Chapter 13's end of chapter has been rewritten.

Seth's eyes widened as Cain's airship came into view. They hadn't been following it which meant… Oh no!

"He's head for the front!" Seth itched to race to the window, bur forced herself to remain seated. "Set course to intercept them. He's most likely aiming to break the stalemate Abel forced the armies into."

"Understood." Alexander's second replied before setting course.

Seth gritted her teeth. It was all too clear what Cain's goal was. He wanted it to appear the empire's desire for peace was a farce. To frame them as the villains who had lured the pope and queen into a trap. If he pulled this plan off, then Abel and his team would be outnumbered two to one at the peace meeting. This was assuming both Queen Evelyn's and the pope's chosen servants could fight as well as Alain. Regardless, it wasn't a situation she wanted her brother in.

"Fire on the engines the moment we're in range," Seth ordered. She turned on her radio before Alexander's second could reply. "Athy, we're going to b e shooting at an airship."

"What?" Athina's voice sounded over the radio.

"If you can see two of them the lead one is part of a splinter faction," Seth informed her. "They wanted the war to continue and to do this they are going to fire on the frontline."

"Understood. I'll get to a vantage point and target the ship from the ground. The reach shouldn't be a problem for Gae Bolg."

"Find a good, elevated position. Have your second take command of forces for the time being. Be certain to keep your second updated on the situation."

"Understood, Athy over and out."

"We're in range. Firing now," Alexander's second informed them.

The window was lit as a missile raced out towards Cain's airship. A beam of light shot from the ground seconds later. The missile slammed into engine while the struck the underbelly of the airship. Smoke trailed through the sky as the airship plummeted to the ground.

"Make certain to keep them in your sights." Seth touched her radio. "Athy, bring a small group to aid in detaining them."

"Copy that."

Cain's airship crashed and skidded forward, leaving behind a long scar in the rock and soil.

Seth leapt to her feet. "Have a team meet me, ready to depart, at the ramp."

"Yes, ma'am."

Seth raced from the bridge. A group was waiting for her by the ramp. They were all dressed in the armored protective gear. Good, they were ready then. The ground shook a little as the airship landed. Seth led the way out and down the ramp.

Athy was already there. Her team had weapons out and pointed at the few who had disembarked Cain's airship. There were too few for it to be all of them… it just looked like the team who had aided in his escape. Which meant there had to be more inside the airship. Cain was also missing from the group.

"What's going on?" Athy asked as she moved over to Seth. "I get they want the war to continue, but why attack their own people? It doesn't make sense."

"They're being led by Cain," Seth explained. She went into a few details Athy hadn't been informed of outside of the fact that Cain was a traitor.

Athy snarled, "If I see…" Gae Bolg activated in her hand. She shook her head. "I doubt our group is large enough to detain him. She glanced at the few she'd brought before he gaze moved to Seth's men. "I don't doubt your abilities, but Cain," the name was tainted with distain, "is an excellent fighter despite his mental state of being."

"You're right, but when has having a few with me ever stopped me?"

Athy laughed. "You make a fair point, Aunt Seth. I'll stay here with a few of my people. The rest should go with you, especially if Cain still has more people with him."

"Thank you, Athy." Seth gestured for those chosen to come with her to follow. She started towards the lowered ramp.

A white blur shot out. A hint of red and blond could be seen, just enough to know this was Cain. He slowed only enough to leap into the air.

Seth leapt to the side. The hard ground slammed into her as she rolled to avoid the attack.

A shout sounded behind her. A loud thud filled the air as one of her men no doubt struck the ground.

Seth leapt back to her feet. She turned and raced in the direction Cain was heading.

A gun shot sounded.

Seth instinctively hit the ground. The air thrummed as the bullet shot over her head. It would have struck her in the unguarded part of her arm if she hadn't hit the ground. She could just make out the sound of her people attacking the one who had made to shoot Seth.

Seth leapt back to her feet. Damn it all! Cain was gone. There was no sign of him, showing the shot had done part of what it was intended for, to allow Cain the few precious seconds to escape Seth.

Something so simple and Seth had messed it up. Seth gritted her teeth. Eight centuries more experience had come to naught against Cain. Granted, those centuries only allowed her to know what would have been if not for their memories being transported back in time. It didn't erase the fact Seth had never spent a lot of time learning Cain's new tricks since being fused with 01.

