November 26th
It has been nearly a month in a half since we have gathered new information pertaining to the war. My master, Sir Integra Hellsing, has not spoken of the draft since that day in he office. She does not wish it upon her soldiers, and either do I. My father has grown anxious. I watch his hands twitch as we sit in our Master's office. He does not fear war, and for that I envy him. Perhaps he has seen so much of it that he has grown accustom to his ways. It must have to take a thousands life times for someone to grown fond of war.
As for the matter of my mother. My mother. If the draft falls through then all knowledge of my power, my immortal being, my strength against any other creature in this world will leave my mother's mind and all she shall see is her son. How could I argue? Can anyone blame her? She is simply being my mother. But I fear that soon, very soon, my obligations to my mother will conflict with my obligations to my Master.
James V. Victoria
"You want us to what?" Integra asked sternly, clenching her hand into a fist. Seras stood in front of her with a deep red blush across her face. If it was possible, Sir Integra frightened her just a little bit more than her master. Seras kept her hands behind her back and smiled sheepishly.
"It's a holiday, Sir." Seras said nervously. "I heard of it when I was a little girl. It falls on the 26th, and I thought it sounded interesting-
"Thanks Giving?!" Integra asked in some what of a laugh. "You want us to celebrate Thanks bloody Giving? A Yank Holiday?" Integra stood up now which frightened Seras a little more. "Have you forgotten that this house hold is English?! We certainly do not celebrate that bloody holiday in England!"
"But Sir!" Seras finally shouted. "I'm not asking to celebrate the holiday, I'm simply asking us to mimic the tradition. You call this the Hellsing family, well it is simply when a family sits together and shares a meal. There doesn't have to be holiday. Wouldn't it be nice for the men who work so hard every day to be able to sit down for a nice meal? Just once?"
Integra looked at her young soldier. She sighed and sat down in her chair and folded her arms. Those men did deserve as much happiness as they could receive before the war grew even worse. Although Integra knew that have a house hold dinner wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but it was still some what in the spirit of the American Holiday, and she did not like that.
"Police girl..." Integra started. "Seras. Tell me...what are your reasons for wanting this gathering so badly?"
Looking down at her feet, Seras tried not to sound too childish. "Sir Integra...I-I only wish to spend some time with James. That is all a really want. That's all."
Integra nodded. Even after six weeks of preparation, Seras was still so blissfully un aware of the possible draft. It wouldn't be too difficult. The large dining hall could seat the men. Money wasn't a matter either. It was the company that bothered Integra. Walter, herself, Seras, James and Alucard sitting at the same table...as equals. Integra rubbed her temples. She will have to make Walter buy her a fresh new bottle of scotch for this occasion.
"Seras, you are too damn soft. I will never understand why you wish to bring such warm emotion into this house hold. We are a strict and professional organization. Christmas is a little over a month away and there is simply no time for such unnecessary occasions."
Seras sighed and lowered her head slowly, knowing that there was no possible way to convince this woman of steel.
Integra looked at Seras' sad expression and slowly breathed out. "But, you have also reminded this household that we are not heartless." Integra then stood from her chair and walked towards the large window behind her. "You may have your dinner, Miss Victoria."
A sudden burst of happiness coursed through Seras' body. She was happy that she jumped in the air and ran over and wrapped her arms around the back of Integra. Integra jerked away in retaliation, but didn't have a chance to scold the young girl.
"Oh, thank you Sir! Thank you!" Seras exclaimed bowing several times, then running out the room.
Integra just stood there and stared for a moment. Looking down at her desk, she slowly sat down, but something strange happened. Her bones ached as she sat down in chair. Clenching her hands together, Integra felt her joints creak with old age. She removed her glove and stared at her now wrinkled hand. How strong it used to be, but now it was sore with arthritics.
"My God..." Integra said with a small smile. "How time marches upon us..."
"A gathering?" Alucard questioned in a cold laugh. His coat shimmered against the light of the distant moon above. "Is that what she wants?"
"A gathering, Father?" James questioned, keeping his head straight ahead of him.
The two vampires walked through the dark trails behind the Hellsing mansion. They often did this to escape the agonizingly loud hustle and bustle of the humans. They needed to allow their ears some rest.
"The Police girl has requested that our Master to hold a gathering tonight." Alucard laughed a little under his breath. "What nonsense."
"It does seem rather un orthodox for a meal to be served over a month before Christmas." Said James. "With this war lingering over our heads, who on earth can possibly sit down comfortably?"
Alucard laughed. "Only those who have endured and have prepared for the worst." He answered his son. "Our Master is more the prepared to take action when the time comes."
