A/N: The final, and regrettably short, chapter for this story. A great many thanks to everyone who read and reviewed, both always keeping me going.

The Journey's Beginning

Integra and Walter watched as the second floor collapsed upon the first, sending sparks and ash into the air. The townspeople had arrived soon after, merely being able to watch the fire burn for they could do nothing to stop the flames. For several hours the inferno scorched the timbers of the manor, the tips soaring into the sky as a beacon to the countryside. Then slowly the fuel was spent, the fires receding and quietly extinguishing.

When the blaze had ebbed, Integra and Walter explained what had taken place, though with a number of modifications. While a lantern had caused the fire, they had told the incident of being one of accident. They had been visiting with the heiress when a torch she had on her night stand had fallen over, lit of course for the early morning, and had caught the draperies aflame. They had tried to save Miss Victoria, but to no avail when her bed was engulfed and they had barely survived with their own lives.

The townspeople nodded their understanding and many told of their gratefulness for the heroes attempts to rescue the heiress. However, before their grieving could begin for the young woman whom had only recently joined their midst, they had a chore to perform. The task of removing the burnt materials would take several days, during which the building would be too treacherous to enter, giving time to perform other tasks.

The two companions, therefore, quietly left the gathering of people and returned to where Mr. Morley's body lay, taking the corpse and burying him not far from where he had fallen. All precautionary actions were taken, to insure the lawyer did not become a vampire in the truest sense. Then they journeyed back to where the battle had taken place, having one last errand to attend with.

The burial of the foreman and the hiding of the evidence of the altercation were necessary acts of respect and the avoidance of hysteria. Vampires could not be proven to exist.

"Foolish man" Integra stated with a gentle sigh as she stood before the body, bending down to peer closely at what remained of the foreman. "You made a rash decision, but I thank you for rescuing us from the ghouls" she spoke, noticing the weapon he had held was still relatively intact. Prying the trusted shotgun from the charred fingers, she stood with a respectful bow. "I shall take your trusted weapon" she explained, looking over the wooden handle of the elegant gun. "It shall be used to destroy that which destroyed you. As a fitting revenge" she added with an ironic smirk.

Then the two quickly buried the remains, leaving a small marker where he lay. Next they went about covering the area with dirt and dead bushes, wiping away any marks of footprints with branches. In order to hide the scorch marks of the monster from view,

A few days later found the two standing before the Victoria Manor, both peering at the foundation and open basement. The time was late in the evening, during which they could avoid suspicion from the numerous loiterers whom had been peering with morbid curiosity at the ruined home.

Integra slowly stepped forward and began to walk among the ruins of the mansion, looking for signs of the monster's, and unfortunately, the heiress' demise. First proceeding through the stable, she discovered a mound of strange-colored ash upon where a stall had surely stood. The sight of the soot bothered her mind slightly but she nodded her understanding at the unfortunate pile, knowing the remains to be the horse of Mr. Morley's which had been turned by the monster.

"She was a good lass" a voice suddenly spoke, causing the good doctor to turn her head backward toward her retainer.

Beside Walter now stood the gardener, Charlie Picket, a forlorn expression on his face as he sadly shook his head at the ruins surrounding them. He took a few careful steps into the charred ground, looking around in a mixture of disbelief and sadness.

"She was a good lady, was Miss Victoria" Charlie spoke, a few tears coming to his aged eyes. "She couldn't 'ave escaped the fire, no chance at all?" he asked as his gaze shifted to the doctor, his shoulders slumping in despair as Integra shook her head. He sighed heavily, shaking his head at his foolishly hopeful thoughts. "Ah just 'ope she passed on peacefully" he added with a sad smile, turning away from the gutted remains and slowly walking away.

"As do the rest of us" Integra quietly agreed, making her way to the shell of the basement.

Searching amongst the remains of the cellar, only the stone walls of the structure telling where the foundation had once stood. She examined and found the hidden cave of the cellar, the stone door slightly ajar but still well intact. Crouching down before the entrance, the doctor peered at the soiled and blackened earth, a pile of dust and ash in a triangular shape showing where the coffin had apparently once lain. A scorched body lay next to the remains of the casket, the corpse horribly disfigured beyond recognition. The doctor shook her head at the foolishness of the late heiress, turning her head and looking at the hollowed shell of the once majestic house.

