AN: Oof. This took much longer than what I anticipated. Thing is, amongst other reasons for the delay, I already had chapter 4 done, but, upon re-reading it, and then re-reading the story up till that point… Things didn't make a lot of sense… So, I had to create an intermediate-sorta chapter, to better transition the events. It'll be divided into two parts, as well, as I incorporated the original chapter 4 into it (it will be mostly part 2 of this).
Lesson learned: never write a new chapter if you haven't read your WIP in almost a year. Oh, second lesson learned: write in your native language first, and THEN translate it to English. It makes the whole writing process incredibly faster and smoother. I DO feel like an idiot for just realizing this now, but I suppose better late than never.
Edit: Renamed this chapter to simply "chapter 4" (and, consequently, the next one to "chapter 5"); kinda pointless to divide one chapter into two parts when all chapters follow the same basic structure overall.
#
Chapter 4
Integra cursed as she dropped her sneakers on the floor. Nightfall brought a pleasant, soothing temperature with it, ideal for a quick jog outside. The weather, however, was not what had motivated her to exercise, but rather the memories of her meeting with the Convention, a while back. She picked up her shoe with some indignation, and her body's movement threatened to make her sick.
With a frown, the director sat on her bed to balance herself, and was finally done with tying her footwear. She took a deep breath to try and quiet down her nausea, but didn't stand up.
"The child's not even born yet…" She thought to herself, and balled up her fists. "...And they already dare suggest he joins the organization…"
A subtle drop of the room's degrees got her attention. She focused her eyes on the collection of shadows that began pooling in front of her bed. From that darkness, her vampire emerged, slowly, kneeling before her as soon as he was entirely materialized. Integra smiled, then raised an eyebrow.
"Did you forget to let me know you were coming in, servant?"
Alucard's mouth opened slightly, but quickly closed. That… word again, albeit different, somehow. For a split second, he felt the same apprehension that took over him decades ago, when Abraham had used it for the first time and consolidated his declension from power. It contributed to re-shaping his entire being and identity, to the point he had grown so used to hearing it that it bothered him no longer… The awkward feeling that surprisingly came with it now, however, faded in an instant, and he gave her a small smile.
"Pardon me, my lady, I've been asking for your permission for a while now," he explained. "I did not receive an answer. Your mind feels… perturbed."
The director sighed, looking away; her thoughts had been completely immersed in reliving the meeting, and were surely loud enough for the count to detect without needing to intrude. She turned towards him, and noticed he was staring at her stomach, rather than her eyes. She crossed her arms.
"What are you looking at, Alucard?"
The vampire blinked a few times and gave her a strangely contained laugh, although still baring his shiny fangs. Integra cringed; he had an amazing ability to be the same old oddball she was so familiar with, and yet surprise her all the same.
"Nothing, countess. I'm just picturing how you're going to change, with the prince growing inside you."
An awkward, warm sensation spread all over her face and Integra rolled her eyes, trying to hide her embarrassment. She had already caught herself staring at her own figure in the mirror before, wondering the exact same thing. In fact, it hadn't been long ago since she had last looked at her reflection, in the nude and caressing her still flat belly.
The weight on her bed lifted as she stood up. Her vampire mimicked her actions, stretching his legs.
"...Right…"
The director took a deep breath and put her hands on her waist. Alucard raised an arm and extended it towards her, with his palm up. Again she felt her cheeks burn, but accepted the gesture, and offered her left hand. Holding it with care, he slowly closed the distance between them, bowed slightly and kissed her fingers, one by one. A chill ran down her spine, and the Hellsing heir began craving for more of those lips; she couldn't help but ask herself when was the last time they had been together.
"May I ask what troubles you, dearest?"
The thrill began fading away, and was replaced by a small frustration. She calmly pulled her hand back, breaking their small, intimate contact, and turned her face sideways. She had never been one to openly share her demons, but this pregnancy had proven itself to be a particularly dangerous and alien territory that she couldn't quite figure out on her own.
Why were Walter and Alucard there, if not to help her? She trusted them with her life; she could certainly trust them with a small inconvenience.
