Trinity Blood: A Brighter Night
Part 3: A Home?
December 8, 2208:
"Help!" Azul's shout made Abel's heart skip a beat. He knelt down. The cold waters seeped through his pants as he felt Aran's forehead. The boy was burning up. "What's wrong with him? Why won't he wake up?"
"I'm going take you two to get help," Abel carefully gathered Aran in his arms, tucking the umbrella so it only just kept the rain off of them. "Stay close, Azul," Abel had to force himself to go at the boy's pace. He wasn't going to leave Azul behind but he didn't want to lose Aran at the same time. Damn it! Abel stopped.
"What's wrong?" Azul asked when Abel knelt down. The cold of the rain socked walkway was nothing to him.
"I want you to climb onto my back," Abel told Azul in a gentle voice. It was the same voice Thomas had used with Abel when Abel had been young. "It'll get us to our destination faster and help your brother," Abel explained. "I don't want to leave you here." Azul stared at Abel. His blue eyes were wide and mouth slightly open. The boy seemed to be in shock. Abel couldn't blame him, only moments ago a passerby had harmed Azul. At last Azul nodded and clambered up onto Abel's back. "Hold on," Abel warned. He waited for Azul to get a good grip before he broke into a run.
"Where are we—" Azul cut off as the Star Palace came into view. "The palace? Are you taking us to the emperor? Are we in trouble?" fear laced Azul's voice.
"No," Abel replied. His heart racing with fear, Aran was deadly still. There was only a little heartbeat which told Abel the boy – his son, still lived. Abel didn't pause as the doors came into view. Several yeniçeri stood guard at the entrance. They recognized Abel and were suddenly swarming around him.
"My lord, are you being chased?" one of them asked.
"No," Abel snapped. Abel raced into the palace and skidded to a halt. His eyes only just took in the tapestries and brightly light hall. "Summon a doctor and be quick about it. This boy needs help." The yeniçeri hesitated. "He's now a member of the imperial family," Abel's temper was wearing thin, "you will treat him as such!"
"Yes, emperor!" the yeniçeri raced off. Azul jumped down from Abel and backed away, horrified.
"Which emperor are you?" the boy asked. "The insane one?"
Abel withheld the urge to scowl. "I'm not insane. That would be my brother," Abel stated. He moved off, "Come on, you need to get dry and eat something."
"What about Aran?" Abel looked at the boy he still carried. "He'll be fine, right?" In all honesty Abel didn't know.
"I don't know," Abel stated honestly. Azul stopped, his blue eyes wide. "It'll be fine. He'll make it through this," Abel tried to take back what he'd just said.
"I don't get it," Azul mumbled. "He's my little brother. I'm supposed to protect him. Why's he the one sick and not me?"
Abel looked at the boy. His tattered clothes contrasted with the elegant hallway. The hall alone told this was the palace. There was more wealth here than even the imperial family reflected.
"I—" Abel began.
"My lord!" Abel turned at the shout. Several doctors were racing behind the yeniçeri. One of the doctors stopped before Abel while the other knelt before Azul. "Is this one of the princes?" the doctor before Abel asked.
"Princes?" Azul piped up from where the female doctor was looking him over.
"Yes," Abel replied. The doctor looked at Aran, checking his pulse.
"This one needs immediate attention," the doctor held out his arms.
Abel hesitated before reluctantly relinquishing his son. The doctor took him, wrapping a blanket around Aran. Abel held his breath. His heart raced. Two of yeniçeri stood by the doctor.
"I'm going to take him to the hospital, my lord. He'll get the best treatment we have," the doctor promised Abel.
Abel nodded. "I want the two of you to go with him. Aran isn't to leave your sights," Abel ordered the two yeniçeri.
"What?" Azul looked at the doctor. "I'm going to. You're not taking my brother without me!"
"It'll be all right," a young woman knelt beside Azul, touching his arm with soft fingers. "Abel," she looked up at with soft eyes, "go with them. I'll tell Seth where you went and why."
"Thank you, Sara," Abel smiled at her.
Sara had long, black hair which reminded Abel more of Sara's mother than anything else. She was pretty for her age, but young compared to Abel. He'd only ended up dating Sara because her mother had pushed him into it. He stayed with her because he did care for her, just not in the way she wanted him to.
"I want to go too," Azul protested.
"I promise I'll take you there the moment you've eaten and cleaned up," Sara spoke in a gentle, kind voice. It sent a jab of emotion through Abel's heart. He'd rarely heard her speak in such a voice.
Abel smiled at Azul. "Don't worry, the doctors will take good care of Aran," he reassured Azul before turning and following the doctor. Several of the yeniçeri fell in behind Abel. He looked back to see one doctor and Sara flanking Azul. The boy's face was white with fear. Abel wanted to stay with Azul but he also didn't want to leave Aran.
Abel entered an ambulance right behind the doctor. Two yeniçeri followed him while the others remained out side. They would follow the ambulance in haste.
