(Author's note: Caterina isn't going to be the strong we all know from the manga, novels, and anime. Since this story has two main protagonists I have to have them both grow and change. This is basically the story on how Caterina becomes the Lady of Steel and how Abel becomes the annoying goof we all know and love… (Okay I really like his serious personality more than the goof, but it will be fun to write.) Also, if you hadn't noticed, I am making references back to the epilogue of book 1. Throughout the story there will be parts which are drawn from or after the events of the major story in book 1 as well as the prologue and epilogue.)
Trinity Blood: Book 2: The Winter Rose
Chapter 1: One Summer Night
The warm night whispered around Abel. He paused and looked up at the clear sky. It was such a peaceful night; yet, he couldn't shake the feeling this was just the calm before the storm. Taking a deep breath, his gaze moved to the vampires' moon. The small moon hung beside its larger counterpart, wicked and twisted just like those who had created it in the first place. Abel's heart ached as he looked at the moons.
There was a noise to Abel's right, the soft snapping of a branch. Whipping around, Abel only just caught of the large branch before it could strike him on the head. "Aren't you a quick one?" he blinked as several Methuselah materialized from the darkness. God, he really hated it when he was right. "You must be an enhanced soldier in the employ of the Sforza family. I hear you have been giving some of my men a good scare. Those who have returned swore you were some sort of demon."
"At least they didn't say angel," stated Abel, "then again someone was bound to get it right after a few hundred years or so." He looked at the female who had been speaking. "Are you the leader of the Rosenkreuz Orden?" he asked, eyes narrowing before flickering from one form to the next. There were four in all. They circled him, licking their lips. A smile twitched at the corners of Abel's lips. It was really a shame any Methuselah who tried to drink his blood would end up behind devoured by the crusnik in Abel's system.
At this she laughed coldly. "Dear me, no," she shook her head, "but I'm not giving you the name of my boss." She sneered at him, "Rip this terran fool apart, suck him dry, boys!" All but the female charged at Abel. Quickly he leapt into the air, back flipping and landing just as the three smacked into one another. They fell back, snarling and rubbing their heads.
"You'd think after seven hundred years that trick wouldn't work anymore," Abel mused, shaking his head. "It's a shame you Methuselah seem too rooted in tradition even when it comes to battle. You really should try branching out more," he suggested, his voice dull and almost depressing even to him. As one they leapt back to their feet and snarled at Abel. "Come now, a human is scarier than you lot," Abel goaded them. It was true, humans could be damn scary if they wanted to be, well not so scary he would be running for cover.
"You dare mock us, we Methuselah, the strongest beings on this planet," at the man's words Abel withheld the temptation to laugh. In the end, the strongest creature in the world was a crusnik, but it seemed crusniks had been forgotten over the years.
"Yes, I dare," stated Abel, pulling out his gun and pulling the trigger so fast none of the Methuselah had time to react. A silver tipped bullet slammed into the one who had just spoken, striking him in the heart. Not even a cry escaped him as he struck the ground. Silver tainted blood began to pool around him. Even with the taint the scent of the blood was almost intoxicating.
Shaking his head, Abel only just returned to his senses in time to duck. A bone blade whistled over his head. Stands of silver hair fell to the grass, showing just how close that had been. Quickly Abel pressed the gun into the Methuselah's chest and fired. Blood sprayed, hitting Abel's coat and face. His thirst was growing. He could taste his blood as fangs began to push aside his teeth. No, he had to focus on the battle. He would not change!
As Abel straightened, he noted the glint of uncertainty in the last male's eyes. Pointing his gun at him, Abel pulled the trigger. The male's head was blown off. Blood and brain sprayed across the ground. "What the hell is this?" the female stumbled back, looking at Abel with wide eyes. "Why are your eyes turning red? What are you? Who are you?"
Abel slowly walked towards her, placing the muzzle of his gun on her forehead. "I am Abel Nightroad, the pope's agent," he said. He was about to pull the trigger when a shriek of fear filled the night. Abel's eyes widened, it had come from the manor. "It seems you've lucked out, I'm not going to kill you this night." Lowering his gun, he stepped back a few paces before racing off faster than any Methuselah could run. He had to get to the manor before it was too late, he just had to! Humans wouldn't be killed not when he had the power to stop their deaths.
