Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to someone else, likely Kiyo Kyujyo or Sunao Yoshida.

Chapter 14- Le Feu Follet

"Ra-Radu is part of the radical faction? No! Do not slander him, Esther! Thine eyes, too, witnessed this scene. Radu just saved us, thou knowest it!" Ion's cheeks were flushed with anger.

"He didn't save us. He just killed them. Most likely because they tried to take us alive. What he wants if for you, Earl of Memphis, true messenger of the Empire, to die. That, and only that, will ignite the boyars' rage and start a war with the Terran." Esther's voice and the hands holding her gun were firm, despite the enormity of what she was saying. Ion, on the other hand, was shaking with rage. "Terran bitch hound! If thou part thy foul lips to insult Radu once more…"

"She is correct, Ion." Radu took the following moment of silence to look upon his tovaras's innocent face for what would possibly be the last time. He had never really appreciated how beautiful Ion was before, with his soft gold hair and large, expressive eyes. Eyes now wide in shock. Something made Radu smile. He didn't know if it was his tovaras's beauty or his own wickedness, but he knew it must appear to be sinister, when combined with the sister's and his own words. And my! How fast these Terran women were catching onto to him! He'd best do something about that. But first, to burn Ion's happy little world-a world he had so wanted for himself-to ash.

Adopting a proud bearing, Radu walked over to the nearest corpse. Kicking its head, he said in a haughty tone, "How truly useless these Terran are. I went out of my way to inform them of your every move, Ion. It would have been nice if, true to their nature, they simply killed the 'intruding vampires.'"

"…Ra…du…? We…we do not believe it…Such nonsense…we refuse to believe it." Radu paid no mind to his tovaras's muttering. He was too busy mulling over the implications of what he'd just said. 'It would have been nice if…they simply killed the 'intruding vampires'.' To use the word 'vampire' at all hurt, but to use it in the plural? Did he want to die? Some part of him had always been uncaring of his own safety. He worried over Ion instead. But Ion, as the messenger, was doomed to die. And…to die alongside him…that would not be a bad fate at all. Perhaps that was what he had been seeking all along – the peace of death.

But he couldn't die yet. Luckily neither Ion nor the red haired girl had noticed when his cold stare became vacant as he mused on his own slip of tongue, possibly because maintaining a mask had become second nature to him. He registered that Ion was still in denial, and decided to disabuse him of his belief in the loyalty of tovarasi.

"No. It is not a lie. It's not a lie and, by the way, I am also responsible for sabotaging your meeting with Sforza last night."

Ion continued to shake his head. "W-why…Why, Radu…Wherefore…"

Radu pinned the blond boy with a merciless stare. "To ensure the future of the Methuselah. We cannot coexist. Despite that Augusta seeks to parlay with the Terran." In a gesture that belied his deadly power, Radu delicately raised his right hand to his chest. "I seek to rectify this mistake. You understand, don't you?"

"Such idiocy…If these are thy thoughts, why not propose them to Augusta? To act without orders is treason!" Apparently Ion did not understand. Radu smiled. Such sweet naivety. "Such constant sincerity. I always envied you that. However, Ion Fortuna, you are so correct that you are in error.

"Abilities, familial rank, personality…each of these in you is perfect. Your eyes always look straight ahead…never to the side, or behind…And certainly never beneath you. Do not mistake me. I am not you. I am not Augusta's favorite. How could a proposal from such as I" Radu lifted his hand, "change the opinion of mighty Augusta?" Fire trickled upward from his raised palm. "When those without advantage seek to win, they must change all the rules of the game."

"Rules?"

"Yes. Change the rules…no. Change the world." Radu clenched his fist around the flame, the uneven light lending his smile a demonic cast. " 'Igne natura renovatur integra,' " Radu intoned.

Esther's eyes went wide at the Ifrit's recitation of that hated phrase. She was transported back to a world of cold and snow, where Dietrich whispered in her ear. Yet her aim did not falter, and she was soon drawn back to the heat and flame by the blue-haired vamp-Methuselah's next words. "I will do it. I will change the rules of the fight to give our species dominance. Any means to ensure that end. Lie, betray, kill my friends without hesitation."

'He says he'll kill without hesitation, but still he stands here and prattles on,' thought Esther. 'He's killed the flame? If I could just get His Excellency to move I might be able to shoot.'

