Notice: This is written by both Flame800900 and I. Flame has full control over Cain and Thomas as I have control of Abel, same as our last story. You guys should know the rules by now... Right? And no we don't own Trinity blood.
Upon exiting the estate, Abel could immediately tell that a fight had already started. A few battle cries rang in the distance and smoke hovered in the air. The methuselah must be an ifrit. Taking to the roofs, Abel approached the scene carefully. Being as he could only smell a slight hint of methuselah blood, it might be friendly. After all, it was night so there's no excuse for the methuselah to be holding back. Either that or it was an extremely dense methuselah. Abel shrugged to himself, it wouldn't be the first time.
"Stop this," a familiar voice gasped. "I've no wish to fight humans." A cloaked figure was back into the corner. Well over twenty humans surrounded him, holding anything from knives to guns to even brooms. The Methuselah threw a ball of fire at the feet of the humans as a warning. "I don't want to fight you," he repeated.
A human sympathizer. It wasn't often, a methuselah wouldn't want to harm a human. He was nothing like Asthe, that was for sure. Abel studied the man for a second, thanks to the cloak, he couldn't make out the face but something was oddly familiar about him. Abel just couldn't put his finger on it.
"He's with me," Abel announced as he jumped off the roof and landed in front of the methuselah.
"Who are you?" a man asked, he seemed to be the leader of the group.
"I work for Cardinal Caterina Sforza."
The people glanced at one another. "I don't want no hell with the duchess." After the one man said this and backed away the others started to follow. The crowd was cleared within minutes.
"Cardinal Caterina Sforza?" The Methuselah slid to the ground leaving a trail of blood on the building behind him. "I thought you worked for the pope, dad."
"I think you have me mistaken for someone else," Abel stated as be approached the man to help him up.
The Methuselah let out a pained laugh. "I can't see many people having white hair and standing over six feet." He shuddered as he lowered his hood, revealing his face to Abel. Blood coated half his face, a long gash ran down that side. His black hair was matted with blood and one blue eye was locked on Abel. A familiar face was what Abel saw, the face of someone he knew to be dead.
"A-Aran?" Abel choked. He honestly wanted to run right now, but he stood where he was. Relief? Horror? Abel wasn't to sure what he felt at the moment. For all he knew, he could be hallucinating. "But you're- you're supposed to be..." Abel trailed off. Even if this was all just an illusion he couldn't bring himself to say it.
"Supposed to be what? Not here? Dead?" Aran paused. "I admitted I might have blacked out and my memory is clouded. The last thing I remember is a group of people going after my family. The rest..." he trailed off, rubbing his temple.
"What year is it?" Abel asked. If this was another one of William's experiments gone wrong, Abel wouldn't be complaining.
"The year?" Aran winced as he tilted his head to one side. "It's 2343."
Abel shook his head, "it's 3060."
Aran stared at him, his mouth slightly open. It took him a long while to form words. "3067? B-but how? I remember - it just-" he cut off, not seeming able to continue.
"Do you remember how you got here? Where you were before you entered Milan?"
Aran hesitated. "Not much only that it was near enough to Milan I knew where I was going after escaping. I also remember hearing Cain's voice."
"Did he sound insane or serious?" Abel asked as he took Aran by the hand and allowed him to lean on his shoulder.
"Insane like he always has. Why?"
"There's two, 01 who's insane and Cain who isn't," Abel explained. "Cain's also from a different dimension where I'm the insane one." Though Abel was certain that 02 was much more than just insane. He shivered, that man was a madman.
Aran tilted his head to one side. "Sorry, dad, but I can't imagine you as insane." There was a pause before he confessed, "I don't know how I got here if this is the future or what I should do next." There was a broken look in his blue eyes.
"Don't worry, we'll figure this out together. I should warn you though, a lot has changed." Aran shot him a questioning look but Abel didn't go farther into his explanation. "We'll head back to the Milan estate. I still need to tell Caterina that you're not a 'rogue vampire.'"
Aran nodded, but his good eye was clouded with sorrow, fear, and worry. "At least you're here," Aran said with a small, almost sad smile. He struggled to stand and leaned against the wall. "I take it the estate is still in the same place?"
"It is," Abel said while nodding and began making his way toward the estate. Abel forced himself to slow his pace to keep up with Aran.
Aran began to pick up speed the longer they walked. The lessened scent of blood told Abel his wounds were healing. He walked with a heavy limp, favoring his left side.
By the time they reached the estate, the sun was already beginning to rise over the horizon. Abel sighed, now that Aran was here his hopes of avoiding the empire were very low.
"An acquaintance? Abel, if this is another dimension skipper..."
