Part 10

After a brief struggle Seras knocked Steadlum out cold. His limp frame was carried over Alucard's shoulder to the castle's dungeon. He felt a slapping sensation against his face. His eyes slowly opened and there was Alucard with a very sinister smile on his face. In the background was Seras glaring angrily at him. Pickman was there as well with a glare equally as angry.

"Well well, looks like we've got a little audiance. They don't look very happy with you do they? Not that I can blame them. Deserting men that looked to you as their captain and depended on you to lead them. You ran out on them and left them to die horrible deaths. I don't know who's going to enjoy this more, myself, Seras Victoria or Pickman." Alucard said looking at his young vampire bride and their human companion.

"Enjoy what?" Steadlum asked nervously.

"Interrogating you of course. I've been ordered by my master to obtain whatever it is you're hiding. And since I can't seem to get into your head to do it, I'll just have to get it out of you the old fashioned way." Alucard replied maniacally.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to witness the little show. The commander will need me to accompany him into the village to prepare the volunteers for combat. But there is something I want to get off my chest before you start with this bastard." Pickman said approaching Steadlum. The Hellsing officer looked hatefully at the chained prisoner.

"Garreth was one of my closest friends in Hellsing. He was a damn good soldier and an even better captain. He deserved better than what he got. I don't know what you're hiding, but I damn well hope you hold out long enough so that Alucard can torment your ass as payment for what happened to our men and to Garreth." He said and slapped Steadlum across the face.

"Not very popular now are you?" Alucard asked mockingly as Steadlum glared at Pickman. His words spent, Pickman left the dungeon and went to join Ferguson who was waiting outside.

"Pity Pickman isn't able to watch. To bad we don't have something to record this little event on. We could give it to him as a retirement present." Alucard replied sarcastically.

"I think he'd rather have the gold watch." Seras said.

"Hmmm, true. I guess you'll just have to enjoy it for him police girl." Answered the elder vampire.

"Gladly." Seras replied, her normally sweet voice full of venom.

"You can do whatever you want to me you undead filth, but I'm not telling you anything. By the time you get the information out of me it will be too late anyhow!" Steadlum spat.

"Yes, yes, you'll never talk no matter how much I torture you." Alucard said in a disinterested voice. Then he grabbed Steadlum's chin and pushed his head firmly against the wall.

"I've yet to see anyone who could live up to such boasts. I warned you that you should have been more careful to stay in Sir Integra's good graces. I'm not permitted to kill you human, but that doesn't mean that I can't make you wish you were dead." Alucard growled viciously.

He looked over at Seras who was leaning against a table full of...specialized equipment. Her face looked different than the other times Steadlum had seen her. She no longer looked vunerable or frustrated. Even when she stood up to him she didn't have the expression on her face that she did now. Her face was full of utter hatred and malice toward the prisoner. Her face was more like her former master's. The only difference was those crimson orbs could still exude an aura of female beauty that could entice weak minded human males.

Alucard looked at her standing next to the table of torture impliments. He smiled wickedly and looked back at Steadlum. "Look at her, how beautiful she is. It's amazing how I thought my master was the perfect choice, and yet I've found my consort in the form of a young woman from MI-5. Strong, beautiful, viscious in battle, yet she retains just enough of her humanity to be the perfect mix. Amazing how desirable she looks when she's angry." Alucard said in an almost musing tone.

"I don't give a rat's ass about you or your bitch!" Steadlum barked. Alucard only laughed and continued looking toward Seras.

Alucard slapped Steadlum across the face and pushed his head back against the wall. "You WILL speak respectfully of my bride when you adress her." Alucard hissed. Steadlum bore his teeth trying to look agressive. This was no more than amusement to the elder vampire.

"Oh well, enough with pleasantries. Time to get down to business. Seras, would you be a dear and get the prisoner ready?" Alucard asked walking over to Seras.

