Midian Evolution

My thanks to you all who keep up with my slow updating, and to you new readers and reviewers, too.
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Seras… My master, my lover’s voice insinuated its dark richness into my head. Seductive, compelling, insistent that I hear and obey. Seras, come to me.

“Nooo,” I groaned. “Vlad…” Every muscle in my body coiled, preparing to heed his command. “Alucard…”

Seras, you are mine. Come to me.

I could not disobey…

But, I could, couldn’t I? I had free will. He’d even insisted upon that for my sake. He’d made it so I could disobey him.

“No, Master,” I said again. “This is what you wanted.”

I changed my mind. His voice gained an edge of impatience and raw need.

“Well, I didn’t change mine!” I sat up, shaking him out of my head frantically. “You’re not getting a baby out of me!” All men were the same, even the Undead! You weren’t a man until you got a girl pregnant! Well, he could twist in the wind until I had some form of birth control.

Heavy boots trod over the floor. Anderson suddenly loomed over me, his glasses flashing in the one streak of light coming in the window. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “Yeh havin’ a fit?”

I clamped my arms around my knees and looked up at him. In a brief flash, I saw what he must look like to a frightened child; comforting and strong, big enough to chase away any terror. But, the moment bled away. I wasn’t a child any more. Still, I would have loved to have had Anderson in my old orphanage. With him as my keeper I wouldn’t have worried about a thing.

“Master wants me, and I won’t go,” I informed. It hurt my nerves and strained our bond that I had to deny him. “But, I really, really want to go.”

“He’s botherin’ your sleep?” Anderson looked at me as if daring me to deny it. Despite the smallness of the light, his pupils contracted.

“I don’t think he means to,” I defended, hugging myself.

“Feed me another load,” he said, straightening. “Yeh told me you had to sleep, nighttime or not.”

“I do!” I eased back down and pulled the covers up. “It’s almost impossible to sleep at night, though! And, he’s talking to me!”

“Good.” Anderson took three small steps back from me while reaching into his cassock’s inner pocket. “Let ‘im run ‘is mouth.” He pulled out his Bible. The flutter of winged paper filled the room, and in seconds the pages covered the entirety of the car’s interior. A magical, religious barrier. “Can’t hear him now, can yeh?” he asked, grinning.

I couldn’t.

“No.” I felt relieved and guilty all at once.

“Don’ look like that. He charged me to do what had to be done, an’ I’m doin’ it.” Anderson turned his back to me and marched away. “Go tae sleep!”

I stayed still a long time, making an honest attempt to return to sleep. I couldn’t, though. Alucard had awoken me just as I finally fell under, and now I felt wired.

“Yeh aren’t asleep, are you?” Anderson’s voice floated around the corner.

“No. It isn’t like I can just instantly relax!” I ground my head backward in my pillow and gritted my teeth a second. “There’s a lot of shit in my head, and I’ve only got a fucking hand-trowel to move it around!”

“Heh-heh-heh,” came Anderson’s dry chuckle. “Count turds, then.”

I grinned. That was funny.


I must have slept for a short while, anyway, for I found myself jerking awake. A low, growling sound moved back and forth, but not in the room. I searched for and found Anderson leaning against the wall, a bayonet propped in his crossed arms. He saw me looking at him. “It’s only yer master,” he said casually. He was sweating, and I saw him tremble. “Thankfully, he doesnae have as much mental control while in beast form.”

I sat up fully and looked toward the door. I saw where I knew it to be, but not even a bit of natural wall or door showed through all those Bible pages. The scrape of a claw, a snuffle, a small whine, and then panting. My master stood out there, pacing, trying to find a weak spot and get in.

“He’s powerful enough to break your barrier, isn’t he?” I asked.

“Not like he is right now,” Anderson grumbled. “He’s nearly pure animal at th’ moment. All he can think about is getting in here to you, lass.”

“Are you… scared?” I asked as a drop of sweat slid off his nose.

“You know better.” Anderson tightened his hold on the bayonet. “I said he had less mental control, but I didn’t say it was all gone, did I? He knows he has a slave in here to fix the matter of the barrier, and he’s trying tae make me help him.”

Oh.

“Don’t worry.” Anderson took a sip of long-stale apple juice, fighting for a good grip on the container. “He’s not gettin’ in.” The stress of holding onto his own mind, of holding out against my master’s mental onslaught, made him shake. Plainly, following Alucard’s orders in one way made him disobey in others, and it made him sick.

“But, you look like you’re going to collapse.” I started to get up, but he waved me back down.

