Hey, everyone! You guys can vote on who you want to tell the next chapter. Please vote and I will chose the two most popular ones as the next point of view characters for chapter 16!

Note: Guys, I have explained in this book or at least hinted at Abel's relationship with everyone in the past. Such as Arthur, Athina's "Athy" father, being Abel's Tovarish, as well as Azul and Aran being his adopted sons not his blood. I know part of the reason people forget this is because of how long it takes me to update, but I do know it's been at the very least hinted at in the story.

Sorry for this, but some comments were over relationships especially with Athy and that one was dropped in as early as chapter 4 with the mention of Arthur Asran in Abel's dream…

Trinity Blood: Emperor's Mask
Chapter 15: Running from the Truth

Abel pulled away from Azul and looked at his oldest son, well, oldest adopted son. The joy he felt in this moment was dampened only by the pain of how similar Azul looked to his younger brother. Both had awoken at the same age and, outside of Azul's hair being tented blue-black, they looked identical.

In the end, Abel couldn't have blood children any more than any of his family could, including Lilith. Once before they had been fused with the crusnik, it had been possible but such dreams where echoes of a memory. Athy called Abel 'uncle' because of how close Abel had been to her father Arthur Asran.

"Father," Azul started with a smile, "I'm glad we managed to find you unharmed."

"What the hell?"

Abel turned to Ion at the sound of the boy's shout. Ion was staring at them with wide eyes.

"Azul Fortuna, my ancestor," Ion started, shaking a little from his shock, "was-he was the eldest, adopted son of-of—" Ion's mouth dropped, his eyes bugging a little.

"The adopted son of Abel?" Barack asked and shrugged. "Or perhaps you mean the adopted son of Emperor Nightlord?"

"No, there is no possible way," Asthe was the one who spoke this time. Her eyes were wide with shock.

"No possible way for what?" Athy asked with a small frown.

"They don't believe father's the emperor," Azul stated.

Asthe's eyes widened as she turned to Abel. "Tovarish?" she almost whispered the question.

"There's no way!" Ion shouted.

"He is the emperor," Barack assured Inan and Asthe.

Ion gaped, speechless.

Beside him, Esther was looking rather lost. This entire conversation had been in the imperial language. The only ones out of the AX who understood any of it were William and Caterina.

"I'm not the emperor," Abel started. "Not anymore."

Barack snorted at this. "And I'm not the founder of the yeniçeri," he scoffed.

This made Alexander smile. "And none of us are from the original New Human Empire."

Azul placed his hand on Abel's shoulder. "You're always going to be the emperor, father." He turned his dark blue eyes on Solomon. "Uncle Solomon, perhaps we should return father's sword to him?"

Solomon moved forward and held out Abel's sword. "No matter if you no longer view yourself our leader, all of us will always see you as such."

"We'd follow you through hell and back, no matter the cost to our own wellbeing," Alexander added as he bowed at the waist, his hand over his heart.

"Even if it meant there is no salvation at the end this time. We will always follow you, Abel, always stand by you. You're more than just our leader." Barack followed Alexander in the bow.

"It's time to stop running, Abel." Solomon's eyes were kind and, in the same moment, filled with centuries of pain. A pain Abel had caused him.

His gaze slid over the others, each held the same pained look, now mixed with a hope. A hope Abel himself once held for seeing Lilith alive once more. It was the same hope he had longed to feel at seeing all of them one last time standing before him. Feeling their warmth and truest of friendships beside him as clear as the beating pulse of a human heart.

They were never his subjects or his soldiers or underlings. They had always been his dearest friends and family.

"We're your family even if none of us are related to you through blood," Athy finished for Barack. "Please, come home with us, Uncle Abel."

Abel turned his gaze from Arthur's girl back to "Only One." The sight of the blade Arthur had given him as a joke, twisted his heart. It was a reminder of how many had died back then: Arthur, Lilith, and even-even Aran. That blade was drenched in the blood of countless innocent lives as well. Lives Abel had taken in a blind rage.

Solomon shifted the sheathed blade so the hilt was closer to Abel, his hand now resting on the sheath so as not to drop the blade. Azul moved a little, one hand on the sheath near his uncle's and the other on Abel's arm.

"It's time to stop running, father," Azul whispered, eyes half closed with grief and pain. "It's time to come home."

Armor clicked and Barack's large hand appeared on the sheath and then beside Azul's on Abel's dominate arm. "Come for us."

"For Seth," Solomon added.

Athy moved to Abel's other side. Her touch soft, but strong. "For all those lost during both wars." Pain filled her eyes, her voice steady and strong despite it. Her thoughts must have been for her parents, each dying in one of the wars.

"For the future of all people," Alexander added as he moved between Athy and Solomon.

"And for the dream all of us shared," Solomon finished.

