A/N: Shit is about to get real guys o.o

Treachery of the White Angel

Chapter 6: Heart of a Methuselah

Esther's eyes were wide with angst and heartbreak, this was the only time she ever felt truly angry—since the attack—with Cain for his doings, the one thing she still held secret in her heart that she hoped he wouldn't find, he found. Nothing would make her hate him more for the act he's committed. The smile on his face proved that he really couldn't care one way or another.

Esther picked her words carefully, she wished to show her anger but not in a way that would seem disrespectful to Cain.

"You've done the absolute unthinkable" she muttered spitefully.

His frown creased deeply into his face. Her reaction wasn't as anguished as he thought it would be.

"You don't like my gift?" He asked blankly.

She whirled on him in fury, pain filling her soul in over-flowing notions. How dare he do this?! The one person she loved the most, he defiled and smothered her resting place with an aura of evilness.

Cain approached the upright tube with the still body inside, rubbing his fingers across the glass and moving away the frost that collected there. He smiled in the still female's general direction.

"The precious jewel in your heart...I could give her back to you. She would protect you as she did when she was alive and retain all her memories, but would answer nonetheless to me" he stated flatly.

Esther rushed to his side, pleading in her eyes and face. "Please don't do this...her death meant something then...but it would mean nothing now. Leave her to sleep, she doesn't deserve this" Esther whispered.

Anger flared through Cain's body and out through his hand as it connected to Esther's face, flinging her frail body through the air and sliding across the floor in a heap. The damage Esther's body took from his attack was phenomenal, if he had put even the slightest bit more of force into it...she would've died.

Gathering her strength, she tried to push herself up using all fours but failed miserably and plummeted back down to the ground. Cain grumbled to himself at the sight of her, remembering that she was just a human and was surprised that he didn't kill her then.

'She doesn't appreciate anything I do for her' Cain thought in anger.

He turned his attention back to the glass tube and stared at it with icy cold eyes. This woman is the key to Esther's heart, with her around...he could make Esther do anything without hesitation. Cain's smirk grew...soon.

Darkness reigned over the sky of Buckingham Palace. The clouds blocked out the moon and stars, drowning the palace into total darkness. Of course, if you were standing outside you could see the dim lights inside as a source of life for the ones inside but that was just for show. A wool over the eyes of watchful humans.

Esther silently bathed in her bathtub, her aching wounds and cuts from Cain's abuse stinging from the water. She should be use to it by now, but every time her master hit her out of anger instead of pleasure, it hurt her emotionally.

She pushed her thoughts away with disdain. There was no use crying about it now, she'd done this to herself. Esther mentally punished herself for not being more forthcoming towards Cain's gift, it was highly against her morals yeah, but her human heart wanted nothing more than to see and feel Shahrzad again...no words could explain how much she missed her. Cain is giving her back to me...back to life! Why can't I appreciate that?

A knock on the bathroom door made her jump and turn around in the bathtub, making the water swish around quietly.

"Who is it?" She called politely.

A chuckle. "I apologize for interrupting Lady Esther, but there is someone here to see you" Von Kampfer announced.

Esther squinted at the door in suspicion, it didn't sound like anyone else was there...who would want to see her anyway?! Esther cautiously got out the bathtub, draining the water in the process.

"I'll be out in a second" Esther stated.

Twenty short minutes passed before Esther finally emerged from the bathroom, clad in her navy blue silk robe for bed. She wore an irritated expression on her face, she'd had enough of everyone's shannighans for one night. Her eyes met with steel blue ones, obviously not of Von Kampfer's. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart stopped beating for a full almost ten seconds.

Her eyes darted at Issak's accusingly before returning her attention back to her familiar visitor. Seeing her reaction, Issak was greatly amused, he needed just this type of entertainment before setting out to do what his lord asked of him. Therefore, he left promptly.

"Lord Walsh" she whispered in fear.

Cold blue hues narrowed at her angrily, all the anger in the world seemed to swirl in his eyes as he looked down at her. "What has Von Kampfer planned this time?" She wondered wildly.

Lord Walsh took no time in approaching her swiftly and putting half of his power into his hand and brutally shoving it into Esther's side. He grabbed her by both of her arms to keep her from being pushed away by the force.

"Your lucky I still care about you enough not to strike you across the face. I couldn't bare the sight of you scarred or marred no matter how mad I am at you" he whispered harshly.

