Abel pulled open the door to the train station and allowed Astha to walk ahead of him. It was an older station a bit run down with wood worn through its stain, the odd counter window patched with tape and a dented handrail here and there. The air held a strong smell of fuel fumes and cigarette smoke. Above the ticket booth was a blackboard with the destinations stated in white lettering.

"Where are we going again?" Abel asked aloud as he looked at the list.

"Hopefully somewhere nicer than here… Mansfeld is the place." She answered as she took in the few employees milling about at their booths. A tarnished clock showed it was nearly 9pm.

"Hmmm I think we are in luck. One leaves at 10:30."

"Are stations normally in this poor a state of repair?"

"No… usually a bit tidier than this but it's not the worst one I've seen. I'll get our tickets if you'll want to find somewhere we can sit."

Astha found a bench that had some padding to it, dusting off the cushions she sat down and arranged their bags to work as foot rests. She watched as he got the tickets, seeing the fool persona come back out. It was like a switch for him now, but she liked the more real him, the fool was enough to make anyone want to strangle him after the initial shock.

"Well that's taken care of… the girl said there was a vending machine for food if you are hungry." He sat down beside her, looking around for the said machine.

"I'll wait till the train, probably fresher food…. how are you holding up?"

"Doing fine so far, after the uh, snack earlier I should be ok till tomorrow sometime."

They sat in silence for a while, both looking around.

"What's the next step?" Astha asked after a while.

"Get to Mansfeld, see what we can find for a way to get to Nordhausen and then Mittelwerk." He turned towards her, a playful grin on his face. "It's truly too bad you can't change into a bat. I could carry you around in my pocket and avoid the sunlight issue completely."

"Back to that weirdness?" She arched an eyebrow.

"Flying is actually quite interesting."

"It looks complicated," she hesitated. "How did you discover your wings?"

Abel's playful grin eased off his face, he looked down for a moment as he took off his glasses to stuff them in a pocket of his coat. "Well, that is a good question. Would you believe trial and error?" He quirked an eyebrow.

"Trial and error?"

"We didn't really know what we were cursing ourselves with. When I took in 02, I blacked out for a few days and woke up with my single pair of black wings. Cain and Lilith both had a triple set, his white and hers black. Seth ended up with large dragonfly wings instead of feathers. The crusink manifested differently for each of us, I have never really gotten an answer why." He looked past her, his gaze distant as he stared off across the station. "02 likes to use dreams to communicate, faint whispering and suggestions. Lilith, thankfully actually talks to me."

Astha looked down at his hands, he was running his thumb across the knuckles of the other hand, fidgeting as he spoke.

"She's been quiet you know?" He continued. "Ever since the fight, I feel her presence but she hasn't communicated with me yet. I thought when I slept she would try, but instead it was 02 at the room."

"The nightmare."

"Yes. Usually they are old battles, atrocities I can't take back. That… that dream was a conjecture from 02 for when we find Cain." He looked back at her, his blue eyes shadowed with worry.

"That doesn't mean it's what will happen, nothing is written in stone here."

"Right." A sigh escaped him as he let the tension in his shoulders go and smiled slightly. "You asked about flying, I'll admit I ate a lot of dirt to start with, it's not exactly a natural thing." He chuckled a little. "02 got tired of my ineptitude I guess and during one particularly bad attempt he took control before I crashed. After that I just seemed to know how. What I knew before of my ability to fight, he took and changed it to match the crusnik. I became a rage fueled war machine essentially… Thank God Lilith saw the error of our ways and helped the humans, she saved them from us."

Astha reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder, the other on his hand to still the fidgeting. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to dredge up things… just I'm curious about you."

"It's okay, this, " he lifted his free hand to gesture towards himself."Is a lot to take in. I've not shared any of my experiences with anyone… too ashamed and afraid I guess. You get the privilege of seeing all of it."

Astha shifted closer to him and put her arm around his ribs, he braced for a moment before relaxing. "I am grateful you can finally talk about it. Thank you." She squeezed him briefly before relaxing her arm to a comfortable hold, staying close to him.

"If we make good time we should be rescuing the professor by early next week." Abel shifted to put his arm around her shoulders. "Tomorrow we will be shivering in a tent."

Astha smirked. "You take me to the nicest places."

"Indeed, abandoned military facilities, ancient railway roads in even older forests in the beginning of winter. Never a dull moment." He smirked.

"Never a dull moment is right." She pressed a bit more into his warmth, "This outfit could be a lot warmer if they had used better materials. I hope the train is warmer."

Abel's grin softened to a slight smile, he reached over to guide her head so she would let it rest on his shoulder. "If it's not, I don't mind doing this again… it's uh, well nice." He finished lamely.

Astha smiled and nodded against his coat lapels.

As they sat in silence she relaxed against the slow rise and fall of his breathing. This was different for them, a moment of easy comfort, Abel seemed to not be having any issues with her proximity, and in fact was encouraging her to stay close. Slowly she drifted off to sleep as his body heat soothed her to slumber.

