Chapter 16: The Turning of a New and Old Leaf

Her blood was overwhelming with knowledge and memories that it actually bowled him over when he took just a few sips, the flavour and the resonating power within the red liquid was just too much for him that he actually vomited out whatever remaining blood he had in his stomach before being able to stomach this ancient blood. The sheer amount of knowledge in her blood overtook his mind as he struggled to filter out the memories within him, the staggering amount of souls she had accumulated over her life and their individual memories strained his mental barriers and mind to contain.

He felt a new power surge within him, it burned his body, like a brilliant fire washing over him, over and over again. He was feeling what she was feeling when she became The Strix. Her memories were distorted and blurred within the lines of her souls and familiars. He always knew she was an ancient being but to think she was over a thousand years of age, it astonished him. There was an engulfing amount of emotions within her, somehow she had hidden so much within herself and contained so much hate towards herself. He only knew now that she actually a weak sort of pitiable character, no matter what sort of farce she had put on.

When he was a child he realised that he idolised this creature named Seras, he had placed her above all except for his conquest. He deemed her more important than all the gold of the world, and she also began to open up to him. But not as a servant, but as a woman. But as he saw through her memories, he saw that she took him under her guidance and wing because of a promise she made with one of his ancestors a long time ago. And he noted the striking resemblances he had with his great-great-grandfather and himself. He thought at first perhaps she was in love with his great-great grandfather, but it turned out, all she had for his ancestor was a great amount of respect and reverence, enough to honour his wishes. She had never loved any other man than one.

And that was her husband, but some reason so matter how hard he dug around her memories, he couldn't find any images of her husband nor son. She had managed to chain them so deeply in her heart that he was unable to penetrate them. So he backed off and decided to let her keep them to herself. He was technically not her Master, since she was already dead.

He sat still with shut eyes as he slowly sorted her memories out, from oldest to the newest. Her first memories he kept replaying in his mind. It was a smiling family of three and her newfound love of birds, but as the memories continued it shed light upon her title as a witch. She had peculiar talents before even dying, talking to birds, healing wounds, speaking another language fluently after only hearing it once. It seemed it wasn't her destiny to be a normal human, she was made to be a monster of unimaginable power. And she detested herself for knowing that.

He slowly opened his eyes as he finally managed to sort her memories out, it felt like as if he had been in an open abyss for hundreds of years but actually it had only been around about thirty minutes. He kept her memories close to him, a part of her had become his, and now they were forever bound. His blood was now hers and her blood was now his, no matter how much time would pass. No matter how many times he or she would die, the connection was made. Now all she had to do was accept it, or she would continue to fight within herself.

He looked upwards, looking through the many levels of the mansion. His Master was sitting at her desk dealing with the after proceedings of the mission in Cheddar. She was stressed and worried about their new little companion for the night, and as per usual Walter was not perturbed at all. After all he still had vibrant memories of the bright lady who had helped them during World War Two. His initial reaction was of surprise but as he saw Alucard's pleased expression and self-satisfied grin he knew not to be shocked and continue on as Hellsing's butler as per usual, preparing a room immediately for their guest.

Alucard eyes slowly zoomed away from his fretting Master and the ever so constant butler, he looked down upon his sleeping little Seras unaware that she had her own turmoil with herself. He could hear his Master's footsteps echoing throughout the hallways as she made her way down to the sub-level basements to where only the dead sleep. He could feel her confusion and her own curiosity, the fact her own butler had a strange look on his face and that her own servant had this fond expression brought chills to her skin. Everything was just too weird.

"Awake soon Seras, the world is much more interesting than you think. And there is still more for you to learn", he murmured as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, combing the strand around her ear. He had waited for so long for her, so he found it quite irrational of him to feel impatient now. Being with her, made him feel like a human once more. And he hated and missed the feeling of it. The irrationality of everything made his unlife even more vivid, with her on his side everything became brighter. His very own sun had returned.

Strange dreams with strange people, a gunshot, blood. A burning sensation and a prick on her neck, and finally nothing. There was a washing feeling of completeness and fullness, the burning sensation in her throat was gone and replaced with a dull throb. The many souls in her were no longer howling, they were quiet and still, waiting for something to happen. The snakes, owls and spiders within her were also not moving, like they were chained to something. She felt chained, something was chaining her to the ground. She looked up towards the endless sky, her owls were chained, their wings clipped. She looked down upon herself, many chains wrapping around her, the silver turning to a jewel green. Snakes.

