Title: Demons
Author: Ellie
E-mail: kaniele@eircom.net
Category: Roswell Angst/Drama
Rating: R for language and adult type themes
Summary: Tess must fight her demons when she meets her family. Set after departure, when Tess arrives home. A fic to redeem her.
Archive: My site and whoever else would like it just ask.
Feedback: Love the stuff.
Dedication: To all dreamers who believe that while Max and Liz should be together Tess shouldn't be blamed for everything and to all who send me feedback. Y'all rock.
Important note: As this deals with the pod peoples home planet, there are of course going to be differences, like language and stuff, so just pretend it's like star trek or star wars and all those things don't matter please. I'm writing a story not a universe J
*** Equals flashback
***
"It's almost time my sweet child."
Ava gazed at herself in the mirror. She scrutinised every aspect of her appearance. She had to be perfect; it was a big day. She smoothed down her silk dress and rearranged her curls so a few tendrils hung at the side of her face.
She was the perfect vision of innocence.
Perfect for a king.
She turned and smiled nervously at the woman standing in the doorway. Her mother smiled.
"My my, aren't you a vision." She walked over to her daughter. She may have been forty-five cycles but she was still as beautiful as ever. Her blonde hairs shone like a halo and her skin was as smooth as Ava's was. Ava had always wished to look like her when she was older and it looked as though she was going to receive her wish. Her mothers turquoise eyes shone with tears.
"I am so very proud of you, your whole family is."
"Thank you."
"Zan has made a wise choice," said Sirena, Ava's handmaiden as she entered the room.
"I cannot think of a more fitting person to help rule a planet. A kind generous and selfless person, your guidance will help shape a new future for our people." Ava blushed.
"I don't know, I am so young." She said uncertainly.
"Ava, you are wonderful. The people agree. You will be fine." Her mother said reassuringly as she squeezed her shoulder.
"Well" Sirena said. "It is time. Your father is waiting." She turned to Ava's mother. "My lady, the Royal family is requesting your presence."
"Of course." She turned to Ava. "I must go. I love you and don't be nervous. You're marrying a wonderful man." With that she swept out of the room, her dress flowing out behind her."
"I'm marrying a king" Ava said with a whisper.
***
Tess woke with a start. She felt a searing pain in her neck and immediately realised why. She was sleeping on the cold hard surface of her "cell."
The events of her dream came flooding back to her. She vividly remembered every emotion. She had had doubts. That was natural, she was about to become a queen. She knew that but it was different. She hadn't been scared of marrying Zan; it was the responsibilities that came with it. She had been barely eighteen when she was married to Zan she remembered.
"In my previous life I was a queen now. I never realised I had been so young." She felt her baby move. She ran a hand down the slight curve of her stomach as tears filled her eyes.
"My mother. It was my mother last night. She looked like she hated me. Why?" Tess lay back down on the ground and wept. "Why am I here?" She cried. "Why? I've done nothing wrong. They are my people why do they treat me like this?"
She heard the door open. She pulled her self to her feet. It was the man who took her into custody the night before. At least she thought it was the night before, she had no idea how long she had been sleeping.
"Sleep well?" He said with a small smile. Tess was in no mood for games.
"What do you think?"
"Here" He thrust his hand out and in it was a small bread like substance. Tess reluctantly accepted. She needed her strength now more than ever. She took a small bite and was surprised to find she liked it.
"Good?"
"Yes."
"I'm not surprised." At Tess's look of confusion he elaborated, "It was your favourite. Its called Kana bread."
"How did you know that?"
"You mean the name of the bread or that it was your favourite." Tess pulled a face. The strange mans face creased into a smile. He was quite handsome. He took a seat on the platform and motioned Tess to follow. She did with a cautious air.
"I knew because we were friends. Good friendsonce." He lowered his head. Tess watched curiously. "We were?"
"Yes, my name is Daren."
"Daren" Tess felt the name with her tongue. She looked at him with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I don't remember."
"Really? That's okay. I must go" He said abruptly and turned to leave.
