Midian Evolution

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I fell asleep on him. An unknown amount of time later, I awoke to the sound of Alucard’s door opening. Integra stood, silhouetted by a blaze of lamp light. She took two steps in, faltered, then continued. “He’s getting worse,” she whispered.

Alucard and I stood. I went to her, and without waiting for permission, put my hand on her shoulder. “Don’t give up,” I whispered.

“I’m not,” she answered, her voice just as soft. “I just wanted to…” She stopped. “Actually, I don’t know what I wanted. It just felt right to come here.”

I’ve never heard her like this, not once, master said in my mind. She sounds weak.

I shot him a hard look. Everyone’s weak to something.

He met my gaze evenly. I’m usually not.

Mad that he would consider Integra’s very natural distress as something to scorn, I gave him a mental growl. How he could pity me and show no mercy to Integra amazed me.


You’re not? I challenged. Then, master, who is Elizabeta?

Alucard flinched. Not the same, Seras.

Are you sure? I put my arms around Integra, holding her tight. She stood in my embrace, not accepting nor refusing, just standing frozen as if she had no idea what a hug meant. Master, you have a chance to help Sir Integra, a chance to help her in a way that will prove you mean to stay without those stupid wards and seals.

I’m not the sort of creature for displays like this. he argued, putting his hands behind his back. I will bow to her, I will follow her orders, I’ll even give her pleasure, but I cannot do what you are doing. She isn’t my lover, neither is she my property nor my wife.

No, she’s your friend, only you’re too stupid or too stubborn to see it!

Alucard regarded me with disbelief, his eyes draining to pure yellow before gradually filling back with their orange tint. My friend?

I gave up. “Sir,” I said, steering her toward the door. “Let’s go get a cup of tea, okay? Walter would be upset if you didn’t get tea while he’s out of commission.”

“I can’t lose Walter,” Integra said weakly, letting me lead her.

“Wait,” Alucard said, halting us. “What is Walter’s blood type?”

Integra turned. “Walter’s a universal recipient, why do you ask?”

“Maybe it’s like human diseases,” he said. “Maybe if we give him some of Anderson’s blood?”

The moment hung in an eternity of want.

Integra inhaled sharply. “Maybe.” She straightened. “Get him in the infirmary,” she snapped, coming to life, pointing at the priest.

“I’m not donating blood to some British, Protestant-.”

“It’s Walter or me,” Alucard said coldly, releasing Anderson from the chains, but immediately grabbing him by the throat. “And, if you donate to me, priest, you become like me. Your choice.”

We entered the hall and practically raced for the upper levels, Alucard tugging Anderson along. He finally grew weary of the priest’s fighting, and lifted him bodily. The sounds of an angry Scotsman who knew Latin filled the passage.

“Interesting preference for cursing,” Alucard commented. “You realize I understand every word? Being a dead language, Latin hasn’t changed.”

Anderson shut it.

We entered the infirmary. Kayne met us at the door, doing a cuff-and-stuff on the priest any policeman would feel pride over. He and Alucard wrestled him to a table and strapped him down. “The advance warning was nice,” he told my master. “I’d appreciate any future mental-speak from you to come in a lower volume. My head is ringing.”

I may have to change my mind about this quack, Alucard told me. He’s quite prepared to be a dirty doctor.

“This is one of the Vatican’s Regenerators?” Kayne asked, scanning the furious Anderson clinically. Quick as a flash, he had Q-Trace pads going on the man, hooking him up to a monitor. “How fast does he generate blood?”

“I’m right here, ye dirty-.”

“How fast, then?” Kayne said, redirecting his question personally. “Tell me the truth unless you want bled out.”

“I dinna know how quick!” Anderson started thrashing again.

“He can stand to lose a few pints per hour at least,” Alucard interrupted. “On a slow transfusion, I’d say he can build his blood supply back up by the time Walter’s had a complete replacement.”

“Good enough.” Kayne stabbed an intravenous needle into Anderson, then ran hoses back and forth. In just a minute he had Walter receiving Anderson’s blood directly.

We stood in silence, watching Walter’s read-out on screen.

At first, I saw no change; the lines stayed in the same places. Gradually, Walter’s heart began to speed up.

“Good,” Kayne said, adjusting a lead. “His blood pressure had dropped far too low. On the table, Walter gave a little twitch of his finger. “Better hold him, Alucard,” Kayne said. “Different blood means no more sedative.”

My master positioned himself at Walter’s side, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“What’s happening?” I asked Kayne. “I can’t read these monitors.”

