Disclaimer: I own nothing except my three OCs, whose backgrounds are heavily influenced by Sylvia Engdahl's novel Enchantress from the Stars. Anything you recognize is from the Trinity Blood manga, by Kiyo Kyujyo, or the novels, by Sunao Yoshida.

Chapter 4

By the third time the three agents flew over the Black Sea, the trip had begun to get repetitive. Now armed with communicators, locators, and modified nanomachines types 01, 02, and 03, Zera, Matxin, and Syeira hoped to be in Byzantium before the sun rose. Zera was energetic and flew fast. Having time aboard the ship with Matxin and no Syeira had refreshed her. Syeira, on the other hand, could barely keep her wings moving. Hours in the lab had tired her out. Matxin hovered between the two women, sometimes flying playfully with Zera, other times lagging behind and sending thoughts of encouragement to Syeira.

The sun rose just before they reached the coastline, and just like the first time they'd taken this trip, they were forced to land on an isolated beach and travel the rest of the way to the capitol by land after changing back into their Terran clothes. It came as a great surprise to Matxin and Zera when a tired Syeira, still dressed in her white uniform, advocated sleeping the day away on the beach. She had a reputation among both trainee, normal, and Senior level agents at the Society for demanding perfection in herself and others, whether in the field or on the star cruiser. It was this that led Matxin to tease her about being a genius, and it looked like he was also going to get to tease her about literally falling asleep on her feet.

Taking command with the Senior Agent out of commission, Matxin said, "Let's start off on foot and try to hitch a ride like we did last time. I can carry Sleeping Beauty," here he gestured towards Syeira, " if you'll carry her pack." Zera liked Matxin, and would normally have happily obeyed an order from him, but the sight of him cradling Syeira against his chest caused her a pang emotion she greatly disliked.

Augusta Vradica, Empress of the New Human Empire and tea seller by the name of Seth, was confused. By way of her information network and what she picked up in the markets of Byzantium she'd made it a point to know everything she could about what went on in her Empire. Some thought her omniscent, so great was her knowledge. So how was it that her friend Zera, who worked in Mimal's shop and occasionally chatted with her over a cup of tea had suddenly come up with one friend that had Lilith's coloring and another who had her name? She knew that Zera was new to the Empire, so it could be that her friends were new as well, but parents outside didn't name their children after ancient semi-biblical figures. Especially not demons. A small, paranoid part of her mind speculated that Zera and her friends knew about her past, and planned to use that knowledge. But that was foolish, wasn't it? That knowledge was lost to the ages. Three Terrans couldn't possibly have found it, even if the your typical Terrans. "She called out, "Mirka?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"I need you to play Empress for a few more hours. I'm traveling to the Terran side."

"If I may ask, why? You've spent quite a bit of time their recently."

"There's someone I need to find," and something I need to know, Seth thought.

This time the agents traveled into the city with an extended family of Methuselah from the outside. The Zatrovskas had been living peacefully not to far away from a Terran village when blood tablets became momentarily more expensive. Angry and hungry, two daughters of the family began to terrorize the nearby village. Predictably, the Vatican sent an operative after them. The rumors had it that a priest had entered the church the sisters were residing in, there had been a small fight, and only the priest and a Terran girl ever emerged. Terrified that this priest who had defeated their kin with disturbing ease would come after them, the rest of the family was hoping for asylum in the Empire.

The Zatrovskas told Zera and Matxin that outside of the Empire there were rumors that the Vatican kept a horrible beast to dispose of vampires, a beast with red eyes and a halo of silver hair. Immediately, both thought, Syeira needs to hear this! Unfortunately, their commander slept on. Neither was eager to wake her. While they'd been talking to the adult Zatrovkas, two of the children, young girls, had decided that Syeira's long braid was too boring a hairstyle and undone it. They had found an ornamental comb somewhere and fixed her hair in a more 'stylish' manner. Most of it was pulled back by the comb and cascaded in waves down her back. A few strands had been left free to frame her face. Matxin imagined Syeira's reaction to her new hairstyle and laughed out loud. She would no doubt swear vengeance on whoever had touched her while she was asleep then declare the style impractical and set to braiding it. He smiled fondly. Hair as long as hers was impractical and she knew it, but refused to cut it short anyway. Instead she spent a long time each morning brushing and braiding it. Zera noticed Matxin's smile and touched her own short hair wistfully. She'd managed to forget the emotion from before on the long ride, but now it returned.

