Thank you to xStormyx for her awesome beta skills and for letting me bounce ideas off of her. Also, for lending me her character references! Daryan wouldn't be the dark stalker he is with out the references!
Thank you to those of you who have read and reviewed! And thanks for your patience with this update. Once again, Writers Block pulled her black curtain on me and struck me right in the middle of the chapter. But, I managed to lift that curtain and without further ado...
Klavier woke with a start.
He blinked and rubbed his eyes as he looked around, trying to figure out what it was that woke him. He thought he heard voices; did Daryan have someone over at (Klavier glanced over at his alarm clock and groaned) seven-thirty in the morning? Knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, Klavier swung his long legs over the edge of the bed and hissed when his bare feet touched the naked hard wood floors. He made a note every time he did that to buy a rug. He also made a mental note to thank Prosecutor Edgeworth for letting his band rent his beach house. Maybe you should actually jot it down this time, Gavin, he said to himself as he pulled on his pajama pants and went into the bathroom. He emerged from the bathroom a couple of minutes later, feeling a little more refreshed and alert than he had before and proceeded downstairs.
He caught a glimpse of Daryan laying on the couch, his feet hanging over the arm as he passed the living room into the kitchen. He noted that the noise he'd heard earlier was just coming from the TV that Daryan was focused on. Klavier made coffee and poured two cups; black, like they both liked it. As he entered the living room, Klavier noticed his friend was now sitting up and bouncing his leg nervously.
"Guten morgen." Klavier didn't want to startle Daryan too much. The latter whipped his head around and nodded his acknowledgment and went back to watching the news.
"I made coffee." The blond handed him a cup before sitting down and Daryan mumbled his thanks as he took a sip. Klavier regarded his friend curiously before turning his attention to the TV. He finally realized what had captured the guitarist's attention. The newscasters were reporting the Chief Justice's son being in the hospital with an unknown condition; his symptoms were unlike anything the doctors had seen before and were trying everything in their power to keep the boy stable. Pictures of the boy before he had been sick flashed across the screen as the reporters went on to explain the Leukemia he'd suffered from at a younger age. Daryan took in a deep breath and Klavier cocked his head.
"That's eerily similar to Deanna's situation," Klavier remarked.
Daryan stood suddenly and started to walk out of the room, mumbling something about running errands before the trial.
"Wait, Daryan," Klavier flew off the couch and grabbed his wrist. He noticed that the dark-haired man didn't resist. In fact he turned halfway and looked at Klavier with tired eyes and a hollow expression that Klavier hadn't seen for a long time. He was taken aback for a second and disregarded his original question. "Mein Gott Crescend! Have you slept at all within the last 48 hours?"
"Not really, no." Daryan bit his lip. He must have looked as crappy as he felt. "I may have gotten about eight hours of sleep in the last three or four days. I dunno. It's all been a blur."
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Klavier asked, his voice resounded with nothing but concern.
"I don't know, okay?" The guitarist blew out a breath in frustration. "A lot of crap has gone down in the last couple days and I've been doing a lot of thinking."
Klavier set his coffee down and grabbed him by his upper arms to help calm his friend. "Daryan, look at me." When the dark-haired man wouldn't meet his gaze, Klavier gently grasped the others chin to force him to look at the blond. What Klavier saw in those tired gray eyes almost broke his heart; the amount of sadness and frustration was immeasurable.
"Daryan, what is going on? I'm sorry that I mentioned Deanna, but – "
Daryan quickly shook his head out of Klavier's grasp. "The similarities end at the leukemia." He realized his voice was raised and paused to try to control his growing frustration. "Listen, I'm just exhausted and it's wearing on me. I'll be fine Klavier, thanks."
Klavier held his gaze. He knew his friend only too well to know that he was lying but he also knew him well enough not to push. Daryan's temper was swift and quick and Klavier never wanted to be on the receiving end of his anger. "Take my hog to run your errands. Maybe the fresh air will help you clear your head."
