Abel's walk to the library was relaxing, giving him a chance to clear his head. So much had happened in the barely two months since Londinium… everything had changed.

The cloak of the fool was not so easy to wear as he felt his ties to Father Nightroad loosen. Gone was the Vatican, the familiarity of AX with the knowing eyes of Caterina and the steady nature of Esther. Replaced now with the full fusion of the monster, temptation in all forms from Astha and a cruel battle to come with Cain. Having William tossed in was just icing to the cake.

"What a mess this is, if I could get ulcers I would be riddled with them." He muttered as he walked.

The streets around were moderately busy, cars driving by and a few pedestrians. The fall weather added flickers of warm golds and orange against the dull tan of dying grass and dark gray pavement.

It was nice to walk alone, away from any methuselah, brush shoulders with humans and not feel the spike of hunger. A cool wind rustled the leaves along the street giving him goosebumps along his bare forearms. He had forgotten to roll down his sleeves after visiting Petros. His silver hair flitted around him, reminding him to get his hair tie out of his pocket. Looking along the buildings ahead he spotted an older brick building with a stately written biblioteka on the side.

His thoughts tumbled over to earlier that morning… Astha on top of him, leaning into his kisses and returning them eagerly. He could hear her sighs, his fingertips tingling at the remembered texture of her skin. He took a deep breath, pushing the memory away… he needed to focus, damnit.

Bells jingled as he stepped in the dimly lit library.

A startled woman looked up from the desk. She was a young girl, reminiscent of Esther in age. Dirty blond hair in a bun, large glasses and wearing a sensible green sweater.

"Good Afternoon Sir, can I help you find anything?"

"I'm looking for some history books… pre Armageddon." He stepped fully in the library, blinking as his eyes adjusted.

"Ah… well, my archives are decent but I don't know how far back they go. Back wall to the west are the listings if you want to give it a go."

He nodded and waved thanks.

Thankfully his years in the Vatican and doing primary with Caterina had taught him how many card systems worked… painfully manual but it was effective. Before him was five large filing cabinets full of the small 3x5 paper cards.

European History, that looked promising. A few titles scribbled down on a pad of paper had him going into the library proper in search of several titles.

He found a very old book, likely not opened in decades. "Train Tracks to Nowhere, a Tourist Adventure in Old World Locations." He tucked the book under his arm and looked around a little more. "Old World Encyclopaedia, Maps." Was another he picked out.

Abel sat down at the reading desks and proceeded to flip through both books. He learned that Thuringia was a county within central Germanicus but the name Nordhausen was not listed anywhere. A few mines were in the area for gypsum. The train tracks book mentioned an abandoned missile construction base that was turned into a museum in the region and tracks that led to it but even seventy years ago when the book was written, it was reported to be caved in. He jotted down the gps coordinates and the name Kohnstein, a landmark of sorts that came up several times in the books.

"Well it is a start at least." He got up and returned the books.

"Did you find what you needed Sir?" The girl inquired as he went to leave.

"Oh, why yes thank you." He smiled and walked out of the library.

The men's store was close to closing when Abel walked in, a slim older man of smaller stature looked up from where he was sweeping the floor.

"Hello, how can I help you?" He asked, sizing Abel up already with his experienced eyes.

"Uh, yes… I need a coat, and a few shirts."

"Long or short for the coat, and what colors?"

The man set aside the broom and was walking further into the store, beckoning Abel to follow.

"Long? Dark or black. The shirts… whatever is handy."

"Tsk, you must have a preference."

"They never last long enough for me to worry."

The man raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He pulled out two long dark grey jackets for him to try on. The first fit a bit loose on him but the second was a great fit. It was made out of a smooth, durable wool blend by the feel of it.

"I admit I'm a bit afraid of the cost…"

"You're an odd size so it's on sale since it's been here since last fall." The clerk looked a bit longer at Abel's face before heading towards the shelves with shirts.

"That's handy." Abel felt awkward having the man looking at him so closely.

"With your color of hair and eyes, here's a few serviceable blue shirts that would compliment your complexion the best." He handed Abel three shirts and walked to the till.

