Chapter 10 – post-script (part II)

She was walking in one of the corridors of the mansion. The sun was bright with its light shining from the tall glass windows. She casts a shadow as she walks the long corridor. She didn't know why she was walking but when she reached a certain point, she saw that the end of the corridor was a door. She knew where that door will lead her. She walked towards it and opened it. It was the room where she and her father used to have sessions together and where they spent time together. But that wasn't the case… Instead of her father's office, the room only contained two grey double welt chairs facing each other and a coffee table in the middle of them. Tea was served for two as a tray of a porcelain tea pot and two cups were resting on it along with containers of milk and sugar. She went and sat. She wondered with whom she'll be having a meeting with.

She waited. She felt relaxed and in comfort because of the smell of tea she would usually have especially in her stressful days. She stared at the tray as she thought. After a few beats she heard someone take a seat in front of her. She would cry if her eyes would allow her. She would feel pain and grief all over again. She looked at the person in front of her and she did feel all the pain. The old man in front of her was truly important to her.

"Walter." She whispered. Walter wore a gentle smile on his aged face. She remembered everything that happened. His death, his betrayal, his service, and his care. All those years that she waited for Alucard, she thought of Walter and asked herself why. She questioned everything about Walter when her years, itself, slowly told her the answers. But now, she could ask him. She would have the opportunity to ask him even if she was only having a dream. She was about to roll the first few words out of her mouth when he speaks.

"You've grown, my lady. The years have given you more strength and wisdom." Walter says as he pour her cup some tea. It was Ceylon. The smell of it was very nostalgic.

"Walter… Could you tell me why? Of all the years you served me… You betrayed me. I asked Alucard and he told me. He knew. Now, could you tell me…? Was it all true? I want to hear it from you." She looks at him.

Walter smiles apologetically. "Yes, Integra."

Integra

How it pained her for him to drop the formality because he has every right to do so. How it pained her to hear her own name from the lips of the man who she looked at as her second father. Once again, he was her surrogate father ever since she was an infant. She knows that he was the one who took care of her most of the time as her father was busy with work. There were times that she would run to Walter, searching for her father and Walter's presence would be enough to soothe her loneliness. And sometimes, she would rather search for Walter instead of her father. When her father passed away, she would only search for Walter especially when she needed him the most. But no… He wasn't there when she needed him; when she needed someone to protect her.

"Tell me everything, Walter. I want to hear the words from you. I want your answers. Tell me the truth." She said, looking straight into his eyes; the eyes that she believed in, that taught her that they never lied to her, and that she could rely on them. Walter smiles weakly.

"It's all true. I wanted to beat him. I wanted to kill him and end his existence. I was afraid to die and the following events that will happen. I'll be forgotten." Walter looks down, smiling sadly. "Did he tell you that he helped me before the werewolf could kill me? And after a while, he left me for good. He let me face that monster of a werewolf alone just because his reason was that his specialty was only vampires and the one we were facing was a werewolf. He was such an asshole… and I wanted to kill him because I know I can. That would give me the answers I'm looking for– to know who I really am in all of this. If I kill him, will I get the attention that I deserve? He was a total cheater. He's basically immortal, better than me, and when I die, I'll only be forgotten and he'll continue to live on and have your attention. What Alucard told you was true. All of them. He was a being that was damned but superior to me. He was always the one to get more attention than I do. He got more attention because he's capable of many things and interesting… and famous. And I, the one who worked hard, none. Your father was a very out-going man. He relied on me too much to do his work even if I was only 10 years old when he took me under his care. We can say that I can be your older brother, Integra. By the looks of it, I was adopted, educated, and raised by your father but never was I given the attention that I needed as a child or as an adolescent. I was only a butler to him. Alucard and I were only chess pieces at his disposal. You were different though, Integra. As a child, you'd always look for me and ask me how I am. Until you grew up as a young woman, you would only look for me and tell me your troubles. That, I am satisfied. It's good to know that my master cares for me as you do for all of your men. To tell the truth, I wanted both Alucard's head and your attention. I felt content having you as my master but my betrayal started when I was still 14 years old, in 1944. My want of Alucard's death was first before your attention. That was something I can never undo. When the time came, I had the chance to defeat him; to defeat the only obstacle in the way to finding who I really am. And before I died, I realized that I failed. I failed to have his head and I failed to seek you, the only person who looked at me as family. I'm sorry, Master Integra." Walter says, looking at the hot tea getting cold. "I was good but never better. Maybe I sided with Millenium because the Major looked at me because I had a unique ability and I'd have a better chance to defeat Alucard. I know the Major also wanted the same– to end Alucard's existence. I truly despised Alucard, the same with Major. And I believed that if I could kill Alucard with my own hands, then I would pass the stage where the obstacle that's been hindering me from moving forward, would finally be erased from existence and I could finally get the attention that I deserved– that I worked hard for."

