Elena stepped through the front door of Hellsing Manor and frowned as she looked around the main entrance. Everything looked the same as she remembered it and yet it was all so new to her being back there. She kept her head high and her shoulders back as she walked towards Walter, who couldn't help but smile at how the young child had grown.
"Welcome home, Miss" Elena gave a small smile and looked around.
"I wouldn't exactly call this place home...but thank you Walter" In all honesty Elena was scared. Scared of how she would adapt to living with her mother again...and with the vampire.
"May I take your bags, Miss?" Walter made to take the bags from her hands and Elena moved back slightly.
"No that's alright I can manage" Walter nodded in understanding and began to lead Elena to her room. On the way up he pointed out new furnishings the manor had received and, after being asked, filled Elena in on the new members of Hellsing.
"So they're trustworthy? The men and the vampire girl?" Walter smiled and nodded.
"They have proven themselves to be extremely loyal to Hellsing...so yes. I believe they are trustworthy" They came to a door and stopped. Walter opened the door and gestured for Elena to go first. She walked into the room and laughed at how ridiculously large it was.
"Is something amusing?" Walter was smiling so she knew he wasn't irritated that she was laughing. Elena shook her head and gestured to the room.
"There's just so much space! What am I supposed to do with all this?" Walter shook his head.
"That is entirely up to you, Miss. I'll leave you to get settled in – please feel free to explore the manor at your leisure" And then he closed the door and left Elena to herself. She rolled her eyes and put her travel bags down on the queen sized bed.
"I should think so too it's my house" She began to unpack her bags and get used to the room when she felt as if she were being watched. Elena continued removing clothes from a bag and tried to pinpoint where the feeling was coming from – when she couldn't she started to feel anxious. Walter had closed the door right? And she hadn't heard anyone come in...Elena took a deep breath and spun around to find herself staring into two large red orbs. She froze and felt her eyes grow wide as a large grin accompanied the orbs and she saw two large fangs poking out. Elena's heart stopped beating for a moment.
"Alucard?" The vampire gave a low chuckle.
"So the heir of Hellsing returns..." He eyed her up slowly and Elena felt a shiver run down her spine.
"I see you haven't changed a bit, Alucard" Elena was wary of the vampire but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't happy to see him. Alucard took a step forward, invading the girl's space to make her feel uncomfortable, and leaned closer.
"Oh but you have haven't you? You've been gone a long time...how much you've grown" Elena should of been scared but instead she was surprised to find herself completely comfortable around the vampire.
"I could say the same for you – been binging on the blood?" Alucard was shocked. No-one had ever made a comment about his weight before; mainly because people were terrified of him but also because he physically could not gain or lose weight as a vampire. Alucard growled and flashed his fangs.
"You best hold your tongue, child" Elena, completely out of her mind, took a step closer to the count – they were now almost touching. She gave him a smirk that could rival his own and raised one perfectly done eyebrow.
"Are you going to make me, count?" Alucard felt something stir at the use of his old title and how close the young girl stood to him. He could not deny that Elena Hellsing was beautiful but he also knew that one day this girl would be his master. It would be foolish of him to try and get into the young Hellsing's pants...the thought of this made him almost shiver. Instead of acting on the girl's challenge Alucard took a step back and placed a smirk on his face.
"That tongue of yours will get you into trouble one day" Elena rolled her eyes and shrugged.
"What else is new" Alucard was stunned at how careless Elena was – did she know who she was speaking to?
"Oh how lovely another privileged brat waltzing around the manor, just what we need" Elena glared at the count and felt her temper spike. She was used to being called many things but she would never stand for someone calling her a privileged brat.
"Want to run that one by me again? I didn't quite hear you" Alucard laughed in her face upon noticing her hands had balled into fists and Elena's anger flared.
"How amusing! You think you would live if you were to make a move against me" Elena took a dangerous step towards Alucard and he stopped laughing.
"Try me. I won't allow you to insult me like that without knowing me" Alucard observed the girl for a moment. She truly meant it. She would fight against the king of the vampires over a mere insult.
"Suicidal imbecile...you won't last five minutes here" Alucard de-materialised from Elena's room and left her with her aggravated thoughts.
"Drama queen" She muttered and she rolled her shoulders back. She knew she had a temper and it didn't take much to set her off but she couldn't help herself. Taking a calming breath she willed her heartbeat to slow down to a steady rhythm and decided it would be best to get something to eat. She finished her unpacking and left her room in search of the kitchen.
(****************)
The day had been a bore and their training session had been uneventful so when Pip had gone to the kitchen to get some food he was shocked to find a young girl standing by the counter. He watched as the girl tried and failed to reach one of the cupboards and tilted his head to the side as he watched her shirt ride up her back. After a few moments watching the amusing display he decided to clear his throat and announce his presence. The girl immediately spun around and gripped onto the counter behind herself. They stared at each other and Pip couldn't look away. She was beautiful but looked familiar.
"Who are you?" Pip raised his eyebrows and leaned against the wall.
