A/N: Heya peeps, here's the next chap. Happy Belated Easter and everything else! Made this chap especially extra long as to cover up its lateness -nervous laugh- anywaaaay... Almost done and coming to an end. I estimate like 4 more chaps, maybe 5. Who knows?

Reminder to those who have just started reading:

I've decided what to do with the 'sequel'. It won't be so much as a sequel but sorta like a side-story and I think that a lot of of you that loved this fic will love this next one cuz it revolves mostly on Nicholas's entire childhood and lotsa AxS moments. It's called 'Grow' (though title might change).

I noticed how I really jumped around with the years and stuff, so this time Imma do it chronologically, ahaha... anyway, it will show his attempts at matchmaking (something I totally skipped in this story, my apologies) and mostly, like, little kid moments and childish stuff. I can give you a lil' tidbit to chew on though, just so you can't wait to read it BWAHAHAHA. In one chapter, when Nick is 15, Seras and Alucard have to have 'The Talk' (Y'know, the birds and the bees.. :) ) with him so...yeah... That's gonna be fun to write. I've already stared on the first chaps and it'll be out soon.

Also, I have another new fic that I will be putting up along with 'Grow'. It's called 'Forgotten' and I think it will be in Drama or Tragedy or whatev, but its gonna be good. So yeah, anyway, concerning this chapter. Seras and Ayanna have a bitch fight and Dmitri notices (FINALLY) that Ayanna's gone missing. He is such a baaaad father, lol.

Enjoy!

There was something wrong. He could feel it in the very core of his bones, his blood. Something was disturbing his peace. He turned his head slowly left then right and lifted his nose high and sniffed the air like a hound.

It was a stench. Rotting blood and ground, fresh meat. That was the smell of the stench and it made him want to puke. His stomach turned and heaved like waves of an angry sea in a storm. It was disgusting and whatever was the source of that foulness was coming closer. But it confused him. No one could enter this place without being detected and brought up to him for questioning. Then it occurred to him. Maybe they were bringing this unknown, disgusting creature to him. That's when the door opened and the entire room was filled with the putrid smell.

Valentina gagged, her nose wrinkled and her mouth was immediately covered with her delicate white hand. Her eyes even watered. He, however, remained completely still and frozen and stared at the heap of stinking flesh his soldiers dragged to his feet.

Dmitri was known as a cold and cruel man, heartless, ruthless. The screams of his victims did not affect him when he tortured them. He was notorious for his 'persuasive' skills. The soldiers feared him. Every Russian who had lived through those dark days feared Dmitri Alexandrovich.

But that wasn't why Dmitri stood there, frozen in place, looking down at the mass of dirty locks caked with drying blood. The soldiers held the body by its arms, letting its chest and face hover a few inches from the ground. The hair was a pallet of muddy colors. From fresh blood red to crisp drying red and brown, hiding the obviously bright natural golden color. It was in great tangled clumps, completely covering the face.

There was a groan then a dry heave as the intruder began shaking, trying to throw something up. The sounds, however revolting, were definitely feminine he was sure.

The clothes the woman was wearing were completely in tatters. It barely covered her flesh. The female intruder made Dmitri uneasy as he looked down upon her. There was something familiar about her, but what? She suddenly heaved again and threw up blackish liquid all over the beautiful Persian carpet. Dmitri took a step back, avoiding the pooling fluid. His face scrunched up with utter disgust.

The thing lifted its head and stared at Dmitri with wide, frightened eyes, or what was left of them. There were scratches on the face, deep gauges that had torn away most of the skin, revealing the rosy meat underneath with just a touch of white bone poking through.

One of the eyes was damaged, like it was picked apart by claws. There was a large bloody mess where the nose was supposed to be. The lips were savagely ripped out, revealing the jaw and white rows of teeth in a semi-skeletal grin.

The creature emitted pitiful sounds, hiccups and whimpers, like it was crying and in pain. It probably was, Dmitri thought, seeing the fresh trail of red the thing left behind as it attempted to crawl to him. The body was in worse shape. The chest cavity had a large gaping hole, the ribcage showed along with the raw tissue of muscles. There was a slight visible thudding underneath the revealed muscle and Dmitri realized that was the heart beating. He almost felt the bile rise in his throat. He knew of the horrible things he had done to his torture victims but this was revolting. It sickened even him.

"Dmitri!" Valentina yelled at him. Her voice was muffled by her hand. It snapped him out of his trance. The appearance of this being had hypnotized him, shocked him. He hadn't even realized that he was just standing there, gaping at it like a common fool. Dmitri shook his head and glared down at the creature. He nudged the lolling head with the toe of his boot.

