Alucard's POV

I watched Iona's tiny body disappear before my eyes. I could feel her strength and her fear as she left. I could tell she had been working hard. I walked into the square to find several people still awake, guarding the towns walls.

"Do you all know where I could get some horse drawn carts? I'll need several by morning time." I asked a local softly.

"Of course! Did you find the lady you were looking for? I'm sure she put you up to this. She's strong willed and have been helping our people for awhile now. There's a lot more structure in this city than there used to be because of her willingness to lend a helping hand." This man spoke so highly about Iona. I felt a sense of pride, but I had nothing to do with her kindness. Everything she did here, she did out of her own free will. No one asked her to do this, this felt right for her.

For hours, the townspeople helped gather supplies and wagons. They tacked up horses for the road and starting spreading the word of 'The Great Move.' Many were excited, some anxious, and others who down right refused to leave their little tattered homes. As the sun began to rise, I found Iona wandering about and talking to those who seemed nervous. Her wide smile brightening the moods of those around her.

She continued to talk to those who refused to leave, giving them maps of where they could find her if need be. She made sure everyone was accounted for, before marching her way over to me. She looked at me with tired, bloodshot eyes,

"Everyone who wants to leave has been accounted for. I've already tripled checked buildings and underground passage ways and everyone is here, besides those of which who refuse to leave. Looks like everyone is armed as well which is good. I'll have you take the lead, start moving the caravan. I'll head up the rear to make sure no one gets left behind…" I got lost in her voice but made sure to pay enough attention to what she was saying so that I knew the plan.

"Thank you…" She said ending her plan quietly. Butterflies erupted in my stomach. This woman still held so much power over me. I looked her over silently, noting that she oddly had the ring around her finger. She noticed what I was looking at before turning her back to me,

"It's so we both know how far the caravan has spread out. That way we can try to keep the people together and safe. Nothing more Alucard. Don't think too much into it."

I nodded in reply. She had always been hard headed, but this wasn't that. This was the only way Iona knew how to protect her broken heart.

The two weeks passed without incident. And we arrived in the city of Belmont a couple days ahead of schedule. Sypha and Trevor greeted me with smiles, holding their young baby in hand.

"Alucard! Good to see you again! You brought people I see." Sypha spoke kindly to me, handing her baby off into Trevor's caring hold.

"Yeah. It was a condition of a woman I met. You may recognize some of these people. They are from Targoviste." I replied with a smile.

"Oh wow! The more people the merrier. We have quite a few empty homes we could put to good use!" Sypha starting directing people in certain directions. Aiding them in the last few feet of their travels, before helping them settle down. The current townspeople were overjoyed by new faces and also lended helping hands to those who needed it.

I turned to face her as she approached.

"Holy shit…" Trevor breathed under his breath, "Is that..?"

"Yes… Iona."