Chapter V

Chapter V

Elizabeth sat on one of the pillows by her window with a text on her lap. It was raining outside, and she loved to be near it to hear it fall. A slamming door called her attention from the book. It seemed that Sir Integra was back. That meant Alucard was, too.

She became excited. The past week had unlocked things for her that her studies (which had been tossed aside, completely forgotten) had only made her curious about, but didn't offer any answers to. Seras had become a valuable friend.

"Now, you eat up, young lady!" Seras had said, placing a bowl of soup in front of her one evening that past week. "You need your strength!"

Elizabeth had looked at the food, then over at Seras' own empty place at the table.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?" She had asked. "You haven't eaten anything all week."

Seras gave her a funny look.

"I don't eat…food." She said, chuckling at her reference to the Dracula movies. "I'm a vampire, too, you know."

Elizabeth had looked at her in wonder.

"You hide it so well!" she had exclaimed. "You even move like the rest of us do, not at all like Alucard!"

Seras went a little red at that. Elizabeth could tell she touched a nerve, so instead, she began asking about Seras' differences, commenting each time that it was wonderful that she could blend so well.

Elizabeth had been curious about Seras, true, but she really wanted to know about Alucard. Something kept pulling at her, and all she wanted to do was be in his presence. It frightened her a little. It made her curious and excited even more.

--

Alucard sighed in contentment as he settled into his favorite straight-backed chair. It felt like it had been a very long time to be away, although a week was indeed a minuscule amount of time for his kind.

"I wonder why I am so anxious to be back here." He mused aloud, coaxing a fire to life beneath the mantle.

In fact, all of his previous comforts and ideals seemed to have rearranged themselves, causing him to be rather confused and irritated.

The answer came with a presence that drew his attention from down the hall. It amazed him how in only a month, she looked completely at ease with her surroundings, even in the dark cellar where he resided.

"Welcome back, Alucard." She greeted him.

"Lady Elizabeth." Alucard said, a smile breaking over his face. She returned the smile, coming up to him.

"May I remove your glasses?" she asked, looking at his eyes.

"If you wish." Alucard, watching her, his own curiosity piqued.

She carefully reached out, her warm skin brushing his cheek as she grasped the rim of the red-tinted glasses. He watched as her eyes widened when the full red of his eyes, then go back to an almost child-like curiosity.

"Why are Seras' eyes blue?" She asked at last. "Why does she act differently?"

"Because, Lady." Alucard replied, realizing the source of this contact. "She's not a full vampire. Seras is my servant. Until she drinks blood of her own will, she will continue to be different like she is."

Elizabeth thought about this.

"Thank you." She said at last. "But will you teach me how to fight? Seras says I'm very good with a gun, but I don't think it'll be enough when I go on missions."

Alucard chuckled. This girl had such a wild spirit. He wondered what she might become in the coming years.

"I doubt Sir Integra will allow you on a mission unless she accompanies you." He sighed.

Anger flared in Elizabeth's eyes.

"I won't be kept indoors like a prized dog." She said. "I understand not going now. I am too much of a risk. But in the coming years, Integra will have to make an exception."

Alucard rose.

"Alright." He said at last, escorting her to the door. "But I will need time to prepare. And so will you."

"How long?" She asked.

Alucard thought. Preparations could easily be done within another month. However, he felt it was necessary to find out more about this girl that had turned his dark hermetic world upside-down.

"Two months for me." He said at last. "But I want you to follow only Integra's orders for the next four. First and foremost, you listen to her."

Elizabeth's eyes sparkled.

"Done." She said immediately. "Here I thought it would take years before you would train me. Thank you."

With that, she left, leaving Alucard to stare, actually stare, after her.