Salvation of Angels
Chapter one: Angel's Fall
The head of the Papal personal bodyguard walked through the door of the chapel, it was night in Rome. The man did not come for a privet prayer, Instead he stood before a painting that had been preserved from the elderdays a painting of the archangel Michael casting a demon down with a raised sword in hand.
It was the closest painting that resembled the Michael Brother Petro Orsini knew of.
Five years ago, he had encountered a village of Christian Methuselah hiding out in a barren land of rock canyons and plains of grassland. . They had been prosecuted as traitors by the empire for their beliefs.
The leader of the guards had been a self proclaimed Knight named Michael. In a misunderstanding they had fought, Petro becoming injured in an explosion. Michael had taken him to the village to recover, while recovering from his injuries; Petro had come to know how the christen Methuselah lived peacefully in the northern lands.
Through Michael, he was able to understand that Methuselah were not the monsters he had believed.
Michael, the proud noble warrior named after the archangel had fallen passionately in love with him and during Petro's stay had done everything in his power to make it known. In time Petro had returned the handsome Knight's feelings with the same intensity.
What had formed during those few days of bliss was a bound that transgressed the distance and time between them. Indeed, the bound had formed even before Petro was an officer of the inquisition. During a training mission young Petro had been caught by a group of Methuselah a raiders hiding in the borderlands. One of the vampires had been Michael, who at the time was indulging in perverse acts of toying with terren soldiers. His special ability or 'gift' was the ability to manipulate the flesh, from his lips, he was able to intensify pain or bring pleasure as he wished it. Michael's bite had formed a faint mental link between them which was cemented when Brother Petro had been staying the Methuselah village with the redeemed warrior.
Brother Petro's eyes were beyond the painting now, his mind wandering to the open grasslands, he could almost smell the sent of the wind, the tilled earth and grass….
Michael, can you still hear me?
Hundreds of miles away, a lone figure stood overlooking a small idyllic village. The thin sliver of the moon peered out from behind the cover of clouds, alighting just for a moment, on the face of an angel.
The man turned his face to the south as if sensing something…
"Can't sleep Chief?"
The sound of approaching footsteps brought him back home. Brother Petro turned to see Brother Matthew walking towards him with a bundle of folders in his hand. The former inquisitor inclined his head. "Taking your work home with you again, Brother Matthew?"
"Since the Inquisition department was dissolved I have been inundated with more paper work then before. ' The dark-haired man shrugged his shoulders. "One of the many hazards of peace I suppose."
Petro looked up at the paintings, 'His Holiness 18th birthday preparations has been stressful to say the least. I haven't had the time in my duties for a moment to myself.'
Matthew chuckled, "Yes, he does keep you on your toes Chief. So how does it go? '
"Providing security for the visiting dignitaries would be simpler if I had less restrictions.' The blue haired man shrugged his shoulders. "The Lady Cardinal still does not trust me.'
"I am sure that she will change her mind eventually Brother Petro.'
A more then a year ago, during a joint operation between the Inquisition and the AX, a plot was uncovered that threatened the life of the Pope while he was touring the cities to the north. The assignation plain involved implicating one the key members of the AX, one of the inventions of "The Professor" was rigged to explode in such a way that both the Pope and his escort would be terminated. With the help of the AX, Sister Paula was able to uncover the mastermind behind this assassination attempt.
Cardinal Francesco's brilliant plan was foiled when they had used a body double during the tour and allowed the explosion to take place. Though it was controlled somehow it still caused damage. With rock-solid evidence in hand, the College of Cardinals decided that he would be stripped of his position and imprisoned for life.
The Department of Inquisition that he had lead was dissolved, most of its members transferring to the Papal Personal Guard. As elected by Cardinal Caterina Sforza. As head of the Guard, Petro was personally responsible for the Pope Alessandro's safety day in and day out. It was a heavy responsibly but one that he felt honored to do.
The officers in his department were code-named "Seraphim" and where whispered in dark corners of the Vatican that they still continued to do the duties of the Inquisition under a cloak of secrecy.
"I certainly hope so, that woman is not giving me enough authority to do my job properly." Petro gritted his teeth, he and the Lady Cardinal were always at odds, Petros was given a slightly higher position, but in the end the Cardinal's orders must be obeyed.
Occasionally His Holiness would speak up for his Knight; the older sister would bow to his wishes. It was not a well kept secret that Brother Petro Orsini was a favorite of the Pope. It was an enviable position.
Brother Matthew frowned, then brightened, "I have heard that the Earl of Memphis will be joining the festivities.'
