Thank you everyone for the continued support! You guys are the best! No, Alucard and Seras did not go all the way yet, but wait for it! In about two more chapters, I promise! I want to keep them in-character as much as I can, and while I can easily imagine that the two could start up a romance, I believe in most cases that Seras would have some hang-ups before she fully accepted what Alucard was really offering her. I also want to build some suspense between them and to make sure I have a plot and not just love scenes. Depending on your requests, however, I will definitely include at least a few lemons throughout the story. Ask, and you shall receive!

Note: Now that I am juggling between two stories, you will find a "Story Status" section at the bottom of my profile page. There, you can find out what chapter is currently being worked on and its progress.

Claimed by Darkness

Chapter 3

An Accidental Challenge

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It had taken nearly half an hour for Seras to get her limbs to function properly, but she eventually made her way back to the Hellsing manor in a daze. Physically she was re-energized, but her mental exhaustion weighed her down this time around.

A spectrum of emotions ran rampant through her head. She couldn't blame Alucard for making her drink the medical blood, especially when he did not force her to become a full-fledged vampire. No, Seras had definitely been aware of how close to death she had become, and she didn't want to admit just how close she had felt to it.

Her body was almost entirely rejuvenated. A tiny prickling of energy hummed softly against her skin, livening her senses and feeding energy to her jumbled thoughts. Though she was confident in her ability to take care of herself, Alucard had saved her life for the second time, which only aided in making her more frustrated.

The young vampire had no idea what to think about her master's sudden and unexpected interest in her. It was everything she could have dreamed of and more, but how sincere was he? Alucard proved himself time and again to be the most powerful vampire in existence, and she was just a police girl who nearly killed herself out of stubbornness. How could he possibly be anything beyond neutral toward her?

Above all else, Seras was dreading her next encounter with the ancient vampire. Would she be able to talk to him normally, or would she die on the spot from embarrassment? The mere memory of what they had done reawakened a deep sense of unfulfilled need, settling low in her stomach. She blushed heavily, covering her hands over her mouth and nose. The sounds she had made as he touched her...how could she ever pretend that nothing at all had happened between them?

Seras sighed miserably and forced her thoughts aside, making her way through the manor. Her newly formed internal clock told her that the time was somewhere just past three o'clock. Despite the time of night, she wasn't surprised to hear movement around the estate. Not a soul in residence had your typical day-to-day schedule.

As she entered the first pathway beyond the main foyer, she stopped dead in her tracks when a familiar hearty laugh interrupted her senses. From the sounds of it, Captain Pip Bernadotte and some of his men were gathered a few rooms down in the lounge having their own little party.

"Just my luck..." the young vampire mumbled to herself. And because she could not yet phase or use portals, she opted for makeshift ninja, attempting to walk by silently and unnoticed.

"Euh, what's zis? Mignonette! You 'ave come to join ze fun, no?"

Seras hung her head in defeat and arched her neck, glaring at the doorway she had just passed. Retracing a few steps backwards, she gazed into the lounge with an uncertain smile. "Hi, Captain."

At first glance, Seras could see empty beer bottles littering the ground around the group's feet. Integra must have been busy doing something more important or had worked herself into a dead sleep because she would not have tolerated such boisterousness in her estate. Not to mention Walter, who would undoubtedly fuss over the mess they had created. Seras couldn't help but admit, however, that it was refreshing to see such camaraderie in the vicinity. Pip was the biggest pervert she would ever think of considering a friend, but he did give a pleasant contrast to the grim seriousness that constituted the Hellsing organization.

"What are you doing out so late?"

Her gaze finally settled on the captain. His head was tilted slightly to the side, surprised green eyes turned to her though it was obvious that he was pleased to see her. A thick, auburn braid rested casually over his shoulder. His face broke out into a grin as his teeth played with the cigarette that was almost permanently positioned between his lips.

The young vampire furrowed her brows in response. "Umm, it's not exactly late for me, you know..."

"Touché, Girly. You didn't go on a mission without me, did you?"

"No..." Seras answered slowly. "Why?" She was quickly growing uneasy at the direction their conversation was heading. Pip was never one to question her about what she did on her free time. In fact, he never questioned her at all because he was always too busy trying to flirt with her.

"Why? Mignonette, you are soaking wet!" The captain narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized her suspiciously. "You 'ave some leaves stuck in your 'air and dirt all over your face. What else could 'ave possibly 'appened?"