Abel brought his head up, as he had been intently staring at the ground on the way back. Caterina didn't seem amused at her new guest. "No, he's actually from a different time," Abel said. In truth he had been hoping to avoid Caterina, if only to prevent the loads of paper work she would surely give him at the end of all of this mess.
"Another time?" Caterina sighed and rubbed her temple. She turned her stern gaze on Aran. He held her gaze, not seeming bothered by it one bit. Granted, the two of them were alike in many, many ways. "What's your name?" Caterina asked. "And when did you come from?" she sounded almost like she didn't believe he could be from another time.
"Aran Nightroad, the last I checked I'd been in the year 2343."
Caterina's eyes widened. "An acquaintance, hmm?" she rose both eyebrows, giving Abel one of those looks that could scare a man to death. "More like your son."
Abel shivered and averted his gaze. "I'm not the one who assumed he was an acquaintance,"he stated then paused. "If you don't mind, I'd like to be the one to tell Lilith who he really is."
"It's your right to do so," Caterina stated.
"Thank you."
"Lilith?" Aran repeated. He shot Abel a worried look but Abel shrugged it off.
"What about me?" at the sound of Lilith's voice, both Abel and Aran jumped.
Aran stared at her. His expression was that of someone who had fallen into a dream or, more over, a nightmare. "What's going on here?" Aran whispered behind his hand to Abel. "I know for a fact mother was killed by Cain."
"She's from a different dimension," Abel whispered.
"Abel, you know I heard you right?" Lilith paused as she tried to move around him to get a better look at Aran. "And you are..."
"So now there's dimension skipping and time jumping?" Aran let out a low sigh. He held out his hand to Lilith. "I'm Aran."
"'Aran?' Abel, didn't you have a son named Aran?"
Abel nodded, "I'm not sure what's going on. But yes, he's my son."
"Yeah, that'd be me," Aran said with a smile.
"Well, it's an honor to meet you," Lilith said with a smile. She then turned back to Abel, "We should probably make our call to the empire before the sun begins to rise anymore."
"What's going on?" Aran asked. "You avoided the empire in the past and I doubt you would want to contact them out of the blue even eight centuries later."
Abel nodded, "by the way, where's Asthe?"
"Here," Asthe said as she appeared beside Lilith. "Do you really think I'd leave a member of royalty alone with a terran," she sniffed.
"Terran?" Aran blinked and looked at Abel. He frowned at Abel's lack of reaction to being called a terran. "Well, I guess a lot has changed," he muttered and gave Asthe a look between stern and a little annoyed.
"And who are you? You're definitely not a terran," Asthe stated as she raised an eyebrow.
"His name's Aran. Aran this is Astheroshe Asran, Duchess of Kiev," Abel said quickly. He didn't miss the fact that Asthe had puffed up with pride when he said her whole title. Honestly, she was crazy if she thought anyone would call her by her whole name.
"Yes, now we had better contact the empire now, before Abel begins having second thoughts," Lilith stated as she grabbed his arm and began ushering him forward.
"Who wouldn't want to contact the empire. It sure beats a terran's estate," Asthe mumbled.
"For one, I would," Abel sighed but didn't protest against Lilith's pull.
"Great, an Asran," Aran muttered under his breath. "By the way, watch what you say about humans. My wife and children ar-were human." His voice faltered. He glanced back at Caterina's office. A small frown creased his thin face.
Aran followed the three of them but he was deep in thought. His eyes a little glazed over as he tried to process everything that just happened in the span of a few hours.
"Okay," Abel said, once they reached the door to Williams personal lab, "I won't run, you can let to of me now."
Lilith sighed and did what she was told. She followed Abel past he large doors and into the small room that held prototype XIV.
"Why are you contacting the empire anyway?" Aran asked as he tilted his head to the side.
"One, Lilith's forcing me too, and two, the Cain from her dimension got kidnapped," Abel stated seriously but there was a slightly amused tone when he said Cain was kidnapped.
The transmission started. There was a long wait until someone on the other end actually picked up. To Abel's utter shock, it was - it was Seth!
"I knew it!" Seth shouted. "I knew a call from the Vatican could only come from you." She nodded, folding her arms across her chest before giving Abel a large grin. The others were standing just out of sight so there was no way Seth could tell anyone else was there. "Do you miss the empire? If so you could always come home."
"You needn't yell," Abel muttered and got a slight pout from Seth in return. "The reason I called was because I needed help tracking a radio signal," Abel easily avoided Seth's question. "The vatican doesn't have enough technology to do so."
"What not even a 'hello' to your only sister? Guess you're still as rude as you've always been," Seth huffed in a teasing voice. "All right, I can track the radio on one condition," she winked and held up one finger.
