Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Hellsing and all that jazz...

Summary: Shortly after the attack on Hellsing manor, a very strange enemy appears – one who may have a link to Alucard's past.

Rating: T

A/N: Reposting old stories from an old account.

Lament of Darkness

Prologue

"However did you manage to injure yourself?" Alucard asked inquisitively.

Favoring her right leg, Integra limped sluggishly across the room. She was placing a good deal of her weight upon the slender brown cane gripped in her right hand. She sharply narrowed her eyes once she saw the expression of sadistic pleasure carving its way onto his pale face.

"It is none of your concern," Integra growled miserably. Alucard could see that his question had upset her visibly, and he gave a smile of satisfaction.

"She injured her leg while riding in the company of Her Royal Highness," Walter intervened nonchalantly, placing a silver platter, which held refreshments, upon a small, wooden, coffee table.

"Walter!" she spat. With as much speed as she could muster, she whirled around, bearing her weight down on her good leg. Upon hearing his name, the butler glanced up with an innocent gleam in his eye.

"Riding? I assume – I hope -- you were 'riding' atop of a horse," Alucard began, a chuckle growing from the back of his throat.

She knew his toying with her would not end there; this was merely the beginning. It was a ritual, a dance if you will-- every night that the two shared together they had a verbal 'tango'. Alucard usually initiated this proverbial waltz which would escalate into a psychological quarrel between the two. Immediately after the vampire's initial chuckle, she narrowed her eyes at the butler as if to declare him a 'traitor.'

"Of course I was riding on a horse, you insolent fool!" Her words were thick with venom.

At this confirmation his chuckles grew more audible. "What madness drove you to horseback riding, Invalid?"

Her jaw tightened at his question, which was seething in a heavy sarcasm. Integra knew that he was already aware of the fact that she would not impose herself upon anyone to go riding, especially the Queen. Personally she had hated the sport, even when she was forced to partake in those dreaded lessons as a girl. Her father thought it suitable for an aristocrat, such as herself, to be able to ride. When he was younger he had taken part in polo, fox hunting, and the sort, and thought it appropriate for her to at least know how to mount a horse. Integra, however, was horrible for the most part. She was far too stiff in the saddle and terror stricken at being made to sit upon and to control such a large animal. It was a very intimidating and nerve racking experience. Out of all the lessons she was made to participate in, horseback riding was the worst. Her instructor also found her skill, or lack thereof, madding. He tried everything to get her to relax, but she just could not overcome her fear of falling. The lessons, much to her satisfaction and the satisfaction of the instructor, were canceled once she had taken her first spill to the ground. The fall had reduced Integra to tears at being made to look like a incompetent fool doing something that she hated so much. Afterwards, her father withdrew her and he never made mentioned of it again. But, once she had been given a formal invitation by the Queen as a means to discuss the current problems, Integra had no choice but to accept.

"Lady Hellsing had to accept. It would have been rude otherwise," Walter stated dryly as he stood up from his bent position.

"Why the sudden change in personality, Master? Rudeness is your forte." Alucard scowled at the butler's intervention, ruining his fun. But, his taunts had not gone unnoticed. Integra stood with a frown etched into her face as her stare hardened.

"Do you think that I would partake in such a frivolous thing by my own free will?" she asked sourly.

Alucard answered with maniacal laughter. "So exactly, how did you manage to injure yourself?" his question was loaded with a sadistic humor.

Integra was half tempted not to provide him with an answer, but her better (or worse) judgment caused her to acknowledge his inquiry. "I fell off. How else would I have hurt myself?" she answered wryly.

He gave a devious toothy grin, and from that expression alone she knew that the wheels in his demented mind were slowly turning. "There are plenty of ways to injure someone in the saddle."

"Well, let's suppose for a moment that the Queen was not chasing after me with a large pointed object with the want of impaling me," Integra retorted bitterly. Alucard responded with a chuckle.

"If you don't mind me asking, how did you fall, m'lady?" Walter inquired.

Integra shot a piercing stare over at the butler and heaved an exasperated sigh, as if but to express her displeasure at having to relate the story verbally. Retelling the instance would cause her to feel like she was reliving the embarrassing event all over again. "The horse ran off," she said with a low stern voice. Upon hearing her answer Alucard could not contain his laughter. She turned sharply, feeling a stab of pain run down her leg, and glared into her servant's contented face. Integra instinctively placed a hand upon her knee once she felt the stiff and bitter hurt of her wounded leg. Every time the sore appendage ached, her mind reverted back to the humiliating instance that was the cause of her injury.

"Tell me that you didn't just come tumbling off once it moved?" Alucard taunted playfully.

"No," she responded with venom. "When that thing ran off to jump the bloody hedge I fell," she replied softly, as an attempt to muffle or distort her response.

"What was that?" Alucard asked, insinuating that he had not heard her clearly. Integra knew perfectly well that he heard her, and his insincerity caused her to clench her hands into fists.

"It is by good graces that you suffered only a minor injury to your knee. It could have been much worse," Walter offered kindly.

"What happened after the fall– other then your loss of pride?" Alucard asked, far too amused for his own sake.

