Chapter 4

"WHAT!" Integra roared furiously.

Alucard and Seras tried to resist the temptation to bang the sound out of their ears. The word reverberated in their heads for several seconds afterward.

"The Vatican has sent their little lap dog to hunt the creature down and destroy it." Alucard said plainly.

"I have had it with the Iscariate Organization! They think they can just trounce upon Protestant lands whenever they feel like it and interfer in Hellsing affairs!" Integra ranted. "Walter!" She shouted.

Walter, hearing the ranting and raving from down the hall walked rather quickly toward Integra's office. He didn't know had happened, but hearing Integra shouting at the top of her lungs, he was pretty sure the news was not good.

"Yes Sir." He said as he entered the office.

"Have my car and two body guards prepared. This situation just got critical. I must speak with the queen. I've no doubt Enrico Maxwell is behind this. If I ever get that bastard within reach I'll rend his bloody head off with my bear hands!"

"Yes sir." Walter said with a dismayed sigh.

"Shall we continue our hunt master?" Alucard asked smoothly.

"No Alucard. I want you and Seras to dress up in tu tus and dance the Nutcracker! Of course I want you to continue the hunt you undead idiot!" Integra fumed as she stomped out of her office.

"Hmmm. I think she took it rather well." Alucard replied.

"You think?" Seras asked sarcastically.

"We'd better take some provisions with us. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night."

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Anderson, having fled from Alucard, continued his hunt for the demon that escaped him. He would not have an easy time of it. Sadie had since changed her appearance so she would not be so easily recognized. While Alucard would be able to sense her with ease, Anderson did not have the exact same gift as his vampiric rival. But he would find her never the less. The creature would strike again having been denied her last prize, he was sure of that.

As he searched the streets he saw a woman standing several feet away from him. Her eyes glittered with unholy light as she smiled a sweet, venomous smile. "We meet again...father." Sadie said with an wicked giggle.

"I'll be sending you on your way to hell filthy demon whore." Anderson said with a maniacle smile.

"Do you think that you can, father?" She purred.

"Ye'll not be escaping me this time. I will slice you to ribbons." Anderson replied coldly.

Sadie only smiled at the warning. "You don't mean that do you? Can you honestly bring yourself to slice those terrible blades of yours through this body...this perfect body."

"I am a man of God. You're cheap tricks will not work on me." Anderson said trying not to stare into Sadie's eyes.

"Of course father Anderson. But doesn't it get so lonely for you?" She asked slowly approaching her enemy.

"Shut up slut." Anderson growled trying to drown out her voice.

"Such harsh words for a holy man. A very handsome holy man I might add." Sadie replied. Her voice was sweet and soft, almost like that of a young child.

Her body began shrink and change its form. She turned from a full grown woman to that of a young girl, no more than seven or eight. She stood before Anderson reaching out her tiny hand. Anderson raised his blade ready to bring it down upon the girl.

"Father...please don't hurt me." She said in a small, quivering voice.

Anderson's hand began to shake. He recognized the child standing before him.

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"Mommy!"

"Get away from the child you filthy monster!" Anderson shouted insinuating himself between the child and its mother who had now been turned into a ghoul.

"You'll not have the child!" Anderson yelled and decapitated the ghoul without second thought. The girl screamed in horror.

"Mommy! You killed my mommy!"

"I had to set her body to rest child. She wasn't your mother anymore." Anderson said.

"You killed my mommy! Murderer!"

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"You killed my mommy. Do you want to kill me too?" The mock child asked with a hateful smile.

"You're not a child. You're not..." Anderson said

"You would slaughter a child?" The sweet voice asked in his head.

"You're...not...a..." Anderson felt his hand shaking unsteadily. He could feel his resolve beginning to waiver.

"You call yourself a man of God? You would kill a defenseless child? A helpless, parentless child?"

"You're...not...!"

"I became an orphan because of you." The child said, her voice becoming laced with spite.

"She wasn't human anymore. Don't you understand! She wasn't human anymore!" Anderson shouted.

"And soon you will no longer be living." Said the she creature as she assumed the form of a full grown woman once again. Anderson was lost in the illusion she had placed in his mind. Though she visibly wasn't a child anymore, Anderson saw only the pain and suffering caused by his cleansing of the child's mother.

