At least they were no longer a real threat, and all but extinct.
The first two targets Integra had had no interest in sparing and had immediately ordered silenced. Seras was more than shocked at her obvious disinterest in the idea of respecting life rather than her decision. Afterall, the target's friend, who had consequently become a target himself was only regretfully enough, human.
Waiting by the basement exit, Alucard's smile never left his face as the Commander stood in the doorway and saluted, Integra paying him no mind as she slowly descended the stairs and turned to her motley pair.
Seras stood cautiously in front of the older woman, partially hidden by the shadows as she watched her approach.
"What does he know?" she looked straight into her servant's eyes.
"A lot..." he smiled, his dark voice echoing eerily in the spacious room.
There seemed to be a hidden exchange between the two that Seras couldn't quite place as their eyes met. There was a bond between them that she couldn't quite understand, and probably never would.
Integra glanced at the young man in the corner...he couldn't have been any older than twenty, but apparently had seen more than he should have in this lifetime.
"What do you want me to do about him?" Alucard stood statue-still as he looked down at his petite master, grinning in anticipation, anxious for her order...
"He must be silenced," she concluded. "Although unfortunate as it may seem" she glanced at Seras who was looking at her bashfully. "Silence him..."
Seras jaw nearly hit the floor. After all, the target was a teenager...a mere boy. Couldn't they just let him go...make him promise never to speak of what he had seen?
Integra's eyes met Alucard's and she spoke in a language that Seras did not understand.
"Sukina koto o nandemo shinasai..."
Despite her protests, Integra would take no chances with her organization. Secrecy meant absolutely everything...and she was not going to risk it after having just come from writing a dozen letters to the insiders whom she had asked to pull a few strings regarding the last media bust.
But just as Seras had turned her back andbegan her trekback to report to the troops, she could hear the boy's frightened gasp of surprise, and she suppressed her instincts with a vengeance.
Shutting her eyes, she shook her head and went back out into the night.
Alone in the dark basement watching her servant feed, Integra felt a tinge of pleasure.
After all, it wasn't every night that she allowed him this honor.
As she stood in her uniform, gun resting at her hip nonthreatening, she was overtaken by the site of her servant feeding. It wasn't anything new. She had watched him feed before, once when she had asked him to silence a certain dim-witted reporter, but for some odd reason, just the knowledge of what he was doing interested her.
It sparked some sort of inexplicable tension from within that oddly enough, gratified her.
It was obvious that the young dark-haired male had been merely trying to protect his friend, but wound up with his hands full and way over his head in researching her organization.
Seras had tried to spare him, reporting that it was merely a boy, but Integra was firm in her descision, her voice low and unforgiving.
"Sukina koto o nan demo shinasai"
(Do whatever you like...)
And Seras had listened in shock, her eyes full of mortal disbelief before putting her doubts to rest and walking away.
Alucard wasted no time.
Integra found herself holding her breath as she watched the tall vampire gently reach forward and bring the youth toward him.
So sinister...she thought to herself, clutching the gun at her side protectively.
So cruel...yet her mouth suddenly went dry and her tongue slipped out from between two petal-soft lips in order to moisten them.
Her hands clenched as she sensed the young male's fear as Alucard slipped an arm about his back. His victim made as if to push him away and run, but it was obvious that he was so fear-stricken that all he could do was stare and tremble.
She swallowed as the tongue came first, gently testing the tender area of exposed neck.
Damn showy vampire.
There was no need to draw it out. He was merely putting on a show, either for his own entertainment or her own, more than likely the latter...
No matter how much she wanted to move closer, she couldn't as she watched his mouth descend almost lovingly upon the warm moist skin. His sharp teeth caught the light from the dim bulb above before sinking into the flesh with ease.
There was a soft struggled whimper from the male and Integra swallowed, straining to tear her calm eyes from the scene... but it was of no use. Something always made her watch...no matter how much her skin crawled...or how much she tried to turn away.
Perhaps it was indeed morbid curiosity.
She gazed almost trance-like, icy blue eyes heavily lidded as his mouth moved gently over the wound, drinking the crimson like it was the nectar of the gods...
...or the devil she thought with a smile. Unconsciously her hand left her gun at her hip and came to rest over her suit-pant clad thigh, her gloved nails gently scraping over her skin repeatedly as she watched the ancient vampire caress his victim to ease his suffering.
His movements were slow, careful, almost loving in a twisted manner, and it sparked some emotion deep from within her to see him move so gingerly.