"And that would be?"
"Well, I've heard there's a cardinal in the Vatican who might be interested in reaching out the empire. I'd like to speak with her. Perhaps she could even meet with the empress." Seth winked, though something about the way she said this made Abel believe this wasn't what she wanted to say.
"She actually means she wants you to come home," Aran hissed from where he was standing in the shadows.
"I'm not returning to the empire, I'm an exile," Abel hissed back. Louder he said, "I'll tell Lady Caterina you wish to speak with her. Though, I've always thought the empress of the new human empire wore a veil." Abel raised an eyebrow, his sister didn't plan on passing off as a servant would she? If that were the case, Caterina wouldn't schedule to meet with her... unless Abel mentioned she was his sister.
"You exiled yourself, that doesn't count," Seth stated. "And who said I'm the empress?"
"No one," Abel admitted. "But I can't see anyone other than you, ruling and living for eight hundred years."
Seth shrugged. "I at least kept my promise to you. So what radio do you need tracked?" she changed the subject.
Abel sighed, "I need to track a vatican radio, much like the one I'm using." He tilted his head to the side to show her the small device attached to his ear before placing a sheet of paper on a table that had smaller screen on it and turned it on. "This is the ID number and the stocks of the radio we need to track. The last signal we got from it was in Londinium," he paused. "So do you think you can track it?"
"Yeah, I can track it unless it's been destroyed."
"If it's been destroyed then track the last known location," Abel said. He really hoped that wasn't the case. If it was destroyed then he would really need to search for Cain and Thomas. Although he had been planning on it, it seemed much easier to narrow down the places to search.
Seth nodded and started to type something. "It'll be a bit."
"Empress, you really know this idiot!" Asthe yelped with her jaw slightly ajar.
Seth looked up at the statement and narrowed her eyes at Abel. "What was that?"
"A recording. A colleague of mine must be working on a television," Abel lied as he heard Aran and Lilith shushing Asthe.
Both of Seth's eyebrows rose. "Well, brother, I'll send the coordinates when they come in. It should only take an hour. And, also, you should really call more often. Once every eight centuries isn't good enough!" she huffed before hanging up.
"Well, good to know Aunt Seth's still a little mad at you for leaving the empire," stated Aran. His hand was over Asthe's mouth from when he and Lilith has stopped her from talking. "So, it will take the empire an hour to track that radio. What are you planning on doing until then, da-" he cut off with a glance at Asthe, "Abel?"
"I was planning on looking around the surrounding area, but the sun's up and I'd rather not get any unwanted attention from the humans," Abel sighed as he followed Aran out. "But now that you're here, we might as well ask the professor-"
"The empress just called you brother!" Asthe rudely interrupted. "And from what I've heard she's been mad at you for eight centuries!? What kind of moron-"
"I'm not a moron-"
"What kind of idiot-"
"Not an idiot either," Abel stated and Asthe fumed. Abel turned to her, "that temper will put one of your missions in jeopardy one day," he stated matter-of-factly.
"The empress isn't really 'mad' at him, more than likely she just wants him back in the empire. After eight centuries of being the only crusnik there, I can't blame her." Aran glanced at Lilith. "So, in your dimension, did my brother and I not exist or did dad just never adopt us?"
"You're last name's Fortuna, not Nightroad, right?" Lilith asked and Aran nodded. "I thought so. Well to answer your question, yes you and Azul did exist, however Abel never adopted any kids."
Aran sighed. "You know, I don't think I want to know anything about that reality anymore." Aran looked a little ill at the thought Abel hadn't been his father in that reality.
Lilith chuckled, "it's not as bad as it sounds. If you didn't know what you had lost in my dimension, then you really didn't loose it. But seeing as you do know, I guess I can't argue with you." Lilith glanced back at the form of Abel trying to ignore the yelling methuselah by his side.
Aran followed her gaze. "Does she ever stop yelling?" Aran asked.
"Only when Seth is talking to her."
"Ah, I see." Aran watched them. He shifted before stepping forward. "Yelling's not going to get you anywhere in life. Besides yelling at dad isn't going to help get you back home any faster."
"Dad? This idiot," Asthe growled. "Isn't he to young-" she faltered and seemed to remember that Abel must have lived for 800 years if not more.
"Young?" Aran cocked an eyebrow. "Was that what you were going to say? Also, stop calling him an idiot. It's getting rather annoying."
"Don't tell me what to-"
"William," Abel greeted and put himself between his son and Asthe. He honestly didn't mind being called an idiot, it would seem rather childish if he got upset over something so small when there were more important things to worry about, not to mention he could be her great some odd grandfather. "I was wondering if another one of your machines failed," Abel said while rubbing the back of his head.
