Trinity Blood: Emperor's Mask
Chapter 1: Peace Meeting

A cool breeze pulled at Abel's robes. The scent of flowers was thick in the air and wrapped around him with each pull of the breeze. He kept his eyes closed, loathed to open them and be forced to look at the Ark. Here in the gardens the night was cool and pleasant. He hated to wreck it with thoughts on the past.

The sound of high heels against the hard earth alerted Abel to the presence of another. The scent of the person told him who it was. "Why'd you want to meet in the gardens, Caterina?" Abel asked without turning. He didn't need to turn or look at her to know they were completely alone out here. Not even Tres was close.

"I've a mission for you."

Abel opened his eyes and turned to Caterina. "And you need to assign it to me in the gardens?" Both of Abel's eyebrows rose.

"It involves my brother."

"Francesco?" This was only brother Abel could think Caterina was talking about. The pope, after all, was far too timid to be a problem. "Or did you have a guard mission for his Holiness?"

"No, not a guard mission. This has nothing to do with Alec." Caterina moved until she stood just before him. She took his gloved hand in hers. "Abel, this mission is treasonous. Before I assign it, you've a right to know and to disobey."

Abel smiled at the girl before kneeling down and bowing to her. "I serve you, Caterina. You were the last holder of my contract even if you burned it. I am loyal to you and you alone." Though, he would still do everything in his power to protect the people. "Now if you were asking me to slaughter people that was would a different story entirely."

Caterina didn't smile despite the fact Abel had kept his voice light and teasing. "I need you to make certain he's not going to attempt assassinating the Duchess of Kiev and the Count of Moldova."

Straightening, Abel frowned. "If he'd wanted to try something, he'd have done so when they first arrived." The two imperials had arrived the night before and were currently resting in their rooms before starting peace negotiations with Caterina and Pope Alessandro. "You believe he means to break the negotiations?"

"I wouldn't put it passed him. I know both the count and duchess trust you, but…"

"But with the way I act before others and since Esther is now a saint, it's better I don't come to the meeting as it is," Abel finished for her. "I understand, Caterina. Besides this is your treaty and your achievement."

"Abel," Caterina started to protest.

Abel held up his hand. "Don't down grade any of the achievements you've made. As far as I am concerned this is your achievement." Abel was about to say more when rustling cut him short. He turned his gaze on the leaves and replaced his glasses.

A few seconds later a tall woman with short ivory hair appeared from around the corner. She turned towards them and looked at the two of them with a slight frown creasing her young features. There was a streak of red down the center of her bangs and she wore clothes which spoke of wealth and showed she was a noble of the empire.

"Asthe," Abel greeted her with a grin. He looked at Caterina and started passed the young woman. He paused, whispering in a voice so low he knew Asthe wouldn't be able to hear, "I'll get the information, Caterina. If he does mean them harm, I'll warn Tres."

"Thank you, Abel." She looked at him, her monocle flashing in the light cast by the two moons.

He nodded before heading off, not even stopping as he waved over his shoulder at the two women. It didn't take Abel long to reach the wall he'd been looking for. This was the only pace he knew of that the inquisition didn't watch. Abel hoped Caterina's suspicions weren't true. He hoped peace would come and all of this was speculation.

xxx

Caterina watched Abel until he vanished from sight. Abel was right, of course, if her brother had wanted to try anything he'd have done so when the two imperials had arrived. However, she couldn't shake a feeling of dread that had held her for several days now. Francesco had been acting more as if he was the pope as of late and it unsettled her greatly.

"We're starting the meeting soon," Astharoshe Asran interrupted Caterina's train of thought.

Turning to the imperial noble, Caterina gave her a small smile. "Yes," she stated before walking over to the younger woman.

"Where's the buffoon – I mean, Father Nightroad off to?" Astharoshe asked.

Several years ago Caterina had sent her most trusted agent, Abel, to help a member of the empire in capturing a criminal who'd escaped to Vatican territory. Despite the fact the mission had read for Abel to only assist the Duchess of Kiev and Odessa, his real mission had been something else entirely. If Caterina had only wanted to help the duchess captured a criminal she'd have had sent an agent who would've focused on that and not show the duchess the kindness Abel had.

Instead Abel's mission had been to establish a link between the Vatican and empire. With this link Caterina and Abel had been able to make moves that led to her sending Esther and Abel to the empire three years later. The meeting with the empress that had followed was the only reason Caterina now walked side by side with Astharoshe.

"A mission," Caterina replied simply.

Astharoshe frowned but didn't say anything on this matter. "I must say, I didn't imagine the Vatican to look quite like this."

Caterina remained silent not sure if she should take that a compliment or an insult. From Abel's reports she knew Astharoshe was brash, hardheaded, and extremely proud of being a Methuselah. She also knew Abel worried if Asthe, as he called her, had noticed his change into his darker form during his last meeting with her. He'd explained to Caterina that he hadn't had time to speak with Asthe after that event.

"How long has he been apart of the AX?"

Caterina stopped in her tracks and looked at the other duchess. It was her turn frown. "Abel's a founding member," Caterina replied after several long moments of mulling this over. "He was the first one to sign on, in fact. You could call him a childhood friend of mine." Caterina started off again. Her heart fluttered. If she'd just given away the fact Abel was older than his twenties she'd have a lot of questions from the duchess shortly.

"You're telling me that idiot was a founding member?" Asthe laughed. "That's harder to see than him being an AX agent."

Caterina just smiled as she started through the halls of the Vatican towards the meeting room. Esther and William were bound to already be there and she suspected Ion Fortuna, the count of Memphis was there as well.

Sure enough, when Caterina, she saw Ion and Esther deep in conversation at the table. William was in the background, speaking with Tres who'd be standing guard outside the room.

Tres looked towards them before he turned and strode towards them. He didn't say a word, his face remaining impassive as always. Tres closed the doors behind him.

Caterina moved to the table and took her seat. The others followed. She didn't glance out the window or even bat an eyelash as she turned her thoughts from what might happen to the matter at hand.

(Author's Note: Now I am missing the members of the AX too much. At this rate I will never get the main book done.)