Trinity Blood: Book 2: The Winter Rose
Chapter 9: Night Terror, Part 2: Friend?

Pain lanced through the side of Caterina's head. Her mother pulled back, rising her hand to strike again. Caterina cringed away from her mother as the others surrounded her. She knew all of them, she'd watch them die the night she'd met Abel. Caterina backed away from them. They were dead. They were all dead. She'd seen them die. They kept chasing her. Someone grabbed her from behind.

"Stop, let me go!" Caterina's voice was raw from all the times she had screamed, trying to get out of this nightmare. Caterina thrust her foot downward, the heel slamming into the person's toe. They screamed in pain, their grip loosening around her. Pulling against their hold, Caterina managed to get out of the man's grasp. On unsteady legs she fought her way forward. She had to get out of here. Someone else leapt at her, blinding agony shot through her skull. She screamed, it clawed at her sore throat, but she couldn't stop screaming as she was pulled back to her feet.

"You're worthless," spat the butler, "to believe I gladly worked for you. You're a worthless child, how can you possibly think on changing this world." She winced, hot tears starting to burn her eyes. She blinked. There was no way she would cry, but his words hurt far more than any physical pain. He had believed in her, listened to her all the times she had spoken to him one trying to keep the people of Italy and the world safe. Now he was calling her worthless. Was all of it a lie?

"You're all alone in this world, girl," Caterina squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out her old teacher's voice. "You're a fool and an idiot who bought every lie told you." Strong hands gripped her as others clawed at her face, trying to force open her eyes. "Look at me, girl. Look at me!" he snarled, sounding more like a vampire than a human.

Another scream tore from Caterina's lips as their fingers drew blood. She could feel the warmth of it mixing with tears as she cried. There was no way out of this. She wanted to scream again, to continue fighting but she had no strength left in her body. "Liars," she whispered hoarsely. "You're lying!" she shouted, tears stinging the fresh wounds on her face.

"Lady Sforza!" a familiar strong voice called out to Caterina. She knew that voice, but how, how could he be here?

"Abel?" Caterina she whispered the name, frozen as she tried to listen over her captors. Was she just hearing things? It was impossible, he couldn't be here. Could he?

"I'm coming, Lady Sforza, just hold on." It was him. There was no mistaking his voice.

"Who the hell is that?" growled one of her captors, her former best friend. "Don't listen to him, Cat, he doesn't care about you. No one cares about you." He sneered leaning over her and helping the others restrain her as she started to struggle once more.

"Liar," Caterina glared at him before shouting as loudly as sore throat would allow, "Abel, I'm here!" He had to find her, he just had to. If he didn't come, then what? What if she was only imaging hearing his voice? Or if he was only looking for her to help these people harm her? No – it wasn't like Abel. There was no way. He was kind, he was good a person. Since meeting him she'd only seen his kindness towards others. "Abel!" she shouted again.

"Shut up!" snarled her mother, slapping her across the face. Why? Why were they acting like this?

"Lady Sforza!" Caterina smiled at how close Abel's voice was getting. He would be here soon. He just had to be here soon. Abel! She squeezed her eyes shot again, hot tears sliding down her face. Every part of her being screamed for release from this nightmare, there had to be away out.

"Destroy the stairs," ordered her mother. "That man doesn't care about you," her mother told her sweetly. "No one cares about you," she took hold of Caterina's face and forced her to look into her mother's face. Cold eyes looked back at her. This wasn't her mother, but she looked so much like her. How could she not be? "I never even cared for you," this woman smiled at Caterina. It wasn't her mother, Caterina's mother had loved her; she had! "You who were an illegitimate child of pope, you're disgrace to the Sforza family."

"You're wrong," that voice, "Lady Sforza isn't a disgrace and the real you would never had said such a thing." Caterina could only just see part of the silver haired man over eighteen feet below her. The railing made it difficult as did the dust which still clung to the air from the destroyed stairway.

Joy filled Caterina even as her mother released and turned towards the railing. "Abel!" Caterina shouted unable to believe her eyes. He had come. More than that, he was the same kind person she had bee traveling with for nearly a month. Her mother whipped around and – pain shot through the side of Catereina's face.

"Don't you dare lay another hand on her," Abel shouted, anger lacing his voice, making him sound like his crusnik form.

Caterina's mother ignored Abel and looked at her instead. As one those around Caterina spoke, "You're worthless, you have no friends, you're completely alone in this world." Desperately Caterina looked towards Abel, seeking aid, for any way out.

"Don't listen to them!" Abel shouted, taking several steps back. "It's a lie, you're not worthless. You're the winter rose, remember? You're strong, Caterina, you're strong!" Caterina stared at him. Had he – he had. Abel had just called her by name with no title before it or anything. Taking a few more steps back, Abel looked away from her only briefly. His winter blue eyes studying the landing she was on, being held by the monsters who clamed to be her friends. What was he doing? Suddenly Abel raced forward and leapt, reaching out for her.

"Abel!" Caterina wrenched her wrist from several of her captors, twisting it painfully. She reached for him. "Abel!" his fingers were inches from hers. Suddenly a hand reached out and took hold of Abel, followed by another and another. Five people were dragging Abel down, forcing him away from her. Fangs glinted in the light, their dark hair shining with only one red head visible among them. They were vampires. Tears filled her eye once more, spilling down her cheeks as she fought to get to him. "Abel!" she shrieked.