"The radio and news have said they are looking for a person of your build and color… should I be worried?" The sales clerk asked, body language cautious..

Abel blinked, having forgotten the news report. He shook his head and held out his hands in front of him, placatingly.

"No, I don't have anything to do with that report."

The man nodded. "Good." He rang up the bill, Abel paid it with a fair number of his bills but he had easily lived on less. The clerk snipped off the tag from the coat and tucked the shirts in a paper bag.

"Have a good evening sir."

Astha looked up from the couch when Abel walked in, she seemed groggy still so she must not have been awake long. She looked a bit better, the hollows of her face filled in and her color was much improved he noticed.

"How long was I down?"

"About five hours. I was able to get some information on Mittelwerk, or at least the area… among other things."

"Oh? Something doesn't sound good about that."

"The professor is missing. He went down to Liliths pod and the tracks just stop."

"Tracks? As in more than one person?"

"Yes."

"You are thinking Cain is involved?"

He nodded, putting his bag down and shrugging out of his coat and boots.

"That just means we have to find them before anything happens to Wordsworth." She moved over on the couch so he could sit by her.

He took out the folded notepad from the library.

"This area of Germanicus has tracks that lead to an old underground missile base from the second world war. It was supposedly closed in, even the museum portion… but we know things can change after a thousand years."

"That old?!"

"Concrete and steel from pre Armageddon are easily found today, look at the Vatican."

"Oh… I guess." She rubbed the back of her head, feeling a bit foolish. He smiled at her reassuringly.

"It's ok, if I hadn't called Sister Kate I wouldn't have had anything to go on at all. Here, hand me the geography map."

They opened the map and could see the different countries. "So middle of Germanicus. By a large forest and ridge of foothills."

"I don't see a town anywhere near there."

"There probably isn't one anymore, even the maps I looked at had little to go on."

"We are going backpacking aren't we?"

"You didn't do bad last month."

"It's colder now." She paused and placed her finger a bit west of where they were looking. "Hey… isn't that where we crashed?"

Abel studied the map a bit more. "You're right! We go almost directly northwest from here and it lines up with where we crashed."

They looked up at each other both excited at having connected the dots.

"I'll get Hector to gather supplies for us and then figure out some sort of transport… by land I suppose since we are looking for an entrance?"

"You need a new UV suit as well."

"Yes, since you keep dragging me around in the daylight."

"Hey, it's just more things happen during the daytime… Also I need to check in with Seth, perhaps she has an alternative for me."

"We went over this last night."

"I'm not going to turn down another option if there is one Astha, you might need your strength."

She let out a huff. "Ok, we can dart back, grab what we need and leave by tomorrow night?"

He nodded, grateful she wasn't going to push the issue.

"I see you got a new coat, it looks nice."

He felt his cheeks warm slightly at her praise. "It's colder out than a shirt can handle comfortably. There was a store just down from the library so it worked out."

She nodded and got up, folding up the maps and checking the clock.

"We have about an hour until the sun is low and our ship should be at the location."

They gave Maria a warm goodbye, with extra cash for the damages. She had been a lovely host and they truly wished her the best. Maria, of course sent Abel away with a bag full of biscuits and muffins, muttering that he needed to eat more.

As soon as the taxi stopped, Astha was out and grabbing their bags before Abel had even paid the driver. She impatiently tapped her foot as he finished up with the driver and turned towards her.

"The ship is to be at dock 305." She pointed around the signs and started walking briskly towards the 300 row. Abel had to increase his stride to keep up.

"Astha! Wait up!"

"Pick up your feet then, I don't want to miss the ship!" She flashed annoyed eyes at him.

"Are we late?" He caught up and matched her pace.

"It'll be close, we took too long leaving Maria's."

"But I have baking." He grinned as she rolled her eyes.

They reached dock 305 and a medium sized airship was readying for departure.

"Wait! We are your passengers! Hold up a few moments!" She called out, waving at a man who was standing near the ramp.

The trip back to the empire was short thankfully as the ship had barely space for them to sit amongst the cargo boxes.

"I feel like a stowaway." Abel grumbled as he was yet to find a way to relax comfortably.

