A/N: One chapter done, an unknown amount to go. To Runemeister: Alucard is the enemy, but I thought I'd try the plot out anyway. Thanks everyone for reading!

Persuasion and Plans

The three occupants of the small kitchen sat quietly among one another, each lost in the tale the young heiress had finished only moments before. The doctor's eyes were closed during the entire one-sided conversation, neither breaking the young woman's tale with questions nor moving her body in any way. Walter waited patiently for Integra to speak while the nervousness coming from Seras was nearly palpable, though she managed to control the shaking of her body the ordeal had caused.

"I believe I may have a plan" Integra suddenly spoke, finally opening her eyes and turning them on the expectant faces of the other two. "But we will need the assistance of Mr. Morley, whom I believe is currently away and will not return until tomorrow."

"Agreed" Walter commented, turning his attention to the shivering heiress still seated.

Seras was unusually quiet for moment, causing her to saviors to wonder if she was balanced in the mind after her shocking episode. Then she turned her eyes upward from where she had been staring at the ground, tears in her bright orbs as she looked between the young doctor and retainer.

"I...I apologize for doubting your words in the study" Seras spoke slowly, biting on her lips nervously. "Perhaps I would not be such a grave problem at the moment were it not for my foolish ire."

"I admit my way was less than tactful" Integra admitted, staring at the young heiress with something akin to pity. "I often forget most people believe vampires to be merely legends. But water under the bridge, and thinking on past mistakes helps us little at the moment."

"What is your plan, if I may ask?" Seras questioned seriously, seeing as they had reconciled. "Does one destroy the vampire with traditional methods or are they merely false myths?"

"The way of destruction greatly depends on the age and power of the vampire" Integra explained, standing and pacing the small kitchen. "The monster we are dealing with is centuries old and by what you told us he has great abilities. A way to extinguish this fiend would be to burn his resting place, though I do not doubt he has found you have escaped and has removed his coffin to another location" Integra commented, smoke curling from the cigar in her hand. "Walter, show Miss Victoria to the guest room so she may rest. We will discuss plans in the morning."

"Yes, Sir Integra" Walter answered, giving a short bow before gesturing for Seras to follow him.

Seras allowed him to lead her up a short flight of stairs and down a long hall, her face showing confusion as she recalled the words spoken in the kitchen.

"Why did you call Miss Hellsing by the title 'Sir'?" the young heiress asked curiously.

"A habit, I suppose" the retainer replied, chuckling as he stopped before a door. Opening the portal, he gestured for Seras to enter. "She prefers to be spoken with a male title since in her profession there are few women."

Seras smiled in understanding and proceeded into the room, saying a good evening to Walter as he left her to her thoughts. Sighing in exhaustion and noticing the comfortable bed situated on the far wall, the young woman undressed herself and gratefully slid beneath the smooth sheets. She almost laughed at the comparison between the soft bed and the hard floor of earlier, her joy at being free from the monster obvious in her mind. Soon sleep claimed her and she followed willingly, hoping now for sweet dreams.

Seras slowly opened her eyes, instinctually knowing she was still asleep, and looked around herself in wonder. Unlike the dreams she had experienced before, there were no looming shadows nor hidden persons. Rather, a cheery field was lain out before her eyes, flowers of many varieties growing around her feet and stretching beyond the distance. A small brook ran nearby, gurgling softly as it wound its way through the meadow. Upon a sloped hill a large oak tree sat, majestic and imposing among the small flowers.

Nearly beyond her vision Seras could see a figure nestled in the shadows of the tree, their back resting on the massive trunk and their face turned from her. She stood from where she had awoken in the dream and cautiously walked over to the person, attempting to peer through the strangely thick darkness with little success. Her curiosity urged her onward and soon she found herself standing not more than a few feet from the seated figure, the shadows still shielding the face from her view.

Seras slowly began to back away as the figure suddenly rose and turned toward her, the panicked rising of a scream in her throat catching as a pair of red eyes fell upon her own shocked blue ones. Alucard stood before her, his eternal grin upon his face and his orbs alight with dark amusement. She noticed his clothing had changed somewhat, his cloak and suit jacket removed to show the white silk undershirt and thin, long pants.

Alucard neither moved toward her nor around her, calmly watching as Seras tried to control the surging emotions within her. The heiress noticed his subdued manner and she managed to rein in her erratic breathing, though she still nervously kept a keen eye out for swift movement.

"What have you come for?" she asked, her tone slightly harsh and quivering. "Do you wish to mock and torture me more for your own enjoyment?"

Seras was shocked when he merely shook his head in the negative, holding out a hand for her to grasp. In response, the young woman took a step backward and waited for him to strike as she expected. However, she could not have prepared herself when he merely laughed and withdrew his hand, leaning upon the tree's trunk and watching her with amusement.

"I have come for neither" he answered slowly, his eyes looking upon her almost gently. "Though I was very disappointed to have discovered your escape, I will do you no harm here."

"How am I able to trust your words?" Seras asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes. "You have ridiculed me enough with your pretense at friendship when you merely wished to murder me!"

"The friendship was not false."

