Disclaimer: All characters, settings, and plots belonging to the Hellsing manga or anime are property of Kouta Hirano and Co. I am not profiting from this fiction and am merely writing it in tribute to a series I fully appreciate. Also, this story contains violence, adult content, and possible triggers.

Stasis
Chapter VII

'So, this is what it feels like to die as a vampire...' Her mind wondered almost absently, as her body remained breathless. She felt unsteady, tipping, the trembling in her frame overbearing to the point which had her reliving a time of sickness she'd suffered once as a child. Seras tried to swallow, tried to give voice to a collected thought, but her heart bled a tempting song she was unfamiliar with, and tried to drown her as a siren would a sailor within the depths of the sea. The eyes of those present were locked on her in surprise, a few in, dare they, pity even.

"Congratulations, my Lord, my Lady." The quickly recovering voice of council member Oneiza broke in, finally breaking the wordless chasm that had followed the announcement, similar remarks following after from the others as an echoing chorus from befuddled lips. Seras wanted them all to leave, for them all to stop glancing at the expression frozen onto her face. Any longer and she would rip the eyes from them with her bare hands, the savage thought absent-mindedly invaded.

"Further details will be announced at a later time. Leave us." The commanding voice of Vlad tore through the daze and the council rose in unison, each giving a quick bow as they fled from the oppressive atmosphere of the room with as much composure as possible. The vampiress felt heavy eyes settle on her, the pressure of contemplation in her mind. "Did you think it an impossibility?" He questioned after a while, a tightness in his words. She was sure that if she looked at him, his frame would be tense in preparation to defend his actions.

Seras blinked once, slowly, almost gasping as she sucked in a breath through shaking lips. "I'd never thought of it at all, not really. Not for myself. Not even as a human." The honest answer fell from her lips. "Draculina... Your mind is turning in turmoil." The words were almost mumbled to her ears.

Her body shot from the chair she'd been in, knocking it back onto the floor where it cracked against the marble, and she turned to him with a fierceness veiling her features as she looked upon him, "What did you expect! You didn't even ask me! Then in front of everyone - gobsmacked like a fool - I hear about it for the first time!" The statement ended ferociously in an almost-hiss.

The raven haired vampire looked almost startled, "Words of gratitude would be nice. You should be overjoyed about this." He admitted, confusing her further, much to the growing ire of the female.

"What are you talking about? I've never been so embarrassed!" She ground out, trying to contain her temper. Vlad pinned her with a look that was unreadable, but it was laced with anger. He rose to tower over her with a great frown pulling his lips downward, the hint of a snarl beginning to twist his features.

"Embarrassed! Does the idea really bring you such shame?" He practically growled at her as his form seemed to expand in menace before her.

"You can't just decide something like that on your own without even talking to me about it! Don't you dare twist this around because you decided to go about it like a bloody dimwit!" Her finger pressed into his chest with each word. "Why would you even decide such a thing? What use could it have to a pair of vampires?" She saw him stiffen as her words cut through his apparent offense.

He took a step back from her scolding finger, brushing it aside and seemed to contemplate her words before he closed his eyes, sighing heavily and looking at her in a sort of exasperated abashment, running a hand through his hair in frustration - something he had started to do when he was at a loss with how to proceed with her. Seras pushed down the pleasure of seeing the dark locks part for his fingertips, of the small habits he held only for her presence. She imagined he would prefer to just scalp himself with all the hassle she seemed to cause him. It would serve the prat right...

"I was trying." He paused and looked pained for a moment as his brows furrowed and a grimace overcame his visage before his features shifted into a mock of sultry expression, "To romance you with an unexpected surprise, you vexing creature." Despite his look, he spit out the words like they burned him, resentful of his failure. Seras felt her eyes widen with the comment.

Vlad's dark countenance softened slightly and his head tilted as he gazed down at her, his long hair a twisted halo, he walked forward, his hands grasping the backs of her arms in a comforting gesture. "The other evening in town, when I joined you again, you were watching the conclusion of that wedding with such wonder and interest, I then began to think that it would be something which would bring you pleasure." He had the grace to admit. Seras almost let her mouth loosen to hang open in shock, but she quelled the urge and became suddenly flustered, 'He is trying to have me die from embarrassment. That silly wedding was the last thing on my mind that evening...'

