A/N: I'm so sorry for the long wait. As an apology the chapter is one of the longest.
A Captive's Confusion
Seras stirred uneasily in her sleep, her face turning down in a scowl of vexation as she attempted to find a comfortable spot in which to lay. Strangely, no such fortune smiled upon her as the top of her head suddenly collided with a rough-hewn object. With a loud exclamation she jerked upward into a sitting position, rubbing her head with a mild curse. Looking upon her surroundings, however, brought more than just an unwelcome awakening from sleep.
Total darkness was all Seras could see as she looked around her person, no light nor shadow within her sight. The instinct to panic nearly overtook her as she waved her hands wildly about her, trying desperately to feel something, anything, around her.
The stubbing of her hand upon a sharp rock brought Seras back to her senses, the pain registering in her mind and calming her thoughts long enough for her to collect them. She clutched the injured hand to her person and took several deep breathes, closing her eyes to block the horrible lack of view around her.
With her vision impaired she used her other senses to discover what lay about her. By the feel of the air she knew herself to be within a small space, her conclusion proven by the rough texture of a wall behind and to her right side as she rose to a sitting position. She slowly shifted forward, crawling upon her knees as her hair brushed against what ceiling existed above her.
Seras suddenly covered her mouth as a muffled scream escaped through her hand. In her movements she had bumped into a long object in the dark, the discovery startling the reaction from her frayed nerves. With more courage than she felt, the young heiress inched closer to the sides of what seemed to be a box, her knees hitting the wooden side after some shuffling.
With quickening breath Seras' hands shakily moved forward, the feel of soft velvet reaching her fingertips after what felt like a few short inches. She slowly dragged her fingers along the material, her blind eyes peering into the darkness with failed success to discern what contents lay in the box. Her explorations soon found another fabric nestled against the container, rougher than the velvet and feeling to be not a part of the box. With growing confidence she followed the new material, her fingertips traveling across several edges of the fabric and along not a few folds.
As Seras' hand slid across the rough material, her fingers suddenly lost the feel of fabric and came within contact with a soft substance. Curiously she drew her hand along the cold object of the box, shivering with an eerie chill as she felt her fingers brushed along a prominent object. Her breath quickened as her mind comprehended just what she had found, her eyes widening as she drew her hand back as if burnt.
With her hands clutched to her chest Seras hastily drew away from the box, her eyes staring sightlessly toward where she knew the container lay. She now knew what the box, or, rather, coffin, contained, and her mind was suddenly reeling with the last memories before she had awakened in the dark prison around her. The monster had taken her to where his sanctuary lay, intent on doing what she knew not to her. Stifling a sudden sob at the last recollects regarding her friends, the young heiress began to search for a way out of her stone cell. Crawling slowly upon the hard ground she blindly clutched the wall, searching for any passage or way which would lead her far from the creature she knew lay within the coffin.
Suddenly a dark chuckle broke the heavy silence of the small space was broken. Seras immediately stiffened, her head slowly turning toward the coffin not more than a few feet away from her. She began to quiver slightly, her breath held as more noises were heard from the casket.
"Trying to escape, Seras?" a chilling voice suddenly whispered in the dark, the sound not more than a foot away from where she sat.
The all-too familiar voice brought upon the desired affect for the heiress as she turned her head from the person, furiously crawling her way further down the narrow prison. She felt her dress rip in several places but heeded not any of the tears, intent only on gaining distance between the monster and she. After a few short seconds, however, Seras cried out in anguish as her hands touched rough stone before her, her body pressing against the wall in a vain attempt to find some form of hatch or secret door.
A scolding sigh behind her forced Seras to turn her attention back to the monster, the creature whom had killed her friends and imprisoned her within the cell she now occupied. The heiress slowly shifted so she now faced the darkness which hid her captor, her hands fisted at her sides as she waited for the vampire to reveal himself. Her patience was not taxed for long as soon a candle was lit only a few feet from her position, the small glow well illuminating the cramped passage.
Seras now stared without any hindrance into the amused eyes of Alucard, their red depths gleeful at her failed flight from him. She shivered at the gaze but her own did not waver, the heiress intent on standing her ground against the monster. Her will was set and she would not be deterred with her decision. The vampire had taken all he could with the previous night's horrors and she would not allow him to frighten her any longer. With nothing more to lose, she was prepared to fight for as long as her strength would let her.
