A/N: An overdue update, but longer than most chapters. Thanks everyone for waiting!
Hunting For the Devil
After breakfast, in which Seras was strangely served by the young doctor herself, the heiress followed Integra up the stairs to the second floor. Her hands nervously fidgeted before her as they proceeded down the hall past the room where she stayed the previous evening, and the two approached the far end of the hall. Stopping before a simple wooden door at the end of the corridor, Integra walked into room followed by a nervous young woman. She was shown to a simple chair and told to sit, obeying the commands with some hesitation. The doctor silently walked to a simple chest placed against a near wall, pulling open the lid and beginning to rummage through the contents.
"Where is Walter?" Seras asked curiously, having noticed the distinct absence of his cheery smile during the meal. She also wished to break the nervous tension seeming to drift into the air, squirming slightly in her seat as she watched the doctor rifle through the chest's objects.
"Walter had left earlier this morning to fetch Mr. Morley and perform a few other duties I asked of him" Integra stated calmly without looking up. Finally finding what she had been searching for, the young woman stood with a small, square box within her hands. "He should return soon with the gentleman. For now, however, we must focus on performing the cleansing."
Seras watched with widening eyes as Integra placed the box on the ground before her seated form, attempting to peer beyond the doctor to examine what the contents were. She leaned further down when the golden lock was opened and the lid raised, a flash of metal shining before the young woman wrapped her hand around what appeared to be a handle. Then did the young heiress draw back when the object was lifted from its placement, a small dagger being revealed to her vision. She flinched slightly when the doctor suddenly grabbed her arm, drawing the appendage closer to her.
"This will only hurt for a moment" Integra attempted to sooth, holding the weapon a mere inch above the young woman's hand.
With the single warning the knife was quickly drawn upon her wrist, Seras flinching at the flair of pain the shallow cut brought. She watched with silent prayers the dagger being placed away from her, grateful the weapon would not be used again.
"Hold the wound with your other hand for a moment" Integra commanded gently, releasing the wrist and turning back to the box still laying beside her. She quickly dove her hand into the deep box and pulled forth a small bowl, a strange mixture of ingredients contained within. Digging into her dress pockets and finding the sheet Seras had inspected earlier, she looked to the bowl and nodded her head before placing the paper back within the folds of the cloth.
Seras herself peered curiously at the strange contents, noticing a wide variety of flora mixed with many objects which appeared to be of some sacred symbols. She could not, however, recognize many of the smells permeating the air from the rounded bowl, though she thought a few smelled of the moors surrounding them. Watching with emotions akin to apprehension and blind faith she allowed Integra to carefully settled her wrist within the bowl, shivering as a jolt of...something, shot through her body at the contact. However, the sensation only lasted a moment before the feeling was quickly extinguished, leaving only a dull aching in its wake.
With surprise did Seras watch as her hand was pulled away from the bowl after only a few moments, Integra instructed her to keep the wound held upward to lessen the flow of the still slowly seeping blood. Then the doctor placed the knife and bowl back within the box and walked over to a cabinet adjacent to the large chest. Quickly she found bandages and tied the bleeding cut tightly, though mindful of the heiress' winces of pain. Finally Integra appeared satisfied with the job and gave the covered wrist a testing pat, seeing no blood seep through with the small gesture.
"Is there no more?" Seras questioned with confusion, looking quizzically at the doctor. She had expected the procedure to be more complex, possibly involving certain chants and the like.
"There is no more" Integra answered bluntly, placing the box back within the chest and the bandages within the cabinet. "The mixture of herbs and some creations of my own should keep the weak bond you have with the vampire closed. He will no longer be able to enter your dreams nor begin to control your mind. However, for more precaution I suggest you wear this" she added, pulling a string of beads from the cabinet.
"A rosary?" Seras asked with some apprehension. She remembered well when the icon had burnt at her touch but having seen the monster, she now greatly doubted the power of the holy relic.
"Still an effective remedy against vampires" Integra replied with a small smile, watching the heiress's face fill with disbelief. "However, the rosary will be slightly uncomfortable for a number of days, because of your close interaction with the monster" the doctor explained.
Seras nodded her understanding and leaned her head down, allowing Integra to slide the string over her. She winced as the beads fell upon her neck, a slightly scorching sensation being felt until she brought her collar higher over her skin. The cross also now effected her senses, her eyes wishing to turn away with a strange disgust though she willed herself to outwardly show little of her reaction.
Suddenly voices were heard below and Integra gave a small sigh, looking to the closed door with little liking. One rose above the other, obviously agitated, and Seras recognized the person of Mr. Morley apparently being accompanied by Walter to the small sitting room off the dining room. By the sounds the new arrival was upset about some trifle or another concerning being brought to the establishment.
