Hear Me

Disclaimer: See chapter one. Also, I used Evanescence\'s "Bring Me To Life" in this chapter and I don\'t have permission like everyone else doesn\'t have permission to use it...but I\'m only a poor humble writer! So please don\'t sue! :) Also, once again, I do not own Hellsing or any of it\'s characters. Nor am I making any money from the writing of this story.



Note: Yes, just for those of you who are sticklers for OOCnes, my story has it. Just thought I\'d warn you. :)

Also, Thanks to the following for reviewing: zell-chan, demonsnakegod, Kage, Lady Kakira, Black Maiden, Lady Purgatori and an extra special thanks goes out to Lady Purgatori for giving me a kick up the ass to get this done! :)







Hear Me

Chapter 8: Ivory\'s Touch

Seras readied herself for work. Checking her reflection, she smiled at the happy woman staring back. Her pale skin had taken on a rosy glow, blue eyes sparkling brighter than the stars above, and her hair even seemed to gain a shinier luster. It was all due to Alucard. Just thinking about him made her smile while feeling akin to a lovesick teenager. After all this time it had finally happened. She\'d fallen in love. It was a wonderful thing to fall into, while dimishing the previous pains and heartbreaks that had hurt in the past; yet none of them mattered anymore. They were in the past and that\'s where they\'d stay.



Wearing the typical Ivory\'s uniform which consisted of a white button up shirt, black pants or skirt, and black shoes. Seras was wearing the white shirt, black mini skirt with knee length black heeled boots. Grabbing her purse she headed out of the room to meet with Integra before she left Helling Manor. Unfortunately it was one of her host\'s requirements.



Knocking on the heavy oak door to Integra\'s lair, Seras waited for the summons to enter. The small blond didn\'t have long to wait. Hearing Integra\'s voice bark her permission to enter, Seras meekly walked in and saw Alucard already standing in front of the older woman\'s desk.



"Seras. I have no pre-assigned missions for Alucard tonight so he may accompany you to work, for tomight, she ended with a pointed glare. “What does your schedule look like for the rest of the week?" The paler blond stared at Seras, narrowed, icy orbs impatiently glaring; causing her to feel just a little uncomfortable.



"I work the next three nights from eight thirty pm until closing, which is at three am, and as soon as my job is finished... I leave. Then after the next three nights I\'m off for the next two and then it starts all over again."



Integra\'s eye contact and barking questions were grating on the younger woman\'s last nerve. If it wasn\'t for the face that she was allowing Seras and her two cousins to stay, she might have told her to piss off and like it! Just looking at her brought some really nasty comments to mind.



"Well, it seems the kitten does have claws after all, doesn\'t she? We\'re two of a kind, Seras, Victoria. Maybe later, if the mood strikes you, you can dig your claws into me."



Hearing Alucard\'s words perfectly in her mind, she sent him a pissed glance. She\'d been trying to get along with his master, but she was a total bitch. No wonder men weren\'t knocking down her door! That\'s probably what her problem was in the first place. Integra needed to get some and bad!



Thinking for a moment, Seras smirked. She could have such fun with Integra! Get her piss-ass drunk and get someone to go to town....she\'d wake up with a hell of a smile. At least she ought to. Smirking even bigger, resembling a female Cheshire cat, Seras knew just the person for the job and he owed her a lot! It wouldn\'t be so hard as she originally thought. Before she realized it, Integra had stopped her speech, Alucard was watching her in amusement and she was....laughing? Why was she laughing? Even more importantly..... when had she started laughing out loud? Oops!



Finding the situation irritating, Integra snapped at Seras. "What is so funny here?" Crossing her arms, the cold, cast iron bitch waited for Seras\'s answer. Integra\'s voice dropped several degrees as she addressed Seras\' serious lack of respect. “Have I said something to amuse you? If so, what what would that be?”



"Um, nothing. Would you believe it was nothing? I didn\'t even realize I was doing it. My apologies, Sir Integra." Man, she\'d never hear the end of this from the vampire standing right next to her. He\'d laugh long and hard over her predicament, tease the hell out of her and then do it all over again. Blowing out a breath, Seras forced herself to concentrate on Integra\'s words and orders.



