Rain

Disclaimer: As always I own none of the characters withing except for Alex, Rathlan and Yosh. That's it. Standard warning applies for language, adult situations and violence/gore.



Rain

Chapter 3: Rise Of A New Assassin



Pale and still, Seras, her usually beautiful almost translucent-like palor, usually pale,presently adopted a sickly hue, even for a vampire, her flesh deathly white, lay on a make shift bed placed in her master's room. Short, spiky, blond hair spread haphazardly over her pillow. An occasional moan of pain escaped her cold lips, beads of bloody sweat dotting her forehead as she fought an overwhelming feverish fit. Now and then her limbs would thrash about seemingly trapped in a hellish nightmare. Her small voice calling out to the one she needed. The one who stood so close yet so far away.



Pain overwhelming her senses she called out to her master who stood stone still, back against the wall. The meaning wasn't lost on Alucard at all. It never failed when his back was, literally and figuratively, against the wall he came out fighting. Violently. The result....death. For anyone or anything that threatened him, or anyone he claimed as his...they were wiped from the face of the Earth, without further thought. That's the only way he knew how. Face your enemy, descisively defeat it. Period. Now, he stood helpless watching his fledgling suffer and there wasn't a damned thing he could do about it.



“Master! Where are you?”



“Alucard.”



Alucard's head turned to the newly arrived voice. “What?” He came close to snarling at his former friend in his feelings of uselessness. Centering his emotions Alucard toned his voice down. “What do you want, Dru?”



Dru entered the room going immediately to Seras' side. Bearing a water basin filled with cool water and containing a cloth esconced carefully in his arms, he quickly went to her side. Frowning at her condition and Alucard's aloofness, Dru did the only thing he could. For now, he would care for Seras, himself, as her master gave the impression he didn't give a shit. Sitting down gently on the mattress, he dipped the soft cloth in the cool water, tenderly wiping away the traces of blood broken out on her skin, while cooling her burning flesh.



Still washing her face, sponging it slowly, he said, “She needs you, Alucard. She needs you more than anyone or anything in the world. You're the only one who can ease her needless suffering.” Dipping the cloth once more, he dabbed along her neck this time smiling as the sound of a low growl assailed his ears.



“What do you think you're doing?” Pissed that the Sephiroth dared to accost Seras in front of him, Alucard hissed, his displeasure clearly and verbally displayed. Anger, so strong, bordering, trying to push him over the line he'd avoided for so long. The soft material, stroked first her face, and then her neck. Seras softly cried out, mentally pushing away the one who touched her, even though it only existed from kindness, Seras wanted only her master's touch. Only wanted to hear his voice, see his face and feel his touch caress her skin, chasing away the evil threatening her, threatening to overwhelm her and obliterate who she was. But Dru's touch, so gentle, still couldn't equal the want she had regarding her master. And with each movement, every stroke, Alucard felt possessiveness sweep up to claim him. But how could he be jealous? He'd never felt this way about Seras before.



“It's because in a way...she's being taken from you. Another has set her on a path where, for now, you can't follow. And that angers you. The fact that another has changed her into a creature beyond your reach; the possibility that she'll leave you behind, and alone in your pain, angers you. It gives rise to your blood lusted rage. And it makes you desire his death; hoping you'll be the one to destroy him forever. Admit it!” Ceasing his caring ministrations Dru glanced up at the vampire scowling at him from across the room. “It's only natural you should feel jealousy. She's always admired you, followed you without question and given you her love, although, you were too blind to see it, or recognize it.”



Infuriated, Alucard snapped, “I feel no jealousy. I feel no love for this girl. She's amusement until I tire of her. Until then, she's mine! No one will take her from me!” All this he declared with a crimson glow to his eyes and a broad sweep of his hand to emphasize his statement.



