Amaya held on tighter when her world turned pitch-black, but knew there was no reason to be afraid. She was with him after all.
"You can open your eyes now; the trip is never very long." She could hear the amusement in his voice and found it comforting.
Amaya pulled back from him a little and gasped. Flowers of every color and type surrounded her. Their scent was intoxicating. She looked up at him with questioning eyes.
"This," he said as he extended his arm, "is my garden. My mother was very fond of flowers, and I could not think of a better way to honor her memory than by putting as many flowers as I could in the castle."
Amaya turned in a slow circle and tried to take it all in. She noticed that torch light illuminated their surroundings, and that made her feel even dreamier. He took her hand and silently led her from plant to plant, then moved them to a stone bench near the ends of the garden. As they moved farther and farther from the cover of the trees and flowers, Amaya truly began to see the magnitude of his home. She looked up and saw the surrounding towers and their turrets, and the stone fortifying the structure. Beautiful engravings on the walls met her eyes, and she wanted to see what else awaited her here. The more fantastic things seemed though, the more they brought her back to reality.
He was smiling at her, and she was pretty sure she'd missed something he'd asked.
"I'm sorry, what?" He laughed and shook his head.
"I asked, how are you liking my home so far?"
"To tell you the truth, I'm enchanted. The idea of the flower garden for your mother shows that you're a man who values family; the evening you gave me was fit for a queen—"
"But?"
"But, I'm not used to this kind of thing. How do I know that tomorrow night you won't just decide that you moved along too quickly? That maybe courting, which if I'm well read, basically means you want to marry me, is the wrong thing to do? And what am I expected to do? Come live forever right away and never see anyone again? I'd love to spend forever with you, but not if that means that I won't be able to see anyone I know ever again."
Amaya quieted and held her breath. She thought of all the horrible things he could say to her at her outburst, but was instead surprised when he ran his thumb across her cheek and kissed her forehead.
"I was actually hoping you'd mention some of those things. I did not expect all of them at once, and fearing for the worst, certainly not that. I'm glad that you recognize what my preposition meant, but by no means assume that I want to keep you like a bird gilded cage. I want you to continue with your life as you have now, and I will be the one to adjust myself to you. I want you to keep living in your own home for now, until you are comfortable enough to live here. I don't think I need to say that by then, you probably will not be mortal anymore. I want to meet your family as time goes by. It will be at your discretion whether you tell them who I really am or not. I should probably tell you, I can walk in the daytime."
You probably will not be mortal anymore. It echoed in her head as she listened, and when he told her he could be in the daytime, she looked at him closely.
"You're not lying to me? You're really not?" He gathered her into his arms and gently stroked her back.
"No, I'm not. I'm giving you all the time in the world. I can spare it all for you. You... you are my last chance at happiness. It is true, I am a monster, and can be cruel, but only to those who deserve it. For you I would give anything, anything at all to have you ruling by my side. I could never be a monster to you, only protect you as one."
He stopped speaking and kissed her neck, then her mouth very gently. "Does my answer suit you?"
"It does, thank you for being so kind with my outburst. Do you think it would be alright for you to show me the rest of your home now?"
"That would be perfect," he said as he stood and reached for her hand.
He led her past the garden to a pair of very large, ornate wooden doors that opened as the pair stepped nearer. Torches along each wall lit up in bursts of flame until the entire hall they stood in was clearly visible.
"The perks of being king," he said as he winked at her.
She giggled and snuggled against his arm. "Tell me, do you have a library?"
"What type of vampire do you take me for? Of course I do my dear. If you'll walk with me it'll be the first room I show you."
ooo
Seras sat on the cold edge where she'd had the conversation with her master the week before. The breeze blew her hair back from her face, it was longer now and she liked the feel of it in the wind. She'd done a lot of thinking. If she closed her eyes she knew she'd be able to see his face as clear as if he were standing in front of her. Her master, the man who'd shown her a new world, a world of violence, destruction, but also a world of magic, wonder, and exhilaration she'd have never experienced as an ordinary policewoman, was leaving her side tonight to find his happiness again. Seras looked out at the night sky and knew she was not yet ready to leave this compound. She knew she'd have to stay here longer to hone her skills as a killer, as a creature of the night. She would have time later on to be on her own, but now she realized she still needed the teachings of the Organization to sculpt her.
It was time; she needed to tell her master. Seras focused her energy and called out into the blackness that connected their minds.
Maaaster.
ooo
"I like this balcony because it allows me to view—"
Maaaster.
He couldn't believe he'd forgotten about Seras.
"Alucard? Is everything alright?"
"Actually, I'd forgotten about some previous business. It's very important. It's about my fledgling, my child, you could say. She is to give me her answer tonight."
"Oh, is there something wrong?" He squeezed her hand a little and kissed the knuckles.
"I am not willing to work for the Organization anymore, but I told her I'd give her the choice to either stay there or free her from her bonds. Should she choose to stay, she'll take my place. I had told her that after you gave me your answer, I would see what I could do for her."
