A very important notice to all my lovely readers~
There is going to be another rewrite! yes I know, another one, I hate myself for it too. Nothing too major and it won't interfere with the next update date, just wanted to let you know encase you spot any changes and think "what the fuck? when did this get here?". I say rewrite but its more a case of maintenance I guess, im just going through and fixing somethings. But I want to thank everyone for being so patient with updates and maintenance and such, really you guys are rad.
Thanks for reading, please enjoy!
Kida Tatsuhime, Jackiemaejohnson, lilwicca1989 : Glad all of you love the story so far! thanks for reading and reviewing :3
Walking down the familiar dark hallway Victoria glanced at the paintings who's wide blank eyes noticeably stated back. The peeling wallpaper curled down the wall in large strips and where the rotting wood should be exposed the space was fills with eerie darkness that seemed to go on forever. The constant scuttling that ran up and down the halls, was now much louder and was accompanied by unsettling hushed whispers, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, drowning out the woman's thoughts. Even her heeled boots made no noise as they connected with the rotting floorboards. Looking into the distance she saw the room quickly approaching and fastened her pace to escape the claustrophobic hallway. As she reached the small firelight room the woman looked back to see saw the door completely shrouded in darkness. Finally stepping into the room the scuttling and whispering sounds stopped but the usual fire lighting the way was much dimmer and cast long eerie shadows on every surface. Victoria timidly walked up to the chair where Katja sat, an un-amused expression adorning her face,
"Why am I here again" the artist demanded.
"Always so rude" Katja commented idly her mind seemingly elsewhere, "you never ask how I am",
"Am I supposed to?" Victoria retorted irritably,
Ignoring her comment the woman's stoic face twitched, "I should be asking you why you're here" she sighed.
"Wait.." Victoria trailed off suspiciously, "you mean you didn't bring me here?"
"No I wasn't planning to for another few days" Katja huffed, "however since your here.." She trailed off thoughtfully.
"Wait, why is it such a dump now?" Victoria cut her off looking around the spider webbed and dust covered room. "And whats with the whispering, and hall and-"
"Your asking questions you should know the answer to" Katja cut her off, glancing at the dimming fire she grinned eerily her long white teeth illuminated by the light. "...It seems your running out of time".
"Out of time? For what?!" Victoria asked cautiously, already knowing the answer,
"Your body is getting weaker, walking up stairs shouldn't exhaust you, your hands can barely hold a pencil most days" the vampire taunted. "We both read that diary entry, surely you know what happens when your body gives up on you",
The artist looked to the dying fire and bit her lip, feeling her throat tighten she clenched her fists and tried to stabilize her voice, refusing to show weakness. "I won't let you" she snarled, "you won't take over".
"Ah that's where your wrong" she giggled, "see, unfortunately for you, and fortunately for me...you don't have a choice" Katja remarked cheerfully her crimson eyes glowing from the shadows where she sat.
"No I'm strong...you won't.." Victoria growled in denial,
"No, your mind is strong, but your body will always be weak!" She taunted, "once your mind breaks, your all mine".
"They'll help me" the artist murmured, "Alucard and Seras can help",
"Funny you should bring him up" Katja sneered, "you've gotten very close haven't you? Hmm?"
"No.." She replied uncertainly,
"I can't read your mind in here but I still know your lying" the vampire snickered pointing a clawed finger at the woman. "Two months is rather short to form a relationship hmm? Oh! And speaking of which... Who's laying in bed next to you right now?"
"It's not like that... We were watching a movie... I fell asleep" Victoria rambled trying to explain the situation, "I'm not trying to steal him from you!"
Katja's constant snickering turned to a loud barking laugh that continued for several minutes, "oh no, you can have him~ your not stealing anyone!" She sung still giggling and laughing.
"He only tolerates me because of you" Victoria choked out feeling her eyes burn, Immediately the vampire stopped laughing and looked at her with what resembled sympathy. "When did you become so mean! I thought at least you could understand!" Victoria barked, glaring at Katja intently, "I didn't ask for this!".
The vampire moved to stand up but stopped when the wound on her stomach sent a burning pain though her body before slowly leaking blood again. She placed a thin clawed hand on her abdomen before lifting it to the low light to examine it, "at least he didn't cost you your life" she sighed. "He only cares for himself, what he wants with you isn't because of who you are".
