Hear Me

Disclaimer: Chapter one has this gay quote and I refuse to repeat this again. Everyone except Alucard, Seras, Walter and Integra belong to me. The ones mentioned obviously don't belong to me. Damn! Also just a warning, there's mention of assault later in the chapter...just to let you know there was a little extra violence in this chap. Here's more chap for your reading pleasure! :)







Hear Me

Chapter 6: Rediscovered Memories

Alucard stepped from the black pool into his sparsely decorated room. Taking off his hat, he threw it at the chair behind the wooden table. It landed perfectly on one of the spindles pointing at the ceiling. Removing his coat, he gently placed it on the back of the other chair located across from the first. He could have easily removed it with a thought, but today, he wanted the familiarity of removing things in the normal, mortal way. Why? He wasn't completely sure himself. He was suspicious it had everything to do with Seras, but he couldn't say if it was all due to her.



Crossing the room to his black coffin bed, he leaned against it and took his boots off before climbing inside. Laying on his back, he placed his hands behind his head. Deep in thought, he pondered what to do about Seras's memory loss. It perturbed him that someone had messed with her, period. But to tamper with someone's mind....a person had to focus quite a bit more for that kind of ability. Unless, that is, they were a vampire or human extensively trained for that purpose.



Staring at the ceiling, he willed the answers to come, only emptiness answered his solitary, mental probing. Concentrating on the petite blond, he swore he could hear her call his name. Bad luck being on his side, the last meeting between them had resulted in more than tangled sheets, granted, that she hadn't even known his name at the beginning of the night. His alpha dominant nature demanded he find the one or ones responsible and make them pay. And pay they would!



Giving in to the exhaustion that tugged at his body, Alucard relaxed falling into the dead-like appearance that his species adopted when sleeping. Remembering, briefly, the hurt that stabbed him seeing the lack of recognition on Seras's face, a single blood tear escaped from it's closed confines and ran slowly down his cheek.



While Alucard slept peacefully, Seras tossed and turned. Crying out loudly in her sleep-deprived state, scenes and people,s faces flashed one after another through her head and right in front of her eyes. A blond woman with glasses, an older man, brunette, with a ponytail and monocle and then there was Alex. A hint of something buried deep rang true. Every time she thought harder about it a headache, severe in nature, pounded distracting her from her efforts.



His face floating there, hanging there whenever she closed her eyes. His beautiful black hair, pale complexion, he was model gorgeous; hell, his sexy voice spoke to her of a private oasis only the two of them could share. She'd never seen anyone as tall as he was either. The man could've played professional basketball and been a god among the players due to his height alone. Back to the basics though. Why couldn't she remember anything about him?



The more the tried the more her head hurt. A specific meeting was running through her head that she didn't even remember. He'd been wearing something completely different and it wasn't the first time she'd met him. Everything seemed so wrong about this. So many images, so many people and yet so many blanks to fill. Why now? Why in the hell was this happening now of all times?



Throwing back her covers, Seras went to the kitchen, grabbing the frequently used Tylenol bottle. Opening it, she poured three in her hand. "Got to get rid of this headache somehow!" Grabbing a glass and filling it with water, she popped the pills in her mouth, following it with the water. Placing her glass back down on the counter, she walked quietly back to her bedroom to get a few more hours of sleep. The very thing that had eluded her so far hopefully would be in her grasp once she got rid of this damned pain in her head!



Laying back down, covering back up, Seras let her mind wander in the hopes she'd go to sleep. It wasn't to be obviously. Alex's image wouldn't let her alone. His deep voice echoed in her mind and she promised that it felt like he was in the room right beside her! 'What the-? I feel his presence. It wasn't here earlier.... so what's going on here?' Confusion didn't help the pain in Seras's head anymore than thinking of Alex and his lingering maleness in her apartment. She especially felt it in the living room and her bedroom. That's where it felt the strongest.



Weariness finally took it's toll on the petite girl. Collapsing into an exhausted sleep nothing but dreams followed her there, a world where even dreams had their own fragility...just like her memories....just like Seras.



Alucard, tired of his restlessness, dressed and left his solitude in search of Walter or Integra. Seras's missing memories were causing the vampire great concern. Opening the black void, he stepped in and shortly thereafter stepped out again. This time, however, in Integra's office.



"Alucard. Shouldn't you be sleeping?" The blond wondered to herself what trick he was up to now. It never failed whenever the heir was at her busiest, lo and behold, look who showed up to torment and make her day.



"Yes, I should, but I can't."



Integra sensed the preoccupation in her servant's voice. This was so unlike him that she was almost surprised! "What keeps you from your rest? It has to be good to keep the almighty Alucard awake!"



Stepping forward to stand in front of her desk, "I believe what I'm going to tell you has something to do with my current mission."



