Disclaimer: I own nothing except my three (four if you count dead people) 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 9
The most beautiful cardinal in the history of the Vatican, Caterina Sforza, Duchess of Milan, looked critically at her oldest friend and newest subordinate. Abel Nightroad had been at her side for more than ten years. She'd grown from a child to one of the most powerful people on Earth with him at her side, guiding her. They were good friends, and in deep part of her heart she refused to acknowledge she had once wished they could be more. But now both of them were bound to the Church and God. Caterina served Him with her keen political sense, Abel with his strength as a Crusnik, a vampire's vampire.
Caterina knew very little about Lili Stone. The woman was an enigma. Her file listed the necessary information- height, weight, age, and hair and eye colors, as well as her place of origin. Londinium, Albion. But that was not true. Lili came from, or claimed to come from, the New Human Empire, and that was what made her so curious. Why would a human from the Empire turn to the Church? What sort of background did she come from? What was her motivation? Caterina disliked being so ill informed about a situation, but she trusted Abel's judgment and he advocated for Lili's acceptance into AX. If she becomes a problem Gunslinger can always eliminate her, thought Caterina.
The subject of Her Grace's thoughts was currently sweating bullets. Syeira knew that the success or failure of her mission depended upon the decision of Cardinal Sforza. She was beginning to regret her misbehavior. Perhaps stealing the priests' undergarments and hanging them around Palazzio Spada hadn't been such a good idea…
As if she was telepathic Caterina chose that moment to speak. "Agent Stone, your conduct in your three months here has been disgraceful. The stunts you've pulled reflect on not only yourself but the Office of Foreign Affairs and the Vatican. I'm sorely tempted to have you excommunicated and send back to the Empire this instant- if that is indeed where you come from." Her steely glare froze Syeira where she stood. Syeira opened her mouth to utter something, anything, an apology of some sort-
"Do not attempt to apologize. Your words can not bring back the dignity and pride we lost when the ambassadors saw what had happened." Oh no, thought Syeira, I've failed, I've failed, I've failed. I've never failed a mission since Evrek died. At that thought her face flushed with shame and she ducked her head to hide it. Caterina continued. "Nor will your apology replace the tea cup I dropped because I laughed so hard." Her gray eyes softened and a hint of a smile appeared on her lips. Syeira's head shot up. "You mean I haven't failed?" she blurted out. Caterina shook her head of golden curls. "I don't see what you mean by failure, as you've taken no test and had the highest scores in the academy here. Your mission reports are exemplary, and some other officers could take a leaf out of your book." Here she looked pointedly at Abel who whistled a random tune while staring into space. "For this reason I am proud to invite you into Arcanum Cella ex Dono Dei. Your new name shall be Demon, for your chosen nickname, your strength, and," her Caterina paused, "your actions."
"Please allow me to be the first to welcome you into AX, Lilith," said Abel. In reply Syeira gave him a bone-breaking hug. Remembering her manners, she released Abel and spun to face Caterina. "Your Grace, I accept my new position with the honor with which it was given," she said, dropping into a curtsy. "You will be expected to work harder than ever."
"Yes, Your Grace." Caterina examined Syeira for a moment, as if searching her soul. "Very well, Demon." She glanced out the window and abruptly changed the subject. "The weather is quite fine. Will the two of you accompany me on a stroll?" Recognizing the request to be an order, the newly named Demon and Crusnik nodded, and followed Her Grace out of the office.
Caterina and Abel walked side by side, talking softly and pleasantly. Not wanting to interrupt the old friends' conversation, Syeira followed behind. Caterina was in rare form, happily and casually teasing Abel as he chattered on about inconsequential things, primarily food.
Near the Sant'Angelo bridge they paused in their walk. It seemed that Caterina wished to speak where no one would overhear. But she continued to chat with Father Nightroad, until they heard a shrill voice.
"Hmm?" Abel spun around. "I thought I heard a familiar voice," he said. Caterina gave an exasperated sigh. "Abel, I weary of that act of yours. Sister Esther. She was there just a moment ago, wasn't she?'
