It was nearing evening when Abel and Astha finished checking the neighborhood for any last Autojägers. There hadn't been much for Autojägers but there was an unfortunate number of people killed by the gas.
People were starting to filter back to their homes, clean up crews were busy at the site where the consulate had been. The area had a hushed, melancholy feel as bodies in black bags were taken away in vans.
Abel talked to a few officers and a medic about the buildings that still had bodies and potentially gas pockets.
"Whew!" Abel said as draped his coat over the back of his chair and tucked his gloves in the flopped down in the chair beside Astha and tried to stretch out his legs. His armored combat boots clanked against the legs of the table as he shuffled around till he was comfortable. She had made it back to the cafe a short while before him, needing to rest. The fatigue the sun caused was wearing her down, thankfully she had brought her UV suit and cream but there were limits. Abel would have been hard pressed if she hadn't been able to come with him. Not without transforming anyway.
Infront of her was a set of glasses filled with water, a small plate of sandwiches that she had gotten together and an envelope with money for when the cafe owner came back. She looked him over, quietly appreciative that he had stepped in when it came to dealing with the locals.
"Your experience with Terran police is handy."
He grabbed a sandwich, happy to get some food in his system. "Hmm, more like a survival skill given the amount of collateral damage that Tres and I caused. The better I was with the locals the lower the bill to Caterina usually was which meant less scolding about budgets when I got back."
"I bet!" Astha chuckled, imaging the imposing Caterina giving him a scathing dressing down.
Abel smirked ruefully and reached back to fix his ponytail, it had loosened and his hair was bothering him as he ate.
"No, let it down, if that inquisitor sees your hair in the normal fashion it could trigger him… and you did say he was there to carry your coffin."
Abel furrowed his brows a moment before pulling the ribbon off his hair. It settled about his shoulders and halfway down his back.
"It will get in my way if I have to fight."
"Then fight better."
Abel chuckled and tucked the ribbon away.
"Anything else?"
Astha hummed as she looked at him more critically while he finished his food. "Lose the glasses and gloves… that should help a lot since you also move differently too."
He nodded and took his glasses off, tucking them inside his shirt pocket. Truly, little remained of the bumbling priest; the dark blue shirt and pants that fit him in a relaxed fashion showed off his physique tastefully and his low slung double belts that criss crossed his hips. His natural grace showed more now as he had left the stumbling habit behind, he was tall and purposeful when he walked, not partially hunched and trying to be unnoticed.
"Knowing you now… it's hard to believe you were ever that fool, I must confess."
A sly smirk spread across his face, mischief in his eyes. "I could… lighten your soul if you wish to confess more?" He waggled an eyebrow suggestively.
Astha blinked at him, surprised by his suddenly flirtatious demeanour and laughed in amusement.
He grinned and took a drink of water, looking over his glass at her.
"Hmm… it's probably best you're not of the cloth anymore," she turned towards him and let sultry innuendo soak into her voice, "would hate to burden you with all of my sinful thoughts."
He felt himself react to her voice, his heartbeat picking up slightly and his face warmed causing him to choke on his water. He coughed and sputtered while silently cursing himself, he latched onto something to change the topic.
"You've ah... read the bible?"
Astha grinned as she saw his flushed cheeks just before he changed the subject. "I was curious so I flipped through a copy while in Londinium. It's hard to believe a faith built so long ago is still kicking around… and no I'm not converting."
He held his hands up in front of him, placatingly.
"I'm not one to push religion… been around too long for that." He noticed he still had his gloves on and took them off, tucking them in his pockets.
"Are your… passengers behaving? We still need to check out the church."
"For now… perhaps I should have brought the vials... but the sandwiches are helping, thank you." His gaze took in her face, the dark smudges under her golden eyes and the still red blotches of skin where the sun had gotten through the cream. "And are you ok? This is a lot more than what we planned on…can you handle more?"
She smiled at his concern and reached out to touch his hand with her fingers. It was so like him to notice another's struggle she thought.
"I'm alright now, the sun will be down soon and I'll be a lot better. If that guy is at the church this is as good a time as any to be there."
He smiled in return, "well let's pitter-patter and get at 'er." At her quirked eyebrow he blushed a little. "It's a saying, honest!"
