Integra rested her glass of wine upon her desk as she placed a cigar in her mouth. Striking a match, she looked ahead of her towards her servant.
Alucard smiled slightly at his master. She had grown more lovely in her old age. He rested his hands together on his knees as he awaited her next word.
"This damn war is driving me to drink." Integra said holding her head in her hands. Alucard laughed under his breath.
"A most respectable habit, when approached intelligently. We all need something to wipe the painful memories away, Master." Alucard murmured with a small smile.
Integra was too old to answer back to Alucard's crude and smart remarks. She simply looked up at him for a moment, then back down at her desk. There was then a sudden knock at her door.
"Enter!" Integra ordered. Her office door slowly opened and James made his way in gracefully. In walked in slowly, keeping his hands close to his sides as he did. Reaching Integra's desk, he bowed respectfully. "Good Evening, Master." Said James.
Integra nodded her head. "Good Evening, James. You may sit." She said pointing towards a chair beside Alucard.
James slowly sat down beside his father. Looking at the two for a moment, unless her sight failed her, Integra could have sworn she was seeing double. Removing the cigar from her mouth, Integra sat back in her chair.
"James..." She started. "Are you fully aware of our current situation?" Integra asked.
James nodded slowly. "The German invasion." he answered his master. "There has not been a direct attack against England in six months, though."
"I know..." sighed Sir Integra, leaning against the arm of her chair.
"This goes further beyond us." Alucard said looking down at his fingers clasped on his lap. "They have attacked all of our neighboring countries one after another. Scotland...Northern Ireland..."
"Wales then?" James asked, looking at his father, then back at Integra. Slowly nodding her head, Integra answered her servant.
"We believe that is the Major's next target."
"Bloody hell..." James whispered under his breath. " Germany didn't declare war on just England, Master. Their declaring war on all of The United Kingdom."
Integra nodded and sat back in her chair. "In a way, history is beginning to repeat itself." Placing her cigar back into her mouth, Integra began to rummage through her paper work.
"They figured they would try to destroy what they could before we could get to them. That's why the Major ordered his troops to cease attack on England. Because of you and your Father, but thy have grown much stronger since then." Said Integra. "There is a draft, James. If the German army does indeed attack Wales, with you and your father both being soldiers of the Queen's army, you shall be drafted over to help make sure that they do make their way and re-enter English territory."
James silently nodded. "Yes Master, I was expecting that." he answered.
"Your father insisted that I speak to you personally of this matter. If the time should ever come that you are to be drafted, which I fear may be soon, your mother, Seras, will not be coming along. She will remain here, incase there is an attack against the Queen while you and your father are gone."
James was silent for a moment. Alucard slowly turned his head and watched his son's eyes. There was such distress in them, all though he hid it well.
"Yes, Master..." James started. "I believe my mother remaining here would be for the best. Thank you."
"Hmm." responded his master. She then set her attention back to her paper work. "Then that will all, my servants. You are both dismissed."
The two vampires slowly stood and bowed respectfully to their master. Right as they turned to leave, Alucard felt a hand on the back of his shoulder.
"This conversation will remain with in the walls of this office." Integra said in a low breath. "Seras need not know of this just yet."
Alucard chuckled under his breath. "My servant may be obliviously foolish sometimes, but she is not by any means stupid. She will find out soon enough-
"I am telling you not to tell her, Alucard." Integra said sternly. "Your heart may be made of stone, but mine is not. War is not playing field and I know your very much aware of that. How many sons did you watch die in your war so many years ago, Alucard?"
Alucard didn't answer. He knew exactly what his master was speaking of. Imortal or not, nothing on this earth was invincible...except, perhaps, the love of a young mother waiting back home.
Integra sighed slowly. "Allow your servant...the mother of your child, to enjoy these happier times with her son. Allow her to have that, Alucard. That is all that I ask of you."
Smiling slightly, Alucard nodded. "Yes, my master."
Walking out from Integra's office, Alucard wasn't surprised to see James standing against the wall of the dark hallway just out side.
James continued to look straight ahead of him. "You find me weak, Father." He said in a low voice. "I can see it in your glance, and I hear it in your voice."
"I find you compassionate, James." Alucard answered his son. "The years have not yet hardened your heart. You have yet to hold responsible the lives of people other than your own family...and then watch them perish. You do not understand how fragile the spark of life is that lingers with in the flesh of these humans."
"That is not why you find me weak father. For you know that I shall move swiftly when faced against this artificial vampires. You do not thing that I-
"Will be able to bring yourself to destroy another human being..."