Abel met his former brother-in-law's gaze. Determination had replaced all but the hope there. The look in his gaze almost seemed to be saying he would drag Abel back to the empire if he had to. In the same moment, Abel knew Solomon would never do anything to harm him or Seth. He was family as much as Azul and Aran were. As much as Seth was. And far more a brother to Abel than his real brother was.

Abel lifted his hand a little and felt the others helping him do so.

His gaze shifted to Barack. A light was in his dark gaze. A look which had always told Abel Barack would do whatever it took to keep those he cared about safe, especially Abel. His heart twisted in the memory of the countless lectures the man had given him on being reckless with his life. The memories of joy in Barack's face when all of them had made it through the battle alive. They were family, the ones Barack had chosen to fight beside and die for if necessary. Abel had always wondered what it was which inspired his steadfast loyalty. Still, it was comforting to see it in the man's gaze and the seriousness of his features.

Abel felt himself raise his arm a little further.

Then there was Alexander. When Abel had first met the man, he had been a cocky, hotheaded pilot. He was still a cocky, hotheaded pilot, but Arthur's death had changed him as well. He had joked more, saying someone had to try to make them smile as Arthur once had, even if he could never replace the true happiness Arthur had brought to the group. His love of space and the sky a like had only ever been matched by his loyalty to the others. There had always been a sense when he flew over them, he could keep the worst of the fighting from the people.

The hilt wasn't far from Abel's hand now. He still couldn't take. He didn't deserve to belong once more. He couldn't belong.

"Please," Athy whispered, making Abel look towards the girl.

She had loved play fighting as child. He remembered her swinging a sword in the gym on Mars before the very first Christmas. Shouting for the rebels to fall by her blade. Arthur had looked on with love his gaze. If only Arthur had lived to see just how much stronger his girl had grown since his death. How hard she had tried to live up to her father's skill in battle and show she really belonged beside Abel, Alexander, Solomon, and Barack like her father had.

There was no doubt in Abel, she had more than earned her place beside them. Shown how truly loyal she was to her people. She was every bit her father's daughter, but with the kindness and love her mother had shown as well.

Abel could feel the hard hilt with the tips of his fingers now. His heart hurt with the thought of drawing the blade. It felt as if in doing so he would be accepting his past, accepting all those who had died, those he couldn't protect, and those he had failed the promises to.

Azul's hand tightened around Abel's wrist and the sheath.

Abel looked at his son. His heart almost shattered at the look in Azul's eyes. There was so much he had missed in the lives of both his boys. He hadn't seen either marry. The birth of grandkids, even the youngest of Aran's lot: Cali. He had never even gotten to meet Azul's boy or his wife because they had never left the empire whereas Aran had married a normal human and had several children with her. Only the eldest of those children had lived to see adulthood. Abel had failed Aran and Azul as a parent. His grandkids as a grandfather.

Still, his son held a look of love and hope Abel might choose to return to the empire. How could Abel ever make up all his failings to his living son? Ever even tell him how the little brother he had cherished had died? Abel feared facing his son in that moment. But, he also longed to stay with him this time.

His gaze moved back to the others.

To stay with all of them. His friends. His family.

His fingers closed around the grip of the hilt. Energy tingled through his hand and filled it with warmth. In this moment, the sword felt welcoming, light even. It was as if all the weight, all the pain, which had clung to the blade had melted away. "Only One" felt as if it had returned to being what Arthur had meant it to be: a mark of friendship and the bond between all of them. Not a sword weighted down by the number of lives it had claimed. Rather a blade lightened by the number of lives it had helped Abel save throughout the war.

Abel could almost see a ghost of Arthur, grinning his normal grin, eyes shining and filled with laughter. Tabitha, another from their group who had died, stood beside him. She bowed her head in a nod of approval which almost broke Abel's heart. It had been his fault they had died. His desire for peace at the start the war had gotten them killed.

His hand shook on the hilt.

All of their hands tightened around Abel's arm. His gaze flickered over their faces once more. Their gaze begging, all but Solomon's. His eyes were pained now as if he had read Abel's thoughts. Yet, the man had always been able to do so. Even if Abel had kept his face blank and emotions hidden, Solomon had seen through him.

"What the hell?!" Ion screamed out of nowhere.

The other's released Abel's arm and the sword, all but Solomon who was the only one to not look at the boy.

"How can he a traitor to the empire, be the First and Only Emperor?" Ion demanded, glaring at Abel.

"Traitor?" Barack looked confused. "Abel's never once betrayed the empire."

"He's an exile, someone who fights for the enemy. He's a traitor! The emperor would never side with the Vatican. Never. He would never leave his people." Rage mixed with disbelief, shock, and a crushing pain as Ion's eyes watered a little. "The emperor was, is the protector of the empire. The one who founded it and died to save us from oblivion." A tear slid down Ion's face. The boy brushed I aside to try and hid his pain behind rage. "He's not," – he pointed at Abel – "he can't be the emperor."

