At Wars End

The Wolf and His Lady

Seras lay sleeping in her bed. Her eyes shut peacefully even after such a brutal battle. They had lost Walter to the Nazi’s but surprisingly they had gained a new ally. She smiled in her undead sleep as a picture his face in her sleep. His high cheek bones and strong cut face, Red eyes gleaming out from behind graceful silver locks. His collar pulled over the majority of his face you could only see his nose and above. He wore a hat which he usually had pulled down over his face; it gave him a sense of mystery.

Next to her bed on the floor a man leaned against her bedside. He was ever guarding…ever waiting for his mistress to awaken. He could have changed form to be more comfortable for the night but, he didn’t want to test the knowledge of his mistress and have her wake screaming at the sight of him. She was naïve and innocent for a vampire. He didn’t wish to startle her just yet. His long legs stretched out in front of him and he leaned his head back against the mattress only to look into the face of the younger woman.

She was small; he noticed. She had short spiked hair that reminded him somewhat of Schrödinger. That silly cat-boy had come back from giving the Queen and Hellsing the message of declared war. All he could talk about was the fledgling of Alucard and how pretty and nice she was. It used to drive him mad but, when he had fought the vampiress himself. She was no longer the fledgling of Alucard but, her own independent Nosferatu. She was surprisingly powerful and he was glad to have lost to such an opponent. She had proven to be a challenge.

The biggest difference between the jester of the Millennium organization and, the vampiress of Hellsing was their faces. Seras had a sweet and gentle look about her. One that portrayed innocence and purity only a virgin or child were capable of. While Schrodinger, was the epitome of comic relief stained with a sense of malice and violence. The boy was fun sure no doubt about that. He was a soldier in every sense of the word…a man all the same.

He heard her groan a bit and looked at her wondering what could be bothering her. She seemed peaceful until this moment. He supposed it was probably about the whole war. She didn’t seem like the type who would fight in a war but, because of her race was required to. She had abilities and strengths the organization needed to win the war. Her sire had not returned yet much to her dismay he noticed. The vampire lord had been recluse in his duties. He hasn’t taught her much about herself or what she is at all.

Seeing the woman stir he stood and walked over to the table, he grabbed a blood pack out of the ice bucket and brought it back to the drowsy vampire. The blood had been left there earlier by Hellsing’s new maid. If her sire wasn’t going to do his job he supposed he could teach her. After all she had spared his life and allowed him to come with her to Hellsing to gain the heir’s good graces. She even took responsibility for him upon herself, at great risk to her own life. The Hellsing woman had seemed quite irate with her. He remembered she had muttered something about getting pets that weren’t century old werewolves. He had intelligently not replied to such a comment though it had irked him.

The vampiress took the pack from him muttering a soft “Thank you.” Before she ripped into it and began to feed. He could feel his hunger catching up with him and grimaced. With Millennium he could hunt as he wished. With Hellsing though, he could not without risking his mistress’s neck. He would hate to repay the vampiress so poorly when she had set him free of the insane man, the Major. Serving the gluttonous man had been a horrible experience, he would have killed him had his honor allowed it. When the Major fell she had become his new master. Being his present opponent when the Major had fallen he felt the old connection sever and this new one be created.

Compared to the Major, Seras was a great improvement as a Master. She was kind, warm, and fair. She never forced him into anything unless it was required by Integra Hellsing. Mostly it was for missions to clean up the country from the Major’s greatest folly, the ghouls he created ran amok the towns and destroyed almost everything in their path until they were eliminated. He was happy to be of service. Something in his mind told him he wouldn’t be able to live in a peaceful setting, after being in war for so long. War and battle is all you really know.

The vampiress looked up at him as he was standing; he stared at her waiting for her to speak. “Hello Hans…I hope you didn’t sleep on the floor all night. I told you we could share the bed it’s plenty big enough.”  He said nothing but merely reached out his hand. She grasped it and he pulled her to stand. She was at least two heads shorter than he was. His stomach growled and oddly enough he blushed embarrassed that she heard. She just smiled and said, “Come on let’s go get you some food.” She kept a firm hold on his hand and pulled him through the hall of the basement.