"Apparently your lawyer has arrived" the young doctor suddenly spoke, her voice full of both amusement and slight annoyance. "I suggest we hasten down so as not to keep the guest waiting."
Seras smiled and nodded, rising from the seat and following Integra out the door and down the hall. The two women approached the sitting area, the door open wide, and could hear the impatient tone of the middle-aged entrepreneur. When the two ladies entered, however, both Walter and Mr. Morley stood from their chairs and gave polite bows, of which Integra waved for them to be seated once more.
"Mr. Morley, I will come to business immediately as I am sure you are a busy man" Integra spoke, settling herself in the largest of the chairs. Seras herself sat beside the doctor, looking between the slightly irate gentleman and the calm woman. "I assume you are well acquainted with the whole estate of Miss Victoria?" Integra asked, looking to him with a piercing gaze. At seeing his uneasy nod she continued, her hands joining together as she rest her chin on her intertwined fingers. "I would like to know the entire holdings of the estate, if you are able to show me the papers."
For a moment there was stunned silence among two of the room's occupants while Integra impatiently awaited her answer. With a cough the lawyer looked between Seras and the doctor with some suspicion.
"Only if the heir so wishes" Mr. Morley finally commented automatically, knowing the protocol for such a request. He turned his eyes to Seras, the orbs now steady upon entrance to his area of expertise. "However, may I enquire why you desire such information?"
"You may not" Integra answered curtly, immediately drawing the man's attention away from the squirming heiress. "And Miss Victoria does wish to have the papers, as quickly as possible would be preferable."
"Is this true?" Mr. Morley questioned Seras, his eyes now solely on the confused young woman.
Seras' hands gripped the lap of her clothing as she attempted to decide how to answer the gentleman, unsure of what the doctor was planning. However, with a signal from Integra to accept she slowly nodded her head. The lawyer sighed and stood, giving a bow to the heiress.
"I will have the papers to you within three hours time. Will you still be staying here?" he asked. His question was aimed toward Seras, though his eyes were set on the young doctor.
"You may bring the documents to the manor, after you have gathered them" Integra responded for the silent heiress.
With another low bow to the women and a decline of the head toward Walter, Mr. Morley left to perform his duties. Seras watched the lawyer leave, then turned her eyes to find Integra looking at her with a penetrating gaze. For a moment she worried she had done something wrong concerning the lawyer, but her fears were soon dispelled.
"As I am sure you have already guessed, we must return to the manor" Integra spoke slowly, her eyes training upon those of the young heiress. "Do you wish to join us or stay?"
Seras took a deep breath and nodded her head lightly, a small but grim smile upon her face. Her own blue orbs met the doctor's with a certainty beyond words, though she spoke to assure Integra of her choice.
"I will join you to journey to the house" Seras replied firmly, staring into the young doctor's eyes with conviction. "The monster killed my uncle and attacked me. If he is still there I would like to see it destroyed." However, even as she said those words the dream from the previous night flashed through her mind, sending a stab of guilt.
"As you wish" Integra spoke, a small smile appearing on her face. "If you have need to pack any of your belongings I ask you do so now." Then she turned her attention to Walter. "Have the wagon hitched and ready within the hour."
The two left quickly to perform the necessary chores, Seras heading toward her room. Climbing the stairs and entering the small bedroom, the young heiress promptly sat upon the bed with a relieved sigh. For a few long moments she merely rested, feeling the previous night's events and the intense conversation just now catching up with her tired form. However, she soon stood from the bed, gathering her now clean clothes and heading toward the door. The young heiress opened the portal and stepped out of the room, nearly bumping into Walter in her haste. His raised arm above the door showed he had meant to knock, and she absently wondered why. She smiled and watched as he lowered his hand with a grin, though her expression changed quickly when she noticed a difference in his usual attire.
"What are those?" Seras asked curiously, her eyes gazing at a pair of strange gloves the retainer wore.
"Ah, merely a form of protection" Walter responded mysteriously, stepping to the side to allow her to walk into the hall. "Miss Integra wished for me to fetch you, as the wagon has been prepared."
Seras smiled and the two proceeded outside, Integra already waiting on the box of the vehicle. The heiress gladly climbed into the back, a blanket having been provided for her comfort, and Walter took the reins in hand. Soon the three were traveling down the road at a good clip, reaching the manor a short time after two in the afternoon. The heiress' eyes widened in surprise when she noticed a large number of men gathered upon the front lawn, the clothes of the people showing them to be common shepherds and such. The wagon stopped before the group and Walter and Integra quickly alighted, followed slowly by a hesitant Seras.