A little earlier:
"Caterina, they'll be here soon, aren't you ready yet?" Caterina heard her mother's shout through the door and sighed.
"I'll be out in a moment," Caterina called back. She waited until she heard her mother moving away before she looked at the mirror. There were pictures, newspaper clippings and bits of old history texts, attached to the frame of the mirror and in neat piles on her desk. Her eyes weren't on these at the moment though, but on the girl staring back at her. She wore her long, extremely curly blond hair up in two high pony tails. Her blue-gray eyes stared out of the mirror back at her. At the moment Caterina wore a light pink-tan dress with lace and design accustom for one of her rank and standing. She was the daughter to the Duchess of Milan. It was only fitting she looked the part, right?
At last Caterina looked at an article from today's newspaper. The two pictures were place side by side next to the title "Mysterious Man Stops Vampire Attack: Authorities at a Lose!" One picture showed the hotel in question with the three vampires bound in chain and the hotel owner speaking with a reporter. The picture beside it was only a drawing of a man. He had extremely narrow features and long hair. It looked like the man she had seen from time to around the estate. This was the reason she had taken the article from today's paper even before her parents had time to read it.
"Caterina!" her mother shouted, knocking on the door. "You need to get out here to greet our guests."
"I'm coming," Caterina stood, but hesitated, looking back at the desk. Quickly she snagged up several clippings and tucked them safely under her sash. These were the only ones which mattered. All the other clippings were on political intrigue throughout of the world. She even had one from eight years ago on a move Augusta Vredica had made which had put the Vatican on edge. The ones she had taken where events in Milan which were unexplained or had been covered up by the Vatican since that day six years ago she had seen the strange man on the hillside.
Turning, Caterina straightened, soothed her dress, and walked out of her room to be swept downstairs by her mother. The next few hours passed in a blur of faces and names, greetings, and good cheer, but Caterina didn't wish to really be here. Finally she was able to slip out into the hall and sit down for a bit. Her feet ached from the hours she had been standing and she just wanted a little time to quiet her mind before she would have to go back into that chaos.
Shouting echoed out into the hall, was this really that much fun? Clearer shouts came through to Caterina and sent a chill straight through to her bone, "Run!" "We have to get out of here," and, "Vampires!" Caterina leapt to her feet and raced over to the doors. She froze at the blood stained sight before her.
A hand on her leg made Caterina jump and look down. "R-run, my lady," the butler gasped, blood spilling from his mouth. "Ru-run and don-don't look back." Caterina didn't hesitate another second she bolted as instinct took hold. Pushing open the front doors, she raced out into the night, not knowing where she was going.
Stumbling over the ground, Caterina raced until she was gasping and the terror began to vanish, being replaced by raw grief. She collapsed before a dead tree, shoulders shaking as hot tears slid down her face. They were dead. They were all dead. Her parents were-were dead!
The sound of the grass crunching froze Caterina in place. She felt more than saw someone stop behind her and squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for pain to come. Nothing happened. Slowly she opened her eyes and turned. An extremely tall man stood over her, looking down his long, narrow nose at her. His eyes were the color of a frozen lake and held more wisdom and knowledge than she had ever seen in her life. His silvery hair was messy and fell to his waist. Blood stained his white coat.
"W-who are you?" Caterina breathed, between terror and wonder. Whoever this man was, his eyes made her think of someone who had weathered many, many years.
He held out his hand to her, smiling softly. "Someone who has come to save the lives of humans," his voice was soft, kind, and gentle, the voice which spoke of truth. Slowly Caterina reached up, hesitating only a second before taking his hand. It felt as ice against hers. He was cold despite the warmth of the night. Was it him? Was he the man she had seen six years ago? "I will protect you." He helped her to her feet; her eyes were locked on his. There was something odd about this man. He moved an almost calculated grace as if every movement could be his last. Suddenly he looked away from her, back stiff and eyes alert. "Get behind me," before she knew what was happening, he moved her behind him and shielded her from the figures which now surrounded the tree.
