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.

41. Thirty One pt 02: Seth's Fight

(AN) AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hi again everyone Authoress smcandy here ^^, yes another update as promised I got a special two part goodies in my inbox from my number one awesome editor. So... the action heats up. And yes, there's more to come, naturally. As to what happens to Seth...and whether Abel gets his shot in...well, I'm evil, so you'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this. Many special thanks to all whom just added me or my story to their alerts and to everyone whom commented in for the past recently on chapter 30 keep them coming in ^^

We only have now eight more chapters left until we reach the finale of this story!, BTW do not forget to add your vote to my poll on my profile page to see what fiction work you want to see me and dragonwriter24 do next. ^^

(*) 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 Thirty-One – Declaration of War Part Two Seth's Fight

Esther woke again feeling weak, but not nearly as light-headed as she had. A cautious movement on her part verified that her head no longer pounded. Nor did the room spin when she moved. She sat up carefully.

She was lying once more in Cain's bed. The shift of fabric, and the feel of sheets on her bare arms made her start. She looked down.

Someone had exchanged her clothing for a sleeveless simple white dress. A band of roses separated the skirt from the bodice. Her right shoulder was bare, and the dress came up to her left shoulder, held with a wide strap, pinned with another rose. She shifted, feeling the brush of fabric that indicated a cloak of some sort, pinned or sewn in place by the rose. She hadn't been stripped of her underthings, and the dress was ankle length, which was a relief. But the dress itself seemed like an odd combination of Dietrich's angel outfit and a wedding dress. The thought made her shiver. She looked around the room, trying to distract herself.

The bed was comfortable, but the room was spartan, as bare as any soldier or priest's room could be. There was a small nightstand, and a doorway through which she could glimpse a toilet, but the place looked almost utterly un-lived in. There were no pictures, no decorations. Just the metal walls and the sleeping place.

She recalled the military uniform and how Cain had mentioned he didn't actually sleep in his room much, because of his powers and his need to regenerate in the vat. Knowing that, and the fact that they were on a ship, it made sense. What surprised her was the fact that Cain himself hadn't appeared. She wondered if he was in his regeneration cycle.

The thought gave her a small fraction of hope. If he were regenerating, then it was likely that he would be unable to follow her. If she could escape the room, she might be able to sneak through the ship until she could find a way off. She knew the vessel Dietrich had brought her in was here, and there might be others. Esther bit her lip. She hadn't taken much flight training, and she had no idea where they were, but anything was better than sitting and waiting.

Carefully, Esther shifted herself to the edge of the bed, then slid off to land on her feet. She moved quietly, though it was more from habit than the thought that she could move quietly enough to fool Cain. Still, the Contra Mundi did not appear. Esther straightened, then moved to the door. She stood a moment, taking deep breaths to calm her nerves, then twisted the handle and pushed the door open.

There was no sign of Cain in the outer room either. He wasn't standing by the view-port, nor sitting in the chairs. There was only the silence of an empty room, and the vat, sitting in the center. Esther fought back the urge to walk over and check it. After all, if he wasn't there, she didn't want to be caught looking at it. And if he was, she didn't want to wake him, or disturb him. She stood for a moment, then moved carefully and quietly toward the door. It occurred to her then, that she wasn't exactly sure of the layout of the ship, but it didn't matter. She thought she remembered the way back to the hangar, and even if she didn't...surely there were places to hide, to dodge.

There was no movement other than her own as she crossed to the door. She reached it, then looked back over her shoulder. There was still no sound from the container. She took a deep breath, then twisted the handle.

The door was locked. Esther bit back an urge to curse, or to cry out in frustration. Her hand clenched on the knob briefly, then she let go and studied the lock. Abel had taught her a bit about picking locks, for emergency circumstances. She didn't have anywhere near his proficiency with them, but she had learned how to handle the simpler sort of mechanisms.

It was an electronic lock. Esther bit her lip. Those were difficult. Abel could pick them she knew, and probably in under five minutes. She wasn't that good. More than that, she couldn't even begin to guess what the code would be. And she knew well enough, from his warnings, that a wrong guess would probably alert someone. Still, she didn't want to give up without trying. She reached slowly for the lock, trying to remember what little Abel had told her about working with such devices.

"What do you think you're doing, my dear?" Cool hands, strong as steel bands, clamped onto her shoulders. Esther startled, and bit back a scream. Instinctively she moved sideways, breaking free and whirling to face the voice.

Cain stood behind her, unclothed, with his white wings framing his shoulders and a small, coldly amused smile on his face. The eyes that met hers were blue, but tinged with red. Though his expression was pleasant, there was an air of madness about him that combined with his nakedness too send shivers up her spine. He tilted his head. "Esther...you weren't trying to leave me, were you?"

She had been, but she sensed she didn't dare admit it. There was an ache in her temple that reminded her of the last time he'd gotten angry with her, and the dress she wore was ample proof that he could and would do anything he wanted while she slept. She clenched her fist. "You know I don't like being trapped. I just wanted to see what was outside the door."

"Hmmm...well, I can't have that. After all, it would be troublesome if Dietrich got his hands on you. I don't mind handling him, but Isaac might be troubled if he lost his best lieutenant just before a battle." Cain shrugged. "If you need something, my dear, you should have called me."

"I didn't know where you were." Esther swallowed, trying to keep her eyes at his face and chest. She didn't want to think of the fact that he was standing there in nothing, only his white wings affording any protection. "And really, if you want me to speak with you, you shouldn't walk around like that."

"Well...I suppose you have a point." Cain shrugged lazily. Then, before she could blink, he was in front of her, close enough to feel his body heat. One finger, gentle as a kiss and irresistible as an avalanche, tilted her head up to meet his eyes. He smiled. "But then, this really shouldn't bother you, my dear. After all, surely you've seen 02 undressed before? When you were with him?"

Esther felt her cheeks burn hot. She pulled away. "I told you before, that's none of your business!"

Cain chuckled. "Well, it isn't as if it truly matters. Once I've taken Abel into me, I'll know everything the two of you have done. After all, I'll have all Abel's memories of you. So...it doesn't matter. Still...I suppose I can humor you, just for today, my dear." He smiled. "You should wait here." Then he turned, his wings folding down and disappearing as he strode into his bedroom and closed the door.

Esther remained where she was, clenching her hands to stop their trembling. Her stomach was churning with the onrush of adrenalin. Worse were his comments about his joining Abel. She believed in Abel's strength, but Cain's comment about seeing Abel's memories of their time together made her feel sick inside. She didn't even want to contemplate him sharing Abel's emotions and feelings as they made love. The thought alone made her nauseous. She bit her lip, forcing it aside.

A part of her wanted to run for the door and try the lock again. She pushed the urge aside as roughly as she pushed away the disquieting thoughts. She still didn't know the code, and if Cain dressed as fast as he moved, she didn't have nearly enough time anyway. Besides, if he caught her trying to break out, he'd only try to restrain her more firmly. And he was right about Dietrich. She swallowed hard.

The door opened, and Cain returned. He was wearing the shorter of his jackets, over the customary black pants and shirt. This jacket only came to mid-thigh, though the sleeves were long, reaching to the wrist. As with every white jacket he wore, the collar, hem and sleeves were outlined in red, and a stripe of it ran up the front, beside the fastenings. Esther studied it, aware of how much like a military uniform it looked.

Cain noticed her attention, and offered her another lazy smile. "You know, 02 used to wear this as well. But Abel always preferred blue on his uniforms."

Esther blinked. "Uniform? Is that...a military outfit?" It wasn't a military she recognized. But if he were involved in a military, he might have backing none of them had realized.

"Of course. Hasn't 02 ever showed you?" The lazy smile widened, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes. "This is the uniform of the Red Mars Defense Force. Abel and Seth and I, we all wore them. Even 04, though she preferred other clothing." His eyes went far away, thoughtful behind the emptiness. "I suppose Abel's fonder of that priest's uniform now." A low laugh sounded from within him. "It's really a bit surprising. All that time, 02 used to fuss about being forced into a uniform. And now that he has his freedom, he's decided to don another one."

"That's different. Father Nightroad...being a member of the church is something he chose, not something he was forced to do." Esther swallowed.

"Hmm...well, that woman did have a great deal of influence on him. I suppose she might have convinced him." Cain shrugged. "I thought that by killing her, I'd remove the negative elements that were bothering him, but 02 always was stubborn." He shrugged again. "It matters not. Once we've taken the ARK, I'll be able to remove all the negative influences around Abel. Then he and I can be together again, as one, as we were originally meant to be."

Esther's fist clenched. "Father Nightroad...you can't think he'll let you just do as you like. None of us will accept that."

"Well, I don't really see how you have much choice, my dear." There was a hint of amusement and madness in his eyes that made Esther's skin crawl. Then Cain moved forward and took her chin in one gentle, unbreakable grip. "You see, it will take them quite some time to catch up, and even if they do..." His finger brushed her cheek. "Abel won't fire on this ship while we have you. He cares too much for you. And once I reach the ARK, I'll use Abel's power and mine to revive it, and the world will become ashes."

Esther felt a tight knot in her throat. She knew he was right. Abel wouldn't risk firing on the ship while she was held captive. Even if he had been willing, she knew her own advisers would have argued against it, and Caterina as well. She was too important to the Alliance, to Albion, and to him. She wanted to argue, but she couldn't think of anything to say. She knew Abel would try to stop him, knew the others would support him, but she didn't know what they could do. And though she knew Abel would fight for her till the last breath left his body, the memory of how close he had already come to death only made her more afraid for him.