"Certainly." Seras responded, the angry look still on her face. She walked over toward Steadlum with a determined step.

"Get away from me you undead whore!" Steadlum cried.

"Don't flatter yourself." Seras growled as she proceeded to rip Steadlum's jacket and shirt clean in half. Then she ripped one sleeve in half til the underarm of the garment was completely torn. She did the same to the other sleeve and then simply slid the upper garments off and flung them on the floor.

"Don't listen very well do you human? I told you to speak respectfully to my bride. Maybe I should let her have a little fun with you." Alucard said coldly.

"Anything else you want me to remove other than few choice body parts?" Seras asked with a hint of her own sarcasm.

"Now now Seras, we musn't rush to the finale." Alucard said motioning for Seras to come to him. She walked over to him. He put his hand gently against her face tilting her chin upward so she looked him in the eyes.

"Torture is in some respects like sex you know. In order to reach the climax there needs to be foreplay. Of course, in this case our pleasure is going to be his pain...a great deal of it. I taught Walter the finer arts of it when he was younger. He had the desire and a little skill but lacked patience and style. He came away with both and then some after watching me in action. After tonight, you will too." Alucard replied.

Seras watched the elder vampire looking at the table of implements trying to decide what to start with. He had quite an arsonel at his disposal. He looked toward a fire pit and his eyes flashed. The pit was suddenly lit with a roaring flame.

"Seras, take this over to the fire and lay it there." He said picking up an iron rod and handing it to his student. Seras took the rod and put the tip to the flame. She watched the blackend metal begin to glow red.

"Now put it in the coals so it doesn't burn out. It should stay hot enough for what I'm going to do with it." Alucard said.

"You sick bastard." Steadlum growled.

Alucard smiled a demonic smile. "You have NO idea." He replied with an evil chuckle. He picked up a cat o'nine tails and sauntered over to Steadlum.

"Hmmm, I wonder if I remember exactly how to do this." He pondered before raising the whip and bringing it down across Steadlum's chest. Steadlum let out a shout of pain.

"I guess I do." Alucard laughed to himself.

"Get this over with you twisted son of a bitch!" Steadlum shouted still stinging from the first strike. Alucard started loosening up his red tie and then removed it from his neck.

"Does this mean you're going to talk?" Alucard asked. But before Steadlum had the chance to answer he found that same tie forcefully shoved into his mouth.

"Guess not." Alucard replied answering his own question. Steadlum struggled against his chains trying to scream. The screams however came out as nothing more than muffled whimpers since he had Alucard's tie stuffed in his mouth. Alucard brought the whip down across Steadlum's chest again. The prisoner whimpered and moaned in pain. Several times the nine leather straps struck Steadlum's chest leaving an impressive group of red whelts on his skin. He was already shaking from the pain inflicted by the whip.

Alucard looked at the shaking prisoner with only a sadistic smile. "You think it hurts now. Trust me, this is just a small taste of what I've got in my sick mind as you so politely stated it. I'm a master at testing the limits of human endurance, specially when it comes to how much pain a human can take. Course it can end right here if you're willing to tell me what you're hiding." Alucard said smoothly.

He pulled the tie out of Steadlum's mouth waiting for an answer. The human looked at Alucard with nothing but spite. "Go to hell!" Steadlum spat.

"Have it your way then." Alucard replied tossing the tie over his shoulder and going back to the table. He looked at the instruments and picked up something that looked like a very long sewing needle with a handle and two curved ends coming out the sides. Chosing what he wanted, he walked back over to Steadlum who eyed the thing with wide, fearful eyes.

Alucard took the point of what was known as a 'misery cord' and started dragging it slowly across the red whelts on Steadlum's skin. At first the sensation was nothing more than an irritating burn, but then Alucard started pushing slowly into the skin. The point penetrated the first layer. A small stream of blood began to flow from the wound. Alucard continued dragging the dagger down until a long laceration was left behind with tiny streams of blood feathering from the wound. Then he did the same to the next whelt. If he had done it quickly the pain would have been more intense, but would have faded quicker as well.

