Yes I'm sorry about Kate... I just decided that one Ax member had to die in Seth's Rampage against the Vatican. Anyways I hope you can get past that and realize that Francesco's punishment was far more than just. (Oii, just as he starts talking in the anime too... what a ignorant pig.) Well back to work.

Albion's Rose and Winter's Eyes

Abel awoke in the Albion palace alone and toasty warm. Kain wasn't there he noted, so he must be just fine. He also noted that he felt a lot better. It didn't seem so hard to move anymore, not that he had noticed then. There was a letter waiting for him on the desk off on the side the room in Esther's handwriting. It seemed just like it had been when she had first joined Ax.

There was a slight fall of footsteps outside his door before it opened to reveal Kain. His appearance hadn't changed much, except that he seemed more carefree. After all Abel was thrilled to see him there, especially when he saw that Kain had brought him breakfast and a huge sugar pastry. Abel started drooling as Kain handed it over to him. As Abel wolfed it down Kain sat down on the bed.

"Abel… I'm sorry, really. There was nothing I could do once I went back," Kain told him. His voice had a solemn tone and Abel stopped eating hesitantly to ask something.

"What are you sorry about? Kain you haven't done anything…" Abel then continued to stuff himself with food. Kain frowned and pulled out a report.

"The Vatican was all but destroyed. Seth was responsible Abel, there's almost no one left. Albion is ready to surrender itself before that happens," Kain relayed. Abel had stopped eating again, his face was white. All of his friends, the Ax, the Pope, and maybe even Caterena were either dead or missing.

"What happened to the survivors? What happened to Lady Caterena? The Ax?" Abel looked at his brother. Kain shook his head, he had no idea. They heard soft footsteps coming towards the door, Abel suddenly didn't feel like eating.

"Father Nightroad! Thank goodness you're alright, I was beginning to think that he had lied about your recovery," a worried little red head cried. She wrapped herself around Abel's waste and squeezed him tightly.

"Abel, the Ax are missing. Seth doesn't know where they are or what happened to them. She did made an example out of Medici, she skinned him alive and hung his body off the cross in the middle of the Vatican, his skin is tied around his ankles," Kain continued, "Caterena has not tried to contact anyone if she is alive, so no one knows. Leon and Tres are here in Albion, Havel is on his way in too. The Iron Maiden is missing, as is Paula and Petros." Abel sighed, he clicked his earpiece. Static was the only response, he looked over at Kain who was leaving.

"What are you going to do?" Abel asked there was nothing else to do.

"I'm going to use my resources, I'll see if I can find them for you. I'll call you if I find anything," Kain replied walking out of the room. Esther was still there, she already knew all this. She was sitting on his bed now, her formal gown draped over her loosely. Abel was leaning against the desk trying to take everything in.

"Seth, what are you going to do with her Father Nightroad? Will you fight your own sister, or will you find some other course of action?" Esther asked him, she was as upset as he if not more. Abel looked out the window in same of Seth's actions. Again they had hurt people they love and trust.

"I am in no mood to talk to Seth, there is someone else I need to see first," Abel revealed, "I need to apologize to her now… I failed to guide Seth." Abel sighed; this would have been a very long confession. Now he would have to carry these sins until he stopped by the catacombs again. Abel could still recall her face, sitting still and frozen within the tombs buried beneath the now ruins of the Vatican. Abel felt himself be drug into memories.

A toddler version of Seth was running around with her little pigtails bobbing about, a teenage Kain was chasing after her slowly. She had taken his notebook, but he didn't have the heart to catch her. The matching teenage Abel looked on in annoyance, then a hand touched his shoulder. He looked up at the crimson haired beauty, she was smiling down without any remorse.

"Abel, what's wrong?" she asked bending down to his eye level. He looked away, he didn't feel like listening to her at the moment. She would always make him feel bad about his hatred towards humans. She moved his face to look at hers, "Abel."

"I don't want to talk about it. Go away Lilith," Abel responded walking towards the window. Lilith frowned, Abel's bad moods generally lasted for hours, sometimes he was in them for days. He looked down upon the earth, with a look of distaste and hate.

"You're thinking about 'them' again Abel? You know it doesn't do you any good to hate humans," Lilith started to go into one of her talks, "Abel… what is it you want out of life?" Abel was finally pulled back into reality, Esther was holding him tightly. She was crying, and they were actually on the floor now with his back against the desk.

"Abel… wake up," Esther was crying. He felt a slight pain go up his backside from his sudden plop on to the floor. She looked up in to his eyes and saw frustrations buried beneath his blue irises. She blushed and released him waiting for some sort of response from the priest.

"Sorry about the random falling," he replied as he pulled himself off the floor using the desk. She nodded and just stood there staring at him for a moment, it was like she thought she'd never see him again or something.

