Desire is the death of all things
By: Haruka-chan
Ever looked closely at a spider's web? Yes its beautiful, but what about the complex patterns? Hard to believe that people are the same, well 'she' was. Her life was full of all the things that made one great and all the things that made a woman lost and lonely. She would shrug it all off, of course it was pride, and maybe fear that made her go on the way she did. If you watch a spider, it hardly does anything but what it is taught to do, what its ancestors left it to do.
Chapter 1: Her majesty
She sat at her desk as usual, not really interested in the paper works she still had left to do. She turned her chair and looked towards the window. The dark clouded sky was slowly being pushed away and the stars took on the stage to grace those who cared to see it. She took a deep breath and picked up the pale cream envelope that was elegantly decorated with the green monogramming.
"What troubles the master tonight?" asked the monotone deep voice from the walls.
"Nothing that concerns you." Integral pulling out her much familiar box of cigars.
Alucard's laughter filled the room, that statement alone gave him the 'go' he needed to taunt her and entertain himself, "Come now master I am sure I can help."
Integral just ignored him and looked at the envelope, by now she was use to Alucard's nightly visits which involved his sardonic comment indirectly criticizing her and asking her questions that led to dangerous perceptions.
"A letter from her majesty, interesting what does she want you to do now? Perhaps now she wants something practical like an eye or an ear, rather then your youth and life." stated Alucard grinning.
Integral glared at him showing him her anger and frustration, "Alucard tonight isn't the best time to taunt me."
He chuckled flashing his fangs in the most elegant and intimidating way, "But that's where you're wrong, anytime is the best time to taunt you my master."
Integral turned away, her mind was clouded and he knew it, she asked herself, "Should I attend or sit this one out like the rest?"
Alucard picked up the envelope and pulled out the ivory card inside with its fancy lettering. He grinned and looked towards his master. "What an interesting invitation" said Alucard putting the card back in the envelope and then placing it on her desk. "Will you accept?"
Integral gave him a small glare before picking up the card and standing and walking towards the door, "Don't follow Alucard, I don't need your normal conversations right now, if you must annoy someone go to your lover."
He laughed and vanished through the walls, she often used that 'lover' phrase to refer to Seras or as he called her the police girl.
She walked towards her bedroom and then tossed the envelop on the table next to the window. The soft knock on the door made her turn towards it. "Come in."
"Lady Hellsing" said Walter coming in with a sort of fabric in his arms.
Integral took a deep breath and looked towards Walter, "Is that it?"
"Yes my Madam, it is the dress you are to wear, according to the Queen." Walter stated watching as his mistress' face twisted into annoyance, but even he had to wonder if she had forgotten her feminine beginnings when she used to run around in skirts, and quite adorable looking dresses, but that was ten years ago.
"Very well leave me and have the car ready" said Integral as she watched Walter place the black stain on her bed, walking over to it slowly. She held up the fabric and inspected it, before stripping down and pulling the thing on. Looking at herself in the mirror, she had to wonder why it felt so foreign to dress this way. "Why would anyone go through such torment?"
"That is something you must ask them then" said Alucard poking his head through the wall, it was a wonder that his master wasn't afraid of anything and she could endure all the pain, but putting on a simple corset was trouble some for her, but it would be for anyone who has grown a custom to hating anything that meant weakness in some small form, when he had first met her she was in a skirt and it was after that night did she disregard herself as a female and took on the role as head of Hellsing.
Integral grabbed her gun and pointed at Alucard. "Didn't I tell you not to follow?"
He nodded, but then that same cocky grin was on his face once again, how he loved to watch her eyes light fire.
She glared and placed the gun on the vanity table, which she hardly ever used, why she had the bloody thing was beyond even her. Looking back at her pet vampire she came to the conclusion she didn't have time for his games. "Walter."
The elder man walked in, the one Alucard called 'Angel of Death' it was very interesting what this man was and what he was slowly becoming. Walter was the living proof of the very thing that Alucard was trying to show his master, trying to prevent her from.
"Yes Madame?" he said.
"My hair what shall I do with my Hair?" asked Integral, leave it to the queen to ask her to accept her gift of a satin dress and to come to the ball for her grandson's coming-out dressed like a lady, it was as if her highness knew not that she no longer dressed in that manner, how ever she was the queen Integral would humor the woman.
