The Child of Seras - by MindAsylum - Anime - http://www.hellsingfanfic.net/hellsingfanfic/The_Child

The Child of Seras

Chapter IV

Jake was stirred by a resounding knock on the door. “Come in.” he said sleepily, wondering what time it was. A man who looked like a mixture between Alfred and the monopoly guy stepped smoothly into the room. He wore a black suit, a shining monocle, and a disarming smile, bearing a stack of neatly-folded clothes in his arms.

“Good evening, Mr. Rivers. My name is Walter C. Dornez, retainer of the Hellsing family. Since you will be joining the Hellsing Organization, you’ll need to dress the part.”

He should have felt honored, but he found it a little strange that they would trust someone that they had literally plucked off the street. It was probably Seras’ doing, he reasoned. “Alucard” certainly wasn’t thrilled about it, and he imagined neither was the person who ran this place. Still, he thanked Walter and took the clothes.

“I hope you don’t mind; your meeting with Sir Hellsing is not until nine o’clock. However, Ms. Victoria has asked me to wake you sooner so that she can, as she put it, ‘prepare you.’ She currently awaits you in her quarters, four doors down.”
Jake nodded, and Walter left as gracefully as he came. Jake gave his new “uniform” the once-over, and found that it was very similar to Seras’. The shirt was royal blue, with the insignia of Hellsing on the arm and left breast pocket, a pair of multi-pocketed pants of the same color, white gloves, and black boots. The only deviations from Seras’ dress were the long sleeves, and, of course, the pants.

Not wanting to keep his Master waiting, he put on everything on hurriedly, ran over to the bathroom and tamed his hair as best he could, when it occurred to him that he still had a reflection. What other myths about vampires weren’t true?
Well, I guess I’ll have plenty of time to find out.

The hallways were dimly lit and the walls were all the same dull grey cobblestone that had made up his room. He stopped suddenly; he wasn’t sure how, but he swore he felt eyes on him. He looked behind him. Nothing. No sound, no moving shadows. He tapped his foot on the ground, thinking that perhaps it was the echo of his footsteps tricking him into thinking he was being followed. But the tapping did not reverberate at all. It was as if this place insisted on being silent, snuffing out any sound above a whisper. He counted the door he’d passed; only two. His mind must have been playing tricks; it tended to do that when he was in close quarters like this.

He arrived at the fourth door, and immediately, that warm feeling came back again. Was it some kind of bond between fledglings and their masters? He supposed he could ask later. Not thinking, he opened the door, and just when he was about to say something, he froze.

Seras had a towel wrapped around her waist, facing away from him. Aside from noting her beautifully shaped shoulders, he saw more scars, identical to the one on her neck, running up and down her back at odd angles. He came back to himself and, before she even had a chance to turn, slammed the door shut, yelping about a half-dozen mortified apologies. She simply gave a surprised “Huh?” He could call himself an idiot all day and it still wouldn’t be enough at this moment. His hand went to his face, trying to forget what he’d just seen. He gave up after five minutes.

“Come on in, Jake.” called Seras from inside. He opened the door gingerly, expecting a firm slap or perhaps a punch, which was probably what he deserved. Instead, he was greeted with her warm smile.

“Well, I didn’t expect Walter to wake you this early.” She said, still patting her hair dry with the towel. His face went flush as he began another litany of apologies. She cut him off at about his third. “It’s fine, Jake, really,” She assured, “I’m just used to leaving the door unlocked, seeing how hardly anyone except Walter ever comes down here, and Alucard, well, you’ve seen how much he likes doors.”

Jake relaxed a bit. He was glad she wasn’t angry with him, but at the same time, although he couldn’t understand why, he was also a little disappointed.

“Right,” she began. “Sir Hellsing’s going to need a little more convincing if she’s going to agree to take you in with us. I thought it would be a good idea if we talked first.”

“Ok, so where do we start?”

“Well, first off, how old are you?”

“17 since last month.” He answered, then realized that adding “since last month” made him sound like a child.

“Hmm,” Seras looked uncertain. “And you’re from the States, is that right?

“Yeah,” he admitted, “That’s bad, isn’t it?”

Seras sighed, “Well, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we can pull it off.”

--

Seras straightened Jake’s collar and took one last look at him. “You look great.”

He shifted uncomfortably. “Uh, thanks.”

“It’ll be fine.” She reassured, “Just remember everything I told you. Stay at attention, be respectful, and don’t talk unless Sir

Hellsing asks you something.”

He nodded. Though nervous beyond belief, he was eager to please his Master, particularly one who had shown him nothing but kindness in the face of all the horrors he’d seen, and would no doubt see again. He forced a smile, which he was sure she caught. Nonetheless, she smiled back. It reminded him of a mother seeing her child off to his first day of school.
He came upon the stairs, which were a single, massive flight. He was surprised he was not exhausted by the time he made it to the top. Another steel door. He pressed a button on the side, and the door slid open. He noted with some interest that what was on the other side was not a door, but a painting. Hellsing’s vampires were a secret well kept. He memorized the painting and continued on.