“Still pretending to be an emotionless ass, aren't you?” Dru admonished Alucard, calling him up on his treatment of his fledgling. “Why?” Eyes, the color of the forest on the brightest day, skimmed over Seras' face in pity. If her master didn't truly care for her and want to help her then it must fall to his shoulders to ease her pain, her burden.



Scoffing, Alucard chuckled at his friend's folly and foolish memory. “Why, you ask? Have you forgotten what it is to care for someone, love someone, and have her ripped from your side forever? To never glance upon her fair skin again? Nor to touch her or call her your own?” Moving from his position against the wall, his voice deepened in anger, eyes burning harder, darker. “Do you have any idea what it's like to never hear her voice again, to see her body crumpled, blood spilled across the ground, and for what? To satisfy someone's personal vendetta against me? To lash out at her brother? Or maybe it was revenge aimed at us both. I don't know, but I will not risk it again.” His fiercely burning gaze watched Seras, thrashing and moaning, pain superceding all her efforts to ignore it. “I will not risk her getting hurt, or killed.”



Aggravated with Alucards apathy he hissed, “You're too late for that, Alucard!” Gesturing at Seras, suffering from the effects of the Taisho, he held his anger back for Seras' sake as he ranted at her master. “Alucard, first of all, where the hell where you when she needed you?”



“What do you mean when?”



Pushing aside her hair; revealing a pair of fang marks accompanied by a small dagger encased in a pentagram; marking her as a newly born Sephiroth. The design, black in nature, resembled a freshly inked tatoo; it's lines slightly pink around its formation.



Showing Alucard this Dru yelled, “Where the hell where you when she was being attacked and Yosh cursed her with this mark?! She called to you! I know she did because she told me, and on the night of her attack I heard not only her psychic screams but her screams that pierced the stormy, cold, night air! So where were you? What took you so long to arrive? She could've died you selfish sonofabitch!” Softening his tone as Seras cried out under the power of his outburst he stated, “Alucard, she was dying. Had I not shown up....she would've died.” Dru's gaze nailed the older vampire's angered eyes. “She would've died and you would've lost her forever. How about that?” Taking the rag, wetting it, Dru resumed his duty of washing her forehead, blotting the watery blood from her still feverish skin. “Could you have dealt with it? Losing her forever? The one thing you've tried to protect her from and you would've failed. And you would've been, once again, alone. Or is that what you wanted? To be alone?”



Alucard's tone, firm and cold replied, “She wouldn't have died. Seras knows I wouldn't allow her to die on me.”



“You're an arrogant fool, Alucard! She's hanging by a thread even now.” Caressing Seras' cheek with his free hand, Dru stated sadly, “I can't believe you're supposed to be her master. She, Seras I mean, told me you cared nothing for her and I told her I believed otherwise, that you do care. You're just too stubborn to realize it! But maybe your fledgling was right.” Seeing the cold, and otherwise emotionless mask Alucard wore, he surmised, “I guess you've forgotten what it means to care, to care for someone besides yourself. And I believe that when Seras awakes we'll be out of your hair.”



Expressionless mask evaporated, Alucard seethed, “What the hell does that mean?” Dark, angry currents swirled around his form, feeding his negative emotions.



The rag back in its basin, Dru stood to his full height which put him on equal ground as Alucard. “I meant what I said, old friend. After the danger to Seras passes and she wakes, the two of us will leave and you'll be rid of a fledgling you don't really want or care for. Nor will you be forced to endure my presence. We'll be out of your life. Hopefully forever.”



The prospect of forever without Seras struck home. Refusing to show the Sephiroth how his words affected him, Alucard's eyes darkened, posture tensing. “You will take her over my dead body.” Alucard frigidly declared as Dru's meaning sunk in. “No one will take her from me. I told you before what would occur if someone tried and I won't hesitate to follow through. Even if it is you.”



