Seras yelped in terror and dodged behind Dr. Levin who had entered the room with her, just in time to avoid the plasma bag Alucard threw at her head. It hit the door frame with tremendous force and
ruptured, spewing blood everywhere.
"But she burned me with..." Protested Seras.
"I don't care if she hacks off your arm with pruning shears. Your duty, first and foremost, is to protect her physical well being even at the cost of your own miserable existence. She is expensive and breakable and she is not, I repeat not ever to be hurled, tossed or bowled like a cricket ball at the bails! Is that completely understood?"
"Yes master." She she mumbled petulantly then squeaked and ducked back behind poor Dr. Levin, who was wiping gorey splatter off of his face and looking thoroughly confused, as a second plasma bag flew through the air.
"Now see here." Sputtered Levin, as he peeled the bag's carcass from the front of his jacket.
"I suggest you step aside Dr." Said Alucard reaching for another bag. "Someone's attitude needs adjusting."
"Leave her alone, this is all your fault not hers!" I shouted. Then it was my turn to squeak as a hand reached out and yanked me to one side just in time. The plasma bag sailed past just inches from my right ear and hit the bulletin board with a sickening splat.
"Ms. Doyle, I believe we've had this discussion about your temper." Said Walter as he deftly inserted me behind his back. "Miss Victoria is more than capable of fighting her own battles. The sooner she learns to do so, the fewer civilian casualties there will be all round." He said gesturing towards Dr. Levin.
"Speaking of casualties Walter," Said Alucard. "unless you wish to become one, I suggest you no longer be standing between me and my mouthy, insubordinate little creation."
Walter stared stonily at Alucard.
"Move Walter, I'm suppressing a rebellion here."
"We both know I can't do that Alucard."
"Can't or won't."
"They are one in the same for me."
"Bit long in the tooth to play Sir Galahad aren't you old man?"
"Perhaps."
"You know better than to step between me and what is mine Walter."
"When in training, she is yours but in these rooms, in this house she is in my care. I suggest you stand down."
"Do you now? How, interesting. And if I refuse?"
"Then we are at an impasse."
"Interesting." Drawled Alucard. His body language was absolutely relaxed but there was a wicked, gleeful glint in his eye. "However shall we break it?"
"I think perhaps...Stay where you are Ms. Doyle." Said Walter, thwarting my attempts to step out from behind him.
"Please Walter, this isn't necessary."
"I believe it is."
"No, really. This is getting out of hand."
"Quiet lab rat, the adults are talking." Said Alucard.
"But..."
"Don't meddle in things that are not your concern." He added, waiving off my protest with a casual gesture. His eyes never left Walter's. He smiled with insincere politeness. "Now, where were we?"
"At an impasse as I recall." Replied Walter in an equally calm and dispassionate tone as if they were simply discussing the weather.
"Ah, yes." Purred Alucard. "I do so enjoy a good impasse Walter don't you? When the possibility of civil discourse falls away and the only recourse left is the creative and strategic use of brute force. To strip away at that false patina of the opponents humanity until there remains only the snarling ravenous beast. That is where you separate the wolf," He said indicating himself. "From the dog." He flicked his fingers in Walter's direction. "That," He said straightening up from the wall with an evil grin. "is where you decide who is the alpha."
"That," Came a cool voice from the doorway. "Would be me." Sir Integra stepped into the lab, gingerly skirting the plasma splatter. She surveyed the occupants of the room with a critical eye then continued. "I am in charge. I am the wolf, the alpha bitch and I am not...pleased."
She looked around the lab once more. "Walter, I believe I instructed you to prepare the samples for Dr. Levin's arrival, has this been done?"
"No ma'am." Said Walter. "My apologies."
She sniffed disdainfully. "Then perhaps you should do so now?"
"Ma'am" Said Walter, stiffly turning on his heel and striding over to the lab table.
I opened my mouth but she flashed me a warning look that had me shutting it right back up again.
"And you." She said to Alucard. "Why is it that I can not seem to leave you alone in a room with others for more than five minutes without some sort of carnage ensuing?" She sighed. "At least no one died this time." She glanced at the blood spattered walls. "Did they?"
