Warning: This story is very dark. It's rated for a reason. Some chapters will be fairly disturbing.

Nonetheless, you should still R&R.

Disclaimer: I am poor and I own nothing.

"He what?!" Cardinal Catherine nearly shouted, her face changing colors as her anger grew. The red headed guard winced. "He left, Cardinal. With.. erm.. Father Iqus. He.. he shot at me!" The poor fellow sounded so distressed, though Cardinal Sfoza had no sympathy.

She sat back in her chair, arms folded, her eyelids lowering at him. "And you just let them go, didn't you?"

"Your Emminence! I beg your pardon, but I did not just let them go! Father Tres shot at me! And I.." Catherine cocked her head to one side, and raised an eyebrow. "You what?"

He looked down, ashamed. "I ran..." Her chair creeked as she leaned forward and rested her head in her hands. This was too much. Why did her dear Brother hire people like this? Scrawny and easily frightened? "Fine. Just please, don't let it happen again. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Lady." He whispered meekly as he scrambled out her door to get back to his post.

Out of all people to disobey orders.. She might have expected this from Abel, but Tres?

And where were they now?

Most likely in Naples, where Abel and Esther were attacked.

The transparent form of Sister Kate appeared infront of the large, mahogany desk. "Your Eminence?" The Cardinal Lady looked up. "Hello, Sister. Any word on the whereabouts of Abel and Tres?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. But Father Leon has asked me to tell you his most recent search of Venice has proved fruitless." Catherine sighed and nodded. "Send him to Naples, right away."

Sister Kate made a face. "Naples, Your Eminence? I thought Naples was already checked..?" Catherine nodded. "It was. But I have a feeling Father Nightroad and Tres may be there. Send Jailbird to search for them and bring them back here at once."

"He won't be too happy about that, Cardinal.." Sister Kate's form flickered a bit.

Catherine sighed. "I know, Sister. Please, if he asks, just tell him it's important."

"And what of Father Hugue?" Kate asked.

"Send him to Milan."

Kate nodded. "As you wish, Lady."

With that, her figure evaporated.

Damn it Abel.. I told you to just stay here. Your jeopordizing your life!

She slammed her fists down on her desk, clenching her teeth.

Why couldn't he just listen for once?

Was it really so much to ask for him to just wait a few more days until he was healed?

Her old friend had always been a bit harder to keep track of. She always worried so much about him. But he didn't seem to care at all.

He never worried about his health or well being, only that of those he loved around him.

"Abel, dear friend.. Some day your love will be your downfall.."

The first place he checked was the inn.

What a horrible sight it was..

He didn't remember much of anything when he limped out of the building, bleeding profusely, to find help after the attack. He read the reports of what the other AX members saw when they went over the scene, but he needed to see it first hand. He must have been totally out of it not to remember this.

Not only did the Methuselah attack him and Esther, they slaughtered everyone staying there at the time. Abel checked every room. No one survived.

The entire scene was a blood bath. Those sick and twisted creatures had severed limbs and scattered them about. In one room, he found a head stuck on one of the bed posts. It's face was that of pure terror. It's eyes forever staring into the face of fear. It made him sick.

The AX members who had searched here before had left the bodies to be picked up by a clean-up crew tomorrow, which gave Abel just enough time to go over things by himself.

Normally, Methuselah didn't take this much time to purposely bloody up the place. Their kills were swift and clean, for they did not with to dirty themselves with Terran blood. But this... It was almost too much.

The strangest thing was, there were no bodies of women among the many dead. Only men and boys. They must have taken them as they had taken Esther. But why?

"Tres, are you getting anything? Any clues?"

The Gunslinger's heavy boots clunked on the bloodied floors as he as he went from room to room, scanning the bodies for some kind of sign as to who did this. Any evidence would at least set them on the realitively right path to finding Esther and the other captives.

Unless they have already been slaughtered as mercilessly as those here..

Abel shook his head. No, he would not think those thoughts. There was still hope.

"Negative, Father Nightroad. The attackers left no traces. Except for the corpses, of course."

Abel threw his fist at one of the walls, causing a small portrait to fall off, it's glass shattering as it hit the ground. "How? How did they get away Tres? They had to have left some kind of evidence!"

Tres, still expressionless, simply repeated, "Negative."

Damn it, he thought angirly. They may have taken time to make it as horrifying as it was, but they must have taken just as much time to clean up where they left traces. He paced about one of the blood soaked rooms, eyes sweeping the ruined sheets and the splattered floor, the severed heaps of human flesh and the large pools of blood.

They'd have to do this the hard way.

With no evidence, they'd have to check everywhere. And by God, he would, for her.

Anything for her.

"Sir.." It was the innkeeper. He reached out his hand to Abel, who limped over quickly, kneeling next to him. "They took them.. the women and girls.. those men.."

"Yes, yes. But where? Do you know where?" The man coughed up a mouthful of blood. It dribbled down his chin as his hoarse voice began to speak again. "I.. heard them... they spoke of.. of Spain.. of.." Abel lightly shook the man by the shoulders, oblivious to the tears forming in his eyes. "Where in Spain? Please, tell me!"

"Father Nightroad." Tres placed a hand on Abel's shoulder.

Abel looked up at the android, his eyes glazed. "Vital signs have ceased. Target's heartbeat has depleted." Abel looked back to the man. "Thank you, friend. May you find happiness in the arms of God." He closed the man's eyes with one shaky hand and stood.

Rage boiled up inside him, threatening to make him choke. Damn bastards! He clenched his fists, trying desperately to calm himself.

By God's will, when I get my hands on you, I will have no mercy.

"Tres, we'll finish searching here, then head to Spain." Tres stared at Abel, expressionless.

"Requesting reply input, Father Nightroad. Location in Spain?"

Abel pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with an index finger. "Anywhere. We'll look everywhere."

A/N: Please review. Thanks :D