"No," William said with a hint of confusion in his voice. "Why do you ask, my friend?"
"Are you sure?" Abel asked and cocked his head to the side. If William wasn't the one who brought Aran here, then who was messing with the time stream? "Because he's from the past," Abel pointed at Aran.
"Positive. I just went over them today. Everything's working as it should," William replied in a proud voice.
"Could something have happened when I came back to this dimension?" Abel asked, a bit perplexed.
"Maybe," William said, chewing on the steam of his unlit pipe. "I could look into it."
Abel nodded, "please do," he said.
Not a moment passed after Abel said this, that a resounding beeping noise came from the room they had been in only minutes before. All four of them turned toward the room with a questioning look. Abel, Lilith and Aran, because an hour hadn't passed yet, and William looked toward it because he only received a call using that device once.
Everyone made a move toward the room, but Abel didn't move. He could have sworn Asthe had snuck back into the room once he started speaking to William.
"Astharoshe!" Seth's voice half gasped half squeaked.
"Empress," Asthe said with a low bow.
"You might want to do something," Aran whispered to Abel. "I don't think Aunt Seth could handle seeing Lilith and I suddenly appear."
Abel's eye twitched. He about had it with this child. The constant whining and teasing was slowly withering away his patience and this new occurrence had just taken what little patience he had left.
Taking a deep breath Abel entered the room, glanced at his sisters shocked face, quickly pushed Asthe out of the room and slammed the door in her face. Abel locked the door with a loud click which was soon followed by Asthe pounding on the door and yelling a few curses.
"What was that?" Seth asked.
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me what you think that was, and I'll fill in the blanks," Abel said. He had to admit, he was curious as to what Seth would come up with.
"Umm, well, someone making a bad joke?" Seth asked. "I know the Duchess of Keiv is here in the empire. I just spoke with her and she doesn't know I'm the empress."
Abel blinked, that was as good as an excuse that he'd ever get. "Yep," he grinned, "it was a joke. Sorry about that," he shrugged then quickly added, "have you found the coordinates?"
"I don't believe you," Seth huffed, "and won't give you the coordinates until you tell me what's going on." She folded her arms across her chest and glared at Abel.
"That was a person I hired off the streets," Abel stated, giving his sister a shocked look at her calling him a liar… Although technically he was lying, it was a good thing no one from the vatican was around, otherwise he would be doing ten hail Mary's. " But for her to have been a look alike to this Astharoshe person, must have been luck."
"If you don't open his door in the next three seconds, I'll rip this door open,Terran!" Asthe shouted.
"Right?" Seth sighed and shook her head. "Abel we're not kids. Stop lying to me."
"What if I told you she was from another dimension?"
"All right?" Seth asked, sounding confused. "Explain, and I'll make my judgement then."
"Alright. Well, one of my colleagues sort of screwed up an experiment, which sort of sent me to another dimension, were I sorta met Asthe, and then I sorta popped back into this dimension with a few hitch hikers," Abel shrugged, not really expecting Seth to believe him.
"Do you want help with this?" Seth asked, almost eagerly.
Abel frowned, "what do you think? I wouldn't have wasted my time contacting you if I didn't need help."
Seth grinned. "I can be there in a few days. Mirka can take care of the empire while I'm away."
"Wait...WHAT!" Abel yelped, giving Seth an incredulous look. If she came then she would find out about Cain and Lilith being here! And if that wasn't bad enough she would probably bring up his broken promise and Aran would no doubt side with her. Oh, and what about Thomas?
At once Seth's face fell. "You don't want me to come?" she asked. There was a little hurt in her voice, but Abel only noticed it because he knew her. "I wanted to see you again, brother, face to face. How much longer do we have to wait to be a family again?"
"No, of course I want to see you again," Abel stated quickly then sighed. "Just... promise not to do anything excessive while you're here," he said uncomfortably, wondering if he should come clean and admit that there was more than just one dimension skipper.
"Of course!" Seth grinned. "I'll be there in about a day." Before Abel could even ask about where Cain was, Seth hung up.
Abel sighed and shut off his own connection before opening the door just as Asthe started pounding on it with even more force.
"What did she say?' Lilith asked as she moved around Asthe who decided to glare daggers at Abel.
"She's coming," Abel mumbled and hung his head. "She said she'll be here by tomorrow."
"You don't sound pleased Aunt Seth's coming," Aran commented then sighed. "You didn't tell her who was here, did you?"
