This is a REWRITE of Theft of Thine Heart! - There are small changes and big changes but also some things that are still the same, I figured it better to just re-upload the chapters rather than create a whole new story. Hope you guys like the new Rain and Abel story! (apologies for taking soooo long to get back to this!) I decided to rewrite this as I wanted to continue it and felt that some things needed tweaking and re-writing a little better! So I hope you enjoy and please leave a comment/review if you do! :)
Theft of Thine Heart
Chapter One
The sky was crying. Rain washed the streets of Rome clean, purging the land as if to be born again. Thunder rolled through the clouds beating the air like a drum before lightning split the sky. A storm had been raging for only the last few hours but it had driven everyone indoors for shelter. It was a rare sight to see the streets of Rome empty and grounds of the Vatican silent, bar for a few unfortunate guards attending the gates. From the cobbled, expansive streets to the elegantly carved fountains and usually bustling walkways, all was silent but for the rain.
Therefore no one noticed the dark figure striding purposefully into a dark alley between several towering buildings; a usual haunt for the homeless and the vagabonds. Wrapped in a long dark cloak the figure almost seemed to meld into the darkness but for a flash of dark sapphire hair that fell in waves, clinging to his pale face. If it wasn't for the fact he looked sodden he appeared indifferent to the weather.
The dark alley swallowed him up momentarily before a flash of lighting revealed him stood before another man. He too seemed swathed in shadows, a sharp, black suit with a flash of a white shirt beneath. Even his long black hair fell in rivers but he appeared untouched by the rain; as dry as if the sun was instead shining, dark eyes slanted and empty. At the mouth of the alley the shadows seem to flicker and move but the cloaked figure paid it little heed.
"You are late Schwarzer Ritter," despite the words being a quiet drawl they seemed to rise above the hammering rain.
"Not all of us have the opportunity to flit where they please, Panzermagier," the first man replied, returning the dark gaze with steely eyes, "some of us must travel in darkness as we don't have a guise that lets us run amongst the rest of the world."
His reply seemed to amuse the man known as Panzermagier as a smile pulled at his thin lips.
"Perhaps if you behaved then Mein Herr would be inclined to let you do as you wish, but onto other matters. You have been tasked with an order of great importance and yet you have not made your move."
"Calm yourself Von Kampfer," the man almost growled, "you will have your Cardinal's head in due time. The Vatican has been tightly shut even for a Methuselah like myself it would be suicide, but I will have her head before the next day is through. You can tell Mein Herr that I have never let him down."
Isaak made a noise of amusement, "you did once before but you learnt your lesson well...Schwarzer Ritter Vincent."
The Methuselah's hands curled into fists behind his back but let nothing else show, merely kept an uncaring expression on his face.
"It will be done."
With that he turned, his cloak almost snapping in Von Kampfer's face, the Methuselah vanished into the night once more. The man left behind still had an amused smirk on his face even as the shadows flickered once more before laying still, dormant once again until he had need of them.
As he too turned to depart his dark eyes lingered on a nearby pile of scrap metal before thinking nothing of it, melding into the dark alley until he too was gone and all was silent but for the rain once more. A good thirty minutes past before the sheets of metal were pushed aside, having created a shelter from the elements and also a handy hideaway from prying eyes. Grey eyes, almost silver, peered into the darkness, tense and poised in case the two had not actually left. But all was still. Only when she was sure that she was indeed alone did the woman rise from her shelter. Pulling the hood of her jacket over a mess of unruly, dark blue hair, she quickly gathered her somewhat tatty satchel and darted out into the rain. After hearing a conversation like that she had no wish to remain in the area. Skirting the main roads, she eyed the shadows no longer trusting them from what she had just seen. Part of her thought it was her own imagination but she had been sure something had moved amongst the dark confines of that alley.
It took only a matter of minutes to find one of the many entry points to the forgotten underbelly of Rome. A small, crumbling archway between abandoned buildings, she was fortunately met by a friendly face.
"There you are Rain! I was beginning to wonder if you were coming back tonight."
The man that greeted her was a relief to the system, between the somewhat rugged appearance he bore from his short beard, to his windswept hair and eyepatch that only highlighted his bright blue eye, Rain could have sighed in relief.
"Just had a nasty run in," she light shivered as she shouldered her bag of stash from the day's adventure, "I just want to curl up by the fire to be honest Marcus."
His blue eye blinked in surprise before looked around on the alert, an arm ushering her inside as he pulled the collar of his leather jacket up.
"The Inquisition?"
"No, some Methuselah and this other guy who gave me a really bad feeling," Rain had never felt so relieved to enter the shadows of the underground, back in known territory that probably no one other than her knew better, "on the plus side I've probably got some pricey information from what I heard them talking about."
"Oh," Marcus seemed to deflate a bit, probably wondering why that would worry her as much as she seemed to be, "well in the morning I'll reach out to my contacts and see how much this information is worth. What was it concerning?"
"A plot to kill one of the Cardinals."