"State your business whore, and I may give you a swift death." Dmitri said in a low hiss, trying to sound threatening. It still unnerved him, he felt repelled by something so vile-looking. Again the creature looked up at him with pitiful eyes, like it was pleading him to do something. The face was bruised and massacred. There was a large hole in her left cheek, like the flesh was ripped out and a little bit of white peeked from the rosy meat.

Her lips were chewed off, all her teeth showed through the ghastly rip. Any skin left intact was drenched in blood. She was drenched in blood. He saw the flesh was healing slowly and that she was sobbing in pain. Dmitri could see how the tears formed and how they seeped down the rivers of fleshy scars down her face.

"Ta...!" She tried to say something but as she lifted her head to speak, Dmitri noticed with horror that her throat had been pulled out violently, leaving another disgusting, hollow hole. She writhed at his feet and stretched out a bony, almost skinless hand out to him. Dmitri gasped and took a step back, just out of reach. He glanced at her eyes again and they looked hurt. They also looked red, a watery red but red nonetheless. Was this thing a vampire? Why was it in such a state?

"Ta..." A weak whisper was heard and the attention turned back to the imprisoned intruder. Dmitri, boiling with rage and uncontrollable fury, seized the clumped hair of the girl and harshly pulled her head up.

"Ta...!" She tried again, barely managing to gasp out the words. "Tatya!"

That one word made Dmitri go so pale his skin looked nearly transparent. He let go of her hair and let out a ferocious roar, a sound that shook the whole building. "Andrey! Ayanna! Ayasha! Dementia! Come now!" He shouted into the air and instantly three figures appeared just as he finished yelling. Andrey looked very peeved. He had just managed to tear most of the clothing off of Integra's luscious body. He was so close to taking her when his father had summoned him. What terrible timing!

He saw Dementia, Andrey and Ayasha. "Ayanna! Ayanna come this instance!" He shouted over and over again. The girl whimpered and managed to grab ahold of his pant leg. She tugged on it, sniffling and moaning in agony.

"Ta..tya!" She cried out, pleading. So very pathetic. Dmitri was heavily breathing, casting his eyes downward at the girl's deformed, gnawed hand pulling at his pant leg. He shook her hand off and kicked it back from him. His eyes were insane, wide and frightened. "Shut up you horrid creature!" He sneered at her and backed away again."Ayanna! AYANNA!" He continued to shout. But no response came. The entire room was silent. Everyone watched in disbelief as Dmitri panicked. They all shared the same line of thought; Why was he acting this way? What has made him so edgy, so freaked?

Dmitri looked at his three children in pure disbelief and then barreled himself into his son. He pushed him against the wall, elbow against his throat. Andrey looked surprised, shocked even. Dmitri was furious. His nostrils flared, his eyes were wild, his teeth bared and his mouth curled into a snarl.

"Where is Ayanna! Where is she!" Dmitri shouted. He seemed frantic and furious. Andrey kept shaking his head, truly scared of what his father might do to him in such an unstable state. "I don't know Tatya! I last left her in the basement!" He shouted back. His father glared at him a little longer. He seemed to try and determine whether Andrey was telling the truth but seeing how shocked his son was at his behavior, Dmitri could only conclude he really was telling the truth. Slowly, Dmitri backed away from Andrey and removed his elbow from his throat. The young vampire wheezed and coughed, relieved from the deadly pressure.

Valentina gracefully rose from her couch and stalked over to Dmitri, angry and furious as he. But she was angry with him. "Have you lost your mind?" Valentina accused him, glaring daggers at her mate as she went over to Andrey's hunched form. She gave him a glass of blood which she had been drinking from. It soothed his coughing. "What does this...this thing have anything to do with Ayanna and Andrey!"

Dmitri didn't answer, he didn't even look at her. He looked so lost and so shaken. He kept telling himself that this being worming at his feet couldn't be his daughter, couldn't be one of the Romanovs. It was classic denial. But no one else had recognized her, no one else had come to his conclusion yet. Were they all so blind?

He finally glanced at Valentina. She was avoiding the crawling girl, she couldn't bring herself to look at her. Shouldn't the mother always be able to recognize her own child? He was getting angry again, fury replacing shock in a split second. Anger blossomed inside him like a flower. Was this woman stupid? He began to grit his teeth silently. This was maddening! All of this was absolutely maddening!

"Well? Explain this!" Valentina growled at Dmitri again. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited. Dmitri could only stare at the misshapen vampire girl on the floor, still whimpering and groaning. It had been gnawing at the back of his mind ever since a few nights ago when he had inquired about her whereabouts. He had known that Ayanna would take off for a few nights but she would return and she would have told them. He hadn't sensed her presence for over a week and a half!