"Now, since that\'s out of your system, Alucard will go tonight, but for the next two days, Taylor and Finn will have to go with you. I have Alucard on several important missions so make sure you stay out of trouble." Gesturing for Alucard to wait outside, the heiress waited until Alucard left the room to finish what she had started to say.



"It\'s imperative that you stay safe and out of any trouble. Alucard will sense if something\'s happening to you and will abandon everything to see to your safety. I can\'t have that! You will be watched over and if it comes to my attention that you can\'t avoid the simplest situations then you will have to stay here, while he\'s away." Integra lit one of her specialty cigars and took a few inhalations before continuing. "If your safety\'s called into question, his attention will be divided and you could possibly get him killed! We\'ve never had this type of situation spring up before. Period. You\'re the only one he\'s ever brought home before. The only one who\'s ever managed to catch his eye. Just what is it about you? What\'s so special about you anyway?" Integra\'s icy eyes narrowed almost in spite and jealousy.



"Maybe it\'s because...I smile, have a sense of humor and don\'t act like I\'ve got a lemon up my ass! Basically I\'m just a girl that lives and likes to have fun." Growing braver for a second, Seras said, "No offense, but you act so unapproachable. Ditch the glasses, the manly looking suit, do something with your hair and face, and I\'ll bet you\'d get laid quicker than a table at supper time!" Snapping her fingers to emphasize her point, the younger girl seemed relieved after letting all that off her chest.



Trouble was that Integra didn\'t look that amused. Standing up she yelled at Seras, "Get out! Get to work and leave me to do my own job. Go!" Pointing at the door, her blue eyes blazing; all she needed was a pistol to complete the cowgirl picture.



Seras turned on her heel, quickly exiting the room and finding a chuckling Alucard in the hallway. Still laughing at her honest, yet insulting words. Strolling over to the vampire, she was the epitome of calm, cool and collected. She quickly punched him in the chest making him laugh even harder.



"You traitor. Leaving me to deal with her wrath.....nice job!" Stalking off down the hall, she could still hear his dark laugh echoing behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she stopped short when she saw he wasn\'t there. "What the hell? Where did he go?" Eyes scanning her surroundings furiously, she found no evidence of her vampire lover. "Great.”, she huffed. “ Now I\'ve got the disappearing act from him. What else next?"



Walking from the hallway she made her way down the flight of stairs leading to the main doors. Opening them, she stepped across the thresh hold closing the heavy doors behind her. As she turned around, Seras stepped hard into a muscular chest. Her head snapped up and relief flooded through her when she noticed who had frightened ten years off her young life. It was none other than the dark prankster himself, Alucard.



Dressed in dark loafers, he was wearing navy blue trousers and a dark green button up shirt with navy blue stripes. He looked good enough to eat.



Seras\'s jaw dropped in surprise. \'He just keeps getting better looking every time. How unfair! Good enough to eat didn\'t describe it well enough. Devastating, maybe, could cover Alucard\'s looks. The dark vampire would have every female in Ivory\'s drooling over him tonight, so she\'d have her work cut out for her.



Taking her arm, Alucard brought her tight against his body. Commanding a void to open, he stepped into it with Seras in tow. Stepping out of their transportation, the couple began walking and the hole dispersed. Alucard had been considerate and cautious to the point of being overly so, but they couldn\'t have everyone seeing the way they arrived and left. It would cause too much chaos than the vampire wanted to deal with presently.



Seras broke his thoughts by asking about her cousins. She hadn\'t seen them since their arrival at Hellsing several nights ago and she was worried. There was no end to the trouble they could cause or find. That\'s what they had always excelled at and they still did it very well. Little to no effort involved in their schemes, yet they didn\'t go the way they wanted sometimes. They succeeded more times than failed. Probably a good thing for all parties involved!



"Right now, the two of them are going through intense training with Walter and several of our best military personnel. Once Taylor and Finn are ready, I\'ll take over their training and make them the second best hunters in Hellsing. Obviously, since I\'m the head hunter, I have to ensure that your cousins are battle ready. They will be tested and pushed beyond their limits, but that\'s what makes us true warriors of Hellsing!" Alucard was attempting to alleviate her useless worrying over the two mischief makers, unfortunately, there wasn\'t much he could say.



