A/N: Hello, my beautiful readers. I hope all of you are having a fun, safe holiday season! I thank all of you for the wonderful favs/follows/reviews. I love them all and you all so much! I especially want to thank Artemisr91 for their review which made me cry tears of joy! Thank you so much, you lovely person!

Anyways, here is the next chapter! Please enjoy, and I welcome all new/returning readers!

Warning: Hellsing typical blood/gore, descriptions of self-harm, foul language

In the end, the Hellsing medics were forced to transport all the injured in one ambulance.

Not due to lack of equipment but simply because Olivia—even unconscious and rapidly approaching fatal levels of blood loss—would not let go of Manali. No matter how much they tugged and pulled, Olivia's grip was unrelenting, leaving the medics with no other choice than to transport them together. So, crammed in the back of the ambulance were two medics, an inert Manali, a near comatose Olivia, and a hysterical Pushpa.

"Young lady, for the 5th time, please stay seated!" The taller medic gently pushed her back down before hurrying back to their partner. "Are they stable?"

"Advisor Yadav, yes. As for Lieutenant General Song—." They were interrupted by the heart monitor going haywire as a fresh stream of blood drenched Olivia's abdomen. "Fuck! Apply pressure on the wound now!"

"With what?! She has bled through every bandage and cloth we have!"

"Use your coat then! We have to keep her alive until we reach headquarters!"

Pushpa rocketed out of her seat again, only for the medic to shove her back down with his foot.

"Please stay seated! You popping up isn't helping anyo—Shit! She has bled through my coat, hand me yours!"

"Fuck! Hey, speed it up!" The other medic knocked on the partition between the back and driver's portion. "Lieutenant General Song will die if we don't get to headquarters now!"

"No…." Pushpa gaped at Olivia's form before latching onto her hand, whimpering at how cold it felt. "You save my Mum and me…..you can't die because of us..." She lifted her hand to her cheek, caring less at how the blood smeared her cheek. "Please live…..please Olivia….live…..I have to say thank you."

Close behind the ambulance were the Hellsing military trucks and, bringing up the rear, was Walter's car with Olivia's motorcycle secured on the trunk.

His cigarette had burnt down to the nub, on the verge of scalding his lips, and the steering wheel groaned under his death grip, parts of the leather already wearing out.

Walter knew what his betrayal entailed and that Olivia would turn her bow against him when it came to light. Yet, as he secured her bike to his trunk, he finally caught sight of the blood print on his leg. Then her glare of pure ire scorched his mind and, for the first time in years, Walter's knees buckled as a foreign sensation drenched his spine.

Fear.

It shouldn't have been surprising. Olivia's commitment to Hel—no, her allegiance to those she cared about—her love—was her guiding force. If you were beloved by Olivia, you had a fearsome guardian angel; if you were despised by Olivia, then you best tread lightly for one wrong move would place you at death's door.

Of all the inhabitants of Hellsing manor, Walter knew the boundless extents of Olivia's wrath. Even an innocent woman and child weren't spared. Olivia was fourteen when she 'avenged' Martha's death, and she had done so near death then too. And now, eight years later, she had clawed her way out of a demon's stomach with a grown woman and teenager on her back while covered in gashes that no average human could withstand.

That was the frightening part.

Olivia was human yet she was capable of such inhumanly terror.

And that was why it was her—a mortal woman, a mere rabbit—that had the great Angel of Death quaking in his boots like some terrified prey.

The realization sickened Walter, and he spat out his cigarette butt before flooring the gas. He swerved around the military trucks and ambulance and took the lead, giving the soldiers the impression he was acting as an escort when his intentions were far from noble.

Yes, he would brace himself for the day he received the full force of her wrath which would be like nothing the world had seen. Because for the first time, Olivia's enemy would be someone she loved. Yes, Walter was afraid of her—he could admit that—but there was no going back now. His betrayal had already sprouted with its vines ensnaring its prey, so he had to see this to the end.

Thus, Walter decided it was time to take the reins again.