Seth turned from where Cain had vanished. She moved back over to the others. "Get them to holding cells aboard my airship," she ordered. "We'll interrogate them on before heading back."

"Ma'am!" the group straightened and saluted Seth.

"Before heading back?" Athy asked.

"Something doesn't feel right," Seth explained. "If Cain managed to escape, then perhaps so has Myles."

Athy's eyes narrowed under her visor. "Myles wouldn't be able to continue the war on his own. Cain I can see managing it, but just Myles?" Athy shook her head.

"He is bound to have supporters within the Vatican, even those higher up than himself."

"True. Do you think they would betray the pope then?" Athy's eyes widened. "But if they did that and the group was large enough… oh hell! Uncle Abel is in danger."

Seth's gut twisted. No matter how much she hated to admit it, Athy was right. Her brother was in danger. They also didn't know who it had been on the Albion side who had manipulated the war into continuing for so long. There had to be someone there as well. It only made sense given Myles and Cain. But Cain had never written them. This meant that person's point of contact had been Myles and not Cain.

"You should head for the peace meeting," Athy suggested. "That way if Uncle Abel and his team are in danger, you will be able to get them out of there without too many dying."

"But if they aren't bringing the airship that close would jeopardize the peace talks." Seth shook her head. "I'll have to leave it in cover and run the rest of the way there with a team."

"Just not too far." Athy smiled. "Thank you."

"I'll the front to you and your men, Athy." Seth looked at her. "It wouldn't do to have all of the commanders in Franc."

A breath escaped the younger woman. "I hate to admit it but you're right."

x – Abel – x

The voice echoed familiar from both the past and the future. It was at once the voice of Isaak Fernand von Kämpfer from the Rosenkreuz Orden and the voice of Isaac Butler, leader of the United Nations. He hadn't put two and two together eight centuries from now because he hadn't remembered the UN's leader's voice after so long.

Abel turned. His gaze fell over the all too familiar of Isaac Butler. His dark hair was cut short, in the same neat style he had worn as head of the UN. His glasses flashed in the light as he straightened. His black eyes locked on their group. It felt as his gaze was all for Abel and Lilith and not focused on anyone else.

"What the hell?!" Alexander stepped back. "How are you still alive? Or are you a ghost? A zombie?"

Abel snapped back to himself at Alexander's shout. "Enough, Alexander," he called the pilot to order. Regardless if this man really was both Isaac Butler or Isaak Fernand von Kämpfer or was both of them, it didn't matter in the here now. Okay, so it did as Isaak Fernand von Kämpfer was more dangerous than all but Cain eight centuries from now and if he was one and the same then they would have a very dangerous foe on their hands. One only Abel and Tres had faced.

"Von Kämpfer," Caterina breathed the name.

Abel forced himself to remain looking head and not glance back to Caterina. His jaw ached from the tightness and resisting the urge to look at her. But to look away could mean he wouldn't react in time if this man was von Kämpfer. There was no dropping his guard until it was revealed who this man was.

Movement caught the edge of Abel's gaze. The queen strode into view as she joined the man dressed in her guards' uniform. Queen Evelyn turned to them; Isaak was beside her. A smile spread over her face, eyes alight with an almost manic glint.

"The war will continue. It will continue on until I stand as the soul ruler of this world!" She gazed at Abel and the pope as if both of where beneath her.

The door opened and many more people raced into the room. They lifted weapons and pointed them towards, not only Abel's group, but Gregory's as well.

"With this, the Vatican is now under my direct control with their new pope, Pope Alfonso as my puppet." The light increased in her gaze.

"Alfonso?" Gregory's chair clattered.

Ah, it was the cardinal who had allied himself with Myles. At least that is if Abel's memory was correct. The cardinal had only been mentioned in a few of the letters Abel had been given to read. It also had followed given the fact Myles had managed to keep it under wraps it had been Abel who was captured. Myles would have needed support of at least one Cardinal. Given how easy it was for Cardinal Alfonso to take over the Vatican, it meant there were more than just him who had supported Myles and the continued war.