"Thanks anyway for trying to make me feel better.” Holding loosely to his arm, Seras turned her face upwards to smile brightly at him as she stated confidently, “I know everything will be fine. I trust you. I trust in your judgment. It will all work out I know." Turning down an alleyway, she told Alucard, "This is the way I have to take to go to work. We have to come in through the back entrance. Damned employee rules!" Laughing, she rolled her eyes as they walked arm in arm, her boots clicking on the concrete walk as they came upon the back door for Ivory\'s.



They could hear the music blaring loudly already and it wouldn\'t be long before patrons began arriving, drinking and dancing theirselves blind. He followed her to the employee locker room where she did her nightly ritual. Placing her things in her private locker, she snapped the locker shut and tied on her black waitress apron.



Looking at Alucard, she smiled. "I\'m ready. Let\'s go and let me get this shift over with." Quickly walking out the door, her heels clicking an offbeat tune on the concrete; the couple strode over to the bar. She\'d missed all this already. More than that, she\'d missed the people and performing.



Getting everything ready at her station, she was taken aback when someone enveloped her in a giant bear hug from behind. She heard a low growl coming from Alucard\'s direction. She whispered harshly, "Stop it!"



Seras found herself being spun around to see Dallas. Hugging him she squealed, "Dallas! It feels like it\'s been forever! I\'ve missed you!" Mentally, her mind was being swamped with jealous thoughts and envious emotions. The intensity of these emotions were causing her head to hurt. Flashing him a look, she turned back to her friend and coworker. "Dallas, would you excuse Alucard and me for a moment?"



Puzzled, he asked Seras, "Wait. I thought his name was Alex?"



Swallowing to wet her dry throat, she replied, "It is, but his real name is Alucard and we call him Alex. Are we straight now?" Winking at Dallas, she told Alucard, "Sometimes when we begin our shift, Dallas here, isn\'t too bright. At least not until he gets a little liquor in him!"



Laughing at her own joke, she walked around the bar, grabbed the dark haired vampire and dragged him off to a corner. Once they were alone, she unleashed her anger, directing it all towards him.



Whispering in all her fury, she asked Alucard, "What is wrong with you? Dallas is just my friend! There\'s nothing there. I don\'t want him." Putting one hand on her hip, she pushed him back against the wall. "All of this jealousy and everything being sent to me over our connection better stop! I can\'t work like that, and I won\'t! Whatever snit fit you\'re in....get over it and I mean now!"



Alucard\'s eyes hidden by his sun glasses were obviously unreadable. His face which had tightened into a mask of black anger relaxed with her next gesture. It was strange really that a woman, a small, petite woman, could easily tame the beast. He\'d have never thought it possible.



Throwing her arms around him, Seras said, "You\'re the only one I want. There will never be another man, or vampire, for me, ever! You\'re all I need." Her confession spent, she turned and walked away, taking up her position at the bar.



The doors had opened and customers were lined up at the bar. As soon as the petite blond had stepped behind the bar, several of her regulars caught her attention, their decision made and ready to order. Whenever she was working, they allowed no one else to mix their drinks. So it really sucked when she wasn\'t there.



Alucard seated himself at a table close by just in case she needed him. Watching her work, the sadistic, dark vampire was still amazed at how much of a people person she happened to be. Bubbly, always smiling, although sometimes her personality gave way to the flirt that was reserved for work only. Which he didn\'t really care for that, but he had to deal, and she mesmerized the patrons she served. She was so perfect.



She smiled and continuously made drinks for several hours. Glancing at her watch, she called to Dallas, "Hey Dal, I\'m gonna take my break now. I\'ll be back in about fifteen."



He sent her the thumbs up sign so she removed her apron and tiredly walked from behind the bar. Crossing to Alucard\'s table, she was a little irritated to see a table full of girls surrounding him. Wondering to herself, \'Would he have attracted them to him on purpose as payback for Dallas? But that was just a happy reunion between friends and nothing more.\' Just what was going on here? Come on, Seras, get a grip. Don\'t let them see it bothers you, she told herself. Just keep on smiling! That\'s it, she said, as she approached the table, a bright smile across her friendly face.