She rolled her eyes and stood up. "I see some of that priest stuck."
"Can't be someone else for a decade and not absorb some things." He shrugged, grabbing their bags.
"That's fair, can't be serious and brooding all the time."
He stopped, turning to look at her, surprised.
"You have your days." She shrugged, pulling her hood up over her head. "Not as bad as you started out but it's there, perhaps it's the more real you."
He dropped his gaze for a moment, looking down at his feet. "Perhaps… I am not sure who I am anymore, a lot has happened in a short time."
She smiled and put her hand on his shoulder blade, pressing up against his arm, her head leaning on his shoulder. "It's been a lot, I agree… but I'm glad you've let me help you."
A true smile curved his lips as he looked over at her, warmth filling him at her comments.
"Thank you, Astharoshe." His voice had taken a lower, softer timbre. Golden eyes peered up at him, a slightly startled look to them. He laughed softly. "I do know how to say your name, I just don't like to do it often."
She smiled and hummed as she pushed off from him to snag her bag from his hands.
"What was it you said? Patterns of pity? Pitty patty?" Knowing she got it wrong, Astha grinned and walked out into the street. Abel sputtered to correct her and explain the old Terran saying.
It took a little while and several references to the map for them to reach the church since all the taxis they could find were quite full. The roving mobs of people from the morning seemed to have died down, as the excitement of the morning faded away in the monotony of the urban life. It was nearly sunset when they reached their destination.
The area looked like it had seen better days. The church was on a decorative roundabout cul de sac with a simple stone fountain in the center, a large green space on one side and a simple cemetery on the other took up most of the cup de sac. A car had been flipped over on its side, the top riddled with bullet holes, it was half on the stone stairs to the entrance of the church.
Along the walls of the two story church was several large craters in the stone. The stained glass motifs in the shape of the cross above the doors was shattered, their beauty spilled across the entrance. The large wooden doors were splintered and one hung awkwardly as the hinge was pulled out of the frame.
Abel noticed the discarded mask of an Autojäger resting on the stairs. There were quite a few dried puddles of a black substance on the ground, putting the fighting at least a few hours past.
Everything was quiet, no signs of life. Abel could see where bodies had fallen, but the grounds had been cleared of carnage and some of the debris swept away. Something about it felt much like when they had gone to the consulate. He stashed their bags at the stair railing near the entrance.
"I have a bad feeling about this, you?"Astha muttered as she looked around, her spear held in her hands.
"Yes, it's all a bit weird and I imagine inside will be worse." Abel whispered as she came up beside him.
As they stepped over the broken threshold, the scene before them made them stop in their tracks.
A thin river of blood starkly cut along the isle, red on the pristine white stone floor. Their gaze followed the crimson trail to a man attached to a large ornamental cross above the pulpit. He was stripped to the waist and nailed to the cross at his hands and feet. A large slice to his midsection was the main source of the blood trail, the large gash weeped with each laboured breath, releasing a gush of lifeblood to the growing red river. The drape of hair from the man was a familiar blue grey..."Petros!" Abel whispered, horrified as he rushed forward, his long legs taking him to the pulpit.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... I shall fear no evil for thou art with me... thy rod and... thy staff they comfort me." The prayer was barely audible, the words halting in between shallow breaths.
"Quickly! We have to get him down!" Abel slipped slightly on the blood as he stopped at the pulpit. Astha moved to join him when the confessional box to the side exploded open, showering her in debris and bullets. She brought her arms up to protect her face, gripping her spear in both hands, activating a charge. She grunted as several bullets went deep into her arm and a spike of wood going into her calf making her fall as the muscle lost strength. She crumpled into a roll, using her momentum to carry her forward, the spear to balance as she got upright again.
A slight middle aged man, balding and wearing pastor robes held a machine gun, his brown eyes were terrified as his hands swung the gun to press more bullets at them. Astha let the charge go, scorching the area around the man, just missing him.
Abel turned towards the commotion, quickly drawing his gun and aiming at the threat.
"Surprise Father!" Dietrich's voice came from the pastor as he pulled the trigger, directly towards Abel's chest, knocking him back a step with the multiple bullets hitting his body and hands. His grip on his gun loosened and his shot went zinging off mark, cutting the cloth on the man's arm.
