Reviews are greatly loved.

Edit: It was brought to my attention there were a few matters which I didn't keep the same throughout the chapter. I've edited them.

Also, on Lilith not mentioning the difference in experience between herself and Abel, that is on purpose. It will be explained as the story continues forward.

A very special thank you to Maxe03 for pointing out what was confusing. It helped a lot and even narrowed down where I really needed to edit this chapter.

A few days had passed since Pope Gregory had asked for Caterina to take the traitor cardinal's place within the Vatican. She was now, once more, the Cardinal of Foreign Affairs. Gregory had also liked the idea of having her agents stay under her. He had stated there were perks to having a trained who could deal with rouge vampires. Though, he had also made it clear he wanted this peace to proceed and Caterina agreed with him.

The office she had been given was the same one she would have had in the future. It made it easier on her as well as just funny considering the Cardinal of Foreign Affairs before her had this office.

The door into her office opened. William stepped. "I found his Holiness pacing before your office," the professor informed her.

Sure enough, Gregory followed him into the room.

Caterina bowed to the pope. "Morning, Holiness."

"I heard back from the emperor this morning," Gregory said in way of greeting. "As well as the queen last night." Gregory took the chair before the desk. "They want to limit the number of people in and around the meeting to ten guards to each leader and an advisor and four servants."

Servants? It didn't sound like Abel to include this which meant it must have been the queen of Albion. Though, Caterina had long since known Abel would have servants as an emperor. It also made sense given how well he handled and even vetted even her staff from the future. He had told her, when she had been a child, servants could have assassins hidden among them. Thus, the staff needed to be watched.

"Have you decided on the staff to take?" Caterina asked in casual tones.

"Well, one matter is for certain, it would be rather odd to not have the Cardinal of Foreign Affairs at a peace meeting between us and two foreign nations."

Caterina smiled.

"I was thinking all of your agents, two as your guard of course and the rest as a general guard. However, such a decision I will leave up to you." Gregory bowed his head to her. "Lilith will also be joining us along with two servants each. The last guard will be Nihilum."

"None among the Inquisition?"

Gregory grimaced. "Unfortunately, I can't count on the Inquisition to keep their blades sheathed in Emperor Nightlord's presence. The goal is peace, not to keep the war going."

Then there was the fact he wouldn't have known which among the Inquisition wasn't under Myles's influence. It was a tricky situation thus it made sense to as why he would be wanting to rely more heavily on the AX.

"However, there are three guards who know Emperor Nightlord from the time he spent in Rome before the war," Gregory continued. "With your agents, Lilith, Nilihum, plus those three we will be at the limit of ten guards."

Caterina hesitated. It meant Kaya would be going as well. She trusted Kaya with her life, but not to keep herself in check around "vampires."

"I will speak with Sister Kaya," William stated as if he had read Caterina's mind. "I'm certain she can be reasoned with to keep her weapons sheathed."

Caterina bowed her head. "Thank you, William." She looked towards the pope. "Sister Blanchett is more suited to come as one of the sisters in charge of being the servants," Caterina started, "is there a fourth you can trust among the Inquisition?"

The way Esther acted on missions was generally less as a guard and more as a diplomat with combat training. She also tended to only work well in a team. More specifically a team with Abel. More because Abel had been subtly training the girl to understand vampires weren't all she had originally believed them to be. Without Abel here, Esther's combat skill wasn't high enough for Caterina to consider it wise to use her as a guard.

There was also the fact back in Carthage, Esther had attempted to aid the servants and other staff where they had been staying. It only followed the girl would attempt to do the same at the peace meeting. This was the very last matter a guard needed to be distracted with. Especially given Lilith might tend to do the same. His Holiness didn't need both his most powerful guard plus another guard distracted.

Gregory frowned. "I will take a look. There is one other I was considering." Gregory bowed his head in thought. "I'll ask three others to come as out 'servants,' and I do use the term loosely."

Caterina gave the man a soft smile. "I believe the servant inclusion was more for Albion and the empire."

"True," Gregory laughed. The laughter died from his eyes. "The location chosen is further for the empire to travel to than us and Albion. It's more than likely Emperor Nightlord will have to bring an airship to get there on time."

"Was a date sent?" Caterina asked.

"A week. It's just enough time for us to get there by train. The Queen departed yesterday. She wasn't happy about having to come by boat and train. I could almost feel her anger on the letter she sent."

"So, we will be departing this afternoon?"

"Yes." Gregory stood. "Gather your agents. I'll see the rest of our group." He nodded to her before he departed.

William raised his brow. "This will mean none the pope completely trusts will be left in Rome," the professor mused.

This was true. "Hopefully none end up freeing Myles."

"One man can't continue a war." William frowned. "I take that back. One crusnik could continue a war."

