In the Shadows of Hellsing

Katherine woke up slowly to the sounds of late morning activity. Yawning, she stretched out her arms to find the touch of warm skin against her fingertips. Turning, she found a young man laying next to her, naked in her bunk. With a smile, she kissed him softly on the cheek. His eyes fluttered, but he didn't awaken. Kat hung her legs onto the bare floor, yawning deeply again as Alvise groaned and rolled over. She hastily gathered the cloths she'd flung off the night before and got dressed.

The smell of cooking meat drew her to the dining hall, Wild Geese bustling in and out as they grabbed their morning rations. Kat joined the line for eggs and bacon, pulling back her wild waist-length hair. As she shuffled forward with the line, her thoughts wandered to the previous night. Alvise.....he'd come in late and....

"Well well, if it eesn't our little Alvise's friend!" Pip's heavy drawl cut through her thoughts. His sharp-featured face was grinning at her from under his Britanica Cowboys hat. A stained apron covered his usual uniform, his braided hair pulled back behind him fully. Kat swallowed nervously.

"Um, yes he's my roommate..." she said, too little confidence behind her words. What's wrong with me? she thought. I've never had a problem lying before. Pip only beamed at her.

"Ze entire mansion could 'ear you two last night!" Kat turned crimson. She grabbed her food from the mercenary-turned-cook and fled the room. She ran towards her bunk, but paused at the door. She slowly and deliberately turned her back on the wooden portal. Blinking hard, she went down the stairs to the firing range below. Thankfully it was deserted, so the mercenary huddled up a corner, ate her breakfast, and cried.

Drying her eyes, Kat noticed some one in front of her. She gazed in fear at the heavy leather boots, eyes widening as she looked upong the dark red greatcoat, tinted glasses, wide crimson hat.

"You are a strange little mortal." Alucard's low voice echoed around the empty basement. "What is it you want?"

Kat felt tears in her eyes again, the vampire's mere presence drawing emotions from her. Her body was taken with heaving sobs, her frame shaking violently as her deepest secrets were ripped from her heart to feed the Child of Darkness before her. She was naked before this terrible force, all her training and experience useless to fend off the nightmarish power of Alucard's presence. He saw through her mind, clouded and confused; he saw past her body, to the emotions behind her toned skin and human beauty; he saw to her soul, her heart, saw the deep desire buried there.

"What a strange little mortal..." he repeated slowly. Kat felt herself drawn upwards, smelled ancient blood as she was nestled against the vampire's chest. He seemed to grow impossibly around her, sweeping her beneath his cloak. Kat only managed a terrified moan as the world moved around her, outside the shell of Alucard's greatcoat. Something akin to hell threatened to move inside that protection, to reach out with phantom talons and take her life for itself.

Alucard released her. Panic struck through her as she fell, but faded when she felt the smooth texture of a bed beneath her. The vampire master materialized in front of her, coalescing from crimson mist and shadows. His eyes glinted behind darkened glasses, a wry grin revealing his deadly and wonderful fangs. Kat's heart raced.

"You hid it well, mortal. It is a desire few can hope to achieve." The Nosferatu took a step towards her, postrate on the bed. The scent of her flesh called him to her, pulled him closer to the warm blood pulsing in her veins. "I can show you what it is like. I can awaken the Midian within you."