Her eyes widened as she cast her head down and surveyed the damage. Sure enough, blotches of dirt covered her damp clothing, and her hands were filthy. Reaching into her hair, it didn't take very long for her to locate a stray leaf and pluck it from her head. She wasn't as wet anymore, but her hair and clothing still betrayed her excursion in the woods.

A blush crept up upon her cheeks as she chuckled nervously. "I...I, well..."

"I zink..." Pip started forward, taking a few steps toward where the young vampire was standing.

"Yes...?" she asked worriedly. He couldn't possibly figure it out...could he?

"I zink...you are going to need 'elp getting zose clothes off..."

She blinked a few times before her eye twitched menacingly. "Is that so?"

Secretly, Seras was simply relieved that he didn't press the issue. This just proved that she could always count on Pip to stay true to his goofy ways.

"No need to fear, mignonette! In zis, I am an expert. Now, let's get you cleaned up."

She raised her brow in amusement as she watched the captain advance slowly upon her. His hands were outstretched and were making squeezing motions in the air. The half-used cigarette he was smoking fell from between his lips and laid forlornly on the ground. In that moment, he truly resembled Frankenstein's monster.

"Hmmm..." was all she said when he became within arm's reach of her.

The young vampire smiled mischievously to herself and took an innocent step to the side. She reached out and brought her palm down against the back of Pip's head, sending him sprawling headfirst to the floor.

"Euh...ouch..."

Seras grinned at the sudden eruption of male laughter. With a victory in hand, she stepped over his body and continued on her original path.

"Good evening, Captain. You might want to use this time to clean up your mess while you're on the ground, or else Sir Integra and Walter will rip you a new one."

As she walked off, she snuck a glance over her shoulder. One of his Pip's men was crouched next to him. Beneath the laughter, she could hear the two conversing in whispers.

"Sir...maybe you should find a new hobby. That's your 137th loss..."

"Nonsense! One of zese nights..." Pip sat up and lit himself another cigarette. "I need another beer..." he said absentmindedly before calling after her. "'ey! 'ey, Mignonette! I zink you bruised my 'ead! Don't vampires 'ave 'ealing powers or some shit? Come back and kiss it better!"

Seras groaned and slapped her face, shaking her head. The man just didn't know when to call it quits. Perhaps she had damaged his head one too many times, but at least there was someone in the world who was as stubborn as her.

The young vampire descended the staircase that would bring her to her underground quarters. But as she approached her door, she couldn't bring herself to go inside. Was she really going to retreat to her room, wash off, sleep, and let everything be? Surely she was free for the rest of the night, but how was she going to be toyed with next? She would only be allowing Alucard to win once more, and his frightening grin of unrestrained amusement would continue to torment her every waking moment. Though she was a bit softer than she wanted to be, she was not a pushover by any standard.

The element of the unknown did not sit well within her mind. Nestled between anger and anxiety, Seras marched past her room and journeyed further down the underground corridor which ultimately led to Alucard's chambers at the dead end. She paused in front of his door and peered at the worn wooden surface.

A small shiver racked through her body as she sensed her master's presence on the other side. Her hand hovered an inch from the door before she decided against knocking. Whether she confronted him or not, Alucard knew that she was standing there. She could have sworn that she heard a quiet chuckle emanating from within the room, which only fueled her anger. Gritting her teeth together, she thrust her palm forward and knocked the door clean off its hinges.

Well, here goes nothing...

The young vampire had already made her move by visiting his territory, so there was no point in returning to her room just yet. With no other choice than to put faith in her judgment call, she walked over the fallen door and barged into the one room of the manor she had yet to explore.

Seras immediately took in the lack of furnishing. The room itself resembled a dungeon, and there were only three pieces of furniture that she could discern: an old coffin, a chair, and a small table. The chair was simple in its design but was certainly antique, and the seat back stood much taller than her.

But what made her commit the embarrassing gesture of dropping her jaw in wonder was the image of her master sitting before her like some regal king. Alucard had one ankle resting over his other knee, a wine glass filled with blood cupped within his grasp. He swirled the remaining contents nonchalantly, a sly smirk plastered on his face as he watched her impulsive entrance. A few tendrils of raven hair shaded the twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

For a moment, words failed her. When she finally found that she could speak, she uttered the first observation that came to mind. "Bloody hell, your room is even more boring than mine. I didn't think that was possible..." Even then, she wasn't being entirely truthful. Very few rooms within the Hellsing manor were richly adorned, but despite its plainness, the dark room suited the ancient vampire.

Seras mentally kicked herself. Did she really just say that?

"Not to your liking? I think it's rather quaint. To what do I owe this pleasure, Police Girl?" the ancient vampire asked, flashing his maniacal grin. "Perhaps, you've come to finish what we started?"