She recognized it as jealousy as she watched Matxin carry Syeira into the inn and place her gently in bed. Zera recalled what had said in their earlier telepathic conversation. Mat and I have never and will never be more than friends. Maybe that's how you see it, Zera thought, but the way he treats you, I'll bet that's not his view. When we argued, I told you I loved him, but I wrong. Back then, he was just a pretty face and a kind heart, and I was starved for attention and used to boys falling over me. Now I've spent hours doing nothing but enjoying his company, now I know I could grow to love him. How ironic. The one man I could truly love treats me as nothing more than a good friend, while back on the station I had plenty of males I didn't want chasing after me.

Zera was broken out of her musing when she heard a familiar voice downstairs. "Seth?", she said, descending to the stairs. "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you, actually.'

"Oh. Any reason?"

"You're usually very punctual, coming to get your tea. I wondered if something was wrong."

"No, I just took a day off work. Mimal said it was alright."

"Oh. Would you like some tea today anyway?"

"Sure." As Zera was sipping her delicious cup of tea, an idea struck. She sent a sharp mental probe to Syeira and Matxin, waking the sleeping Senior Agent and grabbing their attention. Come downstairs now! Seth is here and if we ask her to drink with us we can slip the nanomachines into her tea! She felt Syeira and Matxin's agreement, as well as a spark of outrage from Syeira about her new hairstyle. When the two agents came down the stairs, Seth went pale. She took a deep breath, seemingly to calm herself, and spoke. "Hello. I'm Seth. I'm afraid I don't know your name," she nodded at Matxin, "but you're Lilith, right?" Syeira quickly took stock of the situation and sent to her subordinates Play along. "Nice to see you again Seth. This is Mat. Could we have three cups of tea?"

"But I've already got one," protested Zera. Syeira told her, "Of course, but I'd like to have Seth sit down and join us, don't you?"

"Oh, yes." Zera blushed. Seth graciously accepted and settled down. Only Matxin noticed Syeira slip something into her own drink, which she didn't touch. "

"So, Lilith, how did your parents decide on your name? It's rather unusual," said Seth.

"Well, my name isn't really Lilith, it's actually Lili. Lilith is just a nickname because I was always in trouble as a child. Like the demoness, you know?" Syeira answered. Zera was stunned by her ability to lie quickly and with such a straight face. Inwardly, Seth sighed with relief. Just a coincidence, she thought. She closed her eyes momentarily and snapped them open when she felt hot liquid spill all over her lap. "I'm so sorry!" 'Lilith' cried. "Please take my own tea as an apology!"

"That's really not necessary. I'm fine."

"Please? After you drink it I'll buy you a new dress." Seth consented and apparently didn't notice anything wrong with the tea as she drank it all. Syeira, still going by the name of Lilith, made good on her promise to buy the tea girl a new dress, and they spent an hour chatting over cups of tea.

The sun had risen and the Empire had gone to sleep when the three agents returned to their inn. Syeira immediately went up to her room to fix her 'atrocious' hair before going to sleep. Zera headed to the stairs, but was cornered by Matxin. "Zera, what's wrong?" he asked. "What makes you think there's anything wrong?"

"Don't do this, Zera. Your thoughts have been sad almost all day, and as your friend I want to know why."

"You've been listening to my thoughts?!"

I didn't have to. You were broadcasting your emotions.

I don't want to talk about it.

Please, Zera. You're my friend.

I'm only your friend. What's Syeira?

Matxin was obviously confused by the question. Syeira's my sister.

"She's WHAT?"

"Who's something? Are you talking about me?" Standing on the stairs, unnoticed by either Matxin or Zera was Syeira, hair braided and dressed in nightclothes. Matxin told her, "Zera asked what you were to me, so I told her you were my sister." He frowned. "Though why she'd ask such a question is beyond me."

"Zera, if you don't tell him now, I will."

"If she doesn't tell me what?"

"Iloveyou."

"What?" Rather than answer that question, Zera reached up a pulled Matxin down into a brief kiss. She asked him, "Do you understand me now?" He smiled down at her. "I understand now. You know, when we came here my first thought was that you looked amazingly cute in the Terran clothes."

