Disclaimer: I do not own Trinity Blood or its characters. They are the creation of Yoshida Sunao.

Please read and review! Would you believe so many things are happening on this one night? Maybe I should throw Dietrich in somehow, but he is dead, isn't he? I don't think his RCO buddies would even bother with a funeral. At least Isaak didn't. Some naughtiness in this chapter


Chapter 6

"Did the kitten scratch you?" Isaak smirked as he strolled into the church. His comrade lay sprawled on a pew, clutching his wounded chest. "She does not have the Star with her. That old cat shot me. Touch me and die- Ah!" The younger vampire arched in pain. Isaak nonchalantly stabbed his gloved fingers into the bullet wound, ripping the flesh and probing. "That bullet has to come out, silver or not," The Magician commented blandly.

"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" Ivan hissed as his claws dug into the pew beneath him. Blood spurted onto the wood floor as he coughed. "About as much as you and your twin enjoyed trying to rip out my heart with a boat hook back at the Thames," the Magician allowed his fingers to wander suggestively near Ivan's heart.

"I really enjoyed that, about as much as I will enjoy shooting you in certain places with a silver bullet - Ah!" A harsh scream burst from the vampire's lips as the Magician excised the bullet, roughly extracting it from the flesh.

"Really, we should do this more often, reminds me of you and your brother's antics…" Isaak pulled off his bloodied gloves and pulled a glass of red wine and a blood capsule from the alternate dimension he created. The other vampire pulled himself up, his wound already healing. "I prefer my blood fresh," Ivan scowled but accepted the blood-laced wine. "My departed brother was a fool. His mission was to discredit the Albion queen and her council, not fall for her daughter. And lose the Star while at it. One day, I'll get my hands on his little bastard…"

Isaak sat down and patted Ivan's knee. "Well, the little traitor was far more successful getting rid of the Orden's enemies than you, without even soiling his hands. Even the late Madame de Montespan, Mistress of Poisons, caused more damage to AX than you have. In fact, even Dietrich was far more successful…I don't know why we keep you about."

Maybe because you need someone to annoy you after that your little slut ruffled Lord Cain the wrong way. Three strikes in a row, to the Vatican. No wonder his patience ran out. Tell me, do you miss having that brat squirming in your bed?" Ivan smirked.

Isaak narrowed his eyes but kept his hand on Ivan's knee. "Let's see how our little fraulein's hunt ends."


Vaclav Havel paused to catch his breath. He had walked these streets numerous times. Since the day he had joined the Inquisition, and later AX… every stone held memories for him. He had spoken with comrades, strolled with them on those streets. He was now fleeing for his life.

Francis might have mentioned the places they were going to in his letters. Vaclav trusted his men enough not to enforce censorship. He had a bad experience as a raw recruit in the Inquisition with censors. His letter to his mother read "Dear Mother," and ended immediately with "Love, Vaclav" after the censors cut out his enthusiastic gushing about the sights of the Holy City. If Ivan was Rosenkreuz… their movements were monitored from the very start.

AX was a sorry shade of her former self. Eris didn't have as much clout as Lady Catherina. Hugue and William were still sidelined. Peter was a sharp one, but nowhere near to the professor in his heyday. Carmen was once involved with the Rosenkreuz some years back, a youthful folly that had caused her much pain. Abel and Ion didn't even exist on the official record. The latest addition, Thomas O'Cleary, lacked discipline given what he had witnessed at Mass. AX was finished.

Cardinal's Walk. He recognized the distinctive bridge that bordered St Peter's Square. He was almost there. If he took the bridge overlooking the square, he should make it to AX in no time.

"All things will perish from under the sky…" A girl's clear and pure voice broke the still night air. Havel paused. Why would a child be singing at this late hour?

"Music alone shall live…" Undaunted, the singer continued her song. It was a familiar folksong from his homeland. The pain in his wrist was making him light-headed. He ran up the bridge. It was getting difficult to hide himself with his invisibility. He chose to abandon all subterfuge. The bridge had fallen into disrepair. The sides were crumbling. In places, the parapet wall had given way completely. The singer's voice only grew clearer.

"Music alone shall live…" A strange peace washed over him. He was a new Inquisition recruit, walking along the bridge. A young girl was standing at the parapet, gazing out over the square. Golden curls formed a halo about her tear-streaked face. Catherina. He had given her a flower because she looked so sad. She had just lost her loved ones to vampires in a massacre. He held the flower in his hand. Was it a white rose?

"Music alone shall live…" Smiling, she took the rose from him. Smiling, she delicately but firmly pushed him away. Vaclav felt his boot scrape the edge of the sheer drop to the square below. In panic, he tried to regain his balance, in vain. As he fell, he recalled that it was not a rose but a handkerchief he had offered her on the long ago day. That was the last thought he had before his life spilled out on the stones below.

"And never die…" The blond siren's angelic voice rang out the last line of the song. Dropping a curtsy to the lifeless body below, Lorelei giggled and skipped merrily away.


Petros and Paula never remembered what brought them out to the Square so early in the morning. They simply needed to talk, away from the prying eyes and ears of the rest of the Papal guards and the many spies they were certain Avignon had planted in the ranks. "Christ have mercy…" despite himself, the former Inquisition captain swore under his breath when he saw the corpse. The features were familiar to him. They had crossed paths on many occasions in the past. "Sister, go inform the Papal guards and Eris."


Author's Notes:

The song Lorelei sings in this chapter is one from I believe, Bohemia or Austria. I can't really recall. But it is a simple but very sweet children's song. Trust me to take an innocent little song and turn it into a dangerous weapon.