Ribs splintered and snapped like small twigs with delays like small detonators after Virgil hit her, blood from Esther's mouth splattered on the side of Virgil's thin downturned lips

Surprise filled his eyes at the submissive look in Esther's eyes, she didn't raise one hand against him for laying a hand on her. She excepted it as if it was second nature to her, as easy as blinking, as easy as walking and talking..there was no sort of the fiery Esther he saw taken away that night, nothing but a shell.

"You miss her that much enough to—

"You have no idea..." He hissed menacingly.

Her mouth turned into a rueful frown. He was right, after all Cain has done to Albion last year, she was the main reason why it fell in the first place. She had sympathy for the devil and he overthrew her along with everyone else. 'No one else knows why I did it...but I couldn't turn my back on him. He saved me...' Esther thought meekly.

"Why?...Just answer that!" He growled. "If you didn't hesitate...if you didn't give that attack a second thought, Vanessa would still be here"

Esther shut her eyes against the memory. Dark blood splattering over her bare feet and the tips of her informal dress, her bare and blank stare in shock and the cruel laughter in Cain's voice.

Before she knew it, her mind was being hurled back to the previous year before she could stop it. 'Oh dear god not now' Esther thought in panic.

The whole Buckingham palace was thrown into turmoil. Everyone that Esther grew to love was preparing to battle it out against the Contra Mundi, she didn't want this...she didn't want any of this. Cain had the capability of destroying countries, leveling cities, and she didn't think she had the mental stability to handle those chances.

The breast plate occupying her torso felt warm from wearing it for a short period of time, and the sword at her hip felt heavy and foreboding to the upcoming bloodshed that was about to happen. Esther couldn't take any of this anymore, then again, it didn't matter what she couldn't take...she would endure the world if that meant the safety of her people and close-nit friends.

She caught Abel walking towards Astha, sharing light and seemingly pleasant conversation. Watching from a far was the only thing that he accepted now.

"Still giving you the cold shoulder eh?"

Esther jumped slightly from being startled by Leon, he could be as quiet as a snake when he wanted.

She swallowed slightly and stood tall and regal, like the queen she was. "The only thing that matters is my kingdom...there are millions of lives on my shoulders, mine does not fit into that balance"

Leon nodded and smiled sadly in her direction, Esther bowed courtly to him before leaving, escaping to her office. Mary and Virgil waited patiently for her, her winded and exhausted stature didn't go unnoticed by the two, not to note that she was acting strangely lately.

"Alright" Esther announced with all seriousness. "All of the aegis shields are deployed around the palace correct?" She asked towards Mary.

Mary watched nervously as Esther paced around the grand office, but she nodded nonetheless.

"Yes. Buckingham Palace and the front part of the city is protected" she reported.

Esther visibly relaxed slightly, then turned towards her lord. "The ghetto will be stationed here" she stated without question.

Virgil stiffened, as much as he loved the ghetto and all of its inhabitants he still didn't think it was a good idea to have them in the pits of Buckingham. His troubles were waved away by Esther's non-caring hand.

"The ghetto is not a fortress Virgil, they're my people too. I'll be damned if anything happens to them" she whispered aloud.

Her advisors remained silent and staring, caught in semi-awe at her determination for the methuselah that almost hated her. Mary saw the tension between Virgil and her queen and politely excused herself, using a bogus assignment as a reasoning.

Esther turned to look out the window which showed the setting sun, and her hopes with it. Before she could shove them away, a few tears dropped onto her palms. There wasn't enough time to even say goodbye to the friends that were going to leave her tonight, she could feel it. It would literally be impossible for any of the AX members she holds dear to come out of this unscathed, some of her friends would die or be hurt severely.

"I'm running out of time..." She whispered and turned towards Virgil. "We're running out of time" she cried fully.

Esther face turned a beet red as stress overcame her, the armor she wore clanged as she put a hand over her face, a solemn look plastered on Virgil's face at the sight. He stood in front of her and grabbed her hand..the coolness of his skin soothing Esther somewhat.

"I believe it's safe to say that everyone is running out of time...believe me...I would much rather be with you than out in the field standing amongst my fallen friends" he shook his head sadly. "But this is not a world where such things exist, we must deal with what's to come"

The iron sword on Esther's hip seemed to get even heavier with the future blood that would be spilled upon it. The purple in the coming night sky rang out a depressive aura through the whole palace, the sun fading out of view along with the rosy parlor of Esther's face.