Cain must have seen some of dismay in her eyes, because the dark amusement in his eyes strengthened. He smiled, just slightly. Then his grip shifted to her arm. "Come. Isaac can get you some food. And since you wanted to see what's outside, I'll take you."

That thought was almost more terrifying than being trapped in the room with him. But she didn't dare show how nervous it made her. "Fine."

Cain's hand lifted, brushed a finger across her cheek. She could see the amusement in his gaze. "I can see why Abel took you as his companion. You have spirit. 02 always did like that. Come, my dear." One hand took her arm again, the other tapped out the door code. Esther tried to see what buttons he'd pressed, but she was in the wrong position. She couldn't quite see around him, and the angle of his arm didn't tell her anything. Then the door slid open, and Cain led her through it. He moved like a gentleman, awakening the memories of when she'd met him in Albion, before she'd learned what he was capable of. Esther swallowed, and went with him.

The corridors Cain led her through were spacious, though not overly wide. Esther studied them, remembering the way they'd come, and the way he was leading her. She was positive they weren't following the same path. Her head was clear enough to begin calculating the distances, forming a rough map of the route she'd been through so far. She thought through the passages, and her heart sank. Even if these corridors took up the bulk of the ship, it was still larger than many Albion craft. He'd already mentioned weapons as well, and she knew the other members of Rosenkreutz were on board. If her judgments were correct, this ship was at least as large as the Iron Maiden, perhaps even bigger.

Cain led her to a pair of double doors and laid his hand on one. The doors slid open, and Esther gasped. The room beyond could only be the main bridge, and it was huge. The room itself was a huge circular chamber. There were control panels for two thirds of the wall. The last third was wall, glass paneled, and Esther couldn't tell if it was a projected image, or a real view of the outside. It could have been either, from where she stood. She looked in vain for something she could recognize, but they were above the cloud line, and the sky was darkened, with dusk or dawn. She thought it was dusk.

The center of the room was occupied by a chair, rather like a padded throne. As she and Cain entered, Isaac rose from the seat and bowed. "Mien Herr. Lady Esther. I trust you've both rested well."

"Hmmm...I'm doing well, and Esther seems to have recovered her spirits." Cain's head tilted, his usual, vaguely empty smile on his face. "But I think Esther needs something to eat, and I told her I'd tell her about the ship, so she can't go wandering about."

"I see. In that case, let me order the lady some food, and I'll be happy to explain our equipment." He gestured to the seat. "Mien Herr."

"Oh, that's all right. Esther can sit." he lifted one hand, flexing it idly. "I'm in good condition at the moment."

"As you wish." Isaac extended a hand to her, with a half bow. "My lady...please be seated. I'll have your food served in a few moments."

She wanted to refuse, but she wasn't certain of Cain's mood, and she knew he could shift from relaxed to dangerous in a heartbeat. And now that the subject had been brought up, she was aware of the emptiness in her stomach, and the growing dizziness caused by lack of food. It occurred to her, for the first time, to wonder how long she'd been unconscious. Not more than a day, she suspected, but several hours at least. Besides...if she wanted to have any chance of escaping, she needed to conserve her strength. She was only likely to get one shot, if that. She moved forward and gingerly settled herself in the chair. It was more comfortable than she'd expected.

"Very good. I'll prepare your meal." Isaac bowed again and started to turn away.

"Isaac." Cain's soft voice stopped the Methuselah in his tracks. He turned back, and Cain smiled. "Don't forget to bring Lady Esther's jewelry. After all, if she's going to be up and around, she ought to have that."

"Of course, my lord." The dark haired Methuselah bowed again, and disappeared through a side door.

Jewelry. The word brought Esther's mind to a screeching halt. She'd been so nervous and afraid she hadn't had time to think, but the word froze her in her tracks. Her hand flew up, to touch her throat, even as she realized what had unsettled her so.

The chain with the locket and ring was missing. She didn't remember waking with it on, so it had to have been taken while she was unconscious. She couldn't remember if it had been present when she'd woken in Cain's arms, the first time, but she suspected he'd removed them when he'd changed her clothing.

Grief hit her, shocked her for a second. Then it was gone, replaced by a white-hot rage so intense it left her shaking, trying to control the urge to leap up and attack the Contra Mundi with her bare hands. Even the knowledge that he'd only knock her unconscious again was barely enough to keep her still. Even then, she found herself biting her lip, her clenched fists so tight on her lap that the knuckles were white.

"Does something trouble you, my dear?" Cain moved forward lazily, his head tilted to one side.

Esther swallowed, trying to force back the rage enough to speak reasonably. "My necklace. Did you take it?"

"Of course. After all, even if 02 has claimed you, and you accepted it, I couldn't have you wearing that. The ring that 02 gave that woman...it doesn't belong to you. And it's not fair of you to wear it, not when I've already made my claim to your attentions. I understand you're fond of Abel, but still..."

The calm even tone pushed her over the brink. Esther didn't even think, just shoved herself to her feet, facing him. Her hands were clenched tight, her back so tense the muscles hurt. "I told you, that isn't your place to decide! Besides...even if you did claim me, you have no right to take the things that are mine!" She knew she should be afraid, but the anger in her left no room for fear. She faced him, her body trembling in thwarted fury and frustration. "What did you do with them?"

"I have them. After all, I was going to give 02 back his ring." Cain reached into a pocket, and pulled out the delicate silver chain, with it's two decorations. "Or...I suppose I could give it back to you, when 02 and I have become one being again. Then our claim will be the same and it won't matter who gave you that ring the first time." His face was thoughtful.

"I want it back now. You have no right to take it. Even if you are interested in Father Nightroad, or me, that doesn't give you the right to take someone else's property. How can you even think that, when you won't let anyone else close to Father Nightroad without threatening them?" Esther had no idea where the words came from, but the instant she spoke them, she felt a cold wave of fear sweep over her. After all, she was the one threatening to take Abel from him. She bit her lip, knowing there was nowhere to run.

To her surprise, Cain showed no sign of anger. Instead, he merely maintained that thoughtful, almost empty gaze. It would have looked almost human, almost like Abel, had it not been for the madness that lurked within the blue eyes, the sense of barely leashed destructive power around him. Then he shrugged. "It matters not." He moved, once more with that too-fast shift, and stopped in front of her. "If it really matters that much to you, my dear, I'll let you keep it, for now. After all, it is nice to see someone who might really be interested in 02. Even that woman only used him to try and defeat me. And since Abel and I will be together soon, it's not as if I really lose anything by it. However...I'll expect you to take my gifts as well. It isn't fair to give Abel the only chance."

Esther swallowed, knowing she didn't dare refute him. He was calm for the moment, but she didn't want to provoke him any further than she already had. Cain studied her for a moment, then held out the chain, dangling from the tips of his fingers. Esther took it from him. She swallowed. "Thank you." She didn't think he deserved the thanks, but after taking such a risk, it was better to humor him and be polite. And he had given her the chain back.

"You're welcome...Esther." For a moment, something shimmered in the blue eyes. A touch of humanity. A spark of the man he had once been, before he was the Contra Mundi. It made him look so like his brother that Esther felt her breath catch in her throat.

The moment of humanity was shattered as Isaac re-entered the room, carrying a tray in one hand, a small box in the other. He set the tray to the side of the seat with a bow, gesturing Esther toward it. "Lady Esther, I have your meal here. Please, be seated."

Esther turned, but the shadow of humanity had already faded, leaving the eyes empty as before. She turned back and reseated herself in the chair. Isaac set the tray in front of her, containing fruit and meat and a few roles. "You'll have to pardon the shorter rations, unfortunately, this is a war ship."

"I'm not concerned." Esther swallowed. She was concerned, but not about the short supplies. What frightened her was the term 'war ship'. She forced herself to pick up a bite of food and start eating, though it tasted like sawdust to her. Still, she didn't want them to see how concerned she was. She took a few bites, then a drink of juice to wash it down. "This is a war ship? Like the one you attacked Albion with?"

Isaac smiled coolly. His gaze flicked to Cain. Esther had no idea what he saw in the blue eyes, but he turned back to her. "It's not quite as elaborate as that one. Due to the possible repairs we may need to make, we were forced to abandon some of our longer range weaponry. However, we've fine-tuned the Excalibur system on this ship, as well as the more conventional cannons. And of course, our shields are fully operational."

Esther swallowed again. She knew about the Aegis shields, she'd heard about them from Abel. She took a drink to clear her throat. "Excalibur?"

"It's an electromagnetic and plasma discharge. Of course, you'd probably find the details rather boring, but it's what we used in Londinium. It was was quite effective." A cold, almost depraved smile touched Isaac's face. "I've been working with the technology ever since the smaller prototype proved viable during the Silent Noise incident."

Esther stared at him. "But I thought...wasn't the Silent Noise caused by bells?"

"It was. However, I had other orders." Isaac's smile widened. "I was ordered to speak to Lady Caterina, and either convince her to join D'Este, or kill her. If that Father of yours hadn't interfered, she probably would have been vaporized by my Arrow of Belial."

