.
Alucard stood before her, a grin on his lips and a small chuckle filling the air. He still wore the same outfit she had always seen him in and she vaguely wondered if he had any other attire.
"You are always so grateful to see me" he commented teasingly.
Seras gripped her still throbbing heart as she tried to slow her breathing. A slow smile crept across her lips at his small joke as her pulse returned to normal and she let her hand drop to her side. The young woman made a small curtsy in his direction, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Good evening, Alucard" she greeted, silently wishing he would stop scaring her so effectively.
"You appear to be of better health than last we saw each other" he commented, staring at her face closely.
"Your prediction came true" she said with a small laugh. "My health has indeed improved since we last met." But her mirth slipped from her face as she noticed his pale features, the colors less vibrant than she remembered. "Have you also been unwell?" she asked with some concern, stepping closer to him.
"Merely an unforseen difficulty" he answered smoothly.
Seras suddenly shuddered against the cold, the night breeze drifting effortlessly through her thin dress. She scolded herself for not minding her clothing, the ever present possibility of her illness returning surfacing to her thought. However, she quickly regained her composure before her guest and smiled.
"Quite a chilling night" she commented, looking to her companion with some scrutiny. She noticed he was unmoving to the cool air around them, more resembling a marble statue than a person. "I believe the air would be less cool inside, if you do not mind coming in" she said, moving toward the house and up the front steps.
Seras turned back when she did not hear his footsteps upon the stone entrance. Her eyes lit with confusion as she saw him standing at the base of the steps, his face turned towards hers with an unknown emotion.
"Do you not wish to come in?" she asked. Her hands came together nervously as she wondered if her actions had been too bold. Perhaps he thought her to be no more than an eager schoolgirl for inviting him.
"You have not invited me properly" he responded, a grin creeping on his face and masking the indistinguishable look.
Seras placed a hand over her mouth to hide her mirth, his formalities amusing her. She decided to play his strange game of pedigree. Giving a small curtsy, she straightened herself and gestured toward the inner rooms with a sweep of her hand.
"You may enter any time you wish" she spoke, her eyes full of teasing mischief. Seras nearly started when she looked into his face, her smile slipping off her face. His eyes held a look of victory within their depths, a confusing emotion for merely being invited into one's home.
"And I gladly accept" he answered, bowing and hiding the strange look she had seen.
Sadly, Alucard did not remain long. After speaking of trivial matters in the study for the length of half an hour, he bade her a good evening and left as quickly as he had come. During the entire conversation Seras had the distinct feeling he was impatient to be somewhere, but she did not bother to voice her opinion for fear of insulting him.
Sighing as she shut the door behind his form, Seras looked to the clock situated in the main hall. The hands read well past eleven and her body was beginning to demand sleep. Climbing the many steps, she entered her bedroom half expecting to see someone seated in the chair still placed against the wall. A sad smile crept on her face at seeing the empty seat, her heart both elated and disappointed at the lack of company. She quickly dressed herself in the silence of the room, blowing out the lamp beside her bed and pulling the covers over her body.
Groaning, Seras suddenly found herself wide awake and sitting up in bed. She stared around the room in some confusion, having apparently succumbed to a deep slumber a few hours before. Obviously her sleep had then been interrupted, though she could not recall the source of the disturbance. When her eyes had become adjusted to the still darkness around her, she reached to the bedside and lit the lamp upon the night stand. Lifting the light with some effort, she settled the lamp in her lap and peered closely at the room's shadowed corners.
The darkness danced in the light of the lamp, but Seras saw nothing to startle her mind and shrugged to herself. She was about to set the lamp back upon the small table when a noise caught her attention. She stiffened, fearing the source to be near her vicinity. But no, the sound was coming from somewhere below her.
Sliding out of bed and covering her body with her robe, Seras quietly placed the lamp back upon the table and opted for the small candle on the dresser. The heavy lantern would be too difficult to carry around and the candle could be quickly extinguished if the need called.
Seras silently opened her bedroom door and walked out into the hall, her ears ever alert for where the sounds were coming from. Reaching the bottom of the stairs in little time, she turned her attention to her right and stalked toward the kitchen. She could hear a noise coming from the pantry, its door slightly open but no light emanating from within the room.
Seras was slightly confused as to how anyone could see in the pitch darkness of the small room, but turned her attention to the fact there was someone within the pantry. She silently approached the portal, a hand held over the candle to hide the lights she so desperately needed to see. Reaching out her shaking hand, she carefully opened the door and inwardly flinched as the hinges creaked.
Suddenly the noises stopped from within and Seras froze, her eyes trying to peer into the complete darkness of the pantry. She could just make out the figure of someone's back when the person slowly twisted their upper body in her direction, their shadowed face turning to her own. A scream burst from her throat as red eyes met her wide blue ones, the candle she held dropping to the floor and extinguishing her only source of light. She began backing away, covering her hand over her mouth and shaking her head in disbelief.
The figure turned entirely in her direction and merely stood there, their eyes suddenly blazing into her own. Seras suddenly felt her eyelids droop as her body slipped to the floor, her consciousness disappearing as she felt herself fall into familiar arms.
Seras awoke to the whisper of many voices and the familiar smell of garlic, the feel of her bed sheets over her body telling her she was once more in her bedroom. From the odd remedies, she instantly knew Walter and Miss Integra were in the room and turned her head toward one of the blurred figures to her right, whom she assumed to be the elderly retainer.
"What happened?" Seras asked, her words sounding groggy even to her own ears. She attempted to rise from the bed, questions flitting through her mind as to how she became situated in her room and why she felt so weak.
Walter patiently pushed her down, his faced etched in worry.
"You are ill again, Miss Victoria."