Caterina smiled. It was a matter they had to watch closely with Abel. The kind of power he held, was terrifying and, in the same moment, awe-inspiring to behold. Crusniks were one man armies. This must have been why Lilith went to the front whenever the other crusniks were there. If it was true and her combat skill was above Abel's – Caterina couldn't even imagine just how skill this made Lilith. Abel, when not in goof act, had been the most powerful agent she had. The only one to have defeated him was Vaclav.

There was a part of Caterina which wondered if Lilith's skill in combat was still greater than Abel's. There was a good eight century difference in combat experience between them. And yet, just because Abel had the knowledge didn't mean a younger body would be used to utilizing the knowledge.

"We should both prepare for the trip, Professor." Caterina moved the thought on the difference between the two crusniks to the back of her mind. What was important now, was focusing on making this peace work.

"Very well." William stood. "Should I pass on the message for the others to prepare as well?"

"If you would." Caterina bowed her head to her old teacher.

William nodded and strode from the room.

A week. Caterina sank into the seat behind the desk. She had week to familiarize herself with the empire of old. With what Lilith had given them after they had arrived, Caterina had a fair assessment to whom Abel would take in what position without weakening the empire too greatly.

Solomon would have been the ideal choice as an advisor. This would leave is such that his sister could stay in the empire and run matters while Abel was away. Of course Barack would be going as one of the guards. From what Lilith had told them and what Caterina had gathered from the brief conversations with Abel, Barack was much like Tres in how overprotective he was.

Now, either Alexander Barvon or Athina Asran would be joining Abel as another guard. The other, Abel would be more likely to leave on the front. The least threatening of the two appeared to be Athina. This meant Alexander Barvon would be accompanying Abel. Most likely the other eight guards Abel would leave up to Barack to choose.

This just left the servants.

Caterina pulled open one of the drawers. There was a little on the servants within the empire. She had come across the small file soon after taking the position. The previous Cardinal had interrogated Lilith about them. Yet, the woman hadn't been too forthcoming. The file only included names, nothing more. Even this was too little to go off.

The best source would be Lilith. However, this could wait until a little later. Though, servants were often times used as the best sources of information. People could say things around servants without thinking. It was something Abel had once told her. She suspected he had used his servants to learn what was kept from him within the palace.

The servant to keep an eye on from either nation would be the one closest to the queen and emperor. What was said around them would make it back to their master's ears, especially the servants serving Abel. The only advantage to this, was Caterina knew Abel well enough now to use this piece of information.

All she needed to know was who the servants were Abel would bring with him. The queen might be harder to deal with, mainly because Caterina knew nothing about the woman outside of what little she had read in history books. Caterina stood. It was for the best she spoke with Lilith.

Before she could take a step, the door into the office opened and Lilith stepped into the room.

A small breath escaped Caterina. Did all crusniks have a sense to suddenly know when she wanted to speak with them? Abel had a habit of also appearing when Caterina needed to speak with him. It had gotten to the point the moment she needed to speak with him she expected him to be just beyond the door before he could knock.

"It appears you're settling in nicely," Lilith commented as she crossed the room.

Today she wore a beautiful shawl warping around her shoulder and hanging down to her waist. It left her right shoulder bare. Gold wrapped around both her arms in a brilliant display of wealth in the form arm cuffs, bracelets and wrist bands. She wore a thick neck wrap around her neck which Character had seen on her in tomb as well. In fact, most of the clothing she wore was close to the clothes she had seen on the woman through the glass of the pod.

The designs covered in her hands in an elegant display. One both hands showed a cross close to the rosary she wore. On her wrist was a butterfly.

"Well, enough," Caterina kept her voice even, taking in all of Lilith's changed appearance.

A smile softened her already soft golden eyes. Lilith settled herself into the pope had abandoned. The movement elegant and compact, that of a dancer. There was more power behind it, a familiar sense of being in the presence of a crusnik.

"His Holiness asked I speak with you over coming peace meeting," Lilith explained. "However, you appeared to be on your way out."

"To find you," Caterina clarified.

"I see." Lilith's smile softened if this was even possible. "What was it you wished to ask, Cardinal Sforza?"

"A matter over the peace meeting which could sway it one way or another is in regard to the servants."

"I see. You want to know which among the imperial servants Abel will bring." Lilith's eyes half closed. "Much will have changed since I left the empire. Whatever I know on the servants who served the royal family will be very different. The head of the royal servants will most likely have changed as well."

"Still, you know who served Abel."

"There was one boy who got Abel's trust from among the servants. He was but a child then, about fifteen when he started as a servant. However, he was always among the group to accompany Abel."

"His name?"

"Alain. A bright boy, he had knack for language and culture which made him invaluable. I have a feeling he will be among the four servants to accompany Abel this time as well."

