Out of the Shadows, my Guardian Angel

By Kyomi Terakada

With the death of the Empress, and the AX dissolved, can Katherina Sforza save her childhood hero, who is now murdering Terran and Methuselah alike, from the insanity and amnesia that spawned from the sorrow of his sister's death, before the Empire hunts him down?

Pairings: N/A

WARNING: Extreme spoilers. You have been warned.

Thoughts are in italic.

Prologue

"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for crimes of rising against us, murder, and taking blood from us… I hereby arrest you…"

"You're no priest. What a joke! You people just keep persecuting our kind."

"You're right. Krusnik 02, release of restrictions to 40, confirmed."

Currently

Four years later, the world has started to destroy itself. The AX has been dissolved, along with the death of the new Pope Francesco, and the death of the Empress Augusta Vradica. Abel Nightlord has been accused of the Empress's murder, and the Empire declares war on the Terran. Abel Nightlord has been missing for four years, to appear accused, just to disappear into the darkness once again.

Two years pass, as the war between the Empire and Terran continue. The two remaining human countries, Albion and Germanicus, struggle to keep their land.. Abel is presumed dead to all but Queen Esther and the ex-AX members.

Chapter One: Mass Murder

"A… A monster!" he screamed. A tall, thin winged figure and a short boy stood in the opening of the alley, their features cloaked by the shadows.

The taller one broke into a grin, his fanged teeth glinting in the moonlight. "That's not a nice thing to be called, so why in the Lord's name would you call me that?" He charged at the Methuselah, pressing his teeth into his neck, while holding the shoulder to keep the vampire still. The Methuselah struggled to get free while screaming in agony, then turned limp. His eyes rolled back, and dropped to the ground. The shorter boy stayed at the entrance of the alley, watching with an amused smile. When the taller man turned around, the shorter boy walked to his side. "Ion," the taller said. "We shall split, to cover more ground. Leave neither Terran nor Methuselah alive. We shall meet back at the church when dawn breaks, and that is when we shall take our leave." Ion nodded, and the two parted ways, leaving only a black feather from the wings of the other man.

"Ah, Sister Kate," Katherina Sforza greeted her warmly when Kate's hologram appeared before her. "Has there been another mass murder?" Kate solemnly nodded. "Once again, all that was left in the town were bodies of humans and vampires, with their blood all drained. Like the other towns, there is no liquid blood left in the area. As usual, black feathers have been found all over the town in various places. This man seems to be extremely well at hiding himself, while revealing himself," Kate reported. "It's as if he only wants certain people to know his identity," she continued. Katherina nodded. "I see. Is this all that we have found out?" "Unfortunately," the nun replied. "All the citizens of the town have been slain. And it was only during one night, and obviously this man strikes in the darkness; no one has made it out alive and reported if they have seen the man or not." The former cardinal frowned.

Meanwhile, Ion and his companion have found themselves in another town, much larger than the last. "Ah, I'm so hungry," whined the man, brushing a strand of silver hair from his eyes. Ion just laughed. "Shall we find some food then?" The man nodded vigorously. "Yes, please; we must!" The odd two walked into a café. "Smells so good!" the man cried. They found a table, and the silver-haired man took off his jacket and hung it on his chair. The waitress walked by, and with a cheerful smile, said, "Hello! Nice weather we're having today, no?" The two nodded. "So what can I get you today?" "Well…." The silver-haired began.

"Ah, so I see you're a priest," the waitress said to the taller when she returned with the food the two men had ordered, seeing the cross sigma on his outfit. "Yes," he answered. "My name is Peter Sahl, I'm traveling with this orphan, teaching the world about the light of God." Ion's eyes filled with confusion, but still, he nodded in agreement. "Eh, but the Vatican was destroyed two years ago!" the waitress exclaimed. "There's no reason to be preaching about the Lord anymore…" He smiled. "Well, it's always nice to know that there is someone watching over us all, isn't there? Mm, I'd like also a milk tea, with thirteen lumps of sugar, please." The waitress took a double take. "Thirteen?!" she exclaimed. "You're going to die from a sugar overdose if you pull stuff like that!" She sighed. "Alright." He smiled and shifted his eyes to her name tag. "Jessica, huh?" he asked. "I remember years ago, I met a girl that seemed to be just like you."

The night fell quickly in this town, and not long after Ion and the man left the café, darkness had begun to spread across the sky like a blanket with shimmering diamonds, and a glittering mirror of a moon. The two walked into the town square, to plan their night. Ion turned to his partner suddenly. "Father Nightlord, is it really alright to lie to that girl Jessica like that?" Abel shrugged. "I may be a Father, but I've never said I was religious, now did I?" Ion laughed slightly. It's best if he doesn't remember his past. Not just yet. It may affect his goal, he thought to himself. "Same plan as last night, no?" Ion asked. Abel nodded. "Until we find Cain." He responded icily, as he took off his glasses and once again transformed into his 80 Krusnik form.

"Joanna, hurry; hide!" Sister Sarah said. The Vatican may have been destroyed, but all the churches had decided to keep running, opening their doors to the travelers and orphans. They kept their hospitality, as a way of saying that like the Lord, they will be always giving to those in need, and will watch over those who are alone, or afraid. They will be protected by the church, and if they would like, stay and do the same when they are older. The church found this an honorable way of pleasing the Lord, while not getting in the way of the Terran or Methuselah.

