Chapter XIII
Abe awoke lying on a bed, in a room unknown to him, surrounded by three elves talking in between them. When one of them noticed that the mutant was awake, he came with a gallant and asked, "How are you, sir?".
"Well, I'm a bit confused ..." he said, still looking around.
Noticing his bewilderment, the ethereal creature said to him: "You are conducted to the royal infirmary by order of Prince Nuada. You have protected the Princess and Miss Wood. We are grateful.".
So saying, the elf, followed by the other two, bowed their heads in front of Abe.
Undecided whether to be flattered or confused, Abe returned the nod, and tried to rise.
"Stay lying, sir. We'll help you to place yourself better."
They settled the pillows so that he could be lifted with the trunk. Then they went to serve him with rotten eggs and drinks.
When he had finished eating, Princess Nuala entered the room, greeted by a deep bow of doctors.
"Please, gentlemen, leave us alone. I wish a private meeting with Abraham.."
"Yes, Highness.".
Slowly, the three went out and closed the door.
The princess came up with her unmistakable grace the bed of Abe:
"How are you, Abraham?"
"I... I'm fine, thanks.".
"You are a true hero, we are grateful to you.."
"It 's the least I can do for you, Highness.".
"Please call me Nuala." Said the princess.
Abe was almost embarrassed at the thought that she allow him to call her by name.
He tried to clear his throat, and said: "Highn…" ... uh ... Nuala! Today, to the troll market, I wanted to talk you about a thing: when we were in Antrim, in Ireland, I revealed to you what I feel ... "
"Yes." She agreed.
"Well ... We talked about many things these days ... we read poetry, but ... I want to ask now ... about what I said ... there is ... What do you think?".
After a moment's pause, in which Abe did not have the courage to look into her eyes, the princess smiled and held out his hand.
In touching her, he felt a wave of feelings and emotions very similar to those he had sent in Beethmora. He looked up, expanding his gills, as he did when he was very nervous.
Nuala saw his shyness, she bent over to give him a chaste kiss on the lips. She was shy and inexperienced as he, and didn't want to give vent to a passion that she did not know how to manifest, but her heart was pounding. While Abe continued to keep her lips pressed against hers, gently touched her face with his hand palm, trying to "dare" more.
But they were interrupted by a hoarse voice that came from outside: "Aah! To hell with the orders of the prince!" We are his friends, shit. "
They could hear the voices of the doctors who tried timidly to hold the visitor, accompanied by another who had a clear German accent and, perhaps trying to be conciliatory, tried to convince surgeons to let them.
"Red and Johann? I'm here," said Abe.
The princess went to the door. Just saw her presence, everyone fell silent.
"The gentlemen here are our dear friends. They can visit Abraham whenever they wish.." Nuala said softly.
The doctors, after a bow, drew back, allowing two friends to pass.
"How are you doing, Bloom?" Red debuted.
"I'm not complaining, within minutes I should be able to get up," said Abe.
"Do not overdo it, honey! The blond out here say you can not get up before half an hour!" said Red. Then he turned to the princess and said, "Um ... excuse me ma'am ... For me," blond "is a compliment ..."
"Quiet, Hellboy agent, it doesn't offend me." The princess replied amused.
Red blushed. If nothing else, Princess Nuala knew to be very understanding.
"Where's Liz?" Asked Abe.
"She doesn't feel very well, so she's at home." Red replied.
"Agent Sapien, ours is not just a simple courtesy visit, We are here to tell you about an urgent matter!" Dr. Krauss said.
"What is it?" asked Abe.
"We have news about the HDC!"
"We know with certainty that we have a mole there at the BPRD. Some little shit, in fact, collects detailed information about our activities." Red intervened.
"... And drafts them to the HDC big shots." Abe continued.
"Yeah." Echoed Red. "We also know who is the bastard."
At the questioning look of Nuala and Abe, Johann Krauss continued, "We have serious suspicions about Thomas Manning.."
"Tom?" That's impossible! "
"We suspect him, because he has significant couplings with both the government and with people who later turned out to be members of the Human Defense Corporation. How would they otherwise know that Miss Wood is not dead? We have alerted all central to research on her and her mother, but the only ones who know that she is still alive is him and us. "
"And how do he know which she's right here, to the troll market? Nobody told him that ..." Asked Abe thoughtful, asking this question more to himself than to his friends.
