A/N: I would give a reason for my tardiness, but all I have are excuses. My sincerest apologies with a long chapter.
Illusion of Safety
The three merely looked between one another for a silent moment, eyes then turning toward the windows. The time was indeed late, the sky showing a darkness almost beyond sight. With a muffled curse Integra stood and looked to her companions, a grim look upon her face.
"As much danger as the night presents, we must find Mr. Morley" the young doctor spoke solemnly. "He holds what may help us find the monster, and the plans of the estate are our last hope after the failed search attempt."
"What could have happened to him?" she asked slowly, half fearing the answer she knew would come. The deep sigh from the doctor confirmed her suspicions, while her voice showed the defeat of the situation.
"He has most likely been intercepted by the monster" the doctor answered, though a slightly puzzled expression then crossed her face. "I am unsure how the creature would have known of the mission the lawyer was upon, but perhaps the beast is attacking all along the road."
Seras looked to the darkened window, her lips pursed in worry and concern. Though she had known the lawyer for only a short time, and had rarely had conversation with him, to die at the hands of the monster was a fate she did not wish upon any mortal. Her silent mourning was interrupted by Integra's voice, serious and determined.
"However, if indeed Mr. Morley has fallen, we mustn't let his sacrifice go be in vain" Integra continued, looking toward Walter. "The plans he held are vital and must be retrieved."
Walter nodded and stood, a silent understanding created between the master and servant. He left, to what Seras realized to prepare the wagon for their journey. Meanwhile the heiress looked toward Integra, her eyes filled with confusion and shock.
"You cannot be meaning to travel with the monster wandering the moors!" she exclaimed in protest, rising from her own seat. "He will kill you as well!"
A low chuckle stopped Seras' shouting and she looked sharply to the young doctor, who was only now gathering control of her laughter. She took a step back from Integra, fearing the young woman had taken leave of her senses. Her worries were ungrounded as the doctor explained her sudden outburst of merriment.
"Walter and I have acquired much experience in dealing with vampires, Seras" Integra spoke, a small smile still on her face. "We have a number of surprises for the monster, should he choose to come upon us." Then her face grew serious, her blue eyes looking directly into Seras' one. "I must insist you accompany us on our expedition, Miss Victoria" she almost commanded, her voice firm and without question. "The monster may well be waiting upon the grounds for you to be left alone and we cannot afford to lose another of our group."
Seras nodded nervously in understanding, seeing the truth in such advice. With the invitation still active and the horse and wagon gone, she would have no hope to escape if the vampire chose to attack the mansion. However, the idea still did not appeal to the young heiress and she slowly walked after the doctor as they left the study. The wagon, horses, and Walter were awaiting them before the main entrance. A lantern was in his hand, giving enough light by which to see. The two women quickly alighted into the box and rear, the steeds heading off in a steady trot down the road.
For several long moments there was nary a sound, each of the companions lost in their own thoughts and searching with their eyes for any sound of the lawyer's cart. The young heiress scanned the dim area surrounding the road, squinting to penetrate the dark gloom. For comfort she rested her arm upon the trunk holding her possessions, the box having been left in the wagon after she had learned her stay in the manor would not be possible.
Suddenly an object caught Seras' eye, causing the heiress to lean over the side to gain a better sight. Her eyes held true as what appeared to be a large box appeared a short distance from the road, another large imprint of darkness situated beside the larger. Looking down upon the ground she noticed tracks leading toward the still entities, the imprints of the wheels showing an almost frantic travel into the brush.
"Over there!" Seras shouted, catching hold of the side of the long box as Walter pulled the horses into a quick halt. She hurriedly jumped down to the ground and raced over to the wagon, gasping as the entirety of the vehicle came within view.
The large box was indeed Mr. Morley's wagon but the damage made the main portion almost unrecognizable. The wheels lay scattered around, broken from the crash through the heavy underbrush, while both axles were snapped in two. The box itself was torn in two, as if someone had grabbed hold of the center of a side and pulled the wood apart with their bare hands.
The large shadow Seras had seen beside the wagon turned out to be Mr. Morley's horse, the black steed laying on its side. Two distinguishable marks were upon its neck, explaining all too clearly what its fate had been. Blood from the puncture wounds was still wet, showing the attack had not taken place too long before.
The most gruesome discovery, however, lay upon the opposite side of the broken wagon. Integra had alighted from their wagon and immediately began a thorough search of the wreckage, intent on finding the papers. She suddenly stopped beside a large remnant of the wagon, her eyes looking down upon the ground with an expression of pity.