"It's… nothing," she sighed and shook her head lightly. "I'm just not particularly fond of the idea of the child becoming a vampire hunter."
The count's initial urge was to laugh, but he succeeded in controlling himself and smiled at her instead. As much as the director showed her softer, more loveable side in their intimate moments, it still pleased him to be a witness to her worries. Theoretically, Integra was not a mother yet, but her more protective instincts were already showing themselves. He couldn't decide if this reaction came from the same drive that prompted her to defend the organization and its employees, or if it was something new that he hadn't seen before.
"You shouldn't worry about that, countess," he replied, so sure of himself that a spark of hope and relief emerged from inside her, causing Integra to widen her eyes and wonder if her vampire had the answers that would soothe her spirits. "That agony will not do the prince, or yourself, any good."
The spark diffused and she frowned, internally cursing for allowing herself to be swept away like this, even if only for a few seconds.
"And besides," Alucard continued, incapable of keeping it together any longer, "I'm sure the prince will be the best hunter this organization has ever seen."
His laughter echoed through her room whilst Integra turned her back on him to grab her sports bag, her itch to go outside now quadrupled thanks to her vampire's tomfoolery. He quickly recomposed himself when he realized what she was about to do, and asked her, still grinning.
"Are you going out, countess?"
She groaned, not a tiny bit less angry than when he was laughing.
"It does not concern you, but yes."
He was a little taken aback by her answer, and his smile began to weaken.
"Why not exercise in the workout room?"
She threw the strap of her bag over her shoulder and turned towards him.
"I won't stay in this house a minute longer."
Alucard maneuvered sideways to allow her passage and grimaced while she walked towards the door, without even looking back. When she grabbed the handle, he approached her, causing her to stop and glare at him.
"Perhaps it's not a good idea to go by yourself."
Integra squeezed the doorknob and rolled her eyes. Her vampire could be really insistent when he was concerned, a soft spot that allowed her to get the upper hand whenever they bantered. This time, however, she had no desire to engage in any mischief, and acquiesced with a grumble.
"Fine. I'll have the police girl come with me."
She raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in her monster's expression. For a second his lips trembled, exposing the white of his fangs, and his pupils shrank to the point they almost disappeared. In the blink of an eye, however, he had already contorted his face into his usual, sardonic smile.
"The police girl is busy with the new troops' training, countess, remember?"
Integra clicked her tongue and took a deep breath, at last opening the door.
"I'll go by myself, then. I'm pregnant, not ill."
Alucard followed her brisk movements with a mixture of interest and frustration, deciding against offering his own company. The director didn't even bother shutting the door behind her, and he stuck his head outside the room to see her going down the stairs almost in a hurry. After she had navigated the main hall and finally left the manor, he crossed his arms and frowned, reasoning that she might not have communicated her leaving to Walter and he'd have to do it instead.
Another secondary thought, related to his own feelings from what had transpired, lit up in his mind.
"What the hell just... happened?..."
#
"So, what do you think of them, Walter?"
The butler shrugged and pulled up a piece of paper from his pocket. The passageway that led to the training area in the back of the property was darker than usual, thanks to an electrical malfunction that had disabled some lamps. Still, the Angel had no difficulty perusing the contents in his notes; what bothered him the most was having to read while walking.
"Nothing particularly remarkable that required writing down, miss, the captain and the police girl are doing a good job," he began. "There's a new recruit who's doing very well in-"
"Thank you," Integra raised her hand to interrupt him. "I don't need the details now. I just wanted to know what to expect."
Walter smiled at her confidence in his feedback and nodded. Alucard, who trailed behind them, poked him on the shoulder, gesturing for his annotations. The butler moved swiftly to hand them over, noticing the vampire's curved lips and furrowed brows. He held back a laugh: the monster wasn't incredibly enthusiastic to learn about the training of new cadets, but he accompanied his master every time she checked on them, if only to see what kind of people she had employed. Now that she was pregnant, he probably felt a little more inclined to do so, regardless of how bored and unwilling he appeared to be.
Alucard skimmed through the piece of paper, turning it back and forth, and eventually pushed it back to its owner.