""Oh, and Ion?" The betrayer used haste to disappear…only to reappear behind Esther. Large hands came into her sight, reaching past her head to her weapon. She felt the heat radiating off the body behind her, and his next words came from behind and above her head. "In one other thing you are mistaken. This is not 'treason'. This is treason. 'Vampires' attacked the Cardinal, then the messenger is killed by Cardinal Sforza's people. Isn't that enough to start a war?"

"Run," Esther said, before her voice became a shriek, "Please run Your Excellency!" 'Please, for the sake of both our worlds, run!' Esther thought, but could not say.

"But Radu…" Ion murmured, before he was cut off by the taller man. "It is foolish to speak further, Ion. That man to whom you offered your friendship is nothing but a filthy traitor. Try to focus on that thought as you die." Warm hands pushed Esther's finger on the trigger, and she could have sworn she heard, underneath the creak of the gun, a whispered, "Farewell, tovaras." Some detached part of her mind, the part not screaming in fear or coming up with desperate plans, thought, 'I could have sworn I oiled that today.'

A flicker of movement in the corner of her ignited in the young woman a spark of hope. She cried out, "Lilith!" even as the recoil of the gun sent her flying further into Radu's embrace.

A high-pitched screaming sound, filled the air, and filled Esther's heart with despair as she realized it could not possibly be her friend. Whatever it was, it moved so quickly between Esther, trapped in Radu's arms, and Ion, that the bullet was deflected, or at least thrown off course. At least, that was what Esther could surmise, as Ion did not appear to be harmed and she didn't think anyone's aim could be that bad. "What!" exclaimed the man holding her.

"Well now, what's all this? A vampire pointing a gun at another vampire is not something you see everyday." Esther could hear the unspoken 'But why can't it happen more often?' in the newcomer's words. 'He speaks as if vampires are demons under Satan himself, and that uniform- he is "The-"

"The Inquisition!' growled Radu. He placed one arm across Esther's shoulders, holding her in place, and flame sprung from his other hand. This action enraged the Inquisitor. "You use women and children for a shield…You! Coward!" He lunged forward at an extreme speed, forcing Radu away from Esther. Radu conjured fire in both his palms and was about to attack when the Terran man spoke again. "Ifrit? Then you…my beloved soldiers…that sister…Unforgivable!" This time he moved so quickly Esther's eyes could not track him. "O detestable vampire, ENDURE THE IRON HAMMER OF JUSTICE LIKE A MAN!"

"Die!" Radu screamed, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Revenge for my men!" the Inquisitor answered. Esther remained collapsed on the ground where Radu had dropped her as she watched the battle. 'The radical faction or the Inquisition. No matter who wins…we're all in trouble.' At that moment, both combatants struck deadly blows. Radu observed, "The flames don't hurt him?"

"This is nothing. Keep the mind clear of distractions and fires stay cool to the touch!" 'Well, that's interesting,' thought Esther, more than a little shocked. 'Wait, why am I sitting here? This is the chance I need!'

She ran over to Ion as fast as her legs would take her, and dragged him away from the fight. "Now! Run, Your Excellency!" Shouting probably wasn't the wisest idea as it caught the traitor's attention. "Ion! There's no escape!" A fireball flew towards them at high speed, and Esther's world slowed down. 'No time to draw my gun…it's too large to avoid…I must protect His Excellency, but …I don't want to die! Help me, someone!'

Her silent prayer was answered. With the sound of a gun firing the fireball became an explosion mere feet from her head. There, standing on the deck of the escape boat, gun raised, was- "Fa-Father!"

The crazy Inquisitor might have said something, but Esther was focused on the miracle that was Father, and his next words. "Miss Esther! TO THE SHIP! HURRY!" She complied, dragging the boyar with her. Her actions were nearly in vain, as Radu used his opponent as a springboard and came flying towards the ship. "You will not escape! Die, Ion!"

Father fired his gun, but the vampire deftly avoided the shots. He landed on the deck to the sound of breaking planks. "What are you aiming at, Terran?" he sneered in Father's direction, before turning to Ion, and conjuring anther fireball.

Then something was falling over the Ifrit. "That's the main sail?" Esther asked aloud, thinking 'Father wasn't shooting at Radu, he was aiming for the rope holding the sail the whole time!' The sail engulfed Radu, and burst into flame. Tortured screams could be heard from the inside the inferno, which was slowly moving towards the bow of the boat.