Integra let out a heavy sigh. The fall was humiliating enough, but what happened afterwards was much worse. The pride crushing instance of them all noticing the spectacle and rushing over to see how she was – this was the most mortifying event out of the whole charade. She could not clearly remember the fall itself, for she had tightly shut her eyes when she felt the sensation of losing her equilibrium and ultimately plunging to the ground. Thus, her memory of the tumble was blackened. She had quickly recovered vision after she found herself sprawled out on the green. Integra remember looking up and over at that horrid beast. A big black steed by the name of Cronus, or so she remembered hearing them call him. His nostrils were flaring when he turned to notice his fallen rider. He remained with her, standing only a few yards away, but she could tell that he was laughing. As insane as her interpretation had sounded in her mind, she clearly saw the horse throw its big black head up and taunt her with loud sheiks filled with pride. It repeated this horrible action thrice before nearing her a few steps, and bowing his head down to eat the green grass. While it ate she could sense it looking upon her. His gaze sharp and piercing, which gave her this overwhelming sensation that the steed reminded her of someone...It was not so much the fall that caused her the embarrassment, rather, it was the fact that everyone around had rushed to her aid, the Queen included. And, while the fall was injury enough to her pride, she had hurt her leg in the process as well. Needless to say, the entire experience was utterly wasted. Any attempt at counsel with the Queen had been thwarted by that horrid animal.

Quickly, Integra's attention was diverted from her thoughts as she spotted Walter beginning to move towards the doorway that led out of the room. He turned to excuse himself before exiting. "I am sorry, Sir Integra. I have forgotten all about the tea. If I may say, my age seems to have gotten the best of me. So, if you don't mind-"

"You are excused," Integra answered dryly. Walter edged out of the door, and before turning to leave he gave a slight bow. Her eyes stared blankly at the now empty doorway, but her solitude was immediately broken by her other servant.

"Did it excite you?" he asked coyly.

Perplexed by his vagueness, Integra lowered her brow in question. "What are you going on about?" she snapped, half disgusted by the fact that she was allowing herself to indulge his prattle. She knew good and well that he was baiting her into something. This bait was not even a good one to fall for, yet her curiosity had gotten the better of her.

"Did you enjoy having something that powerful in between your legs, Master?" He asked in a cunning and devious voice. The sides of his mouth curved up into a painfully slow and teasing grin.

Integra was stricken by his use of words in her presence. Her clear blue eyes darken and widened as she stood exasperated. She could not even find the words to describe her immense displeasure with his behavior. Her voice failed her, for the only sound that managed to escape from her gapping mouth was a low aggravated growl.

"I could always teach you how to mount your horse. I am very experienced in the art of riding, Master." His voice was dripping with an ominous intention.

Integra's shock was clearly evident. Her jaw nearly dropped to the floor and her eyes, if possible, widened even more. The young woman was reduced to looking like an inexperienced schoolgirl. She had not the faintest idea of how to combat that as she looked upon him with discontent.

Alucard's eyes and senses were feasting upon her stricken state. He could smell her fragrant blood as it pulsed heavily through her veins. He also took delight in hearing her heart beat frantically at his snide remark. Her reaction to his constant annoyance was what brought him so much pleasure – it excited him. He could easily see the walls of her stoic facade come crashing down once he had pressed her buttons enough to get her riled.

"You degenerate pompous-," she spat in a disheveled manner.

"The first lesson would be on me," he interrupted with a dark throaty voice. His rose colored eyes glaring into her with an animalistic gleam. She could feel her skin heat just by his piercing stare. Her eyes immediately fixated on his. She could feel a foggy cloud begin to veil her thoughts. It was late and her mind was already beginning to dull, but now she could feel her reasoning becoming impaired. His spell to ensnare her was most useful when she was tiered. Integra could feel the shadowy fingers of his entrapment caress her thoughts and put her into a state of ecstasy. She closed her eyes tightly, and began to pull herself away from his eerie lullaby.

It's a trap. He's up to something and is testing you. Do something other than just stand there! Abruptly she cleared the fog from her thoughts, and reopened her eyes upon feeling his spell repel it's grasp from her mind. Integra drew in a sharp breath and quickly spun around balling her left hand into a fist, while her right hand kept an iron tight grip on the cane. Even though her leg throbbed with each heavy step, Integra still managed to 'dramatically' storm out of the area.

"Walter!" she cried, beginning down the corridor. Alucard could hear her voice slowly growing more distant with each call for the butler.

"Yes, m'lady?" the retainer responded.

"Bring my tea up to my room. I am now officially retiring to my bed!"

Alucard could still make out what she was saying despite the fact that she was already out of the corridor. Walter quickly peeked into the room to see Alucard sitting candidly with his ankle upon his knee with a "no-good" smirk etched into his face.

"You look too pleased with yourself," Walter commented.

"I shouldn't be, really," he explained, "it was far too easy."

"Well, at least we finally got her to bed, if nothing else," Walter added with faint satisfaction.

"Indeed...to bed..." Alucard said rather cryptically as Walter stepped back out of the room, and began to prepare Sir Hellsing's tea.