Midian Evolution

“The same faction as the one in Wiltshire, we believe,” master said in answer to Integra’s question. “We arrived in plenty of time to prevent the freaks creating ghouls. Due to unusual concentration in preserving human life, we did not bring a freak in for questioning.”

“We didn’t have time,” I said, backing him up. “Everyone came in at once. It was all we could do to identify the freaks and kill them before they made ghouls.”

Integra’s eyes pinned me, then Alucard, her icy blue gaze displeased. “That’s twice now, servant,” she said to my master. “What caused the king of vampires to neglect holding the last freak instead of killing him?”

Red eyes clashed with blue. Alucard shrugged. I’d never seen such an elegant shoulder-roll of apathy. Had he spoken, it would have cut her.

Integra’s focus narrowed. “Seras, Walter, leave us,” she commanded.

Do as she says. I’ll tell you what happened.

Walter escorted me into the hall. We stood and both looked at the floor for a moment before he sighed. “A-Positive or O-Negative, Miss Victoria?” he asked.

“Huh? Oh, either,” I answered, also exhaling heavily. “Is there someplace we could go to talk privately? Why should they have all the secretive going-on?” I wanted to talk to Walter about master’s reaction to the park employee. He would listen objectively.

Walter checked his timepiece. “Let’s pick up your blood in the kitchen and take a survey of the perimeter security,” he suggested lightly. “You and I make a good team for such things.”

“The old man and the rookie?” I teased, following him toward the west wing. “You know, Walter, you’re not as old as you think.”

“I could be your grandfather,” he hedged delicately. Still, I saw it pleased him I didn’t think of him as old.

“But, you’re not. Soon, you’ll be a father!” I elbowed him in his side, careful not to be rough.

“Don’t talk about it,” he admonished, the lightest tinge of pink appearing on his cheeks. “You’re a lady, and Hellsing Manor isn’t an ale house.”

“Aren’t you excited, though?” I persisted. “You have so much to teach a child.”

“Yes, and a Hellsing will have to know how to kill,” Walter answered dryly. We reached the kitchen and Walter retrieved my blood. “I wanted to tell you, just to prevent an upsetting mistake, that Sir Integra won’t be taking my last name.” He straightened a bit, smoothing a wrinkle from his sleeve. “Instead, I will be taking hers.”

I almost choked. Swallowing hard, I searched for something to say. But, Walter continued, seeming oblivious to my awkward shock.

“The whole idea is to have a Hellsing heir, after all. I put the matter to Sir Integra three days ago, and after thinking about it until this morning, she agreed.” He smiled as he took my empty blood bag and gave me another. “Ah, these modern times! She asked me to marry her and I’m happy to take her name.”

“Well, good,” I muttered. It wasn’t every man that could do what Walter did. And, that covered quite a bit. He took care of nearly every aspect of the household, personally designed and created our weapons, managed Sir Integra’s schedule, and ran interference for a lot of unpleasant people. He’d evidently raised Integra, proving he could provide childcare.

And, Walter was a killer. A loyal, calm, efficient death-dealer.

What more could a Hellsing heir want?

Walter tilted his head and smiled at me again. “Did I throw the rookie for a loop?”

I looked into those almost-purple, amused eyes and grinned. “Yeah, just a little. I’m actually really naïve.”

“I wasn’t aware,” Walter said smoothly. “Are you finished?”

I drained the second bag, tossed it and nodded.

We took a battery powered cart across the perfectly manicured lawn. This early in the morning, the grounds seemed ghostly. We passed security men every few dozen meters. Integra now spared no expense in security, and I didn’t blame her. She’d never forgive herself for losing so many men to the Valentine brothers.

Walter stopped the cart at the farthest point away from the house, pulled the key, then leaned back in his seat. “What’s bothering you, Miss Victoria?” he asked, not confronting me with his eyes but looking straight ahead. “Is it the confusion about your working heart? Your master?” He spoke calmly and kindly, warming me to my toes.

Walter really cared about all of us, even me, the newest.

I jammed myself backward into the seat, threw my leg out of the cart and sighed. “I’m too busy to think about my stupid heart,” I said. “Yes, it’s master. He’s acting weird.” I looked at him. “Don’t you think he is?”

