Trinity Blood: War Continuum

by smcandy

Taking place one month after the anime's finale from Ep. 24 with additional materials from the manga. A/E main pairing to semi major love triangle or more with one-sided love.

19. Fifthteen: Twists and Triangles

(AN) AUTHOR'S NOTES: My god, a thousand and one apologies everyone yes I know this chapter is really overdue but my editor has had some semi health problems the night this chapter was suppose to be uploaded from four days ago. Also she almost done in the middle of moving yet again for the second time and should be done soon by now.

On another note I am very happy that TBWC is gotten now 100 or more reviews since it first posted yay!. Wish I had a double update for you but possibly by the holidays we might have something in store for you guys whom are making this possible with your contest support of their story. Also again thanks again for the new comments and people whom added TBWC to their alerts are also becoming much to my surprise fans big time of this fan fiction. Now without further or due since you guys waited log enough already onward to chapter fifteen chao!.

DISCLAIMER:All rights to Trinity Blood was created and © by late Yoshida Sunao, the anime directed by Tomohiro Hirata and produced by the studio GONZO, as well as a manga drawn by Yoshida Sunao's friend Kiyo Kyoujou. All © rights revered by their respective owners. I own nothing except © to this story, it's plot and it's OC's that will eventually show within later chapters.

Special thanks to one of my editor and co-partner in helping finally get this story off the ground and back burner dragonwriter24cmf check her own TB stories on which are awesome. Currently right now dragonwriter24cmf is helping with the current chapters and drafts for the stories plot and outline.

Warning:This fan fiction is rated (M) AKA Lemon. This story is ABSOULTLY NOT suitable for children or teens below the age of 16 [So if you're under the age limit turn back now, come back when you old enough to read this. I'd rather not get flamed nor sued by parents whom are just looking for trouble in places their underage children should not be looking nor reading for that matter. This story contains strong explicit adult themes and sexual ones such slight foreplay - as in hand sex, one-sided yuri, bisexuality, Attempted Rape, Explicit Sex or anything else mild to hard core kinky for that matter!, references to violence, and strong coarse language. If this disturbs you, do not read any further.

Notice:Trinity Blood War Continuum takes place one month after the events from the anime's finale episode 24 along with some elements, characters and things that will be used and taken from both manga's Rage Against the Moons (RAM), Reborn on the Mars (ROM). In addition to some spoilers from stories untold notes left by Yoshida Sunao which he intended to finish off the manga series supposedly. Basically 50/50 will be used on both the anime and manga to those whom are more familiar with manga then others will see this implants as the story develops. Trinity Blood is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the Roman Catholic Church/the Vatican is portrayed as a military and spiritual power. The series also strongly implies major and controversial changes in the Church of present reality, such as women being bishops, cardinals as well as romantic relationships and marriages between members of the clergy. If this disturbs you of form or shape of or on imagination then do not read this story.

Trinity Blood: War Continuum - Chapter Fifthteen - Twists and Triangles

Esther sighed, trying not to clench her fists in frustration. Instead, she dedicated her attention to staring out over the landscape, breathing the subtle scent of the plants behind her and trying not to let her ever-present guardian see how stressed she was.

It had been over a week since she'd been given her freedom to roam. She'd come to the North Tower every day, at least once a day, to walk and breathe in the scent of the plants. And, of course, to survey the scenery. She'd spent some time at each wall, a different one each day, looking out over the compound and it's layout, then beyond it to the surrounding countryside. Unfortunately, there simply wasn't much to see. Aside from the layout of the structure she was captive in, there was very little information to be had from a visual inspection.

There was one road to the enclave. The rest of the land, as far as she could see, was a broken tumble of ruins, so old it was hard to decipher what any of it had been before. The stones were old and worn away, battered and tumbled. Though she thought she could see other paths, she couldn't be sure. From this position, she couldn't see the numbers of sentries watching the road, but she was willing to bet there were too many for her to handle.

There was a plane hangar, she could even see it from here. Esther clenched her fist again, under her cloak. It didn't matter how many vehicles were there, or if she could fly them. That wing was one of the 'off-limits' places. Any time she even began to turn down that hallway, on the first or second floor, Sieglind would bar her way, and insist that the Master had said she was not to go there. Esther bit her lip, fighting back a sense of futility. Determined not to give in, she turned her mind to what she had accomplished, looking for more ideas on what she could do. She stared out at the landscape, unseeing, as her mind once again reviewed the information she'd managed to gather over the course of the past week.

She knew her apartments and the Contra Mundi's were on the third floor. She suspected Isaac had rooms there as well, given the fact that he seemed to stay close to the man he called Master. The others seemed to live on the second floor. At least, Dietrich did, and she thought the others might as well. She'd encountered Balthasar in the hallways once or twice, and he'd mentioned that he was on the second floor, along with his brothers. She hadn't seen much of Helga, the Ice Witch, so she wasn't sure about her, but she suspected the noblewoman also lived on the second floor. Ground rooms housed mostly shock troops, Auto-jagers and the like. It also housed the computer control rooms and labs for Melchior, Isaac and Dietrich. She hadn't been allowed to go anywhere near those areas, but at least she knew where they were. If she ever found a way to shake her persistent guards that could be valuable information. She stored that away along with the knowledge of the plane hangar.

She straightened suddenly as a thought occurred to her. She knew Skorzeny, at least, flew. She was abruptly aware that she'd seen nothing of Skorzeny or Helga von Vogelweide, and precious little of the von Neumanns. She knew nothing about what the Order had planned next but…if they were in the habit of sending out multiple agents or teams at once, then perhaps…She stared out over the wall, considering what it could mean. If something major happened, then she might have an opening. But she wouldn't know unless she knew what was going on outside.

A voice broke into her reverie. "Mistress it is time for you to eat."

Esther turned to face the Doll who was her escort, and felt a brief surge of despair. No matter how much she thought about things, she'd never once managed to shake Sieglind. The only place the Doll didn't follow her was into the Contra Mundi's quarters, when she was summoned by him. But…even with the windows in the far room, Esther knew there was no chance she'd escape from there. Cain was too strong, and too fast. No matter what his current condition was, the man moved like lightning, and event though he seemed to be careful with her, she knew he was strong. Esther shook the thoughts away before Sieglind could notice her anxiety, and stepped away from the wall. "Yes. I'm coming."

She stepped into the stairwell, and strode down the winding stairs, still trying to sort things out. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't even see the slender figure lounging against the wall until he spoke. "Hello, Esther."

Esther stiffened and whirled. Dietrich smiled at her. "Well, you've got the same reflexes as always. But you know, you really ought to watch where you're going." He levered himself off the wall, and took a step toward her. "After all, if I'd had anything planned, I would have had you, the way you walked right past me like that. You really ought to be more careful, you know."

"You…" Esther bit her lip. She'd encountered Dietrich every day this week, and it was beginning to make her nervous. "What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing in particular. I'm simply bored, you know?" He flashed her a dark grin. "And with Eisehexe and the Red Baroness out on missions, you really are about the only girl here. Well…except for those Dolls of Mechior's, but I wouldn't exactly consider them close companions." His gaze drifted to Sieglind.

Esther shivered. She'd rather have Sieglind as a companion than Dietrich. The Doll might be cold and emotionless, but it was far better than the depravity in Dietrich's eyes. She bit her lip. "Excuse me, I was just on my way to eat."

"Is that so? Well, as it happens, I haven't actually had much to eat today either." He met her gaze, amused and challenging. "I don't suppose you'd care to join me."

Her first reaction was to refuse. The look in his eyes was too curious, too openly challenging. She knew he was baiting her. But even as she opened her mouth, a thought stopped her. Dietrich…he knows what is going on. And he knows where this place is, and the layout. He also knows what plans are being made. If I could get him to talk…. Esther felt her heart starting to pound. She knew Dietrich was dangerous, and every instinct she had screamed against being around him any longer than she had to. He was a liar and a manipulative man. But still…there was the slim chance she'd learn something that could help her later. She swallowed. "Will you promise not to do anything?"

Dietrich shrugged. "Well, you of all people should know what that's worth. However, if it makes you feel a little better, I do promise to be a perfect gentleman, today at least." He smiled. "I'll even come to your quarters, instead of asking you to go to mine."

It wasn't much of a concession, and Esther knew it. But at least, on her own grounds, she felt a little safer. And if she could manage to find out even a little more from him, then it was worth the risk. "All right."

The cold smile on Dietrich's face almost made her rethink the idea. But he only shrugged. "Well then, shall we?"

He made no further comment on the trip to her rooms. Sieglind bowed them both in, then spoke to Esther. "I will bring your lunch." She shut the door, and returned a few minutes later, carrying a tray. She laid the table swiftly, then offered a short bow to both of them. "You will call me when you are finished eating, Mistress."

"I…yes, of course." Esther blinked. She hadn't realized that Sieglind would leave her alone with Dietrich. After all, she hadn't before. Then she shook herself and turned back to the table.

Dietrich had already settled at the second chair. He raised an eyebrow at the room, and at the service. "Quite a nice little set up you have." He gestured to the door. "You should know, Melchior is rather put out that his favorite servant is taking care of you."

Esther flushed. "It's not as if I asked for this." She sat down.

"I'm sure." He reached over and idly picked up a piece of fruit. "Even so, having your own special servant, and rooming on the same floor as Mein Herr…quite the royal treatment. I suppose it's only fair, but you should hear the way Eisehexe goes on about it. But then…it probably doesn't make much impression on you, now does it?" he smirked. "You always were really quite good at ignoring things like that."

Esther bit her lip. "You said earlier that…that woman was out though?"

"Hmmm?" Dietrich arched an eyebrow. "Suddenly taking an interest in the place after all?"

"I just wondered why I hadn't encountered her. I'd prefer not to." Esther forced herself to eat, keeping up a pretense of normal conversation. The food felt hard to swallow.

He made an amused sound. "Well, I can't say as I blame you for that. She is rather annoying. However, she isn't expected back until next week, so you needn't worry about that." A cold smile curled the corner of his mouth. He leaned forward, picked an apple off the tray, and bit into it idly before continuing. "She and the others were sent out to create diversions for your advisors, and that joke you call the Vatican. I understand they're working with some of our associates to incite some general rioting. After all, it wouldn't do to have them tracking us back here. Especially not that Father you insist on hanging around with." He chewed thoughtfully. "You know, I'm really rather surprised that man is still wandering around. After all, considering the blast he was hit with…."

"That's enough." Esther clenched her fists, her food forgotten. "You…I thought you were killed as well, but you're fine."

"Hmm?" He gave her a look. "Oh, that. Well, going into a war zone really isn't quite my style. I prefer to stay out of the way and manipulate things from the shadows, more or less. So when I was assigned to the Londinium mission, naturally I sent a puppet in my place." He grinned coldly at her. "Melchior might be a twisted bastard, but he does have his uses. With his help, I can make a marionette that looks and sounds exactly like me. But then, you really should have guessed that already. After all, you've already seen me 'die' once before, haven't you? Tell me, was it a better performance this time?"

