A/N: Two chapters in one day. I haven't done that since high school.

When they returned to the Vatican, a nun was waiting just outside Alessa's office. She looked nervous.

"Ms. di Ambrosio, Father Nightroad. Cardinal Sforza has requested to see you in her offices. Immediately." Alessa and Abel exchanged a glance, concern playing on their faces. A summons from Lady Caterina was hardly anything of note; it was the tremor in the little nun's voice that caught them off guard.

The nun allowed Abel time to put his cake in his office. Alessa shrugged out of her heavy coat and tossed it and her hat unceremoniously on the floor of her own office. The nun quietly escorted them to the cardinal's offices a few floors above. She held the door open for Abel and Alessa before scurrying in ahead of them.

"Ms. di Ambrosio and Father Nightroad to see you, Your Eminence."

"Thank you, Sister Maria. Please leave us." The nun bowed slightly to the beautiful blonde cardinal seated at the large oak desk that took up a large portion of the back wall. She turned and hurried out. Cardinal Caterina Sforza turned her attention to her top agent and the young vampire girl. "Abel, Alessandra. I'm sure you're aware of why I called you here," she began, beckoning them closer. On her desk were several open files. Photographs were attached to papers within.

"Actually, no, Lady Caterina. I'm sure it's another assignment, but has something happened?" Abel asked, picking up one of the files and shuffling through the papers. The head of the AX did not answer him right away. She was watching Alessa. Alessa picked up the other file and looked at the top photograph. Her mind went blank, and fear was writ large on her face. No. No, it can't be…she could hardly believe what she was seeing. Here, in her hands…she flipped to the next group of papers in the file and looked at the picture. She flipped through the others, recognizing face after face after face. They were…

"These are the vampires that kidnapped me," she said, with very little hesitation. Abel's eyes widened in horror. He hadn't recognized a single face. Alessa shouldn't be present for this…what was Lady Caterina thinking?

"I wasn't sure how you would handle the information, Alessa, but I knew withholding it from you would be the wrong course of action. I've withheld enough from you already. We've held on to these files from the first mission Father Nightroad and Father Iquis completed regarding your rescue. At the time we weren't aware that our investigation and the investigation into your siblings' murders and your kidnapping were connected. It seems new information has surfaced about your kidnappers."

Alessa's hands shook. She dropped the file back on the cardinal's desk and sank into a chair Abel had thoughtfully grabbed when he saw his friend's face go blank. We were just talking about this over lunch…speak of the devil… Had she had any color, it would have drained from her face. Alessa felt like vomiting.

"I can understand if you don't want to hear any more, Alessa." Cardinal Caterina rang a small bell on her desk. A few moments later, a nun entered carrying a tray containing a teapot, three cups, and the accompaniments for the cardinal's afternoon tea. Abel couldn't even find excitement for the scones and jam. Instead, he prepared a cup of tea for Alessa and handed it to her. The cup and saucer visibly shook in her hands, tea threatening to fall on her skirt and on the plush burgundy rug beneath her feet. She had remained silent for several moments before hastily downing the offered tea, setting the cup on Caterina's desk. Abel poured her another before pouring one for himself and their boss.

"I want to hear. Please, Your Eminence, continue." The fear in Alessa's voice betrayed the turmoil beneath her placid demeanor. Abel's head turned sharply towards Alessa.

"Alessa-"

"Please, Abel." Alessa cut him off. "Lady Caterina?" She returned her attention to

"We were able to track the movements of the leader of the group responsible for your kidnapping, starting some time last year." Alessa gasped, clearly outraged at not having been told. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, Alessa. We had to be certain it was a credible lead. But our sources indicate that this is the same person responsible for your siblings' murders." Caterina handed a file to Abel. The picture on top was of a relatively young male vampire with sharp features and dark hair. "His name is Fredrich von Karsten, Duke of Nuremburg. We've been tracking his movements for some months now, but it's been difficult. Ever since the compound in Venice was raided, he's kept a relatively low profile, for both a vampire and a duke. However, our sources have witnessed him meeting with members of Rosenkreutz. No one high ranking, it appears they're smarter than that. Karsten wants the deniability." Caterina picked up the cup of tea Abel had poured for her and sipped it thoughtfully. "The decision to tell you was not taken lightly, I assure you." Caterina paused, looking at both of her agents over the rim of her cup. "We're launching a new investigation to bring Karsten and his associates to justice." Alessa's head snapped up, and Abel openly gaped. "Against my better judgment, and against the advice of every single person I've consulted, I'm offering you this assignment. I will understand if you want nothing to do with it, Alessa."

The urge to vomit tripled, and even Abel looked shaken. Memories she didn't know she'd had tumbled through her mind like water over a stone. Her attempt to stay resolute was failing. She doubled over, shaking violently.

"Alessa!" Abel rushed to her side, holding her, barely able to contain his anger at his superior. Caterina should never have even given Alessa the option. It was surely ludicrous, or at the very least, suicidal, to send Alessa after her own kidnappers.

"Is she alright, Abel?" Caterina had risen from her chair when Alessa doubled over, concern obvious in her eyes, and perhaps…regret? Whatever it was, Abel failed to notice. He was almost shaking with rage. He lashed out at his superior, the words coming unbidden from a place deep in his soul. A place that held tight to the promise he'd made over a decade ago.