Victoria knew this all along but it hurt to hear it aloud, "yeah" she replied sadly, "yeah I know",
"Do you? Your feelings for him will never be returned, he will always hold me in his heart" Katja whispered staring at the woman with narrowed eyes.
"It's not serious, I'll get over it" Victoria reassured herself,
"you better, for your own sake" Katja stated coldly still glaring at her.
Victoria paled realizing that she was venting to the wrong person about this issue, a deep red tinged her cheeks and she lowered her head in shame. "Sorry, I don't have any right to complain" Victoria sighed, "I'm sorry",
"Im aware, I understand your pain however" the vampire replied coldly avoiding the woman's eyes. Shortly after there was an awkward silence as both woman became embarrassed with the previous conversation. The silence was broken with a deep shuddering exhale from Victoria,
"It's a shame your in this situation, I think we could have been Friends" Victoria confessed,
Katja smiled softly and felt a lonely pang in her chest, "in another life Victoria, in another life".
Victoria nodded and returned the woman's kind smile, "I'm going now, I'm sure we'll see each other again" she commented grimly.
"Yes, I will see you later" Katja replied, the women gave each other a final look of dismay knowing the next time they met it could be their last. The vampire watched Victoria walk down the dark hallway and was once again left alone.
XxX
Victoria shot up from her bed covered in a thin veil of clammy sweat, she threw her legs over the side of the bed and held her head in her hands. The meeting came flooding back to her and she felt a tear fall from her eye, shortly after it became a steady stream that ran down her flushed cheeks and mixed with the blood on her lip. Careful not to let out a sound she dug her teeth further in her already sore lip causing a soft wince to escape, shortly after from beside her she heard the sheets shuffle. Alucard sat up awkwardly and looked at the woman with a resemblance of worry on his face,"What's wrong Victoria?" He asked gruffly,
"Nothing...i'm allergic to mornings " she sniffed attempting to wipe the tears away,
"Why are you crying?" He asked again persistent for an answer. "Is it because you didn't see the end of the movie? The dog didn't die" he explained thinking it would help the situation.
Victoria let out a choked laugh while still wiping away the tears with her sleeve, "nah, it was a shit movie anyway".
"Tell me" he asked softly, his tone different from his normal demanding one,
Victoria hesitated and dabbed at her bloody lip with her sleeve, "It's Katja, we spoke again" she sniffed.
Suddenly the vampire's calm tone changed back it's normal demanding one, "What did she say?"
The woman recalled Katja's advice not to trust him, how he only wanted his best interests. "Why are you awake? You never wake up during the day" she asked looking at the clock stating it was in fact midday.
"I heard you cry" he replied shortly,
"You smelt blood" she stated turning around to show the cut in her lip.
"That too" he confessed eyeing the wound, "what did she say?"
Victoria noticed his fixed glaze and quickly licked the blood away, "do you care?" She asked feeling her cheeks flush further.
"About what?" He asked curiously,
"Me" she snorted.
"Ah" he realized, "of course",
"Yeah okay so why?" Victoria demanded,
Alucard looked at her lazily his tired red eyes meeting her dark ones, "You need reasons?"
"I need to know if I can trust you" she remarked snidely.
The corners of the vampires mouth twitched and he frowned softly "You don't already?"
Victoria shook her head "...not always..." She confessed "So why do you care about me?" Again the vampire remained silent and doubts filled Victoria's mind. "Me or Katja" she huffed. After several seconds of silence she wondered if he had left since he favored disappearing through walls to avoid conflict, however suddenly cool fingers ran over the wounds on her exposed shoulder and neck causing the woman to twitch,
"they are healing well" Alucard commented absently still examining the scars. While the cool touch felt nice on the usually burning wounds, Victoria leaned away from his touch and scowled,
"me or Katja" she asked again in a more demanding tone.
"You" he stated irritably, growing frustrated with the questioning.
"Are you lying?" She asked suspiciously,
The vampire stood up from the bed suddenly and looked down at her threateningly signalling her to stop questioning "...no"
Victoria stood up trying to even the height between them, "You hesitated" she stated coldly.
"I just woke up" he reminded,
The artist scowled and crossed her arms "Reasons?" she demanded.
"reasons are invalid in a relationship" the vampire explained seriously, and if it wasn't for the look on his face Victoria would have thought he was joking.