"Oh, well, I could leave now if you want." She looked down and refused to meet his eyes.
"I know what you're thinking, but there's nothing going on between her and I. That would be preposterous. I thought you might want to stay here and look around. This is going to be your home, you should get to know your way around it. The torches will light up as you walk, and if you get lost and would like to go back to a certain room, just call out its name and your way will be lit. Is all of this fine with you? I shall be no longer than an hour at best."
A small smile crept up the sides of her face and she nodded. Amaya kissed his lips and bid him goodbye. As the blackness engulfed him, she heard in her mind, "Remember, this is your castle now, there is nothing in here that can harm you."
ooo
"You'll have to forgive me Police Girl, but things tonight have progressed better than I thought they would."
"So I see, Master. I take it she said yes?"
Alucard smiled and looked away. "Something like that."
"I have decided, Master," she said as she stood and faced him.
"I'm going to stay."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
He offered her his hand and bowed. "Then let's go."
"Wait. You're not going to ask me about it?"
"I don't see any reason to, Police Girl."
ooo
Amaya wandered the halls, enchanted more and more with each step forward. Tapestries of all designs hung from the walls, flowers brought color to each table she passed, each room held something new. He'd given her free reign to the castle, and she would take full advantage of it. As she walked, she noticed that everything was very clean, as if an entire staff had been hard at work for weeks cleaning for her arrival. But surely not, there wasn't even anyone in the castle. The only sounds she'd heard aside from her footsteps and the roar of the torches had been the birdsong when she'd traveled the gardens with Alucard. Suddenly, she had a very interesting idea. She'd not yet tried out what he'd told her about calling out a room's name, but a very particular room interested her just now.
"Alucard's bedroom!" she called out into the darkness.
Nothing. Not even a small spark.
"Sorin's bedroom!" And the torches erupted with fire and light, illuminating the way right of her. With her heart pounding in her chest, Amaya walked to her right, toward his bedroom. A lavishly decorated hallway greeted her, with paintings of landscapes and ships at sea. More flowers adored tables here, and finally, the biggest pair of double doors she'd seen so far greeted her. She took the time to look, and was enthralled at the carving upon the doors. Scenes of hard battles and serene cottages mixed together with ballroom dancers and wolves in mid-stride during a full moon. Her eyes shifted to each scene greedily, trying to remember it all before the doors opened. The now familiar creaking snapped her out of her reverie and she moved back to let the doors open. Amaya bit her lip and her eyes danced. She could have sworn the torches were louder inside than they had been in any other room.
Clearly, the focus of the room was the bed. Four posts towered over everything else in the room, and the bedding was closed off to view by the velvety red cloth draped across the posts. The fireplace was in front of the bed, and various winged creatures, both mythological and not, adorned it in stone. Ahead of her, and scattered throughout the expansive room, where rugs that looked very comfortable, and very inviting. Amaya bent down and ran her fingers across the surface of one and sighed. The material felt so soft through her fingers. When she looked up her eyes widened, and she locked eyes with a painting of Alucard. But not just him she saw, from the similarities, the people standing at either side of him had to have been his parents. Alucard wore the same, soft, smug expression she'd seen so many times. She walked farther up to the painting and took notice of how beautiful his mother had been, and how tall his father was. She looked at all three and their clothing, so elegant. Amaya looked from one parent to another and was glad that both appeared to be very proud of their son in the painting.
She didn't know how long she'd stood there, but a crackle from the fire unfreezed her. She continued her walk around the room and felt puzzled at one particular piece of furniture. She now stood in front of a rather large mirror that hung elegantly next to his dresser.
I've got to ask about that reflection thing.
Amaya moved away from the dresser and had to tilt her head all the way up to see where the windows in his room ended. And yet, she was still not sure if it was a trick of the light or not but she couldn't see their tips.
Curieser and curieser.
There seemed to be a door handle on the windows, a very fine, silver one that looked very old. She looked out the window again and there seemed to be just the way down. And a very long way at that, a very long rocky way.
But, since he's turned out to be more than he seemed originally, why can't his home be the same?
Amaya put her hand firmly around the doorknob and turned it. The glass door that was hidden amongst the metal decorations around the glass was clearly visible now, but instead of dropping to her doom, Amaya felt and heard her heel click on solid stone beneath her. It was an amazing trick to the eye, one minute she was looking out at nothing, and the next she saw a balcony before her. Very comfortable, plush chairs lay under an extension of the roof, and ivy crept up the railing. Amaya was delighted, and couldn't wait until he showed her other hidden parts of the castle.
Yeah, definitely the man for me.
She threw opened up the curtains to the bed and threw herself on it, not realizing that minutes later she'd fall asleep.
The moment she fell into slumber, every door and window locked and the entire castle dimmed, protecting its Queen.
ooo
Their shadows glided along the wall, the only sign anyone was moving through the hallway. At the end, Integra's office awaited them, and Alucard nodded to his companion before he turned the knob and stepped in. Integra sat inside, behind her desk, with a cigarette slowly burning in the ashtray.
