Daughter of Sin

Chapter 1

It was nine pm in London. Integra sat at her desk looking over a list of guests to be invited to the engagement ball. It had been only a week since she had been introduced to her betrothed Kenneth Grey, a son of the Earl of Ascott. She lit a cigar and took a drag off of it. The ball was going to be quite the affair. The Knights of the Round Table, their families, friends of the queen would all be there. And of course Hellsing's most prominent members were expected to be in attendance as well. A woman would usually be trying to figure out what gown to wear, how her make up and hair should be done, what shoes and hand bag would match the outfit.

Integra, however; was not most women. She hated the very idea of having her hair fixed, having shimmery but elegant eye and lip colors applied to her face not to say anything of the foundation, rouge, eye liner and mascara. Dress pumps were her idea of torturing one's feet, and worst of all, the thought of having to wear a dress. Integra could just imagine the torturous teasing she'd have to put up with from Alucard. He hadn't seen her in anything remotely resembling a dress or skirt since she was thirteen. The only feminine garments she even wore were knickers and a bra. And even they were kept nice and simple. No fancy lace or satins for Integra. The simpler the better as far as she was concerned.

It wasn't going to be an easy night for the Hellsing leader. But being in the service of the queen of England, she knew these things would happen sooner or later. It just went with the territory. She sighed and continued going over the invitation list.

She looked at the binder full of various dress styles. The queen had given it to her so she could choose a dress to wear to the ball. Not that she wanted anything to do with any of them, but she had to chose something. Integra certainly didn't have a problem going to a formal affair in a suit. But to do that would most certainly embarrass the queen, not to mention the whispers that would be going on behind Integra's back. She let out a sigh and began flipping through the pages.

She saw a tall, lean shadow suddenly dim the pages that she was looking at. "I don't recall summoning you Alucard." She said flatly.

"Now must I have a summons to pay a visit to my master?" Alucard asked leaning over Integra's shoulder.

"That's usually the way it works." Integra answered.

"Come now master. Is it so terrible that I make sure that you are safe?" Alucard answered with his own question.

"I am safe am I not? Now if you don't mind I must finish this, and I prefer to do it by myself." Integra answered sternly.

"Oh yes, chosing a dress for your engagement ball. What a horrible task that must be." Alucard replied sarcastically.

"Yes, and it's becoming more difficult with you distracting me." Integra said with irritation in her voice.

"I've become a distraction to you master? Now I couldn't possibly imagine how so humble a servant as I could be such a terrible distraction to you master. Although why you consider it such a sin to wear something that would show off the lovely body the almighty gave you is beyond me." Alucard replied smoothly.

"I remember getting a brief glimpse of that body when you were seventeen." He said with a chuckle.

"Yes. And I remember kicking the Dracula family jewels into your throat." Integra replied.

"Hmmm, I think that's the most fun I ever had with you disciplining me." Alucard said.

"You're a sick bastard, you know that don't you? Now if you've had your fun pestering me please be kind enough to vanish, and let me get this disagreeable task done and over with." Integra said with a slight growl in her voice.

"Normally I would love to stay here and watch you torture yourself further, but Seras and I have a little training session planned for the evening. Shall I call for Walter just in case you should require a straight jacket?" Alucard asked fluttering his eyes.

"Alucard, are you familiar with the phrase 'up yours'?" Integra growled.

"I invented it." Alucard answered as he vanished through the bookshelf.

Integra looked to the portrait of her father hanging on the wall. "You could have just left me a gun collection or some priceless family heirloom. But no, I had to go inherit the family vampire." She muttered to herself.

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Seras walked through the door of Alucard's chamber. There he was standing in front of his throne like chair waiting patiently for his mate. "So what will I be learning tonight?" Seras asked.

"Well, you've mastered the portal, and you're coming along very well with your flying ability. You've already developed some of your telekenetic powers as well. But tonight I think it's time you learned about shapeshifting." Alucard answered.

"Shapeshifting?" Seras asked.

"You do know what it is don't you?" Alucard answered with his own question.

