A/N: Final chapter finished and finalized by beta. Thanks to all who read and especially to those who reviewed.

Final Masquerade

Seras could feel the horse galloping hard beneath them as the three companions rode along the mountainous path. The slippery dirt and large rocks did not help in their journey as the darkness hindered the eyesight of their steeds.

She felt safe, however, nestled against her undead lover’s cool chest as he urged them on faster with his strong kicks and unmerciful voice as he shouted his commands. She was tightly wrapped about his dress coat, which obscured most of her view, but she could sense rather than see their approach to the castle.

The young woman gasped as they splashed through a large puddle of water and mist sprayed upward upon herself. She was thus violently reminded of her inappropriate attire as she shivered against the cold, and she felt the slow creep of sleep coming over her senses.

“Stay awake” she suddenly heard her lover order as she looked up into his flaming eyes staring down upon her small form. “You must not slip into sleep just yet.”

Seras, though she did not fully understand his warning, nodded her head and shook off her drowsiness. She knew something would go wrong were she to slumber now, in the condition she now lay within.

She also was aware of shouts far behind, but catching upon their steps. The voices were familiar, and she swore an oath was heard which sounded from the lips of her mistress. She had no doubt they were behind in quick compliance with their characters, and her suspicions were confirmed as Alucard’s voice rang more loudly in the night air as he urged the horses to move faster.

With their mouths breathing the cold night air and their lungs aching, the horses finally succeeded in carrying their passengers to the destination as the castle came into view. The drawbridge was down and they loudly sprinted over the planks and into the small courtyard.

Alucard quickly dismounted with his possession, followed less nimbly by his ill-gotten servant. The noise of their pursuers was growing more loudly as the master gave the reins of his horse to the man.

“Take them into that hall” he ordered as he nodded toward a large, dark passage to their left. “And do not show yourself until you are wanted by myself.”

The servant muttered beneath his breath but obeyed the orders as he led the steeds into the darkness and out of their sight around a corner.

When he had disappeared Alucard quickly strode down the opposite hall and into the familiar room of the library. There he carefully placed Seras upon one of the couches and lit a fire in the hearth. With the limited light from the glow of the burning wood, he stood beside the mantle and turned to his lover.

Seras could feel the heat of the flames, but her condition was increasingly growing uncomfortable. She struggled to breath as her body began to feel numb as though ice was slowly sinking into her skin, and each gasp brought more pain. She clutched at the material beneath herself as her body suddenly stiffened, as though with a cramp, and she cried out in fear and pain.

Alucard merely watched the scene before himself as he waited for his promised-fledgling to decide her fate. Each raspy breath was her human survival instinct wishing for her to live, while his blood demanded she succumb to the fate he had created and slip into death.

He had one more role to play in her life, and then the decision would be chosen. The choice would have to be quick, as her former companions were nearly at the entrance to his abode.

Slowly he strode over to the couch upon which she laid and knelt beside her shivering form. Her eyes were half open and her skin was pale from the cold and lack of blood. Her teeth were ground together as she bared the pain, and still her hands were clenched amidst the furniture’s cloth.

“Seras” he called and her eyes slowly moved to meet his gaze. “Your body demands you both live and die, but what does your soul choose?”

For a few long moments the only sounds in the room were Seras’ strained breath and the crackling of the fire. Alucard waited with the patience of an immortal as, through the pain and tearing within her body, she sought to find the decision her very soul demanded.

Then the moment arrived, and all was done.

“You” she managed to softly whisper. “It wants you.”

Any more words were interrupted by a great wave of agony as she screamed out her suffering. Alucard, however, grinned widely and settled a hand upon her writhing form. He swept over her neck and bit deeply into the two marks which showed his possession.

Seras gasped as her world of pain was suddenly penetrated by a world of pleasure. Her eyes shot open as she felt his fangs dig deeper, searching for her blood and her soul as he suckled her very essence. She moaned as she slipped into the world of ecstacy as her lover wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her close to his chest.

Seras felt the haze of erotic sensations fill her soul and she welcomed the entrance with open arms as she sensed a new phase enter her body. Her muscles relaxed and her skin grew ever more white as she felt her nails lengthen and her eyes grew accustomed to the dark shadows of the room. She could feel the push of her teeth as her canines slowly lengthened and sharpened as they settled upon her lips.

Then the feeling of her heart slowly began to stop, and with the final throb her lungs quit and she stopped breathing.