"You…that's enough." Esther bit her lip, trying not to show her mingled anger and hurt. "How could even you think that was amusing? Your own leader tried to kill you."

"Well, I do have to admit, it startled me a little when he struck me like that. But then, I'm sure Mein Herr already knew what I'd planned, and it's not as if losing that puppet was really such a big deal. After all, it had already served our purposes." Dietrich shrugged and took another bite. "And really, it was almost amusing, seeing that precious priest of yours go so out of control, and over the death of one of his enemies no less. And then, after all that, he couldn't even make an attempt to prevent my lord from doing the exact same thing to him."

Esther felt herself tense in remembered anger and pain. "How could you even say such a thing?"

Dietrich chuckled and rose from his seat. "Well, because it's true."

She couldn't sit still any more. "You…monster. Thinking such a thing…"

Another dark chuckle burst from his throat. Before she could blink, he was suddenly beside her, a smile of pure evil on his face. "Well, I might be a monster, but then…you can't really blame me for the death of that priest, now can you? After all, the reason he hesitated was you, wasn't it?" His fingers seized her chin before she could react. "If only you'd had sense enough to stay out of it like you were told, he might have been all right. There's no guarantee, of course, but you must know that. And then, you had to go and wake him up again too, didn't you?" He laughed again. "Really, it amazes me, the things you can drive that man to. But then, you always did have a way with people. I've always loved that, how you manipulate people with your words into taking care of you. You're almost as good as I am, you know?"

Esther jerked away from him. "You and I are nothing alike!"

He chuckled again. "Well, I've always liked that too. How sincere you are…even though it's still manipulation. But tell me, since we're on the subject…how is Father Nightroad, anyway? I'd heard he joined up with your advisors to protect you. To be honest, I thought it was rather touching. So tell me, how is he? Still following you around?"

The cruel twist in his words, the mocking way he spoke of Abel, was more than she could stand. Without thinking, she snapped back at him. "Father Nightroad is ten times the man you'll ever be." She glared at him.

He arched one eyebrow. "Well, I'd say that's a pretty strong statement. But then, it does explain a lot. Isaac mentioned the two of you had an argument. So what happened? Did you try to get his attention and fail?"

Before she even had time to think about it, the back of her hand cracked across his jaw. "That's none of your business."

Dietrich stood for a moment, then slowly turned his face back to her. Esther felt her stomach tighten in sudden fear at the cold, predatory look in his eyes. Then without warning, he smiled, a nasty, dangerous smile that sent chills up her spine. The look on his face froze her where she stood. He stepped forward and brushed one finger across her face. "Well, I don't know about that. After all, I've told you before. I really do adore you Esther. Naturally, I'm interested in everything about you." The coldness in his eyes deepened. "You know, it really is rude to strike someone when they're only asking a simple question. Shouldn't you at least apologize?"

"I will never apologize for that." Esther gritted her teeth. "If we're going to talk about being polite, how dare you speak that way to me?"

"Why Esther…and here I thought we such good friends." The smile widened. "Well, I really do think you owe me an apology. If you won't offer me one willingly, then I guess I'll just have to take a fitting return for myself. Don't you think that's fair?"

Esther felt her heart pounding loudly in her ears. She bit her lip, trying to control the urge to back away. "What do you intend to do to me?"

He smirked. "I thought we might play dolls again." He lifted the hand that had brushed her cheek, and Esther saw the fine strands glittering between his fingers. "Really Esther, I did say I was going to be a gentleman, but after something like that…well, I think it's really only fair."

Ice went through Esther's gut. Instinctively, she tried to back away, but her feet were rooted to the floor. She couldn't move. Anger and terror rose up inside. "Let go of me."

"I really don't feel like it." Dietrich reached out again, brushing her face once more. "After all, I still haven't received an apology, or compensation yet, you know? And that did sting a little. So, what should I have you do?" He considered her. "Tell me Esther, what do you think I should do with you? After all, we haven't yet tried the experiments I suggested from our first time together. But then, there are also a number of other…interesting things we could try. For instance, I could make you dance…or I could make you kneel and beg me to do something. Doesn't that sound interesting?"

"You…" She couldn't find anything to say. Desperate now, Esther struggled against the strings that bound her, but she couldn't break free. "I will never…"

"Careful now. You know never is a tricky thing to say. After all, didn't you once say you'd never forgive Gyula?" He trailed a finger slowly down her cheek, stopping just under her chin. "You also swore once you'd never accept a vampire as anything other than a monster. And yet look at you and the Earl of Memphis, such close friends." The cold smile widened. "But then, I suppose it's only fitting. After all, that man you call Father…he's rather a different sort of monster, now isn't he? Much more dangerous than a mere Methuselah."

The memory of Abel's tormented words cut through her like a knife, bringing her anger to the surface. "He's not half the monster you are!"

"Is that so?" Dietrich tilted his head to one side. "Well then…that makes this much more interesting." He took a step closer stopping so close to her that she could feel his body heat. "So tell me Esther…how does it work? The Earl of Memphis, who you would have considered a monster once, is now your friend. And the Father…a being even Methuselah fear and shun, is even more important to you. So then…if I'm more of a monster than either of them…what does that make me?" Depravity and amusement mixed in the hazel eyes. "If a greater monster means a greater relationship…well then, I'm almost surprised you haven't gone down on your knees and begged me to sleep with you already." His hand shifted, twisting so that the long thin fingers cupped her jaw. "Well, I suppose you are still a virgin. Perhaps you're still a little shy."

Esther shuddered. Dietrich chuckled, and his hand forced her head up, so that was forced to look him in the eyes. "What do you think Esther? Shall we put it to the test? If that's really how you feel, then why don't we see what excites you? If monsters are what you like, then this should be highly entertaining for you."

Esther fought to pull away, but his strings held her tight. "Let go of me."

"No, I really don't think I will. After all, since we've raised the question, it would be poor manners of me not to experiment." He leaned closer. "So tell me Esther, what is it you want? What do you really want a man to do for you?" His voice was low, seductive and yet tainted with evil. "I can touch you, anywhere you like. Or maybe…being the romantic that you are, you were hoping for a kiss?" A low chuckle in her ear, and his lips brushed the curve of her jaw. "But then again, you always were the direct sort, now weren't you? Perhaps you'd like me to simply drop you to your knees, and show you what a real man has…what that Father of yours is too afraid to try."

His fingers shifted, brushing down the column of her throat. "Is that what you want?" He laughed. "Personally though, I think we should play a little more before we get down to business. After all, I'd like to see what I'm dealing with, you know? One should always take good care of one's toys."

His hand was on the collar of her dress, stopping just short of slipping into it. The back of one hand slipped across the outside, brushing her chest. Esther stiffened, biting her lip in a struggle not to cry out. She couldn't fight, not held by the strings he bound her with. She clenched her jaw trying to think of some way out of it. Begging him to stop wouldn't work, she knew that already. She didn't dare encourage him. She couldn't threaten him, she was powerless and they both knew it. Panic built in her mind, and she was on the verge of losing her cool when a knock startled both of them.

The door swung open and Sieglind entered. "Master wishes to see you now, Mistress." Even knowing she'd be taken to Cain, Esther had never been so glad to see the Doll.

A look of annoyance crossed Dietrich's face. "What a pity." He stood a moment, then his hands made a swift gesture. Esther stifled a gasp as movement returned to her body. He shrugged. "Well, if Mein Herr wants to see you, then I suppose it can't be helped. We'll simply have to continue this discussion another day." He gave her another smirk. "Take care Esther. I look forward to our next time together." With that, he turned and sauntered out the door.

Esther stood a few moments, taking deep breaths and trying to get her heart-rate under control. She closed her eyes, willing the pounding in her ears to subside.

"Mistress, are you well? Should I have Master von Kampfer check you? Your readings indicate a high level of distress." The voice was emotionless, but it was enough to make Esther pull herself together.

"No. I'm fine. Really. Dietrich and I just had a bit of an argument." She looked down at her clothing. "Do I need to change?"

"No. Master said your current outfit will be acceptable." Sieglind stepped aside and bowed. "Please accompany me."

Esther nodded and followed the Doll out into the corridor, taking the now familiar path to the rooms housing the Contra Mundi. Her mind was still whirling with her reaction to Dietrich, but even so, an odd note caught in her mind. Before, he'd always insisted that she change into one of the formal gowns to see him. Esther looked down at the outfit she was wearing. It was plain, made for walking around or working at a desk. Definitely different from the things that she'd worn when visiting the Contra Mundi before. She frowned slightly, wondering what had caused him to change his patterns of behavior. Then they were at Cain's door. She took a deep breath, then nodded to Sieglind and entered.

"Hello, Esther." He was standing by the doors to his room, dressed as he usually was, in dark pants and a white jacket with a red stripe on the border. His eyes drifted over her. "Dietrich was right. He said you looked good in anything."

Esther stopped short. "I beg your pardon?" She froze in place, feeling her muscles tense.

He gave her one of his characteristic empty smiles. "Well, he did say you were fairly pretty. But then…Dietrich is such a strange boy." He shrugged. "But you do look good." He moved, and was suddenly in front of her. "You're like Lilith. Always pretty, no matter what the circumstances. That was one of the things that drew Abel to her, you know. He said she was beautiful and it caught his eyes."

Esther stiffened further, the hurt Dietrich's words had brought to the surface rushing back. She looked away. "Father Nightroad, he never seems to notice what I look like." Which wasn't true, she remembered. Abel had commented on her appearance several times, and always favorably. She felt a faint blush rising to her cheeks, remembering his comments on lipstick. "The Father…he doesn't think of me as anything more than a burden. I've told you that already."

There was a dark chuckle from the man beside her. "I doubt that, my dear. After all, Abel notices everything. And you bring out all his emotions. Besides, Abel and I…we share the exact same genetic code. And Abel seems quite attached to you." He laughed again. "He even came to Londinium for you. As much as my dear brother hates that city, he returned there."

That startled her. She'd never before heard that Abel disliked Albion, or Londinium. In fact, given his familiarity with it, she'd thought it was a place he came often. "I don't understand."

He gave her an amused glance. "Abel…he really doesn't like Albion much. I asked him to destroy Berlin for me, and the place that woman used to call home. But he didn't even need me to ask him to target Londinium. If Lilith hadn't stopped him, he probably would have totally destroyed it, the way he did all those other cities." A flicker of annoyance crossed the pale features. "But then that woman got in his way. I thought this time, that I might have Isaac level the city as a favor to him, but it seems my brother's changed his mind again. I suppose it's because you live there."

"It has nothing to do with me!" Esther clenched a fist, trying hard not to show how much those words hurt. "Father Nightroad…he would never do a thing like that."

