Special Thank yous go out to Zenitha, Woolred, ColinatorGX, NancyLee, Sapphire_Rose_E, Gamefreek321 for the great reviews.

Apologies go out to all my readers. I have had a very busy two months. I got married, went on honeymoon, came back to find an audit waiting for me. I haven't had much chance to write anything. It sucks!

As a sort of 'please forgive me' present I am posting chapter 25 & 26. 25 is my least favorite and caused me some problem.

Disclaimer applies.

Chapter 25

If the giant knot on the back of her head wasn't enough to let her know that she was alive, Caterina's throbbing head erased the rest. She had no idea on how she ended up back in her hotel room. Her last memories were that of a Rosenkruez airship over her head and a sharp blow to the back of her head. A small bag of ice was place vicariously on the top of her head, though it did little to rid herself of any pain. To her... it just made it worse. She yawned and tried to stretch.

"Careful." Caterina looked up to see none other than Sister Kate floating in front of her. "You took quite a blow to the back of your head." The blond nodded, before grabbing the bag of ice from her head and dropped it into her lap.

"What the hell happen?" Sister Kate shook her head.

"I'm not quite sure. There was an explosion that short-circuited my radio waves. When I came around you and everyone else had been knocked unconscious."

"And the others?"

"Everyone else is fine."

"Esther and Seth are okay then?" Sister Kate grimaced. "What?"
"We haven't been able to locate the Empress or Esther. Abel and Gabriel are missing too." Caterina shook her head and sighed.

"Strange..."

"Hm....My lady?"

"I said it's strange. Its strange that the Contra Mundi strikes now." She looked up and looked to her subordinate. "I think we have a mole in our mist."

"My thoughts exactly. It's too coincidental that they show up after we discover Esther is still alive."

"But who? Who could gain anything from this?"

"I don't know, but I think it's best that we retreat back to Rome."

"Agreed. Please prepare the ship and get everyone aboard."

"Yes my lady." Sister Kate nodded. "Oh! By the way..."

"Yes?" Caterina questioned. Not in the mood of one of Kate's long talks.

"Sister Paula and Brother Pedro are here. They've been waiting patiently for you to awake. Shall I let them in?"

"Just Pedro please." Sister Kate nodded. The hologram faded out and Caterina sighed. She wondered if there were any painkillers lying around that she could take. Anything to the take off the edge of this full-blown headache. A knock a moment later indicated that Pedro was there. She called for him to come in.

"I trust that you feel well Lady Caterina?"

"As good as I'll ever be. What can I do to assist you?"

"Where is Father Abel Nightroad?"

"MIA."

"Not good enough." Pedro spoke. "Paula has been given the order to have him returned to Rome, while I stay here and assist you." Caterina's head pounded terribly.

"I don't know where he his." She snapped. "And you should be more mindful of the words that escape your lips. They maybe the reason for loosing them." She watched his nostrils flare, everyone knew of Brother Pedro's infamous temper. It appeared it knew no boundary, like now. "I'll be returning to Rome today to give a full report to my brother, along with Abel's disappearance, Albion's Queen, Rosenkruez attack and of course you ignorance." Caterina got out of bed and stood tall in front of the knight.

"I don't care what order he gave you..." she glared back. "You will not disrespect me while I am recovering from an attack." Brother Pedro stood stone still, not because he was afraid of course, but because of the woman of steel's firm retaliation. "Now get out of my room and return to Rome to reply to my brother that I will be seeing him soon." Pedro nodded once more and left the room quickly. Caterina sat back down on her bed and growled.

"Stupid." She mumbled. "Sister Kate...." She called out again.

"Yes my lady..." The hologram appeared, one again.

"I want someone to keep an eye on Brother Pedro and Sister Paula. Cardinal Francesco is playing dirty and I attend to as well." Sister Kate nodded.

"Yes ma'am." Caterina sat back down in a nearby chair and groaned loudly. Where in the world were Abel and Esther? To make it worse the Empress of the New Human Race had gone missing as well. If that were to ever leak out.... total disaster. Caterina rubbed her head again. This was getting to be too much and for once she thought of pulling an Abel and slinking off to relax at home in Milan. Enjoy a nice hot cup of herbal tea and the silence that came with it.

"It's going to get a lot worse before it'll get better." She said out loud to herself. "God keep them safe." She prayed. "Abel and Esther are..." She hated the words coming out of her mouth. "Truly meant to be together."

Read and Review please.

Lil~Rahl A division of Crusniks-R-Us

Verse from ch. 26.

Alessandro noticed a man sitting in a rather large lounge chair. He wore a white jacket with red lining and his blond hair looked a bit disheveled. The icy blue eyes that reminded him of the coldest winters and a smile the was even icier.