Midian Evolution

“So,” Walter said, setting out the pans of alcohol and fresh linens. “What was the meaning of yesterday’s little display?” He slid the plastic cover off a new set of tweezers, placing them on his sterile tray.

“Just a meaningless tousle,” I said stiffly. Walter had awoken me before I felt ready to get up. I figured it was so he could clean the debris out of my skin before Alucard stirred, but I didn’t know for certain.

“Right.” Walter took a scalpel and made a cut on my arm, expertly drawing out a big piece of master’s wormy chestnut accent table with the tweezers. He dug around, retrieving something that chimed upon hitting the big, stainless steel bowl beside my hip.

I felt a small part of my resistance cave in just at hearing that disbelieving tone. “He was groping me,” I blurted. “Normally, I’d like it. Actually, I did like it. But, then he got his ego all inflated and it hacked me off.” I folded my arms, aware I was sticking my lip out, but uncaring.

Walter made a tsk-tsk noise, grabbed my arm and forced it back under the surgical light. Again he cut and pulled out a big splinter. He worked so gently. He knew I could take all sorts of pain and damage, yet he carefully avoided hurting me any more than needed.

I stared at my mantle, seeing the little gift there. I could open it. I’d resisted for quite a few days, now, but I could use a little pick-me-up. Without pausing to consider if I could, I just reached out and summoned the small box to my hand.

“That’s a new one,” Walter commented, placidly cutting away. “A good, useful trick.”

“Yeah. I wonder what else I can do.” I slowly pulled the pretty, pink ribbon loose, watching the bow fall apart. Carefully, I smoothed the satin out and placed it on the table. I might use it in my hair, or maybe as a bookmark.

“Apparently, you can ruin masonry with Alucard’s body,” Walter said. “Honestly, I think you enchanted him with that. To him, that’s a wonderful display, like giving flowers and candy to a romantic.”

At the moment I didn’t care if I’d ‘enchanted’ him or not. I caressed the smooth paper around the box, enjoying the crisp, expert job of folding. Whoever wrapped my gift had real finesse. “One minute I want to completely give in to him, and the next all I can think of is smashing him into bits,” I said. “That’s not normal, Walter. It’s weird and sick.”

“You really think so?” he murmured. “It sounds like two sides of one love, to me.”

Startled, I looked at him. “Love isn’t about hurting someone.”

“Seras, dear, you’ve never been in love before,” Walter said softly. “How would you know what love is about?” He smiled and moved to another area of my damaged arm. “Besides, you’re a vampire. Vampires have different standards.”

I picked up a clean scalpel, using it to cut the tape away from the wrapping paper. “I’m not agreeing to that kind of foreplay,” I huffed, making Walter smile a little.

He worked on me a few minutes while I carefully peeled the paper free in one section. I wanted to save it, to flatten it down.

“What is that?” he asked as I separated tape from cardboard.

“A present, silly,” I answered. I lifted the lid and peered inside, seeing a small bottle. Lifting it, I recognized the lid as a spray nozzle. In fancy script, the words, Primogen’s Pain crawled across the side. I sniffed the top, smelling something very sweet and enticing.

Walter stiffened. He dropped his scalpel and tweezers. “I don’t like the vibration coming off that bottle, Miss Seras.” He put his hand out, lightning quick, and grabbed for it. He mashed my finger down on the sprayer, getting a face full of the liquid.

“Oh, Walter, I’m sorry!” I gasped out, jumping off the stool. I thought I’d get a washcloth and clean him up.


Walter collapsed.


I watched my friend roll onto his side, clawing at his face and gasping in pain. “Master!” I screamed, kneeling over Walter.

In the space of a heartbeat, Alucard stood over me. “What’s happened?” He bent, not touching Walter, but examining him closely. “Never mind.” He lifted Walter in his arms and vanished.

I made a deduction and grabbed the bottle, careful not to get any liquid on me. Master would have taken Walter to Doctor Kayne, so I followed.

