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Abel and his group were the first to enter the meeting room. Solomon sat beside him and his guards waited in silence. Alain had checked the windows before heading for his place in the corner of the room. He had reported seeing Wilson and Lilith talking before dawn this morning. As well as Lilith heading to speak with the pope right after. It was either a plot against the empire or something was up and it hadn't sat right with Wilson.
A part of Abel wanted to believe it was the second one. Wilson had been the vice president of the colony for over seventy years. There had to be a part of him which still viewed a few within the empire as friends.
Still, there was also no denying how loyal he had been to his nation of birth.
Abel took a deep breath. Perhaps he was over thinking this. No matter what had happened, he needed to view Wilson in the best light he could. The man had been a good friend and advisor to Abel. He wouldn't let himself view Wilson in such a light. Expecting only the worst of people was how Cain and Myles had managed to keep Abel locked in the thought war was needed.
The doors into the room opened.
Abel didn't move as he listened to the group enter the room. He remained looking towards the windows, posture unconcerned. There was no way he would give away his doubts over what could happen today. Not with so much on the line.
The pope and Caterina took their places. Lilith was nowhere to be seen. Instead Thomas had taken her place. Esther had crossed the room to stand by Alain.
The queen entered a moment later and took her place. There was no sign of Wilson or the one guard who had come with him yesterday. Instead two guards flanked the queen. There was no advisor.
Solomon shifted a little. He didn't comment on the fact Wilson was missing. Still, this made it clear whatever had happened might be the reason Wilson and the other returner who had been with him were nowhere to be seen.
"No adviser, your majesty?" Gregory asked.
The queen looked at him, gaze even. "I didn't think Wilson was needed for today's talks." She settled herself into her seat. Her eyes glittered as she looked across the table at Abel.
No adviser? Abel looked at the pope of the corner of his eye. There was a hint of shock in the way the man glanced at Caterina.
"Do you know what this about?" he whispered to Caterina. Voice so low, Abel wasn't supposed to have heard it. He doubted the queen could.
"There is a matter I've been made aware of," the queen started before Abel could reply to her announcement of having no adviser for the talks today. "It is in regard to your empire." There was a note to her voice which didn't settle well with Abel. He knew she was up to something given yesterday's talks and, now, Wilson was missing.
Abel kept his voice even and features straight. "And what would that be, majesty?"
"You told a lie when you first returned to Earth," she started. "You aren't, in fact, the descendants of the original group sent to another world, but the original group itself."
Abel gave her a small smile. It wasn't shocking she knew this. He had suspected Wilson would inform his queen of the truth in regard to the empire's history rather than try to keep it secret. "We are," he confirmed when she had paused long enough for him to tell she was waiting for a response.
Neither Caterina nor Gregory reacted to the news. This meant Lilith must have informed them earlier to this. It might even have had been what Wilson and Lilith had talked about before dawn today.
"You don't deny you were holding back greatly on the technology you," she hesitated, a note of disgust coming to her voice, "people hold?"
"The technology your own nation and soldiers have reported from the front, is all my people hold," Abel stated. "I don't deny I have people within my nation who can return the empire to the levels Earth was at pre-Armageddon, however, their and my own focus has been elsewhere with the war."
Triumph glittered in the queen's eyes and spread across her face. "You don't even hide the fact you intend to use this peace to advance your nation further through technology than any other." She turned her gaze to the pope. "The empire is too dangerous to go into peace with without insurance they won't use this new technology against our nations in the future. They should sign a treaty which allows for their technology to be given freely to Albion," she smiled a little, "and, of course, to the Vatican, Holiness."
Gregory kept his gaze on the queen though it looked as if he wanted to glance at Caterina by the barest hint in his gaze. "This is a peace meeting meant to come in benefit to all three nations given none have actually lost the war," Gregory pointed out. "What you're proposing could turn it so the empire continues the war or becomes suppressed by our nations, neither of our nations have the power to do such and enforce such a treaty," Gregory pointed out. "Neither will I back a treaty which does such.
"If trade is started between the empire and the Vatican, I would happy to earn such technology through the trade. Not demand it just be given to my nation because it is our right when it isn't."
The queen's eye twitched a little.
Abel bowed his head to the pope. "The empire would need trade in order to advance technology further as it is," he stated. "After the treaty is drawn up, I would be more than happy to discuss the return of trade between our nations."