"Ra-Radu!" called Ion, stumbling towards his betrayer. He nearly went overboard, but with a shouted "Mr. Ion!" Father ran and caught him around the waist. His efforts were decidedly not appreciated. "Unhand us, priest! Radu is…Radu-"

"Your Excellency! It's time to go. And it's too late for the Baron of Luxor…"

"'Trust me.' That was thy word, thy vow, Radu…" Tears streamed from the small man's eyes, and he collapsed in Father's arms. "Your Excellency!"

Syeira awoke to white. White ceiling, white walls, white bed sheets on her bed…Wait. 'Bed? She'd not fallen asleep in bed. She'd collapsed in a dark, humid tunnel when that traitorous Ifrit burned her-He played dead! The-the-! And she, such a moron for not checking his vital signs, or even scanning his mind!' She sits up and screams her frustration. "!"

"Oh no! Sister Lili! Is the pain medication wearing off?" In response to her scream a woman in a pure white habit rushes over, eyes wide with concern. 'A nurse, and pain medication…I'm in the infirmary. That explains the sterile environment.' After closing her eyes and taking a few calming breaths, she opens them again with a reassuring smile. "No, I'm fine, thank you. Just…frustrated. I made a foolish mistake." The nurse –an older woman, judging by the wrinkles on her face and the gray in her hair- tsks at her. "Now dearie," she says in a slightly scolding tone, "I'll not have you thinking that. You managed to wound a vampire! An Ifrit, no less, if what the blood samples taken from you habit indicate is true! You should be proud of yourself, girl."

"Wait…my habit?" Syeira looked down at herself. Sure enough, she was dressed in a hospital gown. 'Oh planets, no! What if- no, I musn't think like that. There are safeguards in place…' "Excuse me, ma'am, but could you please tell me what happened to my gun and belt?" Syeira nearly winced at the strain in her voice. 'I probably couldn't sound more desperate if I tried.' Thankfully, the nurse was either tone-deaf or oblivious. "Don't you worry about that. The nice Inquisition man who brought you in here took it to analyze the blood and clean it off. Couldn't have a pretty thing like you go around covered in vampire blood, now could we? And lucky you, getting carried in by such a handsome man! He's the director, you know! Pity you weren't awake to enjoy it…" She wandered off to the office at the end of the room, prattling on about what a lovely couple they'd make, and how he'd promised to visit her later, but Syeira's mind had stopped at the word 'Inquisition'. 'If it wasn't Abel or Esther who brought me in what happened to them? Did the Ifrit…? No, even an Ifrit can't defeat a Crusnik. Then why did they leave me? Option one, they thought I was dead. Option two, they had no choice. Option three, the Inquisition got to me before they could. Wait. Why in the name of the galaxy am I thinking about this? Someone in the Inquisition has my belt! Either they'll open it and find stuff which will reveal me, or they won't be able to open it and will detain me and keep it, getting more suspicious all the while! I am so screwed!' Syeira closed her eyes again, took a few more calming breaths, and began to formulate a plan. When her eyes opened, they held a dangerous light.

She glanced around. The old nurse had wandered out of sight. She held out a hand and the bed curtains at the end of the room came flying over, arranging themselves around her bed and hiding her from view. Once she was assured of privacy, Syeira began unwrapping the bandages around her calf. She hissed at the sight revealed. From her ankle up to her knee the flesh was an ashy white, with occasional spots of charred black. The skin around the area was bright pink and inflamed. 'Well, that's disgusting. It's one thing to see wounds on a patient, quite another to see them on yourself. Now, that nurse said pain medication, so I'm going to have to do a cleansing and then heal myself. This is going to hurt. I hate pain.' Syeira placed her hands on the wound, and shuddered. Cleansing was not a pleasant process. It sped up the deterioration of any foreign chemicals in the body, but it tended to make Syeira feel queasy. Then the actual healing began. Her flesh began to bubble like boiling water. She gritted her teeth and droplets of sweat rolled down her face. Slowly, ever so slowly, burnt muscle became healthy and regained its former mass. Skin stretched to cover newly grown muscle.

With a pained sigh, Syeira leant back against the metal bars at the head of her bed. Healing always took a lot out of her. She lifted her foot in the air and wiggled it around, testing the movement. The repaired limb worked well enough, even if it was a bit sore, so she sat up and rewrapped the bandages. She couldn't function with an injury of that caliber, but there was no need to let the world know that.

