Disclaimer: I do not own Trinity Blood or its characters. They are the creation of Yoshida Sunao. I do, however, own my own characters.

This is rated M for a good reason. Implied incest, sex, random violence etc. You have been warned.

Chapter 4

Ion wandered about the manor alone. It was a typical noble home, tastefully furnished. He could easily be walking through the hallways of his ancestral Moldova mansion. The only thing that set it aside was the lack of family portraits. Instead, the walls were decorated with paintings of landscapes and seascapes. He found an exceptionally well-furnished library with bookcases to the ceiling. The count walked to the bookcases and was surprised. The titles ranged from theology and history to medicine and poetry. There were even a few in languages he did not understand.

He walked up to the study table. There was a worn journal on it. Ion was surprised to see a rough sketch portrait on the page it was open to. It showed a nude of… the Empress? Ion frowned and examined it more closely. No, it was not the Empress. The young girl in the portrait wore her hair in a dark braid, which she was in the process of hacking off with a dagger. She stood with unabashed pride like an Amazon warrior princess. There was something eerily familiar about the girl’s fierce expression.

The count left the library to find a small chapel in the room next to it. The chapel housed a plain wooden cross and a marble Virgin in an alcove. The remains of candles suggested that prayers were offered regularly in there. Ion recalled the Duchess mention that the Baron was Christian as was Ravenchild. Ion tried to picture Rav kneeling in solemn prayer. He understood from his travels with Abel that it was a common practice for noble Terran-Catholic houses to have a chaplain. Wearied, he sat down on a pew and wondered if somewhere in the manor, the Baron’s chaplain was making his nightly devotions.

It had been a long day. Despite the cold, hard pew, Ion fell asleep in the quiet chapel.

“Father Nightroad, would you be so kind as to preside over Sunday Mass this week?” Kons asked. Abel choked on his tea. “W-what?”

“Our chaplain, Father Noel, vanished a fortnight ago. He failed to return from his evening stroll, one of those who vanished,” Kons explained. “He was a young, vigorous man in good health. My gardener’s boy and a girl from Rav’s clan have vanished as well, both about five days ago… My servants are uneasy, as are Rav’s people. A Mass might raise their morale.”

“I agree,” Rav was solemn. He bit his lip as if in thought. “My people are unhappy. Five children have vanished this week alone. Some have fled. Others would rather fight.” He toyed with a sheathed dagger.

“I’ll t-try…” Abel stuttered. It has been a long time since he held Mass. He hoped he still recalled the rituals and necessary devotions.

“Shall we drop in on Samaria soon?” Asta asked impatiently. She was apprehensive about meeting Scheherazade after so many years and wanted to get it over with. Hell be damned if they wind up killing each other.

“Kiss me goodnight, Father,” Ana whispered softly. Ivan obliged with a peck on her brow. “Sweet dreams, princess.” The redhead closed her eyes and drifted off to dreamland. Ivan left the nightlight on. It was a silly affection on Ana’s part. She still feared the dark. Ivan walked briskly downstairs. He had an appointment to keep. A shaded lantern in hand, he threw on his dark fur cloak and heavy boots and hurried to out of the dacha. He picked his way cautiously over the icy slush, boots making scarcely a sound. He walked onto the jetty far out to where the dark lake was unfrozen.

He flashed the lantern, once, twice… The dark hulk of a submarine emerged from the depths. Silently, Orden members moored the vessel and cast out the gangplank.

“Mein Herr,” Ivan bowed politely as their blond leader stepped onto the jetty. “Your rooms await.”

“Uncle Ivan,” Lorelei detached herself from Cain’s side. “Will we be seeing Scher?”

“Of course, Siren. All in good time,” Cain petted her on the head. “First, Ivan here will introduce us to a certain neighbour of his.” Ivan nodded with a smirk and looked towards the dacha of the Duke of Belarus. Did you really think you could shake Mein Herr off so easily, Panzer Magier? No one has managed to leave the Orden alive, yet...

Unknown to the party on the jetty, a pair of ice-blue eyes were watching them. Ana watched from the balcony of the dacha. Something was in crisp air, stirring her blood. Generations of fiery Flamevogel blood would not allow her easy sleep, not now. “Father, it has started…” she whispered. The breath hung like a pale wispy ghost before her. She closed her fingers about the Star which she had finally purloined from the drawer Ivan locked it in. Bit by bit, her memories were returning, along with something else…

Only she had the power to use the Star fully and she had to play the game for now. Act the unsuspecting child to her uncle.

More than an hour passed when Ion awoke. Shaking off sleep, he decided it was time to seek out Abel or his host. Stepping into the halls, he turned left, went up a flight of stairs, seeking his rooms. Was it to the right or left? A couple more turns and stairs later, he found himself back in the same hallway before the chapel. Terrific, he was lost. Ion pondered his options when he heard a soft moaning. It came from the library. Cautiously, he peered through the door which had been left ajar in the occupants’ haste and rapidly turned beetroot red.

His host was facing the bookshelves, grunting and thrusting. Pressed against the bookcase with arms and legs about Kons was Rav. The smaller noble was naked and was making moans and squeals of sheer pleasure. Ion had heard of such things before. Intimate physical relationships between noblemen were not frowned upon in the Empire but the thought of his cousin rutting about with a low-ranking noble like Kons… Accidentally, he pushed on the door and it swung open on its hinges….

“ION FORTUNA!?” Rav’s grey eyes focused on the figure in the open doorway. With a rapid motion, he punched Kons in the gut and shoved him aside. “I thought you locked up!”

“You were the one who broke that lock earlier to start with!” Kons retorted from the carpet.

“I’m so sorry… I didn’t see…” Ion’s eyes bugged out and the words left him. Rav was livid and stood naked before them, without any attempt to cover…

“Oh fuck.” Suddenly aware, Rav clapped a hand over prepubescent breasts. The other went to cover her groin. “You’re a GIRL!?” Ion’s jaw fell. She was the girl in the sketch he had seen earlier on the table.

“Will the outraged brother now attempt defending his sister’s virtue?” Kons chuckled. “Oh shut up, Kons!” Rav threw a thick volume from the bookcase at Kons. Her lover ducked deftly. Ion’s mind reeled. He could hear Asta’s and Abel’s voices. Belatedly, he recalled the butler informing them the guestrooms were just a floor below the hallway to the east of the library. No doubt they were roused by the racket.

“What in hell’s name…” Asta swore colourfully as she ran in, clad in a dressing gown and holding her spear drawn. Rav let out a shrill screech, kicked Kons in the side and Ion in the shin before storming out of the room as naked as an under-aged Venus. If she had her daggers, no doubt the two men would be in worse states.

Author’s Notes:

Yes, Rav’s cat is out of the bag. More on the reasons for her deception later.