A/N: I do not own Miles Edgeworth, Phoenix Wright or Manfred von Karma; they belong to CAPCOM. The plot and the mob, however, are mine.

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The curtain falls as the final act of the tragedy is played out. These men, however, have just made the biggest mistake of their lives and they will be the unwitting witnesses to Judgement and Retribution in the form of a Dark Phoenix...

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Chapter 3. Those men really don't realize what they've done, do they? Dark!Phoenix is rising...

I decided to expand and revise the version from the one that I have already posted to dA since I really wasn't satisfied with it as it stood and felt it needed more to fill it out properly. I also put in a scene from the previous chapter in this one and put in another cutscene in order to tie the two together. I wanted to show what was happening in the final moments before Miles' death and how they got there from here. Hope it works! :)

Von Karma really is a jerk, isn't he? He'll get what's coming to him in the Epilogue. :D

Hope you enjoy! :)

"Fledgling" is a term that Attalander used in her Vampire!PxE works. I like it better than "Childer" so I'm using it here and crediting her.

Mind Speech, Hearing/Seeing et al is taken from Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series of books; it works wonderfully well here and is something that I would expect Vampires to have. :)

Thanks to Pearls1990, for the term "Dark!Phoenix" and for her suggestion via IM. Hope I got it right!

Thanks to my readers and all those who have favourited, reviewed, story alerted, favourite author or author alerted me. I appreciate it more than I can say!

Special thanks to my beloved husband, DezoPenguin, for all his help, support, advice, nagging (when necessary) and encouragement! I appreciate it more than I can say! Love you!

Comments and suggestions are welcome and appreciated! *I'll probably change some things at some point; always room for improvement! *

The title is a Barry Manilow song of the same name.

Rated Teen, Tragedy/Angst, male/male relationships, Vampire!Phoenix x Vampire!Edgeworth

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Assembly Hall
9 P.M.

The men were assembled in the great hall in the middle of town, excited and angry murmurs buzzing among them. They were determined to ferret out the one responsible for the series of murders that had been occurring with alarming regularity as of late and make certain to bring whoever was responsible to justice.

Apparently, someone did know who was responsible and had called them here in order to make his, or her, name known. Anticipation was at a fever pitch when a sudden silence fell over those assembled as the older man walked into the room.

He commanded respect. From his white hair, blue suit with a snowy white cravat, the stern, implacable look on his face, the thin lips drawn taut, the rigidity of his posture and firm, purposeful step, this was a man who was firmly in control and one who didn't suffer fools lightly. The loud whispering buzz slowly faded into silence as he came toward them, the tip of his cane clicking on the black and white tiled floor.

"Gentlemen," he said as he nodded and passed them by, his eyes narrowing as he did so, heading toward the stage with muted murmurs of reply following after him.

As one, the twelve men turned toward the stage, watching with barely concealed interest as he walked up to the podium and leaned against it.

"I've called you here tonight for a very serious purpose," he began and the hall fell silent in anticipation, the men leaning eagerly forward. "It has come to my attention that there have been a series of dreadful murders that have been occurring in this town as of late and I am here tonight to tell you that, not only do I know who is responsible, I can tell you what his name is and where he's located."

For one heartbeat, stunned silence reigned before an excited and angry chorus broke out, twelve voices all speaking at once. The man was content to let them do just that, to whip themselves into a mindless frenzy where they, without their knowledge, be pliable, even willing, tools to do his bidding.

He couldn't resist the triumphant smirk that spread over his features.

At last, at long, long last, I will have my revenge on you, Miles Edgeworth, he thought, his lips curving into an evil little smile, there's nowhere you can go to hide from me.

When he sensed that they were ready for the final thrust, he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing into evil little slits. The men stopped talking although he could see their angry faces set with grim resolution.

"The one who is committing these murders is none other than Miles Edgeworth." He waited for a moment as a stunned silence filled the room once again, all twelve faces staring at him in disbelief that changed from stunned to anger to an unidentifiable rage.

This was the moment that he had been waiting for. He leaned forward again, the men crowding around the front of the stage in a semi-circle, their stony, twisted faces full of hate.

"Yes, gentlemen; the one that you seek is none other than Miles Edgeworth. Kill him and the murders will stop, I promise you."

That was all the men needed to hear. Every one of them had lost someone in the recent spate of killings and they were desperate to prevent any more from occurring and this was all that they needed to hear.

