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.

33. Twenty Seven: Pt 01: Needs

(AN) AUTHOR'S NOTES: My deepest apologies everyone, many things on my editor's side more than mine this time happened with her to which I understood and waited patiently by on when this chapter would be done. Unfortunately this chapter is the same as chapter ten a two part chapter and unfortunately unlike chapter ten in which I had both parts ready to upload part two of chapter twenty seven is not ready yet. My editor assures me before or by this weekend it will be indefinably so I trust and keep her word on that.

I happy most of you guys are getting more excited with the last three updates that have been more recent than this one, and to the reviewer named Kata the action is going to come back but please be patient there is reason why as I have explained before in the last few chapters why some chapters are more slower with action than others. Also to let you guys know beforehand when you read the chapterAbel says 'I'm fine' a lot here, but that's just the way he is...he's a crappy liar, so it's the best he can come up with when he's pretending not to be having trouble.

(*) As always many special thanks to my editor and co-partner in helping finally get this story off the ground and back burner dragonwriter24cmf. So far we have been getting by with this fan fiction by bit by bit with story and with you guy the fans that love reading each new chapter that comes out. Thanks to everyone, I appreciate your support through this 100% everyone. Keep the constructive criticisms, outgoing comments and reviews coming in.

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.

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 Twenty Seven – Needs: Part 01

Esther woke feeling warm and comfortable. She was lying on her back, her head and shoulders firmly supported by something warm, solid, and slightly yielding. She blinked a few times, trying to get her bearings, and a small puff of warm air blew across her cheek. She turned her head, and smiled.

Abel lay beside her, his face only inches from her own. Esther realized after a moment the warm support was Abel's left arm. He'd left it curled under her head, but bent his elbow just enough that his hand was providing support to her injured shoulder. He lay curled on his side, his eyes closed, his breathing soft and slow with sleep. His right arm crossed his side to where his elbow bent, curling the arm in front of him, around his waist. He reminded her of a cat, stretched out for a nap. His silver hair was still tied back, but it had become somewhat disordered, and he'd taken the glasses off at some point.

Esther lay still. She didn't feel like getting up just yet, and she certainly didn't want to disturb him. Even asleep, she could see the lines of strain and tiredness that touched his face. And there was a slight gauntness to his face, silent testament to his lack of both food and sleep over the past few days. Dark shadowed circles ringed both closed eyes, extremely visible against his pale skin.

Esther studied him a moment, worried. But he looked so peaceful, she found herself relaxing. She settled a little closer to his arm, staring at him.

She'd noticed when he'd first taken her to Rome that he was handsome, almost beautiful. The silver hair, the light skin and the blue eyes should have made him look somewhat wraith-like, especially in contrast to the black robes he wore. And yet, there was a sort of vitality about him and vibrant energy, even when he was so tired, that shone through. His skin was pale, but weather and frequent embarrassment added color to it, and even at rest, the silver hair somehow brought out the faint rose tint in his complexion. The blue eyes were so light they could have been icy, but his expression always carried so much emotion, it was almost impossible to see that. Rather than a wraith, he somehow reminded her of a flame, the heart of lightning, bright and pure and breath-takingly wondrous, even though she knew he could be dangerous as well. And though she worried about the lines that creased his face, the signs of suffering and sorrow, they added a human element to his face that she found as entrancing as everything else about him.

Esther blushed, realizing what she was thinking. But...somehow, whether it was because of Dietrich, or Cain, or simply that night at the ball when she'd seen him dancing, the Lord of Magic, she'd begun to notice his physical qualities more. Her eyes drifted lower, to the wide shoulders, and the slender frame. Though he was fully dressed, she'd seen him once or twice without a shirt, or after a fight, when his shirt had been so slashed up that it was more rags than clothing. She knew that he was in good physical condition, lean and fit, with well-defined muscles on his abdomen, chest and arms. Lower than that...

Esther felt her face heat darker. Why? Why would I be thinking about him like this? It's true...I do love him. I care about Abel...a great deal. Maybe even more than I did for Bishop Laura. But...why would I be thinking about things like that at a time like this? I mean...even if...it's not as if we were...like that. Even though he's lying right next to me, it's just comfort. I was cold and Abel is...taking care of me. I know he cares for me, but...surely...he'd never think about things like that. So why...?

The soft creak of her bedroom door startled her out of her embarrassed thoughts. It also startled Abel awake. He blinked a few times, then turned scarlet and sat up, turning to face the door.

Virgil stood there, framed by the doorway. At Abel's movement, he bowed slightly. "Your Majesty. Father Nightroad."

Esther felt herself blushing. Beside her, Abel was a color to rival the Albion flag. He turned crimson from the collar up, and swung his legs over the side of the bed so fast she almost didn't see him move. Within seconds, he was standing, reaching for his outer cassock and the crucifix. He caught them in his hands, almost dropped them, then bowed clumsily to Virgil. "Lord Walsh." His gaze slipped to Esther, his face still red. "If you would excuse me, Lord Walsh...Miss Esther..." He said nothing more, but ducked his head once more and almost bolted past Virgil out of the room, still carrying his shoes and his cross.

Virgil watched him go, then turned back to her. "Your Majesty. I trust you slept well?"

"Well, yes." Esther could still feel the heat in her face. "About Father Nightroad. I...I had a nightmare, and I was cold, and he...well, I asked him to help me. He was just...offering me some comfort. So...it really...he didn't...he didn't do anything improper."

"I understand." Esther looked up, startled, and a small smile crossed the normally stern face. "I have a great deal of respect for Father Nightroad. I do not believe him to be that kind of man who would act dishonorably. Nor do I believe he would do anything in any way to risk your life or reputation, Majesty." He hesitated a moment. "However, that being said..." He stopped, then spoke softer, looking just over her head. "I...am aware that even royalty has...feelings. And needs. As you may know, the Crown Prince, your late Father, was also...generous in his feelings. I believe he was truly devoted to his wife, however...prior to their marriage..."

Esther nodded, wondering where the speech was going. "I know. He had a relationship with one of the women in court. That's how Colonel Spencer, I mean, Mary...that's how she was born right?" She flushed. "I remember, it came up when we arrived to help with considerations of who would inherit the throne. We didn't know I was the heir, and Father Wordsworth talked about it. How she was probably the best candidate, but she wasn't being seriously considered because...because she was...illegitimate, and he didn't think the Albion nobility would accept her, even if she was a great military leader. Plus...Lady Jane outranked her, and she was a full cousin, so..."

"Indeed. That was the situation before I discovered you. However, I can safely say that I would have preferred to support Lady Mary over Lady Jane, had the question arisen." His pale eyes met hers. "However, we now have you, and I believe both Colonel Spencer and I feel that you are well worth giving our service to."

"I see. But...if you don't mind my asking...what brought all this up?" Esther looked down at her blankets.

Virgil sighed. "I wished to explain..." He sighed again. "As I have said, I respect Father Nightroad. I consider him to be an admirable man. I am aware that he cares for you, and that you share his feelings in the matter. If you wish to have his company, I have no objection." There was another of those delicate pauses. "You have been through several trials of late, Majesty. I think no one will object, should you seek comfort from a trusted friend while your wound heals. And, given that he was assigned as your guard, and knows something of tending injuries...I think no one will question that he is here beside you, to tend to you. The servants already know that he watches over you. So...I think you need not be concerned, nor should he." His light gaze met hers. "I do not think that ill will come of this."

Esther swallowed. She wondered if Virgil knew what she'd been thinking of, before he'd entered, but it didn't matter. She nodded. "Thank you for telling me. I know...I'm sure he was concerned that someone would think...something inappropriate had occurred."

"I had that thought as well, Majesty." The faint smile came again, then he moved to her bedside. He helped her sit up, then carefully unwrapped the bandage. He examined the wound a few moments, then re-wrapped it. "It seems to be healing well. How do you feel?"

Esther smiled. "I feel much better. Although, I admit, I do feel a bit restless. After all, I've been lying here, sleeping, while everyone else has been taking care of Albion. I feel like there's something more I should be doing."

Virgil smiled. "I assure you, that is not the case. You need only concern yourself with gaining your strength. There will be time enough for you to catch up." He studied her a moment, consideration in his eyes. "I believe you should rest for at least one more day, perhaps two. After that...I would like to consult with our own physician and Lady Seth, but after that, you may be able to return to work. If Lady Seth agrees, then I will begin bringing you reports tomorrow, or the day after. If you feel you can manage, it would be of great help if you could look them over and provide your input."

Esther nodded. "I understand. It's just..."

Virgil met her eyes, then spoke slowly. "If Your Majesty truly wishes...I think perhaps there would be no harm in a short trip through the Palace. It would reassure the court, as well as the servants, about your recovery. However, I would insist for today that you take a wheel-chair, and be accompanied by someone."

"Of course. That's very sensible." Esther smiled, feeling relieved. "I think it sounds perfect. Did you have someone in mind?"

"Indeed." A wry smile, faint but still very apparent, touched his face. "While I confess most of us will be busy, I believe Father Nightroad will be available to assist you. If Your Majesty wishes, you may visit the garden as well. Perhaps the sun would do you good."

"I'd like that a great deal. Please, would you let Father Nightroad know?" Esther felt a slight blush stealing across her cheeks, and knew Virgil saw it as well, but there was nothing to be done about it.

"I shall. And with your permission, I will also request Lady Seth come to check on you before our morning meeting. While I think this would be beneficial, I would prefer to have her opinion."

"Of course." Esther smiled, then flushed a little as her stomach growled audibly.

Virgil didn't even raise an eyebrow. He simply bowed. "I will inform Father Nightroad and his sister of your plans. If you will, I shall return shortly with your breakfast." Esther nodded, and he disappeared.

As the door shut, Esther settled back against the pillows. The sunlight filtering through the room told her it was morning, and not very early at that. Though the warmth from the light didn't reach her, it was comforting none the less. She watched the sunbeams a moment, then turned her attention to herself.

She felt reasonably well, but the shoulder was a dull ache, and she could still feel a slight haziness that she associated with powerful painkillers. She shifted, then made an experimental attempt at shifting the arm. She could twitch her fingers, and bend the elbow a little, but she couldn't move the shoulder at all. Her first attempt felt like fire was shooting through her. Esther winced, biting her lip to stop an involuntary cry. This is...this is bad. How long...how long am I going to be like this?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening once again. Virgil stepped into the room, pushing a small food cart. He stopped almost at once, looking at her with concerned eyes. "Majesty?" He shifted then, moving quickly to her side and supporting her. "Is something wrong?"

Esther managed a wan smile. "It's nothing really. Only...I tried to move the shoulder, and, well..."

"I see." Careful fingers brushed across the bandages. "I understand the frustration of being injured, however, I think it best if you leave the shoulder immobile, for at least another two or three weeks." His eyes were compassionate as he regarded her. "The wound needs to heal further before we attempt anything." One hand clasped her uninjured shoulder lightly, offering silent encouragement. Esther met his gaze, and a small, kind smile curled one corner of the stern mouth. "Rest assured, Majesty. Both Lady Nightroad and the Royal Physician are certain you will completely recover. It simply requires time. That is all."

"I see." Esther relaxed a little. She looked away. "Three weeks..."

"Yes." Virgil's voice turned solemn once again. He stood beside her a moment longer, then turned back to the laden cart. "Now then, if you would care for some breakfast..."

Esther nodded, shifting to straighten while Virgil placed the lap tray and began setting plates and food on it. It was a light breakfast, cereal and fruit and some yogurt, along with a glass of juice. Esther waited until he'd finished, then began to eat the cereal. She'd taken a few bites when realization hit her. She stopped, looking up at the man who stood beside her. "Lord Walsh..."

"Yes? Is there something you need?"

Esther looked away, feeling confused. "No. It's just...I just realized...you've been tending to me for the past few days, and I get the feeling that you and Colonel Spencer and the others...and well...I'm sure you have your own duties. So..."

"You are concerned that you take us from them?" Virgil nodded. "Please, rest assured. There is no problem."