"The better question is who are you?" Elena was taken aback by the man's accent and it took her a second to respond.
"I'm Elena Hellsing and you're in my home. Who are you?" Pip mentally slapped his forehead. Of course! He and his men had been told weeks ago about Integra's daughter returning home but Pip hadn't realised how old she would be...or how beautiful. No. This was the boss' daughter he would not think about her.
"My name is Pip. Me and my men protect and serve Hellsing" A light went off in Elena's head – yes she remembered being told about them. Elena gave the man a once-over and pushed away from the counter.
"Thank you" She whispered. Pip almost didn't hear her and asked what she could be thanking him for.
"For protecting my mother...I heard about your injury..." Elena pointedly looked at Pip's chest and he moved from one foot to the other. He didn't like talking about that night much – the night he almost died. He could remember it well, Seras butchered on the floor and the crippling fear knowing he would die, and he could also remember clearly the day after. He remembered Sears telling him the kiss was nothing that she thought they were going to die. He remembered his heart being shattered.
"It's my job to protect her you don't need to thank me" Elena nodded and gestured behind her.
"You want anything? I was going to do a sandwich or something..." Pip smiled and shook his head.
"No thank you" Pip's stomach let off a loud growl and Elena covered her mouth to stop from laughing. Pip rolled his eyes and sighed.
"I suppose one couldn't hurt" In truth he was starving but he didn't want to make Integra's daughter feel she had to wait on him for doing his job. He watched, however, as the blonde rushed around the kitchen putting the food together. When she handed him a plate full of sandwiches he thanked her and they began eating in silence. Pip began thinking back to Seras, as he always did, and got lost in thought oblivious that Elena was watching him. She watched as his brow furrowed and a distant look washed over his eyes and wanted to know more than anything what he was thinking about. When they had finished their food and neither began moving she decided to be nosy.
"Where did you go just then?" Pip blinked a few times and looked at Elena. He hadn't been that deep in thought had he?
"It's nothing" Elena almost rolled her eyes at the lie.
"Were you thinking about...that night?" Her voice was soft but Pip only heard her words and the pity in her voice. He stood up quickly and put his plate on the side.
"It's none of your business" He snapped. Elena followed him out of the kitchen and had to almost jog to keep up with him.
"Hey I'm sorry okay? Look if you're having troubles with the memories I could help you" Pip stopped abruptly and turned to her.
"What could you possibly do to help?" He knew his tone was bitter and he was being extremely rude but this girl, no matter who she was, had no business poking around in his. Elena looked around them to make sure no-one was watching or listening to them and leaned in close to whisper.
"At school I was known for helping people with their nightmares or PTSD...if you let me I could help you" Pip was wary of the girl's offer but he decided what the hell if it didn't work he could just laugh it off.
"What are you going to do?" Elena smiled at the small victory and took Pip's hand leading him upstairs. She stopped at the top and thought for a moment.
"We could go to your room? It usually works better if the person is somewhere they feel comfortable?" Pip's head swam with ideas of what the girl would do to him in his bedroom and he shook the thoughts from his head.
"Third door on the right" Elena nodded and pulled him down the hallway and allowed Pip to open his own door. One inside she took a quick note of his room, organised chaos is what she would call it, and instructed Pip to lie on the bed.
"What would your mother think" He joked and Elena cracked a smile.
"Just try to relax okay? This may feel a bit weird...you might feel like you have a bit of a headache..." Pip held back a frown and was both curious and nervous to see what Elena would do. He watched as she looked into his eyes and gasped when all of a sudden his head exploded in pain. Elena winced and took Pip's hand.
"I know I'm sorry but you have to let me in...it will hurt more if you shut me out" Pip didn't understand what she meant and the pain was gradually building.
"Pip just relax I'm not trying to hurt you" It took a lot of effort but Pip did his best to relax and after a few seconds the pain dulled to a mild headache just like Elena had said. Pip let out a shaky breath and closed his eyes praying that whatever just happened wouldn't happen again. Elena smiled to herself as she watched Pip close his eyes and decided now was the best time. She leapt into Pip's mind and his memories began to fly past her as if being projected to her. She saw an old man in a garden chair...a group of men laughing having a drink...a blonde girl in a Hellsing uniform...Elena stopped when she found the memory she was after. She gulped down bile as the images of men dying and blood everywhere were all she could see and she understood how Pip was having troubles. Elena muttered a few words under her breath and the memory faded away. Almost instantly a new memory appeared and she saw Pip move uncomfortably on the bed. Elena plucked the memory from the others and watched curiously as the blonde girl tilted her head up and kissed him. Elena couldn't understand why this memory was bringing so much pain to this man but she got her answer. The blonde was looking nervous as Pip leant down and kissed her. She moved away and shook her head and told him how she didn't want to be with him that what happened was a mistake. Pip whimpered on the bed and Elena quickly did her thing and the memory faded also. When she was sure she was done Elena pulled out of Pip's mind and took a step back, giving the Frenchman some space. When he opened his eye he turned to sit up and faced Elena.
"What the hell was that?"