So Alike

Chapter 2


It was a beautiful spring day in the city of Rome. The citizens were out in full force enjoying the sunshine and the comfortable 70 degree temperatures. Peace has finally come to the planet as different types of life forms co-exist like one big family. Father Abel Nightroad elected to take a stroll through the town. He wanted to see the smiling faces of the people after years of living in fear and despair. The war has taken it’s toll as he walked through the streets in which many buildings were destroyed. He wanted to blame his twin brother for the many deaths between the humans and the Methuselahs. But was it really Cain’s fault for the chaos that caused so much distrust? In the last and final battle, he noticed that his brother was going all out yet not once did Cain delivered the death blow when the opportunity presented itself so many times. Could it be that some hidden forces were at work? Maybe Cain suddenly had an epiphany. Abel remembers how his brother held him close to his body when he was struck from behind by something sharp and painful. When he woke up, he was informed that the war was over, the organization was crushed, and that Cain escaped. Abel would have accepted it if the news came from either his boss, Caterina Cardinal Sforza or his younger sister, the Empress of the New Human Empire Augusta Vradica (also known as Seth Nightroad). But the news came from the head of the Inquisition Department, Francesco Cardinal Di Medici. The cardinal hated his guts to no end and would try to find a way to destroy him. So why did the madman of the Vatican, being escorted by Brother Petro and Father León Garsia de Asturias informed him of the war’s end and the victory? All of this went through his mind as he walked towards the nearest café. He stopped to take in the heavenly scent of fresh baked pastries as he remembers that he woke up late and missed breakfast. Knowing that he didn’t have enough to buy day-old bread, he turn and proceeded to walk away. With his head bent down, he never noticed a figure directly in front of him until it was too late. He collided into the figure and fell flat on his butt.

“Are you alright?” came a voice that was soft and smooth with a touch of humor.

“Oh excuse me. I wasn’t watching where I was going”, responded Abel as he look up to see who he ran into. He was amazed to see a gentleman who was a few inches taller than his brother leaning over and smiling at him. He was studying the short hair that was the same color as his, the well form facial structure, and the white suit with black tie that show off the well developed body perfectly. Yet what really caught Abel’s full attention were the stranger’s eyes. He has never seen steel-color eyes in all of his life. It made the gentleman look like he was from the throne of Heaven. Overall the stranger was 100% beautiful.

“Let me help you up”, spoke the stranger as he took hold of the priest’s hand and help him onto the feet.

“Thank you so very much and once again, I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize”, responded the stranger as he let out a small chuckle. ‘Amazing! He reminds me so much of Asato’, he thought as he took in the angelic features, the long platinum colored hair like his own, and the very deep blue eyes that can go toe-to-toe with Tsuzuki’s deep purple eyes. “Introductions are in order. I’m Dr. Kazutaka Muraki a physician from Japan.”

“I’m Father Abel Nightroad. A pleasure to meet you.”

“I was about to go over to that café for some coffee and pastries. Would you like to join me? It would be my treat and besides, you look like you didn’t have anything to eat yet.”

“I don’t want to impose…”

“You won’t Father Nightroad. I’m a physician and I can clearly see that you need something inside of you before you run out of energy and pass out. It maybe too late. Come with me.”

Muraki took hold of Abel’s right hand and lead him to the café. They took a seat at an outside table as a waiter came up to the two. Muraki placed an order for two plates of their best pastry and two cups of their best tea. As they wait for their order, Muraki was able to obtain information about Abel’s so-call priest life. He knew that this pretty priest was one of the most powerful beings alive next to himself. Yet he can sense sadness behind the happy voice as if the priest was at fault for something disastrous which cost human lives. ‘So much like my beautiful Asato’, thought Muraki as the waiter arrived with the order. Muraki took the sugar bowl and removed two cubes as Abel proceeded to wolf down the pastries on his plate.

“I see that you were indeed hungry”, laugh Muraki as he handed the sugar bowl to Abel..

“I’m sorry Dr. Muraki. It just that when I return late last night from an assignment, the dining hall was closed and I didn’t have enough to go to a restaurant.”

“Surely the church gives you a handsome pay for all the work you do for them.”

“Alas no. I’m only allow 4 denariis per week.”

“How can anyone live off of four denariis? No wonder you look anemic. Please eat up and drink your tea”, smiled Muraki as he watch Abel place 13 sugar cubes in his tea.

“With all that sugar in your drink, you’ll be asleep in no time.”

“Don’t worry. My system has a way of converting high amounts of sugar into pure energy.”

“And what will happen if you cannot use that energy?”

“I don’t know. So far, I never came across that problem”, answered Abel as he drank the tea. The two talked as they finished the sweet meal. After Muraki paid for the meal he escorted Abel back to the Vatican. Once there, the two entered the gardens in which the roses was beginning to bloom.

“I can see why this is your favorite. Is it alright if I called you Abel?”

“It’s fine, Dr Muraki.”

“Please call me Kazutaka. It’s so beautiful. This garden has almost every kind of rose in the known world.”

“Yes. This garden was created for the pleasure of his holiness and those who work directly with him.”

“And what about the others who live and work here at the Vatican?”

“There are other gardens within the walls. Sometime I wish I could bring this simple beauty to them.”

Muraki’s heart skips a beat as he saw the beautiful innocence in the priest’s face. To look at Abel was to look at Tsuzuki. He can see why his partner loves his twin brother so much. He went over to a bush that had a single red rose at full bloom. Carefully he removed it and return to Abel. He took the rose and allow it’s petals to touch Abel’s cheeks.

“You are so beautiful Abel”, purr Muraki as he ran the rose down the cheek until it rested on the jaw. “I never thought that I would come across someone who is so much like Asato.”

Abel’s heart began to race as he look deep into Muraki’s eyes. He’s never seen anyone who was so beautiful except for his brother. ‘This guy is interested in me’, Abel thought as he tried to move. To his surprise, he couldn’t move his legs and arms as if he turn into a statue. The rose on his jaw felt soft and warm as if a soft finger was in its place. It was awakening feelings that he thought was lost to him when his love and close friend Lilith Sahl was violently taken away by his brother. Now those feeling of love and desire have return as he felt a hand gently squeezing a butt cheek. He let out a soft moan as his body was pulled closer to Muraki. He felt a tongue along the edge of his lips as he tried to speak. He opens his mouth and the only thing that came out was a yawn. He felt his body relaxing as he laid his head against Muraki’s chest.

“Sleepy are we?” smiled Muraki as he scooped up Abel into his strong arms. Holding him close to him like a bride Muraki placed a lite kiss on the forehead.

“I would love to taste those sweet lips Abel but I would have to wait until later. For now sleep and I will tuck you into a bed that is much warmer and softer than the ones in your cell-like room here at the Vatican. It’s time to go to your new home and your new life.”

Too sleepy to put up a fight, Abel closed his eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep. Muraki extended his huge white wings and in a flash was gone not knowing that his departure was seen by two persons.

“W…what shall we do Seth? That guy took your brother and he sure looks a lot like Cain.”

“I know Alessandro. Whoever he is, he going to wish he never met my Abel. Let’s go to your office and call your sister.”

The two leaders quickly went inside the palace to get help.