"Well, yes. It's the ability to change from one's normal form into that of something else." Seras answered.

"Exactly. You've seen me do it on occassion. It require's concentration and focus but once you get the hang of it it is something you will be able to do with relative ease. It's a very useful trick when caught in a nasty situation." Alucard explained.

"Are you sure I'm ready for that so soon Alucard?" Seras asked.

"For something simple, yes. Vampires can assume just about any form they wish. Bats, dogs, wolves, cats, the lowliest of creatures; we can even take the form of mist and fog. But at present you're not quite ready for something so advanced. We'll stick to simple transformations for the time being." Alucard replied.

"For the first time I want you to assume the form of a bat. They don't have too many appendages, they're small, and aren't very fancy. Now be sure you watch carefully and pay close attention."

Alucard concentrated as the symbols on his gloves began to glow. His human form turned into a massive black shadow. His arms began to shrink into themselves until they took on the appearence of bat wings. His legs virtually dissappeared into nothing more than tiny little legs and clawed talons. His torso also reduced greatly in size becoming more rodent like. His head was the last thing to change until the vampire had assumed the form of a small but nevertheless menacing little creature of the night.

Seras took in the site with amazement as she watched the body of her mentor go from man to bat in less than a moment. The feat was easy for Alucard. He'd had hundreds of years of practice. Seras didn't feel too sure of herself being able to pull off the trick as easily as her teacher did.

"It's just like the portal and flying. It all begins in the mind. You must do as I did. See yourself as nothing more than a black shadow in your mind, and then envision that shadow taking the form of a bat. Take the form of a shadow, and then will the shadow to take the shape you desire it to take."

She heard Alucard's voice instruct her mentally. Seras watched as Alucard changed from the form of a bat back into his human shape. She closed her eyes.

"Remember your body responds to your mind's commands. It will obey your will and your every thought. But you must focus entirely upon whatevery command you want it to obey." Alucard instructed.

Seras pictured her body in her mind. She envisioned a black fog enveloping her form covering her arms, legs, torso and head. Alucard looked into her mind careful not to distract her concentration. He watched with his physical eyes seeing the black shadow outwardly envelope Seras's body. He looked on approvingly as Seras's arms began to distort and widen into wings. They began to grow shorter as did her legs until they resembled bat's feet. Her torso shrunk as did her head. Within a moment or two she had assumed the form of a bat.

"Good." Alucard replied approvingly. "Now using the same method, reassume your human form."

Almost as easily as she had assumed the form of a bat, the small animal body lengthened and stretched to reassume Seras's womanly shape. She shook her head feeling a little winded by the experience. "I actually did it." She said softly.

"Of course you did. The bat is one of the simplest forms to assume. We'll work on bigger forms later. You did well for your first time." Alucard replied.

Seras felt her knees wobble. Alucard grabbed her wrist so she didn't fall backwards.

"It can take its toll on the body the first time. But it is something you will learn to control with practice." He said holding her to him so she could steady herself. He looked toward his small round table and extended his hand. The decanter full of blood lifted from it's resting place and floated toward its owner's waiting hand. The goblet that rested beside the bottle soon followed.

Once Seras felt strong enough to stand on her own, Alucard poured her a glass and handed it to her. "I should have warned you using your higher abilities will drain you. You'll have to start drinking more blood in order to keep up your strength. Once you've learned to control the transformations it won't be such a strain on you." He said.

"Was it like that for you the first time?" Seras asked.

"Yes. Though it took me much longer to learn how to control my shape shifting abilities. I didn't have someone to teach me what to do. Much of my learning took place through trial and error. Fortunately you have me to guide you through these things. Now I think it's time I taught you something else." Alucard answered.

"What is that?" Seras questioned.

"You're learning to fly, but there is another aspect to that ability I've not yet taught you. It's a useful trick when you're caught in a dire situation. It's also great fun when spying on the human occupants and scaring them half to death. I'm going to teach you how to scale the walls and walk on the ceiling." Alucard answered.