Esther felt her stomach clench. She remembered the aftermath of the Silent Noise, when Abel had been brought in with severe burns and wounds. It was one of the few times she'd seen him hurt even after he used his powers. "You..."

"Isaac. I think that's enough. You're upsetting her." Cain's voice was soft, even, with just a hint of playfulness. Cool fingers brushed her cheek, and Esther just barely managed to stop herself from jumping like a frightened hare. Warm air blew on her face as Cain's soft voice sounded from behind her ear. "Really, my dear, it's not as if 02 could be permanently harmed by something like that. After all, even if he denies it, Abel is a Crusnik. Crusnik 02. Isaac's little toys wouldn't do lasting damage to him. Not if he's really transformed." She heard the soft echo of laughter in Cain's voice. "Actually, I thought 02 did quite well."

Esther felt a slow burn of anger. She pushed back, and turned to face the Contra Mundi squarely. "How could you say something like that? Didn't you realize he was injured" She bit her lip. She didn't know why she'd spoken of Abel's injuries.

"Well, Lady Esther, I'm afraid it is Father Nightroad's fault." Isaac smiled coolly. "I did try to warn him. And I told him not to move, after he was struck. He insisted on attacking. Besides...did the Father tell you what else happened?" Now there was an edge of cruelty to the smile. "All he had to do to stop the Silent Noise and save Lady Caterina was kill me. His enemy, the one responsible for the death of his companion in Barcelona. And he couldn't even do that. He couldn't even kill me. Not even to save an entire city."

Esther swallowed, sick to her stomach. Beneath the horror of knowing what Abel had been forced to choose, she felt anger. Her eyes came up to Cain's. "How could you ask him to decide something like that?"

Cain shrugged. "02's at his best when he's angry. And really, it is better for him. After all, when he's angry, he doesn't have to feel so much pain and confusion. But since he was with 04, he's gotten a lot more hesitant. I just want Abel to go back to normal, so he won't have to worry. And really, my dear, is that such a bad thing?"

Esther felt her breath stutter, seeing the trap of his logic. She could either agree to the destruction of the world, or it would seem that she wanted Abel to suffer. And yet, she knew how Abel felt about the violence of his other side. She knew how much he revered life, how precious every living thing was to him. "That...that's wrong. It isn't like that." She wanted to shout it at him, at both of them, but the confusion warring in her heart made her words a whisper.

Cain studied her a moment, then shrugged. "It matters not. After all...once Abel is with me, he won't have to worry anyway. And you, my dear, you won't have to worry about him either." He smiled, and there was something terrifying about the mix of affection and insanity in his gaze. There was a sense of humanity beneath the madness that made Esther shiver. Then Cain's gaze shifted away from her, to her half-filled plate. "Are you finished eating, Esther?"

She certainly wasn't hungry anymore, so she nodded. Isaac bent his head, then moved to clear the plates. The dark-haired Methuselah placed the dishes on a small cart, then leaned down and removed a small box. He turned to Esther with a bow. "Lady Esther. Mien Herr would like you to wear these." He opened the lid. Within the box were two small circlets, both of pearls. Isaac lifted them out, then laid the box to one side. "If you'll allow me."

She didn't want to let him touch her, but she didn't think it was wise to refuse. The comment Cain had made about accepting his gifts as well as Abel's sounded in her mind. She nodded. "Thank you."

Isaac nodded. He stepped behind her, and deft, careful fingers, slipped a choker of pearls around her neck. Moments later, the other circlet settled over her head, and a light touch indicated pins being pushed into place to hold it in her hair. She had to admit, he was very careful, and almost gentle. Still, she couldn't help comparing the cool brush of his fingers to the warmth of Abel's touch, and fought to suppress a shudder. He brushed a few wayward strands of hair into place, then stepped back. "There. All finished."

"Thank you." She fingered the pearls hesitantly.

"You look lovely, Esther." Cain smiled. Then he held out his hand. "Come."

"I'm sorry. Are we returning already?" Esther tried to keep her voice calm. She felt frightened, almost terrified of staying with the two men. Still, if she was to have any chance of escaping, any idea of what to do, she needed more information on the layout and size of the ship.

"No, my dear. I'll simply show you the rest of the ship, as you requested of me." That cool, empty smile had replaced the spark of warmth from moments before. "Isaac...are things proceeding properly?"

"All my preparations have been completed, my lord. However, you'll have to speak to the Puppet Master about the rest."

"Very well. inform me when we get close to the ARK." Cain shrugged. "I'll be attending to lady Esther."

"As you wish, my lord." Isaac bowed. Cain turned and took Esther's hand in a grip of cool iron, and led her from the bridge.

The rest of the tour took over an hour. Walking the ship at the Contra Mundi's side, Esther felt her heart sinking. The vessel was huge, definitely larger than Sister Kate's ship. Inquisition ships wouldn't hold a candle to it. She knew Albion had nothing of such size, and she'd seen no Imperial vessels like it either. The weapons array was formidable. She didn't see many people, but she knew it didn't take that many people, particularly with the skills Isaac and some of the others possessed. And while they didn't run into and of the Order members, she knew they were around.

Their final stop was a large bay doorway, in the lower decks of the hold. Cain smiled as he touched the door. "This is where my army resides." He pushed it open.

Esther swallowed, suddenly sick to her stomach. Rows of Auto-Jagers stood still, lined up against one side of the room. They were lifeless, still the corpses they had been made from, and the sight of them made her flesh crawl. On the other side of the room, she saw dolls with lifeless eyes. All of them looked eerily like Sieglind, with dark hair, a maids uniform, and a cold, expressionless face. She didn't need Cain to tell her what they were. Killing Dolls, like Father Tres. But there were over a dozen of them.

"Esther." The slow drawl was terribly familiar, and Esther felt herself tense. She turned. Dietrich was standing among the Auto-Jagers, his eyes dark and hard. "And what brings you to my workplace?"

"She's accompanying me." Cain moved out of the shadows of the doorway. His eyes were equally cool.

Dietrich paled, and Esther saw him stiffen. "Master Cain. I mean...Mien Herr." he bowed quickly. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"I came to inspect the condition of the army. After all, it will take some time to finish the repairs to the ARK. I wouldn't want 02 or his companions to stop us. Did you do what I asked?"

"Yes, my lord." Dietrich swallowed, and Esther saw the shadows of fear in his eyes. Her eyes went to his cheek, where a fading bruise told her he still felt the marks of Cain's wrath. "We have over a hundred Auto-Jager units available. Melchior is working on the Killing Dolls, but I'm certain he has at least thirty of them available." He gestured towards the Auto-Jagers. "All of these have had a thirty to fifty percent upgrade in both speed and strength. I've been experimenting on some of them with an electron and heat resistant neuro-thread, which might prove more durable and resistant to attack."

"Well then. We'll see how well your experiment turns out." Cain's smile was cool, with a hint of amused cruelty. He moved then, catching Dietrich's face before the younger man could move. "I hope it proves better than your last effort."

"Of...of course, my lord." Dietrich's face was pale, and Esther could see the fear in him.

"Very good." Cain turned away, as if the conversation and the army meant nothing to him, and held out his hand again. "Come Esther."

Esther nodded, swallowing back the bile in her throat. The army was a small one, by most standards, but...thirty Dolls like Tres. One hundred undead corpses. Even with Abel's power, it was a formidable force. The Dolls alone would be almost unstoppable. Despite her feelings of fear, Esther turned back, looking once more at the army of zombies and androids.

With Cain's eyes off him, Dietrich's expression had changed. Fear had been overwritten by cruelty and lust, and his eyes were fixed on her. As Esther caught the brown, glittering gaze, Dietrich lifted one hand in a mocking salute, and she saw his lips form words. "Take care, Esther. Remember, I do love you."

There was no sound, but she saw the shape of the words clearly. She shuddered and turned away, wondering at the part of her that was somewhat relieved that he hadn't sustained lasting injuries from Cain's blows. A part of her wished she'd let Cain kill him, but there was a corner of her mind that remembered the gentle, helpful young man she'd first known, and didn't want to give up on him. She at least wanted to know why he'd become the monster he was.

She shivered again, and turned to catch up with Cain. She wasn't sure he'd noticed her lag, but there was silence between them as they returned to his quarters. She followed him inside, and was wondering what would happen when he turned. One finger touched her cheek, gentle as a caress, but the touch made her tense. She looked up, and Cain smiled. "Esther. You almost stayed with Dietrich. Do you care for him?"

"No!" Esther jerked backward. "It's not like that. I was surprised, that's all. After the way you hit him, I thought he was injured much worse than that." She swallowed. "I was just surprised to see him. I was wondering if it might be a puppet of his. He's made ones that look like him before." She swallowed. She hadn't actually thought about it, but if the man in the hangar was a puppet, then Dietrich himself could be anywhere. The thought made her nerves twist.

"No, my dear, that was Dietrich von Lohengrin." A cool smile touched Cain's face. "However, there's no need to be concerned. Not even Dietrich will enter my chambers without permission." His fingers tipped her chin up, to look into his blue eyes. "You're safe in here, as long as you're with me."

It didn't feel like safety, but Esther knew better than to argue the point. She nodded, trying to keep the sick dread she felt from showing in her face. But she couldn't quite keep her apprehension from showing.

Darkness touched his gaze, disappointment and the touch of cruelty and madness that seemed to flower within the negative emotion. "Something troubles you, my dear?"

