School and work, the recipe for disaster and a very annoyed me. So much to write and so little time.

Pairing: Alucard/Seras
POV Characters: none, General pov
Genres: Horror/Romance/Alternate universe
Rating: T

Chapter 7: Letting go

"Ugh.. come on!" Seras groaned as she once again failed to summon her holy light. "If I could do it before why can't I now?" More and more she started to think what Alucard had told her about her being capable of calling forth divine power was just a lie, but why would he lie about something like that? To give her a false sense of security?

"This makes no sense.." She mumbled in annoyance as she allowed herself to flop backwards onto her bed. Less than a week ago she was still a relatively normal 19 year old knight, and now here she was staying in a grim looking castle with a perverted lord, a vampire lord to that. And she had to believe she was some sort of powerful holy paladin?

"What sort of paladin would surround herself with vampires werewolves and God knows what other creatures of the night that live here?" Seras wondered, she had never been what one would deem normal. What normal girl received swords training at the age of 9? Her... Or certainly sir Arthur the king would not allow any fifteen year old girls to join his round table. Once again yes in her case he had. It took her three years to take her honorary place as the lieutenant and personal guard of the king's daughter Integra.

At the sound of someone knocking on the door she shot up, feeling relief fill her and scolding herself for being so jumpy as she realized it was just the maid. Rip, who was smiling at her in that creepy way she herself did probably not even realize was scary.

"Guten Abend fräulein Victoria." Rip greeted as she opened the curtains allowing the light of the moon to illuminate the room. "Did sie sleep vell?" She asked as she handed Seras a fresh pile of clothes. Seras thankfully accepted the clean cloth, unfolding them to see what garments she had been given this time.

"Actually I haven't slept at all since I woke up yesterday, I just haven't felt the need to." She replied as she looked all the clothes over one by one. Noting that they were all equally revealing and tempting. "Let me guess, Alucard picked these out for me?" Seras asked sounding not the least surprised. Part of her suggested she should just put on her armour this time, reminding her of what happened last time. But actually she knew it would not matter a lot. Alucard could probably look straight through her clothes if he wished, he'd made it no secret that he wanted her.

"Ja! How did sie know that?" Rip asked mildly surprised. Was this woman really too dense to understand or did she just act innocent? Seras understood why this lady was not in the fighting force. Perhaps if she had something to improve her eyesight and her naivety she would make a fine hunter.* While Seras was getting dressed Rip continued her cleaning duties, all the while keeping up a friendly conversation about things that had been happening about the castle.

"Now I no longer haf to keep it a secret vat we are I feel ve can finally talk more openly." Seras smiled, vampires werewolves.. whatever they were they seemed to be kind enough, it made sense to her actually, since there are so many evil humans why can't there be good vampires? She had always believed that. "I almost vorgot! There are some guests that vant zu see du. "Hellsing" zey call themzelves." Seras nearly tripped as she heard this information.

"Integra?! Why couldn't you have told me that before? I have to hurry!" Unlike her, Integra was pretty much one to kill and ask questions later. If she were to find out Alucard was a vampire she would doubtlessly try to kill him. According to her all creatures of the night were per definition evil, one point the two women had always disagreed upon. Taking her possessions along she ran towards the door. This time as she dashed through the hallways she did not get lost, She felt more secure having taken her weapons along so she could bury them in Alucard's groin would he try to play some of his tricks again. As soon as she ran into the dining room she caught a glimpse of Integra standing across Alucard with her sword drawn.

"Please Sir Integra, listen he's not our enemy!" Seras was surprised to hear Alucard laughing and even more so as Integra sheathed her sword and turned her back to the man.

"Let's go Seras, I don't wish to be in this place any longer than I have to." Integra called to her.

"I merely suggested that she might be better off here with me where she is treated with the proper respect, Lady Hellsing." Alucard stated as he looked Seras over with appreciation.

"With all due respect Alucard, I fail to see how dressing my lieutenant as a cheap prostitute and talking about her ..ahem... features as if she is a show horse would be showing the proper respect. Now come on Seras, we are heading home." The young knight stood perplexed. That's what they have been talking about? And while she was worried about them killing each other?