"Seras, Walter" she called with an eerie calmness, catching both of her companions' attentions.
The two rushed over to the doctor's side, curious as to what was found. They quickly halted in their tracks, however, as they stood beside Integra. Seras covered her mouth in disgust and horror at the sight of Mr. Morley's body laying crumpled before them. His neck, like those of the animals she had found upon the grounds, had been viciously ripped open. Blood and pieces of flesh splattered the ground around the mangled body, his eyes and mouth open wide in the last agonies of his death. The young woman turned from the sight, tears welling in her eyes as bile rose in her throat.
"Walter, take Miss Victoria to the wagon and return to help search" Integra softly ordered, looking with worry upon the young heiress.
"No, I will be fine" Seras objected, removing her hand from her mouth. She politely refused Walter's hand, shaking her head. "I...I was merely unprepared for the sight" she explained, returning her gaze to Mr. Morley's body. A soft shudder ran through her body at the sight but she managed to compose herself. "Where shall we start?" she asked, gaining enough control of herself to calm her voice to a steady tone.
"First we shall cover Mr. Morley" Integra spoke, moving toward their wagon to fetch one of the horses' blankets. "No man deserves such an undignified exposition."
After paying their respects and covering the body, the three companions set to work on their task. They inspected the area around the wagon most thoroughly, moving the torn box to search beneath the ruined wagon. The bushes were also rifled through for any sign of the papers with which the lawyer had lost his life for, all the while being aided by the single lantern.
"There's nothing more we can do here" Integra finally admitted after an hour of searching. "The monster apparently found the plans and took them with him." She turned toward their wagon, the others following suit. "We will return tomorrow to retrieve Mr. Morley's body and bury the horse."
As the companions approached the horses, however, the animals suddenly began pawing the ground. Their long necks swivelled from side to side as they seemed to search for an unknown danger, their nostrils flaring in agitation. Walter ran to them and attempted to calm the beasts, keeping a firm hand on the reins and soothingly rubbing their noses. Unfortunately his efforts were to no avail; the steeds reared up, forcing the retainer to release the reins as their shrill neighs filled the air. With a sudden burst of speed they bolted, knocking the retainer away from them as the contents of the wagon upset into the road.
The two women barely managed to jump out of the way as the wild beasts bolted past them, the horse's hooves pounding against the trodden dirt. Their forms had barely left sight when several rustling noises were heard among the brush along the roadside, causing the three companions' attentions to turn away from the horses and toward the sounds.
Seras gasped as the first of the intruders stepped from the foliage. A brief memory of her time in the charnel house flashed through her mind as one after another the hidden creatures came ambling from the brush toward them. The monsters' faces drooped with decay as each of the missing searchers came within view of the companions, their mouths gaping open and moans escaping with each of their steps.
"What are they?" Seras asked as she stepped away from the enclosing monsters, the quiver in her voice noticeable even to herself.
"Ghouls" Integra spoke, looking in disgust at the creatures ambling toward them. "Walter" she calmly called.
"Yes, Miss Integra" the retainer answered with an almost eager grin.
Eerily, however, the monsters stopped within a good distance of the group, merely standing around them and gazing with a sickening hunger. Seras looked in revulsion upon the flesh-rotting faces of the dead men, the smell of their bodies drifting on the moor winds. Suddenly her attention turned to a single figure appearing down the road, walking casually and apparently without notice of the creatures.
Then a sense of both dread and, strangely, excitement raced through Seras' body and she realized who was coming upon the road.
The figure of Alucard soon stepped into the light of the lantern, his grin wide and his hands buried in the pockets of his dark trousers. Walking through a space between the monsters, he crossed one arm over his chest and placed the other beside him, bowing low to the three before him. Straightening, his eyes glanced over each of the companions, his gaze finally stopping on Seras.
"Miss Victoria, we did not have a chance to say goodbye last we parted" he spoke, his eyes showing emotions strangely akin to almost . . . hurt. Then he turned his attention to the doctor, his eyes flashing with amusement at her stiff stance. "And Miss Integra, we finally meet. Such a pleasure I have had in our little chase."
"The pleasure is only yours" she replied smartly, smirking as the vampire's grin slipped for a moment. "But I believe you did not come here to exchange pleasantries. And" she swept her hand across the ghouls around them, "I much doubt your 'pets' would appreciate you letting us go without a taste."
"You are quite right in presuming their hunger is savage. However" and his attention returned to the heiress silently watching the conversation, "I have only one 'pet', as you wish to name her. Indeed, since she has strayed from me I have come to claim what is mine."