Fifteen? He would older now, but, "When did he start working for Abel?"

"Ten years ago." Lilith gave Caterina a knowing smile.

This would make him twenty-five by now. "What was it his Holiness wanted us to talk about?"

"He wanted me to catch you up on the different relations between us, Albion, and the empire, especially how it was before the war. As well as breaking the guards into rankings so we can place them accordingly."

Caterina gestured for Lilith to continue.

x – Lilith – x

Night had fallen beyond the dark windows of the train. The lamps flickered, blotting out the landscape beyond. Lilith stood within the hall of the passenger car. Tres was to her left, guarding one of the other rooms given to the group to heading for the peace meeting and Leon stood guard before the third door.

Before leaving Rome, Lilith had helped Caterina figure out a rotation schedule for the guards on the trip to the meeting. The peace meeting was taking place in the Kingdom of Franc, a country which had maintained neutrality throughout the war. Abel had made arrangements with the king there for the three of their nations to meet in peace within one of the spare palaces.

The king had agreed and set up measures to stop a battle from taking place on his territory. Any group to break this neutrality would see the Kingdom of Franc joining into the war. It wasn't something the Pope wanted to see. Even with the Vatican having Albion as an ally, the Kingdom of Franc was on their boarder and would see them pincered between the empire and kingdom if either they or Albion broke this agreement.

With the guards and their rotation schedule, Lilith and Caterina had tried to make certain they each balanced one another.

Tres would be staying out the longest given he was a killing doll and thus required minimal "maintenance" as he had put it. Lilith would remain out for two shifts while Leon would rotate with William, Kaya, or a member of the Inquisition. She had made certain none of the Inquisition were out here without herself or Nihilum. The same went for those around his Holiness. If one of them had loyalty to only their former leader, she didn't want them taking out his arrest on Gregory.

"You look rather stunning, senorita," Leon broke the silence and shot Lilith a sly smile.

Lilith felt the corner of lip twitch. This was far from a subject to broach while on guard duty.

"You're certain you're with Father Nightroad?" Leon pressed.

Lilith glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "We're on guard, Father Garcia." She returned her attention to the window. She kept her ears perked for the slightest hint something was off.

She didn't have Abel's hearing, something which was both a blessing and a curse. He had the best senses out of the four of them: sharpest sight and hearing. While she could stand more noises than he could, she sometimes envied his ability to hear further to know when something was amiss or catch a piece information which would prove necessary to doing his old job as the head of security or even the leader of the colony.

Despite being able to best him and Cain in combat, even together, Lilith had always been aware Abel was physically stronger than herself. She was just faster and able to out think him. The hearing would have been the most useful enhancement to have as a guard though. Even if it had caused him no ends of pains in parties or other loud places.

"Come now," Leon gave her a boarder smile, "nothing's going to happen. You can tell me if you're really with that airheaded, idiot."

Lilith took a deep breath and continued to look out the window ahead of her. "I am far too old for you."

"Really? You look quite young."

Lilith felt her lips curl in a smile. "If you must know, I'm over a century old." A hundred and twenty-three. She was only three years older than Abel. A fact she had many times tried to hold over him and Cain. Abel had been the one to point since they aged slower than normal humans, back before the crusnik, she was only two years older than them and not three. For every year a normal human aged, it took them a year and half. Thus, three years was two to them.

"Hmm, you don't look a day over your early twenties."

Yes, twenties. When she had been in her twenties, age wise and not physically, everything had been so different. They had still been on Earth, ten years out from the Red Mars Project. The project which would see rise to new "race" on Earth over eighty years later. The fact they had aged a half year slower than normal humans hadn't set well with Abel right after they had been fused with the crusnik and had stopped aging. He hadn't liked the idea of remaining twenty for the rest of his life.

She couldn't blame him. Looking so young, made it harder to be taken seriously at times. Especially among those who appeared to look closer to their actual age outside of the empire.

"Thank you," Lilith kept her voice polite. "However, Father Garcia, we are both working right now." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Focus less on me and more on the mission."

Leon huffed a little. He returned his gaze to the hall, muttering under his breath.

x – Seth – x

Ion let out a small breath. The young boy was seated at the table in the guest quarters, pouring over the many positions he could join. Even after almost a week he had been unable to come up with any job he wanted.

Seth watched him from the opposite couch. She had come by to see if she could help. Asthe had already picked to return to her original line of work though it was more something within the yeniçeri during this day in age of the empire. The only one who hadn't decided was Ion.

"Couldn't I go with the rest to the meeting?" Ion asked. "They're leaving tomorrow, right?" He looked up at Seth.

"Your grandmother isn't going," Seth pointed out, "and neither is Astharoshe." Barack had decided to only take Baybars with them. Baybars' skill in the sword was almost on level with Barack's and thus Barack had stated he would be an asset if anything happened.