"If the Angel's observations are accurate, this should be quick," he said, almost singing, whilst Walter pocketed the notes.
"We'll stay there until it's time to leave. How many times have I told you you don't have to come, count?" Integra turned her head to face him sideways, with a small smirk.
The vampire squeezed his eyes and grinned back at her.
"We never know what might happen, beloved… I need to make sure you'll be safe. Especially now."
The Hellsing heir groaned, turning away from him. Sometimes she couldn't tell if her monster's exaggerations were a bad habit or if he now just did it on purpose. Before she had time to ponder, her butler picked up the pace and went ahead to open the door that announced the end of the hallway, to let her through.
The trio found themselves on the courtyard in the back of the manor. The near-evening, obscured by heavy clouds, helped create a pleasant environment, not too hot and with enough light to allow for the soldiers to see without straining their senses. Still, they gasped and struggled, whilst they avoided obstacles, lapped around the yard or pushed and pulled weights of all sizes.
The commanding officer signaled to them, acknowledging their presence, and was answered by Integra and Walter. Some recruits turned towards them, realizing they would be observed, and immediately doubled their efforts; many grinded their teeth at the sight of the boss and her pet monster, who seemed to pay them no mind.
On the opposite side of the field, Seras and Pip talked with a small group of trainees. Upon noticing the presence of her masters, the draculina let them go, and the Frenchman and her crossed the distance to greet them. The captain took off his hat, whilst Seras slightly bowed.
"Everything seems to be going quite smoothly," Walter told them, putting his hands behind his back.
"A-ah, yes!" The younger vampire stuttered, somewhat nervous about having to report her progress; even after doing this for so long, she couldn't avoid the small anxiety that built up everytime she needed to show her work. "The new recruits are doing well! Aren't they, captain?"
Pip smiled at her subtle request for backup. His little lady was truly adorable.
"That's true," he put his hat back on. "It's easy to notice the difference between them and the lot from before."
"It's what happens when the trainers get better," Integra said, crossing her arms. "You're also learning and improving."
The captain felt some redness grow all over his face and scratched his chin; it was always a little weird being complimented by his boss, but it wasn't necessarily a bad feeling. Seras gave her a big smile, a warm sensation taking over her.
"Do not mind us," Walter adjusted his monocle. "We shall not be here long; the princess has a meeting with sir Irons soon."
The Hellsing heir sighed, bothered by being reminded of it. The subject of their encounter had nothing to do with her pregnancy, but she had a feeling the conversation would somehow end up there; it seemed like she was frequently reminded by everyone that she was pregnant, in a way or another. Trying to distract herself, she quickly turned around and walked towards a bench to sit on, being followed by Walter and Alucard, who stood next to her. Seras and Pip understood the message and went back to their assignment.
While they observed the activities going on, Integra and her butler occasionally turned to each other to talk about something. One soldier tripped over another and the two rolled on the ground; the draculina helped them up and got herself dirty with soil and mud. Embarrassed, she took a quick, discreet glance at her masters, but they didn't seem to react to that slip up. Pip had to scold a trainee who insisted on lifting weights that were too heavy for him. Seras cringed and hoped that nothing else would go wrong, although she felt the recruits were a lot more distressed than she was.
"Please, please, PLEASE, let this be over soon!" She pleaded in her mind.
Aside from a few other smaller mishaps, the training routine went on just fine. After a while, the soldiers relaxed and their performance improved, to Seras' relief. It didn't take long for Walter to point to his wristwatch, announcing their time was up. Integra groaned and stood up, her butler doing the same. The draculina noticed they were about to leave and ran towards them, but Pip stayed behind to comfort a recruit who had just twisted his ankle.
"Well done, Seras," Integra put a hand on her hip and smiled. "It's clear you've learned a lot since you took up this task."
The smaller vampire felt her cheeks burn and clasped her hands together, like a prayer.
"You really think so, master? I didn't do too… bad?"
The director and the butler grinned at her.
"Of course not," she waved a hand in front of her, to dismiss her notion. "The beginning is always rocky, and you conducted everything very well."