"I don't want to" she whispered into the lonely air of her office. "I despise what the third power has done to us" she said shutting her eyes.

Virgil opened his mouth to say something, but thought against it and closed it. They grew silent and neither noticed that their hands were still occupied in eachother's. The door to Esther's office burst open and the two jumped away from eachother as if ice cold water was poured down their backs. It was Leon.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but you may want to check outside Red" he said to Esther.

Without responding, she did as advised and glanced out of her large glass window-panes. With a gasp, she covered her mouth in horror at the person walking the field completely alone. The hair was unmistakable, the cruel blue eyes as well. It was none other than Contra Mundi, the smirk clearly visible on his face was an indication he meant to do serious damage tonight.

Esther's fists shook at the sight of him, anger boiling over her fears and anguish and doubts. She burst through her office doors, startling everyone in the room..conversations stopped at the sight of her apparent fury.

Leon was the first person to grab her arm in protest. "Wait a minute Red!"

Esther cursed under her breath and wrenched her arm harshly away from Leon's grasp. She unsheathed her sword abruptly and carried it by her side like a shield, there was no stopping her when she got like this..and it was rare when she did get like this. Everyone that cared about her rushed behind her, worrying for well-being and wondering what type of reckless decision she would make.

"Your majesty!" Mary called after her.

Esther gave no heed to the words of wisdom from her friends, her anger was past her rational thinking, past her sadness, and blew her fears straight out of the water. She had to stay angry, she was terrified that if she stopped..there would be no stopping the panic wavering through her skin like a poison.

The cool night air blew Esther's red hair back from her face as she searched for Cain. Her eyes narrowed as she found him and she marched toward him with deadly grace. He smirked at her eagerness and pondered tearing off her limbs or not. She pointed her sword towards the tip of his perfect nose, nothing about her stance shook or wavered.

Cain smirked. "Is this how you repay me?..will you cut me down when I am the reason you are standing here today?" He asked teasingly.

She gritted her teeth and and gripped her sword tightly while dragging it across Cain's throat. Black liquid sprayed her in the face as Cain's booming laughter echoed across the field that was soon going to become soaked with blood.

The large slit that had no later than ten seconds ago appeared across Cain's throat disappeared and Esther found herself being hoisted painfully up in the air. She gasped for air as her broadsword slipped out of her fingers and she wrapped her hands around Cain's wrist.

"Lovely" mused Cain as he watched her writhe. "This state your in...suits you much better than when your looking down on me"

A flash blinded both of their views as Abel flew towards Cain at a deadly speed. His scythe came down faster than anyone could see or comprehend, unknowing to Abel..Cain was twelve to fifteen steps ahead of him.

Cain shifted his weight and hurled Esther's still recovering body towards Abel, who couldn't stop in time to quell his actions. Everyone rushed towards the slow motion scene in fear of what was about to happen, but no one could get there in time..not even Virgil who was the swiftest of the group.

The sharp edge of Abel's scythe pierced through Esther's armor and flayed open her flesh like butter, the light in her eyes vanished as quick as the smirk on Cain's satisfied face appeared. A cry of pain left Abel's lips before falling to the ground as Esther's body did, her head landed roughly in the dirt and her lips were parted lifelessly.

"What a cowardice move! You think so highly of yourself yet you use a Terran as your body shield, pathetic for the Contra Mundi" Vanessa hissed angrily at Cain.

Cain was displeased. What he just did was nothing short of what Terrans and all the like were made for less than the action he just committed, they were meat bags meant for his pleasure and hunger. 'Then why did you save her? A Terran?'

Cain knew by now that the only way to quell his other side was to respond to it every once in awhile, acknowledge that it was there. If he didn't it would try to take over, and he knew better than anyone that it wouldn't be in his best interest if the other side held the reigns for any amount of time.

'It is because I desire everything that I allowed you to save her'

He knew that his other side would call him a liar and he decided to completely block out that side of himself knowing full well there would be near dire repercussions later for it. Unknowing to him, Cain couldn't keep the back part of his mind off of the bleeding Esther on the ground. Her blood was making a fairly large puddle in the earth and her skin paled to a deathly blue-purple. He didn't know why, but this troubled him..like an itch in the middle of his wings he could never reach. His other self begged him to save her, but Cain would do no such thing..he was the one in control and that was that.