"I understand. But...I know...there are servants...so...I was wondering..." Esther flushed, uncertain how to ask what she wanted to without sounding rude or ungrateful. "I mean, it's not that I don't appreciate your efforts, but...I guess I'm just a little surprised, that you would be taking care of me. That's all."

"I see." Virgil looked away for a moment. "I will confess, there is much to be done. However, that is one reason that Father Nightroad was designated your primary assistant. As for the rest..." He paused a moment, then spoke slowly. "Given Your Majesty's current state, and the talents some of the Order possess, it was thought that perhaps it would be better if only those of us central to the Alliance were to tend to you. Also, as you may recall, servants tend to be somewhat...inclined to gossip, particularly when they are concerned. For that reason as well we thought this would be the best approach. However, if you wish, I will summon your maids. I had requested that the steward give them a holiday, however..."

"No. It's all right." Esther smiled. "It's really all right. I was just curious." She gave him a quick, small grin. "After all, it is a little unusual to see someone like you doing servants work."

An answering smile touched Virgil's mouth. "I do not mind. And as I stated before, the Counts of Manchester are used to serving in whatever capacity is asked of them." He looked away, his gaze going distant for a moment. "I used to serve the late queen when she was ill as well."

"Oh." Esther couldn't think of anything to say to that. Instead, she reached for the spoon, and took another bite of cereal. "Thank you."

She finished breakfast while Virgil stood beside her in silence, offering help as needed and clearing the plates as she finished. He'd brought enough food for seconds, including bread and butter. Esther discovered her appetite had returned with a will. While she didn't eat everything on the cart, she managed the bowl of cereal, two pieces of bread, and apples and grapes and strawberries with the yogurt. Virgil was just clearing away the last of the dishes when there was a knock, and Seth entered the room.

Seth grinned as she shut the door behind her. "Hey Esther."

"Good morning." Esther smiled and gestured to the cart. "Would you like some breakfast? I think I left some."

Seth chuckled. "It's fine. I actually ate a bit ago, with Abel." A mischievous grin crossed her features. "Honestly, I haven't seen him that embarrassed for a while. I asked him how you were doing, and he turned quite red." A giggle escaped as she met Esther's gaze. "You're going to have to tell me what you did, to get Abel so worked up. Who knows? I might like to try it some time. After all, it does seem to be good for him."

Esther blushed. "Well...I didn't do anything really. It's just...I was having trouble sleeping, and he...well, I asked him to help me relax, that's all. But then we both seem to have fallen asleep, and..." She stuttered to a halt, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.

Seth laughed again. "You don't have to worry. As I said, it's good for Abel." Her gaze shifted to Virgil. "I suppose you don't have too many objections, or you wouldn't have suggested having him escort Esther around today."

"I have none." Blue eyes met emerald, and Esther could see the glitter of amusement in Virgil's eyes. Then he turned to her. "Majesty. If you'll excuse me."

"Of course. Thank you." Esther nodded, and Virgil bowed himself out, taking the food cart with him.

Seth stood watching the door for a moment, then turned. "Well then, if you've finished eating, I'd like to take a look at that shoulder of yours."

"Of course." Esther shifted away from the pillows a little bit. "I'd appreciate it."

Seth moved forward and began unwrapping the bandage. After a few moments, a strange expression crossed her face. "Say Esther..."

"Yes?" Esther blinked at the look in Seth's eyes. Nostalgic, and a little regretful.

"This is a little like the first time we met, isn't it?" Her voice was soft, and Esther couldn't read the emotions in it. "That first day, when I met you in the streets of my Capital. And after you faced those Death Hunters, to defend the Earl of Memphis...I patched you up then too."

"Yes. You did." Esther smiled at the memory. "You came and helped me, and loaned us a bedroom in a town house. I remember that. You were teasing his Excellency."

"Yeah. Well, he really is easy. But, back then...I didn't know you very well. All I knew was that you'd come with Brother Abel from the Vatican, and that I needed your help. But then...you turned out to be quite an interesting and helpful young lady. And now...I guess things really have changed, haven't they?" Seth raised her eyes to look into Esther's.

"Yes." Esther nodded. "I feel like we've become much closer friends since then. And now..."

Seth grinned. "I know what you mean. But I'm glad I got to meet you then. After all, things would be much more difficult now if I hadn't." A twist of her hand unwound the last of the bandage from Esther's shoulder. "There. Let's see..." She frowned, light fingers brushing the wound. "So...how does it feel?"

"I can't really feel anything. It aches, but..." Esther tried not to flinch as Seth probed a spot. "I...I can't move it either. I tried but..."

Seth nodded. "That's to be expected, I'm afraid. You won't be able to move it for a while yet." She sounded apologetic. "That spear you took broke a couple of bones, and it did a lot of damage to your shoulder, especially the muscles. I did the best I could, but this sort of thing takes time. Even my brother might have trouble with something like this."

Esther looked away as Seth began to re-wrap the shoulder. "Even if...even if that's true...I think what happened might have been much worse for him."

Seth sighed. "There's some truth to that, I'm afraid. But...it really can't be helped. And at least he's recovering now too. You shouldn't blame yourself, any more than Abel should. You both did what you felt was best at the time. And to be honest..." Seth paused a moment, then spoke softly. "I didn't see the danger until after you moved, but...if you hadn't gone to protect Abel, I might have. Abel...is not invincible. And something like that, considering the odds...well, it might have gone very badly for him. So even with all this, I don't think I can fault your actions. I probably would have done the same thing." A small smile touched her face. "And I'm pretty sure Brother Abel would be upset with me too."

There was silence between them as Seth finished with the bandages. She sat for a moment, then rose and stretched. "Well then, now that we have that taken care of, I guess we need to get you ready to go. After all..." She flashed Esther a grin. "I doubt you want to go on a tour through the palace in your nightgown."

Esther blushed. "No. But...I'm sure you have much more important things to do."

Seth's grin widened. "Well, I do have a Council to attend, but it's not for a few minutes yet. Besides..." She turned away slightly. "If I don't help you, you'll have to wait for Abel. Not that he isn't reasonably competent at that sort of thing, I suppose, but..." She shrugged.

Esther felt her ears burn. The thought of Abel helping her undress...Virgil had been bad enough. She looked down. "Actually, if you put it like that...I suppose I would like your assistance, if you don't mind."

"Not at all." Esther heard the chuckle in the other woman's voice. She didn't dare look up to meet her eyes, certain Seth knew exactly what she was thinking. Then smaller hands took her shoulders. "Here."

With Seth's help, she managed to maneuver to the edge of the bed, then to the floor. Her legs were shaky, but they held. She managed to stagger to the bathroom while Seth chose a simple outfit for her to wear. It was a casual, light blue dress that could be pulled up rather than down over her head. Between the two of them, Esther managed to get the dress on, and her hair brushed into some semblance of order. She was just settling back into a chair while Seth strapped her arm into a sling when a knock sounded, and Abel's voice came from the other side. "Miss Esther?"

Seth strolled across and threw the door open with a smile. "You've got good timing Abel. We just finished getting Esther ready. And I really do have to get to that meeting now. So then, I'll leave Esther in your care. Remember not to let her get too tired." She flashed her brother a quick grin and a salute, then dashed out the door.

Abel looked after his sister, affection and exasperation on his face. Then he turned back to Esther. The amusement faded. "Ah...Miss Esther..." He looked awkward, and embarrassed.

Esther could guess the cause. She smiled at him. "It's all right. If you're worried about this morning, Lord Walsh says it's fine. He trusts you, and he said he's certain there's no problem if you take care of me while I'm recovering."

"Ah...well then...I suppose." Abel's cheeks were crimson. He looked away for a moment. "Ummm...Lord Walsh told me you wanted to take a trip around the Palace."

"Yes. I did. I was hoping you'd be willing to take me."

"Of course. I have a wheelchair." He turned back to her, the awkwardness fading under his gentle smile. "We can go whenever you're ready."

"All right." Esther started to push herself to her feet, but Abel was by her side in an instant. He didn't say anything, just lifted her into his arms and carried her into the adjoining room, settling her into the wheeled chair as carefully as if she'd been made of glass. Carefully, he arranged a pillow behind her wounded shoulder, while Esther fiddled with her skirt arranging it to swirl comfortably around her. She looked up to find Abel smiling at her. "Umm..."

He laughed softly. "Did you know, Miss Esther? I was just thinking, you look very pretty in that. It really does suit you." He took the handles of the chair. "Shall we go then"

"Yes." Esther ducked her head, hiding the blush rising to her cheeks. Having him compliment her made her heart feel lighter, and brought a smile to her face.

At her request, Abel took her on a full tour of the Palace. She'd had the short version when she'd first come to Albion, escorting the Pope. Virgil and the Steward had given her a detailed tour just before her ascension to the throne, but most of the time she only saw the Royal wing, the main Audience Hall, the dining hall, and the offices. Abel took her through the corridors, into the main courtyard, even into the servant's quarters. As the time approached lunch, he took it as an excuse to stop by the kitchens for a snack. They'd eaten at one of the informal tables, before continuing on.

Esther enjoyed the whole thing. The ability to be up and about, even if Abel was pushing her in a chair, was wonderful. The servants everywhere greeted her with exclamations of delight. To her surprise, Abel also seemed to be a well-known figure, and several of the staff greeted him as well. Both of them returned the greetings cheerfully, and Abel stopped several times so Esther could reassure the staff of her well-being.

During the afternoon, they explored the more formal areas of the palace, meeting with the nobles who remained in residence. Though most of them were more reserved than the servants, Esther thought they were relieved to see her. Many of them questioned what had happened. Esther hadn't had time to think about her story, so she stuck to the bare facts, that they'd been attacked by the order while out in the garden and that she'd been hurt. She also reassured them that Seth and Caterina had no intention of taking over Albion, and that she had authorized them to assist Virgil and Mary with their work. She saw doubt on some faces, but it cleared somewhat when she told them she'd be returning to work in a few days, and that she'd check into all their concerns very carefully. It was a little more difficult, dealing with them, but Abel seemed to know when she was having trouble. He'd stand quietly behind her while she spoke to them, and then, when she began to feel stressed, he'd suggest, delicately, that she didn't need to be tired out, and that he intended to take her to rest. Most of the nobles looked faintly embarrassed at his rebuke, and even the ones that didn't took the hint and excused themselves.

Late afternoon found them back in the Royal wing, near the entrance to the gardens. At the sight of the doorway, Abel brought the wheelchair to a stop. "Miss Esther...did you want to see the gardens this afternoon?"

"Yes, please." She looked at the doors. "The last roses are probably faded by now, but..."

"Well, the winter plants will be flowering. And the ever-greens..." She heard the smile in his voice, even without tilting her head back to look at him. "I must admit, I'm rather fond of the smell of pine trees."

"Yes." She felt a smile creep across her own face as he moved around her to open the door, then gently wheeled her outside. The air was crisp and cool, cooler than she'd expected. Esther shivered a little. Abel turned and, without a word, removed his outer robe and draped it over her lap, smiling. Esther blushed. "You know, we really shouldn't keep going on like this. I feel a little foolish, having you always losing pieces of your uniform to take care of me."

Abel simply shrugged. "Yes, well...I've said it before. I may look wimpy, but...I've never caught a cold." The memory of the first time he'd said that startled a laugh out of her. Abel laughed as well, and caught the wheel-chair. "Shall we go then?"

Esther nodded, and Abel guided the contraption out into the main path. As the first wheel hit the walkway, Esther gasped. The paths of the garden were all gravel, and not suited to wheels. The first roll set the chair bouncing, and her shoulder protested. "Ah..."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jolt you." Abel's voice was contrite. "It appears the paths are ill-suited to wheel-chairs."

"Yes." Esther bit her lip. It was such a small thing, but she'd always found comfort in the garden, and the thought she'd be unable to see it hurt.

"It's all right. You needn't be so upset." Abel moved forward to kneel in front of her. "This is a bit troublesome, but it just so happens that I have a solution to this little problem."

"Really?"

He grinned. "Of course I do. If I can't push you through the gardens in your chair...well then, I suppose I'll simply have to carry you." He didn't give her time to protest, just bent and scooped her up in his arms. "Now then, did you have a specific direction you wanted to go?"

