Disclaimer: Hellsing belongs to Kouta Hirano, Geneon and I don't know if someone else. This fic is made just for fun and the only character of mine is Duke.

(Re) Building an Empire

First Week –Day Five-

"Why did you throw up the blood?" Seras mentally talked with her partner the other side of the car. She didn't want Integra to be suspicious, so she looked uninterest by the window trying to make just small talk out of it.

Duke seemed to catch her intentions, he simply crossed one leg to rest on a more relaxed position. Looking by the window on his side the british countryside pass at fast pace.

"The question here is...why you didn't?"

"Why should I?"

"You must know what ghouls are, brainless creatures, turned monsters by a greedy vampire or an idiot one." Duke rested his chin on the palm of his hand "They never chose to be like that, and there's no way back once you change into a ghoul."

Seras nodded mentally, she remembered those same words from her Master, but she failed to understand what it had to do with Duke puking all the blood he had consumed days ago, to the point of losing his regenerative powers.

"When a vampire consumes a life, the souls turns part of the vampire." Duke sighed. "By consuming the ghoul you don't allow that person to rest in peace. It will be part of you, as a ghoul, for eternity."

Seras felt a heavy lump on her throat and swallowed expecting the saliva to take it away. Until that moment she could feel it, the thrusting inside her, the mindless creatures craving for blood. Trapped inside by the end of the times.

"Did Alucard ever drank one of those?" The elder vampire knew the answer, yet he waited for Seras to shake the head. "Our bodies are a battlefield, the more souls you consume the more they push you to fulfil their desires. A strong mind can hold them for centuries, but eventually they may want to overcome the one that have them trapped. And ghouls, as they were not turned by oneself, are hard to control." He grinned wickedly.

Seras shivered thinking it more deeply, she didn't want the nazi ghouls with her but it couldn't be helped. Then another dark thought popped in her mind.

"Pip..." deep inside, anguished , she called her familiar "are you upset for being trapped in here?"

"My mignonette," Captain Bernadotte's voice echoed in her head, she could almost see his reassuring smile "there's no other place I would like to stay but by your side."

Seras could feel the warmth in his words. Hesitant, she plodded deeper in herself. Her mind passed by the horde of ghouls that stood up aimlessly, rotten for the end of times. Among the group, two porcelain-like girls were hugging each other. Their pristine blue eyes opened to look at her with fright. Seras held out her hand towards them half smiling. She needed their acceptance more than anything else. The bigger girl stood up, bravely on her face as if she wanted to protect her little sister. The Draculina didn't know if keeping the hand extended was still a good idea.

"Don't hate me...please." She mumbled hesitantly. About pulling her hand back, the little girl stood up, mocking face flashed on her when said.

"Wir verzeihen, wenn Sie laden in den Rücken." The little girl was already climbing her back, the older sister smiled at Seras and tried to pull the other down while admonishing the mess her spoiled sister was making. The Draculina blinked a couple of times, she had understood even though they were speaking in german. Relief ran through her undead veins, she had been forgiven and also discovered a new ability. It was worth playing with the girls the rest of the trip to the cabinet meeting.

That didn't come out as expected, they never expected the meeting was actually a news conference where Integra had to publicly apologize. Back in the mansion Duke sat on his desk chair looking at the ladies he was used to respect as workmates argue like small children. The whole scenario was like watching a tennis match. A rally of both girls trying to break each other's pride. Seras was hurt, not physically but emotionally. It was plausible after the shameful public apologize their boss had to express to the wife of the now deceased consul of Germany. Seras aced they didn't have the right for asking the britishers to apologise, with the follow through that they were the ones who should feel shame.

Integra set a lob retorting that Germany was not involved with Millenium, and it was the nation they had gotten more support after the London's massacre. Then Seras got the ball deep yelling that there were a lot of dead compatriots for caring of two whimpy useless foreign kid's deaths. Integra advantaged saying that, in politics, the welfare of a few was more important than the masses. Then she backhanded by adding it was Seras responsibility to protect humans whoever they'd be. Stunned by the statement, the Draculina placed herself in no man's land blurting that Duke and she were being shot, she had reacted as any vampire should do, and anyway the children were about die of starvation!

The boss profited of her subordinate's poor moral for winning the set; nor Seras not Duke were ordinary vampires, they were part of Hellsing, therefore they live to protect humans.