Damn. It was as Abel had feared it being. Most of those loyal to Gregory had to come here to the peace meeting and not remain in Rome. The pope, while well liked for his kindness, wasn't popular for his desire of peace within the Vatican. At least that was how it had been after Abel had sold his freedom for peace. It was a fine line Gregory walked back then… er, in the future. Whatever time it was.

"That can't be." the soft rustle of robes was enough to know Gregory had taken a step forward. "Alfonso was stripped of his position. He couldn't have—"

"My you're truly naïve," Evelyn sneered. "He has far more supporters than you think among his fellow Cardinals. All it took was a little nudge and he was elevated to the position. And now owes me for the rest of his life."

She was certainly chatty. Abel's eyes remained locked on her and Isaak. The man hadn't moved. His gaze remained locked on Abel and Lilith. A feat in and of itself given they were standing close. It was as if nothing else happening in the room even mattered to him. Granted the man was obsessed with the crusniks eight centuries from now. That was assuming he was von Kämpfer.

"Now," Evelyn purred. "Myles's little contact in the empire should be moving to take the throne and pass it to me."

Abel laughed. He couldn't help it. "You seem to think my twin would give it to you," Abel's voice was even despite his amusement at her words.

Evelyn just smiled at him. "My, you don't seem to know your brother very well. He is more than happy to give me control of your pets. He just wanted to keep destroying things. As long as I let him do that, he is quite happy."

Did she really think she had Cain in the palm of her hand? This woman sure was stupid. Cain might not have an interest in ruling people, but he also didn't like being bossed around. Given Isaak was here, still assuming he was von Kämpfer, he would side with Cain over the queen in a heartbeat. He was fanatically loyal to Cain in the future after all.

Abel stood, tired of looking over his shoulder at them. He never once removed his gaze from the two.

"You see, emperor," she spat his title, "you're no longer needed as anything but a tool to keep your beasts in line." She giggled. "My, you're not even needed for that. All I have to tell them is you're my pet now and they'll fall in line with ease."

"What are we? Dogs or something?" Alexander scowled. "Well, if that's what you see as I would be happy to be an attack dog now." He took a step forward.

The soldiers lifted their guns.

"Now, now, I wouldn't do that if I were you. See, these weapons are loaded with silver. Take another step and you will be killed.

"Why would you do this? The Vatican and the Albion have been allies for years," Gregory had found his voice.

"She did it so all nations would see her as the savior who tamed the monsters of the empire and destroyed the one leader who wanted to make peace with those monsters," Abel stated. He smiled. "Or am I wrong, Queen Evelyn."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed.

"But for you to become such a hero you first needed a war. Despite the mass awakening having taken place, the empire and the Vatican showed little signs of a war starting between them, thus you needed away to start one. You contacted Myles and Alfonso in the Vatican. Myles in turn got into contact with Cain. Through this you four manipulated a war into starting through a false peace meeting. A trap I fell for out of a desire to keep my people safe and from having to face another war."

"Oh? The emperor of monsters seems to think he knows everything. Do continue on?" Evelyn laughed. The sound wasn't light or pleasant in the least. It was cold and harsh to the ears.

Isaak's eyes narrowed further. His jaw tightened. He was only just restraining himself, but from what? He was allied with the queen. Abel doubted her plans would have come to anything without this man. Well, again, assuming he was von Kämpfer or Isaac Butler. Regardless, it did appear he was waiting for something. His stance was stiff, gaze no longer pointed to Lilith and Abel. Rather, he was looking at the queen out of the corner of his eye. Contempt was appearing in his dark gaze. She was pissing him off. This much very clear just in the slightest movements of his face.

"Gladly, Queen Evelyn," Abel spoke in honied tones, even as he made the slightest gesture to Alexander.

Alexander's muscles tightened as he caught the silent order. His gaze flickered to where the servants were. The three of them, yes, all three, were had guns trained on them. It seemed the queen cared little if her servant lived or died here.

Abel continued the soft gesture he had made towards Alexander until his fingers brushed a small device he kept with him. Normally it would be used to alert Alain when Abel needed his servant for domestic matters. However, it was also a tool used to alert Alain something was wrong. It actually worked in their favor he wasn't there with them. All that was left was to buy a little more time.

One of Evelyn's guards was shifting. The movement didn't seem to point to him realizing Abel had a man ready to leap to protect the servants though. Instead, the guard was edging closer to the queen and Isaak. The movement was placing it such that he was almost between the two of them.