"Um...no." Esther blinked, still flustered by the feeling of being in Abel's arms. He'd carried her before, she knew, but she was usually unconscious when he did.

"All right. Then we'll just go straight forward." He smiled at her again, and strode forward, into the green maze of plants.

They wandered the gardens for well over an hour. Abel's warmth was more than enough to counter the chill of the air. Esther worried that she was tiring him, but he didn't seem to mind, and she couldn't find it in her heart to complain. In fact, she enjoyed the feeling of being cradled so close to his chest. His warmth was comforting, but as they walked down the paths, looking at the evergreens and inhaling the scent of the pine trees, she found herself resting her head on his chest. Underneath the cassock, she could feel his heart beating, a steady, reassuring rhythm. The sound soothed her, combining with the scent of the plants to make her feel relaxed.

She was just getting drowsy when Abel turned, and she realized they were back on the patio, the chair still waiting for them. She looked up to meet his gentle gaze. She must have looked faintly questioning, because he smiled again. "I shouldn't let you catch cold. Besides, it's almost time for your dinner, and Seth will want to get another look at that shoulder. I think it's best if I take you back inside."

"I see." She smiled and let him settle her back in the chair.

Within half an hour, they were back in her rooms. Esther wanted to stay seated for a while longer, but she felt tired and shaky, so she didn't protest when Abel gently lifted her back into the bed, and took a seat beside her. "Miss Esther?"

"Yes?" She blinked back a yawn and looked at him. He was perched in a chair, that warm smile still touching his features. She was relieved to see it, even more relieved to note how it smoothed away some of the lines of sorrow and fatigue that had been etched around his mouth.

"Did you have a good day today?"

She smiled. "Yes. It was wonderful. Thank you."

"I'm glad." Esther found herself trying to stifle another yawn, and Abel's smile widened. "I'll let you rest now, Miss Esther."

"Wait." She held out her hand. She couldn't quite touch his cassock, but he stopped anyway. She blinked at him a moment, trying to get her thoughts in order. "Virgil...Lord Walsh...he said...he said they wanted someone from the Alliance to watch over me. And...that no one...would mind if you stayed." She blinked again, fighting back another yawn. "Please..."

Abel stared at her, his eyes gone solemn behind the lenses of his glasses. "Miss Esther..." He stopped a moment, then reached down to take her hand in both of his, "I...if this is what you want, I will not deny you. But...I do not wish to do anything that will hurt you, Miss Esther, or endanger your reputation."

Esther smiled sleepily at him. "I know. But...it's all right." Her hand shifted, wrapping gently around his. "It's really all right. After all, you are supposed to be taking care of me. And when you're here...I feel much safer, really." That was true. While she knew Virgil and Mary were looking out for her, and that everyone was doing their best, Abel's presence was especially comforting, and knowing he was there was enough to drive the nightmares away.

"All right." Abel settled into a sitting position on the edge of the bed, still holding her hand. After a moment, one of his hands slipped loose, and gently brushed her hair back from her face. "Rest, Miss Esther." Esther smiled and closed her eyes.

The next few days were both frustrating and incredibly helpful. Esther wanted to be back on her feet, involved with the kingdom and the Alliance, but her still-healing wound troubled her. She would have been driven crazy by the inactivity and enforced confinement, if it hadn't been for the others.

Seth and Virgil came every morning, usually while Abel was across the hall cleaning himself up for the day. Virgil brought her breakfast, and Seth came to check her shoulder. Once she'd been fed and checked, one of them would assist her in getting dressed for the day.

Abel sometimes took breakfast with her, before withdrawing, but he always returned just after Seth had finished examining and tending the shoulder wound. Afterward, he took her on a gentle walk through the Palace, and through the gardens. Though they didn't take the full tour, being able to leave her room was wonderful. After the first day, she began walking short distances around her room on her own, and by the fifth day, she was well enough to walk out into the garden to her favorite gazebo, with Abel's support. Though it irritated her to be so weak, it was also rather...comforting, to have an excuse to lean into his warm grip.

Two days after she began her walking, Virgil appeared in the doorway with a stack of papers in his hands, just after she returned. "Your Majesty." he moved forward, and set the stack on her table. "If you should feel well enough, I have here the reports from the past few days, and reviews of what has transpired since your injury, both in the Albion Royal Council, and in the Alliance Council. Please, feel free to look them over, if you wish."

Esther nodded. "Thank you." She edged herself to the side of the bed, and Abel took her gently in his arms. "I'll do that."

Afternoons after that were occupied with reading through reports, marking the things she wanted to discuss, and things she wasn't sure about. To her surprise, Abel stayed with her, and read through the material himself. He even managed to answer some of her questions, and brought up other issues. Though he wasn't very interested in politics, he did have a good insight into people, especially those on the Alliance Counsel.

To Esther's surprise, Alessandro appeared on the third day. She and Abel were just setting down to the table when the young pope knocked hesitantly on her door. "Ummm...Esther?"

"Yes, Holiness?" She started to rise, but he shook his head.

"No, it's fine. Please...sister said you shouldn't move too much yet. And..." He flushed slightly. "It's...it's fine, for you to call me by name. I mean...this isn't official or anything, so..."

"Of course. Please, come in." Esther waited while the young man settled himself into a seat. "Is there something Father Nightroad or I can do for you?"

"Ummm...well, sister...sister told me you'd be looking over things. She said...that you wanted to know what...what was going on. I...I don't do much, but I...I've been to the meetings. So...if you have questions, I thought I could help. And I..." He blushed again, twisting his robe in his hands. "I don't really know a lot, about politics...and people. Sister and Brother always handle that. But I...I'd like to learn. I'm too scared to ask Sister, and she's so busy. But I thought, if you didn't mind...maybe...maybe you could explain things to me. And then...I'd like to be able to help..." He stopped, looking shy and embarrassed, but also determined.

Esther smiled, and looked at Abel. He was smiling as well. She turned back to the young man seated across from her. "Of course. I'd be honored to help you, and I'm glad to have your assistance." She let her smile widen. "I'm still pretty new to this myself, but I'm sure we can figure things out. Besides, Father Nightroad is here to help us, and he served with Lady Caterina for a long time, so I'm sure he can give us plenty of assistance as well."

Alessandro blinked. "Umm...thank you." He turned to face Abel. "Father Nightroad...you don't...you don't mind, do you?"

Abel shook his head. "Of course not." A sheepish smile crossed his features. "I'm not really sure how much help I can be, but...I'll do my best. And you're welcome to join us. Actually, we were just about to start for today, looking over the Alliance Council records for a few days ago. So if you don't mind..." He gestured to the sheet in front of him. "I was just looking at this...and I was wondering if you could tell me, who exactly is handling the matter of that captured spy?"

"Oh...it was...Lady Vanessa I think. Lord Walsh said it was safest to leave him with her." Alessandro blinked. "I don't really know why, when Colonel Spencer is the leader of the army, but..."

"Well, it's further from Esther. But also, the Underground has some special defenses, and monitoring technology." Abel leaned forward and began to explain, and soon they had a lively discussion going.

After that, Alessandro came every day. He was shy, and hesitant about voicing his opinions, or asking questions, but he was also very smart. He had a way of looking at a situation and seeing through to the heart of the matter. His suggestions were usually simple, and straightforward, but they were also extremely helpful, and his questions were generally very insightful. Esther enjoyed working with him, and his quiet presence seemed to ease some of Abel's tension as well. Despite his professed lack of knowledge in politics, Abel's knowledge of people merged well with Alessandro's, and his gentle encouragement brought out a lively and inquisitive spirit in the younger man. The three of them usually wound up discussing things until dinner time, or until Alessandro left to attend to another meeting.

Usually, Alessandro's leaving would mark the end of work for the day. Esther would have liked to continue, but she was still getting fatigued far too easily. After the Pope's departure, Abel had food brought from the kitchens. The two of them would eat together, relaxing in each other's company and discussing this or that. Sometimes they spoke of things they'd gone over earlier in the day, sometimes, it was simply random discussions. She'd have one or two visits from the others, then Virgil would arrive to help her prepare for bed. Abel always disappeared during that, but he came back as soon as she was ready. Every night, Esther fell asleep with him seated beside her. Some nights, she was so exhausted she slept the night through. Some nights, she woke with nightmares, and then Abel would shift, and carefully lower himself atop the blankets to embrace her, soothing her with his warmth.

Finally, ten days after her first trip through the halls, Esther managed to get up and start dressing on her own. The arm was still troublesome, but she no longer felt weak or light-headed when she stood, and her legs were steady. Seth grinned as she helped Esther maneuver the shoulder into the sleeve of the dress she was wearing. "Hey, Esther, it looks like you've improved quite a bit." She helped her fasten the dress in back, then stepped backward a few steps. "Did you eat breakfast yet?"

"No. I wasn't hungry, and Lord Walsh said he'd bring it after we were done." Esther shifted, trying to get comfortable in the heavy duty sling.

Seth's grin widened. "Well, in that case, why don't you and Abel join everyone else for breakfast? I was just getting ready to head down to the dining area myself. The two of you have been cooped up here for a while now."

Esther smiled. "That sounds wonderful." She shifted her arm a bit, then relaxed as the sling settled into place. "I think I'd like that."

Seth grinned and stretched, popping her back slightly. "Well then, let's go collect my brother and be on our way, shall we?"

Abel had just finished dressing when they knocked, and not at all adverse to joining the others. He and Seth engaged in cheerful conversation, with Esther between them, as they made their way down to the dining hall. When they reached the doors, he stepped forward and pulled them open, bowing. "Ladies first."

"Thank you, Abel." Seth grinned. "I didn't know you knew how to be such a gentleman."

Astha, already seated at the table, snorted. "Hah. I beg your forgiveness for speaking so rudely of you brother, Empress, but I suspect this is a fluke in behavior." Her golden eyes glittered with a faintly menacing light as she grinned at Abel. "Or have you perhaps learned some manners after all, tovarish?"

Abel flushed. "That's just rude. Honestly, when have I ever been anything less than a perfect gentleman? I'm not Leon, you know."

"I heard that, Four Eyes." Leon rose from his seat, wolf's grin firmly in place. He cracked his knuckles. "So then, if you're a gentleman, then you fight duels to prove your assertions, right? How about a little one-on-one before eating?"

Abel raised his hands defensively. "Umm...no thank you. After all, I am taking care of Miss Esther at the moment. Besides, it's rude to let food get cold while brawling over little things, you know."

"He has a point." Caterina smiled and rose from her chair. "Lady Esther, it's good to see you've recovered enough to join us."

"Yes." Esther returned her smile, then moved to sit in the chair Abel pulled out for her. Servants came to set the table as soon as she and the others were seated, and food was brought.

Breakfast with her friends was uplifting. The group made small talk about weather and various other things. Abel was soon drawn into a round of teasing between Seth, Astha and Leon, while the rest of them laughed. The Professor added his own commentary, and even Alessandro was pulled into the joking. Esther hadn't realized how much she missed everyone's camaraderie, but the friendship that flowed around her eased a tight knot in her stomach that she hadn't even really been aware of. Despite the fact that Virgil and Mary still had to assist her with cutting her food, she felt more healed, and more at rest than she had before, save when Abel was comforting her.

After almost an hour, breakfast wound to a close. Seth and Caterina were both involved in their work for their respective organizations; Alessandro was scheduled to take a short tour of the churches in Londinium, in honor of the upcoming Holy Days. Ion and Astha were retiring for the day, and Virgil and Mary had the duties of Albion to handle. Esther wanted to return to her office as well, but Seth counseled more rest. As the Empress rose, she smiled at Esther. "I know you're feeling a bit restless, but it won't help if you push too hard. After all, at least you came this far today. Honestly, I wouldn't have been surprised if you'd taken another few days. So...why don't you and Abel take another day or two, okay?" A small laugh escaped her. "I promise, there will be plenty of work to do."

Esther nodded."I understand." And she did. Invigorating as it was to be with everyone, she was aware of a vague sense of tiredness.