"Can I say something?" Duke raised his hand warily. I seemed he was love-a bazillion points against both women, as no one paid him attention.

As Seras came out with another witty comeback, Duke's mind drifted back when he was newly born fledging. He remembered being in a similar situation when Madalina, the oldest of Dracula's 'brides', argued with her sire about permission for going out hunting by herself. It was all 'you're too naive' this and 'you think I'm fool' that. Back then he thought it was stupid, they were all immortals it wasn't like going out a little would kill them. But focusing in his kin's behavior, it wasn't very different than the humans'. Dracula was truly worried of her welfare. Like Integra was now that it had been casted out they were not the leashed non harmful creatures that the modern world expected. The Head of Hellsing was afraid of having to seal Seras and him, like her grand grand father had done with Alucard.

Duke burst in laugh, and both women stopped their dispute looking bewildered at him. When he could regain his calm he looked at the girls feeling some happiness inside. No wonder Dracula had picked these women as his colleagues.

"All this time I've though it's not your business but... actually I wear something that seals my powers." He shrugged, then pulled out his shirt sleeve up to the shoulder to reveal a tattoo.

"An uroboros?" Integra was intrigued, she leaned closer to study the intricate design on the vampire's arm.

"You like it? I loved the concept, the eternity and that. Pretty adoc isn't it? But that's not what I wanted to show you." He clenched his pointy nails exactly under the pattern. Seras flinched when the blood started to pour out. Duke grimaced while his fingers dug deeper in his muscle, then he pulled out his blood covered hand holding something, small. "It's a microchip."

He handed it to Integra, who pulled a handkerchief from her pocket for giving the object a soft cleaning. Seras trotted to peek over her shoulder, all the previous argument forgotten. The boss glared at him.

"This is..." Integra trailed off as her mind was racing somewhere farther than the Hellsing Manor, next minute she was pointing her gun at Duke's forehead. "I knew it, this bastard is one of Millennium's henchmen."

Duke instinctively raised both hands expecting that symbol of rendition was enough, but as Seras was starting to show mistrust he uttered in half annoyance, half fright.

"For the last time, I'm proud American, your assumption that I get along with nazis offends me" he pouted, then added with a confident smiled "Jack made it."

"This technology is too similar to what the Mayor used for the artificial vampires, where did he get it?" Integra stayed calm, but there was venom in her voice.

"Nothing to do… and I expect him to explain you if it's necessary. He has never told me, though." He scratched the back of his head, while confirming his arm had heal completely. "Seriously Integra, you have to relax or you'll wrinkle younger than expected."

"That's what I've been saying" Seras added playfully, Integra's disapproving look shut her up.

Despite the argument that followed up the possibility of artificially sealing away a vampire, the expectation of seeing Jack again had Duke enjoying that his new boss was continuously pointing her gun at him every time she drew up a question. As far as he knew, after one of those days with him losing composure, Jack went out of his studio after several nights promising Duke a way to forget the memories that hounded him. The chip had suffered notorious modifications since then, turning every five years or so smaller. It's origin was still a mystery.

"Fine then," Integra holstered her gun giving the vampire finally a break. She was too tired from that day activities for working through how to fix something that was already fixed. "Tomorrow I'd be calling Clemens, he will assist you in the creation of a more powerful and secure seal for both you and Seras."

"W-wait, you want me to do it?"

"We lack of income for paying Clemens for it. Besides, I can keep an eye on you while you are on it."

"Even if you want, you couldn't keep both eyes on him, Sir!" Seras chuckled, moved by the accuracy of the expression. Duke couldn't avoid copying along.

A bullet on each vampires head made them shut up. Integra knew she had no time to lose as both were breaking loose a little bit as time went by.

Author's Note: Another short chapter I guess, another long delay. The little girls names are Elica and Isole, their German is terrible because the writer used google translator. Are you expecting to see Jack Clemens? I think you have to wait, because you won't see him nearly in four chapters. Funny part is that I haven't outlined that character yet.

Thank you for following the story, it really makes me feel better whenever I see a notification from a new follower. I wouldn't like to sound demanding but, could you also review? A simple "I like it" or "I don't like your OCs" would be fine. Writing is about improving, but without comments it's like sailing without compass. So, click the review button, please?