"At least you're a well dressed one." She smirked.

"It is a nice coat. Too bad I'll wreck it sooner or later." He lamented, looking at the simple silver buttons down the front.

"The Vatican must have spent a mint keeping you decent if every time you activated you destroyed your clothes."

"Always came out of my pay.. I have gotten pretty good at sewing though." He smirked, getting out a muffin to eat.

"How shall we travel in Germanicus? Tourists?"

He quietly finished his food, contemplating. Something he had in his bags might just be the perfect disguise for them.

"How about as clergy members?"

Astha blinked then opened her mouth just to close it again.

"Before you blow a gasket," that got him glared at. "Listen, if we go as the church we can find out more in these small backwater towns. Caterina gave me a uniform exactly for this purpose."

"Ok, you are covered but what about me?"

"You just follow me around being a humble and shy nun?" He grinned as he watched her process his suggestion.

"Surely there's some other way. Besides I don't have any… What do you call them? Robes? Habits?"

"We will find something suitable, I haven't looked into your wardrobe but white is a color you seem to have."

"Tourists would be easier." She grumbled.

"But not to find out anything that might be suspicious to the locals." He tapped his temple with his index finger. "Who else do locals talk to about weird and unusual happenings than the clergy?"

"I don't have a lot of experience with locals and religion… How do you explain a vampire nun?" She arched an eyebrow at him.

"Don't open your mouth? Be a mute?"

He dodged the glove she tossed at him. "That's not going to happen."

"I will hide you as best I can, it's only for a day or so realistically. Like I said be shy and look down a lot, most won't notice your teeth that way. From there it's backpacking in the bush."

She nodded, leaning forward to retrieve her glove from where it had missed and slid down beside him. She heard his intake of breath when she was close to him.

"Abel?" She asked as she sat back, looking at him with concern. "I drew up another vial… perhaps you should take it before we land."

He sighed, looking away for a few moments. Astha could see his frustration in the tightness in his jaw, knowing he was struggling with his beast as much as his issues with taking her blood.

"Alright… I'll take it now since I'm not sure how soon we will be landing." He looked back at her, red swirling in his eyes for a moment.

Quickly she took the vial out of her coat where it had been kept at body temperature.

"Hopefully I don't short anything out." Abel grumbled as he took the vial from her. "You might want to look away… it's probably unsettling to watch."

He flicked off the cap and lifted it to his lips, glancing for a moment to her before closing his eyes to drink it down.

Astha watched in fascination as he swallowed, the minute flickers of the Crusnik rippling to the surface of Abel's skin before disappearing. The dusky skin tone darkened his fair complexion and the unnerving red glare of his eyes before he closed them. His adam's apple bobbed as he finished his swallow and opened his eyes again, showing cold blue once again. He took in a few deep breaths before looking down at the vial and closing the lid.

"You really are that tightly intertwined with the Crusnik aren't you?" She asked after a while.

He looked up momentarily startled, before a quiet sadness darkened his gaze.

"Physically I don't think there's much of me that's original anymore. I have been horrifically wounded many times… that last one was fatal if it hadn't been for Caterina. I can now say all of me has been rebuilt by the nanomachines at least once now." He smirked a little, looking down at his hands, still holding the vial. "I am really just the human trappings to an alien technology out for domination and consumption of others."

"No.. you're so much more than just a covering. You still have an awareness and a will to survive." She moved a bit closer and plucked the vial out of his hands to tuck back in her coat. Sitting on the edge of her seat she laid a hand over his.

"There you go again with all this faith in me. What draws you? Why? Are you not afraid?" He moved his hand up under her wrist, wrapping his fingers around her in a near punishing grip. A threat of violence filled the air between them. "I've tried not to dwell on your words from last night but once more I am wondering how you can be here, with me, knowing all that you do and still placing yourself in harm's way. I can hear your heart rate accelerate, feel the jump in your pulse as I restrain you and still taste your blood on my tongue… Yet you sit here without an ounce of fear? How can you be so… this?" He gestured towards her with his other hand.

She looked up into his face, seeing the confusion and frustration mar his features.

