Trinity Blood: Divergent Path
Chapter 45: War's Dawn

Several hours had passed. Abel was in his room aboard the ship, staring at the far wall as he had been since bringing Arthur's body on board. No one had tried to speak with him since then. Either they were scared of him or they were just trying to give him his space. Both hurt and both were welcome all at once.

He hadn't been able to stop himself from thinking that he should've died as well. All the others who'd left with him were now dead. He was all that remained from the group sent out for the "peace" meeting. When he told Sara and Athy, would they blame him for letting the others die? Surely that was a yes, seeing as Abel blamed himself. He couldn't expect them to not blame him for it.

A knock sounded on at the door. "My lord, it's Wilson," came Barrack's voice, "he wishes to speak with you before we land."

Abel sighed and stood. He hid all his emotions behind a careful façade before he moved to the door and opened. Not to his suppress Wilson was standing in the hall, looking travel warn and rather tired. Abel stepped to one side, allowing for Wilson to enter.

Once Wilson was in the room and the door had closed, he said, "I must be honest with you, Abel." There was no formality to his voice, which was nice because right then Abel didn't feel like an emperor let alone a leader of any sort. "But war isn't the way I wanted to spend the rest of my life."

"I can understand that," Abel stated his voice even despite the fact he had a feeling he knew where this was going. The only reason Wilson would've come to him now was to either lecture him on starting war or to leave.

"There is a small group in the empire who've been wondering when they can leave and return to Albion." Wilson turned to Abel, looking him in the eye. "Once we land, we're going to head there. I've already cleared it with her majesty."

"Do what you must," Abel told him but he couldn't even manage a weak smile right then. There had just been too much pain the last few days. Everything had started to fall apart around him, the dreams and hopes of his people and more. "Keep those who follow you safe." Abel held out his hand to his friend and old second.

Wilson clasped his hand and managed a weak smile. "I promise you, Abel, we'll never forget the empire or what you've done for our people. To those who come with me you will always be our first and only Emperor. The generations to come will know of you and sacrifices made by all to get us back to Earth."

Abel bowed his head to the older man. Part of him was grateful that Wilson wanted the generations to come to remember them, but another part of him could've done without being remembered himself. "Thank you for everything, Wilson, you'll be missed." That was more than the truth. Abel would miss the man's level headedness and support, especially since Abel still had a habit of running things by him.

"I know you'll do whatever it takes to protect our people and even if it means killing yourself. Just remember to not actually kill yourself, Nightlord, our people need you now more than ever."

"I'll keep it in mind."

"It was honor, Nightlord, I might not be military but I would never take back meeting you or what we accomplished. Goodbye, my friend." Wilson bowed before he left the room.

The door hissed shut behind him, leaving Abel with a deeper ache in his chest than he'd had before. Right then it felt as if everyone he'd known, all of his friends and closest allies were dead or leaving. In this one moment he felt completely alone.

Abel sat back down on the bed and stared at the floor. Perhaps he shouldn't think like that just yet. After all Solomon, Barrack, and Alexander were still here. In the end he should just be looking at that and the fact that he still have three of his friends alive and well. But for how long? There was no telling who would die and who would live in this war?

A knock sounded. "Sir, we've landed." It was Barrack.

Sighing, Abel stood and pulled on the black cape in order to best avoid the people's attention. All throughout the trip to the palace, Lilith had kept a stony silence. If the others had been speaking, Abel wouldn't have minded as much or really taken notice. But the silence made her anger and annoyance towards him all the more acute.

When he arrived at the palace all was silent. The only people in the halls were the yeniçeri, which wasn't really surprising seeing as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. Abel headed off to clean up. He didn't want to tell Sara the bad news while he wore all black clothes. When he looked into the mirror, he found himself looking into drawn tired features. He hadn't slept on the way back and he hadn't eaten anything either. Not that anyone had tried to get him to eat. Besides he doubted he could eat anything right then.

"You fool," he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing. "You're a damned fool."

Not only did he have to speak with Athy and Sara, but he had to inform the people war was breaking out with the Vatican. Perhaps even soon Albion would join forces with the Vatican. It was the last thing he wanted, especially since Wilson and the others had gone to join Albion. He didn't want Wilson caught up in this mess.

