A/N: The plot turns and questions are answered.

A Lesson In Folklore

“A nice night” Seras murmured to herself as she looked out the window of the dorm room to the darkness beyond.

The hour was late as their electric clock reflected a quarter till eleven o’clock. A few riotous dorm occupants were still having their fun as their music was blasted down the hall for all to hear. Seras rubbed her sensitive ears against the loud noise.

“What was that?” Sarah absently asked as she perused over a magazine.

“Nothing” her roommate replied as she shook her head. She turned from the window and walked over to their coat rack. “But I think I’ll go for a short walk” she informed as she grabbed her jacket.

“Oh?” her friend said as she lifted her head. “You want me to come with?” she asked.

“No, I just need some fresh air” Seras replied as she headed for the door. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Have fun” Sarah called after her as she closed the portal.

Seras quickly walked down the hall as she winced with each beat of the music’s heavy drum. She breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped out into the cool evening and the pounding faded away to the calm shadows of the night. The young woman smiled at the moon overhead as she turned her steps to the small town’s older residential blocks.

Since Seras knew the way the trip was relatively short as the street soon came into view. She noted the three other persons standing at the edge of the curb, but only two were a welcomed sight.

“Good evening” she greeted her companions with a bright smile.

Pip gave her a flashing, crooked smile while the Captain dipped his head. Integra ignored her words and merely kept her eyes looking down the block to the house where they were expected. Seras followed her gaze and was unsurprised to find a few dim lights still glowing through the windows. Alucard had always appeared to be a night owl, and thus perhaps he wouldn’t mind their late arrival for their dinner date.

“Shall we go?” she bluntly asked as she took an impatient step toward the last home on the block.

“Why not?” Pip replied with a shrug as they began moving.

The three felt as if they were being herded as their unwelcome companion allowed them to pass her by as she brought up the rear. Her fast steps were unnerving to their already excited minds and they found the trip down the block took less time than they had expected.

Stepping upon the front porch to knock on the door, the visitors were surprised when the door opened of its own accord. Alucard stepped out and gave them a low bow.

“Good evening” he welcomed with a flourish of his hand. He hesitated but for a moment as his eyes passed over Integra. “I see you have brought a new friend” he commented with a grin.

“Yes...” Seras hesitantly agreed. “This is Integra Hellsing, a classmate of ours.”

“A pleasure” Alucard spoke as he again bowed to the new acquaintance.

“Likewise” Integra returned with a wry grin.

“We are sorry for ze late arrival” Pip began to apologize, but their host merely held up his hand and shook his head.

“Guests are a treat, regardless of the time” he spoke as he stood aside. “You are always welcome in my abode” he promised as he pointedly looked to the three invited guests.

“That’s very nice of you” Seras thanked with a smile.

“Indeed” Integra added with a grin of her own. “A very generous offer.”

“I try” Alucard waved. “But for now let us enter my home. The night air cannot be good for your healths” he explained, but his tone held something akin to doubt as the group passed into the house.

Once everyone had stepped into the home Alucard closed the door and led them to the dining room they had supped in on their previous visit. Three of the visitors hesitantly sat in the chairs while Integra appeared to be very interested in their host.

“I am afraid that for the late hour, I haven’t anything for you to eat” he regretted to mention. However, he did walk over to one of the cabinets which stood against the wall and began taking out glasses and a large decanter with red liquid. “But I do have the...medicine I promised” he spoke with a slight hesitation as a slow grin spread across his face.

“I would very much like to try a sample of your cure” Integra commented as she looked curiously at the drink. “Is it of an old variety of medicine?”

“Very old” Alucard replied as he set three glasses before the ill guests, but nothing before Integra. “But I am afraid I have not enough for your sample, as I did not expect another guest to entertain me tonight.”

“I see” the young woman responded with a nod of her head. “Then water will do.”

“Very well” their host replied as he took out another glass bottle filled with clear water and poured a fourth cup.

When they had all received their drink Alucard seated himself at the head of the table with nothing before him. The three friends nervously looked at their glasses and to one another as they waited for someone to make the first move.

“You needn’t fear the drink” Alucard slowly mused as he leant back in his chair. He cupped his chin in his hands as he eyes flashed with play. “Perhaps you think I am poisoning you?” he teased.

“Oh no!” Seras argued for the group as she shook her head. “It’s just...” she trailed off, unable to form any other reason for their rudeness.

Integra looked on at the three other students as she slowly sipped from her own glass. She, too, appeared to be waiting for their decision.

“Well” Pip sighed after a long and uncomfortable silence. “C’est la vie” he toasted as he raised his glass and downed the entirety of the contents in a single gulp.

Seras shook her head in horror at his poor form, but the Captain and she followed his example in a slower sense.

“What is in this medicine of yours, sir?” Integra asked as she watched her acquaintances finish their drinks.

“My family’s treasure” Alucard replied with a chuckle. “A drink well-brewed for a number of years in our native homeland.”

“And where is that?” she queried as she looked at him over the rim of her raised glass.

“One of the eastern European countries, if I recall” he explained in an off-hand manner. “My memory escapes me as to which one.”

“And what would bring your to this small village far from your ancestry?” she continued to question.

“Research” he divulged as he sat up in his chair with interest. “My...hobby is the collection of folklore, and the rural areas always hold an abundance of such things.”

“Folklore?” Seras interrupted with her own curiosity. “Like fairytales and ghost stories?”

“Particularly the latter” Alucard responded as he looked to the three friends. “The darkest creatures which hide in the shadows appeal to me the most, and I follow the call where it leads.”

“Then perhaps you have learnt some about the strange manor atop the hill?” Integra prodded. “It seems to hold a mystery no one seems willing to solve.”