Then something surprised all of them, including Cain. Esther inhaled what sounded painfully and, with great effort, stood to her feet. The armor that was her chest plate crumbled to the ground, almost exposing her breast, but consealing her light pink nipples. Her grip on her sword never faltered as she glared at the Contra Mundi.

Cain was excited! More excited than he thought was normal for him. Her eyes! Her eyes, a deep royal blue, burned with angry seas at him and he knew he had to have her in his collection no matter the cost. He didn't know if he could control himself around her, he only came here himself to instill fear into the bunch of fools that meant to stop him from fulfilling his dear Abel's dream. He never noticed the little red female until now, in this moment, he would never admit it openly or to himself freely...Cain had fallen in love with the thought of having her as his possession, for as long as she lived.

Abel saw the hunger in his brother's eyes, and hated it even more at whom exactly it was being directed at. No matter their relationship now, as tattered and battered as it was, he still cared for her well-being. He didn't think he would ever be able to completely forget about Esther.

Cain took the settleness to his advantage and charged at Abel with his bright red spear. Sensing the danger, Abel's alertness went full blown as his scythe was sheathed just in time for Cain's powerful attack. Red bolts of lightening striked the area around them, prompting those around to come forward if they dared or had a death wish. Abel for the first time, felt a pang of killing intent coming off of Cain. He knew that Cain wouldn't actually kill him if he wasn't standing in his way, actually on many accounts Cain would remind him that he could still join him if Abel wished to. The fights they've had up until now was just Cain being Cain and trying to intimidate Abel into joining him, but now...it almost seemed as if he didn't care.

He would be willing to kill him this time.

"As much as I love you dear brother" Cain said with a sly smile. "You must know by now how stupid it is to get in my way...I get what I want" Cain said cruely.

Abel couldn't respond to him, he had to keep himself level headed when fighting Cain. His brother was ruthless when it came to fighting, and Abel knew that if he wasn't his best when fighting him he would be torn apart for the world to see.

Not expecting the second attack to be in an upward slash, Abel lost his footing and couldn't block the attack properly and causing Cain's spear to bear against Abel's scythe, breaking it clear in half. Abel's eyes widened as Cain's spear cut clean through his shoulder and through his arm. Cain knowing he would just regenerate back if he cut off his arm comletely, kept his spear lodged in Abel's shoulder and sent his electricity sparkling through it. He couldn't hide the displeasure from his face knowing that this could've been well avoided if only Abel had listened to him, but he chose not to. Now Abel must learn to deal with that decision. His cry of agony shook the world as he fell to his knees, faced forward, and into the already soaked Earth.

Esther couldn't stand the sight. She knew something like this would happen, someone close to her would die..but she hoped it wouldn't be true..that somehow Abel was still alive even after his shoulder had been clear ripped part way from his body and was only hanging on by a thick piece of muscle and tissue. She wanted to gag at the scene ,but held her composure and fed her fear and sadness into pure rage. Her sword shook as she held it by her side, she whirled on everyone else and performed the signal of attack to them.

Everyone charged and struck Cain at the same time, not that he wasn't expecting it..he was just thinking that they would be scared shitless after the display he just made out of the right half of Abel's body. Astha struck her spear into Cain's right thigh, already smelling the vampiric blood running through her, he knew she could very well shove the whole thing right through...and she did. Her spear pierced the ground and temporarily held Cain there. He grunted in minor pain and thought of calling his own spear to him so he could rip this girl's head off, it was nothing to just stand up and pluck the small needle out of him and breaking it in half but the action would be a little delayed if it wasn't for everyone jumping him at the same time and crucifying him to the ground.

Cain was getting faintly irritated if he wasn't already.

He couldn't stand for killing Abel completely, just enough for him to stay out of his way. The red haired girl..Esther..if he re-called her name correctly was just a possession he must have, she was too enticing to let her slip away (or get killed by his hands) ,but the rest can be torn to shreds for all he cared.

Esther, watching from afar, limped over to the scene and met Virgil's eyes with a shallow and hollowed expression. He nodded at her to proceed ,but with caution. She did as directed and went over to Cain to slay him.

Vanessa held Cain's throat down with her hair and growled at Esther to hurry up. She could feel the dangerous aura leaking from Cain as he was pinned to the ground by everyone that could get their hands on him. Esther wielded her golden broadsword above her head and made sure to look Cain in the eye right before she slayed him herself.

