Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and especially to those of you who replied to the pms I sent in reply to the reviews. I honestly didn't think anyone would review the last chapter at all when I posted it. I will admit shock and over whelming happiness to see so many people are still reading this story. Thank you to even those of you who just read the chapter and have been putting up with my lame updates over the past few years.

A very special thanks to Slices and Funniebones.

Now, enough of my rambling!

Trinity Blood: Emperor's Mask
Chapter 13: Shattered Emperor

Movement.

Solomon jarred awake. He sat bolt upright, hand raised. A soft glow came from his ring. Every sense was hyper alert. He scanned the space for any sign of attack.

Nothing moved.

The fire light was embers now, showing only the terran girl, Fortuna, and Astharoshe curled up close to the remaining warmth. All three children were sound asleep, nothing in their postures to point to trouble or a coming attack. Baybars was on look at near the edge of the camp. The large man had turned to look at Solomon, frowning. The only show of an attack from the man was the way he regarded Solomon.

It was clear they weren't under attack. Solomon lowered his hand. The light of his ring ebbed away as it closed. The fact they weren't under attack made the fact he had woken thinking they were perplexing.

For a long moment, Solomon looked around. Perhaps he had heard an attack coming, but there was still no sign of one. As he looked around the events of before he'd fallen asleep started to trickle back to him. They had found Abel yesterday and Solomon had fallen asleep near to him as he had done countless times before during both wars when they'd been on scouting missions.

Solomon turned his gaze on Abel. Abel had rolled over onto his shoulder, his old coat over him as a blanket. For all the world it looked as if he were sleeping. There was no gentle, even rise and fall of the shoulders. Solomon let out a low breath. Abel was just pretending to be asleep. The movement which had woken Solomon had come from beside him.

The reason he had woken thinking they were under attack was of his history. Abel had always been the first to know when their group was attacked while they slept. He would hear it or feel it long before the sentry. As a result of fighting so long at his side, Solomon had ingrained into himself to wake the moment he felt movement from Abel. It had saved their lives many times over through both wars.

"Abel?" Solomon touched Abel's shoulder. Worry prickled in his heart. It crawled over every fiber of his being. He had been aware since waking the man he followed for over a century wouldn't be the same and thus hadn't been shocked upon seeing Abel. However, the fact Abel had woken like that – to night terrors?

"Sorry for waking you," Abel apologized. "Go back to sleep."

"What woke you?"

No reply came. But really, Solomon hadn't expected one. Abel was many things, but open about himself had never been one of them.

"Night terrors?" Solomon pressed, keeping his voice low so as not to wake the children.

A small breath escaped Abel. He sat up, pulling on his old coat as he went. For the briefest moment, Solomon saw the rips in Abel's shirt where his wings would have come out in his full crusnik form.

"Do you blame me for what happened at the end of the war?" Abel asked, voice low.

"About you leaving or Seth and I having to divorce to sell the fact she was gone?"

"The second."

"Abel," Solomon started, "Seth told me you were alive the very day she returned from the Ark. She explained the reasons why it had to be this way, why she had to vanish and turn into Augusta Vradica. Why she needed me to help her in splitting from her but staying on as an advisor for the support of the people. I agreed it was the only way the people would believe she was dead. It kept a Nightlord on the throne without breaking the peace your sacrifice gave us.

"I don't blame you for anything, Abel. No matter the time that passes I will always respect you as my friend and leader. And I will always love Seth." Solomon replaced his hand on Abel's shoulder. He could feel the tension in his oldest friend. "Abel, you mean more to all of us than the empire we built together."

Abel looked at Solomon, frowning.

"And I always knew our people meant the world to you." Solomon leaned back against the wall, never once looking away from Abel. "All of us wanted peace and you achieved that for eight centuries. That's no small feat."

"It wasn't meant to be the lasting method," Abel said. His winter gaze locked on where the three children slept. "We almost had a treaty before this new war broke out. It was the reason Asthe and Ion were in Vatican territory."