The Major may have told him to sit back and wait, but this was his betrayal and he would do as he saw fit.

And he decided Olivia wasn't going to die by The Major's hand.

'No, Olivia,' Walter peered at the ambulance in the rear view mirror as the cars flew past the gate and braked in front of the medical ward where the staff awaited them. "Your fate, as well as mine, will be determined when we face off in the wake of my treason. So, deflect everything The Major hurls your way because the one who ends your life….will be me."

"Fucking hell! What happened?!" Dr. Trevilian staggered back as Olivia and Manali were wheeled out. "Status report, now!"

"Advisor Yadav is stable, her daughter has no apparent injuries, Lieutenant General Song has been critically injured and she just started hemorrhaging from her abdomen! We've tried everything but we can't stabilize her!"

"Your Majesty….." Acelie's hand hovered above Olivia's blood soaked form, her eyes watering at the foul, decaying stench. "Dear God…..what happened to you?"

"Why the hell are you lot standing there?! Wheel both them into the operating room! Ms. Smith, you take care of the little girl and—!" A hurricane of red and black swept across the yard, flinging everyone—except Manali and Pushpa—back and off to the side. When it cleared, there stood Alucard with Olivia in his arms.

"You call yourselves soldiers, yet you can't even protect your commanding officer—useless lumps of meats, all of you." Steam billowed from his mouth like dragon fire as his shadows billowed violently around him. "Keep your hands off of her. I will tend to Olivia myself."

"M-M-MONSTER! A MONSTER!" Pushpa began to wail before being silenced by a tendril against her mouth.

"Be quiet and focus on yourself and your mother, little girl." Alucard loomed over her, his body consumed by darkness save for his burning eyes. "Olivia went to battle for your sakes."

Then, in the blink of an eye, he and Olivia were gone and those remaining were left to pick themselves up.

"Wheel Advisor Yadav inside now!" Dr. Trevilian immediately took the reins again before addressing Acelie. "Ms. Smith, I leave the child in your hands. Keep her in one of the recovery rooms until further notice. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." Acelie bent down and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder. "Your name is Pushpa, right? Please follow me. Are you in any pain? I know the medic said you are fine but—."

"That thing…" Pushpa eyed where Alucard once stood. "That thing just took Olivia…..and no one cares?" She spun around, finding everyone panicked and petrified but carrying about their business. "No one cares that she was taken?!"

"Pushpa—."

"OLIVIA WAS JUST KIDNAPPED BY A MONSTER, AND NO ONE CARES?!" Pushpa seized Acelie's coat lapel in her trembling hands. "WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS THIS?! WHY DID A MONSTER ATTACK MY HOME?! WHAT WAS THAT THING THAT TOOK OLIVIA?! ANSWER ME!"

"You mean, you don't know?" Walter sauntered up to them, matching Acelie's glare with one of his own. "That 'thing' is her husband."

"Wh…Her what?"

"Her husband." Walter patted her on the head with a sigh. "Yes, Olivia, your dear heroine, is a soldier for an organization that hunts monsters. Since childhood, she has slaughtered thousands of creatures from your worst nightmares," He slid his hand down to her cheek, smearing the blood that was there, "only to end up marrying their king." With another pat on her head, Walter breezed past them just as Pushpa's knees finally gave out.

"Pushpa!" Acelie caught her before she could hit the ground, shooting a death glare over her shoulder. "Mr. Dornez! How dare you?! Oh, Pushpa, are you—?!"

With a groan, she hunched over, dry heaving what little remained off her dinner as the world spun around her like a mad carousel. She didn't know what to think anymore, she didn't want to think anymore. It was all too much to bear.

So she stopped trying.

"PUSHPA!" Acelie steadied the unconscious girl in her arms before beckoning to a passing soldier. "Please! Help me move her to a recovery room!"

Olivia awoke to find herself lying on a bed of red silk encircled by a cascading wall of glass.

