While William rusticated in his cell, Issac had been busy using the distraction that Dietrich's bumbling made.

The Vatican was primed for the powder keg he had waiting… the Inquisition left flustered from the attack on that blue haired commander, according to his contacts. AX was without both the Crusnik and the Professor, which would take out that damned living doll as well. Issac sat at his desk, a long cigarillo lazily held in his left hand as he looked over his notes.

A large troop of Autojägers were pressing in on Krakow to lure more of the church soldiers away from Rome. Skirmishes were proving to be very effective. A few more substantial attacks, perhaps a small town or two and they would be sending a warship. The failed assassination of the injured commander wasn't a total loss, adding to the paranoia taking over the city.

The best bit of news though was a sighting of 02 traveling through a train station, not more than a day's travel away. Knowing the level of intelligence the twins had, Issac was confident that Abel had gathered enough clues to locate Cain.

"Perhaps we could open the front door for him? Or at least leave the lock undone?" He mused aloud.

"He would know it's a trap, instead of thinking he has the element of surprise." Cain commented, he was draped over a plush leather easy chair, a bag of salty peanuts resting on his middle.

"True. The report mentions him still with that vampire woman."

"Perhaps after dear Esther he just can't do without a woman trailing along?"

Issac glanced over at Cain, "you could push him over a bit by giving her the same treatment you did Lilith."

"Been there done that, I can do far better now." He tossed a few peanuts in his mouth.

"We can leave them a trail to the south entrance, and with enough skirmishes to wear him down and take her captive… The large tank construction corridor would be a good place for you to finally take him down."

"Fantastic, I'll think about what I can do with that vampire while I rest in the tank… we have what a day or so?"

"If that. I'll have a chat with William, see what I can learn about the woman for curiosity's sake."

A blip on Issacks communicator caught his attention. A new report from his intel at the Vatican.

The Inquisition has made a move against the duchess of Milan. Her AX division have been detained and their records seized. Awaiting orders.

"Well well, this just keeps getting better."

—-

Abel had made a simple meal out of the rations, re-hydrated stew and some small buns. Tea was steaming in the campfire kettle, and they could hear the horses chewing on the long dried grass around their feet. Astha had set up their pop up tent and unrolled the sleeping bags for a short rest after they ate.

Astha sat down on the stump Abel had provided as makeshift chairs around the fire, once settled Abel handed her a plate of food. She smiled in thanks, not quite ready to eat.

"It's so quiet here… no birds or anything." He commented as he tucked into his meal.

"It is. So different from being back home in the city." She looked over at him, the glow of the fire on his face and the pale of the moonlight on his silver hair. Her hand moved up to rub where he had bit earlier, the skin had healed but was still very sensitive. Her teeth tingled slightly as she remembered sinking them into his flesh. It had been a wholly new experience, something she knew was hardwired into her nature but always denied… she ran her tongue over her teeth, feeling the points.

"Are you in pain?" Abel's low octave disrupting her thoughts.

"N-no, no pain.. just reflecting. I've ah… never bitten before."He had seen her reach to the bite mark, the distant look as she had stared at his shoulder.

"Really? Never at all?"

"No, for the safety of our Terran community it's quite taboo to drink from the vein. In the more adventurous circles there are what are called slash parties… a Terran let's the host bleed them into small bowls. While I'm sure some do go to the next step, the Empress is quite strict about keeping it controlled."

"Well that does make a lot of sense. As we've seen in a few other vampi—uh methuselah cities where it only takes a few rogues to destroy the tentative balance. Considering my past employment, it's a common enough occurrence outside of the Empire."

An awkward silence stretched between them as they ate. Astha took their empty plates, washing them off with the last of the boiled water. Abel busied himself pouring two large cups of the now quite strong tea.

She watched as he took a sip of the tea, scowling fiercely at the offending brew.

"Do you want sugar? We have quite the supply." Astha asked when she returned. In her hand was a jar filled to the top with cubes.

"Please! This stuff would grow hair on even your chest."

