Author's notes: Hey y'all. I am finally almost kinda sorta close to finishing this story! Awesome, right? Well, just letting you know that I am very grateful for all the reviews, and the ideas you guys have given me, I didn't expect so many people to like this fic, especially since this is my first time ever writing one. I am kinda stuck at the moment trying to figure out a killer ending, but I have partial writer's block at the moment, so any ideas would be appreciated. Well, thanks for listening to me rant, and on with the chapter!
Anxiety twisted her stomach, fear made her feel sick. Wouldn't they get in trouble for this? Wasn't there a rule against it? Victoria's mind raced with these apprehensive thoughts as she followed Alucard and Malakai down a dark street, away from Hellsing Manor. There had to be a rule prohibiting this kind of behavior. There had to be something, some way for her to get out of it! She drank her medical blood every night, what more did they want!
Alucard sensed her conflicted inner thoughts, trying very hard not to throw some angry, sarcastic remark at her. But if memory served him, and it did, he had once felt the very same things. Besides, he was trying to help her, and anything he said at the moment would only worsen her anxious mood. He understood her worries about getting in trouble; his master could not kill him but she could certainly kill Victoria. Though . . . he honestly did not think she would. She had taken a liking to his fledgling lately. Which he planned on using to his advantage at a later date.
What can we do, old friend? She is afraid, and nothing we say will change that, Alucard asked Malakai.
We can let it happen. Truly, nothing else will soothe her fears. She must learn that it is not as bad as she has made herself believe. You remember how hard the first time is, Malakai replied with a mental smile.
Yes, Alucard sighed silently.
Sometimes he did not understand Malakai's endless supply of patience. Even when they were human, Malakai was far more kindhearted, quiet, understanding. Alucard was not lacking in these qualities, exactly, but he rarely found them useful, and so, rarely put them to use. Casting a glance at the night sky, a smile spread over his face. How good it was to be a vampire again. Secretly he wondered why his master was allowing this. She was perfectly aware of his intentions tonight, and on a normal night, she would have forbidden it. Perhaps she believed that it would be better for Victoria to experience this? Though he wondered, at the moment, he really didn't care. It was finally happening, that was what mattered.
Soon, they came upon a street that was completely dark. Few people walked on it, but that was perfect for what they were planning tonight. The fewer the better. Alucard and Malakai came to a silent agreement and stopped. Victoria, who was distracted, did not notice that they stopped. She ran into Alucard, who had turned and was watching her. She blushed as she looked up at him. He gave her a small smile. She smiled back. Malakai diverted their attention to the man that approached them on the same side of the street.
Alucard stood behind Victoria, gently taking hold of her shoulders, and bent to whisper in her ear. She tensed.
"Relax, Victoria . . . do you see him?"
"Yes," she replied softly.
"Close your eyes."
"What?"
"Do it."
She did as she was told and then he said, "Now focus. Concentrate on him, listen to his heartbeat. You can hear it, can't you? Listen . . . can you smell his blood? It's not cold, like the medical blood you are used to. It's hot, alive. It's what you need to survive, Victoria. It's what you hunger for, every night, every day. It's eating away at you, isn't it? It doesn't have to be that way. You can make it stop. You can make the ache go away. All you have to do is kill them. It will be so easy, Victoria. No matter how hard they fight, you can overcome them. You can take their blood without any effort at all. You just have to want to. You do want to, Victoria. I can feel it in you. Now do it."
Her breathing was heavy, her own heart raced. She was becoming increasingly more aware of the fangs that ached in her mouth. She could feel the thirst stirring inside her, she could feel it pulsing to the rhythm of his heartbeat. The heartbeat of the man her master wanted her to kill. In a wave of violent, vampiric hunger, her human conscience vanished, overwhelmed by the aching need to feed. She opened her eyes, the crimson irises darkened by bloodlust, her pupils narrowed into slits. Alucard released her. Malakai stepped forward to stand beside him.
"She's going to do it."
"I know."
The tone in Alucard's voice told Malakai that his own bloodlust was starting to take hold.
Malakai laughed softly, "Take it easy, old friend. You will have your turn soon enough. For now, let her finish what you started. Just watch. It has been a very long time since I last had the pleasure of watching one of your blood-crazed fledglings hunt for the first time."
"She isn't blood-crazed."
"Aaah, and that, I fear, is what makes her so endearing."
"I know it."
He was all she could see now. He was all she could smell, and hear. He was hers, and he was going to die by her hand. He moved toward her slowly, completely unaware that she existed. She stood on the threshold of the shadow realm she used to phase, waiting unseen for him to come just close enough for her to attack. She knew this was wrong. But right then, in that moment, she also knew that there were no other options. She was a vampire, human conscience or not. This was what she was made for. She stood just beside an alleyway, where instinct told her she could feed unnoticed. Finally, he came within reach. She lunged. Materializing, she took hold of his jacket, and the two of them fell into the alleyway, her looming over him with eyes shimmering red in the darkness.
"H-hey, uh, watch it."
She smiled an unseen smile.
"Let me go!"
She pulled him to his knees, and, crouching slightly, she bent her head close to his neck, where she could smell his blood flowing through his body.
"What the hell? What do you think you're doing? Let me go you psycho-bi-"
She sank her fangs into his neck. Blood instantly rushed into her mouth, tasting sweet and hot and sending a pleasant feeling through her that she rather enjoyed. Slowly, gently, she began sucking on the puncture wounds her fangs had made in his skin. The soft noises of protest escaped his mouth. Minutes passed, and finally, there was no more blood left in him. She released his corpse and watched with fascination as it crumbled into ashes. She backed out of the alley and walked casually back to where her master waited. A grin spread across his face as she approached, pride shining in his eyes. She smiled. She stopped just in front of him. He reached out and wiped blood from her lips with his thumb. By this time, her eyes had cleared, and she was far more rational. Looking into his eyes, she saw the darkness of the bloodlust shining back. Suddenly, his head turned in the direction of a woman (a girl, really, she couldn't have been more than 16 or so) walking down the street on the side opposite them. He released her and within an instant he was at the other side, hand around the girl's neck, pushing her back against a wall as he sucked her blood. But that was not the end of the bloodshed. Before he was finished, he had killed four people, and when he at last crossed over to their side of the street, the bloodlust had not left his eyes.
Victoria stood very still as he approached, blood dripping from his lips in a small stream down his chin. He came very close to her, and when she realized his intentions, she didn't dare try to stop him. He bent his head, his hot breath on her skin, and gently sank his fangs into her. Her breath stopped short. The peculiar sensation creeping through her sent goose bumps crawling over her skin. Her knees weakened as she felt her blood being pulled from her body. It didn't hurt, but it gave her the creeps. It was an almost pleasant sensation, if she ignored the source and the sharp, tingly feeling where he was contentedly sucking her blood. After a moment, he stopped, and held her close until she'd healed and regained some of her blood. Malakai stood watching this with quiet interest. Finally, Victoria managed to stand on her own, and Alucard held her at arm's length, studying her. The blood on his face was gone, and so was the dark expression in his eyes. He smiled at her.
"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked her.
"Are you referring to feeding or being fed from?"
"Take your pick."
"I'd have to say . . . it wasn't as bad as I feared. I really . . . I think that maybe someday, I could even get used to it. As for the other, well . . . I'd rather it didn't happen too often."
"Of course," Alucard smiled.
"Now, can we go home?"
"As soon as Malakai has his fun, then yes, we can go home."
Malakai's eyes lit up as he said, "Is it my turn now?"
