~O^O~

Seth felt hot tears run slowly down her cheek as she remembered of one her last moments with Lilith Sahl, the Black Saint. The Empress sat alone in a room inside the airship, trying to remember Lilith's scent of her perfume, how perfectly wonderful you felt when she hugged you and now...she was just a mere memory; torn away from everyone that loved her by a crazed maniac. Even though the years had passed and they had all returned to Earth, Seth figured she would always miss her. Just like Abel did...though she didn't crawl into a tomb for nine hundred years.

Seth sighed loudly and quickly gazed down at her emerald dress that lay beside her. She was heading to Rome today to visit her big brother and Abel had requested that she dress for the occasion. Not as the Empress of the Empire, but as his sweet little bratty sister, as he quoted. Perhaps maybe the two of them could at least stop and visit her at least. It had been ages since Seth had given her new flowers. She'd probably have to apologize for taking so long to visit.

Though it would have to be put aside for the time being. There were...more important things to attend to first. A deal had to be sealed. She smiled to herself and shook her head. A very light knock sent Seth to her feet.

"Enter." She spoke loudly. To her surprised, Mirka Fortuna walked in wearing a lovely lavender dress. The duchess smiled and bowed out of respect.

"Majesty, I have been instructed to inform you that we will be reaching Rome momentarily." Seth nodded and smiled.

"Thank you." Mirka looked over her empress quickly.

"What has you troubled my lady?" Seth quickly wiped her tears away and turned away from her trusted subject.

"It's nothing." She stated quickly. "Just old memories. Every time I come and see..." Seth paused. This wasn't the right moment to bring up more painful memories. She didn't want to cry today...more than she had too.

"Memories?".

"It's nothing. I'm fine. Give me some time alone to clear my head." Mirka nodded and left. Head of the Imperial Secret Council walked back down the corridor, back to where Asthe, her grandson and Baibars waited. She was worried about Seth. It was very rare to see the Empress cry. The last time she had seen a single tear fall down her cheek had been right before Father Nightroad and Sister Blanchett had left Byzantium.

The Empress looked herself over in the mirror. The emerald dress she wore looked practically amazing on her form. Though a girl who appeared to look fifteen, on the outside, really shouldn't try it on. It was a silk strapless dress that cut off at her knees. It should have been worn by someone with more of a figure, someone who had a big chest and slender hips, someone along the lines Asthe or Mirka. Though due to her extremely slow aging, Seth had awhile before she would look 'that' amazing in the dress. She slipped on a pair of matching green flats. Abel had requested that everyone dress nice.

A small smile slipped across her face as she thought of her brother. How much he had changed. Lilith would of have been so proud to see him following in her footsteps today. Though his anger sometimes resurfaced very rarely at times and for some pretty stupid reasons too, as Seth found out. Abel never had to be angry, side from his jealously issues. He now basked in sunlight, smiled every day, and was open. Everything about Abel was different and all of it was because of a certain redhead named Esther Blanchett.

Seth had very fond memories of Esther. From the first time she had met her in the streets of the Empire to now. Esther was a miracle to the Nightlord siblings. She blew into Abel's life like a whirlwind and knocked him off his feet. Though Esther seems to make her brother weak in the knees to begin with. She was loyal and strong, yet when Abel's temper tried to make itself known. Esther was there, pushing back leaving and Abel completely dumbfounded in her wake. She was exactly what the doctor ordered, in Seth's book. And it wasn't long before she and everyone else noticed the slight changes.

The first time Seth really noticed was when Abel and Esther were on a mission in Byzantium. Abel had a problem with Esther leaving his side. He had practically thrown a fit and went to 80% activation when the earl of Memphis requested Esther's presence for dinner. Seth realized that Abel was easily jealous of other men attracted to Esther, though mostly it was taken out on Ion. After that, she heard countless stories of Abel's idiocy, acting completely out of character from the brother she knew. It was months later when she finally figured out the meaning behind it all...Abel...her loving big clueless brother...was truly...in love.

The words love and Abel Nightlord, now Nightroad didn't really fit in any sentence, phrase, or paragraph that Seth knew of. But now the sentence that shocked her and many others was the sentence; Abel Nightroad is truly in love with Esther Blanchett. Lilith had been right about Abel in many ways. She knew he would see the error of his ways. She knew he would try and set things right in his life. Lilith also knew that Abel would finally fall in love with Esther. Things had finally come full circle. Seth hated it when Lilith was right. Even after all this time.

The loud sound of the engines slowing indicated that the airship would be landing soon. Seth looked herself over once more, making sure everything look right. She felt hundreds of butterflies bouncing around in her stomach. Not because she was nervous, but the opposite. She was ecstatic. Happy that this had finally come, though it took nearly a millennium.

Tell me what you think!

Until next time!

Lil~Rahl (A Division of Crusniks~R~Us)