The youth looked so frail in his arms, eyes heavily lidded and unfocussedas the hand in his hair sifted through the auburn locks with content, the hand about his waist rubbing soothingly. Shock finally set in as the young male's eyes rolled back and he slowly began to fall limp. And yet Alucard clung to him, intent on drinking his fill of the oddly sweet blood and not wasting one drop. Lost in his own hunger, the tall vampire slowly sank to his knees, victim secure in his arms.
For a moment she could see herself in the youth's place. She wondered how it would feel if he were to embrace her in his arms of death.
So small...caught up in the arms of such an intimidating figure. He did not frighten her...even he was aware of this...butif the height didn't frighten one...that maniac grin was guaranteed to do so...
Gentle sucking noises could be heard in the quiet of the room... rhythmic...soft...
Another deep sigh...softer...deeper than the first.
He was really enjoying himself.
She could almost smell the blood from where she stood, and if she listened close enough, she could swear she could hear the quiet droning thump of the man's heart. She had been unaware that her lips had parted, nor conscious of the fact that her lungs heaved, chest rising and falling in unabashed tension as she sucked in each breath, her suit suddely a little too tight.
If only to be held by such a powerful being. She had only seen it from afar...but lately she had been feeling the need to subject herself to it.
Alucard clutched almost possessively at the young man.
She followed the movements of his mouth over the tender neck, watching it mold around the soft skin, and held her breath when she observed the movements of the muscles in his throat undulating as the warm liquid slid down most welcome.
His eyes were heavily lidded and he sighed.
"Why are you so intent on watching..." he spoke softly. She knew that it wouldn't be long before he inquired and was prepared for it.
"Why? Is it making you uncomfortable?" she asked tauntingly. His smile widened as his mouth settled over the wound again.
Silence greeted the air, but the words in her mind were quite clear.
"If I didn't know better...I'd say you wanted a taste..."
Clearly not amused, her mouth pressed into a thin line of irritation.
He knew just where to hit her, and how much pressure to apply.
"That's enough. Return to your hellish quarters"
He was disappointed, she knew and he made it known in his reluctant gestures.
He was unnecessarily slow in parting with his victim, tongue elongating an inch and lapping at the blood that seeped out of the wound as his hands unwound ever so slowly from around the unconscious young man. He obeyed nonetheless, stepping away from the figure and then looking directly at his master, the rest of his form a shadow.
"The offer is there...all you have to do is ask..." with that he disappeared completely, leaving her to dispose of the new corpse.
She awoke the next night in a daze.
The dark slowly began to give way to dimness and Integra blinked thrice before her eyes began to focus. She realized that she was lying on her bed. Reaching over she found her glasses and adjusted her sight.
She didn't even recall going into her room, much less sitting upon her bed. Yet here she was...in a comfortable silk night slip that fell to about mid-thigh, lying on her side. It took a moment for her to register that just hours ago she had been in the shower and from there had sought rest.
She could feel the eyes upon her, devouring every inch of exposed flesh. That odd scent that had perforated her office the day before became prominent. She turned calmly to the figure standing beside the bed, glowing eyes peircing as they watched her. She was both unsurprised and disturbed to see the infamous vampire staring almost intensely at her in his usual red trench covering outfit, hat, and glasses.
The tall vampire grinned his ridiculously wide-ass grin and she shook her head, sighing and sitting up.
"Is something wrong?" she asked curiously as she watched him.
"Do you mean to tell me that you don't know?"
"Know what, Alucard..." her eyes narrowed.
"How do you feel?" his deep voice demanded.
"Like sending you back to hell if you do not FIND another hobby to keep you busy that does not involve stalking me," her mouth retained it's thin expressionless line of indifference.
If possible the grin widened and he stared at the young woman for a moment longer.
"Does my watching you make you feel something?" he inquired. There was a long pause as she merely watched him, both waiting to see who would turn away first.
She refused to yield.
"You have no business watching me sleep like some damned psychotic stalker...You haven't come into my chambers in years. Why now..." she spoke firmly, but not angrily. "This is more than just platonic concern..."
"Humans can be so distant.."
Seeing no real point in his loitering around her private quarters she breathed deeply.
"You have no reason to be in here..Alucard. Exercise some propriety god damnit. I shall return to my rest." she sighed. "And when I awaken you had better be elsewhere."
He chuckled before turning his back to her.
"Why? Does it make you uncomfortable?" he asked tauntingly, feeling overly pleased as her eyes narrowed at the familiar remark. "...You need not answer, Master. I know it makes you uncomfortable..." he said as he returned to his shadows.
She rolled her eyes and settled back down as his last words were more of a whisper and she had to strain to hear them.
"Good...I like to see you sweat..."
With that, the tall vampire disappeared through the wall, leaving her looking after him cautiously, eyes widened and heart racing.