The butterflies in her stomach fluttered all over, and Seras simply couldn't avoid expressing her gratitude. She moved her hands to cup Integra's, feeling extremely humbled.
"Master, thank you so-"
The two didn't make contact for a second. A gust of wind intruded between them, and a large, gloved hand held onto Seras' wrist, stopping her mid-action. Time slowed down, and the three turned to see, not quite Alucard, but the long-haired, infamous warlord of Wallachia, firmly, and rather effortlessly, gripping on his fledgling. Walter noticed, besides the unexpected shapeshifting, his glowing eyes and curved lips, and prepared his threads behind his back.
The draculina was petrified. Her mind raced, begging for her body to do something and escape, but she couldn't move. What would happen, if she tried? A giant, cold gap formed in her heart and expanded to take over her body, a sensation quite similar to the horrors she had witnessed and lived through in her past.
"Alucard, what are you doing?!"
Integra's authoritative voice melted the frozen silence and woke the vampire from his trance. He blinked a few times and his expression relaxed, warming up the temperature around him. He looked at Seras' arm, which he still held, and attempted to piece together what had transpired. As soon as he noticed he had become the center of everyone's attention, he forced out a laugh and twisted the draculina's wrist towards her, so she could stare at her own palm.
"Don't touch your master with these filthy hands, police girl!" He berated her, his accent evident in his words.
The officer widened her eyes and the panic from before was drowned by pure embarrassment, once she realized her gloves were, indeed, almost completely stained with dirt. Alucard let go of her softly, causing Walter to raise an eyebrow at the sudden shift in attitude, and shook his head at his childe, still chuckling. Integra, however, glowered at him.
"Wait for me in your quarters, servant."
The count's broad smile faded immediately. His long, curly black locks partially hid the tiny snarl that attempted to form in his face. He turned towards her, bowed a little, and disappeared through the shadows on the ground. Walter untangled his threads and Integra approached a miserable Seras, who was still staring at her palms.
"Are you alright, Seras? Does it hurt?" She asked in a small tone, putting her own hands on the draculina's shoulders.
The sudden and pleasant touch on her body caught her attention and the officer looked up. She gulped, trying to suppress how unconsolable she felt, and shook her head; there was no pain, just a fading fright and some lingering shame. Seeing the small tears threatening to run down her cheeks, Integra cupped her face and smiled at her.
"Don't worry about it, okay? Your master is… weird, and overreacted. You did nothing wrong."
The tender contact made Seras feel slightly better and she nodded at the director. Integra moved her thumbs to caress her cheeks, instigating a timid smile from the draculina. After a few seconds, the director let go of the shorter woman, exchanged a brief look with her butler, and left for her meeting. Walter then turned to Seras and patted her on the head, gently ruffling her hair.
"It will be fine, police girl. Do let us know if you need anything," he winked at her.
Upon eliciting a small albeit relaxed nod from Seras, he gave his back to the lady to follow his charge; as he turned around, he took a glance at Pip, and saw him putting away his pistol with a frown, whilst surrounded by recruits with widened eyes.
#
"...Why?"
The former Romanian prince sat somewhat hunched over on his throne. His arms rested on his thighs, he frowned at his right hand, raised before him. He turned his wrist to the sides slowly, analyzing the second most dangerous part of his body, after his mouth, with more confusion than interest.
He tried replaying the recent events in his mind, but they came back to him broken and surprisingly reasonable. An alarm, or something he couldn't quite characterize, had rung in his head, and suddenly things didn't seem right; rather, they seemed… abnormal, and he couldn't allow for whatever that was to develop; so, of course, he put a stop to it.
However... If it all had been done out of a sense of protection, and no one in their right mind would think poorly of that kind of attitude, why was he feeling so uncomfortable now?
"Alucard?"
He slightly jumped at the familiar voice, his head looking up to face the one he was devoted to, standing a few feet away from him. He bit his lower lip and grunted to himself, realizing he had not picked up on her coming over.