By the time Alucard was done with the misery cord, at least six long lacerations had been left in its wake. Steadlum was gritting his teeth and fighting not to spill the information hidden in his mind. The whip was bad, the slow cuts were worse, but what was coming next would put the pain caused by the first two methods to shame.

"Are you taking this in Seras?" Alucard asked as he stepped back watching his victim shuddering and moaning in pain.

"I certainly am." Seras answered coldly. She found herself twitching and shifting her legs, but not because what Alucard was doing to Steadlum bothered her. Alucard noticed the look in her eyes and her movements.

"Why Seras Victoria, is this...turning you on?" Alucard asked Seras mentally with an amused smile.

"I can't help it. Watching you with that whip...." Seras thought back blushing.

"You needn't be shy about it my darling. You are MY bride after all." Alucard replied. Then he stood perfectly still as his hair began to grow. He was releasing his shadows. They took on grotesque beastly mouths with abrasive tongues. They started slithering toward Steadlum as he struggled helplessly against his bonds.

"Taste his pain my demons." He commanded. The hideous shapes, dozens of them, began attaching themselves to Steadlum's wounds and started licking the bleeding wounds slowly, very slowly. The feeling could be equated to rubbing sand paper slowly against paper cuts. They did not go past the first layer of skin, but they hit the already raw nerves causing exquisite agony. This had Steadlum screaming loud enough to wake the dead. Alucard watched with a truly satisfied smile on his face while his victim suffered.

After about five minutes of this Steadlum had taken all he could stand.

"It's a ruse! It's all a bloody sham!" The prisoner screamed wildly. Alucard immediately withdrew his shadows. His sadistic smile was replaced with one of grave seriousness. He stomped up to Steadlum and grabbed him by the throat.

"What is a sham?" The vampire demanded.

"This! This whole fucking mission was a scam! The FREAKS were not made here! They were sent here!" Steadlum yelled.

"Talk you piece of shit or that iron branding rod is going straight up your sorry ass." Alucard snarled.

"There is no FREAK infestation here! The FREAKS were sent from a remote location! They were made and being saved for this purpose! This was meant to lure you away from that bitch you call master!" Steadlum spat.

"First you insult my bride, and now you insult my master. Pray Steadlum, PRAY she does not allow me to kill you." The elder vampire hissed.

"My employer wanted to make sure you were away from Hellsing so it would be easier for him to execute his plans. And in case you survived the FREAKS, he wanted to make sure you didn't leave Romania vampire. That's why he deverted another organization to make sure you were destroyed." Steadlum gasped and whined.

"Anderson! That's why Iscariate sent him! They recieved word as well about what was going on in Romania! Whoever it is Steadlum is working for wanted to make sure Hellsing and Iscariate were both detained here so he wouldn't have interference!" Seras exclaimed.

"She never ceases to amaze me." Alucard said keeping a firm grip on Steadlum's throat. "So you're telling me both Hellsing and Iscariate have been brought here as a diversion?" Alucard asked gruffly.

"Yes!" Steadlum spat.

"Who is this employer of yours? Who wants Hellsing and my master out of commission?" Alucard growled.

"It doesn't matter. It's probably already too late now!" Steadlum yelled.

"Seras!" Alucard snapped. "Put the iron on the flame for one minute, then bring it to me." He hissed.

"With pleasure." Seras said in a low voice.

"What? NO! You wouldn't!" Steadlum screamed remembering what Alucard said before. Seras walked over to Alucard and gave him the iron rod. The elder vampire held the red hot metal only an inch from Steadlum's face.

"You have two choices. You tell me who your employer is or the glow of this iron is the last thing you will ever see." The vampire's mood had changed. He was no longer in the mood to enjoy Steadlum's suffering. He was now focused upon getting this information back to his master before it was too late.

