I do not own Trinity Blood in any way, shape or form. If you don't believe me, then you're a jackass.

Abel awoke with a start from his dream, or rather, Nightmare. His face was beaded with sweat, and drenching the sheets of his bed. His knuckles were white from clutching his comforter. Quickly, he whips the sheets off with shaky hands, and slows down his breathing in order to calm himself. His eyes were wide, and his mouth somewhat agape. Nothing.

No blood.

Only his shaky body quivering from his nightmare. He gulps slowly, and tightly closes his eyes. It was just a dream...it was just a dream... But yet, it seemed so surreal. His shaking slowly stops, and he opens his eyes, looking around his room warily. He knew better, but something didn't... seem right. There was something in his room. He felt it. He knew it.

The priest drew in a deep breath, and closed his eyes relaxingly, trying to think of a better time, and a better place. But he couldn't. His mind wouldn't allow him to. All he saw was that face. That horrible, grotesque face. And that knife...

"Stop thinking such thoughts Abel!" He chastized himself, holding his head in his hands. His shaking began to come again as he recalled his last mission with Father Leon. But his heart sank into a black void again. He clenched his teeth, fighting back tears from his fallen comrade. "Why...? Why...?" He whispered to himself, remembering Father Leon's last moments in this life. "I failed again..."

He sat on the edge of his bed, and wept silently as he did countless times when a soul was forever lost. And one of those was Father Leon. Over and over that cursed memory replayed in his mind as a film reel. He couldn't get it out. Angrily, he grips his head, as if attempting to squeeze the memory out. A few moments later, his sobbing slows, and he lowers his head, defeated by the thoughts spinning around in his head. But there was one word that came across his mind: Why?

--

That morning, Abel sat in the Vatican gardens. It was always peaceful here. It was like all his cares melted away as he saw a butterfly carrying on with it's business, or a squirrel looking for it's hidden stash. But for a moment, he couldn't get those gruesome details out. The images, the blood, the face, knife...

"Why did you let this happen?! Why must I always be judged!?" He says loudly to the heavens with anger. "If you exist, why did you let Leon die?!" Followed by that, he sinks to his knees, and sobs once more as the calming fountain continued to spout water. "Why do the ones I love die?" He says inbetween sobs. How could God allow one of His children to be slaughtered?

Just then, a small chirp diverted his mind from Leon, to a little songbird that was perched atop his shoulder. He slowly looked at it, and stared, thinking about the probability of his outburst, and that little bird.

The corner of his lips gently turn upwards, creating a faint smile. Swallowing hard, he reaches over to it, and strokes its breast feathers. The bird chirps again, and hops onto his index finger, singing happily. With his other hand, he wipes away a tear, and sniffs, watching the happy bird carrying on with its song. It was very pretty: yellow masking its face, blue over the wings, and red everywhere else. It made him forget his troubles for just a little while. Watching its little wings flap as it sang. It made him smile honestly just by watching this little bird.

"Father Nightroad." Came a familiar monotone voice from behind.

The bird, frightened, flew off and Abel sighed. "What is it Tres? Whatever it is, I'm not in the mood."

"Cardinal Caterina requests your presence immediately."

He stands and faces Tres. "I'll be there in a moment,"

The android blinked a bit, processing his words. "Negative. I must escort you-"

"Tres. I'll be there in a moment." Abel said getting annoyed. Tres, knew where is boundaries lie, and blinked. "Affirmative." Then turning around, and waits for the mourning priest by a pillar.

--

"Abel, I know this is a hard time for you. It is for all of us. But Father Leon wouldn't want us to constantly mourn over him. It's been over a month..." Caterina said mournfully. She folded her hands atop her desk, and waited for Abel's response. The room was gloomy and sullen as the drapes were tightly closed creating an eerie atmosphere. Abel shook his head slowly.

"...but you didn't see what I saw." He whispered looking at the ground. "The way he died..."

Caterina fiddled with her hands a bit, and waiting for Abel to finish before speaking. "Abel-"

"That house is alive..." He lowly to himself. "I should have died with him-"

"ABEL."

Abel flinches at the harsh tone of his name. He noticed that Caterina stood up forcefully, her eyes gleaming with rage and sadness. She knew Abel gets emotional and sullen when someone dies. He even blames himself for allowing such a death to arise. "Abel, it wasn't anyone's fault that Father Leon died. He took that risk when he joined the AX. He knew, and he joined anyway. When you go on a mission, you risk losing someone's life." She said sternly.

Abel closes his eyes, and nods.

--

A book lay on Abel's desk, one from pre-armageddon. It was a light beige, with the binding coming apart. It was very tattered, and burnt in some areas. The pages were loose, and almost falling out, but most stayed. Dust stayed on the book, almost attracted to it. The light from the window shone upon it, illuminating the faded book. It seems harmless and unassuming, but what lies written inside the book is what's haunting. The words written inside the book are disturbing from the mind of a madman. Faded black letters are engraved on the front of the book, which whomever had read it, would forever be haunted by the unspeakable horrors. These faded black letters produced a name:

...Vannacutt.