Alucard was a bit confused on his master's behavior tonight. Walter nodded as he brushed her hair up for her, and did something to it as Alucard put it hair dressing wasn't his area of expertise.
Integral stood and pulled on the black gloves handed to her by Walter. She looked down next to the basket filled with make up. She sighed 'It has to be done and there isn't anything I can do about it.'
Alucard smiled when his master was finally standing front of the mirror glaring at her reflection, what a luscious piece of work she was. He had to admit that he always wanted to see his master in such a gown, where all her beautiful curves were on display, with that came the thought so many others will see her as well. He couldn't hid the fact that he wanted her for himself, and the fact she had decided to accept her majesty's offer to meet with her and her royal court for her grandson's coming-out party was enough to pin her to the bed and not let her go. He couldn't think what he might do if another man looked at her with lust.
'She's mine just as much I am hers' he thought as possessiveness roared through him like a hot energy he got from drinking one's blood. It was true he hadn't wanted a human mate for a couple of centuries, with time comes an understanding to what desires would bring better outcomes, and which will not. And what, no who he wanted now was Integral, his need to break and make her had a revolution around his action.
"Is the car ready?" Integral asked still wanting to rip the damned dress and wash the most uncomfortable man made vanity product of her face.
"Yes right away." said Walter.
"I wish you would have come with me, with you at least I will have one descent person to talk to" said Integral as she fixed her glasses.
Walter smiled a small one and nodded, "Yes, but I would like her ladyship to enjoy herself and not be tied down to an old fool."
Integral mouth curved to a small smile as she nodded and entered the car, which was going to take her to the palace.
When Walter returned with a small fatherly smiled he was face to face with Alucard.
"You shouldn't let her go alone" Alucard simply stated.
"This is the first time she has stepped out of the Hellsing business and into enjoying herself, thought she was forced too by the queen. I did not wish to ruin it for her." stated Walter.
Alucard didn't say anything and that's when Walter caught on.
"Is it that you are concern for Lady Hellsing or that you feel you are losing her favor?" asked Walter.
Alucard growled and walked past the old man, who knew and understood much more then he let on.
"I suggest that you get a change of clothing if you are going to show up at the ball" stated Walter.
Alucard laughed before shaking his head and walking off. The great Alucard goes to a ball? that's absurd.
'Well it won't be when everyone is fighting over what is rightfully yours.' As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he half smiled and glared deciding on what he was to do. "Oh second hand this might be interesting" said Alucard heading back towards Walter. "Walter."
"Yes you can borrow one of my tuxedo" said Walter with a little feather duster, dusting the mirror in the Dinning hall.
Alucard smiled the old man was strange even for him to understand completely, "Why would you assume that I would want to go to that ball?"
"Master Alucard it is quite understandable that you have a claim on Sir Integral whether she is aware of it or not; here among the few of us, but tonight looking as beautiful as she is I don't think people would give a care what is you say is yours" explained Walter.
Alucard nodded and thought for a moment, how strange this might seem to the on lookers, 'I suppose that makes sense.'
Integral arrived at Buckingham Palace; she could already hear the echoing music and laughter of the false people. She almost growled as a guard came to escort her to the ball room, it wasn't like she was going to shoot the Queen or something on those levels the problems caused here two years ago were sole fault of that damned vampire Incognito, a case they are still solving. Perhaps she might shoot herself if the night kept going the way it was going. "Thank you" was all she could muster up when the escort left her.
She walked into the light slowly towards the table she was given. The room's attention came to her, she hated this, but she walked with confidence as she neared her table that Anderson was sitting in the seat across from her. 'Oh bloody hell!' Taking her seat across from the damned bastard, it seemed her highness was trying to keep the peace and alliance going with Italy.
"So Hellsing you actually showed up for one of her majesty's balls." he stated as if he knows of her social life.
She would have taken out the gun from her purse and shoot him immediately if not for the fact the Queen was looking towards them. "Good evening to you too," she said as she sat down. 'What I wouldn't give for a cigar.'
"How 'bout a dance?"
Her head jerked towards him so fast that it almost ached. "Pardon?"
"Damn it Hellsing I asked ye to dance" said Anderson standing abruptly.
Integral really wanted to rip out his tongue, but unlike him she had manners most of the time. "I will have to decline your offer thank you."
He glared at her, his hate for her probably growing more then it already has, walking towards the group of women who looked up at him and smiled eye wild with want. Asking one of the women to dance, he looked to her once more before he was probably sweet talking the idiotic woman with this stories of how he loved kids and puppies.