His words startled the young woman into silence, her now wide blue orbs looking to him in shock. She took a step toward him, still wary but less suspicion than at first, and peered into his eyes with her own intense gaze. The black depth of his ruby orbs showed nothing to her curious mind, leaving her with both doubt and hope toward the truthfulness of his words.

"What do you mean?" she questioned quietly, her voice betraying her eagerness and hesitation.

"My words are exactly what I am speaking" he said with a small chuckle, watching as her head tilted to the side in quizzical wonder. "I wished to know you, and do friends not wish to learn of each other?" A positive nod from Seras allowed him to continue. "And now, as a friend, I wish to give you a gift."

Alucard then looked above himself, Seras following the gesture curiously. For the first time Seras noticed the tree held a single bloom, the bright scarlet color of the wide petals shining brightly in the shadow of the great tree. The flower grew just above them and she watched in curiosity as Alucard slowly reached up and plucked the beautiful seed from its branch. She stood still as he slowly approached her, his manner not suggesting any bad intent. Standing before her, he gently placed the blossom behind her ear, the wide grin on his face showing a hint of fangs. She smiled as her hand reached up to touch the delicate flower, the soft petals cool against her fingers.

Then the vision before Seras began to fade, signaling an end to her sleep and the beginnings of wakefulness. The image of Alucard slowly blurred before her eyes, melding into the shadows as she felt her body stir. The last word she heard before the dream faded left her shivering, though not from fear.

"Acceptance..."

Seras' eyes slowly opened, the bright sun causing her to blink harshly as she sat up in the large bed. She rubbed her blue orbs tiredly, swinging her legs over the side and standing, noticing her clothes had been pressed and arranged for her benefit. With a smile and a silent thank you to Walter she slipped into the dress, the horrible reminders of the night before now vanished with the soiled dirt of her clothing.

Stepping out into the hall Seras was greeted by the master of the house. Integra stood outside her door, almost impatiently waiting and giving the heiress a slightly annoyed look when she smiled.

"I had hoped you would wake earlier" Integra spoke calmly, walking down the hall and gesturing for Seras to follow. "However, you seemed quite exhausted and Walter insisted you be given your rest" she added, leading the young woman down the stairs without a look back.

"Forgive me" Seras said with a small blush.

"Nothing to be forgiven about" Integra commented offhandedly, resting her steps before two large wooden doors. She pushed them open and entered, Seras following and staring in wonder at the sight around her.

The two women now stood in a large library, books lining the many shelves and piled high in various parts. A winding staircase led to a second-story landing where dwelt more bookcases, also filled to overflowing with the tightly bound pages. Seras looked on in wonder as she followed Integra to a large desk situated in the center of the room, seating herself in a plush chair by a command from the female doctor. Then the heiress watched in some amusement as her companion moved several dozen books and manuscripts to create a clear space on the top on which to settle her elbows.

"Now, Miss Victoria, I assume you have explored the grounds and mansion thoroughly" Integra spoke, receiving a positive nod from Seras. "Are you able to tell me the many places where the vampire could be hiding" she then asked, settling back in the large chair.

"He may hide in a small building within the woods" Seras said, recalling the charnel house she had found. "And though I haven't looked into the attic there is more than enough room to hide a coffin" she commented, shivering slightly at memories of seeing his 'bed'. "Other than those few places, I cannot think of any place where he may conceal such a large object."

"Good" Integra said, nodding her head. She closed her eyes as in deep thought, rocking slowly in her seat as the young heiress watched on in silence.

"Oh!" Seras suddenly exclaimed, her memory bringing a thought to her mind. "He may seek shelter in the sanatorium" she spoke, catching Integra's attention as the doctor opened her eyes at the young woman's shout. "I found my uncle had...procured his meals by buying inmates and allowing Alu-the monster to feed off of them" she commented with some amount of disgust in her voice; both for the killing and the familiar name she had almost used. Her rational mind was telling her the monster no longer deserved a name, though another part, something deeper, was telling her to continue with the familiarity.

"I now have my answers as to how he was kept" Integra said, standing and beginning to pace the room. "Your uncle did not have the time to explain in detail his dealings with the vampire, being murdered the same day he confided in me" she murmured to Seras, suddenly stopping her movement and rifling through the many papers strewn about her desk.

Seras watched her curiously, noting many of the books were written in Latin while others held the familiar word of "nosferatu". The heiress assumed the many bound leather objects to be filled with knowledge concerning the vampire and she wondered how much of the stories told to young children were true. The idea of becoming a monster herself was not a tantalizing thought in the least and she inwardly shivered at the prospect of such an existence. She turned her attention back to Integra as the doctor had apparently found what was needed, extracting a single note from the pile.

Integra handed the sheet to Seras, who looked upon the strange designs and unknown writing with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. She looked to the other female for answers to her questioning glance.

"We will be forced to perform a few cleansing rituals on your person, Miss Victoria" the doctor explained, pointing to various items on the paper. "For your own protection and for the safety of our plans" Integra spoke, seating herself back upon the chair. "The vampire will surely attempt to read your mind and learn of our actions. With these spells in place we hope to foil his wishes."

"Will any of these rituals harm me?" Seras hesitantly asked. She breathed a sigh of relief when Integra shook her head, giving the heiress a small smile.

"They are all harmless and very effective. After we have eaten, we will begin the preparations."