"You're like any other man father. You pretend to be strong and ruthless, but in the end your guilt makes you a pathetic weakling." She said.

Anderson fell to his knees, his body shaking and tears welling up in his eyes. "I had no choice. I had no..."

"Tell it to your God when I send you to meet him." Sadie hissed and snatched the blessed blade from his hand. She raised it above his head ready to seperate it from his body.

But as she prepared to strike the death blow, a bullet whizzed through the air shattering the blade into harmless shards. Sadie looked and saw Alucard and Seras standing a small distance behind Anderson.

"I was just toying with you harlot. The next bullet will go through your heart." He said with a sadistic smile.

"So, you must be the legendary Alucard. Or should I say... Dracula. So the stories are true. Using the black arts Abraham Van Helsing captured and enslaved you, forcing you to serve his family line until it has ended. I'm impressed."

"So glad my reputation proceeds me. But you won't be able to seduce me the way you do your victims. You have nothing that I could possibly want." Alucard growled cocking his guns.

"No, of course not. All that you desire you have in your bride. Tell me, does she know of the one for whom you have forsaken God? The bride who took her own life when she thought yours had ended?" Sadie asked.

"What? She for whom I have forsaken God...."

Alucard's eyes widened in shock at what he beheld. Sadie's form had changed into that of Alucard's long lost human bride.

"Elizabeta...no. It can't be." Alucard gasped.

"Why? Why did you forsake our lord, Vlad? Why did you let them condemn me? I thought you loved me."

"You are not my wife." Alucard growled aiming his gun straight at the vision of his dead wife.

"How could you do what you did to all those innocent people? They didn't deserve such horrible fates."

"You're not my wife. You're just an illusion."

The vision changed once again. Only this time it was not Alucard's lost wife. This time it was a woman he'd known much later in his existence. The very woman whom enabled Van Helsing to capture him.

"Mina." Was the only thing Alucard could say.

"You murdering bastard! You killed Lucy! You deserve to be a slave to humans for all eternity!"

Seras leapt at Sadie knocking her to the ground. Once her attention was deverted the trance she'd put Alucard in was broken. His eyes fluttered for a moment and he shook his head. Anderson also felt the mental trap he was in lifted from him as well. He staggered to his feet trying to regain his wits.

"So glad to see you've come back to us Judas priest. It wouldn't be much fun torturing you if you weren't concious." Alucard said.

"And who says you're going to have the chance?" Anderson sneered as he produced two silver blades from his coat.

"Then let the games begin." Alucard retorted with a sadistic laugh.

While Anderson and Alucard squared off, Sadie and Seras took turns exchanging blows with one another. Sadie made a quick side turn giving Seras a vicious kick to her stomach. Seras returned the favor with a punch to Sadie's left cheek. Sadie toppled backwards falling flat on her back. Seras stomped toward her eyes glowing red with fury. How dare this demon play such cruel tricks on Alucard.

Seras felt Sadie trying to invade her mind. She got a kick to the gut for her efforts. "You can just stay out of my head bitch!" Seras snarled.

Sadie could feel her strength waining. She had to have fresh life essence to keep up her powers. She looked up at the female vampiress now grinning maniacally at her.

"Finish her Seras!" Alucard shouted before firing his guns at Anderson. He felt several blades enter his chest in return. Those he pulled out with realitive ease. The exchange of bullets and blades continued until Anderson saw Seras preparing to take out her target.

"Gladly." Seras said as her nails extended becoming razor sharp claws. She drew back her hand and prepared to strike the death blow.

"She's mine!" Anderson yelled and rushed at Seras. He was halted by the pain of several silver bullets rip through his back and skull.

"You will not harm my queen again bastard!" Alucard roared.

Taking advantage of the diversion, Sadie grabbed one of Seras's legs and threw her off balance. Recovering from the flurry of bullets, Anderson pounced and pinned Seras to the ground. His eyes wide, his mouth curled in a smile of nothing short of pure insanity. Seras however, still bearing her claws sunk them into Anderson's shoulder. He howled in pain as the talons dug into his flesh.

"This is for putting your damned blades into my chest you bastard." She snarled as she twisted the claws in his flesh.