"Caterina!" Abel's shout was drowned by the voices of the five vampires. "Liar," they hissed at Abel as one, "Traitor. You'll never reach that filthy terran."

Caterina's feet skidded on the ground as the group began to drag her away. "Abel!" she shouted, fear flickering in her heart. They were going to take her way. He wouldn't be able to help her soon. No, no – "Abel!"

"No!" Caterina's thoughts were echoed by a cry from Abel. "You can't have that one." Her eyes widened as she watched Abel bend. Suddenly those holding were blasted away as two massive, black wings burst from his back, ripping his shirt and coat. "Caterina!" he pushed off the ground, his wings spread wide before he flapped, causing the air to pulsate around her from the impact. Caterina was thrown back as the men who had held her released her and leapt towards Abel. Easily he evaded them, allowing them to fall to the ground below before whipping around in midair and kicking yet another assailant.

Slowly Caterina stood, her knees aching, but she hardly noticed the pain as she stared at the fallen angel Abel had become. Those who hadn't leapt at him, started towards Caterina, trying to get to her. She barely even registered the fact they had moved. Abel was before her in an insistent. His black wings suddenly wrapped around her in a protective barrier as he drew her to him. Slowly Caterina reached up, hesitating only a second before she touched the feathers of one wing. The feathers were hard to touch and warmth spread through her fingertips as she ran her hand down the long feather.

"A fallen angel," the words were choked as Caterina fought back tears. Even with him so close, even with him protecting her, she was still alone. Still friendless, there was no way she could ever have another friend or ever prove herself now.

"Caterina?" Slowly Caterina withdrew her hand unable to look at Abel. Not even he had wanted to be her friend, the only reason he was here was to work for a peaceful future. What did he care about her? "You're not alone, Caterina." There was a pause; he took a deep breath as if steeling himself. "I'm your friend." Turning, she looked up into his winter blue eyes. There was only sincerity and kindness there. "I'm your friend," he repeated. Not knowing why, only that she did it, Caterina hugged him. Tears slid down her face as she wept, holding to Abel as if he were the only support in the enter world. Slowly she felt his hand touch her head. It was a light, almost fearful touch. "You're not alone," he whispered. "There are people who still care for you, Caterina. Never forget this." Caterina squeezed her eyes shut, holding to him tightly.

xxx

When Caterina next opened her eyes a blurry ceiling swam before her eyes. Blinking several times, the ceiling slowly started to came into focus. As her surrounding began to make sense, her groggy mind began to interrupt sounds as well as sights. Muttered prayer was coming from her right. Slowly Caterina looked in that direction and saw Father Havel bent over her bed, hands clasped in prayer and eyes closed.

"Father?" the second Caterina asked this, Havel's eyes flew opened and he smiled gently at her.

"You're awake, thank God," Havel breathed, drawing his hand as he made a cross over his body. "How do you feel, my lady?" She looked at him, blinking slowly for several moments as she tried to catalog all which had happened. Slowly she became aware of two things. Something was pinching her temple and someone was stirring beside her.

As Caterina turned her head, sharp pain short through her skull, "Careful," she blinked. Abel was beside her. Wincing, he took something off his temple. "This might sting a little." Before she could speak, his warm hand touched her face. At once her heart skipped a beat. The next second she winced as another jab pain lanced through her skull. Abel pulled back his hand, a small piece of lost technology in his hand.

"What are those?" Caterina frowned as she slowly sat up. She watched as Abel turned and placed them in an old briefcase she knew hadn't been there before. Looking at Havel, she wandered if he knew what they were.

"Lost technology which allowed me to enter your dream world and pull you out of it," Abel slowly explained as he placed a device in the case beside the chips. She stared at him. He had really been there. It took her awhile to realize her gaze had slid to his back. There was no sign of the black wings she had seen when sleeping. Did this make the wings only part of the dream?

"Wait," a thought jumped into her Caterina's mind and she looked sharply at Abel. "Does this mean you really are…" she trailed off, unable to bring herself to ask if he was her friend.

"Yes," Abel smiled kindly at her, "I will be your friend if you want me to be." There was almost a nervousness in the way he said. It was if he was holding his breath, waiting for her to say something. As she looked into his face, her eyes locked on his eyes which now hidden behind the thick glasses. There was hope in his eyes. Her mind shot to when she had first tried to be his friend and how he had refused. There had been fear in him then.

"Yes, Abel," Caterina smiled softly at him, "we're friends."

"So your idea did work," Havel breathed a sigh of relief. "How do you both feel?" he asked looking from Caterina to Abel. Caterina could feel only happiness bubbling up in her and nothing else.

"Hungry," Abel replied. Caterina looked at him shocked. The same moment she saw Havel's expression she couldn't help it, she laughed softly one hand over her mouth. "What? You asked we felt, I was only being honest."

"You're always hungry," Caterina pointed out. "I can't see why with how much you eat at any meal." She looked at him almost sternly. Abel shifted, looking uncomfortable under her gaze. Finally she smiled at him and he laughed, smiling in return. The answer Abel had given had lightened the mood in the room drastically. She hadn't noticed until then just how much tension and fear there had been in the room. For the first time since he had started to try and act silly, Caterina was gratefully for it.

(Author's Note: Um, please do note this isn't how Caterina's friends and family really acted before they were killed. It is just part of Caterina's nightmare. Also in the part where Abel's wings come out, he isn't in crusnik form because this is a dream world. If he only wants the wings, then all he'll get is the wings. Are dreams amazing or what?)