There was nothing Abel could do. Even if he reached out to Albion they wouldn't listen. They're ties to Rome were too set in stone for him to do anything to stop that from happening.

Abel bowed his head. Water still dripped from his hair which fell around his face as a damp curtain. War. He closed eyes. The image of Kayson's, Tabitha's, and Arthur's deaths were burned into his eyelids. A single hot tear slid down his face. He felt sick then at what had followed Arthur's death and the rage that had taken hold of him. Those soldiers hadn't deserved that death, only Myles did and the man had escaped.

A knock sounded on the door. "Brother, I know you're in there," Seth's voice was gentle and so unlike Lilith's had been. "Lilith told me what happened or parts of it," she continued. "Come out, brother, please."

He took a deep breath and straightened. Seth needed to know the full story of what had happened. Besides she might be easier to speak with than Athy and Sara would be. And he would be speaking with the two of them next. Abel stepped out of the bathroom and was greeted by Seth. She was already wearing black, her eyes pained and full of sorrow.

"I saw their bodies," she told him, her voice level and even, unwavering. "Barrack said Myles shot Arthur against the wishes of his soldiers. Is it true?"

Abel nodded. "Yes," his voice didn't crack but it was soft.

"I'll called Athy here," Seth said a briskness to her voice now that hid the sorrow that he could see in her eyes. "Sara's in her rooms with Valdemar. Do you want me to inform them?"

"I can do it," Abel told his sister. "For both Sara and Athy."

Seth nodded before she turned. But she didn't leave. "Brother, if you need anything, I'm here for you."

"I'll be fine, Seth," Abel said but he couldn't even force a smile. At this moment his heart felt too hallow. "Thank you for the offer, dear sister."

"Abel," Seth started, "I-I'm glad you made it out alive." Her eyes were brimmed with tears. "There was a moment where all of us feared you were gone as well."

He bowed his head, not certain how to respond to this. A part of him wanted to walk over to her and hug, tell her it was all right that he would never go anywhere. Another part of him couldn't bring himself to lie to her, she was old enough to know it wasn't the truth. The last, smallest and scariest part of him wished that he hadn't made it back. That he had died with his friends or in their place. But then that wouldn't have solved anything. As the emperor, his death would've ignited this war as surely as theirs had.

There was a long drawn out silence before Seth bowed her head and left the rooms. He was alone once more, staring at the wall opposite him. His mind replied the deaths over again before he took a deep breath. The air struck his lungs hard. It was what he needed to go tell Sara the bad news first. He'd wait until tomorrow to inform Athy so that he could do so in person rather than over the radio.

Abel took a deep breath. He straightened his shoulders and forced his features to be blank. Right then he couldn't show any signs of his own sorrow or pain. He left his rooms and headed through the halls to where Sara would be staying with her little brother.

Once at her door he lifted his hand and hesitated. It took him several moments to gather his thoughts and make damn certain she wouldn't see any signs that he was taking this hard as well. Then he knocked.

The soft sound of a violin which had been playing beyond stopped. A few moments later the door was opened by Sara. "Mom, is that—" she cut off at the sight of Abel. "Abel!" she threw her arms around him and hugged him. It was an embrace he didn't return.

"Sara, we need to talk." When she released him he asked, "May I?" and gestured to the inside of her apartments.

"Of course." A frown pulled at her lips and her dark eyes were watchful as she stepped to one side.

Abel stepped inside and looked around at the familiar space. There was a piano tucked to one side and a violin rested on the couch beside a small crib which no doubt held the little baby Valdemar.

"What's going on?" Sara asked as she crossed the room. She placed her violin back into its case before she turned to him.

"It might be easier if you sit," Abel started.

"No, I want to hear it upfront, what's wrong?" she repeated, eyes locked on him. "Where's mom and dad? They said they would come by for Valdemar the second you landed even if it was close to dawn."

"Sara," Abel started and paused as he took a deep breath, "they're not coming."

"W-what?" she gave a chocked laughed. "That's the worst joke ever, Abel. Of course they're coming. Are they out in the hall listening now?" She made to move back towards the door, but Abel caught her wrist.