Astha growled as she lurched forward to run the last few meters to tackle the priest, knocking him over and sending the gun skidding away as well as her spear as she grappled him into a hold.
"You bitch! Don't you know when to wait your turn?" Dietrich cursed as she overpowered the woefully weak vessel he was using. "If you do this wrong it's just this poor pathetic man you're killing."
She pressed his face to the floor a little harder with her knee on his neck as her hands pinned his behind his back. She could feel blood soaking her clothes, her damaged limbs quivering from use.
"Stopping you is all I want right now."
She felt an odd sensation at her hands, like a flicker of frostbite, a hot/cold bite at the bottom of her palms, her grip weakened and she could feel the sensation spike up her arms.
"You know… I could work with this."
"Astha let go! Now!" Abel called as he leapt over the last few pews, fearing that contact would let Dietrich switch from the downed pastor to Astha.
The flicker got more intense and she jerked away.
"Dammit!" Dietrich bucked under her and rolled away, stretching out his hands for the gun. .
Abel closed in, using the butt of his gun to knock the pastor unconscious. The strike was hard enough to roll the man several times before he sprawled out.
Abel could smell the blood soaking her clothes, causing the internal roar of 02 to pound in his mind. He focused momentarily on Lilith, hoping to feel her cool 02s abhorrent hunger.
"Are you ok? I can tell you are bleeding…" he tucked his gun back in the holster on his belt.
"N-nothing life threatening..." She quickly pulled out the wooden spike from her leg. Then paused as the blood came out quickly. "Oh shit… Abel I wasn't thinking.."
He immediately stepped away and looked at the crumpled pastor, she could see him flexing his hands open and closed.
She quickly reached into her utility belt, taking out a small roll of bandages.
"I'll be quick!" A hasty few wraps over her pants to stop the blood as fast as possible, the wound just up from the other bandage she did this morning. If all went well, she would be healed up in the next half hour or so.
"Do you think that stopped him?"
"Only temporarily." He turned, moving towards her and reached out his hand. "Here, give me the roll, I'll do your arm so it's done somewhat right and quick."
"Are you sure? Could… do.. you need some?"
His eyes snapped to hers, the blue in his eyes were dark and intense, she could see the edges of his iris blurring with red.
"If it will help, I don't mind since I'm already opened up." She whispered.
"No… there's more to do and I might... might take too much… let your natural healing do it's work, since you just took pills it shouldn't take long to stop." His voice was low, he seemed to be convincing himself as much as her.
Nodding, "Fair enough." She handed him the roll and extended her left arm for him to wrap.
Abel took to bandaging her quickly overtop of her coat for now, the smell of her blood thick in his nose. Chanting in his mind Lilith's name helped him finish the task in less than a minute. The bullets had passed through her flesh cleanly enough, one in the forearm in the meaty part and one along the bottom of her bicep. Blood had run down her arm, her sleeve was a bit soggy and his hands were smeared with it from handling her arm. Abel quickly wiped the blood off on his pants to clean his hands.
"Anything else?" His eyes travelled over her.
"No.. That's it so far… what about you? He unloaded most of a clip into you."
"Takes a bigger gun than that to slow me down… Come on, Petros needs us." Abel stood up and extended his hand for her. She reached up with her right hand, gripping as he pulled her up.
She could see the bloodless bullet holes in his clothes, "No wonder you always wear black."
He quirked an eyebrow at her before he leaned over to grab her spear.
From somewhere in the church they heard the heavy footsteps of at least a dozen or so people. Their eyes met briefly in understanding.
"We don't have much time." Abel looked back at the inquisitor.
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies...thou anointest my head with oil...my cup runneth... over." Petros heavy Italian accent was very apparent now, though his voice was even softer than before.
"How did they even get him up there?" Astha asked as she stood up on the pulpit looking for a ladder or something. Turning she looked at Abel calculatingly. "Can you fly in here?"
Abel looked at Petros a moment, weighing the decision. "It's tight but I should get enough lift… there isn't much time for anything else."
"You'll be ok, you have done fine so far." She said reassuringly as she moved away to give him space.
He nodded and closed his eyes.
"Crusnik 02 activate fifty percent."