She didn't dare admit that it was his presence she was frightened of. She swallowed. "It's just...this ship. So many weapons of destruction, and all those soldiers...why? Why do you need such things? And with a vessel like this...what possible use could you have for the ARK? Why must you do something like this?"

The coolness coalesced in his smile. "I've already told you, my dear. Everything is for me, and for 02. For Abel. The ARK has the capacity to reduce the world to fire, but it also has the complete makeup of the Crusnik. Using that, Isaac and I can make the fusion of my body and Abel's more complete, and access the full powers of the Crusnik. With the power of the ARK, I will truly become a being who needs nothing. And Abel will share that destiny with me." His finger traced her cheek thoughtfully. "We might even be able to provide a similar future for you, Esther. A way for you to join myself and Abel for all eternity."

Esther couldn't help the involuntary shudder that passed through her frame. She remembered the look in Abel's eyes, when he spoke of the past. When he remembered things that had occurred so long ago that even the legends were fading. That terrible, lost and desolate look. She thought of how hard it was to live with the two decades of memories she had. To imagine a thousand years' worth...she swallowed hard. "No." The word came out as a whisper.

The smile widened just a fraction. "Not even to be with 02?"

Esther shivered again. "You have no right to ask me that." She wanted to answer him defiantly, but she couldn't find the words. She felt as if she was walking blindfolded into a firing zone, with no idea of which way the bullet would come.

Cain shrugged. "It matters not. We will awaken the ARK, and Abel...Abel will come for you. There's no need to worry about such decisions until he and I have been safely joined." He ran a hand along her cheek again. "By then, my dear, your outlook may have changed."

She couldn't think what to say. Cain studied her a moment, his head tilted to one side. Then he brushed his fingers lightly over her temple. Esther winced, and his eyes brightened, changing him instantaneously from the Contra Mundi to the baffling troublesome man she'd met in Londinium. "Ah. I see. You're still confused because of your injuries. Isaac did say it would take you a few days to recover. You just need to rest." He sighed, looking at his hand with an air of detached consideration. "It's holding up well, but I should probably spend a little more time in my regeneration tank." He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I want to be at my best when I meet Abel again, after all."

Esther studied her hands. She didn't want him to be any stronger than he was, and she hated the knowledge that he had taken her blood to heal himself. She felt as if she was being used as a weapon against Abel. But...she couldn't find any words to say.

Cain's hand on her face roused her from her thoughts. He smiled at her, that disarming, foolish smile he sometimes shared with his brother. "You agree, right? You also want to be at your best when Abel shows up."

"Yes." That much she could agree with.

"Right then, my dear. You go rest, and I'll do the same." He gestured. "You can use my bedroom, since I don't use it much."

"I understand. Thank you." The thought of sleeping in his bed gave her chills, but at least it was a chance to get away from him. She needed desperately to try and sort out her thoughts, and try to find a course of action. "If you don't mind...I'm actually a little tired now..."

"That's fine. You should go ahead." He nodded, flashing her another smile. "After all, we did have that discussion about clothing." His hands were on the fasteners of his over-jacket. "Unless you've changed your mind already."

Esther swallowed hard. She shook her head in denial, and managed to dip a quick curtsey. Then she turned, walking as quickly as she could into the adjoining rooms without breaking into an undignified run. Once inside, she shut the door and settled onto the bed, her hands trembling with reaction.

She'd heard his comments about Abel several times, but somehow, sitting in his ship, speeding toward the ARK, it was all too horribly real. Back at the Order headquarters, she'd been able to make herself think it was just talk, that he couldn't do it. With both of them on the grounds, she'd felt he wouldn't be able to catch his brother. And then she hadn't known how much Abel loved her, and how much he would risk for her life. She'd only known that she had to get away, for her people's sake.

Esther swallowed hard and clasped her hands together to still the trembling. She took a few deep breaths, forcing her thoughts into a rational order. While we're on the ship, there's not much I can do. I should probably still consider trying to escape and steal a plane, but I can't count on being able to do that. Not if the Contra Mundi is watching me. In the meantime...I have to stay strong, and try not to let him take any more blood. I think I can convince him I'm too weak, if I play it right. And I can look for any weaknesses. He's much stronger than I am, and faster, but...he's arrogant, because he's so powerful. There has to be something I can do. Maybe that tank...I don't know how it works, but if I asked him, or maybe Isaac. Or...I could just try to tamper with it. After all...I can say I thought there was a problem and I was trying to help. I've done it before, so it might not be too unbelievable.

Esther bit her lip. She doubted that even accidentally destroying his tank would be enough. After all, despite the impressiveness of the technology in it, she knew very well that all a regeneration tank really required was a subject and a container big enough to hold his body, plus a pool of nano-machines and other nutrients, or blood. Abel's regeneration chamber had been his own coffin, filled with the mixture Father Tres had brought him. Still...there was a chance that it could damage him, or delay his healing.

In the meantime, she had to find weaknesses, any possible escape routes, any weapons she might use. She had to think of excuses, so she would be able to explain any suspicious behavior. Proper responses to any questions that might be asked.

The whole thing was making her head pound. With a sigh, Esther flopped back on the bed. Despite her fear, the tiredness she claimed was setting in. Almost involuntarily, her eyes closed. Her hand slipped upward, to close around the locket at her neck. She didn't want Cain to take it again. Abel's face appeared in her mind. Abel...please be careful. Please...I don't want to see you die again. Be careful love. Those thoughts were still in her mind as she fell asleep.

Esther slept uneasily. She woke several times, Abel's name on her lips, biting it back before she called out for him. Her heart ached, missing his warm presence, and his arms around her. Or even just his watchful eye, standing at the door or window. She looked more than once for a clock, but there were no time-keeping devices. Cain never showed himself in the room, though whether it was because he was regenerating or because he simply didn't bother, she wasn't sure. Either way, she was at least relieved not to see him.

Finally, she sighed and rose from the bed. She couldn't sleep well, and she hated feeling helpless. She fidgeted with the locket around her neck for a few minutes, then took a deep breath and moved toward the door, edging it cautiously open.

The room was empty, as near as she could see. To her surprise, the windows were streaked with light. She couldn't tell if it was dusk or dawn, but she hadn't seen daylight before. She moved to the window, gazing out. Clouds obscured her vision of the ground, so she had no idea where she was. Even with Cain's windows, she couldn't determine the angle to guess what time it was. Nor could she figure out what direction they were going.

"Guten Morgen, Lady Esther." Esther spun around at the familiar voice. Isaac stood halfway into the room, his hands holding a dining tray. "Mien Herr said you might wake." He bowed, oddly graceful despite the armful of dishes. "My lord told me to serve you as soon as you awoke. How are you feeling?"

She started to snap a defensive response, then remembered her plan to seem weaker and sicker than she was. "I'm fine. Just a little light-headed. And I have a bit of a headache, that's all." She managed a thin, self-deprecating smile, much as she would have if Virgil had asked her the same question back at home when she wasn't feeling well.

"I see." Isaac matched her thin smile with a cool one of his own, then moved to set the small table off to one side. He laid out dishes, then pulled a chair out for her. "Please, have a seat, Lady Esther. You may feel better once you've eaten."

Esther nodded and settled herself into the chair. She was aware, despite her apprehension, of how little she'd eaten before. Besides, she needed to eat to keep herself healthy, and she had no doubt that Cain would have her force-fed if she didn't eat. She served herself a moderate helping, then set to, eating lightly but well. Isaac remained beside her, a serving napkin over one arm, refilling her drink as needed offering to refill her plate. When she was done, he cleared away the dishes, then bowed to her. "Do you feel better now, Lady Esther?"

She did feel better, much better. She nodded. Her glance flitted over the chamber, wondering about the odd emptiness of it.

She was just wondering if she could ask Isaac for information when the dark-haired Methuselah spoke. "If you're curious, Lady Esther, Mien Herr is on the control deck, preparing for our rendezvous with the ARK." He studied her with a cool, professional gaze. "My lord's orders were to escort you to him, if you wish."

Esther swallowed hard, feeling the blood drain from her face. She didn't like remaining in Cain's quarters, but the thought of walking through the corridors with Isaac as her escort, knowing the Order members and Auto-Jagers were on board, made her back tense. "No. It won't be necessary. But...are we really that close already?" She swallowed again, feeling the lump that lodged in her throat. She'd hoped to have more time.

"We'll rendezvous with the ARK in two days, my lady." A cool smile touched Isaac's face once more. "It seems my lord wishes to pay his sister a visit before we turn into our docking trajectory."

Seth. He was going to attack the Empire, to try and get her attention. Esther was sure of it. She felt the food in her stomach turn to rocks and lumps of ice. She knew how fiercely protective the other woman was of her people.

"Your pardon, Lady Esther." Isaac's low, smooth voice broke across her thoughts. She looked up, and he gave her a slight bow. "I have many duties, my lady. If you do not wish to be escorted to Mien Herr, then I should report to him that you are awake, and return to them."

"Of course." She felt her voice quaver slightly, and hoped he mistook it for lingering weakness from blood loss and shock, rather than emotion.

"Until later, my lady." Isaac bowed again and left the room. Esther heard the door lock click closed behind him, and then she was alone with her thoughts.