Brushing off the annoyed feeling she saluted Integra and made a bow towards Alucard before joining up with her old comrades.

"So, you have decided then? You're sure you don't plan to stay any longer?" Alucard asked sounding slightly disappointed the option had not even occurred to her, after all she had a mission. Never the less she felt like she had to at least give a proper goodbye to Alucard who had given her a place to stay for all this time.

"I'm afraid so, I have a mission. Thank you Lord Alucard, for everything. Farewell." Seras bowed gracefully before finishing her way to the side of the lady she had sworn to protect. She had not noticed how Alucard's smile had grown into it's now familiar smirk.

"Sorry to hear that. But I did not really expect you to come to the right decision yourself." As Alucard Phased in front of her and grabbed her she panicked. "Perhaps you need a little persuasion." With that the sound of growling could be heard from the dark corners of the hall.

"I had not intended for it to go this way, I had hoped to have swayed you to my side before these humans showed up. As it is now you only have two options, either you stay with me, or watch how I slaughter every last one of these humans. The choice is all yours." The shadows began to move revealing the werewolves hiding in them which surrounded the unprepared group. Seras watched in disgust, how dare Alucard use her friends against her! She wanted to dry for the unfairness but that would probably just make the monster enjoy it all the more.

"You're despicable." She hissed lowly. "Al right... I'll stay." Seras spoke causing Integra to flinch, Just as the lady wanted to tell Seras not to accept the monster's grim deal the paladin added with a sad voice "But don't you see that if even I say yes now that would mean you'd only have me physically? Can you live with the thought your "wife" will live to hate you to the end of her life? Which will be very brief. If I have to live with a bastard like you I will take my own life before I let you defile me." There was a short pause in which no one knew what to say.

"Is that what you want?" She asked hopefully as she closed her eyes hoping she did not under estimate the monster's cruelty. The silence that followed was tense and heavy. Seras noted how Alucard's grip on her shoulders strengthened then loosened showing he was in deep contemplation. "You know, Alucard... Even after I discovered what you were, I honestly liked you.." Once again Alucard's grip on her shoulders tightened and for a moment Seras thought her last comment had the wrong effect. Until he shoved her away.

"Go, before I change my mind and take you in front of your friends." Alucard sneered. And as Seras looked back she for a moment saw a sort of sadness in his eyes. "Hurry! Get out, Take your stuff and leave! Hurry.. HURRY!" He yelled as he was clearly holding himself back.

Seras nodded to the others, taking Integra, who was baring her teeth at Alucard in hate and disgust, by the hand, telling her it was okay, that Alucard was not their enemy, that he was not the one they were supposed to hunt. Integra regretfully followed. This monster had threatened her, threatened her lieutenant who was also one of her closest friends. And God knew she wanted to slay him for it.

As Seras exited the front doors of the large castle hall she looked around a last time, Her eyes connecting with those of the man that had been her host for almost three days. Giving him a gentle smile as she whispered, knowing his strong hearing would pick it up. "Don't be sad please, If you only change the way you act a little you can get any girl you like, there are many that are prettier than I am." As Alucard did not give a response she sighed and closed the large door behind her. Leaving the castle and disappearing into the wide wastelands of Drumul Taberei together with her comrades.

Only when the castle was long out of sight his answer sounded through her head.
"I don't care... it would not be you.."

So yes, Integra Hellsing, Daughter of King Arthur.... Since Integra's father Arthur Hellsing led the "Round table conference" in the manga I did not find it too much of a stretch. I don't know why I'm so tired and have so much problems writing this stuff.. My mind is clearly running out. One last Chapter after this and I'm done. I apologize for the shortness but my mind has gone empty and despite the great support I received I can't find the drive to go on.

* Refers to the chapter in Hellsing: the dawn where Rip runs into Alucard but due to her poor eyesight (without glasses) and her slow mind is unable to realize (s)he is an enemy