Integra cocked her head to the side at her vampire's unusual behavior, and walked towards him. She had been staring at him for a few seconds, and thought he was simply ignoring her, but his strange examination of his hand and his apparent surprise upon hearing her calling painted a different picture. If anything, he appeared distressed, and a distressed Alucard could be problematic, although it soothed her heart a little to think that maybe the reason for that was how he had treated his fledgling a few hours ago.
Still, the issue needed to be addressed. She came up to him and put her hands on her hips. His mind scrambled for a bit and finally focused on her, and he knew he would be questioned. Although still annoyed at not figuring things out, the count's expression relaxed, and he pulled his body back, almost slumping on his throne.
"Can you explain to me what exactly happened on the training field between you and Seras, Alucard?"
He grimaced, hoping she wouldn't have gone straight to the point and had given him more time. He had spent the evening trying to understand it himself, and it almost infuriated him how he'd not be able to give her a proper answer.
His mind began racing, debating another dilemma. Telling her the truth meant admitting ignorance of his own state of being. Not only that, it could potentially lead to straining their relationship; would she be scared, or at least, concerned, that something unknown might happen again? He squeezed the sides of his throne; what if she decided to lock him up or-
"...Alucard?"
He gulped. Lying to her was not an option, it had never been. If she caught a whiff of it and became suspicious… He didn't want to think of the consequences.
"I…" He paused for a few seconds, sorting out a less shameful way of saying it. He came up with nothing. Eventually, he admitted, hoping for the best. "I do not know, countess."
Integra widened her eyes. Part of her hung on to the possibility that he was indeed just being weird and melodramatic; it would not have been the first time. This admission, however, changed things. Looking back on it, he hadn't been exactly violent, but still, it was a strange, offensive behavior, particularly towards his kin.
She stared at him for a while in silence, trying to read his expression. He swallowed nothing and began shifting his eyes, trying and failing to break eye contact. She noticed his chest moving slightly faster, one of those lingering quirks from when he was human and still needed to breathe. His curved lips twitched as he fidgeted on his throne, but Integra didn't need any more proof that he was nervous.
The director took a deep breath, and considered how to deal with this. She thought she knew her vampire well by now, and something extraordinary couldn't be good; the last thing she needed was her monster acting unpredictable, especially during a time as challenging as this. On the other hand, Alucard was anything but a threat to her, and she had no desire to keep him at arm's length, regardless of whether she was pregnant or not.
Her vampire couldn't help but accidentally drum his fingers on his seat, but stopped himself as soon as he realized he had done it, then opened his hand to immediately ball up his fist. Integra sighed, feeling sorry for him. Perhaps, it would be okay to talk to Walter about this and keep an eye on her monster until they decided on a more appropriate course of action.
She hoped that would not mean anything drastic.
"Alright," she said, causing Alucard to stiffen. "Maybe we can… figure it out, together."
He froze and stared at her, his future still uncertain.
"Y-yes, countess."
"Still, I want you to apologize to Seras. Have Walter go with you, and you better behave yourself."
He shut his eyes for a moment, letting go of an unexisting air stuck in his lungs. Integra hid her smile; it wasn't always that Alucard could be actually endearing. He bowed his head, causing the locks of his mane to obscure his face.
"Yes, countess. I will."
They stood in silence for a while, as the director examined her monster. Her bodyguard, her knight in shining armor, appeared so meek and desperate, and, slowly, the atmosphere began to change; the smooth baritone in his voice and his compliant attitude moved her in ways that nothing else could, and the hairs on her body began to rise. The manifestation of Alucard's former warlord persona often had the potential to trigger her more lustful desires. Seeing such a powerful creature so helpless and reliant on her decisions was incredibly enticing.
The tiny thought in the back of her mind alerting her this could backfire and only serve as positive reinforcement was unceremoniously and quickly silenced.
"Good. I would rather not see that display again." She added, uttering her displeasure in a low, almost sensual tone.
A quickening in her heartbeats alerted the vampire to the Hellsing's gradual shift in emotions. The paralyzing concern from before now having subsided, he smirked behind the curtain of hair hiding his features. He was well aware of how his submission could affect her, and it only made everything better that he enjoyed those fantasies as well. He took momentum and with a swift move flung himself forward, landing before her on his knees, causing Integra to hold her breath.
