Ok, I updated this as fast as possible. I know the suspense is killing y'all! But I broke it up because...*Sob* This will be the almost-last chapter of this fic. It's drawing to a close to fast, I can't help but drag it out.

But fear not, there will be a sequel fic - the first one I've ever done. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS FIC HAPPEN! Your encouragment means loads to me. :)

Also, as you will find, I'm really more of a Shoujo writer than a Shonen one (ironically). As a result of that, messy fight scenes aren't particularly my specialty unless they involve swords, words, or plain teeth and claws. But angst? That I can do. Just saying.

Now, on to what you REALLY want:

WARNINGS: Blood. Implied violence. A not-so surprise. (Because you guys already hate me). The usual.

Going on - HEADSTRONG!

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CH XXIII

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Blood.

It rushed through her veins, heart beating hard in her ears. It stained her hands, still fresh on her lips. It ran down her legs, her shaking body not feeling it at all. She was blind, the light too raw on her overworked retinas to make out anything except bright, sparkling light. Every now and then, there was a shadow that crossed over the light, a figureless form calling her name. But no matter how far she reached, she couldn't grasp at him. No matter how loud she screamed, he could not hear her call. She struggled in the grasps of something or the other, but no matter how hard she fought, she could not get free.

'I am so tired...It's just like that one time...yeah...' Her mind struggled to form thoughts. She was so tired. She tried to move, but felt something hold her down. In the next moment, there was something heavy on top of her, but it wasn't an oppressive weight. In fact, it felt...comforting. The shadow came again, saying something to her. She couldn't hear though, drifting farther away. She jolted when something touched her stomach, kicking against the intrusion. It didn't feel right. Something didn't feel right.

"Sss...Se...S...Seras..." The voice echoed in her mind. It felt...disconected. No, something wasn't right about this at all. But what was wrong?

'Where am I?' She thought. 'This isn't where I'm supposed to be. No. Where is Master?My Master...Am I laying next to him? Is that what I feel?' She thought. 'No. It's not Master. Where is Master? Where is Alucard? He was right next to me...did he leave? Did he disappear again?'

"No.' The voice in her head startled her, making her heart skip a beat dangerously. "I'm here, Seras. I'm here...You're going to be okay. You'll be okay. Just don't fall asleep...Whatever you do, DON'T FALL ASLEEP."

"Master," She tried to smile. "There you are. I'm...glad..."

"Seras, NO! Don't fall asleep! Stay awake!" She couldn't. Not this time.

'Sorry, Master, but I have to disobey you...'

"SERAS! Wake up!"

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Seras woke with a start, sitting up in her bed. Well, to call it hers wouldn't be right - she looked quickly over to see her Master laying back, eyes open and awake, watching her with a mixture of apprehension and fatigue.

"You were having a devil of a nightmare. I tried to wake you up by walking in your dreams again, but your mind distorted my presence there. You're getting stronger." Seras breathed, looking down at her hands, which were shaking. "That...was a dream?" Her whole body shook. It felt so real. Like she was dying...

"Arvin..." She started, but her Master cut her off.

"He's gone now, Seras. Don't you remember?" She struggled to get her mind into working order, her dream having shook her more than she'd of liked.

"He fled. Like the bloody coward he is." Alucard reminded her. "As soon as I came in, the man became a complete chicken, oweing, apparently, to Lukas' charms." Seras swallowed, taking a calming breath.

"What did Lukas do to him, anyway?"

"Nothing of particular merit. He merely cast an illusion on poor Arvin the night we arrived here with a grim reminder of my power. He ruined the fun, if you ask me. I was quite looking forward to fighting my old nemesis. But I guess time has weakened his resolve."

"Is everyone else okay?" Seras asked, voice shaky. Her body still trembled against her will, her head spinning.

"Seras." Her Master said sternly. She turned to look at him, and was met with his hand on her cheek.