"N-no," Abel shakily admitted. He was doomed. The minute Seth got here and figured out how much he had kept from her, she'd be on him like a pack of wolves. He really needed to stop lying to his sister and stop making promises he couldn't keep, hell he still had that one promise to fulfill that was now a little more than some dream. Returning to the empire was impossible for him now. Ever since- Abel cut off, he had more important things to deal with.
"We'll figure something out," Aran stated. "I'm certain Aunt Seth isn't going to kill you. She more than likely has misses you too much to go and kill you." Aran gave Abel a small smile, but his dark eyes were clouded in thought.
"Don't bother," Abel sighed. He'd be in for a lot of yelling, but Aran was right. She wouldn't kill him, though she was more than welcome to try. "Speaking of which," Abel turned to Asthe. "Seth said, that you need to learn to shut that trap of yours when other's are speaking."
Lilith raised an eye-brow and crossed her arms. "Would Seth really say that? Well, she is from this dimension..."
Aran whispered behind his hand to Abel, "You really are getting annoyed at her to pull this, aren't you?"
Asthe blinked, her eyes narrowed in anger than thought. Finally she bowed. "I apologize for my insubordination, lady Lilith."
Even if she didn't extend that apology to everyone, at least it was a start, Abel sighed inwardly. "Just go along with it," Abel insisted. He turned to Lilith and gave her a begging look while Asthe opened her mouth, looking ready to protest before shutting it with a snap.
"You know if Aunt Seth finds out..." Aran trailed off, his voice still a whisper. In normal tones he said, "Lilith, it might be wise if the two of us hold back on meeting Seth on her arrival. I don't think it wise if we greet her right off the bat."
"Agreed," Lilith said with a nod. She looked at Abel. "You should tell Caterina that Seth is in route to Milan so she's not taken by surprise."
"I'll do so... and thanks," Abel said. Meeting Seth again would be hard enough without having to deal with the other two greeting her so suddenly when Abel hadn't even mentioned anything about them. He'd have to break the news to her himself... no matter how much he didn't want to.
XXX
"Abel... Abel? Pick up your radio."
Through half lidded eyes, Abel sleepily put his hand to his ear. "What?"
"You told me to expect to see your sister today!" Sister Kate puffed and immediately Abel sat bolt right in his bed. Don't tell him, she was already here! "No, she's not here yet but I suggest you wake up before lady Caterina calls," Kate answered his unasked question.
It was still early in the morning, so early it was still dark. This meant Seth was either going to arrive soon or wouldn't be here until that night. Either way, it was for the best to prepare now instead of later on when there wouldn't be much time to get ready for the empress's arrival.
"Thank you, sister Kate," Abel said, already putting on his normal cassock and heading out the room. For the first time in a very long time he was finally given his own room to sleep in when away from the Vatican.
Abel was so distracted by his thoughts that he didn't even realize Lilith was following him until she spoke up. "Excited to see your sister?"
"Of course," Abel answered, only spearing Lilith a glance. He was nervous too, and had a very good reason to be. "Where are you heading anyway?" She wasn't supposed to be joining him when he met with Seth, so he thought he should ask now.
"The professor set up a room that acts as a surveillance room for the entire estate. I'm heading over there right now."
"What about Aran and Asthe?"
"Asthe's already there. As for Aran, he said something about going to the cemetery. I think he wanted to pay respects to his family," Lilith replied after a moments thought.
"Hmm," Abel hummed worriedly. He hadn't gone to the cemetery recently however he was sure that the headstones were made with the year of death. If Aran saw the year he might connect himself with their deaths... after all he was in a different time right now and not with his family...
"I'm certain Aran will be fine," Lilith said, placing her hand on his arm, "and I doubt he'll look at more than his wife's and children's graves."
"I'm sure you're right," Abel smiled at Lilith. With on last bow he turned and reported in to Caterina's office. In the distance he could hear an airship fast approaching the estate. There was no doubt in his mind that it was Seth.
"Abel," Caterina said as she looked up from her work, "a message just came in from Kate the airship's been spotted." She paused. "Other than the fact this is your sister, you've not told me how she managed to get an airship." The question in her voice was clear. There was a pause before she sighed. "It doesn't matter right now."
Abel's tense shoulders dropped, for a second there he was sure Caterina wouldn't drop the topic. He wasn't sure how he would have answered her if she was insistent on knowing. That didn't mean he wouldn't give her one though, "she has connections," Abel chuckled, giving Caterina an all knowing look.
Caterina blinked but other wise didn't react to his answer that really didn't answer anything at all. After a while she shook her head, most likely knowing Abel had only answered to avoid the question later. "Even if she is your sister, I expect you to behave yourself, Abel."
"Of course, my Lady," Abel said with a bow, his smile hidden by his bangs. Straightening, he offered Caterina his hand. "Shall I introduce you to my sister?" He nodded his head to the door.