"Abel… there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time," Esther started in. Abel almost cringed, he knew what was coming thanks to nine centuries of being himself.

"Your majesty, there's some odd looking visitors at the door. One of them even has the look of a Spainard!" one of her servants burst in saying. Esther blushed and looked over at the maid.

"Could it be Father Leon and the others? Show them in Marie. I'll meet them in the study in a moment," Esther answered, the maid ran off and she turned her attention back to Abel who was slightly nervous, "I was going to say that I realized something over the time you've been gone and I've been here in Albion Abel. I come to realize that I am utterly and unmistakably obsessed with you, in a good way. When I had heard what Medici had almost done to you I felt so crushed."

"Stop… please Esther, I don't think my poor heart is up for this at the moment," Abel encouraged. Esther shook her head and walked back towards him again. He had half expected her to kiss him from that expression.

"Abel, I love you. I know you may not feel the same way, but I'm sure of my feelings," Esther confessed taking one of his hands. Even though he had expected it, the news still left him feeling a little strange. He was blushing madly trying not to fall over from shock. She was almost the same color as her hair. Abel knew she had misinterpreted his feelings, but to have her confess that she was obsessed and in love. It was just a bit much for him right now.

"Uhh…" Abel was so flustered he couldn't think of a legitimate way to reply without getting slapped or hurting her feelings. He looked back at her and decided that maybe the ancient saying the truth will set you free applied here.

"Esther, the truth is…" Abel started trying to say what he felt, but it was all jumbled inside his head, "I don't feel the same way." Well maybe that part was a lie, but it was closer than saying he was in love. "My heart already belongs to—" Esther started to sob so he stopped.

"To' someone else?', I already had that feeling. I just wanted you to know Abel," she replied through her tears. Abel felt like crying now, she looked miserable. Had she waited he would have been able to include 'my family'. Meaning of course Lilith, Kain, and still Seth. His heart held all of them so dear & precious. He didn't have the strength to let someone else get close to him while this was going on.

"Sort of, it's more like a few people. Esther I believe we're running late for that meeting," Abel reminded her gently. She nodded and escorted him to the study wiping away her tears. When she opened the doors there sat three familiar strict and unkept faces.

"It's about time Father four eyes, and how are you Senorita?" Leon asked looking over at the now composed Esther. She smiled, or tried and then went back to looking very upset.

"Please tell me she's crying over the Vatican and not you Father Nightroad," Havel added looking at Abel's expression. Abel looked at him with a mix of embarresment and objection. He made a pouting face.

"Why do you always presume her crying has something to do with me?" Abel whined trying to change the subject.

"Since when does the beautiful Senorita think of anyone else?" Leon retorted. Tres put a hand on the table.

"This is not a good use of time, Father Nightroad do you know anything about the Duchess of Milan?" Tres asked. Abel shook his head.

"All I know is that Seth didn't get her and Kain can't find her or hasn't yet. What all do you guys know?" Abel said hoping that no news was good news.

"The Iron Maiden was destroyed, her Eminence tried to evacuate with Hugue and Wordsworth. So not much more," Havel replied, "is there any news on the Empire?"

"Ion Fortuna, Earl of Memphis and his grandmother Mirka Fortuna, Duchess of Maldova have been executed for committing treason. The Duchess of Kiev is supposed to visit soon also," Esther answered, she had stopped looking so upset.

"Astha is on her way? Oh boy… this could become interesting," Abel looked worried, "Oh yes, and Tres… do you happen to have my revolver?" The android pulled off the extra holster and inside was the precious piece. Abel smiled and had it soon back on in its normal concealed spot.

"Father Nightroad, status report requested." Tres said bluntly. Abel smiled, and looked at him and Leon.

"I feel fine, now if you'll excuse me I have a different sort of business to attend to," Abel responded moving towards the door.

"Positive, is backup required Crusnik?" Tres said standing. Abel looked up at the ceiling, then back towards all of them.

"Not really, I think your talents would be better spent waiting for Lady Caterena Tres. I'm off to speak with my dear little sister," Abel smiled, "If you need me send Tres to find me in the Empire. If he isn't avalible have Esther call Seth's line, she'll at least speak to her. Kain will know to report here before he follows so don't be surprised if he already knows." With all of his random messages gone through Abel was off leaving two three very confused people with a monotone android.

"I hope Abel at least scolds her for destroying the Vatican. Wait this is Abel I'm thinking about, he could scold Medici if he had been ordered too!" Esther started to worry about how lax he was with Seth. Maybe he would scold her, or maybe he was just going to settle things. Either way all anyone else could do was wait as the silly priest walked off towards Byzantium.

AN: Yes bad chapter wrap up... So everything falls into place for what Abel has to do now. Kain, he is being so generous... : ) Gotta love the new found softy. Til later, Ja