Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing or anything associated with it. If I did the manga would be longer :P
A/N: OMG! Another update! Holy ballz how do I do it whilst working a 44 hour week? I dunno, too much caffeine probably! xD
This chapter seemed way, way longer when I was writing it. I still don't know if I've got the effect I wanted from it, I MAY re-write this one later. Let me know what you think? :)
On Her Majesty's Orders
Chapter 6
"Alucard." The voice called.
"..."
"Alucard." It called again, louder.
"..."
"Hey! Wake up asshole!"
"Gah! I'm awake!" Alucard yelled as his eyes shot open, something had just smacked him over the head, hard. He got up and out of his marshmallow throne with a grumble. His eyes scanned the purple and cream room, searching for his assailant. They were not to be found, Alucard growled in frustration. "Do not try my patience! Show yourself!"
"Alright, fine! Sheesh, no need to get your panties in a bunch!" There was a bright POOF of purple smoke as Bruce Willis appeared in front of Alucard, sitting atop a small cloud that was somehow supporting his weight.
"It's you" Alucard snarled, "What do you want Willis?"
"For the last time! My name is the Jackal! I'm the spirit of your goddamn gun!" Bruce willis pointed to the gun holstered inside Alucards coat as a herd of green elephants stormed past behind them.
"Willis. Jackal. Whatever, what do you want?" Alucard's patience was wearing as thin as the paper of which the Duke of Westminster was scribbling on in the background, floating atop his fortress of gummy bears.
"You and I need to talk my friend." Willis said, crossing his arms.
"Oh really?" Alucard scoffed, "I highly doubt that you have anything useful or intelligent to say."
"Not even if it's to do about Seras Victoria?" Willis frowned. Alucard's eyes narrowed at him.
"What about the Police Girl?" He snarled.
"What about that fact that you can't seem to take your eyes off her!" Willis poked Alucard several times in the chest as he spoke.
"I don't like you insinuations!" Alucard barked, drawing his two pistols at Willis.
"I'm not hearing a 'no'" Willis jested, turning into purple mist as Alucard fired off a volley of bullets at him. "Shooting at me with my own gun? Really?" He reappeared, this time wearing a high tech space suit "That shit doesn't work on me, remember?"
"It's still fun." Alucard sneered, "Now what were you trying to suggest about me and the police girl?" He asked threateningly, pointing his pistols at Willis again.
"I wasn't suggesting nothin'. It's a plain fact that you've got a thing for her!" Willis stated.
"I have not felt such petty emotions for centuries!" Alucard bellowed, emptying both of his pistols unto Willis, who simply dodged out of the way. "Do not think yourself privy to what I feel!"
"Oh, so you do feel something?" Willis grinned childishly, knowing he'd just outwitted the vampire.
"WHY DON'T YOU GO AND BLOW UP AN ASTEROID WILLIS!"
"We are on an asteroid, Alucard." He said flatly.
"What?" Alucard's eyes darted in all directions. He could have sworn they were in a bright room before. Now they were on a black, shattered landscape, and above his head Alucard could see the earth floating in the sky amongst a sea of stars.
He looked back at Willis, only to have his face drain in horror at what Willis had in his hands.
"Is that… a DETONATOR?" Alucard bellowed.
"Yes!" Willis yelled, he now had a helmet on. When did that happen? "We win Alucard!"
"Huhwhatnow?" Was all Alucard could say as Willis pressed his thumb down on the detonator button and everything went dark.
"Nngh!" Alucard woke, startled by his own dream. Confused. Angry. He quickly settled as soon as he realised he was back in his chambers, sitting atop his comfy throne.
"Damn you Walter." He grumbled sleepily, "You just had to make me a cursed gun didn't you?"
He let out a disgruntled sigh upon noticing his fingers had gouged inch deep marks all along the arms of his beautiful throne. He made a mental note to fit Walter with the bill for this one. Still, the chair could be replaced with ease, he must have been through at least several dozen by now anyway; why was furniture so weak? Scratch that. Why was he so weak to allow himself to be manipulated liked that, his pride was aching with embarrassment.
Ugh. I despise that bloody spirit.
He rubbed his head in a vain effort to banish the memories from his mind. Slowly but surely his mental strength overpowered the horrific and frankly weird images. The vampire was able to relax again, maybe even drift back to sleep.
He simply sat in silence, enjoying the feeling of the cool, slightly damp dungeon air. It gave him comfort and allowed him to mellow after those particularly irritating days spent with the humans.
Quiet. Relaxed again.
He fell back into sleep.
Three hours seemed to have flown by in what felt like three minutes for Seras. She let out a long yawn, stretching out her tired arms, as she made her way down the basement stairs.
Her tutoring sessions with Integra were quite the mental workout, but she enjoyed them. Couple that with a night out shopping with Alucard and Seras was more than happy to crawl into her coffin for a good day's sleep.
Not that she'd be able to sleep. Integra's words were rebounding inside her head like a rubberdized ping pong ball.