"Where is he?" one man shouted, his blue eyes glittering, his hands clenched into fists.

"Yeah!" another chorused, the voices all blending together in a growing cacophony that echoed their very real feelings as each man took up the hue and cry. "Where can we find him?!"

He held up a hand and the voices instantly stilled although the looks on each one of their faces was a pleasure to behold. He had them exactly where he wanted them. Now, for the kill...

"He's not only the one who's committing these terrible crimes, he's also a Vampire."

The men looked a little dubious at that but he pointed out to them, using his sharpened logic, to prove to them that he was the man they were seeking: he was never usually seen during the day; there were savage wounds that were on the victims' throats that could only have been made by fangs and his skin was as pale as milk which, as far as the men were concerned, were all the proof that they needed. That he had stretched the truth and told at least one outright lie didn't concern him; all he wanted was for these men to be the retributive hands that carried out his plan to get even with Miles Edgeworth for what he had done to him many years earlier.

They crowded closer, angry voices demanding that he tell them where this monster was so that they could root him out and destroy him. He willingly gave them everything they asked for and even gave them pointers on how to properly dispose of a Vampire and watched, with satisfaction, when they stormed out en masse through the door, their raised voices becoming more and more shrill as they walked out of the building.

When at last the door had slammed shut and the angry voices faded away into the distance, he felt smugly proud. It had taken over ten years but he was, at last, to get his long desired revenge on Miles Edgeworth.

Manfred von Karma was definitely looking forward to enjoying the show.

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9:30 P.M.

"Please, Miles..." I winced as my voice started to break, cursing myself once again under my breath. I hated sounding so desperate but, in truth, I really was. That faint glimmer of hope was all but extinguished now as he stood there as implacable as stone and I wondered if my entreaties were having any effect at all; regardless, I couldn't give up and I was determined to root out the truth. This was too important not to be sorted through. "Please..." I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat so large I was surprised that it didn't choke me.

I could feel him tense and I thought that he was going to turn and leave but he stood there uncertainly as if he didn't know what to do; he wanted to leave on one hand but he wasn't moving on the other. Did this mean that his resolve was starting to weaken even though his eyes looked at me with all of hell in them?

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9:40 P.M.

Miles' head jerked up for a brief moment, his crimson eyes opening wide as they focused and unfocused in the space of a heartbeat.

They're coming! It's now... or never.

Miles took a deep breath. He knew what he had to do and he was more than willing to sacrifice himself for Phoenix but his heart constricted as he knew the pain it would cause him.

Forgive me, my dearest Fledgling, he thought, taking a deep breath, but I have to do this in order to keep you safe. Though I condemn you to Walk this world alone, never forget how much I love you...

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9:45 P.M.

I saw his head jerk up for a brief moment before he lowered it again, his mouth twisting into a sour grimace. My heart leapt into my throat as I saw that and, just as I was prepared to renew another wave of protestations, he turned to look at me, his eyes shining.

For a moment he stared at me in mute silence but, in the next, he was moving toward me, a curious expression on his face. I could see the corners of his mouth twitch and, before my fogged brain could really comprehend what was happening, he took me in his arms, crushing his mouth against mine with a desperate, longing passion, holding me tightly to him.

My eyes widened in shock as he kissed me but, as the moments passed, I found myself melting into his arms, my eyes slowly closing as our mouths moved sweetly together. I could feel his intense, burning gaze on me through my closed lids and any thought that I might have had or wonder at the sudden, inexplicable turn of events were blown away like a plume of smoke on the wind.

Miles...

Pleasure sought me out in Miles' exploring hands and mouth, tasting and teasing. I closed my eyes and let the pleasure flow over me like a tidal wave; I could feel Miles' teeth nipping, and nibbling, his tongue tracing patterns on my hot, sweaty skin.

His mouth traveled down from my mouth to my neck and lingered there briefly before it came back up to press hard against my mouth once more, his tongue tangling sweetly with my own.

"Miles..." I moaned against his mouth, his fingers tangling themselves in my hair and pressing my head closer. His other hand crept over my shirt, his fingers swiftly undoing the buttons, slipping it off and tossing it to the floor.

"Phoenix..." I heard him whisper throatily, his fingers traveling all over my body, touching, caressing and pleasing, liquid fire flowing through my veins at his touch. "My sweet, sweet Fledgling..."

What...?