The transformation was brutally fast, his wings bursting out of his back and splaying open to their full span. His red eyes flickered to her momentarily, darkly predatory as his senses spiked at the scent of her blood in the air, on his clothes and hands. He absorbed that instantly, 02 was voracious after the barrage of bullets. Abel shook his head to get back on task… he bent his knees and then leapt up, pushing his wings to get enough lift. A few strong strokes of his wings and he was level and holding with Petros.
Moving as close as he could and he reached out to get his arms around him and the cross. The inquisitors grey blue eyes were dull and barely registered Abel.
"Tis a dark angel for me?"
Abel grunted and then heaved against the cross to pull it from the wall. The gusts of his wings scattered folded pamphlets and dust around the room as he strained against the cross. With a high pitched screech of metal on metal, it suddenly let go from its singular hook.
"Abel!" Astha cried out as she watched him crash into the far wall, wrapping his body around Petros for protection. Above them, the old church bell was shaken enough to ring twice with the impact shaking the building considerably.
They slid down the story and a half to the floor below, glass and stone scattering around them. As soon as Abel had purchase he quickly set Petros down with the cross against the floor, placing one hand on his arm and the other on the spike to pull out the cruel iron. Astha reached them as he pulled the last one out of Petros foot.
Abel looked up at her when he finished, all she could see was blood. His clothes were wet and sticking to his skin, his hands were dripping from the excess fluids on them. It was truly a gruesome sight, Astha felt herself paused in momentary panic as she took in the red eyes, dusky skin, immense black wings felt the danger she faced with the crusnik. She took a deep breath and kneeled down to help with Petros.
"Is he alive?" Astha asked as she pushed the cross out of the way while Abel lifted the unconscious man briefly before setting him back down.
"For now." The low voice of the crusnik growled out of Abel. The air of violence was heavy around him, Astha's nerves were on edge being near him as this was different than his previous transformations.
Abel rolled his shoulders as he looked around, following the sounds from both sides of the church. He flared out his wings to cover Astha and Petros as stretched out his right hand for the bone scythe to burst from his wrist,
"I'll uh… bandage him up best I can." Astha muttered grabbed the last of her bandages to wrap the inquisitors wounds.
02 was raging in Abel's mind, so much so he couldn't feel Lilith at all. Astha wasn't healing fast enough and the impending fight had 02 in a frenzy.
"Lilith… help me."
"She offered blood, let us take it!" Lilith's voice was nearly drowned out with the roar of 02's "She's mine!"
"But it'll weaken her."
"It's necessary, Abel." Lilith's voice was suddenly stronger.
Astha felt Abel's fingers on her neck where the skin was exposed under her hair, she startled, feeling uneasy at the vulnerable position she was in. "A-Abel?" She looked up to see his eyes closed, then an odd slithering feeling along her skin started at her bullet wounds and up her arm to his fingers. A wave of lightheadedness hit her for a moment as she grasped what he was doing. "Are you..?"
"Yes… sorry, I… couldn't stop them... you offered… earlier and they heard." He kept his eyes closed as he strained to speak, concentrating on only absorbing what was there. He pulled his hand away suddenly, his baleful gaze snapping open, looking to the west. He stepped forward, shielding them with his body and wings.
"My, my what is this? The real Father Nightroad? Such a dark secret the church keeps!" Dietrich had switched to an Autojäger wearing Petros's heavy combat armor. Instead of a gas mask he wore a blackened glass face shield. "Ooh what I wouldn't do to try you on for size."
Behind him fifteen more Autojägers with automatic guns loaded stepped out, ready to fire. Five more stepped out from the other side of the room, flanking them.
"Oh fuck." Astha whispered, pressing the last of her bandages to Petros midsection. She looked up at Abel for a sign of what to do, but all of his attention was on Dietrich.
He stepped closer to Abel, tilting his head to the side to look him over. "I always wondered about you, ever since Istvàn." He straightened up and casually pulled the trigger, shooting Abela chest with the large caliber guns multiple blasts..
Blood and gore exploded him, he staggered back until he was standing over Astha and Petros, using his wings to cover them as he was mutilated with gunfire. Blood, feathers and bullets filled the room.
Abel roared as he straightened up and started swinging the scythe around him, with what body structure he had left. He couldn't quite reach the shooters but deflected some of the fire.