"Because you are you. I can see your struggle, the misery your past paints in your gaze and yet you are still pushing forth to stop something none of us can do, not knowing if you can. Nothing has changed for me Abel."

Blue eyes glistened with unshed tears as he looked into her steadfast golden ones. He relaxed his grip from her wrist, caressing the bruised flesh with his hand in repentance.

"Perhaps your faith in me will be what holds me together."

He smiled softly as he reached up with his other hand to caress her face for a moment, letting his thumb brush along the contour of her cheekbone.

"Landing in five minutes." Echoed in the cargo bay, startling them both as the ship did a bit of a lurch as it set into the landing sequence. They moved apart to keep from being pitched out of their make do chairs.

"You really think we should do the whole priest and nun thing?" Astha asked after a few minutes.

"Yes, they wouldn't know I'm technically not employed anymore so I should be able to access a lot of data and get you in some safer lodgings."

"What I let you talk me into." She rolled her eyes dramatically.

"I admit I'm curious to see you in a nun's habit." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively as a boyish smile tugged at his lips.

Astha laughed heartily.

Hector was waiting for them at the dock, his face easily displaying his worry at the state of Astha's coat.

"Are you ok my Lady?" He quickly took their bags and ushered them to the car.

"Of course, don't I look ok?"

"No, madame not really." He pointedly said as he waited for them to get in the car so he could close the door.

Abel tried to hide a smirk, seeing the gruff mannerisms from her butler.

"Hello to you too, Hector. Is everything else doing well?"

"Yes, I have managed to keep everyone alive and well in your absence." He climbed into the driver's seat and started the car.

"We will be leaving soon, depending on how quickly we can arrange it."

"I thought as much that would be the way of it… once we are home, give me the list and I will do my best." He sighed wearily, his eyes flickering back at his passengers through the rear view mirror briefly.

"Thank you Hector."

"You both should at least soak in the hot pools to help soothe the strain I can see in your faces."

"Is he normally this bossy?" Abel whispered to Astha, who nodded.

"It's on my list of things to do before we go, since I'm not sure how long we will be away this time."

"A more involved mission then?"

"Yes, it will last at least a week to a month possibly. With some trekking through the wilderness."

"Oh dear. I haven't any time to waste getting your supplies then."

Seth was sitting on the edge of the porch at the estate when they got there, dressed in a soft blue tunic, short black skirt and matching blue tall boots. Beside her unabashedly was Isabel, soaking in tummy rubs from the Empress. When Astha walked up, the tigress merely raised her head towards her mistress before relaxing into more pets.

"She appears to think I'm useful for something." Seth smiled when they approached before getting up to greet them.

Astha bowed in respect before taking a seat nearby. Abel smiled at his sister warmly before she rushed forward and gave him a quick hug.

"So… things didn't go as well as we hoped?"

"Not quite, but we kept the casualties down at the consulate, a lot of the emergency workers would have perished otherwise. The Orden was involved and we fought with one of their operatives, Dietrich von Lohengrin. Unfortunately he was not killed but we learned some information and have a lead to where Cain is most likely hiding at." Abel reported as he sat down in the chair next to Astha.

Seth nodded as she turned towards them, leaning on a beam casually. "I've sent people to help with the site cleanup and the political mess that stunt caused. Thank you for preventing it from being uglier." Seth paused for a moment looking at her brother intently. "You are leaving right away then?"

He nodded in affirmation.

"I have a tiny bit of good news, there is a gel pill formula that is looking to be more promising for you but the active levels are so low it's not viable yet."

"At least there's some progress. Thank you."

"I had to find something to keep me busy. I don't have you around to pick on." She teased.

"There's always Beybars."

"He's gotten used to my games." Seth shifted a little against the beam to face more fully towards Astha. "Having been in combat with him, what are your thoughts?"

"The Crusnik is very effective in battle, without it we would have been in trouble at the church."

"Yes, yes I know the strengths of the Crusink… were you affected while in battle?"

"No… it was surprising but I am not afraid of it, even in high activation. I have reason to believe the crusnik would rather keep me around than toss me away like a food wrapper."