"we aren't dating" she huffed,
A puzzled look crossed the mans face as if he couldn't register the words, "Tell me" he demanded again.
Victoria turned away from him and huffed "I forgot",
"You lied" he stated coldly "there shouldn't be lies".
"Says you" she barked defensively,
"Go back to sleep" he commanded absently trying to change the subject.
"I don't want to" she hissed glaring at him angrily,
"Why?" Alucard asked dryly, ignoring her attitude.
Victoria looked away from him and fell onto the bed in a huff "I don't want to see her again" she admitted. "You need to go now, I've got to get ready".
Alucard remained silent, his mouth in a thin line and a blank look on his face, "what did she say",
There was a heavy silence and Victoria let out a shuttering breath figuring he would find out eventually. "My times almost up, she knows I'm getting weaker",
"Your afraid then" Alucard stated more than asked,
"Well wouldn't you be?" She snapped at him, but was returned with a blank look, "...nevermind" she muttered. Slowly standing up from the warm bed, the cold bit into her skin and she cursed the weather, "seriously I'm going to shower, out please" she sniffed wrapping her arms around her shivering form.
"Again?" Alucard asked blandly, "I hate the soap you use" he stated simply,
"Wait what?" She huffed whipping around to glare at him, "what's wrong with it?"
"It's too strong, your natural scent is better" he stated casually staring at her tiredly,
"I'm uhh... I'm pretending you never said that" she sighed walking into the bathroom. Yawning she begun to fill the sink with warm water before dipping her cold hands into the liquid and splashing it onto her face. Rubbing the water out of her eyes, she looked up into the mirror a figure stood behind her, shrieking she whipped out and glared at the man coldly.
"Alucard!" She growled wiping the rest of the water off her face, "get out!"
"Why?" He asked somewhat surprised,
Victoria scowled and looked up at him with a glare "Because I'm in here!" She argued.
"Share a bed but not a bathroom?" Alucard teased, "How unusual"
The woman sighed and continued toweling off her face "I don't have time for this I already overslept, go back to your coffin or whatever" she waved dismissively.
"Perhaps I would be more willing if you came with me" he stated suggestively,
"I'd rather not play dead" Victoria replied coolly.
"You will one day" Alucard stated with a Cheshire grin splitting his pale face,
Victoria eyed the sharp teeth that seemed almost too big, "Ah but will I really?" she replied in a doubtful tone.
"Can't we have a normal conversation?" he asked somewhat annoyed by her attitude,
She snorted and rolled her eyes "Hard to define normal around here"
"Your avoiding the question" the vampire stated gruffly.
"Well it's hard to talk when your doing this!" She waved her arms around gesturing to him invading her space. "And whats a normal topic even?!"
"Tell me about your dream, humans do that yes?" Alucard asked,
"I already told you... And don't tell anyone I cried!" She demanded feeling her cheeks flush.
The corners of the vampires mouth twitched and he nodded softly "My lips are sealed",
"Except for when they talk" she muttered bitterly.
His eerie grin turned to a scowl within seconds, "I'm getting tired of your attitude" Alucard commented suddenly staring down at the woman irritably. "It's not amusing anymore"
"It once was? Don't you think it's a bit fucking weird someone would find that amusing?" She barked,
The vampire snarled and his face twisted in anger, he slowly closed the distance between them pushing Victoria back into the sink "Your lucky I've been so forgiving, others haven't been so fortunate".
She shrunk back and felt the porcelain digging into her back, the lights above her flickered and the shadows on the walls seemed to darken and elongate. His eyes turned to a furious burning red, and his hair grew long and wild taking on the form of shadows. Victoria tried to avoid his angry glare knowing she made a mistake however at seeing her avoid his stare Alucard reached out and sharply moved her head to face him, "look at me while I'm talking to you" he snarled exposing his pointed canines. Hearing her heart rate increase and watching her uncomfortably writhe would normally give him great pleasure, but inside he felt something resembling guilt. Just as he planned to move away Victoria swatted away his hand and stared at him coldly,
"first Katja, Seras then Me? Is there anyone you won't bully? Your a monster!" she yelled sternly refusing to let fear show, but even the words coming out from her mouth felt foreign to her, as if it was something she'd never say. Alucard's eyes widened and he moved away from her slowly, his fiery red eyes dulling to their normal rich crimson. Victoria hung her head in shame as Alucard looked down at her with a bitter look "I get that a lot, however i'd never have thought from you" he muttered glancing to the woman who looked at the tiled floor guiltily. Both knew that mistakes were made in those short minutes, and both were waiting for the other to apologize. After several awkward minutes Victoria stormed out of the bathroom and bedroom, slamming the bedroom door behind her.
