William bent down and lit the pyre on fire. Crackling, orange flames ate away at the small wooden box that Zelda's friends gathered around. Vaclav, Sister Kate, Leon and the Professor attended her funeral. They decided to bury her in a garden because she always had a love for plants.

Professor sighed as the fire died down, "I think she would have been happy here. If she had been able to pick where to be buried, she probably would have chosen this place.

"This was your fault you know. If you hadn't spurred her on, telling her that she needed to fight the Orden, she wouldn't be…" Vaclav spoke for the first time since arriving.

His head shot up, "My fault? She did need to fight! Without her, the world might be in chaos right now."

"If you hadn't had her help, she may still be alive."

Leon faced him, "Think about the kid, she would have rather died herself than see others suffer! She stepped on an ant once and didn't stop crying for half an hour! It was then that the only person who could get her to shut up was Gunslinger."

"And now he really did 'shut her up'."

Sister Kate gasped, "Stop! All of you! Don't argue over her like this. Show her some respect, she deserves that much."

"Tch, forget this," Leon shook his head and walked away. "How can I be around people who don't respect what she lived and died for?"

The Professor took off the gold cross on his collar. "I cannot either and since Zelda's gone… I think… I'll not only be hanging up my robes but I'll keep to myself from now on." He handed it to Vaclav. "This is the last time we'll be seeing each other."

Caterina pulled away from the monitor as William walked off the screen, leaving his former friends behind. Her eyes flickered to the doorway, "Enjoy the show?"

Kämpher stepped into the blue-green light emitting from the screen. "I wonder… hmm, no, never mind. I'll check back later." The darkness in the background crept up and spirited him away. She leaned her head gently against her long, graceful fingers and watched them, bored.

---

Caterina…! …Caterina…! …Caterina!!

She jerked her body up out of sleep; a familiar voice haunted her dreams. Exhaling, she wiped the damp curls from out of her face. The Orden lady reached over to her bedside table and picked up her monocle. After adjusting it next to her nose, she pushed the thick covers away and placed her feet on the floor.

A spectral sound reached Caterina's ears. Her pupils contracted slightly and she swallowed, trying to wet her suddenly dry mouth. She twisted around to see the image that visited her every night for the past month.

At first it was a simple spot of white mist, growing more defined over time. Now it was almost a hazy figure, a trembling ghost. Most of the time it only made weeping noises although there were times it would call out her name in soft anguish. This had been going on since the day of Zelda's funeral.

Caterina stood and went to the eternally crying figure. She had to get a grip on herself; this was not like her. How could a woman such as herself be so intimidated by something that couldn't possibly be real? She sucked in a deep breath and thrust her hand into the apparition.

Nothing. Her hand went right through and she felt nothing. Wait, she thought. Something just touched me. Reeling her arm back in, she stared down in horror. A deep garnet liquid ran down her fingers, twisting and twining around her palm.

"Blood?!" She whispered.

The ghost looked down too and then back into her eyes- or her soul. "Why?" It faded out then, but glanced towards the door as if wishing to go through it. The ex-duchess hastened to it and pulled it open.

Dark, purple hair swinging, Kämpher stopped in the hallway. "Caterina. What a surprise to see you up at this time of the night."

"I was thinking and didn't bother to look at the clock."

"Hmm. I am curious about the AX and never asked got around to ask you what their plans were after the little nun died. Since your awake…" he motioned for her to shed light on his thirst for the knowledge.

She righted herself and tried to look more presentable. "It seems as if the remains of the AX were destroyed along with Zelda. Vaclav and Sister Kate have gone on with the duties Cardinal Medicci gives them. Leon fled the country after having the police so close on his tail. While William… he has abandoned his underground laboratory and become a recluse. I haven't found his location as of this time."

"Shouldn't you be searching harder for him? He could be building a fleet against us."

"Where would he get pilots?"

"Indeed. And what about that blonde priest, the one who never stays still?"

"I'm sure when he found out the AX was no more five months ago, he immediately went to look for his family's murderer. His only thought is revenge; he is not a threat to us."

A corner of his mouth turned up maliciously, "Then there will be no one to stop this plan."

"There is one…" her eyelids lowered slightly.

"Do you mean Abel-sama? No, even he can't stop this. The Empress will be dead long before he suspects something is different."

"Is 'she' ready?"

"I looked in on 'her' today and she is nearly completed. It won't be long now. It's a shame that I won't need her creator after this. I could have used his talent for so many other things."

"Well, it's late. Goodnight Isaak." She quietly closed the door and leaned against it in the dark. She made sure he had walked away before commenting to herself, "If this continues… the Crusnik race will soon be extinct."