Outside the castle Integra and Walter stepped off their horses on the other side of the bridge and looked warily at the construction which stood imperiously before them. Both were aware they had probably arrived too late to save the life of their friend, but they could at least save her soul through release from the curse.

The bag upon Integra’s hip showed they had prepared for the worst, as the contents contained sacred relics and sharp instruments perfect for a fight with the undead. They had but need to wait for the sun to destroy the creature, but the daybreak was too long in coming and their companion may still be saved.

Thus the two companions strode quicky across the bridge and into the courtyard of the keep. All was still as their steps rang throughout the structure, and they silently cursed the stones beneath their feet. They would find it difficult to hunt about the castle for their target with the noise they would undoubtedly create.

They had little time to wait, however, as their prey came to where they stood.

“Good evening” a voice suddenly greeted as both turned to see the creature step out from the shadows.

His eyes swept over his predators and he grinned widely as his orbs flashed an unusual shade of red. However, the object in his arms held their attention as Seras lay in his grasp. She did not stir, nor did she appear to be breathing.

“Monster!” Integra growled in fury as she scowled at the undead. “You will not be left to continue your existence” she swore as she reached for her bag of weapons.

“Nor will you” Alucard suddenly interrupted as he suddenly brandished a torch in a free hand and lit the dry vines which grew along the walls.

“You fool!” Integra cried out in alarm.

Walter and she could merely watch as the flames flickered and then caught the dry leaves and stocks. As though starving for food, the fire fed itself quickly and soon the entire wall was engulfed in its light. In a matter of seconds the entire area would be consumed by the hunger of the red destruction, and they would all be taken with the castle into oblivion.

The monster merely laughed wickedly as the two companions stepped back from the heat of the flames which swelled up and climbed the vines which grew above where they stood. A beam crashed to the ground and separated the two companions from Seras as each tried to see a way through the wall of fire.

Soon, though, the smoke was too much for their lungs and they began to cough violently. The haze was growing stronger and soon everything about them but the drawbridge behind had vanished.

“Sir Integra, we must leave” Walter strongly advised as he choked on smoke.

Integra refused to reply immediately and could only look to where she knew the monster and Seras still stood. Her eyes were sharp, both from the burning haze and her anger, and for a moment she toyed with the idea of merely pushing through and facing the creature in a final confrontation.

However, other work could be done while she yet lived.

“Outside, Walter!” Integra commanded as she led the way out onto the bridge and toward the horses who waited patiently for their masters.

The two companions mounted their steeds and turned to face the castle.

The structure was now completely engulfed in flames which intruded upon the highest parts of the stones. The drawbridge was no longer untouched as fire flicked at one end and threatened to consume the remaining wood. Windows could be heard bursting from the heat and the light was bright enough to reveal the entire area around the castle.

There was no hope for anyone to survive.

With some hesitation, and a final look of dismay, Walter turned his horse toward the city. Integra looked on for a moment longer, her eyes hard with determination and her hands tightly gripping the reins.

She could not allow such creatures to exist to corrupt others such as her former servant, and she vowed to destroy the abominations which existed in the world. With her final gaze full of disgust and filled with passion she turned her horse and led her solitary servant back to the capital.

As soon as the two companions had rounded the corner and gone further down the trail, Alucard felt the release of his will against their own. He chuckled quietly as he stepped out into the courtyard and into the full gleam of the moon which shown brightly above through the untouched beams and vines.

The hallucinations he had implanted within their minds with his single glance had played their part wonderfully, at least for the moment.

However, he now had time to attend to his child-bride who still lay within his arms. Her white skin and still breath did not worry him as he walked over to a stone bench in the far corner of the courtyard. He slowly knelt and settled her upon the cool slab, but still she did not waken.

“Servant” he spoke as he turned to the hall in which the man had left.

The wayward gentleman heard his master’s call and could not help but obey as he sauntered out of the passage and slithered to Alucard’s side. His face showed its usual disdain for the undead creature before him, but his eyes shown with a jealous light as he looked upon the woman on the bench.

“Watch your eyes, servant” Alucard growled as he sensed his underlings hungry emotions.

“Sorry, my master” he apologized without feeling as he stepped back in a manner of respect.

Alucard ignored his words and instead turned to the woman upon the bench who remained still as death. He waited for the right moment, as the moon moved to light the area around them, and watched as the beams slowly flooded over his child’s still form.