“Sit still,” Anderson barked. You move and you agitate him. In fact, stop talkin’, too.”

Reluctant, I settled again. Listening to Alucard pace up and down the hallway felt nerve-wracking. No way would I sleep again.

Hours later, I sensed my master retreating. The tingle of approaching daylight told me why. I worried that he’d be exhausted today, like me, and that being tired would lower his willpower even more. If he couldn’t maintain his strength, he couldn’t guard against Walter.

“He’s going to need blood,” I said abruptly.

“Aye,” Anderson said, sitting beside me. “Yours isn’t helpful a’ this point, either.”

“He won’t drink what Walter brings us,” I added. “What are we going to do?”

Anderson rolled his eyes and screwed his face up into a mien of extreme displeasure. “That answers itself, lass. He’ll either attack me or beg it from Sir Integra.”

I balled my hands into fists. “He will not get it from Sir!” I wouldn’t stand for that. I’d kill them both. I’d rip them to bloody shreds and scatter the pieces-.

“Stop that,” Anderson said roughly, giving me a good, hard shake. “Don’t revert on me.”

I had to be so careful. Flashes of temper and covetousness like that could cause a lot of grief. Shamed out of my anger, I sighed and flopped. “It’s not like I want to see him biting either one of you, but you’d be the most tolerable, I guess.” That was assuming that Master could even tolerate Regenerist blood. After seeing how easily he digested Nathaniel, the syphilitic scumbag, I guess he could cope with Anderson.

“Thanks,” Anderson replied dryly. “Ah cannae wait to join you in slobbering servitude. D’you have any tips for me?”

Irritated, I threw him my best scowl. “It isn’t so crude.”

He gave me a parody of a grin. “Lass, unlike you, I don’t want him suckin’ on my neck.” He rubbed the very spot he talked about, nervously.

“You’re afraid you’ll like it,” I said, knowing it for the truth. A sudden, fanciful image rose up in my mind, an image of Master drinking from Anderson. I could easily envision it, and felt a small rush of heat. That was kind of hot. I thought I could get over my jealousy to enjoy that spectacle. “It wouldn’t mean you’re gay or anything. You know that, right?”

“You speak so bluntly,” Anderson observed.

“I’m just saying there’d be no shame in it,” I defended. I wasn’t attracted to the priest, but I’d love to see Master taking control of him in a good way. So far he’d made my new friend suffer a lot. Secretly, I suspected Anderson might adjust to life with Hellsing a lot better if he gave up celibacy vows. “It isn’t like you’d have a chance of not enjoying it, if he decides you should.”

“Please, no more,” Anderson asked, holding up his hand. “Yer forgetting he’d turn me into a ghoul.”

“Uhhh…” I still didn’t understand all that business much, but Alucard would never turn Anderson into a ghoul. He enjoyed him too much as a spirited person. “No, I don’t think he would. You’re still a virgin.”

Anderson showed me his teeth. “Of the same sex,” he added. “Only virgins of the opposite sex become true vampires; everyone else becomes a ghoul. I’d rather die than become either.”

Our discussion stopped upon the opening of our door. Sir Integra broke through the Bible-page wallpapering and stepped inside, smoothly as you please. “I see now why Walter was so worried,” she commented coolly. “You’ve barricaded yourselves against Alucard well.”

“Until now,” Master said in a warm voice, slipping past her and heading straight for me. The three of us independently measured his threat level in a split instant, and came to the same conclusion.

“No, Alucard,” Integra snapped. “Back to me. I order it.”

My master stopped, but he didn’t turn around to face her. Instead, he locked eyes with me. I knew he wanted to obey her, because he just quivered all over, but the temptation of me had a firm hold. I quaked inside at the lust and need boiling behind those glowing orange orbs.

I heard Anderson heave another one of his huge, put-upon sighs. A second later, I smelled blood. “The things I find myself doing these days… it’s enough to taint a hundred saints,” he muttered. “I’ll occupy Purgatory fer six thousand years.”

As a unit, we all looked at the priest. He stood quietly, his hands holding a seeping gash open at his neck. “Ye’d better hurry,” he bade my master. “It heals up and the offer is gone; I hate myself for even offering once.”

But, he did offer. I thought he gave of himself because of me, and it warmed my heart.

Alucard’s powerful gaze narrowed upon the trickle of blood. His advance on Anderson, silent and quick, made Sir Integra and I freeze, breathless. He took the paladin by his wrists and shoved him against the wall, pinning him there.

Anderson shuddered mightily as my master’s head lowered. “Pious, regenerating virgin vintage,” he whispered, reminding Alucard of his own words spoken not long ago. “D’y think yeh can bear it, vampire?”