He gave her that smile again. "Oh, but he has. My dear brother's destroyed thousands of cities. Did you know? That weapon in Carthage…that woman, Lilith, she put it there, to stop Abel. To stop him from taking the city. She wanted to make him spare the Terrans there, so she created a weapon that would destroy Abel as well." Amusement touched his face. "Poor Abel, he was so upset when he found out about it. He even stopped his invasion of the city. And Londinium…I thought Abel would burn it to the ground, but he didn't do more than destroy a few buildings before she got in his way." He shrugged. "Oh well. I suppose I'll have to take care of it for him later, since he seems to have changed his mind about the world."

Esther felt herself going hot and cold by turns as she listened to his words. She was horrified by the calm recitation of destruction, and frightened by the way it all seemed to mean nothing to him. Though she'd seen this several times over the past week, when he summoned her, it never failed to make her feel sick inside. And the thought that Abel had done those things…she bit her lip, torn between the urge to call him a liar, and a growing fear that what he said might be true. After all, Abel had told her himself that he'd committed terrible sins.

Cain noticed the expression on her face. "Esther…are you unwell? Isaac said you were better, and that you'd been walking around, but then, he can be so careless sometimes."

"I'm fine." Esther shook her head. "But…what you said about Father Nightroad…I don't believe it. I…he's always been very protective of people. He would never destroy a city." She forced herself to meet the blue eyes.

"Hmmm…Father Nightroad." Amusement, and something else, something like affection, stirred in the usually empty gaze. "I was surprised, to find out my dear brother had become a priest. I wonder what would happen if they discovered how many he'd killed during his time as the Angel of Destruction."

"He's not…" Esther began to speak, but Cain touched her mouth, stilling her words and freezing her in place with just that simple gesture.

"Oh, I know. As Father Nightroad, Abel's gotten really calm lately. He wouldn't even kill Isaac to stop the silent noise. I thought that would get him if anything would." Esther's stomach rolled, remembering that terrible event. Cain took no notice of it. "Still…no matter how much he denies it, Abel is still a Crusnik, my dear. And whether he's learned to control it or not, he's still got that temper of his." He chuckled slightly. "If you've seen the way Abel can be…then you know how powerful his destructive abilities are. Surely you don't think he got so good at fighting just by accident?" Dark eyes met hers.

Esther swallowed hard. She was afraid to confront this man, the Enemy of the World, but she wanted to defend Abel. "I don't know how Father Nightroad became so good at fighting. But…why must you always insist that he's a murderer, a killer? Why do you always have to talk as if killing and destruction are the right things to do? Even if Father Nightroad has done things like that…why must you keep on with this?" She met his eyes, clenching a fist in her skirt so he couldn't see how terrified she was.

"For Abel, of course." The smile widened, and Esther was startled to see real affection in the blue eyes.

"For…Father Nightroad?" She stared at him.

"Of course. My dear brother." He looked away from her, idly moving his hand across the back of one chair. "It's all for Abel. He wanted so much to have his freedom, so I decided I'd give him that. If the world is destroyed, then he can start over as whatever he wants to be. And I'll be there for him, so it's not as if he'll be alone."

Esther flinched. She wasn't sure which was worse, the words themselves, or the genuine emotion behind them. His tone, usually showing only faint traces of amusement, held real affection this time. She'd never head him speak of himself or Abel like this. She bit her lip, and got her warring emotions under control. "But…he's already indicated that he doesn't want this. He's trying to stop you. So why…if it's for Father Nightroad…why would you kill him for that?"

He shrugged. "Well, it's not as if it was permanent, what I did to Abel. Besides, I thought I might join with him, and make it easier on both of us. Really, if Abel hadn't woken up in a temper just then, it would have been much simpler. He'd be free to rest, and I wouldn't have to worry about this body of mine. But since he's awake again, I'll just have to do things the hard way."

"But…if he doesn't want this...why must you do such things?" Esther clenched her jaw, suddenly aware of how her words sounded. They sounded like she believed what he'd said of Father Nightroad, that he had wanted to destroy the world.

"Hmmm." His face was considering. "Abel does change his mind sometimes. And he has gotten rather protective of people. Especially of you. But still…" He shrugged, dismissing the thought. "He still has so much trouble with the world. Really, it's better for him if it's all cleaned up. Once the world has been renewed he won't have to suffer so much doubt and trouble anymore. Though, if it really worries you, I suppose I can save you and a few others, so Abel won't be unhappy."

She wanted to protest, wanted to say something to refute the statement, but Cain lifted one hand. She wasn't sure what he saw, because she didn't see anything wrong, but a slight frown touched his face. "Really, Isaac has gotten a bit careless. I thought it would have lasted longer." He turned away from her. "We'll have to continue this discussion later, Esther." He waved her away and started to the door. Just before he entered the doorway, he stopped. "Melchior's Doll said you had lunch with Dietrich."

Esther stiffened, wondering where this was going. "Yes. I did."

"Hmmm…well, perhaps I'll invite you for dinner here one evening. After all, you still haven't told me much about what's been going on with Abel." Before she had a chance to even consider a response, the door closed behind him.

Esther shuddered, then turned and headed for her own rooms. She was so preoccupied, she barely even noticed the presence of the Doll behind her following silently. Her mind was still turning over her conversation with the Contra Mundi.

What he'd said of Abel was terrible, but worse for her was the twisted logic of his words. It almost made sense. She knew, as well as any other, how Abel suffered sometimes. Though he often seemed cheerful, she remembered the first impression she'd gotten of him in Istvan. She remembered the way his laughter sometimes, all too frequently in fact, held a lonely saddened ring. And even then, she'd been witness to the wounds he seemed to pick up in every confrontation he got into, where his unwillingness to hurt others had resulted in his own body being damaged. Though he healed quickly, and always made light of his wounds, there was no denying he'd been hurt.

Worse still, she knew of the emotional wounds he'd picked up, things that scarred him long after the events themselves had passed. She fought the memories, but they insisted on intruding, reminding her of the pain he'd been forced to endure, including the times she'd hurt him. In Carthage, where she'd confronted him, and then denied him. The other things she'd done. Still preoccupied, she reached her rooms, entered and shut the door behind her.

Father…it can't be true, can it? Did you really…did you really suffer so much that you wanted to end it all? But…that…that's not like you, Father. It just…it doesn't sound like you. She bit her lip, confused. She wanted to deny what Cain had said. But what disturbed her most were the emotions in his voice. He never spoke with anything other than mild amusement in his voice, but that…it was if she'd been watching a stranger. As terrible as his statements were, she'd sensed the genuine affection, the certainty that what he was doing would truly be best for Abel. And that frightened her more than anything else.

Father…this…this can't be true. And yet…I too have hurt you. The memory rose up again, of that last confrontation in the garden, where she'd reviled him and struck him. What…what have I done to you? Father, I'm sorry. I only pray, wherever you are, that you're all right.

"Father Nightroad?" Kate's voice broke into the silence of the forward viewing lounge. At her words, both men looked up. "We'll be at the coordinates you indicated in about fifteen minutes. However, you may want to go to the bridge now. You did say you had some things to do before we landed."

"Yes, of course." Abel turned from where he stood by the window. "Did you set the sensors up for me?"

"Of course I did." Kate sighed. "I wish you'd tell me what was so important though. What exactly are you looking for?"

"You'll see. I'll meet you up on the main bridge." Abel turned and strode out of the lounge.

"Hmmm. He hasn't gotten much better, has he?" William watched as the door closed behind Abel's back. He sighed, chewing on a pipe stem in frustration. "I had hoped that he'd relax a little, given that we're traveling together, but he hasn't calmed down at all."

"No. And honestly, I'm a little worried." Kate sighed and shook her head. "I had the food supplies packed for the way Abel normally eats. But if he continues like this, we'll easily last twice the amount of time he suggested."

"So he still isn't eating properly?" William's eyes were concerned.

"No. I've gotten him to eat a little, but it's not nearly what he needs, with his metabolism." Kate made a face. "And I don't think he's even once slept in his rooms."

"Huh. Well, I suppose it was too much to hope for. Still…" He let his voice trail off, frowning at the door.

They'd been flying for just over a week. He had to admit, the journey itself had been interesting. And as a scientist, the prospect of exploring a pre-Armageddon lab on a continent no one had seen for a thousand years was exciting. But still…his greatest worry wasn't the lab, but the man he was journeying with.

Abel had barely spoken to either of them. He did report for their check-in times, though he never said anything, simply made it plain that he was there. The rest of the time, he was silent, wrapped in a brooding melancholy that only got worse the closer they got to their destination. A part of it, William suspected, was the tracking band Petros had snapped around his neck. It wasn't uncomfortable, as far as William could tell. A small collar, smaller than the traditional cassock collar, to be honest. It was loose enough to breathe and speak easily, and could be worn under Abel's robes. Still, he was aware of the indignity the other man must have felt, to have such a thing placed on him. And it had to hurt, wearing the proof that his own superior couldn't trust him. He had almost asked, more than once, how Abel felt about it, but he hadn't quite worked up the nerve to bring it up. Besides, his instincts told him that wasn't the main problem anyway.

The anguish that had driven him since that night in Albion had only intensified over time. He could see it in his colleagues eyes, in his face and the way he moved. It was overlaid now with a different sort of pain, something deep within Abel's memories. He didn't want to ask, but he worried nonetheless.

With an abrupt movement, William shook the thoughts away and pushed himself to his feet. "I take it Abel's on the bridge by now?" He looked at the slender holographic figure beside him.

"Yes. He's messing about with my sensors." Kate made a soft sound of exasperation. "Honestly, it would be a lot easier if he'd just tell me what it is he's looking for."

"Hmmm. Well, why don't we go up and see if we can manage to get a straight answer out of him?" He gave her a look. "Even though there's been no change, I'm still optimistic that we might get something from him. Even if it's only negative…any information is better than none."

Kate sighed. "I hope you're right, William." The she flickered out, leaving him to make his own way to the main flight bridge.

Abel was there when he arrived, standing beside Kate's main sensor panel. Kate was beside him. Abel stood for a moment, then looked down. "Here is fine."

The ship slowed to a stop beneath them. Abel's hands shifted, typing in a series of commands. "Sister Kate."

"Commencing scans of the area for a five mile radius." Kate watched a shimmering holographic display. She frowned. "Abel…radiation?"

"Radiation scans?" William blinked. He moved up to stand beside his partner. "Abel…it's been over nine hundred years. Surely you don't think there's anything left to worry about."

"I don't know." Abel's voice was sharp with tension. "This area was very heavily bombed during the wars. As far as I know, it may have been even worse than the Dark Lands."

"The Dark Lands? You mean the uninhabitable area beyond the borders of the Empire?" Wordsworth raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think it was that bad?"

"Yes." Abel's hands skipped along the keyboard, his eyes focused on his work. "We can't afford to land on the surface, or even let you approach if the radiation is above a certain level."

William's eyebrow quirked even higher. "Well, if it comes to that, how exactly were you planning to get in there?"

"I'll manage." Abel's tone was clipped, hard. "I can withstand the radiation, at least for a while."

"That may be true…but I'd prefer not to risk your health, my friend." He stepped up beside him. "After all, can you honestly tell me that you're sure about what that kind of radiation would do to your body?"