"Excuse me lovebirds, but I repeat, were you talking about me?" Syeira asked in an irritated tone of voice. Matxin and Zera blushed and Zera said, "Matxin told me you were siblings." Syeira glared at Matxin for a brief moment, before sighing "I'm his sister in law. His brother Evrek and I were married." Remembering what Matxin had told her aboard their spacecraft, Zera gasped. Syeira continued, "I see Matxin has told you at least part of the story. Let me tell you the rest."

"Evrek and I met in the Society. We were trainees together, and the night of our promotion to agents he proposed to me. I accepted, and we were married on his home world of Ignai. That was the year Mat graduated from Academy and started as a trainee. We became the Stenre trio, and worked well together. We visited so many beautiful worlds…and some not so beautiful. One of the latter was on the brink of nuclear war, and we were sent there. It seemed like it was going so well…" Syeira trailed off, and Matxin took up the tale.

"My brother was captured by one of the warring factions. They thought he was a spy from another side, come to hurt them. Foolishly I attempted to rescue him without first consulting Syeira. I too was captured, and Syeira had to come after us both." Syeira spoke again.

"I didn't know Matxin had gone to find Evrek, I thought he had returned o the ship as I told him too. Thus, I was only prepared to rescue one person. I managed to make it into the compound by using the Shield as well as telepathic powers, however I sustained a wound to the abdomen. I freed both Evrek and Matxin, but we hadn't gone far before guards caught up with us. Evrek stayed behind while Matxin and I escaped. He died so that we could live."

"Oh, Syeira, that's awful." Zera was aghast. Syeira gave a sad smile. "That's not all. Matxin and I barely managed to get off the planet before it was destroyed. That was my first failed mission, but to me my husband was the worst loss. At least, until I saw the medics on the main star cruiser. Apparently, I'd been pregnant. The wound in my abdomen killed the baby. It would have been a girl." Syeira stared off into space for a moment, then continued, "I cried for them, my husband and my daughter, for almost a cycle. Everything I did reminded me of him." She clutched at a locket around her neck. "Then, one cycle, I got up and my eyes were dry. I haven't been able to cry since." She smiled sadly. Matxin let his tears flow silently down his face. Zera felt her own eyes become watery, and came to a realization.

"That's why you disliked me, wasn't it? I reminded you of yourself, and Matxin of Evrek."

"Yes. You told me you loved him, and I know Matxin well enough to know that he felt similarly for you before he did." The new couple smiled at each other at Syeira's words. Syeria stood. "That's enough sadness for one night. I'm going to bed." Before she could leave, Zera asked one last question. "How do you stand the Society? Why did you stay in it?"

"My husband died for the Society. To leave it would be unthinkable. Also, I suppose I'm looking for something."

"Looking for something?" Matxin's voice was both sad and curious.

"I lost both my husband and my child in less than a day. I'm still alive because I believe one of these planets I travel to may hold something worth living for." Silence reigned. Syeira made her way towards the stairs. At the first step she paused and looked back. "Don't let my tragedy ruin your happiness, and remember that relationships in the field are strictly discouraged by the Society." But not forbidden.

The next night when Syeira and Matxin left for the Vatican, Zera waved her friends off happily.

In the Forbidden Palace of the Empire, an old child cried softly to herself. Her favorite pet, a white squirrel named Abel, walked hesitantly toward her, only to be pushed away. Seth couldn't bear the reminder of her brother so soon after having seen the new Lilith, as she referred to her friend Zera's friend. To see that woman with that hairstyle, in a white garment so similar to what they wore on Mars… Seth dried her green eyes and stood, shoulders squared. She was Augusta Vradica, Empress of the New Human Empire. Such a little thing would not defeat her. But it did make the chances of all this being a coincidence much smaller…

AN: This is an edited version of the former chapter five. The Zatrovska sisters Millis and Malice are from the Trinity Blood novel Star of Sorrow, by Sunao Yoshida. Their family is my creation. So much emphasis was put on Syeria's hair in this chapter because I was trying to describe the real Lilith's hairstyle, only with brown and wavy hair. Hence Seth's reaction. Sorry about my poor attempts at writing romance and angst. Please review if you have any suggestions, questions, or comments.