Anderson retaliated by bringing his fist down hard against Seras's face. Blood began to pour from her mouth and nose. She was forced to retract her claws from his shoulder. Anderson raised his fist for another blow. Seras grabbed his wrist just before it could come crushing down upon her face a second time. She bared her fangs and turned his fist against him striking him on his left cheek. Then she rammed her fist against his chest causing him to spit blood on her face. She licked it off with a manical smile.

Anderson doubled over as Seras punched him violently in the stomach. Once he was off of her she sprang to her feet wiping blood from her lips and nose. Seras looked at him hunched over. "I still owe you a little for trying to slice my heart open." She growled.

Anderson produced another blade and prepared to cut Seras down. She only stood there smiling at him when she saw a tall shadow emerge behind her. Anderson raised his blade to take Seras's head. But just as he was about to deliver the death stroke he felt a sudden pain in his arm. He looked at his wrist, more specifically the bloody stump where his hand used to be. There stood Alucard grinning with demonic glee. He'd picked up one of the fallen holy blades and hacked off Anderson's hand with it.

"Time to go to hell, father Anderson." He growled.

He realized more combat would be futile at this point as he needed to save his strength to take out the creature who had killed one of Iscariate's own. Hundreds of pages of holy scripture flooded from no where hiding the priest in the flurry of paper.

"Going to skulk off into the night like the dog you are Anderson?" Alucard jeered.

"Unfortunately I've no time right now to waste on the likes of filthy vampires like you two. I've got a bigger fish to fry. But when I've done away with the demon whore, I'll gladly finish you two off." Anderson said and vanished.

"Damnit. The bitch escaped us again no thanks to Anderson." Seras cursed.

"She won't get too far right now. She's wounded and low on energy. Here." Alucard said producing a blood pack from inside his coat. Seras took it and sank her fangs into the plastic bag. She greedily consumed its contents within a matter of minutes.

"Are you all right?" She asked after she finished off the blood.

"Yes. Damned blades burn like hell, but it takes more than them to do any considerate damage to me. You?"

"I'm fine now."

Alucard looked up from Seras toward the distance knowing both the target and Anderson were still out there. His eyes narrowed realizing how he'd allowed the creature to toy with his mind so easily.

"I'm getting sloppy. I should have kept my mental shields stronger than that. She got into my head. She must have done the same to Anderson. At least you had the good sense to keep your guard up." Alucard replied.

"What are we going to do? If we try to silence the target then Anderson will just continue to get in the way. Why doesn't he go back to Iscariate where he belongs and leave us to our business?" Seras grumbled.

"I hate abandoning a good hunt, but you make a valid point. For now we'll have to return to the mansion and discuss a stratgety with Integra. We have to figure out someway of getting Anderson out of the picture before we can silence our target." Alucard replied.

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When Alucard and Seras returned to the mansion, Integra was already in her office waiting for them. She had a serious look upon her face when they materialized in front of her.

"I'm sorry master, but the target is still at large. It seems Father Anderson is bound and determined to take her out before we do. He has interfered yet again with our business and allowed the bitch to escape. She is however, wounded and low on energy. I don't think she'll do much harm before sun rise." Alucard stated.

Surprisingly Integra was calm at hearing Alucard's report. "I've met with the queen. She is going to call a meeting between Hellsing and Iscariate later this morning. She has been made aware of the circumstances as to why Iscariate has chosen to involve itself in our affairs. I do not fully agree with what her majesty is planning, but at present it may be the only course we can take to ensure this creature is done away with once and for all." She said.

"What is the queen planning Sir?" Seras asked.

"First off, the queen has postponed the engagement ball until the situation has been dealt with. She felt it wise to withhold the event until the danger has passed. Secondly, the queen has called for a truce between Hellsing and Iscariate. She has spoken with the prominent figures of the Vatican and suggests that the two organizations work together to put an end to this threat to both England and Rome." Integra answered.

"Iscariate and Hellsing...work together? But that would mean..."

"Yes Captain Victoria. We will be working along side Iscariate, which also means we will be dealing with Father Alexander Anderson...as an ally." Integra replied flatly.

"That dog won't be of any help to us. He'll turn his damned bayanets upon us when he gets the first chance." Alucard growled.