Taking as seat, Abel hesitated, his fingers inches from Aran's hand before he took the small hand in his. The soft pulse of life was dim. It felt as if the pulse was fading. The doctor placed a mask over Aran. His breath misted. Would he make it?
"Don't worry, my lord," the doctor said as he poked Aran's arm with needle. "We've caught it early enough he'll make it."
Abel wasn't certain if the doctor was telling the truth or not. The ambulance lurched forward. A wave of motion sickness washed over Abel. He shoved it back. His thoughts on Aran and not the fact they were moving through the city. Touching Aran's small face, Abel looked past the grim to the boy beyond.
It felt like only moments before they'd arrived at the hospital. Abel followed them to a room and was asked to wait outside. The yeniçeri stayed with him.
"Abel?" Abel's head shot up at the sound of Sara's voice. She was walking towards him with a yeniçeri and Azul following. Hanging over her arm was an armored cape and coat. "You should get some rest," Sara passed him the coat and cape. The thick white materials greeted his bare hands. "The generals will want to speak with you tomorrow."
"Has the sun risen?" Abel asked worriedly. Sara had awakened some years back. If she'd risked coming during daylight hours he'd—
"No," Sara's voice was almost musical even with the worried edge to it. "It was predawn when Azul and I arrived. There's only a few minutes before it starts." She sat down beside him. Azul hopped up into the chair on Abel's other side.
"Good. I don't want you risking your life just to come here. I would—" Sara's finger on his lips stopped him. She tilted her head to where the doctor stood waiting. "How is he?" Abel asked, standing.
"He'll make a full recovery. You can go in and be with him, my lord," the doctor looked at Abel and then others. "All of you can." Abel sighed with relief. For once he wanted to thank whatever higher power there was for this.
xxx
Aran was first aware of a smooth, cool voice reading to him. Then soft sheets greeted his fingers, the smell of a thoroughly cleaned place, and the rustle of clothes. He was so warm. The voice was so soothing. He didn't want to wake.
"Umm?" that was Azul, wasn't it? "Emperor, sir," emperor? "Might I ask a question?"
The smooth voice halted. "You don't have to call me emperor, Azul," the voice was so kind it warmed Aran through to the core. "What's your question?"
"Why take us in or did you take us in? I mean after what our parents did, I don't see…" Azul trailed off.
There was as short pause. "You think you should be punished for something you didn't do?" the emperor asked. "What you parents did has nothing to do with you or your brother." The sheets moved back up Aran until they were nestled under his chin. "I took you two in because," the emperor sighed. "There are many reasons why."
"I'd like to know," Azul said. "I need to know why." The bed sank at the end. "Please tell me," Azul pleaded.
The emperor sighed. There was the sound of a book closing and the tap as it was placed on a table. "Last night, I ran into the two of you while out with my sister. I couldn't figure out why you were on the streets instead of the orphanage." Aran listened as the emperor told Azul he'd gone out in search of answers. The emperor had found them and headed for the adoption center. There he'd decided to take in both Azul and Aran.
"There's more too it than just that, isn't there?" Azul asked. "You're the true emperor. You don't need to adopt your heirs… right?" Aran was completely lost by this. It all seemed rather complex too him.
"You're almost right there," the emperor replied. There was another pause. "The reason I was out the day I saw you and your brother was because of news I'd received hours before."
"Someone murdering people?" Azul asked in wonder. "Were you protecting the empire from the Vatican or from dragons or—" he cut off suddenly.
"No, nothing as noble as that," the emperor's voice was sullen, but filled with laughter at the same moment. "I found out I can't have kids of my own."
Silence greeted these words. After what felt like hours Azul said, "I don't get it. If you'd had a kid you wouldn't have helped us?"
"I wouldn't have known you needed it," the emperor replied. "Look, all that matters is what is and not what could've been. You're my sons now and that's that." He paused, "I should say: you're my sons if you'll have me."
"We get a home, food, and no more fear of no parents?" Azul asked.
"Yes," the emperor didn't sound amused by this. He sounded as if this word alone would protect.
"A home?" Azul's voice was filled with wonder. "A home, I can't believe it! Aran and I will be safe!"
Aran drifted back into a deep sleep. His last thoughts were of warmth and confusion. He didn't get it and yet it warmed him to know his brother was happy. It warmed him to know they had a home.
(Author's note: A note on this story: it takes place after Abel was held captive for a year, so he knows he loves Lilith.
Question: should I do a series of short stories which follow Azul and Aran growing up? I know a lot of you really like them even though they are OCs so I was just wondering there… Or a book in which this a precursor to the book? I don't know… just a thought. If it was a book it would cover the Angel and Venice story as well as go back through the Past Hidden in Frozen Gaze but with what really happened and cover their deaths. Just a thought there.
This story is dedicated to Crusnik O2.
A request: if you read this story please, please leave a review or a comment even if you don't have an account for fanfiction. Comments and reviews help me get motivated to write when I am not in the mood do so.)