That one word was the only thing I had time to think as Miles gently, but firmly, pushed me against the wall, his eyes shining with an soft, indiscernible light, pressing his mouth hard against mine, his hands greedily exploring me. I groaned loudly underneath his mouth, my head lolling to the side.

The pleasure crashing through me was intense. I lost myself in the sensations as he pulled back for a moment and then leaned forward, his mouth capturing mine once again, moving hard with a desperate, longing passion.

As the kiss progressed, my eyelids fluttered open at one point to see him looking at me, his eyes boring into mine with a white-hot intensity that left me breathless. He stared deeply into my eyes for a very long time and, when they slowly fluttered shut, I could still feel that smoldering gaze on me but even that was washed away in the hot ecstacy of his kisses that followed.

His mouth tore away from mine, his tongue slowly traveling down the side of my neck, licking the salty sweat drops that slowly trickled down, nibbling and nipping as his head moved ever downward until I felt his lips rest on the side of my neck, the tip of his nose tickling my sensitive skin.

For a moment, time seemed to stop as the air quivered with nearly unbearable tension; something was going to happen and it felt like the whole world was waiting expectantly, holding its collective breath.

My body trembled as one wave of pleasure after another crashed over me, crying out in undisguised enjoyment until I felt Miles' mouth open against my hot, flushed skin. For a moment, I trembled, feeling like I was at the edge of the precipice and only waiting for a gentle push that would send me over before I felt a searing pain as Miles' teeth sank into my neck, sucking hard and pushing me flat back against the wall, muffled exclamations pouring from his mouth as he captured my wrists in his hands, pinning them above my head.

I screamed out in mingled pleasure and pain, my body writhing uncontrollably against his. All coherent thought was driven out of me at that moment, my mind cleared of any thought except the intense bliss I was experiencing that seemed to my fogged brain to be hotter, more intense and driving than any of our lovemaking experiences had been in the past. This was something else entirely, more encompassing with a throbbing undercurrent of desperate longing and unparalleled hunger.

My body stiffened soon after, hanging by one metaphorical thread before one final bite by Miles sent me over the edge. Pleasure crashed over me, wave after wave of blinding passion so intense that I nearly passed out from the sheer joy of it, crying out Miles' name over and over, his mouth still attached to my neck.

Stars exploded in front of my eyes and I felt like I was falling, Miles' sweet voice following me down into the darkness. There was another curious feeling and one that I couldn't quite put my finger on; I felt... different... for some reason that I couldn't understand and Miles' next words only added another layer of mystery.

::I love you Phoenix, my sweet Fledgling..:: I heard him clearly say in my mind and I belatedly wondered how he was able to do that. ::Though centuries may pass, never forget how much I love you.:: I felt his fingers gently touch my face, heard his intake of breath as his fingertips ran over my skin with agonizing slowness. ::I will miss you but I have to do what is necessary in order to prevent them from hurting, or even killing, you.::

What...? What... are...god, why...I... hurt...

Once again, I felt that peculiar sensation of falling and flailed about weakly until I felt his hands tenderly stroking me with soft, featherlike caresses, those sweet touches sending sparks of flame through my overheated, and oddly sated, body. Only then did I calm down and realize that I was lying down on our bed.

::I did what I am about to do to protect you; they're coming for me and it won't be long before they find me and I don't want them to find you::

What? Coming...for you...? Find... you...? Why...? Miles... what are... are you... talking about?!

"What... why?" I croaked, licking my dry lips nervously, my head lolling back and forth on the pillow, beads of sweat breaking out on my forehead. I tried again but my head felt as thick as glue. "Who..?"

I struggled to open my eyes but I was having a very difficult time doing that since I felt sluggish and completely drained of energy. For some reason I couldn't explain, my neck hurt like the blue blazes and my body felt like a tangled mess of nerves that ached rather ferociously at the moment.

::You must drink, my Fledgling; drink deeply from the fountain provided for you.:: Miles' internal voice was soft and soothing though chiding, imbued with a love so deep that I couldn't even begin to try and fathom it. ::You must Feed in order to live. Blood of my blood, bone of my bone, fruit of my body...::

What... is … he talking... about? I felt his wrist press against my mouth and I could feel something drip into it; I tried to turn my head away but Miles forced it back until I began to suck like a starved pup, drinking whatever it was that was flowing unobtrusively down my throat.

I gagged at the thick, sickeningly sweet taste at first but was soon gulping it down with gusto, feeling new energy spreading like a warm glow inside of me, the points of pain slowly fading away.