I looked at Anderson’s tense posture and clenched fists, his closed eyes and rapid breaths. Don’t hurt him, Master, please.

Why would I cause him pain when pleasure hurts him so much more? Alucard asked me, gathering blood from Anderson’s neck with his tongue. He’s only doing what he must, anyway, sotie. I ordered him to protect you from me, and this is how he accomplishes it. Unlike that cowardly idiot, Renfield, Anderson can manage to do what he finds personally repugnant.

Integra backed out of the room and quietly shut the door just as Master clamped his greedy lips over Anderson’s bleeding wound. The fallen priest gave a low, tortured moan and began to shake uncontrollably.

I’d thought I’d want to see this. The reality of it made me reconsider. I didn’t like seeing my lover and my friend in such an intimate pose.

Leave us, then, Master commanded with no anger. We’ll never get him to pursue the fair Julianna if he doesn’t appreciate what an orgasm is.

Alucard was such an opportunist. Five seconds from fucking me he got an offer for Anderson’s blood and he already calculated how to turn it to his advantage. I slipped out and headed straight for Integra, who hadn’t quite made it back to the honeymoon cabin.

I grabbed Integra’s hand just as she opened her door. She returned my slight squeeze reflexively, then turned to look down at me. “I don’t blame you,” she said, pulling me inside with her. “At this rate, Hellsing becomes synonymous with hedonism.”

Walter, who stood at the limit of the room, packing, gave a delicate little snort of agreement. “You’re the only non-monster in the family,” he remarked, looking at his bride. “And, forgive me, you have your moments, too.”

Integra began to smile, but stopped. We watched a fat drop of blood ease from Walter’s left nostril and splat into the suitcase. He tried to staunch it with a handkerchief and failed.

“That’s it,” Integra said firmly. “This honeymoon is over. You need a doctor, Walter. Even if you could convince me otherwise, Alucard is a powder keg on this train. We monsters are returning to Hellsing.”

Walter sighed and nodded. “Yes,” he said softly. “I’m overdue for Doctor Kayne. This…” He looked at me a moment, and just a little humor stole into his heliotrope eyes. “This fucking headache is getting worse,” he declared.

“Then, we have to fucking do something about it,’ I said back, grinning. It buoyed me up a bit, hearing Walter attempt to keep his humor while in obvious pain. Maybe he wasn’t a traitor after all? But no, something still felt wrong about him. I heard that awful whispering…

I sat and watched Integra and Walter concentrate their efforts, admiring how well they worked together. They didn’t get in each other’s way even once. If Integra moved even in an abrupt, unexpected direction, Walter flowed to accommodate her. If he started reaching for something, Integra already had it in her hand to pass to him. They were seamless.

My heart gave a squeeze of pain. If Walter…

No. No, I couldn’t think of it right now. I couldn’t think of what sort of misery his betrayal would bring Sir Integra.

“I’ll call for a flight,” Walter said, walking past me for the door. “If we can get out today, we will.”

Something deep inside me gave a little push. I got up, obeying that little prompt. “I’ll go with you,” I offered, hoping he’d go ahead and act to get us out of here. I didn’t want him alone with Sir while my own master was occupied with Anderson. Too, I wanted to see what might happen. I felt afraid, but Walter was my friend. I owed it to him if my presence fought off his traitorous demons. I’d been a coward, but I could almost forgive myself for that. My change, my unlife, my situation, the flux of Hellsing all combined to put me so off-kilter.

“Try to be back soon, both of you,” Integra said in a distracted voice, neatly folding a shirt. “I don’t want to have to worry about the pair of you for very long.”

“Understood,” Walter said as I murmured my agreement. We exited, and, in moments, left the train.

In silence I stood and observed Walter finding the booking office within the train station. He made several calls, found and reserved a flight to London this very afternoon, then arranged for Hellsing transport to pick us up at the estimated arrival time. His disposable, pre-paid cellular phone went off just as he completed all of our preparations.

“Walter Hellsing,” he said, giving me a little jolt. I’d known he intended to take Sir Integra’s name, but it still surprised me to hear it out loud. “I did?” He sounded mildly surprised. His eyebrows went up. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes or so,” he assured the person on the other side of the line. He hung up and looked down at me. “We left a bag at the hotel. Care to accompany me to get it?”

“Okay.” It wasn’t an ideal situation, going even that distance with him alone, but I stuck to my resolve. I’d never be able to help Walter if I didn’t take a risk. Master would just have to understand. “Want me to get us there immediately?”