"They're not coming back," he told her in a soft, but stern voice. "They're gone, Sara."

Her eyes widened as she looked into his. For several heart stopping moments it looked as if she was going to cry.

He loosened his hold on her arm. "Sara, I'm sorry, I—"

"You're lying!" her cry tore straight into Abel's heart. She wrenched her wrist from his grasp and raced from the room.

Valdemar started to cry at the sound of the shout and slamming door. Abel hesitated as he glanced at the baby before he raced after her. "Sara!" he shouted as he caught a glimpse of her vanishing behind a bend. His heart sank; she was heading for the main entrance. "Sara!" he raced after her.

He leapt down the stairs, taking them three at a time to try and catch up to her. She was going to race out straight into the rising sun.

"Sara, stop!" he shouted as he saw heading straight for the door. His muscles strained as he forced himself to go faster.

Her fingers were on the handle when Abel caught up to her. First his hand wrapped around her wrist before he pulled her back from the door. Every muscle in her body was tense as she fought against his hold. He dug in, trying hard to hurt her, but he had to keep her from killing herself.

"Sara, stop this," he growled at her, dragging her a little further from the door.

A scream tore from her, mixing with a chocked sob. "Let me go. They're just beyond the door I know it, I know it!"

"Help me!" Abel shouted at the guards who had followed him. They rushed over to them and helped Abel pull her back from the doors and her certain death. At once her body went limp as she stopped struggling and the two of them fell to the ground, the guards leaping back to not be caught up in it as well. "They're gone, Sara," Abel whispered in her ear.

Tears slid down her face. "Get away," she whispered, her voice choked and harsh. "Get away from me!" she pushed away from him, but the guards moved to block the exit. "Let me out there," she shouted and moved to push passed them, but the guards took hold of her as well.

"Sara," – Abel got to his feet – "stop this madness." He placed his hand on her shoulder.

The tears fell more freely now and he could see her struggles lessen. She turned to him. Whack – pain shot through Abel's cheek as she struck him as hard as she could. The entire right side of his face went numb.

"You lied!" she shrieked. "It was a peace meeting. You said they would be safe. You lied!" with that she raced off once more, heading back up the stairs.

"Sir?" one of the guards stepped towards him.

"Sara!" Abel turned and followed after her. Pain filled his heart. In the end he had lied and he had no right to go after her, but he had to make certain she would be all right. He saw her return to her rooms and heard the door slam behind her again. "Sara?" he asked as he stopped before the door. He could just make out the sounds of the baby's and her own sobs beyond. "I'm sorry. I know it won't bring them back, but for what it's worth, I wish I could exchange places with them. I'm sorry."

With those words he turned and headed back down the hall. The guards had stopped at the end of the hallway. Both of them wore uneasy frowns.

"Make certain she doesn't try that again," Abel told them.

"Yes, your Majesty!" Both straightened and placed their fists over their hearts.

Abel continued off down the hall until he reached his own apartments. That was one person told and one more he had yet to go. How would Athy react? At least he would be telling her during the darkness instead of dawn. He closed his eyes and sank down onto the couch.

The mask he'd been wearing melted away in that instance. Tears slid down his face. No sobs came as he cried in the darkness of his rooms, silent as if he weren't really crying at all. None would know and none would come to check on him. He would remain to those around him the emperor they needed. But alone, during the hours all else were asleep, he could let go of the façade and cry. For these few hours, he wasn't the emperor, he wasn't a ruler or the person all others needed him to be. In these few hours he could let it all out as long as he was silent and none could hear him, he could break down. But, unlike with Sonya, there was no one their to share the grief. No one there to support him as he supported them in return. For the first time he was acutely aware that he was completely alone. Now more than ever, he was alone for Lilith was madder than ever at him. And there was no more hope in him at ever making up with her.

Abel didn't know if he slept at all. Sometime during the "night" he'd stopped crying and had just sat there. If his eyes closed or not he wasn't aware of it, all he knew was there was silence all around him and his mind was filled with the thoughts and emotions that wrapped around his heart and seemed to turn his blood to ice.

A knock sounded on the door and he glanced towards it. Abel took a deep breath and stood. "Yes?" he called.