Taking a scorched stick, Integra arose and stood before the remains of the vampire's resting place, carefully searching the ashes for what comprised of the monster's body. Quickly she found him, a pile of odd ash appearing before the strokes of her branch. With a nod she threw down the stick and turned her back on the blasphemous remains, striding toward what remained of the cellar stairs with a step of finality.

However, out of the corner of her eyes Integra spied something unusual upon a wall opposite the coffin remains. Slowly walking toward what appeared to be merely a dent within the stone, the doctor narrowed her eyes in concentration as the setting sun behind her lengthened the shadows of the ruined cellar. Reaching out, Integra was able to wrap her fingers around a protruding piece of masonry. With a grim face she pulled the rock toward her, her eyes widening in shock as a portion of the wall opened to reveal a large hole within the ground.

With a curse Integra rushed out of the cellar and to the stables, stopping before the pile of ash. With clear eyes did she now notice the remains within the stall were too small to be those of the hellish steed. With a growl of anger did she realize the monster had deceived her, placing the ashes of his ghouls where he knew she would search. The coffin's shape was no more than a trick, the vampire scattering dust to the likening of the box's shape. The burnt corpse she could only assume was a victim whom had been allowed to die by a different means, thus enabling the monster to place the body where it would surely have been scorched beyond recognition.

"Sir Integra?" Walter asked, having come up quietly behind her after having watched the doctor exit the cellar in a hasty manner.

"Walter" Integra spoke, turning her determined eyes upon her trusted retainer. "We are leaving. Our hunt is not yet over."

Walter's smile widened at her words, the prospect of a challenge agreeing with him heartily. He bowed and began walking toward the horse and carriage, knowing he had preparations to make for their trip.

The doctor watched as her old friend's eyes lit up with anticipation, her own joy rising at the coming months, and possibly years, of hunting. A small smile twitched at Integra's lips as she looked to the last of the setting sun, her hand instinctively moving to the gun at her hip. She would not let such an interesting and dangerous prey slip from her grasp, even if she should fall with him.

The sun completed its journey of the day, the final rays having ceded to the moonlight of the night orb. Along a dusty road, with the dark English Channel in the background, ran a horse and closed carriage, the beast's eyes glowing a brilliant scarlet in the moon's light. Within voices could be heard, apparently arguing by the tone of voices.

"I cannot!" the small, blond woman exclaimed, shrinking from a vile of red liquid thrust into her arms by the elder gentleman opposite her. "I just...I just will not commit such blasphemy!" she refused,

"You chose this life" the man spoke, a hint of frustration within his voice while a grin remained on his thin face. "You must drink this blood or I will take away the life I have given you. I will not have a pathetic fledgling weakened from forced starvation."

For a moment there was brief silence within the carriage, both looking determinedly at one another. Finally the woman sighed deeply, shaking her head and taking the vile into her own hands willingly. She looked to the contents, glaring at the liquid with scorn, and promptly threw the container out the window. The gentleman watched the movement impassively, though the smile on his lips seemed to grow wider.

"You did give me this life" Seras spoke quietly, turning her now scarlet eyes upon Alucard's own. "And I thank you for saving me." Then her voice grew stern, her mouth set in a firm and stubborn line. "However, I shall not be what you wish me to be."

Alucard did not reply, merely tilting his head slightly to the side in amusement. He would humor Seras' refusal, at least for the moment, as she would have no choice but to quench her thirst before long. However, as to what she had spoken about him saving her, he was greatly entertained with the irony of those words.

Perhaps later he would inform her of his final entrapment, allowing her passage through the burning mansion by use of his shadows. However, he doubted greatly she would be amused to know he had then removed his barrier keeping the smoke from entering the basement once she had gone down, thus allowing her no escape.

However, Alucard doubted his secret would be kept for long as Seras would inevitably recall his coffin being outside the secret passage's entrance, rather than within. Questions would be asked and the truth would reveal itself, possibly with humorous results for his side.

But for now he would enjoy the company and the strange sights of such a changing world with her. After all, a bride this interesting would indeed be worth keeping.

The End