"This is him," one of the figures said, "he's the one who killed my team before we could reach the house and drink our fill." The figure spoke in a chilling voice. "We should make him pay."
"Wait," stated another, holding up his hand to stop the woman. "If what you say is true, this man isn't to be taken lightly." He stepped forward and looked at the man before Caterina evenly. "Give us the girl and you're free to go," Caterina looked up at the man, heart hammering. Was he going to give her to them?
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," he stated in a voice which was almost icy. It was the exact opposite of the voice he had used when speaking with her. "Now, back down unless you wish to die," Caterina stared at the man. Was he completely insane? These were vampires, the most powerful beings on this planet. They could rip him in two as easily as a person could tear a piece of paper and he wanted to fight them?
The vampires were no doubt thinking the same thing. They laughed at him, the second one scoffed, "You, a mere terran, kill us, ha?" at his words, Caterina saw the man's jaw tighten.
"I warned you," he almost snarled. Looking Caterina, his voice was soft once more, "When I move, run as fast as you can to the city. Don't stop and don't look back whatever you do." She slowly nodded, doubting she would get far.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine," he gave her a soft smile before turning back to the vampires. "Nano-machine," his voice had changed, "Crusnik 02 release of restriction to forty percent, activate." Suddenly his long hair swarmed up around his head almost like a crown. His nails grew, becoming thick, hard, black talons and his skin turned an almost sickly gray. "I am no human," his voice was distorted as he stepped towards the vampires. A sickening sound filled the night. As Caterina watched, a thick, black liquid fell from his wrists into his hands, growing larger and large until his was holding a red scythe.
Caterina couldn't move her legs were frozen as she watched the strange man. "What the hell are you?" shouted one of the vampires. Another charged at the man. He lifted one hand and caught the vampire. A scream sounded in the night as his talons dug into the vampire's skull. Then, slowly, the man pulled the vampire towards him and bit into the vampire's neck. His eyes were no longer a clear, icy blue. Instead they were the color of blood and glowed hauntingly in the dark night. "Kill him. Kill that demon!"
Several of the vampires changed towards him. "Look out!" Caterina shouted. The man released the vampire and whipped around, swinging the scythe. In one, fluid motion the vampires were sliced in half. He moved the large blades with ease, acting as if they weighed as light as a feather.
"W-what the hell is this madness?" the few remaining vampires stumbled back, moving away from the man as the wounded ones tried to claw at the ground in order to escape. "What are you?"
"Tell me," the man slowly began, "has it never occurred to you, in all your years, there was something out there which preyed upon your kind like you do the humans?" he asked as he calmly started towards them. "I am a crusnik. A vampire's vampire, if you will," he stated. At once they raced off into the night and the man didn't follow them. He just stood there watching them go. The scythe vanished, seeming to dissolve into the dark night, and his hair fell back down his back. "You should have run," he stated, not looking at Caterina.
For several long moments Caterina just looked at him. Slowly she stepped towards him. "Why?" she asked, unable to think of a better way to say this really. Taking a deep breath, she repeated the question, "Why should I have run from the person trying to help me?"
Slowly the man looked at her. "Why indeed?" he shook his head before walking up the hill to her. "I will escort you to the city and the Vatican church there," he seemed unfazed by the fact he had just made a bunch of vampires look like a gang of young teens trying to team up against a vampire. "I am a crusnik. A vampire's vampire" it was strange, but Caterina had to believe in what she'd just seen even if it seemed impossible.
Caterina walk beside him, heading for the city and what little safety it would offer her. "Umm?" she started after several long moments of silence. "What is your name?" she looked up at him. "I'm—"
"Caterina Sforza, the daughter of the Duchess of Milan," he stated, looking at her out of the corner of his eyes. "I am well aware of your name and status, child," he scanned the night. "As for my name, it is best you don't know it. All you need to know is that I am here to protect humans." He was speaking as if he wasn't human even though he looked human enough to her. Then again, after what she had seen, she could understand why he might not consider himself to be a human. "I am a crusnik" so, there was a third race on Earth, one which wasn't as wide spread as the other two.
