"Talking"
'Thinking'
MemoriesStressed
Integral's office was silent as she took a drag from the cigar. Blowing out the smoke, she leaned back in her chair. Her blonde hair contrasted the black leather as she leaned back in thought. The sun had just begun its descent into the west when she put her cigar out. Summoning Alucard, she waited for him to arrive. The current situation needed to be discussed and though she was only Ceres' boss, she had only so much control over the girl or girls. Alucard rose through the floor and stood in front of her desk grinning. He removed his glasses and stared at her.
"You called my master," he drawled.
"I know you know more about Ceres' situation," Integral stated as she crossed her hands and left her elbows on the desk.
"I have never seen this happen," Alucard admitted.
"Never seen, but I suppose you might have heard of it?" Integral questioned.
"Ceres is still a fledgling that is…or was entering a splitting of the mind," he explained.
"Splitting of the mind," Integral questioned with some interest.
"Her vampiric nature was developing, she was weaning her human side into dormancy," Alucard explained.
"So all vampires split into two people?" Integral asked as she lit up another cigar.
"No, they usually just toss away human notions not split into physical beings," Alucard scoffed.
"She's going through a vampire identity crisis?" Integral asked in mild disbelief.
"We all go through that when we realize we're no longer human," Alucard informed.
"The witches spell just made it physical," Integral considered.
"The phase usually lasts a month," Alucard informed with a grin.
"And now that it's physical?"
Alucard grinned and vanished into the shadows as a knock was heard. Integral frowned but yelled to enter. Ceres entered the room dressed in jeans and a crimson sweater. Sighing she turned around and pulled Victoria into the room by her arm. Victoria was muttering curses under her breath as she pulled at her blue tank top. She was currently wearing leather pants that appeared painted on.
"What do you need Captain Ceres and Victoria?" Integral asked as she observed the two.
"I would like to be allowed to continue work," Ceres spoke as Victoria stuck her tongue out at her other self.
"What about Victoria?" Integral inquired.
"I'm not leaving Ceres work alone," Victoria quickly said as she stared at Integral.
"You may continue at your previous station if you answer a question," Integral began.
"Shoot," Ceres accepted.
"Don't you mean stake?" Victoria muttered as she snickered.
"What happens if one of you dies?"
They both froze and Victoria stared at her nails like they were suddenly interesting. Ceres smacked her and sighed.
"If I die, she dies and same thing for if she dies," Ceres began, "But if one of us kills each other then the surviving one goes on existing."
"So why aren't you killing each other?" Integral dryly asked.
"That's like suicide," Ceres stated.
"Is it really since I'm dead?" Victoria asked.
"Not sure," Ceres answered with a shrug.
"Fine, both of you will be on call until further notice," Integral dismissed.
"Thank you," Ceres said as she bowed.
"Whatever," Victoria muttered as they both walked out.
Ceres glared at Victoria once the door was closed. Victoria smiled innocently as her crimson orbs lit up in amusement. Walking down the stairs, they made their way to the kitchen. Walter was preparing of tray of what smelled like earl gray tea. Ceres smiled at him and Victoria grinned.
"How are you doing Ms. Ceres and Ms. Victoria?" Walter inquired with a calm demeanor.
"Being bored," Ceres sighed as she sat on a stool.
"Fine," Victoria quickly answered as she went to the blood cooler.
"Victoria doesn't seem to have a problem with blood," Walter commented.
"She accepts herself," Ceres sighed as she stuck a cookie in her mouth.
"What will you choose?" Walter curiously asked.
"Will you tell Integral or master?" Ceres asked her blue eyes turned to Victoria.
"No, it will be in utmost confidence," Walter assured.
"I really don't know," Ceres admitted. Walter looked confused as he stared at the girl. Victoria finished the blood packet and tossed it into the trash. She strolled over to Ceres and pinched her cheek.
"Ceres doesn't want to become a monster," Victoria explained.
"You were never a monster," Walter assured.
"Anything not human is a monster!" Ceres argued.
"There are humans that kill humans for sport…are they not a monster, or does being human give them an excuse?" Walter asked.
"I don't know…would you give up a chance to be human again?" Ceres questioned.
"I don't know," Walter honestly answered before he picked up the tea tray and left.
Ceres sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Pushing herself up from her stool, she left Victoria alone in the kitchen. Victoria rolled her eyes and followed Ceres. They both ended up at the locker room for the training units. Ceres quickly put on her jogging pants and a baggy red shirt before she walked to the gym. Victoria grinned and watched as she stood at the sidelines. Frowning at how the troops openly displayed their displeasure for the vampire, they backed away. Victoria growled and caught all their attention. All the troops paled as they looked at their two captains.
"Captain Victoria," Pip called out as he grinned.
'Fast food,' Victoria whispered into Ceres' mind.
"Want to spar?" Ceres asked.
Pip walked up to her and grinned. Most of the men had backed away from the two. Ceres smiled at him and soon began to frown. Most the troops were whispering, if she could pick it up with her human ears then Victoria heard it clear as day. Trying to ignore the whispers, she stepped onto the map and followed Pip. Ceres stared at his orange braid as it swung side to side. Her blue eyes turned to the latest gossips as she openly stared at them.