Crossing her legs and folding her hands together, the heiress licked her bottom lip in anticipation. "Don't keep me waiting then." She didn't bother paging Walter. She expected him, presently, in her office any moment now with tea. "This problem you're having....tell me about it, Alucard."



Balling his fists up at his side, "I believe that Seras, Taylor and Finn's cousin, has had her memory tampered with and they may be the culprits. Weird thing being, it's just memories from the last couple of days. I had to reintroduce myself to her because of this damned memory wipe!" Alucard became fiercely angry at the mere thought of her cousins butting in and inadvertently hurting her in the process.



"What proof have you that they are the ones who've caused this phenomenon?"



Irritation surged to the surface. "I don't have proof. Not yet. It's just a sense I have. After all, her cousins despise me and even took me on in a fight at Ivory's. That's why I wouldn't put it past them to screw with her memories."



The door opened and Walter entered with Integra's afternoon tea. "Ah, good afternoon, Alucard." Placing the cup on it's saucer directly in front of her, he slowly poured her favorite beverage, her favorite besides coffee, and a stout whiskey, anyway. "Sir Integra, this is regarding the memory lapses and Miss Seras, correct?"



Picking her tea cup for a sip, she saluted the retainer slightly. "Astute as always, Walter. You never miss anything do you?"



Smirking, he replied, "Not in this house, no. As loud as some people always speak, throughout these hallowed walls, you can't help but hear everything." The butler chuckled lowly at his own joke. It didn't look like his attempt at humor was appreciated by Integra, who looked like she'd rather rip someone's head from their shoulders than listen to another of his jokes.



"Walter, try not to become an every day comedian would you? It 's almost more than I can bear with Alucard, here, as it stands." Rolling her eyes, "Everyone has to be a comedian this days....or a dark humorist." Turning her icy stare back towards the vampire she ordered him to continue his report.



"These two brothers, freaks that they are, caused quite a scene at the club before I arrived several nights past. It was told that Finn ripped a guys heart from his chest and reveled in the dark blood dripping from the dying organ. Also, Taylor fought with six humans and tore them to shreds. One mortal was literally handed his vocal chords for his efforts. Those six mortals....all they were doing was trying to defend their dead friend and unfortunately, joined him."



Leaning forward in thought, the Hellsing heiress sat her chin on top of her folded hands. "Alucard, I'm going to ask you this just one time and one time only. Why haven't you destroyed them yet? If those two were to break out in freak berserker mode, even you would have your hands full it seems."



"Every time the three of us have fought, well, Seras has been there and I don't want her to witness their deaths at my hands. Not like that I don't. She's so close to them that it's going to make this difficult. Seras doesn't even know what those two boys have become. Nor do I know how she'd react to find out that kind of information."



Integra yelled inside gleefully. Mischief singing through her blood and body. Not knowing why, she wanted to hurt someone for what little hurt she'd experienced with Alucard's little blond tart. Smiling evilly, her glacier eyes shown with malicious intent as she reached down in her desk drawer to finger a piece of paper with such fragile, yet important content.



Her bitchiness breaking the surface, she stood and pounded her fist on the desk's solid surface. "I don't care who's present or what relativity they are to your targets! Get this elimination done or else you'll be back in the basement! I have no use for a vampire who doesn't follow orders and whores around. We, here at Hellsing, have an extremely important mission in life. To exterminate the undead, protecting all mankind from them. That's what we live for, what we die to protect. This should be your way too!"



Leaning down from his great, intimidating height, his red eyes coolly appraised her blue ones. "Is that not how I live? Would that not be how I would die? Following your orders and protecting mortals everywhere....I swore servitude to you and your father before you. I've never shown anything but allegiance to you, but if I hear you make any more remarks about Seras, or even in her direction, you'll take it up with me. Do you understand?"



Alucard's normally sarcastic voice had become cold and growing icier during his soft rant. He'd never once raised his voice allowing Integra to known she'd struck a nerve. Keeping a calm facade about him, he knew that would get to her because she'd feel that she'd failed in riling him' failing to make him lose his temper.



The blond punctuated her yell with her other hand slamming down on the polished oak desk top. "I want their heads on a platter, Alucard! I'm only giving you three nights to complete it or consider yourself banished to the basement....again!" Heaving for breath after screaming at the vampire, Integra's chest rapidly moving in and out trying to catch what breath she'd lost in her childish fit.



Psychotically, the ebony haired vampire grinned. His crimson eyes glowed with a fiery fury. Coldly he said, "You want their heads on a platter? Fine. I'll give you heads on a platter then. I just wonder if you can deal with the end results." Chuckling the vampire opened the black portal to slip away, but before he left, Alucard imparted one last shot at his master. "Master...Integra, no offense, but you need to get laid! It would do wonders for your countenance." Entering the hole he'd created, he left but his laughter remained behind to taunt the uptight, bitchy heiress.