"No don't go!" Tess said desperately. "You said you were my friend. Be my friend now. I need your help. I don't know what I'm here for. I don't know who I am anymore!" Words spilled out as she pleaded with him.
He turned to look at her pain filled his eyes.
"I can't" he choked out.
"Why?"
"Khivar"
"He needn't know!"
"I have to go" and with that he left. Tess sat down dejected. Her first link with her past was gone. She stood and paced the room.
"Daren" she repeated several times under her breath. She couldn't remember him yet he seemed to think they had been close.
"Why can't I remember?" She sat back down.
"Who is he?" She tried to use her memory retrieval techniques but none would work. "I'm not relaxed, my mind is too clouded." She said frustrated and lay on the soft surface of the bed. She closed her eyes.
***
"Ava!" Ava turned her hair flowing behind her.
"Laira" She smiled happily and waited for her friend to catch up. Laira ran up to her and immediately grabbed her hands and began shaking them with excitement.
"Guess where we have been invited!"
"Calm down" Ava laughed. "Where?"
"The birthday party of the princess Vilandra!"
"But how? We are only fifteen. Palace parties are for sixteen's and over and we don't know Vilandra!"
"Yes, but she asked for young people. I heard she told her father she didn't give a damn about royal protocol. I think it's just a way for her to have that idiot Khivar there, because she can use his sister as an excuse." Laira said in a scandalised tone.
"Perhaps. This is amazing" Ava said as she walked to a bench and sat down. "We'll get to meet the Princess and the prince."
"Yes, Have you seen him lately?"
"No, Not since the last season passed. I have been away remember?"
"Of course, well he's quite the man now. He's amazing and the best at sports." Laira gasped and fell back on the bench her eyes dreamy.
Ava laughed, "He's just a boy"
"He's a prince who will be a king!"
"Maybe but I like other boys better."
"Like Daren?" Laira said her voice light, her eyes teasing.
"Maybe"
"He likes you too and he's going. All the high ranking families are going and his father is a member of the court too."
"I know my father does work with him"
"Yeah, maybe he'll ask you. I wonder who'll ask me."
"Please, half the boys of Antar like you."
"Oh Antar boys are too immature. I hear the Royal families of the five planets have been invited. Maybe Larek"
"No! Not after the scandal of last time!"
"What?" Laira said innocently. "We were just examining the strength of the shrubbery by rolling around in it" The two girls dissolved into giggles.
"What's so funny?" Ava looked up into the eyes of Daren. He stared down at her amused. Ava quickly wiped the grin off her face and quickly composed herself. Daren and her had been friends as a small child. However as they got older, they drifted due to the change. Ava spent more time with the girls and Daren with the boys. Now things were awkward between them.
She blushed under his gaze.
"I haven't seen you in a while."
"Yes, I've been staying with family in the north province. I've been getting coaching in preparation for presentation."
"Of course. I forgot about that. Well I better go. Goodbye Ava" He said softly.
"Goodbye Laira" He said as an afterthought.
"Well well well. He is mad about you." Ava turned to Laira.
"He is not!" She said with an indignant tone.
"Fine live in denial if you want."
"Time to move along" Ava and Laira looked up and saw a shapeshifter standing in front of them.
"We're not doing anything," Laira said in an argumentative tone.
"Move please" Ava looked up at the shapeshifter that stood in front of them. She recognised him as someone she had seen at the palace.
Laira pulled Ava up with her. "Let's go!" As they walked away Laira leaned in and whispered "They are so creepy. Why they have to be around? Why can't they stay in their own country where they belong!"
"They are here for our own protection. Besides it's better they are here."
"The fact that they could be anyone disturbs me. Anyway who cares about them!" she shook her head and sniffed. "Let's talk about the party. We must wear something nice. After all Zan will be there." Ava let her friend chatter on. She looked behind her. In the distance she could see Daren stand outside a building talking with a friend. He looked up and caught her staring. He smiled at her and Ava quickly turned her head back. She looked back a second later and found him still staring. Smiling to herself she walked on linking her arms with Laira.
***
Tess woke again and smiled. "Daren"
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