"Yes, the draft." James whispered. Through the corner of his eye, he could see that his was suddenly lost in thought as images of the war filled his mind.
"You think of things as if you had already seen them." The Elder vampire said smoothly.
James sighed and looked up at the dark clouds through the high tree branches. "I feel as though I have. Maybe not through my own eyes, but through eyes in another life time." James then looked down and raised his hands. "I feel as though I am in a constant battle with my self. As though I'm constantly fighting something to remain inside of me."
Alucard was silent for a moment. Just the sounds of leaves and twigs snapping from under their feet filled the silence in the air. Through the rose tint of his glasses, Alucard watched his feet as he walked. "It does seem like that some times, doesn't it? Always having chain ourselves down so that others are pleased."
"Or so others can remain safe." James added, stopping as they reached an opening in the wood. It was a wide open field. The green grass shined silver in the brilliant moonlight, and James watched as it danced softly in the wind.
"Father..." said James quietly. Alucard turned and faced his son hearing a slight hint of distress in his voice.
"Hmn?"
James hesitated for a moment. His eyes searched the sky for words, but found none. Finally he sighed and clenched his hands into fists. The inscriptions on his white gloves then began to glow bright red.
Alucard just continued to stare at his son who simply shook his head and turned around. "Forgive me Father, I lost my train of thought." James whispered gently. "I believe we should return. We wouldn't want to have Mum disappointed."
Alucard just nodded slowly and began to walk back with his son. He knew what his son wanted to say and simply couldn't bring himself to. It only seemed like days ago that he had just told his son that he was not able to handle the acts of war, but how easily he had forgotten being the Un-dead prince meant being in constant battle with your own self. James knew what war was. He fought one every day.
Seras was thrilled. She nearly skipped down the hall way leading into the dining hall. The young Police girl felt like a child running to tree early Christmas morning. Not only would she be able to sit down with her son, but also this was an excuse to dress up nicely. She decided to wear a light pink evening gown with a white shawl over shoulders. She was hoping Sir Integra would approve. It had been a long time since Seras had eaten real food. She was never able to years ago, but now that she drank blood regularly she was now strong enough. Finally reaching two large doors at the end of the hallway, Seras bursted through them and stepped out onto a balcony over looking the large dining room. She smiled brightly to see her comrades and fellow soldiers all dressed nicely and laughing with one another as they awaited their meal. Across the large room she saw that Sir Integra and her Master sat at a much smaller separate table on an outside patio. Feeling a warm sensation in her stomach, she quickly made her way down the stair case and happily made her way towards her Master.
As Seras made her way through the middle of the long tables, she was shocked to feel someone grab her hand and stop her. Turning around, she looked to see a familliar cocky smile.
"Oh..." Seras said trying not to sound too disappointed. "Good evening Yves."
"Hmm, well, well! Don't we look positively breath taking tonight, mon petit cheri." The tall french man said slyly, taking her hand and kissing. He really did look like this brother, Seras thought to her self. Maybe perhaps a little more flirtatious than Pip was, but not too much. Yves was certainly handsome, but Seras had other things on her mind at the moment. She simply smiled and pulled her hand away from him.
"I trust that you are having a pleasant evening then?" Seras asked kindly, trying to hurry the conversation up.
Yves nodded and gave the young blonde a smooth grin. "Well, my night just became a little better now zat you have arrived." He said happily, pulling a chair out for her. "Here. I have saved you a seat."
Seras looked at her and then shook her head. "Well, that was very thoughtful of you, but I will be sitting with my —
Seras stopped herself. She didn't want to call him her Master in front Yves. It just didn't seem appropriate. But what could she call him then?
"Your Master?" Yves said raising his eyebrow in confusion. "Your are sitting wit ze Master, Sir Integra tonight?"
Perfect!
"Yes!" Seras said aloud. "Yes I am sitting with Sir Integra tonight and I mustn't leave her waiting!" She said spinning around, leaving the soldier standing there in confusion.
Finally reaching the table, Seras saw that her place was already set for across the table from James.
"Damn..." Seras thought to herself folding her arms, only to quickly place them at her sides as she bowed to Sir Integra. "Good evening, Sir Integra."
Integra looked at Seras for a moment. She looked some what...adorable. Like a young girl ready to go to a social, but Integra would never say this aloud. She simply nodded and gestured Seras to sit down.
Before Seras did, she looked at Alucard who had been staring at her the whole time. "Good evening Master." She said brightly.
Alucard chuckled and nodded at his young servant.