"You failed to predict two things once the war had started. The first being it turned into a one-sided massacre and the second was Lilith changing sides. With her, humanity rallied behind one of the monsters you were trying to frame as beasts who needed to be tamed by the benevolent Queen Evelyn."

"Ah, now you've done it." The queen smiled. "Though I should be thanking you, your speech has made this far easier for the next part of my plan." She lifted her hand. "Kill them! Kill them all!" the queen gleefully ordered.

"Barvon!" Abel ordered.

"On it!" Alexander sprung forward. He cleared the space between himself and the servants only just in time to use himself as a living shield. The bullets had no effect on his clothing given it was the same bullet proof weave as most of Abel's cloths.

In the same heartbeat, another moved. Isaak whipped around. His hand moved to take ahold of the queen's neck. Instead, his fingers wrapped around the gun of the soldier who had moved.

"That wasn't what we agreed, Evelyn," the words were coated in ice. He took little notice of the soldier or seemed to even care the soldier had stopped him from taking hold of Evelyn's neck.

"No, it wasn't," Evelyn purred, smiling. "But, you see, I no longer have a use for you, Isaak. You've already given me all I need to take control of this planet through these enhanced soldiers you made for me."

"Stand down!" Isaak snapped at the soldiers.

None of them did so. Rather they were already preparing to fire on Abel, the pope, and their people.

The queen laughed. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't have noticed you messing with them to make them obey you over me? My, you must think so little of me." Her eyes glittered. "Kill him as well."

Isaak gritted his teeth in a snarl. He leapt back just a breath before the soldiers fired on him. The bullets wheezed passed him. He landed in a smooth moment so he stood before Abel and the others. His hand lifted.

Bullet struck the shield which materialized before him. The move had been made in such a smooth way it not only protected Isaak but all those who remained at the table.

Odd. Very odd. While it was true the man had this odd obsession with crusniks he shouldn't have acted to protect them. Unless… oh, this could work in their favor. Isaak might not be aware of just who the contact was in the empire. This would mean Abel and Lilith were the first crusniks he had met.

Thoughts for later.

The door opened.

Several soldiers turned to meet this new foe. A dark figure darted between them, moving, not with the speed of a methuselah, but fast enough it was hard for them to train their guns on him.

"Sir Barack!" A sword spun towards them on the ground.

Barack leapt forward and grabbed it. The air thrummed. Soldiers were thrown away from them.

"Sir Barvon!" A sword flew through the air.

"Thanks, kid!" Alexander caught the blade and unsheathed it in the same motion. Blood filled the air as he slashed at the soldiers.

"My lady," one of the soldiers whispered.

Evelyn turned and raced towards the door.

Abel leapt forward.

"Majesty." Alain held out Only One as Abel passed him.

Abel took the blade without slowing. He drew it.

Several soldiers leapt onto him before he could make it far.

Damn it all! Abel spun, trying to dislodge them.

"My lord!"

The soldiers were suddenly ripped from him.

Abel blinked when he saw, not Barack or Solomon, but one of the black demon-like creatures Isaak could summon there. It threw the soldier aside.

Abel's grip tightened on Only One. His gaze locked on the demon instead of the soldiers as he prepared to face it instead. The demon moved, not towards Abel, but the soldiers. It tore one apart.

All right, for now it was on their side.

A roar sounded from the door.

Abel whipped around, but the queen was no longer there. Rather it was Leon. The man raced into the room. His chakrams flashed through the air as they slammed into the soldiers.

Damn it all! Abel had let himself get trapped by the soldiers then distracted by one of Isaak's demons. It had afforded the queen the time she needed to make her escape.

"Oy!" Leon tossed two guns towards Tres.

Tres grabbed them. "Switching for search mode to genocide mode." The machine fired on the enemy.

Lilith remained back. She hadn't activated the crusnik, but her position placed her in the path of any enemy who tried to attack Caterina or the Gregory.

Abel turned to rejoin the fight. The Albion soldiers didn't stop fighting. Not until they were killed. It was as if they had no other interest outside of seeing the queen's orders through.

Abel wounded one and the soldier attacked him in another way. Even without arms or legs they kept going. Using whatever they had left to fight with. None of them stopped until they were beheaded or pierced through the heart.