Seras gazed with curiosity at the event taking place before her - she'd never seen a wedding in person before, and this one did not resemble the ones she had seen in passing on the telly or heard from stories. The bride and all the ladies in attendance were in the middle of a lively dance together, the men surrounding the area offering cheers and money.

"Are they trying to pay to be her groom...?" She mumbled to herself. Seras was slightly startled when she felt familiar hands slide up her arms to her shoulders and a chuckle reverberate through the being at her back, "That would be an insulting bride-price, my dear. No, the men are merely offering the bride tidings for a dance." Vlad relayed to her in humor. 'Well, that certainly makes more sense." She muttered.

"What is the dance that they are doing?" Seras questioned the male, her eyes becoming heavy lidded with the strangely almost euphoric feeling loosening her limbs. Between the thumbs rubbing circles on her shoulders and the gleeful atmosphere of the party in front of her, the vampiress was having a hard time keeping on her feet suddenly. "It is this regions Hora. There are many variants across Europe. It is an old dance. A circle of celebration to the gods."

"It looks...a bit mental." The draculina commented, raising a brow at the commotion. Barking laughter cut from her companion's throat and Seras grinned a bit in response, though she watched attentively as the music began to die down and a chair was brought into the circle's center, the bride being forced down into the seat by a much older woman. "Hn, it does look quite foolish, though I wouldn't mind seeing you dance for me..." Vlad's voice ran a deep current in her veins and she could feel her face attempting to redden. "There are older, graceful... More fulfilling dances I would enjoy teaching you."

The bride struggled to throw off a scarf three times before accepting the fabric and standing to the cheers of 'o sotie' while another woman was pushed down into the chair to the ringing cheers of 'mireasa pentru a fi', as the new wife put her former veil on her friend's head, another dance beginning around the new woman. Seras snorted in disbelief to hide her embarrassment, "Almost everything you say sounds like a solicitation of the most lurid sort." The blonde turned, her gaze lingering on the spectacle only a moment longer, then ruby hues cut over to give the male a playfully chastising stare.

Smirk spreading even wider, he looked down upon her before grasping her jaw to angle her face, his own lowering to her level, lips pressing to the space of neck below her ear. Seras shuddered at the contact, relished the scent of spiced sin which surrounded her when within his proximity. "I'm nothing if not an opportunist, my sweet." His words rumbled into her skin before he shifted, nose gliding along her cheek before his mouth slanted over her own in a ravenous plundering. The draculina's half-lidded eyes closed in pleasure, falling into his ministrations. Desire curled her fingers into Vlad's coat and lit a fire under her skin.

The vampiress almost laughed at herself, in pity or mockery she didn't know. Allowing too liberal a caress from him had been something she refused for a long while after their initial resettling, a recurring source of unease between the count and herself. He did not fault her, yet he made sure to make the most of an opportunity when he saw the chance, slowly shepherding her back into acceptance of his touch. His persistence was a driving spike, penetrating. Every caress and concession, every sultry word and hungry look, every kiss and bite - munitions in his guerrilla tactics against her doubts and resistance. Vlad bit into her bottom lip and her body slackened against him with the taste of her own blood between them, now she would allow him what he wanted. He could spirit her away in this moment and she would not fight the action.

Her own fangs cut into him and the moan in her throat at the flavor had him pulling away with a chuckling grin. "My draculina, what a sight you make when you're wanting." His voice recited, heavy with seduction. To her horror, her throat mewled a whine at the loss and she wanted to hit him for reducing her to such a state with just a kiss. Seras tried to glare at him through the haze of desire, but he distracted her by licking the blood that was smeared across his lips, his eyes leveling her with dark longing. "You'll tell me what you want, when you actually want it, Seras. I won't take from you until you do."

The urge to pout was strong, but she smiled instead. Lost as she became within his embrace, Vlad always knew the limit, and despite how hard it seemed to be for him to push her away, he never allowed himself to falter in that regard. He was so very careful not to let himself get lost in his lust. His regard made her heart pull in longing, her desire more potent. She felt her fangs lengthen in yearning, felt the urgency for blood to fill the ache.