Dmitri grabbed ahold of the girl's hair again. He could only hope it wasn't her but he knew it was. She had called out to him, called him 'tatya'. What more proof could he need? He could feel his mate's seething anger at his ignoring her questions. And how exactly was he supposed to answer them?

"Look Vayla and tell me if you recognize her." Dmitri told her bitterly and with his other hand dragged her down to her knees and pushed her face to face with the deformed sad creature. Valentina began to gag from the smell but Dmitri's hand kept her from rising up and fleeing. She looked at the girl with a sneer on her pretty face. She even saw more tears forming in the girl's red eyes.

"How patheti-" She was about to say when she stopped. There was silence for a few moments until Valentina finally gasped. Her own eyes widened. It couldn't be! No, no it was impossible! "Ayanna?"

It looked like her, under all those fresh, bleeding scars and missing chunks of flesh. It looked like Ayanna. But, it shouldn't be her! She was supposed to be hunting! Scouting! This couldn't! Shouldn't be her!

Dmitri let out another howl once he heard his mate say that name. Oh the shame! He let go of her hair and released Valentina. He was frantic. No one had ever seen him like this before. He paced left and right in front of Ayanna, seeming unsure of what he should do. He looked like he wanted to hold her but was too disgusted by her state.

She suddenly heaved again and threw up blackish liquid all over the beautiful Persian carpet. Dmitri took a step back, avoiding the pooling fluid. His face scrunched up with utter disgust.

"Look, your Excellency!" One of the soldiers holding the woman shouted, excited that he might've found something useful. He pointed to something in the gooey black puddle. "There is something there!"

Dmitri stared at the staining blackness on his expensive rug and noticed the object the soldiers had pointed out. It was a cross. He immediately grabbed a handkerchief and pulled the cross out of the gooey mess. He fiddled with it, inspecting it from all sides. The top of the cross flipped open, revealing a piece of paper rolled inside it. Dmitri gently took out the paper and read:

To our dear enemy, the Russian lord Dmitri

We hope you like our present. She was very difficult to attain but we managed.

How does it feel to have one of your own snatched from right under your nose and then thrown back at your feet like a piece of trash? Did you even notice that she was gone? Of course not. We shall no longer stall our engagement with you.

Looking forward to our meeting,

Nicholas Arthur Van Hellsing.

P.s.- you will notice that the scars on her hands are the marks of Hellsing. She has been in my service, she is now one of my subordinates. She is my lovely slave.

Dmitri quickly glanced at the Ayanna's hands, for now he was sure it was his daughter, and made some strange choking sounds. Only the hands weren't as severely scarred as the rest of her. On the back of her ghostly white hands he could see the bleeding trademark of Hellsing.

The entire hotel continued to shake and echo with feral roars and screams. Objects flew about the room and smashed into walls. Dmitri and Valentina trashed the entire room. The soldiers cowered. Ayasha was as furious as her parents. Andrey, on the other hand, smiled secretly. This Hellsing boy was playing dirty. It meant he had guts or was just stupidly brave. But he couldn't say he wasn't angry.

To do something like this to one of Romanov blood is the highest and most cruelest of crimes. He knew his father would make that half-breed brat pay dearly for this injury to their family honor. Yes, this was a dirty move indeed.

"Ayasha! I want all the soldiers assembled! The best! We attack!" Dmitri shouted and Ayasha was already disappearing into the shadows, eyes aglow with red angry fire. She wanted to personally rip out the throat of the madman who did this to her precious twin. There were shouts and yelling in the halls below, noisy feet running around preparing, frantic.

"Those motherfuckers will regret hurting my pride like this!" Dmitri growled ferociously and shook his fist at the rest of the people in the room.

"Filthy bastards!" He cursed again and again. Valentina was weeping, hugging her grotesque child close to her chest. He watched his mate rock back and forth gently, cradling Ayanna's head in her arms.

It was probably the only motherly moment he'd ever get to witness but he knew she loved the children. She was their mother. But it still surprised him when Valentina suddenly wiped her bloody tears and let go of Ayanna. She gently laid her on the floor, stood up as graceful as a swan and marched up to the child Dmitri knew she loved least. Valentina started to caress one of the curly pigtails of Dementia, who was standing next to the body of Ayanna, grinning madly at the sight of her half-sister's blood and bone. But when she saw Valentina approach her, her grin faltered.

"Dementia darling." Valentina cooed in the sweetest voice she possessed and continued to twirl her lovely golden locks with her elegant fingers. Dementia blinked, apparently surprised as well.

"Da?" She answered, her voice borderline curious and cautious. Valentina smiled and chuckled huskily."How about announcing us? They will want to know our reply."

