Title : The Downward Spiral
Genre : Anime
Summary : Takes place immediately following the events of episode 10. Abel is a haunted man, facing the long unfortunate road of recovery. Angst abounds.
Disclaimer : I do not own Trinity Blood or any of its characters.
Prologue
It seemed as though it had been raining for days, the continuous pounding on the window never seeming to cease. Thunder rumbled the cracked glass as stray rays of lightning filtered through the aged curtains, the maroon material swaying ever so slightly in its wake.
"What is his status?" the quiet question came, it's originator standing aways away from the foot of the lone bed in the room.
"He is stable at the moment, but I'm afraid to report he has not gained consciousness since the incident, milady," Sister Kate replied solemnly, the holographic image glancing at the woman standing in front of her.
"I see," Lady Caterina murmured, her gaze still set on the unconscious form of Abel Nightroad, the man she had known for years seeming small even in the twin bed set before her. She could feel the tears threatening to creep down her cheeks once more, but held them back. She had done enough crying in the past few days. There was no need for it anymore. "You'll inform me if there is a change in his condition?" The question was more of a command than anything, her voice soft but firm as she could still not pry her eyes from the damaged Crusnik that lay before her.
He was laying on his back, his long silver hair sprawled every which on the pillow. His face was the only visible part of his body, the rest covered by linens that hadn't seen the light of day in quite awhile. With the exception of the thin priest's chest rising and falling, one could have been led to think he was a corpse, the color of his skin almost as pale as the winter's snow.
He's far too thin, the thought tumbled its way through Lady Caterina's head, taking note of the cheek bones that were clearly visible through his near transparent flesh. Her eyes narrowed at the sight, all the while knowing that the priest had done that to himself. Anger coursed through her veins, the woman cursing silently. She knew Abel was a glutton for punishment, and after everything that had happened, she didn't know what else he had manged to do to himself.
He shifted slightly under her fixed glare, his face contorting into a grimace for a moment before falling back into its usual passive mask, the Crusnik able to keep emotions hidden even in his unconscious state.
But she knew better.
This was her fault. That fact she had accepted, but upon his return to the conscious world, she wondered, would he be able to accept that it wasn't his?
"It's getting late, ma'am. Perhaps you should..." Sister Kate's voice trailed off as she realized that her voice was probably falling on deaf ears.
Why? Why must you be so stubborn? She thought bitterly, barely registering the Sister's voice in the background of her mind. Why must you take everything upon yourself? The Duchess of Milan could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, anger getting the best of her.
"Ma'am?" the hologram tried again, hoping she wasn't overstepping her boundaries.
"Yes?" Lady Caterina countered, immediately regretting the harsh tone of her voice. "Yes, I know," she responded more softly as she slowly backed away from the bed. "Have Gunslinger sit with him until he wakes," she ordered as she exited the room.
"Yes, ma'am," Sister Kate replied, taking one last glance at Father Nightroad before removing herself from the small room.
A/N- Hope I'm not too rusty. :) Please tell me what you think.