Miles...? Everything was so fuzzy that I was having trouble discerning what was real and what wasn't. I heard a low, rumbling murmur somewhere in the distance, a menacing cacophony that grew louder and more ominous as it came closer.

::Stay safe, beloved. I love you...:: I felt Miles' soft mouth on mine one final time before it slowly drew away, stinging my lips, his fingers tenderly tracing patterns on my skin. He stood slowly up and walked toward the door that led to the outside patio from our bedroom, pausing for one last, precious moment, smiling at me.

His expression darkened when he looked out of the half-open door, his eyes narrowing as they glowed a dark ruby-red. All I could do was to stare in helpless fascination, too weak to move or have the ability to do anything; I saw him square his shoulders as he opened the door and stepped quickly outside, closing the door firmly behind him.

Miles...?! What... what's... happening... to me?! My mind was desperately seeking answers but I was having trouble articulating the questions screaming for release. I felt so... strange... and I began to panic since I didn't understand what was happening to me or even why. Where...are...you... go-?!

I reached out with a shaking hand to feel Miles' hand and felt only empty air and, as I struggled to sit up, I heard a loud, guttural scream splitting the silent night.

MILES!

I never knew who screamed-it wasn't Miles, so far as I could tell; it might have been me but I have no conscious memory of it-and I at last managed to sit up, my face pressed against the window, my horrified eyes watching him march steadfastly toward the mob that was assembled outside... and to certain death.

My eyes widened and I moaned as I watched him, his purposeful stride taking him right up to the circle of twelve, his hands balled into fists lying at his side.

While I watched, horrified and pleading with him mentally to run away, he opened his hands and slowly lifted his arms and said, in a soft, sweet voice, "Here I am, gentlemen. Do as you wish; I won't stop you..."

They stood stock still for but the space of a breath before they rushed him; two men grabbed his arms, pinioning them behind his back and another grabbed a wooden stake, the rest acting as a some sort of guard, I suppose, to prevent him from trying to escape.

In the few seconds of life that remained to him, he turned his head slightly to look in my direction from where I watched at the window, my hands pressed against the glass. I could Feel his love flowing to me and I saw him mouth "I love you, Phoenix" before the man rushed forward, impaling Miles on the stake as it ran him through, the sharp end emerging from the other side.

Miles coughed once, his eyes widening as the stake passed through him, his mouth opening wide in stunned amazement for a moment, his fangs glittering in the moonlight, sinking slowly to his knees. His head slumped forward, a trickle of blood dribbling from the side of his mouth as he began to slowly dissolve. I thought that I saw a proud smile cross his face and a tear trickle down his cheek before he disappeared, a soft, grey ash fluttered to the ground and this was all that remained of the one I loved more than anyone else in the world. The chilling breeze that blew through the trees stirred some of the ashes, scattering them before the wind died down, to be replaced by an eerie, quiet stillness.

At that moment, I understood all too clearly what had just happened: I'd witnessed a mob of hateful men murder my beloved right in front of me, even if they were not physically aware of my presence. I closed my eyes tightly, my fingers curling into hard fists, hate surging through me like a tidal wave. These bastards had killed my lover and I wasn't about to let them get away with it.

I threw back my head and screamed, a howl of heartbreak, loss and rage to the uncaring skies, pounding against the window with all my might, the glass protesting with every blow. I took in deep, hitching gulps of air inbetween deep, racking sobs before I howled again, louder and more plaintively this time.

I could Feel the mood of the mob of men outside begin to change from smug satisfaction to unease to fear as they whirled around, trying to figure out where the unearthly cacophony was coming from. I lowered my head, screaming again my pain and loss as I felt my fangs extend, my eyes glowing a bloody red, rage, pain and grief cascading through me.

I slowly stood up, my feet not even touching the bed as I did so and leaped through the window, startling them enough that they attempted to flee but I refused to allow them that privilege. I could see the soft grey ash that lay at their feet, angering me even more than I already was. With one spoken word, I paralyzed them so that they couldn't move, their eyes rolling with fear.

I could Hear them screaming mindlessly in their heads and it gave me a moment of grim satisfaction as I slowly advanced toward them, murder in my eyes.

I was no longer Phoenix Wright, defence attorney or even Phoenix Wright, human being. I was now Phoenix Wright, Fledgling Vampire and Avenger. And, for these paralyzed men who stared up mutely at me as I approached, Death itself surrounded by large, silver wings.