Walter smiled thinly, but real amusement lurked behind his eyes. “A shadowy corner for privacy, then?” he asked.

I tugged him into an alcove. Taking his hand, my fingers slid over his spool rings. I couldn’t help a sudden fit of shivers. His menace with monofilament could never be forgotten. “Okay, Walt,” I said. “Brace yourself. Think of the hotel, or this might get us into trouble. I don’t know where you stayed last night, remember?”

“Yes.” He clasped me tightly, his fingers threaded through mine with gentle strength. “The alley beside the hotel, then. I doubt anyone wants to see us materialize inside the lobby.”

I focused, felt and saw his destination. We became darkness, flowing through the physical into the non- corporeal. When I formed us again, we did indeed stand in an alley. I let go and gave him a smile. “Beats walking, eh?”

Walter chuckled. “Yes, Seras,” he assured. He started to take a step, then stopped. Looking down at me, he froze. That horrible, jumbled whispering reached a high pitch. His fingers flexed, clicking his many rings together in a creepy, grating cadence.

“Walter?” I asked, preparing to become less solid. If he cut me into pieces I doubted Master could put me back together. Still, I wouldn’t flee. Whatever had Walter, it wasn’t Walter, thank God.

“Seras,” he said, his voice so creepily distant and flat that I shivered. His deep, purple eyes widened. “Seras, run from me,” he urged. “Please, just run.”

I took a step back, thrilled and horrified at once. Walter, whatever ailed him, didn’t want to hurt me. He attempted to save me right now. “Walt,” I whispered. “Why would I run from you? You’re my best friend.”

Walter slapped his hands to his temples and bared his teeth. “Shut up!” he hissed, and he wasn’t talking to me. “Just shut the fuck up!” His fingers curled as his spine bowed inward. Trembling all over, he seemed to give way to an inner battle. He collapsed to his knees. “Seras, run!” His hands came out and his fingers flexed. I saw the flash of wire.

“No.” I knelt in front of him, mindful of his wire-threat but unwilling to abandon him to whatever caused him so much torment. “Walter, look at me!”

Groaning long and low, Walter managed to get his head up. His tormented eyes latched onto mine, and he gave a powerful, wrenching shudder. “Seras,” he said, and his voice seemed hauled from the bottom of a pit. “Please, please, just kill me.”

The ache in my throat became agony. “No, Walt,” I answered, feeling hot, bloody tears escaping my eyes. “No. You have to fight it. Fight, Walter!”

Blood erupted from Walter’s nose and left ear. He buckled where he knelt, keening in anguish. Writhing, he clutched at his head. “No, no, no!” he shouted. “Not her!”

“Walter!” I reached out, conquering my fear in favor of helping him. I loved Walter. I’d do anything…

Moaning, Walter fell to the wet, slippery cobblestones and went ominously still. Then, jerking spasmodically, he reached for my hand. “Serassss…”

I braced his head, crying so hard I could barely see. Something cold and hard dropped into my palm, and I drew my hand back toward me to look. There, in my palm, rolled a thin, tiny cylindrical tube of blue plastic. It flashed red just one time, then went cold and dead. Walter sighed and went totally limp.

I looked at the thing in my hand, knowing it to be the cause of all the misery associated with my friend. Carefully, I clenched it in my fist. Master? I sent out.

Seras, sotie, came my instant reply. Where are you, beloved?

The stress of the moment combined with his lovely, unexpected endearment. I bent my head and clutched the evil bit of tubing to my chest. Come get me, I asked. Please, Vlad…

I feel you.

In less than four seconds, I stared at my master’s boots. I stood and fell into his strong arms, feeling with thankfulness his authority and competence. “Master,” I sighed.

Alucard’s hand dropped to my hair and began petting. “Pretty girl,” he murmured. “Did you kill Walter?”

Black humor took me. Laughing tightly, I held out my hand and dropped the blue tube into his. “This came out of his ear. He fainted afterward.”

Alucard looked at the object a moment before tucking it away. “Walter isn’t a traitor,” he said softly. He bent down and put my friend in his arms. “I’m glad.”

I didn’t have the strength left to even discuss it. I was emotionally and physically exhausted, sleepless, blood-hungry, relieved and plain old wiped out. Everything, just everything seemed to crash down upon me. Taking a handful of my lover’s coat, I leaned against him. Help me, Master.

Seras… Alucard transferred Walter to one arm, draping him over his shoulder. With the other, he picked me up, too. Rest, sotia mea.

So tired… I pressed my face to his smooth throat.

I know.

The last thing I knew, Master was dissolving us into mist.