Seth blinked a long moment, curiosity lighting her eyes.

"Really? How would you know what 02 would want? Did it communicate with you?"

"Sort of."

"Good! See Abel I knew she would be great for you." Seth beamed at him.

Abel looked shyly at Astha for a moment. "It's been full of surprises for me to say the least. Not many would stand next to the beast unscathed." He said softly, praising her.

A smile drifted across Seth's face before she sat down to pet Isabel who had padded over for more pets.

"You mentioned you might have a lead?"

"Kingdom of Germanicus."

Seth arched an eyebrow. "They are not on friendly terms with us."

"They are quite prickly about the whole vampire thing and with King Ludwig it's not exactly an inviting place…. but the church is still a strong presence, and I know a few things."

"How far do you have to go?"

"About three hundred kilometres south east of where you found us a few weeks ago."

Seth blinked in surprise. "Of course that would make sense! Ohh how could we be so blind to that glaring clue?"

"There were other things happening at the time."

"I suppose… hmm I can't really fly you in if they are shooting down my ships."

"Drop us off at Prague and we could take a car or train?" Astha suggested.

"We should be safe on the east side of Prague."

"Do you have any inventions that would help with camping for Astha?"

"Camping? We have made a few tents out of the UV suit material that have proven to be tough enough for use in the fields… You're not staying in the towns?"

"No… where we need to go is pre Armageddon, World War Two era ruins."

Seth whistled softly. "Oh boy. That predates the UN." She idly kept petting the big cat.

Abel nodded. "I also have a strong suspicion that Cain has the life pod and my friend Wordsworth."

"The life pod?"

"Lilith's."

"He's trying to harvest more nanomachines. The tube you got was all of it, we cremated her and set up a high definition hologram in the pod. She had left me a note of her wishes before she went to Cain…You didn't know?"

Abel looked at Seth a long moment, disbelief on his face. "N-no, I didn't… she went up there knowing it was a trap?!"

"I think she was hoping for the best but planned for the worst… you knew how she was… I didn't find the note for a few days afterwards and you were so inconsolable that I just took care of it. Then I didn't see you until a few years ago."

Abel grunted, looking out at the lawn as he digested her words.

Astha watched the exchange, her mind puzzling out the information with what she knew of the Empress and Abel. She got up and knelt before Seth, reaching out to rest her hand beside Seth's on Isabel's fur.

"My deepest apologies if I am overstepping my bounds but… you both seem more connected than what you've led me to believe. If you knew his Lilith, and Cain… Empress you must be one of the Crusink? It's just… what I've learned and the way you are together… Eternal Mother, you have birthed our nation, it only makes sense with your longevity that it's the same as his."

Seth's startled eyes looked down at Astha's bowed head, her ivory hair a curtain around her face. She looked up at Abel who shrugged his shoulders then nodded. She moved her hand to clasp Astha's and with the other to her chin, urging her to look up.

"I guess I stopped trying to hide it given what you do know… Astharoshe, your clever mind is never at rest it seems. Does this revelation bother you? Am I still your friend and Empress?"

She looked up into Seth's youthful face framed by whimsical wisps of her black hair that was at odds with the wise gaze that filled those luminous green eyes. Empress Augusta was as much Seth as Abel had been Father Nightroad; just the disguise had been worn far, far longer.

As she looked into her eyes Astha felt that the knowledge actually helped her understand Seth better.

"My loyalties have never waivered nor will they, my Empress." She smiled and then leaned forward to embrace the petite woman. "And I am honored to call you my friend still."

"Thank you, Astharoshe. A girl can never have too many friends." She smiled warmly as she moved out of the embrace and winked at her before standing up. "Now, I'll go back and see what I can dig up for sun protection and get him restocked in vials… though on a prolonged trip I'm sure you're aware of what you might become his supply Astharoshe?"

"It's been discussed."

"Otherwise I would say do the thing Ion said that they do in Londinium with the silver but then that weakens you both in the long run."

Astha and Abel nodded, him coming closer to them as it looked like Seth was ready to leave.

"I'll walk you out if you'd like?"