Dementia nodded slowly, eying Valentina skeptically. This was very odd coming from her. Her hungry grin slid back on her face as all the possibilities came swarming in her head. Oh but this meant more hunting! More killing, more blood! Her lips stretched farther into a mad smile and her dead heart fluttered. "Da, I agree."

Valentina returned the smile and Dementia already turned on her heel and was about to melt with the shadows when Valentina's hand grabbed her shoulder. Dementia turned to glance at her over her shoulder, now looking a bit puzzled. She wanted to kill, to slaughter! Why was she stopping her?

"Oh and Dementia? Go and get that Hellsing woman from her room." Valentina added sweetly and let Dementia go. The girl nodded eagerly and finally disappeared. The room was silent again. No one understood this sudden change in Valentina. She walked over to the two soldiers standing at the door, lost and confused. "Take Ayanna into my room and give her blood." She ordered briskly, glaring at them coldly. The two men nodded quickly and went to pick up the sad, disfigured girl without showing their disgust. As they carried her into the other room, Valentina walked over to a small table and grabbed a bottle of blood. She offered the drink to Dmitri and Ayasha. When she came around to give it to Andrey, he refused the glass of blood, pushing her hand aside. Instead he gave her a piercing glare and pursed his lips.

"Mother what are you planning?" He demanded. The tall woman had turned her back and walked over to the couch. She did not answer him at all as she set herself gracefully on the couch, flicked her long, sleek hair to her other shoulder and began lightly caressing Dmitri's neck lovingly. It was as if nothing had happened at all. She was ignoring him.

But Andrey wouldn't let her do that. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. "What are you planning with the Hellsing, Mother?" He demanded again, his voice raising with his anger. Valentina looked up and stared at him lazily as if he had just asked her to go pick daisies in the sunlight. She raised her brow, her look said 'you can't be serious'. She reached for her glass of blood and calmly sipped from the glass as she continued t stare at him. Once she was done drinking, she decided to answer him.

"My dear son," She began silkily. "you have taken too long in your courting." Another sip from the glass came along with the pause. "This is an utter disgrace! They have insulted us! Does this not anger you?" Valentina accused viciously, glaring at him as coldly as a blizzard. But he was unfazed by her coldness, he just glared back. It made sense to him now. He knew why she wanted Integra brought back here. She was planning on killing her. Or worse, turning her into a slave. He can't allow that, he wouldn't allow it. Red eyes swirling to a darker shade, his breathing accelerated. He was like a bull ready to charge.

"Of course this action angers me but-!" He shouted, pointing at the entrance to Valentina's room where Ayanna now lay, healing slowly. Valentina cut him off with a raise of her hand regally. She was as mad as he was. "No buts!" She shouted back, hissing. She brought down her fist on the table, the loud bang echoed in the room. "I refuse to let this go unanswered. You will take that virgin by force and then you shall kill her and send them back her mutilated body!"

"Niet! I will do no such thing!" He said, shaking his head repeatedly. "She would make a perfect vampire Mother! She is made for the eternal life! She is made for me!" Andrey yelled back. Integra's fate was his alone to decide. Damn it she was his! Valentina growled. He could actually see her bristling like an angry cat.

"She is a human, cattle to our kind!" Valentina snapped back at her son, already half-rising from the couch. But a hand grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back down. She looked surprised and allowed Dmitri to pull her back into his arms as she was before. Another silence followed, however briefly. Dmitri looked solemn and decided. He looked at Andrey and at once the young man knew he had lost the battle.

"Kill her or be be killed in her place. Make your choice Andrey."

Earlier that night...

He could feel Master's fear, her distress and it angered him beyond reason. The entire manor shook with roars so frightening and bestial that most of the surviving employment scurried about like roaches. The roars continued, each one louder and more fearsome then the last.

Alucard had become an unstoppable force. He barreled through the many halls of the mansion, wrecking havoc everywhere. He demolished anything that stood in his way, did not even care if there were humans blocking his path. Integra was in danger, she was in danger and he could not get to her. Their mind link had been severed once she had entered that prison but he could still feel her through a different connection they had shared since she took control of him. A connection she was not yet aware of, or was and didn't care.

Now he could feel her emotions, something she rarely gave into. He could feel how helpless and cornered she felt, degraded, disgraced, impatient. She was calling him, asking for his help, begging him to save her. Yes, she was actually begging him to save her.

It sent him over the edge. No one made Master beg for such things! No one made such a strong woman crumble into something weak. He loved her strength, her resolve, her coldness, her steely eyes and her anger, her vengeance. This woman was becoming a ghost and a helpless weakling was taking her place. No, he wouldn't have that, he would never allow something so disgusting to happen to Integra.