As if done involuntarily, Steadlum gave the name of his employer. Seras withdrew something from her lycra tank top she'd kept hidden in her bra. "Don't even think about recanting what you've stated Steadlum. I've got everything recorded. Sir Integra will want to make sure the Queen knows about this." She said.

"Take that to Ferguson. He needs to inform Sir Integra now." Alucard ordered.

"Got it." Seras replied and rushed from the castle. As she reached the front doors she heard a blood curdling whail echo from the bowels of the castle. She couldn't stop to enjoy it. She continued her way out of the castle and went to find Ferguson and Pickman.

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In London Integra listened intently over the phone as she recieved the news. Her eyes widened as she heard who it was who was employing Steadlum as a spy. She began giving orders almost immediately after she heard the news.

"Understood." She said quickly hanging up the phone. "Walter!" She shouted into the intercom.

"Yes Sir?" Walter asked.

"Put all available ground troops on alert! I've just recieved news there is a traitor in our midst! Ferguson is returning to London immediately with a recorded confession from a spy! The Queen must be informed at once!" Integra barked.

"Yes sir!" Walter replied frantically as he rushed to alert the Hellsing troops.

"Her majesty is not going to be pleased with this at all." Integra said pounding her fist against her desk. "The families must be informed of their loved ones fates." She growled.

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Seras returned to the castle as soon as she delivered the taped confession to Ferguson. Pickman returned with her. They found Alucard waiting for them at the main castle entrance. Pickman spoke first. "Ferguson has that bastard's confession and he's on the way back to London. There have been more more reports of FREAK or ghoul activity. It's just like Steadlum told us. Everything was a sham, even down to that bull shit note left on Garreth's body. Everything was a damn ruse." Pickman said with notable anger in his voice. He stomped toward a stone wall and pounded his fist madly against it.

"Damn that son of a bitch! A lot of brave men died because of him and this other traitor!" He yelled.

Seras started foward but Alucard stopped her. "Leave him be Seras. He will be fine once he has vented his frustrations. Has Sir Integra given us any further orders?" He asked.

"Ferguson took the only available Hellsing aircraft so we're to remain here in Romania. Sir Integra feels the traitor will be apprehended soon after the Queen hears Steadlum's confession. I can't believe that one of the Knights of the Round table was behind this." Seras answered.

"I can. Those old fools have both envied and feared my master and the power she holds. Some have sought to take that power from her. I admit this one had a rather effective plan. Simple now that we know how it was done, but effective none the less. Send both Hellsing and Iscariate to Romania, have us meet by chance and hope that we destroyed each other." Alucard said.

"It's scary to think one of the Knights actually made a deal with the creators of the FREAKS. Then try to get both Hellsing and Iscariate out of the way. What if one of them gets the idea to try and succeed where this one failed." Seras pondered nervously.

"Oh I don't think we're going to have to worry about another such foolish attempt. If there is one thing I do admire about the British; they certainly make sure anyone who gets any bright ideas thinks twice after seeing the last fool who attempts a coup." Alucard replied.

Seras looked up at her former master for a moment. He became quiet and looked out at the horizon. "Alucard, what are you thinking about?" She asked.

"There is something I need to do before we leave Romania, and tonight I have a feeling will be my only chance to do it." Alucard answered.

"What do you need to do?" Seras questioned.

"There is someone I've not seen in a very, very long time. We need to hurry. Integra will most likely order us back to London once Ferguson has the plane returned to pick us up." Alucard said.

"You want me to come with you?" Seras asked.

"Yes. I want you to see this along with me." Alucard answered.

"What about the prisoner?"

"Trust me. I don't think he's going to be going anywhere. The only way he's getting through those chains is if he chews through his own arms. And after the pain he's been through, I don't think he'll be in condition to do such a thing." Alucard replied.