Astha rose from her seat, stretching like a cat. "Well, I'm off to rest myself." She strolled around the table to clap Abel on the back. "Take good care of her, priest. I expect to see you both for dinner, understood?"

Abel stiffened at her touch, a look of alarm suddenly crossing his features. It was gone so suddenly that Esther wasn't sure she'd seen it, but Astha frowned. "Are you all right, Nightroad?"

Abel chuckled weakly. "I'm fine. I just...well, something went down wrong. Sorry." He tapped his chest a couple times, looking embarrassed. "I'll see you at dinner, Miss Astha." Astha frowned a moment longer, then turned and left.

Abel sat still in his chair a few moments. He looked solemn, and faintly concerned. Esther wanted to ask him what was wrong. She even opened her mouth to speak to him, but before she could say anything, he turned to her with a bright smile. "Well then, Miss Esther, shall we take our walk?"

She wanted to ask him what was going on, but there was something about the way he spoke that told her he would dodge the question. So she nodded, and let him guide her from the chair. He...he could have simply swallowed something the wrong way. Or maybe...the Professor and Seth both mentioned his wounds were healing slower than normal. Astha might have accidentally hit one. And he's so used to a quick recovery; I can see how it might be disconcerting for him.

She wanted to believe that, but as they went through the papers and talked with Alessandro, the feeling of something being not quite right persisted. And when they joined the others for dinner, she had a vague sense of wrongness. It almost seemed as if Abel was suddenly wary of approaching Astha, or Virgil and Ion. It was so subtle it might have been her imagination, but the feeling persisted. It was still there when Abel escorted her to bed and took his usual place at her side.

She woke in the middle of the night, not sure what had disturbed her. Then a low whisper of sound reached her ears, barely more than a murmur. "No..." She turned her head.

Abel had left her side. He was standing near the window, leaning on his forearms, against the wall. His head was bowed, his fists clenched. Esther felt her stomach clench. He looked as if he was in pain, and the posture looked far too much like the one he'd had when she'd first seen him, all those months ago. She remembered still, seeing him leaning against the wall with that look of pain and fear on his face.

"No..." The voice was definitely Abel's, but deeper, and ragged, as if he were fighting for the words. "I will not...you mustn't. Not here. Not now. You must remain..." He shuddered, visible even in the dim moonlight. "I will not...release...you. Not here, not now. Not...for this." The last word emerged in what was almost a groan. "Don't come out. Remain...asleep."

Esther covered her mouth with her hand, to stifle a gasp. The words reminded her of when she'd followed him in Carthage, and caught him in the bathroom trying to suppress his Crusnik. She knew, if that was the case, he wouldn't want her to witness it. She lay still, waiting to see what would happen.

Finally, after a few moments that seemed like an eternity, Abel's shoulders relaxed. She heard him exhale, a deep slow breath, and knew the worst of the fit had passed. She sat up. "Abel?"

He spun around with a muffled gasp. "Esther?"

She blinked at him, trying to look as if she'd just woken. "Abel, is something wrong?"

He shook his head. "It's all right."

She frowned. "Are you sure? You seem..."

He shook his head again, and when he spoke, his voice was gentle and teasing, with just a hint of self-mockery in it. "I'm fine, Miss Esther. Really. I just...well, I thought it was a bad dream, but my stomach was also a bit upset. So I thought I'd get up and move around, to see if it would settle." He sighed. "It's all right. It's passed now, so you don't need to worry." He seemed to hesitate a moment, then moved forward to lay a hand on the bed beside her. In the moonlight, she saw the faint smile. "It's all right. Please, rest."

She knew he was lying, but she couldn't see any way of confronting him about it. Instead, she lay back down, then touched his wrist. "Here. You should rest too. I'm sure you'll feel better if you lie down and sleep properly." She scooted over a little, giving him room to lie down.

Abel hesitated, then settled himself in his usual place, across the top of the blankets. But though his hand remained in hers, he made no move to embrace her. And while he was still close enough for his warmth to reach her, he wasn't curling himself next to her, and his posture wasn't as relaxed as it usually was. Esther thought about asking him again, but she suspected she already knew his answer. He'd simply tell her he didn't want to disturb her if his 'illness' returned. She sighed, then resolved to leave it alone for the moment. After a few more moments, she closed her eyes, and let Abel's quiet breathing lull her to sleep.

She awoke the next morning with Abel sitting beside her. It wasn't that unusual for him to wake first, but there was something in his posture, in the way he seemed to have moved toward the edge of the bed, that re-awoke the misgivings of the night before. She sat up, but before she could say anything, he turned to her with a smile. "Good morning, Miss Esther. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes. I slept fine. And you?" She glanced at the clock. "It seems a little early."

"I'm fine." He shrugged. "I slept all right." He looked at the clock himself, then rose in a smooth, graceful motion. "Seth and Lord Walsh will probably be here soon, so I'll just run across the hall and clean up, all right?"

"Of course." Esther nodded, watching him as he collected his clothing and made his way to the door. He didn't seem to be moving any differently, but...it wasn't like him to leave before the others actually arrived. And despite his relaxed tone, she'd seen shadows beneath the smile in his eyes. "Will you be coming to breakfast with us this morning?"

"Of course I will." He offered her another smile, then left the room. Esther remained seated in her blankets, trying to figure out what was going on. And more importantly, what she could do about it.

She was still there when Seth arrived. She was so immersed in her thoughts that she actually jumped when the slender figure appeared in her doorway. "Lady Seth."

"Morning, Esther." Seth gave her a small grin. "You seem a little jumpy today."

Esther grinned, a little embarrassed. "I suppose. Sorry, I was just thinking about something, and you startled me."

"Hmmm...well, that can happen." Seth strolled over, then looked up and met her eyes. A small frown line appeared. "Is everything all right? You appear to be worried about something."

Esther bit her lip, not sure what to say. She didn't want to arouse undue concern, but...she remembered Abel, leaning against the wall. The whispered pain of his words, as though he fought himself. And Seth was Abel's sister. "It's...I'm not sure, it's just that, last night...Abel was behaving a little strangely." She told Seth what had happened. "He said he was just feeling a little sick, and having nightmares, but...I've seen him like that before in Carthage."

Seth chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. "I can see why you're worried." She sighed, and there was concern in her eyes. "I'd like to believe Abel too, but...you're right. He does have a bad habit of hiding his true condition. And if he's fighting the Crusnik consciously, that isn't a good sign." she frowned. "Do you know if his wounds have healed?"

"No. I haven't seen him undressed, and I didn't think to ask." Esther bit her lip again. "I...he doesn't ever talk about his injuries. I don't even know how badly he was hurt."

Seth gave her a quick, reassuring glance. "He wasn't hurt that bad, just a few cuts." She sighed again. "It's just...he was really suppressing his powers for a while there, so his wounds were healing at a normal Terran rate. Even when I checked him a few days ago, it was normal. But if they've suddenly healed, it means the Crusnik have become active again."

"I...is it bad?" Esther felt a chill down her spine.

"I don't know." Seth shook her head, leaning against the bed-frame. "Abel...Abel does a lot of things with his powers that I've never done, and never seen anyone else do. Granted, there aren't exactly a lot of us, but..." She shook her head again. "It could be this is just a passing effect, and he'll calm down in a few days. Or it could get worse. At the moment, I don't think there's any real way to know." She hesitated a moment, then spoke softly. "I fear, however, that we do need to inform the others. If Abel is really having problems, then we'll all have to be careful until the issue is resolved."

"That's true. But how? Esther swallowed. "I'd really rather not let him know I think that of him. It would...especially if he's having trouble, it would hurt him."

"I know what you mean." Seth sighed. "Well, we'll have to think of something. In the meantime, why don't I go ahead and take a look at that shoulder of yours."

Esther nodded. In the week and a half she'd been awake, even she could tell the shoulder was improving. She still wore a sling, but she could shift it slightly, enough to put on her clothing, without much pain. And the wound was no longer as raw and ugly looking as it had been. She sat still while Seth examined her. Seth poked the healed skin a few times, then began to manipulate the shoulder itself. Esther concentrated on relaxing, and telling her when it hurt. After a few minutes, Seth nodded and began re-wrapping the shoulder. "Well, it looks as if everything's going very well. The surface wounds are mostly healed. Your shoulder blade isn't quite healed yet, but it's definitely set correctly and mending. The muscles will take a little while, but they're showing improvement. I think you may need to remain in the sling for another two or three weeks, but after that, you should be ready to get back to normal activities. You can start trying to move it a little now, but take it slow, okay?"

"I understand. Thank you." Esther got dressed. Seth helped some, getting the fasteners on the back, but Esther was glad she no longer needed help just to stand while dressing. She got her hair brushed, then turned. "Will you be coming to breakfast?"

"Yeah. Do you think Abel will?"

Esther shifted. "He said he was, but..." She knew that Virgil, at least, would be at breakfast, probably the others as well. If Abel was having trouble, it would only strain him further. Besides, a quiet gathering like breakfast was a good time to let people know what was happening to him, but she didn't want to say it while he was there.

Seth gave her a crooked grin. "Well, he should be finished getting ready now, so let's go get him."

When they knocked on the door, Abel answered. He was wearing a clean cassock, but he still looked a little disordered. Esther started to say something, but Seth beat her to it. "Hey Abel. You don't look so good."

"Oh...I'm fine. It's just...well, I seem to have misplaced a few things, and..." His smile was sheepish, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Seth shook her head with a sigh. "Honestly Abel, you are a terrible liar." she reached up to run a hand across his jaw. "Esther told me you weren't feeling well last night. And it's okay, you know, to tell people if you don't feel well. As hard as you've been pushing, I don't think anyone is going to fuss at you or anything."

"Ummm, well, it's just an upset stomach. I'm sure it'll pass." Abel grinned.

Esther took his hand. "You still look tired though. Did you sleep any after you got up?"

"A little." Abel sighed. "I kept waking up though, for some strange reason."

Seth grimaced. "That isn't good." She stretched a little, to touch her brother's forehead. "It doesn't feel like you have a fever, but then, I wouldn't know. It's not like I've ever seen you catch cold. But I suppose there's always a first time." She sighed. "Anyway, if you aren't feeling well, the best thing you can do is get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and take care of yourself. After all, we wouldn't want Esther to get sick too."

Abel made a face. "It isn't that bad, honestly."

"Even so, she's right." Esther squeezed his hand gently. "You do need to take care of yourself." She looked up into his face. "You should rest. I can have someone bring you breakfast. You should go and try to get some more sleep."

Abel flushed slightly. "Miss Esther..."

She smiled at him. "It's all right. Everyone will be there to watch me, and I'm sure I can get the Professor or someone else to bring me back here."

Seth shrugged. "If it comes to that, you're probably well enough to attend the Council meeting this morning, if you want to." She fixed her brother with a sharp stare. "You, on the other hand, look like you'll fall asleep at the table, never mind the meeting." She took Abel's arm, turned him gently around, and gave him a careful push back into his quarters. "Go rest, my dear brother. I'll ask Lord Walsh to send you some food. If you behave, I'll tell him to let you come work with Esther and Alessandro this afternoon, okay?"

Abel stumbled into the room, blinking back at his sister. "Seth..."

She grinned. "You might as well give up. Otherwise, I'll tell Caterina you're being stubborn again, and she'll probably order you to rest."

Abel sighed. "All right. If you're sure..." A tired smile touched his face. "I suppose I could use a little more rest. If you could have someone sent around with lunch later, I'd appreciate it." His gaze shifted to Esther's and he smiled again. "I'll see you this afternoon, Miss Esther."

Esther nodded. "I'll see you then, Abel." Before he could say anything else, Seth reached out and shut the door.

Seth took a deep breath. "Whew. Come on, we'd better go before he thinks of another reason to protest." She sighed. "Abel...still as stubborn as always." She turned and gave Esther a half smile. "Come on. We'd better get to breakfast, or that matador guy will probably eat everything."

"Of course." Esther nodded, and the two of them hurried for the dining hall.