"It was only a dream." He reassured her in a strangely gentle manner. "Now, let's go back to sleep. You need your rest for this evening." She nodded, lying back down against him, tucking her head into his shoulder.

"Can I sleep like this for now?" She asked. His arm wrapping around her shoulder answered for him.

"Go to sleep. We have a full night ahead."

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Seras walked along the corridors with her Master, feeling incredibly awkward as every pair of eyes they passed came to stare at her walking by. 'Probably because of this stupid outfit. Damn master, why did you have to make me wear a DRESS!' Seras mentally pouted. He'd said something about it being a traditional thing, but the amused look he'd given her when she had to ask him to tie the bodice of the damn thing had her convinced he was doing it just to torment her.

'They're all staring at me...what the hell master Alucard! Putting me in something like this - it barely fits me!' The dress was one befitting of a persian princess, and was doubtlessly as old as her Master, if not older still. It was made of dark scarlet coloured silk that was embroidered with gold and silver, with a beautiful mosaic pattern woven into the bottom in shades of lighter red and copper. It was a beautiful dress, no doubt, but it left her chest with little room, forcing her to bear more cleavage than she was comfortable with. What's more, the dress was made for someone far taller than her, and so she struggled not to trip over it as she walked beside him.

Alucard had changed attire as well - he wore clothes that matched her dress in colour, but stuck to a more traditional romanian style, with a long, scarlet overcoat draping his form, bordered at the collar by what looked like soft black fur. The latches that kept the coat shut were trimmed in gold, though the rest of the hems were stitched in black. He'd also forsaken his combat boots, as had she, for more formal black ones.

"Let me do the talking, and we should be fine." Alucard said once they rounded a corner, headed to some room unknown.

"Where are we going anyway? And why - " Seras complained as she once again stumbled over the dress. "Is this dress so damn long?" Alucard merely chuckled.

"It's supposed to cover your ankles." He remarked, smirking in amusement. As she looked up at him, she was grateful he hadn't changed the appearance of his hair or face. She wasn't sure she could handle that big of a change right now.

"My ankles? It covers my entire foot!" Alucard only grinned. He was in a good mood today, she noted.

They walked on for a ways before he added, "That dress used to belong to my first wife." Seras looked at him as he said this, not expecting any more commentary from him. "My human one. It was her wedding gown. Every woman I have ever given a seat to beside me has worn that dress on the day they were presented to the council." He turned to look ahead of him with a nearly nostalgic gleam in his eye. "Though you are not my wife this time, I thought it would be fitting for you to wear it today."

"Why, might I ask, does every woman wear this dress on this day?" Seras almost dreaded to know.

"Because normally, I present them as my wife or fiance to the council, who must agree upon my choice - not that their disagreement has ever stopped me before. It is a tradition in this estate, of sorts, for the new bride to wear it. Besides, that dress is really all I have left of her - or my human life, for that matter." Seras felt guilty for cursing it now, instead examining the curls of embroidery on it. It was the only thing her Master had left of his human life, and probably the only thing from that time that had any kind of happy memories attached to it. She stroked the red silk, admiring how well-kept it was for it's age.

"Could I ever be your wife, I wonder?" Seras wondered out loud in a soft whisper. Her Master, realizing she hadn't meant to say it aloud, kept a quiet grin on his face as they went onward.

'Perhaps you shall, my little Seras. Perhaps you shall.'

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They entered an ornately decorated square-shaped room, with the walls themselves painted blue and gold in ancient, atlernating patterns. At the center of the room was a large oval table, not unlike what Integra had had in her own meeting room, made of reddish wood that had a varnish so smooth you could probably use it for a mirror. At the table sat six individuals, some of which Seras recognized. In the middle of the table opposite where they'd entered sat Lukas, who beamed a friendly expression at the two as they entered. One person over to his right (their left), was, much to Seras' surprise, Ariel, and as those nearest to them turned their heads to see the newcomers, she also recognized Duma, who rose from his seat to greet them, offering a shallow bow.