Walter smiled. From his front pocket he produced a hand rolled cigarette and a match. He struck the sulpher-headed wood to his metal shirt button, making flame. I watched him light his cigarette, inhale and blow out a cloud of blue smoke.

“I think you both are,” he said after a minute or two in which I waited on tenterhooks. “In all my time with Alucard, I’ve never seen a flicker of sadness or jealousy. He’s been far above it; vampires aren’t concerned with ownership and regrets, usually.” He flicked his ash and took another drag. “From the moment he took you, he started changing.”

“Really? But, to me he seems to have only really changed these last few weeks.” I closed my eyes, scenting the smoke, Walter’s soap, newly mown grass and faraway wood fires. “Nothing really dramatic, until tonight.”

“Bruce Norwood’s hand?” Walter asked softly.

“That’s his name? I didn’t know.” I eyed Walter askance. “Could I have a cigarette?”

“They’ll kill you.” Walter smiled. He produced another and handed it to me. “Yes, his name is Norwood. Doctor Kayne reattached his hand, and he ought to have some limited use of it in less than six months. It will never function the way a hand should.”

I winced. “God, that was such a stupid thing for him to do. He knew we were vampires, didn’t he?”

“Oh, yes, he did. That’s the reason Sir Integra won’t reprimand Alucard over it.” Walter blew a smoke ring, then put another through it. “Did you read Dracula?”

“Oh yeah.” I let my head drop back. “Thanks for the tip. Master insisted I read, once he saw I had it. Is there any reason for me to go past chapter nine?”

Walter chuckled. “Seras, you’re so refreshing. Most people would trip over themselves to read a past account of their…master.”

“It’s boring, and it happened a million years ago, when people’s attitudes were as starched as their shirts!” I griped. “God, Walter! Honestly, tell me you enjoyed it?”

Chuckling, Walter tossed his stub. “Heavens, no. It’s a lurid tale, so Victorian.” He made himself comfortable, throwing out a leg the same way I did. He knew he didn’t have to be completely proper around me, that I didn’t expect it of him. “I’m glad you gained the perspective up to chapter nine, but I don’t necessarily believe the future is built entirely upon the past.”

We remained silent a moment.

“Walter, something else happened tonight,” I said very quietly. “Someone touched me, and master went two blips toward insane about it.”

Walter nodded. “A stage past what he did to Norwood?”

“Yeah, but he controlled himself. He didn’t tear up the guy.”

“Hm.” Walter pressed the tips of his fingers together. “Do you feel you have a strong rapport with your master, Seras?”

“You mean, are we tight?” I asked. “In some ways, I guess. I can feel he holds some of himself back.”

“A creature of amazing control,” Walter murmured. He rolled his head, making his neck pop. “No one would credit him with it; people see a remorseless killer, a grinning devil. They don’t see how cunning and creative he is.” He lit another smoke. “I fought beside him in the war, you know. I found his surprising nature a distraction from carnage. I could never see him as a complete demon.” He paused to eye me aside. “Though, I will admit, Miss Victoria, to concluding he only retains about ten percent of his humanity.”

“That much?” I tried to smile and failed miserably. “Walter, he can’t even remember that it feels good to get in a shower.”

Walter closed his eyes a moment. “Chilling,” he said lowly. “Aside, it’s amazing he doesn’t just slaughter us all. What humanity he retains has specific focus; that’s all I can figure.”

“Specific focus?” The concept settled into my mind, instinct telling me to listen, to think and consider.

What did my master focus on?

“So help me,” I blurted, “master’s focus is women. He had three in his castle, two in the book, and he has two here.”

I tasted Walter’s astonishment.

His laughter shattered the stillness of morning. Far, far away, a group of ravens cawed an echo.

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Anonelbe, possession is nine-tenths of the law, lol. Thanks for your thoughts! I admire him, too. None of us can know what it took to rule in those days. He seems like a complete barbarian by modern standards, but I have to be impressed that thievery didn't exist in his kingdom the entire time he ruled.
(If we're supposed to believe this Dracula is Alucard, then he's sure mellowed-out over the years!)

Snake-eat-dog, thank you for your thoughtful comments. I took creative liberties with Alucard, I'll admit it, but I like a sympathetic character. If we can't care about his strengths and weaknesses, we won't want to see how he improves or degrades. I appreciate your feedback, truly. Your concrit made me consider what I was writing more.