Disclaimer: ...please tell me you don't want me to repeat myself... You do? Damn...fine... I do not own any of the original characters from Rebirth, but Serena, Asher, and Dominic are mine.

Fallen Angel

Chapter 17

She tried to block out the jeering crowd. They were yelling curse and other vulgar things. She saw someone thrown a stone and heard, "Witch!" She paid them no mind. The guards led her to the platform, Danube to the other. They were to be hanged for false charges of witchcraft. 'Desh...I'm so sorry,' she thought as the rope slid around her neck.

She took a final look at Danube Maybus and fought off tears. 'She's just a girl. How can they do this? I don't understand...' She braced herself, waiting for the drop. The order was given and...

Remi woke with a start. She was breathing harshly and a cold sweat covered her head to toe. She closed her eyes again, fighting to be calm. 'Just a dream. It was just a dream.' She repeated the thought like a mantra.

"Damn, not again!" she heard Desh curse softly in the darkness. She felt the sadness and terror of the dream fade as she thought, 'He hit his head again...' She suppressed a laugh.

"Desh, you awake?" she ventured.

"I really don't want to respond to that," came his reply. Remi decided that if she continued to fight back her laughter, then she would make herself sorer than she already was. She erupted into laughter. She heard him growl and say, "Ha ha ha, very funny. Next time you decide to sleep in a cave, a small cave, and bring me along for the ride...bring aspirin." She heard him moving around and then a match being struck. The little flame flickered in the complete darkness of the cave as he lit one of the candles. She looked at his face. Remi was surprised, since he looked at her worriedly.

"What?" she asked him. 'Please don't ask about the dream...please, please, please! Mother Night, don't let him ask about that!' she prayed silently.

"Well...It's just that your wounds don't look too well." She let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh, is that all?" she said looking down at herself. The blood, mostly not hers, had dried and was caked all over her body. She sighed.

He gave her a hard look. She caught a thought at the surface of his mind and suppressed a shiver. He was going to ask her about the dream later. 'Damn! Damn it all to hell! Oh...wait...I don't believe in hell... Oh well! Damn it all! Why am I thinking about this!' She shook her head to clear away the meaningless rambling of her thoughts. In response to his comment she said, "There's a stream about a mile from here. It's out of the way. We can both go clean up." She nodded pointedly to his dirty face and clothing. "But first..." She reached across the small space between them and touched the necklace, using her powers of Shadow to create a shield to protect him from the sun's rays.

"Um...thanks," he said. She looked at him, seeing him smile slightly.

"Did you just...? Never mind." She decided not to call attention to it. She turned and put a hand on the cave wall. Remi whispered a command using her connection to Earth and the entrance appeared. They left the safety of the cave and saw that the sun was still, indeed, up, though it looked to be late afternoon.

"Which way?"

Even though she consciously knew that he meant another type of "witch", she winced visibly. He frowned. Remi mentally hit her self on the head. 'Darkness take it! I need to chill out!' She tried to cover it up with a smile. From what she could sense, he didn't buy it. With out responding, she let out a shrill whistle. 'I hope he heard me...and that he remembers...'

"What the hell are you doing? I think you broke my eardrum!" Desh said, rubbing his ear.

"I am calling a friend. He will carry a message for me to the castle's Healer, Tamorosh. She can send us a few things." While she talked, she searched the skyline. 'Hmmm...I guess he—no wait! There he is!' She lifted up her arm as the hawk circled overhead. He landed carefully so as not to scratch her with his talons.

Desh approached from her side, amazed by the hawk. "How did...? Hawks, unless trained and tamed, won't approach anyone like this."

She smiled at him. "Spirit is different. He has been my friend for many years." With that said she turned her attention to the raptor. He was a bit smaller than she remembered, but his eyes told her much more had changed besides that. She betting she looked bigger. Spirit? Old friend? she sent carefully.

Your back! Spirit's mind voice was light, but strong, like the wind currents that both of them used to carry them through the air.

I told you I would! Um...can I ask a favor, friend-hawk?

You can but...who is the stranger? She smiled slightly. The hawk's grammar, which she had ingrained in him, still amused her. Maybe it was just her, but a hawk who could speak better than most humans just made want to laugh until she turned purple.

He is a friend. His name is Deshwitat. Desh is a vampire

She could hear Spirit's equivalent of a frown of puzzlement as he responded. Is he your mate? The one that you dreamed sometimes Remi blushed furiously.

"What did he say?" Desh asked. She looked at him and felt her face warm even more. "I don't want to know, do I?" She shook her head vigorously.

Not mate?

No! He's just a friend...

Do you want him to be?

Of course... Ack! DAMN IT ALL! I mean, NO! Desh looked way too interested in her blush.

Oh. Spirit gave a hawk shrug. What is it you want me to do, Reminsha?

