When Alucard peeked into Rifka's room, he saw the cat-woman was staring into the bedroom mirror with all the lights on, her neck craned to the side and her hands at her throat, poking and prodding at the collar.

"Still haven't found a way out of it yet?"

She turned her head sharply and bared her teeth at Alucard's mocking tone. She dropped her hands away from her throat. "I suppose if it were your problem, you'd just have someone chop your head off and be done with it. That's not an option for me."

The Vampire grinned at her. "Want to test that theory?" He laughed at her reaction, which was to crouch defensively. "Just think! You've killed a lot of men over the years. Are you really going to tell me they all stood idly by?"

Rifka frowned at him. "I don't know what goes on after I transform… but I have a lot of scars I can't explain."

"Are any of them bullet wounds?"

"It's… possible…"

"Mortals don't tend to be impervious to bullets. They usually die."

She rounded on him with a growl. "Don't mock me dammit!"

BANG!

Rifka shouted sharply and clutched a hand to her shoulder as it exploded in a spray of blood and pain. Alucard lowered the small pistol as she staggered back into the wall and slid down to her knees.

"You fucking bastard – Why?!"

"I want to see how you'll fix it."

"Is this how it's going to be? Did you free me from Markus just to toy with me yourself? I won't let you take his place!" She lumbered back to her feet and tried to charge him, but he caught her easily and pushed her away. Unbeknownst to her, her eyes and wound began to glow red and the wound slowly closed itself, leaving behind a small, red, circular scar. There was a soft, metallic thud as the bullet dropped onto the floor.

At the sound, Rifka frowned and became aware that she was no longer in pain. She lifted her hand away to see the healed flesh and backed away from Alucard, not noticing when she bumped into the wall. She stood in an astonished silence for a few moments, then she slowly looked up him. "I can use the energy from the pain to heal?"

"You can also think on your feet. That's a good quality to have."

And just like that, the surprise flashed to anger and she snarled at him again, arching her back. "Go to hell! I'd kill you right now if you weren't a Vampire!"

Alucard grinned and laughed, slowly walking closer to her. He saw her muscles tense, energy shifting to her powerful legs. If he were to strike at her, he had no doubt she would dodge him easily.

"That's why I like you, cat-woman. Say. Do cats ever trust, or is it just you?"

"I am not domesticated. I may owe you, but I don't have to trust you, or anyone!"

"Oh yes, thank you for reminding me…" He saw a flash of fury in her eyes. "I really only want to know one thing," He reached out slowly and ran his fingers along her collar seductively, smiling when he felt her shiver. "What happens if I push the blue button?" Deftly, he snatched the remote from her pocket.

"No! Give that back to me!" Rifka struggled with him, but the ancient Vampire of a towering 6'4 height quickly grabbed her wrists with one large hand and pinned the young woman of just 5'6 against the wall. He held her there and looked down at her thoughtfully.

"You would rather be indebted to me for an undetermined length of time, than end it this way, here and now?"

Rifka stared up at him furiously, thrashing in his grip and growling heatedly. "I want to be free of this collar and that box! I'm sick of being at the mercy of anyone who gets their hands on it!"

"But I could choose anything if you deny me this. What if I decide the only way to beat a foe is to Embrace you? Or maybe I'd tell Integra that your unique method of killing is the only thing that will do? Would you rather I make those decisions for you?"

Rifka gawked openly for a moment before she gritted her teeth and slumped back against the wall. "Push the button."

Alucard's face fell. "Aw. Now I'm disappointed… You'd be even more powerful as a Vampire, you know…"

"PUSH IT!"

He watched her closely and pushed the button. Blue light shone in Rifka's eyes and she pressed back against the wall with a startled gasp. Alucard saw her nipples harden inside her shirt.

"So, it delivers pleasure through the collar, instead of pain?" He purred into her ear and grinned wickedly, brushing his fingertips over the small protrusions. "Is it a nice reward for good behavior?"

Her body shuddered under his touch and color rose in her cheeks. "Freedom is a nice reward!" Her words were defiant, but her voice was husky. He noticed she was breathing faster.

"It would probably feel better if you just relaxed."