"Okay, if you don't want to tell me that's fine," Caterina returned to gaze to the ground. As silence fell over them, her mind went back to the realization her family might be dead. "Wait," she stopped and so did he, looking at her curiously. "What about my parents? We can't just leave them and all our guests."
"All you need to worry about is getting to safety," the man said, staying where he was and looking at her evenly. "Once we make it to—"
"Stop it! You're just trying to make me feel better about leaving them," Caterina shouted at him. "We have to go back and get them!" panic was filling her. If this man had been able to help her surely he would be able to save her parents and all the guests who were at the party. Why couldn't he understand, why couldn't he help her get to them? They still might be alive.
"Come, Lady Caterina, we can't stay here," he moved back towards her. "You're safety is my top priority." He hesitated and then sighed, "I am deeply sorry, by the time I realized the Methuselah were attacking it was too late to save your family," there was a deep regret in his eyes.
"Liar!" shouted Caterina, hot tears in her eyes. Whipping around, she started to run back towards her home. She couldn't believe this. Why wasn't he going to help them? She only managed to get a few paces when the man suddenly appeared before her. Making to go around him, Caterina suddenly found he was gripping her shoulder with inhuman strength. "Let me go!" she sobbed, twisting and turning, trying to hit this man.
"They are already gone, Lady Sforza," the calm patients in his voice made her freeze. "They are already gone," the man's voice was softer, filled with pain and a deep regret. "Come on," Caterina let him steer her away. Numb shock was pulsing through her. Caterina didn't notice they had arrived at a church in Milan until she was steered into a room and a father was kneeling before her.
"My lady," he took off the black over coat he wore and wrapped it around her shoulders, "we will do everything we can to ensure your safety." This man had a softer, kinder voice than the silver haired man. He looked at her with warm, brown eyes. Brown hair fell around his face in curly waves. Caterina knew this man, he was Father Vaclav Havel. He had come here six years ago from Rome to replace the previous father of this church.
Vaclav stood and walked out of the room to the place Caterina had left the strange man. Thanks to the fact the door was open, Caterina was able to hear every word they uttered clearly. "So you're Abel Nightroad," stated Vaclav in barely more than a whisper. "I'm glad we finally get to meet you."
"If Lady Caterina is safe here I will return to the estate," Caterina heard Abel starting off down the hall.
"Wait," Vaclav called after him, followed by the father moving away as well. Soon the sound of both of their footsteps stopped. "I'm not sure I will be enough to protect her. The others here have had no combat experience. We need to get a message to Rome and see if we can get her to safety there."
There was a pause before Abel replied, "I have away to contact Pope Gregorio directly. Do you think you can hold down the fort here for, say," another pause, "thirty minutes? It should be plenty of time for me to get to the estate, find what is needed, and get back."
"The estate is over an hours walk from here," Vaclav began.
"For humans perhaps it is," stated Abel. The sound of him moving once more came, "I will be back shortly."
"Wait a mo-mment," Vaclav's voice had become extremely shocked. "What in God's name…?" Several long seconds paused before Caterina heard Vaclav starting back towards her, muttering, "Dear God, that man is strange." The next moment Vaclav entered the room and walked over to Caterina. "Would you like anything?" Caterina shook her head, choking back tears. "It's all right to cry," he said in a kind voice. She shook her head once more. Already she was ashamed with the way she had acted in front of-of Abel.
"Will he be back?" Caterina asked more to herself than to Vaclav.
"Who? Abel?" Vaclav hesitated. "Honestly, I don't know," he confessed. Nodding, Caterina returned her gaze to the floor. Honestly she didn't know what she had been expecting. Why would Abel want to return? As far as he was concerned, she was safe. He'd probably gone off to save someone else by now. "I wouldn't worry about it if I were you," Vaclav continued, "he's been working for the Vatican since he was about your age."
Caterina looked up sharply. "He has?" she looked down, whispering, "He has." Earlier she hadn't realized how young he was, but now she thought on it she realized he couldn't be more than five years older than she was. Then who was it she had seen six years ago? They looked like the same person. Was it possible he just didn't age? No way, she shook away that thought. It couldn't be. That would be impossible.