"There's no need to worry about it." Abel's frame tensed slightly.

He started to say something else, but Kate interrupted. "Scans are complete. It looks like all radiation levels are below your lower limits, Abel."

"How much below?" Abel brought up the screen and studied it a moment. He frowned slightly, and chewed the corner of his mouth. "Some of them are close. It should be all right, still…" He dropped a hand inside his robes, digging in the pockets, then handed his colleague a small disk with a glowing green light. "You should wear this. If the light changes from green return to the ship."

"An old radiation monitoring device?" Wordsworth studied it. "I didn't know you knew how to make these." He shrugged, and pocketed the device. "Well, unless there's something else you need to check, we should probably get going, now shouldn't we? After all, time is in rather short supply."

"Yes." Abel studied the landscape before him. "If I'm remembering correctly, there should be a small landing site, about a mile north. Sister Kate?"

"Roger. Heading north now." The ship shuddered to life again, moving forward. Kate frowned. "I think I see it. I'm bringing the Iron Maiden in for a landing."

Ten minutes later, the ship settled with a thump. Kate opened the landing doors and dropped the ramp. "You both know the protocols, right?" She gave Abel a stern look. "Promise me you'll report in on time, all right Abel?"

"Yes, of course." He didn't really seem to see her. His eyes were fixed on the landscape just beyond the door, and there was a world of pained memory in his gaze. Without another word, he strode down the ramp into the twilight beyond.

Outside the ship was a wasteland of broken stone. There were a few plants, small stunted things growing here and there, but the primary impression was one of broken slabs of rock, tumbled across the ground. Wordsworth frowned, eyeing the uneven terrain. "Abel, watch your step. The ground is pretty uneven."

"I'm fine." To his surprise, the other man stopped and turned slightly. "If you come ahead slowly, it should be all right."

Wordsworth raised one eyebrow, then stepped out into the rubble. Despite it's haphazard appearance, most of the stones were solid. He supposed if they hadn't fallen in nine hundred years, they weren't going to topple now. Still, he moved carefully, not anxious to test that theory. Finally, he stood beside Abel.

To his surprise, the silver haired priest took his arm. "Here. I'll guide you."

"I see. That's very kind of you. But tell me, do you know where you're going?" His eyes drifted over the area. "I don't see anything that looks remotely like a lab, I'm afraid."

"The aboveground facility was almost completely destroyed." Abel's voice was flat, almost toneless, but he caught the tension in it. "There should be an entrance to the underground lab, not far from here."

"I see." He didn't say anything else, just followed as his companion led him carefully through the rubble. Gazing around, he could see where the rocks resembled walls, of a sort, so crumbled and broken down that you had to know what you were looking at to see them for what they were. Then Abel stopped, standing in the center of a partially cleared area with what looked to have been part of a wall still intact. "Here? Abel, I don't…" He broke off as the other man knelt and brushed his hand across the face of the stone in front of him.

Abel's hand shifted, brushing at the dusty surface. Then his fingers found a line in the stone, and lifted away a flat slab of rock. William whistled softly. "Well now…that is impressive. But exactly how do you intend to get in?"

"It's fine." His hand shifted. William couldn't see exactly what he was doing, but he saw the fingers twitch as Abel touched something. A section of the broken wall lit up, glowing a soft green. The priest looked up, then moved forward. Wordsworth moved with him, and found himself looking at an old electronic lock, with a glowing touchpad. Above it, a small screen waited silently for an identification code.

Abel didn't even hesitate. His fingers tapped across the keypad, typing out a long string of numbers and letters, then touched a large button at the bottom. "Stay close. I think this one has a doorway, but I don't know for certain."

A soft rumble of shifting stone made both men turn. Wordsworth's eyes widened as a section of rubble shifted, falling inward to reveal a set of stairs, descending into the darkness. He had just one moment to stare at the odd sight, before his companion moved past him, heading for the entrance. "This way, Professor."

"Of course." He shrugged, then shifted his pipe to his other hand and reached up to touch the communications link on his ear. "Sister Kate. Please inform Her Excellency that we've located an entrance to the facility Abel mentioned, and we've decided to descend."

"Roger that." There was a brief hesitation on the other end of the line, and when Kate's voice returned, there was a hint of worry. "Are you sure it's safe, Professor?"

He shrugged again, though she couldn't see the gesture. "Well, Father Nightroad seems to be having no trouble. I don't see where there's any option but to follow his lead. However, I promise to contact you if I notice anything to be concerned with. Professor out." He shut down the link and followed his partner, already halfway down the stairs.

His first concern was the lighting, but Abel had apparently taken care of that. A touch of his hand sent weakly flickering glows down the narrow stairs. By their light, he could see the corridor just beyond. He followed silently as Abel led him down the stairs into the corridor. A few yards beyond that, it branched into an open, semi-circular room, with four doors lined against the wall. He stopped, and bit the stem of his pipe in absentminded contemplation. "Hmmm…now this could prove a bit problematic."

Abel looked at the doors a moment, then turned toward one. "This one should lead to the main computer room."

"Wait." William reached out, and took him by the shoulder. "Abel…I realize you probably know more about this than I do, but still…how could you know that?" When the other man didn't turn, he stepped around until he could meet the blue eyes with his own. "I don't mean to pry…but what exactly leads you to believe that this is the correct door?" He saw the discomfort in the other man's gaze, but didn't let go. "Perhaps it's not my place, but I'd very much like to know how exactly you gained access to this place at all."

"Seth. She told me where to go. And I…happened to have an access code." There was pain in his voice.

"I see. But…it's almost as if you've been here before." He kept his tone mild, inquiring rather than demanding.

"No. I…wasn't here. I…never came this far. But Seth knows. I…please, Professor, don't ask me anything further. Just…just trust me."

The glitter of anguish in the blue eyes was stronger, and as Abel looked away, William caught a flash of shame in his face. He held the other man a moment more, then released him. "All right. I won't ask for anything else. However, my friend, if you want to talk about it…please remember that I can listen quite well."

A shudder passed through the other man's frame. He stood for a moment, his head bowed, then stepped around him. "This way."

The door opened into another short corridor, terminating in a round central room. William whistled at the sight of the dozen or so monitors. He'd always been more interested in mechanical devices, rather than computer technology, but still…he'd have given a decades worth of pay to have a facility like this. "Impressive."

Abel's face was expressionless. "This was the main monitoring room. From here, we should be able to access the central computers."

William nodded. "I'd say so. There's not a lot you couldn't access with a set-up like this one." He frowned. "However…surely they put some sort of protection on this place."

"They did. But I think I know…" Abel's voice stopped. "I should be able to break their encryption." He swallowed once, then moved forward and began running his hands over the console boards.

William watched him for a moment, then moved forward. "Tell me how I can help you." He shot the other man a quick grin. "I may not know all the ins and outs of this system, but I am fairly proficient."

"Of course." A ghost of a smile touched Abel's face, to vanish an instant later. "There should be a switch…and a board, just off to your left. If you could get that going…"

"I'm on it."

The two men worked in companionable silence for the better part of three hours. Fortunately, the only thing wrong with the station seemed to be the age of the place. Dust coated everything, and some of the switches were rusty with disuse. But they'd both been prepared for that eventuality, and a little cleaning and oiling, and some careful testing and twisting soon brought most of them back to functioning. As he cracked his shoulders and stretched stiff muscles, William grinned at the screen. "There we go. It's all ready to use." He stretched again. "I don't know about you, but I could certainly use a break." He cast a quick grin at Abel.

"There should be a place to rest in one of the other passages. The far left, I think." Abel's voice held a distant note. He was frowning at the screen, his face distracted, as if he were trying to sort something out. "There should be rooms there, and they might still even have supplies in them."

"Well, that's certainly good to know, but…" Wordsworth sighed. "Why do I get the feeling you have no intention of coming with me?"

"I have work I need to do." Abel was still frowning at the screens.

"That may be, but if you don't take a break every now and then, your body won't operate at peak efficiency." He sighed again. "Even you have to rest sometimes."

"It's all right." Abel didn't turn from the monitors.

William stood staring at the other man's profile for a moment, then removed his pipe from a pocket and chewed the stem of it, frowning in mingled exasperation and concern. Then he smiled tightly and shook his head. "Still as stubborn as always." He moved to his companion's side and laid one hand carefully on the tense shoulder. "Come. If you're not willing to rest, why don't we go have a look around the place? You did say you needed to check the facility. It will give us both a chance to stretch our muscles, and then we can tackle the computers again with a fresh outlook."

Abel blinked at him, then relaxed, and the ghost of a smile touched his face. "You're right. I suppose…that would be a good idea." He turned toward the door. "I'm not sure, but I think I can keep us from getting lost down here. If what Seth told me is accurate, then it should be all right."

Wordsworth chuckled. "It amazes me, how such a young looking girl can know so much. But honestly, I have to wonder how she could possibly know about this place. Considering the location."

In the dim lighting, he almost missed the slight hesitation in Abel's footsteps. And if he hadn't been following closely enough to watch, he would have missed the soft reply. "She's…a lot older than she looks. And I…she was here a long time ago. This was…well, she probably knows this place almost as well as I know the Albion Underground." They entered the main hall, and Abel moved towards the door on the far left.

"I've been wondering about that." William eyed his companions back. "I thought it was odd, how you located that entrance, and how you opened it so easily."

Abel stopped, his hand on the door and his body tense. "Professor…"

"I know. I promised I wouldn't ask you anything more about that." He took a deep breath and let it out. "I won't force you to tell me anything, Abel, but it might do you some good to talk about things like this."

"No. I'd rather not." He stood in silence for a moment, then shook his head slightly and pushed the door open. "We should keep moving."

The door opened into a corridor, with several rooms. Some of them were obviously apartments, temporary sleeping places. Some of them looked as if they were storage units, and there was even a large room that, centuries ago, had probably been a kitchen. Abel barely gave any of the rooms a glance. It wasn't until he opened the last door in the corridor that his expression changed at all.

The last room, the door at the end of the hallway, was almost a suite, much larger than the others. Abel pushed the door open, and stiffened visibly. In the overhead lights, his face was tense, and there was anger and pain in his eyes. William saw his expression, and promptly leaned around him for a look at the room.

The room was furnished simply, with bed and dresser and an adjoining room that was probably a bathroom. A small desk was set in one corner. Wordsworth frowned, then moved forward, running a hand across the furniture. It was too small for him, definitely too small for any adult. He studied it. "A child's room? But why on Earth…?"

"It doesn't matter." Abel's voice was too hard, too strained. William looked up, and bit his pipe hard to keep the exclamation from passing his lips at the tormented expression on his companions face. After a moment, the silver-haired priest turned away. "We should go. There's nothing here."