"Gentleman" Integra spoke addressing the crowd and silencing all conversation. "I assume you have been told what I wish for you and what your payment will be?" she questioned. Seeing the many nods and muttering of 'yes' the doctor continued. "Then only one piece of advice will I give you; be back before nightfall. The beast attacks after sunset and will not be bothered by a large number of men, but will kill as many as possible before you fall the creature. Now, off with you lot."
Seras watched in utter confusion as the men nodded and slowly began to disperse, many holding weapons in their hand. Her eyes widened curiously as many began searching the bushes around the manor while others trekked across the field toward the forest, some entering the house with cautious steps.
"Miss Hellsing, what are these men doing?" Seras questioned the doctor as the other woman began walking toward the manor.
"They are here to help catch the 'beast', or so I have named our vampire" Integra replied, stepping into the entrance hall. "I had Walter contact the gentlemen and they willingly accepted when their payment was told. Many owe me for visits and to work off the debt by catching a rabid dog is a simple matter for them. They have also been told to possibly find the beast hiding in a black coffin-shaped box, if the vampire is too weak to assume his wolf form during the day." Turning toward the kitchen, she led a few of the men, with Seras and Walter included toward the basement. "Now we shall see if the monster has given us the slip."
As Integra had assumed the coffin was gone, moved by the monster to a safer location. An imprint of the box still remained, the only touched area within the dank confines of the basement. However, to assure the safety of the house the young doctor ordered a thorough search of the building, ordering no wall nor rug to be left unchecked.
Seras, while the orders were being issued to all the men, walked cautiously over to where the coffin had lain. The horrific events which had taken place in the cellar were still vivid in her mind and she looked to the empty imprint with some apprehension, wondering if the monster would pursue her more heartily since her escape. The young heiress suddenly shivered slightly as she stepped before the wall she had crouched against in her fear, overcome by a feeling of almost...joy?
Shaking her head to dispel the sensation, Seras stepped away from the solid wall and looked to the others searching the cellar. Several men were peering into the corners of the large room, lanterns held to give light as they tapped occasionally on the wall. Climbing the basement's steps, the young heiress watched with some amusement as more men scoured the kitchen and carefully overturned the rugs and wide furniture within the rooms. The work was slow and meticulous, with the young heiress growing bored with the whole affair after only a few hours of wall tapping and searching beneath the many carpets of the manor.
"I will retire to my room, if you have no further need for me" Seras spoke with a smile, walking over to where Integra and Walter stood inspecting the bookcases in the study. She would enjoy sleeping once more in the large bed without the worry of monsters and nightmares.
"I cannot allow you to take up residence within the manor, Miss Victoria" the young doctor quickly spoke. Seeing the puzzled expression upon the woman's face she continued. "He must hear the revocation of your welcome for the custom to work" Integra explained quietly, mindful of the ears of the workers. Turning toward the large windows, however, her voice was raised with the following words. "Those bloody idiots!" she exclaimed, racing out of the house with Seras and Walter close behind.
The two watched as Integra caught up to a man, burlier than the rest, and swiftly turned him around to catch his attention. Seras assumed him to be the leader, seeing as how he had appeared to be commanding where the men were looking on the grounds.
"Tell those fools in the forest to return immediately!" Integra ordered sharply, causing even the hardened foreman to wince at her voice. "The sun is setting" she exclaimed, pointing to the east, "and the beast will surely kill most of them!"
The nervous man nodded quickly and began gathering his men, yelling at the stragglers who were only now retreating from the forest. Soon all but one group had returned and with the setting sun none dared venture into the thick trees to find them. The atmosphere around their searching had been tense enough during the daylight hours but with what they had been told every man refused to search for the missing with the coming of night.
Integra rubbed the bridge of her nose, gritting her teeth in agitation as Seras stood next to her. Soon, however, the doctor regained her composure and turned her glare upon the head worker.
"Tomorrow you will search for your men, but tonight the rest of you should return home. There is nothing anyone can do but wait until morning" Integra calmly commanded, her scowl sliding off her mouth as the foreman gladly agreed.
Soon all the men had left, each giving the woods a final glance of fear as they departed. Then did the three occupants settle themselves within the study, each collapsing after the tiring day and final climax of the search. The room was silent for several long moments, each unsure how to address what had taken place earlier.
"I fear we have brought more trouble upon ourselves with the search" Integra suddenly spoke, turning her eyes to look out of the dark windows.
The words caused a look of confusion to appear on Seras' face, having no idea what the doctor was alluding to. However, peering at the clock, which read well past six in the evening, the expression upon her face soon turned to one of curiosity and some fear, her eyes falling upon the doctor's with worry.
"Why has Mr. Morley not arrived yet?"