"Yeah, but the Duchess of Odessa and I were both part of the peace process in our own time. Shouldn't we go?"

Seth looked at the boy. "In the future, yes, but not in this time, Ion. I'm even remaining in the empire. My brother has already picked out those going with him. Not even Athina is going." In fact, Athina was remaining at the front in order to make certain the Vatican and Albion didn't take this chance to attack them. She had been instructed not to overreact though.

The door into the apartments opened and Barack strode in. A deep scowl on his face.

"What's wrong?" Seth asked.

"One of the guard found she's with child and decided to step out of the meeting," Barack grumbled. "I'm looking for Astharoshe."

Ion brightened. "Could I go instead?" the boy asked, standing.

"No."

"Astharoshe is in her rooms," Seth informed Barack. "You're certain she's a good choice."

"You stated she has enough self-control to not kill a terran on site as long as she doesn't offend anyone, she's more skilled a fighter than others I could take."

Meaning, there wasn't enough among the guard remaining in the empire to protect Seth and the two princes if Barack took one of them. He would rather have the ones he didn't know well close to keep an eye on rather than having them close to the princes.

Barack moved to Astharoshe's room and knocked. A few moments later he was speaking with Astharoshe.

Ion grumbled and sank back to the ground. "Now, I'm stuck with not going."

The doors opened once more. Another man entered.

Ion blinked, a small frown on his face at the sight of the newcomer. "Tovarish?" he muttered. "No, he's not Radu."

"Is Abel around?" Alexander asked as he moved into the apartments.

"Why would my brother be in the guest apartments?" Seth giggled. "You came to see if the rumors were true, didn't you?"

Alexander shrugged. He collapsed into the couch beside Seth. "Time travel technology was outlawed by the UN, even the research. I was rather curious about what future people looked like. Come to find only a kid here."

"I'm not a kid!" Ion snapped.

"You're just a pilot, Alexander, not a scientist," Seth pointed out. "And they are people not something to gawk at."

"Hey, now, that's rather insulting." Alexander ran his fingers through his dark hair. "I'm not 'just' a pilot. I'm the best damned pilot to ever exist in all the universe period!"

"Oh, forgive me." Seth shook her head.

Alexander looked at Ion who was now frowning at the pilot.

"Are you," Ion started, "Alexander Barvon?"

"Finally! Someone from the future confirms my legendary piloting skill lasts." Alexander smirked.

"No," Ion stated. "You're one of the emperor's tovarishes."

"Well," Alexander let out a long breath, "good to know the only reason I'm remembered is because of Abel."

"Shouldn't you be at home to get ready for the trip?" Seth asked.

"I'm good."

"What about your wife?" Knowing Alexander as she did, and remembering this time, Seth suspected the real reason Alexander was here had to do more with avoiding his wife than being curious about time travel.

"Ah, that."

"Yes, that." Seth glared at him. "Are you avoiding Celia again?"

Alexander coughed. "I think I should head home." He stood. "Before you decide to floor me." Alexander waved over his shoulder before the doors closed behind him.

Seth let out a low breath. Men. Honestly, all Celia had done to make Alexander want to run for the hills was mention starting a family. The doctor had been in to talk to Seth. Celia was one of Seth's closest friends. She still served as a doctor.

Soon, her brother would be off to the peace meeting. Hopefully this time everything went well. Granted, this meeting could take weeks for them to get anywhere. It was one of the reason Abel had asked for her to remain in the empire. Seth had agreed. One, because Abel had far more a right to be at the meeting than herself. Two, all of the other leaders were going to be there as well. Three, two crusniks from the empire wouldn't go over very well. And the final reason was because they couldn't leave the empire without a leader.

Abel also didn't know just how deep Cain's claws went among the military. Seth agreed it was dangerous to not know who was on Cain's side and who wasn't. There was a chance Cain could escape. If this happened, well, she doubted he could force the war without it coming out he was a traitor to the empire as well.

For now, Seth just needed to focus on running the empire as well as making certain their brother didn't manage to escape his prison.

(Author's Note: So, I was rereading volume 2 of Reborn on Mars when Lilith appears and realized Caterina, even knowing Abel well, wouldn't know the names of Lilith is wearing. It is stated in the novel about sari and bindi (the mark on her forehead) "such fashions were lost to history now." Thus, Caterina doesn't know the names. Most likely henna has been lost as well. From what I know about henna only the black henna can leave a mark (it's not good to use). Lilith is never painted or drawn with black henna. The tattooing isn't permanent outside of the black (scarring wise). Otherwise, it lasts only for a couple of days. It's also, most likely, why Lilith is drawn with same designs on all but her forehead and there always being a butterfly.)