Twelve year old Joanna, an orphan since she was born, shuddered and squeezed her eyes shut, terrified by the screams of agony that were heard from outside the church, in the city. Sister Sarah pulled Joanna tight, and whispered quietly, "I have gotten a way to go to Rome. You shall find Katherina Sforza, and ask for her to take you in. Now hurry, hide, so they may not find you!" Joanna ran from the church, clutching the money the Sister had given her, and her locket necklace. Once the child was gone, Sister Sarah stood up, and walked toward the cross. "Dear Lord," she began. "Watch over the child Joanna, and keep her safe until she reaches her destination. Bless her with your presence, so she may grow into a beautiful young woman. I pray that you shield us from the murders who are-" "Here to take your lives," A voice said behind her. A pair of fangs bit into the Sister's neck, and with her scream, she fell limp, dead. A smile of malice appeared on the Ion face. "Amen."

"This is the last place." Ion said. Abel nodded, his red eyes scanning the area. "Was she the last person?" The blonde inquired. Suddenly, out of the corner of the chapel, a woman dressed in white appeared, running towards Sarah's body. "Sarah," she cried. "What happ..." the nun stopped. She looked down to see a red scythe pierced through her heart, and she fell over, dead, her blood pooling around her, flowing rapidly from the wound. "We must take our leave now." Abel commanded. "The sun will be rising soon." He transformed back into himself, and quickly tied his hair back up with his black ribbon. Ion nodded, and silently followed Abel out.

Joanna, coming out of her hiding place from behind the cross, ran towards the two nuns. "Sister Sarah! Sister Jacqueline! Please! Answer me!" she exclaimed, choking on her tears. She saw something glint on the floor, a few feet away from her. It was a small cross. Joanna picked it up and remembering what Sister Sarah had said before, wiped her eyes, and without looking back, ran to the place the Sister had instructed her to go.

"Hey, Father. Was it necessary to kill even the church like that?" Ion asked, as they began their trip once again. "Yes." Abel answered coldly. "We mustn't let anyone live." The Empire is out to kill me, as is the Rosen-Creuz Orden. I cannot let anyone who has seen me live." Ion nodded, but deep inside, he knew though Abel had now a cold demeanor, he was afraid; very afraid. There was nothing that could be done, until revenge was exacted.

Four days had passed since the murdering of everyone in one of the Germanican churches, and Katherina had begun to get worried. This was the first time that a town with a church had been attacked, and furthermore, it was massacred as if it was just a normal town. Sister Kate appeared before Katherina once again. "News has come in that the last attack was aimed mainly at the church." Kate announced. Katherina stayed silent, her expression as cold as stone. "We must find this man right away." Katherina ordered. "Please find the AX members and tell them to come here as soon as possible." Kate bowed, but before she disappeared, a maid knocked on the door. "Lady Katherina, a child is here to see you. She says she is from the church that was attacked for days ago." Katherina turned to Kate, and Kate nodded. "Send her in," Katherina said, sighing. A sobbing child walked in, rubbing her tear-filled eyes with the heels of her hands. But what she was holding in her hand was the thing that made Katherina gasp. Joanna held tightly to the silver cross. "I… I'm from the church that was attacked a few days ago. S…Sister Sarah instructed me to come here and ask for your hospitality, right before she was killed." Joanna, noticing that Katherina and Kate were staring at the cross in her hands, continued. "The killer was a man with silver hair that stood up in a strange way, and he had blood red eyes, with black wings and wore the clothes of a priest. He dropped this as he left with a blonde boy. As well as this…" Joanna reached into her bag and pulled out a long black feather, which she handed with the cross to Katherina, who gently put them on the table. "Of course you may stay," Katherina smiled warmly at the girl. She turned to the maid. "Please find Miss Joanna a room." The maid bowed and with a soft "This way, please," led the girl out of the room.

"Abel…" Katherina mumbled. Kate blinked. "What did you say, ma'am?" she asked. Katherina picked up the feather. "This is definitely Abel's. Plus, the cross is the exact same one that I gave him when AX was first founded." She turned the cross to the back, and ran a finger down the silver, fingering the engraving.

At that exact moment, Abel cried out in surprise. "AH?! My cross is gone!" Ion raised an eyebrow. "What cross?" Abel blinked. "Well, it was a cross I've had for a while now. I can't remember who gave it to me though. But it has the word "Nightlord" engraved on the back, and I really liked that cross!" Abel pouted. Ion sighed, and looking forward, said, "There's nothing we can do about it. We are approaching the next town, and I'm getting hungry. We may get there by this evening."

"Thank you for all coming." Katherina began. "You may all be wondering why I have called you here." Sister Kate, standing beside Katherina, bowed. "We have found the identity of the man who has been killing the citizens of many towns, and we must find him as soon as possible."

"Hey Ion, this town seems familiar." Abel muttered, walking down the streets of a town in ruins. "It's Rome." Ion replied. "You used to live here." Abel blinked. "I did? In such a wrecked place?" Ion looked at him, shocked. "Cain destroyed this place a while ago. There are still people living here, though." "Won't be enough… Unless…" Abel pointed to a large mansion on a hill overlooking the city.

"Or rather, before he comes and kills us all."