"Walter…" Integra says weakly, wearing a sorrowful face. "If that's so, I am also to blame."

"No, my lady. I was old yet immature. It had nothing to do with you."

"It has, Walter. It has because I care. I'm also at fault because I lacked what you needed me to give you. It was ignorant of me. I know what you're going to say… But I'll repeat it again and again until you understand and mark my words: I care, Walter. I care because you're my family. I'm saying all of these to you because I might never have the chance to do so." She was holding back her tears but they fall… "You were the only one left after father died. And it pained me to know the truth that you actually planned Alucard's release just for you to have the chance to kill him. But you know, karma struck you back. Even if Alucard is a vampire, you know how I also care for him. You know that I care for all those who follow me. And unfortunately, I care for Alucard just as I care for you."

Walter was taken aback. He wore a sad smile. "It's so foolish of me."

"You are! You always are! You were so immature! What were you even doing?! Trying to match Alucard with his immaturity?! And now… I might be seeing you right now because I'm probably dead. And you know…" She softened as tears gently fall off her face. "I understand how you felt because I experienced it. Growing old… Anxiety… The worries that the years give you… And the approaching death… I became useless. I became old. And if I don't do anything, I'll only be forgotten. So yes, I understand what you felt. That, you don't need to explain to me." She smiles weakly but warmly. Walter was surprised and looked at her. He smiles– a warm one.

"The only difference is that you've walked the path of the cycle of life, my lady. And I didn't… I aged but never grew. I let myself stuck with my childish self and never did grow up…" He takes her hand and squeezes it between his palms. Integra looks at him with her vision blurred by her tears.

The white light soon turned into an orange light. It was dusk. The sun was setting in a speed faster than the normal time. Walter stands, letting go of her hand, and turns his back on her…

"My lady… No… Integra. It's time. We both have to go our separate ways now. You have decided to continue what you have to do. And as for me, I must return to the place where I deserve to be. We had a good run, Master Integra. And… Thank you. I loved you like you were my own. May we see each other again someday, in another time."

With that, he faded with the light and the night enveloped her vision. The tea has gone cold, the moon rose, giving a dim light in the room. She wanted to stand but her knees wouldn't allow her. She sat there, staring at the tea set, her vision blurred by her own tears. She cried softly in the night. Her pain– she endured for decades.

"Integra… Wake up."

Who's there? Who are you? If you're someone who'll leave me again, then just leave me alone.

"Integra."

Stop calling me.

"Integra."

Oh, wait… I know that voice… I know you…

"Integra. Wake up… It's only a nightmare."

The voice says. She slowly opens her eye, her vision blurred. She realized she was crying.

"Oh…" She whispered. "It was only a nightmare… No… It was a sad dream… And a painful one." She slowly sits up. "How much have you heard?"

Alucard grins kindly. "Just enough to know why you were sobbing in your sleep. But we both know that… No need to hide it from me, Integra. I know how important he is to you. It's alright. How do you feel?"

Integra takes some time to become aware of her being. "I feel light. And I don't know if I feel hungry or thirsty." She looks at him with her eye.

Alucard offers her a hand, wearing a wide grin across his face. "We'll get there after a while."

She takes his hand and he gently pulls her up from his coffin. She takes a step outside of it and was surprised herself that her legs weren't stiff and pain due to rheumatism. Her back wasn't aching and even with her right eye, she could see every detail of her sight without her glasses. Then, it dawned on her. Her eyes widened in shock and she held her face, feeling it. No wrinkles. She looks at her hands. They were smooth and looked young. She looks at Alucard, trying to search for answers. He just shakes his head, smiling. It seems that his fury of her pranking him vanished when he heard her murmuring in her sleep. He heard her voice shaking before he opened his coffin. Seeing her crying for the first time just washed his anger off.

"I guess Walter made you forget what you are now. Are you regretting your decision?" Alucard asks in a semi-serious tone. Integra closes her eye and touches her eyepatch.

"Somewhat… But I know I did this for a reason. For now, I must start anew. And like I told you before, I will never call you master." She glares at him. He shrugs.

"Of course. I know. And besides, like I told you before, I'll forever be bound by your blood."