"Lady Caterina, you possess the ears of a bat and the eyes of a hawk."
"She's quite the overachiever isn't she? After you left, Sister Lili, she was top of every class at the academy." Suddenly drawn into the conversation, all Syeira could say was, "She's very talented."
"Well of course!" exclaimed Abel. "She's brave and levelheaded, a bit of a tomboy, but she did hold her own against that animal, Leon, and the wannnabe gentleman Wordsworth. That makes her fit for either a job at the Vatican or head of a bordello."
"You sound like a proud parent, Father Nightroad. Your Grace, may I go and see Sister Esther? If I remember correctly, today was the day of her fealty ceremony. I should congratulate her." Syeira addressed her comrade and her superior.
"Not yet, Demon. Though you are right, he does sound like a boasting father. It is time for you to know why I asked that we speak out here, away from prying ears. Why did you come to the Vatican?"
"So that I can help to ensure world peace." Syeira answered truthfully.
"Then I shall tell you that there exists a group known as the Rosenkreuz Orden, and their objective is the exact opposite of yours. Indeed, their motto is Igne Natura Renovatur Integra."
"By flames shall the Earth be reborn," Syeira translated.
"Yes. That is so." Abel's eyes were wide as he spoke. Caterina turned to him. "Abel. They are very persistent. However, I am vigilant."
"Lady Caterina, I…"
"Please don't look so sad, Abel. I am not a foolish woman. I know which thoughts to dwell upon." Syeira couldn't understand what Caterina meant by that, what Abel had been about to say, and so watched in silence, dwelling upon the information she had been given. She would share with her fellow agents the name of the group they had been sent to stop.
"Listen well." Caterina's words drew Syeira from her musing. "We will make contact with the Empire."
"So that is why you wished me to be here."
"Yes Agent Stone. Soon we will head to Carthage. There I expect an Imperial messenger. Your knowledge and Abel's experience will prove invaluable, so you two will partnered together for the duration of the trip." Caterina would have continued, but was interrupted by a cry.
"Lady Caterina! And Father Nightroad and Sister Lili," Sister Loretta gasped, her cheeks flushed pink from exertion. "What is it, Sister Loretta?" inquired Caterina, as collected as always. "It's terrible!" the younger blonde replied. "The vampire that was imprisoned in Sant'Angelo…They say it murdered the jailer who tried to administer holy water... It stole some ant-ultraviolet gel and escaped! Then just now they found the stripped body of a sister in the interrogation room…the mark of the vampire was upon her!"
"Sisters Lili and Loretta! Get yourselves and Lady Caterina to safety!!" Abel shouted, his keen blue eyes scanning the area. He tried to rush away, but was held back by a surprisingly strong grip on his arm. Looking down, he saw Syeira's hand gripping his cassock. "No, Father Nightroad. As the most experienced person here, your duty is to protect Her Grace." Syeira's voice was cold and professional. "Let me, new Agent Demon, find the vampire." And then she was gone.
Syeria ran. She scanned the minds around her, searching for one with bloodlust and malicious intent. She found it in the direction Esther had run, and doubled her pace. Please let me get there before that headstrong girl does something foolish! she thought. At the same time, another part of her mind was going over the available information. The vampire had murdered the jailer and a sister. It was not subtle, and would have no problem killing bystanders, though its target was likely the current VIP in residence, Cardinal Caterina. The sister had been stripped, so the vampire was likely a female disguised as a sister.
So intent was Syeira in her pursuit she ran headlong into Father Cheval, who was heading in the same direction. "Sister Lili, have you heard?"