XxX
"What do you have to report?" Integra asked coolly her gloved fingers drumming on the desk calmly,
"she met with Katja again, she was informed her time is almost up" Alucard stated gruffly, not in the mood to have a conversation about Victoria.
"What does that mean" the woman demanded,
"Katja knows she's growing weak, she will return soon" he explained grimly.
Integra noticed his displeasure and frowned, "surely I thought you'd be happy? Meeting that woman again?"
"Surely you'd be more pleased, Millennium could attack any day now" Alucard commentary absently his mind seemingly elsewhere,
Integra furrowed her brows and crushed the cigar into the tray nearby "I'm not sure what your implying".
"Your still using her as a weapon" he stated plainly,
Integra bit her lip and sighed heavily "...yes" she replied hesitantly.
"What about after?" The vampire demanded suddenly,
"After?" Integra asked unsurely,
"When we win" Alucard asked anxiously.
Integra composed herself and looked at the man firmly, "She'll be destroyed, we can't have a reckless powerful vampire roaming around".
Alucard scowled and avoided her stern look "I see" he hissed,
"She's too dangerous to keep around, it's better for everyone. She read the journal, she knows what happens" the woman tried to justify the cruel actions.
Alucard ignored her ramblings and looked at her irritably "Victoria" he corrected,
"Excuse you?" She asked awkwardly not understanding his interjection.
"Not she, her name is Victoria" Alucard reminded, "she's not a tool no matter how much you believe she is",
Integra sighed and rubbed her temples trying to soothe the growing headache, "don't get attached vampire, she's here for a purpose don't forget that" the blonde reminded, "Dismissed" she sighed motioning for him to leave.
XxX
Victoria walked into the barracks and several men looked up from the TV and groaned, "ugh not again! We just got our paychecks" Kane huffed. Victoria laughed and looked at him with a tired smile,
"Nah, I don't feel like poker today, I'm looking for Pip",
"Pip?" One of the geese responded, "why? what did he do now?"
"No... he's not in trouble, I need to talk to him" she explained causing several of the men to exchange glances and snicker,
"Alright, he's outside" they replied pointing to the door.
She eyed them suspiciously and cautiously opened the door, immediately a cloud of smoke hit her face and she scrunched her nose and waved away the scent hurriedly.
"Ah sorry didn't see you zhere" he apologized half heartily,
Still waving away the smoke she scowled, "those'll kill ya you know".
"I get shot at daily, this iz probably a better habit" he sighed throwing the butt onto the ground and crushing it. "What do you need?"
Her attitude changed and the woman's face split into a grin "Well I heard you might..like someone" Victoria mentioned suggestively,
"Uh no offenze Victoria, but your not my type" he paled, "And I don't feel like competing with Alucard..." He trailed off awkwardly.
She blushed and punched him in the shoulder "not me idiot!" She barked, "Seras!"
The mans eyes widened and he quickly put a rough hand over her mouth, "sshh! Who told you zhat?!" He whispered demandingly.
Swatting away his hand she frowned, "heard through the grapevine",
"Grape what?..." He repeated slowly.
Victoria sighed and waved a hand dismissively, "Never mind, I just need to know if your serious about it or not",
"Well why iz it your business!" Pip retorted defensively.
"Because she's my friend, and if you hurt her I'll cut you!" The artist barked "she's delicate!"
"Delicate? She could take down a whole building with a punch!" He scoffed placing another cigarette in his mouth.
"I meant emotionally!" She retorted,
"Ah" pip replied taking a long drag from the cigarette before watching the cloud of smoke drift through the air.
"So?..." Victoria asked after several seconds of silence,
"So?" He repeated casually as if the conversation didn't exist,
"Do you like her?!" The woman barked growing frustrated with his avoidance of the subject, and now somewhat understanding how Alucard felt when she did the same.
"Well... I guess" he shrugged awkwardly, "what about her?"
"What about her?" Victoria replied casually,
"Well does she want to go out sometime?..." He asked awkwardly avoiding eye contact with the woman.
