Trinity Blood Fan Fiction ❯ Blood Sacrifice ❯ Chapter Nine ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Nine

 

When the police eventually arrived at the derelict church, they found the two AX agents unconscious but alive. They were able to sketch together some of what happened from the still terrified girls, though they weren't sure what to make of the part about the red-eyed monster that had lightning flashing around it. Abel and León were immediately taken to the closest hospital, the detective that they had been dealing with taking the initiative to contact the Vatican regarding their condition. It was Sister Kate who relayed the message to Lady Catarina, the cardinal immediately instructing her subordinate to head to Valentia to gage the situation.

So it was that León Garsia de Asturias found Kate's holographic image staring down at him when he regained consciousness, the man's dark eyes taking a few moments to focus.

"Welcome back, Father."

"K-Kate...?" León's voice sounded thick in his ears.

"I guess you didn't hit your head as hard as they thought." the young woman said. "The doctor said you had quite the goose egg."

León started to raise his hand, finding that it was bandaged as well as having an IV attached to the back of it. "W-Where...where's Abel?" he asked.

"Father Nightroad is still unconscious."

"That isn't what I asked. I asked where he was."

Kate's eyes narrowed just a fraction. "He's a few beds away."

León raised his other hand up to his head, his fingers encountering a bandage on his brow. "The girls..." he suddenly started.”The three vampire girls...”

"They're safe," Kate answered. "Their injuries have been treated and they've been returned to their families." The dark-haired man nodded slightly, the movement making his head spin for a moment as Kate went on. "Cardinal Catarina sent me to get your report on the incident."

León rolled his dark eyes. "Gimme a break, Kate."

"Father..." the woman started, her tone crisp.

The brunette groaned. "Alright...alright...some crazy bitch...she was using something similar to the Silent Noise system." he said. "It made Methuselah blood crazed...the massacres in the churches...we tracked her down to some old abandoned church...Abel took her out...”

Kate listened, a slightly disdainful look marring her features at some of León's language. "We recovered the woman's body.” she said. “She's been identified as Carlina Barrie.”

“Barrie?”

“Yes,” the blonde woman replied. “It turns out that she was the adopted daughter of the late Professor James Barrie formerly of the University of Londinium.”

“Damn . . .” Leon murmured.

“She also served as his assistant in the majority of his later research before his death.”

The dark-haired man's brow furrowed slightly as he thought. “The island,” he said. “She wasn't there with the others. We made a sweep of the whole place.”

Kate nodded. “She apparently disappeared not long before you and Father Nightroad started your investigation of Never Land Island. A few weeks before Professor Barrie did.”

“So that explains the similarity with the device she used on Abel and the Methuselah in the church with the Silent Noise System.”

Kate nodded her fair head once again. “As of yet, we've been unable to establish as to whether or not Miss Barrie was working alone or for the Professor's employers.”

“They're the ones who rubbed him out in the first place.” Leon said. “Abel discovered his body in Barcelona. Why would she take up with them?”

“I don't know.” the blonde woman replied. “But as I said, we're still working on our investigation. We discovered what looks like a diary as well as a number of other papers in a small room on the second floor of the church where you and Father Nightroad confronted her. From what I was able to gather from her writings, Miss Barrie apparently blamed Father Nightroad for the professor's death.”

“If you know all this, then what do you need a report from me for?”

"I'm sure that there are more details that only the two of you can give.” Kate said her tone crisp.

Leon shrugged his broad shoulders; the movement making him wince slightly in pain. His ribs had been tightly wrapped, two of them having been broken during his battle with Abel.

“I'll expect a more detailed report from both you and Father Nightroad upon your return to the Vatican."

"I'll write you a book on it when we get back." The brunette man said flippantly.

Kate gave the prone man a look, not appreciating his tone. "I'll let Cardinal Catarina know that you're both alright." she said, her holographic image fading from view.

León turned his head, the dark-haired man trying to see down the row of empty beds. Abel was lying quietly, a few beds down just like Kate had said. He was lying on his side, facing toward León. Although León's quick-thinking in removing the chakram had likely saved Abel's life, the nano-machines hadn't had time to heal him completely. He was also very pale, much more so than usual, likely because he had been unable to feed. He hadn't so much as stirred during Kate's visit, and seemed equally oblivious to the scrutiny now, one long-fingered hand curled around a simple gold cross, the other either tucked under the pillow, or under the covers out of sight.