"Well, well, look who's decided to join us. Nice of you to show up here from time to time, Alucard."
She sat up straighter in her chair, and looked down at him from her glasses.
He chuckled and continued to walk forward.
"Don't worry, very soon you won't see me at all."
"What?"
"That's right. I'm done with you and all of Hellsing. The favor I owed your father has been more than repaid."
"You can't leave. You do not have my permission to leave!" Integra slammed her fist down on the desk and stood, scowling at both of them.
"You leave when I say that you can." Alucard closed the distance between them in no time at all and sat cross-legged on her desk. Integra stumbled back a step and she clenched her fists at her sides.
"What your father did not tell you, is that there is a loop hole in my binding. Why do you think I that I have not worried about the power that these gloves hold over me?", he said holding his hands up to her face, "Even you father recognized that every single creature in this world deserves some happiness."
"And what does that have to do with my power of you?"
"It's quite simple really," he said as he slipped the gloves cleanly off, "your father told me that the day I found happiness again, I would be relieved of any duties to the Hellsing family."
Integra's eyes bulged and he enjoyed the sight as very quietly placed the gloves together. She looked defeated then; her shoulders slumped and she sighed.
"It seems I am at your mercy. What would you have Hellsing become?"
Alucard placed his hand on her chin and lifted her face until she met his eyes.
"I have chosen to leave, but Seras would like to stay on in my place. She would like to keep serving the Organization, but, I have a condition for her stay. You are not to force any of your father's gloves on her. She wanted to serve under her own free will and I will not have my fledgling turned into a pretty puppet."
"You never cease to surprise me, Alucard. I don't know what I was expecting tonight, but not this." Integra slumped down in her chair and looked up at the creature that had protected her compound for so long. He smiled his crooked grin down at her one final time and asked, "Are we agreed then?"
"Go, but I expect to see you at my funeral." His laughter echoed through the room and he was gone.
Seras moved closer to Integra, and kneeled before her.
"Master."
ooo
How... interesting...
His disjointed thoughts scattered about in his head as he teleported back to where Amaya was. He wasn't too surprised that she'd ended up where she had, but he was pleased that to get there, she'd called out the right name. When the doors closed behind him, he sensed her in his bed, asleep. Curiosity overtook him and he glided towards her. Opening the curtains slowly, he let his gaze travel over her sleeping form. Her lips were slightly open, her dress had slipped up on her thighs, and her hair fanned around her so perfectly.
He crawled in next to her and propped himself up on his elbow to face her. He continued to watch her sleep for a few minutes more until finally deciding to wake her. He touched her cheek softly and her eyes opened instantly. She smiled and opened her arms to him. Not thinking about it twice, he closed the distance between them and let himself be enclosed in her embrace.
"How long have I been asleep?" She asked into his chest.
"Oh, I'd say about, half an hour or so." He ran his fingers through her hair and she stretched against him.
"You're cold."
"And you're warm", he said as he kissed her forehead.
His eyes shined in the dark.
So handsome.
Amaya cleared her throat and looked away from him a second.
"Did your business work out?"
"It did, and I should probably explain to you what I was talking about. Will you sit with me outside?"
Amaya nodded and he led her to the balcony. She motioned towards the nothingness and said, "nice trick."
"You've already been outside then?"
"Yes", she said as she boldly opened the door and stepped out. Alucard raised his eyebrow and followed. She chose a couch and he sat at the other end.
"How to begin..."
"At the beginning I suppose", she said grinning.
He winked at her and laughed.
"Well then, the Organization's purpose is to eradicate..."
ooo
Amaya sat quietly, having taken in all the information. She decided to stand then, and faced the balcony, away from his direction.
"It's amazing you know, all that goes on beneath the surface. So much happens in the normal world of people's lives that the world will never find out about, but now, in my life, there's an extra layer. I really do feel like I've taken off from reality. Yet, I'm contradicting myself, because deep down, this feels more real than anything I have experienced in so long. This, is my world now, isn't it?"
She turned suddenly and walked towards him.
"A world of magic, vampires, fairies, secret organizations and who knows what else."
He rose and looked down at her.
"Don't look so grave and kiss me already", she said.
He growled and grabbed her by the waist, easily lifting her off the ground and into his lap. She quickly straddled him and tightly wrapped her legs around his torso. His mouth collided with hers and they were at each other, furiously, so hungry for the other's taste.
"I'm yours!" She panted out between kisses.
He growled again and bit her collarbone. Amaya moaned and her eyes traveled toward the heavens. She felt his hardness beneath her senses burned. One of the most powerful and ancient beings in the world held her against his body. She saw his need for her, felt her heart beating. Amaya felt a raw love for him, and him for her, something old and dangerously awesome. His eyes glowed, and he was looking at her very differently than he had at the beginning of the night.
"I must have you."
She nodded and he stood, still with her wrapped around his body. The glass doors flew open, and he quickly moved to the bed with her.
Ooooh, I know you all want to kill me now, but it goes on in the next chapter, don't worry.