"Alucard! You're a prat! Wait until you're in my office again you ass!" Sitting back down, Integra attempting to smooth away her shock at his insult. Worse thing was....he was right! Damn that meddlesome vampire!



Walter entered her office to check for damage and was surprised to see none lying about the room. "Integra are you alright?"



Waving her hand at him, she replied, "Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit tired." Her head slumped forward showing the retainer just how tired she really was, but it couldn't be easy trying to run a company of men and being the only woman present...it had to be difficult at times.



"Integra may I make a suggestion and ask a question?"



"Sure, why not. Everyone's been full of those today." Propping her head back up on her hands she looked directly at the butler and trying to anticipate his suggestion and question, only nothing really came to mind.



"If those two boys aren't completely and truly evil then why can't they come here? Work for Hellsing, I mean. They could work alongside Alucard and eliminate freaks, vampires and werewolves,you know typical Hellsing activities." Waiting for her answer, Walter placed his hands behind his back still standing at attention. Old habits never die hard.



"First, Walter, they're freaks. Secondly, they hate Alucard and he feels the same about them. They've already butchered six people that I know of right now. Who knows if they've killed anyone else?" Reaching into her desk drawer again, Integra grabbed the piece of paper that immediately brought back the gleeful feeling of mischief, and she handed it to him. "Here's your orders regarding this."



She filled Walter in on the who, what, where, but not why on the subject. But who was he to question this anyway. Glancing down at the paper, he had a bad feeling this would only bring about nothing but terrible events. The huge brown envelope on Integra's desk bore the name and address of the contents destination. He'd been ordered to leave in the next hour or so to make it on time. So make it on time he shall! Gently stuffing the paper into the envelope, the older man sealed it and left the room, leaving Integra to her thoughts and praying the ramifications for her present actions wouldn't come back to bite her in the ass.



Seras, in the meanwhile, had slept and was up dancing around in her apartment. First she'd been listening to My Humps by the Black Eyed Peas, then Don'tcha by the Pussycat Dolls, I Love The Nightlife by Alicia Bridges and many others. The short haired blond had danced and sang her way into a natural high mood. She was still moving and grooving through her apartment when she noticed something had been slipped under her door.



Frowning in puzzlement, she wondered who could've sent her something. Ripping the brown envelope open, she read the following aloud.

1312 Waterfront View

Building A

Staring at the words in front of her, she bit her lip. It was some sort of address. Or so it appeared. Should she go to it or not? Right now she had no clue as to who was living here or what. But then again, maybe whatever or whoever was in this building could help her regarding her blocked or blank memories.



Taking a breath, Seras set her resolve to find out just what was at this address. Throwing the paper down on the kitchen bar, she softly walked to her bedroom. Once there, she dug through drawers to find something to wear. She didn't have to worry about work tonight, since she was actually off for once. That happened rarely so go figure. Maybe her boss knew she was under a lot of stress right now and was trying to be nice because Seras had brought in hell of a lot of new business lately. With her new emotional and raw tunes, she really reached out to the audience and brought them into her world, letting them experience what she, herself, felt.



Triumphantly, she let out a little cheer. Slipping on a pair of blue jeans, she fastened them and began the search for a shirt. Putting on a dark green t shirt, she pulled on her denim jacket and went through her drawer for some socks. Finding the pair she wanted, she put them on and next slid on her black, three inch heeled boots. Pulling her jeans over her boots, Seras stood up to admire her reflection. Smiling with what she saw, she walked to the bathroom to brush her hair, teeth and put on a little makeup and perfume.



Ten minutes later everything was done! Grabbing her keys, cell and purse off the counter, Seras locked the door and left her apartment in darkness. She didn't even realize that she'd left the piece of paper on the counter, but she couldn't forget the address because of the numerical significance.



Flashback:

When Taylor was sixteen and her and Finn were fourteen, she'd been followed one day by a group of boys. Rambunctious as they were, the boys taunted and teased the young blond. They tried to touch her and she'd suffered great humiliation that day! Two of the boys held her while another forced a kiss on her and then ran his hands up her bare legs, as she was wearing that damned mini skirt that cursed day! She shuddered remembering his slimy kiss and even slimier touch that still to this day made her want to jump in the shower and scrub herself raw.



That boy, Harry, had touched her very inappropriately and let his hands roam wherever he willed. Her cries and tears went unheeded by all of them. Without warning, Seras, swiftly raised her leg and kneed Harry really hard in the balls. One of the boys, Patrick, who'd been holding her, let go and stepped in front of her delivering a quick blow to the face. The blow had knocked her to the ground and she was sure that she was going to die that very day. Suddenly, a voice rang out and she knew she was saved.



"What the hell are you morons doing?"



Patrick looked up and smiled. "Hey Taylor! Wanna help give this bitch some discipline?" Patrick missed the tightening of Taylor's jaw. So he missed the sign that this girl was someone to his friend.