A teasing smirk crossed her lips. "Perhaps we should test your theory, for science."

"Ah..er well um.." he coughed. "I would prefer you without a hairy chest personally."

She started with a chuckle that turned into a bit louder laugh.

"I passed muster for you then?" She dropped four cubes of sugar into his cup, and with a second thought put two in hers as well.

"With flying colours." He grinned as he took his cup, swirling to mix the sugar in.

Astha pushed her stump up against his, and sat so she could lean into him if she wanted.

"There's only a few hours till dawn. You should get some sleep." He said quietly, looking into his cup.

"I know, but I'm not tired, I should be but I'm not… I have so many questions, but can't find the words."

"So I can render you speechless?" A grin pulled at his lips.

"At times apparently."

His grin turned into a smug smile of male satisfaction.

"Good."

A solid punch to his shoulder jostled his tea but he expected it.

"You can be an ass sometimes." She muttered without any malice.

"I feel I can be myself finally… I don't have to hide anything for once. 02 is not a threat to you and that means you're actually safe with all of me."

Her golden eyes flickered up to his, her expression soft.

"I warned you every chance I could about me. Now you're stuck with me, and 02."

"Doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me. A bit unorthodox but I've never done things by the book."

"02 said you're compatible… to the point that you're a better host."

"He better not be trying to jump ship."

Abel smirked. "I don't think I would survive, as I have said not a patch of me is mine anymore, it's all been remade at some point or another, I'm just the blueprint."

"You are still you, the man. The flesh is just building blocks of tissue. You still bleed and your heart beats in rhythm."

"Perhaps…"

Astha set her empty mug down, and settled her hands around his. When his eyes met hers she smiled again before leaning forward.

"I enjoyed kissing the man… perhaps he did a little too?"

A bashful grin spread across lips, "perhaps I did, perhaps I did immensely." He closed the distance between them, catching her lips with his for a deep kiss.

The steam and smoke of the fire clouded around them as he tossed the remains of his tea to douse the meager flames, Astha tugging at his hand to lead him to the tent.

"You have an awful lot of clothing on Astha." He grumbled as they worked feverishly to disrobe, eager hands burning with need to touch skin.

"The best things in life are never easy, priest." She grinned as she pulled off his shirt and leaned in to lap at his pebbled nipple.

"I want to do sinful things to you, best not bring in my previous employment right now. I may need a confessional." He trailed kisses along her neck and clavicle as he finally got her shirt opened and was busy with her bra clasps.

"Your secrets are safe with me, Tovarish." Astha tenderly raked her hands through his long hair.

A male hum of satisfaction rumbled from his throat as he freed her breasts from their confinement, greedily he cupped them in his hands and teased the nipples with his thumbs.

Low moans escaped her as he devoted his hands and mouth to her sensitive flesh, nipples hard and tingling with delicious waves of pleasure.

"I want to spend hours here…" he whispered against her fevered flesh. "But I know where there's an even better place." He rose up and kissed her passionately, his arms wrapping around her body, pulling her flush against him.

"I need you now Astha." His low timbre shook with need. His eyes, a vibrant blue as he looked into hers for a moment before hungrily kissing her again.

Need like he had never known consumed him as he held her in her arms, he couldn't touch her enough, their remaining clothes were an insult to his desires. Roughly he jerked her pants and underwear off her hips, feeling her work at his belts and pants as well. Finally free of clothes he leaned forward and picked her up, wrapping her legs around his hips as it pulled her tight to him, her core already wet against his skin.

He lowered them to the sleeping bag, grinding his hips into hers, his cock sliding along her folds, pulling louder moans from them both.

A few more thrusts against her and he felt her lift to impale herself on him, pushing until he was to the hilt.