"This is far from all they will do or have been hiding." The queen glared at Abel. "You," – the queen went as far to point at Abel, venom lacing her voice – "you're not even human. You never were human, but a soulless creation before Armageddon."
Abel kept his features straight. He folded his hands before him, to stop from a sharp prickle of rage as she called what his sister and Lilith were "soulless." They were people as well. "Soulless?" Abel asked, his voice light and even holding a little note of a purr. He felt his lips curl in a small smile. "Queen Evelyn," Abel called her by her first name, "is this not what helped start the war by calling my people 'inhuman, soulless monsters'?"
The queen stiffened.
"Perhaps we should stop flinging insults at the emperor," his Holiness suggested. "We're here for peace." His gaze moved between Evelyn and Abel.
The queen narrowed her eyes. She turned her attention to the pope then back on Abel. "Very well, however, I have one statement to make. Your people are from a time before we lost all our history. Are you not keeping that history from our nations? How can I trust a nation which won't even share the lost history of my own with me?"
The pope blinked. "Is this true?" he asked.
"The empire does have some of the history of Earth pre-Armageddon," Abel stated. "And I will be more than happy to share this with both your nations as well as all the other nations of Earth. History belongs to world not a single nation."
Gregory bowed his head. "It will be nice to regain some of what was lost."
Abel relaxed a little when the meeting returned to what it was for rather than the queen flinging more mud in his direction. Unless one counted the glares she shot him from time to time. It was to be expected however. She had been forced to join this meeting because of the stalemate Abel had pushed their forces into on the front.
The midday break came and Abel was more than happy to move to another room for a brief rest before the rest of the day's talks. The room the groups retired to was shared, but large enough each group wouldn't be overheard. It was easier than having all of them return to their own chambers.
"Wilson wasn't in the meeting," Solomon voiced as they took their small section of the room, curtains blocked Abel's and Solomon's view from the rest of the room. Alexander and Barack would be standing on the other side of them while Alain went to prepare lunch.
"It is more than odd the queen wouldn't have him there, though he would have attempted to stop her from voicing everything she had earlier today."
Solomon bowed his head.
"Still, she also replaced his guard which has me more than a little worried." Abel looked at the head of military affairs. "Solomon, I would like you to search for the two of them and learn what happened. An adviser should be at the peace meeting."
"I agree." Solomon stood. "I will return before the meeting starts back up and report what I've learned."
"Thank you, Solomon. And be careful. We can't afford to overstep here."
Solomon nodded. "I understand." He left Abel.
"Where are off to?" Alexander asked.
"I'll explain later, Barvon," Solomon stated in reply. It was followed by the sound of Solomon moving away.
The soft sounds of Caterina and Gregory speaking could just be heard now Solomon had left. Abel took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He forced himself not to listen in on their conversation.
There was no telling what else the queen had planned. Or even if she had been in on the plans between Myles and Cain.
Cold wrapped around Abel.
If Evelyn had been, then this plot went far deeper than he had originally believed. There would be no peace in this time between the empire and Albion. Yet, it made far more sense if there was just a traitor who had the ear of the queen rather than it being the queen.
Abel would have to wait and learn what had become of Wilson in order to figure out just what was going on. The hand which the queen was truly hiding.
x – Seth – x
Seth let out a small breath as she closed the door into Azul's room. The boy hadn't wanted to settle down to sleep. He wanted to be there for Abel instead, saying he would have been the best soldier his father could take with him.
Warmth spread through Seth. Azul and Aran were back to being the very sweet boys she would always love as her nephews. None of the pain over Abel faking his death for peace and having to leave them and the empire was there. They could grow up now with their father, herself, and Solomon there for them.
Granted this was assuming the peace meeting would be successful.
A soft beep came from the radio she wore. "Yes?" Seth asked.
"Something is wrong, Lady Seth. Please come to the special containment cell."
Seth's heart flickered. Oh no, could Cain have escaped?
She paused long enough to speak with a few of the servants and guards. They would be able to add a layer of protection around her nephews while she went to investigate what was happening. Two of the guards fell in beside her.
The sun warmed the city as Seth exited the palace. It was early morning to the humans now, early evening to her people. The guards didn't even shift from the sudden increase in heat caused by their layers of protective gear and armor.