Looking Alucard dead in the eye, Dru retorted, “You may not have a choice. She may not offer you a choice. When she wakes as a Sephiroth, or Sephir, ....she'll be a whole new creature. Not the young woman you bestowed the gift of night to, but a supernatural assassin. A being whose abilities will rival your own. Abilities that she has no idea how to control or manipulate, and one day when she's mastered them....you won't be able to face her, stand against her and live. And I doubt you're ready for that. A female who will be greater than your equal, that is. Seras has always been in your shadow never glimpsing an opportunity to see who and what she could really be; all because you held her back. And she allowed you to.”



Dark, green eyes surveyed the vampire; gauging his reaction stated wearily, “She will be just like me. Nevermore will she be just a vampire." Dru's voice seemed to harbor sadness, and hints of regret. "The moment her eyes awaken, green eyes aglow....her nature will be the same, but different,from yours. In fact, when she learns to control her new abilities she will make a fine assassin for Hellsing. Just like you. Only if that's the choice she makes”, he warned.



“Master! Alucard! Help me!”



Seras' cry broke through the tension building in the large room prompting Dru to encourage him to go to her. “Alucard, do not hesitate. She may feel nothing but resentment should you continue to ignore her and her feelings. And resentment can manifest into hate causing her to want nothing but your death. So tread carefully.”



Arms stretched stiffly at his sides, indecision in his eyes, Alucard fought with himself, a battle for his feelings, against his feelings. Knowing the pain she suffered made the battle he waged more difficult. He wanted to break down, but he didn't want to risk losing everything, including the terrorizing image built over the last few centuries. Arriving at a decision, he pushed conflicting emotions aside to sit down beside his fledgling.



Pain washing over him through their link, Alucard concentrated on trying to absorb the majority of the pain; hoping to lessen it's severity for her. His mind spoke to her telling her she'd be alright if only she could endure and hang on.



“Seras.”



“Yes, master?”



Her mental voice, trembling as she replied, answering him best she could, fever and pain not withstanding.



Sharing a glance with Dru, Alucard narrowed his eyes, her voice further away. Was that part of the change? Dru assured him it was not.



“Alucard, keep talking to her. It sounds as if she's dying. If you're not willing to let her go, then you must give her a reason to hang on”, the dark haired Sephir urged.



“Seras, do you want to live or die?” Not that he'd let her go, of course, but he had to ask. Her answer would hold the key.



“I don't know”, she hesitatingly replied.



“Yes, you do! Make your choice, Seras! Either take the coward's way and die, or stay with me! Your choice. Now make it!”



Dru broke in to the conversation, “Alucard, talking to her like that won't accomplish a damn thing! You'll give her the impression your apathetic; not caring what happens to her one way or another, which we know couldn't be further from the truth. Now, just fucking tell her already!”



Forgoing mental contact, Alucard resistant at first, gave in to his friend's wise advice. Clasping a small, clammy hand in his much larger one, he sighed. “Seras, stay. I need you to stay.” Satisfied that's all he had to say he glanced up at Dru who happened to be frowning at him. “What?”



“Did you major in a class on insensitivity? Women need to hear how you feel. It doesn't matter if the admission brings you to your knees and makes you appear a moron. Woman have to know how you feel. If you want her to stay....then you must tell her, or show her. Now do it again!” Crossing his arms over his chest, Dru glared at him, willing him to get it right this time.



Cursing in an ancient language almost as old as time, Alucard glanced back down at Seras, her face spasming, red tinted tears leaking from the corners of her closed eyes. Flooding their connection with feelings and images, he hoped it was enough to convince her to stay. She'd be permanently changed, sure, but at least she'd stay alive which was always a better choice compared to the alternative.



Suddenly, her body, inch by inch, rose from the blood soaked sheets. Her form glided off the bed and onto the floor. Slowly her petite frame leveled, her body no longer laying horizontally. Seras had lifted herself, unconsciously, upright, arms to her side. Blond strands blew in the breeze whipping gently around her petite figure, their lengths increasing, growing past her shoulders and down her back.



