Good Evening,

I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Oxford Not Brogues

Chapter Three

Alucard was absolutely stunned as he stood in his Childe's room. Seras was fast asleep in her bed with a giant black lion on one side of her and the hellhound laying on her other side. She was squished between the two, but she didn't seem to care. She was all warm from their soft fur and large bodies, so she slept pretty soundly.

"She couldn't be," Alucard murmured with a light shake of his head.

"It's possible, it does explain things if she were." Sebastian retorted. "It explains why we started sensing her about fifty years ago. Seras would have been born around that time. And it explains why you turned her in the first place and why Baskerville has always been drawn to her. Now my familiar is drawn to her as well."

"And what if they just like her? What if it's because she spoils them?" Alucard asked. "They probably didn't want to do our bidding or didn't know how to locate our mate like you thought, so they decided to curl up in bed with Police Girl."

"You sound like you're in denial. Is there a problem with your fledgling being your mate?" Sebastian asked while he glanced at the elder vampire from the corner of his eye. Alucard stared at her for a long while before shaking his head.

"I'm just finding it difficult to understand how we didn't know she was our mate when she's been with us this entire time." The elder vampire whispered. "Other than that, I see no issue with her being my mate. I would consider her worthy. She's strong, powerful, gorgeous, and I am quite fond of the way she acts and thinks."

"While I did not expect Victoria, I can say that I am pleased. I'm just disappointed that I didn't see it sooner, like you. She's been right under our noses for so long." Sebastian spoke up. "I think it will be very interesting to have her as a mate, especially since she's so pure. She'll be in disbelief to know that a demon is her mate." He added with a twisted, cruel smile.

"Perhaps we should be absolutely positive first that she is our mate before we make any plans." Alucard suggested. Sebastian's smile dropped.

"And how will we be sure?" He asked with a quirked brow.

"Her familiar should be drawn to us like ours is to her." The elder vampire noted out loud. He then slowly approached his Draculina, earning the attention of their familiars. The lion and hellhound looked his way. Both gave off such a hellish look and Baskerville started growling lowly, warning him to back off the slumbering vampire.

"They're protecting her." Sebastian noted.

"But why from us?" Alucard asked as he stopped in his tracks.

"Hellhounds naturally protect their masters while they sleep. Since Seras is our mate, they're protecting her from all possible threats." The demon answered.

"I know," Alucard growled lowly and glanced back at Michaelis. "I've had a hellhound for nearly six centuries. I know how they work. But why is he protecting her from us? We're her mates,"

"Well, we're not her mates yet. We haven't mated with her." Sebastian responded as he glanced back at Seras.

"Well, she's not our mate yet, so why are they protecting her? I think they just like her better." The elder vampire snickered. It made him feel better knowing how loyal his hellhound was towards his mate. If Sebastian and he were ever away from Seras, they'll be content knowing that their familiars would protect her. "Seras," Alucard raised his voice to waken his Childe. The small blonde groaned before she turned a little to look over her shoulder. She looked at them groggily for several seconds before placing her head back on the pillow.

"What?" She groaned. "Master, why aren't you in bed? And I was sleeping." She lazily wrapped an arm around Baskerville's beefy throat and buried her face in his soft, black fur. She sighed through her nose as she attempted to fall back asleep. The lion and Baskerville continued to stare warily at Alucard and Sebastian, making sure they wouldn't move from their spots. The elder vampire tried to summon his familiar back to him, but the hellhound refused to melt into the shadows. He stayed glued to the little vampire's side.

"I'm sorry for waking you, my dear, but I need you to do something for me." Alucard told her. He didn't get a response from her, but he didn't really give her a chance to respond. "I want you to release your animal familiar. Do you know how to do that? Have you done it before?"

"Not. Now." The small blonde grumbled in Baskerville's shoulder. The hellhound bared his teeth and released another low growl towards Alucard and Sebastian. This didn't intimidate either of them though.

"Seras," The demon spoke and he took a step forward. The lion and hellhound instantly jumped out of the bed to stand between their masters and the little vampire. Fully awake now, Seras bolted up in bed to look at the familiars who were both in low stances getting ready to pounce her mentors.