"He must have made follow us!" Red replied. "After our adventure in Antrim, he hadn't more broken boxes with his sermons. It seems that he doesn't notice our absence, but I think that he put someone in our heels." He lit a cigar.
Nuala finally decided to intervene: "Are you really sure that is your, um ... responsible?".
"Well, highness. These are only suspects for now. But we are not far from the truth. One thing is certain, there is a mole in the BPRD. Johann replied.
"And I think you will find very useful the revelations of our guest!" Said Prince Nuada, who had been a moment in the doorway. Everyone turned to look at him.
"His royal blondness!" Red greeted him.
Ignoring the unusual name of the demon, Nuada advanced in infirmary. He approached the bed of Abe "Abraham. You protected my sister and Sel ... Miss Wood, proving to be a hero. I'm grateful to you.".
"Duty.". Abe replied, and put his legs out of bed. He was almost fully regain his strength.
"What you said about your" guest "?" Red asked curiously.
"The man who attacked you in the troll market. He's our prisoner."
In less than a quarter of an hour, all went in the basement of the train depot, used as prisons.
The man who they searched was tied to a chair, and by the obvious bruises on the face, it was clear that he had been beaten. He was surrounded by royal guards, and trembled when he saw Prince Nuada, a clear sign that prince himself had been to reduce him in that state.
"Hello, friend!" Red said, sardonically. Then the man looked curiously do: "I know you ..."
"He's John Walden!" exclaimed a female voice. Everyone turned back and saw Selene with her arms crossed on her chest. She did not seem surprised to see that strange character. Nuada was disappointed to see her out of her room, reached by showing herself by a hired killer, but he decided to pass.
"Do you know this man, Miss Wood?". asked the astonished Dr. Krauss.
"Sure!" She said, approaching the prisoner. "Edgar is one of his regular customer! Isn't it, John?".
"Edgar?" asked Red.
"He's the boss of HDC. His name is obviously a pseudonym.".
"Why don't ever jumped in your mind to tell us who he is, girl?" Red asked, annoyed.
"Because I do not know who he is, Hellboy." The girl said quietly. "Nobody has ever seen his face. Even his closest collaborators hadn't never see him.".
"... It 's true ... ..." Said Walden weakly.
"It 's him to send you to Selene?" asked Abe.
"Yes ... Often he asked me to bring the fugitives to the laboratories.
"Piece of shit! you knew what happened there, but you brought them back!" Red shouted, barely restrained by Selene and Johann.
"Calm down, Red!" Krauss said almost shyly. Then he turned again to John:
"It 's him to tell you where was Selene?"
"Yes, he knew that she was still in New York, exactly at the Troll Market. And he knows she has contacts with you ..."
"Did he ever revealed his name, Mr. Walden?"
"No, never.".
"Did he ever gave information about his true identity?".
"No.. No. Only once told me that he chose this name because it was inspired by his favourite writer ... Edgar Allan Poe, I think.."
"Poe? Manning has a real fixed Poe!" Abe said with surprise and dismay.
"Son of a bitch." Red exclaimed.
Abe was seriously disturbed, "Liz is at the central Red! We'd better get there."
"Oh my God! Liz." Shouted Red. He immediately ran out of the prison to go to Central.
Abe and Johann followed him. Away from the corridor could be heard the recommendations of Dr. Krauss, "I beg you, Agent Hellboy! Keep caaaalm! Let us not discoveeer."
In the room were only John Walden, Selene and the two royals of Beethmora.
"I thought you could read about him telepathically, brother.." Said the princess.
"I did, in fact.."
"So what was the need for beating him so?".
The prince frowned: "I hated the idea that he could hurt you, sister.." Immediately pulled out a knife and headed towards Walden.
Selene promptly stopped his wrist with both hands, when he was about to hit him in the throat: "What would you do?".
The prince jerked her, releasing easily: "I do what is right."
"No. He could serve us. ... Please." Selene's voice was trying to be appealing. She did not want to unleash the wrath of the prince again.
"Brother!" Stop, please. " Nuala added.
"We were already well acquainted.". He looked with evil eyes the poor trembling John. But then he looked toward his sister's pleading eyes and Selene.
By now exasperated, he turned back toward the prisoner, and added: "Tonight he will not die. Tomorrow we will decide what to do with him."
The two women looked raised. Nuala, in particular, was very pleased to see that his brother gave up to kill a human prisoner.