8888888

The next two days passed both far too slowly, and far too swiftly. Trapped in the rooms, or in Cain and Isaac's carefully watchful company, Esther felt as if time slowed to a crawl. Several times she had to fight the impulse to make a break for it. Only the knowledge of Dietrich's presence, and of Cain's inhuman swiftness and dangerous temper kept her from doing so. But then, watching the sunlight pass in Cain's rooms, or watching the countdown on the monitors of the main bridge, time felt as if it moved far too rapidly. She ate when Isaac forced her, and slept fitfully, dropping off only when her tired body refused to remain awake.

Cain was with her the majority of the time. Though she sometimes roused from restless slumber to find him regenerating or going about his duties as the Contra Mundi, more often he was settled in a chair, or standing by the windows when she woke. Even knowing that his presence and Isaac's protected her against Dietrich and the others, his presence made her nervous. Worse, being constantly by his side or under watch from him and Isaac, she had no opportunities to even plan an escape, let alone attempt it.

Dealing with Cain was like walking barefoot through a mine-field. It was never easy. Sometimes the man she faced was the same as the man she'd met on the Londinium streets. Absent-minded, polite in a rather over-bearing sort of way that almost reminded her of Antonio. Then, she was reminded forcefully of his resemblance to the priest she'd fallen in love with, and the fact that they were twin brothers.

Other times he was remote, distant. His voice was cool, and his eyes eerily empty of emotion. He spoke to her formally then, always in a soft, even voice. Madness lurked in his eyes then and every word she spoke had to be cautious. Those times he spoke of the destruction of the world.

Worse though, were the times when he pursued her, madness and a hazy red glow sparkling deep in his eyes. The veiled threats, the hints, the glancing touches. Time when he would stand close, enveloping her in his body heat, using any excuse to run a finger across her jaw, or her throat and chest. He didn't threaten to violate her again, but it was clear that he only refrained because he believed his defeat of Abel would allow him access to her body. There was a sort of amused indulgence in his actions, a man humoring a woman because he knew the battle was already won.

Much as his attempted seduction frightened her, what terrified her more was the humanity that lurked within the madness and the absentmindedness. It was as if she watched him switching between two different people, the gentle one that had once fight to save his brother from destruction, and the dark-eyed, destructive madman that threatened to destroy her world. She could have lived with two different personalities, and hoped to draw the gentle one out more often, but the odd mix of the two, when madness and emotions ruled together, was terrifying. She woke several times from nightmares where she watched again as Cain blew a hole in his brother's chest, or strode up the steps of the church, determined to steal his brother's body and memories as he'd claimed his life.

She tried not to let him see her nerves, pretending it was a side effect of the injury she'd received, and the blood loss. She couldn't tell if he believed her, but even in the depths of his madness, he treated her with a sort of reserved care, helping her to her seat, offering her food, drinks, or books. Where he got the books from, she had no idea, but they were a welcome distraction from him, and her situation.

Esther sighed, looking up from her book. Cain had retreated to his regeneration tank. She'd tried to stay in her rooms, but she was far too aware of the passage of time, the flow of minutes and seconds. Finally, she'd come out to read by the light of the windows. But she couldn't concentrate. Her gaze returned to the tank.

The first time he'd entered it, after she'd woken, she'd gone up to look at it, hoping to find a key to sabotaging it. But the array of lights and panels was far more sophisticated than her rudimentary knowledge of computers could handle. Besides, everything was labeled in German. She knew the basic language, but she hadn't studied technological terminology and the words were gibberish to her. She'd thought about simply adjusting the knobs and hoping for the best, but...there was no guarantee she'd do damage. And even if she managed to hurt him, she was locked in his rooms, and the only other person with access was Isaac. She'd be immediately caught. If she'd been able to pick the lock, she might have chanced it, but she'd never managed to catch a glimpse of the password for it. Despite his absent-minded behavior at times, Cain always managed to keep her from seeing it.

A click at the door startled her from her thoughts, and she looked up as Isaac entered. "Mr Butler." She'd taken to referring to him that way, just to keep the barrier of formality between them.

"Lady Esther." Isaac bowed. "If you'll excuse me, I need to speak to my lord."

"Of course." Esther set the book aside, swallowing hard.

Isaac moved to one side, removing clothing from a small drawer in the side of the machine. His hand touched a button. "My lord. I apologize for disturbing your rest, however, we've arrived above the Imperial Capital."

Two white hands appeared on the rim of the tank, followed by an explosion of liquid as Cain heaved himself out of the vat. Esther looked away quickly, moving to stare out the window so she wouldn't see Cain's uncovered body.

"Excellent." Cain's voice was soft, distant, and Esther bit her lip. That was the voice of the Contra Mundi. "And how is 03 doing?"

"Reports indicate that the main Palace has some sort of protection in place, and it appears the activity in the city is far diminished from normal levels." Esther heard the rustle of cloth as he spoke, and suspected that he was helping his master dress.

"Ah well. I suppose 02 must have warned her I was coming. Still, it matters little. I'm sure 03 will understand my message all the same." The coolness in his voice sent shivers up Esther's spine. Then, without barely a whisper of warning, he was behind her, one hand touching her shoulder. "Esther."

She drew back from him, turning to look into blue eyes that held nothing but slight amusement. "What's going on?"

"We've arrived above the Imperial Palace, my dear." A faint smile touched his face. "I'm going to invite 03 to join us." He extended one hand, more demand than invitation. "Come, Lady Esther. You should be there, as I begin my plans to finish things between 02 and I."

She didn't want to join him, but she also knew she had no choice. She let him take her hand. Isaac opened the door with a bow, and the two men escorted her from the room, turning down the corridor to the main command deck.

All the members of the Order were gathered on the main deck, in full uniform. Dietrich stood by the high command chair, Helga on the opposite side. Gudiern was a hulking presence toward the back of the deck, with the three Neumann brothers arrayed around the room. Even Sieglind was there, standing by Melchior's elbow, no expression on her face. Only Skorzeny seemed to be absent. All of them turned and bowed as Cain stepped through the doors. It was Helga who spoke first. "Mien Herr."

The Contra Mundi took no notice of her. He gestured to the main view-screen. "See, my dear. We've arrived. Now I can pay a visit to 03." Esther swallowed hard, looking at the familiar image of the Imperial Capital. Below her, she could see the Palace, Astha's home, and the city of Byzantium. Dismay and dread filled her. She knew Seth had fighters, but this colossal ship...she didn't know if even Seth could do anything. She was jarred from her thoughts by Cain's voice as he drew her toward the center throne. "Balthasar, have a chair brought for Esther."

"Of course, my lord." The Methuselah noble bowed, then turned to his slender brother. "Sieglind, a seat for Lady Esther."

The android nodded and disappeared, returning a few moments later with a comfortable looking chair. With languid grace, Cain moved to the center seat, and gestured Esther to the seat beside him. "Here, my dear. From here you can watch with me." He gave her no time to reply, and turned to Dietrich. "Puppet Master...is everything ready?"

"Yes my lord." A cruel smile lit Dietrich's face "The shot is lined up perfectly. We've detected shields, but the first shot should give us an indication of how far they extend and how strong they are. After that, I've set tentative programming for a volley, subject of course to your approval." He bowed.

"Very well. Isaac...let's ask 03 to pay us a visit, shall we?"

"As you wish, my lord." The dark-haired Methuselah moved to a panel. Esther felt her blood turn to ice in her veins. She started to move, barely even aware of the gesture, but a cool hand clamped her arm.

She looked up into Helga's face. The Countess smirked faintly, then leaned down. "Stay put, Terran wench. You may have surpassed me in my lord's favor, but I shall not permit you to interrupt his enjoyment of this moment. Watch, and see the true power of the man who has chosen you, and how pathetic that little Father of yours and his friends truly are."

"You..." Esther's thought was interrupted as a brilliant globe of scarlet light exploded from the ship, plummeting toward the Imperial Star Palace directly below. "No..." She felt as if she was going to be sick. She'd seen such destruction before, but to have to witness it from the ship she was on, and be unable to do anything...that hurt.

The fiery orb shattered against an invisible wall, just above the Palace. Esther felt her heart start working again. She remembered then that Abel had been working with his sister to alter and expand the Aegis technology. Abel...he must have figured something out. Or Seth did. That's good.

"Shall I deliver the volley, my lord?" Isaac's smooth voice broke through her relief.

"Of course." Cain smiled. "I wouldn't want 03 to mistake my intentions."

"You..." Esther swallowed, her voice barely a whisper. She knew she was in a dangerous position, but she couldn't keep silent. "Why must you do this! Surely you've already gotten Her Majesty's attention. There's no need to continue firing!"

Cain shrugged. "Well, I suppose I could simply leave it. But...I don't think 03 has gotten my full message yet. After all, there wasn't any damage from that shot. I suppose 02 helped her put up some better shields...he's very good at that. Besides...since we're here...I thought I'd see if I could break that woman's lab. After all, if it's destroyed again, 02 won't worry about it."

"That's not true. Don't you understand? That isn't the way Father Nightroad thinks anymore." Esther's words were lost in the rumble as the ship fired off another shot, followed by a rain of other projectiles. Some broke harmlessly against the shields. But others hit the ground, and Esther saw pillars of smoke rise from Byzantium. One shot hit Astha's house. It was a glancing strike into the gardens, but that made her feel no better. Even knowing Astha was far away didn't help. Instead, she found herself thinking of the old man who served as her primary servant, and her pet tiger. Wondering if they were safe. Another shot hit the Moldova mansion, sending a fresh wave of fear through her. Ion. Lady Mirka. "Stop it."