If anything, Alucard appeared bored in her eyes. A brunette sat right beside him and every chance she got, the girl put her hands on Alucard. She was trying very hard also to flaunt her assets. Slowly but surely, Seras was seeing red.



Stopping at the table she looked hard at the female intruder and found herself on the receiving end of a rude appraisal.



The girl haughtily spoke to Seras insinuating that she was very low classed. Alucard rolled his eyes and felt aggravation at the girl\'s words. His unknown companion asked Seras, "What do you want? Don\'t you have a drink to make or something? This one\'s taken for the night so move along honey." The girl smirked triumphantly at Seras.



Black fury swept through her veins at the girl\'s remarks and her bitchy tone. Walking up behind the girl\'s chair, Seras pulled it out and dumped her in the floor. "Now how about you move your ass along, honey, and get your own damn boyfriend." Jerking her head towards Alucard, she said, "He\'s mine. Hands off. If you want some quick, cheap thrills, then hit the street. I\'m sure you\'ll find plenty there." Seras\'s eyes flashed, her hands balled tightly into small fists pressed even tighter into her body\'s sides.



Alucard smiled at her brazen actions. He\'d never thought, when he first met her, that she\'d do and say the things she just freed from her vocal chords. Admitting to himself that it was pretty amusing he knew she wouldn\'t find it so.



Seras stared down at her favorite vampire, even though he was the only one she knew, and raked him over with a mock stern expression. Using her right index finger she poked him hard in the chest. "Don\'t tell me I\'m gonna have to babysit you all night. I do have a job to do, you know? Now interest me for fifteen minutes!" Plopping down into the chair beside him, Seras expectantly waited.



"Interest you for fifteen minutes? Why? What happens in fifteen minutes?"



Flashing him a devil may care smile, she said, "I have to go back to work in fifteen minutes. So dazzle me with your wit and sex appeal. Haven\'t got all night now." Leaning forward and placing her chin on her hands that had interlaced with each other, she continued teasing the older vampire. "I\'m waiting, Alucard, or should I say....Alex."



Her blue eyes twinkled. Daring him to say or do something outrageous to entertain her, make her laugh and keep her on her toes. He\'d certainly aim to please. Let it be said that Alucard never fell down on the job.



Without moving an inch, the infamous No Life King whispered in her mind and ears simultaneously creating an uncomfortable heated feeling within her being. "If you want work, Seras, how about you work me later? The pleasure immeasurable." Dropping his voice even lower, the lovable and sometimes irritating vampire turned up the heat a notch. "Seras, after closing do you want to try out a pool table? Or perhaps the bar?" One eyebrow arched seductively, "I could decorate you with vodka if you choose and you could return the favor."



The blond distinctly heard the teasing smirk in his voice. She didn\'t have to see his face to catch it, but his words had her reeling, whether she wanted to admit it or forget it. \'Damn,\' she thought to herself, \'He would do this to me shortly before I have to go on stage.\' Thinking about it she knew she liked it when he teased her this way.



She tried to imagine the look on his face when he saw her outfit for tonight. Working hard, Seras picked out a rock song instead of her usual slow romantic ballads. She wanted something different tonight. The whole place was packed and she felt like rocking the hell out of it and put her talents to good use.



Slowly rising from her chair, Seras placed a quick peck on Alucard\'s cheek. "My time is up. I\'ve got to get back. See ya in a little while." Pausing long enough to wink flirtatiously, she blew him a kiss; then she was gone.



Alucard sat still thinking about the blond beauty who mesmerized him. She was so many things wrapped in a delicate looking package. She also had the heart of a fierce lioness if need be. Sipping his drink, the vampire looked forward to her performance this evening. If he suspected right she\'d be putting on something special; he felt it in his bones and ancient soul. His musings came to a halt when the house lights came on illuminating the stage.



As usual, Dallas took center stage to announce his lovely coworker and her band. The blond man greeted the audience enthusiastically, "Hello, everyone and good evening! Are we drunk yet?"



Several yells echoed back at him, "Not yet!"



Grinning, he replied, "Well it seems to me like you guys need to get your asses back to the bar!" Laughing with the crowd over his statement, Dallas signaled for the claps and yells to quieten down. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, our favorite young lady is getting ready to come out and sing her heart out for you! Are you ready?!"



