That evening, back at the Hellsing manor, Integra notices a beautifully wrapped package that has materialized on her desk blotter. Exploring it with her gloved fingertips, she inserts one finger into the layers and unfolds the silver wrap, sliding a heavy black velvet box from its crinkled cocoon. Discarding the paper, she opens the box and withdraws a card with her name inked upon it in neat manuscript. The note reads:
Integra,
Please accept this small token of my gratitude. I cannot find the words to express my most sincere thanks for what you have agreed to do for my cause. I look forward to working closely with you, and getting to know the woman of such legendary heritage.
Sincerely,
Eric
"Hummph," Integra eyeballs the card.
She places the card on the desk next to the discarded wrap. Inside the box is a crisply cut crystal paperweight. She plucks the object from its box to inspect the delicately inlaid analog clock ticking away time's minutes. A small smile plucks at the corners of her mouth as the crystal catches and collects the evening's sun, dripping red from the horizon.
She places the paperweight at the empty corner of her desk. For a moment, she stands from her leather-backed chair and admires the clock.
—-
Unlike traditional women of her age and breeding, Integra dines alone. Often bogged down with responsibilities, the leader of the Hellsing organization eats in her office with piles of paperwork as her sole company. When she does manage to make an appearance in the formal dining room, the table is always laden with a veritable feast; it's as though her butler Walter (and sometimes father) hopes this would be the evening she'd dine accompanied. She takes a seat at the head of the mahogany table, "Walter, send for Alucard and Seras Victoria please."
"Yes mum." Walter bows politely, exiting the hall.
Integra lingers over her Merlot. Alucard materializes through the wall, briefly bowing before standing in front of the fireplace, basking in its warmth and light. Seras trails in behind Walter moments later.
"Miss Victoria, if you'll follow me please," Walter inclines his head toward the dining table. He pulls out a seat near the table's head for Seras to sit.
"Thank you sir," Seras says quietly as Walter tucks her chair into the table.
Seras' eyes are wide as she takes in the table laden with food before her. Her place setting consists of a soup bowl, a spoon, and a napkin. She looks quickly from her empty china bowl to her master's mistress. Integra's jacket hangs over the back of her chair, her knee is resting up against the table's edge, as she swirls a garnet wine in her glass, smiling at the young vampire, cheeks lightly flushed.
Seras' big eyes grow impossibly wider, taking in Sir Hellsing's casual state, and she whirls her head toward Master to seek his reassurance. Although lacking his hat, his eyes are veiled by glasses.
"Seras Victoria," Integra begins, voice honeyed by drink.
Seras casts her eyes down, forcing them to study the patterned china. "Yes Sir," her kittenish voice is lost in the room. She jumps momentarily as Integra's (bare!) hand reaches out to grasp her own. Integra's skin is so warm to the young vampire, so smooth.
"Seras," Integra leans in toward the girl, inclining her head until she successfully catches Seras' eyes, a smile on her lips. "Look at me please."
Seras reluctantly gazes up to Sir Hellsing through the blonde bangs on her forehead. Her round cheeks fill with color, noticing Integra's relaxed stance, white blonde hair cascading down her back, framing her face; her unbuttoned neckline and tawny skin enveloping her long neck, strong pulse thrumming against thin skin.
Seras can feel the tips of her fangs emerging to poke at her lips. She sucks on her teeth, pursing her lips closed, unable to meet Sir Hellsing's Nordic gaze.
A growl from beside Integra breaks the silence. "Police girl, she gave you an order." Alucard appears across from Seras at Integra's elbow, his face contorted into a mask of annoyance.
Integra laughs huskily and raises her hand to wave Alucard's comment away. "Enough vampire." She grasps the stem of the glass and raises it to her lips, and tosses her head back swallowing the wine. A small purple stain blossoms on her lips. She rolls the Merlot over her tongue, the strong muscle caressing the inside of her mouth and jaw. She swallows the liquid, licking away the bloom.
"Now then, Police Girl, you're aware that you are beginning a new assignment tomorrow, yes?" Integra rests her hand under her chin, leaning in toward Seras as though they were best chums.
She smiles mimicking Seras' agreeing nod. "Good...Seras Victoria, this assignment is unlike anything you've encountered before. I wonder, will you be up to that challenge?"
Seras stammers "I think so, Sir." She appears dazzled by this train of thought, looking from one master to the other, dark to light, fire to ice.