Abel knew from the press of her weight that she had fallen asleep. There was still over half an hour till the train so he shifted slightly, pulling her gently against him with his arm around her lower back. With no clamouring from 02 for her blood, he could enjoy the quiet between them, a soft moment before they reached the next stage of their journey. As he looked down at their hands, his mind replayed the tense situation with Father Paulo. Even with the crisis averted, he was nervous now for the next town.

A soft snore interrupted his thoughts, causing an amused smile to grace his features for a moment as he listened to her. He wondered if her tiredness was due to drawing blood so regularly as she wasn't usually one to need naps. He turned his head and pressed a soft kiss on her brow, inhaling her scent. She was becoming so very important to him…

The jarringly loud bell sounded as the train pulled up. Astha startled and pushed against Abel instinctively.

"Time to go." He commented softly, moving away to get their bags.

"I fell asleep." She looked around groggily.

"Indeed, as did my arm." Abel smirked, seeing her veil was quite crooked now, he reached out and straightened it.

"Sorry about that, I didn't realize I was that tired." She said apologetically.

"It's alright, I didn't mind."

"You must be tired, you haven't slept much at all lately."

"Don't worry, trains put me to sleep in no time. I've used trains a lot since it's cheap easy transport." He gestured her towards the loading area. "After you."

True to his word, within minutes of being settled in their seats and the train rumbling onward, Abel drifted off to sleep. Astha adjusted her cloak to cover him a little as well, as she was still a bit cold. The train ride was going to be for a few hours so it was good he was resting.

Looking out the window at the moonlit landscape her mind wandered. Given Abel's fear of her being taken by Cain, she knew he would resist any help from her once they found the facility. He would want her to stay behind, but he couldn't very well fight Cain and rescue Wordsworth alone. The battle would take everything and more from him, if it didn't destroy them both...she felt her throat tighten at that thought. It would need to be her job to sneak in and find William and get him out safely… knowing that William would likely be weaker and if she remembered right, had a cane. Abel mumbled in his sleep, his face looking tense for a moment before relaxing again in slumber. Reaching out she adjusted the cloak over them, wondering if he was perhaps too warm. Soon, he would be free of the weight of Cain, having a chance at life so denied by his past. Astha wondered if he had even thought of that. She was roused from her thoughts by the steward offering sandwiches and tea. She took food for them both and a small kettle of tea with an entire sugar bowl for Abel for when he woke.

Abel tumbled into peaceful nothingness as the familiar rocking and noise of the train lulled him. He knew Astha was sitting beside him, watching out for them both, allowing him a deeper sleep. The darkness faded to a world of white, Lilith stood before him, dressed once more in a sari but this time in a brilliant purple embellished with gold.

"Finally I can reach you." She sighed in relief.

"Indeed, I was getting worried about you, is everything ok?"

"Yes and no."

Abel furrowed his brow at her answer. "Which means?"

"Your companion is right, having fresh blood full of the virus is better for us overall."

"I've noticed the quiet... What else?"

"02 is more aware. It's the reason why it's taken me until now to access you. As long as we are not threatened 02 will let me mostly continue as before but in battle I can't dispute his higher concentration. I should have known better… I am sorry for my miscalculation."

"It makes sense…but he pushed the fusion level, had more control than ever before."

"We are fully fused now Abel, we make up more of your body than you do… it is only your strength of mind that keeps you, you."

"Really?" This revelation was upsetting to say the least.

"Yes… it's why we manifest without the commands at times. Why we are so reactive to your state of mind, and surroundings."

Abel sank down to his knees, feeling defeated and overwhelmed.

"Have… have I lost my humanity then?" He asked softly, looking up at her beautiful visage.

She walked forward and knelt down in front of him, her hand caressing his cheek.

"No, Abel. You have not lost anything… I would say you have gained more since our awakening than you had in the last twenty years. Astharoshe is guiding you towards the salvation you so need."

"I can't have salvation Lilith, I've been damned for too long."

"Then make peace with your past. 01 knows us, knows how to make 02 explode beyond control… the worse we are the easier it is for him. Your hang ups on your past sins hold you down, open up the tender underbelly for him to rip apart."

"I killed millions of people, the humans you tried to save… I saw your message at the Iblis… the wage you made. The city still stands, you know."

She smiled warmly and nodded.

"I never doubted you, ever. You did not want the war Abel… you were just angry at the world for forgetting us."

He nodded, closing his eyes as tears trickled down his face. After a few moments he looked up at her, blinking away the last few unshed tears.

"Did- did you know it was going to happen? When you went to the ship?"

"I had a strong suspicion, yes."

"Why did you go?" He whispered.

"I knew the confrontation was going to happen, I hoped I could talk him down… but the jealousy of not having you listening to them was overpowering. They needed me gone to try to win you back."

"I am sorry Lilith… you shouldn't have died because of me."

"Abel… I knew what was going on. If I had stayed the war would have continued. And that's what my death stopped."

"It did do that… removing both of us left only Seth to retreat."

Lilith hugged him briefly before standing back up. "Exactly, please Abel you need to see it was out of your hands, it was never your fault. And now, we have a chance to stop them."

"How?"

"Weaken him until he can't hold shape anymore and then let us do the rest."