"You mean like this?" Seras asked and proceeded to not walk, but run up the wall and stand upside down on the ceiling.

"I figured that out on my own a week ago." She said.

"Hmmm, at this rate I'm going to run out of things to teach you." Alucard said with a smirk.

"I highly doubt that. If there's one thing you taught me well is that you're full of suprises." Seras replied.

##########################################

Somewhere in Manchester...

A gentleman walked into a local pub for a drink. As he stepped up to the bar and sat down he noticed an attractive, young woman seated to his left. She has long, deep red hair, almost the color of garnets. Her deep blue eyes sparkled in the dim light of the pub. She wore a knee length black dress with black sheer stockings and red high heels. Her hair cascaded down her back to her hips. Her bangs were swept to one side of her face. She occassionally pushed them back to keep them from blocking her left eye. The gentleman looked at her for a moment before he began to speak.

"Shame a lovely young lady like yourself is drinking alone." He said.

"I don't appear to be alone now do I?" She said with a girlish smile.

"Does this mean I can buy you a drink?" He asked.

"Of course." The woman answered.

"Drink for the young lady bartender." The man said. "So how is it such an attractive lady as yourself starts the night off drinking alone? I'm suprised men in here haven't tried to kill each other for your attention."

"Most of the men I've been with just can't seem to keep up with me. I'm a very energetic and lively female. I've yet to find a man who can outlast me...if you know what I mean." The woman answered.

"I'd say that sounds like a challenge." The man replied.

"Think you're up to it then?" The woman asked.

"Well why don't we go back to my place and find out if I'm...up to the task." The man answered.

"Yes...let's find out if you have what it takes to keep up with me." The woman said with a wicked smile.

The two walked out of the pub and headed for the man's car. They got in and drove away.

"I'm David." He said.

"Sadie. Call me Sadie."

"I know I've probably said this several times already, but I must say it again. You are a most attractive young lady." David commented.

"You're a very attractive man David. It's so nice to see a refined gentleman. It seems so hard these days to find a man of good taste." Sadie replied.

Once they reached David's home he invited her in. "Shall I pour you a drink Sadie?" He asked.

"Yes please." Sadie answered.

David went to his wine cabinet and produced a bottle and two glasses. He placed them upon a small table and opened the wine into the glasses. He took one and gave the other to Sadie. She proceeded to drink the wine in one swallow and set the glass down. David looked at her somewhat shocked. She walked close to him and proceeded to grab his neck tie and kiss him hard. The move took him completely by suprise. He knew she would probably come onto him sooner or later but he hadn't expected her to be quite so brash.

"Rather forward aren't you?" He asked trying to catch his breath.

"You don't think I came here strictly for conversation do you?" She asked with a wicked smile on her face.

"Well..." David began. He was quickly cut off by another brash and forceful kiss.

"You should hurry darling. Once I get warmed up I don't stay that way for very long." She said.

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The next night started without incident. Integra continued the drudgery of trying to pick out a dress for the engagement ball. Walter was on his way to take Alucard and Seras's rations to their chambers. Zoey and Pickman spent time talking before he was to start drill practice with new recruits. Seras awoke just as the sun was setting. She could sense that Alucard had risen before her as he usually did. She turned on the stereo that she'd talked or rather begged Sir Integra to put in her chamber. She put on her robe when she heard Walter approaching her room. Not that she was completely naked, but she would have felt a little awkward by letting the aged retainer see her in a camisole and lace panties.

"Good evening Miss Victoria." Walter said kindly as he set her ration down on her table.

"Good evening Walter. Has Sir Integra picked a dress for the ball yet?" She asked.

"I'm afraid not Miss Victoria. I'm beginning to think she'll never pick one out." Walter said with an exasperated sigh.

"Is it really that hard for her to pick out a dress? I mean, I know the ball is very important and she needs to look her best but..."

"It's not picking a dress that is so hard. It's getting her to wear a dress at all. If she had her way she'd wear a white formal suit to the occassion. And I honestly don't think this aged heart of mine could take all the whispers and scandal I'm sure would follow. Sometimes I think Sir Integra would rather have been born a man than a woman." Walter replied.