"Alas no, master."
Her mouth twitched a bit but then she fixed him with her narrow glare. "When I find out what happened here and I will find out what happened, I had better not hear that this was some sort of power play between you and Walter. We have had this discussion more than once. While you will always be treated with every courtesy do not forget your place. I am the master, I say who is in charge. The house is Walter's, the battlefield is yours. I will not have my servants holding pissing contests on my rug. You will learn to deal with it or I will do it for you. Is that understood?"
"As you say. You are, for now, the master. I can not but obey."
She nodded briskly and turned back to me. "Somehow Doyle," She said coldly. "I just know this is your fault."
"Now just a minute here..." I began but was interrupted by a small voice which said:
"No ma'am, it's mine."
Sir Integra turned to look at Seras. "You said something Victoria?"
"Yes ma'am. I said that it's my fault."
"What is your fault?"
"This." Said Seras. "All of this." She waived her arm around the room. "If I hadn't of panicked when Corrine's tears burned me Walter would not have had to step in to protect her. Everyone would have been less upset. The master was right to be angry with me."
"No Seras, " I cried. "It's his fault, not yours. It's him and his stupid games!"
"No Corrine." Said Seras sadly. "Don't you see? He's right. I am a vampire it doesn't matter the provocation, I can not afford to overreact and I must never raise my hand against a member of this house." She looked down at her afore mentioned hands and said quietly. "Especially you."
"But he." I began but she raised a hand to stop me.
"No Corrine." She said firmly. "There are no excuses. You are my sister." A wistful expression crossed her face followed by firm resolve. "I have a sister and I will die to protect her."
Sir Integra raised an eyebrow. "Die?"
"Well, again." She said sheepishly running a hand through her hair.
"Aww, Seras," I said choking up a bit. "come here." She rushed over to hug me then dangled me at arms length.
"You're not going to cry on me again are you?" She asked suspiciously.
"No." I snuffled.
Sir Integra gave me a very hopeful look.
"No." I said with more conviction.
She shrugged.
Pounding steps sounded in the corridor moving toward the lab. I could just make out Andrew's voice echoing off the walls. "....won't tell a soul Miss Pringle I swear so call him off! Please Miss Pringle I swaaaarr!!!" Andrew had burst through the doorway running at full speed. Unfortunatly, he had his head turned back towards his pursuit and did not see the mess all over the floor. He slipped on a particularly gruesome puddle, fell on his behind and skidded to a halt right at Alucard's feet.
He shook his head a couple of times, reached up to brush his hair from his face and just then seemed to notice the blood covering his hand. "Gah!" He said. Then, "Gah!" again even louder as Alucard reached down to lift him up by the front of his shirt.
Alucard sniffed then cocked his head. "B negative." He sighed. "Not really one of my favourites. Pity." He winked at Andrew and grinned.
"Glick." Replied Andrew.
"Alucard," Began Sir Integra but she was cut off by a skull splitting shriek.
Nurse Pringle stood in the doorway, hat askew, eyes round as dinner plates and mouth wide open in a scream. And what a scream it was. The noise emanating from her was both piercing and grating and very, very loud. I am sure dogs across three counties were howling.
Which would explain why she probably didn't respond to Sir Integra's shouted. "Shut it Pringle, your making our eyes bleed!"
Griffin, who must have been guarding the lab level this evening, charged through the door weapon drawn and blood in his eye. He stopped short next to nurse Pringle, looked around with a puzzled frown, holstered his gun and clapped a hand over the banshee's mouth.
"Well done Griffin ." Drawled Sir Integra. "Our eardrums owe you a debt of gratitude."
"Any time ma'am." Said Griffin looking down at nurse Pringle and smirking. He hissed slightly and pulled his hand from her mouth, then smiled and gently kissed the deep bite marks on his palm.
Nurse Pringle growled then humphed and began straightening out her hat.
Alucard chuckled and gently lowered Andrew to his feet. "Ah," He said. "Young love."
Andrew blanched and sank down onto a stool.
Griffin smiled lazily and idlely scratched his cheek while glancing round the room again. He squinted at the bloody bulletin board and stiffened. "Shi-ooot." He swore softly. "Zelig is going to go totally freakin mental when he sees this."