Daryan chuckled to himself as he thought of the two hour long ride he took last night, and other nights as well, on Klavier's 'hog'. He was always careful to bring it back with the same amount of gas and such.
His phone suddenly went off in his pocket and he brought it out. The blond looked around for his own phone remembering that it was still upstairs.
"Huh, Ema needs a ride to work." Daryan smiled a little as he read the text, then sighed. As badly as he wanted to talk to Ema, he had other pressing issues to take care of. Klavier cocked his eyebrow at his friend as he grabbed his cup off the side table. He watched a myriad of emotions cross Daryan's handsome face. "I have some things I need to take care of and paperwork at the office to finish up. Do you think you could take some time out of your busy schedule to give her one?"
"Of course," Klavier answered as his friend turned towards the entrance of the living room. "You were never one for quickies any way."
Daryan whipped around. "Watch it, that's Ema you're talking about!"
He winked, but Klavier couldn't help but wonder if he was actually defending Ema's honor.
An hour later, a heavy-hearted Klavier was knocking on Ema's door. He played with his hair as he thought about the sadness and conflict in Daryan's eyes.
The door suddenly opened and there stood a grouchy-looking Ema. "You didn't bring that beast did you? You know I hate riding on that thing."
Klavier chuckled at her. "If by 'beast' you mean my 'hog', then nein, I did not bring it. Daryan has it right now."
The prosecutor saw a fleeting look of concern cross the woman's face as she invited him in. They walked down her little hall to her tiny living area and Klavier watched Ema as she chewed her lip, concentrating hard on something.
"Why isn't Daryan riding with yo – us?" She asked over her shoulder as she disappeared into her tiny kitchen. "Do you want something to drink?"
"Do you have any orange juice?" Klavier asked as he sat on her dark magenta couch. He knew she would have some; her love for the juice was about as strong as her love for Snackoos. Just more fodder to tease her with. He heard her slam the refrigerator door and mumble something as she came back into the living area.
"Why do you always have to be such an ass to me?" she asked as she handed the glass of juice to him.
"Because you would miss it if I stopped Fraulein," he remarked and grinned.
"Glimmerous fop," was all Ema said as she spun on her heel and headed down the hall to the bathroom.
Klavier took a sip of the juice as he stood and looked around at her little apartment. He had been there a few times before to drop off paperwork or give her a ride to or from work. He was always drawn to the same picture that sat on her bookshelf next to a dog-eared book called Scientific Investigations. It was a picture of Ema when she was very young, standing next to her older sister as they were saluting the camera. Ema looked so happy, as did her sister, but there was a coldness in her expression that Klavier had seen before. A shiver ran down his spine as, unbidden, a memory of Kristoph flashed through his mind. He turned and walked down the little hallway to find Ema muttering to herself and wandering back and forth between rooms.
"Ema, are you alright?"
"Oh," she gasped and her hand flew up to her heart. "Dammit Klavier! You scared me. You shouldn't sneak up on people like that!"
Klavier looked at her with confusion. "But I didn't... ahhh never mind. What is it that you are looking for Fraulein Detective?" He emphasized the last word. "Maybe I can help?"
"Well, Daryan took my lab coat and purse off last night and I'm not sure where he put them."
The prosecutor paused and threw Ema a bewildered look. "I'm surprised he didn't spend the night. His charm usually works well with the Fräuleins. Almost better than mine."
"Yeah well, I guess I'm immune to your charms," she mumbled as she brushed her hair one last time. Klavier had disappeared into the hallway and she continued. "Daryan's charms are another matter altogether."