Cain must have heard her. The blue eyes flicked in her direction. He studied her face a moment, then turned back. "I think that's enough, Isaac. It looks like the Palace is too well protected for this ship to destroy. And I think 03's probably gotten my message by now. We should go."

"Of course, my lord." Isaac nodded, and touched something on his panel. The ship shuddered, and Esther felt the motion as it began to turn, then rise. "We should reach the ARK in approximately three hours, my lord."

"Very well." Cain tilted his head, then rose from his seat. His empty gaze flicked to Helga, still standing next to Esther's chair. "I think you should leave her alone, Eisehexe. After all..." A faint smile touched his mouth. "You wouldn't want me to have reason to be annoyed with you again."

Helga paled, then backed away quickly. Out of the corner of her eye, Esther saw Dietrich shift as well, a look of mingled fear and anger on his features. Then Cain shifted, and her attention turned back to him. He studied the view-screen a moment, then turned back to her. "Come here, my dear. You should see this."

Esther rose. She could feel a painful lump in her throat, and involuntary tears in her eyes, trying to break free. She blinked quickly, to force them back. There was no point in showing weakness now, and she knew the Order members would see her tears as just that. Instead, she straightened her back and stepped forward.

The view of the Imperial Star Palace had vanished into a sea of green and blue and brown. Beneath her, white swirls of clouds dotted a softly glowing landscape of sapphire, emerald and dark tones. Esther's head came up, and above her stretched a growing ribbon of night, dotted with stars like endless diamonds on pure black velvet. Or like the lights of the Underground, stretching away under her feet when she looked down from the third floor. There was a brighter glow to one side, and Esther turned, realizing with shock that she was looking at the sun itself. "What..."

"This is the view from the upper atmosphere, my dear. Abel's first view of the world beyond Londinium. 02 used to stand at the windows for hours, looking at the Earth. He always did like the view." The voice that answered her was cool, and Esther felt her hand clench into a fist. "This was the view my dear brother Abel was looking at when I killed that woman, 04."

Something within Esther snapped, and she whirled to face him. "How could you do such a thing?"

"I've told you, my dear." A cold smile creased his mouth. "She was making Abel worry unnecessarily. I thought that by removing the negative element, he'd be able to relax again."

Esther bit her lip so hard she was almost surprised she didn't bleed. "Even so...what possible excuse could you have for your actions now? Why did you attack Byzantium like that? Why are you so determined to take the ARK?"

There was a mutter of anger from the assembled Methuselah, but Cain held up a hand, that lazy, empty smile still on his face. "You should be more careful, Esther. Otherwise, you'll make the others angry with you. And really...if it weren't for your value to 02, and my fondness for you..."

"I don't care! How can you justify this?" Esther had to relax her hand to keep her arm from shaking. She knew she was in a dangerous position, but she couldn't hold back the words.

"I've said it before. It's all for Abel's sake." His hand caught her chin, holding her gaze to his for a moment, before he turned away. "I had to attack 03, otherwise, she wouldn't come to the ARK. 02 probably ordered her not to follow me, but she's always been very headstrong, just like Abel. An attack like that will probably make her disobey him. I need her biometrics to revive the ARK, just as I need 02's. It is a bit troublesome, not having that woman, but Abel has her blood now, so I'll still have what I need. As for why I need the ARK..."

He reached up, stroking her cheek with a cool finger. "All the knowledge of the Crusnik, all the combined technology of two races or more is in that one ship. And once Isaac and Dietrich rebuild the weapons for me, we'll have enough power to cleanse the world and revive it from the ashes. And 02 and I will have all the power of the ARK, and all the knowledge of the Crusnik. I can get a complete body, and if 02 comes to his senses, I might not even use his. And 02...tell me, my dear...he's fused completely with the Crusnik. Has he shown any signs of instability, yet?"

Esther felt her stomach lurch. "That...isn't something I would tell you."

Cain smiled. "It matters not. Abel might be strong, but even he can't hold them back forever. And even if he could, if he continues to fight, he'll lose control. With the power of the ARK, there might be a way to prevent it. Then Abel won't have to be so hesitant all the time. He won't have to worry about protecting people. Including you, my dear."

The words cut Esther like a knife. She remembered Abel agonizing when he'd nearly lost himself, starving the Crusnik to avoid hurting her. Remembered the hesitation their first night together, when he'd been so afraid his powers would hurt her.

Cain saw the hesitation in her face, and the cool smile widened, becoming almost playful. "There. See? It really is all for the best." He took her hand in his, then guided her to the chair. "Here. You should really enjoy the view. Isaac can fetch you something to drink."

She didn't want to sit, didn't want to relax and drink. She wanted to be sick, or to throw things, or to attack someone. But being sick would make her look week, and she was outnumbered and outmatched, with no weapons. She settled back in the seat, taking the glass Isaac handed her and sipping to calm her nerves. It was wine, which she normally didn't drink, but it helped. She settled back into her seat and tried desperately to think.

The next few hours seemed to crawl by. The Methuselah worked at various stations; though Sieglind and Isaac stopped to make sure she was refreshed and taken care of, on Cain's orders. Cain himself remained at closer to the view-port, staring out at the rapidly diminishing world beneath them.

She had to admit, the view was wonderful. In different circumstances, seeing it with Abel instead of the Contra Mundi, she would have been thrilled. As it was, she was in no position to enjoy it. She was too busy trying to think if there was anything she could do. But she couldn't even sneak out. Gudiern had moved around to block the door, and she knew that all of them were watching her like hawks to a mouse.

She was about ready to jump out if her chair, or curse in frustration when something darkened the right-hand, upper section of the view-port. Esther watched as a colossal rock spun slowly into view. The shape seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it. Still...it was enormous, dwarfing even the huge vessel she was on, and it seemed they were headed straight for it. The recognition dawned on her, and she felt a cold chill sweep over her. "That is...the Vampire's Moon..."

"That, my dear, is the ARK. The place where 02 and I will finally settle things." There was faint amusement, and something like satisfaction in Cain's voice. "Isaac..."

"I'm commencing scans now, my lord. It will take a few minutes." The words were spoken respectfully, but Esther heard the hint of excitement underlying the professionalism.

"Very well. Be sure to check that the environmental bubble is still working properly. I wouldn't want Puppet Master or Lady Esther to die just yet."

Esther felt her heart constrict. "What?"

Dietrich spoke. "Honestly, Esther, you should have guessed. A ship this size can't enter atmosphere, and it doesn't have any natural environment. You know...back on Earth, people are protected by the atmosphere. If you set one foot outside this ship right now, though, you wouldn't be able to breathe. Always assuming, of course, that you didn't freeze to death first." A smirk crossed his handsome face.

"That's enough, Puppet Master." Cain's voice was soft, conversational, but there was something in the tone that made Dietrich stiffen. "You really shouldn't talk to Esther like that."

"Yes, Mien Herr." Dietrich swallowed, suddenly pale, but Esther saw the glitter of anger in his eyes once more, as well as terror.

The ship seemed to have stopped moving. At least, they were looking at the same patch of ground, hovering as they had hovered over the Imperial Palace only hours before. Esther could feel a million questions bursting through her mind, but she couldn't think which one to ask first, or even if she wanted to know the answers to any of them. Her instincts told her Cain was in a dangerous mood, and she had no idea what would push him into a rage, or even into that emotionless madness she'd seen before.

"My lord." Isaac's voice broke her thoughts. "It appears the atmospheric stabilizers are indeed operational at this time. My sensors indicate that, temperatures aside, the conditions are optimal for even Terran habitation. There should be no difficulties after landing."

"Very well then. We should land. You do know the coordinates for the entrance, right?"

"Rest assured, my lord. We'll be within meters of it when we open the hatches." Isaac's voice was cool, confident, as relaxed as it had been when he'd been serving her tea. Esther had a sudden irrational urge to leap up and smack him, though she knew it would do no good. She forced her attention back to the screen.

The rough looking ground was getting closer. Then Esther saw the truth, the rocks disguised a smooth curve of metal, the side of a ship. What had looked like a small crater was in fact a docking port of sorts, like the landing pad for Inquisition ships at the Vatican, or the one near Buckingham Palace. But the scale of it made her shiver. And she didn't understand why it looked like rocks. She clenched a fist, watching as they approached the huge vessel.

Then, in a moment that took a lifetime, they reached the landing point. Esther felt the ship shudder as reverse thrusters fired, then the vessel groaned as the weight of it settled to the ground with a muffled thud that shook the screen. Cain stared out the portal for a few moments, then turned. "Puppet Master, Pygmalion, I trust you understand your orders?"

"Of course, my lord." Melchior bowed. "We'll, begin disembarking the troops at once." He turned, then hesitated. "Master...Sieglind..."

"She will remain with me, to keep an eye on Lady Esther and assist her. After all, this is a rather rough place." Cain smiled lightly, his head tilted to one side as if he were contemplating the weather.

"As you command." The slender man bowed again, and he and Dietrich both vanished through the door.

