A/N: Another chapter, slightly smaller than most -.- Hope everyone likes it!

Temporary Prison

Seras awoke to a hard floor and a cold chill, her body quivering from the freezing air. Her hands absently groped about herself for the sheets as she wondered why her bed was so uncomfortable, shifting to find a more likeable position. Finding nothing with which to grasp and realizing her movements were bringing no rustling of sheets beneath, she grudgingly opened her eyes to a startling sight.

By the light of a single candle atop a wooden crate Seras was able to discern dirt walls and empty wine caskets, telling the young woman she was in a cellar of sort. She looked around the cellar searching for the stairs, quickly realizing there was not enough light with which to see as her eyes slowly adjusted to the more dim shadows. Thankfully the candle in the center of the room offered some comfort, lighting the area around her. She stepped gingerly around the large space, searching for stairs or any means out of her strange prison.

Suddenly something in the far corner caught the light of the candle, reflecting the glow with a silver tinge and catching her attention. Approaching the mysterious object, Seras stifled a gasp. A large box lay amidst the dust and decay, the shining lid glistening in the darkness. She tentatively went up to the odd find, her arm slowly reaching out to touch the long side in curiosity.

"Don't touch my coffin."

Seras spun around at the voice, the tone possessive and filled with anger. She gasped loudly as two bright red eyes stared back at her, narrowed and predatory as they moved closer. Taking a few steps back her legs crashed into the side of the box, causing her to fall upon the lid as the orbs loomed in front of her. With a desperate cry she flung herself over to the other side of the box and slammed against the wall, her back to the cool dirt as she watched the eyes stop within mere feet of her person.

Without a word the figure knelt, what appeared to be a long arm reaching out and brushing against the lid in a soothing manner. Seras realized with a shudder the person spoke the truth, the box so resembling a coffin she wondered why she had not noticed the similarity before. Then did the eyes once more rise to meet her own, capturing her in their intense gaze as the figure stood to their full height.

"Scared of me now, Seras?" the voice asked, the tone belying a mocking charm in the barren surroundings. "You appeared to be most comfortable around me during our walks." The words were followed by a deep chuckle, the sound showing a hollow mirth as it echoed around the large area.

Seras' eyes widened in horror as she realized who was speaking to her. The monster from the previous evening, the creature who had been toying with her, keeping her company while attempting to drive her insane with the horrible nightmares. The same person who had offered her the wine laced with a strange substance, claiming the liquid to be his blood and laughing at her revulsion.

Alucard.

"Let me go" she whispered, her voice low but firm.

Seras shifted her feet and nearly fell when she nudged against a solid object, looking down at her feet and noticing a large plank upon the ground. She hastily knelt down, keeping her eyes on the person before her, and grabbed the long wood in her hands. Emboldened by the solid piece of wood in her hands, she rose and took a shaky step toward Alucard. She stiffened when he chuckled at her stance, his shadow eerily dancing against the wall beside her as she tried to maintain her sudden courage.

"Do you believe you can harm me with that piece of wood?" Alucard asked, tipping his head to the side and watching her with a wide grin. "Do you believe you can harm me at all?"

Seras edged around the opposite side of the box as she saw the shadowy form of Alucard shift, carefully stepping around the object to retrieve her. Her erratic breathing was deafening against the stillness between them, her feet sliding along the rough ground grating on her twitching nerves.

"I-I'm n-not s-scared of you" Seras said, completely failing at stopping the shiver in her voice. She flinched when Alucard threw his head back and laughed, the sound loud and ringing with insanity.

"Oh, but you do not realize the situation you are in" Alucard replied with amusement in his voice. He ceased his travel toward her and held out his hand palm upward in her direction, a condescending smile now on his lips. "Release the board and come here, little one" he spoke, his voice soft but firm.

Seras was shocked to suddenly find herself now struggling with her grip upon the plank, her hands shaking to follow his command and release the wood. She grit her teeth and attempted to clench her fists tightly but her fingers would not respond; rather, they relaxed their hold and she gasped in horror as her only weapon slipped from her trembling hands. With an ominous clatter the board fell to the ground at her feet, her wide blue orbs turning to Alucard with barely contained fear.

Seras was more shocked when her legs began moving on their own, stepping toward the monster as she tried desperately to stop her progression. She had nearly succeeded in throwing herself to the ground when her eyes locked with his own, capturing her full attention and sending her into a trance-like state. She felt lethargic as her steps quickened toward him, her mind telling her he held safety and hidden pleasures if she would only go to him. Her body shook slightly as she finally came to stand before him, leaning against his solid frame as his arms wrapped around her in a mocking gesture of comfort.

"You shouldn't struggle, little kitten" he whispered in her ear, leaning down and nuzzling her neck. "Have you forgotten your drink so quickly? My blood is within you now and I may call you when I wish." He chuckled as his tongue darted out to slide sensually along her throat, causing a shiver to travel down her spine. "Your body will come most willingly, and your mind will follow."

Seras' eyes widened at his words and mentally she thrashed against her bonds, though her body would still not obey her. His sudden laughter distracted her and her eyes slowly shifted to look into his face, an audible gulp echoing from her mouth as his red eyes flashed in the dim light. She gasped as a hand moved down the side of her dress, brushing against her stomach and causing her muscles to instinctively tense with his ministrations.

