Midian Evolution

Though I couldn’t really sleep at night, I attempted rest. In only a few hours I’d have to get up and start getting ready for Integra and Walter’s wedding. My eyes fell upon the discarded cassock lying across my vanity chair, and I scowled at it. Now I had to look at Anderson’s seemingly noble gesture as evidence I was something to cover up, to hide.

Master never insisted I cover myself. He loved it only too well when he got a glimpse of me.

But, maybe that was the entire issue. My master didn’t find women something to avoid or to scorn. He always sought their company, surrounded himself by them. Of course, that had a good deal to do with him being a horny bastard. Also, he just liked to look. Anderson had never fallen prey to the sins of the flesh, and covering me might have been a method of self-preservation as well as an adherence to polite standards.

No use. I couldn’t rest, either. My nature demanded I get up and do something. I’d go walk around Hellsing and see what entertainment I could find. Master, I sent out. I’m going for a stroll. Do you want to come with me?

I felt the faint ripple of his surprise.

Yes, I’ll go with you, he answered. Where?

It doesn’t matter. I’m restless. Aren’t you?

Yes, I am, Sotie.

Master coalesced in front of me. He wore his usual ensemble, but had left off the hat. I looked at that elegant mess that served as his hair, and smiled. My master was so handsome.

“There’s a lovely moon tonight,” he said in a teasing voice that oozed warmth.

“I can feel it,” I assured him, bending to lace my boots. “I’ve felt it since you made me.”

“I make the most beautiful things,” he murmured. He picked up Anderson’s cassock and looked at it a moment. “Why keep this?”

“Because it’ll make him squirm,” I said, jerking on a shoelace so hard I broke it. “He really… hacked me off, Master.”

“Holy men have that way about them.” Master waved his hand and my shoelace repaired. “Interestingly, it doesn’t matter what god they serve, either. Smug superiority isn’t limited to Christians.”

I rather snorted my agreement, then paused as a thought came to me. Master had called me beautiful, in his own, arrogant way. I looked over at him, and he met my eyes.
Those eyes. Powerful, weighted eyes that reflected eternity back to me with a red hue.

“What is it, Sotie?” he asked quietly.

What is it, wife? he meant.

My heart sped up. I heard his join the cadence. My will had started his heart. I directed this game.

Suddenly, just looking at him became painful. I had no business controlling any of this, and I certainly had no right to control him. My centuries- old, terrifying, multi-dimensional master, a vampire not even held by the wards of Hellsing. This man called me his wife, and didn’t care that I dictated what happened between us.

No one, not even Integra, would credit Alucard with this much patience.

“Master, you know that I enjoy what you’ve made me into, don’t you?” I asked, taking up my coat. I didn’t need the cover, but I wanted it.

“Yes.” Alucard smiled very slightly. “Did you want to hunt, perhaps?”

It sounded wonderful, taking down prey. I licked my lips. “Yes,” I answered. I had more to say, but it would wait. “We won’t get a chance tomorrow, will we? Or even on the train during Integra and Walter’s honeymoon?”

“I can’t think we’ll hunt for at least a week.” Alucard put his gloves on, frowning a little. “We might get lucky, but I wouldn’t rely on luck.” He straightened and gave me a much wider smile. “So, it’s a good idea to drink our fill now, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” I considered my outfit. It wasn’t suitable for dragging the cesspool of the city for child molesters. “Change my clothes for me, Master,” I urged.

“All right.” Alucard focused upon me. I felt the transformation. Looking down, I saw a variation of the goth baby-doll outfit I’d worn the first time out with him for a kill. This one just dripped black lace, ribbons, and a perverse, under-age allure.
“Perfect.” I put my hair up in twin ponytails and grabbed some black lipstick.

Alucard held up his hand, chuckling. “Smile for the ex-priest. He’s on his way in here.”

Anderson did just burst on through, scowling. He stopped dead at the sight of me, blinking twice, mouth open but no words coming forth. Then, he inhaled. “What in the name o’ God the Father are you doing?” he demanded of me first. Then, his blazing green eyes zeroed in on Master. “She’s supposed to be your childe, an’ you let her go about like some pedophile’s wet dream?”

“That’s what I want,” I said firmly, before Master could start his usual toying and taunting. “I hunt child molesters. Master goes with me.”

Chuckling, Alucard shrank and changed his clothing to harmonize with mine. As before, he looked only barely older than me, and vulnerable, even innocent. Anderson now topped him head and shoulders. “Would you like to go with us, Paladin? Whet your bayonets on those who would spoil the innocent?”

Master, you are very clever, I couldn’t help telling him. You said he needed an outlet, and you targeted his obvious hatred of pedophiles.

Anderson looked like he didn’t know what to do or say. He shook his head. He started pacing. He put his hands behind his back and started muttering. Even with supernatural hearing, I made no sense out of his words.

He’s tempted, Master said smugly in my head. I knew he would be.

“Come with us,” Master said aloud, his voice smooth yet untinged by his power to influence. “If for no other reason than to watch and see justice served to criminals who escape human law.”

Oh, Master. I want to put on such a show for him, I confessed. I’d love to knock him down off his ivory tower. He doesn’t think we can be good for anything but Satan’s work. He doesn’t even know we have feelings, friends, any of that.

I can make him go, Master offered.

No. Part of building him into something else is letting him tear himself down first. I met Master’s eyes. You taught me that.

Oh, Sotia Mea; you make me so proud. Alucard told me simply, but the power of his sincerity carried through the air and settled into my very bones.

“Is this the sort of practice ye were talking abou’?” Anderson said finally. “Yon lass wouldn’t practice on me, remember?”

“Very similar,” Alucard admitted. “My progeny wouldn’t make sport of you the way I do.”

Anderson eyed me. He looked at my clothing again, then at all the makeup I’d silently put on while he paced in indecision. He approached and leaned to look down at me from a very close perspective. I barely kept from squirming.

He turned and looked at my makeup kit. A strange pulse of something emanated from him. Slowly, he put out a hand and picked up an eye pencil. He looked at it a long time before putting it back down. “I’ll go with ye monsters,” he said. “I’m bored, staying in the dark, dank nothin’ ye seem to enjoy so verra much.”

“Excellent.” Alucard put a hand on Anderson, and kept it there even though the man stiffened. Slowly, the Paladin’s clothing darkened to black. “There’s many a tainted priest in the world,” he murmured to the outraged man. “Try to contain yourself; a lot of humans enjoy the goth priest effect.”