With a widening grin the vampire's eyes slowly narrowed with catlike grace, his body seated beside the coffin Seras had felt. His legs were crossed in a lazy manner, his head tilted to one side in an entertained position. Seeing he had the heiress' full attention, the monster uncurled his long legs and leaned against the wall to his left.
"I am afraid your memory slips quite often, my dear Seras" Alucard spoke, one hand settling upon a knee. His fingers slowly began a circular motion along the silken cloth while he continued to speak, his voice smooth and eerily low. "You have once more forgotten the...connection, which exists between us. Perhaps another demonstration would revive your poor remembrance."
Seras barely heard what the monster had spoken, so rapt was she in watching Alucard's hand glide across his thin leg. However, her intent examination was soon broken as she felt the familiar pull of the creature's thoughts upon her own, the vampire's words echoing in her mind as though coming from a great distance. She vehemently fought the command within her thoughts, her hands gripping the dirt beneath her to focus her attention on one point.
As though bidden, the last flashes of her friends disappearing within the mass of ghouls appeared in Seras' mind. Tears welled in her eyes as the memories awoke a strong feeling of anger and, within such an emotion, the ability to enact revenge upon the monster who had murdered her friends. With a final gritting of her teeth the heiress' eyes broke free from their trance, her head quickly turning away to face the wall nearest Alucard.
For a long moment there was naught but silence, except for the sound of Seras' labored breathing filling the quiet tunnel. Then a chuckle was heard from the monster, a slow noise, but gaining strength quickly. Soon the peels of uncontrollable laughter vibrated along the stone, filling the stagnant air with a more distasteful breath of insanity. After several long moments the creature ceased his merriment, Seras watching closely as his shadow flickered in the candlelight with the shifting of his person.
The sudden sound of clapping caused the young heiress to flinch, her eyes almost traveling toward the vampire but her mind preventing such a contact within time. Rather, she allowed her sight to remain fixed upon the light, the glow of which coming from the candle placed upon the lid of the now closed coffin.
"Ah, you have learnt the game quickly, heiress" the monster spoke, his tone almost praising as he finished his clapping. "I had not placed a great amount of faith in your ability to do so. However," Alucard added, his silhouetted movement showing her he had taken hold of the light. "We must still see how long you are able to remain."
"What game are you babbling about, monster?" Seras questioned sharply, her eyes watching with growing concern as the monster's hand began a slow motion around the candle.
"A game of wills, Seras Victoria" Alucard responded, his shadow seeming to dance with the glee in his voice. "A generous prize awaits the victor of this contest" the monster spoke, his voice lowering to an almost a menacing tone. "The winner will obtain what they wish of the other."
"I refuse to humor you with such an act" Seras spat, her mind slightly aflutter when the creature's shadow appeared to defy the light and move about the wall almost wildly. "I will do nothing which would give you any pleasure" she spoke, managing to keep her composure even as the darkness seemed to grow heavier about her.
"Oh, but I do not recall needing your permission to begin the game" the vampire spoke in merriment, the sound once more seeming to echo off the walls. "Such a contest of wills requires only one to initiate the first challenge and the other to follow."
"You are lying" the young woman accused, "I do not recall such an act and would not be so willing to join such a game" she argued, shifting angrily along the rough ground. "When do you recall I joined such a game?"
"When you allowed me into your mind."
Seras shrieked as the voice seemed to come from not more than a foot beside her, the sound causing her to jerk against the wall at the sudden noise. The appearance of a hand within her vision nearly ceased her heart, her eyes quickly shifting involuntarily toward the person now seated next to her person. With her mouth agape her gaze traveled between Alucard seated to her left and his shadow still upon the wall nearest the coffin.
With the close proximity of the monster Seras began to quickly shift away from him, her eyes both on the corporal and the shadowy entities surrounding her. Unfortunately, one of the vampire's hands swiftly grabbed hold of hers, ceasing her escape and nearly bruising her wrist. Attempting to free the trapped appendage the heiress locked her loose fingers around the tight grip, only to have those also captured by his own.