The way Abel spoke, shattered Solomon's heart. The tone was close to what it had been since Solomon had seen him yesterday: depressing with more than a hint of deep sorrow but still holding to the command Solomon had known so well. If he hadn't known Abel so well, he would have missed the change in tone entirely. The sorrow was etched deeper with each word uttered. The words dripped with the pain Abel was in for the knowledge he had failed in helping create a new peace. Eight centuries alone among those who feared or despised him. All that time working, living for the goal of peace and to just have it torn from his when it seemed in grasp – it was throwing all the time Abel had bought them, the forced peace and sacrifice he'd made back in face as if it was the rubbish.

"I wish we had been able to join you in exile. To help in some way," Solomon whispered.

Solomon closed his eyes.

No, it wasn't this he wished. His real wish was that there had been another way to achieve peace. Away in which Abel wouldn't have to have sold his freedom to the Vatican. But such away would have meant Lilith hadn't died on the Ark. Perhaps, just perhaps if she hadn't Abel wouldn't now be lost to despair.

"We should have been there for you," Solomon confessed. "I should have been." His heart hurt with the familiar regret. To now see what his agreeing to Abel's plan had done – the pain stabbed deeper into him. He wanted to scream at the unfairness of this, but, as always, Solomon kept his tongue, bottled his anger away in a dark corner of his mind.

All those centuries, all that pain Abel had endured. It was no wonder Abel was having night terrors.

"Your place was at Seth's side, Solomon, not mine."

It wasn't true.

"I wanted all of you to live out the rest of your years in what peace we could gain. But I only made matters worse for you and Seth. And, now," Abel trailed off. He took a deep shuddering breath as if the act of breathing was painful. "None of you should done this."

Solomon had always known this was Abel's wish. It had been why he had held his tongue until Aran had first run into his father. "We did as you wished, Abel," Solomon reported. "All of us had families, lives, but there was always a piece of our lives missing. We weren't completely content." Solomon looked up at the buildings they had designed originally for the people. "Especially after Seth revealed what you'd given for the empire to Barack and Alexander. The three of us made the decision together to try and up hold that peace and to follow you, one last time." Solomon turned his head to Abel and managed a smile. "I believe none of us, no matter how much we loved the empire, were really happy living such lives while you were alone.

"Besides," – Solomon felt his smile grow a little though his heart still ached – "though never spoken, all of us took a vow to achieve that dream together."

Silence fell between them. The only reaction Abel had given to all Solomon had said was for his eyes to half close in an almost pained look. The words had only depressed Abel further.

Solomon looked away and took a deep breath. He would never give up on Abel. "Do you remember the day we headed for Mars?"

"Yes." Abel frowned. "What about it?"

"For one, it was the day I first met you," Solomon said with a smile at the memory. "But more than that, it was also the day we first encountered the rebels.

"When the fighting first broke out, it was never spoken, but everyone within the military expected you to react just like every other commander any of had ever had. To save yourself. You didn't. That was honestly the day you earned all of our respect." Especially Solomon's respect.

Abel's frown deepened.

Solomon turned his gaze back on Abel. "My point, Abel, is no matter what happens or has happened, I will fight beside you to the bitter end. Not because you were my leader, but because you're my dearest friend." Solomon gave Abel's shoulder a squeeze. "It never mattered if we won or lost those fights. If we made it through the day alive or that we achieved even construction of the empire. What always mattered was we were all together."

Some of the pain had gone from Abel's features but not his eyes. It was a small victory, extremely small. "So, in your eyes, we did all of that for nothing."

"Heavens, no, that's not what I was trying to say. What I meant was even if we hadn't achieved what we did, what always mattered most was the moment were all just friends and family. Those are the time I will always hold to. The poker games, moments watching Alexander and Barack struggling to train under you, the meals and jokes." He added, "Arthur being an idiot."

Abel gave a real smile and a soft chuckle at the mention of Arthur.