"For now he won't have much say in the matter. Enrico Maxwell will be arriving in London within two hours. Any orders Maxwell gives Anderson will have to be obeyed, at least for the time being. Iscariate will just have to toss aside their plan of petty revenge. There are too many lives at stake. I doubt he'll be anymore pleased about this solution than I am. But at present, we don't have much of a choice. You both may return to your chambers."

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Seras went to her room and plopped down wearily on her coffin bed. Seras removed her boots and her thigh highs. Then she undid her belt so that her blouse hung lose. She let out a frustrated sigh as she lay on her side. Nothing seemed to be going right at the moment. It hadn't been but a few moments when Alucard materialized in her room. He saw the look on her face. He knew she was as frustrated as he was. Neither of them relished in the fact of having to call Alexander Anderson an ally.

"Seras?" He asked.

"Everything just seems to have gone to hell in a hand basket. I know it sounds selfish, but I was really looking foward to wearing the gorgeous dress you had made for me. Bloody Anderson comes along and screws everything up." She grumbled.

"This problem will be resolved quicker than you think. For the time being we'll have to go along with this ridiculous truce between Hellsing and Iscariate. But once the target is silenced all bets will be off. The first chance I get to fill Anderson full of silver, I will be more than happy to take it. Then the engagement ball will be on as planned." He said sitting beside Seras on her bed.

"And then you and I will show London's elite what true vampire royalty looks like." He replied inching his face closer to hers. Seras placed her hands against his face as he brought his lips against hers. He swept his tongue delicately across her lips.

"Alucard..." Seras sighed.

"Shhh. You've had a hard night tonight. Just relax my precious one." He whispered to her.

He began slowly unbuttoning her uniform blouse and leaned his head down kissing her neck. His lips pressed gently against the delicate skin. The feel of his tongue flicking against her throat sent delightful chills up and down her spine. He slowly kissed down toward her chest, dipping his tongue in the small depression between her breasts. Once he got her blouse undone, he reached around and unhooked her bra. He sat her up so he could remove her shirt and bra.

Once her chest was bare he lay her back down lovingly cupping her breasts with his hands. He massaged them gently stroking her hardened nipples with his finger tips. Seras mewled and sighed with contentment. He gazed upon her face which was an expression of pure pleasure. Then he leaned his head down enveloping one nipple between his lips. He rolled his tongue around the hard bud eliciting a moan of exctascy from her. She ran her fingers through his long black hair.

He started kissing down to her abdomen. His hands traveled down her ribcage to her hips. Slowly he eased up her skirt sliding her briefs off her hips and down her legs. Seras opened her thighs and rested them upon Alucard's shoulders. He leaned down resting his head between her legs. He eased her slick folds open inhaling her feminen scent. He planted tiny kisses along her gates. He heard her groan with want. The smell of her arousal awakened his own desire. He felt his growing erection, but concentrated upon Seras. His needs would be taken care of soon enough.

He slid his long pointed tongue along the sides of her aching center. Her back arched as she gripped the bed sheets. He swirled his tongue around her throbbing nob before finally sliding it across the top.

"Ahhhhh!" Seras cried with pleasure.

He enveloped her tiny pearl with his mouth. He pressed his tongue against her throbbing clit in a gentle, steady rythm. Seras whipped her head from side to side groaning loudly. It was just enough to bring her to the edge but not drive her over it...not yet. He could feel the insistent thrumming of his erection against his pants. It would no longer be ignored.

"Seras, I need you."

"Please...please I want to feel you inside of me."

His body trembled with the force of his desire, but still he maintained his composure. He rose to his knees trying to unfasten his pants with unsteady hands. Seras pushed herself up on her arms and pushed his hands away.

"Let me do that for you." She said softly. She unfastened his pants letting his aching manhood free of its confines. She lay back down opening her arms inviting him back into her embrace. He leaned over her while she wrapped her legs around his hips. With uncharacteristic tenderness he eased into her. He gasped as her womanhood fully enveloped him. His body shook as the intense sensations surged through him.

Seras wrapped her arms around him pressing her fingers against his back. His unneeded breath was heavy and labored. He knew he wouldn't last long. But he would make it last as long as he could, for both of them. He supported himself upon his arms as he began to slowly move against her. Seras cupped his face with her hands. She pushed upward and pressed her mouth against his. He hungrily devoured her mouth in a kiss full of desire and need.

