Episode 14--The Ibelis III: A Mark of Sinner

The Inquisition ships continue to patrol over Carthago--suddenly one lets fly a double blast, and buildings shake. Kate materializes in Catarina's room at the embassy: the inquisition's ships are behaving abnormally, she says, and there's no communication from the crew. Tres, Catarina's bodyguard, goes to the window and fires at the airship. Kate suggests that the Cardinal leave soon; she looks grim.

Petros tells Abel that Paula and their men would not behave this way. Something must have happened. says Abel. Petros wants to go back and Ion agrees, saying this is the best time. Esther says it's too dangerous, but the kid smiles: I have strong friends, he says. He addresses the Knight: Brother Petros, he says, I won’t be so cowardly as to ask you to be my shield: instead, be my lance. Take me through this battlefield to the Embassy. Have you gone insane? Asking me to help a vampire?--snarls Petros. Not for nothing, replies the little noble steadily: after this is over, you may take my head. --You can't!--cries Esther; she looks to Abel, but he only closes his eyes sadly. I believe this mission is worth risking my life for, adds Ion. Petros makes up his mind. My responsibility is to defend the church, the people of Carthago, and my subordinates, he says, and for the people of Carthago I will be your lance. And when that is done, you --and you heretics (he points at Esther)--will be taken care of. Until then, I call a truce. --Ion nods.

In the cellar: Radu asks Dietrich why he's there. Dietrich says he's come to help ("You seem to be struggling in this battle, Rank Adeptus Major, Flamberg...") , and tosses him an envelope-there's a DVD in it. Use those toys in the sky however you wish, he says. --Oh, by the way, this is a warning... The Puppet Master snaps his fingers. Radu's head jerks back and he howls in pain, choking and strangling. You can't kill the count of Memphis because of your friendship, correct? That's shameful for a Methuselah, goes on Dietrich calmly. He lifts his hands; Radu is rising off the floor; his eyes roll back in his head. D makes a sharp gesture and tosses Radu aside, breaking the contact; he falls to the floor gasping and coughing.

D smiles sweetly; Radu gets to his feet. Damn you and your bullshit! he yells and raises blue fire in both hands, hurls a fireball at D--who vanishes. I like that trick of yours a lot, says he (while Radu looks around in vain for him), it's unusually wonderful even among the special skills of vampires, a living flamethrower. He snaps his fingers again; Radu is frozen in place. Aren’t you glad you can be so useful? taunts D. He materializes behind Radu, makes a scissor motion with his fingers--as if cutting Radu's strings--and at once the Methuselah falls to the floor. An envoy from the Empire and a a Cardinal from the Vatican, says D looking down at him; we did everything we could to get an assassin close to them. Even if you couldn't finish the assassination personally, why didn't you start the Iblis? If I had used the Iblis, gasps Radu, their deaths would not have been considered accidental. The envoy and the cardinal must be killed by Terrans and vampires respectively, or our Orden's plan of inciting war between the Vatican and the Empire can’t succeed. That's if you're greedy, replies D. but letting the envoy and the Cardinal meet would be a total disaster. Radu grimaces in pain. I haven't failed yet!--he grates; D says he still thinks Radu won't be able to kill Ion. But I'll trust you for now, he says, and my toys have a head start on the Cardinal…

Tres is still bouncing bullets off the Inquisitorial ships. Dark figures leap from one of them and crash through the glass. My new toys, we hear Dietrich say: the Autojaeger. [It means "automated hunters" basically. Called "Death Hunters" in the English dub.] Animated corpses of vampires. They have all the abilities of vampires but they're my obedient servants. Kate and Catarina draw back in fear--

A car barrels down the street, careening from side to side as alley cats bolt out of its path. Esther's at the wheel, Petros, Abel and Ion in tow, and they all look shell-shocked. Ion asks if she's ever driven before. No answer…

The autojaeger corners Catarina and Kate and raises its axe--and a sharp voice says "that's as far as you go, monster." Sister Paula tussles with the 'jaeger and does it in. (And on the balcony, Tres' calm voice says "Clear." ) Catarina is grateful; Paula is thinking. These bizarre gas-masked thugs and the strange behavior of the airships… she suspects someone has hijacked an Inquisition craft. Kate suggests using the Iron Maiden against the rogue, but Catarina says an air battle over the city is too dangerous to civilians. The enemy just wants to stir up more fear and panic, she says grimly. Tres also suggests that she leave the city. Rosenkreuz Orden, mutters the Duchess, what are you trying to do in Carthago?

Esther's driving has gotten them to the Embassy--and an Inquisition tank, commanded by Radu. He tells Ion it's essential that he seem to have been killed by a Terran. (Damn, growls Petros, he took over a Goliath Missionary Land Cruiser…) You're a terrorist?--the poor kid asks. I wouldn't call it that, tovarash, says Radu, but it looks as if I have no chance but to kill you myself. Turbines whine as the tank powers up. Watch out! --shouts Abel but the tank's guns fire and Ion recoils--but nothing hits him--and he looks up to see Petros taking the tank's fire head-on with his body armor. Didn’t I make a promise to you? he grins.--(Grins! sugoi!) --I will be your shield and lance. The impact pummels him and he coughs blood. Get going! he orders. Ion stares in awe at this Terran's sacrifice for him. A ricochet drives into the tank causing an explosion; Ion comes to covered in blood, Petros lying still nearby. Radu grins evilly and levels the tank gun. Esther cradles barely-conscious Ion in her arms. Why are you doing this, she sobs, and closes her eyes. Father, she whispers… Die! --snaps Radu--

And there's a huge explosion; a column of crackling, blue electrical fire rises into the sky (Radu stares up in surprise) and a whirl of black wings. All the spilled blood flows toward Krusnik-Abel in rivers, swirling around him and his scythe. What just happened? gasps Radu. He sucks Methuselah's blood? This--what is he? Krusnik-Abel grins, licking its lips. A blaze of fire incinerates the hijacked ships, which explode in huge fireballs. The red eyes gleam, and Radu panicks and bangs away with the tank cannons (yeah, right...). Krusnik-Abel tilts its head. You're prey, he says, and I'm going to consume you. Radu can only stammer in shock and horror --"Mo--monstrosity!--" as it comes on, blazing with blue lightning, a terrible, beautiful, avenging angel, and drowns him in bolts of fire.

Esther comes to and asks if Ion is all right but he's out cold. The tank is burning behind them. She looks up, and recoils from the apparition walking toward her. Don't come any closer! Please! she begs. Red eyes still glowing, voice distorted with electricity, he tries to reassure her: "Esther-san... I'm not...I.." and loses it. "I am," he howls, a long, awful, twisted cry.

--Petros, battered but alive, slowly raises his head...

Daylight. Sunshine. Pan over the charred hulk of the Goliath tank in the embassy driveway. The body of the Baron of Luxor has not been found, says the Cardinal's voice, and with such intense flames, there's a possibility it was completely incinerated. -- Ion and Catarina are having their meeting at long last. Cardinal Sforza, we should take steps to eradicate the enemy of the world, he says. Unless that's done we can never co-exist. That's true, she says, and I want you to relay that to the Empress. About the envoys you're sending with me, he says...may I recommend someone?

And Esther stands on the balcony with Abel, who's trying to apologize. That is the mark of my sin, he says...

...go on to Episode Fifteen.

...return to Trinity Blood Episode Guide.