Petro turned around sharply, "Ion Fortuna? Where have you heard this? The guest list does not include the Earl."
"It is meant to be a surprise; he will accompany the Duchess of Kiev.' To his leader's questioning look he added. "Brother Andras overheard Sister Kate talking about it with another AX member this afternoon."
Oh yes the boy…. Petro blinked. The boy, Brother Andréas had a habit of hanging out with Sister Kate. 'Probably because he likes her tea. 'He thought. With his small size he was unnoticeable in the office and could be quiet if he needed to be.
"Send a memo to the Ministry of Holy Affairs requesting an update on the guest list."
"Yes Chief."
Early the next morning Petros was satisfied when Brother Andréas delivered the updated guest list, he gave a grunt and placed the list in his folders. "Thank you Andréas, you can go back to your lessons."
The young boy grinned and sat in a chair set beside the Chief's desk. "Brother Petro? Is it true that the Earl of Memphis looks like a boy my age?" Andréas looked at him from under the fringe of blond hair.
Brother Andréas, an orphan adopted by the Inquisition department, was the only one who had the ability to Pilot the ''St. Mikael's Armour' a 'Lost Technology' battle armor from centuries ago. The boy was the most proficient warrior for his age, surpassing the other boys in the school.
Normally he would have answered his question pleased by the distraction to tell another of his long tales of battles won and nearly lost against the dreaded vampires. Andréas loved to hear his tales, even though sometimes he would fall asleep halfway through them.
"He's a Methuselah. They don't age beyond when they have 'awakened' Yes, he does have the appearance of a young boy...' he hesitated; he had a lot of work to do this morning. He opened the next file.
"Can you tell me more about him? Sister Paula once mentioned that you personally encountered the Earl." Andréas insisted, his blue eyes bright, he really didn't mind not finishing his lesson, as long as he could hear another Story from his hero.
The blue haired head of the Papal Bodyguard merely glanced once at the boy, his resolve weakened predictably. He crossed his arms in habit before he began his tale.
Nearby, Sister Paula let out a soft, bearably audible sigh, she hoped that the chief didn't' take too long with this one. The vice-chief picked up the finished files and letters to have them delivered to the appropriate places or filed somewhere, leaving the two in the office to continue alone.
Brother Petro recounted the situation in Carthage, the fight with one of the AX members and the hunt of the rouge Vampire.
"It was in the underground harbor that I found them both, the Ifirt was using the girl as a shield, a gun pointed at the Earl, that was then I stepped in and took charge, "Saying-"
Petro was deeply engrossed in the telling that the initial shock of adrenaline came as a surprise.
Defend! Raise your weapons! No Defend my…
"MY BROTHERS!" The large man had bolted up yelling at the top of his lungs, sending his chair crashing to the back wall. Andréas also sprang up startled. "B-Brother Petros?" He could tell that this wasn't part of the story at all. The Chief of the Guards was panting hard, his eyes wide his face an expression of….fear? The boy felt himself shaking. Brother Petro never showed fear, even in the face of battle. "Brother Petros?" he asked again, his voice small and frightened.
The small voice brought him partway back to reality, Petro clutched at his chest, feeling his heart literary pounding.
The pounding of the hooves, the frantic pace over the rocky ground, the smell of burnt flesh and burning grass, the screams, the deafening screams of his comrades. Suddenly he couldn't hear, a loud ringing filled his head. Wave after wave of unbearable agony washed through him, "AAARRRGHHHHH!" Every muscle tensed, ripping painfully, tiger and tight until he fighting to breathe. His head swam, body finally shutting down, unable to cope. He fell, one hand grasping futilely at the edge of the desk pulling the piles of paper down around him as he collapsed to the floor. The pain was overwhelming!
Petro attempted to gasp out one word before the darkness claimed him. "Mi- "
" SISTER PAULA! " Brother Andréas ran from the office.
To be continued:
A/N: I'm sorry to leave you with a cliff hanger like that, But... I will not be posting any more chapters for the rest of the month. RL is extremely busy and stressful right now and I was half tempted to wait until I have had two chapters typed down before publishing this.
If you can recall, my first "Intro" was short too.
Rarhr! I still got a lot of back story to go through as well.
The Inquisition department is now the Personal Bodyguards of the Pope. I hope that doesn't bother any one too much for use of my "Artistic license"
The part with Brother Andréas and Brother Petro was inspired by the box liner art of Trinity blood DVD, (#3)
Please feel free to review; some feedback would be appreciated as well.
~Elysion Gear