Suddenly, Klavier was standing in the bathroom doorway with her purse and lab coat in hand. He cocked his eyebrow when he saw that Ema was blushing and smiling. Something – she wasn't sure what it was – sparked her to think about that night. She remembered Daryan started everything by tickling her. How he knew the right spots to tickle was beyond her. Somehow he maneuvered her so she was facing him and she remembered his soft lips were suddenly on hers and a hand was on her neck as a voice whispered gently in her ear –
"Ema, are you alright?" Klavier was suddenly at her shoulder whispering as she jumped. Another blush colored her cheeks as her hand flew to her mouth.
"I-I'm fine," she managed to choke out. Then, when she noticed Klavier was holding her lab coat and purse, she frowned. "Where did you find those?"
"Fräulein, do not change the subject. What were you thinking about that made you blu–" Klavier cut himself off with a loud scoff. Ema scowled at him and grabbed her things from him.
"When you are done laughing, princess, I'm ready to go!"
"Daryan, it's good to see you here again." The pretty blond nurse held her hand out to him.
"Thank you, Beth." He shook her hand nervously. He had gotten to know Beth very well during his trips to the hospital with Deanna; she was one of three nurses that had been allowed around her. The other two had mysteriously disappeared when it was leaked out to the public that the governors daughter was ill. She had been brought in on very strict terms and was only told minor details: she never knew Derrick's real character or his intentions. All Beth knew was that she was to take care of the governors sick daughter. "When I saw Conner on the news this morning, I had to come see him again." Daryan continued.
"Why are you putting yourself through this Daryan? You barely made it through Deanna's death-"
"Because I thought I could help him and now I realize I can't." Daryan snapped. He lowered his voice and ran his hand nervously through his hair. "I can only make a plea. I'm going to talk to Mr. Brenner. Maybe I can convince him to not make the same mistakes my father did and make this a more publicized disease."
Beth regarded him carefully. "Are you alright? You look exhausted."
"Yeah. Its been a rough couple days,"
"I heard about the murder at Sunshine Coliseum. Why would that sweet little boy murder the bodyguard?"
"I don't know. The trial is in an hour and a half so I'm going to go see Conner now, if you'll excuse me…" Daryan smiled, nodding politely, and started to walk off.
"Wait, let me walk you to his room." Beth trotted to his side. "We had to move him. Too much press and too many people asking questions."
Daryan stopped suddenly and the nurse almost tripped over herself to stop beside him. "Who's asking questions?"
"Just people… Other doctors…" She flinched at the dark look the guitarist was giving her.
"What people, Beth?" His words were sharp.
"Just some guys from the Rigby law firm and... come to think of it, that bodyguard came to visit. I was shocked when I heard about his murder. I had seen him alive just two days before that."
"LeTouse? Why would LeTouse visit the Chief's son?" Daryan asked, more to himself than Beth. He started walking slowly. "What kind of questions did he ask?"
"Well, how long Conner had been sick and if we knew whether there was a cure for the disease yet."
"What did you tell him?"
"I said no, of course!"
Daryan let out a breath of relief. "And the Rigby firm? What questions did they ask?"
"They were here when Conner was admitted the first time; asking about his leukemia and whether he had been to Borginia recently or not. I thought they were highly unusual questions. Then the firm was here a few days before LeTouse, asking the same questions that he did."
The tall nurse stopped in front of the elevator and pushed the button for the fifth floor. Daryan was lost in thought the whole elevator ride. Dammit, LeTouse was onto us the whole time. That means father is keeping a closer eye on things than I thought… Crap, gotta stay under the radar…
"Did you say something?" The nurse asked as they stepped off the elevator.
"Ah, er… no, sorry, I was just thinking aloud."
It was Beth's turn to stop suddenly. "Daryan," she said in a serious tone. "Are you sure everything is alright? There is a little boy's life that is at stake here and – "
"Don't you dare tell me what is at stake, Beth!" Daryan clenched his jaw. His eyes darkened, like a late afternoon storm over the sea and she flinched again. He looked around and lowered his voice. "There is nothing you should be concerned about."