Leaving the curtains in place, she stood unsteadily and quickly stripped the bed of its sheets. A little work and they were wrapped around her in a passable imitation of the loose robes worn by native Carthiniagins.

Then she bent her knees, tensed her muscles, and leapt. Flying, or self-levitation, if you're being picky, was not a particular talent of Syeira's, so she always needed a jumping start, so to speak. Hovering at well above the nurse's eye-level she made her way into the office and landed silently behind the elderly woman. Careful to check her Crusnik strength, she landed a sharp thrust at the back of the nurse's neck, causing her to crumple to the floor, unconscious. Syeira picked the other woman up and arranged her it looked like she'd fallen asleep at the desk.

She then made her way towards the door, on bare feet. She pressed her ear to the heavy wood, hoping to hear nothing, a sign that she could slip out unnoticed. Instead, her ears caught the sound of approaching footsteps. She jumped back just in time.

The door swung open and nearly crushed Syeira, backed up against the wall as she was. She caught it just in time, and stayed hidden behind it. She could see nothing, but heard footsteps again, more clearly this time. She concluded that three people had entered the room, one treading softly and two others with a longer, heavier stride. Cloth rustled. Expensive, heavy cloth. Two were apparently in the middle of a conversation. An unfamiliar, male voice was saying, "…have not yet made an arrest. After they hid at the inn they, well, it is unfortunate, but they escaped."

"What a fascinating mistake." 'That's the cardinal!' thought Syeira. 'Who is she talking to?' Her unspoken question was answered by Caterina's next words. "That you, the director of the Department of Inquisition, would allow a vampire to get away from you. Indeed. It seems somewhat out of character, Petros."

'So he's the one who brought me in. He'll know where my belt is.'

"I am embarrassed to be reprimanded. However, the opposition had unlikely allies. Our loss is their fault, not our mistake," the newly-identified Petros replied to Caterina. The pair's next words were lost to Syeira as she realized, 'He's talking about Abel, Esther, and Ion! They got away!' She grinned and punched the air. She listened to Petros describe the two, 'Definitely Abel and Esther', and then, "Your Grace, does this bring anyone to mind?" Tension crackled in the air, but Caterina, the well-seasoned politician, handled it well. "Brother Petros, a member of my department lies severely wounded by these vampires and you have the nerve to suggest that I know their accomplices? As someone who has recently lost department members I would expect you to be more sensitive to the pain I feel now, having felt it yourself!" Caterina's tone was properly scandalized. Petros' was ashamed when he spoke, after an uncomfortable silence. "You have my deepest apologies. My lady…"

"Yes, Director?" Caterina's tone was brusque.

"This sister did not have an ID card on her person. That is one reason why I contacted you, to identify her."

"I fail to see why you make such a pointless statement."

"That is, she did not have one that I could find. I was not able to open any of the pouches on this belt, and wondered if you might know where she acquired such an object." Syeira missed Caterina's reply, though she was sure it was scathing and threatened the male director with sexual harassment charges for searching an unconscious sister and confiscating her property. She was too absorbed in the fact that he had her belt with him. 'He was probably going to make me open it in front of him,' she thought. 'What a disaster that would have been. I have been careless, carrying the Society objects so obviously on my person. But I live in a dorm room that's regularly invaded by other sisters, so I don't really have much choice.' She was drawn back to the conversation when she heard Caterina's soft tread. The Cardinal seemed to be walking farther into the room…but when Petros took a single step, Caterina stopped. "Go no further, Brother Petros."

"My lady-"

"Brother, your presence is unnecessary. See the curtains. Sister Stone is already injured, she does not need to be goggled at by a man while she is half-dressed. Especially not you, who has already taken liberties with her. Give me the belt, and I will return it to its proper owner." Syeira could tell Petros wanted to protest, but what could he say? His footsteps resumed, this time heading in the opposite direction. Once Syeira could no longer hear them, she gently shut the door.

Tres whirled round, his guns trained on Syeira's chest. His eyes were obscured by heavy sunglasses, so Syeira said, "Tres, don't shoot," in hopes that her voice would be enough for the killing doll to identify her. She really wasn't feeling up to dodging bullets. "Voice Identification: Sister Lili Stone recognized," Tres intoned. Syeira smiled and stepped forward when he lowered his weapons. She froze in her tracks when she saw Caterina.

