Hounds of Baskervilles

Alucard was well used to the tight feeling he got in his chest when he stretched the rules Integra set for him. He knew he was not in serious danger because he was not technically going against what she had said. He was not bothering Cat at all in fact he was no where near her. She was at the opposite end of the house in the kitchen being taught by Walter and he was on the third floor in her room.

He had considered what Integra had thought for a good fifteen minutes before he decided to go for her clothes rather than her hair. It would be much more difficult to cut her hair since that would require him physically bothering her. He opened the armoire to find that she had not even bothered to look inside. If she had she would have found beautiful hand made Victorian style dresses that Integra had kept from when she was younger. He also opened the burrow and found that she still had not unpacked her things. He picked up one of her duffle bags off the floor and turned it upside down spilling all her clothing out. He then proceeded dumping the clothing out of the other bag.

Slowly dark shadows poured out from under his coat like heavy black smoke. His arms turned black and stretched out towards the clothing as they took the shape of two wolfish dog heads. They grew multiple eyes along their skulls and started drooling and snapping at the clothes. The black smoke at his feet also morphed into two more hell hounds and they began excitedly running around the room waiting for their orders. The two from his arms continued to stretch out until they had grown front legs. Alucard let them plop onto the floor in a great black blob and watched them wriggle until two more legs popped out from the back of them. They stood up and shook themselves while the other two joined them. They all four stared up at Alucard their eyes gleaming in anticipation.

"Destroy," the hounds became excited and started to race around the room, "the clothing and nothing else. Do you understand?"

They howled in response and began biting and chewing at Cats clothes.

"Return to me when you are finished. Do not let anyone see you," Alucard watched them for a bit longer then let himself sink slowly into the floor. He knew Integra would be very angry with him but it was well worth it to get back at the brat for thinking she could snap at him.

"Well Miss Cat I believe that will be enough learning for today," Walter had shown Cat the mechanics of the entire kitchen and had gone over most of the approved menu with her.

"Do I have to make the dishes on this list or can I make up my own as long as they have the right nutrition?" there were only about twenty dishes on the list and Cat was sure the soldiers had eaten each one many times.

"You may change and add things as you see fit. You are in charge of the kitchen now and I expect you to be up and cooking by six sharp tomorrow morning," he tried to look stern but he was enjoying the company or Cat very much. It was almost like having young Integra back but a bit less serious.

"Of course Walter. You know you don't have to get up that early if you don't want to. I'm sure I'll be able to cook breakfast for them without needing any help," Cat stared at the menu thinking up different things she could make for everyone tomorrow.

"That is very kind of you Miss Cat but I am so used to getting up then I do not think I could sleep any later. Now remember one of the soldiers will be here at seven with a cart for all the food. Make sure you have it ready in the containers and he will load it himself and take it down to them. Usually they bring it back around eight with all their dishes so perhaps find a book to read while you wait."

"That's a good idea. I'll drop by the library before I go to bed. Do you know if there's any Stephen King?" Cat began reading Stephen King when she was young. Her Aunt had many of his books and encouraged her to read them. She went on and on about how fantastic he was until cat agreed to try one. She first read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon when she was eight and had fallen instantly in love with the style and excitement it held. From then on she was a die hard fan.

"Oh I'm sure you will find a couple in there. The late Sir Hellsing fancied reading those books in his spare time," Walter finished wiping off a counter and then led Cat out of the kitchen.

They parted in the foyer and Katherine made her way up to the library. She started looking through the books and found that they were in order by author.

"Thank goodness," she sighed. It would have been awful trying to find one if they weren't.

She went down the isle until she got to K and climbed a latter a few shelves up to reach better. She was overjoyed to find at least thirty Stephen King books in a perfect line on the shelf. She had not yet read The Green Mile so she plucked it from the shelf and jumped down excited to begin right away. She thought about staying in the library to read but thought it would be awkward if someone walked in so she set of to her room. As she walked through the halls she started reading the book. She reached her door and went into the room without looking up. As she walked towards her bed she stepped on something gooey and her foot slid a little. She caught herself before she fell and looked around the room.

"ALUCARD!" her voice echoed through the mansion halls.

Alucard sat in a chair next to his coffin sucking on the tube from a blood pack. He glanced up when he heard his name and a devilish grin crossed over his face. He looked down next to him at the sleeping hell hound and gave it a pat on the head.

"Good boy," he cooed at the monster then slumped back in his chair to finish his meal.