Hi! Sorry about the long wait for this chapter but I've been busy! I've nearly finished writing the rest of this story, which will be released shortly! Thanks for reading and if you have time please do leave me a review.

"Behind that girlish exterior lies a fascinating and complicated creature."

Ilona thought of Alucard's words as she gazed over the table at Seras Victoria. She nodded, listening to the girl ramble. She observed her playful smile, the bright blue eyes and blonde hair. She realised suddenly how much Seras reminded her of her dear cousin, Erse. She thought of how miserable and alone she had felt when she had arrived in Hungary after she had fled Wallachia. Erse had been her saviour, her rock. She had been there for her through almost everything, even holding her hand when she gave birth to her first son, Minhea.

Minhea.

Erse.

Another lifetime ago. Lost.

"Ilona?" Are you alright?" Seras' voice broke her thoughts.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Seras. Please continue," she apologised guiltily.

Seras offered another sweet smile in return. "It's ok. What were you thinking of?"

Ilona had not been expecting the question. She straightened, trying to think of an explanation.

"Were you thinking of your past?"

The young Draculina surprised her again. The blue eyes observed her with curiosity, but there was a kindness there, a sincerity. Just like Erse.

"Yes, actually," Ilona admitted with a sigh. "It's all I can think of these days."

"I'm not surprised, you've only been awake a few months now. I can't imagine what that's like."

Ilona nodded quietly. "Yes, I suppose you're right."

"What was he like? My master, I mean..." Seras seemed to be embarrassed to ask the question, her cheeks tinted pink. Ilona couldn't help but smile, and seeing her expression the girl relaxed.

"Brave. Courageous. Intelligent. Fearless. Terrifying," she paused, "Cocky."

Seras giggled.

"He was, and still is the most incredible person I've ever known," she reflected. "And so I fell in love with him before I even knew what love was."

"How did you meet him?" She sat up in her chair excitedly.

"Well, I knew him before I could speak. We were raised together. My father was a close confidant of the Voivode, his father. But when he was ten years old and I, seven, he... went away. And then I didn't see him again till I was twenty-two."

"But when you met again it was love at first sight?" Seras clapped her hands together.

Ilona laughed at her enthusiasm. "Yes, actually, it was. And then not long after he asked for my hand," she revealed, earning a squeal from Seras.

"I can't believe Master is so romantic! You wouldn't think so, because he's always so serious and scary!" As soon as Seras had said the words she seemed to regret it, blushing deeply. "And then you became The Princess, right?" she changed the subject quickly.

Ilona smiled at her outburst but continued. "No, he didn't retake the throne until two years later after our first son was born. Then I became the Princess of Wallachia."

Seras looked like she was going to faint. Ilona wondered if she had divulged too much, but she realised it felt good to talk to someone else, especially another woman.

"Oh my god. I didn't realise you and Master had kids!"

Ilona smiled softly. "Yes, I had two young sons." She thought of her their faces. Minhea, the spitting image of Vlad with ebony hair and the same beautiful green eyes. And Mircea, the younger, with the same dark hair but instead, with soft brown eyes that she possessed in her mortal life.

"What happened to them?" Seras asked carefully.

She felt the stab in her heart once more. She swallowed. "They continued with their mortal lives, and perished in battle when they grew up to men, trying to accomplish the same task of protecting their homeland, just as their father did."

"Oh, Ilona, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

Ilona reached across the table and patted her hand gently. "It's alright. I have made peace with it. They both lived a longer human life than I did, and for that I'm glad."

Seras was quiet. She seemed to be thinking deeply. She leant forward suddenly in her chair and Ilona waited for her to speak.

"I think about my past too sometimes."

Ilona felt her mind open. She saw the horror there, the pain and suffering she had experienced. Murder. Torture. Blood. She felt her throat contract as she was flooded by the overwhelming wave of images.

"I'm so sorry, Seras..."

This time, Seras reached her hand out. Ilona took it in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. The two women looked into each other's eyes silently and shared an understanding that was deeper than words. They had both lived two completely different lives that had led them to the same place.

"All units prepare for deployment," the announcement was made suddenly. Ilona had heard a few in her short time at Hellsing, but this one was different. She sensed the activity rising in the manor, the tension.

"That's us!" Seras was already up from her seat and retrieving her large cannon from its case.

Ilona stood and reached inside the dark trench coat she wore, feeling her gloved fingers brush against the cool silver. Following Seras out the door quickly, the two of them found the stairs that led them out of the basement to the ground floor. As they stepped out into the night she felt all eyes upon them.

"Men," she thought, trying not to roll her eyes.

A human man came to greet them. He was tall, with blue eyes and auburn hair that was braided under a large hat. At the sight of him, Seras' demeanour seemed to change, and for a moment Ilona saw the blush appear again on her cheeks.

"Ah, Seras!" He grinned. As he spoke she noticed his thick French accent.

"Hi Pip," Seras waved.

"And who is this?" His gaze went up and down her body.

Seras hesitated and Ilona understood that she was unsure how to introduce her. The No-Life Queen? Alucard's long-lost wife?