Cardinal Sforza was also facing Syeira. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and dangling carelessly from one hand was the belt. She did not appear at all surprised to see her agent hiding behind a door. "Bed sheets, Sister?"

"I was working on short notice."

"Care to tell me why you were working on anything at all, instead of resting your grievous injury in bed?"

"I'm so doped up I don't feel a thing, so I thought I might as well get going," Syeira said with a goofy smile. Caterina was not fooled. "Your work ethic is admirable. However, the medicine must be very potent if you actually thought to make your way through the embassy dressed like a Bedouin. And barefoot. You would be thrown out."

"That's kind of what I was hoping for." 'After I got my belt back, at least.'

"So you were going to wander the streets after curfew without a weapon or any ID in hopes of doing what, exactly?" Caterina sounded like it was stupidest plan she had ever heard. And, to a Youngling who didn't know what Society agents could do with only their minds and bodies, it probably was. Syeira winced. Eyes downcast, she answered, "Finding Esther and Abel."

"I don't know if you're an idiot or a genius, but that might just work."

"What!" Syeira's head shot up. Caterina was no longer looking at her, but staring out the window, a contemplative look on her face. The cardinal explained. "Father Nightroad along with Sister Esther and the Imperial envoy are missing. I cannot search for them. As they were seen aiding a vampire, I must deny all knowledge of their existence. However, you can. No one will expect you to be up and about. I will announce that you recovered sufficiently to be sent back to Rome, and you will be able to move around unnoticed and unsuspected, searching them out. When you find them you contact me and we will arrange a rendezvous."

"How can I contact you if I'm supposed to be in Rome?" In response to Syeira's question Caterina unhooked on of her large, ornate earrings and handed it to the agent. "This works as a communicator. You can contact Professor and Iron Maiden. I'll get myself a spare. In the nurse's office is a little-used passage that connects to one of the chapels, so that the ill who come to pray can get treatment without contaminating those who are healthy. Use it to sneak out. You'll look like a poor cripple, dressed in bed sheets and bandages as you are, so no one will pay you any mind. I will distract the nurse- where is she, by the way?" Syeira guessed Caterina had been so involved with getting rid of Petros and formulating a plan she hadn't noticed the nurse's conspicuous absence. She grinned widely. "Asleep."

"And I suppose you had absolutely nothing to do with that." Caterina also grinned, then became serious once more. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go!"

"May I have my belt?" Syeira asked, trying her best to sound polite and not whiny. Caterina raised one delicate eyebrow and lifted the object of contention in the air. "This? It is quite an interesting object. Heavy for its size, and very strong if Petros could not open any of the pouches. That makes one wonder what you're hiding, Sister."

"Why ever would I be hiding anything? After all, I'm only working for my country's largest enemy using a false paper trail." The sarcasm in Syeira's voice caused Caterina's eyes to narrow. Clearly that was the wrong answer. "I used to think your attitude was funny, but clearly my lenience has given you ideas above your station. I will keep this until you show proper respect. Now go!"

Syeira stood frozen, but inside she was burning. 'How dare-She can't-I'll kill-' Some of that last thought must have shown in her eyes, because Caterina's easy superior manner faltered. The blonde glanced toward her android, and he tilted the gun in his right hand toward the errant agent. Syeira was so furious she didn't even notice the threat. Slowly, she held out her hand, palm up. "Cardinal. Before I lose all respect for you and all restraint, return my belt," she ground out between gritted teeth. "Why? It's just a belt. A rather unique one, but still only an accessory. What is so important, Demon, so secret, that you would risk everything to obtain it?" "I don't know if you understand, having lived nearly your entire life as a woman of the Church, but that belt was a gift from someone I loved very much-someone I'll never see again." Syeira didn't have to fake the sadness in her voice. The belt was a long-standing joke between Evrek and herself. Something she said must have touched Caterina, because the belt was tossed in Syeira's direction. "Go," said the Cardinal with a haughty sniff. "Bring back my loyal, obedient agents, and then we shall continue this discussion." Syeira was out in the open air less than a minute later.