"My deepest apologies, countess," he began, his hands now on the cold floor and his head down. "I am ashamed of my behavior."
Integra exhaled sharply and bit her lower lip. Her vampire appeared to have completely recovered from the shock from before, but it annoyed her to admit it was mostly her fault. Part of her mind scornful for falling prey to her desires, the other anxious for the opportunity to finally quench that carnal thirst, she put a hand on her hips and ordered.
"Stand up, count."
He obeyed and rose slowly, giving her time to gaze upon his growing figure. She frowned at her smirking vampire, towering before her, and grabbed him by the collar. His dark locks swinged, as he allowed himself to be pulled towards her face; their mouths now barely apart, her hot breath sent small shivers down his spine.
"Now, be quiet."
Those were the last words spoken for a while. Their lips sealed in a long, deep kiss. Integra let go of her vampire's coat and trailed her hands down his body to squeeze his chest, grabbing at the fabric with enthusiasm. The count embraced her slowly, holding her with care, but couldn't restrain himself for too long and his touches got hungrier. The director moaned, feeling a light pressure against her groin, and began taking small steps to propel them. Alucard allowed himself to be pushed back, until he bumped into his throne and was nearly shoved to sit down again.
Their bodies now separated, Integra quickly removed her jacket and threw it on the floor. The vampire barely had any time to undress, as his countess had already positioned herself on top of him, to sit on his covered growing erection. She closed the small distance between them and once more they kissed, with Integra worming her arms around his neck, pulling at his mane and rubbing herself against him. The desire to feel her warmth with no barriers consumed him, and Alucard swiftly removed his gloves to grab at her toned thighs.
"dON't TOUcH YoUr MAstER WitH thESe FILTHY HANDS, MONSTER"
The vampire froze in his spot, ceasing all movement, and time seemed to slow down. His eyes widened, but he could barely focus on the hot body practically glued to his. His surroundings began melting and twisting. Offensive screams echoed all over the room, and although they did not disturb his countess, he heard them loud and clear, particularly those final words... FILTHY… MONSTER… He began trembling and let go of his bride to stare at his hands. His palms were grimy and stained with blood… blood that was also on her legs and her belly and her face, and he couldn't stop shaking and glaring at them-
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, the echoing voices stopped, and the room was quiet and normal again. He slowly retook control of his shivering body, and noticed his hands were pale, just like the rest of his skin. There was no blood or dirt anymore. He looked up to the source of the sound that had snapped him back to reality and saw Integra awkwardly raising herself and taking a step back. She was grimacing and holding her forehead, the other arm partially extended to help her keep her balance. He panicked, and his mind tussled to find out exactly what he had done to her.
"Countess, are you alri-"
The palm on her forehead quickly moved to cover her mouth, as her stomach began contracting. He held up his arms towards her, but she turned around and ran to the nearest sink. He watched, still somewhat bewildered, as she threw up everything she had previously eaten. He thought of offering to help with her hair, but found himself incapable of moving; his head was still spinning, bumping against dread and confusion. What have I done?!
"Sorry, I don't-" she managed to tell him in a ragged voice, before hurling again. "...feel so good right now…"
#
AN: Okay, so… the other reason I took so long to upload this is because I couldn't decide whether or not Alucard should've lied to Integra. I think I had good enough reasons for both, and each would've introduced conflict in its own way, which is what I wanted. I ended up going with "no" because I'm not sure Alucard lying would be very faithful to his character, although I suppose, for what I have planned, it's reasonably justified.
I'm also not very happy with how the transition from that scene to the sexy scene happened, but I couldn't figure out how to write it better (I get antsy to upload when I am near the completion of a chapter and too eager to just get it done). I guess it happened too fast, and feels too weird and, I don't know, in poor taste? Maybe I'll look back on this in a bajillion years (if I'm brave enough) and improve it?
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it, and I'll see you in Part 2 (now "chapter 5")! Thank you so much for your patience and for not giving up on me yet!
Original year: 2021.