A/N: Hmmm… Yes, I realize I am dull as ditchwater, so just go read the ever-exciting chapter already!
Disclaimer: No one, not one of you seriously thinks that I own Trinity Blood. You are just doing this to give me a stabbing reminder. Well, here you go, meet my friend stabby: NONE OF THESE CHARACTERS EVER WILL BE YOURS! MWHAHAHAHA!
Okay, now that my little episode is over (and I am done stabbing every hope and dream you've ever had to pieces), on with the chapter…
Stella sat on the cold cell floor. She had been moved from the clean hospital cell to this one, a few floors up. The room was little more than four steel walls with a ceiling and floor. The walls were perfectly smooth, not even so much as a nail poke came out of walls. The door did not have a doorknob, as the only opening would be coming from the outside. The deficiency that Stella could detect was a foul-smelling hole, which she was supposed to jump down and relive herself in. At least she did not have to worry about that yet. Stella refused to eat the food or drink the water given to her in case it was drugged or something of the like. So, nothing coming in meant nothing going out.
She was on the top floor and, consequently, the coldest. She was five floors into the air and the night was damp, with the oncoming winter. The year was almost into its twelfth month. The light summer dress Seth had loaned her was of no help as she watched her skin turn into what resembled most strikingly as raw chicken. Stella, for the sake of her pride, would not shiver, though she knew that there were no cameras in the room and there was no way the guards would see her. So she nearly froze as she thought about whatever she could. Namely, what happened back in the Empire.
She remembered stopping that man, who she later met while she was being cared for. His name was Mau.
As the exodus left, she stopped the last person, a young man whose color had not totally left his face yet. "When the last of the people are out of the main door, yell down to me. You all will have about ten minutes after that to get as far away from here as possible."
He nodded his head once, to substitute for a bow. "My lady and savior, who are you? What are you? From which country do you come?"
Stella smiled sadly. "I used to be Stella Icheart, the Titan, born and bred in the country Kenpachi and currently living in Rome. Now, though, I am not so sure."
The man nodded wisely. "We all were dragged into this castle different people. When you find out who you are, tell me." He left, jogging up the hall with as much strength as an emancipated man in his prime could.
Stella chuckled a little in the back of her throat and allowed a single tear to slide past her closed eyes. Mau, I'm sorry I could not tell you who I am when you came to see me.
Ion quietly crept into Stella's room, on the third day since she had awoken. "Stella?"
"You don't have to whisper, Ion." Stella had said rather loudly in the quiet room, not event the chorus of the hospital machines accompanied her, as she had demanded they be taken out of the room.
Ion seemed to straighten. "Yes well," he cleared his throat, "I was thinking, since
Demetry is taking an hour off of being guard dog to see the sights with Vanessa…"
"Aha! I knew he liked her!" Stella cried out, elatedly.
"Don't jump to conclusions, Vanessa practically pushed him out the door." Ion reminded her, amusement twinkling behind his red eyes. "Anyway, there has been a man waiting to see you for some time now, and he comes by every day and waits for the okay to come up. To be frank, I'm sick of it…"
"Just bring him in and stop complaining, Ion."
Stella sat herself up on the bed in an attempt to look not as weak as everyone thought she was (and actually was). A moment later, a young man walked into the room. He had on a crisp white shirt and black suspenders. The man wrung his hands nervously as he entered the room, and looked around with wide brown eyes. Stella recognized him instantly as the man she had stopped back at the castle.
"Miss… Miss Stella?" The man stuttered.
Stella nodded. "That is I." She said quietly, hoping not to startle him.
Not for the first time that week, someone launched himself or herself at her. "OH thank you Miss Stella! I can not thank you enough for what you did for us…"
"Okay, that's great, now STOP TOUCHING ME!" Stella yelled, annoyed. Every time someone saw her, they hugged her. She was about to start wearing pointed daggers under her clothes.
The man drew back, but a smile brought a light tom his dull face, which had not recovered its normal pallor. Stella had to remind herself that Terrans did not heal as quickly as Titans, no matter the injury. "Miss Stella, thank you again."
Stella smiled and inclined her head. "Of course. I wish I had gotten there sooner."
They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes. "So…. Miss Stella. Have you figured out who you are yet?"
"Have you?" Stella asked, her bright blue eyes staring into his deep brown ones.
"Aye that I have." The man said nodding. "I am Mau Stepson. I was a police officer in the Vatican before I was taken. I plan to go back there and get my job back. My wife and daughter…" He broke off, his eyes pooling with tears.
"Sometimes," Stella began, "it is better to let rest those who are gone and remember them when we can handle it."
Mau gave a half laugh. "You know, people have been telling me that it would be dishonorable to forget my wife and daughter completely, but it had been torture to remember. I think that if I wait… it will not be so hard. You are wise beyond your years, Miss Stella."
"I assure you, I have more years on my shoulders than you do on your head." Stella responded smiling companionably.
Mau stared at her a moment. "Yes… I'm sure. No being should be through the pain that is in your eyes, but God's will be done." Mau crossed himself quickly and continued. "But I ask again, if I may. Do you know who you are yet?"
"I'd prefer if you didn't, but if you must." Stella said in a tired sigh. She closed her eyes and considered what to tell him. She knew a lie would not do; she did not have the energy to concentrate to make it look convincing anyway. Nor would the truth be any good. It would alarm him, which would only succeed in a rumor, which as most likely a truth, to reach her brother as well as Abel. They would never allow her a moment's rest if they found out how tortured her mind was and just how far she had lapsed into her depression. In the end, she decided on a truth, but kept her tone light, though she could not keep the tiredness away. "I suppose that I do not know who I am, Mau. I know that my name is Stella Iceheart. I am a Titan. Not much else is that clear to me." Stella's ears pricked up and something tingled at the back of her head. "Now, Mau, I believe my brother is back, and will go back to playing guard dog. Unless you wish to sneak out through the window," she indicated the extremely small window high above her bed, "I suggest you run."
"Right. Good day, Miss Iceheart. I hope one day you can tell me who you are." Without another word, Mau was gone.
Stella was silent for a moment. Her brother peeked his head in, glared at the door, muttered about the 'shotty craftsman work', and closed the door.
"As do I, Mau. As do I."
ooooooooo
Stella sighed sadly. Well, now is the time to figure it out. She thought, letting another tear run down her face, uninvited.
A/N: I wanted to keep going, but I couldn't. Until next time, folks!