Pain Is My Love Language

The dawn of forever

Integra POV: 

I allowed the Olympians to stay the night at the manor, and I awoke before everyone, the dusk of the night was still an hour away, and I knew I would have to dress the part. I looked through my closet, and found the oddest thing. It was a dress, but not one I remember owning. It was white, with a sheer floral print on it, the sleeves made of the sheer print, exposing skin under it.

 The skirt stopped at my knees, and it looked as if it belongs on a little girl, not a 22 year old woman. I pulled on a pair of white tights, the dress, and looked for shoes that weren't men's dress shoes, to find a pair of Mary-Janes I know I would never buy. I pulled on the shoes, and for the first time ever, put my long blonde hair into a ponytail. I looked in the mirror, and staring back was a girl I never knew, but yet felt like she deserved to shine more often. 

" You look beautiful, my Master." 

I whipped around, and saw Alucard leaning against the door. His reflection wasn't visible in my large vanity mirror over my dresser, so I never knew he was there. 

" Thank you. How long have you been there?" 

" No worries, I saw nothing. Are you ready for today?" 

" As ready as I can be." 

He walked over and gently held my face, a uncharacteristic soft smile on his own made me see a flash of blue in his eyes of normal crimson.

" Alucard, if it isn't too much, could I see your human form?"

" Of course, my Countess." 

Before my eyes, his hair became longer, and it curled, his eyes no longer red, but a blue to rival my own, and he grew a small mustache and slight goatee, and he was no longer lanky, but as wide as Anderson, and possibly just as tall, his armor making it hard to really tell. He really was handsome, the title king suited this form. 

" I want to see this form more often, Alucard." 

" Is that an order, my Master?" 

" Yes, if it needs to be." 

" Then for three days a month, every full moon, I shall be in this form. Does this please you, my Countess?" 

" Very much so, my Count." 

" Integra, I must be honest, I fear for your safety and sanctity." 

" I will be fine, Drac, you can trust me." 

" I love it when you call me that, my Countess. Please, humor me and say it again. Please say my name." 

" Vlad Dracula, my Count and King." 

I felt him shiver slightly, his eyes flashed red for a brief moment, and it made me smile.

" Integra, I love you. Please come back to me as you are when you leave, so that way I know you can be wholly and completely mine." 

" The same goes for you, Vlad, and that is an order." 

" Yes, my Queen, my Countess, my Master." 

He kissed the side of my lips, right on the bottom of my cheek, and I did the same. 

" Let's go, it's showtime." 

We walked down to the foyer, where everyone was armored up and gathered. Alex and Allison were talking, and I caught the tail end of their conversation. 

" Alex, let me do this! I refuse to just sit back and risk Integra's life!" 

" And I refuse to risk yours! She volunteered. Let her do this!" 

" No, I'm doing this, and you can't stop me, damn it, you stubborn fucking Scotsman!"

Alex looked as if he'd been slapped. I walked over, and Allison looked at me. 

" Sir, I wish to take your place in this. I feel like I owe you for your kindness, and I have more experience with this than you do. Let me repay you, by being the innocent to go in." 

" Allison, you don't have to." 

" Sir, I'm not really asking." 

Her eyes were stone, her voice held the air of authority that mine held, and I knew that arguing was pointless. " Go change into something that you can fight in. You are to come home as Allison Pennybrook, nothing else, am I clear, soldier?" 

" Yes, Sir." 

Allison ran to go change, and I informed Zeus to the slight change, and he was all for it. Alex walked over and looked very unhappy.

" Why are you letting her do this?" 

" Because, if she is willing to go head first back into danger, and if she is willing to fight by your side, then who am I to stop her from doing so? I know why she is doing this, and trust me when I say, I have great faith that Miss Pennybrook will be our greatest ally in this fight." 

 " Is everyone aware of their role in this? Is everyone ready?" 

A unanimous nod waved over the small group. 

" Then, without further adieu, let's destroy these monsters once and for all." 

And as the sun set into a dusk, the dawn of war began.