"Oh, Draga." His voice sighed to her sensually. She knew he could feel the compelling carnality in her mind. Seras blinked heavily up at him and rose onto her toes to place a kiss and a nip on his neck, her lips dragging downward to his collar and hands caressing as she returned to her rightful height. The shiver that she felt through his body as he straightened, made her mouth water and her mind dizzy.

"I thirst, Master." His hands tightened where they held her form. "Take me to feed, please?"

He was so beautiful as he looked down upon her, seemingly enchanted by the exhibition of her plea. "Yes, Seras. Whatever you want." He breathed out, his thumb rose to press against her lips. "Come now, I will find a suitable meal."

Vlad smirked impishly as he stepped close to her side and lifted his hand to run long fingers through the hair at the back of her head, triggering her awareness and a relaxing tingle down her spine. His expression told her he knew what she had been distracted by and her embarrassment resurfaced tenfold. "I'll never cease being amazed at the blush which can grace your features. The body of an undead usually inhibits that response." A ghost of a touch feathered across her cheek. 'So lovely.' He mumbled before meeting her eyes with a scorching intensity.

Seras felt that never ending pull he had on her and she crossed her arms to steel herself against it, wanting to focus herself on the matter at hand but failing with his closeness. "I feel the desire in you, woman. If you keep focusing on such lascivious thoughts, how will I contain myself?" His hand fisted in her hair and Seras gasped lowly in anticipation, baring her neck in both offering and request. 'Please.' The draculina entreated. His free hand traveled reverently down her front from neck to hip, an enraptured hum sounding from his chest. "Please?" He questioned. How greedy he was, but she felt her own joy at his taunting request and relented sweetly. 'My love.'

"You tempt me always, especially when you yield so beautifully. We'll damn ourselves further by living in complete sin much sooner than expected at this rate." His teeth shot a thrill of indulgent satisfaction through her body, her arms lifting to clench him even nearer, slender hands pulling his dark strands.

'Seras, my Seras.' His mental murmuring only stoked the embers of her pleasure, of the piercing bite and long draws on her neck. He jerked away from her suddenly, "Master! Pleas-"

'Shhhh.' She opened her eyes when she felt him stiffen and watched as he pulled his cloak around them. Only then, pulled protectively against him, did Seras notice the presence entering the council room with a quick rapt to the door.

Displeased at the interruption, Vlad glared over his shoulder with chilling contempt. "Pardon the disturbance my Lord, but councilman Ruthven requested I bring you z-the newest data on the situation with the Vatican - reports with new arrivals, land dispersal, estate matters, and population distribution are included." Seras recognized the stressed voice of Vasile, practicing his well improved English, and felt a dose of pity for the boy.

"Leave it on the table." Vlad's voice cut like a knife. The draculina heard quick movements of compliance, "And boy, enter without leave once more and you'll be entering hell just as swiftly." A quick, frightened apology and the youth had all but run from the room with a slam of the door.

The tension left the body surrounding her and Seras couldn't help but let out a laugh in her amusement, her gaze lifting to meet her master's as he loosely kept hold of her. "You find the boy's fear amusing?" The elder asked, entertained at the thought. "A bit. But mostly your chivalrous protection of me." The vampiress teased.

Like a switch, his expression turned predatory, pupils focused and eyes molten, "I can promise you," He ran a finger from her jaw to the top of her chest, "It was an entirely selfish action, my dear. I can't have anyone else enjoying the sight of your passion or body." She was bemused slightly by his comment.

"My body?" She questioned. A twitch of a smirk upon his lips and a cupping hand was her answer. A sudden awareness of skin on skin had her gasping and looking down with a shriek. "MASTER! My shirt!"

"Master!" The lord mimicked her horribly, and she grit her teeth, her power shifting to repair the damage to her top. "I told you it would be a hard habit to break." Vlad reminded her, hand raising to smooth her hair. He smiled truly then, no mocking amusement, just a small, close-lipped endearment. The sight stole her breath away, dead heart swelling.

He sighed heavily then, "I suppose I went about the proposal unfavorably." It was both a statement and a query. Seras was suddenly reminded what had prompted this whole encounter in the first place, she willed herself to recapture her anger, but she'd been quite effectively derailed. 'Curse his wretched mouth...' She thought in half-vexation.

