Chapter 2
Back at the Hellsing mansion:
"Were there any survivors?" Integra asked.
"No sir. The missing girls had all been changed into freaks. The host was a young man who turned the girls." Seras answered.
"And the targets?" Integra questioned.
"All targets have been silenced master." Alucard answered.
"Very well. MI-5 will inform the parents and send their condolences." Integra replied.
She noticed Seras rubbing her head as she had after the battle. "Are you all right Captain Victoria?" She asked.
"It's nothing sir. I just need to go feed that's all." Seras answered.
"All right. You're both dismissed."
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Seras sat in her room sucking down a pack of blood rather greedily. She finished it quickly and took a deep sigh of relief as the hunger began to fade.
"Feeling better now?" Asked Alucard as he materialized in her room.
"Yes. I guess I over exerted myself tonight. Though I can't imagine how. Those female vampires weren't even close enough to a good fight to wear me out like this." Seras replied.
"Well, our master has worked us rather hard over the past several weeks." Alucard said.
"I don't know, but I haven't quite felt like myself ever since we had to start drinking the cattle blood."
"Animal blood is more for survival, not actual living...well, living in our sense of the world. We'll be going back to our diet of human transfusion blood in another week." Alucard replied.
"I hope so. I can't believe how hungry I was after the fight. Normally a bag, maybe two at most does me for the whole night."
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Integra had just finished reading the report on the case when she began feeling light headed. Walter knocked on the door.
"Come in." Integra called.
"Sir, is there anything you'll be needing before I make my rounds for the night?" Walter asked.
"No Walter. I'm just finishing up on the report here." Integra answered rubbing her forehead.
"Are you all right Sir?"
"I'm just tired Walter. The last few weeks have been exghausting for me."
"Why don't you go get some rest. I'll clean up here." Walter suggested.
"Very well. I suppose I could use some rest." Integra said as she wearily got up from her desk. She took a few steps before stopping to rub her forehead again.
Walter looked at her with a concerned expression. "I'm all right Walter. I'm just..."
Before she could finish her sentence she stumbled backwards. Walter rushed to her side and caught her before she fell to the floor. He immediately gathered her into his arms and quickly carried her off to her bedroom. Along the way he caught Kenneth coming from his private study.
"Walter, what's wrong with Integra?" He asked as he rushed toward the two.
"I'm going to get Doctor Travalian. Sir Integra passed out in her office. Here, take her to her room while I go get the doctor." Walter answered handing Integra's unconcious frame to her husband. He took her and hurried to get her to her room.
Alucard also sensed that something was wrong. "Something has happened with Integra. I'll be back soon." He said and vanished from Seras's chamber. Seras decided to stay where she was so she wouldn't get in the way.
Alucard materialized in Integra's bedroom where Kenneth sat at her bedside. "What has happened to her?" He asked in a serious tone.
"I don't know. Walter said she passed out in her office." Kenneth answered.
As he spoke Integra began to open her eyes. They fluttered for a moment before fully opening. She looked around wearily realizing she was no longer in her office. "Where am I?"
"Your room master." Alucard answered.
"Alucard, what are you and Kenneth doing in my room, and how did I get here?"
"You passed out in your office master."
"Walter has gone to get the doctor. Integra, you're working yourself too hard. You need to take it easy." Kenneth said.
"I am not in the mood for a lecture Kenneth. I probably just stood up too fast or something." Integra muttered.
"Master, I agree with your husband. You have been working too hard lately." Alucard replied.
"And I most certainly do not need a lecture from you, vampire." Integra scolded sternly.
"Integra, calm down. He and I are simply concerned about your welfare. The doctor will be here any moment now to check you over." Kenneth said trying to defuse his wife's temper.
She breathed in and let out a frustrated sigh as she lay back on the bed. The doctor entered her room and took out what supplies he needed to examine her. He began by taking her temperature and her blood pressure. After he did this he looked at both instraments to see the results.
"You have a very slight fever and your blood pressure is a bit elevated. I'll need you to sit up Sir Integra. I'd like to take a blood sample to make sure there isn't anything abnormal going on. How are you feeling right now?"
"A little dizzy from my fainting spell." Integra answered.
"All right. Now make a fist please and pump your hand a few times to get the blood flowing." The doctor requested.
Integra cast a glance over at Alucard. "You can leave now Alucard."
"I don't get to watch?" Alucard asked.
"Out, Alucard." Integra growled.
"Hmph." Alucard grumbled as he vanished.
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Alucard materialized back in Seras's room. She was laying in her coffin bed when he reappeared. "Is Sir Integra all right?" She asked.