Several of the servants entered the space. "Majesty," they bowed to him.

Abel hesitated before he moved back into his room with the small group. Before too long, he was in his office, waiting for Athy to arrive. He was going over in his head how to break it to her that Arthur was dead.

The door opened and closed but Abel didn't turn from the window or the cloud covered night beyond. Several long moments passed before he started, "Athy—"

"I can guess what you're about to say," she stated, "dad's dead. I knew from the moment you called me to palace and he didn't come to speak with me," she told him.

"He is," Abel confirmed, forcing his head not bow. It was hard to keep the tears back again let alone not waver. Arthur had been as close as blood.

"There's going to another war, isn't there?"

He hesitated then confirmed in a soft voice, "Yes."

"Then, I've a request. Not as a soldier or citizen of the empire to her emperor, but as a daughter to her father's closest friend." She took a deep breath. "Let me take my father's place at your side. Let me join your team for this war and fight as he did along side you. Not as my emperor will I lay down my life but as your friend and ally. Let me do this for him and for you, Uncle Abel."

Abel turned to her. He didn't know what to say until his eyes met hers. There was sorrow there, yes, but also a deep determination. "Athy, Arthur would never want this for you."

All this did was make her stand straighter and raise her chin. "I will uphold the dreams this empire was founded on. The dream my father and you shared, even if I have to follow you out without your permission." With each word her voice grew steadier and steadier. "More than that, I want to keep the hope of that dream alive for the generations to follow mine. If war is what awaits us then I will fight with every last breath in my body, for my empire, for my leader, and for my home! Let me do so at your side, Uncle Abel, please?"

For a moment Abel didn't move. He then crossed the room to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Of course, Athy. After all, what would a Nightlord be without an Asran at his side?"

She looked him in the eye and smiled. It wasn't a happy smile, but rather one filled with pain and relief. "You won't regret this, I swear." She hugged him. "Thank you, Uncle Abel. I promise I won't let you or dad down!"

"You never once let Arthur down, Athy," Abel replied and returned the hug. "He was prouder of you than you can ever imagine."

"Do you think," – she broke away from Abel and looked at the ground – "he was upset I never had a child?"

Abel placed his hand on her chin and made her look at him. "Arthur wanted a grandkid, there's no denying that."

She stiffened and looked down, but didn't force Abel to release her chin.

"But, more than that, he wanted you to be happy. Arthur loved you more than anything else in this world or any other. You were his future and his life. I think he would've come to except your decision and respect it."

It was in that moment he saw Athy's resolve crumble. Her shoulders shook as tears slid down her face. "I-I never even got to say sorry to him. We had an argument right before he left and now I can't even take back what I said to him." She shook her head. "Worst of it is, I told him I wanted him out of my life, to stop meddling." She looked up at Abel. "What did you do? After your daughters died?"

He stiffened in shock at the question.

"I-I know they never drew breath, but Kayson and dad talked about it when they thought no one was listening, at how they would've lived if not…" More tears slid down her face. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Abel swallowed back the sudden rush of shock and pain at them being mentioned. He crossed over to his desk. "Each year following the incident, I lit a candle." He pulled out the small box he always kept and moved back over to Athy. "They had no graves or place for me to light it so I would keep one lit in the morning to say I remembered then one lit through the night while I slept." He held out one candle to Athy. "For each candle lit, it will be a sign that those of us left behind remember them and the life they led. Not just one moment, but all of it, the good and the bad. The funny and the sad. Ones that we wish we could take back and ones that we would never replace."

She took a candle and he lit it.

"Arthur was a good man, a good soldier, a loyal husband, and a strong, if not overbearing father." Abel looked her in the eye. "Tomorrow he will be mourned and remembered for all that he was along with Kayson and Tabitha. Those who loved them will never forget them no matter how long any of us live."

Athy stared at the candle light. The tears had slowed, but not stopped.

"I know this might not be the best time, but Arthur brought your mother's ashes back with him," Abel told her. "I thought he would want her to rest beside him in death as she had been with him in life."