'It's like martial law', thought a man walking through the streets of Carthage. 'No. it's even worse. At least if it was martial law, Carthage's own army would be patrolling.' He walked past bars and casinos, businesses that should have been opening as it was now evening, with 'Closed' signs on their doors. The marketplace should have been full of light and noise, but it was deserted. He hurried by the bronze statue in front of the Grand Cathedral, pulling his hood around his face. The statue depicted Saint Elissa, a lady knight, beautiful even clad in armor. He would've liked to stop and look, just for old times' sake, but around the base of the statue soldiers were gathered. Dressed in black field uniforms, the badge on their collars was based on the Vineam Domini, the emblem of the Carabinieri, the Vatican's most infamous anti-terrorism corps. The man sighed. "I'm stumped. We can't very well get to the embassy like this. Weak, weak," he muttered under his breath.

"It's good you don't have to, then, isn't it, Abel?" Abel Nightroad's pale blue eyes widened at the sound of his name, and his hand went to his hidden gun. He spun in a full circle, looking for the owner of the muffled voice. "Who's there?"

"I'm down here, moron!" Looking down he saw… 'A pile of rags?' Then a hand emerged from the dirty cloth and pulled back what could possibly be described as a hood. The lower half of the figure's face was still covered by cloth, but Abel recognized their eyes. "Lilith?" he said softly. Then, "Lilith! I can't believe it's you!" He wanted to reach down and hug her, no matter how dirty she was. She did not appear to share the sentiment. "Idiot! Don't make a scene. The soldiers will be on us. Keep walking calmly and turn down the next empty road. I'll follow you." Abel did as ordered, his heart singing. For days he had feared the worst, especially after hearing that his friend had disappeared after following the Baron of Luxor.

Abel waited for a few minutes around the corner of a dark alley, and when Lilith shuffled by, he reached out and grabbed her, picking her up and hugging her tight. He stifled his scream of pain when the action caused his many wounds to protest, but not well enough. She immediately wriggled out of his embrace and stood glaring at him, hands on hips. "What was that?"

"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean." Lilith sighed at his words, and her glare softened. "Abel, you promised me I wouldn't regret trusting you. And yet three days later you still suffer from such injuries you can't embrace a friend without pain?"

"Three days is not a lot of time to heal."

"It's plenty for you, Crusnik. And before you ask how I know that, remember I've seen your file." Abel sighed in defeat. "I am sorry Lilith. I-"

"Don't worry. I forgive you. Isn't that what friends do?" Her smile was soft, and her hands, cupping Abel's face, were cool on his clammy skin. "However," she continued, "I may not be so lenient if you refuse medical care."

"But I can't go to a hospital, we're hiding from the law!" She slapped him lightly and reached into her grimy robes, pulling out the belt he was so used to seeing around her waist. "Don't be silly Abel. Esther and I both got top marks in our first aid class." She popped open one of the pouches and removed a hypodermic needle. Abel must have been in poorer condition than he realized, because she had his sleeve rolled up and the needle in his arm before he could move. "Owowowowow!" he squealed like a small child. "Don't be a baby Abel. It's just a little pinch."

"What did you just do to me?"

"Painkiller. I know Esther usually has a full kit with her, so this will tide you over until we get back to wherever you're staying." Abel started to smile as the ache in his gut subsided. "Where'd you get this stuff? It's good."

"I may have borrowed it without permission from the embassy hospital."

"Wait. Why were you in the embassy hospital? You aren't injured, are you?" Abel's voice grew in urgency as he scanned his friend's form. She moved to cover her legs with the dirty cloth she wore, but he caught her hand. "Lilith, why is one of your legs heavily bandaged?"

"Well, there was this Ifrit, and we had a bit of a disagreement…" Her voice trailed of uncomfortably as the joke fell flat. She looked away from Abel. He heaved a sigh, and, without releasing her hand, began to walk in the direction of the inn. "Come on Lilith, let's have Esther treat you too."

Silence reigned for the first block. Abel's thoughts ran towards the pessimistic. 'What happened to her? How? I left her and Esther both alone with that traitor, they both could have been killed! Lilith nearly was! And I let her treat me when she's injured, too!' Syeira was more concerned with formulating a plan to get the Imperial envoy to the Cardinal and then safely home. She was the one who broke the silence. "Abel, how is the Earl?"

"He is well, we are simply waiting for the silver to be flushed from his system."

"So he's well enough to move?"

"Yes, but where can we go?"

"Caterina gave me her earring-communicator, so I'll arrange a meeting place with her. The sooner this business is over the better for everyone." Abel stopped dead. "Abel? What's wrong?"

"Caterina knows you're out here? Injured?"