Seras panted and moaned feeling every inch of his hardness rubbing against her tight inner walls. He withdrew almost all the way slowly, and eased back into her the same way. Seras pushed her body upward toward his to meet his thrusts. Her head lulled back as her body tensed and relaxed with his rythm. She tightened her legs around his hips to push him as deep inside of her as was possible. He began to pick up his pace as the sensations intensified.

He eased his weight just enough upon her to keep her down on the bed. Then he concentrated upon pushing his hips against hers putting pressure on her throbbing center. He bathed her neck in wet, frenzied kisses as his passions began to take over. He tried to keep his pace steady, but he found it increasing. At that point he could no longer help himself. He needed release and so did Seras. He clawed at the sheets as he began to move faster. The friction between them grew stronger and stronger. His shaft rubbed and pulled at her tight walls making them painfully sensitive.

His eyes began to glow and his nostrils flared as the moment approached. His fangs began to elongate as his blood lust rose within him. But for the first time in so long he found himself fighting it. He knew how he could get when he fed especially in the heat of passion. His fangs were becoming so sensitive they hurt. Yet he held back. He tried to pull his head away from Seras's neck. He'd already had to hurt her once by twisting one of Anderson's blades away from her heart.

Seras touched his face. "My king..." she whispered. "I want all of you."

Her words touched him in a way that none had in a very long time. They were full of unconditional trust. It felt like the first night they'd been together.

"I...will try not..to hurt you." He said as he lowered his mouth to her throat. She gave a tiny gasp as his fangs penetrated her skin. He tried to be gentle as he bit her. She relaxed beneath him as he began to drink. She also let her fangs pierce his throat and began drinking from him. Blood flowed freely in and out as they drank from each other. The exchange lasted for only a moment but felt like forever. They released each other as their wounds healed.

Alucard and Seras looked at each other for a moment before sharing a kiss. Their bodies began to move again. He wrapped his arms around her rising to his knees bringing her up with him. He didn't want her beneath him or on top of him when the moment came. He wanted her equal to him. Seras wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Their lips pressed hard against each other. Their tongues swirled and danced frantically in each other's mouths. He rocked his hips against hers.

Seras pressed her cheek against Alucard's chest. She felt only bare skin on bare skin. He'd just phazed out of his clothes. Seras reached down and ripped at her skirt until it was torn completely in half. She let the ripped garment fall from her body so that now she was naked as her lover. She wanted nothing between them. She wanted only the feel of his skin against hers.

Seras tilted her face upward kissing all over Alucard's neck. He pressed his face against her hair nuzzling the soft strands. His hands slid down her spine. He grasped her buttocks firmly but not forcefully driving himself deep into her. Their bodies moved in time with each other as their shared rythym began to quicken. His mouth once again found its way to Seras's and locked in one more hungry kiss before their bodies reached their limits. The pressure on her pelvic regions became too much for her at last. Her inner muscles spasmed and tightened. Her orgasm triggered Alucard's own release. Her contractions gripped and released him causing him to erupt inside of her. They both cried out in unison.

His upper body trembled as his legs began to buckle beneath him. He felt himself beginning to slump foward. Seras unwrapped her legs from around his hips and rested on her knees. She pressed her own body against his to support him. He found enough strength to wrap his long arms around her holding her close to him. He pressed his cheek against the crown of her head. He held her tight in his arms. It was all he could do to remain upright. The experience had both renewed and drained him at the same time. Seras looked up at him. She reached up with one hand to stroke his cheek.

He pressed his forehead against hers. "I've not uttered the words I'm about to say in well over five hundred years. I have held them back long enough now." He said wearily.

Seras looked up at Alucard with inquisitive eyes. He rested one hand against her cheek. "I love you, Seras Victoria."

"Alucard..." Seras sighed before she began to wobble back. Her knees began to ache. Alucard lay her down and reclined beside her on his side. He traced the outline of her jaw as her eyes grew heavy. Dawn would soon be breaking.

"The sun will rise soon. We will rest here together until our master summons us." He said.

Alucard drew the covers up over them both as he pulled Seras's tired frame into his arms. She snuggled against him putting her arms around his neck.

"I love you Alucard." She sighed as her eyes began to grow heavy.

"Sleep now, immortal beloved." Were his last words before they both fell into a deep trance for the coming day.

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