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

Update on the Walshes and Carmen.

Chapter 21

Londinium, Ghetto Hospital.

Muscular atrophy. She'd need to learn how to work her limbs all over again, Cecil mused. A pity, really. He had the good fortune to make her acquaintance before the accident. And boy did she sweep poor Peter off his feet then. That family summer vacation in Barcelona seemed so long ago. He could still recall those lazy evenings spent watching the sun set over Barcelona while waiting for the night to start. He really enjoyed sunsets… and sunrises. His mother took him to the city square where they chanced upon a 'gypsy' busker who sang and danced like some fairy-tale creature, until Father Leon came a-charging to retrieve his runaway daughter.

"H-how's Father William?" Carmen's voice was weak and creaky as she tried to work her vocal chords. She fought to sit up. Cecil helped ease her into a sitting position.

"I've contacted Mother Eris. Sir William's still in the operating theatre. The airship's history, though. The abbess had a bit of problem with one of her wards coming down sick. Think the mite's name's Faith."

"W-will Father William be alright?" Carmen asked weakly. Cecil shrugged. "She'll call me once the operation's over. Oh, Peter sends his regards," Cecil allowed himself a smile. "He says he'll catch the first flight here as soon as the doctors let him leave the hospital." And Peter's not going anywhere until he fixes Gunslinger.

"T-tell him to…" Carmen stopped in mid-sentence. "Cecil, how do I look? Is there a mirror somewhere?"

"Here…" Cecil handed her a small mirror from a nearby nightstand and held it up in front of her. Carmen balked at her reflection. "Do you have any hair dye? And make-up? Any chance of some proper clothes? This is really going to need some getting used to…"

"You look pretty good for someone who has been playing Sleeping Beauty for nearly forty years. Never mind though, Peter's used to seeing you like this, hospital jammies, white hair and all…" Cecil reassured her. "Mother says she'll swing by with some stuff you might find useful, after she's done knocking sense into Uncle for offering to resign his post."

"It's that bad?" It was getting easier to speak now. Cecil shrugged. "Love's blind… but something about Uncle's lady love just doesn't quite add up. Excuse me…" Cecil answered his mobile phone. It was his mother and she was very, very upset.

"CECIL! This is an emergency! Your uncle has jumped town with that no-good, two-bit…I'm gonna…" Cecil blanched at Lady Vanessa's graphic description of the punishment she intended to mete out on the couple.

"Rav, what are you doing?" Astaroshe murmured. Her tovarisch was sitting astride the sill of a second-floor window. Cardinal Niall had been kind enough to accord her diplomatic immunity which saved her from being turned over to the Inquisition. The silver restraints on her wrists were a compromise for allowing them to spend their remaining time in Rome outside a prison cell.

"Don't fret, tovarisch. I'm not after the Cardinal. I just need to settle some things with my family before we leave," the Terror of Minsk gave a winsome smile before dropping down from the window. Asta tried to run for the front door and promptly tripped.

Damn the restraints! And the silver chain round the pillar Rav must have slipped on her ankle when she was distracted. Although a self-proclaimed atheist, the duchess found herself praying that whatever things the younger Methuselah referred to did not include blood and guts spilled in Rome's streets. Rav had a bit of a reputation and Astaroshe was certain their careers would definitely not survive whatever Rav has planned.

Ion cursed when he realized he had lost his communicator. He had only noticed its absence when he tried to call for backup. He hadn't the time to look for it. Not when Father Ivan was leading what appears to be Anastasia onto a rowboat at the dockside. A dark cloak covered her, the collar yanked up to her nose. It was only the flash of her flaming red hair that had attracted his eye. Apparently in a trance, she obediently stepped into the boat and lay down in the bottom.

The count wondered if he could rescue Anastasia alone. Cautiously, he inched along the side of the dock, keeping to the shadows cast by the assorted crates. Father Ivan appeared to be taking his time. After depositing Ana in the rowboat, he sat on a coil of rope and lit a cigarette. Ion studied their surroundings. A short flight of stairs led to the water. Taking a deep breath, Ion took a gamble. He darted quickly from shadow to shadow, making a detour around the seemingly oblivious Ivan. It took what seemed like an eternity for him to reach the steps and a quick trot down to the water…

"Ana?" he whispered as he climbed into the boat. The apparently limp bundle suddenly sat up. Ion watched in horror as the red wig slipped off to reveal pale blond hair. Lorelei smiled at him sweetly. "Uncle Ivan, look what I caught." She grabbed his hand. She was smaller than he was but he recognized the danger in her serpentine smile.

"I thought you'd call in your AX friends. It'll be nice having AX in our bag but I guess you'll do," Ivan smirked as he stood at the head of the steps. Trapped between the pair, Ion growled and drew his short sword. Ivan only laughed mockingly as Lorelei started singing…

"Come follow, follow, follow, follow…"

Ion fought to block out the treacherously alluring melody. His limbs felt heavy. The sword fell out of his numbed hand and over the side of the boat with a dull splash. It became a struggle for him to focus on the imminent danger he was in. An eerie feeling of peace settled over him.

"Come on, Ion!" Radu. Young and laughing, tossed him an oar. "Follow me. Quickly, before the grownups find out we're gone!" When they turn, they would never be able to savour the sunrise on the bay's clear blue waters. Hence this outing.

A rowboat. They were in a rowboat, casting off from the Byzantine wharf. Eagerly, Ion started paddling.

Sunrise beckoned. He loved watching the sunrise… How many hours had they spent away from Grandmother's eyes, watching the sun's rays paint the bay's waters gold? Radu was smiling, laughing…

"Come on, further, Ion! Come follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow me," Radu was singing, his angelic still-unbroken voice sweeping over the waters. Radu always had a good singing voice, even when it broke on hitting puberty. It was a pity his voice lost its musical quality when he picked up that disgusting habit of smoking. The thought suddenly popped into Ion's mind like a wave of cold water. Radu's dead. Dead. Dead…

No he isn't. He's standing there right with you in the boat… He could see Radu, a boyish smile on his face, singing and paddling. They were going too slowly. Ion shook aside the feeling of unease and paddled. They were going to their favourite spot on the bay to watch the sunrise…

Slowly but surely, the siren song drove Ion onwards onto the open waters of the Tiber, straight into the path of the coming sunrise.

Author's Notes:

If you have read the manga, you would get the bit about Ion and Radu going to see the sunrise. Looks like Abel's gonna lose his partner, again.