Astha couldn't move as she ducked her head down to her knees, and felt Abel brace his leg against her, immobilizing her as much as using her to help stay up. She hoped that Petros being nearly dead wasn't garnering any stray shots. Bullets pelted around them as they hit or bounced off Abel's body, she watched from her position as his blood splattered on the floor, bead up and move back to him as fast as it hit the ground. Somehow in the deafening gunfire she heard his uttered command.
"Crusnik 02 activate eig—one hundred percent."
The room became charged, static crackled in the air as full fusion occurred, Electricity sparked around, crackling along the floor and to the Autojägers.
"I'm done playing, boy." Abel bellowed.
He pointed the scythe and bolts of lightning scorched the wet blood as it arched towards the shooters. Body parts and debris showered down as they exploded from the high voltage, the smell of burnt flesh and ozone permeating the room. Abel looked back to the ones flanking, stretched out a hand and repeated the powerful electrocution. With the numbers considerably lessened, Abel jumped forward to slice the remainder with his scythe.
Dietrich had moved off to the side and caught only minor damage, the inquisitors armor was of remarkable quality. Seeing Abel move away was the opportunity he was waiting for and he rushed forward, firing at Astha.
Astha yelled as she grabbed her spear and shot at a small energy bolt as she jumped up, ready for his next attack. A moment later the tail of Abel's scythe snaked around Dietrich's body, lifting and shredding him open where the spine found purchase in areas not covered by Petros's armor. Dietrich still managed to fire a few random bullets as the chain pulled him backwards and to the ground. One of them hitting Astha in the thigh. She cried out as it struck, knocking her down.
"Don't mess with what's mine."
"You've always seemed the type to save the girl… Esther seemed to enjoy being saved. Now that I know your trump card… our next dance will be.. epic."
The body went limp in the bone chain as Dietrich abandoned his hold.
Abel roared and jerked the chain causing it to shred the body with the spinal spikes.
Astha shied her head away from the gruesome scene, looking back at Petros, who seemed to still be shallowly breathing. Her own wound throbbed with the awful sting of silver this time, she felt herself getting weaker. The amount of injuries she had taken was making her shake, her body unable to recoup to normal healing ability with the silver sitting deep in the muscle.
Abel's heavy breaths were closer to her now, she turned to look at him. He was his chest was bare, weeping wounds were slowly closing up from the inside, bullets pushing out like slivers...a testament to the power of the crusnik. Only an ornate golden cross on a chain seemed unscathed as it dangled from his neck. Behind him, his massive black wings had several feathers sticking out in disarray, the wingtips dragging in the black ichor that covered the floor. He glanced at her face a moment before his focus moved down to her leg.
Her eyes widened in the realization that he was at full fusion, and here she was sprawled out on the ground, bleeding.
"Abel? Hey! Are you ok?" She watched his eyes close and open several times.
"We are… not. He won't let me...take. You are mine and we have... need." 02 struggled to maintain dominance, having gotten the upper hand over Abel and 04 at last. He stepped closer, her sweet blood calling to them.
We? Him? She thought, puzzled for a moment. "Wait! Deactivate and I'll let Abel drink!" She remembered how he spoke of 02, being a violent and brutal entity.
"No, I will take it now!" Wings flaring out in agitation, flicking liquid as the soggy tips snapped out.
"Abel wouldn't kill me… you might."
"Not this time, you are my supply...Mine."
"This-this is between Abel and I." She tried to keep the panic out of her voice, striving for the calmness used when her tigers got dangerous.
"There is no difference." He was towering over her prone form in a stride, he reached down grabbing her biceps and lifting her up to his chest. Her legs dangled about his hips, she winced as the bullet wound thumped against his hip. "I'll take it now."
"Abel, I know you're in there! Come on! Abel!" She struggled against the punishing grip but gained no relief. The slithering feeling was happening again… this time on her thigh, pulling her blood into his body. She could see the change in his face, gone were the features that made Abel, replaced by a sharp violent cast that was hungry and angry. The maw of fangs were bigger than she remembered, his mouth opened and snapped shut several times as he seems to be fighting an internal battle.