With some effort, León managed sit up, the big man taking a few moments before he swung his legs over the side and stood up. Despite his enhanced regenerative abilities, he was still a little weak, probably from being abed for so long. Once he had his bearings, he took a few steps forward only to be stopped by the tugging of the IV in the back of his hand. Without even glancing down, León pulled the small fine needle from his skin, hissing a bit at the slight burn. Once he was free, he started towards Abel's bed.

As he drew closer, more evidence of Abel's lingering injuries became apparent. There was a slight bulge of a bandage under the hospital gown he wore, and the faint bruising across the bridge of his nose was silent testament to the blow that had shattered his glasses. While his Crusnik had seemed to work quickly to heal him from the most threatening injuries, it hadn't been as thorough as usual, perhaps because it had been denied the necessary fuel it needed to keep running, pressed on well past its own threshold by Carlina's device. For all that, though, Abel seemed to be resting peacefully enough.

León pulled over a nearby chair when he reached the priest's bedside, the dark-haired man settling on it before reaching to touch the pale hand clutching the cross. Abel stirred just a little at the gentle touch, a soft sound escaping him as the hand León was touching twitched. The brunette's hand closed over the priest's, Abel's skin cool under León's touch. It was several moments more before Abel woke, his pale eyes cracking open and staring at León's fuzzy mass in his vision. "Mornin', Sunshine..." León said softly.

"L-León..." Abel said, blinking several times to try and clear his vision. "You're...are you...all right?" He whispered.

"I'll live." the other man replied.

"Thank God..." Abel's voice shook, as did the hand under León's. "Thank God...And...Those girls? Please tell me I didn't harm them..."

"They're alright." León said in a placating tone. Abel nodded at that, and then fell silent, closing his eyes and exhaling a slow breath. "We took out the bad guy, the kids are safe, we're still alive...all is good in the world."

"...So it is," Abel murmured softly, opening his eyes again. In spite of his words, his expression made it clear he was still troubled.

León's hand slid away from the priest's. Abel looked up at León as his hand moved away, wanting to ask for forgiveness for what he'd done, for the things his fragmented recollection had shown him, but the words caught in his throat. "Think I'm going to have to re-negotiate this little jaunt when we get back to Rome," León said. "I think Catarina owes me a few more years for this one."

"... Forgive me," Abel whispered, looking away from the man again.

"For what?" the other man asked.

"...I...don't remember everything perfectly..." The priest went on, his tone soft. "But...I remember enough...please, forgive me..."

"It wasn't your fault." León said. "You couldn't help it because of that machine."

"That's true, I suppose, but even so...I'm sorry..."

"Apology accepted." the dark-haired man said softly. Abel apparently needing to hear the words.

"Thank you," Abel replied, the faintest ghost of a smile touching his lips.

"Tovaresh..." León whispered the word, his golden brown gaze intent on Abel's china blue eyes.

That warmed the priest's smile somewhat. "I think I rather like that word on your lips."

"Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?" The brunette grinned at the other man.

That drew a soft chuckle from Abel, one that ended in a slight wince. "I certainly didn't."

León reached over and covered the priest's hand with his once again. Abel was still a moment, before releasing his hold on the cross he'd been gripping and turning his hand over to clasp León's in a weak grip. "You should be resting," he said softly.

"Yeah, yeah... the other man said with a slight nod.”I will."

"After all...I'll need this old dog to help me navigate until I can get to my spare glasses." Abel smiled a little more at that, loosening his grip on León's hand only when he couldn't maintain it anymore.

León couldn't help smiling as well. "Hey, who're you calling old, Junior?"

Abel chuckled softly. "I'm not calling you anything you haven't just called yourself."

"Wise guy..." the dark-haired man's smile widened a bit, his fingers trailing over the cool pale skin of Abel's hand as he let it go.

Smiling at that, Abel let his fingers brush León's as the man released him again.

"I should let you rest," León said.

"And get some rest yourself," Abel replied, letting his hand turn over slowly to cover the cross lying on his covers.

"I know, I know." The brunette said as he stiffly rose to his feet.

"Rest well, Tovaresh," Abel said softly. But as he closed his eyes and let the medication dull his pain and pull him back into sleep again, he felt lightness in his heart that left a faint smile on his lips.

León stood there and watched the pale-haired man quietly for a few moments before he turned away and slowly climbed into the empty bed next to Abel's, the dark-haired man settling on his side so that he was facing the priest and closed his dark eyes.

End