Alucard slowly turned to her and gave her a piercing stare before he closed his eyes and chuckled.

“But perhaps you are?” he asked as he opened his eyes. “I am sure you all have heard every tale and rumor which had come about because of the house. Ghosts and werewolves reside there, do they not?” he teased.

“I believe vampires live there” Integra broke through the merriment.

Alucard appeared unsurprised by her announcement. Instead he chuckled as he shook his head.

“What imaginations these simple people have” he mused, but when his eyes fell upon Hans he suddenly stood to his feet.

“I am afraid I must ask you to leave for the night, Miss Integra” he quickly announced. The other three guests were shocked by his order. “I wish to discuss a proposal to my young friends” he explained as he swept his hand toward the companions. “Perhaps you will return another time with them?” their host suggested.

For a moment Integra appeared to want to object to her sudden ejection, but instead she smiled and nodded her head. The young woman stood to her feet and looked to the other three with a strange sense of finality.

“Let us hope we see one another again” she spoke as Alucard led her out of the room and they heard the door open and close.

Pip’s attention was held by their host as he heard a key turn in a lock, but Seras looked to the Captain and was alarmed as she noted his pale face and quivering hands. She stood up and rushed to the other side of the table to kneel beside him.

“Are you all right?” she feverishly asked as he shook his head. “Pip, something’s wrong with him.”

Pip stood to his feet as Alucard reappeared in the dining room. He stopped at the entrance and watched the friends look upon their companion with worry.

“I am afraid we must leave” Pip announced as he slid his arm beneath Hans and pulled him against his side. “Our friend, his iz sick” he explained as he turned toward the doorway.

“That would not be the best choice” Alucard interrupted with a grin upon his face. “No doctor can cure what ails your friend.”

“What do you mean?” Seras asked as she propped up Hans’ other side. “Let us out!”

“He will not, oui?” Pip interrupted as he looked accusingly at their host. “He has locked ze front door.”

“I see your hearing is improving” Alucard noted with amusement. “Then perhaps this may well be worth the risk.”

“What worth the risk? What are you talking about!?” the young woman frantically asked as she looked to their ill friend. His breathing was growing rapid and his teeth were clenched as though her were in pain. “We have to leave. Now!” she demanded.

“Perhaps a demonstration would be suitable” their host suggested as his eyes turned to Hans.

Pip and Seras cried out in shock and horror as their friend opened his mouth in a soundless scream. He suddenly had the strength to push them away as he covered his face with his hands. Hans’ body convulsed with pain as thick hair began sprouting from his skin. His fingers extended to become claws and his clothes began to rip as his muscles flexed and grew.

His companions jumped back in fear as he removed his hands to reveal his elongated face with a snout full of sharp teeth. His eyes were a blood-red color as his heavy breathing came out in growls and snarls of torment. He turned his glare upon Alucard with a look filled with hatred and desperation.

“That is enough” their host commanded as Hans suddenly collapsed to the floor.

Pip and Seras cringed as they watched their friend revert back to his human form. They slowly approached when they realized he was unconscious and carefully they laid him on his back. Seras looked him over for any lasting wounds as Pip turned to Alucard.

“What have you done to us?” he quietly questioned as Seras snapped her head up to attention.

“Us?” she slowly asked as she looked to her friend. “All of us?”

“His change is a...side effect” Alucard explained as he looked at his accusers with a smile on his face. “A positive one. Your own may perhaps be different.”

“The drink...” Seras whispered, more to herself than anyone else. “What was in it?!” she demanded as she looked sharply at the demon now standing over them.

“Merely my own blood” the monster noted with glee. “A necessary component in my little experiment.”

“Experiment!” Seras shouted as she stood to her feet. She pointed down to their unconscious friend. “You call this an experiment?!”

“No” Alucard seriously replied as he looked to Hans. “I would call it a success.” A clock in the house chimed the midnight hour as Alucard suddenly scowled. “But enough questions. I believe it is time for us to leave.”

“We are not going anywhere with you” Pip countered as he also stood to his feet.

“You have no choice” their host observed as he looked to Seras.

The young woman’s eyes opened in shock as she unwillingly found herself slowly stepping toward the monster. She struggled to disobey but her body would not listen to her commands.

“What are you doing!?” she heard Pip demand as he struggled behind her. “Let us go!”

When Seras was within a foot of the creature she suddenly stopped and felt control return to her limbs. She looked up in fear to find the monster holding a serious expression on his face.

“You will come either way” he commented as he looked to Pip who still stood frozen. “But it would be much easier if you would not struggle.”

Pip scowled but made no argument. Seras looked away toward their fallen friend, but also attempted no protest to his demand. They had little choice; he had proven his power over them through action and they had no doubt he would continue his control should they struggle.

“Excellent” Alucard grinned as he nodded his head. “Take your friend and let us leave” he directed to Pip.

“He iz too heavy” the companion argued as he felt his body be released.

Alucard turned to him with a wide grin as he let out a small chuckle.

“Not for you” he informed. “Not anymore.”

Pip gave him a dubious look as he knelt down and lifted his friend in his arms. He was shocked by how little Hans weighed and how easily he held his large companion. Alucard merely turned to Seras as she looked on in amazement.

“Will you do the honors, Seras?” he asked as the young woman jerked at the call of her name.

“What?” she fumbled.

Alucard stepped forward and fore she could stop him he had taken hold her shoulders and leaned down so his lips were against her ear.

“Imagine a portal” he softly whispered. “One that leads to the manor house upon the hill.”

His words brought the image of the strange house to mind and before she could break free from his grasp a lack vortex appeared against one of the walls.

“Good” Alucard spoke aloud so all could hear as gave her a push toward the hole. “Now shall we go?”