With the brightness of the moon her figure slowly stirred, and soon her eyes opened and she looked about herself in some confusion. She tried to sit up but from weakness her efforts failed and she lay back down upon the cool marble bench.

“Where...” she muttered softly as she turned her head and looked into the eyes of her master. “Alucard” the young woman murmured as her face lit up with a weak smile.

Her eyes were a bright red, and her fangs glistened in the moonlight.

“Excellent” Alucard praised as he stood to his feet and offered a hand to his bride.

Seras took the offer, and soon she found herself upon her feet and with a strange hunger in her body. She looked about for food, and was disappointed to find nothing with which to satisfy her thirst.

Until she saw the human.

The servant quickly noticed his gaze, and he slowly took a few steps backward as he shook his head in horror.

“No” he begged as he looked to his master. “Please no!”

“Servant” Alucard spoke with a grim chuckle as he stepped to the side and allowed his bride full access to his underling. “I believe I have one final job for you.”

The library was quiet as the single occupant yawned politely at his table. The reader was a young man with glasses and blond, short hair, and his eyes were weary with a heavy load of study. The small book on the table at which he sat was covered in dust and held scribbles upon the pages’ margins which showed of much use and examination.

His head nodded off for the third time in an hour, and he began to wonder if he should not leave and resume his study tomorrow when the bell atop the library door rang. He looked along the long hall which led to the portals, and was surprised to find a young couple enter the scholarly sanctity.

The man was tall with dark, medium length hair and a long face. His expression seemed to be one of ever-present amusement and his clothes were a formal suit, one unfit for a trip to the library. The woman was shorter than her companion, and her strawberry blond hair was cut to the length of her neck. She appeared friendly and smiled at the lad as the couple grew closer to the student.

“Good evening” the woman called out as she noticed his watchful gaze.

“Quiet” he spoke out of habit as he noted the librarian had gone out for supper. “This is a library, you know” he playfully scolded.

“Yes, and quite a nice one” she murmured, and he noticed she held an unusual accent for the area. Her manner of speech was also odd, as though she spoke with a fashion which no longer existed. “But what would a nice boy like you be doing here at this time of night?” she curiously asked as they reached his table.

“Studying” he muttered with unhappiness as he looked down upon the worn pages of the book. “And such nonsense. Vampires and undead!”

“Vampires?” the man suddenly spoke up, and his deep voice seemed to hold the attention of both present.

“Yes” the lad replied almost unwillingly. “My family is interested in them, so they force me to study old books to learn about them. They have even given me my ancestor’s diary to read” he explained as he pointed to the old book on the table.

“Truly?” the woman spoke as she gently sifted through the pages to the beginning.

Upon the back of the cover read the name of Integra Wingates Hellsing.

“I see” the man dryly commented as he noted the name. “And you would be?”

“Oh, my name is Abraham Hellsing” the lad replied with a flash of a smile. Then he stood and put on an amusingly stern face. “Vampire hunter extraordinaire!”

The young woman could not help but laugh aloud at his antics, and even the man chuckled slightly at the boy’s humor. Abraham sheepishly smiled as he settled back in his chair.

“Foolish, isn’t it?” he asked of his two companions. “How my family studies vampire so much.”

“Perhaps not” the man replied as he flashed a sharp grin. “But the hour is getting late, and maybe your family is waiting for you?”

“I have no doubt” Abraham replied as he packed the book in his leather bag and stood to his feet. “Time has such a hold on us that we often lose track, yes?” he asked with a laugh.

“Indeed” the woman softly answered with a sorrowful tone. “I can hardly believe the year is 1853.”

Abraham gave the young woman a quizzical expression, but he said nothing more until he had parted from them a few feet. Then he stopped and turned with an embarrassed look upon his features.

“I had forgotten to ask” he mentioned with a shy grin. “But what are your names?”

“Alucard and Seras” the man answered with a wide smile.

Abraham returned the gesture and with a polite bow he left the library. Then did Seras turn to her companion with a disapproving expression upon her face.

“Why did you not discourage him from vampires, like the others?” she asked of her master.

Alucard’s gaze remained on the doors for a moment longer before he turned to his child and bride with a wide, maniacal grin.

“Merely for the enjoyment of such a challenge” he explained with excitement in his voice. “And I believe this Abraham Hellsing will give us the amusement we want.”

The End