Meanwhile, Cain was struggling to keep his mind under control. His other side was displeased that Cain was going to kill all of them in five seconds if they didnt get off him , and for a moment Cain lost and was thrown into the depths of the pit his mind created for him.

Esther's sword shook as Cain's eyes softened entirely. He looked at her in a way that was almost fleeting ,but as her lover as well. His expression was of one total understanding and consolation of her decision. This look was a man about to die by the woman he loved truly and he would leave the world still loving her solely. She couldn't do it.

The moment her hesitation appeared, Cain gained his control again and smirked at Esther. She gasped in surprise and couldn't stab him in time. Her sword broke in two and Cain decapitated the closest person to him, Virgil yelled and everyone was blown several yards away by a force wave Cain created.

Being the only person in the group that was severely wounded other than Abel, the wave took a worse toll on Esther and disabled her from getting up completely. She had full consciousness and could hear Virgil screaming his lungs out in emotional agony. She gritted her teeth until realizing that it was her tongue she was biting and drew blood, if anything happened to anyone it would be her fault because she was decieved by the angel that saved her.

Esther was pulled back into the present briefly, a sad smile touching her face. Seeing her ex-advisor standing in front of her hurt beyond belief. So much had changed since the previous year.

"I didn't know he was going to do that" she spoke quietly. "His fleet..hundreds of the killer dolls and the grotesque and dismembered vampires..he was hiding them for the moment he would overbear the Albion army with his tremendous fleet...just us wasn't enough"

She bit her lip painfully as she realized the depth of ignorance her words held. Making excuses for herself didn't put her in any bright light at all, it only further destroyed Virgil's faith in her..of ever getting the her he fell in love with back.

"I miss..." Esther chocked up, begging herself silently not to cry in front of him. "Everything...everyone...I miss you" she tilted her head to the side, tears falling freely.

He sighed deeply, cursing himself in his head for caressing her face softly, to which she met eagerly. She knew this didn't mean he forgave her, he was just at least happy to know she was still alive and well, somewhat. It was too hard to ignore him when she first laid eyes on him, too hard to say no to him when he was her advisor, and so easy to say yes to him now.

The spark was always there between the two, their affection was kept a secret by Mary, but it was something that remained borderline subtle and sweet. A few kisses here and there ,but nothing beyond that. They both acknowledged and felt the other's desire but no one ever stepped forward to fulfill, so they both went on...being in pain just from being in the same room together.

He firmly grabbed her by the nape of her neck and brought her closer to him, she weighed so much less than he remembered and hated how much things has changed about her. So he settled for just leaning his face into her slender neck and inhaling her scent that was tainted with the devil's that had the face of an angel.

"It pains me..." He muttered into the crook of her throat. "His scent is all over you...he's taken you many times, hasn't he?" He asked her a bit spitefully.

Esther leaned more into him, seeking more comfort than Virgil was willing to allow. "More than I can count...he holds all the cards, everyone is under his foot whether they know it or not. Even me" she whispered sadly.

She could feel the pressure coming from his strong jawline, he was clenching his teeth. Esther was regretting even saying anything, she wanted comfort and craved his sympathy because she didn't get any from anyone from around Cain, and only succeeded in hurting Virgil more. Right now, Virgil was her lifeline and she needed one badly..she couldn't afford to lose him.

It doesn't change your feelings about him, a little voice in Esther announced. You'll love him even if he does the unthinkable, which he's pretty much already have.

Esther cleared away the voice, yes, she couldn't deny that she loved Cain despite what he did and still does, but Virgil was her first and her lord for the short time he was by her side. He'll always own her heart in a way that Cain never would, where she found pleasure in just kissing him softly or embracing him, his words that showed how much he did love her made her heart stop and blood chill, even Cain could not stand beside him.

They both were polar opposites. Cain, her current lord and master, is all brawn as well as intelligence and exerted strength and cruelty. He didn't except anything but the best of Esther to the point of exhaustion or death..he didn't care. Cold and unforgiving, but showed his affection in the attention he gives and how hard he lashes.

Virgil was entirely different. He never once (until now) striked Esther. He was gentle with her and slow, he'd at least ask Esther to try and make an effort for certain things (business-wise) ,but didn't expect more than she was willing to put in. Virgil was the embodiment of grace and patience, and nothing attracted Esther more.