The next few minutes filled me with horror I knew I’d never forget. Walter was strapped to a table, because he wouldn’t lie still for an examination. He kept clawing at his face, tearing up his skin. He was so strong and agile that Kayne had to use full leather restraints to hold him, and even then, Alucard held his shoulders to the padding. And, all the while, he screamed.

Walter never screamed, never made a noise of pain. Yet, here he lay, in agony, his dignity stripped away. He’d torn his shirt, his vest, anywhere the liquid had dribbled on him. His monocle dangled from the chain, swung off his ear lobe in time with his useless struggles.

I felt like the lowest of the low. If not for me, my dearest friend wouldn’t be suffering, possibly even dying. I’d acted stupidly, taking a present with no name on it, not even considering my enemies. My eagerness for the treat of a gift had probably murdered Walter Dolneaz.

Integra, called by Kayne, took command quickly. She ordered the perfume bottle and its contents to the lab. Her face drawn in worry, she stood by Walter’s side and talked to him, soothing, meaningless words meant to calm and comfort. I saw the sort of worry in her eyes that all people have when faced with losing something dear. She loved Walter, deeply.

“Where did the bottle come from?” Alucard asked me once Walter fell prey to the sedative Dr.Kayne administered.

“It was a present,” I said, feeling faint and miserable. “I found the package in my new room, the day Integra informed me of my move.”

“You haven’t used the contents?” Alucard cupped my chin, making me meet his gaze.

“No. I only opened it while Walter picked splinters out of me.” Tears made it hard to see my master. “I was so excited to get a gift, I saved it. I wanted to look at it for awhile, you know, to savor it.” I could barely talk now, my throat had almost completely closed with ache. “Walter made a grab for it, said he didn’t like the vibe. But, he hit my finger and squirted himself right in the face.”

Alucard began wiping away my tears. “This isn’t your fault. Clearly, we are victim to sabotage.” He made me look at him. I want no self-blame. You didn’t make the serum. You didn’t administer it. If you take it upon yourself to suppose guilt, I’ll beat you, Seras Victoria, I swear it.

I held his words for truth. Strangely, his very vehemence shook off the stain of my assumed responsibility. I nodded at him. I needed to hear that, master.

I know how you think, girl. You’d bleed for the world like Christ, if you could.

“I’ll find all the men who helped move and furnish your rooms,” Integra said, her harsh, even guttural voice bringing our attention back. “It had to have been one of the movers, or one of the plumbers. I had a full screen on every one of them, and they all checked, but it’s the only explanation.” She stroked Walter’s lined forehead tenderly. “We’ll get them, Walter, I promise.”

Integra turned to Doctor Kayne just as he re-entered the room. “Well?” she snapped out. “What is it? Poison?”

Kayne shook his head. “Sir Integra, it’s a serum. The boffins ran it against our entire database of collected liquids, and this is all they could find to match it.” He gave Integra a paper. “It isn’t a perfect match, but it’s the same catalyst.” He cast a glance at me. “It would have killed Miss Victoria, possibly seriously wounded Master Alucard.”

“But, not Walter?” Integra asked quickly, her gaze just racing over the paper. She sucked in a breath. Her fist clenched. “Regenerist Serum?”

Kayne nodded. “A close version of it, anyway. If Mr.Dolneaz survives the night, he has every chance of recovery. The serum, from what I understand, is never used on adults, but on children. Also, it’s given intravenously, not topically. Mr. Dolneaz is far, far past the age to safely administer something that stimulates such rapid cell turn over. We have no idea what it will do to him, especially since it mostly entered his body through the mucous membranes and his eyes.”

“Iscariot,” Alucard growled. “Section Thirteen. The goddamn Vatican.”

Integra’s entire body went absolutely still. Her heartbeat thudded hard, skipped two beats before continuing. Slowly, she reached out for Walter’s hand, moving back slightly so Kayne could bandage Walter’s face. “Alucard, Seras,” she said quietly, voice as cold as the grave. “Bring me Alexander Anderson. Alive.”

Master bowed to her deeply. His clothes shimmered, re-formed into the charcoal and scarlet ensemble I knew so well. “Yes, my master,” he said. “You will have him before daybreak.”