"Oh my god Astha." He uttered as pleasure pierced him, her inner walls gripping him in perfect pressure. He began thrusting, meeting her hips, their speed frantic and furious. Nothing mattered now, just Astha, her sounds, her taste, her movements against him. Her nails raked along his back, her fangs nicking his lips, a slight metallic taste flavouring their kisses. He felt pressure in his shoulders again, the heat of the nanomachines as they clustered to his wings. Astha sucked his bleeding lip, drawing the meager drops heavily into her mouth. Her body tightened around him, her orgasm close. Abel moaned loudly, his powerful thrusts slamming against her as his body tightened on the edge of his own orgasm. The air around them crackled with electrical charge, the sound of spooked horse hooves pounding away lost to the intensity of their pleasure.

Her inner muscles quivered and gripped him strongly. Breaking their kiss Astha called out his name as she fell over the edge of ecstasy. Abel's masculine roar followed suit.

Slowly he rose up onto his elbows, his silver hair a curtain around them. Still joined, waves of pleasure still rocked between them.

Drink from her. 02 suddenly ordered in his mind.

What?

Take from her so she can take from you.

Why?

She needs more. If you don't I will. 02 threatened. A cooling trill of sensation travelled along his veins, Lilith's quiet encouragement given.

Astha looked up at him, his expression going from relaxed to pensive.

"What's wrong?"

He nuzzled along her neck, gentle kisses pressed along her skin.

"Do… do you want to drink again?" He asked softly, hesitatingly. He felt her heartbeat speed up, he shifted to look into her eyes.

Astha returned his gaze. Flickers of red could be seen in his blue. The predatory gleam was lurking, showing her 02 was aware.

Already her teeth tingled with the thought of sinking them into him again. The few drops she suckled from his lip having been but a taste. Her body clenched around his still hard cock as her thoughts wandered.

A surprised gasp escaped Abel as he felt her, pulling her closer he bared his neck. "It's your choice this time, Beloved."

"I…yes." She gave in to the new sensations pulling at her, the heady want to give in to this baser need. Pulling him down to her mouth, she felt him thrust inside her again. Her teeth pierced his pale skin, his unique metallic flavour flooding her mouth.

Abel slowly ground his cock back and forth, drawing out the velvety tightness, careful to keep his shoulders still as she drank. It was a heady feeling, the simple suction as she drank at his neck and the slick friction where their bodies stayed joined. A sizzle of electricity buzzed along his nerves, all sensations heightened as they stayed joined.

Astha lapped a few more times at his neck before lifting her head away, knowing she didn't need his blood, not wanting to weaken him. His thrusts paused for a moment before he shifted to where his lips now rested at the base of her neck.

"Please Abel." She quietly begged, wanting to return his gesture. Eyes of red flickered up to meet her gaze, a mixture of desire and predatory menace before the cool blue that belonged to Abel looked at her. A slight smile curved her lips as she ground her hips on his, her hands gripping his back and her legs pulling him tight. Another surprised gasp escaped him, the sound making her smile more. He leaned forward and kissed her deeply, meeting her thrusting hips eagerly. Astha broke off the kiss, turning her head to the side and arching her back slightly to display her neck wantonly.

"Astha.." he whispered before he hammered her boldly with his cock, pushing for her to be lost in another orgasm before he bit. He felt the flutters of her inner muscles, the strength of them tightening around him, her moans filling his ears. He leaned forward and settled his mouth on her flesh, sucking strongly to raise the blood to the surface. Another hard thrust and he felt her teetering on the edge. He pressed his fangs into her skin and thrust one last time.

Astha yelled out his name as she fell into a full body orgasm. Her body shook and quivered under him, held fast by his mouth and hips. A few hard pulls of blood and Abel let the wound bleed freely, lapping at the pooling blood tenderly. As her body quieted, Abel felt it heal the puncture marks under his tongue.

"Mmm I don't want to move. You?" Astha's voice was husky with contentment.

Abel's chuckle rumbled in his chest. "I should so you can breathe easier." He rolled off of her enough to be on his side, tugging her body flush against his.

After a few moments of the shared afterglow, Astha noticed a lack of noise outside their tent.

"I don't hear the horses…do you?"

Abel's forehead furrowed for a moment as he listened.

"Did you tie them close by?"

"Yeah.. get up we best find then otherwise we are walking."