Midian Evolution

I stared at the chess board, looking for a way around Integra’s gambit with her rooks. She played chess like she ran Hellsing; with aggression, persistence, and cleverness. I was so out of my league. She’d wipe the floor with me. Still, I’d only just learned the game, so I couldn’t be too hard on myself. I tried not to look at the neat little row she’d made out of my captured pieces.

“Sir?” I asked, moving a bishop to block her most threatening rook. “Who bit my master and made him a vampire?”

Integra puffed on her cigar and met my eyes. “No one. Your master is self-made.”

“Oh.” Wow. “Does that happen often? What makes a vampire out of an ordinary human?”

Integra smiled. “I’m certain he’s unique, Seras. Even if others have made themselves, they’re gone now. Besides, my family’s fed him more and more power.” She put out her cigar and captured my bishop with the other rook. “I don’t know how he became a vampire; he’s never told me and I never asked.” She took a long sip of her brandy and leaned back a little. “He would tell you if you asked, I’m sure.”

I rolled my eyes. “Master tells me a lot of things, and sometimes I’m sorry I asked.” I moved a pawn forward. “He told me a few hours ago that I’m controlling our bond.”

Integra tilted her head. “Are you? Why didn’t you know, if that’s true?”

“No clue.”

“Hmph.” Integra took off her glasses to wipe them. “Well, Seras, you are an unusual Midian. Perhaps we should consider the fact that your master is heavily changed from his original form. It’s possible he transferred more to you than his vampirism.” She captured my pawn, adding it to her spoils.

“Maybe.” I felt doubtful of this, though. Master couldn’t do the retro-cognitive psychometry thing. I hadn’t had any visions from history since Urquhart Castle, thankfully.

“You don’t sound convinced.” Integra smiled at me. “Anyway, you seem worried to be in a position to control Alucard.”

“I don’t like it; I’ll admit that straight off, Sir.” I abandoned my queen and slid down in my chair. “I’ve had to take care of myself my entire life, and I really appreciated giving someone else control. My master is good at looking out for me and my interests.”

Integra abandoned the chess board as well. She finished her brandy and lit another cigar. “It’s hard for me to understand, but I respect that you have valid reasons for wanting his authority over you.” She tapped her fingers on the table thoughtfully. “He inferred you felt angry that I sent you both to Scotland. Is that true?”

“Yeah. I was really mad at you while writhing around in pain and sexual frustration,” I admitted. “Your relationship with master is something I’ll never quite understand. You like to hurt each other, I think.”

Integra gave a wry smile. “He likes to jerk my chain, and I like jerking his.”

We were quiet for a little while. Integra got up and turned on her little office radio, filling the room with a piano sonata. “Has he played for you again, yet?”

“No.”

“Pity. He’s an accomplished pianist. He once confessed to me that he’d only started learning while here at Hellsing. I suppose my music-loving ancestors encouraged him to pass his time with it.”

“I don’t imagine it kept him out of trouble,” I muttered.

“Alucard?” Integra laughed shortly. “We know the answer to that.”

I had to smile.

“Does Walter play any musical instruments?” I asked.

“My husband-to-be is a violin virtuoso. His clever fingers lend themselves well to the instrument.” A faint tinge of pink appeared on Integra’s cheeks, and I figured she’d let her mind wander to Walter’s other talents.

Heh.

As if our conversation summoned him, Walter entered the office with a tray. “Tea?” he asked, already setting out cup and saucer. “It’s Zhu Ye Qing Green.”

“You read my mind,” Integra said, approaching the desk. “Walter, you choose the best tea.”

Walter slid her a smile. He poured and stepped back to offer me a bag of blood.

Though not hungry, I took it. I’d probably offer my own blood to my master in an hour or so, and the extra I ingested now would help keep my strength. “Walter, I’d love to hear you play the violin sometime,” I said.

Again the older man smiled. “You’ll hear me play very often once the Hellsing heir arrives,” he murmured. “Babies enjoy music.”

Integra blushed.

It delighted me to watch Walter reduce the stern and brusque master of the manor into a shy, happy girl. If she knew how she looked, she’d be very embarrassed.

Walter took his leave of us. Integra watched him go with greedy eyes. “He’s a tease.”

“Oh?” Mmm, O-Negative….

“Yes.” Integra looked around as if to ensure we were alone. She took a small sphere from a desk drawer and set it on the desk. Staring at it a moment, she picked up her tea. “I…” She broke off. “Seras, you’d better not tell anyone what I’m about to say.”

“I won’t,” I assured, eager at the idea of some juicy gossip or a good secret. Sir Integra rarely shared a confidence. “What’s that big marble for?”

Integra actually grinned. “It’s attuned to your sneaky master. If he’s anywhere nearby, it glows red.”

I grinned back. “That’s very cool.”

“Yes, isn’t it?” Integra added just a drop of honey to her tea. “But, back to Walter.”

“Yes?” I couldn’t help leaning forward a little.

Integra began to blush again, but harder. “He told me we wouldn’t…be intimate again until after the wedding.”

I gasped. “Why?”

“I don’t know. Something about being proper.” Integra stirred her tea furiously. “At least you don’t have to worry about that sort of stuffy proclamation.”

“I’m still a virgin,” I whispered.

Integra dropped her spoon. “You are?” Her blue eyes went impossibly large.

“Yeah.” I lowered my gaze to the table. “Master can’t go at his own pace; our link prevents him from that.”

“Good God.” Integra downed her fragrant libation and poured again. “Well, we’re both getting the tease, then. How wonderful.”

I snickered. After a moment, she did, too.

“Sir,” I said, an idea coming to me. “Why don’t we go get some of those gowns and things that tarty women wear to bed? It’s perfect revenge.”

Integra grinned into her cup, and it was as evil and mean as any I’d seen on my master. “You have splendid thoughts. Let’s go right now.”

I leaped for my long coat while Integra stuffed things into her tiny wallet. She called for a car and a driver. I finger-combed my hair into tameness. Master? I’m going shopping with Integra. Do you need anything?

You induced her to shop twice inside of two weeks? I heard his amazement clearly. Yes, get me a bottle of wine. Nothing cheap, please.

Okay.

“Master wants a bottle of wine,” I said to Integra as we walked to the front of the building.

“He can’t even get drunk,” Integra complained.

“He likes mixing blood and wine together,” I explained as we entered the limo.

“I suppose one develops quirks in several hundred years,” she allowed, voice pondering.

“He likes stockings, too,” I said. “I need to make sure to get some.”

“We’ll get you the kind with a garter belt, then,” Integra replied, rolling the dividing window up for privacy. “I’ll get some, too. Remind me to have the clerks show us how to manage them. I have no earthly clue about fancy lingerie.” She handed me a credit card. “This one belongs to you. The limit is several thousand pounds, which buys almost nothing these days. God, I’m glad we don’t use the Euro; it buys even less.” She pressed the communication button for the driver. “Coco de Mer, Jane.”

“Isn’t that the place that has peep-holes in the changing rooms?” I squeaked.

Integra chuckled. “Yes, but you can close those, Seras. The idea is that your significant other can look and tell you if he likes what you’re trying on.”

I shivered. “I’ll never take my master in that shop. He’d be terrible.”

“Yes, he’d make a nuisance of himself very quickly,” Integra agreed. “Alucard isn’t for polite company, or for places with women changing in and out of skimpy clothing.”

We looked at each other and laughed.