"I'm sure she'll pick out something soon Walter." Seras said trying to be reassuring.

"I hope so Miss Victoria. The event isn't all that far away. I'm afraid if she keeps procrastenating I'll have to pick one out for her." Walter replied as he left Seras's chamber. Seras shrugged her shoulders and changed from her night clothes into her regulation uniform. Just as she finished tying her boots up she heard her intercom ring.

"Report to my office at once Captain Victoria." Integra's voice ordered.

"Yes sir."

##########################################

Seras phased into Integra's office. Alucard was already there standing against the wall under the portrait of Integra's father. Integra sat looking her desk with a look that said 'please, just kill me now.' on her face. Alucard and Seras looked at each for a moment then back at Integra.

"As if I didn't have enough to deal with, there's been a killing in Manchester. I don't have a lot of detail about the murder, but it's been classified as mysterious enough to have Hellsing involved. A prominent gentleman named David Alcot was found in his home by one of his house maids. MI-5 immediately dispatched agents to have a look at the crime scene. They say they've never seen anything like this." Integra explained.

"What happened to Mr. Alcot sir?" Seras asked.

"Just take a look at the photographs." Integra said.

Seras took a look at the pictures but didn't see what was so unusual. "I'm sorry sir, but it just looks like an elderly gentleman who died of natural causes. I don't see anything unusual at all."

"I thought that myself when I first saw the pictures. Until I was told of the man's age. He was only fourty five years old." Integra replied.

"Fourty five? He looks like he's closer to one hundred." Seras replied in shock.

"Let me see the picture." Alucard insisted. Seras handed the photograph to him.

"Fourty five. I'm over five centuries old, and I look younger than he does." Alucard said with a hint of sarcasm.

"You're also a vampire Alucard, so the comparison doesn't exactly count. This is what Mr. Alco looked like before his death." Integra said holding up a picture of him. He looked more according to his true age.

"This is a fourty five year old man. It certainly doesn't match the body one of the house maids found. She actually went looking for Mr. Alcot thinking an elderly man had died in his home. It took her a few moments to realize it was indeed her employer lying dead in his bedroom. He was also found completely nude at the time of his death. The maid said she smelled what appeared to be a ladie's perfume. It was a very exotic scent from what she recalled. There were also several items of great value missing from Mr. Alcot's residence, mostly jewlery. There were also several pound notes in Mr. Alcot's wallet that had been taken." Integra continued.

"This isn't making any sense." Seras responded.

"Like I said, this death certainly falls under mysterious circumstances. More mysterious than most. We don't know exactly what we're going up against here. No blood was taken from the body so I doubt a vampire is involved. Also the fact that the victim was robbed of several valuable possessions confuses me as well. The fact that he left a pub as a fourty five year old male and ends up looking like a mummy at the time of death does not bode well for any of us. The only thing we have to go on is a house maids account of her employer's condition at death and the smell of a woman's perfume...alleged woman's perfume. MI-5 does is looking over the house for any survelance cameras that may have taken video of the victim and who ever he may have been with. We'll have more conclusive evidence when the video is released to us." Integra finished.

"If it wasn't a vampire that did this, then what sort of creature is capable of doing such a thing?" Seras asked.

"I don't know. All I do know is we need to get this under control and dealt with as soon as possible. In case anyone has forgotten we've still an engagement ball to deal with. As soon as we know what we're dealing with I want this assignment completed as soon as possible. Understood?"

"Yes sir."

"When I recieve the video footage I will summon you both to my office. That is all for now. Dismissed."

After Alucard and Seras vanished, Integra folded her arms on her desk and then laid her head upon them. "Why now God?"

##########################################

Seras returned with Alucard to his chamber. At first the elder vampire was silent and pensive. His expression was of one deep in a chain of thought. Seras did not disturb him as he thought. She stood by waiting patiently for him to speak. He looked toward his mate and began talking.

"Tell me Seras, you remember what I told you about Lilith, yes?" He asked.

