Special thanks yous go out to Gamefreek321, Sapphire_Rose_E, Airyie, and Woolfred for the great reviews. I also want to thank all my readers for the great support they have given me on this long journey.

It's starting to get harder and harder to get on here and update my story. I just haven't found enough time to actually update, let alone write. This is a very busy year.

Disclaimer applies: I don't own Trinity Blood. So don't ask.


Chapter 12

Esther had come to church early, in hopes that she could to talk the priest again. She wanted to apologize for putting him in the spot with all the information. He had seemed so upset about something last night, but at least now she knew what her real name was. Father Nightroad never showed up. Sister Marina had told her that the priest had fallen ill would be not coming in. Esther knew better. She sat in the choir section and watched her little boy struggle in Sister Euphemie's lap. He was trying to play with the young girl with the dark hair and green eyes. What was her name again? Gabriel had been talking about her the other day. Seth! That was her name. Gabriel had said she was Father Nightroad's little sister. She'd probably know where to find the priest. Esther wanted to apologize for bringing everything up, but she still had one last question to ask him. The priest had spoke that they had worked together, she was hoping that he might know who Gabriel's father was. Although she had done a good job of raising him since he had been born, Gabriel needed a father, a father to play games with, to go outside and play in the dirt, to build tree houses with.

She watched Sister Marina give her sermon. Though for the first time in four years, she wanted nothing more than to run out. She thought back to Abel's words, she had fallen in a cave-in incident; she rubbed her fingers against the back of her head. She could still feel the scars on back of her skull. She winced she imagined what had happen. She wondered who this Contra Mundi person was and about the cave-in. She wrapped her fingers around the old worn cross that was tied to her neck. She wondered if she used to wear is when she was a nun. She looked back over to the Seth girl and thought if this girl knew her as well. She had to of; she was Abel's sister. Esther rubbed her head, she was getting a migraine. The woman who sat next to her in choir noticed and placed a hand on her leg.

"Are you alright, Lady?" Esther nodded.

"Yeah, I'm just not feeling well." She spoke. The headaches were normal, she had been living with them for sometime, but this time it was different. Her stomach felt as if it was doing cartwheels. Esther crossed her fingers and hoped she could make it through mass.

Seth grinned at Gabriel; he had been making faces at Sister Euphemie. The nun was doing her best to ignore the young boy. The empress felt a hand on her right shoulder, Seth looked behind her to see Abel. He looked like a mess. He was not wearing his glasses, nor was his hair tied back with his ribbon. Dark rings were under his eyes. Seth gave him her worried look.

"I need to speak with you." He whispered. She nodded and slipped out of the pew and sat next to him.

"Are you alright, Abel? You look sick. What happen last night?" He tried to give her his best smile, but failed to get Seth to believe him.

"Cardinal Caterina is on her way down. I spoke to her awhile ago."

"Did you tell her about Esther and Gabriel?" he nodded. "And how did she take it?"

"Like she's not sure if she believes me or that I belong in a nut house."

"You do belong in a nut house." She joked. "What happened last night? You scared me."

"I'm sorry. I just got…" he sighed. "I couldn't handle the pressure. She figured out that I knew her and I told her who she was."

"You told her everything?"

"No. I just told her that we used to work in the Vatican together, I didn't tell her about being the true queen of Albion, or about me."

"Abel, she needs to know. Especially from you, you don't want someone else to tell her."

"I don't think me telling her that I love her is going to change anything right now and I can't bring myself to do it. I can't look in her eyes and tell her everything. That's why I've made the decision." He let out a sigh, before picking his sentence back up. "I'm retiring from the AX and leaving Rome."

"What?" Seth looked at him with confusion. "But I thought you loved what you did."

"Caterina and everyone were right about my attitude. My temper has gotten the best of me and working for the Vatican isn't going to help. Once Caterina comes I will turn in my resignation."

"But where will you go?" Abel smiled.

"Well, I once remember being invited to stay in the Empire." Seth grinned. "That is if the Empress still wishes it."

"She does, but she wants to know if you're going to do anything about Esther." Abel sighed.

"This isn't the Esther I fell in love with and I can't bare being around her." Seth grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze. A loud scream rang through out the entire. Abel and Seth looked up to see choir member and nuns huddled around, some were calling out for a doctor. Abel got his feet and rushed to the gathering, Seth was right behind. Abel pushed himself through, his eyes widen. Sister Marina was kneeling over Esther.

"Lady?" Marina shook her gently. Abel knelt down and checked Esther's temperature. She was cold.

"What happen?" he asked the nun.

"She just fainted." One of the choir members spoke. "She started shaking and was mumbling something about black wings, then she just fainted." Abel looked back at Seth. "Black wings? Does she mean my black wings? Is she trying to remember?" Abel looked back down at his once love. Something wasn't right. He looked up at Sister Marina and then to the choir members.

"She was shaking? Does she suffer from seizures?" Marina shook her head no.

"We've never seen her do this." Able pulled back Esther hair and went to check her pulse. His fingertips grazed a mark on her neck. Abel looked down and noticed his love mark, he had forgotten all about them. Abel felt his pulse race as he gazed down at his love.

"What does all of this mean?"


Well...I kind of left it off on a cliff hanger, but it'll help fit in later. Tell me what you think!

Until next time.

Lil~Rahl (A division of Crusniks~R~Us)

Verse from Chapter 13

The thing walked closer to her, holding out his hand. That's when she noticed them, draping it's back were black wings.

"Esther…."

"MONSTER!" She screamed.