Victory! Well, another small one. "Better," Solomon said in even tones. Once more not letting his real joy at getting Abel to smile show through. "Abel, I will always stand with you."

"What's all this 'I' nonsense." Alexander was striding towards them.

Solomon spotted Evera moving to speak with Baybars.

"All of us, even Tabitha, Kayson, and Arthur will always stand by Abel, not even death can stop us!" Alexander declared.

"I'm fairly certain death means death, Alexander," Solomon stated. He just had to be all noise right then. Though, Solomon was grateful for it as well.

"Kill joy." Alexander folded his arms across his chest and scowled down at Solomon. "See if I ever fly you anywhere again."

"I'd rather walk as it is faster than your flying," Solomon stated in a joke.

Alexander chuckled. "That one time the ground forces got there first and you still teasing me about it." Alexander turned to Abel. "I should get my payback on Barack for that. Mind refereeing a sword duel, Abel?"

"Wasn't that incident half way through the Human-Methuselah War? And the both of you still won't let it go?" Abel shook his head.

"What can I say?" Alexander shrugged, hands spread out with the motion. "I won't rest until it's clear I'm not only the best space jockey but the best damn pilot in existence." He thrust up his head and wiggled his nose a little as if to prove this point.

Solomon looked at Abel. His eyes met Abel's to see his own amusement reflected in Abel's eyes. As it turned out, Alexander's joking was just what Abel had needed. Solomon smiled.

"What's with the looks?" Alexander demanded. "There is nothing like the feeling of moving through space and air, knowing it's all that is around you. Well, that and space crafts, airships, working on either, women—"

"Your head on a platter?" Abel teased more in an attempt to stop the list before it got out of hand.

"Someone wants to carve my face onto a platter?" Alexander joked. "Sure, but I wouldn't count that among the greatest things in the world."

Solomon laughed at the same time Abel did.

"So, is this platter gold, silver, bronze, or copper? More partial to gold, but bronze wouldn't make me look bad either."

"Stop, Alexander," Solomon choked through tears and laughter. His ribs were starting to ache but it was the pleasant sort from good jokes.

"What? Abel wanted it. So which will it be: gold or bronze?"

"How about copper?" Abel suggested through his small laughter.

"Na, turns blue, and I'm not too partial to silver, no one would put food on my face then."

Solomon choked a little.

"Come now, what methuselah in their right mind would want to have a silver platter? My face needs to eat somehow!"

"Honestly, Barvon?" Abel shook his head.

"You were the one who suggested it, Abel. I just rolled with the joke." Alexander smiled.

"Though it was just to stop that list," Abel laughed.

"Yeah, I figured as much." Alexander shrugged.

"Did you run into more of those autojagers?" Solomon asked, turning to more serious matters. He watched Abel out of the corner of his eye.

"There were a few further back when we back tracked, and more ahead, but not until after the met point from what I heard at least," Alexander reported. "They might be where we're to meet Barack by the time we get there."

Solomon frowned and looked at Abel. "Do they have any weaknesses?"

"There are always a lot of them," Abel told them. "Generally the numbers are what overwhelm groups. Removing their head is one way to stop them.

"Understood." Solomon stood. To take the heads off those who were already dead – a small shiver raced through him at the thought. What a thing to have to do.

Baybars was already waking the other kids with the help of his daughter. Solomon moved to help get the camp taken apart. He glanced back towards Abel. With both him and Alexander gone from his side, the pain had crept back into Abel's winter gaze. It didn't matter his features were unreadable right then. Abel's eyes had always betrayed his feelings. Always.

The fact his pain and sorrow had returned to so quickly showed Solomon, small moments of joy were far from enough of a victory. Abel was too shattered for quick fixes to work for long.

Solomon clenched his fist. His nails bit into the soft flesh of his palm. He had to force himself to look away. The state Abel was in was partly his fault. They – he should never have agreed with Seth on the fact Abel's plan was for the best. It had been for the empire, for all the people of Earth at the time, but never for Abel. There was little happiness in the path Abel had chosen, the path Solomon hadn't attempted to stop.