When they began to climb the stairs towards the main floor the werewolf could sense the vampire’s eyes on him. Not his mistress’s but, her sire’s. He began to wonder why the vampire lord had yet to reveal himself to the girl yet when he heard a voice in his head. ‘I need her to let go of her need for my presence. What she wants in her immortal life is something I cannot give.’ The vampire obviously sensed his confusion as he answered the question in the werewolf’s mind. ‘She longs for love…a human weakness and emotion that she clings to for survival. While most of our kind thrives off chaos, blood, and death…she thrives from live, peace, and love.’ The werewolf began to understand what made her so kind. It was her human heart hidden behind vampiric strength.

He could smell the meat cooking from where they were on the main floor his stomach grumbled again and his mistress smiled. He liked her smile…it seemed to bring her face to life. She stopped in front of the door and opened it wide. She saw one of the new Hellsing soldiers in there who was afraid of her vampiric ways she grinned saying in a chipper manner, “Good Morning!” Her eyes shut as she smiled friendly, “Just come to get my friend some breakfast…hope you don’t mind.” The soldier paled at her and paled even more so when he saw her companion. Nodding he gestured to the fridge and said, “Take whatever you like just keep away from me!” The man practically bolted past them into the hallway as Seras approached the cooler while Hans took a seat at the small table.

Seras may not have been human anymore but, she still was an excellent chef! Her pride and joy when she had friends over as a human, was her ability to entertain them through her different recipes. She cooked all sorts of foods and her friends and fellow cops always were excited to come back for more. She decided that since he was a werewolf he must need to eat a lot and so cooked him an amazing breakfast. There were eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, muffins, biscuits, gravies, and all sorts of other breakfast combo. When she was done she laid all the food on the table in front of him and smiled warmly. She then turned and went to sit by the window as the moon was rising.

Hans looked down at the table in shock and pleasure. She had made him a buffet! His own personal buffet! He wanted to jump up and hug the girl but, his stomach’s need came first. He smiled and dug in to his mistress’s cooking. The taste was even better than he thought! He just grinned and continued to finish his breakfast. He heard the door open and a soft set of sighs before looking over only to see his Mistress talking to Integra quietly. He could have heard the conversation if he wanted but, he wanted to respect their privacy. If he needed to know anything his mistress would tell him when the time came.

Integra stood beside Seras looking out at the moon, “You miss him too, don’t you Seras?” Her tone was one of pain and betrayal. Seras assumed from that she was speaking of Walter and said, “Yes Integra, I do miss Walter a lot. He was to be honest…my first true friend here at Hellsing.” Integra’s eyes widened…she had been talking about Alucard but, she supposed the girl’s word were true. Alucard may have saved her and sired her…but, he never bonded with her until long after Walter made it feel like home for the newly turned vampiress. She smiled and said, “Yes he was a great man before Millennium struck him at his weakest point.”

Seras’ eyes turned to the human before her. Integra aged far beyond her years as a child. Now though, she had the mind to match even the oldest of beings in this world. “I also miss Alucard. I can survive without him though…I did well enough without him becoming a vampire. I don’t need him anymore.” She said this knowing Integra needed to hear it. “My thoughts of Master have never surpassed those of family. I may be searching for love…but, I will not ask of him more then he could give me.”

Her red eyes hazed over in memories. She thought of all those who had been there for her. Her parents, Walter, Pip, Alucard, and Anderson all people who had supported her in desperate times and now…all of them gone. All she had left were their memories except for Alucard. She wasn’t stupid she knew he was alive and merely avoiding her. If he came back, that would be great.

If not, whatever. She had Hans with her as a companion…and so far he seemed to be a fairly pleasant one. She began to wonder though, ‘What will happen if I get close to him? Will he…disappear like all the others?’ She was uncertain of what the future held for them but, for now she would just enjoy his company. She looked over at him watching him eat her food.

She always felt balanced around him. Around Alucard she felt weak and pitiful. Around Walter she had felt invincible. Around Hans though, she felt strong but weak, immortal but vulnerable. She felt normal…as if she were human again. Oddly enough, she missed feeling human. Hans made her feel happy. He didn’t fear her or judge her. He just accepted her as is and stuck by her. He didn’t move to change a single thing about her…and that meant more to her than anything in the world.
Hans could feel her eyes on him as he finished the last of the food she prepped for him. He looked up with a clean face and a happy smile at her. It was a small happy smile but, it was there none the less. He nodded with respect towards his mistress’s commander. He watched as his mistress turned forlorn towards the window looking at the stars. Feeling slightly troubled with this arrangement, he transformed into his wolf form and padded his nose against her side. It was his way of giving comfort.