"I'm right behind you." Wordsworth stepped forward and shut the door. He followed Abel back down the corridor, but he didn't really watch where he was going. His mind was still occupied with questions. That room…it obviously bothered him. But why would a child's room, even in an underground lab, upset Abel so much? Even though it's there, there's no real proof it was ever occupied. And, given the size of this place, it might simply be somewhere to leave the children of the scientists who worked here. There'd only been one bed and one desk, but still. He frowned as a new thought crossed his mind. He wasn't surprised to see that place. Even though he's obviously upset…he knew that room was there. But…if he's never been here before, then how would he have known? And if he was told about it…why be so troubled? He sighed again, then filed his questions away for further consideration. There's no point in worrying about it now.

The second corridor had fewer doorways, but several branching hallways and connecting rooms. There were the customary storage closets and maintenance rooms, but most of the other rooms looked to be labs of some sort. There was a well stocked medical facility, several other rooms with computers and monitors, and a room that was obviously made for putting equipment together. A lot of the rooms looked like they might have been offices. Even given the disrepair of the rooms, it was obvious that this had been a state of the art facility, with highly advanced technology. Abel stopped in the medical lab, looking through the drawers and cabinets. Unsure what his companion was looking for, William contented himself with an idle examination of the equipment. "This certainly was a well maintained place." He considered a dusty device perched in one corner. "I wonder what they used this place for."

"Genetic manipulations. This was a Genetics Research facility." The harsh tone in Abel's voice brought his head around. The other man was standing at the desk in the corner, his hands fisted on the surface and his head bowed. "They did experiments here on human beings." The suppressed anger in his voice made Wordsworth stiffen. But before he could ask another question Abel turned and strode out of the room, his frame tight with suppressed emotion.

They stopped in several of the labs as well. Wordsworth watched his companion with growing concern. Each room seemed to make Abel more tense, more angry. By the time the two of them returned to the main entrance and headed for the fourth door, the blue eyes were stormy, and his mouth was a thin slash, his jaw muscles so tight William feared he'd break teeth. He almost suggested they stop their exploration, but the restless energy of Abel's movements kept him from protesting.

The fourth corridor led down a long hallway. Abel's steps slowed as he moved forward, sudden hesitation in his strides. He seemed to be looking for something. Finally, he stopped at a door and pushed it open.

It was another monitoring room, though much smaller. Abel studied it a moment, then entered and carefully ran his hands over the console. He turned abruptly, and raced out of the room, heading down the corridor at a near run until he reached the end of the hallway. One swift movement uncovered the access panel for the door, and seconds later, it opened under his palm. He tensed, hesitated for a second, then dove inside. Wordsworth followed him.

He found Abel standing in a viewing chamber that opened onto a vast, circular room. The place carried the same dusty, disused feel as everywhere else. He glanced out into the open area. "How strange." He turned, and got a good look at Abel's expression. His face was nearly the same color as his hair, and the blue eyes were wide with shock and fear. "Abel…what's wrong? You look as though you're about to faint." He set his pipe in his pocket, and moved to take his compatriots shoulder in a careful grip. "Here. Sit down if you need to."

"No. It's not…I'm all right." Abel shuddered, taking a huge breath and releasing it slowly. "I'm sorry if I worried you. It's just…I…" He took another deep breath, shaking slightly.

"You saw something that upset you. More than the rest of this place." William nodded. "I understand. But Abel…what is it that has you so worked up?"

"I…these facilities…they were all equipped with launch vehicles. There's one in Albion as well." Abel's breathing was still heavy.

William frowned. "Yes. I recall. According to Lord Walsh, the room we found you in was actually a control center for that device. However, it was damaged beyond repair." He studied the other man's face. "Is that what has you so concerned? The similarity between here and the place where you were injured?"

"No. It's not that." Abel shook his head, and his gaze moved back to the smudged glass of the viewing port. "Unless I'm wrong, the rocket should be here. If it isn't…someone's taken it." His eyes closed. "I think someone has accessed some of the other rooms as well, but I can't be sure. But if that's true…"

"You think Rosenkreutz may have already come here and removed a few of the items." He held Abel's eyes with his own. "How bad would that be?"

"It depends on what they have." The blue eyes were dark with fear. "The rocket has weapons, and orbital capability, if they can get it working. They shouldn't be able to, not yet, but…" He swallowed again.

"All right. Let's not panic." Wordsworth studied the panel. "Why don't we go back to the Iron Maiden. Kate can patch us through to the Vatican, and you can report your suspicions." He pulled a watch from his pocket and considered it. "It's about time for us to check in anyway. Then we'll get some rest, and tomorrow, we can return here and get started on whatever else it is you need to do."

"I…there's no time." Abel still looked tense and pale.

"We still have plenty of time according to the schedule we set. Besides…" William tightened his grip on the other man's shoulders. "Coming to this place has obviously upset you badly. I don't know why, and I won't make you tell me if you truly don't want to. However, unless you're willing to give me an explanation, then I have to insist that you rest, and come to grips with whatever it is that's bothering you." His eyes were stern. "I can't afford to have you losing control of yourself here, Abel. And it's even more problematic if you collapse."

For a moment, he thought the other man would fight him. Abel's jaw tightened, and his hands clenched into fists. He stood, trembling faintly, madness glittering in the depths of his eyes. Then, abruptly, all the tension drained out of the slender frame. "All right. I understand." He stood for a moment longer, then broke free of William's grip, turned, and strode through the door.

Their journey back to the Iron Maiden was silent. Night had fallen. Abel had no trouble, and to William's surprise, the other man took his arm as they stepped out of the stairway, leading him carefully over the rubble, with the sure-footed steps of a man who could see in the dark. When they reached the ship, Abel released him, then followed behind him.

Kate had the communications channel set up when they boarded, and it was a matter of moments to initiate the call. Connecting to the Vatican took longer, and there was a great deal of static interference, but it was workable enough. After a moment, Caterina's image appeared on screen. "Professor Wordsworth. You have news?"

"I do. However, I'm afraid it's rather mixed. We've located the underground lab Father Nightroad and Lady Seth mentioned. However, it's not in the best of shape. I haven't seen any sign of habitation, but Father Nightroad believes he may have found a few troubling matters." He turned. "Abel…if you'd care to explain?"

"What?" The silver haired priest blinked. William caught a flash of melancholy in the thin face before it disappeared behind the tense mask. "Yes, of course." He stepped forward to face the screen. "I'm not certain, but I believe some equipment may be missing from one or two of the labs. Without a detailed inventory list, I can't know for certain. However, the bay that should have housed this facility's underground emergency rocket is empty, and there were faint signs that someone was there. I can't determine whether or not it was Rosenkreutz, but the possibility now exists that they have orbital space-flight capability."

Caterina sighed. "That isn't good news." She placed her head in one hand for a moment, then returned her gaze to them. "How soon can we know?"

"I'm not certain about the rocket. But I'll be able to start an inventory tomorrow on the equipment. I should know within a few days of anything is missing, and if there have been any files that were accessed." Abel's face was still tense, his voice a monotone.

"Very well. Keep me informed." Caterina studied her subordinate's face. "Abel, are you well?"

"I feel fine." Abel's voice didn't change, but Wordsworth saw him tense slightly.

"I see. I want you to allow Father Wordsworth to check you anyway. You don't look all right, even accounting for the state of this transmission." Caterina folded her hands.

Abel tensed further, but only bowed his head. "If you wish."

Caterina nodded. "Keep me informed on your progress, both of you. If you find anything certain, let me know immediately. In the meantime, we'll continue the search here."

Wordsworth nodded. After a moment, Abel spoke softly. "Has there been any word from Father Hugue?"

Caterina shook her head. "Not yet. He's having to work his way over on foot, and we've run into a lot of resistance. Even in this past week, there have been numerous acts of violence and panic breaking out. However, as soon as I know anything, we'll contact you. I promise, Abel. For now, it's best if you simply do the job you went to do."

He bowed his head. "I understand." The two of them locked gazes a moment, then Caterina reached forward, and the connection terminated. Abel stood looking at the empty screen for a moment, then turned to Wordsworth. "Caterina's orders…"

"Yes, of course. Kate, if you'll ready the infirmary. We'll do just a quick check this time, all right?" He turned, and Abel followed him down the hallways to the medical wing. Once they were there, he ran a quick scan of Abel's heart-rate and other vital signs, then took a syringe of blood. "All right, you're all done for tonight. Why don't you go get something to eat and some rest, while I process this?" He offered the other man a quick smile.

Abel didn't answer. He simply stood from the bed, rolled down the sleeve of his robes, and left the room without a backward glance. William watched a moment, then turned to the holographic form beside him. "Kate, please make sure he doesn't leave the ship tonight. And if you can, it would probably be a good idea to get some tea in him."

"All right. Is there anything else?" Kate's voice was concerned.

He shook his head. "No. I think it's best if we leave him alone for tonight. I didn't tell Caterina, but something about that lab upset him a great deal. He was angry, and I'm not certain why. The only thing I could gather was that it had to do with whatever work they were doing there. And that, for some reason, one of the residents of this lab was a child. But he won't tell me what it is that's on his mind yet, and I don't want him returning until he's had a few hours to think things over."

"Understood. I'll institute a lock on the outer door for the evening, to keep him here, and I'll see what I can do about feeding him. How soon will your analysis be completed?"

"Hmmm…since we've already calibrated the system, not more than two hours I think." He glanced at the machines, then stepped forward and began to work. "If you'd like to return then, I'll be more than happy to tell you anything I know."

"Roger that. I'll be back in two hours." Kate shimmered out of view. William smiled at the woman's efficiency, then turned back to his monitors.

Kate reappeared exactly on time, her face tense with frustration. "I've managed to keep Abel contained, but he's not eating again. I did suggest he rest, but he's ignoring me." She studied the screen. "Well?"

William frowned. "It's the same results he showed before, only they've increased by at least fifty percent." He stared at the screen. "The reason Abel isn't eating or sleeping as much is because he doesn't really need to anymore. If these readings are correct, the Crusnik have taken over almost his whole metabolism. He probably can run off of one light meal a day and perhaps an hour of sleep. Maybe even less than that."

"With the way he's running himself, that's probably a good thing." Kate sighed. "I can't say I like it, but…" She looked at his face. "What's wrong, Professor?"

"At the moment, the increased stamina is in Abel's favor. However, I am concerned about the long term effects. In this condition…" He frowned and tapped the screen. "The Crusnik are sustaining his body, but I'm not sure they can sustain his mind. And even like this, he can't keep up the pace indefinitely. I'm worried."

"What do you think will happen?"

"If we don't resolve this, Abel will keep pushing himself. Eventually, he'll either break down and his system will collapse, or…" He paused.

"Or what? Don't you dare go all silent on me, William." Kate faced him. "What will happen?"

"If we can't resolve this before Abel reaches his critical point, he may well go insane." He bowed his head. "He was concerned after his return that he might lose his mind and be taken over by the Crusnik. If he continues like this for too long, then that may be exactly what happens. And I can't even begin to guess the consequences, for us or for him"

Kate covered her mouth with her hands for a moment in silent horror. Then she lowered them. "Can you tell how long…?"