Someone started chanting Seras\'s name. One by one the chant was picked up by everyone in the room, their voices raised in thunderous unity. Again, Dallas gave the signal to cease all noise and the audience readily complied.



"Well, if you\'re that ready, here she is, ladies and gentlemen, singing Bring Me To Life!" Walking off the stage, Dallas headed back to the bar, smiling at Seras\'s large fan base in the club and signaling patrons to move forward with their orders.



Suddenly, the stage lights and house lights dimmed significantly. The music began. A small softened spotlight turned on accenting the slight figure of Seras. She was wearing tight black leather pants, a blood red tank top, and black lace up combat boots. Silver earrings dangled from her ears, several necklaces hung from around her slender neck and hanging on each wrists were a mixed color of red and black bracelets.



How can you see into my eyes

Like open doors?

Leading you down into my core

Where I\'ve become so numb.

Without a soul. My spirit\'s sleeping somewhere cold

Until you find it there and lead it back home.



Alucard\'s jaw dropped. He couldn\'t believe this was his angel standing in front of him looking like temptation on a platter. Gleefully, he reveled in her new look, appreciating all her points and assets from his seat. Watching her made his mouth water and his soul long to have her even more.



Wake me up inside

Wake me up inside

Call my name and save me from the dark.

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I\'ve become.



The rock beat driving her on, Seras put everything she possessed into this song. Throwing her energy, her soul, and her lost loneliness to the crowd, they soaked up every word she sang. Turning her eyes to Alucard, she inwardly smirked at the look on his face. It could only be described as a Master card moment. Leading into the second verse, Seras aimed her words toward a drop dead, gorgeous Alucard. Winking at him, she sang it only to him.



Now that I know what I\'m without

You can\'t just leave me.

Breathe into me and make me real

Bring me to life.





Wake me up inside

Wake me up inside

Call my name and save me from the dark.

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I\'ve become.



Glancing out over the crowd, Seras noticed several people waving at her. Not wanting to be rude she returned the friendly gestures. These people, her fans, made her who she was and nothing else.



Bring me to life

Bring me to life.



Alucard heard her precious words. This song reminded him of the first one she\'d ever sang to him. It was a beautiful ballad called “Hear Me”. He couldn\'t forget. That song, along with Seras, was never far from his mind. So powerful and emotional and special; she didn\'t realize the hold she had over him. She was so unaffected that way. Never realizing what she meant to those around her, he believed, that she didn\'t know just how special she really and truly was, to everyone in this room, and to Alucard himself.



He\'d never been one to acknowledge his lost emotions, feeling they\'d make him weak and insignificant, insipid in the face of his enemies, but for now he still felt them a weakness, yet they gave him so much more to fight for, live for and die for. He\'d be damned if it\'d turn him into mush, but it\'d never change the core of the cold, relentless killer inside. It just meant, that for once, he had someone to love, and who loved him in return.



Frozen inside without your touch

Without your love, darling

Only you are the life among the dead.



I\'ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems

Got to open my eyes to everything.



Don\'t let me die here

Bring me to life.



The crowd, at this point, was wound tight in the performance and was singing right along with her. Seras projected so much energy that she felt like it was bouncing back to her in waves from the energized patrons and fans. Pitching the chorus one last time, her energy staying level instead of decreasing, the bouncing, radiating blond gave everything back to those sharing everything with her.



Wake me up inside

Wake me up inside

Call my name and save me from the dark.

Bid my blood to run

Before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I\'ve become.



Bring me to life

[Bring me to life]

Bring me to life.



Holding on to that last note, she felt the walls vibrate between the effects from her performance and the vibrant crowd cheering her and the band. Seras and her fans had achieved a special connection tonight. They each had given and taken, making it a wondrous experience.



Seras glanced around as she placed the microphone back into it\'s stand. Looking for Alucard she couldn\'t spot him anywhere. Confusion and curiosity ate away leaving her to wonder where he\'d gone. Surely his master hadn\'t called him away leaving her without protection. That had been Integra\'s main condition for allowing her to continue working here. She wouldn\'t break it would she? But what if there\'d be some kind of trouble?