As morning dawned upon Rome the storm had finally passed. The streets were filled with people as if they were trying to make up for lost time. An airship flew overhead laden with passengers or cargo, Rain paid it little heed. With her hood pulled up once more despite the sun beating down, she kept her eyes on the prize. After yesterday's interesting development she hadn't been quite eager to get out on the streets again so soon. Marcus had quickly told her she was worried about nothing, no one knew she had witnessed the conversation and they hadn't sold said information yet, she was perfectly safe. Well as safe as normal.
'Today is just like any other,' she thought to herself, 'I'll grab a few purses, maybe pilfer the bakery and eye up a few homes then head back before it gets dark.'
That thought almost made her slap herself, it really had gotten to her with the off-putting waves she had felt from that long haired man. Shaking it off with hands in the pockets of her hooded jacket, Rain melded into the crowds.
This was her daily job working the streets, after having spent years honing her skills thanks to Marcus' watchful eyes. Long, hard years had carved her into a streetwise young woman who could handle herself. She was of an average build with a lithe form she had earnt from running the streets of Rome. Rain had often decided that short hair worked best for her business, keeping it no longer that jaw length, just like her attire that included her black leather hooded jacket and baggy dirty brown cargo trousers. Even her boots were fairly worn from her escapades but she refused to look like some of the homeless that wandered the streets, holding herself with a little more pride, but her outfit was best for running and that was mostly what she did.
Shoulders bumped against hers, polite words of apology exchanged before both parties walked away. The only difference was one's pocket was lighter. Rain couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she toyed with the bag of coins in her pocket, counting out the change by touch alone. Not bad for her first hit. Another barged into her and her eyes widened as the coins suddenly vanished from her pocket. Whipping around to see who had pick-pocketed her, was it another thief crossing into her turf? A flash of silver was pushing through the busy crowds away from her before a gloved hand was held up with the bag of coins hanging from it.
"Excuse me sir! I think you dropped this," a cheery voice called out to her victim.
Cursing with a scowl, her grey eyes narrowed, how the hell had he managed to steal from her?! Taking a step towards the silver haired man, she finally got a good look at him and noticed much to her surprise a black outfit. He was dressed like a priest from the Vatican! A large ornate cross swung from round his neck as he turned to greet someone calling out to him, glasses glinting in the sunlight and a goofy grin on his pale face.
"Ah Sister Esther!"
"Just where did you wander off to?" a fiery red head parted from the crowds next, a scowl on her face and hands on her hips unamused.
She too was dressed in the garbs of the Vatican, a white and blue nun dress and hat that almost seemed to reflect the sun back at any who looked. The last thing Rain wanted was to draw the attention of the Vatican. Cursing to herself and pulling her hood slightly, she had barely stepped away when a shout behind her made her flinch.
"Don't you think you should apologise to that man?"
Spinning round once more, her wide eyes fell on the grinning priest who suddenly stood in front of her. Opening her mouth to reply she found herself momentarily lost in those bright blue eyes that peered at her warmly. There was no sense of distaste or anger there, nor any look of distrust that she was used to. This man looked at her just like anyone else and it took her aback.
"I…" she finally managed to clear her throat before feeling a hint of annoyance rise to the surface, "Hell no! Thank you for robbing me of my day's meal, priest."
He blinked at her in surprise before chuckling, rubbing the back of his head, "oh well yes, I suppose there is that also…" before he stood back and began rummaging in his pockets before smiling, holding out several coins sheepishly, "I'm afraid being a priest means I don't have much to offer but I hope this can buy you something at least!"
Overwhelmed by the sudden generosity Rain was silenced once again. When was the last time someone had given her something, outside of the thieves den? A sense of dumb pride made her turn down the money, turning away with a scoff.
"Keep it priest, I think you need it more than me."
"How rude!" the rather irate short nun scoffed up as she sidled through the crowd towards them, "we should turn you over to the authorities for pick-pocketing!"
"Now, now, Sister Esther," the priest chuckled nervously, waving his hands, "I don't think that's necessary, do you Miss?" however as he turned back the thief had already melted back into the crowds, vanishing from sight.
Looking down at the coins in his hand he couldn't help but smile as he deposited them back in his pocket. It truly did amaze him still, despite the many years he had watched over humanity, how someone could be so different from how they appeared. A most peculiar young woman!
The sound of rustling paper was the only discernible noise in the Vatican office. Not even the hushed breathing form the Cardinal betrayed the silence. As the beautiful, blonde woman filed and signed the many reports and worries of others, she was watched over by the silent priest who was constantly shifting his glasses.
After several long minutes of this torture, Lady Caterina finally spoke aloud.
"What is wrong, my dear Crusnik? Have you already grown weary of watching over me?" she asked in a teasing manner most never saw.
Abel gaped for a moment, "of course not, Lady Caterina. It is just..."
Finally looking up form her work, she set down her pen quietly, crossing her fingers on her lap, "it is just the movement of the Rosenkruez Orden," she finished wisely, not commenting upon his wince, "from this Dietrich in Istavan and reports of members appearing across the world. The Orden is stirring again."
Abel met her eyes readily, "and I will protect you just like the last time."
A small smile set on the Iron Maiden's face, "I know you will, Abel. I know."