"Nicholas!" Alucard bellowed at the top of his lungs as he appeared in the office. "You cowardly fool! You insolent child!" He continued to yell. Nicholas blinked, unsure of how to react. Father was so frightening, he could actually see the rage surrounding him like a black mist, a tainted halo.

Alucard charged at Nicholas with his teeth bared and a menacing growl ripping from his throat. It all happened in a flash. He caught Nick by his slender white throat and hurled him into the floor with all his might. There was a loud crash as the table turned over from the force. The stone tiles cracked and dust rose. Nick coughed and wheezed, his hands gripping Alucard's.

"Fa-Father!" He choked out, his eyes bulging, his face turning blue. He could feel his life slowly slipping away. It was over, all over. Father was furious enough to kill him. Then, everything went black. It was as if someone turned off all the lights, Nicholas couldn't see anything.

Alucard watched with mild interest as the squirming teenager beneath him began to change. He stopped struggling and he grew very quiet. Only when he looked up, Alucard was beyond pleased. His eyes were blood red and angry, so very angry.

Next thing he knew, Nicholas had thrown him off with unbelievable force and sent him crashing into the opposite wall. Then he leapt onto him, grabbed him by his shoulders and swung him around like a lifeless rag doll and hurled him at Integra's oak desk. The wood cracked and moaned from contact of Alucard's body and fell to pieces as Alucard scrambled to his feet. Lip bleeding and head spinning, he grinned at his foster son.

"More! More! Give me more!" Alucard cackled. Nicholas only replied with a feral growl and charged at Alucard again with inhuman speed. He punched the elder vampire in the stomach hard enough to leave Alucard slightly winded. Then he took one of the lamps that survived the first few blows and brought it crashing down on his head. He continued using the object as a bludgeon and wouldn't stop hitting Alucard with it until the vampire's head resembled mince meat.

As the vampire slid unto the floor. Nicholas, splattered in blood, took a letter-opening knife and slashed his chest to ribbons. Alucard didn't move. His blood seeped onto the floor, thick and almost black, pooling around his body. Nicholas sensed the blood and began to drool. Oh, how he craved blood, the taste of it, the smell of it, the feel of it sliding down the throat! He's never even tasted blood but something inside him told him, whispered to him that it was delicious.

He stared at the blood oozing out of the unmoving body. Should he taste it and see if this voice was telling the truth? Of course he should, the voice told him again, it's better then food, then drink, it's better than anything human. Mesmerized by the color, the richness of the liquid, Nick reached out and placed both his hands gently into the puddle of blood. His hand felt cold, slimy and wet but he didn't care.

Slowly he raised his hands to his face. His breathing became faster, goosebumps rose high on his skin. There was a constant humming and drumming in his ears, someone could've shouted at him and he wouldn't have even heard a peep. His nostrils flared, he felt himself grin wildly. His pulse sped up, his thoughts seemed to zoom around constantly. All he could see was blood, just the red, dripping fingers of his hands. His fingers inched closer to his mouth, his tongue stuck out to catch the drops of the liquid. It almost touched the tip of his tongue, he could almost taste it!

Another voice told him no, screaming it in fact. The first voice started to hush it but Nicholas listened to the second voice. It sounded like...himself. His head began to pound furiously and he groaned, his hands massaging his temples. The pain increased and for a moment he couldn't bear it, he thought he'd go mad from it! There was that blackness again, he couldn't see a thing. When the blackness retreated, he blinked and looked around the room.

Well, the first thing he noticed was that he was standing. Then he looked down and saw his hands. They were drenched in blood. Slowly he let his eyes roam the office. It was complete and utter chaos.

The table was split in two, papers were scattered everywhere, lamps were reduced to glass dust, there were more cracked tiles and even a few holes in the floor. There were large dents in the walls and Alucard lay on the floor, bleeding from his chest. Nicholas stumbled back a few steps, now really scared. What happened? Oh God, did he do this?

There was a rustle and the sound ofrippling water could be heard. Nick glanced back at his father's body on the floor and he turned ghostly white. the sound was coming from the downed vampire, like he was slurping all the blood back into his body. Nick watched, torn between fascination and horror as the disgusting wounds began to heal. Tissue, flesh and bone was being reconstructed before his very eyes, mending the body to the state of medical perfection.

Oddly enough, Alucard's body began shaking. Nick could hear soft chuckling grow louder and crazier. Alucard was laughing as he slowly rose from the floor. Nicholas automatically took a step back. He had never been more scared in his life. The towering vampire flashed a enigmatic grin at the teenager and Nick whimpered.

The vampire sudenly charged at the fair-haired teen and knocked him off his feet. He picked him up by the scruff of his shirt collar like he was a bad pup, and slammed him into the wall where the portraits of Integra's ancestors hung. They shook from the sudden force.