"Welcome, Lord Alucard, Lady Seras." He rose from his bow as Alucard lead her to the "official" seat at the end of the table, having her sit, as usual, right beside him.

Seras took the time to examine some of the newer faces, and found them all wearing similar expressions of wariness or obvious discontent, though whether it was with her or her Master, she could not presently tell. Deciding it was wiser to look to a more friendly face, Seras was not-so-shockingly disappointed when Ariel's expression was no less grim, though he held his head down at an angle which concealed his eyes in shadow.

"You have returned, at last, to your place upon the throne." Seras looked around Duma, whom she was seated nearest to, to look at the vampire at the other end of the table as he spoke for the first time. His voice was deep, but had a casual kind of air, as did his general countenance; all council members were wearing the same black robes, but this one's expression seemed at once both at-ease and dangerously on-edge - the long, silky black hair that dangled halfway across his face didn't add to any sense of comfort around him, either. He was truly a beautiful sight to behold, if she was being honest; dark areas around his eyes that could have been from sleep deprivation made it seem like he was wearing eye-shadow, a fact which made his blood-coloured irises seem brighter than they were. His skin was the colour of snow, and so translucent was it in some places that as he rested his hands casually upon the table's surface, she could already see the veins running along his wrist. However, rather than the transparency of his skin making him appear vulgar or frightening, it actually (somehow) added to his attractiveness.

And that, in a way, frightened her.

Looking back to Alucard, she could almost call him dark-skinned in comparison, and as she spared a glance over at Lukas, found a most worrying sort of frown on his face.

"It has been a long time, Elias." Alucard greeted with his trademark grin - he was on guard.

"You know you are always welcome to refer to me as simply Eli." The man said pleasantly, and Seras had to mentally check herself when she realized he was speaking perfect English.

"Now, in the interests of moving things along, I must ask - who is the special lady whom you've invited into our midst this evening?" Seras felt a ripple of unease grip her at the smooth, deliberate way he spoke. Something didn't settle right with her about it.

"My Childe, if you must know." Alucard's grin faltered, giving way to a more obviously guarded expression, though it likely seemed impassive to most. "Though she isn't my wife this time. Not yet, anyway." Seras couldn't resist turning her head like an owl to stare at her Master for a moment, unsure what to make of the situation in general, never mind a statement like that.

"I see." Elias said, a sly kind of smile on his face as he examined Seras passively, showing no real interest in her. 'In a way I'm kind of grateful for that, but...' She regarded Elias warily. 'Something doesn't feel right about him. He's too...calm. No - maybe calm isn't the right word. In any case, there's definitely something off about him.'

"Pleasantries aside," Another council member said, one far stockier than the slender Elias, and looking about as mean. "We have things to discuss, don't we, Alucard?" Seras shuddered at the sound of the man's voice, which sounded like thunder even when he was speaking quietly.

"Indeed, though I can't quite say if I'm ready yet to discuss those things." Alucard replied casually. Seras watched the man's face transform into a fairly accurate visage of an angry tiger, with lips just beginning to draw over his fangs, which, Seras noted, stuck out of his mouth when it was closed.

"Now, now, Baxter. Keep your temper." Elias chided him like he was a child, his regal, calm disposition never faltering. "No need to start a fight. If the King will not discuss his renewed duties at this time, then we are not one's to hinder him, are we?" Seras felt her hackles start to rise almost against her will before realizing it was because her Master's energy had begun to seep from him, wrapping itself around her like the loose folds of a blanket. Was he protecting her? Warning her? From what?

"Elias - " A third member, one substantially more scraggly looking than Elias, announced. "Do you not think that it would be wiser to discuss those things now?" Seras took a moment to listen to his voice, and didn't like what she heard even more than the last one, for his voice was coarse and raspy like a serpent's, and had a shady appearance to match.

