Anastasia looked at her injured sister, seeing the cracks in her armored skin and seeing the signs of healing. "I'm sorry to ask, but…" Anastasia's voice trailed off, thoughts shifting between her love for her sister and the mysteries surrounding Mikoto.

"I'm listening, "Katrina whispered, her voice soft with empathy. She thought of her as the little girl who once eagerly asked about her mother's return, only to learn of her tragic death in battle. What she wouldn't do for that little girl and the woman she'd become.

"I saw Mikoto, "Anastasia said, breaking a moment of silence. "a small portal opened in my mirror, and she appeared.

"How?" Katrina tried to raise her head. Her many eyes widened in disbelief.

"Let me help?" Ruiko offered, gently stroking Katrina's dragon scales.

Katrina raised her massive head and met Ruiko's gaze. She smiled subtly in her reply as she placed her hand close to her mouth... "let me be your voice. It would cause you less pain." She suggested, gently tapping her jaw. The dragon grinned as only as a large dragon could grin and slowly laid her head back on the ground.

"Now…" Ruiko said, putting her head against Katrina. Her eyes rolled over in white. "Let's talk" her voice becoming deeper and raspier. "Tell me about Mikoto?"

"A shimmering portal opened on my vanity mirror," Anastasia remarked, "and she emerged like a goddess." Blushing slightly. "I felt her presence, Katrina," her smile inched. "I kissed her, tasted her. The memories flooded back, and I sensed her intent washing over me like a torrent.

Katrina's dragon eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and amusement as she watched Anastasia's animated description. "I am familiar with your love my sister, Tomboy is more the description I would give." She kept that to herself. a low rumble of amusement followed as she teased, "A goddess, huh?" the scales of her massive form shimmered in ambient light, "Who's this mystical creator of portals?" she asked.

Anastasia exhaled, a hand instinctively reaching for her chest. "Some woman was with her…" she said, her expression becoming distant. "I don't know…" searching for words, "she seemed nice, I guess?" uncertainty echoed in her blunt simple words. A furrow appeared on her forehead, a ripple of confusion surfacing, "she called me daughter and.." she hesitated, it was as if she was carrying some unspoken discomfort at the unfamiliar, familial title.

Katrina laughed as she winced with pain. Anastasia's eyes flickered with concern, yet a little anger remained beneath her worry at her unexpected amusement of the situation. Anastasia continued, "She was beautiful if you like that kind of thing." She said Her words returned with a hint of a growl. "Dark haired, pale white skinned temptress, I'd say."

"I doubt that if it is who I think it is?" Katrina continued, hoping to give hope to her sister. A few thoughts give her a name to her suspicions. "She is powerful enough to open a portal on earth….." a nod gestured to the expansive cosmos canvas. "But it makes little sense…if Mikoto had asked, I am sure she would've helped get her back to earth."

"I got the impression she was weak?" Anastasia said under her breath. "Phhttp…" Ruiko's head rolled around like a puppet with strings cut. Her pale white eyes stared up, an odd open smile, bits of drool dribbling down her chin. Anastasia grinned at the sight. "sister, please, have some mercy on her.."

"fine," she waved her off.

Katrina moved Ruiko's arm like a puppet and clumsily wiped the drool from her chin, "she's a pacifist by nature. But the queen of blood, mistress of death, the goddess of twilight…" she mused, tapping her mouth with her fingers. Only made Anastasia grin even bigger. "you're doing that on purpose."

"What are the other ones she made up?" her head flopped to the side.

"Can she be trusted?" Anastasia asked.

"Yes," Ruiko head clumsily nodded, "absolutely…she cares for all things that fall under her domain."

Anastasia relaxed. "Good to know," she said with a hint of gratitude.

"And I thought you were worried about me, little sister," Katrina said.

Anastasia took a deep breath and glared back at her sister.

Ruiko was awake, a little tired, but there she stood, arms stretching, cracking her neck. "Why do I have drool on my shirt?" she asked.

"my sister is right here!" Anastasia said, storming over to Katrina, hand firmly on her muzzle... "in all of this chaos, stunning as ever, jerk," she grumbled, delivering a playful smack. "While my beloved is lost in another realm."

"she's not lost…" Katrina puffed out her breath, "I know exactly where she is."

"You do?!"

"And I know exactly where she is going."

"Where?"

"Bahamut is dead. She is heading toward the main city to claim his throne and the portal."

"They have a portal?! Did you forget to mention this!"

"There's my little sister's famous temper!"

"I'll show you temper!"

Ruiko raised her finger, a soft blue glow emanating. "Bahamut probably has it locked down, so... I'm sure she didn't mention it to keep your hopes in check. Better to stick with our original plans."

"why?"

"If Mikoto is gunning for the throne…it means she has cleared a path for us to follow?"

"Perhaps." Anastasia's shoulders slumped.

The word spread throughout Academy City in Tokyo, Japan, and located in the underground city in School District 22, and the sewers of Academy City, home to many of the wolves and vampires of the house of Mikoto. The sense of dread was beaten down by a brand-new sense of pride. It felt like the sun breaking through unrelenting clouds, awakening the vampires from an eternal waking slumber. From the young to the powerful, they all sensed their queen's intent—a mix of violence and love that flooded through their beings. Telling them of her victories in the new realm. And her destination and desire to come home to them.

Over in the ten-story building stood tall, its steel and glass façade glistening in the sunlight, creating a marvel in the city landscape. Inside, the house of Mikoto alpha vampires couldn't contain their joy, their excitement spreading among the pack. Meanwhile, sensing the awakening vampires, the shewolves of the Bakery Cafe quickly spread the news to other packs. Some shewolves concealed their anticipation, while others cheekily stood on the patio, releasing victorious howls into the air.

In the other realm, the buzz of anticipation grew with Anastasia Von Alucard's arrival. Beauty and threat intertwined in her aura as she stepped through the portal. The proof rippled through the realm as she returned from her visit to her sister. She stood on the large porch giving orders for when the time would come for them to leave.

Mikoto Misaka, the queen of vampires and a level five electro master, bonded mate to Anastasia Von Alucard, was not only alive but on the move, determined to come home.

The impact of their combined presence echoed through the supernatural realms, setting off a cascade of reactions.