"I want to snap you like a twig." Alucard hissed through clenched teeth as he held Nicholas against the wall, his arm pushing against the blonde's throat, causing him to wheeze and his eyes bulge. His feet dangled a few inches from the floor and he struggled against his father's hold. He kicked and squirmed and wriggled and tried and tried but all in vain. His grip was too strong. Nick looked pleadingly at Alucard. Why? Why was he trying to kill him?

"F-Father!"

"You force me to sit on my backside and do nothing while my Master suffers! I demand you take action before I do." He snarled and bared all his monstrous teeth at the teenager. He could feel him shaking, could hear him quietly whimpering. Something told him to just do it, kill him. But Alucard tightened his hold on the boy's neck, he saw how his enormous eyes begged. it disgusted him, repulsed him. He couldn't stand the sight. Alucard raised his other hand and slapped him harshly.

"You fool." He whispered cruelly. "You're like a piece of junk. Useless and always in the way, not belonging to anything."

Nicholas's eyes stared at him, bewildered, hurt and betrayed. He looked like a frightened lamb. He was a frightened lamb and he was now in the jaws of a lion. How could he have been so stupid? Nick's blue eyes slowly began turning a dull, milky grey as his breathing became more shallow, more urgent. He was slipping away. The pain wracked his entire body, enveloping him like a boa constrictor. Farther's face became distorted, fuzzy, his voice, slow and deep. He wanted to close his eyes so badly, he didn't want to keep looking at that angry face, that terrible, hositle face.

Seras had walked into the office at that moment. She had her head down and was looking at some papers while talking. "Nick, I've got my misson's report..." She glanced up to smile, expecting to see the bright face of her adopted son. Her smile faltered when she took in the sight of the office. Most of it lay in ruins, everything was scattered about in pieces. She could hear choking sounds, gasping, wheezing. Then she saw Alucard holding Nicholas up by his throat, his feet dangling like a doll's above the wrecked floor. Nick was so pale, she could see the blue veins snaking across his face and neck, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. She could barely hear his heart beating.

"N-Nicholas..." Seras murmured, frozen in place. She glanced at Alucard, not wanting to believe her eyes. "Master..."

She stood and stared, paralyzed. then as Nick turned his head and saw her, he stretched out his hand towards her in a silent, pitiful plea before it fell limp on the ground. Seras gasped and the paralysis wore off. She shook her head to clear her thoughts of the thick fog and her fist clenched furiously at her sides.

"Master! What are you doing?" She shrieked, rushing over to the two. She tried pulling at Alucard's hands gripping Nick's throat but he wouldn't budge. She glared at him.

"Taking matters into my own hands!" He replied in a snarl and pushed Nicholas further against the wall. It began to crack and dent under the added weight.

"By attacking your own son?" Seras retorted, outraged. Seeing Nick's face turn pale purple, she began to panic. She had to do something. Something, something! She had to stop him! So Seras did something drastic and rather insane. She slapped her Master with the back of her hand hard across the cheek.

For a split second he reverted his piercing red eyes to her, shocked and amazed. With the distraction, Alucard's grip loosened and Nick coughed as he heaved in large gulps of air. Not wanting to waste her newfound courage, Seras slapped him a second time, as hard and as painful as the first.

"He's your son, you lunatic!" She shouted at him as her hand came back down on him again. Now completely letting go of Nick, Alucard brought up his hand and caught Seras's small hand in his own. He viciously pulled her aside and thrust her away from him. She stumbled and barely caught her balance.

"He is not my son! He never will be!" Alucard growled savagely, pointing at the teen wheezing on the ground. "Such a weak little human brat!" He hissed. "How can that be my son? He disgraces the Hellsing name, my name and even yours, Police Girl. He is a nothing, a nobody, just a lowly coward, trash."

Nicholas gripped his sore throat, his chest hurting, his head pounding, his blood rushing quickly through his veins. He didn't understand a thing. Father is mad because he hasn't taken any action yet? Sure, easy for him! He'd go gallivanting in there guns ablazing, unleash Hell on everything living and undead being in there and completely reveal Hellsing and his own race! Yeah that would do the trick! Nick tried standing up after finally catching his breath but his knees buckled and he collapsed to the floor again.

Groaning, he crawled over to the destroyed desk, using one of its sides as leverage. He pulled himself up, leaning heavily against the broken desk. "I am not a coward, Father." He whispered.

Alucard went rigid and slowly rotated around. The look on his face was one of utter shock and murderous fury, like he couldn't believe Nick had the courage to speak to him. There was a flutter of fabric and Nick had barely blinked only to be thrown off his feet again by some invisible force.