Seth smiled at her brother, "of course! See you in a few hours." She waved at Astha before taking Abel's arm.

"Things have improved between you two?" Seth asked as they walked.

"She's wholeheartedly committed to helping me if that's what you mean."

"And you?"

"I, ah well, I…I'm worried for her, she's brought up emotions I haven't had in a very long time."

A sly smirk spread across her face.

"You like her, as in liiiikkkee her?"

He coughed a bit in embarrassment.

"Perhaps more than I should… I don't know what will come from it… I have stayed away from any connections like that for a long time."

"It's good for you to live a little. Find something, someone that's more than stopping Cain as a reason to be here."

"I am nine hundred and seventy six years old Seth, I have lived a long time already."

"Yes. But it sounds like you didn't live most of those years. You always wanted your own life Abel, without orders and predetermined outcomes…. Think about it." She leaned forward and hugged his middle briefly before dancing away. "Ah, love." She teased, grinning at his grumpy expression as she waved goodbye.

Abel walked back to the estate to be met by Isabel and another orange tiger he couldn't remember its name. They rubbed against his legs and bunted at his hands, quite a change in demeanour from his first few visits to the estate. Their rumbling purr was comforting and made him smile as he tried to wade past them to return to the patio.

"I go away and my tigers are desperate for anyone's attention it seems." Astha grinned watching the tigers do their best to knock him over. She gave a quick kiss cue and they moved off of Abel to lay down by her feet.

Hector walked out of the manor with a tray of lemon water and some fruit for them. They quietly helped themselves before Hector gave a polite cough.

"So, what can I gather for you my lady?"

Astha looked at Abel over her glass.

"Do you remember the young nun that accompanied Abel during his last visit?"

"I do, she was a lovely girl… why?"

"Do you think we have anything similar to her white nun robes?"

"Habit." Abel corrected, a smirk teased his lips as he held her gaze.

"No, not really… their style of dress is very different from anything you have."

"See! We need to go as tourists." She waved a slice of melon at him.

"We did receive a package from the Duchess of Milan while you were gone.. if I were to be bold enough to suggest it felt like cloth."

Abel's eyes snapped up at Hector then back to Astha. "As far as I knew she was kept out of the loop of my activities."

"I'll bring it over." Hector disappeared for a few moments.

"A woman like her wouldn't be without her own intel, surely you know that." Astha arched an eyebrow. "She's out to protect a lot of things… knowledge is truly the sword she must wield."

"Hmm I guess so… it's sad she would spy on her own people."

"I think when it comes to you, you are more than just one of the agents. I was around her when news of you being injured first came in. It was a devastating blow to her."

He sighed, accepting her point.

Hector came back out with a large brown paper wrapped bag. Astha took the package and opened it, a letter written in elegant style drifted to the floor as she pulled out a white nuns habit.

"This is just too uncanny." Setting the dress on her lap she reached down and picked up the note.

"Duchess of Odessa and Marquis of Kiev,

I have heard you are now partnered with him, you have both my condolences and congratulations. Knowing him, he will need to utilize his old profession sooner or later. I felt it was prudent to send you a little bit of help.

Please take care of him.

Sincerely

C.

"I don't begrudge her timing though… she had to have sent this before we even left for Krakow." Astha commented, setting the note down for Abel to look at if he wished.

"I am not completely surprised, she was ever the planner."

"Dammit, so we have to do it your way." Astha grumbled and downed her glass of water.

"It's a small sacrifice." He grinned, watching her bristle.

"I'm going to pack and then head for the pools since you're gloating. Let's hope Seth sends over the tent and uv suits soon."

Hector and Abel watched her leave before Abel chuckled.

"She seems a touch unhappy with the gift I would say." Hector observed.

"I'd say you're quite right… please toss in her bag extra aqua vitre pills, she had to take several due to injury and sun exposure while we were gone. Hmm and she needs very sensible boots and neutral colored clothing for the bush."

"And you? You seem to have but one bag of belongings."

"I just need dried sweets and high calorie snacks. I will get by with whatever else I can pick up on the way."

Hector nodded, taking the empty tray and disappearing into the manor.