First, I would like you to call me Remi. You know, like I told you to...again...and again...and again...

Fine! Now, what do you really want?

Please take a message to Tamor, ok?

Consider it done. Where is it?

I still need to write it. Hold on. She looked around then said to Desh, "Hold out your arm."

"Why?" he said suspiciously. 'I don't have time for this...' She reached over and grabbed his arm, yanking him over and positioned his forearm parallel to the ground. She then transferred the hawk to his arm. Before he could protest she crawled back into the cave a rummaged through all the junk. She pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill pen, with some ink. She shook her head at how medieval it was. She scratched out a quick message, including measurements. She was blowing on the ink so it would dry as she crawled out. Desh was looking at Spirit intently. She knew that look. 'Spirit is talking to him? That's odd... I wonder what...' She walked over to them and tapped Desh on the shoulder. He looked at her.

"What does he mean, I look familiar?" She started and glared at the hawk.

"Oh...um... So! Spirit you ready to fly?" she said, completely ignoring the comment. He glared at her, but let it go. Remi had a feeling that this was all going to come back and bit her in the ass. The hawk held out his leg and she attached the now dry parchment to it with a strand of her hair, so that Tamor would know it was genuine.

Fly fast, Spirit Wings. She used his full name. Always. he responded as he took off. She watched him fly towards the castle and out of sight. She turned to Desh. "Follow me. The stream is about fifteen minutes from here."

Half-hour later...

"Fifteen minutes, huh?" said Desh. Remi growled at him, "Well, it was by air! It would take fifteen minutes if I could carry you!"

"You never figured it would take longer—"

"SHUT UP!" Silence followed her words.

A few minutes later, Remi heard the sound of running water. She followed the noise and finally came upon the stream. As she had thought, the drake was waiting with the stuff she had sent for. 'She was always quick,' she thought thinking of the old Healer. Desh was not as pleased to see it.

"What the hell is that thing!" She latched both of her arms around one of his, preventing him from attacking the poor thing. "Stop, Desh! It's ok! It's called a drake! It's supposed to be here!" He froze and looked down at her. "Are you sure?" he asked. She nodded. "Then can I have my arm back?" She blushed and jumped away from him.

She went over to the drake and scratched behind its eye ridge. They always like that. She pulled the bags it was carrying off its back. She rifled through the contents then threw some cloths at Desh. He caught them and inspected them. "What's this?"

"Well, the last time I checked, it was called a shirt." He growled at her response. She giggled and pulled out her own clothes. 'I hope she got the size right...hmmm...' She rose and was going to change when Desh said, "Where are you going?"

She sighed and turned around. "I'm going to change, genius. You should too. If we want to talk to the king when we get there we have to be...what was it they told me last time...? Oh yes, 'presentable'! That was it." She slipped behind a rock and stripped. She washed the blood and dirt off as best she could and slipped into the clothing. Remi grimaced. 'I hate Draconian dress. It was fine when I was ten but now... I feel like a freaking slut!' Before she could continue her mental tirade, however, she felt something brush against her leg, which was still in the water. She let out a small yelp and jumped back, falling as she did so on the slippery rocks.

Meanwhile...

Desh had just finished changing when he heard Remi yelp and the ensuing thud. He rushed over to see if she was ok.

He found her sprawled on the rocks. 'What the hell is she wearing...?' He was aware that he should have been focusing on what had scared her but her...outfit was...eye catching. It consisted of a strapless, tight, black leather top with red beading edging the bottom. She had on a wide leather belt, also black, with red lacing up the front. Her skirt was blood red and slit up the sides all the way up her thigh. He blinked a few times.

"Um... if your done staring at me, could you please help me up." He shook his head as Remi spoke and hauled her to feet. He noticed she was blushing. 'She's been doing that a lot lately...' They both turned back to the stream and saw a school of silvery fish swimming where she had been standing. He couldn't help himself. He laughed.

"Shut up..." she mumbled. He laughed harder. "I said, 'CAN IT'?" She hit him for emphasis. His laughter finally diminished after five minutes. She scowled at him as she pulled on her boots, slipping a knife into one of them. "Are you finished?" she asked. Desh nodded, still smiling. She leaned forward and stared at his face.

"What?"

"You're smiling. You never smile." He had absolutely no idea on how to respond to that. 'Come to think of it, she said something about it in the cave too...' He felt a tug on his hand and looked at the girl. He still had a hard time getting over her clothing.

Watch what you think, Deshwitat! He jumped and looked at her. "Could you just stay out of my head!"

Remi grinned and said, "Only if you can catch me!" Before he registered what she meant she took off into the forest at a run. He chased her.

Remi's P.O.V...

She felt great. Her lungs and legs were burning pleasantly as she sprinted through the trees. She could sense that Desh wasn't far behind her. Remi wasn't exactly sure why she had challenged him to catch her, but frankly, she just didn't give a damn. The king could wait an hour or two. All the urgency she had felt was being left behind in the dust.