Seras scowled at Alucard's possessive nature, taking a step away from him and nearly tripping over her spilt luggage. For a moment she nearly lost her balance, her gaze shifting downward for a short time to correct herself. When she once more looked forward, the young woman found herself staring into the penetrating eyes of the vampire.
"Come here, Seras" Alucard spoke, his tone soothing and gentle. "I won't hurt you."
"But you have!" Seras accused, glaring at him. In a gesture of defiance she stepped around to the other side of her trunk, though her attempt to break their eye contact failed.
"Did I harm you last we met?" he cooed calmly, undeterred by her outburst. "You had no need to fear me then and still there is nothing to be afraid of."
Seras' mind unwillingly replayed the memories of her previous dream, showing the gentle hill and Alucard's actions toward her. With reluctant resignation she was forced to admit the lack of harsh treatment he had shown her, his words of reason still ringing in her thoughts. Before she knew what had happened Integra had roughly grabbed her arm, freeing her from the trance. With a jolt of terror she realized her feet had been taking her to the monster's arms.
"Miss Integra?" Walter questioned as he turned to her, raising his hands expectantly.
"You have my permission" the doctor replied, pulling Seras away from the retainer with a firm hold. She silenced the heiress' objections with a solitary glare, stopping many yards from the butler.
Seras, confused about what had just taken place between the two, watched in horror as one of the monsters suddenly began lurching toward him. Before she could yell her warning, however, the creature's upper torso slid off its body, its dying scream echoing through the air. The sound of clapping shook her from her shocked gaze, her eyes following the noise to the vampire.
"An interesting ability, even I must admit" Alucard spoke with a grin, lowering his arms. "Quite a feat to keep such a talent to one's self," he commented, strangely flashing Seras a grin. "I am curious to see how well you are able to handle a large number of my minions."
With a silent command a half dozen creatures began their march toward Walter, the retainer closing his eyes with an amused expression of his own. Seras watched in wonder as the first of the slaves was split completely in half, seemingly cut by air when reaching a certain distance from the gentleman.
A shining flash in the lamplight caught her gaze for a moment and Seras turned her eyes toward the elderly gentleman in enraptured curiosity. With dawning realization she peered more closely at his figure, her eyes widening in shock at what was seen. Silver strands of some type of light metal appeared to be attached to the tips of the butler's gloves, appearing for a short time in her vision as Walter pulled the strings toward him only to launch another attack. She now watched the battle anew, horribly fascinated with the ability of the suddenly enigmatic retainer.
Seras, distracted by the show of destruction, was unable to see as the vampire suddenly disappeared from his position. She realized her mistake too late as the monster appeared before her, his body mere inches from her own. Her shoulders were grabbed in a binding grip and she jerked her face upward, staring into the scarlet orbs of the monster. With a quick movement, however, Integra had removed her gun from her coat and now pointed the weapon at Alucard.
"Stay away from her, vampire" Integra ordered, her gun level and without a quiver. "The silver in these bullets has been blessed by the Queen herself."
Alucard for a moment did not appear to hear her, his eyes staring into Seras' with an intensity which forced the young woman to look away. Then did the vampire turned his head slowly, his dark red eyes looking to the doctor with amusement. He peered upon the small gun in her hand with almost humorous contempt, a soft chuckle rising in his throat.
"You believe me to be one of those filthy creatures you have fought before?" he queried, grinning down the barrel of the weapon. "Shoot then, and see what I am" he spoke before he made to pull Seras to him.
With a resounding crack Alucard released his hold of Seras with the first shot, snarling as the silver bullets began to burn his skin. The doctor fired another shot as the monster attempted to grab the weapon, pushing him back with the force of the blow. Seras took a step back as a strangled scream erupted from her throat, watching in captivating horror as Integra fired all her bullets into the monster's body. With her proximity she was able to see the shells lodge themselves into his head and upper chest, blood spilling from the wounds with the round's force.
The monster dropped to his knees as his body began to burn, his eyes searing with hatred toward Integra. With a final glance toward Seras, in which they locked gazes with one another, he fell to the ground face forward. Soon after the doctor's weapon was empty and the sound of dead shells snapped through the air. Integra then lowered the gun, looking at the still monster upon the ground with disgust. Seras, however, gazed at the monster's body with pity, shaking her head and stepping back from the dead body.
The monster's Walter had been battling suddenly stopped their assault, collapsing to the ground with loud thumps. The retainer looked to the bodies for a moment longer, for precautions' sake, and then turned toward the doctor.