"I'd hardly say she's alright! Look at her! This isn't fair, blindsiding her like this! Of course she wants to be involved in apprehending those responsible for murdering her brother and sisters! She was just a child, and her entire family was taken from her! What sane person wouldn't want to be involved? Do you even know what she was subjected to? This is insane!" Abel didn't notice that he had raised his voice to a near shout, gaining fervor as he continued. Alessa and Caterina stared at him, mouths gaping, eyes wide. Alessa's face burned red, knowing her friend was very likely putting his career in jeopardy at her expense. She had seen the kind of exchanges that passed for acceptable between the Cardinal and the priest; this hardly counted as one of them.

"Abel, be reasonable…" Caterina tried to placate the enraged priest. He wouldn't let her finish.

"Be reasonable?! I am being reasonable! This is absolutely out of the question! Total madness!" He would have continued, had Alessa not found her own voice.

"Abel!" She shouted, standing. She grabbed the front of his vestments and shook him, pulling him back from his rampage. Almost by instinct, Abel's hands came to grip Alessa's forearms almost painfully tight. "I'm fine." Alessa's voice was strained. "I want the assignment, Lady Caterina." Abel's eyes widened in shock, and he gaped at his friend.

"Alessa, are you certain about this?" His voice had softened considerably, but it still carried the tone that told her he thought this was utter madness. To his utter shock, Alessa nodded.

"He's responsible for everything that happened to me. My brother, my sisters…he may not have swung the sword, if you forgive the archaic metaphor, but he gave the order. You said it yourself, what sane person wouldn't want to be involved? I deserve answers for his crimes, against them and against me. My family deserves justice for what he's done." Alessa looked up at the priest that was still holding her. "Please. Both of you. Let me be the one to bring Karsten to justice." There was such conviction in her emerald eyes. This is madness. I can't let her do this alone. Abel sighed deeply, releasing Alessa's arms. His fingers had left wrinkles in her long-sleeved blouse, and had undoubtedly bruised the flesh beneath.

"I'm going with her, Lady Caterina," Abel said, not taking his gaze from Alessa's. The cardinal had returned to her seat. She quietly considered the two agents before her. Abel cared deeply for Alessa, that much was true, and she hadn't intended to send the girl off on her own. She closed her eyes. She really didn't have a choice. If she didn't permit Abel to accompany Alessa, he'd find a way to follow her, anyway, on his own dinar, no less. She opened her eyes, threading her fingers together.

"Very well. Our sources last reported seeing Karsten in Luxembourg. You'll be following that lead."

"When do we leave?" Alessa turned her focus to Caterina, who chuckled slightly.

"We have planned your departure for tomorrow morning. I'm sure you both can appreciate the reason for our haste."

"Yes, Lady Caterina," answered Alessa. The cardinal smiled a small smile.

"Of course, the Vatican will pay for your transportation and your accommodations, and you'll receive a per diem." Caterina looked up at Abel. "If you can keep from using it all on sweets, it should last you your entire trip." Abel nodded lightly. Now was not the time for jests at his expense, in his opinion, but he caught Alessa's giggle and eased.

"I'll have someone deliver the train tickets and the per diem to your office, Alessa."

"Thank you, Lady Caterina." Alessa rose. "Is that all?" When the cardinal nodded, Alessa turned and headed out of the office. She felt numb and lightheaded, and didn't register when Abel called her name and hurried out after her.

"Alessa! Alessa? Alessa!" Abel called after her, but she didn't respond. It seemed as if she was in a trance. "Alessandra!" Abel ran after her, grabbing her arm. He forcefully pulled her around to face him, perhaps too forcefully, as Alessa stumbled forward into him. She clutched his robes, at first to balance herself, and then the find some form of shelter, of security. She buried her face in his chest and let out a strangled sob she didn't know she'd been holding in. The tears came, unbidden, and she found herself unable to stop crying as she sank to the floor. Abel held on to her, sinking with her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her while she cried.

"Alessa…are you certain you want to go through with this?" She looked up at him, blinking through her tears. She looked so much like that child he'd found almost eleven years ago…Abel's blood boiled. "Caterina should never have offered you this assignment; it's insanity in its purest form. I can tell her you're ill."

"No, Abel. I have to go." Alessa rubbed her eyes with her fists. They must have looked a sight, a priest and a vampire girl, huddled on the floor in one of the Vatican's highest-security halls. She grasped the wall and slowly pulled herself to her feet. "I need to see this through. But you know how emotions can make fools of us all." She smirked, referring to his earlier outburst, and held her hand out for Abel. He looked at it, then at her. He knew deep in his heart that he understood her motives. He took Alessa's hand, both in acceptance of her help, and in acceptance of her reasons. Alessa pulled him to his feet. Sometimes, her vampiric strength still surprised him. "I can handle this." Alessa turned from him and began walking down the hall, back toward their offices. She paused and glanced over her shoulder at him. She winked at him with a smirk. Abel was dumbfounded.

"Well…well, I'm still coming with you!" He ran down the hall after her.

"Oh, Abel…I wouldn't have it any other way!" Alessa laughed and broke in to a run, silently challenging Abel to a race. He laughed and ran after her. Grinning impishly, Alessa dropped into her vampiric haste mode, where the overstimulation of her nervous system caused her to move at a speed incomprehensible to normal humans. Though he was far from normal, Abel couldn't keep up with her, no matter how hard he tried, and he stopped running long enough to catch his breath. "No fair! That's cheating, Alessa!" Alessa paused long enough to stick her tongue out at him before charging off again, disappearing in a blink around a corner. Abel laughed through his pants. She was still such a child…