Chapter 13

The port was unusually crowded. Ships bearing refugees of war from Europe swarmed the coast. As the immigrants exited the ship, they were harassed and attacked by the Americans, the Americans shouting and yelling at them to go back, that they were just bringing the war with them to America.

Leon, disguised as an Italian baker, stepped off his ship with a scowl of disgust. He was accompanied by other warriors, disguised in similar fashion. They wove their way through the angry crowds and found the hotel Gaius had informed them of.

Rex and Gaius were already outside, waiting for Leon and his troop of bodyguards. They bowed slightly, as to not make it obvious who he was, and because they were disabled by injuries. "Your Grace," they greeted in unison.

"She is taken?"

"Heller has her now." Gaius reported indifferently.

"Lady Irene, however, is also on the move." Rex added coldly.

Leon flexed his jaw. "As is expected. Well, enough time wasted. Take me to Heller."

--

Several docks down was a larger ship, a bigger target for the Americans.

From the back of the ship, a thick rope ladder was let down. Down climbed two tall men, unnoticed by the crowds. The thinner of the two leapt down gracefully, making sure his hat stayed on. As soon as they were rid of the ladder, they slung their packs over their shoulders and tried to make their way through the crowd.

"Oy, you dirty peasant, don't touch me!" a woman shouted angrily.

"Apologies, ma'am, most sincere." One of the two men offered, raising his hands up. The woman narrowed her eyes.

"Where are you from?" she asked. His heavy Italian accent wasn't hard to miss.

He merely tipped his brow and hurried back into the crowd, not wanting to be spotted out.

"Honestly, you make this harder than it needs to be," the slim man scolded.

"Well, I wouldn't say that jus' yet," the other replied in perfect english, tinted with a scottish accent, motioning ahead with his chin. The two men looked and saw the crowds parting, the people murmuring and some even running away.

Nathaniel and Falkor were making their way towards them, dressed in a simple black coat. Besides Nathaniel's radiating beauty, their yellow Askari insignia flashed out brilliantly against the dark crowds. "Master Vulcan, and Barrett," Nathaniel greeted. Barrett, the slimmer man, bowed his head while the other, Vulcan, grinned from ear to ear.

"The others?" Vulcan questioned.

"Ajax is here with us, but hidden. And your Leucadia?" Nathaniel replied.

Vulcan smiled. "Likewise. Now tell me, I didn't know we were to parade our insignia about. Unless there's been a change of plans, am I correct to say that we're…what's the word…struttin' around now?"

Falkor grinded his teeth and Nathaniel let out a nervous chuckle. "Let's walk and talk, shall we?" Nathaniel said, motioning forward.

"Your telegram was vague, mentionin' only that you needed our help."

"Yes. How many with you?"

"I brought as many as we could spare. Barrett here isn't too happy that I've left home, but—"

"They need you in the war," Barrett growled, upset.

"Yes, but I cannot deny the request of Abigail. She's a soft spot on m'heart, you see," Vulcan said, scolding Barrett. Barrett merely turned away, frowning deeper. "We have fifteen with us. They will arrive at the house b'fore the sun sets, unless things go wrong, but when things go wrong, we do our job best." Vulcan rubbed his hands, blowing on them. He was smiling. "Now, how's m y Abigail doin'?"

--

Abigail stood silently as Heller entered her room. She felt that he was upset, but she couldn't tell by what. In the few days with him, she learned that he was easy to read. For one, he hated this church and was immensely irritated by it. His temper was quick and he lost it more than often. But when he was clear-headed, he was deadly. Abigail shuddered involuntarily as Heller stepped closer. One thing she could not read from him was what his intention was.

And whether or not he had released Elizabeth.

Heller hadn't kept his word about not harming Valefor. Actually, he had. Heller hadn't personally harmed Valefor, but he did nothing to guarantee his safety, either. Abigail longed to hear news of her family, but she knew she could not ask of it from Heller. It would be weak of her. She had to stand strong.

Heller grabbed Abigail's chin. She fought the instinct to pull away.

"They're here for you, sooner than expected. Shame, but, well, I don't have much a choice, really," he said, smiling down at her.

Abigail didn't respond.

"Come now, Abigail. There must be questions just burning on the tip of your tongue. Ask away," he insisted, leaning closer. "I have all the answers to your questions. All you have to do is ask them."

--

Ajax watched as Nathaniel and Falkor grouped with Vulcan and Barrett. He was tense. He had expected swarms of Vatican warriors to come and block them. They had to have known the Askari were all regrouping. Where were they?

He froze as he spotted a figure dressed in white, casting shifty glances to the left and right, focusing on the group of Askari's. Ajax narrowed his eyes. Was it the Vatican? He couldn't tell. Did it matter anymore? It was a suspicious person and Ajax was willing to put down any spark of it, with the follow up of recent events.

