When her coronation ceremony was over and Queen Ester could finally retreat to her quiet rooms, her cousin and sworn protector Jane Judith Jocelyn stood by her side. Esther stretched her arms above her head and yawned in exhaustion.

"You are exhausted, my Queen," Jane remarked.

"Yes," she sighed, "It was...a long day."

"I would suggest a hot bath, a cup of tea, and plenty of rest."

"Tea doesn't solve every problem," Esther smiled.

"Well, my other suggestion would be a night alone with a handsome young man," Jane winked and Esther blushed.

"...Tea sounds fine," the young Queen mumbled.

"As you wish," Jane gave a light bow.

The curtains at the far end of the room rustled quietly and still on high alert, Jane drew her sword and leapt protectively in front of Esther.

"Who's there?!" she demanded.

"It's...just the curtain...wasn't it?" Esther stared across the room.

"Hmmm," Jane hummed and walked over to the window. It was closed and the curtain stilled but she found an envelope on the floor. "My apologies," she said and then picked up the envelope.

"What's that?" Esther asked.

"Whatever it is, it is addressed to you," she replied. On the front, in elaborate hand writing it simply said, 'Esther'. "However, we cannot be too cautious. It could contain a toxic gas, or..."

Esther let out a surprised exclamation when she walked over to look at the envelope and at once, she recognised the handwriting. She snatched it from Jane's hands and tore it open.

"My Queen!" Jane yelled.

"Its Father Nightroad's handwriting. I'd know it anywhere!" she insisted.

There were two pieces of paper in the envelope and she clawed at them with desperate hands.

"The Priest? Was he not killed in battle?" Jane furrowed her brow.

"...He...he..." Esther said but trailed off as she began to read the letter. She brought a shocked hand to her mouth and more or less fell to her knees as tears began to fall from her eyes.

'Dearest Esther

First of all, I should apologise. It seems that I'm always having to apologise to you for something. But I am sorry. Truly. I couldn't bear to face you in person, knowing that I probably won't ever get to see you again. I doubt I'd have the strength to walk away. I'm going after Cain. He must be stopped. I should have said my goodbyes in person to you, I owe you that much, but I'm taking the cowards' way out. I can only hope that you'll forgive me.

I suppose I should explain a few things. Cain and I are brothers. We were both experiments in the Red Mars Project over nine hundred years ago. We were made to be better, faster and stronger than any human had ever been and we were eventually expected to lead the colonists to Mars to combat the Earth's overpopulation. There were four of us and eventually, we all became Crusink. Seth is my younger sister. She is one of us too. So please, do speak to her. It's been a very long time since my dear sister had anyone treat her as a friend rather than an omniscient ruler. I know I hardly have any right to ask favours of you. But please, watch over her. She gets so very lonely. Please don't tell tell her said that.

Our other sister, Lilith died a very long time ago and her death devastated me. Cain killed her. She was trying to make peace with him during the time of Armageddon while I was too enraged to see sense. Cain betrayed her and me, and he killed her. The fact that I couldn't save her is one of many regrets in my very long life.

Do you remember when Cain said that I loved him and therefore I couldn't kill him? I cannot explain it, but part of me will always love him. Despite everything he's done, I still love him. He is my brother. I suppose you could say that he is my twin. We share the same genetic code, we are quite literally the same person, genetically speaking. But in every other respect, we were always very different from one another. Even as children we were worlds apart in our personalities. When we were young, I resented the fact that the four of us were essentially lab rats to be launched into space onto a hostile planet whenever they deemed us fit. It shaped much of my angry youth. Yes, I was a very angry, bitter child, don't believe me? It's true. But Cain saw it all very differently. He was glad of the fact that we were made with a very specific purpose in mind. I don't think I'd have survived without his calming presence to reassure me at times.

I have always loved him. But at the same time, I hate him. He betrayed me and my siblings. He killed Lilith and he killed me. His betrayal destroyed me all those years ago. But he is not the only one to have done unforgivable things. I have too. I have done terrible things and if you ever speak to Seth, perhaps she will tell you. Perhaps you already know, or at least suspect.

In any case, because of what I'd done, I isolated myself from the world and everyone in it.

It was only recently, ten years ago in fact, that I met Caterina as a child and I vowed to protect humanity to atone for my sins and for a decade I have devoted my life to that end. Now I must kill my brother, my other half, before he destroys the world as I would have done so many years ago.

You are perhaps one of the kindest souls I've ever met. You believed in me and you trusted me even when I terrified you. And for that I owe you everything. You didn't judge me for what I am. You let me stay by your side as your friend. I was so very happy and grateful for that. I hope I showed you just how much it meant to me.

I wouldn't survive it if I saw my brother harm you or kill you as he killed Lilith. So, I swear to you, I will do all I that can to stop Cain. I will stop him before he destroys the world. Before he destroys humanity. Before he kills anyone else that I care for. Believe me, he would have no qualms about killing you, or Seth, or Caterina, or Astha or anyone else I care for just because he could. Whatever the cost, I will stop him. That is my promise to you, Esther, to you all. Now please make one for me. Promise me, that you will live your life without regret and be true to yourself. A life filled with remorse and regret is a difficult and lonely one and you deserve so much more than that. So please, please, promise me.

I once spoke to Astha about why you were trustworthy and she, rather jokingly, called me a proud father. Admittedly I took it to heart a little. I have no children nor did I ever expect to. But I would have been proud to have been your father.

You a remarkable young woman, Esther, and you have grown so much since we first met. You have a kind heart and the bravery of a lioness. I know that you'll make an excellent Queen. I'm only sorry that I won't be there to see the new world that you'll help to build. From wherever I find myself in the next world, if indeed I am allowed one, I hope that I can at least watch over you.

Please know that I love you and I wish more than anything that I could stay with you all,

Goodbye, Esther,

Your friend,

Abel Nightroad.'

On a second piece of paper, it also read,

'P.S. It hardly seems like a worthy parting gift, but it may prove to be useful to you and I've nothing else to give you. It may even save your life. You've seen me use it before but it's quite a lot to remember. If ever you encounter lost technology or it is being used against you, input this,

United Nations Aerospace Force, Commander Abel Nightroad. Identification code, UNASF94-8-RM0C-666-02AK.

It won't recognise your voice, but it will obey the command if you type it. It will allow you access to any lost technology. With it, you can, as I have done before, initiate the auto-destruct or anything else you wish. I leave it in your capable hands.

Please memorise it, tell no one, and then burn this letter, all of it.

Goodbye again, Queen Esther.

P.P.S

I may have one more thing for you. My rosary. It has served me well for over a decade and I leave it to you. I left it on your dresser. I used my ninja skills. Don't tell your guards, they'll probably chase me down in the afterlife.

Do you suppose they have doughnuts in the next world? No? Neither do I.'

By the time she'd read the entire letter, she was weeping uncontrollably and clutching the pieces of paper in her hands. She gave a rueful snort at the last line before she broke down completely.

Jane, unsure of what had caused her cousin and Queen such sadness, knelt beside her and handed her a handkerchief. Esther ignored it and hugged her cousin tightly as she cried. All Jane could do was hold the young Queen and stroke her hair gently, trying to soothe her pain.