Folding his arms, James looked away from his father. "People, father...people who chose to hold onto to their humanity, and did not allow themselves to become such futile monsters."
Looking to see that James had nothing else to say, Alucard sighed. "Your mother was the same. She did not understand the qualities of a war. She believes in humanity, but she does not understand that war is inhumane. That these people have been sent to kill us all." Alucard turned to leave his son. "Understand that James. You must. Good night."
James was silent for a moment. Shaking his head slightly, James began to speak. "They are still people, Father."
Alucard stopped with is back facing James.
" It is the same spark of the life that lingers with in their flesh. Regardless of their cause...they are still people." James slowly turned and walked in the opposite direction of Alucard. "Good night, father."
Alucard stood there for a moment. Under his long ebony hair, a grin curled upon his lips. What an intelligent boy his son was.
Feeling better that she had taken a quick shower, Seras sat down at her small vanity and began to brush through the tangles of her damp hair. It was a warm night, so she would only wear her blue pajama top tonight. It was so different sleeping in her master's chamber, and to be honest she was still some what surprised. There was no more small, secluded space where she was able to put things where she would be able to remember them. No. Now there seemed to be miles and miles of dark endless empty room where she was sure she would get lost. Although, her master did allow her to light a candle when she needed to.
It was never really up for question. The night that James died was the first night that Seras had slept in her Master's coffin, and the night after, her coffin was gone. When she questioned this, her master simply stated. "You will no longer be needing it."
Seras smiled as she watched herself in the mirror. It was indeed a bit unorthodox. Laying upon her master as he slept, but if there is one thing that Seras has learned, and that is take what ever small act of kindness her master shows towards her. His coffin was certainly big enough! This was truly out of her Master's character, but perhaps not so much. It seemed to her that the only time Alucard's mind is at peace is when he sleeps. This must reason why. It's the only one it could be regarding her master. It couldn't be his affection towards her. If he had any that is.
Hearing familiar foot steps, Seras just kept her eyes straight ahead, keeping focus on her tangled hair.
Her Master didn't speak as he passed her, he simply made his way over to his coffin. Seras just sat their and continued to brush her hair. She wanted so badly to break the silence, so she did.
"Hello Master..." Seras said respectfully, standing and bowing. Alucard didn't say anything at first. The lid to his coffin slowly opened. "James is slowly becoming you, Police girl..." Alucard said dully.
Seras' eyes opened wide. "James, sir? Becoming me?" Seras said placing her hand on her chest. She slowly shook her head. "Oh, no Master. You must be mistaken. He is a identical image of you."
"Perhaps in some ways." Alucard said removing his glasses. "But his views upon man kind are all misunderstood." With in a blink of an eye, Alucard's red coat no longer hung from his shoulders. He slowly stepped into his coffin, and quickly glanced over at Seras as he began to lie down. "Come." He said in a harsh voice. "It's time for bed." Said her Master, as if she were a child.
Quickly making her way over, Seras slowly kneeled down into his coffin and laid her head upon her Master. Yes it was awkward, and yes it would take Seras a while to become comfortable enough to fall asleep, but she didn't mind.
Waiting for the lid to close, Seras felt the cloth of her master's dress shirt. "James is much stronger than I am, Master." Seras started. "He will be a much better soldier then I have been."
The closeness of his coffin made Seras' voice much louder then usual, so she only spoke in a whisper. Alucard kept his eyes closed. He would be getting some sleep today. God knows, he needed it.
"He would be a great soldier, if he doesn't continue to make the same mistake that you do."
Seras became confused . "W-what would that be?"
Alucard sighed. "Holding onto to that last bit of humanity that you let live inside of you. The thing about it is, James has had non what so ever, yet he acts as if he had humanity all along."
Seras thought about what he master had just said. "So this means you no longer love him." Seras said in a worried voice, raising her head from her master, only to feel his gloved hand push her head back down.
"Do not allow yourself to fall into a tizzy, Police girl. I simply am showing concern."
Seras didn't answer. She just dwelled on his last few words. Right before she closed her eyes, Seras quietly asked. "And when have you ever done such a thing?"
Alucard chuckled. "You truly do find me incompetent when it comes to being a father, don't you Police girl?" He laughed. "Was I not like a father to you when you first entered this world of darkness?"
A deep red blush came across her cheeks. Why did have to say that? Seras was so small in the arms of her master, that she did fee like a small child as she lay upon him. The moments passed with out a word and Seras knew that her Master had finally fallen asleep. Seras allowed her eyes to slowly close. That was enough talking for tonight.
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