Now Seras sat not more than a foot from Alucard, both hands locked in his own and the shadows around her nearly stifling in their oppressiveness. Having no other means of loosening his grip, the young woman quickly turned her head and sank her teeth into the unnatural flesh of the vampire's hand. As her short incisors broke the skin she coughed upon the cold blood, though with a firm will she managed to hold her grip upon his flesh.
All she received for her trouble, however, was a long chuckle from the monster and a noise of disapproval. With the smallest of effort the vampire shifted the arm within her hold, causing more of the distasteful liquid to seep onto her palate. The taste of the vile blood was now too much to bear and Seras had no choice but to release her hold, nearly choking upon the cold liquid still remaining within her mouth.
"Even with the situation hopeless you still cling to life" Alucard observed, grinning widely as Seras looked upward to him with a scowl on her face and blood still dripping down her chin. "Quite amusing, but if you wish to leave this tunnel I recommend you follow my lead" the vampire spoke, emphasizing his words by tightening his grasp upon her wrists.
Seras gasped in pain as the monster set free one of her wrists and began dragging her closer to the wall behind them, her bare knees viciously scraping along the roughly hewn stones and cutting open her skin. With her legs throbbing from the injuries, she was relieved when Alucard halted, watching in rapt attention as he pressed his hand to the rocks before them. To her amazement, the stones swung upon hinges, revealing an exit large enough for the two to crawl out abreast. The young woman yelped as the vampire pulled her violently from the tunnel. She landed upon her feet with am unpleasant jarring of her frame.
Finally did Alucard release his last hold, allowing Seras to clutch her bruised hand to her body, her eyes turning from the cruel monster. With a jolt of realization toward her surroundings the heiress observed they were now standing within the cellar of her mansion, beside the area she had felt the cold spell. Looking upward toward the stairs, she noted with dismay the door had been forcefully shut from the cellar by means of a large piece of timber jammed against the portal.
Alucard closed the hidden door behind her with an ominous echo, the wall once more appearing as one with the rest of the cellar. There could be no discernable difference between the hidden area and the other walls, the heavy rock being enough to dull the usual change in pitch if the stone were knocked upon. Then did he turn back toward her, his dark red eyes almost seeming to penetrate her very being as he began to stride around her person.
"Quite an ingenious invention by your late uncle" Alucard explained, one hand waving toward the mentioned concealed tunnel. "He was very...enthusiastic with its construction, and the blood of an English laborer has an interesting tinge of spice" he added, his long tongue slipping out for a moment to run across his lips. Then did he stop before Seras, his unblinking gaze still trained on her impassive face. "But perhaps the cooler air of the grounds would be more preferable for our chat."
"I will go nowhere with you, monster!" Seras spat, her mood reverting back to her previous disposition. She would not willingly allow herself to be used as a toy for the vampire, nor would she allow the memories of her friends to be soiled by giving him any satisfaction. "If you wish to kill me, then do so. However, I am not a possession with which you may play with when it pleases you. You must find another to amuse you, for I refuse any such honor"she mocked, accentuating her words with a step away from the monster.
"Ah, but you have no choice in such circumstances" Alucard informed with a wide grin, his eyes glowing a deep red for a brief moment.
Seras gasped as the vampire, as before, took control of her body, nearly becoming ill as he took her hand within one of his own. He carefully led her up the stairs, easily removing the wooden barrier with a mighty jerk of the nails from the frame, through the house and onto the grounds. Stepping upon the grass behind the large estate he released her hand, though not her body, as he looked to the bright full moon shining brightly in the sky. The heiress scowled at the apparently unaffected monster, her frame shaking with the effort to gain control over her functions. To her glee she suddenly realized she was able to move a number of her fingers, though her efforts were halted as Alucard's eyes returned back to her.
"Quite an ingenious plan the doctor had planned, attempting my downfall with the use of the estate's land records" he commented almost casually, his eyes scrutinizing Seras for a sign of reaction. "Though I am sure you wonder how I could have known of the human's mission" Alucard spoke with proud humor, grinning widely at the heiress. His gaze seemed to soften, however, as he spoke on, though the feeling of possession was more prominent than affection. "You still wear the rose I placed in your hair" he spoke softly, brushing his hand over her ear.
"What?" Seras asked in confusion, slapping his hand away and stepping back from him. She stiffened when he chuckled, dropping his hand to his side and grinning widely at her. "Do not play me for a fool, vampire" she growled.