Wind whipped passed her as she raced towards where the Cain's prison was. Seth hadn't even entered the building before she saw movement. A few were fleeing down an alleyway.
"You two head into the building, check on the guard," Seth ordered two of her guard. "The rest are with me." She raced after the fleeing figures, skidding as she rounded the corner.
A few Methuselah were leaping up the side of a close building. Another figure in the center of the group. The movements alone would have been enough for Seth to know it was Cain. However, his white and red clothing stood out even in the bright morning along with his long blond hair.
"Damn," Seth muttered.
She leapt up the building opposite them. The only good thing was it was morning. Neither of them could activate their other form, not without burning in the sunlight. She leapt the last few feet to the top of the building.
"Cain!" Seth's voice rang through the silence as she turned to face the other building.
Cain paused. He turned and grinned.
One of the men saw Cain had stopped. "Shit!" he spat. "Come one, my lord, we must go."
Seth backed away from the edge. "We have to follow them." She raced forward and leapt. She cleared the roof in one easy bound.
Cain was already racing across the rooftop after the others.
Seth bolted after him. She closed the space with ease. Her sink burned, blood filled her mouth as she activated 03 a little. Her daggers slid from their seethes.
Seth leapt and flipped her body.
Cain rolled.
Sparks filled the air in a flash. Her daggers were greeted by his thin saber.
Seth leaned.
"Bad sister!" Cain pouted. He leapt away from her. "First you imprison me now you attack me." He pouted. "Mean!" He grinned, eyes glittering with an almost innocent look. "I've done nothing, nothing at all."
Seth straightened her daggers ready. Her muscles tensed.
Cain lunged. He thrust the saber towards her heart.
Seth twisted around the blow. Her speed greater than Cain's. She slashed low.
Cain staggered back.
Her daggers only just drew blood.
His eyes burned with red. A hiss of rage fled thin lips.
Seth leapt this time.
Sparks filled the air as they danced around one another.
Cain matched her blow for blow. Both moving with ease between defense and offense. In the past, she would have been dead long before now. Her centuries more experience proved to level the playing field between them.
She twisted and dodged, parried and leapt.
The air whipped around her. Pressure filled the air as a familiar nose hummed in her ears.
An airship lowered towards them.
"My lord!" a shout sounded from the docking ramp.
Cain and his men broke off from the battle and raced towards the ramp.
Seth raced after him.
He landed a heartbeat before the ship lifted out of even a crusnik's jumping distance.
"I will see you again, little sis!" Cain cheered over the roaring air. "You will rule the day you ever turned on me!" Whatever else he had to say was drown in the air as the airship pulled further into the sky.
Seth growled, her eyes locked on the sky. "Summon Alexander's ship," Seth ordered her men. "We're heading for the front for Athy." She turned from the edge of the roof.
"Shouldn't we follow them instead?"
"No. I know where they're heading. We need to warn Abel."
"But, my lady, who will watch over the empire if you leave as well?" The guard glanced from her to his fellow.
"Thema and Celia can run matters while I'm away." It wouldn't be the first time the two of them had to take command while Seth, her brothers, and Solomon were all at the front. She would also have to ask Mirka to aid them.
The airship Cain had escaped on was now unmarked. Despite this their nation was the only which had airships. If they attacked the peace meeting, it would be blamed on the empire. However, if Cain's goal was Abel then it would show a rogue faction within the empire as the ones who wanted to continue the war.
Even still, Seth needed to get to her brother before Cain did. Cain might be delayed if he planned on freeing Myles. Even then, how would he find the location of the peace meeting? Very few were made aware of just where it was being held.
Seth moved into the airship only a few minutes later. It had just returned from dropping Abel and the others at the meeting. The other airships were at the front seeing to the prisoner releases.
"We're heading to get Athy," Seth informed the pilot. She took the seat on the bridge normally reserved for Abel or whatever high ranked member of the empire was aboard the ship and wanted to be on the bridge. "Then to the peace meeting."
"All right," Alexander's second turned to the controls and set course.
They couldn't lose another peace attempt. Not when they had a chance to change everything.
Seth's hands tightened on the arm rests. She wouldn't let it happen.
(Author's Note: Hurray the queen got a name!
Slow updates will be slow.)