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Trinity Blood: Divergent Path
Chapter 32: Solace in a Piano

x – Ten years later – x

Abel leaned back in his chair, stretching his stiff back muscles. The day had been long and tedious. He'd lost count of the complaints and reports which had been filed. Pulling the laptop over to him, he muttered, "You'd think people would be happier with the Arknearly loaded."

"You'd think," Wilson agreed with a small chuckle. He gave Abel a small smile. "It's been a long day and will be an ever longer night."

Sighing, Abel closed his eyes and nodded. He rested his chin on his hand, the stylist held loosely between two fingers. "Ah, that it will be." Abel started to go over the newer reports on the loading of the Ark. It was going slowly, but there were only a few months until all of them were on their way back to Earth. A small smile appeared on Abel's face at the thought of Earth.

The reason it was going so slowly was because systems were being moved over there. Then there were the endless checks over the systems and the loading of less essential items first. After than they would start to load supplies and more essential items such as medical equipment. Finally people and their belongings would be loaded and launch would be underway.

His smile vanished. There was still so much to be done. The Ark wasn't even half of the list for Abel to do. Though he had to sign off and check everything that went aboard the Ark. He also had his normal duties to see to of running the colony. The politics and day to day life of everyone who lived under the dome, as well as those outside seeing to the mining of water and the last gold and mineral deposits they'd found.

"Why not take tomorrow off, sir?" Wilson suggested. "I've taken a few in the past few months to be with my wife, but you've not taken one. You're going to work yourself to death at this rate."

Hesitating, Abel eyed his second. It sounded like Wilson was urging him to take more than just a day off. "The day or the week?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"The week," Wilson said with a smile and a small laugh, "but I thought it would be easier to convince to take a day off over a week."

Abel sighed. "Both actually sound good," he stated. "Though, boredom might get the better of me by the end of the first two days."

"True," Wilson nodded. "Why not say you're taking the week off and if you get bored just come back to work?"

Laughing, Abel shook his head. "Arthur and Tabitha would never let me hear the end of it." He turned his attention back to the screen as he continued, "But it would be better than filing each day for another day off."

"Trying to find the lazy way out I see," Wilson smiled. "Well, you'll just have to live with being annoyed at Asran for poking fun at you when you do come back early." He returned to his own work, showing that they both should stop talking.

Abel smiled to himself as he went through the reports. As always Wilson was the first to get up. He bid Abel a goodnight and left the shared office with one of the guards. The two others remained flanking the door with two more standing on either side of Abel. He was still working when Arthur entered the room.

"Hey, aren't your eyes dead yet?" Arthur half teased, half demanded.

"About to be," Abel confessed and leaned back in his seat, rubbing his tired eyes. Standing, Abel glanced at the last of the reports and sighed. "I was trying to get as much done as I could."

Arthur laughed and crossed the room to the desk. "I heard you finally decided to take some time off. You know we'll still be following you like shadows, right?"

"Yeah, I figured." Abel started passed his friend, heading for the door and a much needed dinner. "How's Athy been?" he asked as the two of them walked into the hall. The other four guards had followed and two more joined them.

"Good, form what she's been telling me, though she's scared away every boy suitable for her," Aran sighed. "I'll really never be a grandfather at this rate," he pouted, sounding heartbroken at the idea of never being a grandfather.

Abel laughed. "Perhaps you're just putting too much pressure on her. We're from a generation where she'd have been an old woman by now and we'd be ash."

"True," Arthur nodded, "and to believe we've nearly two more centuries ahead of us when get back to Earth."

A shiver raced through Abel. "Yeah…"

"You really don't want to be leading for another two centuries, do you?" Arthur elbowed Abel in the ribs.

"I really don't want to be living for another two centuries," Abel retorted, "let alone leading."

"Well, you're not going to die anytime soon which means you have to continue leading." Arthur sighed. "You're not really that ashamed of leading, are you?"

"No, but a break will be nice."

"That is true. It might be less boring for your guards as well." Arthur winked at Abel.

Abel slugged Arthur, striking him hard in the stomach.

Doubling over, Arthur coughed. He raised one shaking finger and wheezed, "That was far from funny."

"As was your statement," Abel growled.

"Whatever," Arthur shrugged and they started off once more. "Just know, that it's about time you took some time off that wasn't forced."

xxx

It'd taken less than two days for Abel to get bored. He would've returned to work on the third if Arthur hadn't let slip that he had a bet going on Abel making it the full week.

"So instead of returning to work, you're just going to wander around," Barrack sighed and rubbed his eyes. "You really know how to make my job harder, don't you?"

Abel grunted. He'd figured that Barrack was the one Arthur was betting against and it was hard enough having to choose between which friend would win without Barrack getting more and more stressed out.

"You useless bitch!" the shout drew Abel to a stop.

A cry of pain followed, coming from the room just ahead of Abel. Abel made took a step towards the door, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Looking at Barrack, one eyebrow cocked, Abel silently told the man there was no way he was going to stand back and watch that girl get beaten up.