"We can not force the hand of the King, Tobi." Elias said. "If he will not venture, we can not move. We are, after all, merely pieces on the board." Elias drew up a hand to support his chin, revealing long, black fingernails that looked more akin to claws than Seras would have liked. "We, the Council, are merely the Rooks* of the chessboard. Our only duty is to keep the King out of danger by directing his movements and, when necessary," His hand came down suddenly upon the table with a hard smack, making Seras jump. "Sacrificing ourselves." Elias' expression then could have been likened to a fox that'd caught a hen, and Seras, being of the type to avoid confrontation when possible, couldn't help but look quickly away when that same devilish expression came her way.

'Man, that guy gives me chills!'

"I almost forgot," Elias said, his eyes still stuck on Seras. She grimmaced when his stare became borderline predatory, and right then formulated a long list of reasons to avoid this guy - not that she needed any more than one, if he was going to look at her like that. "You never did mention the Lady's name." Alucard turned to Seras expectantly, as did all the other eyes in the room - except for Ariel, who's gaze had not moved from it's downward position.

"Seras. Seras Victoria." Seras introduced herself half-absently, mind caught upon the mentally absent Ariel - what was wrong with him? Was he in trouble? Why wasn't he looking up?

A chuckle that sounded like broken glass, light and sharp, reached her ears and drew her attention back to the dark, eerie Elias, who now was showing far more interest in her than she liked. "It would seem your Child has a wandering mind." He remarked, and Seras realized then that she'd half-mumbled her name, rather than stating it in a dignified way. 'Oh great. Way to make a first impression, numbskull!'

"Indeed, she does." Alucard agreed, causing Seras to stare at him with half a glare on her mind. "But I think you will find her energetic spirit to be quite capable of doing things that even I wouldn't dream of." Seras' expression changed then to utter bewilderment, her train of thought switching tracks. 'What's that supposed to mean? I'm not nearly as terrible as he is...am I?' Anxiety cut into her stomach like broken mirror shards, forcing her to reflect upon her past doings. 'Sure, I've hunted humans, but it's not like he doesn't do it regularly...'

"I see." was Elias' response. He rose then, and the three strangers plus Duma followed suit.

"Well then, Alucard." Elias stated, "If there is nothing more to be had today, then there is no sense in keeping this meeting going." He looked once more to Seras with an unidentifiable emotion in his dark red irises. "With that, I bid you and your Childe a fair night." As Elias bowed, Alucard stood, encouraging Seras to rise as well, his energy still wrapped around her and getting tighter.

"I assure you, the night will not be wasted." A brief exchange of toothy grins told Seras that these two obviously had some kind of beef with each other - for they weren't truly smiling when they grinned at each other, but baring their teeth.

Ariel followed soon behind, and as he lifted his head for the first time, Seras got a clear picture of why he'd kept it down. Somehow, a long, jagged scar had appeared on his face from brow to cheek over one eye, though the organ itself wasn't damaged. 'He was punished.' Her mind said, and she could not help but spare him a look of pity as he walked out of the door. Lukas remained where he was at, only standing once everyone else had gone.

"Well, my Lady," He addressed Seras, coming around the table to stand beside her. He intended to reach out his hand to her, but halted halfway there, sensing her Master's energy around her with a startled expression.

"It isn't you." Alucard clarified, and his energy dissipated. "I neither like nor trust Elias with anything. He may be the oldest vampire in Romania, but that does not make him right."

"I agree completely, my Lord." Lukas said with a formal hand over his chest. "However, seniority does give him entitlement, per our kind's custom. As such, even you would be hard-pressed to remove him from authority, short of killing him." Sensing his mistake, Lukas rushed to add, "Which isn't wise, since he has been the primary hope of this place since you left."

"Hope? Since when do vampire's hope?"

"When you are stuck beneath the thumb of someone like Arvin, anyone can hope for some kind of

"Um..." Seras interjected as politely as possible, drawing both sets of eyes to her. "Forgive me for not knowing, but what exactly did Arvin do that was so terrible?" Lukas looked at Alucard almost accusingly.

"You bring her here to fight him, yet tell her not of what he's done?"