"I'm sorry, Daryan – "
"Beth, please." Daryan could feel his rage rising and he took a deep breath. "Just drop it. I need to speak to Conner's father." He turned and walked into Conner's room. The little boy was lying in a tangle of sheets, fragile and helpless as a baby bird. Just like Deanna.
Daryan swallowed, hard and gripped the door frame behind him. He wasn't sure he was ready to face these demons again. If only Ema were here, her presence would soothe him…
"Daryan, it's good to see you again."
The chief carried himself well, even though he was rough and rugged from taking care of his ranch. He wore jeans and a plain light blue dress shirt under a dark blue blazer. His strawberry blonde hair had an imprint from the cowboy hat that Daryan guessed was a permanent fixture on his head when he was outside. He held out a tanned, calloused hand.
"Thank you for letting me visit, sir," Daryan said as casually as he could as he shook the other's hand.
"Pshaw! Call me John. I was never one for formalities." John gestured for Daryan to sit. "Conner is sleeping right now and my wife is taking care of things at the ranch. We are rotating while the boy is here. Water?" He was pouring himself some and he held up a glass to Daryan who refused. John took a sip then sat down across from the guitarist. "So, Daryan, tell me how I can help you with this embargo on these cocoons."
Daryan stated just the facts about his fathers embargo and the reasons behind it. As he was talking, he realized that he didn't have all the pertinent information he needed; that there was a hole in all of his theories and no paper work or anything physical to back them up. That's when his mothers voice popped into the back of his mind: 'Daryan, what I have to say next is important. In your fathers library ... there is a safe. In it are papers about Deanna's time in Borginia and his secret smuggling operation and his blackmailing leverage. If I don't get a chance to tell you the truth about Deanna, the answers are all in there.'
Daryan had completely forgotten about the safe. He just hoped that his father had forgotten as well.
"Daryan my boy," John said as their conversation was winding down. "I'm terribly sorry about all of your family. I never knew the level of insanity your father had."
"He was… quite disturbed. I'm not sure if it was the power or the money that pushed him over the edge in the end," Daryan said slowly.
"Well, I don't know how much I can do but I can certainly put the bug in the new senator's ear about this and go from there."
"Thank you very much for your time, sir." Daryan stood. "I have a trial to attend other wise I would stay until Conner wakes up."
"I will let him know you stopped by, Daryan." John clapped him on the shoulder. "You are a strong man to have survived what you have been through. I admire you."
Daryan blinked. A gunshot went off in his head and his fragile sanity started to unravel.
"Thank you, I appreciate that." He nodded and mumbled a good bye and using all of his self-control, he walked out as calmly as he could. Once he was inside the elevator and by himself, he collapsed against the wall.
Geezus Daryan... there are people depending on you... but you are nothing but a murderer...are you listening to me? A MURDERER!
His father's voice echoed through his mind as he punched the elevator wall, leaving a dent and the pain reminded him that this was the hand that had pulled the trigger. This was the hand that taken LeTouse's life.
He took a deep breath as the elevator doors opened. Trying his hardest not to run, he almost knocked the person coming into the elevator, down. He muttered an apology and the person yelled, "Hey! Aren't you Daryan Crescend of the Gavi–" before they were cut off by the elevator doors. Daryan ducked his head and walked as fast as he could out of the hospital.
"Come on, Fraulein," Klavier said in his best pouty kid's voice. He had been apologizing ever since they left Ema's apartment. She sat in the passenger seat munching voraciously on her Snackoos. Her thoughts were on Daryan, wondering what he was up to.
"I really am sorry for laughing at you, Ema." Klavier paused to negotiate the traffic. "Daryan's right, though. You are cute when you blush."
Klavier's use of her real name caught her attention – he rarely used it. It was like he had forgotten what it was. She was used to his teasing and his use of 'Fräulein' with her. She glanced at him and saw the man that always had her in a tizzy; the man with the beautiful ocean-blue eyes and dazzling smile and soft golden hair…
She shook herself mentally.