"Yes." There was no need to ask about what. "Good. I'll go this way, and you can take that courtyard," the martial arts teacher said, pointing to the courtyard where Syeira had determined the vampire to be. This close, her Crusnik senses allowed her smell it. Both of them took off running again, and what Syiera saw made her run ever faster. Sister Esther was standing backed against a fountain, her posture confrontational. She was gripping the arm of a female in a bloodied habit. As she approached, Syeira could just make out what she was saying. "You couldn't have escaped. I've seen a vampire use 'haste' too many times." No you stupid girl! Syeira thought. Don't confront the crazy vampire without your weapon out and aimed! Syeira reached for her own gun, hidden beneath the voluminous skirts of her habit, but could not grasp it because of said skirts. God damn it, she thought, as soon as I get out of this mess I'm cutting slits in this damn thing! Without her gun, Syeira's only option was to get closer. She needed to buy time so the vampire wouldn't hurt Esther before she could stop it. Feeling strangely protective of the younger woman, Syeira did the only thing she could to draw the Methuselah's attention. She yelled out, "Hey! Sisters! It's dangerous over there!" She gripped the cross of her rosary as she ran, and an idea came to her. She was nearly in range…
"A vampire stole some anti-UV gel and escaped! There's a chance that it fled outside! The report said a sister had been slain and-" Syeira ducked just in time. The Methuselah's hand blade went whistling over her head. Before the Methuselah could gather herself for another swing, Syeira struck. Swift as a snake, she lunged forward and buried her sharp, silver cross in the soft flesh below the Methuselah's breast bone.
Howling like a wounded beast, the Methuselah woman tried to dislodge the cross, but the silver burned her hands and all she managed to do was snap the rosary chain that connected her to Syeira. She fell to the ground. Standing over her, Syeira fumbled with her skirts and drew her gun, aiming it at the prone Methuselah. She fired six shots, hitting shoulders, elbows, and knees. Then she turned to Esther.
"She was the vampire...how did you know…she was so fast…you were faster…" the redhead mumbled. "It's a long story, one I don't have time to tell." Syeira's matter of fact answer pulled Ester from her dazed state. "What do you need me to do?" the teenager asked, pulling herself together. "I need a way to restrain the vampire. She'll regenerate soon."
"Hmm…you said she was using anti-UV gel, right?"
"Yes."
"Well, we have this lovely fountain…"
Fathers Tres and Abel arrived not too long afterward with the jailers, and were stunned to find a badly burned vampire bundled up at the foot of the fountain while Syeira washed the blood off her rosary and chatted casually with Esther. "So you see," she was saying, "All I wanted to do was find and warn you, but when I saw a sister in a bloody habit I knew it had to be the vampire."
"Oh, it was so simple. I should have realized it earlier."
"Not at all, Esther. You lacked the information I had. Still, it would have been better for you to make sure you had your weapon out once you knew there was a vampire loose."
"Sisters!"
"Father Nightroad!"
"Father Abel!"
Tres didn't bother with a greeting. "Please report as to what has happened here," he said as the jailers took the vampire away. He and Abel listened patiently as both sisters told their story. "…And I can't believe how fast Lilith was!" Syeira smiled. "You flatter me Esther."
"Negative, Sister Lili. To evade a vampire's strike, your speed must be well above average."
"Father Tres, how many times do I have to ask you to call me Lilith?" Ignoring Syeira's comment, Tres addressed both sisters. "My ladys' plan was strategically sound. However, as my lady Sister Esther lacks experience and skill on the battlefield I do not recommend she enter a hot zone without backup." Abel laughed. "Lucky for you Lilith was here, isn't it?" Esther blushed. "I would have figured something out."
"I'm sure you would have, Esther," said Syeira. "After all, you're now an officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Let me be the first to welcome you to your new position."
"Thank you, Officer Lili." Esther was still blushing, but now she looked proud. Left out of the conversation, Abel butted in. "It's Agent Lili now. Lilith and I will be working together."
"I look forward to it, Father."
"Wait! You're an AX agent now Lilith?" Syeira only laughed. "Let's all three of us stay together if we can. I'd miss you two."
"Of course you would."
"Father!"
AN: Well, all I can say is I'm glad that's done, and you should be too, because rewrites are over and fresh material is on its way! Please leave a review on you way out.