Ajax swooped down silently, weaving his way through the crowds, keeping his eyes on the white figure. The closer he got, he realized it was a she, and she smelled of demon filth. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself and pulled out his pistol.

In a blur of white, the pistol went flying in the air. Ajax, momentarily stunned, could only watch it spin and clatter on the wet ground. He was not ready for the kick that connected painfully with his head. He cursed and swung himself upright, bringing the force of his weight onto his arm, ready to smash into his opponent's face, but he froze midair and fell, splashing in the puddles.

The girl had a bewildered look on her face and then of shame.

"Goodness, you're Ajax!" she cried out, blushing darkly. "I'm so sorry!"

Ajax remained confused as the girl pulled him on his feet effortlessly. He looked down at her, raising his brows. "Do I know you?"

She looked up at him, grinning widely. "You're better looking in person," she noted. "Much better," Ajax frowned, not knowing how to react. She was a small person, but obviously that didn't deter her strength and agility. Her hair was shockingly white, just like his, short and tied in pigtails, and her eyes were gray, and just like his, her pupils were cat-like. Realization dawned on him. "You're Leucadia, the—"

"The diseased one of Vulcan's family, yes," she went on happily, as if she were talking of flowers and clear skies.

"I didn't know there was another—"

"Another like you?" She finished, giggling. She shrugged. "There are a few of us in Europe, more so than here, at least. The demons are stronger there, you see," She dusted Ajax's shoulders, though she had to stand on her toes to do it. "We all are adopted by Vulcan, who so graciously accepts us into his family. Though his mother hates it. She creates quite the horror when she becomes cross with us," she went on. "But our powers are helpful for the family, so she can't turn us away. And anyway, Master Vulcan wouldn't have it."

Her voice had gone down a pitch, along with her happiness. Ajax cleared his throat. "Well, right. Look, I've just given away my position because I thought you were the enemy, and we should just head back to the mansion as fast as we can."

"I was hoping you were a tad bit more clever,"

Ajax narrowed his eyes. "You weren't so clever yourself if I spotted you,"

"Oh, but I can do this." She scrunched up her face as if concentrating really hard and then there was a small puff of feathers, and she was gone. Ajax looked around wildly. No one else noticed. "I'm over here," came her voice. Ajax whirled around in circles before swaying on his feet. Leucadia giggled. Ajax turned when he felt the peck at his cheek and saw that she was a small white bird, perched right on his shoulder.

"Good Lord,"

"Why are you so surprised? I'm sure you can exercise equal amounts of power." Leucadia went on, but she caught herself when she noticed the look in his eyes. She let out a small chirp. "I'll see you back at the mansion."

--

"Abigail," Leon greeted with glee. The look in his eyes did not betray the ecstasy he felt in his heart. "Abigail Askari, captain and leader,"

Abigail didn't look up to acknowledge him. She hated the Vatican, yes, but she never thought to prepare herself for actually meeting their leader. Was she to direct all her anger at him? Was it all his fault of her family's ruination? Was he the reason behind the death of her family and friends? The hatred of her sister? The isolation of her being?

Leon smiled, watching Abigail. "Oh, how I've longed to get my hands on one of you," he whispered softly, circling her. Then he paused and looked around. The look on his face was that of offense. He turned to Heller and snarled, "You take good care of your prisoners. I hope you didn't spend any of our money accommodating this monster,"

Heller flashed a grin, but it was not of sincerity. "Trust me, I wouldn't touch a penny of yours."

Leon narrowed his eyes and seemed satisfied. He turned back to Abigail and stared at her a moment longer. He grinned. "Well, Mr. Heller, I hope you don't mind if we get a little smudge or two on these lovely furnishings. Our interrogation methods require a little…bloodwork."

Abigail did not respond at the mention of torture, but her head began to reel. The smell of the demons in Leon was getting to her.

Heller scowled.

"I will not have you spoil her," Heller insisted.

Leon laughed. "As if you haven't touched her yourself,"

"I have not."

"Do not lie—"

"Don't line me up with your kind. I have not touched her and will not touch her. Whatever you do to her, keep it clean."

Leon sneered. "You betrayed their family long ago. Why do you insist on protecting them still, even at the brink of their destruction?"

Heller flexed his jaw muscles. "Because there exists a line that separates worthy characters over scum."

Leon snapped on a pair of rubber gloves. "And I am scum while she is honorable?"

"You're very bright, my lord."

"Rex, Gaius, lead Mr. Heller out of this room. Mr. Heller, the deal was Abigail be ours. She's mine to do what I wish. You go do whatever you want. Build your little toy. I have what I want."

Heller stood beside Abigail and did not move. Leon raised his thin brows and waited, expectant. Heller tightened his hand on Abigail's shoulder, not wanting to leave her to their torture, but he knew that a deal was a deal. Yet…He looked down at Abigail, who had not moved an inch since he had entered the room.