There was a foreign presence within her, something she didn't want to have. It was an alien presence within her, unwanted and uninvited. She tried to drive it away, using all of her familiars and manifestations but she somehow couldn't. She furrowed her brows in frustration and anger, she tried again to get rid of the unwanted presence but it persisted, pestering her continuously.

She blinked her eyes owlishly, this sort of annoyance and sensation was familiar. An image of a small child appeared before her, one with cold eyes and full of hate and distrust but not only that, there was ambition. It was something she had seen before, a driving force of man. And something she admired time and time again. No, matter what happened to man, they would stand again to rise, but often sadly fall again. A vicious cycle.

The child's black inky hair splayed with blood as his own eyes turned blood red bent down to pet one of her snakes, the snake twined its body around his hand gently. He turned to face her, his face breaking into a wide and joyful smile. His mouth opened to call to her, but she refused to listen. She covered her ears. No, she would refuse to listen his calls. She had already ruined him, taken away his humanity and given him hope when it was already decided when he would die.

"Are you running away little shadow dancer?"

She looked up with weary eyes, he looked up at her with brilliant eyes. There were internal conflictions twisting her insides, but she let out a heavy breath and quenched down the strange feelings she had. She gritted her teeth and stood up straight, walking up to the small child with shaky steps. He smile broadened, as he outstretched his hand.

"No…I will no longer run".

She took his open palm.

She shot up from the bed, panting heavily. Where was this, what time was it, did she still have her wounds? In her confusion she didn't realise how fast her heart was beating. She tried to calm down her heart once realising though. It was beating ever so fast, and it was pounding inside her chest, as if trying to break free. It had never happened before, her heart beat had always been slow and hard to hear. But now it was faster than a ticking clock and louder than the drums. She clutched onto her chest as she thumped her back to steady herself, she was utterly confused.

Her mind haywire as she tried to discern where she was, her breath steadying and her vision starting to clear. She felt like a lost lamb all over again, and she didn't like that feeling. She hated not knowing things, which is why she often strove to know everything. A little obsession she had yet to get rid of. As she was calming herself, she finally felt another presence in the room. She slowly turned her head to the right, her neck was prickling in apprehension.

Alucard had a broad smile as his back leaned against the wooden frame of the chair, "Good evening to you", he felt overjoyed and relieved. He had feared that she would forever remain asleep in an attempt to avoid being bound to him. But in the end she had accepted her fate of being blood bound to him for eternity, or however long eternity lasted. Alucard felt very smug knowing that she could no longer run away from him. She fell back into the mattresses as she let out a heavy sigh, her fingers lightly tracing the two puncture wounds she had on her neck.

"You bit me", a statement. Her voice was dry and there was the underlying tone of sarcasm.

"Indeed", Alucard's smile broadened. As he leaned in to see her expression, she had this somewhat knowing and exasperated expression. Her gaze turned towards him, her eyes half-closed as she blinked owlishly.

"Bygones will be bygones", she finally relented as she slowly sat up, the mattress shifting under her weight. "I'm old enough to know when I've lost a game", she chuckled softly as she stretched her bones. Alucard was a little surprised, he expected the flames of hell upon him or the spawns of the underworld to tear his flesh. Not this small little admittance of defeat, but it made his toes curl in delight knowing that she had given in.

The door opened, Seras and Alucard turned their attention towards the two who walked in. Alucard immediately stood up, and pulled the away the chair from the bed. He took of his sunglasses and latched them onto the hem of his collar. Seras sniffed the air, one which she knew and another which made her confused. It was familiar but it was different at the same time.

"Master Integra, Walter", Alucard regarded cheekily, a smug smile plastered on his face.

"Cut the bullshit Alucard", Integra scowled angrily as she pointed accusing finger at him, her hair flailing in her bold movements. "You know my questions and you the answers", she turned to face Seras who was merely watching the spectacle with some amusement. She pointed her finger at the Seras, "Nothing fits with her when searching the record files of every single female born in this entire century! No name, no gender, no pictures. No nothing", she said as she glared at Alucard.

