A/N: Yay! This story is as popular as the prequel. Also, I just watched the first time Abel met Asta and I love when she starts yelling at him in Russian.
Disclaimer: I'm sure that by now you know I do not own Trinity Blood. God, I have told you forty-four times.
This chapter is dedicated to Vampyro Teuthis for her awesome reviews on both stories!
The streets were brightly colored and the shops well kept. Venders shouted their wares. There was not a cloud in the sky and the sun gently caressed the gleaming city. The parks were without litter. Methuselahs and Terrans rubbed shoulders. Children ran across the streets with mothers yelling after them. People laughed and chatted the day away.
Still, the beauty of this day was lost to the dark figure that walked the streets alone. The slight breeze blew the black trench coat with white lining against her frame, so it was obviously a woman. A few strands of dark hair escaped the high collar and old hat that adorned her head. Long strides allowed boots to poke out from underneath the coat and pants that went down to her ankles. The only splash of color on her was a small, blood red, crudely shaped heart necklace.
To the woman, the streets were like any other, with police on every corner that might get in the way of her mission. The sun rendered her dark cover useless. The miracles of smiling flowers and giggling children were ignored. Everyone was another person she had to protect from the evil that lurked below. Every smiling face that met her bright blue eyes was one with malice hidden behind theirs.
The figure took sharp turns and walked with a purposeful air. This was her last lead and hell would freeze over before she would relinquish it. She walked down another street and to a building that seemed to carry a disease, if the way the people avoided it was any indicator. A few people walked across the street just to evade walking by it. One woman let out a sob when she passed it, as if it pained her to do so. The woman in black narrowed her eyes. Yes, there had definitely been some deaths recently.
As she walked up the steps, women enjoying tea on a nearby porch whispered to each other urgently. Stepping behind the brick column in between the end of the steps and the faded green paint of the door, the woman listened in on the conversation.
"Did you see that?"
"Yes, another one."
"Her clothes were black; she's in mourning."
"Oh, she looked so young too."
"It always happens to the young ones. It's such a shame."
The woman shrugged off their statements about her and sifted through the rest. It sounded as if there were quite a lot of deaths. She opened the door to the morgue. A woman looked up from her desk and frowned.
"Another one?"
"No, I'm just here to ask some questions."
"Ahh, the master said he's not takin anymore questions from ye police-types."
Each woman regarded each other for a minute. Finally, the one in black said coolly, "fine." And left the secretary searching for a sweater.
The dark woman left the morgue and ignored the hushed whispers and pitying stares she got from the biddies on the porch. She walked up to them and did her best to smile sweetly, which was hard, considering the past month.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where the police station is?"
"Don't try it, sweetie." A woman raised her hand and waved it. Her voice was deep and watery. "Those men have been working for months on this, and they haven't made one arrest."
The woman was getting impatient. Each moment lost was another life gone. "I suppose not, but, still, I must talk to them."
"Ach, let 'er go, Cissy. Who knows, maybe 'ers will turn up." Another woman spoke up. "Follow this stret 'till ya see a big sign that says police. They like ter keep themselves close to the morgue."
"Thank-you." The woman moved quickly down the street, sometimes just a blur to Terrans.
She was in front of the police station in minutes. She looked up. Yes, there it was, you couldn't get much clearer than that.
New Human Empire Head Police Station
She walked in and requested (more like demanded) to see the chief. She was lead to a small room in the back and sat in a rickety wooden chair across from an extremely skinny man with bright red hair and a turned-up nose.
"I need some information." The woman said simply.
"And what would you need?" The man asked warily.
"I need the complete records of deaths and disappearance for the past two months." She said bluntly.
The man seemed surprised. "Usually when we have a woman in here, she breaks down and demands we find her husband."
The second in between his statement and her answer was colder than one would have expected. "I have lost no one, and I intend to keep it that way."
"Oh." The man wavered with the iciness and strength in her voice. "Well, you, someone had taken over that department…"
"Let me make this perfectly clear." She interrupted. "I have information and abilities to help with the sudden disappearances and homicides the three countries. Now you tell me what I want when I want or there will be more blood on your hands than what can fit in a water tower."
"Er… The Earl of Memphis has taken over the investigation!" squeaked out the small man.
"Where can I find him?"
"Right here."
The woman turned to a man walking into the room. His blonde hair was a little overgrown and nearly hid his red eyes. He had a barely-visible scar just next to his right eye in the shape of a crescent, as well as one across his throat, suggesting he almost had his throat slit a long time ago. He was quite handsome.
"My name is Ion Fortuna. And yours…" He held out a hand, which also had a small scar running across the back.
The woman took it. "Stella Iceheart."
A/n: Wow, I'm good. Sorry for marking up Ion's face, but what do you expect after a few decades of hunting Cain? Just imagine him a little more mature-looking.