"Humph," she grunted between chews. The prosecutor rolled his eyes at her maniacal munching. "Daryan wouldn't have laughed at me." Her thoughts immediately turned back to Daryan's handsome, bad-boy smile and his soft grey eyes...
"Well, not to your face!" Klavier chortled and was promptly met with a Snackoo to the side of his head. "Okay, okay! I deserved that." Klavier paused as he turned into the parking garage. "So, did Daryan ask you to dinner or a movie or anything last night?"
A look of confusion fluttered across the woman's face as she crunched on her Snackoos, trying to figure out where Klavier was going with his question.
"No… he didn't actually,"
Klavier glanced at her as he parked his car. "He was very quiet on the drive home last night. Did something happen?"
"He was just very… adamant about waiting until this whole trial was over until we did anything," she stated as she got out of the car.
"Well, something's got Daryan all tense. He usually makes his move on a Fraulein right away if he likes her."
"Thanks for the confidence booster, fop," Ema practically growled as he held the door that led from the parking garage to the courthouse, open for her. Klavier mentally kicked himself.
"I didn't mean it that way," he started. "What I meant was that most women can't resist his charms. I've seen him seduce a woman from across a bar. Hell, he's seduced me a couple times with that look he has."
Ema blushed and looked away. She knew exactly which look Klavier was talking about and it was strange for her to hear Klavier talk about Daryan that way. She knew they were involved in the past but it still wasn't going to be easy to hear about it.
"Well, he was a perfect gentleman last night, which surprised me considering..."
They were walking across the foyer of the courthouse when a movement outside the large glass doors caught Ema's attention. She stopped and frowned and stared at Daryan who was on the steps, surrounded by fans.
"Huh." Klavier stood beside Ema and stared. "I would have thought he'd use the side entrance like we did."
The young woman watched as Daryan smiled and winked up at her. She responded with a small smile of her own. Daryan then waved at the fans and sauntered his way up the stairs. She flinched when she saw how drawn his face looked.
"Are you alright, Daryan?" Ema asked him as soon as he stepped through the door. "You look exhausted."
"Yeah, I'm cool now that I have you here." He draped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. Klavier wrinkled his nose as they started towards the courtroom.
"What's with the cheesy lines, Daryan?"
"Nothin', Gavin. You jealous?"
"No..." Klavier shot his friend a confused look. "It's just not like you."
"Well, I like it, so there!" Ema stuck her tongue out at Klavier who cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Do you plan on using that?" He was met with a prompt shove from Ema and a chuckle from Daryan.
"Both of you are fops!"
Klavier felt an unusual sort of tension in the air when they entered the courtroom. He snapped his fingers and threw Daryan and Ema a small smile as they climbed up the stairs that led to where the witnesses sat. The crowd that had gathered to watch the proceedings seemed to be larger than usual; Klavier was used to large crowds. He just hoped that Apollo or Ema wouldn't be intimidated by the crowd. He stole a glance up to the crowd and found Ema and Daryan huddled together. He heard her giggle all of a sudden then blush and turn away from Daryan. Klavier's heart clenched and he looked away but his expression was caught by Daryan who frowned.
Suddenly, the Judge banged his gavel, signaling the beginning of the trial. The Judge and Klavier bantered back and forth for a minute and Daryan scowled impatiently.
Until the Judge mentioned the Chief Justice's son.
Ema felt him stiffen and when she turned to look at him, she found Daryan's whole demeanor changed from the playful to the tense.
Daryan intently watched Klavier's reaction to what the Judge was saying but who was he kidding? Klavier had the cool exterior of an iceberg; if he was putting two and two together about the Chief's son, he wasn't showing it. The Judge banged his gavel again and Daryan jumped a little.
"Daryan," Ema whispered as she gently laid a hand on his knee. "Are… you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." He turned his head just enough to look at her and not have his hair in the way. "Just tired. Didn't sleep well last night."