"Maybe you aren't look hard enough, dear Master", Alucard said mockingly as he turned his gaze towards Seras who merely shrugged. She knew well enough to hide her tracks, she could easily disappear whenever she wanted to. She could be whoever she wanted to be and she could be wherever she wanted to be. Her connections around the world was too many to count.

"Don't try my patience Alucard", Integra's scowl deepened even more. Seras couldn't help bursting out in laughter, she bowled over as she clutched onto her stomach as she laughed. Integra widened her eyes in surprise, "Quiet girl! What on earth is so funny to you?!" Integra's patience was really put to the test, ever since she had awakened Alucard as a child he has done nothing but pester her as she slowly blossomed into the leader of Hellsing. It was hard enough with one joker, and now there was another?

"You're his daughter!" Seras cried out in surprise and somewhat relief, "You have a striking resemblance to him", she smiled brightly as she leaned forward getting onto her knees to get a closer look at her. "You have his eyes…" She murmured softly as if in trance, Integra never felt more uncomfortable before.

"You knew my father?" Integra said as she peered down upon the curvaceous female, she did have her second doubts. She looked so young, even younger than her and she had this somewhat playful expression plastered on her face. It reminded of her half-wit servant in so many ways, then she suddenly widened her eyes in revelation.

"You're not human, aren't you..." Integra said, her gaze narrowed upon Seras. Seras shook her in agreement, her eyes glowing a bright blue. Toothy grin spread across her cheeks as she regarded the tall female before her, she tilted her head slightly in confusion. Her clothes consisted of men's attire, and her breasts were bound, giving the illusion of her chest being like a males'. That was strange in Seras's eyes, she was a female, was she not? A beautiful female in fact, so why was she dressed as a male?

Integra let out a sigh, she knew there was going to be trouble the moment Alucard came back with a nude female in his arms and dragging a huge ceremonial urn beyond him. Curse that bastard and his whimsical ways, so many unnecessary headaches caused by him over the eleven years she had known him. She focused her gaze upon the strange female, she was certainly a pretty little thing, her body, her face, her skin colour. She wasn't sexy but rather like a cute little pup, her beauty wasn't of the sultry one but rather incited the feelings of protection from a male. Even Integra felt like as if Seras was a small little animal which needed protection.

"Well name then?" Integra said dully, she was used to this it didn't even surprise her anymore. Might as well get the formalities over and find a way to deal with another houseguest.

"Seras Victoria", Seras said as she got out from the bedsheets, her blue linen sleepwear contorting and shifting as dark shadows pulled and shifted the material into a silk robe, draping across her shoulders and hips. Snakes slithered down along her body down to her feet and took place as her sandals. "Pleasure to meet you, little daughter of Arthur!" Seras said cheerily as she bowed, her robes fluttering around as the last of the blue faded into a gold. Integra was not perturbed by the display of sorcery, she had seen enough of Alucard's tricks.

Integra grunted, she certainly did have manners and didn't seem like she was like Alucard who had the knack for annoying her. "Nice to meet you as well", Integra said calmly, "I assume you know my name then?" Integra didn't know how old this girl, Seras was. But if Alucard knew her and her father also was acquainted with her, then it would to be safe to assume that she was at last over a hundred years old.

Seras tilted her head in confusion, "Think a little higher Sir Integra, I am much older than that", she grinned. She liked this Integra, she was much like her father. Not only in appearance but in behaviour and how she held herself. She immediately took a liking to the new leader of Hellsing.

"Don't you go poking around my mind girl! I don't care who you are, but you are in my house and you will obey my rules. One of them is not to poke around my head, the one he somehow keeps breaking", Integra muttered out as she spared Alucard a hateful glance. Alucard remained silent but the smirk on his face persisted, mocking her.

Seras laughed, giggling softly. "Yes he is a cheeky child isn't he, he was never fond of rules and laws. He usually made his own and I had to follow them", Seras smiled fondly, such good memories, which that vampire stole from her. Seras somewhat felt light, despite being chained to Alucard. She had missed interacting with people, although Arthur had obviously passed on, he lived within his daughter and she was happy to know that. She noted the Asian features within Integra's face, she guessed Indian.