She broke the tree line still at a run. He was closer now. Remi could feel him about two feet behind her. As she sped across the clearing, she knew she was going to lose. Just as the thought crossed her mind, the vampire lunged and tackled her from behind, sending them both rolling. She twisted and landed on top, hands on his shoulders with her legs on either side of his waist. Both of them were breathing hard. She started to laugh for no reason. Desh laughed with her. It was odd. They had never been so easy going around each other before. 'I guess shit like this just has to make friends out of people.'

"I win!" she teased.

"Oh really?" He grabbed her hands, pinning them to his shoulders, and rolled, putting him on top. She tried the same trick to no avail. "Does this mean you'll stay out of my head?"

"Make me!" she said defiantly. He grinned. 'Uh oh...' She tried to wiggle her way out, but it only made her aware of the awkward position they were in. She fought not to blush. 'Damn my hormones!' she thought. All she could do, being effectively trapped, was look up at him at wait for him to let her up. He didn't. 'Ummm...this is really odd...' Her chest felt tight, like she couldn't breathe, and warm. She felt really warm. Neither of them had looked away yet. "Um...Desh wha—" She was cut off as large shadow flew over them. Desh jumped up immediately. She too rolled to her feet and watched the large creature. "It's ok, I know her," she said quietly. The dragon was circling back, looking to land. Remi pulled Desh back slightly, giving her room.

Reminsha. The dragon's voice had always reminded her of flying at night; cool, clear, dark, and beautiful. Dark Moon. she sent back in acknowledgement.

You have returned. I am glad, it was so dull without you. The dragon sent images of loneliness. Remi felt a pang of guilt.

I am so sorry, my friend. I didn't know.

Who is the man? He is a vampire that much I can tell. I thought you loathed their entire race, Reminsha. Is he your mate? Dark Moon stretched her neck forward and examined Desh closely. Remi said, "I wish you all would stop asking that. He's not and I don't know why you would think that."

"What are you talking about?" Desh asked.

"None of your business!" she replied.

"If it's about me, then yes it is!" Desh growled back.

You wish to hear?

Remi watched Desh turn back to the silver and black dragon. He nodded. Very well. Dark Moon turned back to Remi and said, Why not? He looks familiar. I think I have seen his face before. You showed me once, when you smaller.

Desh turned to her. "That's the second time that's come up. What do they mean?" She looked at him as said, "Later Desh. I promise I'll tell you later, ok?" Remi turned to the dragon and sent a mind-message.

He's just a friend. She then switched and began including Desh in the conversation. Could you take us back to the castle? It's important. Please Dark Moon?

Of course. Climb on. The dragon crouched and Remi used the dragon's forearm and spin ridges to help her swing her leg over her back. Remi found one advantage to wearing the slutty skirt; it split and settled easily. She didn't have to fuss with the cursed thing. She looked at Desh and said, "It's just like mounting a horse...a really big horse." He shook his head and copied her actions. He ended up seated behind her. "Hang on," she warned as the creature stood.

"Hold on? To wha—" He stopped as Dark Moon launched into the sky. He had grabbed her shoulders.

Dark Moon was circling above the castle grounds. Other Draconians were looking above them and pointing. By this time, Remi had called her wings and stood carefully on the dragon's back. She held a hand out to Desh, which he took hesitantly. "Are you sure you can carry the extra weight?" he asked. Remi could hear the doubt in his voice.

"Um...no actually." She pulled them both off the dragon and the plunged towards the ground. She extended her wings, attempting to control their descent. It wasn't working well, so she called Wind. It caught them both and she used it to lower them to the ground. She turned to Desh. "See? No sweat."

He was pale. 'That's a neat trick, for a vampire to pale,' she thought. "Never do that again." She grinned evilly. They made their way to the doors of the Great Hall. People parted like the Red Sea had for Moses, whispering, as Remi moved foreword with Desh shadowing her. The doors opened and she stepped inside.

King Tavonar was holding court and all the Houses were present. The High Priest stood next to the King and his wife. Aunt Hakasha sat on the King's right, the High Priest on his left. All talking had ceased. Remi strode forward and stopped short of the dais. She dropped to one knee, a hand pressed over her heart, head bowed. Desh also knelt beside her, but did nothing else.

"Rise, Princess Reminsha," her uncle commanded. "You too, vampire." Remi winced inwardly at the harsh tone her uncle used when he addressed Desh. She had forgotten just how much Draconians...dislike vampires. She decided to ignore it for now and got straight to the point. "May I speak, Your Majesty?" He nodded. "I have answers and accusations. I know who killed my mother, Princess Kotonosh, and he is present in this court!" She watched as her uncle paled and looked around angrily. She noticed that he never once glanced at the real killer. 'I guess, if he was my brother, I wouldn't suspect him of murdering our sister either.' She also noticed that the High Priest was pale as well. She could see that he was sweating profusely. Remi readied herself for when he would try to escape. She continued on, "I have proof that High Priest Luzetar ordered the death of my mother!" Her voice rang off the walls of the Hall.