There were a few soldiers walking briskly up and down the halls. They greeted him with cold stares, or avoided looking at him altogether. Those who were speaking stopped whenever he drew near, and resumed in hoarse whispers whenever he passed. He tried to ignore them, but he could hear them so clearly he’d have to cover his ears.

“So that’s the new one, is it? Christ, doesn’t even look old enough for the Army.” said one

“I hear he’s a yank.” said another.

“No bloody way, really? Why do you suppose he was turned? The lady vamp get lonely?” the first chided.

“Damned if I know. At this rate, every squad in Hellsing’s gonna get their own.”

“Hell, I don’t mind. Let them take the bullets for us.”

“You look lost.”

It was a voice Jake had not yet heard, and surprisingly, it was friendly. He turned to see a man of medium build, with sandy brown hair and a pleasant face. He looked fairly young, though older than him by at least half a decade. Jake knew right away that civility would be a rare commodity among the soldiers here, so he took it where it was offered.

“I was looking for Sir Hellsing’s office.” He said shyly.

“Up those stairs, second door on your right.” He said.

“Thanks,” he said, turning to leave.

“Hey kid,” said the soldier, “What’s your name?”

He was in a hurry, but didn’t want to be rude. “Oh, Jake Rivers.”

“Mick Ferguson,” he said, offering his hand. “Chances are, since Seras is in my squad, you will be, too.”

Jake took Mick’s hand, a little relieved that at least one person here didn’t treat him like a leper.

“I look forward to working with ya,” said Mick.

“Yeah, same here.” He replied. “Well, I better go, don’t want to keep Sir Hellsing waiting, right?”

“You said it, kid. Good luck. I suspect you’ll need it.”

Mick waved him off, and Jake followed his direction. He knocked on the plain, wooden door.

“It’s open.” said a stern, annoyed voice.

He walked in, and saw, for himself, the person his Master had spent the last hour and a half preparing him for.

Long, whitish hair ran down pale cheeks, cut an inch or two below the jaw line. A pair of spectacles glinted in the frail light of the room. Jake didn’t understand how anyone could see with the lights so dim. It was so quiet the subtle scraping of pen against paper seemed deafening to him. The noise faded away, and Sir Hellsing looked up.

Apparently, she noticed his surprise. Her eyes narrowed. Jake felt two icicles piercing his chest.

“You’re Victoria’s fledgling, correct?” she did not say it loudly, but her voice held an overpowering presence, like the barrel of a pistol pressed against the throat. Here was the woman Seras had warned him about, the woman that could slice throats with a word, and cut down a score of men with a sentence.

“Yes sir.” He said firmly.

She opened a file on her desk and fingered through it. “Jacob Rivers…” she said, as though the mere sound of his name was abominable, “You were taken into a Catholic boarding school for several years. Do you still consider yourself of that persuasion?”

Remember, always answer honestly. “No, Sir.”

“Good,” she said joylessly, “I can allow no vestige of popery in my ranks. What of your home country? Do your loyalties lie there?”

“Not really, Sir.”

“Typical.” she didn’t scoff, but Jake imagined she did. She closed the file and looked back at him, and suddenly, his own sense of presence in the room went from small to microscopic.

“Tell me, Rivers,” she began, with a cold dismissal that made Jake feel as though cold water had been dumped on him, “why should I bother with a third vampire in my ranks? What advantages would a fledgling bloodsucker such as yourself provide that I do not already possess?”

She’ll try to grill you, belittle you, but don’t be frightened. She’s like that to everyone at first. No matter how cold-hearted and hateful she seems to be, it’s only a test.

“Insurance, Sir Hellsing.” He answered, trying not to sound as rehearsed as it was. “With another vampire at your disposal, you can afford greater protection for your men.”

“So that’s it?” she asked, unimpressed. “And what protection would a teenaged former musician provide?”

“All I need is training and a chance, Sir Hellsing.” He said, keeping the straightest face he could put on.

“In that case...” she began, rising from her seat and walking five feet in front of him. He looked him straight in the eyes and resumed. “Let me appraise you as to the situation you have found yourself in. Your existence at this moment is made possible not by my kindness, mercy, or even curiosity; but tolerance. In return for your unlife, you are to serve the Hellsing Organization in any manner that is asked of you. Victoria and Alucard will be in charge of preparing you. Your task for now, however, is to show me that speaking to you was worth five minutes of my time. From this point on, you are a soldier of Hellsing, like any of the humans here. Your loyalties are now to God, Her Majesty, and myself; all others are to be discarded. Do not disgrace the insignia on your shoulder. Understand?”

“Yes, Sir Hellsing.” He said, feigning all the confidence he could muster.

“You are dismissed.” She returned to her paperwork.

She didn’t have to tell him twice.

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