Instantly the events prior flashed through her mind and she tried to sit up, only to find herself immobilized. Her limbs had become like lead, and she could only stare up with her left eye. Even her mouth was glued shut.

'Alucard? What is this? Am I in your coffin? Why did you bring me here? No—tell me if Advisor Yadav and her daughter are safe first! I need to see them!' Olivia mustered all her strength to move even a pinky toe, yet her body remained stagnant. 'Alucard, please!'

"Your Majesty." Olivia's eye jerked to the right to see the hazy outline of one of Alucard's familiars kneeling beside her. A Wallachian soldier with molten skin of pure ash who kept their head low, preventing her from seeing their face clearly. "Fear not, Your Majesty, I offer myself to you."

'You…..You what? What does that—?' The familiar reached towards her right eye. 'Wait, what are you doing? What are you—?!" The moment their finger touched her eyelid, the familiar crumbled to dust and she could see out of her right eye again. 'WHAT THE—?!'

"Your Majesty." Another familiar knelt beside her, this time a nun, before touching her neck. Like the familiar before, they dissolved to dust and Olivia regained control of her neck.

'Alucard! What are you doing?!'

Then, like a barrage, familiar after familiar knelt beside her before fading to dust as they reanimated her touch by touch.

The familiars were healing her….by killing themselves.

'ALUCARD! NO! STOP!' She leapt up to her feet, only to crash back down—her heels still immobilized. However, unfortunately, a familiar sacrificed themselves for her lips and she screamed, "ALUCARD! STOP!"

"Let me heal you, Olivia." His voice filtered from above and more familiars perished after paying homage to her legs.

"NO! STOP THIS NOW!" She struck her fist against the sheet, sending a shockwave that rippled outwards and up the glass wall. The glass shattered to pieces, and in the blink of an eye, Olivia found herself kneeling on her bedroom floor.

Fumbling to her feet, Olivia beheld herself in her vanity mirror and found—while her clothes were still in tatters—her wounds had been healed. No gashes, no gaping hole in her skull, nothing. Alucard had successfully healed her, but she found no joy in the realization.

With a sob, Olivia collapsed against the table and buried her face in her hands. Even when she felt a hand upon her shoulder, she didn't move an inch and just breathed out a shaky, "Did Acelie tell you what the figurine was coated in?"

"…..Yes," came a gentle reply, the hand now moving to brush her hair away from her neck.

"And do you know why the contents harmed you?"

"….Yes." The hand—gloveless and cold—traced the outline of her spine in a loving caress. "I do."

"Then why," She whirled around to face Alucard fully, shoving his hand away with a tearful sneer. "Why did you do that?! Your familiars are part of you, and you killed them—killed parts of yourself—because of me?! Why did you do that to yourself?! Why?!"

"How can you ask me that?" Frustration etched across his face at her accusations. "You are my wife, my everything. You come back after battle with the very essence of your life pouring out of you, and you expect me to do nothing?"

"Dr. Trevilian saved me from near death once!" Olivia retorted, gesturing to the bullet scars visible on her chest. "He could've done it again!"

"So you wanted me to gamble your life against some mortal doctor who failed to notice his master was rapidly developing heart damage?!" Alucard bellowed, his fangs extending beyond his lips. "How dare you even suggest that!"

Any further argument died in her throat at Alucard's proclamation, and she stumbled back against the vanity table, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her.

"So….that's it then. The effects of whatever Richard was poisoning him with." Olivia placed a trembling hand over her face, her words muffled against her skin. "…..Where is he?"

"Master is in the medical ward, he fell unconscious shortly after your departure."

"God…..it truly is a never-ending cycle, isn't it?" Olivia let out a hollow laugh, her hand sliding down to curl around her throat. "Everyone around me is cursed to die, aren't they?"

"Olivia—." Alucard reached for her, only for her to keep him at bay with an outstretched hand.

"You need to sleep in your coffin from now on and…" Her hands curled into fists as she stood tall, having found strength in her legs once more, "you must drink blood that isn't mine."