Abel bowed his head. His silvery hair fell around his face as a current. It felt as if his hair could block the feeling of shame and deep seeded guilt which settled in him at Ion's reaction to the truth. He had never wanted to be remembered in history, least of remembered in the way Ion seemed to view him. All he had ever wanted was for his people to be safe. He had failed so many times as a leader and even worse as the emperor.

Abel's hand slid from the hilt of "Only One." How could he ever return to the empire? He didn't belong there or anywhere. He didn't deserve the happiness of being home once more.

Abel forced himself to straighten before all of them really noticed his reaction to Ion's words. "We shouldn't stay here," he stated. This time he made certain to speak in Latin so everyone could be included. "It's not safe." He nodded in the direction of the cave in.

For a moment no one reacted to Abel's words. Solomon's features were expressionless once more, his eyes reflected the emotion, appearing almost as Tres' gaze would.

"I concur," Tres stated. "The ceiling is still unstable. Fifteen percent chance it will collapse on us."

"Eh!" Leon got to his feet. He was still bare chested, the upper half of his robe hang around his waist. "Now you tell us."

Abel moved to Caterina's side and held out his hand to her. Caterina took his hand and Abel pulled her to her feet.

The sound of a body hitting stone made Abel whip around. Athy had pinned Ion against the wall, causing several stones to shake loose over them.

"What did you just call him?" Athy growled, fangs bared and eyes blazing with rage. She pressed Ion harder into the wall. "Uncle Abel never betrayed the empire! Never!"

None of the others were reacting to what was happening. The yeniçeri shifted, looking uncertain on if they should help the count or not. Mirka had a look of disappointment in Ion's reaction in her auburn gaze. She also looked almost thoughtful at Athy's response. Baybars didn't seem to know what to do either. The head of the yeniçeri glanced first to Mirka then at Abel.

The scene reminded Abel just how loyal Athy really was to him and their home. Still this was reckless. "Athina Sonya Asran!"

Athy's body grew rigid. Her eyes wide as she heard her full name being called from Abel. Then she her grip loosened on Ion, eyes still wide and looking almost like a scolded child under than gaze of a parental figure. Which, Abel sort of was considering she had always called him "Uncle."

"You're not a traitor." Athy balled her hand into a fist. She glanced at Abel with a pained look before her eyes grew angered. Her gaze slide back over Ion. "You left to stop the war from growing more bloody. You protected all of us and this child makes that sacrifice out to an act of betrayal rather than what it really was."

The words tore into Abel. Had he really left to protect his people? Or had he done it to run away and let his own pain devour him? He didn't know what would have happened if he had stayed in the empire. The war might have continued and it might not have. All he knew was his own hatred and that the humans had for his people had run deep. The Vatican would have blamed the empire for Lilith's death, right?

Abel moved towards Athy. He rested his hand on her shoulder. "Athy, release him," his voice almost echoed with the pain in his heart. He didn't want to see her like this. To see the pain in her or the rage over something none of them could change now.

Rage passed over Athy's face. "He called you a traitor," she repeated, voice almost a whisper. The rage started to melt towards pain. "You of all people, a traitor. After everything you did for us, after everything you sacrificed, he just," she almost choked on the words. The hand holding Ion's collar shook. Then slowly she lowered Ion. The pain remained on her face, bordering on tears. "Never call him that again, he's not a traitor."

Ion staggered away from them. His eyes were wide as he stared at Abel.

Abel only glanced at the boy to make certain Athy hadn't hurt him. Not even his shirt had been ripped from the attack. Abel turned his gaze back on Athy.

The girl Abel had watched grow up stood with her shoulders tense and back straight. Her expression was one of battling back tears and pain. In the same moment there a dullness to her eyes.

"Athy, I," Abel started.

Athy shook her head. "I'm happy you're alive," she whispered. She turned and moved off. Abel's hand slid from her shoulder, his heart shattering at the words. There was something almost broken in the way she had spoken them.

What had he done to them?

(Author's Note: Hey guys, I am really sorry for so long between updates. My sister got married so I was busy with wedding stuff for a very long time. When I did have time to write, I was working a little on my own book (very little considering it's mainly side stories to get ideas for the main one and they're barely three pages right now). Anyway that was where I was for a while. And my monthly quick sketch tends to come first…

A matter I have seen while I reread chapters Solomon is in Divergent Path, he really didn't talk much (I hadn't reread all the chapters he was in when I started writing him in this story). He talks, but it is rarer than the other characters or more apparent when fewer are around him. He really is the quiet one in the group.

Random: So I never knew this (mainly because the light novels I can buy only goes up to ROM volume 3 and RAM volume 4) but Cain actually also has silver hair in the light novel series? My mind is blown! Keeping his hair blond though in fan-fictions, just because it's always been a fun way to tell the difference between Cain and Abel (outside of hair style) and I can't see Cain with silver hair (well, okay I can but I get an image of Abel (why did they have to be identical twins?)).)