Healing A Soul

Ok, here's the final chapter, just a closer with a smidge of a twist. Hope you enjoy, oh and that surprise is at the end! Please read and review guys! I appreciate it... enjoy!

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Together they stood quietly outside of the Cardinal’s door waiting for her invitation so they could debrief her on their mission. Father Abel was inside, ranting about something like usual, sounded like the same old same old… not enough money.

A small smile came to the faces of the pair waiting in the hall, and slowly they looked at one another.

“This could be a while.” Nora murmured, putting her forehead against that of her companion’s.

“Indeed.” He replied back, closing his eyes and enjoying the simple contact she shared with him. Quietly he sought her hand and upon finding it, gently threaded her fingers with his.

They stood this way for several minutes. Not even being back in Rome could stop what had begun the previous evening, and their fears were put to rest for good.

“You know… we have some things to discuss as well.”
“I know,” he whispered back, pulling away from the woman beside him as the door was at last open.

A very distraught silver haired priest exited the room. A sigh escaped him as he looked to the pair standing against the wall next to the door.

“Good luck you two, she’s in quite the mood.” He whined, walking away with his head hung low in defeat.

“Well… this should be interesting.” Nora murmured, turning from the dejected priest and walking toward the open office door. Suddenly she wasn’t feeling so confident anymore. Caterina was never pleasant when she was testy… then who was… she certainly wasn’t herself.

Without another word the two AX members walked into the Cardinal’s large spacious office. Quietly they came to stand in front of her desk, waiting for her acknowledgement of their presence. Time went on as Caterina continued to sign and peruse documents on her desk.

The silence was almost unbearable, and at last another presence graced the room, cutting the tension somewhat. Vaclav entered quietly, a tray in his hand with tea for the Lady at the desk. Setting down the tray carefully on her desk, he retreated into the shadows, waiting for when she would need him again.

‘Well, that was short lived,’ Nora thought as silence once again settled upon the room. Curiously she looked to her partner, who stood quietly and patiently waiting for Caterina to speak.

She had no idea how he did it. Then again nothing really seemed to faze him… unless it came to her of course. Perhaps she would have to ask him his secret, because this was enough to unnerve her. Course, she wasn’t really a patient person either come to think of it.

The silence was just too much for Nora to take for much longer, and as soon as she opened her mouth in irritation to speak, Caterina beat her to the punch.

“Report.” She stated, startling both Nora and Hugue out of the silence in the room. Setting down the pen she held in her hand, she looked up expectantly at the pair waiting for their report.

At last she would be able to speak. Opening her mouth to reply, she was once again beaten to the punch by her partner this time.

“The mission was successful my Lady, everything went smoothly. Here is our report in full detail down to the expenses that were required of the trip.” He replied, a slight growl coming from his agitated partner standing beside him.

That got everyone’s attention. Caterina looked up from the report Hugue had just handed to her to regard Nora.

“Something you would like to add Sister Nora.” She asked, taking her monocle off to regard the irritated woman standing at her desk.

Vaclav and Hugue both raised an eye brow looking at her expectantly and somewhat surprised.

“No my Lady… just clearing my throat.” She replied quickly, covering her irritation at being interrupted twice.

A smile came to the Cardinal’s face, knowing better, but accepting her excuse. Then she saw it, the cuts and bruises upon the sister’s neck. A frown came over her face and the pair across from her were quick to notice.

“A problem Lady Caterina?” Nora asked, looking from her to Hugue to try to reach some understanding as to the mood change.

“What happened? To your neck?”

Nora’s hand shot up, grazing the sensitive flesh the vampire had assaulted. Before she could offer an excuse however, Caterina’s attention shifted expectantly to Hugue.

“I thought you said everything went smoothly, Hugue. That does not look like it went smoothly.”

Accidents were normal in the field, and Caterina knew that, but the noticeable anger in her voice was both a surprise to the quiet blonde and Vaclav both.

Hugue didn’t have a reply to the Cardinal and merely stared at her, searching for words before her anger could grow.

Quickly Nora intervened, noticing the irritation Caterina was now exhibiting toward her lover. The desire to protect him rose within her, but she knew she had to address it carefully. Pushing her own anger aside, she spoke up before Caterina could ask more questions.

“My Lady, I was careless. There was a slight problem, but it was handled without any hindrance to our mission. I got in a fight with someone, and Father Hugue diffused the situation before it got out of hand. I apologize for my carelessness my Lady.”

The other three occupants of the room quickly shifted their attentions back toward Nora. Vaclav and Hugue stared at her in surprise and Caterina staring at her disapprovingly.

“Do try to be more careful Nora, I can’t even count how many times you have pulled things like this. Am I going to have to pull you out of the field for a few months?”