Ema opened her mouth to say something, but changed her mind and simply smiled. He intertwined his fingers with hers and caressed her hand with his thumb as he turned his attention back to the trial.
She felt Daryan stiffen again when Klavier brought the court's attention to the murder weapon and shots fired. He shook his head as echoes of gunshots bounced around in his mind.
"Daryan?" she whispered as she squeezed his thigh softly. She chided herself quickly for thinking about his rock-hard thighs. He glanced at her again and smiled once more but it was an expression that didn't reach his eyes. The horrible prickly feeling that overwhelmed her a couple days ago, swept through her as she stood to walk to the witness stand.
"Go get 'em tiger," Daryan whispered as he winked at Ema. She threw him a brief puzzled look and a small smile as she descended the stairs.
"Your name and profession, please."
Ema hated how Klavier could be so calm all the time. She supposed that, over time, her fear of the witness stand would dissipate. It hadn't and she took a deep breath, gathering courage – she knew her testimony was rock solid and could be backed up scientifically. She also drew strength from the fact that, even as foppish as he was, Klavier always supported her during trials.
"Ema Skye." She hoped she came across more confident than she felt. "I'm a detective for the police department. I was on security detail at the concert forum that night." Thanks to the diva fop.
"Hmm… Security at the concert you say?" The judge looked at her with a curious expression.
"Some security I was! Couldn't even stop a murder…" Ema glanced over at Apollo who gave her a nervous smile. God its weird to look over and not see Phoenix, she thought. She turned to Klavier and gave him a scowl. He winked at her and she immediately turned her attention back to the Judge when she heard him talking.
"Now don't blame yourself! Things like this happen! I've even made bigger mistakes in my career, you know!"
Ema made a mental eye roll and saw Apollo's killer 'What the hell?' expression; it was difficult to suppress the automatic giggle that it conjured. She glanced up and saw Daryan with his head in his hands. She wondered if he was reacting to the judge or something else when Klavier's stupid finger-snapping habit distracted her.
"In any case… Because you were on security detail, the crime was quickly discovered. And we were able to identify the killer." He smiled his foppish rock star grin and she scowled at him as he continued. "You may give the court your testimony, if you would. Describe the circumstances of that day and your discovery of the crime, please."
"Alright." She took a deep breath.
Daryan watched her as she gave her testimony. She seemed pretty cool, calm and collected and everything she said was concise. Must be her scientific mind setting in, he thought. Daryan smirked when Apollo yelled his objection, thinking crimson-boy had no chance in the music business.
He listened even more intently when she talked about the murder scene and her definitive reasons why only Machi could have done it. He let out a breath that he hadn't realized he was holding. His little plan with the explosives had worked. With the excitement of the murder and the drama between him and Ema and Klavier, he didn't have a chance to check out his handiwork.
Daryan, get a grip and stop stressing, he thought to himself. You are going to trip yourself up if you don't start playing cool. At least Ema is confident in her own testimony and Klavier is backing her up. This trial should be wrapped up in no time. I can run a couple errands and then take Ema to dinner…
Daryan turned his full attention to the proceedings. Was Klavier stalling? Why wasn't the Judge handing his verdict –
"Prosecutor Gavin, you claim that there were no witnesses to this crime. Are you absolutely sure?" Apollo was leaning over his desk waiting for an answer. Daryan could see he was still nervous, but there was a new fire in the boys eyes.
Daryan didn't like where this was going.
"Absolutely. I'd swear it on my career as a prosecutor… and on my million-seller hit song Atroquinine, My Love." Klavier leaned over his desk like he was challenging Apollo.
Apollo grinned like a cat that had caught the canary. "That's too bad because there was a witness!"
Screaming on the inside
I am frail and withered
Cover up the wounds
That I can't hide
Walls that lie between us
The saint within the sinner
I have lost the nerve...
Into the Nothing
by
Breaking Benjamin