"I think so. The doctor is looking at her now. She passed out in her office. Walter and Kenneth brought her to her room. She wasn't in the best of moods when I went to see about her. She's been working very hard the past few weeks. But I don't think it's just her work habits getting the better of her." Alucard answered.
"You think she may be ill?"
"No. I cannot be absolutely sure, but she may be pregnant."
"You can sense that?" Seras asked.
"Yes. She's not been in season for over a month now." Alucard answered.
"In season...oh, you mean she's missed her monthly cycle."
"Yes. Usually that indicates a human female is pregnant. Had she not been in such an irritable mood I could have told her then and there by feeling her belly."
"You can really do that?" Seras asked.
"Of course. Vampires can sense things about humans that medical tests take weeks to reveal." Alucard answered.
He took out his Jackul looking at the still full ammo cartridge encased within it. "Hmph. Usually I go through at least three cartridges on a hunt. Tonight I didn't even need to use one. My Casul still has several shots left in it. I hate hunts like this. They're a waste of my time. I thought at least that upstart would have some fire to him. Pathetic poser just whined and screamed for mercy when the odds were against him. Stupid freaks, nothing but cheap imitations." He complained.
"I get all wound up and the fight is over in less than a few minutes. Not even the pursuit was worth anything. You probably saw more action than I did."
"Actually it was just point, aim, blast. I got tired of their pointless banter and blew them away in less than a minute. Unfortunately his brides turned out to be like him. All talk and no action." Seras replied.
"If I thought I could get away with it I'd go flush out the Iscariate Palidin. I can't stand the bastard, but he is so much fun to play with. Unfortunately Integra would not be very pleased if I were to do such a thing. I'm going to be restless all evening now." Alucard muttered.
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"Kenneth, will you get me a glass of water please?" Integra asked rubbing her head. It would be a few hours before she got the results of her blood work.
"Of course." Kenneth answered. He went to get her a glass of water. He brought her back a glass with a few ice cubes in it.
She took in a breath and exhaled before sipping the clear liquid. Slowly she sipped the water then put the glass down. She began to feel light headed and shaky. She motioned to Kenneth to help her stand up.
"Integra, are you all right?" He asked with concern.
She tried to answer but found herself holding her hand to her mouth.
"Integra, what's wrong?"
Unfortunately Kenneth got his answer spewed all over his shirt. Integra fell to her knees continuing to vomit on the floor. Temperarily ignoring the mess on his shirt, he immediately buzzed the intercom calling for Walter. The aged retainer made a hasty entrance finding Kenneth kneeling beside Integra. She heaved several times before her body began to calm back down.
"What happened?" Walter asked insistantly.
"She took a few sips of water and suddenly vomitted. Get someone in here to help her get cleaned up. I've got to get changed out of these clothes. Let me know immiediately if anything else happens." Kenneth ordered.
"Yes sir." Walter answered and called for assistance.
Integra wiped her mouth on her sleeve and looked down seeing the mess she'd made. "Oh...Walter I'm...so sorry." She gasped.
"Now Sir Integra, it's nothing that can't be cleaned up. I've got one of the female house staff coming to help you get taken care of. As soon as she gets here, I'll inform the doctor." Walter replied reassuringly.
Even in the state she was in, she couldn't help but be impressed with how quickly Kenneth took control of the situation. Despite the fact that she'd just emptied her stomach on him, he was more worried about her. A woman quickly hurried through the doorway of Integra's bedroom. Walter gave her instructions.
"Help Sir Integra out of her clothes and see that she gets cleaned up. If she falls ill again inform me at once, Miriam." Walter stated.
"Yes Walter. Come with me Sir Integra. Let's get you tidied up." Miriam said helping Integra to her feet. She walked her to her private bathroom so she could get cleaned up.
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Alucard sensed unrest in his master once again, then sensed a feeling of calm about her. He looked toward the doorway of Seras's bedroom.
"What's wrong?" Seras asked.
"Integra. I could sense great uneasiness in her, but now it's gone. I should go see if she's all right." Alucard answered.
"I'm coming with you. All this sitting and waiting is driving me crazy." Seras said.
"Well go together then." Alucard replied as Seras joined him by his side. Together they vanished from her chamber.
They materialized in Integra's bedroom. Both of them wrinkled their noses when the caught the stench of the mess on the floor. It became obvious to the two vampires what Alucard had felt.
"Hmmm. Missed cycle, fainting spell, and now nausea..." The elder vampire thought outloud.
"You think..." Seras began.
"I think it would be safe to say that the next heir of Hellsing will be arriving in the next eight or so months." Alucard answered.