"I don't know, ask her" Victoria snickered walking away mischievously,
"Wait what!? Come back!" Pip demanded watching her walking back to the manor hurriedly, eager to report her findings.
XxX
"Ah it looks amazing Victoria!" Seras squealed observing the painting in front of her,
She tilted her head and squinted at the canvas unsurely "Really? I'm not sure, see here the colors kinda-"
"Ssshh" Seras hushed cutting her off, "accept the compliment".
Victoria laughed softly and wiped her paint coated hands on her apron, "thanks Seras".
"Has master seen it? He'd love it" the fledgling commented absently still looking at the detail in the work, "he really likes paintings".
The artist thought back to their earlier conversation and paled, "no... He's not quite happy with me at the moment".
"Oh why? What happened?" Seras asked nervously,
Victoria scowled and avoided her gaze, "Ugh I don't know, he got sick of my attitude or something, and he well...
"What?" The blonde asked anxiously,
"yelled at me I guess" she shrugged casually.
Her blue eyes widened and she gasped "What really? Why?"
Victoria sighed and fell into the armchair, burying her face in her hands, "Because I'm mean.." She muttered.
"Not to me!" Seras argued trying to reassure the woman,
"Because I actually like you!" Victoria retorted.
"You don't like him then?" She asked innocently, "he's really trying Victoria..."
"..I don't know" the artist sighed before Seras's words processed, "wait, why are you defending him?"
"Because I know he looks mean, but he's nice sometimes, really!" She rambled,
Victoria ran her hands through her hair and sighed, "I don't want to talk about this anymore" she confessed.
Seras frowned but agreed regardless, "what do you want to talk about?"
She thought for several seconds of different topics until she recalled earlier events "Oh I visited your secret admirer" she recalled.
"Whats he like?" Seras asked excitedly,
"Well he's alright I guess, oh and he's planning on asking you out" Victoria informed a grin splitting her face.
"Really? Wow, I've never been on a date before.." She confessed,
the artist scoffed and stared at her with disbelief, "Seriously? You? How? I would have thought you'd be beating away men with a stick!"
"Well I've been asked on dates, but I was always turned them down" the blonde remarked casually, "they never felt right I guess".
Victoria nodded solemnly "Fair enough I guess, I get it",
"but never mind that, who is it?" Seras asked a mixture of excitement and worry in her voice.
"No it has to be a surprise!" She snickered mischievously,
the blonde huffed and buried her face in her hands, "nooo, come on!"
"Hmm... nah" Victoria replied playfully,
"Victoria pleaaaaasseee!" the fledgling begged dragging out each syllable in her words to be more dramatic,
sighing she knew she couldn't keep torturing her like this much longer, "if he doesn't ask you out within twenty four hours, ill tell you okay?" Victoria reasoned, "sound fair?"
"well... yeah I guess" Seras sighed knowing she wasn't going to win, "hey...why are you so involved with this anyway?" she asked suspiciously, "this isn't a prank between you and master is it?"
"ugh god no, his idea of a prank would be leaving a dead goat on someones car" Victoria muttered disgusted, "and its a shitty thing to be told someone likes you when they don't, its like girl code you don't do it" she explained thoughtfully.
"girl code?" Seras asked,
"yeah, they're like unspoken rules between girls" she explained "surely you've heard of them" ,
the blonde shook her head softly, "nope, what are they?"
"well I don't know all of them specifically" Victoria remarked thoughtfully "you've never ever heard of them?"
"I grew up around boys, they had no rules" she muttered frowning at the thought,
"gross, but I'll tell you as I remember them" Victoria offered.
"thanks Victoria" the fledgling replied sincerely. Suddenly the blonde jumped and looked at the antique clock on the adjacent wall, "We should get going" she sighed looking at the door solemnly.
"going? going where?" Victoria asked suspiciously, "I was supposed to be reorganizing the medical ward today"
"ah I guess you didn't see the note Walter left you then?" Seras asked, causing Victoria to shake her head in confusion, "right, well, we have to go to a meeting with the Vatican and the Queen".
"holy shit! like the actual queen?" Victoria asked excitedly with wide eyes, "the queen of England?"
"yes... but you won't get to talk to her sorry" she paled and saw the artists face fall,
"well then why am I going? what is she even there for then?" Victoria huffed crossing her arms, "I'd rather stay here".