It was like a rhinoceros slamming into his gut full-throttle. He hit the wall behind him again and slid meekly to the floor. Blood trickled from his forehead and the corner of his mouth. His head was spinning from the impact and his vision blurry. When his eyes unfogged, he saw the leering red eyes of Alucard staring at him three inches away. His hands were back at his bruised throat.

"How dare you..." Alucard snarled quietly, "call me 'Father'."

"Master stop this right now!" Seras cried out, jumping onto his back and beating him with her clenched fists. Alucard stayed unfazed. "Stop! Stop!"

"Stay out of this Police Girl! You don't realize that if I don't do something, Integra will die!"

Seras doubled her efforts. she pounded her fists hard onto his back and pulled at his hair but Alucard didn't even flinch. Changing tactics Seras suddenly brought her knee up and smashed it into Alucard's face. as he wasn't expecting a full-frontal assault from his very timid fledgling, Alucard turned around and back-handed her across the face, sending her flying backwards. She rolled onto the ground, bruised and groaning softly. seeing that the nuisance was taken care of, Alucard turned back to finally throttling that stupid blonde half-breed.

Nicholas was still on the floor and scuttling away from his angry father as fast as he could. Of course, it didn't help much. Alucard leaped back onto him and had him back into his vice grip within a mere second. The raven-haired vampire raised his hand above Nicholas's heart. "It'll be better for you." He whispered maliciously into Nicholas's ear. "You are a vampire too after all and all vampires must be exterminated."

His hand came down, like a swift blade ready to pierce Nicholas's heart. Nicholas closed his eyes too and let out a deep breath. Alucard gleefully plunged his hand down to Nicholas's chest. But his fingertips barely reached Nick's fancy suit. Instead, Alucard paused and glanced down. His gun, 'Jackal" was pressing into his own chest. Then he looked back at Nicholas and saw that he was the one holding the gun. He was mildly surprised.

"Let...go, Father." Nicholas whispered hoarsely. "Or I will shoot you."

Alucard stared at him for a moment and then grinned while he slowly slid off him. Gun still trained on him, Nicholas slowly moved away from the vampire, wincing as he tried to stand up again. His legs were weak and his knees buckled and he had to lean heavily on the wall for support. His top lip was split and thin trails of blood trickled from his hairline, his nose and from the corner of his mouth. His cheeks were red and bruised raw, his chest was heaving frantically. His entire neck and collar bone was black and blue and his eyes were slightly bloodshot. But Nicholas's angelic blue eyes and the gun in his hand never left Alucard.

"You can't kill me." Alucard stated, grinning triumphantly as he watched Nicholas struggle over to the chair, the only thing intact enough to be of some further use. Nick sat down on the seat and sighed. He glanced at Alucard again and nodded. "I know I can't but I will shoot you if you say those things about me again." Nick then glanced over to where his mother was laying on the floor. "You okay, Mum?"

"Just peachy." Seras said with a groan. She slowly rose from the floor and rubbed her jaw where Alucard's hand had hit her. Once her head stopped spinning and she could see more clearly, she looked around and blinked. Nicholas was holding Alucard up at gun point with the black 'Jackal'. Oh Anderson would have a field day with this. She made her way to the two men, ready to play referee again if the situation got out of hand once more.

"Now, Father." Nicholas began, looking the scary black-haired vampire square in the eye. "I am doing all I can about this situation."

"Bullshit." Alucard spat at Nick, baring his teeth. "You're doing nothing. A week has passed and Integra is still in the hands of-"

Alucard stopped speaking just as a portal opened near him and Ayanna stepped out, graceful and elegant as a ballet dancer. Seras instantly frowned and crossed her hands over her chest in obvious dislike. "Oh great. Just great." She grumbled. The tall woman had taken a step forwards when she paused in mid-step and looked around. Then her gaze slid back to Nicholas holding the gun and aiming it at Alucard. She completely ignored Seras's presence.

"Have I interrupted something?" She asked nonchalantly, eyeing Alucard and Nicolas skeptically. Nicholas turned his glare to her and shook his head briskly. "No not really." He answered her with a sarcastic drawl. Ayanna gave him an icy smile then turned to face Alucard. Her facial expression changed instantly. There was a a faint hint of seduction in her deep eyes and sweet smile as she slowly bowed respectfully to Alucard. "Good evening my Lord."

"Suck up." Seras hissed under her breath as she glared daggers at the tall vampire woman rise back up. Her glare intensified when she saw Ayanna flash her a quick triumphant smile before making her face blank and devoid of all emotion. That woman made her blood boil.

Ayanna stared blank-faced at Nicholas."I request to go back to my father, Master." She stated curtly and placed hand on her jutted hip, seeming impatient. Nick narrowed his eyes at her. After a quick glance at his father, he lowered the gun and raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Why?"