Finn stood alongside his brother waiting for his chance to make the insolent, presuming bastard pay! Harry had always thought females weak and that they're only reason for existing was to serve the much stronger males in the world. Chauvinism and discrimination's true poster boy, Harry was. Before Finn could act and protect her, Taylor lashed out not giving him the chance.



Taylor swung fast and furious nailing Patrick to the ground. Yelling furiously at them, "She's my cousin, you ignorant asshole! How dare you? Keep your fucking hands off her! Do you understand?" Pointing at each one of them, the older boy said, "If you ever so much as lay a finger on her....I'll kill you. I promise that to you here and now. With her being my cousin, she's under my protection, don't ever touch her again! Got that?"



Without waiting for their answers, Taylor bent to help Seras's quivering form from the ground. Holding her close he took his hand and stroked her hair. All the while he was doing this he whispered, "It's alright. I'm sorry, Seras. I'm so, so sorry. It's all my fault." Snapping his head towards his brother, Taylor gave his next order, "Finn, let's go. We've got to get Seras checked out and make sure she's okay."

The three of them walked away from the awful scene and from that night on her cousins had treated her with even more respect and care than usually granted a female not directly related, such as a sister or mother.



End flashback



Seras smiled fondly at the memory of her cousins. They'd taken such wonderful care of her. She couldn't complain there. The two of them had always been there for her. Sure they'd always had their fair share of trouble and fun times, but what young people don't?



There was another memory budding below the surface struggling to break free. Only it was being held back and something wouldn't allow it the freedom of recognition. That was just one of the things frustrating her right now. Seras looked up happy to see she was already at the waterfront. That and she couldn't believe she'd been so caught up in memories that she hadn't really noticed the distance she'd walked.



Glancing over the water, Seras paused long enough to watch the sun set. She loved the sun's fiery rays as they artistically spilled their farewells for the night over the water's reflective surface. The many hues that were revealed during this time made her wish she was an artist who could capture each color individually and together as they streaked across the darkening sky. The sky itself, seemed to be making preparations for the entrance of the moon, so bright in it's own splendor, and night was another thing to be admired for reasons different from the sun.



Reaching into her purse, she was thankful she kept a small flashlight for times like these, the blond brought out the little flashlight and gripped it tightly. Turning and looking at the last rays of light, Seras had no idea what consequences tonight would bring.



As the moon slowly ascended, it triggered a memory in Seras. She was sitting on a really tall building wrapped in someone's arms. He had dark black hair and a dark, sexy voice. And of all things he'd asked of her...he'd asked her to sing. She knew him. The full remembrance wouldn't come. Damn! How she hated this! 'Maybe if I relax it'll come back in time. I just gotta relax.' Squaring her shoulders, Seras walked away from the water's edge and to the building which held her curiosity.



Reaching out with a nervous, excited hand she grasped the handle and pulled. The door creaked slightly as it opened. In disbelief, she couldn't imagine anyone leaving a building unlocked. That alone should've been enough to turn back, but curiosity had gotten the better of her. Digging deep it wouldn't let go until it had been fully satisfied. Exhaling then inhaling, she slowly entered the darkened building. Turning on her flashlight, the darkness overwhelmed her and frightened her somewhat, yet she found the strength to move forward and the blackness swallowed her except for the small light in her hand. Whispering to herself, "I wish Alex were here with me. But then again, he'd want to know why would you come to a place like this by yourself. Seras, you're certifiable. You're freaking nuts!"



The whole place appeared like an old, almost ancient store that used to exist on the waterfront. Cautiously walking towards the back she came across a flight of metal stairs leading down into an abyss of blackness. Black as the hair on Alex's head, or maybe even blacker. Biting her lip, she took a breath and descended into the darks waiting arms.



Across town, Alucard had awakened and fed. He was anxious. There'd been really strange feelings and signals from Seras all day. Out of the blue, he was overwhelmed by her fear. Adrenaline rushing through her veins, heart pounding; uncertainty racing in her mind. Blood red eyes narrowing, he growled and jumped into his large, blackened void.



At Seras's apartment, Alucard stepped from the blackness into her living room. Calling her name and receiving no answer, he looked in the bedroom and bathroom and no Seras. With his excellent night vision, he spotted a paper on the kitchen counter. Bringing up his hand and gesturing to it, he brought the paper to him. Reading the address on the paper, his eyes widened. She'd gone to a part of town overrun with freak activity. Catching a smell emanating from the paper, he became further enraged.



It was the odor from the unique cigars that were smoked by none other than his master, Integra. "That bitch! She'll pay for her interference! This time, instead of the void, he stepped out onto her balcony and transformed into a bat. Flapping his wings furiously, he hoped he got to her in time.



