Thanks so much to everyone who already reviewed.I really appreciate it. I love you guys :D
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.
Abel and Tres finished searching the town two days later.
They had decided to start their search in Madrid. Where they would go after that depended whether or not they found any clues that pointed them in a certain direction.
Abel could hardly contain the anger and anticipation welling up inside him from showing on his face. How much longer? How much longer would it be until they found her? It was taking too long. Was Esther cold? Was she hungry? Was she hurt?
He almost died of impatience as Tres waited in line to get their tickets. He sat twiddling his thumbs, then lightly clapping his hands, then wiggling his toes, then clenching and unclenching his teeth. They were wasting time just standing about! He felt like if he just kept moving, even the slightest wiggle of his toes.. It would just keep him occupied. He feared where his thoughts might stray if he wasn't constantly busy.
"Father Nightroad, Our train to Madrid, Spain leaves in approximately 46 minu--"
"NIGHTROAD!"
Damn it! Abel thought angrily as the AX's Jailbird shoved through the crowd toward them. He knew there was only a small chance he could get away if he simply took off running. Damn Leon for being far faster than he. Reluctantly, he turned to face, what he knew, was a certain Hell.
"Damnit Nightroad, I should kill you!" He walked up, fuming, and grabbed a fistful of Abel's shirt. "Do you know how much time I wasted trying to find you? I coulda used that time to find Esther! Damn you!" He snarled in the silver haired priest's face. Abel glared. "You didn't have to bother coming to find me. Now, if you would please let go, I have a train to catch."
Leon made a face. "Where're you goin'?"
"Spain." Father Tres interuppted. Leon looked from Tres to Abel. "Why would you want to go there?" His grip tightened on Abels shirt as he got closer to his face, giving him a glare so hard Abel was convinced it could peel paint, to whisper harshly, "Or is there something you aren't tellin' me?"
Abel sighed. "Please, Leon. This is none of your concer--"
"Shut the hell up Nightroad and tell me why you're going there or I'll drag your sorry ass back to the Vatican!" He shouted in Abel's face, causing a few people to stare in their direction. Abel pushed Leon off him and sighed, trying to control his voice. "We're going there because we got a clue. But you cannot come! We aren't even sure where in Spain to look, nonetheless if our source was reliable!"
Leon rolled his eyes and laughed. "All the more reason I should come with you. We can cover more ground." Leon went to the ticket kiosk and purchased a ticket. "But Leon!"
"No 'buts', Nightroad. I'm coming with you. I care about Esther too, you know, and I'll be damned if I hang around in Italy when we got a lead in Spain."
Abel stood there, mouth agape, brows furrowed. Why did Leon always seem to do whatever he wanted all the time, despite the consequences? And why have said consequences never seemed to apply to Leon at all? Hmph, damn him.
"Come on, Nightroad! We'll miss the train if you keep standing there mouth breathing!" Abel blinked a few times, then ran to catch up to them.
The train ride seemed unbearably long. In truth, it was fairly long. It took 3 days with 5 stops to get there from Naples. 3 more days that Esther would have to deal with those sick vampires. It was almost too much for Abel to bear.
When they arrived in Madrid, it was late. They booked a room in a small inn. They had to watch how much they spent. Since the Vatican didn't send them on this mission, nor approved of it at all, they had very limited funds. The room had two beds for Leon and Abel, and, since Tres didn't require a bed to go into 'sleep' mode, a chair for Tres.
They hurriedly tried to get to sleep, wanting as much energy as possible for their long day of searching tomorrow. But Abel could not sleep a wink. And that was what he had feared.
Night time was, as of late, the most terrifying time the world had to offer him. It brought his mind back to that night when this all started.
He remembered Esther's warmth against him. Remembered waking up in the middle of the night to find her cuddled in his arms, sleeping with a small smile on her face. If the world would have ended that night, it would have been alright, because she was at his side.
Her sweet smiling face, her beautiful blue eyes, her adorable red hair... She was so perfect. So.. Esther.
He failed. He failed her and he failed himself. It was his personal duty to keep her safe, and he had failed. His heavy heart sunk like a stone. He sat up in bed and buried his face in his hands.
He was a failure.
A small knock sounded on the other side of the door. Abel furrowed his brows and shook his head. Whoever it was could go away.
And then, from the corner of his eye, he saw her. Dressed all in white, she walked right through the door. Her skin was porcelain, her hair a fiery red, and her eyes a blue as deep as the sea. Like a goddess, she looked absolutely divine. Abel dared not blink. He hardly breathed as she made her way to the end of his bed. He crawled close to her, looking up to her perfect face. The apparation looked to Leon, then Tres, then turned her head to look at Abel. He gasped as her eyes pierced through him, and he could see the anger and regret in her eyes.
"How could you?" She wailed softly, her voice almost foreign. "Don't you know what you've done?"
"Esther...?"
"I hurt Abel! Oh the pain! It's killing me, Abel! And you sit around, worthless, and do nothing?"
His breath hitched. Her words cut like a knife to his heart.
"It's your fault, Abel. I'm dying, you're mistakes are killing me!"
Clear eyes became misty, and he began to tremble.
"Esther, no! I didn't mean for anything to happen to you!"
She glared, cerulean orbs set ablaze by the moonlight.
"It's all your fault. Everything. You've failed again, like always, and what has it cost you? What has it cost me?"
"No! No.."
"I need help. Help me, Abel! Do something!" Her voice quivered as she collapsed to the floor. "Can't you do anything right?"
Her voice grew louder as she slammed her fists repeatedly onto the floor.
"What have you done? What have you done?"
He slapped his hands over his ears. It was too much. "Stop!"
"Save me Abel! Don't let me die! Abel!"
"Stop it, I didn't do anything!"
"Abel!"
His eyes flew open, his heart beating so hard, it threatened to crack his ribcage. A cold sweat made his overly pale skin sleek with moisture. Leon shook him hard, as if not convinced that Abel was fully awake.
"Snap out of it, Nightroad!"
Abel sat up fast, desperately, frantically searching the room.
"Where is she?"
Leon raised a questioning brow. "Who? What the hell were you dreaming about? You were screaming."
"I was.. But.. No, she.. I.. Tell me that you could see her!"
"You were dreaming, Abel. There was nobody here."
"You must be blind.." Abel stared at his hands as they lay on his lap. It was a dream, but it wasn't. It was too real, too vivid.
"Just go back to sleep. You're gonna need your energy, because we're going to pull a pretty hard search all day." Abel shook his head. "I couldn't possibly.. Not after that.." Leon's brows snapped together. "Oh yes you will. And if I catch you awake, you can guarentee I will make the rest of your days a living hell."
I'm already living it...
Abel sighed and rested his head back onto the pillow. There was no arguing with Leon on that. But there was one thing that began to nag at his mind. Why was he all of a sudden so concerned with the city of Valencia?
"Leon, tomorrow we search Valencia."
Leon sat up. "But, we haven't looked here hardly at a--"
"Don't. Just listen to what I say. Goodnight."
Leon huffed and lied down. He hated being told what to do. "Whatever."
I will find you, my sweet. I promise you my heart.
A/N: Reviews are nice. The button is right there. Show it some love and click. And thanks again to all who've already reviewed. You guys have given me confidence to continue. :D