"What will you do?"

"Cons-"

"Abel, come on, wake up for shit sake! The train will be stopping in five minutes." Astha elbowed him rudely as he had ignored all the more polite ways to wake him up. Finally she was rewarded with his startled unfocused eyes snapping open. She saw the swirl of red that flashed for a moment as he recognized her and their surroundings. He shook his head as if shaking off whatever brain fog he still had.

"Ok, ok!" He pushed himself upright in the chair, looking about the near empty cabin they rode in. He noticed part of Astha's coat was bunched up in his lap, and beside him was his dinner tray, set with a single serve pot of tea, a sandwich and a whole sugar bowl.

"If I had known you slept so soundly I'm not sure I would have come along with you." He heard her grumble, which made him smile.

"It's all a part of my charm." He teased as he reached for the sandwich off the tray.

"Right. Ancient, clumsy guy that is brimming with suave moves as he sleeps." She rolled her eyes and looked out the window. There was still a few hours till dawn, thankfully.

Abel quickly finished his sandwich and poured his lukewarm tea, putting in as much sugar as would dissolve. "We will get a room in Mansfeld and get some more rest, I'm still a bit tired honestly as I'm sure you are too. Then I'll go out and find out what we need to find our way. On foot it will take us just over a day or so to be in the right area."

"Horses."

He furrowed his brow as he gulped the thick tea down. "Horses?"

"You know, horses… They are great for backcountry travel. Do you ride?"

"N-no, remember I had combat training, livestock was not a part of that. I take it you have?"

"Plenty, they are useful with some of the estates, and we like to race them."

"Well, I will see what I can find for us… we would need to take something for William. We should be able to make it to Mettlewerk by tomorrow then if all goes well. Thank god Seth had those suits for you."

"I'll just thank Seth personally." Astha grinned.

Abel chuckled. "Right, we can always do that too."

Astha shrugged deeper into her cloak, the sharp fall air making her breath puff about her face. She couldn't wait to reach whatever place Abel had directions to and change into her own clothes. She peered over her shoulder at Abel, who seemed comfortable in his long wool coat.

"Why are the nuns not dressed as intelligently as the priests?"

"Hmm?" He asked as he paused to look at her quizzically.

"I'm freezing in these clothes and you look fine."

"I don't think you got the standard field set, yours are more formal wear… please tell me your own clothes are better suited for cold?"

"They are… are we close to this inn?"

"Yes, two blocks and a sign should say 'Reisender Gasthaus' or something like that." He pointed at the words on the small note he held in his hand.

Checking in had been easy, and they got the last open room, being the first hotel closest to the train station Abel had been worried. The establishment was clean and comfortable which was far better than had Abel expected really. The actual room was small, barely big enough for the queen sized bed, arm chair and coat hanger.

Astha smirked as she walked into the small room, taking in the one bed and lack of floor space. "If we are tenting tomorrow I guess this is a good trial run? At least here we can stand up."

"Beggars can't be choosers." He mumbled as he turned around and hung up his long coat on the hanger.

"Are- are you ok with this?" She asked seriously.

"Yes, as long as you are."

She nodded as she dug around in her bag for her clothes.

Abel leaned against the wall, looking at the bed distantly as he went over the conversation with Lilith. What was she trying to say? Cons? Constrain… consider… consume?

Astha noticed Abel's far away gaze, so she tossed her wool leggings at his head. They flopped against his chest, startling him.

"Earth to Abel, come in? Are you sure you're ok with this? You look bothered." She gestured to the bed.

"It's fine, I had to share lots with Esther. I'll just go on top of the covers, as she never liked me laying on the floor."

Astha nodded and walked over to toss her leggings on top of her bag. "What's on your mind then?"

"Lilith. She was telling me what I needed to do to defeat Cain… but you woke me up as she was saying the important part."

"Oh… sorry about that. I knew you were sleeping deeply because talking to you and gently shaking wasn't working."

"She said I had to weaken him and then let them do the rest…. she said 'cons' when I woke."

"Cons?"

"Yeah… it's a bit weird but hopefully she can answer it next time I sleep."

Astha nodded and then looked up at him. "Could you take this thing out of my hair?"

Abel smirked, being reminded again of Esther in her early years with him asking for a similar favor.

"Of course." He gestured for her to turn around and raised his hands to her hair, quietly taking the pins out without pulling too much. The smell of her hair filled his nose, and he felt his pulse quicken. As the last one came free and he lightly combed his fingers through the strands, enjoying watching the silken ivory strands slide along his white glove. He longed to pull her into his arms, tangling his hands in her hair while kissing her, desire suddenly thumping through his veins. He could almost hear her moans from the other day, feel the heat of her lips. He swallowed and pulled his hands away.

"I'm undone- err all done." He whispered softly as he stepped back a half step as she turned around to face him. He looked down into her eyes, afraid she had caught his words. Her returning gaze was questioning, a slightly arched eyebrow.

"Are you?" She reached up to take the pins from his hands. With her eyes never leaving his, she tugged at his gloves, pulling them slowly off his hands and setting them down with her veil on his suitcase that sat beside him.

"I am."