A/N: ….

Disclaimer: Shouldn't the word 'disclaimer' put you guys off?

Kate sighed. It had been a trying week; from the return of her staff, to Stella's defiant trial, she had not gotten much 'down time', the time where her brainwaves were able to slink back into her comatose body in a substitute for sleep. She read the notice on her desk again and did not believe she would for several more days.

Cardinal Kate:

It is the Pope's pleasure to inform you that rather soon the trails of Stella Iceheart will be over quite soon. Further information will be relayed today at three o'clock. It has been asked that you tell no one for this particular event will not call for the many friends of Miss Iceheart. You must understand the judges cannot be swayed against or for Miss Iceheart during this judgment. That is all.

Lord Adeodatus

"Cardinal Kate, I have retrieved Fathers…"

"Thank-you, Tres." Kate interrupted. "Now would you please stand aside so they can come in…" She trailed off wearily.

In filed an eager Abel, the Leon family (both of whom took up positions leaning against the wall) and old William Walter Wordsworth. Kate always felt guilty around William, having not matured at all while he aged into his early sixties.

Behind Wordsworth was a young man, a teenage boy, really. At the moment, he was struggling with the various charts and books Walter had hid tow around. He had mousy brown hair cut into a long style half an inch below the jaw line, simply brushed evenly on either side of his face with a part in the exact center of his head. (A/n: Imagine those weird little boys that work for Sulliman in Howl's Moving Castle) Freckles were speckled across his narrow cheeks. Round glasses that the lad constantly needed to push up sat on his tiny, yet-to-be-grown nose. Always he was dressed neatly, wearing practical white shirts and warm green vests. He had the same pair of brown loafers he had had the year before, and from these stretched long white socks, into which his pants were tucked in the old style.

His name was James, an orphaned boy that William had recognized as a great talent. Two years ago, Wordsworth and Kate had gone to a community science fair, more to make a public appearance than anything. There had been nothing worthwhile; it was mostly miniature volcanoes or (at best) primitive looking communication devices. Finally, they had arrived at a small presentation.

Williams had stopped as the boy turned on the old lamp that started the entire thing. It was an old, cleaned aquarium, filled up to six inches with dirt as well as a small pond, about the size of a fist. A few minutes later, the small crowd that had gathered gasped. There was rain in the aquarium. The boy had explained his theory on artificial ecosystems, and had gone on to explain possibilities.

When the boy lost to a three-time winner, William had been outraged. The boy slipped away, but when Kate found out that he was an orphan, she and Wordsworth had tracked the boy down within two weeks. Walter (never having a chance to have children) adopted the boy and named him his apprentice. Kate still remembered the smile that lit up his old face when the boy had hugged him.

Now, James shadowed William constantly. Whenever William made one of his ludicrous claims or blew something up, the boy was always scribbling something down in the little brown leather-bound notebook that fit in his pocket. Kate never knew whether or not the boy was writing notes on what the Professor was saying, or reminding himself never to make that mistake again.

"Cardinal, you wanted to see us?" Abel reminded her gently.

Kate looked at Abel, the first time she had actually looked at him all day. He looked as tired as she felt. She nodded. "Yes. Here, pass this around." She handed the note to Abel, who skimmed it quickly, then handed it off to Walter. As the group read the note (and James took a moment to quickly copy it into his notebook), Kate started speaking, "I will go to the meeting and report what happens in it to you, to the best of my ability." She paused, unsure if she should continue with her thoughts, but eye contact with a tired-looking Abel made her speak again. "I don't like how this Lord Adeodatus phrases these trials. They sound like the witch burnings that happened after Armageddon. I want all of you to try and find out whatever you can about this new Lord. We will meet at a later time to speak more on this. Any questions?"

There were five unanimous, "No."'s and one…

"Negative."



Stella fidgeted anxiously, shuffling her feet without the guards knowing. She wished Kate would hurry up; she was a hologram, after all. Okay, so Stella was a Titan, born to stalk in the night. Born to sit quietly and wait for her prey to come to her, then pounce. In a nutshell, born to the patient hunt. But then again, she was born Stella, so of course she was impatient and wanted something to happen right then and there. She would even settle for an impossible mission to some dark dissolute place in the farthest reaches of Antarctica to redeem herself. Of course, she would complain about it and be totally outraged at the audacity of it, but she would settle for it.

They were standing right outside the chapel, waiting for the last member of their party to arrive. They, being Stella, the two guards holding the cuffs at her hands and shackles at her feet, an old man who had been referred to (though he had not introduced himself) as Cardinal Franesco De Medici, and the man next to Stella, who had introduced himself as Lord Adeodatus. They, of course, were waiting for Cardinal Kate.

Stella eyed the Lord next to her closely. It was the same man who had sat to the right of the Pope during her trial. His clothes were not priest's clothes nor were they an Inquisition officer's uniform, but Stella could still derive something from it. He wore a white button-up shirt tucked into his trousers. Stemming from his long black pants was a heavy, gaudy gold chain that was most likely attached to some type of pocket watch or an extremely elaborate cross. He had shiny black shoes as well as a black trench coat. The difference between Stella's and his, however, was that his (like all his clothes) looked very new and expensive.

Out of her natural Titan's habit, Stella began to observe his features. Dark haired flowed past his shoulders, down to center on his back, loosely held with a piece of black ribbon. A sharp nose perfectly centered his face, making him seem like the perfectionist type. He had a wide, thin mouth that was set in a natural frown. His eyes were sharp and cold. Not only that, but Stella could detect a strange light in them. Every time he looked at the sun, or his head moved slightly, his eyes seemed to have a white light flash across them.

Stella was about move her head to see his eyes better, when a new cast of light caught her attention. Cardinal Kate's hologram floated almost wearily in front of her. They were all assembled.

After formalities were exchanged, Adeodatus made an attempt at a pleasant smile and ushered them all into the church.

A/N: sorry for the wait, but hey, I wanted to get it out before Christmas. Whew, that's cutting it close. One hour to go. Happy holidays and happy belated Hanukkah. I just saw Fiddler on the Roof the play in Baltimore, and I can't wait to learn more about my Jewish roots. Definitely worth seeing. Review!