"Baskerville, Simba, what are you doing? Stop," She demanded. Much to their surprise, the familiars listened and retreated back to her side.

"Simba?" Sebastian questioned as he looked back at the Draculina as she was cupping Baskerville's face.

"I'm guessing that the lion is your familiar. I'm sorry; I didn't know his name so I've been calling him Simba." Seras admitted with a light chuckle and a deep blush. "What is his name?" She asked as she glanced up at the demon with a soft smile.

"He doesn't have one. Simba is just fine, but where did you come up with it?" Sebastian asked as he glanced between his familiar and his supposed mate. Her blush darkened.

"Nowhere," She muttered timidly.

"Do you recall earlier when you were concerned about the way we were acting?" Alucard asked. Seras glanced back at them looking fully serious now.

"Yes," She answered with a nod.

"Well, the reason why we were disappointed is because we were looking for our mates, but couldn't find them." The elder vampire continued. Sebastian looked at him strangely, wondering if he was going to tell her the full truth of why they were there. When hearing this, Seras pounced to her feet with a starry eyed look.

"Oh my god! You guys were looking for your mates?! That's so cute! I mean, I'm sorry that you didn't find them! But, that's adorable! I never knew either of you cared about such things!" The little vampire exclaimed with such a bright smile.

"Anyway," Alucard interrupted her. "Sebastian had the idea that our familiars can track down our mates." The smile swept off her face faster than ever.

"Oh, no." Seras whispered and drew back a little before looking down at the familiars. Alucard and Sebastian's eyes widened from her remark. Was she not happy that they were her mates? A strange pain tightened in their chests. How could their mate be so cruel? Looking back at them, she gave such an innocent, embarrassed look. "I've been hogging your familiars without realizing that they were on a mission for you guys. I'm sorry. I didn't know. I thought you were just letting them roam about." The males blinked stupidly at the ignorant blonde. Did she really not know that their familiars were successful on their mission and were drawn to her because she was their mate? Was she really that foolish? Alucard lightly waved his hand at her.

"It's fine, Seras." He responded softly while he slowly looked her over. How could she not understand? "We were far more curious about your animal familiar and if he can track down your mate." Seras' eyes lit up from that wonderful idea.

"Huh," She hummed as she rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "I never actually thought about it, but I guess I would have a mate out there too, wouldn't I?" She questioned with a small smile. Alucard nodded his head in agreement.

"Everyone does," Sebastian answered with a handsome smirk. "Would you mind summoning your familiar for us?" She gently shook her head.

"Not at all, but I don't get why you guys want me to find my mate. I'm not exactly...ready for that." She admitted with a shrug. The smirk faltered on the demon's face.

"What?" Sebastian whispered.

"How come?" Alucard asked. The girl shrugged her shoulders again.

"I don't know," She snickered. "I just don't really fancy getting into relationships. Maybe I'm just nervous meeting him, but, I'm...okay where I am right now. Maybe in a few years I'll be ready to 'settle' down." She then gestured a hand at her mentors. "It's understandable why you guys want to find your mates. You're centuries older, you have had time to grow and explore the world, and so much more. But now you're both ready to move on with your lives and explore something new, like a steady relationship, which, again, is cute." She giggled with a warm smile.

"What if your mate finds you first, Seras?" Sebastian was asking her then. Her pretty red eyes flickered to his face. "What if he wants to mate with you? What if he's as old as us and just wishes to settle down with his mate?" Her face paled the more questions he asked.

"I...I don't know, Sebastian." She answered and nervously looked away from him. "I don't know. I wouldn't want to hurt him. Maybe we could compromise and just be lovers until I was ready to mate. Maybe he could settle for that for me." She then looked back at them. "What if your mates don't want to mate? What will you do?" She asked with furrowed brows and a concerned look in her eyes.

"Wait for her," Alucard didn't hesitate answering. "Just as long as she allows us to be with her, then I'll be content." Seras gave him a peculiar look from the way he worded that. Why did it sound like they had the same mate to her?

End of Chapter Three

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.

Oxford Not Brogues