"Not even a guess. It all factors on Abel's mental state, and his endurance. I've never managed to pin down either one." He shook his head. "All we can do at this point is aid him as best we can, and pray that we find Esther before he loses himself." He stood silent for a moment. "Tomorrow, he and I will go back to the lab. Hopefully, he'll be calmer then. If I can, I'll try and see if I can find out what's bothering him. In the meantime, please keep in touch."

"I will." Kate nodded.

After a moment, the Professor sighed and switched off the terminal. "I'd best be off to bed. I have a feeling I'm going to be quite busy the next few days."

The next few days were exhausting. Abel was ready early, often before the sun rose. He spoke very little. Though he was courteous enough to lead his companion over the terrain, as soon as they descended into the labs, he seemed to lose track of the fact that he had company entirely. He simply headed for the computer room, brought up the monitors, and began working at a feverish pace, though what he was looking for, Wordsworth had no idea.

The first day, William attempted to assist with the computers. But the language they'd been written in wasn't one he knew very well. It was similar to Albinian text but not quite the same. Besides, after three hours of looking through the files, he had to admit he had no clue what was important. Worse, though he could tell some files were damaged, he didn't know enough to even guess what was missing, or how to repair it. He glanced at his companion, bent over his console with a fixed expression on his face. There was no doubt Abel knew, but there was a withdrawn, thoughtful air about him that suggested it was unwise to disturb him.

Wordsworth glanced at the monitors, then sighed and removed a pen and a pad of paper from a pocket on his cassock. He might not be much use looking at the computer files, but he could take an inventory of the lab. Whenever they got around to it, he'd be able to identify what was there and what wasn't. He took one last look at his companion, then turned and headed for the first hall to make notes.

The rest of the week fell into a pattern. He and Abel arrived, Abel would go straight to the console, and he would start off for the last place he'd done inventory. It was slow going, he wasn't sure what some of the devices in the labs were, and half the chemicals he had to simply spell out by name, but at least it was progress. He kept careful track of time, knowing that Abel was in no frame of mind to do so, and when he was finally exhausted, he'd mark the spot he stopped, and go back to his companion. Usually, Abel was in the exact same spot he'd left him, still working furiously. It took effort to move the silver haired priest, and when he did finally leave his station, it was in the same brooding melancholy he'd arrived.

Finally, the list was done. Wordsworth returned to the monitor room to find Abel hunched over the screen. For once, he wasn't typing, but he seemed to be studying something, a frown on his face. William moved to stand behind him. "What's this?"

Abel actually jumped slightly. "Professor."

William chuckled. "You know, I was actually beginning to wonder if you knew I'd come with you at all." He held up his notebook. "I've completed an inventory of the equipment and supplies here. If you can point me in the direction of some sort of list to match it up to, then I can check to see if anything is missing."

"Oh. Thank you." Abel blinked a few more times, his expression distracted. Then he rose and moved to another monitor and called it up. "If you can type the list in here, I'll run a program to cross-check it against the inventory list in the database." He sighed. "I've been checking the files, and I know that one hasn't been damaged."

"I see." William looked back down at the screen in front of them. "If you don't mind my asking, what's this one you're working on?"

Abel stiffened, and moved over. A touch of his hand darkened the panel. "It's just some files."

Wordsworth stared at him. "Do you really think I'll believe that? If it's not important, then what has you so upset?" He sighed, letting his concern and his hurt show in his face. "Do you really trust me so little, Abel?"

Abel flinched at the words. "I…it isn't that." He hesitated a few moments, then spoke softly, brokenly. "That file…it's the notes from the scientists who worked here. The record of their experiments, what they were doing and trying to do." His face twisted. "The files aren't complete, and they're damaged but…" He turned away, anguished guilt in his face. "The information here…this is what he's looking for, or part of it. I can't tell whether or not he's gotten it, but, even so…this isn't information that should still be in this world. As soon as I know how much he may know, I'm going to destroy this. All of it."

"I see. And you don't want me to know what's there." Wordsworth watched him a moment longer. "As you wish, my friend." He turned to his own monitor, but Abel's soft voice stopped him.

"Professor, please…William." The tone was hesitant. After a moment, the soft words came again. "It's not that I don't trust you. Please…understand that. But this information…it's too dangerous. I don't want you to be endangered for knowing these things. I don't…I don't want you to see this, this part of the past. And I…I promised. I promised someone very dear to me that I would protect them, and this is part of that. Please…I'm asking you to understand that." His voice stopped a moment. "I'm sorry."

There was no mistaking the pained sincerity of those words. William turned back around to see Abel standing with his head bowed. He considered the man before him a moment, then moved forward to lay a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right." He waited until the blue eyes met his again, then offered the other man a small smile. "I may not understand why you feel like this, but I do see that it's important to you. And if that's how you feel…" He shrugged. "Well, I've said it before, haven't I? I'm on your side, my friend, whatever you decide."

Abel stared at him a moment longer, something suspiciously like tears in his eyes. Then he bowed his head again. "Thank you."

William patted the tense shoulder kindly. "No need to mention it. Now then, let's both get back to work, shall we?" He turned settled at his computer, and began to type.

He made good progress on his list, but the conversation stayed with him. He couldn't help thinking about Abel's words. Someone he's trying to protect, by destroying the information here…it's a strange thing to say. This lab has been sealed for centuries, but he speaks as if he's talking about someone who's still alive. I understand that he might be concerned about letting go of information the Contra Mundi wants, but this whole thing seems to be more than that. It's as if…as if he's afraid of something else as well. As a scientist, he was curious. As a colleague and a friend, though….he sighed and set the thought in the back of his mind. I did promise not to pry too closely into this.

That night, after they reported in, he found himself unable to sleep. Abel's troubled face and words continued to chase themselves around his mind. Finally, he rolled out of bed with a sigh, put his robes on and headed for the hatch of the ship, hoping a quiet smoke and some night air would soothe his restless mind.

As he approached the passenger hatch, he was startled to see the door was already open. Frowning, he set his pipe back in his robes, and moved cautiously towards the door.

Abel stood outside, his tall slender form bathed in moonlight. He was still dressed, and William suspected he hadn't changed out of his robes yet. He relaxed and studied the figure in the moonlight, then stepped out onto the debris. "It's a little late to be working, isn't it Abel?"

Abel stiffened. "Professor…what are you…?"

"I was having trouble sleeping, and I thought a little night air and a smoke might clear my mind." He moved to stand beside his colleague, pulling his pipe from his pocket in a nonchalant manner. "Would you care to try one? A little tobacco can soothe your nerves. And I know you haven't been sleeping well lately."

"No thank you." Abel didn't move. William snuck a look at his companion's face. Abel was staring at the moons, and his face was tight with anguish. To William's shock, the thin silver track of tears glittered on the pale face, just visible in the light.

He turned away before it could become evident he'd seen them. With deliberate casualness, he lit his pipe, and stood breathing the fragrant tobacco smoke a few moments. Then, speaking softly, he addressed his companion. "Well, if you don't feel like sleeping, perhaps you'd like to talk to me."

Abel tensed. "I…" William held up a hand to stop his words.

"You've been tormenting yourself with something since the night Esther disappeared." He moved forward, looked into Abel's eyes, his own filled with compassion. "We've all seen it. I've no wish to invade your privacy, my friend, you should know that by now."

His companion took a deep, shuddering breath. "I…I know. But…"

William laid a hand on his shoulder. "You need to talk to someone, my friend. Right now, whatever the problem is, it's driving you to near insanity. You can't keep it bottled up like this. It's not good for you." He looked away. "I remember you were like this when Noelle passed away." He felt Abel stiffen under his hand. "I know you hate to lose any colleague, and that it always hurts you terribly. But you've been acting differently this time, as you were then. I didn't ask then, but did something happen between you and Noelle before her death?"

Abel shuddered. "Yes."

"And…did something similar happen between you and Esther?" William waited, but there was only silence. "I know the two of you argued, you've said as much. Does it have something to do with that?"

"Yes." Abel's voice was shaking slightly.

"I see." He held Abel a moment longer. "Well, I can't force you to tell me, but I think it would help you if you did." He caught Abel's eyes. "I will promise you this. If there's something you need to tell me to unburden yourself, I won't breathe a word of it to the others. Whatever secret you have, it will be safe with me."

Abel stood silent. His head bowed under the light of the moons, and he was trembling. William watched him a moment, then turned away. He was about to give up and leave when Abel's anguished voice spoke. "Esther she…I…" He stopped, then the words came out in a rush. "She said she loved me. And I…"

William turned just in time to see Abel fall to his knees. He dropped his pipe and moved quickly to where the other man knelt, laying one hand on Abel's shoulder. Abel shuddered under his touch, his body shaking with silent tears. "And something happened?"

"I…I couldn't…I couldn't answer her. I…Noelle…she told me that…and she died. And Lilith…she…I couldn't let Esther…" Abel's voice broke on the words. "I wanted to protect her. When she said that I…I told her…I couldn't answer her feelings. And I…what I said…it hurt her. It hurt her so badly. I told her…I told her she couldn't…she shouldn't love a monster like me." The bleak torment in his voice made William stiffen in sympathy. "I…didn't want to see her…didn't want to hurt her with this…this darkness in me." His hands clenched over his robes, as if he wanted to claw through his own flesh and rip something out.

"I see. And I'm suppose Esther didn't take it well." William kept his voice low and gentle, but his heart ached for the man before him, and the slender red-haired queen.

"No. She…she was hurt, and angry. She said…" Abel's voice broke again. "She said she hated me…she didn't want to see me…I couldn't…I couldn't even apologize properly." His hands clenched. "I…she struck me, and all I could do was stand there. I couldn't…I didn't even follow her when she ran from me…and I didn't…I didn't try."

William nodded. "Yes, well, in a situation like that…it probably seemed like the best thing. If I'd been in your shoes, I probably wouldn't have followed her either."

"But it's my fault." The silver-haired man shuddered again, sinking lower to the ground. "Now… the Contra Mundi…he has her…and Esther…" Another sob shook his frame, and he doubled over. William dropped to his knees and caught him before his head could strike the ground. "I hurt her…and now she's been taken…she probably feels I betrayed her…that I abandoned her."

William held his shoulders. "I can't deny that Esther was hurt. But Abel, I seriously doubt she'll believe you betrayed her or abandoned her. Esther's always been a fairly sensible young lady. I'm sure she'll understand what you meant." He held his companion a moment longer, then tightened his grip on the thin arms. "We'll get her back, Abel. And when we do, you can explain things to her properly. I'm sure she'll understand."

"I…I can't…I…I don't want her to see this…." He was shaking. "I…to explain…I don't want her to see that terrible side of me. And I…I don't want her…I don't want her caught up in this." He'd raised his head slightly, and William could see where he'd bitten his lip, hard enough to draw blood. "I…I didn't want her…to be trapped by this. And now…"

"We'll get her back. And I'm sure Esther can take care of herself."