"You're music is doing nothing to help the colony. You're completely worthless."

Sighing, Barrack released Abel's shoulder and made a helpless gesture. This told Abel that the man would follow to make certain Abel didn't get harmed. Abel smiled as if replying that Barrack could see to Abel's safety but Abel was to see the safety of those in the colony.

"Get out there and do some good!"

Another cry of pain sounded.

Abel raced to the door and looked into the room. There were three boys standing around a young woman. Her arms cover her face and she was pinned between the wall and the piano. Abel recognized the three boys from the years of Christmas celebrations. There were two of the younger boys now in their early teens and the eldest was in his late teens, nearly twenty.

"What's going on here?" Abel's voice was calm as he walked further into the well lit room. Instruments were everywhere: leaning against the walls or hanging from them. There were chairs before holo-screens which currently displayed, switching musical notes, and only one piano in the back of the room which rested beside an organ. The girl was back there with the three boys.

"Nothing that concerns you," sneered one of the boys, breaking off from the other two to intercept Abel.

Abel stared at the kid, caught off guard at his ruddiness. Even though Abel wasn't wearing his coat, it should've plain to this group who Abel was. Hell, it wasn't like there was another person who looked twenty and had silvery hair.

"We were just teaching her a lesson."

"Leave now," Abel growled, he glared at the brat before him.

"Who the hell do you think you are?!" the oldest demanded, moving away from the girl to stand by his buddy's side. "The president?" he scoffed at this.

"I am warning you to back off and to leave that girl alone. This is the last one you're getting, kid." Abel bit back on his rising temper. Right then he wanted to really teach these kids a lesson.

"Ha!" the leader of the group jabbed his thumb at Abel. "Looks we got ourselves someone who wants to play hero. He needs to be taught want happens to those who do," he sneered, cracking his knuckles.

Abel gestured for Barrack not to interfere. The third in the group moved up to flank the oldest.

Barrack sighed and took a seat, saying, "Go easy on them, sir."

"Sir?" the youngest boy glanced at Barrack. "He has a red uniform," he hissed at the leader.

"So what?" the oldest one charged Abel head-on while the other two hesitated before leaping at Abel from both sides.

Abel side stepped the leader and caught his arm. He threw the kid into this buddies before they'd come within a foot of Abel.

"Who's playing?" Abel asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"You bastard!" the leader was on his feet and charged Abel again. He swung a punch at Abel's neck and tried to kick Abel's side at the same time.

Abel grabbed his fist and whipped around the boy. He pressed the boy's arm against his back, nearly breaking the bone in doing so.

"Ahhh!" the boy cried.

"Leave the girl alone," Abel hissed in the boy's ear. "Or you will end with more than a sprained arm."

"All right!" the boy shouted.

Abel released him and the boy stumbled several paces. He rubbed his arm and glanced at Barrack.

"Who the heck are you?" he demanded.

"The one person you said I wasn't," Abel stated. At the boy's blank stare, Abel sighed, "Abel Nightlord."

"Th-the president." He backed away. "Look we don't want more trouble, s-sir."

"Then leave," Abel stated.

"Right, right." The boy didn't even help his two friends, he just bolted. The other two looked at Abel with nervous eyes before racing after the other boy. "Wait for us!"

"I doubt they'll be back anytime soon." Barrack stood and stretched. "But I might as well stand guard outside to make certain they don't try anything." He waved over his shoulder Abel before vanishing into the hall.

Abel watched him go before walking over to girl and kneeling down before her. He pulled out a clean cloth and started to wipe blood from her face as gently as he could.

She flinched away from him.

"They won't be coming back," Abel stated, "and I'm not going to harm you."

"You're the president," she muttered, pushing some of her long, black hair behind one ear. "It's not right."

"Not right to help one of my people, especially one who needs it?" Both of Abel's eyebrows rose. "By that logic, a lot of people wouldn't be getting helped, you among them."

Her cheeks were stained pink and she glanced at him out of the corner of eyes. She had beautiful, dark brown eyes which seemed to complement her dark hair perfectly.

"Would you rather I'd stayed out of this and let those boys beat you?" Abel asked in a light voice.

She shook her head and winced at the movement. "Th-they were going to break my hands," she whispered. She blinked rapidly.

"It's all right," Abel whispered and wiped more blood from her lip, "they can't hurt you now." Though, he didn't know how truthful that statement was. The boys would be back the second Abel left and would hurt her greatly. "What's your name?"

This made her stop shaking. Instead she looked at him in confusion. "You don't recognize me?" There was a pause in which she laughed. The laugh and small smile suited her far more than tears and fear. "I guess it's not that shocking, I've not been Christmas celebrations since I was seven."

Abel stared at her as who she was hit him. "Sara, Sara Williams?" It took a lot of effort to not drop his jaw at this news. Sh-she'd grown into a pretty young woman. "I guess I shouldn't be shocked, you do look a lot like Tabitha. I'll stay with you until Tabitha or Kayson comes by to get you."