"I'll bloody relax when I damn well feel–" She broke off when he turned the dial a notch. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, but a low moan escaped her lips despite her efforts.

"What are you afraid of, Rifka? Can you honestly be afraid of the pleasure?"

She moaned like a wounded animal, and the look in her eyes was a remarkable combination of tortured curiosity. "What do you want…? Why are you doing this to me…?"

"I thought you might like a break from all that pain." He paused, still watching her, and spoke softly. "Am I wrong?"

Rifka lowered her head and looked away, breathing hard. "You're not… wrong…"

"Mm. Sweeter words were never spoken…" He turned the dial another notch and Rifka gave a throaty gasp, throwing her head back against the wall. Her cheeks flushed brightly and she started to struggle against him again, but he wouldn't budge. She began to pant, her fangs showing and her skin darkening. She was transforming!

"Now that's interesting. Do you know you're doing that?"

"I… can't keep her… in…" Rifka's voice had deepened to a growl.

He grinned excitedly. "Let's see what she wants, shall we?"

"I don't think that's – ah!" Alucard had turned the dial again and this time Rifka's body heaved back against the wall. She groaned sharply, her body heat beginning to warm the air around her. She growled again and it was his only warning before she lunged and sank her sharp teeth into his neck.

"What?" Alucard was startled enough to drop the remote in order to push her off of him. He leaned into her, gasping as he felt a wave of pleasure wash through him. "What have you done? Did you infect me?!"

"What? You mean you feel it too? You know... I heard once that Cats are telepathic..." Rifka looked up at him, her eyes glittering, and she slowly wrapped her legs around his waist. He couldn't tell what was exciting him more, the pleasure or the vindictiveness in her blood-smeared grin. Either way, he clutched her tightly and pinned her to the wall with his body, his cold skin warming from her heat.

"Are you finally enjoying it now?"

"Your body's so cold, Vampire… but it seems I'm helping that!"

"You're dirty!"

"You started this!"

"I was curious!"

"Curiosity doesn't just kill cats!"

He felt a sudden urge and kissed her hard and deeply, pressing against her even more tightly. She struggled but then clutched at him and returned the kiss with a feral passion like nothing he'd ever experienced before. He could feel her body giving into him.

But more importantly, he felt his own body surrendering. He pulled away from her lips to groan. She tilted her head back, breathing hard through her mouth. "You wanted new experiences, Alucard. How's this one?"

"Is there any limit to your sass, cat-woman?"

"Maybe you're just not used to getting served!"

He growled and kissed her again, as much to shut her up as because she really seemed to be enjoying the situation, no matter how much lip she gave him. He focused on the controller with his mind, steadily turning it up until it reached its highest point, panting from the effort of holding Rifka's bucking and writhing body.

His hands wandered over her body as she heaved against him, pulling open her shirt and discarding it so he could fondle her tight breasts, which made her growl at him heatedly before she squeezed her eyes shut and shuddered in pleasure. Next went her pants, torn straight off her legs so that one hand could slide over her muscular thigh, while the other kept her arms pinned above her head.

She continued to struggle against his hold, as though testing him. He held her tighter and she hissed at him, arching her back, and then she moaned as another wave of pleasure flowed over her. Watching her, Alucard felt another desire building inside him and turned his head to brush his lips over her neck. He could feel her blood rushing just beneath the surface of her skin, teasing him, calling to him. With a moan, he sank his fangs into her neck. He had to close his eyes and hold her tightly just to restrain himself from drinking.

"Oh! OH GOD! AAH!" Rifka rolled her eyes back when he bit her, and barely heartbeats later she screamed as she shuddered heavily in his arms, clutching him tightly while her body went into the throes of a powerful climax. He groaned deeply and heaved against her, arching his back in ecstasy, truly surprised by how intense the pleasure was, all coming from a small, 3x2 box and a fifteen-inch metal band.

He gently dialed-down the controller, sighing unhappily as the pleasure slowly faded. Moaning weakly, Rifka sagged forward against his chest and he held her, feeling her breath gradually slowing down, her heartbeat calming. And then she was still. He held her calmly and watched her for a few moments before moving her hair away from her face.

She had passed out.