"Not…not against him. I…that he took her…"

William stared at the anguished blue eyes. "Is that what's tormenting you?" He held Abel's gaze with his own. "You told Esther you couldn't love her…but you said that to protect her from the Contra Mundi…and from yourself? And now that he's taken her, you feel responsible?"

Abel took a shuddering breath, visibly trying to control himself. He seemed a little calmer now that he'd gotten the words out, but the agony in his eyes hadn't abated. "Yes."

"I see. Well then, right now, we need to focus on taking care of things here, and then going back to find Esther. I'm sure Caterina or the Inquisition will come up with something soon, and then you can go rescue her and tell her how you feel."

Abel bit his lip again. "I…I can't. I…"

"You care for her." William held his gaze. "You care for her so much, you were willing to tell her otherwise in order to keep her safe. That's the truth, isn't it?"

Abel flinched. "I…"

"It's not important for you to answer that question right now." William took his arms. "You didn't do anything wrong Abel. And if Tres is correct, which I believe he is, there was no way you could have prevented this from happening. They would have taken her one way or the other. And if Esther truly does feel rejected, then your words may yet serve their purpose."

Abel's eyes widened, mingled pain and hope in them. Then the pain flared deeper, and he looked away. "I…"

William stood, one hand on his companions shoulder. "Let's concentrate on getting Esther back. After that, you can decide what to do. In the meantime, trust Esther to take care of herself, and us to help you find her. All right?"

Abel remained kneeling a moment longer. Then he rose. The pain hadn't gone, but he seemed a little calmer. He nodded. "You're right. Thank you." Then he turned away and entered the Iron Maiden.

William stood watching with a concerned expression. Absently, he retrieved his pipe and knocked out the ashes, stowing it in a pocket. So…she did confess her love to him. And he…Abel, I do believe that you really love her. And you tried to protect her by pretending otherwise. It was a noble effort, my friend…but I fear it has only caused you more pain. He sighed. I can only pray we come up with some new information soon. Esther…I pray you stay well. May we find you soon.

Esther shifted nervously, standing at the wall of the North Tower. She felt restless, but she couldn't say why, and even the cool breeze and the smell of plants couldn't really soothe her mind. She leaned against the wall, staring out over the wasteland below.

She hadn't left her rooms except for the Contra Mundi's summons for the past two or three days. Though she didn't want to admit it, her last encounter with Dietrich had unnerved her more than a little. She shivered, remembering the feeling of being helpless in his grasp, and the evil in his smile.

She knew Sieglind would defend her, if needed. But she also knew that Dietrich was probably her best link to the outside world. He was evidently high-ranked within the Order, and knew a great deal. But…she remembered the dark interest, akin to lust in his eyes, and the way he'd spoken of her as his toy…or his puppet. Even knowing she needed to deal with him, she felt frightened and off balance.

Esther took a deep breath, willing herself to be calm. If she became too agitated, Sieglind would most likely have her taken to Kampfer. Though the Wizard was probably better than the Puppet Master, she couldn't shake her unease over the way Kampfer looked at her either. She frowned, remembering how he had referred to her blood as 'special'.

"Lady Esther." Esther spun around, to find Kampfer standing behind her, an amused expression on his face. He bowed. "Pardon me. But Mein Herr has invited you to eat with him, and he requested that I fetch you and bring you to him."

Esther took a breath and forced her heart rate to slow. "I see. Do I need to change?"

"Your servant has already gone ahead to make the necessary arrangements. I suggest you hurry." He smiled.

"I'm coming." Esther stepped forward, trying not to show her apprehension as she moved toward him. She knew she must not have succeeded, because the amusement on his face increased.

He waited until she was close, then took her hand and bowed over it, the same gesture he'd used when being Isaac Butler. "You've no need to be concerned on my behalf, Lady Esther."

She jerked her arm free and stood staring at him. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that, after what you did?" Her hand slid down to the healed scar on her arm.

"I see. So you're still concerned about that." Isaac shrugged. "I will admit to getting carried away, but…you do have such unique blood. In fact, I'd say that even the little he drank has been immensely helpful to Mein Herr. But then, that doesn't come as much of a surprise, considering your bloodline."

"My bloodline?" Esther stared at him.

"You mean that Lord Walsh didn't tell you?" A thin smile quirked the corner of his mouth. "That was certainly careless of him." He stepped forward, brushing a hand across her throat before she could back away. "The royal line of Albion is one of the last Pure Blood Lines in existence." He studied her. "Actually, I'm really rather surprised. Rumor has it that the monarchs of Albion are frequently blood bonded to the House of Manchester. In all likelihood, if your Lord Walsh was at all close to the previous queen, then he would have drunk her blood himself. And he really never mentioned any of this?" Esther didn't answer, but she couldn't keep the shock from her face. Kampfer shrugged. "It's really only a guess, though. Perhaps he didn't form that bond with the previous monarch. But really, it would be a waste."

Esther flinched. "I…I don't understand. What…what are you talking about?"

"Well, I'd explain, but I don't think we have time. Mein Herr is waiting for you." The cool smile on his face told her it was a lost cause. "I'll escort you to your rooms to get ready." He caught her expression. "You don't have to worry. Mein Herr made it very clear that you are not to be harmed, and I have no intention of disobeying, even for that."

"I see. Thank you." Esther stared at him a moment more, then turned and strode down the staircase.

Kampfer followed her to the door of her rooms, then bowed her inside. "I'll be waiting here for you. Please do try to be prompt, Lady Esther."

She didn't make any reply, simply shut the door in his face. She wanted nothing more to collapse on the couch and think about what he'd said, but Sieglind was standing in the doorway to the bathroom, already waiting for her. "Mistress, your bath is ready."

Esther frowned, then pushed the thoughts out of her mind. There'd be time to think of what Kampfer had said later. She took a deep breath, then reached up to undo the buttons on her dress. Instantly, the Doll was beside her, helping her out of her clothing. Then she was moving toward the bathroom, sinking into the hot water of the tub. Esther sighed, allowing the warmth to soak away some of the tension in her muscles. But as much as she wanted to relax, she knew Kampfer was waiting for her. Despite his show of politeness, he'd probably come in to check on her if she didn't get ready fast enough. She sighed again, and reached for the soap.

Forty-five minutes later, she was ready to go. her hair had been cleaned, dried and brushed, and Sieglind had helped her into her gown for the evening. Esther looked into the mirror, frowning at the outfit as the Doll adjusted the folds.

Her outfit this evening was green, a vivid emerald green with a darker underskirt. It was mostly unadorned, save for the copper and golden V-belt separating the top from the bottom. She had to admit, she liked the colors, and the golden disks surmounted in the wide copper fabric looked beautiful. What bothered her was the top itself.

The green top, the same shade as the skirt, was strapless again. The only thing holding the top up was a wide forest green choker with emeralds sewn on. From there, the front of the gown was cut low, past her breasts and almost to her belly button, so that it looked more as if someone had simply taken two long triangles of fabric and sewn them to the skirt. About five inches above the belt, the green fabric came together and wrapped snugly around her waist. It was formfitting, and though not truly uncomfortable, Esther felt embarrassed. She'd never worn a gown so low cut, or that showed quite so much of her body. And the way the dress was cut, she couldn't wear a bra properly either. Though the dress itself provided subtle support, she felt uneasy and somewhat undressed. She hadn't worn something so exposing since the one mission in Carthage, and she wasn't sure that even it was this revealing. She fingered the choker around her neck, then straightened her shoulders. The dress might be uncomfortable for her, but it would also serve as a distraction, somewhat. She let Sieglind adjust one last crease, then turned and strode to the door, pulling her dignity around her.

Kampfer was standing outside. To her shock, Dietrich was with him. She froze, stiffening. Dietrich looked over, and slow lazy smile touched his face. "Well…this is certainly a change." He shook his head, gazing at her with something akin to admiration. "I never would have guessed you'd be quite so beautiful. You really should get out of those work clothes you like more often."

Esther swallowed once. "If you'll excuse me, I believe I'm expected elsewhere."

"That is true." Kampfer straightened from where he leaned against the wall. "Mein Herr is expecting the lady for dinner. You'll have to discuss her appearance with her some other time, Puppet Master."

"Of course. I wouldn't want Mein Herr to be kept waiting." He smiled. "I'll let you go for now, but I do hope you'll speak with me again sometime, Esther. And I'd love to see you in one of these dresses myself." He offered her one more cold smile, then sauntered away.

Esther took a deep breath, to calm her racing heart. Then she turned formally to Kampfer. "I'm ready to go."

"Well then, I suppose I'll be a proper gentleman and escort you." He held out his hand. Esther shook her head quickly, and he smiled. "Very well then. Right this way." He turned and began to walk toward Cain's quarters, Esther just a step behind. At the door, he bowed, then held it open for her. "Right this way. You'll find everything is already prepared. Have a nice evening, Lady Esther."

Esther swallowed hard once more, then stepped through the door, hearing it click shut behind her. She turned, and spotted Cain.

He was sitting, lounged loosely in a chair just past the center of the room. he was dressed all in black this time, he outfit oddly reminiscent of what Dietrich had worn at Saint Matthias, and his golden hair fell loosely down his back. A small table, clearly meant for no more than two people was at his side, with place settings for two already laid out. As Esther took a step forward, he tilted his head, then rose from his seat. "Lady Esther. I trust Isaac delivered my message properly?"

"Yes. He said you'd asked for me to join you." She took a step nearer.

"Yes. I did say I'd invite you to dinner." He eyed the food with a mild expression of bored amusement. "As a Crusnik, I don't really require solid nourishment. However, I did think it would be a good chance for us to discuss my dear brother Abel some more." He gestured. "You should have a seat."

"I…" She bit her lip, then decided to stick with court protocol for a situation like this. It seemed the safest. She moved over to the chair and settled into it. "Thank you." She couldn't bring herself to call him Mein Herr, or my lord. And she certainly didn't want to call him by name.

Cain waited politely, then settled back into his chair with a fluid grace that almost made her envious. "Help yourself, please." He gestured.

"Thank you." Esther reached forward, took some meats and bread, and a little wine as well as some vegetables. She'd just started to reach for her fork when she realized that he hadn't gotten anything. "Are you…going to join me?"

"Hmm…well, I suppose there's no harm in it." He reached forward, and lifted a few things onto his plate. "02 always was one to do justice to a meal. I never really got into it. So tell me…does Abel still eat a lot? He used to eat three or four helpings of whatever was available. Even military rations."

Esther swallowed. She considered avoiding the question, but then thought better of it, remembering the odd sense of real emotion she'd gotten from him last time. "Yes. He still eats a lot. And he puts far too much sugar in his tea. Father…he seems to like sweet things, but he'll eat anything."

Amusement and affection entered the depths of the empty gaze. "That does sound like Abel. He always did have a sweet tooth. Lilith used to say it was unhealthy for him, but I don't think he ever listened to her. But then, we never really got much in the way of sweets, so I don't see how it could possibly have been a problem. I suppose it's different now."