As Seras pulled her chair out, she looked at James who sat right beside Alucard. He was wearing a black suite with a white silk tie, while Alucard also wore a black suite with a red silk tie. Seras swore that if James' hair wasn't longer than his father, she would never be able to tell them apart.
"Mum..." James said breaking the silence. "You look lovely tonight. I have always loved that color on you."
Seras smiled brightly. "Thank you, love." She said looking down at her soup bowl that was filled to the brim with English onion soup. Feeling a sudden burst of courage, Seras returned the compliment.
"You look handsome as well, James." Seras stated kindly. "Y-you both do." she then whispered, quickly looking away from her Master. Although her eyes where on her fingers, she could still see a smile curl on her Master's lips across from her.
"Yes, well let us agree that we have all dressed fabulously tonight, now can we please just enjoy our dinner?" Integra said bluntly, dipping her spoon into her soup.
The table then grew silent. Seras took spoon full of her soup and slowly placed it into her mouth. It now longer tasted like acid in her mouth, but like actual soup. She was grateful to be able to taste again.
"So it no longer hurts you?" A voice asked in Seras' mind, causing her to drop her spoon witch clanked against her bowl. Hoping that no one noticed, Seras quickly picked it back up and place it back in her bowl.
"Master, if you wish to talk to me then why not simply speak aloud?" Seras asked back.
She could hear her Master's laughter echo in her mind.
"This is far more intimate then me talking to you from across the table." Alucard laughed.
Seras didn't answer. She just remained silent. Several passed before she heard her Master's laughter again.
"Although Seras, I do agree with James." He said cooly. "I always thought that color looked lovely on you also."
Seras quickly placed her hand on her cheek and tried to hide her blush from her Master, but he saw it never the less and grinned.
Right as Integra finished her soup, Walter approached the table with a hand full of papers. Alucard noticed that there was great distress in his eyes.
"Walter..." Integra said with a small smile. "Please, sit down and join us."
"A thousand apologies for interrupting your dinner My lady, but this urgent. We've just received word that there has been an attack on Wales nearly a half hour ago."
Integra's sighed slowly and placed her hand on her head. "Damn it, I knew this was coming..."
She stated.
Seras covered her mouth with her hands in shock. Alucard and James just sat there silently.
"I'm afraid that's not all, my lady." Walter said handing Integra the papers that he held in his hand. "They've placed her majesty under a threat. A bounty has been placed upon her head. She is evacuating the county as we speak." Walter then leaned down close to Integra who read the papers horrified. "My lady, the time of drafting is upon us. We must prepare to leave immediately."
Seras looked at Integra confusingly. "Draft?" She asked nervously. "Are you telling me that those men down there...are going to face those monsters?"
Integra didn't answer her. She just continued to read her reports.
Seras began to panic. "Those men will die out there! Those creatures aren't like the ones we faced seventh months ago!"
"Quiet." Integra scolded, keeping her eyes glued down at her papers.
"Well, why I am just finding out about this?!" Seras asked in a frenzy.
"Because only those who are going know of it, Mum." James said quietly.
Hearing this, Seras's eyes went wide. "O-oh no. No. No, your not going James." Seras said in a panic, waving her hands . "Your not going."
"I have to, Mum." James answered quietly.
"He is a soldier of her Majesty's army, Miss Victoria." Integra interrupted. He shall be going to fight-
"No." Seras folded her arms and shaking her head. She felt the warmth of tears forming in eyes.
"Make me go instead! I'll take his place on field!"
Integra slammed her papers down on the table. "You are to remain here, police girl! Now be silent!"
Seras went to open her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by her Master.
"Police girl!" He scolded. "You will watch your mouth when you speak to our Master! Your son is also a servant to the Hellsing Organization."
Seras looked at her Master with such heartache and disbelief. "My son..." she whispered, allowing her tears to fall freely. "One minute he is my son and then next he is yours. When will he ever be ours?" Seras asked her Master. Alucard looked at his servant
"He is MY slave!" Integra interrupted. "And as my slave, he obeys my word first and yours second, Police girl." She said through her teeth.
"Enough, Mum." James said sternly, looking into his young mother's hurt eyes. "Enough..."
Seras mouth hung open slightly. So much hurt pulsed through her body at once, she didn't know how to take it. The sound of laughter from the other room began to melt away as Seras slumped down in her seat. Feeling a burst of tears coming, Seras covered her mouth and sat from the table.
"C-could you excuse me p-please..." She chocked as she ran off.
As she ran through the dining room, she caught the eye of a certain French soldier who had been watching her.
"Hell..."Integra said taking her glass of scotch and drinking the whole thing in one gulp. "This damn war is becoming a bloody pain in the ass."
Happy Thanks Giving:D