A/N: Listen, the only reason that I did not update sooner was because my writing cycle got screwed up. I accidentally went straight from my Naruto two shot to my Sesshomaru story, working on that because I thought that it was that's turn. Then, realizing I made a mistake, I started the cycle all over again instead of doing to smart thing and just writing my Sesshomaru story when it was my Naruto's story's turn… but then I would have had to skip my Yuyu Hakusho story's turn. And because of all this confusion, I stared writing chapter twenty five, thinking this chapter was already done, and then later, chapter twenty six, thinking that one was done. And I just found out that this is chapter twenty three, not twenty four, so three of my chapters are currently mislabeled.
Yes, I am aware that half of you did not understand a word of that.
Disclaimer: I wrote up this really long, intricate disclaimer that would explain to you exactly how I do not own Trinity Blood, but then I read the author's note again and realized I was just wasting my time, because you probably would not understand the disclaimer if you could not understand that. Then I got really depressed because my entire work was ruined. Now, I'm depressed because half of you skipped the stupid disclaimer, and the only reason that the rest of you are reading the disclaimer is because it is longer than some of my paragraphs (yes, I'll make up for it later). Now that I am out of my spiraling depression, I am ready for another go down that twisty whirlpool of disappointment. So, let's sound it out together: I-d-o-n-o-t-o-w-n-T-r-i-n-i-t-y-B-l-o-o-d.
Stella was lead from the room. She shared one meaningful look with Abel before she was lost from his sight. Unfortunately, Abel did not know what she was trying to tell him, though he desperately grasped at the meaning.
When the heavy doors were closed, he turned to look around at his friends. Most had gone while Abel had been trying to understand Stella. He met Leon's stare and gave him a hard look, though the man ignored him for his son, who was asking many questions. Abel looked to Demetry, but found that his hologram was gone, and Vanessa was standing quietly in a corner, the only indicators that she was upset were the small wrinkles around her mouth.
Abel sighed heavily. Vanessa, rounding on her second century, was still quite young, far too young to have lines etched around her face. She needed more happiness and what Stella had done to her was unfair, to say the least. Again, Abel sighed. A few months ago, he had noticed that Stella had an uncanny ability to get people to do what she wanted, but he never expected her to abuse her abilities so. He moved to the unhappy Methuselah.
Vanessa was fiddling slightly with the ring on her finger, which was underneath her white gloves. She nodded to Abel respectfully as he approached her. "Father Nightroad."
Abel sat beside her. "Vanessa, I am so sorry Stella had dragged you into this, you do not deserve to have this pressure to pretend to be engaged…"
Vanessa chuckled. "You misunderstand, Father Nightroad. When the old Leon called Virgil, the other night, I was in the same room. It was I who suggested it and Demetry who accepted it. Stella only heard about it a few hours ago."
Abel's eyes widened. "But… she seemed like she knew exactly what she was doing…"
Vanessa nodded. "Stella has an eerie ability to grasp things quickly and figure out how to bend facts to her will. If this was Albion and not the Vatican, she would have made a fine lawyer."
Abel nodded and leaned back in his chair, to look at the ceiling. "Yes. Perhaps it would be better if we allowed lawyers here in the Vatican, besides the Inquisition just deciding whether or not someone is right or wrong. Then again, there are often things that get in the way of law when you have lawyers. It seems that no way can we win, for corruption is on all sides."
"That is the way it always is. None look out for anyone but themselves. Well, that's not true." Vanessa bent a green curl around her finger. "My brother hardly ever does anything for his own personal benefit, only Albions. Then there's Stella… she might do things for herself, but she is not as lowly as some. Demetry can't think of himself between Kenpei and his sister. And you, Father Nightroad… well, besides your stomach, you think of nothing besides yourself."
Abel did not bother with a 'how cruel', he just nodded and stared at the spot Demetry's hologram had been. "Demetry is taking this very hard."
"Of course." Vanessa said, looking too at the spot. "She was his only ally, only friend for decades. She risked everything for him, and he in turn for her. He has had her come back from the dead, only to see her disappear again, but this time, it was his signing his own name that did the deed. Or so it feels to him."
"Is there any way to undo Demetry's contract?" Abel asked, hoping there was, for he knew that when this was all over, whenever that was, this, not being able to call each other so, would eventually kill both siblings.
Vanessa nodded. "Of course. All we need to undo it, is a burning of the paper sighed, and a new document signed by Demetry, his closest family member that is not disowned… which I guess will have to be me, and then one witness, hopefully a holy one. Probably Lady Caterina, Sister Kate or you, Nightroad." Vanessa stood. "I'm going, I've got to see if I can get through to my 'fiancée'. Call us when Stella's next trial will be." Vanessa's hologram flickered, and went out.
Abel sighed before setting off to find Leon, whom he had some very stern words for.
"Leon!"
The aging man turned just as he was being set upon by Abel and Kate's hologram. He had not made it very far. Leon Jr. had left to bother Walter so Leon Sr. only had his cane to rely on. Abel's long (and not at all clumsy at the moment) legs and Kate's quickly moving hologram were more than a match for the veteran.
"Yeah?" He asked, his voice indicating he knew exactly what they were going to say and had no interest in hearing it.
"What is Stella doing!?" Kate exploded, with a very un-Cardinal like look on her face.
Leon sighed. "Look, Stella is a smart girl, smarter than my son can ever hope to be. She's knows how to protect her friends and family."
"And what about herself?" Abel asked frantically. "Now that she has plead not guilty, what is she going to do? Who is going to represent her? Does she even know what she is getting herself into? The Pope could up and decide to execute her for deriding Rome and its government!"
Leon studied Abel for a long time. The man's old eyes studied his very young ones for a while. "Abel…" he said slowly, "I will tell you something. Stella is very much like you, and you must realize what she is doing is the exact same thing you would do in her position. You would cover everyone else's asses before your own, even if they did not deserve it. She has, by getting herself disowned severed any ties she has with her brother. Tonight, a certain piece of paper going by unknown hands will set her up with a totally random father for her confessor, slicing her ties with you, me, Tres, Caterina, Kate, and my son."
"What!" Abel yelled. "She can't do this by herself. She needs help! What does she expect to accomplish by herself?"
"Abel, you want to know what she told me when I asked her the same question?" Leon's eyes had the slightly harsh look back in them from his younger days. "She said, in these exact words, 'I am prepared to stand alone'. That's all. She did not tell me any plan, and I'm not sure if she has one."
"But… but…" Abel faltered.
"That's it, Abel. If you want to find anything else out, you have to go to her."
"Which is almost impossible now, because of the random paper going through unknown hands." Kate finished everyone's thoughts.
"Yes."
Abel tossed on his bed, thinking, as he did more and more lately, instead of sleeping. 'If you want to find anything else out, you have to go to her.' Leon's words echoed hauntingly in his head.
'Thank you, Abel' This time it was Stella's words that echoed in his head, along with he reminder of the night in the Empire, when she had visited him, and, he remembered with a jolt, the kiss he had not thought of in days.
A determined light crept into his eyes, as well as the thought that once again, confession would be hell this week. He quickly got dressed. He tied his hair back, put his glasses on his nose, and turned towards the door.
If I want to find anything else out, I have to go to her.
A/N: Oohhh…. So now everyone is up to something. Mwhahaha. Review!