"There wasn't enough time." Alucard excused. Lukas gave him a 'I call bullshit' kind of look, nearly making Seras laugh, though she got away with covering her smile with her hand. He then turned his attention to her, clearing his throat.

"Arvin, besides trying to abolish the fangless, enforced a rather indignant and wholly unjustified series of laws about how vampires were to mingle with the human race." Lukas' displeasure was evident in his voice. "He tried, for instance, to enforce that all vampires, fangless or otherwise, were to actively feed on the humans of neighboring villages, in order to 'keep the human population down' in those areas." Lukas' teeth grit in his mouth. "Besides causing problems with vampiric activity and ghouls, his methodology caused severe ramifications for the fangless. We can not feed on humans like other vampires do, what with our fangs permanently removed." Lukas' expression became melancholy. "For normal vampires, it is almost impossible to starve to death. Once your hunger becomes great enough, your instincts will kick in and you will be forced by them to feed." Lukas touched his chin absently, his eyes distant. "But removing the primary fangs from a vampire changes them. Their teeth no longer transform into carnivorous fangs, and the venom that paralyzes human prey and intoxicates them is not as strong. With no fangs, a human bitten is probable to escape - though being fangless does have one advantage, in a way, regarding that." Seras listened intently. "For reasons I can not explain, humans that are bitten by a fangless do not always change into vampires or ghouls." Seras exchanged glances with Alucard about this. "Sometimes, even when skin is broken, they simply continue to bleed - but sometimes never change at all, or even more rarely, half-change."

"Half?"

"Yes. This has only happened so far with virgins who are bitten; they gain vampiric power, and thirst for blood, yet do not fully transform. Often, they become human again after a few days."

"The same effect as humans drinking vampire blood." Alucard remarked. "Interesting."

"You are not the only one to think so." Lukas said morosely. "Arvin attempted to...shall we say, cultivate, our faction for his own uses. Of course, no one would agree to become his experimental toys, but..."

"How intriguing." Alucard said, a sly smirk on his face. "Here I didn't even know there was such a thing as a fangless vampire, and now I am learning that they may hold the key to undoing our curse."

"Perhaps," Lukas said warily. "However, while our bite does not always transfer our curse unto others completely, those are fairly rare exceptions. Besides, even if there was a way to undo it, I very much doubt it would go over well, since the only one's who would be able to use it are newborn vampires. If you were to turn yourself human after living longer than their lifespan..."

"You would die." Alucard finished. "Perhaps. But it would certainly make for a revolutionary cure." Alucard grinned the way he did when he got excited, and Seras had to restrain a groan, knowing she now had to deal with an emotionally aroused Alucard all night.

"Indeed." Sensing the conversation closing, Seras went to the door, and wasn't surprised when the other two ghosted behind, still having some sort of silent conversation as Lukas more or less escorted them back to Alucard's chambers.

"You are welcome to come here when you like, so long as you don't enter without permission." Alucard said when they arrived to the double doors. Seras looked at him almost affectionately, not really surprised he would give Lukas such a permission. Ordinarily Alucard's 'room' consisted of the room itself as well as anything four meters outside of it. For him to allow Lukas the permission of coming within those four meters was akin to anyone else saying he could walk in whenever he liked.

"Of course, my Lord." Lukas bowed formally once more. "Then, I bid you and the Lady good night." He reached out and kissed her hand again, causing her to blush profusely. He then stood and without another word went on his merry way.

"Can I get out of this dress now?" Seras whined involuntarily. The bodice was beginning to hurt.

"Only if I get to take it off of you."

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Mwahahaha, I am evil and I know it.

Ok, ok, so leaving that there. Whatchu think? I know it got confusing in some areas, but it's taken me two and a half weeks to pump this out between school and other fanfictions, so forgive me if it's a tad choppy.

Whelp, you know what to do: untill then, I bid thee farewell, until the next (far more steamy) episode, with much angst yet to come!