Midian Evolution

Integra held true to her word. Even our chauffer was a female member of the kitchen staff who’d acquired her chauffer’s license over the summer.

We browsed for a few hours in various shops I knew I’d never have been allowed inside of while living. Integra, well known, respected and feared, snapped orders to the clerks like she did with her own staff. Somewhat awed, I watched her pick out guest gifts for her wedding and various odds and ends.

We drove to a trendy section and she helped me choose clothing. Neither one of us had any fashion sense for feminine togs, so we relied heavily upon the recommendations of the help.

“You like that all black look Alucard puts on you,” she observed as I threw another outfit in the arms of the wait-woman.

“I do, but I’m not getting any skirts that short,” I replied. Suddenly worried, I looked at her. “Does it not look good on me?”

“The goth look?” Integra lifted an elegant eyebrow. “It suits you, actually, no pun intended.

“If you like this stuff,” the woman beside us said, “you should go all out and get the makeup.”

Integra shivered. I, however, felt interested instead of repelled. “Where?” I asked.

“Next door.” The woman smiled. “They’ll even show you how to put it on, dear.”

Integra checked her timepiece. “We have a few hours, yet,” she informed. “Are you finished with clothing?”

“I think I have enough,” I said, feeling a bit taken aback at all I’d chosen. “This will be expensive, Sir.”

“Don’t concern yourself, Seras. I don’t pay you a wage, after all.” She took me by the hand and pulled me toward the door. “We’ll come back for the clothes. They’ll hold them for us.”

So, I got a tutorial on applying the black eyeliner and lipstick that goths wear. I chose jewelry, too, at Integra’s urging. “You might as well make it a complete look,” she said, looking amused. “I think you’ll surprise your master.”

The thought of how he’d react to some of my outfits made me grin. “Could I have a pair of gloves like his, Sir Integra?” I asked.

She eyed me. “Only if you want the seals put on you,” she said quietly.

Disappointed, I gathered up all of my things.

“Don’t look like that, Seras,” Integra admonished in a very soft tone. “You should be glad you aren’t bound.”

“I’m not, though,” I complained. “I’m tied to my master, but I’m also loyal to you.”

She tried not to show her pleasure at my confession, but I sensed it anyway. “Be glad, then, that your master doesn’t make you choose,” she answered. “Apparently that devil has never done anything I ordered because he had to; he stays with me because he wishes it. If he were to ever want to leave, he’d take you with him, and if you were bound, the pressure would tear you apart.”

“Master won’t leave you,” I told her with conviction.

“You seem so certain,” she murmured. We entered the limo and she rolled up the glass to keep our conversation private. “I’m not so sure.”

“Why?”

“Because of who and what he is,” she said, looking stone faced. “Your master is a rogue, a ronin; independence and self-mastery make him at his core.”

“Apparently not,” I contradicted gently.

Integra startled. She lit a cigar and eased into the leather seat, looking thoughtful. After a few minutes, she smiled slightly. “I’ll leave it up to time,” she said. “Perhaps my viovode is evolving.”

“You have a lot of names for him.”

“He has a lot of identities, Seras,” Integra replied easily. “You’ll see that, eventually.” She tapped her ash out the window. “We all do, don’t we? You’re his progeny, my employee, Walter’s friend.”

She spoke truly.

Sir Integra impressed me. She’d seemed so cold to me at first, but as I got to know her, I realized her coldness covered a very real, very tender heart. She held on to a core of strength, but nurtured a secret softness. Smart, capable, it didn’t surprise me she’d been knighted.

I loved her, but not in the same way I loved my master.

“I take it from Alucard’s smug demeanor you’ve finally pleased him,” she went on suddenly. “You’ve killed and fed before his eyes.”

“Yes, he likes that,” I said, smiling wryly. “But, I’ll never feed randomly, no matter how much he might enjoy it.”

“Good. I would have to bind you, if you did.”

“You don’t want to bind me.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t like slavery, not even for my pet monster.” Integra snuffed her cigar and closed her eyes. “Pet,” she repeated, snorting delicately. “I remember…”

“What?” Curious, I edged closer.

She sighed. “I had a stressful and unusual childhood, Seras,” she said. “After freeing your master from the lower level cell, I shot my uncle. He’d tried to kill me and take the Hellsing organization for himself.”

“That’s terrible.”

“Yes, but such upheaval has been common in my life. After I freed Alucard, however, I had at least two constants.” She looked out the window, her brow furrowed.

“Him, and also Walter,” I said quietly. “You could depend upon them.”

“Yes.” She smiled, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “At twelve years old, I already had most of my education in place, but they taught me quite a bit, too. I learned decorum and strategy from Walter, but I learned how to bide my time and how to act from Alucard.”

“Is it strange to be marrying Walter?” I asked, suddenly appreciative of how their union might feel odd to her.

“Yes, in many ways. Fortunately, he’s able to get over the fact he helped raise me.” Integra laughed lowly. “I never saw him as a father figure, but as a wise guardian, which helps me. Also, he’s quite a lover.”

I blushed. “Wow.”

She laughed harder. “You’ve seen him fight. Imagine how agile he is. I’ll leave it at that.”

********************************************************************************

I had two hours before sunrise, and I used them well by reading. Walter had insisted upon putting my purchases away, so I read while he hung up clothes and arranged places for all my stuff. I had a hard time meeting his eyes. Integra’s bombshell of sexual information made me blush every time I looked at the man.

“What on earth?” he asked, his voice a startled exclamation. I glanced up to see him holding the various jars of hair color.

“Manic Panic,” I said. “I thought I’d put some stripes in my hair or something.”

Walter set the dyes out in a row. “Atomic Turquoise, Deadly Nightshade, Electric Lizard, Wildfire, Raven, Ultra Violet and …” He looked at me, smirking. “Vampire Red,” he finished. “I hope you don’t intend to use them all at once?”

“No,” I laughed.

“But, Miss Seras, your hair is a lovely shade of blonde,” he said, almost in a complaining tone.

“If it looks ugly, I’ll cut it off. Master can make my hair grow right back out,” I soothed.

“What if he won’t help?” he asked, still looking worried.

“It’s just hair, Walter,” I said.

He shuddered. “If you want to, I suppose it’s your right,” he said.

Soon after, he left me. I put my book down and looked at the tempting jars of unnatural color…