"Don't lie to me Police Girl." Integra's voice is low and husky. A log pops from the fireplace, and Seras jumps.
"I'm not lying, Sir."
"When is the last time you drank human blood?" Integra quirks up an eyebrow and looks down her nose at the girl.
"Umm...well Sir, you see, I haven't." Seras looks down, ashamed.
"It's as I thought." Integra reels her head toward Seras' master. "Why hasn't this situation been remedied? I cannot have a vampire running around weaker than a kitten. This is absolutely unacceptable Alucard."
Seras wants to drop through the stone floor, vanish into the walls, become invisible-but she has not drunk blood, and cannot even try to disappear. Alucard stares over his glasses, his gaze boring holes in his servant. She shifts in her seat.
"Walter," Sir Hellsing gestures at Seras' bowl.
Walter produces an O negative blood pack, slightly warmed, and dispenses it into Seras' bowl. He paces a few steps and bows, retreating from the room.
"It's time Police Girl," Master glowers. "Drink your blood, that's an order." He spits his words like a snake spitting poison.
Candlelight flickers play upon the surface of the red stuff as she reaches for the soup spoon. I can pretend it's tomato soup. Both masters watch as Seras reluctantly dips her spoon into the warmed blood, her face equal parts hunger and revulsion. Her fangs press deeply into her bottom lip, almost enough pressure to draw her own dead blood. She raises the spoon to her trembling mouth, opens her lips and places the soup spoon between them. With eyes squeezed shut, knees locked together around her other fist, she sucks the savory broth into her mouth, and promptly spits it out across the table.
She gags, "I'm sorry..."
Alucard sneers in disgust, while Integra raises her eyebrows in slow surprise. "Why do you torture yourself like that?"
"Because she's an idiot," Alucard answers, his face framed in the fire's light. His words sting with a whip's quick violence.
She draws blood biting her bottom lip. Master. A small bloody tear threatens to spill down her cheek.
"We'll have none of that," Sir Hellsing chides softly. She gulps the last of her wine and reaches for a clean knife.
The scent bursts into Seras' brain. Integra cut her finger on the edge of a knife, drawing blood. Seras' pupils dilate, zeroing in on the dripping wound. It takes every inch of restraint she can muster to meet Sir Integra's gently smiling eyes. "Now drink Seras. This is the genuine article, one hundred percent pure virgin blood," she chuckles as if sharing an inside joke with herself.
Alucard is standing rigidly, hands at his side, fingers twitching reflexively as his master sighs when Seras' tongue curls around Integra's finger. She presses her other hand to the table for support as she inserts her finger into Seras' mouth. "Good," she murmurs. She sucks in an unsteady breath as Seras closes her lips around the suspended digit, suckling like a baby. "Don't waste a drop, I do not often share."
Seras is in rapture, she has never tasted anything as delicious, as sweet as Sir Hellsing's blood. Not in her undead existence, her whole human life, could she imagine such a tang, and her body sings in relief. She feels each nerve ending lit up, a fire rising to such an alarm that she'd allow the burn over cool safety of the shade. She is hovering on the brink of something big, just on the precipice She clings to this blonde goddess, her master's master.
In a flash, she is undone. She strains as Sir Hellsing pulls away, nipping with tiny fangs. She opens her eyes, a blush staining her cheeks as she sees the woman in front of her. Master stands in her shadow, momentarily forgotten. Seras wants more, more Sir Hellsing. She wants to lick her again, suck her supple and warm skin.
Mmmm. Seras feels a warm tightening below her waist as she pictures herself worshipping Integra with her tongue. Blood flowing over her skin, into her mouth. She casts her eyes down as Master makes his presence known in the corner of her mind-she was so wrapped up in the lady of the house, he completely dropped off her radar.
It doesn't matter though.
Sir Hellsing is smiling, her bloody finger still dripping slightly, starting to coagulate from Seras' ministrations.
"How do you feel, Police Girl?" Sir Hellsing commands in her darkly sweet voice.
"Much better Sir, thank you," she feels the heat rise to her cheeks again, locking eyes with the lady knight.
"Good... you will drink the blood in time Seras, but this little taste should tie you over, at least momentarily. You've long nights ahead of you, don't waste the gift I've given. Now go."
YES! "Yes Sir!" Seras rises invigorated and refreshed. As she bounds out of the hall she hears her master's growl, punctuated by Sir Hellsing's husky laugh-but she is too relieved and wrapped in her own thoughts to eavesdrop.