"I like... that you don't beg or cower." He pulled her flush against him, an arm wrapping around her and the other pulling her head to the side, exposing her neck. His long tongue licked from the base of her neck and to her jawline, cleaning off the UV cream. Something in the saliva caused her skin to rash, blood seeping to the surface instantly.
"I take little, you won't die, they won't allow it." He leaned in lapping at the blood beading along her skin. She felt a tremor vibrate through him as he licked her.
"A-Abel!" She leaned away as best she could from his mouth.
Abruptly she was at arms length, her legs swayed with the quickness of it. She watched as his eyes closed and his head shook in agitation. She hit the ground hard as he dropped her to clutch at his head, shaking it back and forth for several moments.
"Abel?"
"Crusnik 02 deactivate to zero now!" He bellowed, still clutching his head. A large shudder consumed his body as the aspects of the crusnik faded quickly, the wings pouring into where they joined his back. Abel collapsed on the stone floor, resting on his knees and elbows, silver hair pooling around him.
She could hear him taking in large gulps of air.
"A-Ast-ha." His throat was raw, his voice a raspy whisper.
"I'm ok, Abel."
"Astha… I lost con..trol… I"
"I-I know… but you came back in time."
"Barely… oh god.. it was so close.. could have lost.. killed you."
She sat up and moved to stand.
"02 called me his-yours… it wasn't my death he wanted.. I'm ok Abel… it's past now. There's still more to do."
Carefully she stood up, her left leg weak from the bullet and blood loss. Her neck throbbed and she felt wobbly and light headed.
Petros didn't appear to have taken any hits in the spray of bullets and the bandages were damp but not soaked, the deep cut to his midsection was still weeping with each breath he took though. She half sat half collapsed on the floor beside him to put pressure on the larger wound. As she looked him over, she felt the strong stirrings of bloodlust. Her body going more feral, having used up all her reserves and needing to replenish the bacillus. The fresh blood under her fingers made her swallow loudly to fight the desire to consume.
"This could get bad." She muttered, her fangs ached while lengthening as she felt the adrenaline of bloodlust pump in her veins.
Petros moved his head at her words, his eyes opened just barely.
"I live?" His voice was barely a whisper.
"For now, you've lost a lot of blood and we will get you help soon."
A low grunt and he thankfully closed his eyes again, missing the red of hers.
This must be how he feels around me, she thought as she glanced at Abel's prone form wondering how she was going to control herself soon.
He had taken her blood, twice now, tasted it still on his tongue... Abel shuddered at the fresh memory of the wave of pleasure 02 had when he licked her, that gave Abel the chance to take back control. 02 marked her, claiming her as his property… his supply. The entity was more aware than he realized. He sucked in shallow breaths as his mind replayed the instant 02 took over and activated full fusion instead of eighty. His hands shook as the dread and fear pooled in his gut. The implications terrified him. He had depended on Lilith to help him… and somehow she didn't or couldn't when 02 rose up to fight, to protect the host. The fight replayed in his mind again… he did protect her as well, shielding with his wings and body to stop the bullets. At least that went well. He finally pushed up to rest on his heels, shaking his head to clear the silver locks from his face. Looking around he found her, she looked rough, her clothes were caked in blood both human and Autojäger. A large red welt could easily be seen on her neck from the acidic tongue of the Crusnik, something he didn't even know about. He shook his head, guilt wracking him for the liberties taken with her, hearing her call for him, trusting him to stop 02.
He slowly stood up, looking out the broken doorway where the setting sun spilled its him orange pink glow on him, surrounded in a hellish scene of carnage.
Astha noticed him sit up, the glow of the sunset basking his bare chest in its rosy hues. His hair long and tousled about his shoulders, reflecting the pink of the sunset. She could see him squint at the light, his glasses likely lost somewhere in the church either when he crashed or when Dietrich shot his chest open... She shuddered at the flashback in her mind, the nearly alien visage of 02 sprang in her mind as he gripped her. She shook her head and let her eyes drink up Abel's profile, imprinting his familiar features over the other, darker version. "Tovarish." She whispered absently.
He heard her whisper, he turned towards her and their eyes locked. Relief in hers clashed with the surprise and guilt of his.
"We need to get him to a doctor. I'll go grab our bags." She struggled to stand, using her spear to steady her.