Esther blushed. "Well…he's always putting sugar in his tea. But other than that…I'm not so sure." She glanced up, remembering what Abel had said. "But Father…he told me once that he ate like that because of the Crusnik."

He gave a soft, amused laugh. "Yes well…Abel and I may have the same genetic code, but we don't always have the same temperaments. Abel…he's really gotten rather picky about what he eats. If he simply ingested the proper nutrients, he wouldn't have to eat quite so much. After all…a Crusnik can be sustained for quite a while on a single feeding. I usually have Isaac take care of the matter for me."

Esther froze, feeling ice in her veins. "You mean…you…"

He chuckled. "There's no need to look so alarmed. There are plenty of willing donors, after all. The Ice Witch for one. Sometimes, even Isaac gives me a little of his." He shrugged, and his face turned thoughtful. "Although, I must admit…yours tasted different. It didn't even taste like a normal Terran's. I found that very intriguing."

Esther swallowed. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm afraid I'm nothing very special." She looked down at her plate, her appetite fast disappearing.

"Hmm…well, I suppose it doesn't matter." He shrugged again. They sat in silence for a few moments, and then he spoke. "So tell me…what is it exactly that my dear brother Abel does in the Vatican? I know he's been getting in my way quite a lot recently, and he seems to have quite a lot of trouble. Isaac told me he worked for that young Lady Cardinal. So tell me, how does 02 spend his time these days?"

Esther stiffened. To give herself time to think, she lifted a bite of food to her mouth, and chewed. She knew she shouldn't tell him much. She fought for something neutral to say, that wouldn't give away too much information. "Father…he does work in the Vatican. He's part of the AX division, for Lady Caterina." That was common knowledge, and Dietrich and Isaac had probably already told him that. "He…Father does whatever Cardinal Sforza and the others ask him to, I guess."

"I see. I'd heard Abel got into some sort of trouble though. Dietrich's been picking fights with him." There was amusement in his eyes again. "Abel always did like a good fight."

"I…that's not true. Father Nightroad, he always tries to avoid fighting." Esther set her glass down. "I've never seen him deliberately enter a conflict unless he had no choice."

"Hmmm…well, I suppose it's part of the influence that woman had on him." Cain's voice had a distant, almost thoughtful quality to it. "Lilith never did like it when Abel fought. But Abel…he seems to need that sort of thing. That's why I thought it would be all right, to go ahead and continue our plans, even though Abel seems to have changed his mind. He's probably just looking for a good fight." He regarded her for a moment. "So…did Dietrich and 02 really come to blows?"

"I…well, I don't know about that. I…I know that they looked like they might have been fighting, but by the time I got there…they weren't. And then…" She stopped short of mentioning Seth's involvement.

"Ah, yes. Puppet Master mentioned that. 03 got involved." He smiled. "Abel always was my favorite. But 03, she does have a great deal of fire to her. She's a lot like Abel in that regard. She has a temper. It's nice to know she hasn't changed. I heard she and my brother were getting back together somewhat, and I suppose it's a good thing. After all, 02 was always rather fond of her."

Esther nodded her silent agreement, and turned her attention back to her food. She wasn't hungry, but she wasn't sure how to take her leave of this man. Fortunately for her, he seemed to be staring off into space, recalling something. Esther let him, content to continue her meal. When she finally finished the last bite on her plate, she set the fork down, and stood. "Thank you."

"Oh, are you finished already." He looked at her plate, then rose smoothly from his feet. "Well…it was interesting having you in here after all. Even if we didn't discuss much about 02. And Isaac does seem to be right about you. You really are a rather pretty young woman, and I can see why 02 and 03 like you." He smiled at her.

She swallowed. "I appreciate the compliment, but I…I'm not sure Father Nightroad cares for me at all."

He shook his head. "Well, my dear…if Abel didn't feel something, he wouldn't come back for you." He considered her a moment. "Perhaps you remind him of Lilith." He shrugged, and she hoped he missed the flash of hurt that she knew crossed her face. "Either way…it seems very entertaining to have you here." He waved a hand at her. "Perhaps we'll have dinner again some evening." He turned to stride back toward the inner rooms, dismissing her.

She didn't see quite what happened next. One moment, he was walking towards the connecting door. Then, without warning, he fell, staggering and collapsing forward onto his chest, onto his face with a low muffled gasp. His hair fell forward, hiding his face. For a moment, she couldn't see what had happened to him. Then he shifted slightly, and she felt herself go stiff with shock.

His right leg was lying on the floor a few feet from the rest of him, about where he'd stumbled. Though there was no blood gushing from him or the leg, she could see where it had detached from the rest of his body. A small amount of black liquid pooled on the floor near both his leg and his hip.

Esther froze, her mind working furiously. Almost involuntarily, her eyes flickered toward the doorway beyond his prone form. She knew the opposite room held windows, and she thought at least one of them might open to the outside. If she moved fast, she might have an opportunity to escape. Incapacitated as he was, there was a chance he'd be unable to pursue her, and no one would raise the alarm until they came to check on him, or until he managed to move enough to summon help.

It was a tempting thought. Esther even started to take one step toward the door. But the rustle of her skirts brought her back to reality. She was on the third floor, and getting down would be difficult. Worse, the dress she wore was completely unsuitable for travelling or running in. She had no food except what she could take off the table, and no way to carry it. She also had no weapons. Even if she managed to get out, she'd not be able to go far, and if they caught her, she'd never get a second chance. She sighed and put the thought away from her.

Her other option was to simply leave. She could just leave him here. Eventually, Isaac or one of the others would come to check in with him, and they could help him. She turned, and was about to take her leave when he spoke. "Really, Isaac has gotten rather careless. I'm going to have to have a talk with him about that." She turned just as he shifted again, and the long golden hair fell away from his face.

His voice was light, but the expression on his face was one of pained amusement, with more pain than laughter. Esther froze. His eyes were awake, alive as she'd only glimpsed them before, when discussing Abel. The sight shook her, but even worse was his startling resemblance to Abel. She'd seen that expression on his face all too often, and it always sent a stab of pain through her heart. Save for his hair color, she might have been looking at Abel, once more suffering from a painful wound.

Conflicting emotions slammed through her like a tidal wave. She hated him, knew she hated this man she called the Enemy of the World. All her instincts demanded that she simply leave him alone. But the face, so like Abel's, shook her to the core. Besides, despite everything, she'd been raised not to abandon someone in need. The emotions and pain on the thin features were too real for her to ignore.

She stood for a moment more, conflicting feelings in her heart. Then, almost unwillingly, she moved forward and knelt at his side. "Here. Let me help you."

Cain blinked at her. "Lady Esther?" Through the pain, she saw surprise, and a glitter of ironic amusement. "I thought you hated me, for what I did to my brother."

"I do. I hate what you've done to Father Nightroad, and to Albion and the Vatican." She looked away from him. "But even so…I was taught not to abandon someone who truly needs help. And even though I consider you an enemy…God demands that we show mercy, and Father Nightroad…he gave me that as well. He showed me how to be kind. So did Bishop Laura, the woman who raised me."

"Hmmm…well, I don't think Abel would approve."

"That doesn't matter now." She bit her lip. "When I was in Istvan…I hated Count Gyula, for killing Bishop Laura. She was the closest thing I had to a mother. But in the end…Father Nightroad…he urged me to forgive him. And if I hadn't listened to him…" She trailed off wondering what had possessed her to tell this man such personal information. She shook her head, shaking away the memories. "Anyway, it isn't my nature to take advantage of a fallen enemy like this, no matter what the circumstances. I know I'll probably regret it later, but…just this once, I'll help you. What do you need?"

Pain glittered in his eyes. "Well, I suppose I need to see if the leg can be reattached."

"Here." She reached out, laid her hands on his shoulders, and helped him to turn onto his back, so that he was sitting propped on his elbows. She'd always known his hands were cool, but his chest was surprisingly warm. "What do I need to do?"

"Well, you might trying bringing me my leg." Amusement and pain flared in the blue eyes. "I should be able to force it to re-attach. It would be easier than trying to re-grow it."

Esther nodded, then stood and moved over to the severed limb. Despite the lack of blood, her stomach suddenly rebelled. She swallowed hard, forcing her dinner to stay where it was, then reached down and picked up the limb. It was cool, and soft. She swallowed again, then shifted it closer to him, to where the stump of his leg ended just above the knee. The black liquid flowed with her, like some bizarre form of glue or something.

Cain watched her, then pushed himself upright and took the limb from her, pressing it firmly to his body. "There now. Really, Isaac should have warned me. But still…back you go." His voice was soft.

The black liquid rippled around the edges of the wound. Then with a soft sucking noise, the edges of the wound sealed, as if it had never been. Esther fought the urge to gag. She looked up, in time to see the pain on Cain's face. Before she could think about it, she moved forward. "I'm sorry. Does that hurt you?"

"Well, it does hurt quite a bit. Still…I'm rather used to it. After all, I've been doing this since Abel and I had our last major fight. I suppose it's nothing." The animation was fading from his eyes, leaving them with their characteristic amused emptiness.

Esther swallowed again. Father Nightroad…he caused this? Because of their fighting? Does that mean…does Father Abel suffer this too? She'd seen no signs of it, but that didn't mean anything. After all, she'd not known Abel was hurt in Carthage until Petros told her. She shook the thought away. "Do you need anything else?"

"Well, if you'd be kind enough to escort me to my tank. I'll call Isaac and have him come take care of it."

She remembered his comment about a lady in a man's bedchamber, but this was different. "All right."

Working carefully, she levered him off the floor. He leaned on her a little, though less than she expected, and together the two of them staggered into the other room. She led him to the large tank, and helped him lean against the stairs. "There. You should be all right now."

"I'm fine, Lady Esther." He shook his head. "You should leave now. Isaac will be by in a while. In the meantime, I'm sure I can manage." He waved a hand. "We'll talk more later." He turned away from her, and began to casually strip off the shirt he wore.

Esther turned and exited quickly, trying to keep her face from heating up. It wasn't until she'd left the suite and was halfway back to her rooms, with Sieglind as her silent shadow, that she even dared to think about what had just happened.

She'd just helped the Enemy of the World. She knew who he was, and she didn't understand what she'd done, or why. Perhaps it was simply that he resembled Father Nightroad. Perhaps it was the pain in his face. She remembered how his eyes had seemed so alive, as though he was really there for the first time since she'd met him. She'd seen brief flashes of genuine personality when they discussed Abel, but this had been different. Even in her mind, she felt as though she'd been dealing with Cain, not the Contra Mundi.

She entered her apartments, still pensive. She barely noticed as Sieglind helped her out of the dress and into her nightgown. Her mind was still spinning. Why? Why did I help him? And why…why did it feel as though he were someone else? And Father…I don't know how much of what he says is true. I know…I know you've been hurt…but I can't picture you being violent or cruel. And Lilith…did you really only care for me because you thought I resembled her? The thought made her heart ache. Father, I…I don't know what to think anymore. She was still trying to sort things out when she fell asleep.