"Looks the freak is multiplying."
Ceres ignored them and gave Pip a reassuring smile.
"She'll probably drain him on the spot."
Her left eye twitched and she looked over to Victoria. Her double was currently gritting her teeth as her own eye twitched.
"She's a monster."
'Are you going to take it?' Victoria questioned Ceres in her mind.
'I can't punish them for talking behind my back,' Ceres argued.
'Show them who's higher on the food chain,' Victoria growled.
"Do you guys have something to say?" Ceres questioned as she turned to the men. They gym went silent as she glared at them. Some of the men looked to Pip and he merely looked away.
"You were sure gossiping a while ago…cat got your tongues." Victoria growled.
"A vampire should be six feet under, not fighting with humans," a man called out.
"You talk big for one that knows nothing human," Victoria cut in. Ceres smirked as she walked over and pushed the man. Her blue eyes glared into his green ones as he scowled.
"I would watch your tongue…human," Ceres warned as she took a step back.
"We heard that you were merely human now…woman," the man growled back as he took a step closer.
"I may be human," Ceres began as Victoria stepped beside her, "but she is not."
"We have no problem reminding you who's on the bottom of the food chain," Victoria growled as she bared her fangs.
"You wouldn't dare," the man challenged.
"I would dare Davis," Ceres warned as she pulled her fist back and right hooked him. Blood spilled from his mouth as he fell to the floor.
"Any one else care to gossip?" Victoria called out. Most of the men backed away and stood still.
"Good," Ceres muttered as she rubbed her sore knuckles.
Turning to Pip, she saw his smirk and smiled. A good captain knows that if you interrupt a lesson then you are undermining the authority and lesson. Crouching into a fighting stance his eye sparked with mischief and her face paled. She was in a groping zone and he had that I'm-up-to-something look. He dropped into a defensive stance and waited.
"I can finally spar you," Ceres commented as she took the offensive. He dodged the attack and raised an eyebrow.
"What stopped you before?" Pip asked as he tried to flip her.
"I couldn't judge my strength before and I could have hurt you," Ceres replied as she kicked him in the lower back. He scoffed and blocked a punch.
"And you can't hurt me now?" Pip teased.
"I can hurt you, but not as bad," Ceres warned.
"I trusted you before," Pip commented as he tried to pull her into a half nelson.
"Least now I won't bite," Ceres commented with a grin.
"Too bad," Pip mumbled as he got flipped. Ceres wiped her forehead and jumped away.
"Stop fondling him and pin 'em!" Victoria called out.
"You're using sparing as an excuse to fondle me?" Pip accused with a smirk. Ceres face went red and she heard the chuckles of the men.
Wanting to get away, she elbowed him in the gut and tripped him. Victoria grinned and cheered Ceres. Ceres went to walk away but one of the men called out to her.
"Don't you get a prize?"
Ceres blushed some more and then went pale when she saw Victoria with a cat like grin.
"Come on captain, you owe Captain Ceres a prize," Victoria added. Pip scratched the back of his head and closed his eye in thought.
"It was just a good spar," Ceres mumbled.
"How bout a date," Pip hopefully offered. Ceres stopped her rambling and looked over at him with an excited expression.
"Really?" She whispered.
"Dinner?" Pip offered.
"Dinner," Ceres agreed as she skipped out of the room.
Biting her lip in happiness, she punched the air and yelled a silent yes. Victoria grinned as she walked in and patted Ceres on the shoulder.
"Thank you," Ceres whispered as she hugged Victoria.
"Just helping," Victoria explained as she sat down.
Ceres changed into her uniform and started to hum. Victoria raised an amused eyebrow as she started to hum too. She went to close her locker and yelped. Alucard walked through the locker and stared down at her in question. Ceres scratched the back of her head and shrugged. He looked to both of them and raised an eyebrow.
"You have a mission with the Wild Geese," Alucard informed.
"Yes master," Ceres responded as she continued to hum.
"I assume your sorting out your problem?" Alucard asked as he looked over to Victoria.
"You say we have a problem when you're the one in the girl's locker room," Victoria pointed out.
"Victoria," Ceres growled as she glared at the girl.
"You got to admit…"
"Enough," Ceres interrupted.
"You're your own team tonight policewoman," Alucard said as he stepped through the locker.
Victoria grinned as Ceres continued to glare. Victoria stood up and stretched as she accepted the glare.
"He's going to kill us," Ceres mumbled.
"You got to admit that he's creepy," Victoria commented.
"I'll admit no such thing," Ceres firmly said as she walked out of the locker room.
"He has to be the monster under the bed," Victoria commented as they walked through the halls.
Ceres stopped walking and took time to imagine a bed. Shivering she imagined those red eyes gleaming from the darkness. Victoria shouted in victory and grinned as she scanned her other's mind.
"Then that would make us the closet monster," Ceres joked.
"Exactly," Victoria agreed.
Author's Note:
Sorry that the update is so late! My internet wasn't working and I've been in the hospital. I'll try to update weekly now. So please review you wonderful people
