Shenanigans
Chapter 2 – The House That Jack Built
Nerthus awoke to an empty room, barren except for a table containing a slender bottle and one single wine glass.
The first thought to cross her mind was that she had been kidnapped. The last thing she could remember was taking a shower and getting ready for her hospital appointment.
She licked her lips and discovered her canines had been elongated, arcing down into two vicious points.
She wondered if this was some pervert's game, twisting her form to please his sick fantasies of blood sucking seductresses. Then Nerthus remembered, everything. The first vampire, her injuries, almost getting raped. A shudder ran down her spine as the memories of coarse denim rubbing her inner thighs accosted her mind.
A second vampire had then appeared as she lay dying, offering her his dark gift. She had accepted, and it turns out that she was indeed alive and well. Her bones were mended, and she found that there wasn't even the faintest trace of a bruise.
The door opened and a redheaded woman walked in, dressed in some sort of military uniform. Her smile was friendly, showcasing her identical fangs.
Gods, I'm part of some government experiment. Next they'll call me Kahn and send my frozen body into deep space. The woman thought, fear coursing through her veins as images of needles and operating tables sprang from her imagination.
"Please, don't be frightened. I'm here to help." The girl said in a cheerful tone.
"What is this place?" Nerthus asked, wishing the dressing gown she had been covered with wasn't so short.
"This is the Hellsing estate. Master brought you here after-" Seras began, but found that she could not finish.
"Who are you? Whom do you work for? Have I been operated on? What chemicals have you administered to my body while I was unconscious?" Nerthus demanded.
The police girl looked as if she didn't know how to answer. She rubbed the back of her head as she thought, feeling heated by the scrutinizing stare of her new sister.
"I-I don't know what to tell you. Our master made you, and so you are his fledgling now." her voice held a nervous tremble, though she looked cool enough. Her eyes were a stunning violet blue, with only a tinge of red around the pupils.
"So you believe that you really are a vampire?" Nerthus questioned.
The woman nodded somberly, "It is the truth, Nerthus. I'm Seras Victoria, by the way. Your sister in this new life."
"How do I know you haven't been brainwashed? Why am I speculating aloud to you, if you could possibly relate information to my captors?" Nerthus mused, making her way over to the table.
"We are not your captors." Seras' voice was strained, though she was determined to remain patient.
"So I am free to leave?" Nerthus turned to regard the young woman, one eyebrow raised in questioning.
The Police Girl remained silent, knowing that she had lost this argument.
Nerthus let out a long, deep sigh and massaged her temples, "I should make more of an effort to remember my past lessons. It should have been obvious to me that trusting a man, promising impossible things, is a bad idea."
"Master has given you a second chance at life, how can you not be grateful?" Seras let the irritation break through, just a wee bit.
"Oh, if this turns out to be real, I will be. But right now, I haven't been outside this room, nor spoken with anyone besides you. After a life threatening incident, anyone would be vulnerable. Perhaps you're here to solidify the illusion when I'm most receptive?" Nerthus countered coolly.
"Master said you would be difficult." Seras sighed.
"Why do you call him Master?" Nerthus asked pointedly, drawing her brows together and giving the other woman her full attention.
"Well, when a Nosferatu creates a fledgling, he becomes their master, a mentor. Do you understand?" Police Girl explained.
"What is his name?" Nerthus asked quickly.
"Alucard. You mean, he didn't tell you?" Seras replied, her eyebrows knitting together.
"So if he is my master, does that mean I no longer have free will?" The woman continued.
"You still have free will. However, you cannot refuse an order from our Master, nor disobey him." Seras explained in a positive tone. It's not like her new sister didn't choose this, anyway.
"So this is how it is." Nerthus laughed to herself, "Slavery, the cost of another life."
Seras realized that making Nerthus believe her was a lot like running backwards up a mountain. Instead, she tried a different approach.
"At any rate, you need to keep your strength up. That bottle right there is your first meal. I had Walter heat it up for you, so it wasn't as bad as my first time." She nodded her head at the table that Nerthus was leaning on.
The woman turned, picking up the bottle and really looking at it for the first time. The crimson liquid inside was no doubt blood. Out of sheer curiosity, if nothing else, she poured herself a glass.
Seras looked at Nerthus intently, arousing the woman's suspicions. Turning carefully, Nerthus presented the glass to Seras.
"I want to see you doing it, too." She explained.
Seras nodded in understanding and took the glass gently, taking a swig and licking her lips with a loud smack. Then, she returned it to the new vampire.
"When in Rome." Nerthus shrugged and raised the glass to her lips. The coppery liquid that hit her tongue was cool and repulsed her, but she was determined to keep it down. She attempted to swallow, but ended up vomiting all over the floor.
"It's okay. You'll get used to it." Seras assured.
Nerthus cast her a disdainful look and set the glass back upon the table, "An acquired taste, no doubt."
"It's better when it's warm, and fresh." She admitted ruefully, "However, we are expressly forbidden to feed on humans."
"If that is our nature, why must we fight it?" The new woman cocked her head, neither accepting or rejecting the rule.