Seras had now reached the bottom of the steps. They had seemed to reach down into the depths for a mile, but finally, she'd approached the end. Placing her foot on solid ground, she swung her flashlight around and saw no doors or windows. Well, if someone accidentally was trapped down here how would they ever get out?



A cruel voice echoed in her mind,"They wouldn't." Gasping, she jumped, swinging her light wildly and finding nothing or no one. Her anxiety level rising, she still pressed on to find what was here in this place that someone so obviously wanted her to see. Dust, cobwebs, papers and boxes were strewn everywhere. Also, there was something much darker in color coating the floor in spots leading down a long hallway. Following the suspicious trail ignoring the many doors and hallways branching off the main hall, it led directly to a huge black metal door.



Heart racing, she stretched her shaky hand to open her final destination. Upon hearing twin female moans, she paused and confusion took over piercing her head and heart. She thought, 'If this is some porno filming site...I'm gonna so kick someone's ass! I don't do this, don't like it or watch it! This had better not be Taylor and Finn's idea of a joke. When I walk in, I better not find people going at it or those cousins of mine will discover the true meaning of female fury and the pain that accompanies that fury.' She'd find the largest garbage disposal that exists and dump them in and happily pull the lever.



Foregoing reluctance, she took hold of the knob. Twisting it silently, she pushed the door ajar and shock speared her very being. Staring through the crack of the door, she'd watched as two male figures kissed and fondled their female companions with such lust. Then as if on cue, they both had followed a path on the girls' necks. Biting simultaneously, the males, hungrily slurped the blood flowing from the girls into their bodies.



Unaware that she'd done so, Seras had opened the door and stood in the open. She just stood in the doorway and stared. Disbelieving what she was seeing, the blond thought that true vampires didn't exist. Besides, normal people didn't go around sucking other people's necks draining them of blood. So what the hell was going on here?



Slowly she drifted closer to the couples. Watching as they lovingly cradled their companions, the men suckled gently as if they were being careful. For a moment, Seras wished one of them, would take her in his strong arms and hold her in such a way then kiss and caress her before taking of her life's essence. The dark voice from earlier sprang forth in her mind again, "That can be arranged, Seras, my dear." The voice chuckled. Listening to the sound of him gave her shivers. Mentally crossing her fingers she prayed she never met whoever was on the other side of that voice.



Turning her attention back to the men, she observed as they drained their victims dry and dropped them to the floor. Licking their lips, the two men felt the blood running through their veins; feeling so strong and invincible, they turned to reveal their profiles.



Seras gasped. The two vampires were her own cousins! Tears seeped into her eyes. The pain she felt at this....betrayal struck deep. Why hadn't they trusted her enough to confide in her? She'd always trusted them, whatever the circumstances. They had always taken such good care of her, but to take advantage of their victims and toss them aside as trash was reprehensible. Even in her mind she never thought she'd see the day when Taylor and Finn would cross the line of protector to men that girls needed protection against. The stabbing cut deep and a small cry escaped her small, pouting lips.



At the small sound, Taylor and Finn turned to face the perpetrator of their home. Their eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Seras standing before them in tears. Finn broke the silence first. "Oh, shit! Taylor, it's Seras! What are we gonna do?"



All Seras needed to hear was Finn's question about what they would do with her and she ran like hell. Running like a demon of hell was on her tail, Seras sprinted down the long hallway and started up the even longer metal staircase.



Taylor sadly looked at Finn. "We have to go after her. People can't know about us and you know that. But we won't kill her. I couldn't hurt her and you of all people should remember that. Anyone who dares hurt her will answer to me! Now, let's go get her."



The two brothers blurred and sped after the frantic Seras. Smelling her scent they knew they were hot on her trail. Her fear left them a near blinding path to follow, her adrenaline leaving behind her own particular scent, her heart pounding out a recognizable rhythm.



Lungs burning, Seras was at the top of those stupid stairs and running for her life. Crashing out the door, she ran out onto the sidewalk heading for the nearest alley. Hearing her cousins voices, she backed up into the alley while watching to see if her cousins had followed her to this place. Feeling a solid surface behind her back, she started to collapse thinking it was a wall.



"Not yet, you don't." The gravelly voice, in all it's darkness that spoke of terrible things revealed it's owner. He was blond with green eyes and handsome, but his evilness made him sadly lacking in appearance to her. Jerking her around to fully face him, he backed her into a brick wall.



Seras felt her stomach plummet into her feet. She'd already been through this once. Please not again was all she could think. Her first savior was her cousins, but right now she didn't care to be around either of them. So who would save her this time?



Hands feeling her all over crude touches and harsh kisses placed on her face and neck, she swallowed her stomach's contents which threatened to erupt at this vile experience. All the while, the blond man mumbled things to her, but was that supposed to make things better?