"…yes?" Silence prevailed.

'That-that-no, Abel, you mustn't think like that, Caterina surely has her reasons, though there is no good reason to send a woman like Lilith out while she's INJURED, not that she's delicate or anything, she's just too precious…Did I really just think that?' Anger gone, Abel spent the rest of the short journey mulling over this revelation.

When the duo reached their destination they were confronted with a most interesting dilemma. Syeira had been living on the streets for the past three days, and it showed. "I'll get thrown out it I walk into any establishment," she said, looking down at herself. 'Lilith's right, she can't just walk in…that's it!' And with that thought Abel swept his friend off her feet. Literally.

He kicked open the door to the inn and marched in carrying a shocked Syeira. When people in the common area turned their heads, he said loudly, "I found the Roman dogs harassing this woman in the street! Can you believe the nerve of them? Invading the city, putting up a curfew, and then troubling we citizens!" Around the room heads nodded and faces hardened. The owner asked from behind the counter, "Is there anything I can do?"

"Please, send a first-aid kit up to my room. One of my companions has some medical training and should be able to help her." Syeira realized what Abel was doing and when he next moved, groaned as if in pain. A murmur started, "…poor woman…Vaticans…curfew, damn them!...medical help…bad condition…" and continued for a while, growing in volume and vehemence.

By that time, Syeira and Abel were already at the door of his room. She whispered to him, "No one's around. You can let me down now." He only held her tighter, and said loudly, "Esther, it's Nightroad. I've returned." There were footsteps on the other side of the door, and it opened to reveal the young redhead. "Fath- Lilith!" She exclaimed. As Abel walked into the room, Syeira responded, "Hello Esther. Can you tell this blockhead to put me down?" Obediently, Esther said, "Father, put Lilith down." He complied. "Oh, so you'll listen to her, but not me? Abel, I'm hurt."

"Yes you are. So sit here and let Esther tend your wound. I'll…go have some tea." His voice was somber, and tired. As soon as he left the room, Esther pounced. "Lilith! What happened? Where have you been? I was so afraid when I realized Radu was the traitor- afraid he'd done something horrible to you! Father said you were wounded, can I do anything?"

"Esther, calm down. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. What happened with the Baron was a mistake, one I will not make again. Perhaps you should go check on Father. He did not seem well."

"Oh! Yes, you're right. I'll go do that." She fled the room. Syeira took a seat on the edge of Ion's bed and looked at the small Methuselah. "Abel told me that you are well, save for silver poisoning."

"The priest is correct. We should be back to full strength within a few days."

"Good. I saw the Cardinal, and she gave me a means of communicating with her. I will arrange a meeting place…or perhaps you would like to use it?" Syeira held out the earring-communicator. Ion took it. "We thank you. However, even should we contact Cardinal Sforza using this device, we would still like to meet face to face."

"That's understandable. Here, if you press this button, you can speak to Sister Kate. She will relay any message you have to Cardinal Sforza. I'm not sure if the Cardinal has acquired a new earpiece yet-this one was hers- so you may have to settle for leaving a message." Ion nodded, but did not speak. He seemed uncomfortable. "I'll let you compose your message in peace, then," said Syeira. She walked towards what looked to be a bathroom, hoping to wash. Street life was not a clean life, especially in a dusty, sandy city like Carthage.

That's when she heard Esther. "…you won't tell me anything, Father! You dodge my questions. You've saved me, you've protected me, but I still don't know who-or what- you are! Why?" Esther went on, while Syeira stood frozen. A Youngling on another planet had once said a very similar thing to her. It hadn't caused her much pain, as she was only doing her job, but she knew Abel cared about Esther very deeply and her words must be hurting him. So she stepped in. "…hide his true self from you? Ah! Lilith! When did you get here?" Esther was flustered. "Well, I was coming in to wash up…"

"You were listening in?" Abel sounded shocked. Syeira snorted. She'd done far worse than eavesdropping in her life. "It's hard not to, when you're that loud."

"Terrans? There are some strangers outside. The sight is worrisome." All three of the clergy turned to look at Ion, then rushed to the window. Esther voiced what was on all their minds. "The secret police! Not good!"

AN: Hello and merry day after Christmas! I suppose that should be happy Boxing Day? Oh well. I'm very sorry for my extended absence. I wanted to give this chapter to everyone as a Christmas gift, but family took priority. As always, please tell me what you think!