Alucard snorted at her request, earning a venomous glare.

"Did I say something funny, Alucard?"

"You are my wife, Olivia" He held up his ring hand to emphasize his point. "When we said our vows, I swore to drink nothing else but your blood."

"But my blood is killing you! This—ugh, fuck!—this is what I was scared of when we got married." Olivia yanked at her hair, her lungs constricting and vision going fuzzy. "This is the effects of our marriage! Because I'm human, I'm killing you! Because you married me, you are dying, Alucard! How the hell can you laugh at that?!"

"Because I don't regret marrying you!" Alucard fired back with equal vigor. "Do you?"

"No! Never! How many times are you going to ask me that?! I don't regret it! I don't!"

"But….?" Alucard addressed the silent end of her declaration, watching her pupils constrict slightly at his catch.

"But….how can I face you when I know I'm the reason for your suffering?" All evidence of anger had vanished, and Olivia covered her face once more, a tremor in her voice. "How can I help you while being the very thing that hinders you?" She hunched over with her arms wrapped around her chest. "How…..?"

"Olivia," Alucard reached for her again, his fingers grazing her fringe before he was shoved back and pinned against the dresser. "Wh—?!"

"Change me then! Change me now!" Her eyes were wide in desperation, his shirt bunched up in her grip. "That'll help right?! If you aren't bound to a mortal wife, then you'll be okay!" Releasing him, Olivia tore the remaining scraps of her collar off and offered her neck to him. "Here! Drink my blood, and you'll be fine! C'mon! Hurry!"

Alucard just stared down at her, taking in her blind desperation as well as the bare skin she was offering him. For years, he had dreamt—ached for—the moment where he could gather Olivia in his arms and kiss her ardently before finally consummating their marriage by drinking her blood.

But, this wasn't right.

This scene was all wrong.

Olivia hadn't grown old, she wasn't smiling, but most importantly, this wasn't what she wanted.

"…..No." Alucard peeled her hands off his shirt and took a step back. "No, I will not."

"What do you mean no?!" Olivia charged forward, only for him to keep her at bay this time.

"No, I will not change you. If I do, it has to be with your consent."

"I am giving my consent."

"This isn't consent. This is a result of an ultimatum you've given yourself."

"What do you expect me to do then?!" Olivia threw her hands in the air. "You haven't killed ghouls for four years, Alucard! No! All you have done is be stagnant and drink my blood! You are deteriorating!"

That struck a nerve, and Alucard gritted his fangs as his hair began to grow out.

"I have reined terror and woe across the world for centuries, and you dare insinuate that a few years of inactitvy have rendered me obsolete?!" He crept forward, his appearance becoming more monstrous by the minute. "Do you think I'm that weak?! DO YOU THINK I'M THAT FEEBLE?!"

As he loomed before her, his snarling face inches from hers, Olivia did not cower. No, she got right up in his face as well and matched his ire with equal vigor.

"Open your eyes, Alucard! You were incapacitated by freaking herbs! You are not invincible! What if you feel the tiniest sliver of sunlight and ignite into flames?! What if the sight of a cross renders you blind?!"

"I WILL NOT SUCCUMB TO SUCH PARTLY THINGS!"

"BUT YOU DID! THOSE HERBS BURNED THROUGH YOUR SKIN AND ORGANS SO HORRIBILY THAT I COULD FUCKING FEEL IT! I CANNOT REMAIN HUMAN IF IT MEANS YOUR DEMISE!"

"BECOMING A VAMPIRE NOW IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT!"

"TO HELL WITH WHAT I WANT! WHEN HAS FATE EVER GIVEN A DAMN ABOUT WHAT I WANTED?! ALL IT HAS EVEN DONE IS TAKE, TAKE, TAKE! IF YOU DIE, WHERE THE FUCK DOES THAT LEAVE ME?! YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON WHO GIVES A FUCKING DAMN ABOUT ME IN THIS PLACE! MARTHA IS DEAD, ARTHUR JUST USES ME, AND WALTER—!" Olivia bit her lip and jerked her face away, burrowing her nails into her palms. "Walter…..nevermind….."