Cain studied the ground before the screen with a detached air, then turned and held out his hand. He said nothing, but Esther recognized the command in the gesture, and the terrible shadows and red glitter lurking in his eyes. She stepped forward, not taking his hand, but taking a place beside him. Blue eyes regarded her for a moment with distant amusement, then he turned away strolling through the door. Esther fell in step just behind, Isaac and Sieglind's presence at her back reminding her that there was no option of running.

The landscape they emerged into was desolate, barren. Esther swallowed hard. She thought she'd seen barren before, in Carthage, but that was paradise. Even the ruins of Old Berlin had seemed less lifeless than this place. And it was unnerving, to look up and see the huge globe of Earth, so far away. Even more unnerving, to realize she was standing on a ship, though she couldn't feel any of the usual thrumming pulse of engines. The air wasn't too bad, not for someone who'd grown up with Istvan snow-storms, but it was cooler than she was dressed for. She shivered, her hand clenching around the comforting presence of her locket. "Why..." She looked around. "This place..."

"It was 02's idea. He wanted to camouflage the ship, and prevent the surface mechanisms from getting damaged. So we encased it in the soil of Mars, just like the original." Cain spoke softly, and Esther couldn't identify the undercurrent of his voice. There was something about it, and it's resemblance to Abel's soft words when he remembered things, that made her heart twist oddly. Then he held out his hand again, his eyes glittered with odd joy and bright, insane fire. "Come, my dear, and I'll show you mine and

Abel' true home." Then he took her hand, and led her across the rocky ground.

Their trek led them to a rocky outcropping only a short distance away. It was tall, at least three time's Esther's height. At first she couldn't see anything, then something in her perspective shifted, and she realized it was a tower, almost derelict from lack of use, and the dim shape of doors. Cain stopped before the doors, and lifted one bare hand to press into a specific spot on the stone. A light flickered weakly, then died. Cain's frowned, a faint line appearing between his eyes. "Isaac."

"My lord." The dark haired Methuselah stepped forward. Esther didn't see how he did it, but within moments he'd exposed a large assortment of panels. A few movements later, he rose again. "It appears that some of the circuitry is damaged from disuse, but also...there's some protective programming in place. It's been very well done. My apologies, my lord, but this may take me a few minutes."

"It's not as if it matters. After all, we're here, and 02 can't possibly arrive this fast. But we shouldn't leave Esther standing in the cold too long. Although...I suppose she can have my cloak. After all, your adjustments seem to be holding up quite well." Cain studied his hand for a moment, then turned and, with a casual gesture, tossed the white over-cloak he'd donned at the door over Esther's shoulders.

For a moment, the familiarity of the gesture made her want to throw it violently back. But practicality won out. The temperature was colder than she liked, and the sleeveless white dress wasn't made for it. She forced herself to accept the cloak and wrap it around her shoulders, accepting the necessary warmth.

"That's better." Cain smiled, then turned back. "Puppet Master should be here in a few moments to assist you, if you need it, Isaac."

"Thank you, Mien Herr." Isaac gave a brief nod, then turned back to the panels. For once, the cool, mocking smile was gone. His face was intent, but there was a frightening amusement, almost as if the difficulty of his task made him happy, as though he was enjoying the challenge.

Minutes later, Dietrich and Melchior strode up to the group. Esther shivered, seeing the dark forms behind the two men. Dietrich moved to Cain's side. "Master Cain...the troops are ready."

"That's good. Isaac?"

The dark-haired Methuselah straightened, a look of triumph on his features. "I believe I've repaired the worst of the damage, my lord. By working with the circuitry, I've managed to bypass most of the password matrix. We should be able to enter. I regret, I couldn't undo the coding to reactivate the ship, but I can get us inside."

"That's all right. After all, the ship was only meant to be activated by a Crusnik. 02 will be here soon enough..and 03 should come with him. In the meantime...you'd better open the doors, Isaac. Otherwise, we might get chilled."

Isaac nodded, and touched a panel in a rapid sequence. The whole area flared to life, and with a low groan of stressed metal, the outlined section of the rock face split open, and began to slide back to reveal the darkness below.

Esther swallowed, recognizing an unloading door. As soon as it was halfway open, Isaac switched another panel, and weak lights flared to life inside. "My lord, I've confirmed power is working."

"That's excellent." Cain nodded, the cool smile slowly being replaced by a kind of cold, pleased excitement. The similarity between his expression and Isaac's made Esther shiver again.

He moved, as if to step forward, when a youthful voice interrupted him. "That's far enough, Cain."

Esther spun around, her heart jumping into her throat. She wasn't sure if it was from fear or relief.

Seth stood there, green eyes totally serious. She was wearing a simple outfit, A white tunic that dropped to just below her hips, offering freedom of movement, with a short train behind her. White boots went to mid thighs, to give her protection and flexibility. Esther saw the slim-bladed knives tucked into the top of each of them. Her sleeves were short, and the only adornment to the outfit was the row of buttons up the right side, and the green and gold Imperial crest on the cuff of the sleeves. Her expression was tight with the battle-readiness Esther had seen from her in the Empire. Her eyes met the Contra Mundi's. "I won't let you do this." Her hands dropped, then tightened on her knives. "I will never forgive you for what you've done to my children, nor to my beloved brother Abel. And I won't let you hurt him further."

Cain smiled. "03. Seth. How have you been? It's been quite some time."

Seth's jaw tightened. "I didn't come here to engage in talk. I want Esther, and then I want you to leave this place, before Abel gets here." Smoldering anger filled her eyes. "I know what you intend to do, Cain. You're going to get Abel here, to make him angry and spill his blood on the ARK. You'll use his power to destroy everything and everyone Abel loves. I won't let you do that to him."

"Hmmm...well, I'll admit, I didn't expect to be able to reason with you. Still...don't you think it would be better if he didn't have to worry about everything? Do you really like seeing 02 in such a condition?" Cain's eyes were faintly amused, faintly mocking, and totally unconcerned.

"That's Abel's choice to make. I might not like the lifestyle he's living now, but that's what he's decided. And honestly...you're the one stressing him. If you really want what's best for Abel...you should just die quietly or come to your senses already." Seth's eyes glinted. "I'm warning you...unhand Esther, and I might go easy on you and your little soldiers today."

"Hmmm. Well, if you say so. Although...that's a little reckless. But then, you always did rush into battle blindly if it was for him."

It occurred to Esther, for the first time, that Seth appeared to be alone. She knew the Yenceri would have materialized by now, if they'd been around. But...Seth stood alone, the sand swirling around her with restless energy.

"For the last time, Cain...I want Esther. Otherwise..." Seth smiled eerily, and cold red fire appeared in her eyes. The sand began to dance around her, her hair beginning to stand on end. When she spoke again, Esther saw fangs, and her voice had an odd echo. "I will obliterate you."

"My lord..." Isaac spoke softly.

"It's fine, Isaac. Really, I did want to give this body a test run before 02 arrived." He turned, and smiled coolly at Esther. "You'll wait here with Isaac and Sieglind, my dear, while Dietrich and the others take the soldiers in."

"Cain..." Seth's voice echoed warningly. The air around her shimmered, and then she was holding two blood colored tuning forks, her barely contained power making the air vibrate.

Cain smiled, and Esther saw the red gleam in his eyes. There was a sort of pressure in the air, and Esther felt her stomach clench. He's going to use his power. Seth, run! Don't you realize it's a trap. This isn't like with Suleyman and Dietrich.

Cain's hand lifted. Seth didn't wait. She moved in a blur of speed. The air vibrated again, and Esther felt the impact of two silent, invisible forces between them.

"Well, you have improved. Did 04 teach you that, or Abel?" Cain's voice sounded faintly amused. "I didn't know you could use the Fire of Sound so accurately. Ah well, it doesn't matter."

White wings unfurled from his back. Esther saw Seth brace for another attack, but, as quick as she was, she wasn't fast enough. A long black spear appeared in Cain's hand, and she could see the energy sphere around him. Seth's wave attack hit, and the shield reverberated, but it held. Then Cain launched himself forward, a crackling red bolt firing from his weapon.

Seth dodged, then brought her two weapons up and across each other in front of her. Esther was shocked to see a pair of wings form over her shoulders as well, though they didn't look the same as Cain and Abel's. More ephemeral, like butterfly wings.

Seth's wings vibrated, and the two tuning forks clanged together, releasing a blast of energy. Cain didn't quite avoid the blow, but he caught it on his spear. A section of the weapon turned white and crystallized, then the powder blew away, to leave the spear undamaged once more. Esther barely had time to note it before Cain launched a counterattack.

Seth jumped, launching another sonic blast, but Cain reflected it. The younger woman didn't waste a beat. Instead, she landed, launching herself forward and striking out with her tuning forks held like knives. It was a quick blow, and he wasn't shielded against close quarters combat. Esther saw the bladed weapons flick out, scoring hits on Cain's chest and arm. Then his spear whipped around, and Seth dodged backward, hissing as the tip glanced off her shoulder and left a red furrow. Then she landed lightly on the ground, and stood, her lips curled back in a snarl.

Esther felt her stomach twist. Seth's wound bled freely, if slower than a human's would, but Cain... That blow, it should have sent him reeling. A strike like that...he should have lost use of the arm, or been completely incapacitated by the blow to his chest. With her strength...Seth ought to have been able to destroy his heart, or at least break his ribs. But...he doesn't even seem to notice that he's been struck. They're both using Crusnik, but...he's so much stronger.

