There were bodies of ghouls torn apart on the floor, their rotten smell in the air, and blood on her
claws. (wait since when did I have claws) The rich crimson called to her, whispered of all the power
and life it could give her if she'd just drink… She was powerless to resist.
But just as her tongue touched the red stain, fiery PAIN stabbed its way through her neck and tore
her throat to shreds, blanking out the world in hot red-and-black agony…
Seras jerked back and dropped her spoon, involuntarily gagging on the blood in her mouth. It
spilled down her chin and she coughed raggedly, swallowing over and over again to reassure
herself that there was no holy blade lodged in her flesh. To someone outside her own head, it
probably looked like she was about to vomit.
She wiped her mouth and hung her head, ashamed, pushing the heels of her hands into her eyes to
quell the frustrated tears. She was safe in Hellsing's basement apartments and the wounds from the
bayonets had healed (well, mostly- she still had scars) but as soon as blood touched her tongue it
was if she was in that forsaken mansion yet again, remembered pain driving all logic out of her
head. The cramping, achingly empty pit in her stomach was only growing more insistent by the
hour, but she just couldn't force herself to drink more than a sip at any given time.
"You'll have to get over that revulsion soon, Police Girl." She flinched from her sire's low voice as
he emerged from the wall.
"If you do not feed, and soon, the bloodlust will overtake you and overcome your reason. I would be forced to put you down like the lowest of maddened dogs. Is that what you want, child?" He
growled softly as he crossed the kitchen to lay white-gloved hands on her shoulders. "I did not
force you into this life, and I will not force you to continue existing if you cannot stand what
you've become." He sighed softly. "I hate to destroy my fledglings, but I will if you become a
danger to those I protect. If you make the decision now, while you are still in your right mind, it
would be easier on both of us."
The well-hidden regret in his voice finally snapped her self-control. Alucard started a little in
surprise as his fledgling whirled on him- only to wrap him in a hug that would have crushed most
humans and bury her face into his shoulder. With a relieved breath- turning to him for comfort was
a good sign- he wrapped her in the tails of his coat before returning her embrace and resting his
chin on her head.
"You are not human any longer, little Draculina. This disgust of blood is unnecessary and is
causing you great harm." She shuddered and shook her head.
"S'not because I think the blood's gross or anything, Master! It's just…" The words scattered from
her head and she opened and closed her mouth several times trying to get them back. Alucard
signed and gently grasped her by the chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"If it is not revulsion, then what stops you?" He tilted his head, puzzled, but she could only shake
her head and stutter.
"I… dunno how to say it…"
He scoffed.
:Then do not SAY it at all, fledgling. What is distressing you?:
He deliberately brought the taste of blood to the forefront of her mind, searching for the attached
sensations- and immediately jerked back from the sense of remembered pain.
"Oh, child…"
He picked her up and sat down in the chair, setting her still-wrapped form on his lap and curling
around her protectively. She shuddered, bloody tears sliding down her face, and bit into the coat's
edge without realizing it; most fledglings developed some sort of oral fixation after their change,
especially when stressed. It seemed his newest child was no different... He put it out of his mind
and stroked her hair.
"I should have realized you would be very strongly affected by what happened, but I was distracted
by thoughts of murdering that damned priest for laying a finger on my fledgling." He growled low
and she giggled despite herself, not entirely sure why; his protective, possessive demeanor made
her feel warm all over. Maybe it was just a vampire thing.
"As you've discovered, fledglings are capable of forming very strong associations between
sensations and memories; you, as young as you are, are more susceptible than most. This is usually
beneficial; a sire can introduce their child to everything they'll need to know in their new life, and
they will recall it effortlessly. If something goes wrong in the introduction, however, you will
retain the memory until new ones replace it." He gently licked away bloody tears as she calmed and
let go of her mouthful of coat.
"Luckily, this is fixable… Since your mind is still so young and malleable, all we have to do is
form new connections." He picked up the spoon from the table and shook his head with a curl of his lip.
"Really, child? A spoon? If you wish to be more dignified than to drink directly from the pack, use
a glass. Much more practical. However, for now your odd choice of utensil will aid us."
He lifted a spoonful of blood to her mouth and tapped it against her lips. She hesitantly opened her
moth for it, but as soon as the blood hit her tongue she choked in remembered pain.
Her sire's hand firmly clamped her jaw closed, preventing her from spitting out the blood at the
first taste, and he held her close as she struggled to swallow.
"Shh, fledgling. All is well, you are not hurt, you're safe…"
With her master repeating the mantra she managed to swallow and slumped against him, shaking.
He just purred and cuddled her closer.
"Good girl, Seras. Very good ideed." His scent and nearness helped banish the phantom pain and
her stomach let her know just how happy it was with the offering by grumbling loudly and
demanding more. Alucard just laughed softly and offered a second spoonful when her shaking
quieted.
Each mouthful went down easier than the last, until finally she picked up the bowl to drink the
dregs with none of the former panic.
The senior vampire purred with pride as she pushed the bowl away and wrapped her more firmly in
his coat as she slumped against his chest, exhaustion overtaking her. Now that she was finally fed
properly she would most likely sleep the night and day through, healing the damage she had
accumulated. He would move her to her coffin at dawn- for now, though, he was content to
summon a bottle of wine and a book and relax with her limp body trusting as a kitten in his lap.