“Mr. Dolneaz is climbing toward life,” Kayne replied, smiling. “Blood pressure going back up, respiration returning to normal, oxygen levels rising. It’s working. We tried giving him a transfusion with normal blood, but it didn’t help. The Regenerator’s blood is apparently what he required.”

“Why is it working?” Integra asked. “Why wouldn’t normal blood just rid him of the serum?”

“Apparently, the serum changes the body in such a way as to make normal blood useless. The priest’s blood is probably enough like his, only more stable; Mr. Dolneaz’s system now accepts this as a working alternative.”

“Thank you, God,” Integra said, slumping against me. I held her, having to support her entirely. She’d fainted. I didn’t want anyone else to know that, especially my master, so I supported her in such a way that it only seemed Integra rested upon my shoulder.

Sir? I reached for her mind.

Seras?

Yes, sir. You’ve fainted. Do you think you can wake back up before anyone notices?

I’ll do it.

And, just like that, Integra roused. She straightened, but kept a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you, Seras,” she whispered. Slowly, she joined my master at Walter’s bedside, weakness conquered.

There wasn’t room for me at my friend’s side, not with two people, a doctor and so many machines. I stood beside Anderson and looked down upon him. “I know you didn’t want to,” I said, “but, thanks. Walter’s my friend.”

Green eyes searched me. “I didnae know monsters had friends,” he replied.

I smiled. “Walter would tell you he’s a monster, too. I expect he can now be truthful if he says it, having a complete transfusion from you.”

Anderson glared at me. “I’m no monster, wee vampire lass. I was made ta fight monsters.”

Kayne came over to check the line connecting Anderson to Walter. Smiling, he patted the priest on his cheek. “Stare into the abyss too long, and the abyss stares back,” he said. “All of us at Hellsing are monsters. Soon, you will be, too.”

Anderson paled slightly. He stared at Kayne for a long moment, then rolled his eyes toward the door.

Seras, do you want to take a turn at holding Walter? Master asked. You’re strong enough, and he would probably know it’s you.

I replaced him gratefully. “Hey, Walter,” I said, watching him struggle to open his uncovered eye. The lid fluttered. His lips moved. “Come on, Walt,” I urged. “You gotta get better so you can kick the arses of the people who did this to you.”

“I agree,” Alucard said, backing my sentiment. “The Angel of Death can’t lie down. John Bulls have their pride.”

Walter made a fist. The monitor began beeping.

“That’s it,” Kayne said. “I’ve been waiting for that.” He prepped a needle, laying it to one side.

Walter began to struggle, really struggle. I fought to keep hold of him. I was stronger, but he could move like a snake. Mindful of his ability with monofilament, I covered his hands, abandoning his shoulders. Master moved in to take over, murmuring his approval at my thinking.

Integra paced back and forth beside us.

Anderson muttered in Latin.

Kayne watched the jumping lines on the monitor, a slow smile spreading over his face. Suddenly, he pulled the transfusion line from Anderson, then freed Walter as well.

Walter opened his eye. What I’d once fondly described to myself as almost-purple, now was. Walter’s eye shone a brilliant amethyst, deep and sparkling. His tongue came out to wet his lips. “What happened?” he asked, his voice strong and resonant.

Kayne made a happy noise, rather like a war whoop. He swept in and jabbed Walter with the readied needle. “You made it through hell, is what, Dolneaz!”

Integra wasted no time in freeing Walter from the restraints. “Walter, you scared me to death,” she told him, hovering. Wrapping her arms around him, she squeezed.

A faint smile touched Walter’s mouth. “My apologies, Sir Integra,” he said, sounding utterly sincere. He touched her arm gently. “But, what did I do?” Reaching for his monocle chain, he reeled in the lens and placed it over his eye.

Then, he frowned and removed it.

Alucard met my eyes from over the two between us. Be ready. You know what Anderson’s ability is. A rather obvious point, but Walter is now a Regenerator.

I gasped.

Walter sat up. “For lying in hospital, I don’t feel poorly.” He touched his face. “I’ve been in an accident, haven’t I? Am I burned, mutilated, which?”
I stared at that hand as it traveled over bandages. The half-glove revealed unshriveled fingers, and smoothly covered veins.

“Ah, I remember now,” he said, looking at me. “What was in the bottle, Miss Victoria? Acid? Poison?”

I swallowed hard. “Regenerist Serum,” I answered. “You got a face full.”

Walter stared at me. Slowly, he took his eyes to the table beside him, and looked at the scowling face of Alexander Anderson.

“Oh dear,” he said.