"I don't know if I should believe you."

"You really know how to hurt me, Integra. You've surpassed your great grandfather at that."

She smiles, feeling a bit of victory from his small confession.

"Then you should know that I'll forever be hurting you then. And I won't ever let my guard down before you."

"Are you telling me that you don't trust me?" He stares at her.

"Yes." She stares back.

He sighs. "Alright. Fine. Then allow me to offer you something; allow me to regain your trust in me… Since you told me that you're in a mixture of hunger and thirst, I offer you my blood…" He kneels in front of her just like he did back the war they participated in. He removes his red cravat, unbuttons his top, and pulls the cloth to expose much of his skin; his neck. "I'm yours, My Countess."

Integra stood there, stunned for a few beats. She didn't know what to actually do. She wasn't sure about his offer. Honestly, she needed time to process her decision whether to accept his offer or not.

"Do you hesitate, my Countess? I can understand why but I want to hear your answer. I'm only offering you my blood as a humble gesture to make you what you really are now. And since you have taken my offer, now comes my second one. This is for you to fully become a true vampire." He looks at her. He smiles at what he sees. Integra gazing down upon him, wearing her white open shirt with its upper buttons undone, her chest exposed. She now displays her young beautiful youth that will never last– the image of her that he remembers most fondly.

"No. I chose this. This is my decision. There's no turning back to what has been done. I gladly accept your offer, Alucard. And yes, ever since from the beginning, you have always been mine and mine forever." She kneels in front of him and holds his head, pulling the cloth from covering his neck. She could feel her fangs protrude as they graze the inside of her lips. She leaned closer and smelled the blood that's been covered by his skin. She could feel the urge but as a master of control, she overcomes the inevitable urge to suck him dry. Alucard waits for her patiently for he knows that she's starting to learn how to become a vampire on her own. He gets excited about how she will react especially now that she can do whatever she wants, unbounded by her human compulsion. Integra sighs as she gently pulls him closer to her; her lips closer to his neck. There was a pause. Integra is still holding herself from being the violent thing she is.

"It's alright, Integra. You can do whatever you want now; you can do whatever you want with me." He whispers like the devil himself. His tone was very tempting. If he would tell her that again, she might possibly go mad. But she was a strong-willed woman… She never gave in to temptations no matter how impulsive they may be. She opens her mouth and let her fangs protrude. She couldn't wait any longer because she's been holding herself for a while, trying to control herself. She sinks her fangs into his neck and his blood oozes out to her mouth. He gave out a low moan and stayed still for her to take over. She sucks his blood. It almost seems like she's tasting heaven, her thirst quenched. She felt her control slip away as the taste of his blood urged her to drink him dry. She gulps… 1… 2… 3…

She drank three gulps and Alucard's arms started to move, about to hold her closer… tighter… But when she have her fourth gulp, something flashes before her mind. She felt pain. She felt despair. She felt madness. And when she gulped her fifth, she saw a horrible scene. It was much much worse than what she experienced in the past. She suddenly pulled her head away from his neck, stopping her almost blood-frenzy. She gently pushed herself away from him, sitting on her heels, and wiping off the blood that was dropping off the side of her lips. She panted, unable to take what she saw and felt. Alucard held her face and looked into her eye. It was no longer blue. He took her eyepatch off and stared at her as she opened her left eye. Integra stares blankly at him as she gathers her thoughts. He noticed how similar her eyes are to his. He smiles.

"Integra… That's not enough. You should drink more." He tells her but she shakes her head.

"That's enough." She looks down. "I'm fine. Thank you."

"Very well. If that's what you want…" He smiles. "You look perfect in my eyes." He stares at her eyes down to her chest which was exposed by her unbuttoned top.

She quickly covers them with her arms. "Y-you…! Pervert!" She punches him right in his face, pissed. The impact she made sent him to the wall. She surprised herself. Alucard would look dead if he didn't willed himself back to where he was before she punched him.

"Again." He sighed. "You really know how to hurt me verbally and physically… Have I regained your trust? My Countess? Which reminds me… How did you even know that your death is coming?" Her anger lessened.

"Yes. I trust you now. I mean, again. I experienced the in-the-verge-of-death feeling twice in my human life… Maybe thrice. First with my uncle trying to kill me, I felt it there. And the second was when that deranged Nazi Major got lucky with shooting his bullet, grazing my left eye. The third maybe the time when you actually tried to bite my neck in my sleep. Your aura of death is different from death itself that's why I came to distinguish it."