The two of them left the building just as the airship landed in the large yard away from any of the gardens or trees. Before the ramp could fully touch ground, a thirteen year old girl slipped from the airship and landed on the ground in an almost catlike crouch.
Seth raced over to Abel and whipped around him. "Hide me, quickly. He's a mad man!"
"Seth!" Abel said, craning his head to look at her. 'She's playing around,' he had to tell himself. It wouldn't do to point his gun at the empress' 'child' even if he sure as hell felt like it. How dare someone scare his sister! 'She's just playing around!' he nearly yelled at himself.
Seth rolled her eyes. "You know I'm joking right?" she asked in such a low voice only Abel could hear her. Dear lord, he needed to visit his sister more often…
"Of course," Abel nodded as he turned to his sister. "This is Cardinal Caterina Sforza. Caterina, my sister Seth."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Seth," Caterina said with a bow of her head. She gave Abel a questioning look.
"We should go in, it looks like it'll start drizzling," Abel commented, ignoring Caterina's look. "Oh and Seth... there's a few people I want you to meet, but not just yet. I'd like to discuss your findings on the radio first."
Seth frowned and cocked an eyebrow at him.
Abel sighed, "or you could hand over whatever you found and not meet my... friends." He shrugged, "it's up to you."
"There's something you're not telling me," Seth huffed and crossed her arms. "You said 'hitchhikers,' as in plural. Who is it Abel?"
Abel shrugged.
"Who is it!"
"You don't need to yell sister," Abel muttered. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Caterina raise an eyebrow. "They're friends," he repeated firmly. "But the info on the radio is much more important. Please Seth, someones life is on the line."
Seth sighed. "Yeah, okay, but you need to tell me why it's so important." She held out a data-cube. "That has the location I managed to track."
He paused, his light smile became laced with a scowl as he took the data-cube. "He's back," Abel growled darkly, but not as solemn as it would have been had he not met the Cain from the other dimension.
"I know," Seth's voice was dark. "I've known for a while now."
"How?" Abel asked. "Why didn't you tell me?" the question slipped from his lips, sounding much more angrily than he wanted.
"When would I tell you?" Seth huffed, folding her arms across her chest. "You've called me once in the past eight centuries."
"You could have figured something out, you're the... never mind," Abel sighed and began walking back toward the estate.
Seth rolled her eyes, muttering, "Brothers," in a dead langue under her breath.
"Sisters," Abel shot back in the same language. His voice still had an edge to it, but at least it sounded happier than before. "Is the radio stationary or mobile?" Abel asked, as a way of getting back on topic.
"From what I could tell, stationary," Seth said with a shrug. "But that could just mean any number of things. I wouldn't get your hopes too high that whoever had that radio still lives or even has it."
"At least I have something to work with. Besides my friend is very hard to kill." One was a crusnik and the other immortal, of course they were still alive. The fact that 01 needed a body also helped.
"You ever going to tell me who this 'friend' of yours is, or do I have to guess?"
"So impatient," Abel commented. "If you must know its one of the hitchhikers."Then switching to another language he added, "and someone else."
"Why are we speaking in this language?" Seth asked. "And you're leading me in circles." Seth sighed and shook her head. "Whatever, keep your secrets. I didn't expect you to be so trusting anyway. It's been centuries after all."
"Because Caterina doesn't know about the second person, and I would rather have him reveal himself rather than it being me. As for leading you in circles, I didn't notice" much. "And I am trusting, you're my sister. Of course I would trust you."
"Then why aren't you telling me who these 'hitchhikers' are?" Seth asked, her voice calm.
"I didn't tell you because I'd rather show you," Abel said. "I can introduce them to you before I look at this data cube, if you want," he added, switching back to Latin.
"All right."
"I'll meet with you for dinner, my lady," Abel said to Caterina with a deep bow. "I take it you also want the others to come?"
"That would be nice," Caterina nodded. It had already been planned that she, Abel and Seth would be eating together. But seeing as he was going to be introducing the others earlier Seth would probably want to eat with them.
"I'll tell them," he said and with one last bow he turned toward the room Asthe and Lilith would be in. "This way," he said to Seth, turning a corner.
"Okay," Seth grinned and raced after Abel.
"You don't need to act so excited, sister," Abel grumbled and continued walking down the long hall.
"You don't need to act bored either," Seth huffed but still held her grin. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were preparing yourself for a storm."
"Close enough," Abel shrugged, then jabbed his thumb toward a door. "They're in there."
Seth sighed and looked at him. "You really are acting weird, you know that, right?"