"What about Walter?" Alucard pressed, seeing the war raging in her green irises. "Olivia, what about Walter?"

"I…..I really don't know anymore." Olivia wearily scanned the room, taking in the disarray caused by the force of their screams and his shadows thrashing about. "Just…just please…..sleep in your coffin and I will bring you blood until we can figure this out."

"I already said—."

"If I ordered you to drink blood that isn't mine, would you do it?" Olivia peered up at his stunned face, her eyes dull and voice faint. "Is that it? Do I have to be like Arthur and order you around? Is that what I have to do to keep you safe? Tell me! What must I do to save you? What must I do to protect those I hold dear from my enemies? Tell me! I have obviously wronged someone since an innocent woman and child were targeted because of me! So, please, tell me! What must I do?! Do I cast aside my humanity and embrace my role as Queen of the Undead?! Do I turn against my partner because I cannot trust him anymore?! Do I give into this urge for bloodlust and rage that has consumed me since the night in the palace gardens?! What do I do?! Tell me! TELL ME!" She cradled her ring hand to her chest, every breath and heartbeat like a sawing blade. "What must I sacrifice to hopelessly cling to whatever little I have left?" Her strength gave out, and she collapsed to her knees as she wailed her heart out. "Please…..tell me…..what do you want from me?!"

As to whom she was desperately calling out to—past ghosts, destiny, fate, maybe even God—she didn't receive an answer. No, all Olivia could hear were her own pitiful sobs and all she could feel was the numbing cold.

Even as Alucard held her close and buried his face against her shoulder, whispering declarations of love and eternal devotion, Olivia found she couldn't feel anything.

Not a damn thing.

"The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head/Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things/Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished/For never was a story of more woe," The Major recited, a mocking smile on his face, as he beheld the grainy image of Olivia and Alucard on the monitor. "Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

"I apologize that Experiment A.Z.0503 failed to eliminate its targets, Major." The Doktor stood at his side, bowing at the waist. "If I had been more diligent, it wouldn't have had such flaws."

"No, Doktor. You did splendid. Besides, if that half-breed was bested by a mere prototype, then my beloved Count is further gone than I thought. No, everything went perfectly. As for the woman and her child, I don't believe they pose a threat for the moment. However, the time will come when they will be dealt with." The Major pressed a button on the controller, and Olivia's escape from the creature's stomach fizzled onto the screen. "Look at her," He muttered in awe, the footage reflected in his glasses as his grin grew tenfold. "She tore through A.Z.0503's flesh like a bloodthirsty monster. Her eyes are a predator's and not even her wounds could hinder her from achieving her goal! Ah! It's fascinating, isn't it?"

"What is fascinating, Major?" Schrodinger slid across his lap with an impish grin, ignoring the Doktor's scolds for such behavior.

"How parasitic their bond is," The Major explained, pressing his fingers together in thought. "With every passing moment, Alucard becomes more docile and weak while she becomes more bloodthirsty and enraged. Oh, if only I didn't have to kill you, fraulien. Going to war against you would be such a thrill! Alas though! You soiled my Beloved Count and such a crime must be punished in full. Doktor, is our next gift en route to the appropriate location?"

"Yes, I even had the opportunity to make adjustment using the battle data." The Doktor smirked, basking in the glow of his own brilliance. "I assure you, Major, Experiment Z.J.36 will eliminate that pest without any trouble."

"Excellent, but remember! This gift is not just for the fraulien alone, hence the drop off location. We have other vermin to deal with as well." The Major eyed a flashing dot on the world map with sadistic glee. "Cowardly, treacherous vermin." Brushing Schrodinger off his lap, he stood tall and marched over to the screen, pressing a hand to the image of Olivia's blood-soaked face. "I do hope you were paying attention during your last battle, fraulien, to both your enemy and the injuries sustained as a result. For the secret to defeat your next enemy has already been given to you." Giving a salute, The Major laughed as the screen faded to static. "Happy New Year, Little 'Queen'."