"You called him a child", Integra said slowly as she processed the information. That could mean only two things, that she was older than him or intellectually older than him. But both wouldn't have made sense, "How old are you exactly?" Integra was tired of games and little riddles, all these roundabout questioning and this stupidity.

"Older than him, and that's all you need to know", Seras poked Alucard in the rib lightly as she took another step towards Integra. She looked towards Walter who gave her a warm smile, "My, Walter you have aged magnificently. There is still a sprite of fire yet to distinguished in you, isn't there?" Seras took his hands as held them tightly, they were gloved but she could still feel the warmth through the gloves.

"It is good to see you in good health Miss Seras, it has been a long time since you left", Walter said in good humour. She had not changed, entrancingly beautiful and cheery. She often reminded him of a bird, she flitted around from place to place, her small stature and when she spoke it was like a bird's tweeting. Walter was indeed no longer a young boy, but Seras felt that somewhere within him, he was still the same and Seras was pleased. She was fond of Walter when she first met him, he did sexually harass her when they first met and he almost got himself killed for that. But it wasn't Seras who tried to kill him, but rather Alucard.

"Nice monocle", Seras commented, as she tapped against the glass. Walter chuckled as he took it off for a moment to wipe it.

"My eyesight isn't quite as good as it used to be, but I still have my health". Seras used to tower over Walter when he was younger despite her short stature, but now he towered over her. Humans often thought that the older they became the more ugly they became. Seras and Alucard thought differently, their age was proof of their humanity and they became more and more beautiful as they blossomed. Seras was a little saddened by that fact that she could no longer pat Walter on the head. But she looked forward to his tea, his tea was always sublime.

Integra was curious, there were few ancient creatures left in the world and to find one who was older than Alucard was rare. She was acquainted with Walter as well, it made Integra slightly jealous; she was a female as well and this was her territory. But when she saw Seras's delighted expression of joy the feelings of jealousy quickly disappeared. She remembered her father, on his bed as he spun tales of great monsters and beings of the dark. And exactly how lonely and pitiful they were, and they could not even end their own suffering but simply live with it.

She had seen it before with Alucard, she would sometimes catch him looking up towards the moon with a somewhat despondent mood, but his mask would immediately come back on and he would remain like an arrogant asshole for the rest of the day. It was the same for Seras, she was lonely creature and since they were immortal beings they remained unchanging. So seeing Alucard reacting Seras like a fretting mother was refreshing. Alucard was lonely, so he brought back her to keep him company. How befitting for these two monsters.

"Well, Seras. What should I do with you?" Integra spoke with an air of confidence and superiority that made Seras's spine tingle. So much untapped potential! Her inner self squealed. She would make a perfect ruler!

Seras shrugged, "That's up to you Sir Integra, I don't know where I should go and I am quite bored. It seems sticking around this mansion will bring many new excitements and adventures for me", she smiled as she looked fondly around the room. She inhaled the scent, it wasn't quite the same but being in this mansion was rather soothing. She felt like even though she was living in the past, she was somehow living a new age. And she had to thank Alucard for that, but she wouldn't admit that out loud. She also knew that Alucard could now read her thoughts, but she was more well-versed with mind games, he wouldn't get pass her barriers even if he tried. She felt quite smug about that.

"Very well then, Seras Victoria. You will be now working for me, your ties are now with the Hellsing Organisation and the Queen. Am I understood?" Integra ordered, she already had one monster on her leash so why not two she thought. She had a feeling that Seras would be easier to deal with than her damned vampire. And having a female companion in this whole mansion filled with men would be a nice change, she was still a female at heart.

"Yes sir!" Seras said cheerily.

I don't have a lot of work to do so I found some time and energy to type this chapter up. I read the reviews for the last chapter, some of you may not know that I heavily re-edited the chapter because I was unsatisfied with the chapter I originally uploaded. I still have the original version, but I'm just going to leave it. It's going to be fun playing around with the other characters, I will be enjoying writing the new chapters. It take around about four to five hours to type up a new chapter and sometimes I leave it for the next day for my fresh mind to reread it and make edits.

Thanks for all your lovely reviews, I don't really like responding to reviews, just me. But I have read every single one of them and each one has made me squeal in happiness, so thank you. My goal is seventy faves and follows.

Fave, follow, review.

Peace out.