She still couldn't believe that Integra was actually encouraging her to explore her feelings for Alucard. Seras thought that the very suggestion of her and Alucard developing that sort of bond would be completely unthinkable in Integra's mind.
Then again, Integra justified it by claiming that she had some sort of weird, scientific interest. Was she telling the truth? Or did she simply want to watch her two pet vampires for entertainment?
Seras stopped and shook her head.
No. Integra may be a cold woman sometimes, but even she wouldn't do that to her.
AND, she did say that Alucard would never have taken the decision to turn Seras lightly.
Perhaps there was something there? Perhaps he felt something when he saw her that night, lying in a pool of blood, begging for life?
Maybe she should ask him?
The very thought of it sent her mind into overdrive; she instantly felt heat sparking across her cheeks and her chest. Seras couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh at the idea of it.
Maybe… but not today.
She reached the bottom level; her nerves calmed knowing she'd soon her in the comfort and haven of her own room.
Then she heard a noise.
Maybe it was nothing?
Another, louder noise pricked at her ears. It was coming from Alucard's room.
She felt a niggle of curiosity. Master was always quiet in his room, never making any noise. In fact he'd complain if Seras so much a allowed a pin to drop in her room after sunrise. What on earth could he be doing?
She edged down the dark hallway until she finally reached Alucard's door. She pressed her ear to the thick iron door and listened.
There was a strange noise, a grunt maybe? Then there was the sound of creaking wood, splintering, eventually she heard a snap as whatever it was gave way under some unknown force.
Biting her tongue, and knowing better, Seras crept into the room. She prayed that Alucard was asleep, otherwise she'd be in for it.
He was.
Her master was sitting on his throne, deep in what could only be described as a nightmare. His left hand was clutching a piece of his chair that had been snapped clean off. His face was locked in a deep frown and he must have been clenching his teeth because the tips of his upper fangs were poking through his lips.
Seras couldn't help but feel a tidal wave of sympathy crash over her. She'd never seen Alucard look vulnerable before, and now she wished to never see it again.
She slowly walked up to him, knowing that her footsteps wouldn't wake him, and knelt down to look at his face. There was a single thin line of crimson making its way down one of his cheeks, it was dripping gently onto his shoulder, soaking into the fabric of his black undershirt.
He was crying?
No. Her master didn't cry. Not Alucard.
But he was, and Seras saw that he wasn't frowning in anger, it was fear, something in his dreams scared him. Seras couldn't bear it any more.
Knowing it would probably wake him up, and more than likely result in one hell of a beating for her, Seras put a hand up to his face. As soon as her gloved hand touched his face she saw Alucard's muscles relax a little. She wiped the tears away, staining her soft glove a deep red as the blood spread through the fabric. His frown lessened and she saw his jaw relax.
She breathed a sigh of relief, smiling warmly at her dozing master. She'd never had the chance to observe him in this state for long, he was beautiful. His long ebony locks were resting on her wrists as Seras cupped his face in her hands. She loved his chiselled jawline, his defined brows, those deep crimson eyes, even his cheeky grin was sometimes attractive, when not used at her expense.
Seras could have happily stayed there forever.
Then his arm moved.
Seras had to use every inch of restraint not to scream, she shut her eyes tight, waiting for the assault that was to come. However all that came was his hand, gently reaching up to her, fingers outstretched. Alucard's eyes were still shut and Seras couldn't sense his conscious. She carefully leaned in a little; his fingers became lost in her blonde bangs. She leaned in a little more, a surge of heat began to race through her body as she felt something awaken deep inside her. She leaned in a little more again, his fingers were so close to her cheeks which were burning like the surface of the sun.
She leaned in again and they touched. Seras instantly jolted up at the feeling, not from the touch, but the emotions that had transferred to her from her master.
She looked down at him, a mixture of shock, fear and happiness was coursing its way through her.
Seras then did the only thing she knew how to and ran for the door, heading for the security of her coffin, and leaving her master alone. At least now she knew that his nightmare had ceased.
There was a mist hanging over the tall grass as a pair of heavy boots trampled a path through the sea of green blades. His fingertips trailed over the tips of the grass, picking up droplets of dew here and there, it was cold, refreshing. He marched on, walking through the field in a content silence, soaking up the calm of the world.
The field eventually gave way to a stone fence, it was only a foot or so high so he simply stepped over it and carried on walking.
He looked up. The moon had revealed herself to the world, bathing the landscape in a pearlescent glow. In the distance he could see the moonlight illuminating the dew coated tops of trees, a forest. He walked.
The forest was tall, dark, and imposing. He did not fear it, for its darkness was its beauty. Still moving he entered the wall of bark and leaves, milling his way between an army of solid trunks which resembled an endless row of pillars in some ancient, forgotten temple.
Still he marched on. The moonlight broke through the canopy in bright beams, lighting the ground in beautiful patters. He smiled, nature was a beautiful mistress.
In the distance he saw a warm light, the trees began to thin. He picked up his pace, caught in wonder at the sight before him. It grew brighter, and warmer, eventually he was bathed in a red glow.