Athy's eyes widened. "H-he never told me." She straightened and dried her eyes. "I think dad would've wanted that when he passed."

xxx

A soft breeze pulled at Abel's long coat as he watched the grave stones being placed. As they'd done back on Mars all the bodies were burned, but this time they could place the ashes into the ground and put up grave stones. Others had been placed upon arrival on Earth on this island for everyone lost during the years on Mars. Now, four new ones were placed near the top of the hill.

Abel held one candle and silently turned to Athy and Sara to light theirs. From them others were lit as well. Athy had asked for each of them to hold a candle this night to remember those who had passed.

There weren't many people there, just those who had been close to Kayson, Tabitha, and Arthur. Most were of the old medical and security staff, but others were patients who Kayson had helped or those who had loved speaking with Arthur and Tabitha.

Athy stepped forward, holding her candle as light and as her sorrow. "My father was a great man who dreamed of the future for our people and this nation. He held to many ideals and to the hope that all of us would one day find safety here on Earth. I believe my father died with that hope in mind and held in his heart. Our people won't be beaten back or forced from our homes. It is in us that we find the will to fight for our freedom, hopes, and dreams. We were the people who went to mars for the hope of the future and the ones who can make it all come true! This was what my father believed in more than anything else. I know he would weep at the knowledge war has come again, but I also know he wouldn't have hesitated to stand by our emperor and fight for our people. For their future and for the hope of the brighter future all of us have dreamed of. Please take a moment to remember one thing about him."

The people bowed their heads as Abel did. He couldn't remember just one thing about Arthur, but if he could only keep one memory of his friend it would be the joy he had from life and that one moment when he'd first told Abel they were friends. He closed his eyes, locking into place all he could of the man and his life.

Next Sara moved up and Athy returned to Abel's side. "If there is one thing I want to keep alive about my parents, it was the fact that no matter what was thrown at them they would always make it better for themselves and for the colony. My father believed that just a little kindness could go along way and strove to make the lives of each patient he saw a little better even when all they could see was pain and death.

"My mother," – she smiled and gave a choked sob – "was the kind of person who never liked to see those around her with sad or down expressions. I know many of us will hold to the parties she helped setup and put so much energy into making happen. Her moments were always the ones when dances were going and music was playing. She loved my father and both of her children as did my father. But," – she looked at the crowd – "through the lie of continued peace, the very thing all of us have dreamed of since coming to Earth, neither of them will ever see my brother turn one or know who he grows up to be. Their future and the future all dreamed of was stolen from them!" She took a deep breath and said, "I will hold forever to the warmth and the support my parents gave to me and to those around."

The people nodded before bowing their heads again in remembrance of the two of them. Abel did the same. In his heart he knew they had been a good couple, both dedicated and strong. And both had only ever wanted to see a world where their children would grow up knowing only the peace they had never known as children or later in their lives.

As the others said their last words to the graves, Abel watched on in silence. Soon only he, Athy, Sara, Seth, and Lilith were left and they turned after saying their final words and left as well.

At least Abel stepped up to the graves and placed his candle by the others. "I'm sorry, Arthur, I failed to keep the hope of peace alive." To Kayson and Tabitha he whispered, "I failed you as well. I should never have asked you two to come with me, but I thought that if anyone should've been there it should've been you two. You who had strived so hard and worked to keep relations good up until now. I had thought… but that was all mistake and now neither of you will ever have the chance to know your son. I'm sorry, to all of you, I am." He bowed his head. "I survived where you three died. Perhaps if-if I had just given myself to Myles at the start you would still be alive, all of you." He turned his eyes skyward. "I promise you this, even if it means killing every last one of them, peace will come for our people. You're deaths won't be for nothing, my friends."

He turned away from the graves and started back towards the palace.


(Author's Note: Hi, guys. I know it's been a long time since I last updated and it will be again. I am trying to get a webcomic launched by this summer and that is taking up most of my free time . When I do write this it will be when I can't stand working on the comic anymore and need a little fix in fan base world. Err, also part of this chapter was written right after the last chapter and so some of the style might appear as if it's changed… yeah.

Also, speaking of comics, Trinity Blood has updated through to number 64 on the web. I highly suggest to those of you who've not caught up or were unaware of the updates to read them. The last ones are well worth it even if Abel's not in any of them!)