"Yes. Why do you ask?" Seras inquired.

"I cannot be certain, but we may be dealing with one of her demon daughters." Alucard answered.

"Daughters?" Seras asked.

"Yes. It was said that Lilith was the mother of all demons. Many legends tell of her begetting her hellspawn with different mates, one being Samiel. Another being the first murderer, Cain." Alucard began.

"You mean Cain, the man who slew his brother Abel?"

"The same. What many do not know about Cain is he was not Adam's seed. It is believed that when Eve disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge she also engaged in unholy union with the devil himself. Of course it is known that when Eve and then Adam disobeyed God, he expelled them from the garden of Eden telling them to go fourth into the world and multiply. Eve had already concieved of a son as a result of her sin with the devil. That son was named Cain. It was only after Adam and Eve were banished from their Earthly paradise that they concieved their first child, Abel." Alucard explained.

He took a pause before continuing. "Assuming you know the story of Genesis, you know that Cain slew Abel after he became very jealous of the favor God showed his younger half sibling. After killing Abel God punished Cain by branding him with a mark upon his forehead. It is said that Cain was also cursed to roam the Earth as a vagabond. It is said he would never be allowed to die. He would wander the Earth for all eternity never to find peace. Never to enter heaven or hell. Some say he is the first male vampire born into the world."

"So Cain was really the son of the devil?" Seras asked.

"Yes. And legends say Lilith became his mate. Now how the two met is a topic of debate, but that is beside the point. The two are said to have become lovers and from their union came what are refered to as the truest of all vampires. You see Seras, vampires like yourself and I are true vampires, but we are the descendents of those vampires spawned by Cain and Lilith. The difference being we are undead. To be undead one must have first been alive and then died and been reborn as one of our kind. The children of Cain and Lilith were not undead because they never died. They were born as supernatural creatures with a hunger for the blood of humans and beasts. They were born creatures of the night, where as vampires such and you and I were turned. We started out as living human beings and through the blood of the dark ones we became children of the night."

Alucard paused again before speaking. "But vampires were not the only demon spawn of Lilith. She also gave birth to demonic daughters, women who had the power to drain the living spirit of men in order to grow stronger and remain young. They were called sucubi. The singular expression of that being sucubus. They were said to be seductive and alluring creatures who could slip through cracks or key holes in the houses of men and entice them to lay with them. As they mated with these creatures they were drained of their life energy and vitality leaving them nothing more than empty husks."

Another pause. "Of course this was not the only reason for a sucubus having sexual union with a human male. It was two fold plan. The demon not only got the life energy she craved from her male victim but she also concieved children of her own from his seed. Thus the mating of demon and human creating half breeds that still roam the world today." He finished.

"And you believe that one of these sucubi could be responcible for the condition of the victim at his death."

"It's only a feeling at the moment. As I said I cannot be absolutely sure. The numbers have greatly dwindled since Lilith's time, but there are still those of her brood who roam the Earth looking for suitable victims to mate with and feed off of." Alucard answered.

"It still doesn't make any sense why she robbed him." Seras said.

"The creature obviously has a reason for stealing from her victims. Most likely to have human luxuaries so she can blend in with the human world. That and perhaps she has a taste for the material world. Integra did say the house maid who found her master did smell an exotic scented perfume of some sort. Such things are very expensive. These creatures usually traveled from village to village never staying in one place for too long. Trying to seek employment would be a burden to them because they would be required to stay in one place for a long amount of time. Of course there was one profession that suited their purposes. What came to be know as the world's oldest profession" Alucard replied.

"You mean prostitution." Seras said.

"Well, there are those who believe Lilith to be the mother of harlots. A sucubus needing to find whatever she needed to aid her in her seduction of men could easily get what she needed by selling her body to a man who could afford what she was asking for. Of course just because he paid for her services didn't mean that she wouldn't rob him blind. Then again, the male being serviced usually wasn't alive long enough to complain about being robbed either."

"I guess we'll find out when the video from Mr. Alcot's mansion arrives."

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