Seth launched into another blurring series of attacks, firing off multiple waves of compressed sound at Cain. Esther couldn't even see half the moves the combatants were making. She'd trained herself to be able to almost see haste mode, enough to get an idea of where to fire when she fought a Methuselah, but this was different. She barely even saw the white and green blurs on the field, let alone the individual attacks. Energy crackled around the area. Red lightning fired. One shot came dangerously close to hitting Esther and her two minders, before Isaac stopped it with a shield of his own.

Esther swallowed hard. The Contra Mundi...he doesn't care what damage he does, as long as he defeats her. But Seth...she's trying to avoid hitting me, to protect me for Abel's sake. But that...that leaves her vulnerable if he moves this way. And...he probably knows that already. Seth...

The blurs slowed, resolved into two white-clad figures. Esther felt a lump in her throat. Cain's uniform was battered and torn more than Seth's was, but...he wasn't bleeding. His body was fine. Seth's wounds had closed, but Esther could see where she had taken blows, including two that would have killed anyone other than a Crusnik. Her lips were pulled back in a feral snarl, her hands still clenched tightly on her weapons, but she looked slightly worn, as if she was tiring faster than her opponent.

Cain smiled. "You know, you really can't expect to take Esther back if you fight like that. After all...you'll have to be more willing to take risks if you want to defeat me. Even 02 knows that."

Seth's hands tightened. "I'm not like you. I'm not going to risk Esther's safety to fight you." A feral smile flashed across her features. "I don't need to. Unlike you, I've had nine hundred years to learn how to focus my powers." Her hands shifted. "Fire of Sound!"

The air vibrated, like bells struck with a giant hammer. Esther could almost see the riptide of waves, slicing through the air like focused cannon blasts.

Cain smiled, the same empty smile he'd worn when he'd thrown Tres. The waves slammed into his transparent shielding and ricocheted.

Seth was already moving, dodging to one side and closer. Her hand flashed out in a second attack. This one had nothing to do with her powers. Instead, Esther saw one of her throwing knives whiz across the space between the combatants, propelled by all the force of her other form. The knife penetrated the shield, slamming into Cain's chest with a force that probably would have sliced an ordinary person in half.

Seth followed it up with two more daggers, but Cain simply tilted his head, eyes glittering. The weapons bounced off his shield once more. Unconcerned, he pulled the knife from his chest and studied it, then dropped it with a smile. "Come now, you'll have to do better than that."

He moved, so fast Esther didn't even see the blur of it. Suddenly, he was nearly on top of his younger sibling, one hand already raised toward her. Compressed air exploded from around him, circled by scarlet lightning.

Seth dodged, but he was too close. One side of the fire-edged vortex clipped her, and Seth crashed backward with a gasp. She managed to land on her feet, but it didn't stop her from dropping to her knees, fighting to maintain her Crusnik form. Blood pooled, then re-absorbed.

The regeneration cost her extra seconds. Cain attacked again. She managed to bring up her weapons, deflecting the attack and blocking it with her ultra-sonic waves. Still...Esther swallowed hard. She knew being on the defensive was dangerous, and it was clear that Cain had gained the upper hand.

"Well done. I see 02 has been teaching you. Still...you'll have to do better." Cain stepped forward, moving to his sister. "I regret, but I think I've had enough time playing with you." He held out his hand, only a foot away.

Seth exploded off the ground suddenly, slashing him with both weapons with blurring speed. The edged blades caught him across the abdomen. It almost disemboweled him, but Cain shifted backward, making what could have been a fatal strike a glancing blow. Seth used her own momentum to vault over him, dropping to the ground and releasing another blast of sound waves that reverberated off his shield, and actually stopped his movement forward.

There was silence between them for a moment. Seth pulled herself up out of her combat crouch, both arms and blades still crossed at the forearms. "Don't think I'm done with you yet, Contra Mundi."

"Very well. If that's what you want. I was going to spare you, and keep you alive to activate the ARK for me, but if you really want to die...I suppose I don't mind accommodating you." Cain shifted, lifting his hand and letting the black spear reform in his grip. "I suppose it's a good warm-up for facing 02, after all. Abel's probably in a real temper by now."

"I won't let you touch Abel again." Seth's jaw tightened. "You've done enough to him. And this place...it shouldn't be reborn. Whether you like it or not, Abel and I belong to this world now. There's no reason for this artifact to ever come alive again."

"That's where you're wrong, I'm afraid." Cain smiled again. "After all, the information here may help me regain my body, without resorting to too much of Esther's blood. And even if it doesn't with 02 here, I can absorb him. And if we return to our original place, Abel won't have to worry about the world. Then he'll finally have peace."

Seth's eyes flashed. "Haven't you done enough? Even you should understand. That isn't Abel's choice anymore. He had enough solitude while he mourned what you did to Lilith. If Abel truly wanted to be parted from the world, he'd leave on his own. You know he can, even more than you and I. The peace Abel wants can't be found like that. Even I understand that. If you won't accept it...I will take you from Abel's life."

"I don't think it will be quite that simple." Cain's smile widened. "But, since you're here, I can use you to begin things, and give 02 a better reception. I thought the ARK would still be dead when he arrived, but your blood will start the activation as well."

"I don't think so. That's not something I will permit!" Seth's hands flashed, sending a cascade of unheard blasts across the space between them. The force of it was so great it made Esther's ears hurt. Even though their destructive force was aimed away from her, she felt as if she'd stuck her head inside a giant bell.

The younger Crusnik didn't even wait to see if her blows had any effect. Instead, she launched herself at her opponent directly behind the attack, her tuning forks displaced by her daggers.

Cain's shields dispersed the waves, but by then, Seth was inside the spears range. She took a strong leap, both strikes aiming for her opponents throat and face. Her jump gave her a spinning momentum as well as her forward one, adding force to her slash. It was a magnificent maneuver.

Cain blocked her first strike with his arm, smiling as he didn't even feel the blade that nearly severed his elbow. The block threw Seth slightly off balance, changing her angle just enough to miss her target for the second knife. True to her skill, she threw a sharp kick instead, slamming her heel into his face. The force of it made bones crunch audibly, and sent her into a somersaulting leap away from her opponent.

Cain shrugged, looking with total disinterest at the damage to his arm. To Esther's horror, his face was already healed to the point of barely noticing the kick she'd heard break his jaw. Even as she watched, black liquid flowed across the damaged limb, as she'd seen it do in Londinium, the first time she'd seen him as the Contra Mundi. "Well, that's quite enough of that."

White wings spread behind him, the red fire outlining him in terrible power. Esther saw Seth bring her arms up, once more charged for a Fire of Sound attack. The air between the two of them rippled with the force of it.

Cain didn't even bother to block. The red fire glittered with total madness in his eyes. The spear extended, scarlet lightning meeting the sound attack with a force that made the air scream. Esther felt the concussion of it from where she stood, far worse than the power she'd felt previously.

Seth's eyes widened as Cain's wings snapped outward, then down. To Esther's sight, he seemed to simply disappear. Then the white figure was behind his sister, eyes glowing viciously. "I did say it...that's quite enough of that."

Seth's hands shot up, but she was just a split second too late. Cain's backhanded strike sent her flying with a gasp. Esther saw her eyes lose focus, going from blood-red to emerald green. Then she hit the ground with punishing force, and a sharp cracking thud that sounded to Esther like half her bones had been crushed.

"No..." Esther felt as though she was struggling to breathe, as though Seth's injuries were her own. She stared at the small, prone figure. She even started to step forward, but a cool hand caught her elbow.

Isaac looked down at her. "It's unwise to interrupt my lord when he's having fun. And considering the young lady has irritated him on several occasions...I wouldn't recommend interfering, Lady Esther. In fact, given that my lord has ordered me to protect you, I'm afraid I'm going to have to forbid you from taking another step."

"Positive." Sieglind swung the massive sword off her shoulder, using it to bar Esther's way. "Lady Esther, be advised you are not permitted beyond this point."

Esther swallowed, tears stinging her eyes. Then she saw Seth move.

The young woman was getting up. The air crackled around her, and as she struggled upright, Esther could see she had activated her Crusnik again. But she could also see the wounds across her skin, healing far more slowly than they should have. One deep gash across her forehead was bleeding enough to stain her shirt collar, though it should have closed within seconds. Esther felt like her blood turned to ice. She'd seen Abel like this before...and he'd been unable to defeat even Dietrich. This was madness.

She saw Seth bring her hands up into attack position, power flowing about her. The scream broke free from her without conscious thought. "No! Seth, no! Please...run!" She choked, fighting back tears. "Run..." The last word emerged as a whisper. The other woman showed no sign of either hearing or listening.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. She saw Seth release a blast of power. Cain blocked it with terrifying ease. Then his spear came up, crackling with red energy. A blast of horrible power ripped from the end of it. Seth's hands with her weapons came up, but...

The weapons shattered under the onslaught. As if she were watching a terrible dream, Esther saw the red bolt strike the Empress full in the chest, the crackle around her, inflicting a dozen or more wounds that slashed the girl to shreds. Seth catapulted backward into the rocks, slamming into them with deadly force. She didn't even seem to be breathing as she fell to lie, unmoving, on the ground.

Esther felt her breath freeze in her throat. No...