"Is he fallen, Miss Hellsing?" he asked quietly, keeping his strands out with wise experience.
"I cannot be sure" Integra replied, standing a safe distance from the fallen vampire. Carefully she stepped over to the body, reloading her gun as she walked.
Without a moment's notice Alucard's body suddenly shattered into dozens of bats, the small creatures flying around Integra's figure. In her surprise the doctor dropped the gun, several of the winged bats snatching the weapon from the dirt before she could retrieve her protection. Seras, seeing the creatures who carried the gun, jumped toward the weapon of salvation. However, she found herself trapped within a vortex of swirling bats, trapped as they snagged her dress and held her in place with inhuman strength.
Then did Alucard reappear, the bats forming together before Seras into the vampire's human form. Before he could move toward her, however, the monster was suddenly wrapped with Walter's wires, the retainer holding firm and beginning to drag the vampire away from the heiress. The strands, apparently also created from blessed silver, burnt through the vampire's clothes as he struggled in the tight binding.
Even among the burning pain he obviously felt, Alucard began to laugh, throwing his head back in glee and crying in amusement to the moonlit sky. The three around him looked to the monster in shock as he lowered his eyes to their own, grinning madly with an insane glint in his eyes. With a wild scream he suddenly pushed his arms from his body, the bonds moving with him. The loud sounds of snapping cut through the air, followed quickly by an ominous silence.
The remains of the weapons, broken by the force of the monster's strength, fell lifelessly to the ground as Seras stared at the strings in shock. She had watched those very strings tear through the ghouls and yet the monster had torn them apart as though they are nothing more than needle thread.
With a sudden yelp of surprise Seras found herself the one trapped in bindings as black tendrils wrapped around her. Her gaze turned to the vampire, following the trail of darkness to his being. Alucard grinned at her, the strands of his own making having emerged from his hand, and pulled the arm toward himself. Struggling futilely she was dragged to the monster, Walter and Integra unable to do anything to aid her. He wrapped his newly formed hand around her shoulders, holding her firmly as he turned toward the others.
"I believe my servants are now quite eager for your bodies" Alucard spoke, chuckling as low moans filled the air.
The once fallen ghouls suddenly rose, unharmed and their eyes lit with unsatisfied hunger. The monster's, more than a few remaining, dragged themselves toward Seras' two companions. Walter managed to use his broken strings to hold the monsters at bay, but the distance was growing ever thinner even as Seras watched. Integra had managed to find a long limb but without her gun she was making no progress with the attack. The sight was too much and she looked to Alucard with blue orbs shining with tears.
"Please, spare them!" Seras choked out, her pleading eyes peering into the vampire's entertained face. "I will . . . I will go with you!" she offered, her hands clutching at his shirt.
"Of your own free will?" Alucard asked, his eyes turning from the amusing sight to her own with interest.
"Yes, but you must promise not to kill them" she answered, looking toward where her companions were trapped. The ghouls were shuffling closer to her friends, now nearly within arm's reach.
"If you wish so" Alucard spoke with quick agreement, the ghouls at once stopping their attack. Then he leaned down toward Seras' ear, his cold voice causing chills to travel down her spine as he spoke. "But be wary of what you ask next time."
Alucard suddenly righted himself and whistled loudly, the sound almost painful to Seras as she placed her hands over her ears. However, her attention shifted toward the destroyed wagon as a shrill whinny rent through the air. In horror she watched as Mr. Morley's horse lifted its head, the once brown eyes now shining a dark scarlet. Swiftly the steed strode over to the vampire, kneeling before its new master in reverence. Before she could yell out in surprise, the heiress found herself seated atop the undead horse, Alucard behind her with the remains of the beast's bit in his hands. Turning the horse away from Seras' two companions, Alucard looked a final time over his shoulder toward them.
"Miss Victoria has asked me not to kill you, so I will allow my servants to do so" he spoke, Seras' scream of shock and anger rising in the air as he spurred the horse onward.
Seras managed to turn for one last look of her friends as the ghouls closed in, blocking them from her sight as Alucard's chuckle resounded behind her. Tears poured down her face as her angered eyes turned to the vampire's grinning face, slapping him with as much force as she could give in her position.
"You bloody monster!" she yelled, attempting to dismount from beneath his arms. She growled in frustration when his grip tightened, fighting a growing heaviness in her eyes which was all too familiar to her.
"You forget that you are mine, little one" he spoke softly, the last words Seras heard before a cloud of darkness suddenly took her.