Solomon helped Evera to scattered the ashes from the fire. Soon the space looked as if no one had been there at all. Well, no had in a few centuries at the very least.

"How far are we from the meeting point?" the terran girl asked as she dusted off her plain dress. Her question was directed towards Baybars.

Barack's descendent looked towards Solomon and Alexander for the answer.

"At least a day if not a little longer depending on contingencies," Solomon informed her.

The girl blinked and eyed with an uneasy gaze. It was a look Solomon was all too familiar with from his time in the UN military. Many of commanding officers had given the same such look, mistrusted him for the mere fact his father held a high political position within the UN. He hated such looks. He was no traitor. He would never betray Abel or Seth. Never. And this look was all the worse for it implied such a mistrust.

Solomon let out a long breath to release all his rage towards the look. He then stepped up to the girl and held out his hand. "If I may be so bold to ask to start from scratch, miss?" He gave the terran girl a small smile. "I'm Solomon, what is your name?"

The red haired girl hesitated. Then, her small hand slipped into his in a handshake. "Sister Esther Blanchett."

"A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Sister." Solomon bowed his head to her. So, she was a nun. Interesting, but not really unexpected.

The Fortuna boy eyed them for a moment. His eyes betrayed an almost jealous gleam to them as he looked at the handshake. "I'm the Count of Memphis, Ion Fortuna," the boy introduced himself.

Solomon released the girl's hand and took Ion's offered on. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Count Fortuna."

Ion's eyes shown as he looked at his hand in Solomon's. The boy was more in awe at meeting a founder than anything else, or so it appeared. It was rather a strange notion, especially considering the fact Solomon had never considered what the future generations would think of any of them, let along what they had accomplished. The mere prospect he was remembered for anything was odd in and of itself. Granted, Solomon didn't have a clue what he was even remembered for.

His gaze flickered to the sword at Ion's waist. It was the same style as the ones Azul and Alexander preferred in combat. "I see you favor the sword as Azul did," he commented, releasing Ion's hand. His gaze flicked up to where "Only One" was strapped to Ion's back. The fact the boy was carrying Abel's sword still rankled him no matter what Abel had said. Then there was the fact, the boy could very well view Abel, of all people, a traitor. He would watch and listen to the way this boy spoke and judge only then.

"Swordplay has been passed down the Fortuna line since Azul," Ion almost sounded like he was bosting. Then the boy flushed. "But you probably could tell that."

The boy was more than little headstrong. "You have a strong spirit, keep that."

"Spirit is always good to have in moderation. Too much gusto and a swordsman ends up impaled," Alexander said as he joined them. "I heard your names but the only polite thing to do is also introduce myself." Alexander bowed at the waist. "I'm Alexander Barvon. While I am also a swordsman, my preferred weapon is an airship."

"You're a pilot?" Esther asked.

"Well, was. It's rather hard to pilot anything without either an airship or a shuttle to call my own. Anyway, I think we're ready to head out now."

Solomon turned his gaze back to Esther. She still looked rather fatigued. The group most have been traveling for well over a week by now. "Please don't hesitate to speak up when you would like a break, Sister Blanchett."

"I'll be fine, thank you, Mister Solomon." She frowned. "Or is it Duke?"

"It honestly doesn't matter, but I do doubt my rank is duke." He turned and started to follow the others down the street. He chose to continue walking with Ion and Esther.

"It was nice meeting you two kids," Alexander said with a smile, "but I really should head to the front. Otherwise we'll be more likely to get lost than find the meeting point." He waved over his shoulder as he walked off.

"I'm not a kid," Ion muttered under his breath.

Abel was walking a little ahead of them. Astharoshe was at his side.

Ion cleared his throat. "As a founder, not just any founder, but one of the emperor's most trusted allies, you knew well, right?" Ion asked, sounding almost hopeful.