“No my Lady, I do apologize for my stupidity and I assure you that I will not be a problem in the future.”

This seemed to satisfy the Cardinal and she nodded her approval. Much to the surprise of the man standing behind her. Vaclav was surprised to say the least as well. Caterina was never so easily swayed, but perhaps there were elements within this relationship that he wasn’t privy to yet.

“Hugue, you will be her permanent partner from this point on. And I fully expect you to make sure that nothing goes wrong with your missions at all.”

“I assure you everything will be as it should from this moment on.” Hugue replied quietly, silently amazed that the excuse Nora gave was so easily accepted. Not to mention the fact she was just signed his permanent partner.

Caterina turned to address Vaclav and at the moment Hugue stole a glance at his lover. She was perfectly calm and seemed completely unnerved by what just happened. Something was going on, that much was for sure. And Hugue could bet she had more than an inkling as to what it was. Oh she was definitely correct; they had a lot to talk about. For now however, Hugue wasn’t going to question his luck, he was merely going to enjoy it.

Turning from Vaclav, she once more addressed the two standing at attention by her desk. With a nod she dismissed them and they turned to leave with a bow of respect to the blonde Cardinal.

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Vaclav watched the pair exit the Cardinal’s office and once the door shut he turned to regard the woman at the desk.

Words weren’t needed between the two, she knew the moment she looked at him that he was suspicious of her behavior. Out of everyone Vaclav was probably the person she trusted most, next to Abel of course.

Without a word she rose from her chair, and like the night before went to stand beside her window gazing outside. It wasn’t snowing anymore but a soft white blanket had fallen upon the ground, shining in the sunlight that poured down upon it.

She felt Vaclav, just like Abel, come to stand beside her. Unlike Abel however, he was more expectant. He had watched Hugue and Nora grow closer over the past few months, and he knew she was turning a blind eye. Unlike Abel, he seemed to think that she was naïve and he should bring this matter to her attention.

Nora had been through a lot. She was born out of wedlock, her mother killed for conspiracy against the church, which had been a cover up. She was left an orphan at age ten and Caterina’s father had placed her in the care of the church. She was passed around due to her wild behavior and as she grew up so did her anger. Nora had been so full of rage at the man that had her mother killed she spent most of her young years planning his demise. Eventually she attempted to take the life of his daughter… her own sister.

Caterina could’ve had her locked up, but why should she be punished for wanting something so human. She had been wronged in every way, and she was lashing out the only way she knew how. Caterina could take her life away or give it back to her. She gave it back and in that moment she gained a sister. Her father made mistakes, but she righted them, and now she had her sister in her life.

A smile came upon her face at this thought and quietly she turned to regard Vaclav.

“My Lady, with all due respect, have you not noticed the bond that had been created between Nora and Hugue?”

“Yes, in fact it is exactly what I had been hoping for when I brought her here. My plan has gone perfectly Vaclav.” Caterina commented, turning to her long time friend, prepared to answer his questions she knew her confession would arise in him.

“She is not loyal to the church is she?”

“No, but she is loyal to me. As sisters we are loyal to each other.” Caterina replied, smiling in amusement at her friend’s shock at her admission. Turning back to the window she continued to gaze outside as she told of Nora’s past and why she was here.

In the end, Vaclav was probably still skeptical, but he always put his complete trust in her decisions, and this would be no different. After all, what was one more secret amongst these walls? At least this one wouldn’t hurt anyone.

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“Nora,” Hugue murmured, pulling away from the woman he held in his arms.

She graced him with a knowing smile and waited for him to continue.

“How…”

“Oh that,” she replied, nuzzling him tenderly, kissing the strong jaw of her lover.

His hands came up, cupping her neck carefully, mindful of the fresh bruises. Slowly he tilted her head back, forcing her to look into his eyes… he wanted some answers as to what the hell just happened and he wasn’t going to let her distract him. Well… not just yet anyway.

A playful smile came to her face at his expression. What the hell, it wouldn’t hurt if she told him…

“Didn’t I tell you Hugue, Caterina’s my sister.”

Well… he sure as hell hadn’t expected that. And he knew his playful lover wasn’t lying either.

The shock on her Hugue’s face was evident, and with the opportunity she got out of his grasp easily, turning from him and walking away. He was quick to pursue…

“By the way… you owe me for saving you.” She told him as he caught up to her.

A smile came to his face as he followed Nora toward her room, knowing full well just how he would thank her.

After all they had a week of R&R... why not enjoy it. Suddenly being back at the Vatican didn't seem so bad to Hugue or Nora.

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Ok, that's it. Hope you guys liked it. Now the surprise... I have a sequel I've almost completely finished. What do you think... should I post or no? let me know, please please please review! Thanks for reading!