"But she burned me with..." Protested Seras.
"I don't care if she hacks off your arm with pruning shears. Your duty, first and foremost, is to protect her physical well being even at the cost of your own miserable existence. She is expensive and breakable and she is not, I repeat not ever to be hurled, tossed or bowled like a cricket ball at the bails! Is that completely understood?"
"Yes master." She she mumbled petulantly then squeaked and ducked back behind poor Dr. Levin, who was wiping gorey splatter off of his face and looking thoroughly confused, as a second plasma bag flew through the air.
"Now see here." Sputtered Levin, as he peeled the bag's carcass from the front of his jacket.
"I suggest you step aside Dr." Said Alucard reaching for another bag. "Someone's attitude needs adjusting."
"Leave her alone, this is all your fault not hers!" I shouted. Then it was my turn to squeak as a hand reached out and yanked me to one side just in time. The plasma bag sailed past just inches from my right ear and hit the bulletin board with a sickening splat.
"Ms. Doyle, I believe we've had this discussion about your temper." Said Walter as he deftly inserted me behind his back. "Miss Victoria is more than capable of fighting her own battles. The sooner she learns to do so, the fewer civilian casualties there will be all round." He said gesturing towards Dr. Levin.
"Speaking of casualties Walter," Said Alucard. "unless you wish to become one, I suggest you no longer be standing between me and my mouthy, insubordinate little creation."
Walter stared stonily at Alucard.
"Move Walter, I'm suppressing a rebellion here."
"We both know I can't do that Alucard."
"Can't or won't."
"They are one in the same for me."
"Bit long in the tooth to play Sir Galahad aren't you old man?"
"Perhaps."
"You know better than to step between me and what is mine Walter."
"When in training, she is yours but in these rooms, in this house she is in my care. I suggest you stand down."
"Do you now? How, interesting. And if I refuse?"
"Then we are at an impasse."
"Interesting." Drawled Alucard. His body language was absolutely relaxed but there was a wicked, gleeful glint in his eye. "However shall we break it?"
"I think perhaps...Stay where you are Ms. Doyle." Said Walter, thwarting my attempts to step out from behind him.
"Please Walter, this isn't necessary."
"I believe it is."
"No, really. This is getting out of hand."
"Quiet lab rat, the adults are talking." Said Alucard.
"But..."
"Don't meddle in things that are not your concern." He added, waiving off my protest with a casual gesture. His eyes never left Walter's. He smiled with insincere politeness. "Now, where were we?"
"At an impasse as I recall." Replied Walter in an equally calm and dispassionate tone as if they were simply discussing the weather.
"Ah, yes." Purred Alucard. "I do so enjoy a good impasse Walter don't you? When the possibility of civil discourse falls away and the only recourse left is the creative and strategic use of brute force. To strip away at that false patina of the opponents humanity until there remains only the snarling ravenous beast. That is where you separate the wolf," He said indicating himself. "From the dog." He flicked his fingers in Walter's direction. "That," He said straightening up from the wall with an evil grin. "is where you decide who is the alpha."
"That," Came a cool voice from the doorway. "Would be me." Sir Integra stepped into the lab, gingerly skirting the plasma splatter. She surveyed the occupants of the room with a critical eye then continued. "I am in charge. I am the wolf, the alpha bitch and I am not...pleased."
She looked around the lab once more. "Walter, I believe I instructed you to prepare the samples for Dr. Levin's arrival, has this been done?"
"No ma'am." Said Walter. "My apologies."
She sniffed disdainfully. "Then perhaps you should do so now?"
"Ma'am" Said Walter, stiffly turning on his heel and striding over to the lab table.
I opened my mouth but she flashed me a warning look that had me shutting it right back up again.
"And you." She said to Alucard. "Why is it that I can not seem to leave you alone in a room with others for more than five minutes without some sort of carnage ensuing?" She sighed. "At least no one died this time." She glanced at the blood spattered walls. "Did they?"
"Alas no, master."