"Are you going to go in or not?" asked Abel, seriously. He knocked the door. "It's me. My sister's also here. Can we come in?"
Abel almost grimaced at his own request. Both Lilith and Asthe knew who Seth was, and they wouldn't mind if Seth had barged in without knocking. There was no need to be formal.
The door opened and Asthe glared at him. "Why the hell are your asking, idiot?!"
"I didn't want to surprise anyone and get stabbed for it," Abel said and refrained from also saying, 'if it were just me, you would have yelled at me for not showing the proper respect to a nobel of the empire and her lady Lilith.'
Seth rolled her eyes. "Honestly," she muttered before smiling at Asthe, "so you're the Asthorashe from the other reality." Seth leaned back, her hands on the back of her head as her green eyes studied Asthe.
"Yes, my empress," Asthe said with a deep bow.
Abel shook his head slightly, a bit irritated that the girl had just done a one-eighty. One minute she was yelling and the next she was bowing. Looking behind Asthe, Abel could see Lilith turned in a chair. Her golden eyes soft with emotion as she looked at Seth.
"My aren't you a polite one?" Seth gave one of her mischievous smiles. Her eyes turned to the rest of the room and stopped on Lilith. At once her expression changed. "Lilith?" Seth breathed. She turned to Abel then looked back at Lilith and repeated several times.
"She's anything but polite," Abel muttered lowly so only Seth could hear. "And would you like me to leave?" he asked, already edging out of the room.
"Abel," Seth whispered, her eyes wide. "Am I seeing things?"
"No you're not," Lilith said and stood. "It's nice to finally meet the Seth of this dimension.
A smile appeared Seth's face. Without warning she bolted around Asthe and hugged Lilith. "I can't believe it!"
Lilith chuckled warmly as she shot Abel a glance that said, 'see? you had nothing to worry about.' Then turning back to Seth, she slowly pushed her away. "How have you been, Seth?"
"Fine," Seth said. She glanced at Abel, the look in her eye was between joy and hurt. It told him she wished he'd told her and, at the same time, she was grateful he hadn't. "How's it possible you lived in your reality?" Seth asked. "Was 01 never really an issue or something?"
"No, in my dimension Cain was never insane. 02 was the one who caused us trouble," Lilith said and gave Abel an apologetic look.
Seth frowned. "So Cain's dead in your reality?"
"If only. That idiot priest's nothing but a pain," Asthe muttered in a voice so low that Abel barely hear it.
"He's alive, and he's even in this dimension," Lilith stated, looking as if she thought Seth already knew this. She shot Abel a questioning look.
"He's what?!" Seth exclaimed. "You're a jerk, Abel. You should've told me," she pouted and looked way from him.
"I thought it would be better for you to meet him rather than me saying something," Abel sighed.
"Where is he?" Seth asked. Then she sighed, "He's the one you wanted me to track, isn't he?"
"Him and Thomas," Abel sighed. "Dads from this dimension and still alive." Oh well, if Thomas didn't want Seth to know he was alive then that was his problem. Besides, it would be better to tell Seth everything rather than letting her find out herself. Plus it would motivate her to help him find the two of them more.
"Dad's... alive." Seth's eyes grew wider.
Yes," Abel nodded. "He's been going by the name Nihilum though."
Seth laughed. "That actually sounds like him. Calling himself 'nothing'," she giggled again.
Abel chuckled, "I guess I should also tell you Aran's here."
Seth just stared at him. There was sympathy in her dark green eyes. "Abel, Aran's-"
"I'm what?" Aran chose just then to enter the room. He was dripping wet and looked rather cold. "Remind me to avoid kids and streams," he stated at Abel's look. "I was just lucky none of my gear fell."
"You should get changed," Abel stated, amusement showed in his eyes.
Seth just stared at him. She couldn't seem to believe her eyes.
"I would, if I had a change of clothes," Aran stated. "Umm, why are you staring at me, Aunt Seth?"
"I was going to point out that you shouldn't have come from the same dimension as them," Seth pointed at Lilith and Asthe before throwing herself at Aran, forcing him to catch her.
"I didn't," Aran stated, nearly falling over from the force of impact. He smiled, "Though it's wonderful to see you again."
Seth nodded and looked up at Aran almost looking the age of the body she was stuck in. "It's like we have the whole family back together again!"
Pain flashed across Aran's face at this. He looked away. "No, it's not." He stepped out of Seth's embrace.
"What's wrong?" Seth asked her expression becoming troubled.
"Nothing," Aran stated, but it didn't sound like nothing.
Seth frowned a while more but dropped the topic. The look she shot Abel made him know that he was to explain everything to her later on. "Okay," Seth sighed with a kind smile. She took a couple steps back so she wouldn't need to crane her neck up to look at Aran's face. "We can talk when you're ready," she stated then turned her attention to Abel. "And brother, next time you decide to surprise me, give me warning first."