Esther turned away from Virgil and thought of what to ask next. She wondered who else was still alive after the massive fleet attacked the Buckingham palace after Cain flew off with her near-lifeless body. Esther knew that Virgil's presence didn't just suddenly come to pass out of pure hence, there was a reason he was here, and Issak seemed just like the person to be behind it. But instead of asking the major questions, she decided to enjoy the moment she had with him.

"Are you hungry?..." Esther timidly asked.

Virgil gently smiled for a moment before shaking his head. "No. I'm well fed I assure you"

The room grew silent and cold, the wounds Virgil inflicted upon her earlier were starting to really hurt. Virgil saw the pain flashing through her eyes and immediately began to feel sorry for his actions earlier. He never meant to be one of the people that would hurt her like Cain, but he couldn't just let her off with a happy reunion when she was the cause of Vannessa's death. Somewhere deep down he knew that Esther wasn't the cause for Vannessa dying and that everything was Cain's fault ,but he just couldn't shift the blame.

"Not all of me has changed" she said into his chest. "Despit what you may see or smell on me, no matter what my blood tells you...there is still a little light in the dark of my mind. The strong Esther that did reckless things that put her in mortal danger, but she's slowly dimming out...you must put out the flame before it kills her" she said clinging to his overcoat.

He ignored what she was directly asking of him, he wanted to put that thought of him actually following through with her request in the Pandora's box in his mind. He wouldn't go through with it no matter how much she begged.

"If you wait a moment later you may lose her forever" she whispered to him wildly. "I'll lose her forever!"

Virgil angrily grabbed her by her arms and shook her. "Do you know what your asking?! Do you really think I would ever forgive myself if I killed you?!"

Virgil shut his eyes against the image of Esther and she abruptly kissed him. It was a dying and separating kiss, as if after this one meeting he would never see her again. Her hands caressed his back, chest, and face. She broke away from him gently just as the door to her room opened and Issak appeared. He almost floated in with deadly grace, as if he won the lottery and the whole human race as well.

Esther, like a master, morphed her expression into that of already being use to Issak's presence. The same expression that Isaak always complained that was boring and un- fulfilling. He eyed Virgil with a look of a predator before bowing respectively towards Esther and taking her by the hand, slowly twirling her around. Virgil was good at keeping his growls to himself.

Esther returned the bow by lowering her head and not meeting Isaak's eyes, he purred lowly in satisfaction.

"Mein Herr would like to see you, Lady Esther" Issak stated.

Esther nodded once and left out the room, already knowing where her master was. She couldn't explain it herself, why or how she knew where Cain's presence stemmed from wherever he went, but she was pretty sure it happened every time he gave her back her blood from his veins. It must've created a connection between the two.

The familiar chill of the air in the hallway let her know she was going in the right direction, the pits of the Buckingham palace wasn't far from Esther now, her skin was grazed all over with goosebumps whenever she got close.

She still couldn't get the thought out of her head, Lilith's resting place, now shared with someone else, the person that meant most to Esther and had remained undefiled through death until now. What was Cain planning to do with her?

With a grunt of effort, Esther pushed open the cold doors finding Cain knelt on the ground near a body mass. He took off the white overcoat he was wearing and draped it around the shoulders of the person underneath him.

"Cain?" she called.

He turned his head in her direction and let a sly smile touch his face. "Are you happy now Esther? Do you appreciate all that I have done for you?" He asked.

Esther's blood ran cold as she noticed the body mass move inch by inch, puffs of steam clouding up the air as it breathed. She looked away as silent tears drenched down her chin, her hand muffled her anguished cries. Cain did not want this reaction, but he didn't care. He did something more than spectacular for Esther and the reaction she gives him is one of disgust and sadness, if she really didn't want it then it would be nothing for Cain to send the woman back into the ground from once she came.

Cain moved aside and left the body mass to itself and approached Esther slowly. She didn't look at him when he approached, nor did she run to his arms like she usually would, her cries were like little glass shards tinkling on the ground around his bare feet.

"Esther" Cain called slightly soft. "Do you not want your gift?" He simply asked.

She gasped and finally looked at Cain with frightened eyes, she bit her lip and clenched her hands tightly.

"How can you ask me that?..." She sobbed slightly. "You would kill her all over again if she won't do what you ask...I wouldn't bear to see you hurt her"

Cain stared at Esther blankly as she cried in front of him, his other side wanted desperately to console her, but he wouldn't allow such a thing.

"Do you really love her that much?" he asked her. "So much that you would wish a second death upon her just to keep her from me?"