They arrived just as the servants finished setting the table. Everyone else had already arrived, and Virgil was standing by her chair, waiting for her. Astha was doing the same at Seth's seat. As the two of them settled into their seats, Virgil frowned. "Your Majesty, will Father Nightroad be joining us?"

Esther shook her head. "No. Actually, I think he's asleep. He asked if you could please send him something around lunchtime."

"I see." Virgil bowed, then moved around to his own seat and settled gracefully into it. There was a faint frown line between his eyes. "Your Majesty...is there something wrong? You seem troubled."

Leon made a face. "Don't tell me Four Eyes is slacking off again."

Esther shook her head. "No. It isn't that. He said he had an upset stomach, but..." She stopped, swallowing hard. She knew she should tell the others, so they'd be prepared, but the thought of revealing Abel's condition when he didn't even want her to know felt almost like betrayal.

"But you think it's something else." Esther looked up to meet Caterina's cool gaze. The Cardinal offered her a thin smile. "I know Abel. He's never been sick a day in his life." The gray eyes were thoughtful. "He's not known for getting colds. I suppose it's not impossible for him to have an ulcer but, given his particular constitution..."

William shook his head. "There's no denying Abel could work himself into an ulcer, but even so, the Crusnik would probably heal it as quickly as it occurred."

Esther nodded. "I know he's occasionally eaten something that disagreed with him, and he gets ill on boats, but..."

Ion shook his head. "We aren't on a boat here, and as for things that disagree with him...I think that was because he was digging in the garbage because he was out of money. Isn't that right?"

"Yes." Esther looked down.

"So, what?" Leon frowned. "You think he's lying?" He snorted. "I hate to say it, but it's not like him to lie to get out of something."

"No. But it is like him to lie to hide something." Astha frowned. "That priest..."

"Yes." Caterina frowned. "The question is, what is Abel hiding, and how serious is it?"

Seth sighed. "I don't know how serious it is yet, but I can tell you what my brother is hiding. He's hiding the fact that his Crusnik have resumed activation, and that it's giving him trouble."

Esther nodded her agreement. "I woke up last night, and he was...he was standing by the wall, leaning on it. It sounded like...as if he were arguing with himself." She looked back down at her plate, a sick feeling in her stomach.

"You mean, you think he was arguing with them." The Professor spoke softly. "That is...not unheard of with Abel."

"Indeed. The question remains, how serious is it?" Caterina folded her hands, ignoring the fruit on her plate. Her eyes were considering. "Also, we'll need to consider what to do about the situation. Rosenkreutz has disappeared for the moment, and I don't know of any other troublesome activity occurring, at least, none that would require Abel's particular talents."

Seth shook her head. "At the moment, we should probably wait. Abel's powers may be strained, but that doesn't mean he won't resolve the issue on his own. He may just need to sleep and take it easy for a few days."

Leon frowned. "I don't get it. Granted, I don't know a lot about him, and I sure as hell don't understand that weird transformation he goes through. But...doesn't it only bother him when he pushes it? It's been three weeks since we had that battle."

"That's very true. But Abel..." Seth sighed.

"Abel's condition is based on a number of factors." The Professor shifted his pipe in his teeth. "Truth be told, I've been a little concerned for some time. And I happen to have a theory about why Abel's system might react like this."

Esther blinked. "You do? But why...?"

William frowned. "During the battle, Abel naturally used up a great deal of his power. But considering that most of his opponents were Death Hunters..."

"He couldn't feed from them." Ion spoke softly. "Then...he hasn't been able to replenish his strength?"

"That's part of it. But the other part..." William sighed. "After Esther was injured, Abel completely suppressed his powers, to protect her from any chance that they would do something dangerous. During that time, as you may have noticed, Abel's body was responding much like a normal Terran's. However..." He looked up, his gaze drifting around the table. "I wonder. What exactly would happen, to any of us, if we stayed up and fasted for a week, or longer?"

Astha frowned. "It's impossible. Even the strongest Methuselah can't go that long without food or rest. Perhaps one or the other, but not together."

Seth nodded. "I can do it, but it is very difficult."

"That's true, but... correct me if I'm wrong, but you share Abel's condition." He met her gaze. Seth nodded. "Well then. Your power, like Abel's, could modify your metabolism to support you."

"You think that his system had to adjust, and it's having trouble returning to normal?" Mary frowned.

"No. I think it may be more serious than that. I think Abel went through that period without allowing his powers to activate. If that's the case, the strain on his system must have been incredible. And in that case, if his powers were to activate when his body is that strained..."

"You think they can't restore him?" Caterina frowned.

"Not without some source of energy." William sighed. "Of course, there's no way I can prove that this is the case, not without checking him. And honestly, I'm a little reluctant to do so. If I try to examine him now, Abel may guess our suspicions. And considering that he's trying to avoid bringing his condition to our attention..."

"Indeed. So then, how exactly do you recommend we handle the matter?" Caterina's glance cut around the table. "I'm open to suggestions."

Ion frowned. "In a Methuselah, you would normally provide them with a high doses of Aqua Vitae, if they were in that condition."

Seth grimaced. "Unfortunately, there isn't a solution like that available for Abel. I never considered making an equivalent for me. I haven't used my powers enough to need it, after all."

"If I may..." Virgil spoke up softly. "Father Nightroad has explained his history to us, somewhat. I believe there was a significant period of time between your transformation in the Crusnik, and the founding of the Empire. There were also four of you, then. At that time, was there some method of controlling the situation? I understand that Father Nightroad went to battle quite often. Surely this must have arisen before."

"It might have, once or twice. But the truth is..." Seth sighed. "Cain didn't really care about things like that. There were people who would volunteer to donate blood if we needed it. After all, Methuselah understand that sort of thing much better than Terran's, at least they did back then. But, with all the battles, it wasn't that hard. Lilith had something, I think. She gave it to Abel once or twice, when he was having trouble. I know part of it, because it's what my assistants and I used to develop the Aqua Vitae. But Crusnik aren't the same. And whatever formula Lilith had for us, I'm afraid it died with her. I may have part of the puzzle, but I don't know enough to recreate what she did. And she took the secret with her when she left us. Even if I could puzzle it out, I don't think my brother will be able to wait that long." She sighed again.

"Then..." Esther broke off.

"For now, we may as well wait and see what happens. Hopefully, Abel will either manage on his own, or he'll come speak with one of us. However, if the situation persists, we may have to consider a more dramatic course of action." Caterina sighed. "Let's pray he gets himself under control."

Everyone nodded. There was silence around the table as they applied themselves to their food, but Esther could see the concern on everyone's faces. Even Leon was frowning with worry. Esther poked at her fruit, not certain she was really hungry. Lady Caterina said we might have to take more drastic measures, but...what? Would they imprison Father Nightroad? The thought made her sick, and yet, she knew it was exactly what Abel himself would ask for. If he truly was losing his control, he'd either leave, or he'd ask to be chained where he couldn't hurt anyone. That was how he did things. But...if he leaves...what will happen then? Besides, we need him here. And if we chain him...I'm sure he'd say it was all right, but...it would hurt him. But...the only real solution is for him to get the blood he needs. And without any enemies to fight, Abel won't...

She kept turning the problem over in her head, but she couldn't think of any other solution. The thought preoccupied her over the rest of breakfast. Afterward, during the Alliance meeting, she did manage to stay focused, but only because she was concentrating on taking notes for Abel. Even then, the worry persisted in the back of her mind.

Finally, the meeting was over. Ion and Astha hadn't participated, and she knew they were sleeping. Leon was off doing something of his own, and Virgil and Mary both excused themselves immediately after, to tend to their other duties. Esther found herself sitting down to lunch with Seth, Caterina, Alessandro, and the Professor. She tried to maintain polite conversation, but her mind kept wandering. Finally, she set aside her fork. "I'm sorry. Please, excuse me."

"Esther?" Alessandro looked up. "Ummm...is there...is there something wrong? I mean...are you...are you not feeling well? Did we...say something that bothered you?"

Esther flushed, looking away from the earnest expression. "It's not that. It's just..."

"You're worried about my brother, aren't you?" Seth sighed and set her fork aside as well. "We all are, you know. You don't have to leave just for that."

Esther bit her lip. "It's just that...the way we were talking earlier...about what we'd do if he couldn't..."

"If he couldn't control the Crusnik?" Caterina set her teacup down.

"Yes. You talked about more forceful measures, but...what sort of things were you thinking of?" Esther flushed. "I...can't think of anything. Except...he'll leave if he thinks he's endangering us. And...if he loses control..."

"If he completely loses control, I intend to have Brother Petros and Tres handle it. The two of them may actually be strong enough to overpower him." Caterina frowned.

"But...then what? Will you...imprison him?" Esther felt herself shaking.

"If I have to, then yes." Caterina met her eyes. "Do you truly think Abel would want it any other way?"

"No...but..." Esther bit her lip again, feeling tears of frustration in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Esther." Seth gave her a grim smile. "If it gets that far, we probably won't have to do that. Abel's body will short circuit on it's own. Either that, or they'll be able to knock him unconscious. Once that happens, we'll be in a position to take care of him."

"Take care of...?" Esther blinked back her tears.

"Uh-huh." Seth gave her a small grin. "You wouldn't know, and Abel doesn't either, but there are several people who have volunteered to give my brother a donation if he needs it. When you disappeared, Abel came pretty close to the edge. At that time, Astha, Ion, and even your Lord Walsh came forward to offer support. If Abel gets knocked unconscious, then we'll just keep him under long enough to give him some blood." She made a face. "He won't appreciate it, but at least he'll recover."

"He...he won't?" Alessandro looked puzzled. "But...if it helps him...then why...?"

Seth grimaced again. "Well, my brother really hates needles. But aside from that, he doesn't like to hurt others, and he doesn't like it when people sacrifice themselves for him. It gives him bad memories. But, if it comes down to that, I guess we can count on your help, right Esther?" She met Esther's eyes with a small smile. "We'll take care of Abel's little anemia problem, and I'll let you sort out his mind, okay?"

Esther smiled back. "Of course. I'd be more than happy to." She settled back into her seat, blushing a little. "Sorry for being so upset."

Seth's smile came a little easier. "It isn't a problem. The truth is, I'm pretty worried too, but I'm not as good at showing it. And I think it's a good thing, for Abel to have someone who cares for him like you do. Someone who will get upset on his behalf."

"Actually, I find it somewhat of a relief as well." Wordsworth spoke from his own chair. "I confess, I was also concerned about what our course of action regarding Abel should be." He smiled.

Esther finished her meal in a much better humor. After she'd cleared the last bite from her plate, she stood. "Holiness, will you be joining me again today?"

"Ummm...yes, of course. But...did we still...do we need to go over things?" Alessandro blinked.

"I suppose not, but I wanted to share our information with Father Nightroad, since he couldn't come, and I thought you might have some questions." Esther offered him a gentle smile.

"Ummm...well, actually, I did have a few...but is it okay? Father Nightroad, I mean. I...I wouldn't want...to bother him, if he's not feeling well."

Esther stretched out her uninjured hand. "It's all right. I'm sure he'd welcome your company."

"O...okay." Alessandro rose from his seat, and both of them left, heading for Esther's rooms.

Abel was waiting outside the doors when they arrived. He was standing, leaning against the wall, but he looked up at the sound of their footsteps, and his usual gentle smile broke across his features. "Miss Esther. Alessandro." The smile turned sheepish. "I wasn't sure where to meet you, so...I just wound up waiting here. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all." Esther returned his smile, and Alessandro managed a shy grin. "Are you feeling better, Father?"

"Yes actually. Quite a bit." He looked a little flustered. "Apparently, I just needed to rest. Although, considering I haven't done anything strenuous lately..." He blushed slightly.

"It's fine I'm sure. After all, I think everyone has days like that, Father." Esther smiled at him again, and laid a hand on his arm. "But if you're feeling up to it, then we really need to get to work."

"Yes, of course." Abel pushed the door open and bowed. "Miss Esther, Holiness."