"She lies!" Luzetar's voice was high and strained, betraying him.

"If my king so desires, I shall submit to a truth-read! If this is asked of me, then I ask in return that the High Priest also be read!" She was struggling to stay as court formal and polite as possible under the circumstances. She knew that her uncle (the king) needed to appear that he wasn't favoring her in any way. It was important if she wanted justice. The King rose from his throne and signaled his personal guard. Unlike the High Priest's, it had women included in its ranks. They surrounded her and Desh, and led the sputtering Luzetar down to them. The captain ordered him gagged. She kept her eyes on her Uncle Tavotar. He had never looked so old.

"Come forward, princess. Let us see the truth." She approached him and again dropped down, this time on both knees. He put both hands on her head. She showed him what Xavier had told her during his...interrogation. She also showed him what the High Priest himself had said to her. Her uncle released her and she sought his eyes. She wanted to comfort him, but she knew it would make them look weak. They could not afford to look weak. He nodded to her. Remi bowed and stepped back. He called Luzetar the same way he had called her and he came...being dragged by five guards. The King repeated the truth-read. He opened his eyes and said, "You have been charged with murder and torture against members of the Royal Family, High Priest Luzetar. As your king, I am your judge and jury, and I find you guilty."

The king's pronouncement was soft, quiet, but Remi knew all could hear him. She waited for the next part of the traditional trial. As was traditional the King turned to her and said, "As a victim and family of a victim, you may decide his punishment, Princess Reminsha." The court awaited her answer eagerly.

"I ask for death by combat, Your Majesty." The courtiers let out shocked exclamations and gasps. She kept her gaze on her uncle. Though his expression was impassive, she read sadness and pain in his eyes. He had known what she would ask for.

"Who shall be his opponent be?" She knew he knew the answer.

"I am," she replied.

"The time?"

"Now." The King nodded and turned to the captain of the guard. After giving a soft order, she ran and began clearing the floor of the Hall. Tables and rugs were removed and the guards positioned themselves periodically around the large circle of cleared space. Each began to put up part of the large barrier around the make-shift arena. She turned to Desh and said, "Go stand by my uncle, Desh."

"Are you crazy!" She knew he wasn't talking about her order. "I'll be fine," she said reassuringly. She stalled his next protest by continuing, "I need to do this, Desh. Otherwise, I can't move on." She looked at him pleadingly, hoping he would understand. He nodded then glanced at the King. "Won't his guards shoot me or something?"

Remi smiled. "No. Just let me tell him your coming." She sent a message via mind link. Uncle?

Yes? His mind voice was like a hurricane. It had always reminded her of storms. This hurricane was crying. She wanted to run and hug him, but knew she couldn't, not now. Can Deshwitat stand up there with you?

She felt his hesitation. He is your friend? She nodded. Very well, but I will have you tell me how you came to know him after...this... She nodded again and turned to Desh. "You can go."

"Don't die," he said quietly.

Trying to make light of the situation, she responded, "Why, Desh, I didn't know you cared." It didn't have the effect she thought it would. His face was impassive as he said, "I do care. More than I should." He walked up and stood next to her uncle, leaving her speechless. 'What...?' She shook her head hard. 'Fight now, think later.' She walked into the arena.

'I'll strangle her! That reckless idiot! What does she think she's doing!' Desh's thoughts were racing and he was struggling to keep up. '...and why the hell did it say that!' He watched the two, Remi and the High Priest, in the ring. The King stood beside him, expressionless. Desh thought he detected worry in the man's eyes. 'His niece and his brother...damn this is one messed up family...' The King raised his hand and brought it down in a sharp movement. The sentence had begun.

Remi stood motionless. Desh felt the air cooling rapidly. Her expression was of pure hate and rage. She lashed out at the man in the ring with her. 'God...she's fast.' He hadn't paid attention to how her abilities had changed since that night her powers had been released. Not really. The High Priest struck as well, scoring her down the arm with a knife. Blood scent reached his sensitive nose. Her blood being spilt was driving him insane, just as it had with Lilith. Remi slashed her uncle again, following up with a roundhouse kick that sent him to the ground. She circled as he got up. Desh was reminded of a tiger he had seen while he had been held captive in that damned circus. She took to the air and hurled black fire at him. 'This battle was over it was begun...'

The Priest went down. He didn't move again. Remi landed and knelt before the King. "The trial is over. The traitor is dead." He walked down to Remi and tilted her chin up saying, "Any you, niece, should get some rest. I would like to hear your tale."