Scared and basically alone, her tears trekked down her face in thin silver streams. She felt like a fool for the whole evening's excursion. How could she be such a fool? How could she have been so stupid? The touches grew heavier and they hurt now. The man pawed at her clothes tearing them slightly. Biting down on her lip hard so she could avoid crying out and alerting her cousins to her whereabouts, she was doing her best to bear the solitude she felt. The song Alone by The Gathering played in her mind cause she felt alone, so very alone.



Where she'd bitten her lip, she'd broken the skin and brought blood to the surface. The man looked aroused at the sight of the red substance. Licking his lips, he kissed her, sucking her lip greedily; hungrily feeding until he felt something he'd never admit out loud. He felt fear.



A voice much darker and psychotic rang out from the mouth of the alley. "Release her and I 'll give you the quick death you deserve."



The blond male turned towards the voice and knew now why fear had enveloped him as it had. He was facing the infamous Alucard. Fear of the infamous vampire caused his un-life to flash before his eyes. "A-A-Alucard, I didn't know she was yours. I saw no mark. Forgive me please." Dropping to his knees, he bowed his head in respect and prayed the Vampire King didn't kill him. But apparently, Alucard wasn't in a forgiving mood. Disappearing and then reappearing right in front of him, Alucard thrust his hand completely through the man's face. Jerking his hand back out again, he reached inside his red trench coat; pulling out his Jackal, he aimed and gently cocked the hammer while quoting the rather famous Hellsing motto. With the end of the quote, Alucard discharged the firearm sending the bullet into the freak's heart and watched as he crumbled to dust. The rest of the remains blew away in the wind carrying them out to sea.



Her mind overloading at what she saw, Seras's hands covered her ears, her head shaking back and forth like she couldn't accept what her eyes had seen. Images flew fast and furious through her mind. Voices played along with the images and for several minutes she had a hard time separating everything and figuring out the who, what and where and why of things.



With the trauma of what her eyes had seen and her ears heard, for some reason or another the barrier on her memory vanished and she remembered Alex instead as Alucard. Also, it had been made known through her memories that her cousins were responsible for the wall that had been in her head. Seras was pissed that they'd tried to make her forget Alucard and they'd almost succeeded! Damned ingrates! If she hadn't have met him a second time, who knows if she'd ever met him again. That thought depressed her greatly.



The two of them stood there not saying anything. Seras, a mortal human girl, a bartender/singer who'd captured the King of the Vampire's interest and love; Alucard, the Vampire King, powerful, beautiful in his own right and just as lethal as he was gorgeous. Who'd have ever thought he'd fall for a mere slip of a human?



The wind blew. Seras's short blond hair moved slightly, bangs swaying and she'd never noticed before, but Alucard's black hair, more than waist length now, the dark strands teased by the invisible fingers, laid out an unspoken invitation for Seras to wrap her fingers in it's silkiness and run her slender fingers through it's long threads.



Her mind and heart fought. With everything she'd seen and heard, she was frightened, no doubt about it at all. Despite the sights that her eyes had processed and sent to her brain, her heart won the battle. Running to him, she clasped him tightly. Afraid that if she let him go he'd disappear.



"Seras? Are you alright?" Taking his hand and tipping up her chin, he apologized to her. "I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner. But I'm limited in my movement while the sun is outside. Then I had to find where you'd gone." Hugging her tightly, he pulled back enough to tenderly kiss her. That's when he noticed her lip still bleeding. Lightly, he ran his tongue slowly over her small wound. Then he retracted his tongue to kiss her on the forehead.



Alucard intuitively knew they'd have to hurry and leave. There were two presences approaching and would be here any minute. Knowing instantly that it was Taylor and Finn, the vampire didn't want another confrontation with Seras here. It would be bad enough to kill them and have to tell her, but to have to carry out his master's orders in front of her was pushing his limits.



Seras couldn't find the strength to let go. Everything about him coming back to her washed over her. Breathing in his familiar woodsy, sexual scent, Seras inhaled deeply committing it to memory again. The feel of him just right in her arms. Often she had wondered why Alex had felt so right when no one else, but the shadow in her mind, could come even close to being the right one much less the right man in every way possible.



A voice interrupted their reunion. "Get your hands off her now!" Footsteps ran at them.



Alucard turned to see Taylor and Finn heading right for the happy couple. "And just what do the two of you want?" He made no attempt to hide the scathing sarcasm that dripped from each word. The two of them, as opponents, were equal to flies in someone's ointment. Damned irritating! But, if they were to fight by his side then they'd be a completely invincible team!



Stopping right in front of the extremely tall master vampire, the two of them looked at him then at Seras. "We want you to move away from her. She's leaving with us. Now."



Taylor nodded his head in agreement with his brother. "Come on, Seras. We're leaving. Let's go." His eyes pleaded with her to take his outstretched hand. They'd been in this position once before and she'd shunned him then too. "Please," he whispered.