"It was also your plot to make me kiss that fucking Frenchman's feet!" He says, a bit of irritation featured his looks and tone in which Integra smiles wide, feeling proud.

"I never thought you'd kiss my feet so it really wasn't my fault anymore." She chuckles. Her worries were washed away by the fun she's currently having.

"Then you must compensate for what you made me do. You should've known that as your loyal servant, kissing your feet would be an option for me to do– willingly or not." Alucard starts.

"It was your own choice to kiss my feet. And like I said, it's not my fault, my dear Count. Besides… What should I even do for you? And who do you think you are asking me to do you a request?" Integra shrugs.

"Kiss me because I'm your dear Count." Alucard smirks.

"WHAT?!" A flush of pink spreads across Integra's face, getting redder.

"Kiss me. It should've been your feet that I kissed but no. It was that fucking Frenchman's feet. A kiss for a kiss. Come on, Integra. Don't tell me that you're afraid of giving a single kiss?" He taunts her but failed. She frowns, the flush on her cheeks fading as she straightens her composure.

"I'm not afraid. And don't push your luck, Alucard. I won't give you the pleasure twice. Aren't you happy enough that I accepted your offer?" She clears her throat looking away. This time, she ruined his mood but he won't stop at that…

"Which reminds me… Why did you do all of this? Why not just tell me before?"

"I felt something bad is going to happen and it only means that my duty as a Hellsing doesn't stop there. The only way I could continue my duty is this…"

"But you are no longer bound to your organization. The Hellsing Organization is no more along with your death. You are dead now, my dear Countess."

"Yes, I know but that doesn't mean I can't continue protecting this country. Gregory and I talked about this and he agreed. He will lead and we will support. Of course, I will still be in charge. He will only keep us hidden and cover our tracks."

"Wouldn't this be a problem in the future?"

"It will. But now is not the time to worry about it. I must learn to control this power I have. It would be best if I ask Seras." She looks at his door, thinking that Seras is out there; outside his chambers.

"I'll have to get used to you hurting me. I thought I gained your trust?"

"You did. I just want someone better to teach me. If you hurt her when she told you the truth, I will hurt you. Both verbally and physically." She smiles teasingly, giving a look that he should be worried about. He laughs, feeling proud of his fledgling but something tells him not to challenge Integra just yet… It'd be better if she knows how to handle her vampiric abilities before he really does tinker her temper.

"Alright. Go and ask my fledgling. She'll do a much finer job than I. But promise me that you'll play with me after. If not, I'll have to force you and you won't like me forcing you." He smirks. She stands and buttons her top, wearing a challenging smile.

"My dear Count, forever is a long time. I might consider your invitation of games."

A/N: Good day, everyone! My classes will soon start so I don't know how much will I progress then. I can't promise that I'll update the same but I'll do my best to update and I assure everyone that I will finish this fic. It'll be a disappointment if I didn't finish this, right?

It's OOC isn't it? I need to watch and rewatch Hellsing again, read the manga, take notes... So yeah... I'm justifying everything I'm doing, arguing with myself whether if they're on track or not. And since fic is canon, I need to reassure the info I put in here. Help me if I miss some things. Haha. Hellsing is the only anime that makes me overthink its contents and its characters. Hellsing gave me headaches for three consecutive months. Those months were the months when I was thinking of this fic. It made me overthink and fight myself -internally- whether or not Alucard wanted to turn Integra into a vampire.

Please note that I put the years at the start of the paragraph. Here's the timeline:

2030 - start

2053 - Integra's death.

2103-2106 - dhampirs

2135 - Red-clad vampire incident.

2152 - present time

So... Chapter 7 is in the year 2152. And Chapter 8 is in the year 2135. I don't know why I didn't put that there. So stupid of me. So sorry. I hope everyone noticed that I went back to the past. To make things clear, I put Chapter 8 in a small flashback then Chapter 9 into the major flashback. And Chapter 9 will be the start of the revelations. I will slowly reveal the mysteries I've put. Spoiler for Chapter 11? Integra and Seras bonding! Why? Because they're adorable! And believe it or not, Integra sees Walter, Alucard, and Seras as family. (Refer to OVA II and OVA III to the part where Walter reminds her that Alucard's a monster and such.) I find that part of her cute and adorable and vulnerable. Ok... Sorry for the long author's note. Is it obvious that I've been overthinking of Hellsing again? I hope not. Questions and Suggestions are always open! Review or PM me if you want. Don't be shy! LOL.

Stay tuned for more! Tschüß und Auf Wiedersehen!