"Still so nervous" he commented, dropping his hands to his sides. "Perhaps you need a few nights to think over your predicament."

Seras watched almost spellbound as a sudden shifting of darkness surrounded Alucard, the monster giving her one last bow before his body was consumed within a mass of swirling shadows. The next moment he was gone, nothing in his place to tell he had been there and her mind abuzz with questions. She realized with relief her movement had been returned to her, cautiously shifting her feet to approach the area the monster had stood upon.

Seras' mind was still arguing he was in the room but her instincts told her he had gone, possibly not to return tonight by his words. Regardless of which voice she listened to the young woman was still trapped in the cellar, which she assumed was her own, and could only suppose when she found the door the lock would be in place.

Seras settled herself down against a wall, bringing her legs to her chest as she leaned her chin upon her knees. Ironically, the only hope she had for escaping the situation was the two friends she had foolishly pushed away in anger. Integra and Walter would be the only two who would notice her sudden disappearance and be suspicious, she remembering well their warnings of a foul creature. A single tear slid down her face as she greatly regretted her reasoning faculties, cursing herself for listening to them rather than her worried companions.

Then Seras' face steeled, her brows crashing together as she well imagined the pitiful sight she now showed. Wiping the salt liquid from her cheek and giving herself a deep breath she climbed to her feet. If Alucard thought she would be 'entertaining' to him she would prove him sorely wrong, and her first surprise would be to escape her prison before he returned. Even if she did not manage to elude his clutches this night she would at least find a way to leave the cellar during another, though she would be forced to wrench the door itself off its hinges.

Placing her hands upon the wall and taking a tentative step forward, Seras began traveling down the barren dirt. First she would need to find the stairs leading to the kitchen to verify her theory of it being locked, then she would attempt to find a way to pry open the mechanism if the problem did arise. After several tense moments of finding nothing but air before her she stumbled upon the base of the steps, catching herself as she fell upon banister. With a more eager walk she proceeded up the stairs and quickly found the door. Her hands fell upon the knob and with half a hope she turned the rusted metal.

Locked.

Seras only a few moments ago would have been severely disappointed at the easy escape but now she only stood back, thinking how she could overcome the new difficulty. Then an idea came to mind and she quickly opened the back of her dress, tearing her corset from beneath the material. She silently graced whomever had cursed women with a whalebone corset, the stiff material now lying in her hands possibly her savior. With a savage pull she had ripped the substance from the cloth and looked with a smile upon the thin bone in her hand. She looked to the lock, the metal barely shining upon the thin light and abruptly snapped the bone over her knee, wincing as her leg argued against her idea as she felt a prominent bruise arise.

Seeing the available light was too far to be of use and assuming her captor would not return any time soon, Seras marched slowly down the steps and grabbed the candle from its place. With the light in her hand she more confidently walked up the steps and kneeled before the lock. To her dismay she realized Alucard had placed a heavy metal upon the door's latch, one similar to what she had found at the outer building though of heavier bulk. However, she was not to be discouraged and promptly went about her task, carefully testing to see if the now pointed end of her whalebone could fit into the large lock's hole.

To Seras' relief the sliver slid into place perfectly and she began twisting the stiff bone back and forth, searching for the latch she knew would be there. Her time in London was certainly being put to good use as she remembered watching the other children learn to pick locks, curiously watching but never participating herself. With a cry of victory she felt the tip of the bone prod the latch and the lock snapped open, falling to her knees with a welcomed thud. Next she settled her eyes on the metal upon the door, making easy work of the mechanism and joyously opening the portal.

However, the moment Seras opened the door she once more became cautious, fearing Alucard would return at any moment and destroy her hard-won efforts. Silently she crept along the darkened kitchen, blowing the candle out so as not to alert anyone of her movements nor of the open door to the cellar. She reached the side door leading outside within a few long, breath-taking moments, slowly opening the portal and peeking out into the night. With a mental sigh of relief she quickly darted outside and made her way to the woods in the distance, her steps leading her onward toward where she knew Integra's abode lay.

Breaking into the small forest she followed a path leading deep into the dense undergrowth, watching her direction by light of a waxing crescent moon. After a few minutes of sprinting she emerged from the trees and saw before her a large portion of the moors, a light blinking in the distance giving her heart as she raced along the misty grass.

Watching her feet while still keeping her pace, Seras focused her eyes on the single light and came upon the house after a few breathless minutes of running. With an audible cry of relief she slumped against the portal, banging loudly upon the wood as she fell down into the doorway. She nearly collapsed into the interior when the door was quickly opened, Walter staring down in shock at her ragged and exhausted appearance.

"Miss Victoria!" he exclaimed, picking her up and carrying her inside.

Seras would have laughed in joy as she was placed upon a solid chair, the warmth from a roaring fire and the pleasant company a stark contrast to what she had seen this night. Then the young doctor entered the room, pausing only for a brief moment at her dishevelment before marching past her.

"Explain" Integra said calmly as she sat upon a chair opposite the heiress'.

And Seras gladly did.