"Sammael!" Leon barked.

Abigail stiffened.

From the floor rose a thin, pale man with luscious, blonde locks. He was dressed in an elegant, white suit, budded with diamond buttons and trimmed with gold. Rings decorated his slim fingers and his powdered cheeks glowed youthfully. But his blue eyes were red around the edges and sunken into his skull, his skin stretched taught over his bones and his smell was like perfume mixed with the scent of rotting, burning flesh.

But Abigail saw the envious demon lord for what he truly was. His demonic form, his true form, was ghastly. He was decrepit, crippled with rot with his flesh hanging off his limbs, as if the very weight of the dead flesh was bearing him down. Envy, the demon Lord Sammael, was one who mimicked life, stealing it from others for himself. She had experienced the presence of massive amounts of demons before, but the stench of Sammael made her retch. She tried to focus on the pressure of Heller's hand on her shoulder, but the smell of blood, sulfur, flesh and rot; Abigail retched and vomited on the floor, her entire body stiffening.

Leon peered down in disgust. But he ignored it. He turned to Heller and said, "Sammael will have to deal with you, Heller, if you do not obey. And you know, no matter what you have planned, no matter what you're doing, you will have to bow down to the demon lord you left under my command."

Sammael glared at Heller, waiting for an opportunity to crush the filthy undead human.

"Abigail is sick. You will get nothing from her."

"Mr. Heller, you continue to irritate me!"Leon shouted.

"You fail to see reason."

"You fail to understand my commands!"

"I am not yours to command. Abigail is sick, and I will hold her until she is well again."

"Whether she is sick or dying means nothing to me, as long as she gives me the information I need!"

"If she were dead, Leon, she could not give you the information you needed."

Without waiting for Leon's reply, Heller scooped Abigail in his arms and carried her out of the room. Leon watched angrily and then turned to Sammael. "You may leave." He ordered coldly. Sammael showed no signs of respect, but he obeyed nonetheless. Once he was gone, Leon turned to Rex. "Does he know we're interested in the blueprints?"

"No my lord, not that I know of."

"Good. If he knew…he'd kill us all. But we need it! We need it to control those demons and I will have it! Report to me when the girl is well again. Until then, stay here."

"Yes my lord."

"Do not fail me."

"Yes my lord."

"And do not let Irene get Abigail."

"Yes, my lord, it shall be as you wish."

Rex watched Leon leave the room and sighed.

--

"WHAT?!" Vulcan bellowed, outraged. "You let them take her?!"

Valefor sat in his bed, silent. Tom had patched him up as best he could, but it was Valefor's heart that needed mending, not his body. Tom sighed and picked up Valefor's tray, the food untouched.

"Vulcan, he had no choice," Seth tried to calm him.

"He shouldn't have gone there with her in the first place!" Vulcan ranted on, his ears red with anger.

"It was Abigail's choice, not his."

"It was his duty to protect her."

"It is all of our duties to protect each other. Elizabeth is still within our circle. She is family."

"She is trash."

Seth scowled. "You take that back!"

"Our families have sacrificed everythin', Seth. What your half-witted sister does is spit in our faces and grind dirt in our eyes and mouths. Everythin' we are, everythin' we do, she rejects it. That's like a stab in the heart, every time!"

Falkor shifted the weight on his feet, lowering his eyes. For a time, he had considered leaving the family, when things had gotten too hard—

Ajax squeezed his shoulder, limping into the room. "Vulcan, Haley's made your room. You should rest."

Vulcan nodded stiffly and looked at Valefor. He sighed and slouched his shoulders, knowing his anger towards Valefor was unjust. He was mostly angry at himself, angry that he hadn't been here to protect Abigail. He bowed his head and left the room quietly, Barett trailing behind faithfully.

"Master Vulcan, that was uncalled for." Barett scolded.

"I know. But shut up a moment; I'm tryin' t'think a bit."

--

Ajax smiled as Tom sulked, working on re-bandaging Ajax. "I told you not to over exert your body. You've opened up all your stitches again." Tom berated.

Ajax shrugged. "I don't know what you're fussing over. They'll heal on their own, soon enough."

"You still need to take care."

"I'm not human, remember?"

Ajax bit his tongue as he realized what he'd just said. Leucadia's comment earlier…about his powers…he felt the need to profess them as clearly as she did, to prove himself he had control over this, to show the world yes, he was a monster, but it was he that ruled it. But it was wrong of him to take it out on Tom. Tom stopped what he was doing and moved to leave the room. "I am not needed here, then. I'll go check up on Valefor."

"No, Tom, wait,"

Ajax leapt off his seat and was by Tom's side in a flash, his arms enveloping Tom.

"I'm sorry,"

"For what?" Tom muttered, unconsciously trying to pull away.

"For being immature."