Shaking her head, "No. I don't know who the two of you are anymore! Why didn't you tell me? Did you think I couldn't be trusted?" Hurt written across her face at what she believed was a betrayal. Slapping his hand away, she said, "I can't. I'm sorry. I would've gone with you before I saw what you two had done, but now, I can't. I never thought I'd say this....especially to you, Taylor, but I'm afraid of you, of what you've become. You've always been like a big brother to me, both of you, but that's gone now, I don't know anymore. Furthermore, how can I trust you when you two bastards screwed with my memory!" Drawing in a deep breath, she let her fury carry her onward. "I love Alucard; you two butted in and took my memories of him! How dare you! Memories that are precious to me and because of you two I almost lost them forever!”



Suddenly Seras' brain switched gears confusing them momentarily. “Oh, by the way, where's Evie? I want to see her! What have you done with her, Finn?" She accented her questioning of Finn with a punch to his chest.



"She's sleeping, Seras. I wouldn't hurt her. I've promised you that and I've never gone back on a promise like that, have I?"



Speaking so quietly that they had to strain even with their enhanced hearing, she replied, "No." She felt so lost that she didn't know where she was or what was what. Seras didn't know what to do or anything. The only thing of consistency was the man, or vampire, in her arms. For her, he'd even pretended to be someone else, just to be near her when she'd forgotten him, he'd done everything he could to be in her life regardless. That kind of devotion said so much to her.



All three males were prepared for a standoff. Ready to launch themselves at Alucard, Taylor and Finn were prepared to do anything for Seras. She was the only female in their family, besides their mother, who still lived.



Everyone's head jerked in puzzlement when a fifth voice whispered over the alley,"Seras. I've finally found you. Your mate's come home."



Looking overhead, they couldn't see the speaker's face but the outline of his body. Alucard snarled at the intruder's audacity. Wanting to put petty argument's and such to rest for now, he turned back to Taylor. "Let's give this a rest for now. Come with me and Seras. You'd be better put to use where I'm going anyway. Besides, I was ordered to kill the two of you for your recent activities."



Alucard couldn't bring himself to glance at Seras. He could already feel the disappointment, hurt and sadness that took root. He couldn't bare to see those emotions on her face aimed at him. "I'm sorry, Seras. This was ordered by my master." His voice took on a harsher much colder tone, "Would you much rather her banish me to my basement, confined for fifty years or until she dies and the next Hellsing master rises? I couldn't let her do that to me. Not with knowing that you wouldn't have my protection as I slept!"



Taylor glanced from his cousin to the vampire who'd captured her attention and love. "We'll go. If it's for Seras and her best interests, then we'll all go. That shadow up there will not get his hands on her if I can help it!"



Finn agreed with Taylor. "We'll go wherever we have to in order to protect her or our family. I know we've done crazy and violent things, but our family's all we have. And what else are you suggesting when we get there?"



Alucard's dark voice spoke in their minds. "I'll convince my master to rescind her order and allow you to join us. If you're good and change your ways maybe you'll be with us for good. Pay attention, when I step into the black void, I'll be holding onto Seras. The two of you can hold onto her so you won't get lost during the travel from here to our destination. Understand?"



Sending their understanding and agreement to him, the guys, each took hold of Seras's left arm. Alucard called the void into play and the four of them stepped inside leaving the mystery stranger to rage over their disappearance.



Integra, working away in her office, received the scare of her life. Four people, suddenly, walked out of one of Alucard's "air holes" as she liked to term them. When she spotted the Adams brothers, she angrily yelled, "What the hell is this? Alucard, what's going on?"



Alucard requested everyone wait in the hall until he was finished explaining the details to his master.



Seras, Taylor and Finn silently filed out to the hall and had a seat on one of the benches that leaned against a wall. They could hear Alucard's calm, albeit, sarcastic voice giving his mission report, though, technically it wasn't a mission. His voice would be answered with a yell punctuated with a slam or an even louder yell. Eventually, it sounded like she'd calmed down and the conversation actually went more than ten minutes without so much as a raised voice.



All three of them jumped to their feet when the door opened and Alucard stuck his grinning face out in the hall. "Okay, you guys can come in now. It's perfectly safe, I assure you. All my parts are intact and there's no blood taken. Unless, however, you want me to take yours." Winking at Seras, he seductively grinned at her showing a hint of his fangs.



Seras smiled at his crack and humor. It was one of the reasons she loved him. "Maybe later...if you're a good boy, that is...we'll have to see." Lightly touching his face, she then walked into Integra's office followed by Alucard and her cousins. Seeing the woman behind the desk dressed in a suit, well, Seras felt just a little intimidated. Especially after she heard her making good use of her lungs!



All four individuals stood directly in front of the blond with the cold, hard glare. They watched as she reached forward and removed a cigar from a small, thin box. Calmly lighting it, she took a puff then exhaled, watching the smoke float gently up into the air.