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly enough. Esther tried to watch Abel without being too conspicuous about it. He seemed cheerful enough, and his interactions with both of them were relaxed. She could almost believe that nothing had happened. But...there was something just the tiniest bit off about his movements, and edge she didn't remember. She wasn't sure she'd have noticed if she hadn't been looking for it, and at times she thought she was imagining it. She did notice, however, that when they joined everyone else for dinner, he somehow wound up seated away from the Methuselah. From the way he settled into his chair, it might have been a simple coincidence. And from the way he dug into his dinner his appetite seemed to be as healthy as ever. Esther frowned, trying to remember if his previous condition had caused a failing appetite or a greater one. She didn't think Abel had eaten much at the time, but then, he'd had extreme internal injuries as well. And she'd been too worried about the Earl of Memphis to pay close attention. Esther sighed, and pushed it to the back of her mind. Seth and Caterina were right, there was nothing to do but wait.

That night, and the next few days, seemed to fall back into their usual pattern. Esther woke, ate with the others, joined them for meetings when they had them, and then did her paperwork with Alessandro and Abel in the afternoons, when things were quieter and the rest of her companions were engaged in other duties. Two days after she'd returned to meetings, Esther decided to return to her office to work on her papers. She was more used to doing it there, and the firm chair gave her excellent support on her shoulder. To her delight, Seth also gave her permission to remove the sling while she worked, saying that it would help loosen the muscles so the shoulder would move easier when it had healed.

Abel joined her for most of each day, though he sometimes skipped breakfast, for one reason or another. He seemed relaxed enough, but as the days went by there was a kind of tension in the air, and a feeling of waiting for something to happen. She wondered sometimes if he felt it as well, but she didn't want to ask him. Besides, there was still that subtle edge to his movements sometimes, and she got the feeling he was trying to avoid Astha, Ion and Virgil without being too obvious about it. For their part, the three Methuselah seemed to accept the situation. And at night, Abel joined her, his presence warm and comforting as always. Try as she might, Esther couldn't tell if he was distancing himself from her or not.

Five days after she returned to her office, she and Alessandro were going over a few of her documents when a knock on the door interrupted, and Mary strode in. She bowed and moved to the center of the room. "Holiness. Your Majesty. My apologies for disturbing you."

"It's fine." Alessandro shifted. "Esther?"

"It's fine. Really. I was just about to suggest we take a break." Esther shifted the papers sideways, then stretched her uninjured shoulder. "What is it?"

Mary bowed. "The holiday celebrations will be occurring in two weeks. Though I know we will be remaining on guard, I would like to request support to have a small celebration for the Palace guard." She paused, then turned to Alessandro. "Holiness, I realize we are not strict followers of the Vatican, however, it would honor us if you would be willing to say a short prayer for us, perhaps Christmas Eve or the night before."

The youth brightened. "Of course. I'd be happy to." He blinked. "Umm...what about...what about the people...in the Underground? Is there...is there something I can do for them?"

Mary frowned thoughtfully. "We did have some plans in place for the Underground. I believe Lord Walsh would be better able to inform you in regards to that."

Esther sat up, looking at the papers. "I think we have the plans for that somewhere here. I remember going over them, just before the attack." She began shifting through the paper stack she thought held the information. It was awkward, one-handed, and the papers slipped. Esther gasped, flinching a little as the edge of one sheet cut a fine line across her finger.

"Esther?" Alessandro started in alarm, and Mary took a step forward.

She shook her head with a smile. "It's all right. Just a paper cut."

A thud drew their attention to the other side of the room. Abel had been sitting in a chair by the window, looking at some files Caterina had given him. He was standing, staring at Esther's bleeding finger, his face gone white. As their eyes met a pained smile, more like a grimace, crossed his expression. "I'll just...go get some bandages, shall I?" He was out the door of the office before Esther could point him to the cabinet that housed the basic first aid supplies.

Alessandro blinked. "Father Nightroad...he...he didn't look well. Do you think...do you think he's...that he doesn't like seeing blood?"

Esther felt a cold weight in the pit of her stomach. She tried to smile reassuringly, but it felt strained. "Well, I can't deny he doesn't like seeing blood, but he doesn't usually have that sort of problem with it."

Mary frowned. "Do you think that perhaps the matter we discussed a few days ago has become relevant again, Majesty?" Her gaze slipped to the door. "Should I call the Lady Caterina and ask if she can spare her men to escort Father Nightroad back to his rooms?"

Esther shook her head. "No. Not just yet. It might be something else. I didn't see any signs, after all..." She trailed off. She hadn't seen the signs before, either, not until Abel had lost his control completely.

"Your Majesty." Virgil slipped into the room. His expression was concerned. "Has something happened to Father Nightroad?"

Esther felt her stomach clench tighter. "Well, he said he was going to get a bandage, for a paper cut I received. Did you see him?"

Virgil nodded. "I beg your pardon. I was just coming to give you some reports from our Underground labs. However, as to Father Nightroad..." He hesitated a moment, and when he spoke, his voice was softer. "I passed him in the hall, just moments ago. He seemed..." He hesitated again. "He seemed rather ill. I was wondering if perhaps Your Majesty knew the cause."

"No. He didn't say anything." Esther shook her head. "I'm afraid he simply left the room. Perhaps if you don't mind, you or Colonel Spencer could escort him to his quarters."

Mary nodded. "I would be willing to do so."

Esther smiled. "Thank you. Please, tell him I said for him to rest, and that I look forward to seeing him later this evening, if he feels better."

Mary bowed. "I shall." She turned, then stopped. "Majesty, about the matter we were discussing..."

Esther nodded. "Of course. I'll look into it right away." Her gaze turned to the blond man standing silently near the door. "Lord Walsh, we were just discussing plans for giving the Palace guards some sort of Christmas celebration. And His Holiness was wondering if there was anything he could do for the citizens of the Underground. So if you're able to join us..."

He bowed. "As you wish, Majesty." He gave his colleague a nod. "Colonel Spencer, I will leave Father Nightroad's care to you." Mary returned his salutation, then left the room.

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly. With Alessandro and Virgil both helping, they hammered out tentative ideas for the festivities. Seth appeared in late afternoon and offered her assistance with the Underground. Since Seth was the Empress of Methuselah, and Alessandro was friends with some of the residents, they eventually settled on an idea of being escorted through the area by Vanessa's men, in full ceremonial uniforms, handing out gifts and treats for the children. Esther intended to go along as well, if she could manage. Virgil had his reservations, but he also admitted that it would be a wonderful morale booster for his people. They wrote out the plans, and he took them, agreeing to give them to his sister that night. Then they settled back into routine business. Esther worked as well as she could, but she had trouble focusing. Her mind was on Abel. And though Seth said nothing about her brother's absence, Esther could see the shadow of concern in her face, and she wasn't as relaxed as she normally was.

Abel didn't join the group for dinner that evening, either, and Esther's feeling of unease deepened. She knew Mary had informed the others, and Seth had warned her own people that something was wrong with Abel. She could feel the tension in the air, and even Leon's rough and ready humor seemed strained. Seth and Caterina both looked worried, as did the Professor. Petros, standing nearby, was scowling worse than usual, and she could see the unease in the way he shifted posture every so often. The only two people in the room who didn't look ill at ease were Tres and Paula.

Finally dinner was over. They sat and chatted for a while, but it was clear no one was in the mood for small talk, not with Abel's condition so uncertain. And no one had any clear answers on what to do about Abel. After a few minutes, Esther rose. "If you'll excuse me."

She half-hoped to see Abel waiting at her door when she got to her rooms, but he wasn't there. There was a light shining from under his door, but she couldn't bring herself to knock. She was afraid of what he'd say. Instead, she stood staring at the silent panel a moment, then turned and went into her rooms. She tried to distract herself by reading, but her mind wouldn't settle on the words, so she put the book aside. She'd just finished getting ready for bed when quiet knock sounded on the door. She turned. "Enter." The door opened, and her breath caught in her throat.

Abel stood there, his familiar sheepish grin on his face. "Good evening, Miss Esther."

"Abel." Esther blinked. She'd been so worried, now that he was standing in front of her, she had no idea what to say. She gestured. "Please, come in."

He stepped into the room slowly, rubbing his head in an embarrassed gesture. "I'm very sorry, Miss Esther. I didn't mean to leave like that. It's just, well..." He stopped, and even that familiar smile couldn't hide the discomfort in his eyes.

Esther offered him a reassuring smile. "It's all right. Virgil said you weren't feeling well." She met his blue eyes with her own. "Are you better now?"

"Umm, well, yes, I suppose." His gaze slipped away from hers. "But I thought that since I was so rude, I ought to at least come apologize tonight, and make sure you're safe. So..."

"Thank you." Esther smiled, then moved forward to take his hand. She felt him tense slightly, and looked up. Up close, she could see the lines of strain hidden by the smile and the sheepish expression. "Will you be staying the night?"

Abel colored slightly. "I hadn't planned to, but...if you wish, I suppose..."

She nodded. "I think I'd feel a little better if you did."

"All right." He offered her a lopsided, reassuring grin and patted her hand. "Why don't you go ahead and get to bed, while I check everything." she hesitated, and his smile warmed. "Don't worry. I promise, I'll be right there."

Esther nodded, then turned and walked into her bedroom. The maids had already turned down the sheets for her. She settled into the bed, pulling the sheets up to ward off the slight chill in the air. The Palace had excellent heating, but even so, the winter nights were cool. She stared at the open door, waiting for Abel. She was almost afraid he'd simply left when he came through the door. He checked the windows as usual, then moved to the bedside, still smiling that calm smile. "It looks as though everything's quite secure, Miss Esther. You can sleep without worrying."

He reached out and pulled the sheets up a little further over her shoulders. "Here. We wouldn't want you to catch cold." He started to turn away, but Esther reached out and caught his sleeve. He turned back. "Miss Esther."

"Please Abel." She tugged lightly, indicating she wanted him to sit on the bed. After a moment's hesitation, he settled himself on the edge. Esther looked up into his face. The dimness of the room obscured some of his expression, but she'd taken to having a small lamp near the bed, and the light of it revealed lines of strain around his mouth, visible even with his easy-going expression. She reached up, tracing the fine curve from his nose to the corner of his mouth. "You look so tired."

"I'm all right. Really, I slept several hours this afternoon." Abel took her hand lightly. "It's all right, Miss Esther."

She turned her hand in his grip, feeling the warmth of his touch. "Would you stay with me tonight? It's a little cold." She saw the uncertainty in his gaze. "Just for a few hours. Besides, I think you'd feel better if you could rest a little."

There was another of those odd hesitations, then Abel nodded and unsnapped his crucifix from his throat. Esther scooted toward the center of the bed, while Abel leaned down and removed the heavy boots he wore. Then he turned, pulled the blankets over her shoulders again, and settled next to her. Esther studied the lean, black clad shape. "Aren't you cold? I know the heating works just fine, but still...it's winter And it's fine if you just share the blankets with me."

"Oh, it's not too bad." She heard the soft smile in his voice. "These uniforms are really very well insulated. And...well, I'm not too fond of cold, but...I'm actually very well adapted for it. Better than heat, if you want the truth."

She remembered that he'd complained of heat in the desert. She sighed, conceding the point. She shifted, feeling the warmth that emanated from his body, then pulled herself closer, so she could rest her head on his arm.

Abel stiffened, and she heard him gasp, a choked and painful sound. "Esther..."

Esther jerked her head up. Abel had turned his face slightly away, but his arm was suddenly trembling, and his mouth was opened slightly. She just had time to notice the edge of fangs, before a charge of electricity made her jerk backwards. It wasn't strong enough to hurt, but it startled her. Abel's eyes closed in pain, and she knew he'd felt her flinch. She reached out and touched his shoulder again. "Abel, what's wrong? Why...?"

He shuddered, one hand clenching in the sheets, as his other came up to cover his face. "I'm sorry. I..." His voice was already low and harsh, the tones of his other form.

"It's all right, Abel." Her shoulder ached, but she shifted so she could reach a careful hand to touch his jaw. "I understand. And it's all right. If you need to...if you need blood...you don't have to fight like this."

"No. I will not..." Abel shuddered again, twisting his head further from her. "I will not...not your blood, nor any others. I..." He was shaking, his back and shoulders tense.