The forest cleared. His eyes widened.
He saw nothing but chaos.
He had passed through to a battlefield. The land was scarred with the pot marks of war, men lay dying, strewn across the ground like discarded dolls. Many were dead, some were dying. Some wounded, some limbless, some unrecognisable as humans any more.
There were screams, blood curdling screams.
He followed the terrifying noises, walking for miles upon miles as the chorus of screams, battle and war cries melded together and ascended into a mighty crescendo.
When he reached the source, he stopped, in awe and in fear.
There were hundreds, no, thousands, no, Tens of thousands of people. Men, women, children.
They were all impaled.
He turned to look away, and behind him was more. More impaled corpses, millions, as far as the eye could see. He began to run, trying to flee the horror.
Something caught his leg. He tripped and fell.
People, there were people crawling out of the earth. A rotted hand had grasped his leg, squeezing it and crushing the bone. The people were covered in armour, wielding rusted swords and shields.
The shields bore his crest.
More grabbed him now. First his legs, then his arms. He felt hands ripping at his clothes.
More came, raising their weapons high. Their eyes hungered for blood. His blood. One came close, he pointed the rusted sword at the man's breast, right over his heart.
He raised his sword, ready to strike.
But the blow never came.
The sword began to melt in his hand. Not hot, but still melting. The man began to melt too, until he was just a puddle of blackness on the bloodstained earth. The puddle too melted away until there was nothing.
He looked around. Everything was melting away. He felt the hands groping his body weaken and dissolve. The pikes looming over him crumpled and faded into dust.
The land itself even changed. The barren, blood soaked earth morphed. It sprouted grass; he felt the ground soften beneath him as the green cushion pushed against his back.
What was this? This was not the way it ends!
He stood up. He shivered with fright at what was happening.
He flinched as he felt the earth rumble and shake.
There was a blinding light.
He shielded himself, preparing for the searing pain that it would surely bring.
Nothing.
He opened his eyes.
There was a hand. Reaching out from the light in front of him.
It was small. Gloved.
White fabric brushed against his cheek, and there was a smile.
Warm, kind, everything he didn't deserve.
He reached out to touch her. Yes it was a woman he could sense. Eyes, a pair of eyes appeared.
Blue, like the oceans he used to cross in days long gone.
The eyes were concerned, but happy. They were not looking at him, they were moving, searching. Why couldn't she see him?
He stretched his arm out further. His fingers were nearly touching her now. Just a little bit more.
They brushed against soft, bright gold strands. The hair felt softer than silk.
His fingers reached her, he felt her smooth skin. It radiated with an energy he'd never known.
Their eyes finally locked. He could his see orbs of crimson reflecting in her orbs of deepest blue.
Then everything fell away.
He was at peace.
For the second time that day Alucard stirred from his sleep, this time it was far more pleasant. He opened his eyes slowly, a fleeting sense of hope convinced him that the woman would still be there, but he knew she was already gone.
He raised a hand up to his face, had she wiped away his tears? Had she felt his hidden sorrow?
A sigh escaped his lips as the old vampire re-discovered a sensation that he thought would be long dead to him, the sensation of being cared for. It made him feel, warm. That was the only way he could describe it. Warmth being the opposite of how he would usually feel, cold and dead. It was something very rare indeed.
And it was something he didn't deserve, something a monster didn't deserve.
He rose to his feet with a low growl, half hating himself for his emotions, half trying hard enough to give a damn about them. His left hand released the piece of shattered wood from his chair, Alucard had phased out of the room before it hit the ground.
The room he entered smelled the way it always did, a mixture of insense trying to mask the damp, and the light scent of his little draculina.
She was sleeping soundly, although Alucard could tell that Seras had only recently returned to her coffin, her scent still clung to him like a exotic perfume. He smiled at her, she was beginning to develop a stronger mental link to him; being able to penetrate his dreams was evidence of that. Alucard would have to be careful with that in the future, but for now he simply stood there watching her from the shadows.
How long was he there? Minutes? Hours? He did not know.
Eventually he gave in, closing his eyes Alucard entered his fledglings mind, if only slightly. He was not far enough in to see her dreams or for Seras to recognise him being there, but it was enough for him to sense her concious. Would the same thing happen if he was the instigator?
It was not long before a triumphant grin appeared on his face. He felt the warmth return again as he connected with Seras, if only for a few moments.
Not wanting to disturb her any further, Alucard retreated from her unguided mind. A sad pang was felt in his chest as the warmth left his chest. Alucard half scoffed at the fact. He left the room and returned to his own, hoping now to enjoy a deep sleep.
Hmph. Round one goes to Willis…
A/N: Who loves ya baby? Finally theres a bit of fluffiness! Yay! I'm trying to keep them in character for the moment, I hope I achieved that. Reviews are VERY welcome, all of the reviews and pm's I've got so far are great motivators! :)
P.S I hope you guys like the particular movie references I put in the start of this chapter :3