"No, you stay I'll get it… you're still hurt where I am not.".
"I need my pills right away or... this could get messy.. fast."
He nodded in understanding and quickly went outside for their bags and ran back to her. He stood a few feet away as she dug around in her bag for her aqua vitae.
A few moments later he could see her visibly relax as her pills worked. She dug around in her bag again and brought out the communicator.
Abel moved closer to Petros, checking his pulse and looking over the wounds.
"Hopefully you don't remember anything from this." He muttered softly, wishing he could be so lucky… giving his head a shake he pushed the whole incident back in his mind to be dealt with later, Astha needed him now.
"Ambulance should be here soon."
He nodded and got back up, moving to the remains of the body still wearing Petros armour. He cringed as he looked over the brutal damage he caused the body, seeing the gouges even in the Inquisitors extremely tough gear. Kneeling down he worked at taking the armor off knowing Petros would want it back.
"Should we stay here for the authorities?" Astha asked as she watched him, she felt a bit better but still unsteady.
Abel looked around the church, or what was left of it… black dead blood mixed with the cool congealing river of Petros's blood. A large putrid pile of electrocuted bodies at each side of the room, limbs strewn about from the carnage.
"Perhaps not... this will take a lot of explaining unless your Empire pass works wonders."
"I don't think we are that powerful here."
He grunted, picking up the armor pieces. "I didn't see his spear… he will be upset about that but let's set him on the steps for the ambulance."
"What about the pastor?"
"Right… should grab him too."
Abel carried Petros outside, setting him gently on the ground in a recovery position with the stomach wound up. Abel set his armour beside and around him to help support his body. Then went back and brought out the still unconscious pastor to rest him nearby. A large purple bruise marred the back of his head and neck.
Astha joined him after she reapplied the lotion and flicked up the hood of her coat to protect her from the last rays of sunlight.
"Are you sure he's still alive?"
"I may have hit him harder than I intended."
"May have?" She arched an eyebrow.
He shrugged, feeling guilty for the pastor.
She rested on the stair rail and cocked her head sideways a bit. "You should look for your glasses. I've never seen you squint so much and I don't see where they would be on you, given the state of your clothes."
Abel looked down, almost surprised at his half naked self."Ah… yes. Good point."
Bemused she watched him rush back into the church. While she waited she checked again on Petros, who seemed to be doing remarkably well considering… perhaps he was augmented? Noticing he was cool to the touch, she set her bag down and pulled out a thin purple cloak to drape over him.
The pastor was alive and breathing but she questioned how long, given the severity of the probable concussion. Part of her wondered if the man would be better off dead, the terror of being possessed to do horrible things may have broken him more than Abel's pistol whip did.
She let out a large sigh. Today had been exhausting.. so much happening for both of them, she thought. Her gaze drifted over the church, the dusk light casting a cool shade over its damaged walls. Being faced with the crusink, feeding it… she didn't know how she felt about it, would need some time to digest it.
The church was becoming gloomy and it took Abel a little while to find his glasses in the rubble of stone from his crash into the wall. Professor wasn't kidding when he said he made these extra tough, they were unscathed from what he could tell.
The building was much worse for wear now… and the smell was atrocious. Looking around he shook his head and the destruction, the city had lost a place that should have been a safe haven for the people.
"Do we stay?" She asked when he returned. He shrugged and sat down on the stairs a little ways away.
"Give Seth a call… her authority might help here, the pastor otherwise might get charged for the crimes here he didn't truly commit."
Astha nodded and took out the communicator again. Abel dug around in his bag for a shirt given it was getting cold out with nightfall.
Because their luck was all but ran out, the ambulance pulled up as Astha was having trouble getting a connection to the Empire.
A young paramedic darted up the stairs to them, his trained eye taking in the scene.
"Who is most serious here?"
Abel pointed at Petros. "He's suffered blood loss, punctuated hands and feet and likely internal damage as well. He has had consciousness till recently. He is Petros Orsini, Chief of the department of Inquisition. That's his armor, he will want that with him."
"Uh… ok, thank you." He turned and whistled at the truck, three more men came out to assist in taking Petros to the ambulance.
The young man came back up, looking now at the pastor. "And him?"