She stopped her sobs and looked down at Cain's feet, she couldn't answer that question without seeming humanly and unbelievably selfish. The words wouldn't leave her mouth. Gasps of life came from the mass on the floor and a hand shot out from Cain's white over coat. Cain heard the gasps and smiled somewhat sweetly at the body laying on the floor.

"What will you do now?" He said gesturing to the body writhing now on the ground. "Will you let her suffer from thirst?..leave her to die? Or will you give her the kiss of life and bring her into your arms?" He asked as if it was an easy decision to make.

Esther frowned, a deep crease forming in between her eyebrows. Shutting her eyes and making a last minute decision, she ran towards the body and touched the woman's face gently but firmly. The woman immediately stopped her flailing, her red eyes glowing brightly and long incisors glazing across her bottom lip.

Esther sighed as she look on, she really didn't wish this upon her. "You may hate me for this later on..and I'm apologizing for it in advance, but..."

Red caressed Esther's cheeks as she bit her tongue until it bled profusely. She grabbed the woman by her face gently and kissed her gently, letting the woman explore her mouth with her tongue, lapping at the blood like a hungry dog. Pink exploded on Esther's face as she felt the woman grow stronger as every ounce of blood from Esther's tongue restored her. Body weight eventually pressed down on Esther, until she was leaned into her friend's chest comfortably.

They broke apart and Esther felt the tiredness from the feeding wear her out. Her eyes fluttered as her vision blurred. Dark, long, and brown curls shrouded them like a curtain. Deep sea green eyes stared at Esther with all the love one person could give.

"Esther..." The girl spoke gently as she caressed her face. "You can rest now"

Esther was at a loss for words, shock was the only thing that she could muster as a feeling right now and she still wasn't past the fact that her best friend for half of a short and dangerous month was in her arms once again. She didn't know whether to be extrememly thankful towards Cain (and in dept to him for yet another thing he's done for her) or sad that he's murdered yet another once beautiful thing.

Her vision went black and Esther finally fell away to the world of endless sleep for awhile, leaving her re-animated friend and Cain alone. The two seemed to square off, their auras not mingling well with eachother.

Shahrzad shifted Estger's weight and picked her up easily, she realized she'd lost a lot of weight. Her nose twitched and she realized her scent had changed too, she smelt a lot like the man staring at her from afar.

"I'm assuming Esther has been in your care for..awhile now" she asked.

Cain could already tell she was of noble blood, a duke's grand-daughter maybe, but none that he knew of. But the way she opposed him by the way she stood, and the way she spoke was key signs that she was of royal lineage.

He smiled dazzlingly at her. "You can say that she is my personal pet and prized possession, I did not win her very easily. She was guarded very heavily by my brother"

Her eyes widened. Now that she remembered what the priest looked like, she realized that this man could be his twin if he wasn't already. Did that mean that the priest was dead? Esther shuffled comfortably in Shahrzad's arms and nestled into her chest, she smiled down at her and hugged her closely.

Cain watched the two's connection and couldn't help but feel angry. That was his pet that was suppose to want to always do that to him. He calmed himself down as quickly as he got angry, no matter what tht girl did, he knew Esther would always keep her master in the front part of her mind.

"Your brother...he's.."

"Yes my brother...and dead..or so he wants me to believe, but he won't be coming after me any time soon" Cain said non-chalantly.

Shahrzad wanted to ask why that was, but she could already feel the man's heavy aura indicating that she was irritating him. She kept her mouth shut and walked Esther towards him, still keeping her tightly clutched in her arms.

Cain smirked at her and led her out of the cold room and into the silent hallways. "You may call me Cain, or otherwise, your lord"

A/N: I know I know. The wait was ridiculous and un-called for I'm sorry, I'll do better. But I hope you guys at least enjoyed this chapter. If anyone has no idea who exactly Shahrzad is, this is where you will find your answer. She's in the manga of Trinity Blood, and actually kidnaps Esther during her speech to the people of Albion. After telling Esther the reason for her kidnapping her, Esther realizes that Shahrzad is actually being manipulated on the account of her family. After becoming public enemy number one with the AX, Caterina sends out a search for Esther dead or alive. As they run together, Shahrzad and Esther become good friends. Until Shahrzad is killed by Esther (Esther didn't want to do it ,but Shahrzad forced her to) and eventually buried by Esther. Any questions feel free to ask me anytime.