Disclaimer: I do not own Trinity Blood or any of the characters.

Chapter Two

Through the Loss

"Your Grandmother couldn't protect from what would happen next… I couldn't even stop it…" Ion continued on with the story, keeping a tight hold on Esther.

"Ion! Get up! I need you now!" Mirka was screaming to her grandson from another room. In a flash Ion was up and half falling down a flight of stairs to get to the front doors where the elder methuselah stood. The sight which met him was truly appalling. Little Esther was balling her eyes out at Mirka's feet while the Duchess conversed with a seemingly friendly silver haired priest. Both of their faces were serious, but Ion hadn't the slightest clue as to what was going on.

"Esther…?" Ion asked weakly taking a step towards her. At the sound of his voice Esther lifted her tear stained face to him, scrambling off of the floor and running to him. Ion stood and caught Esther as she threw herself into his arms crying. The very sound broke his heart, making him angry at whatever had caused her such pain. "Hush now, it will be alright…" Ion said trying to calm her, running his fingers through her hair.

"Thank you Father Nightroad." Mirka said dismissing the priest. Ion watched as the priest nodded and took his leave.

"Grandmother?" Ion tilted his head to the side in confusion while Mirka sighed closing and locking the door.

"I will explain later but first let us get into a safer place." Ion looked almost frightened; he had never seen his her this serious. With out another word Ion kept his arm around Esther, holding her to his side as he followed his grandmother.

Mirka led Ion back to his bed room; it was one of the few rooms in her home that didn't have any windows. Esther had stopped her crying and allowed herself to be led into the room.

"Ion I want you to stay here with Esther tonight." Mirka said, still deadly serious.

"Grandmother, what happened?" Ion asked, casting worried glances to Esther.

"Alexandrian has been murdered…" Mirka said, ignoring the small shudder Esther gave and continued. "It was a warning, and I am to be next. A Terran terrorist group that is against all Methuselah is going after all Methuselah of any higher status, or connection to those of such status." Ion's brow furrowed, staying by Esther's side.

"So what do we do?" Ion asked, his gaze falling to the trembling red haired girl beside him.

"You two are not going to do anything, there are members of AX outside guarding the grounds. Father Nightroad is one of them." Ion opened his mouth to ask more questions, but thought better of it.

Ion had heard of AX, but had never encountered them.

"I need you to stay here and watch out for Esther." With that Mirka left the room being sure that the door was locked.

The members of AX as it turned out had been dispelled to any Methuselah figure of power that didn't have any other form of real protection around. Mirka had never felt the need for such precautions, but with her Grandson and Esther, she didn't want to take any chances.

Esther was tearing up again as Ion paced the room, jerking at every sound. He looked to the young red head and sighed. Walking over to her, he held out his hand. Blinking through her tears Esther took Ion's hand, unsure of what he was doing.

Ion settled himself into a chair and pulled Esther into his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug, Esther rested her chin on his shoulder, silent tears still running down her face.

Ion didn't know what to do for Esther, he couldn't imagine what he would be doing if it was his grandmother that had been killed. So, he did the only thing he could, he merely held her, letting her cry out her sorrow when she needed. After all, she had always been there to listen to him in that past. It was more than that now, he wanted to take care of her.

The door slowly creaked open and Ion stood quickly, still holding onto Esther, issuing a low growl. He lowered his guard slightly when he saw it was the silver haired priest from before.

"It's alright." Abel Nightroad said using his friendliest, light hearted voice. "I was sent to make sure you two are alright."

"Where is my Grandmother?" Ion asked, allowing himself to sit back in the chair. Esther looked over at Abel and smiled the only way a young girl, even by Methuselah standards, could smile. She wiggled her way out of Ion's lap and walked over to him.

"She is being guarded by a few of my colleagues in a separate area…" Abel said, looking down and smiling at Esther as she wandered over to him.

"Thank you… For before…" Esther said, sounding much older than Ion had ever heard her. It surprised him. Abel smiled down at her and nodded, giving a gentle smile.

"You are welcome…" Abel told her. "I'll be just outside the door if you need something." With that Abel stepped just outside the door and closed it behind him.

"Esther?" Ion called gently. Esther turned and walked over settling herself back in his lap. Ion blushed lightly, even though he had initiated having her at such close proximity. Somehow knowing the Father was standing guard just outside made the young Methuselah count begin to feel more self conscious about his actions. None the less, he allowed Esther to get comfortable.

"What happened before?" Ion asked Esther once she had adjusted so that they both were comfortable.

"My grandmother had me run away, the Terrans overwhelmed her and were after me, but Father Nightroad protected me." Esther explained.

"I really didn't know what to think of him at first." This time it was Ion's voice that brought both himself and Esther out of that terrible memory.

"Neither did I, but he's still the same feather brain…" Esther said in good humor, but as quickly as it had come, her smile faded.

"Here I was worried about protecting you, that I was oblivious to the danger to my grandmother…" Ion said warily, almost like recalling the events took a lot of strength.

"Would you like me to take it from here?" Esther asked, knowing Ion wouldn't want to want to talk about what was yet to come.

"If you would…" Ion said placing a light kiss a top her head. And so it was that Esther picked up the story…

Author's Note:

Alright, I have an idea of how this is going and how it will end and who is coming into play. It's liable to change, but I'm trying to set a good foundation with the events that are happening now, but not revealing too much as this is the story from what Ion and Esther knew at the time. As always review and let me know what you think. Also, thank you to everyone who has reviewed thus far either against or in support.