The door opened once more and an elder man, perfectly styled, entered the tense space. Nerthus' stomach growled, bringing to light her urgent need for sustenance. His scent aroused her lust, and she found that it took most of her self control to keep from crossing the room. She didn't know what her instincts would tell her to do next, but it was a safe bet that it wouldn't be pleasant.
"Hello my dear, I'm glad to see you're finally awake." He remarked cheerfully, placing a folded pile of clothes on the nightstand.
"Nerthus, this is Walter. He is the Hellsing family retainer." Seras introduced.
"Hello, Walter, nice to meet you." Nerthus said kindly. Then, she realized that there was a feeling invading her gut, warning her not to trust this man.
"Nice to meet you, too." He replied, sucking in a deep breath to continue, "I've prepared a standard uniform for you to wear until we get you fitted. Sir Integra would like to speak to you shortly, if you're feeling alright."
"Uniform?" Nerthus balked.
"Yes, you will be working for the Hellsing organization from now on." Walter replied, his tone light.
Nerthus did not know what to say at first. She mentally berated herself for falling for the dark haired man's ruse, sure that it was some kind of trap to induce her cooperation as a lab rat.
"I don't think so. I already have a job." She protested, unwilling to let these strange people take control of her life.
"Nerthus, there is not way you can return to your old life. You are a Nosferatu, now." Seras interjected, drawing the woman's glare from her co-worker.
Nerthus laughed a deep guffaw, "You know nothing about my life. A life which I fully intend to return to."
"That won't be possible." Walter stated as if he were talking to a child.
This only incited Nerthus' ire, adding strength to her suspicions. She cast another heated stare at the man before taking a breath, "Who are you to tell me me how to live?"
"Silence." A deep voice penetrated the room, echoing from no direction yet many.
"Master." Seras remarked happily.
"You." Nerthus' eyes flashed as she took in the gathering form of the man who promised her another shot at life.
"I thought you wanted to live." his tone was mocking.
"I do." Nerthus replied dryly, fighting against the tide of questions and hurtful remarks that pressed against her lips.
"Is this not what you expected?" he continued.
"How dare you mock me! You! You come to me as I lay dying, filling my head with visions of immortality. Now I'm here, surrounded by cops and, and whatever the hell he is!" She pointed to Walter angrily before continuing in a venomous tone, "Imprisoned like some bitch pup donated to science! What have you let them do to me? What have I become? Some kind of artificial monster?"
Alucard laughed at length, letting the velvet sound reverberate throughout the room. He looked around his surroundings, as if observing them for the first time.
"You will have to learn to drink blood, just as the Police Girl has." he chided.
"I'm not drinking one more drop of that cold, slimy, repulsive liquid. I grow tired of these games, Alucard." Nerthus insisted. She bit back the urge to declare her freedom and attempt to walk out. From what she had learned, they had no intentions releasing her. This would require more knowledge, and more cunning.
Nerthus felt a static charge course through the air and raise the hair on her arms. A shadow rose from the ground in front of Alucard and shot towards her, too quick to dodge. It wrapped it's inky abyss around her neck and forced her against the wall, immobile.
"Leave us." he commanded the other two, smirking as the door closed behind them.
Nerthus bared her teeth and made to let out a growl, hiss, anything defensive. The noise that erupted from her throat was completely unnatural. It was like a roar of a tiger, coupled with the wail of a banshee, filling the room and hurting even her own ears. Shadows shot from her, covering the nearest wall.
The woman was stunned into silence, black tendrils receding as her temper cooled. The events that had just taken place had brought about an understanding, one which was quite overwhelming, stealing her fire.
Alucard ran a gloved hand down her face, smiling as he looked into the deep crimson of her eyes, now wide with a mix of emotions. He couldn't help but let a feeling of pride steal over his heart, coupled with one of possessiveness, for she was already strong! Tightening his grip on her, he delved into her mind.
You will refer to me as Master. He began, savoring her fear that, so far, only he had been able to invoke.
Nerthus' first instinct was to rebel, though her mind questioned the merit in those actions. Some small part of her was starting to believe this was real, hurt by Alucard's reprimand.
You now serve the Hellsing organization. You are a newborn Nosferatu, incapable of self control-
I have perfect discipline, have spent my human years striving for it. I didn't attempt to attack Walter, which should constitute as proof. Nerthus interrupted, rejecting the bruise he would lay upon her pride.
You will address me accordingly. Alucard lashed, his anger producing a red eyed hound from the pool of shadow writing about him.
Nerthus looked into it's many eyes, intrigued by his abilities. This is real. She thought, tears of relief washing over her eyes. The press of danger still clouded her heart, but the icy fear the held her in a vice-grip had faded away. Now, excitement borne from the life stretching before her swelled her heart as she turned to regard Alucard.
"Yes, Master."
A/N: I'm glad to see people following the story the first day it was posted. thank you so much! Next chapters will have more action now that shes been introduced to *almost* everyone. P.S.-This isn't total submission from Nerthus, don't y'all worry now!