"I wasn't trying to surprise you," Abel said. "... okay maybe I was."
Seth rolled her eyes and huffed before breaking out into a grin. "Anyway, we should start tracking Thomas and Cain! Is there any place we can get a reading on the data cube? If not we can always use my ship."
"I think your friend, the Professor, might have a set up," Aran said, seeming to brighten at the change in subject.
"He does," Abel nodded. "It's in one of his labs." He nudged a shoulder toward the door and began heading out, silently telling the other's to follow.
Seth caught up to him and wrapped her around his taking his hand. "You don't need to worry, brother," she whispered in a voice so low that only Abel and, perhaps Lilith would hear her. "And I'm not mad you kept this a secret I would've done the same."
Abel chuckled softly. "It's this way," he said and led her into a room. The other three filed in after them. Taking the data cube Abel inserted it into a small indention in the wall.
"The last time it appeared somewhere between the Vatican and the empire," Seth pointed at the point on the map. "I don't think they've changed location since then."
"Can we take your airship?" Abel asked. It would be faster and it would save him a trip to the Vatican.
"Yep!" Seth grinned.
"I'll let Caterina know and then we can start heading over there. You three should also get ready."
xxx
(A day later)
Cain stared up at the ceiling. So far nothing had happened, but he knew the time was fast approaching when the clone would be ready. What would happen if he and Thomas couldn't remove twenty percent from 02 and stop 01 from getting a new body? This would could easily fall into destruction.
He could hear 01 and 02 just outside this room. Thomas was fast asleep on the floor beside the bed.
"It's almost ready!" 01 cheered from behind the door. Cain could just imagine the lunatic punching his fists in the air. A very disturbing fact when he considered 01 had the same body and face as him.
"Hn," 02 grunted a while later. "We need to get moving. It's been a week now and only a matter of time before Cain or the other 02 does something."
"Thomas," Cain hissed to the man.
Thomas groaned and opened one eye. "I heard," he muttered as he sat up. "We'll need to act soon if we've any hope of making it out of this in one piece."
"We can't move until Mein Herr's body is complete," stated Isaak. "Once it is there's another base being prepared as we speak."
"Fine," 02 growled, sounding anything but pleased. The door cracked open and Cain could just make out the frown on 02's face and the wide grin on 01's.
The three of them crossed the room to where Thomas and Cain lay.
'You," 02 snarled, pulling Thomas off the ground, "how much longer?"
"You're demanding a project that took years to do correctly the first time, to be done in a matter of days," Thomas stated in a calm voice. "It will take time, my lord."
"I want it done within the week," 02 stated, pushing Thomas away.
Thomas slammed into the bed post. He coughed. "Fine," his voice cracked. He gave Cain a side long look.
"He's insane," Cain mouthed when 02's back was to them. They needed to get this plan moving if they had any hopes at getting out of here.
02 narrowed his eyes on Cain. It was a silent warning to shut up or else suffer another hit to the head that would most likely knock him out. The plan was simple enough, they just needed to wait. But the wait was torturous, with each passing day Cain spent energy just trying to stay up! His injures hadn't healed fully and he hadn't eaten anything except for the few drops of blood he had received a week ago!
"I didn't say anything." Cain shrugged, or did a half attempt at it.
01 growled. "You're so noisy!" He whined.
Cain rolled his eyes. 01 was one to talk there, he was the one who was really, really annoying. "Are you all right?" Cain whispered to Thomas.
"I'll live," Thomas whispered back, rubbing his neck. "It's not like one such as myself can die."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Isaac stated with a smug look. He turned to 01, "we can begin the transfer today but the process will take a while."
"Have you died yet?" Thomas asked. "If you haven't, I don't think I will, Isaak."
"Who knows," Isaak said. "But there's always an end to everything, even an immortals life."
"Then I'd welcome it."
"Even when you've learned that your -ah- children, still live?"
"Even then," Thomas stated, though there a slight hesitation in his voice.
"Enough of this chatter," 02 growled. "Get working on the clone," he nodded his head toward the door.
Thomas stood and let Isaak usher him out of the room.
Cain watched him go, a hollow feeling in his heart.
"Don't look too sad," 02 sneered at Cain. "You should be glad you're helping the 01 of this dimension and so in essence your also helping the other me! With a new body 01 will be able to break Abel's will and without your DNA samples this wouldn't have been possible."
A/N: My fault on the late update again, sorry guys ^^; next chapter will come sooner! I promise!
Notice: This story is written by Flame and I.