"But...you must know, no one here will condemn you. And I...I don't like seeing you like this." Esther swallowed. "I know you don't like it, but..."

"No." Abel's head shook slightly. "I..." His hand came up to touch hers. The nails were curved into talons, but his touch was light and careful. "I...I would rather..." He swallowed hard, and when he spoke, the rough voice was barely a whisper. "I would rather let Cain kill me again." The eyes, now faintly crimson, closed. "I...if I had to take your blood...I would rather return to Cardinal di Medici's interrogation, without Brother Petros." He shuddered again, and his hand tightened. "It will...pass. Please...Miss Esther..." He turned his face further away, covering it again. "Please, just...give me a moment."

Esther laid her hand on his arm, feeling his trembling. It hurt, to see the obvious pain he was in, but she knew she wasn't going to change his mind. He meant what he'd said, and she knew trying to push the issue would only add to his torment. Instead she waited, offering her silent support as he fought the entities within him.

Finally, the trembling subsided. As Esther watched, the nails retracted to their normal length, claws melting away. The electric feeling in the air faded away, and the fangs retracted back into his mouth. He took a shaky, deep breath. "I'm sorry."

Esther tightened her grip on his hand. Her shoulder was protesting the position, but she didn't care. "I know. It isn't your fault though." She hesitated. "Isn't there something..."

"I don't know." He sighed. Then he sat up and slid to the edge of the bed and rose. Then he turned and carefully wrapped the blankets over her. "You should rest."

She caught his hand. "Where are you going? Are you...?"

He gave her a weak smile. "Well, that was a little stressful. I thought I'd clean up a bit." He covered her hand with his. "It's all right. I'll come right back, I promise. But it's best if you go to sleep." He slipped out of her grip before she could protest and vanished through the door.

Esther lay in bed, watching the door. Her heart ached with dread for him. Even though she'd known his condition, the violence of the fit frightened her. Finally though, worry combined with the long day to send her into an uneasy slumber. She woke once, late in the night, to see a slender form seated in a chair by the window. The sight was slightly reassuring, and she allowed herself to return to sleep.

Esther woke again as daylight entered her room through the window. She stretched, grimacing as her shoulder shifted and protested, then carefully pulled herself out of bed and crossed the room. She was two feet away when she stopped, her hand going to her mouth as her stomach clenched. Abel...

He was sitting in the chair, his eyes closed. But the silver hair was matted and damp with sweat, and his face was ash-pale. There were gouges in the arms of the chair, as though clawed hands had clenched and scraped the wood. His lower lip was swollen and cut, evidence of his efforts to remain silent throughout the nights agony. Even relaxed as he seemed, there were lines of pain on his face. Esther swallowed hard, feeling the tears in her eyes. He sat there the whole night, enduring this suffering for me. He was watching over me, even though this...even as his own body tortured him like this. And even so...even knowing what he needs...he didn't.... She wondered how many times he'd endured the silent battle between his two selves. Tears spilled over her cheeks. "Abel..."

At the sound of his name, the blue eyes opened. He blinked once or twice, disoriented, then his eyes focused on her face, and he sat up. "Miss Esther." His eyes drifted to the window. "Morning already I see." A small smile creased one corner of his mouth. "I seem to have fallen asleep in the chair."

He started to say something else, but Esther stepped forward, laying her hand over his mouth. "Abel..."

He winced. "Ah..." He blinked, and his hand came up to touch his torn lip. "It appears I had a nightmare, or something like that." His eyes came to hers, and his hand shifted, to brush tears from her face. "I'm fine."

"Please...don't lie to me, Abel." She swallowed against the lump in her throat. "You...you can't keep going on like this."

He shook his head. "I'm all right, for now. Truly." He offered her a small grin, meant to be reassuring, then sighed and rose to his feet. His eyes fell on the scratches in the wood, and the small smile turned rueful. "It seems I damaged your chair. I'm sorry." He sighed again, then turned to the clock. "Seth and Lord Walsh will be here soon, to tend your arm." He turned back to her. He smiled, but his usual expression was over-written with lines of pain. "I should go clean up."

"Abel..." She wanted to speak to him further, she wanted to confront him, to make him acknowledge the truth, but he obviously didn't want to discuss it. Finally, she nodded. "You should rest. Why don't you go get some more sleep. I'll send someone to bring you breakfast in a while, all right?"

He blinked, then relief washed through the blue eyes. The sheepish grin was much less forced, all of a sudden. "Well, I must admit, I would like a little more rest. If you're sure you don't mind..."

She forced an answering smile to her face. "No. It's all right. Please, get some rest. I'll see you later this afternoon, all right."

"Of course."He nodded. One hand came up to brush her cheek in an affectionate gesture, then he collected his things and left.

Esther stood, staring at the gouges in the arms of the chair. They weren't that deep, but she knew they'd been caused by his claws digging into the wood. She remembered his hand clenching at the sheets, the first time, and wondered what he'd felt, then. She was still staring at them when Seth's voice sounded from behind her. "Esther? Hey, is something wrong?"

Esther swallowed. "I..."

Seth moved to stand beside her. The green eyes drifted over the damage, and her gaze darkened. "It's Abel, isn't it? Abel..." She reached out, brushed the splinters from the edges. "Abel did this, didn't he?"

"Yes. Last night...I think...I think he's getting worse." Esther swallowed. "But I...I asked him this morning, and he...he wouldn't tell me. He just said he was fine."

"That's Abel, all right." Seth's eyes were dark with worry, but she turned and laid a hand on Esther's uninjured shoulder. "You sent him to rest again, right?" Esther nodded. Seth grimaced. "Well then, I'll just have a quick look at your shoulder then, and we'll go down to breakfast. We can tell the others, and hopefully, someone will have some ideas." She sighed. "I hate to say this, especially about him, but we might need to take Lady Caterina's offer."

Esther swallowed again. "I know." She understood the necessity, but...the thought of confining him hurt.

She knew Seth was as troubled as she was. Though the Empress did examine her shoulder, it was a short exam, and there was a preoccupied air about her. She helped Esther dress but, though she was usually very talkative, there was almost no conversation between them. As they walked down to the dining room, both of them were wrapped in their own thoughts, and Esther suspected Seth's were as dark as her own. She actually hesitated at the door, not wanting to face the others, to tell them of Abel's condition. Finally, she and Seth glanced at each other, then pushed the doors open.

The others were already seated, waiting. The Professor looked up as they entered and lifted his pipe in greeting. "Good morning, Esther. Lady Seth." His gaze traveled over their expressions, and the smile fell away. "What happened? You both look like wet dishrags."

"I..." Esther swallowed.

He sighed. "It's Abel, isn't it?" The brown eyes shifted between the two of them, and an exasperated look touched his face, overlaid with concern. "He's the only one who could make both of you upset at the same time. So, has his condition changed?"

"Yes." Esther moved to her seat and sat down, but she wasn't hungry. "I...I think...he's gotten much worse. Last night..." She stopped, feeling the lump in her throat.

Caterina folded her hands. "I heard he left you alone rather suddenly yesterday. Are we to assume something further happened?" Esther nodded. Caterina's gaze darkened, concern in the stern eyes. "Very well. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate a report."

The cool professionalism in her tone settled Esther's stomach somewhat. She took a sip of water, to ease the obstruction in her throat, then spoke softly. "He...he came last night, to do guard duty. I thought...he looked a little tired, but he said he was fine. But then, when I asked him to sit next to me...he..." She swallowed again. "I saw him transform, partially. He managed to stop it, but...I think he was in pain. He left after that, and when he came back, he stayed on the far side of the room. But, even so...I know he had at least one more seizure. I...I saw the evidence when I went to speak to him this morning. I think...there may have been more than one." Tears stung her eyes. "I...there were scratches in the chair arms...and he...his lip was split...it looked like he bit it at some point."

"Indeed. Then it appears his condition is far more serious than we guessed." Caterina's gray eyes met Williams. "Professor? Any thoughts?"

William sighed, his eyes dark with pain and concern. "I can't say for certain, but this is certainly the worst I've ever heard of his condition being. I've never known Abel to lose control and have to fight himself back like that, at least not more than once. Something like this...I'd say he's fairly close to his limits. If he keeps pushing it like this..."

"He'll push it until he forces a feedback reaction." Seth spoke softly. "I think that's what Abel's attempting, at least. If he can't feed, he'll hold himself back until the next activation short-circuits his system." She paused a moment. "It's really dangerous. I don't think there's any guarantee that he can stop them for that long, and if he fails, he'll go crazy when they take him over. But even if he succeeds...the last time he had that happen, it hurt him pretty badly. And that was before the fusion. This time..."

"It could kill him." Caterina sighed. "I know his reasons, but still...we need him. And we need him at full strength. We can't afford to wait for either scenario, and we certainly can't take the risk that he'll run amok." She frowned, then met Esther's eyes. "After breakfast, I'll have Tres and Petros go to stand guard at his door. We won't disturb his rest, for now, but Professor I want you to check him this afternoon. I want a full detailed report on his condition, and I want you to do whatever you must to see that Abel can't harm either himself or anyone else. I'm authorizing you to use full sedation and restraint if you feel you must. You have my permission to take full advantage of Tres and Brother Petros' support."

William frowned, and Esther could see he felt the same anguish she did. But he nodded. "I understand. However, if he's that close...I suspect I'll need to use everything I have. And I'm not sure how strong Abel is...not in this condition."

Caterina nodded, her expression set in stone. "In that case, I'll authorize Dandelion to assist you as well."

"Your Excellency...if I may." Virgil rose from his seat. The pale blue gaze flickered over all of them, then returned to Caterina. "Before you begin procedures to restrain Father Nightroad, there is an alternative I would like to attempt, with your permission." He turned to Esther. "If I may, Majesty, I request permission to absent myself from this mornings meeting, and possibly from my duties this afternoon as well."

"Well, if you think you can help...but...what are you...?" Esther stopped, seeing the seriousness of his gaze.

"You have a plan, I assume." Caterina met Virgil's gaze steadily.

"Indeed. Confining Father Nightroad will eliminate the danger he presents, however, it will not address the cause of his condition. Under this course of action, the best we can hope to do is delay the final reaction until it can be managed through conventional means. However, if this works, I may be able to deal with the problem in a more direct manner, and with a better solution. But I'll need to speak to Father Nightroad, and it is perhaps best if I do so somewhere...more isolated."

"Are you planning...to try and get Abel to drink?" Seth met his gaze. "He's very stubborn, you know. And if you push him, you're going to have to be willing to run the risk of pushing him too far."

"I am aware of the dangers inherent in such a plan. However...I intend to be very careful. And I do not intend to 'push' him, merely to speak with him and see if a compromise can be reached that will be more beneficial for everyone concerned." Virgil's blue eyes held her green ones for a moment, then his gaze returned to Caterina and Esther. "Majesty, Excellency, have I your permission to attempt this plan?"

Esther swallowed hard. She knew that, despite his careful phrasing, Virgil meant to offer himself as Abel's support. But even so, she couldn't stop him. Finally, she nodded. "Yes. But be careful."

Caterina sighed. "Very well. Professor, we'll delay those plans. However, Lord Walsh...I'm having Father Tres and Father Garcias shadow you. If things get out of hand, you are to permit them to intervene." Her cool gray eyes were hard. "Albion needs you, and I don't need the repercussions of having Abel attack you."

"I understand. However, I do not think it will come to that." The intense gaze softened slightly. "Father Nightroad is a man of honor, and of strength." He met everyone's eyes for a moment, then bowed. "If you will excuse me."

Abel was resting when the door to his room opened. He blinked. "Lord Walsh." He sat up. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Indeed." The younger man bowed. "I beg your pardon for disturbing your rest. Her Majesty informed me you were feeling unwell. However, if you feel you can manage, there is a problem I would like to request your assistance with."

"I see. Well, I don't mind." Abel shrugged, reaching for his outer cassock. "So then, what is this problem?"

"We'll need to go to the Ghetto." Virgil studied the lean frame. "Are you sure you're well enough, Father?"