He watched the mercurial play across her face before his own expression shifted to one of consternation, "I was under the impression women liked such surprises, though I should have known better than to expect as much from you." He smirked wickedly, "It seems you liked me begging on my knees more than you let on. Of course, I'm more than happy to comply." His grin was lurid and contagious - no matter how mortified she was.

Playfully rolling her eyes, she tapped a finger to her chin, "Yes, my Lord, I heard one does usually propose to their intended before announcing the proposal to the remainder of the population. Since I had no idea of the occasion, what lucky individual should I be sending congratulatory gifts?"

Vlad bent to sneer at her, red eyes bright. "Oh, there are quite a few names, you'll need some parchment and something to write with."

Seras feigned outrage, one hand on a cocked hip as the other swatted at him. "You can just bugger off, you womanizer!" The appendage was captured and she was yanked into an embrace that would've meant certain death for any other. 'Seras?' Her captor's voice probed. She looked up and was arrested by that unfathomable and bottomless gaze she found on his face from time-to-time, always towards her. "You will accept this?" He grilled her, quietly, demanding yet still somehow uncertain.

"Vlad..." The way he looked at her was too much at times, but she kept his gaze. "You already make me happy, what will a wedding matter?" Her hand smoothed over his black shirt habitually.

"We are eternal, bound the night you chose to accept my offer. As far as I am concerned, by death we are already wed." The raven haired male clarified, coaxing hand trailing up and down her spine. "This wedding will only serve to cement and announce your place as my queen, a guarantee that the respect due to you will not be questioned. Proof that we are not simply lovers and that there will be no discarding or sharing." He finished carefully, expression darkening.

Seras saw the possessive expression for what it was, "Vlad, you focus so much over this one matter. You don't have t-" His finger pressed against her lips in a gesture of silence. She was tempted to bite the offensive thing. "Draculina, it is not your character I question. You still seem completely oblivious to what and who you are. The power you have. The temptation you present to those around you. A wedding will ward off those with less nerve, but there will still be those who will need to be dealt with." She heaved a sigh of her own and met his stare with acceptance. Seras grasped his hand and kissed the palm softly, then placed it against her cheek to feel the comfort of his skin. "I'll trust your judgment if this is what you want." She admitted.

There was a tenseness in his form she hadn't noticed that seemed to unwind with her words. "Just admit first that the only reason for this is that you want to add husband to your list of current titles." She demanded halfheartedly.

Vlad released her form his hold and chuckled freely, those tantalizing teeth gleaming in a self-satisfied face. "Ah, adevărul materiei. I've not had a wife since I was human; however, I always wanted a loud and feisty one to drive me to ruin. Better for us, death won't do us part, so you'll have plenty of time to put that charming voice of yours to use when I offend your sweet British sensibilities." Goodness, but didn't she just want to kiss and smack him all at once. The nerve of him making her feel such things, looking at her so handsomely.

Seras released an unnecessary huff at his jibe and twisted around him, walking alongside the table and plucking the report folder up, quickly skimming the contents. Sudden exhilaration flooded her.

"Recruitment is up, especially from those coming of age in their orphanages - and they're calling all but those that can't be spared back to the Vatican. They're militarizing?" Her brow lifted and she glanced at the vampire stepping up to her side with an excited cut of teeth. "I've been counting on it. How fortuitous that nothing will mobilize them faster than the ultimate desecration of holy matrimony. Shall we plan for additional guests at our ceremony?" Her master questioned with fervor, his aura was almost trembling with the thought.

She smiled sweetly while studying the track of heavy materials that had been flooding through import into Rome, the thrill of battle foretold, "Oh, my master." Her face twisted into malicious delight when she looked up at him, "You know my 'British sensibilities' wouldn't allow otherwise."

The unbridled cackle that deafened all else in the citadel caused a shudder from all in attendance.

Translations/Explanations:

Hora - a Romanian or Israeli dance in which the performers form a ring.
o sotie - a wife
mireasa pentru a fi - bride to be
draga - darling
adevărul materiei - the truth of the matter

AN: I. Am. Alive! And I updated. I'm so proud of myself for those two facts. My deepest apologies to the...lapse in updating this in a more timely manner. Moving on! No focusing on my short-comings as far as dead-lines go, dearies!