This question drew Astharoshe's attention from Abel. The Arsan girl dropped back so that she was walking closer to Solomon than before. It left Abel alone.

Abel didn't seem to mind this and kept walking. Solomon hesitated. If he was honest with himself he would rather join Abel than talk about his friend to these kids. Yet, he also knew both of them would want an answer. It was also for the best they knew what Abel or, more over, the emperor was like before it was revealed to them they had been traveling with the emperor this entire time. There was no doubt in Solomon's mind either Athy or Azul would reveal Abel's identity.

"The emperor was a natural leader," Solomon started. He chose his words with care. He wouldn't reveal Abel's secret. He had been the one to hide the face and first name of his emperor in the first place. All of it done in the hope this would somehow aid Abel in his goals. "But he was also stubborn and a pure idiot when it came down to his own health and wellbeing. To the point he would forgo food if he thought it would help his people or rush into a dangerous situation if only to save one person."

Solomon kept his eyes on Abel. He watched his friend for the slightest hints he might have gone too far. Abel had yet to react to any of the words other than to bow his head then straighten. This was most likely him trying to block out what Solomon was telling these kids. Abel had never been one to like hearing what others said about him, well, said about him behind his back.

"The emperor was the kind of person who always thought of his people's needs or those he cared about long before his own needs. He could be cold, at times, angry in others. He was well known to having a temper, but also for only turning that temper on those who meant his people harm.

"He hated speeches," Solomon added with a soft smile. "The day he was elected to stay on as our leader, his speech was one sentence, telling us we were all idiots for making his leader. Even that speech was greeted with cheer and joy from the people."

"He called everyone an idiot and they liked it?" Esther asked.

Solomon looked at the girl. "The emperor wasn't a man who relied on words, Sister Blanchett. He could make speeches which would do the same as him acting on a situation instead of speaking. Is there no one you can think of who spoke only a few words and you believed those words with complete faith or trusted his or her word in them?"

Esther bowed her head then turned her gaze on Abel.

Abel glanced over his shoulder as if sensing the girl's look. He gave Esther a small smile.

So, Esther did understand completely what Solomon spoke of. In the same instance, she didn't fully understand.

Abel turned back to looking ahead of him.

"The emperor really was the protector of our people," Ion breathed in wonder.

"Of all people he cared about," Solomon stated.

Ion wasn't listening to this. He had turned to Astharoshe. There was a look in Ion's eyes Solomon didn't like. A reverence for the emperor, not a respect. Abel wasn't a god, he was a man, just the kind of man who would do whatever it took without thought for his own happiness of wellbeing.

"If I may, Count, where did you acquire 'Only One'?" Solomon asked.

"Oh." Ion unbuckled the belt which held the blade. He held it out to Solomon. "I took it from that traitor." He nodded towards Abel.

Traitor? Solomon had heard Abel refer to himself as such on this boy's behalf but to hear such a word uttered from the mouth of Fortuna of all the children of the empire. Solomon's hand balled into a fist. His ring warmed his finger as it reacted to the sudden rage searing through his veins.

He turned on Ion faster than the boy could react. His hand grasped the boy's collar and her drew the boy towards him. With his free hand he tore 'Only One' from Ion's grasp. "Never," he snarled, "never refer to Abel as such again or, I swear, Fortuna or not I will rip out your tongue, boy."

Solomon didn't wait to see the boy's expression. He released him and moved to Abel's side. He didn't act to give Abel the blade, knowing Abel would never take it. Still, what the boy had said – he was no descendent of Azul's! No, it was Ron who Solomon now saw in that boy's eyes.

(Author's Note: I will admit, I now adore Solomon after writing this chapter. I liked him as an OC before this (reason I picked him as a pov character), but I never took the time to really explore who he was or why he was also mister "I am quiet over here."

For anyone who hasn't started reading the even slower to update story of Divergent Path, a lot of this chapter is actually drawing from events in that story.

New poll up.)