Pushing her personal thoughts to the back of her mind, she bowed to the crowd; thanked them graciously. Handing the stage back over to Dallas, Seras walked away from the stage to go change back into her work clothes. Man, she never knew leather could be so freaking hot! Under stage lights, the tight constraining pants were even worse! She squeaked with each step. A combination of the new leather and the perspiration from her performance and the temperature of the lights.



Happy, yet exhausted, the small framed girl entered her dressing room so thrilled at the level she\'d risen to tonight. It was almost unlike anything she\'d done before! The newer songs surpassed everything she\'d done in the past and it seemed that everyone, herself included, loved the results. Her loneliness had drawn them in and the love she felt now held them there.



Turning her cd player on, the electronic device automatically pulled up one of her new favorite songs by Evanescence. It was a hauntingly sad song called "Like You". Standing in the center of her dressing room she swayed gently feeling the music pull at the core of her being. The tears always instantly welled the moment this song played. Other than the emotional strains she couldn\'t really figure out why she cried.



Staying still, she allowed the song to wash over her, taking her over and breathing it in deep. Tears fell. The watery drops made their way down her cheeks. Without any warning, they were smoothed away from her pale skin. Eyes jerking open, she was relieved to see her lover standing before her. Seras couldn\'t deny that she was glad to see him. Her body called for his. Her soul called for his. Everything she was called out for him to love her. Just as she was and that\'s all she could ever ask of him, was to just love her.



Urging her small body to his larger one, Alucard pressed his lips to hers letting her feel what she needed to hear. Pulling back, he kissed her gently on the forehead and whispered, "I love you, Seras. You were wonderful tonight! I couldn\'t have been more pleased with your song or your clothes, for that matter!"



Wanting to have a little fun with her lover, she mercilessly teased him. "You liked the outfit, huh? I just bet you did!" Letting out a giggle and pressing tighter against him she continued to verbally taunt him, "I\'m sure you were picturing yourself removing my clothes, weren\'t you? Don\'t say you didn\'t even entertain the thought. You\'re a natural born pervert, so admit it!"



Grinning darkly, he replied, "There\'s nothing to deny." His crimson eyes captured her blue ones which had widened with the adrenaline still racing in her body. A thought struck him and he wondered how she\'d handle his actions. Thinking to himself, he smirked, \'Time to play.\'



Concentrating on her heart rate, the vampire captured it along with her will. "Surrender to me, Seras. Let go and relax."



Her whole body relaxed in his taut grip holding her gently. He praised her for her efforts. "That\'s my girl. Just relax; let yourself feel what you\'ve been longing to feel."



Her eyes blinked slowly under the influence of Alucard\'s power. The caresses, feathered kisses and touches he bestowed were heating up her insides. Her body\'s melting point was quickly approaching. For now that\'s all she wanted. She just wanted to melt and feel his arms tighten around her to take her to such heavenly bliss that she never returned.



Hearing his voice inside her head, Seras opened herself further to the pleasure-pain that only he could inflict. Such a sweet pleasure he offered and gave. The petite musician/bartender found herself wondering if she was dying. If she was, then let her die wrapped up in heaven\'s embrace,



Alucard backed off and allowed her to slowly awaken from his trance. Unfortunately she still had to return to the rest of her job and the night would be over in a couple of hours. He still had enough time, before dawn, to take her out and the two of them enjoy some alone time. The dark haired vampire watched her reaction to his handiwork in amusement. Poor thing looked either slightly drunk or high as hell. Depended on your point of view. "Seras, I\'ll leave now so you can change and get back to work. I\'ll be right outside your door."



Seras blinked and he was gone! "Wow, I really have to learn that trick! Too awesome!" Shaking her head attempting to clear the stuffiness inside of it, she realized with a start what he\'d done. Irritation was the first thing she felt and then she smiled. She\'d wanted a piece of heaven and he\'d willingly given it. It was almost impossible for her to stay mad at him for anything when everything he did was for her.



Changing clothes only took about fifteen minutes. Seras was afraid that once she started sweating the leather pants would be hell to remove, but it turned out the opposite and they peeled off rather easily. Taking a quick shower, she ran a comb through her hair then put some clear gel in it. Pulling her Ivory\'s uniform from the small closet in the room, she carefully took it from the hanger and laid it across the top of the chair in front of her dressing room mirror. Throwing her bartender outfit back on she opened the door to meet with Alucard\'s mischievous face.