Sara brightened at this. "Really?" she stared at him with wide, hopeful eyes. She glanced at the piano beside her. "Can you play anything?"

"No," Abel replied then smiled, "but I would be honored to learn." He gave her a slight bow which made her blush all the harder. Helping her to her feet, Abel smiled at her. He really didn't want to learn, but it had seemed the right thing to say to get her to smile.

Sara took a seat and Abel sat down beside her. "I'll play one first, then show you," she said and started to play. Her thin fingers glided across the keys. It was a simple enough tone. The song closed and Sara pointed at the page she'd been reading off of. "This is—"

Abel touched the first key she had. When it didn't sound right he adjusted and started to play the song. It took him two attempts to play it back note prefect. Looking at her, he saw her staring at him with her eyes wide and mouth open.

"I take it, that was horrible," he stated and sighed.

"No, it was prefect!" Sara exclaimed. "Are you certain you've never played before?"

"If I have then it's unknown to me."

"Try this one." Sara played a longer song and Abel was forced to focus on her hands and the keys so he could repeat it back.

When he played it back to her, Abel made certain he did everything she had, holding the notes for the lengths he'd heard and moving to the next almost in time to how she had. She played another without a word uttered to him and Abel played it back.

After over an hour of this, Abel was starting to get where the keys where and which sounded good with the others. He glanced at the hand written sheet music Sara was riffling through.

"You wrote these?" he asked.

"Some," Sara smiled. "Others are copied from music sheets people let me borrow." She turned to the first song she'd played, "Here," she pointed to the first notes.

Abel was forced to lean closer to her in order to better see the page. She told him about the different notes and their meanings, which one which with which key and more. She then had him play a song that he hadn't heard yet. He winced at every mistake he made in playing. He then tried again, trying not to look at his hands as much as he had before. It sounded bettered, but not quite right. He scowled and tried again. Still it didn't sound right.

A hand over his made Abel stop in trying again, Sara whispered, "It doesn't have to be prefect." She turned to another song. "Try this one instead."

Abel frowned, then sighed and tried it. Once he'd played it once through Sara turned to another song, stopping him from repeating that one. He played the next song as well. She then turned back to the first.

Hours seemed to slip away. It wasn't until Abel heard to two people enter the room that he stopped playing even though it was only part way through a song.

"I wasn't aware you played the piano, sir," Tabitha stated.

Abel stood and gave her a small smile. "Sara was just teaching me."

"Well then, you two can continue with that lesson tomorrow." There was a glint in her eye that Abel knew all too well. "After all you have the rest of the week off." To Sara, she said, "Go on and head down. I'll join you and your father in a bit."

"All right." Sara nodded and walked towards the door. She paused and glanced back at the two of them before leaving.

"Look, sir, I'm going to ask you a favor," Tabitha started in a hushed voice. "I know there are group of kids beating my little girl. I've scared them off but they keep coming back."

"Yes, I chased them off when I came in," Abel stated.

"I suspected as much. Can you say… date her to stop them from beating her?"

Abel gaped at her. What the hell was Tabitha thinking?! Sara was seventeen and Abel – he was one hundred and nine. For the love of God he was older than Tabitha was.

"You're the only one I can think of who would be good to her and would be able to protect her," Tabitha continued.

Abel glanced at Barrack who just looked back at him before saying, "Age difference aside, it would be good for you to have someone in your life again, sir."

"Sara's—"

"I said, 'age difference aside,'" Barrack repeated.

Abel sighed then nodded. "All right, but only because those boys will make it so she can't play again before too long."

"Thank you!" Tabitha hugged him before heading for the door. "Be good to her."

Abel grumbled and waved after Tabitha. Once she was gone, he muttered, "I'm so going to regret this."

"Look at the brightside, it will get many people to stop stalking you and make my job easier."

"Is that why you—" Abel started but cut off. "Never mind."

The rest of the week Abel spent with Sara. She was charming girl, he had to give her that much, and seemed to be full of life. But he couldn't bring himself to think of her as his girlfriend, in his mind he kept seeing the little seven year old who had played so beautifully that Christmas.

Over the week she continued to teach Abel the piano and had him play pieces of a song she was working for the people when Earth came into sight of the Ark. She told him it was called "Home Again."

When the boys noticed Abel was with Sara they would hang around for a few minutes until one of Abel's guards approached them. This alone told Abel it was the right thing to do… he just wished it hadn't been him being forced to date this young woman.

Abel had to admit he was enjoying playing the piano. It gave him something more to do other than read as he had been in his free time. He'd read every book he'd brought with him plus some so many times he had them memorized word for word. This was much better and far more challenging.

(Author's Note: We are now half way through this part.

Also a little note on the timeline: I've had to move around when some of the characters were born to get it back to what cannon should be. Abel and the others only spent around 80 years on Mars and to keep Sara around 16-18 (she's 17 here) when they start dating, and the age difference between Azul and Aran at three years, I had to change when Sara, Azul, Valdemar, Aran, and so on were born.)