"I don't know who he is, head trauma and he will likely have some psychological problems when he wakes… if he does."
The young man nodded, kneeling down to check the pastors vitals as he waited for the others to bring the other gurney.
Once they were gone with the gurney, the young man turned towards Abel and Astha. His stance changed to a bit more wary.
"You're not going with them?" Abel asked.
"Not yet sir. We've called another truck since they are critical and you both seem less pressing...now," the man looked Abel and Astha over. "Who are you two? And is anyone else in the church?"
Abel shifted a bit and looked at the paramedic, reading his name tag. "Patrick, the church is empty of life. You don't want to go in there… believe me."
Patrick looked over at the building, the damage and then over at Astha. She was disheveled, several poorly done bandages, blood stained clothes and what looked like another wound in her thigh not yet treated… but she wasn't acting that distressed. Her hood was up so he couldn't discern her features in the fading light but the full body covering and disregard for her wounds gave him a good idea of what he was dealing with.
"We are on good terms with the Empire, ma'am… I have treated va-methuselah for minor wounds before. That wound is not closing up for you." His oath to help the wounded prompting him to offer aid. "Do you want help?"
She looked at Abel, he wasn't a good option for taking the silver bullet out and it was hurting a lot.
"I am Duchess Astharoshe Asran, be mindful please. I have a silver bullet in my leg… and I did take my pills so your safety is secured."
Patrick grabbed his medic bag and motioned for her to sit on the ground. He quickly set out his tools, and put a small headlamp. She looked over at the silver haired man for a moment before complying.
He set the tourniquet on her leg and cut the cloth around the wound.
"Sir, could you come sit behind her and act as a restraint? This might hurt and I don't want her to move to much… if that's ok Duchess?"
The man took a deep breath before coming over. Patrick could see that both of them were uneasy with the proximity to each other.
"I will be as fast as possible but pain meds don't work on your kind."
The man nodded and knelt down behind her, propping her up against his chest and wrapping his arms around her to hold her hands cross crossed over her chest. Patrick nodded in approval, the man seemed to know what was needed. A quick antiseptic wash and he worked at getting the bullet out. Vampires didn't take pain medication like humans… unfortunately and she flinched while he worked..
"It missed anything vital. Only another moment and I'll have it out."
She sighed as the silver left her system, and slumped against the man. The amazing healing ability of the vampires had already started knitted the flesh before he undid the tourniquet.
"Do you want me to check the other ah… bandages?"
"No, they are older and will be gone soon."
"Here, I have a small bottle of antibiotics given the uh... state you're in the wounds could be infected."
Patrick looked at the man after he disposed of the tools used on the Duchess and set out the pill bottle of antibiotics. He looked tired, his hair seeming to hide a good portion of his face. He didn't appear to be hurt anywhere in comparison to her, and his shirt was fresh unlike his pants which were dirty and torn in places. He couldn't quite see his eyes behind the glasses and long hair but given he was with her he had to be a vampire too.. except he wasn't protected from the sunlight..
"I take it you are Methuselah as well, sir?"
"I am well, thank you." He was looking down at the woman, cautiously, having released her arms and was gingerly supporting her. "She will be fine in a few hours… perhaps another dose of the blood pills will help."
The man nodded and moved away from the Duchess.
"Thank you Patrick. Are the police still coming?"
"Eventually… radio said it's pretty chaotic in the rougher parts of the city tonight given the day we've had."
Abel laughed, getting a confused look from the young man.
"Sorry… it's just we fully understand how bad the day has been. If your higher ups need more information about what's… left of the church, it was the same man as the consulate bombing. The Rosenkreuz Orden is responsible for this."
"Oh… a buddy of mine was at the other site… he mentioned a grey haired guy, was that you?"
"Most likely."
"You have my deepest thanks for helping them avoid the gas pockets. Truly ugly scene all around." Patrick looked out to the street and back to them. "Do you guys have transport? Lodgings?"
Astha shook her head, "we haven't had time to work that out yet."
Patrick patted his pockets until he found his wallet, he picked out a card, handing it to them.
"It's quiet and accommodating for those who are… allergic to sunlight," he smiled. "My aunt runs it. When the truck gets here it's on the way back to the hospital, I'll drop you off nearby, as a thanks."