Narrowing her blue eyes slightly she asked him, "What have you done now?" Hands on her hips she waited for his reply.



Shrugging his shoulders, "Who me? What makes you think I\'ve done anything?" He tried his best to appear innocent, but on him it was a failed look every time.



"Yes you. What makes me think that? Oh, you should see the look on your face. You look like the gorgeous school boy who just performed some kind of degrading act on the principal\'s desk! So tell me you aren\'t up to something? I dare you. Come on....I\'m waiting to hear this one!" Seras smirked right back at Alucard knowing he couldn\'t say the words. They would betray him every time. His face was the ultimate traitor, showing the mischief he hid in his mind. Dangerous place that it was to visit, holding so many secrets unknown to many, even his master had no clue to his full potential.



The couple walked back to the bar. Alucard sat down at a table watching her work.



Seras poured herself a coke and rum since the night was pretty much done with and everyone was beginning to leave. Two hours later and the place was completely shut down. Only the workers remained to run through clean up and routine schedules before heading home.



Alucard invited Seras over for a game of cards. She looked at him questioningly as if to ask where he was going to get a deck of cards. She should have known better. With a thought there appeared a deck in his hands.



Dallas walked out from the store room to see them and the cards. He wanted to play so bad he could taste it. The male bartender couldn\'t remember the last time he\'d even played. He didn\'t realize that he\'d been staring at them until Seras spoke; grabbing his attention.



"Dallas, would you like to join us? You looked so lonely standing there and all." Slapping the tabletop next to her, she motioned him to join them.



Sitting down next to her he inquired what game they\'d be playing. Would it be Spades, Poker or Blackjack? Who knew?



Sharing a slightly evil glance with Alucard. "I hope you\'re loaded tonight, Dallas, cause you\'re gonna need it! I\'m gonna wipe the floor with both of you!"



Laughing, he coughed into his hands, "Bullshit, bullshit! Do we have a threat or a promise?"



One corner of her mouth turned up imitating Alucard\'s infamous smirk. "That\'s no bullshit and you can bet your paycheck that it\'s a threat!" Her feminine laughter rang out in the room and echoed in the emptiness surrounding them.



She continued on, "We\'re playing Poker. Five card draw, two dollar ante and then we\'ll go from there. We\'ll start small for you just in case you need a refresher. By the way, did I ever tell you that my nickname in Poker is Killer?" Winking at him she giggled with the surprised look that flashed over his face.



Alucard interrupted the humorous interlude. "Let\'s get to playing. We don\'t have long and I want to see him lose and lose badly." The tall vampire picked on Dallas further. "I believe it would be rather funny to see him lose badly to a female!"



Seras snapped her head over in Alucard\'s direction. "Oh, you do, do you? I think I\'ll have to kick your ass, too, and leave you bare. If you catch my drift?" Blue eyes twinkling seductively, she willed her meaning to him.



Alucard answered her challenge. Lips curling in a mischievous twist, his posture wide and arrogant as he spoke his dare. "Do your worst. You won\'t be able to kill me in this game....Killer."



Seras jostled the cards and made sure they were in no particular order. Dealing them out, Seras eyed the two men and the trio began their heated battle of wills, humor and cardsharp skills. Drinking, swearing and money crossed the table frequently causing more than one person present to giggle at the childishness of it all.



Having so much fun, the three players didn\'t catch on to the sensation of being watched due to the level of intoxication and fun. The shadow patiently watched and then faded away, drowned out by the noisy players below the balcony.



All three players studied their cards and their rivals. Trying not to reveal anything, Seras and Dallas failed miserably, and it didn\'t help that there was a mind reader in the group! The laughter and drinks continued long afterwards keeping the game and conversation flowing like wine. Bringing forth a new sense of camaraderie between the three sitting at the table, Dallas, Seras and Alucard shared many a detail or drunken facts about their lives, past and present. Of course Alucard couldn\'t share much at all due to his restrictions about discussing who he really was, but he enjoyed listening to the other two dish it all out....embarrassing moments and all.