"You can't help it. Now let me go. I have work to do."

"You're always working."

"And you're always messing things up!" Tom wrenched away.

"What?" the look of shock and pain on Ajax's face made Tom falter.

"Y-you make it hard for me to think. When you're hurt, when you're so close…I can't do my job!" Tom opened his mouth to say more but when he saw Ajax's grin, he scowled. He swerved for the door. "I hate you!" he roared, storming down the hall.

Troy peeked in, a lollipop in his mouth. In his eyes glinted a taunt.

Ajax crossed his arms and lifted his chin. "Did you hear that? He loves me."

Troy rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Leucadia's here with more people. You should greet them."

"Why? Seth can do that."

Troy grinned from ear to ear. "So that they can see how weak and pathetic you are. Then they'll understand why they sailed all the way here to help us."

Ajax growled and bolted after Troy, who darted off faster than the blink of an eye.

--

Abigail sat on the new bed, relocated into a different room. She listened to Heller pace, listened to the rustle of his clothes with his every move. He paused, staring at her.

"Abigail, I wish you would talk to me. I feel like the enemy here."

Abigail said nothing.

He sighed, walking up to her.

"How can I make you see that I am helping you?" he placed a cold hand on her cheek. "I want only the best for you."

"What does the Vatican want with me?" she asked quietly.

He grinned. "They want to torture you. Couldn't you guess that?"

"What do they want?"

"I don't know, and I don't care."

Abigail grit her teeth, knowing that was a lie. And Heller sensed that she knew. He chuckled.

"You think yourself so clever, don't you?" he said softly, lovingly. "Well, don't be so optimistic, dear Abigail. I meant when I said I didn't want you tarnished, but I don't know how long I can guarantee that. You are a piece in this game, after all, and eventually, I'm going to have to put you into play. The Vatican will be grateful I held them off. They'll need you when the time comes."

"What are you planning?" Abigail asked, her voice strained as if it hurt her to ask him.

He smiled, kissing her struggling lips.

"Our perfect world, of course."

--

They all sat at the table, silent and alert.

Vulcan sat in Abigail's seat, his hands crossed before him. Barrett stood behind him, still and silent. His fifteen soldiers had arrived, each bearing not so good news. They'd all made it back unharmed, but it was what they had to report that alarmed him.

"We all took different routes here like you ordered." Leucadia reported. She shifted her eyes, studying her comrades. "We spotted tears throughout several locations in the city."

"The church you mentioned was just one of many." Said Stone, one of Vulcan's strongest men.

"The demons are physical, Vulcan. They're attacking civilians." Added Mykel, another of Vulcan's members.

"And in response, we've spotted large troops of Vatican moving in. Even with us here, the Vaticans outnumber us at least four to one." Said Cane, Vulcan's crack shot, a sniper artist. "Even with Leucadia's help, we'd struggle, Vulcan."

"Those stupid idiots made sure we'd be busy with the demons and not just them," Vulcan growled. "This makes it harder t'rescue Abigail."

"Vulcan, at this point, I don't think that should be our priority." Leucadia said softly, biting her lower lip. Everyone at the table stiffened. She hurried on, trying to explain herself. "People are dying out there, innocent people! If we waste our resources on trying to get her back, lives that could've been saved will be lost."

Vulcan was about to erupt with rage, but Seth interrupted.

"She's right, Vulcan. We need to stop those demons."

"She's your damn sister, you idiot!"

"It's what she'd do, if our places had been switched! She knows the responsibilities of the Askari. She bears it heavily, but she bears it well. It's what she would do."

Vulcan grabbed his head, letting out a miserable moan.

"It takes time for those tears to fade, and even then, never permanently. It would take weeks, months of fightin' till we're free to take back Abigail. She could be dead,"

"Then start fighting." Valefor said quietly. Everybody turned, not having realized Valefor had joined them. He was still weak, his wounds still healing. He didn't have Ajax's supernatural abilities, but he had a strength within him that burned angrily, allowing him to at least move without passing out.

Vulcan sighed.

"We're going t'need more help." He said dryly.

Leucadia stood up, volunteering herself. "I'll take care of that,"

Vulcan nodded. "Bring Holt and Bonnie, and whoever is willing to tag along."

Leucadia disappeared. Ajax had his gaze fixated to where she stood mere seconds ago, his brows creased.

"Alright, then. Seth, have a map? Cane, spot out the tears on the map. Let's split the teams. We have work to do."

As the people around the table became busy, Troy watched Jette. He'd been strangely quiet the entire time, not voicing his unnecessary opinions like he always did. Troy didn't say anything as he watched Jette get up from his seat and slowly make his way out of the room. He didn't say anything as he followed him with his ears, listening to him grab his coat and leave the house, unattended and alone. Troy sighed and didn't do anything, watching through the window as Jette walked away, past the gate, and disappeared down the road.