The young vampire snapped to attention and furrowed her brows. "Not how you have in mind, but that is why I came here."

"I see," Alucard said curiously as he rose from his throne. "Go on."

"Umm...well..." Seras fidgeted with her shirt as she gathered her thoughts. She then clenched her hands into fists and stared straight into his eyes, talking quicker than normal. "I just wanted you to be aware that I will not allow you to complicate my life any more than it already is! This is hard enough without your games..." She ended her speech in a whisper.

"Is that so, Police Girl? And what makes you think I'm playing games?"

"I don't know..." the young vampire answered sarcastically, mouth set into a scowl. "Maybe it's that toothy grin you keep flashing me."

"Well, right now I'm thinking you deserve proper punishment for destroying my door."

Seras looked up and flinched when she realized that Alucard was standing directly in front of her.

"Show off..." she muttered. She didn't need a demonstration to know how fast he could move as her undeveloped vampiric eyes stared off into space. Her eyes did, however, scan the doorway nervously.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea...

Oh, you have no idea how right you are, Police Girl...

"No, you're not listening! You cannot do this to me!"

Two things happened at that moment. Alucard had reached out to grab her, and before she registered what her arm was doing, she had decked her master right in the jaw.

The ancient vampire stumbled back a few steps. He must have not been expecting her to react so physically, but in his defense, Seras was admittedly just as shocked by her actions.

The young vampire's suspicions were confirmed when she caught sight of his shock-induced face, and she found herself slowly backing up toward the hall. After a small interval of unbearable silence, Alucard straightened himself as his features melted back into a neutral expression. He cast a deadly gaze upon her, and it was as if he had used his power to freeze her body because Seras could not move for the life of her. She gulped in fear as she saw the wheels turn within his head. Was he recalculating, or figuring out the most entertaining way to kill her?

Her spellbound state shattered as Alucard began to laugh uncontrollably.

"Yes, yes! You still have some life in you yet! Show me more of this fire within you, Police Girl!"

Seras shoved all of that so-called fire into her legs as she dashed into the corridor, but she did not get far. She let out a squeal as she suddenly found herself airborne. Feeling an odd sensation building within her mind, the young vampire looked down and saw her master's shadows weaving around her body, holding her in place. The shadow matter was solid yet ghostly, cold yet warm, frightening yet comforting.

She stared in fascination as she was carried back into the room, only to get crushed against Alucard's chest. The shadows lingered even as he wrapped his arms around her and locked his lips to hers for the second time that night, which proved to be just as alluring as the first. The young vampire discovered that her body was still sensitive from their earlier encounter, and her body had no qualms about melting into the curves of his frame like a life-size puzzle. Just before that last metaphorical piece found its home, she pounded her fist against Alucard's chest so that he might let her go.

"No, no, no, listen! I am not here for your entertainment! I'm not a bloody toy!"

"You are not a toy to me, Police Girl."

"I don't believe you! If you were telling the truth, if you really cared, you'd call me by my real name!"

The ancient vampire set her feet on the ground, but he did not back away. Instead, he leaned down to her eye level and licked away the single tear that had fallen from her face.

"You will come to see what I see in you. Get some rest tonight, Seras, because your real training will begin after dusk."

Seras stood there in a stupefied trance. Whether it was real or an illusion, her master stared back at her with an affectionate expression softening his features. She reached out and tentatively brushed her fingers against his cheek. Alucard leaned into her touch, placing feather-light kisses along the palm of her hand.

"You continue to doubt yourself and don't even realize to what degree you afflict my mind." The warmth in his eyes stayed, but his signature smile gradually dominated his face. "I am warning you now, Seras. The next time we're this close again, I will not stop until I have you screaming my name beneath me."

The young vampire flushed and stepped away from her master. After voicing some incoherent gibberish, she turned on her heel and scurried out the room.

"Run, my little kitten, run. But it is too late. You are mine, and I will make myself yours in turn. You will open yourself up to me when the time comes, and I will teach you all that I know..."

Seras ran the short distance to her bedroom and hurried inside, locking the door even though she knew very well that everything she feared could easily bypass the weak defense. She collapsed onto her bed and did not even bother to change out of her dirty clothes. Slamming her hand on top of the bed's operation control, she watched as the lid to her four-poster coffin descended upon her, shielding her temporarily from the outside world.

Men didn't make sense. Vampires didn't make sense. The voices at the back of her mind didn't make sense. Her new existence didn't make sense. Male vampires definitely didn't make sense. Why did life have to be so complicated?