Seras felt the wet snout against her hand and pet the wolf’s head gently. She could feel him reaching out to soothe her through the link in her mind. He obviously didn’t like a sad mistress. She smiled and began to scratch behind his ears before kneeling on the floor. Giggling she said, “You’re just one big puppy aren’t you?” He barked in return, while he didn’t like being called a puppy, he felt that her smile was worth the ridiculous misnomer.

He nuzzled her neck taking in her scent with wolfish delight. She had the scent of lavender over the hollow smell of death that all vampires had. He decided to tackle her to the floor and lick her cheeks to gauge a reaction from the vampiress.

Seras was shocked as she was knocked to the ground by the wolf’s impact. When he started licking her face she couldn’t help but laugh as Integra stepped away her face full of amusement. ‘Well it seems he’s got everything under control.’ With that thought Integra left the two to their games. Seras playfully wrestled with him in his wolf form as she cried out in mock horror, “Wolf kisses ew!” but, poor Hans whimpered sadly at that. He felt rejected.

When Hans had stopped playing Seras looked down at him. He seemed upset and she went to scratch behind his ears. He moved away slowly then covered his face with his paws. Seras frowned and reached out to him mentally asking.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
‘You said don’t like getting licked?’
‘Of course I do! Wait a sec. You didn’t take me saying ew seriously did you?’
‘You were joking?’

Seras could only smile and say, “Yes I was joking so you can stop being sad you.” She began scratching him behind the ears and happily continued when she heard a content growl from him. They stayed like that for a little while but, Seras knew a mission was probably taking place tonight stood up. At Hans curious glance she said, “I have to go see Integra…it’s around this time of night when she usually has a mission ready for me.” When he nodded in understanding she turned and walked out of the kitchen expecting to be followed by the wolf Hans when his hand appeared on the threshold. He had turned back into a human when she turned away. That was quick and he actually had clothes on this time. Smiling at him, she led him through the halls and up to Sir Integra Hellsing’s office.

Integra sat behind her desk sorting through paper work. Looking up she was not surprised to see Seras but, she was surprised to see the wolf so close behind her. He acted as if he were some guard dog or something to her.
‘That is because Master. When a werewolf’s life is spared after a battle…the werewolf serves the one who spared them until they either die or they are spared by someone else in another battle. He has by werewolf code become her protector.’
‘So, all this because she kept him alive, Alucard?’
‘Yes my Master. This is how it will remain.’
‘Very well then…I still think you should come home though’
‘I will Master once, a more powerful bond has come between them.’
‘Fair enough, vampire. When this bond is formed though, I want no complaints about you coming home. Is that understood?’
‘Understood and noted, Master.’
‘What should I do to allow this bond more time to grow?’
‘Send them somewhere…under guise of a mission perhaps.’
‘Yes, that will do nicely. Thank you, Servant.’

Integra looked up at the duo. ‘I have a mission for you one…that may take quite some time to accomplish.” Seras saluted and the werewolf nodded. He would only salute to Seras, she surmised. Her lips quirking in a smile she continued, “I need you two to start searching for Alucard…I can’t have a vampire of his power level running amok in Europe.”
Seras nodded her lips frowning, “Where should we start?” Integra began to think as if guessing, “Start in the Swiss Alps. There is almost no sunlight there day or night. He may have hidden there.”
‘What are you doing Master? I am in the Swiss Alps.’
‘I know Alucard but, you are the more experienced one…you can avoid them. It will allow them the time needed for them to work together and form this bond.’
‘Ah yes, I see what you’re doing. You can count on me to play along.’
‘Very good Servant, I expect detailed reports of their progress.’
‘Of course, Master.’

She nodded to herself. “Yes you two will begin searching in the Swiss Alps.” She stood and saluted to them. “Dismissed soldiers.”

Seras saluted and left the room Hans following right behind her.

When the door closed Integra couldn’t help but, smile at the plans of her and her servant. ‘Ingenious indeed.’ With that she returned to her nightly paper work and duties.