So, this installment was the most light-hearted I've had the chance to add to this fic, and to be honest, I feel like I needed it - 'Twas a necessary breathe of fresh air for me. We got to see more positive interactions between our two favorite vampires, and an itsy taste at past development and future proceedings. I might be just a bit more excited about this chapter than you folks, as I do not plot ahead, just per chapter, so having a general idea of where to proceed from here means somewhere in the black hole of my creative process, I've already started preparing for another chapter. I'm very happy to be back, everyone let me know what you think. I've been detached from this for nine months and am having to warm up all over again, so give me a proper railing if it is out of sorts and not up to proper standard.

On an unrelated note - an author I've followed for about 14 years now (Don't say a word...) Princess Destiny, has been going through a difficult time for a while and it seems to have all compounded recently. Many of of us in the fan-fiction community are actively seeking to help alleviate her unfortunate circumstances, and every little bit helps. For those interested in in helping, I will be sharing the link to her go-fund-me on my tumblr or you can PM me for the info, for those who aren't, I still recommend her fan-fiction and site DGRFA. She's wonderful.

My responses to chapter VII reviews are posted on my profile and also posted on my tumblr, just scroll and find your name, I think all of the reviewing guests actually put a pen name in this go around. Wooh! You guys are too cool. Seriously. I feel like I have one of the best reader-bases left on FFnet.

Much bubbling and not-so-exaggerated thanks to DWfann, PrincessHaleyEve, The Grand Dragon of Light, that1reviewer, happybubbles2010, SnakeWithWings, Akasha Queen, Evil gemini, Jareth'sQueenBitch, Oxford Not Brogues, crimson dragonX, Jubalii, A french girl, arcadea333, Combat Engineer, ichigo urahara Shihoin, Little cat, Zombie toast, Lil Scarlett, ZeWaz, chronoeterna, Shadow Renta, Narake, casedeputy, Kurama's final nightmare, SeventhSpanishAngel, dragonlover332, Yang Spirit Wolf, IamMyselfIamMe, AmericanWildDog, CrzyAsians, Flyrisha, SlasherMCR, belladu57, ErrorEntity 140 - Veronika Night, Lady Julie Snape, uniquelyakward, liza13ize, killer4853, okami-onna, allhailbob0, Izreal, ArisIsATypo, GreentreeFrog, EvilRandomCrazyPerson, red shoulder85, JadeKurosaki, Novelty Talisha, cat1994aluca, SunMoonNeko, Jaye Blue, snickersd, The Sleeping Bear, wh40k, , Jokerlover13, Xelly-chan, Wood3h, Aculina, NickyRomano, Inky Finger Prints, No-Life-Queen2552, Beneath innocent eyes, Xandarius, Miss Blood Pain, kyokoren2471, Na'va knower, junsuchincritic, , MirandaOBrien, ShadowCaster00, Sanaree, katgrab137, Glitch, carlycandybear, Zeyro, Ladysexycat, freakinlizard, chinegal123, PoppyStars, hayba, The Open-Eyed Day Dreamer, Wyckedfire, Tbc22, Pocket Bug, TheLadyMartyr, The Story Teller Sentinel, Love kyuubi love, Lady Rose Moon, Sae-san, MynxxyKytten, nikanoj39, Sabishii Tenshi, Sweet Roisin Dubh, Ellelu2000, kyoandyuya, Snowblazeblack, Nameless Fable, Jacque' la Kitsune, h07b, xtari-seregonx, HowToTrainYourGeek, tanakaL, kitsuneluvuh, violetvolpe, aries2000, Angry Pencil Wielder, Hari Datenshi, hapyyfoam, Sieliz, Varick3028, Don'tCallMeEyebrowsYouStoopid, purplepaisley05, morticaaddams, Unbecoming Me, for reviewing, following, or adding to favorites. I can not thank you all enough for even finding this fic worth reading and I have no idea how this list keeps getting longer. I'm hoping I got everyone as I was going in order of alerts but if I missed you PLEASE let me know. You all deserve my praise and thanks and I don't want to leave anyone out on accident.