Seras sighed and scratched the back of her head nervously, "they don't want you left here alone",
"the Geese?" she offered, "what about Walter?"
"both Walter and Pip are going, and a majority of the Geese are out" the fledgling explained,
"there's no one to baby sit me then?" Victoria remarked cynically, "I see I have no choice, meet in an hour?"
"Sir Integra's office" Seras clarified, "ill see you then?" she asked walking out of the room to prepare,
"yeah" Victoria sighed tiredly taking off her apron and washing her brushes, "ill see you in an hour"
XxX
Walking into her room Victoria noticed that atop the small table lay a pile of clothes with a note, scowling she walked over and read the neat handwriting, "Miss Victoria.." it begun, 'must be Walter's doing then' she noted. "Since you are meeting with the Queen, we do ask that you make yourself as presentable as possible" she read aloud each word irritating her more, 'subtle as a hand grenade isn't he' she thought cynically. "I had Alucard help with the Sizing, but if anything doesn't fit, please let me know ASAP" she finished, "are they dressing me now are they?" she muttered annoyed, 'how would he know my size anyway? I don't know my size' Victoria thought suspiciously. Throwing the note to the size she picked up the garments and examined them, a black pencil skirt with fitted jacket and a dark purple collared shirt, 'well at least the got the color scheme right' she thought relieved. After putting her dark hair into a long side braid and putting on a light face of makeup she begun pulling on the formal clothing, and found it all fitted reasonably well, beside the table were also a pair of heels which she reluctantly slipped on. Walking to Integra's office she felt very overdressed and hoped that Integra made everyone else dress the same, otherwise it would be very embarrassing for her. Reaching the office door she timidly opened it to see only Alucard and Seras inside, she couldn't hear what they were saying but they appeared to be arguing.
"she's still going ahead with it, I thought you said you'd talk to her!" Seras huffed angrily, "its just wrong!"
"I did try, however I can't go against her wishes" Alucard admitted bitterly,
"well who's going to tell her?" the fledgling huffed, "how do we even tell her?!"
"its best she doesn't know" Alucard said lowly,
"doesn't know what?" Victoria asked walking into the room eyeing the pair suspiciously. Seras's eyes widened and she looked at the man worriedly before looking back at the woman nervously,
"uh that he's going" Seras quipped, pointing to Alucard. Both vampires stood stiffly waiting to see if Victoria would believe the lie, after seconds of uncomfortable silence the woman dropped her suspicious look and frowned.
"well, fine then I guess, can't be helped" she shrugged before walking over to the pair and scowling, "wait, why the hell can you wear what you want, I got squeezed into this!" she complained gesturing to the dark tight clothing.
"you look lovely" Alucard stated his mouth pulling into a small smile and his crimson eyes running over her form greedily, causing Victoria to suddenly feel very exposed.
"oh don't you start!" Victoria barked, "you had apart in this didn't you" she retorted accusingly to which the vampire only laughed softly in response. She collapsed in a nearby chair and attempted to pull the skirt down, "this is way too short! and these heels should be illegal!" she protested pointing to the almost stiletto type shoes. "I cant meet the Queen looking like a flight attendant!"
"you do look very nice" Seras complimented softly, "I wish I could wear things like that",
"thanks, but i'll trade any day" the artist mumbled. Suddenly the door was pushed open and Victoria hoped it was Integra so she could get this meeting out of the way, Instead Pip walked through the door and stared at the group awkwardly.
"what the fuck, you can't be serious" Victoria groaned, "your wearing that? Who the hell let you?!" she sighed in defeat starting at the man's tremendously mismatched outfit, consisting of a pink t-shirt and striped purple long-sleeve shirt underneath.
"your coming zhen" Pip stated with a slight tone of annoyance ignoring her previous comment, "and who let you wear zhat" he retorted gesturing to the woman's outfit. "you look like a prostitute".
"always the charmer aren't you Bernadette" Victoria sneered,
"well im just saying what everyone was thinking" he huffed in reply, causing her to conclude that since their meeting that evening he was still upset with her.
Suddenly the door flew open and Integra looked around the room at the people inhabiting her office, "your early" she stated coolly, Victoria and Seras exchanged nervous glances before looking at the butler who merely shrugged in reply. "no matter, lets get going then" she sighed gracefully walking back through the door, indicating for everyone to follow.