"He noticed even the slightest things amiss while he was still human. If he sees that I have been absent for too long then he will be beyond furious and kill your precious aunt and your little maid."

"Absolutely not! For all we know, he could've been using you as a spy!" Nicholas immediately protested, waving the gun about. Seras ducked as the barrel came pointing at her. "Nicholas!" She hissed. "Either aim or put it away!"

"Sorry Mum." Nicholas muttered sheepishly whilst still holding his glare. He wasn't sure if he could trust father not attacking him anymore. But was there ever any guarantee he wouldn't? Sighing heavily, he decided to take his chance. He briefly remembered his blackout and glanced down at his hands. They were now a muddy brown since the blood had dried. Whatever happened it sure did a number on the vampire, that's for sure. Heaving another sigh, he handed the black gun over to Seras, butt first as was protocol. She gripped the handle and put it away. They both saw Alucard roll his eyes at this little display.

"Nicholas, I may have an idea for this." Alucard suddenly spoke up and both Ayanna and Nick stared at him curiously. He had been silent during the entire discussion. He personally thought it was a waste of valuable time but he was too interested in his sons' knowledge of warfare to criticize. Now this request of Ayanna's has given him an oh so sinister idea that will surely bring both the Russian and his roaches to their knees.

Alucard strode graciously to the center of Integra's ruined office and stood regally, basking at the attention both vampires and half-ling were giving him.

"Well?" Nicholas sounded impatient and it made the elder vampire give a gleeful smile.

"I propose you give her a temporary release from the Hellsing ties."

"Release her? That would send her running back to her father!"

"Exactly."

"My lord, I don't understand this plan of yours." Ayanna said in the most respectful way she knew. It earned a very heated glare from Nicholas. She had been nothing but impossible, rude and vile to him and he was her Master. But when she sees Alucard, she becomes the most obedient little puppy and happily listens to whatever the vampire says.

"It is understandable that you don't, princess." Alucard said with a mean grin which made Ayanna's plump red lips purse angrily at the jibe. The raven-haired vampire strolled over to Ayanna and gently lifted her chin with his fingers so that she was looking up at him.

"You will run back to Daddy and tell him how Hellsing had captured and tortured you until you have told them everything about his plans and his whereabouts."

"But he will see that I'm not harmed and that I haven't really been telling you everything since you already know."

"But he isn't aware of our knowledge and you shall be harmed."

The second he had said those words, a cold shiver shook her entire body. Ayanna gazed deep into those magma red eyes and saw so much evil. She heard laughter. She heard screams. She heard bones crunching and blood hitting the grass of the battlefield. She started to struggle against his hold and finally broke free. She looked so scared. "My Lord...You wouldn't...!" And without waiting for an answer she ran from the office.

She ran through the halls and down two flights of stairs. She ran out the big front doors, past Walter who had called out after her. But she didn't answer him, she just kept running. All those things she saw, the things she saw. Burning flesh, dismembered bodies, screaming children, weeping women over the disembodied heads of their fathers, brothers, husbands.

She ran out into the crowded streets of London, pushing and shouldering her way through the throngs of people. She couldn't get his eyes out of her head. He was the only one everyone truly feared. As she got further away from Hellsing, her hands began to burn. Ayanna stopped running and leaned on the brick wall of a house, staring at her hands. The Hellsing bonds on her hands were still there but very faint, as if scraped off. Did that mean she was free? But, what was their plan? Alucard planned to hurt her, didn't he?

"That is correct princess." A cold voice suddenly hissed in her ear. Ayanna jumped, startled and when she turned around, she couldn't stop screaming.

Ok yeah what do you think, hmm? See ppl im having another small dilemma. I cant decide if the whole show-down should be in the hotel dungeon/basement or at Hellsing or maybe somewhere in the middle of London, sort of like 'Gangsters of New York' . I cant decide and if you guys wanna add your suggestions or opinions be my guests. I'm open to any ideas you all have!

But no worries, the chapters have already been half-started. I've managed to download both OVA and anime of Hellsing so I shall try and make the Hellsing characters more IC. I know it seems like I've forgotten about Pip but no worries I shall see what I can do about that. Pip lovers don't hate me for bruising him up that bad, I needed some drama hahahaha

Ok I think that's it. Ppl please review, good or bad I dont mind. Enjoy my story while you can and I will try and surprise you all with the next chaps. As I've mentioned countless times before, I aim to make my readers gasp and I hope I am acomplishing it hahaha

Wow, I am in such a good mood, eh?

P.S. - if it hasn't crossed your mind before, I am part Canadian hahahaha

Forgotten and Grow are coming soon!