'Isn't this wonderful I left a pile of paper work to come and do nothing' she thought taking a flute filled with golden liquid.
He walked in with a smile. Yes this was exactly alike, music, laughter, and wine, everything that was part of a noble man. Some of the women looked towards him and smiled. 'Yes how charming.'
But his gaze fell upon the one he was here for, but the most untactful image was in front of him. There sat his master looking beautiful in a black satin strapless princess gown, the front and back was detailed with double inverted plates, with a satin cord tied around the waist, her hand's in black stain gloves. How he described the dress in his mind was beyond him at that moment. Her moonbeam hair done up in an elegant bun bearing her neck for 'him', he never seen his master in make up as these mortals call it the artificial substances to make one's unattractiveness fade, her lips painted a melon pink, her eyes lined dark black bring out her ice blue eyes, and usually plain cheek had light blush on them. She glowed sitting there holding the flute filled with the golden liquid. He grabbed a red wine glass, and watched as a foolish mortal tried to ask his master for a dance. He wanted to just shoot the damn fly, but fortunately his master shooed him away. He smiled and started to walk towards his master, when he was stopped by a pudgy woman clad in very expensive silk and velvet gown, she was very frightening on her looks, but Alucard had seen worse.
"Who might you be?" asked the woman.
"I am Alucard Lady Hellsing's escort" he stated.
"Really? Dance with me and tell me more about yourself, I can use more men like you around." she stated.
Alucard was dumbfounded for a second. 'What is she trying to do? These humans are so incomprehensible.'
"I hear that Lady Hellsing is quite hard on her staff, and not to mention she is most disagreeable when it comes to the latest fashion, wearing men's suite is it?" said the woman that was in his arms.
'And I'm sure you have an immense sense of fashion, which hardly anyone could care for!' he thought feeling the poison of his affable behavior towards the woman. "I do not agree with my lady for I find Lady Hellsing quite charming."
The woman 'hmped' and just pulled Alucard closer to her.
'Once again I fail to grasp what she is doing, humans are so idiotic' thought Alucard on the verge of annoyance and anger.
Anderson watched her from the corner of his eyes. He couldn't believe that, bloody Hellsing was that beautiful, yeah her face was appealing, but underneath those suits was such a beautiful body; who could have guessed. He smiled. The noble woman who he was dancing was fluttering her eyes and looking up at him and blushing. He wanted to push her away and just grab Hellsing, but even he had to hold back on his usual self. He actually liked the woman, he liked her outburst and intellect, but he will never tell her or anyone that, after all he was a father, but a man nonetheless. A man who craved the attention of a woman who was his worth.
Integral gulp down her third glass of champagne, and she wasn't going to stop until she woke to find it all a bad dream. 'Why in the bloody hell did I agree to come? I would rather be in the company of Alucard then be here.'
"My aren't we making the best of this ball" said an all to familiar voice.
'No it possibly can't be.' thought Integral as she turned her head and looked into the same ruby eyes, then slowly took on the whole vision. There stood her pet vampire clad in a tuxedo, without his usual red outfit, his hair tied back at the nape of his neck.
'Dear god' she thought. If she was honest with herself she would have in some way say that he was eye-catching but since she wasn't at that very moment she stayed silent her usual cool front on. "Alucard what are you doing here?"
"I thought master might need someone civilized to talk to," said Alucard with his usual grin.
"You are hardly described as civilized," said Integral.
"Hmm yes but tell me would you rather have me or those insolent mortals?" asked Alucard.
"You don't give me much of selection," stated Integral.
"I do love these small conversations of ours," said Alucard.
"Yes delightful" stated Integral.
"So may I have this dance?" he asked with a smirk.
'Ok let's take a five, here you are in one of the most dreadful balls, dressed like a dense idiot and now your pet vampire is asking you to dance?' thought Integral. She placed her gloved hand on to his offered hand, "I accept."
He smiled as he pulled her of the chair and on to the dance floor. He placed a hand on her hip, one of hers on his shoulders, and finally where their fingers rested on each other.
"I must say master I find this position quite suiting," he whispered.
"Shut up Alucard" was all she said deciding on what she should do.
He pulled her closer, as his arms tighten around her.
"Where did you learn to dance like this?" asked Integral.
"Hmm, you forget that I too was man once" said Alucard with a smile.