Her mouth twitched a bit but then she fixed him with her narrow glare. "When I find out what happened here and I will find out what happened, I had better not hear that this was some sort of power play between you and Walter. We have had this discussion more than once. While you will always be treated with every courtesy do not forget your place. I am the master, I say who is in charge. The house is Walter's, the battlefield is yours. I will not have my servants holding pissing contests on my rug. You will learn to deal with it or I will do it for you. Is that understood?"
"As you say. You are, for now, the master. I can not but obey."
She nodded briskly and turned back to me. "Somehow Doyle," She said coldly. "I just know this is your fault."
"Now just a minute here..." I began but was interrupted by a small voice which said:
"No ma'am, it's mine."
Sir Integra turned to look at Seras. "You said something Victoria?"
"Yes ma'am. I said that it's my fault."
"What is your fault?"
"This." Said Seras. "All of this." She waived her arm around the room. "If I hadn't of panicked when Corrine's tears burned me Walter would not have had to step in to protect her. Everyone would have been less upset. The master was right to be angry with me."
"No Seras, " I cried. "It's his fault, not yours. It's him and his stupid games!"
"No Corrine." Said Seras sadly. "Don't you see? He's right. I am a vampire it doesn't matter the provocation, I can not afford to overreact and I must never raise my hand against a member of this house." She looked down at her afore mentioned hands and said quietly. "Especially you."
"But he." I began but she raised a hand to stop me.
"No Corrine." She said firmly. "There are no excuses. You are my sister." A wistful expression crossed her face followed by firm resolve. "I have a sister and I will die to protect her."
Sir Integra raised an eyebrow. "Die?"
"Well, again." She said sheepishly running a hand through her hair.
"Aww, Seras," I said choking up a bit. "come here." She rushed over to hug me then dangled me at arms length.
"You're not going to cry on me again are you?" She asked suspiciously.
"No." I snuffled.
Sir Integra gave me a very hopeful look.
"No." I said with more conviction.
She shrugged.
Pounding steps sounded in the corridor moving toward the lab. I could just make out Andrew's voice echoing off the walls. "....won't tell a soul Miss Pringle I swear so call him off! Please Miss Pringle I swaaaarr!!!" Andrew had burst through the doorway running at full speed. Unfortunatly, he had his head turned back towards his pursuit and did not see the mess all over the floor. He slipped on a particularly gruesome puddle, fell on his behind and skidded to a halt right at Alucard's feet.
He shook his head a couple of times, reached up to brush his hair from his face and just then seemed to notice the blood covering his hand. "Gah!" He said. Then, "Gah!" again even louder as Alucard reached down to lift him up by the front of his shirt.
Alucard sniffed then cocked his head. "B negative." He sighed. "Not really one of my favourites. Pity." He winked at Andrew and grinned.
"Glick." Replied Andrew.
"Alucard," Began Sir Integra but she was cut off by a skull splitting shriek.
Nurse Pringle stood in the doorway, hat askew, eyes round as dinner plates and mouth wide open in a scream. And what a scream it was. The noise emanating from her was both piercing and grating and very, very loud. I am sure dogs across three counties were howling.
Which would explain why she probably didn't respond to Sir Integra's shouted. "Shut it Pringle, your making our eyes bleed!"
Griffin, who must have been guarding the lab level this evening, charged through the door weapon drawn and blood in his eye. He stopped short next to nurse Pringle, looked around with a puzzled frown, holstered his gun and clapped a hand over the banshee's mouth.
"Well done Griffin ." Drawled Sir Integra. "Our eardrums owe you a debt of gratitude."
"Any time ma'am." Said Griffin looking down at nurse Pringle and smirking. He hissed slightly and pulled his hand from her mouth, then smiled and gently kissed the deep bite marks on his palm.
Nurse Pringle growled then humphed and began straightening out her hat.
Alucard chuckled and gently lowered Andrew to his feet. "Ah," He said. "Young love."
Andrew blanched and sank down onto a stool.
Griffin smiled lazily and idlely scratched his cheek while glancing round the room again. He squinted at the bloody bulletin board and stiffened. "Shi-ooot." He swore softly. "Zelig is going to go totally freakin mental when he sees this."
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