"All right, those bloody things are creepier than what the Orden had," Leon stated once the last soldier had been dispatched. He turned and lifted a chakram, so it was ready to fly at Isaak. "Now, speaking of the Orden, what the hell is their bloody second doing here in this time?"

Isaak cocked an eyebrow at Leon, but otherwise paid him little heed.

Tres trained his guns on Isaak. "State your intent towards the Duchess of Milan," Tres's voice was even, devoid of emotion even as his glass eyes remained locked on Isaak.

Isaak ignored Tres as well. In one smooth motion he knelt down. "I will serve you from this day forward, Lord Abel and Lady Lilith."

"Come again?" Abel asked. This was just too weird. Whatever, it didn't matter at this moment. Abel turned to Alain. "What's the situation in the rest of the building?"

"More Albion soldiers are beyond the door. They are over running the building. Forgive me for not coming sooner, majesty."

"It's fine, Alain, you did well to come when you did and with our weapons." Abel noted the fact Solomon now wore his ring. No doubt Solomon had been using it to support Abel throughout the fight. Abel was so used to it, he paid little attention to the ring or the beam so it wouldn't have shocked him he had completely missed it.

"The rest of the palace guard are protecting the servants, Wilson Walsh, and his guard," Alain continued the report. "From what I saw the guards from the Vatican are doing the same for the nuns and priests they brought with them."

"Oy, oy, are you ignoring the fact the bloody second of the Orden is here pleading himself to you, Four-eyes?!" Leon demanded. "What the hell is with that?"

Abel turned to Leon. "Language, Dandelion."

"Forget my damned language! First, you're some kind of ancient big shot emperor, now one of the most dangerous people of our time is bowing to you!"

Abel managed to force a smile. How did Leon expect Abel to know why Isaak was still kneeling on the ground as if waiting Abel to say something?

"I agree with you, dandelion, was it?" Alexander chose then to speak. "It is really weird a man who looks like the leader of the UN is now pledging himself to you."

Abel took a deep breath. "We have more pressing concerns, like the building being overrun with soldiers and regrouping with the others," Abel stated. Forget trying to figure all of this out right then. They could deal with it once Abel was certain his people and the Vatican group were safe.

"Barvon, Barack, you two are going to take point," Abel started. "We'll have to head towards the Vatican's group first given their closer."

Gregory straightened.

"Solomon, stay near to the pope and cardinal," Abel continued. "I don't doubt Lilith's and Tres's skill to keep them safe, but I would rather not risk them."

"I'd like to see them try to get to Caterina with me here." Leon gave one of his wolfish grins. It seemed he hadn't noticed Abel hadn't mentioned him.

"Barack, you'll—"

"Clear the way and make damn certain none touch my emperor," Barack stated, eyes blazing.

"Well, yes, on the clearing the way," Abel started.

"You're not joining me at the head of the group," Barack stopped Abel before Abel could suggest it.

It had been worth a try.

"I will join, Sir Barack." Alain bowed, hand over his heart.

"Good thinking, Alain." Barack nodded to him.

"It is a sound plan," Catrina agreed. "Tres and Leon, the two of you will bring up the rear. Watch for an attack from behind while supporting from a distance."

"Yeah, got it, senorita."

"Understood," Tres's voice echoed Leon's.

"I will remain with the two of you," Lilith add in. Her gaze moved to Abel. "Three of you," she corrected.

Abel scowled. He didn't need to be protected! Oh, well, they needed to get moving. His arguing the point would only delay them.

"Would you keep an eye on von Kämpfer as well?" Caterina tilted her head in Isaak's direction.

"Of course." Lilith smiled at Caterina.

Isaak straightened, still kneeling on the floor. "If I may, Lady Lilith, who is von Kämpfer?"

(Author's Note: I have written this chapter two ways, one where Isaak joined the queen and this one. I had originally lined it up such that Isaak with on the queen's side through this, but as I was typing up what I had handwritten at work, the story just went in this direction. This way seemed to work. Especially given the queen never intended to keep her promise and not target Abel and Lilith. Then there is the fact that Abel and Lilith are the first two of the cursniks Isaak has meet in this timeline. Thus his loyalty is now to the two of them as well as Seth and not to 01.)