Integra's voice rang out, even in the oversized, large office. "I've had the circumstances explained and it's been made known to me that a new enemy exists. One much stronger than the two of you and could surpass you easily."



Finn struck out, "You don't believe in pulling punches do you?"



"No, I don't. There's no time for that sort of thing. What you see is what you get." Studying the younger freak, she wondered what he was thinking. Something had to be turning in those somewhat rusty gears of his. "However, Alucard could defeat him alone, only he seems to want to train the two of you to become hunters despite your freak status. Also, he's requested sanctuary for the three of you and if anything, I'm against it all, but, even the fact remains that I disagree, we could always use extra help here at Hellsing. So I've agreed to let you stay. For now. But I have certain rules and I expect them to be obeyed without question."



Alucard smirked. "Don't think you'll have a problem there."



Flashing him a dirty look, Integra snapped, "Did I ask you? Besides, once they're here...they're your problem, or should I say responsibility? Alright, here's the rules. Number one: no feeding off any mortal unless ordered. Number two: no killing any mortal, freaks or other supernatural creature unless ordered or it's been predetermined to be a risk. Third: follow mine and Alucard's order's and rules and there will be no trouble or problems. Got that?"



Taylor and Finn saluted and said, "Yes, ma'am."



Wryly, Integra smiled and said, "Knock that shit off, please. Now if you'll wait out in the hall please. An older gentleman by the name of Walter will be along shortly to help get you two settled. Dismissed."



The two left to wait in the hall as ordered. Integra turned her attention to the couple in front of her. Seras, since you're still human, you will be settled on the main floor two doors down from me. I want to ensure you stay that way until the decision's made of your own volition to change that status. But, you're welcome to visit with Alucard anytime. In fact, he'll show you around and he'll take you where he stays in case you ever need him." Shifting the papers on her desk, she continued, "Seras, you will be allowed to continue your job at Ivory's. My only condition is that you take Alucard. For the nights that he's not available, you'll take Taylor and Finn. Is that clear?" Integra pinned her with a stony look to get her meaning across.



"Yes, everything's clear. Thank you for allowing me to continue at Ivory's. I really appreciate it very much." Seras's happiness glowed in her bright blue eyes. She's getting to stay with the man in her life, still work and basically getting everything a girl could want. "Integra, thank you for your hospitality, understanding and willingness to work with us on our current situation. We all appreciate everything. I just wanted to let you know." Seras padded across the carpeted floor to exit the office and wait outside with her cousins. When she shut the door behind her, she was taken aback because no one was in the hall. This Walter must have come and taken care of Taylor and Finn, leaving her to fend for herself while awaiting Alucard. Making herself at home on the bench again, Seras thought she'd lay down just for a moment.



Fifteen minutes had passed and still Alucard hadn't emerged from the office. Seras's eyes closed. Just need to get a little rest, she thought. After that she was sleeping peacefully.



Alucard was smiling at the girl's antics. Exhaustion taking it's toll she had stretched out on the bench, outside of Integra's office, and now she'd gone to sleep. His sweet Seras. Maybe she'd never change, although he'd like to see her dressed in a skin tight mini or leather pants and a tight shirt. She'd definitely be dressed to kill.



"ALUCARD! I'm speaking to you!"



"My apologies, Integra. My mind wondered." He bowed his head along with his apology.



Knowingly, she smirked at him. "You were monitoring the girl, weren't you? I have to be confident that this relationship won't interfere with your hunter's duties."



"I assure you, Integra, that it won't. As long as I know she's safe, my mind won't be divided and everything will go as planned." Eventually, he wanted to ask her to join him in the night and become his queen. Together they'd start a family and create a name worthy of fear and darkness.



"Do you know what you're doing? With the girl and those boys, I mean? If Taylor and Finn screw up ad enough, you'll be their executioner no if's and's or but's about anything understood?"



"Believe it or not, I do know what I'm doing this time. With the right training, they'll be worthy additions I can feel it....you'll be proud of them. I imagine your father would be turning in his grave because you've now enlisted two freaks to fight in this battle alongside the men of Hellsing." Alucard, himself, was still a little sore over his subsequent capture and enslavement, but he never held it against Integra.



"He probably would, Alucard, he probably would. No go on, you've got someone waiting for you. Or do I have to tell you to get out again."



"No, you don't have to tell me twice. I know you're lungs work perfectly fine, besides there's a girl you'll rudely awaken if you shouted at me." Inclining his head at her in respect, Alucard took his leave, walking out of the office for once.



Opening and closing the door behind him, Alucard watched the sleeping girl, dozing with not a care in the world. Picking her up gently, instead of phasing or anything else, he wanted the comfort of a stroll tonight; walking down the hall he kissed her forehead and whispered to her, "Good night, Seras."