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,

Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

In hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos

misericordes oculos ad nos converte;

Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

The chant of the "Hail, Holy Queen" echoed throughout one of the many chapels within Vatican City, flowing from the lips of an elderly priest. It was nearly midnight, the last few minutes of 1950 trickling by before the arrival of a new year.

Kissing his rosary, the priest stood before genuflecting beside his pew and proceeding up the aisle. The chapel door closed behind him with gentle click, and the elderly priest was about to head to the courtyard to ring the midnight bell when he heard something from down the hall.

Someone was praying…..no, someone was singing at the top of their lungs, their voice an enchanting baritone.

Intrigued, the elderly priest crept down the candlelit hallway to where the singing was coming from. As he drew closer and the voice grew louder, the priest realized he recognized the song's melody.

Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria!

Hail, Mother of mercy and of love, O Maria!

It was the 'Hail, Holy Queen', the very prayer he just chanted moments before. How strange though. Latin and Italian were the languages spoken in Vatican City, yet this song was being performed in English.

Triumph all ye cherubim!

Sing with us ye seraphim!

Heaven and earth resound the hymn!

Salve, salve, salve, Regina!

The elderly priest found the source drifting from one of the larger chapels, the door slightly ajar with candle light filtering through the cracks.

Our life, our sweetness here below, O Maria!

Not wanting to interrupt the singer, he bent over to peek through the crack to find a figure dressed in black standing before the altar.

Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria!

Their back was to the priest, yet he could clearly see they were dressed in cleric's clothing. However, they were also wearing a black veil similar to the ones women wore to mass.

That wasn't the strange thing though.

Triumph all ye cherubim!

Something was off about the chapel interior.

Sing with us ye seraphim!

The incense wafting from the thrubile and the candle sticks scattered throughout the chapel had a peculiar odor.

Heaven and earth resound the hymn!

They smelt oddly like….

Salve

They smelt just like…..

Salve

Like…burning human flesh.

Salve, Regina!

The figure flung their arms outwards, and the priest found himself launched into the room. He tumbled down the aisle before colliding against one of the pews, banging his head on the wood.

Shaking the stars from his vision, the priest quickly took in his surroundings, only to gag violently at the putrid odor and sight surrounding him.

Hanging from the chapel ceiling were the fileted corpses of his fellow priests, their skin currently being used as candles and incense.

And when our last breath leaves us, O Maria!

The priest's head jerked in the direction of the altar, only to freeze as the figure now faced him.

Show us thy son Christ Jesus, O Maria!

The black veil covered their face, but the priest knew whoever was under there was smiling.

Triumph all ye cherubim!

The figure crept towards him, their arms outstretched and their singing growing more zealous.

Sing with us ye seraphim!

The priest tried to run, to scream, to do anything! But he had become like stone and could only sit in pure terror as the figure drew closer.

Heaven and earth resound the hymn!

Tears poured from his eyes as the figure's shadow loomed over him.

Salve

They reached for their veil.

Salve

They lifted the cloth up, and the priest's eyes bulged in their sockets at the sight before him.

Salve, Regina!

As the final notes of the song echoed, the priest finally found his voice.

Only for his screams to be silenced as the figure struck and blood splattered across the pews.

As the sun rose upon Vatican City, the corpses were found by a young seminarian from Ireland, along with the name "Olivia Emese Song" etched in blood across a portrait of the belladonna.

A/N: The alternate name for this chapter was "PAIN". Yes, a very emotional chapter but we are getting close to the final battle in this arc before we Blue ska-doo into the canon parts of the manga/anime!

Me: I love you, Olivia

Also Me: *puts her through Hell and back*

I hope all of you are safe and I hope this new year will treat all of us well! Please continue to be safe and to be kind to each other! And please leave a review! I love them all and you all so much!

Thank you all again for reading! See you in the next chapter! :D