"A showing of our bond, too strong for the good doctor to break" he answered, snarling quietly at the mention of the late Integra. "You assisted the failure of the humans' plans by allowing me to use your very eyes and memories" Alucard explained, chuckling slightly at his victory. Then his eyes fell upon the bandage wrapped around her wrist, his hand clamping down upon her arm as he raised the wound to his eye level. "She dared harm what is mine?" he growled lowly, his eyes flashing bright.
Seras shivered in his grasp, trying futilely to tear her injured arm from his strong hold. Alucard silently looked at her, his face impassive but his eyes showing an emotion almost akin to...betrayal? With a shake of her head she dispelled the foolish notion, breathing a sigh of relief as the creature suddenly loosened his grip. She quickly turned her back from his gaze, attempting to recollect her thoughts and words.
The monster behind her had lain claim to only her body and soul, wanting nothing more than to satisfy his thirst for blood and control. She could not allow herself such foolish thoughts if she wished to escape the beast and avenge her friends' deaths.
Seras' pondering was suddenly interrupted as a violent snarl was heard from behind her, the noise sending shivers of fear through her body. Quickly turning, the heiress saw Alucard being forcefully dragged backward, her eyes widening in shock at whom was performing the task.
"Walter!" she shouted with joy, a smile lighting her face as the said person gave her a warm nod from his ground several yards away.
"Greetings, Miss Victoria" the retainer managed to grunt out, pulling taut on the strings as he attempted to rein in the thrashing vampire. "If you would be so kind as to move yourself behind me," he shouted above the horrific yells emanating from the monster, the sound more akin to animal than man.
Seras quickly nodded her head, rushing past the struggling vampire to reach her goal. However, she could not help but allow her gaze to shift toward Alucard, noting he too had allowed his stare to fall upon her. For a long moment their eyes met, neither moving as time felt as though it had stopped. The sudden violent tugging of the ropes binding the monster bringing the heiress back to her senses as she continued her short journey behind the awaiting butler.
"Miss Victoria!" a female voice suddenly yelled, causing the young woman to turn her head. Seras smiled widely as Integra, with gun in hand, appeared from behind a large shrub, running toward the doctor with eager joy.
"How did you survive!" Seras asked in shock as she stopped before the young physician, still peering at the doctor as one would a ghost. "The ghouls, they-" she began, her words being interrupted by the sudden burst of strength shown by the monster.
The heiress watched in a mix of horror and fascination as Alucard managed to drag the retainer several feet forward with one great pull, nearly upsetting Walter's footing upon the ground. Apparently seeing his struggles were of no avail, a wicked grin slowly appeared upon the vampire's lips. Suddenly throwing his head back and letting loose a great, maniacal laugh, his body slowly began to dissolve into the air. The strings which had held him fell uselessly to the ground as the newly formed mist crept upon the ground, predatorily closing in on the companions.
"A tale for another time" Integra spoke quickly, placing herself between the monstrous fog and the heiress. "At the moment I believe we have a greater dilemma" the doctor commented tersely, her eyes shifting uneasily toward the air around them as the mist slowly began to expand into a thicker substance.
Seras likewise nervously examined the darkening area surrounding them, feeling the stifling presence of the vampire as her view of the retainer became impeded by the thickening fog. However, with the knowledge of her friends alive and well she narrowed her eyes and looked defiantly toward the mist, silently challenging the monster to appear. She was soon answered as a chuckle passed beside one of her ears, causing the young woman to quickly move from the offending noise to avoid capture.
"Quite a magnificent trick you have pulled, good doctor" the vampire called from the fog, his mocking laughter echoing across the still air. "However, a repeated performance would indeed be dull, so why can we not play a new game?"
"What do you speak of, creature?" Integra spat, her gun at the ready for any possible threat.
"I speak of cards, my dear lady" Alucard explained, the eagerness in his voice well heard. "This game of chess is no longer amusing, so we shall place all of our cards upon the table and see whom has the greater hand. Agreed?"
For a long moment their was silence, Seras shifting her eyes between the contemplating doctor and the mist of the monster. Finally the heiress heard a soft breath of air from Integra, the sound holding both finality and confidence within its depths.
"Agreed."