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Alucard took Seras to a remote spot. There were two bodies of land split by one body of water. Alucard pointed to what lay across the river. "There Seras, is the isle of Snagoff. We will be going across the river to a small monestery." The elder vampire said.

"You, going to a...monestery?" Seras asked.

"Yes. You will understand once we get there." Aluard answered. He raised his hand and a large portal opened. "Come. We must be quick about this." He said taking Seras's hand. She stepped through the void with him. They emerged from the blackness upon the other side. Alucard looked around cautiously making sure no one was around.

He motioned for Seras to follow him. She kept close to him until they came upon the stone monestery. "Usually there is only one monk at this hour tending the entrance. I'll have to put him to sleep so he will not know we were here. Somehow I don't think it would be a good idea if the poor fellow saw a man who has supposedly died over five centuries ago. To say the least the shock would stop his heart." Alucard said with a soft laugh.

He looked and saw a monk tending to the inside of the sacred structure. Though he could not see Alucard or Seras, the young monk suddenly began to feel very drowsy. He fought to stay awake but soon sucumb to the trance Alucard was putting him under.

"Hurry. He won't be asleep long." Alucard said tugging Seras's hand to get her to follow him. She walked hurriedly at his side as they entered the monestery. Seras looked at the sleeping monk for a moment.

"Don't worry, there's no one else here but us. And he will sleep for at least half an hour. We'll be gone before he knows what happened." Alucard replied.

Seras crouched near a small space on the stone floor that looked like a flat altar. She noticed the picture of a man with long black hair. He had a beard and mustache. Her eyes widened when she read the name.

"Yes Seras, you have found my grave." Alucard said in a silent tone. "This is where I am supposedly buried. Archeologist have tried to prove my remains are buried here. But they found only animal bones." Alucard continued.

"Animal bones?" Seras asked.

"Yes. I will explain after we return to London. That is not the reason we came here however. There is...another grave I want you to see." The elder vampire answered.

Seras continued looking at the site in awe. Alucard walked over to a huge stone coffin. His eyes grew solem and serious. He took off one of his gloves and touched the structure. One word escaped his lips. "Father."

Seras got to her feet. "Alucard?" She asked.

"Come here Seras." He said.

He gently took her hand and placed it against the stone sarcofogus. "This is the resting place of Vlad Dracul. Here lies the sire of your sire Seras Victoria." Alucard replied.

"This is your father?" Seras asked with wide eyes.

"Yes. He was my human father. Unlike you, I was not turned by another vampire. My begetting was very different." Alucard answered.

"How did he die?" Seras asked again.

"He was assasinated. In that day, political turmoil reigned in Romania. Many princes suffered the same fate. As you know, my fate was...very different." Alucard answered.

Seras looked at the stone coffin and felt the cold material beneathe her fingers. Alucard put back on the glove he'd taken off. "Seras, we must go. It's not wise to stay here too long. It's time for us to return to the castle and await Integra's orders." Alucard said.

Seras nodded and followed her former master, looking back one last time at the resting place of Alucard's father.

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Pickman sat outside the castle rubbing his head. Nothing had happened since Alucard and Seras made their brief journey. He tried to keep his mind focused on the situation at hand. He wanted nothing more than to go rip Steadlum apart, but had a feeling Alucard had made the bastard suffer far more than Pickman could even attempt to. His head jerked upward hearing voices.

"Anything happen whilst Seras and I were away?" Alucard questioned.

"No. Thankfully there's been no activity. I'm waiting to hear from Ferguson. The men we'd rounded up to help us fight have all been sent back to their homes. Their services would not be required. I can't believe this whole thing was a ruse. And that a Knight of the round table could be behind it all." Pickman answered.

"He wasn't the sole master mind. He was a puppet. A willing puppet, but a puppet never the less." Alucard replied.

"He should have his ass thrown in the Tower of London." Pickman growled.

"That might not be such a bad idea." Alucard mused with his trademark smirk.

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