Pain wracked her body, evidently shown by the jerking she exhibited. Mentally, she cried out for Alucard again. Unable to bear the sight of her in pain, Alucard momentarily shed his reluctance, stepped forward embracing her, joining her in their link; absorbing the pain, easing her final transition. He felt something inside her shift and a scream, a primal scream tore from her throat, causing Alucard and Dru to link together in effort to reduce the pain again.



Abruptly, the woman in his arms fell limply onto his chest. Lifting her into his arms, he followed Dru's instructions as he told her to place her back on the bed.



“Soon, my friend, when she awakens, the last phase will have been completed. She only needs rest now to recover.”



Nodding silently, Alucard pulled up a chair beginning his quiet vigil.



“Alucard, one thing I must tell you. When she wakes....if her eyes are black then you must destroy her.”



Stroking her hand gently, his fingers froze at Dru's warning. “Why? What happens if they're black?” Red eyes glaring, bad feelings blaring, a warning he wanted to ignore, but common sense wouldn't allow it.



Bravely meeting Alucard's intimidating eyes, Dru glanced at him apologetically. “If her eyes are black, instead of dark green, when she comes back to us...she'll be much worse than a Sephiroth. At least we Sephiroth's have a choice in whether we serve good or evil. But should she awaken with eyes as black as Rathlan's heart then we'll have to destroy her for she'd kill us without a thought. She'd be evil incarnate reborn. She will have become the ultimate in evil. Seras would be....a Hell Goddess. It's rare, but I thought it my duty to alert you to the possibility.”



“A Hell Goddess, huh? Interesting prospect.” Alucard was intrigued by this. He'd heard previously of Hell Goddesses only never met one. Sadistically, he looked forward to facing one. Her strengths pitted against his own would be a war worth fighting.



“Alucard, you don't know what you're saying. A Hell Goddess is bad news. She wouldn't, or couldn't, be able to distinguish friend from foe, destroying them without prejudice. And if you were on her bad side....well, let's just say you'd easily own a one-way ticket to Hell, Seras style. She'd burn anyone standing in her way. They'd die in a spire of flames. One touch that's all it would take. She'd easily destroy the world in it's entirety, obliterating all living on the surface. Her new status would make her someone never to be trifled with, I can assure you.”



Silence prevailed after the Sephiroth's added information. What could he possibly say to that? They'd just have to hope that Seras awoke as a Sephir, not a Hell Goddess. He'd be damned to lose her to their enemies, Rathlan and Yosh. Should she become the very creature that Dru feared, no matter what he allowed himself to feel or not feel for her wouldn't be an issue; he'd destroy her even if it meant his destruction as well.



An uneasy silence fell over the duo as they waited in tortured anguish for Seras to awaken. To see whether she'd join the ranks of the Sephiroths or if she'd fallen becoming a fiery Hell Goddess. Alucard stared at his fledgling's face intensively, watching for any signs of changes to indicate immediate action. He whispered to her, "Seras, don't let this win. Fight! If its me you want then you'll have to fight. Show me you want it! Show me you want me!"



Sitting tensely on the other side of the bed Dru allowed a small smirk across his thinly pressed lips. It seemed his friend was getting the hang of it. "About fucking time," he muttered under his breath.



Hours later:

Alucard's attention snapped back to Seras as she stirred, her moans signaling her conscious waking. Figuratively, he held his breath as her eyelids fluttered, long, dark eyelashes lifting slowly to reveal the secret lying beneath....the color of her iris'. Would they be green? Or would they be black as the night?



Sephiroth or Hell Goddess? Which would it be? Her eyes flew open, power arched from her fingertips as Alucard and Dru jumped back to defend and take the necessary actions.



The battle was on.







Note: Sorry this is so short, but I wrote it on my birthday a few days ago and I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but I doubt I'd ever be. I hope you guys enjoy it at least a little bit. Later....