Disclaimer applies: I do not own Trinty Blood.

Chapter 26

The night had been too short and Abel's little boy didn't seem to get much sleep. The child had had nightmares most of the night. Abel stayed up most of the night just trying to comfort him. He needed his Esther here to calm them both down. Something. Anything

Gabriel was sleeping fitfully in his lap. The boy clung tightly to his robes. Abel was tired. His eyes drooped slowly. He fought with them. He couldn't sleep. He feared that Cain would take Gabriel if he fell asleep. He had promised Esther that he would protect their son. He would not risk him, but they had to find away out.

"He looks so much like you that it's scary." He looked up and noticed Cain. The Abel growled and hugged his child tighter. Cain snickered. "I came to inform you that we have reached Rome and as soon as everything is set we will begin the procedures." Abel gripped his son tightly.

"No harm will come to your son for now." Cain smiled. "His nanomachine are not fully mature."

"He's not supposed to live our lives." Abel spoke softly. "As long as I still breath I will not let you turn him into a monster." Cain chuckled lightly.

"You really have no say so in this manner dear brother." Cain leaned in the doorframe. "I was always able to outsmart you when we were younger."

"Those were different times. I was different."

"But that temper of you has never left. Just because you are able to fool everyone of who truly are, doesn't mean that it's gone. I still now how to push your buttons and the little evil glean in your eyes right as you unleash your anger." Abel knew he was right and hated him all the more for it. He had to find a way to get Gabriel out of here, even if it meant giving up his own life in the process.

Cain left shortly after and Abel returned to watching his son sleep. He didn't know how much time he had left with him. "Not enough." He thought to himself. "It'll never be enough."

Alessandro walked nervously down the corridor. Father Tres walked silently beside him. He had been summoned to his brother's office to discuss dire news. Rumors were flying throughout the Vatican and probably over most of Rome that the true Queen of Albion had been found alive and well in Valencia. Alessandro's sister Caterina had already flown down to the city to look into it. No one had heard any news from her recently. The pope was starting to worry, not only for his sister and the lovely redhead that had become his friend, but also for himself. He was terrified of this meeting. Francesco usually yelled out orders. The pope had only recently found out that he suffered from Phonophobia or the fear of loud sounds.

Since then the Vatican had rushed in a zero-tolerance policy of any loud noises.

He fumbled hestiantly with his thumbs. His brother was the only one that still raised his voice. The pope dreaded meeting with him. All he wanted was to run back to his room and hide from the world. It was days like today that he really hated being the pope. Alessandro nervously knocked on his brothers office door.

"Come in!" Cardinal Francesco called out. Alessandro could already feel the sweat sticking his robes to himself. The pope slowly entered.

"You wish to see me brother?" He stuttered while clinging to the doorknob.

"Come in your holiness." Francesco spoke. Alessandro nodded and walked in slowly and sat in the chair in front of his brother's desk. Father Tres followed and stood behind him. Cardinal Francesco glared at the android.

"You make take your leave and stand guard in the hallway." Tres nodded and left. Alessandro wanted nothing more than to beg his brother to let him stay. He watched the android close the door and shivered as he realized that he was alone with his brother. Francesco looked down at the papers on his desk once more. Ignoring that the pope of Rome was sitting in front of him.

"Brother?" Alessandro mumbled. He wondered what could be so important. "What was it that you needed?" Cardinal Francesco sighed before looking up at his younger brother.

"To ask a question." Alessandro nodded. Francesco looked coldly into the pope's eyes.

"Do you think harshly of our sister and I?" The pope gulped.

"No." he shook his head. "I understand your reasoning and sister's as well."

"Then I am to assume that you hold no grudge over the fact that we are more or less the reason that you are the pope?" Alessandro took a deep breath. He gripped his shaking hands tightly.

"No."

"Do you wish that we had never made you pope in the first place?" The pope thought his words over carefully. The answer that was true was yes. More than ever yes! Alessandro daydreamed far too much on how his life would have been if he had not named Pope. Then again, if he said the wrong answer, regardless if it was true. Alessandro knew his brother would be angry.

"Do not worry about my emotions." Francesco spoke. "I want you to answer truthfully."

"Sometimes." The pope spoke, barely above a whispered. Francesco smiled. It wasn't a warm smile, like his sister. This one in fact made him shiver all the more.

"Your holiness...there is someone I would like for you to meet." Cardinal Francesco stood up. "Come with me." Alessandro shook terribly. Who was this person? He stood on his weak knees and followed his older brother.

Cardinal Francesco walked to another door hidden behind a set for rich red curtains. Alessandro eyes widen. He had never know that there hidden passages in his bother's office. A nervous twinge started to knot in the pit of stomach. A part of him wanted to turn back and request that Tres would come also. None the less this was still his brother and he was positive that no matter how scary he tended to be, no harm would ever come towards him.

Though later he would be eating those words, he just had an inkling. At the end the tunnel the two brothers entered another room. 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. The pope knew something was up. He looked up at his brother.

Cardinal Francesco didn't even look him. He stared at the man. The blond man smiled slyly.

"You've done well." He lifted his left hand and snapped his fingers. Alessandro's world disappeared beneath a shroud of cloth.

Read and Review Please

Lil~Rahl: A division of Crusniks~R~Us

Verse from chapter 27

"I'm going to kill him."

"Not if you can get in line before me." The two looked at each other.

"Can't we share? All I want is his head....on a platter."

~O^O~