Ilona stepped forward and extended her hand. The gesture seemed odd to her. "I'm Ilona."

"Pip Bernadotte, Captain of the Wild Geese. Enchanté," he introduced himself, taking her hand and placing a kiss on it.

She felt Seras tense beside her. She wanted to retract the hand that lingered on hers for far too long but the sound of a deep, familiar voice was enough to make Pip drop her hand instantly as he spun around.

"Captain," Alucard moved closer to stand next to her, reaching out a long arm that snaked around her waist. He peered over the top of his glasses. "I see you've met my Queen."

Pip was stunned. "Your what?!" His mouth hung open as he looked at the two of them, spotting the ring on her finger. "How long have you been married?!"

"Oh, just five centuries," he explained nonchalantly. "Come, my Queen. It's time to test your new weapon."

She shot Pip and Seras an apologetic look as the tall vampire led her away. Pip's mouth was still open in shock and Seras was watching him, laughing.

Alucard guided her around a corner. "It's time to learn how a true vampire travels. Close your eyes and take the form that we practised."

She obeyed, fluttering her eyelids shut gently. She focused and imagined herself turning to fog under his touch. Her body tingled all over, spreading from her head to her toes.

"Good, now open your eyes," she heard his voice in her mind. She did so and saw that a dark mist had replaced him also.

"Now we'll travel together," she felt his presence swirl around where her hand should be. "Don't be frightened, I'm here."

She smiled to herself at his words. Suddenly, she felt him pulling her towards the sky, and then they were moving over the city quickly. She felt the wind and saw the tiny cars moving below. Exhilarated, she let out a laugh. She had never felt so free in her life.

"I've missed your laughter," he confessed.

"This is incredible!" she laughed again and he joined her. The way he laughed now was different, not the sinister sound she had heard against his opponents, but lighter, happier.

As he guided her down to the ground again they morphed back into their regular forms. His hand was still around hers as her feet touched the ground gently. She took in their surroundings.

They stood on an empty street, the area dark and desolate at this time of night. The only source of light came from a dim street lamp, but Ilona could see perfectly. Before them stood a large building, its facade was worn and decrepit. A shot was fired inside suddenly, emitting a burst of light in the darkness. All was silent for a moment, and then more followed.

"It looks like the fun has already started without us," he complained beside her.

He led her inside quickly before she could reply, the two of them moving through the walls. They stopped and Ilona heard the groaning. She felt his hand leave hers and she spun around to see the ghouls approaching them.

She knew these ghouls were different before she even saw them. There was a part of her in them, taken from her blood. She gasped quietly, taking a step back. Alucard turned to her quickly, feeling her apprehension. He read her mind and understood.

"These ghouls were made from your essence, without your consent. And for that they must be destroyed, my Queen."

Ilona, still staring ahead at the ghouls, nodded once. She reached inside her coat quickly and withdrew her gun, aiming it. She counted at least fifteen of them. She inhaled deeply and then fired.

The gun was fast. She aimed for their heads, taking down five quickly. The scent of blood filled the room and she felt herself shift into the daze. She moved forward towards them quickly. Two of them raised weapons. She dodged their bullets easily, firing back and hitting them between the eyes. She took down the remaining few with her hands, ripping and tearing.

As the last ghoul fell to the floor dead the room was silent. She gazed down at her hands hungrily to see the blood staining her gloves. She felt Alucard reaching out to her. As she looked up at him with glowing eyes his arms gripped her waist, pushing her up against the wall quickly. The breath went out from her lungs.

"Vla-" She started to say but his lips claimed hers.

He took advantage of her open mouth to push his tongue inside. She felt his hands all over her and it felt as if there were many more than just two. Dizzy, she kissed him back, her arms going around his neck where her fingers tangled in his hair, bringing him closer.

His lips parted from hers and she was breathless. She felt him move to her neck. Her knees weakened as she felt his tongue there, cleaning the blood off her that had come from the carnage. The blood lust.

"Aren't we on a mission, Prințul meu?" (my Prince) She spoke to him telepathically.

He moved his head to look into her eyes, a smirk on his lips. She watched as he brought his wrist to his lips and quickly bite down. Her eyes went wide as he raised his arm towards her, the crimson droplets falling.

"Drink."

Her fingers wrapped around his arm gently. She looked up into his eyes once more, hesitating. He merely nodded, the devilish grin still upon his face. Moving her attention back to the wound she moved her mouth closer, slowly.

As she felt the first taste on her lips she lost herself completely. She drank deeply, feeling his blood flow into her. He tasted so much better to her than the ghouls, the nazis, the humans she had killed so many centuries ago. She felt his power.

And then he was pushing her back gently, yet with force at the same time. She stepped backwards and steadied herself against the wall. Closing her eyes she let it overtake her.

She felt him come closer to her, closing the distance between them again. His head bent once more to her neck. She felt the tip of his sharp teeth against the scars he had given her that fateful night, so long ago. He stopped, hovering.

"Yes," she thought. "Drink."

He re-pierced the old wounds and she gasped.

She was dead, yes, but somehow she had never felt so alive.