Abel offered him a slight smile. "Oh, I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well last night."

"I see." The pale eyes studied him for a moment. "Then, if you would be willing to accompany me..." He turned, bowing Abel toward the door. "Please."

During the trip through the corridors, Virgil remained silent. Abel watched as he set the lift and frowned. "The deeper section?"

"Yes. Where we're going is fairly isolated I'm afraid. Also, access is limited, so I prefer to have someone who knows the area already." Virgil set the lift in motion. "As you're aware, we placed some fairly heavy security protocols on that section after the attempt by the Order to reactivate the rocket, and access the programming for the older technology."

"Yes. Has the security failed?" Abel frowned. "It should still be holding, but I'm afraid I haven't had time to check, recently."

"The problem is not the security, however, I suspect it is related." Virgil looked away. "I would prefer to explain when we arrive."

"All right." Abel nodded and leaned back against the lift.

There was silence between the two men as the lift descended. At the bottom, Virgil flicked a power switch. "This way, please." he gestured down a hallway. Abel followed him, not really paying attention, until Virgil pushed back a door. "In here."

Abel followed him in, then froze. The room they'd entered was a familiar one, a disused control chamber that looked out into a large open space. A metal tower stood in the center, dark with age and disuse. Abel blinked. "The rocket? But...there shouldn't be anything here...unless..." He turned. "I asked this be left alone. You didn't try to revive it after all, did you?"

"I did not. Unfortunately, we've not had the time to dismantle it as you requested, either." Virgil sighed.

"Then...why?"

Virgil moved forward, standing where he could face Abel directly. He met the blue eyes for a moment, then bowed his head. "My apologies, Father Nightroad." He looked the other man in the eyes once more. "I fear I have deceived you. However, the truth is, I did not request your presence here for the sake of a problem in the Underground."

"Then...why? If there isn't a problem..." Abel frowned.

"The problem I wish to address is yours. Specifically, your condition at this time."

Abel paled, taking a step backward. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. I..."

"You are suffering from the Thirst." Virgil's eyes met his again. "I guessed, when you began avoiding me a week ago, particularly when the Duchess of Kiev reported that you had begun avoiding the Imperial envoys as well. However...your condition is worsening, isn't it?" His voice was soft, with no condemnation, simply a statement of fact.

Abel flinched and turned away. "I'm fine." he managed a half-smile, more like a grimace. "I have been feeling a little under the weather lately, but..."

"You need not attempt to hide it." Virgil moved to stand beside him. "In truth, I would have preferred not to confront you over this, however, Her Majesty is concerned for you."

Abel swallowed. "I do appreciate Miss Esther's concern, but..."

"This must be dealt with." Virgil spoke softly, implacably. "Please, Father Nightroad, I would prefer it if you would be honest with me."

Abel swallowed again. "I...my condition..."

"You have been fighting the thirst for this long. I've never heard of a Methuselah doing so. Indeed, I'm not sure I could handle such a strain for that length of time. And that you could attempt to hide your condition is truly remarkable. However..." Virgil sighed, then smoothly removed his jacket and began to undo the tie at his throat.

Abel flinched; sweat breaking out on his brow. "What..."

Virgil met his eyes, and his hand flicked the buttons on his collar open, exposing his throat. Abel flinched again, jerking away from him. Virgil watched as the priest stumbled against the wall, his hands clenching. "Do you still intend to try and convince me that you do not suffer?" He held Abel's gaze. "As the administrator here, I see the symptoms you display frequently. Most of our children and young adults suffer this at least once, when they go through their Awakening."

Abel looked away from him. "Even so, even if you're right..." He forced a pained smile. "It will be all right. I'll manage. There is...nothing that can be done, so I will manage."

"How long?" Virgil shook his head. "There has been no word of movement from the Order since Her Majesty was injured. The streets of Albion are quiet. What will you do?" He reached up to touch his shirt collar. "Permit us to help you."

Abel shuddered. "No. I will not...to take...from someone who is my ally. I...can't. I will not." He was shaking, and his eyes closed. Even so, Virgil saw the glitter of the elongated incisors. "I...to do something so monstrous..."

"With all due respect, there is something I must say to you." Virgil took a few quick steps forward, and seized Abel by the collar, ignoring the way the other man gasped. "Do you truly intend to place your comrades at such risk, simply for this misguided sentiment?"

Abel flinched, his eyes widening. He jerked away, covering his face with his hand. "What..."

"You cannot continue to withstand this type of pressure. Eventually, you will falter. If your sister is correct, then you will either lose your mind and hunt, with no regard to who, or your powers will backlash. To hunt...you may well take more than one of us, and we cannot stop you. And if you backlash, you will be unable to protect Her Majesty for some time, until your body recovers. Is this not correct?"

Abel swallowed. "It is...but..."

Virgil spoke over his protest. "If you lose control, the best that can happen is that one or more of our people will be out of commission. However, there is the risk that one or more of us will die. Also...should this be witnessed by others, the damage to relations between the Alliance members would be severely damaged. The Empire will not risk their Empress nor their envoys in such a situation. The government of Albion would demand your immediate removal, and compensation from Lady Caterina. And I need not tell you how the Vatican will react. The Cardinal di Medici will most likely have you arrested, and interrogated again."

Abel's face paled further, white even in the dim lighting. "I...will not let that happen. I swear...if I must...I will..."

"You will leave again?" Virgil spoke softly. "I am aware of that. However, aside from the technical concerns...there are other matters."

The soft intensity of his voice made Abel turn back to him. The winter-blue eyes were already darkening to crimson. Virgil met them without fear. "Do you truly believe that any of us wish to see you so tormented, Father?"

Abel twisted his face away, his hands digging into the wall as a shudder passed through him. "I..."

"Lady Esther is concerned for you. Even in her current condition, I believe she would attempt to follow you. And I suspect Lady Nightroad would abandon her place as well. Cardinal Sforza will not, but she will most certainly send her agents to watch over you, and they too, are concerned for your health. I...intend to aid you, to serve my queen. However, that is not my sole reason. I too, admire and respect you. During my service with you, I have found you to be an honorable, stalwart companion, truly worthy of my support, and Her Majesty's favor. There are few I would think such of, and I have no wish to see any of them as tortured as you appear now."

Abel grimaced, a low groan wrenching from his throat. "I...don't wish...to hurt you. To attack a comrade...such a sin...I...swore..."

"I understand. I too, have felt such things. However, as the late queen said once to me...there is no sin in taking what is freely offered. Nor do I believe there is any reason for you to be ashamed. You have struggled with this far longer than any other I have ever seen, and endured enough agony. There is no shame in choosing to end it, when you are offered a solution."

Abel winced again. "Even so...I...cannot. Who...?"

Virgil stepped forward. "I will offer myself as your donor, this time. However, if there is another you would rather ask, you have only to give me their name. I know that Lady Astha, Lord Ion, and my sister have all volunteered as well."

Abel shuddered. "You...but...Miss Esther, and your sister...what will they think of me? If I hurt you..."

"They will understand." he paused. "I did not specifically tell Her Majesty that I intended this, however, I believe she suspects. However, she also gave me permission to attempt to aid you, in whatever manner I felt best."

Abel's body was trembling, and the air around both men began to feel charged with electricity. He twisted his face away, but the crimson eyes and fangs were still visible, and a glance at his hands confirmed that the nails had elongated into claws. "I..."

"Father Nightroad. I trust you, that you will not go too far." Virgil's eyes were dark with compassion, and resolve. "A man who can stand before me in your condition and still react as you do...such a man I can trust with my life. And in truth, you will not even damage me as much as another. Unlike the Imperial envoys, I do not depend on my Bascillus. To serve her Majesty, I drink a quantity of silver nitrate solution every day. You will take nothing from me that I cannot recover from, without ill effects. Furthermore..." He moved forward, and knelt a few inches from Abel's feet. "Her Majesty asked that I aid you, and Her Imperial Majesty charged me to take you in my care and see that you were well. For all our sakes, I ask you...please allow me to fulfill my responsibilities, and to repay some of the debt I owe you."

Abel's jaw clenched. "Do not kneel to me. Someone such as I...does not deserve such consideration."

Virgil rose and stepped closer. "I disagree." His gaze slipped sideways, and he reached up and drew his collar from his throat. "Will you hear my request, Father?"

"I...yes." Abel shuddered again, pain crossing the now darkened visage.

"Very well." Virgil stepped forward again, so close their shoulders nearly brushed. Abel's hand came up, stopping his movement. Virgil nodded, and turned his own face slightly away. Abel's hand trembled on his shoulder. Then, to his shock, the other man reached over, and gently pulled the collar back in place. "Father..."

"I will...heed you." An anguished smile touched the Crusnik's face. "But...not this. I have no wish to see you risk your life for mine." The red eyes came to his. "Give me your hand."

Virgil didn't hesitate, lifting his arm to unsnap the cuff of his left wrist and offer it to the transformed priest. Abel's shaking hands took his arm. "Will it be sufficient?"

"Yes." The crimson eyes closed, then Abel dropped to his knees, lowering himself to the ground so that Virgil's arm was lower than his chest. The dusky face was obscured by the crown of silver hair. There was a moment of hesitation, then a sharp pain slashed through Virgil's wrist. He felt the fangs pierce his arm, felt the other man begin to drink, taking his blood.

It was a strange, unsettling sensation. To distract himself, Virgil studied the priest before him. He knew the rational reason why Abel might have knelt. It was easier to get blood flow with his hand below his heart. And yet, there was something subservient, and almost self-humiliating, about the man's posture. The way he knelt, like a servant taking a favor from a sovereign, made Virgil want to pull him to his feet. But...

Abel was honorable, and he had forced the man to go against his own oath, his own code. Even if it was to spare him, he was conscious of Abel's shame, to be so desperate. If kneeling would alleviate even some of the other man's private anguish, then he was resolved to say nothing.

He wasn't certain how long they remained in that posture, but he began to feel somewhat light-headed. A wave of dizziness brushed over him. Blood loss? Has he truly drunk that much? A spark of unease touched him. Then there was a wrench, and Abel pulled back from him, the strong hands shifting to apply pressure over the wound. Somehow, in that quick movement, the priest changed, and the face he raised was human, with blue eyes and his silver hair falling unbound over his back. Virgil moved back, swayed, and the man was instantly on his feet, one hand pulling the wrist up and maintaining pressure, while the other caught him. "Are you all right?"

Virgil nodded. "I will recover. I have...had similar losses before. The dizziness will pass."

Abel nodded. "I...am in your debt."

Virgil shook his head. "No, Father. I am merely repaying mine." he met the other man's stare, seeing the remorse and sorrow in his gaze. "If it were not for you, the Star of Hope would never have come to Albion. You have given my people at a chance at a new future. You are protecting my queen, and have protected her well. And you have lent your powers to defend my people here as well." He let a smile touch his face. "You even listened to Vanessa, when she was convinced that no one would hear the needs of this place. You have my gratitude."

Abel shook his head, but he said nothing. Instead, he guided Virgil to sit on one of the disused panels. "Here." His free hand removed a ribbon from his pocket, but instead of winding it into his hair, the priest tied the black length around Virgil's wrist, forming a rough bandage. "That should hold." He reached into another pocket, and withdrew a flask of familiar reddish liquid. "Drink this. It's not as good as pure blood, but it will help."

"Aqua Vitae?" Virgil blinked.

"I kept some, in case of an emergency while traveling with Ion and Astha." His voice was low, rough, and he refused to look Virgil in the face.

"Very well." Virgil took the flask in hands that shook faintly, and uncorked it. He stopped a moment, then lifted the bottle and poured the contents down his throat, grimacing slightly at the bitter aftertaste. But the contents flooded his system, and the shaking stopped.

"Can you stand? We should probably return. Besides..." A soft, forced chuckle echoed from Abel's throat. "If you're going to treat them to lunch, I should really return the favor. So why don't we go back up, and I'll get us both something from the kitchens."

Virgil nodded. "I will accept your offer." He pushed himself upright, frowning as he swayed a little. Abel took his arm and without a word, led him from the room, back towards the surface.