Disclaimer: ...see previous chapters...yeah...

Fallen Angel

Chapter 18

"I can't take it anymore!" the nineteen year old Japanese ninja sitting across from her moaned. "They bite, they scratch, they chant and I just can't take it! They'll be the death of me, literally!"

Serena Chandler sighed, very annoyed. "Oh, why are you complaining, Eiji? You don't even teach the class. I do that!" she replied. She was regretting letting him sit in on her class for the novice Spells in Combat Class.

"Well you try sitting next to a bunch of kids half your age!" Serry shook her head and closed her eyes, trying to ignore him. 'Remi and Desh have been gone for days. I hope nothing has happened to them...' Serry knew that both of them could take care of themselves, but she was still worried. Asher had reassured her many times that Remi was fine, and, therefore, Desh was fine. She gave another heavy sigh.

The door opened and a monk and a priestess walked in. "Hi!" Millenear, the priestess, greeted her and Eiji. Beryun simply nodded. Eiji leaned over to her and whispered in her ear, "Did you ever notice that they are always together? I mean..." She glared at him. Needless to say, he shut up. She was about to ask for a general report but was cut off.

BOOM!

"What the hell!" Serry yelled instead.

"I believe that came from the basement; level five to be exact," Beryun said.

"RETT!" both her and Mill shouted. They ran for the elevator, Eiji and Beryun right behind them. 'I hope they didn't hurt him too bad...' The door opened with a "ding" and they stepped out of the elevator. Serry heard Rett's booming voice echo down the hall, "DAMN IT!" She ran towards the source of the curse.

When they were a few yards away from the training room, she noticed something odd. She sniffed the air, trying to identify the horrible smell that wafted through the open door.

"Eww...what's that smell?" Eiji asked, hand over mouth and nose.

"Methane gas," Serry replied.

"Don't they use that to start fi—OH NO!" Eiji exclaimed, as he, Serry assumed, caught on. Serry had reached the doorway, the others peering over her. The sight that welcomed her was this: two elves (both female), a mage (human and also female), and a large, human male. The elves were both holding what looked to be spent matches, the mage was shielding herself, and the man, Rett, was on the floor covered in soot. The elves had been laughing, but when they saw Serry, they glared. 'If looks could kill...' she thought to herself.

"Um...Rett? Are you ok?" Mill asked from behind her. Serry went over to him, helping him to his feet. She never got too close to the elves, nor did she ever let them out of her sight.

"Been MUCH better," he responded between coughs. Then Asher walked in and paled at the mess. "Dom is not going to be happy," he sighed.

Ten minutes later...

"What am I going to do with you, Serena?" Dom said, shaking his head slowly.

"Hey! It wasn't me this time; it was those damned elves from Remi's class!" Serry yelled, indignant. Dom didn't let her argue any further.

"Those 'damned elves' as you call them have very important people looking after them." Dom was flushed. 'You mean they have very rich people looking after them,' she thought darkly. Serry knew what came next, though. She began to tune out the lecture. After about the fiftieth time, it got kinda old. 'Oh, it looks like he's coming down to the end, I'd better start nodding.'

"Oh good, I'm glad you agree. I will expect you at the classroom, ready to teach, at the usual time that Remi's class is held."

Serry stopped nodding. "What!"

"Well, I was telling you that you are to teach Remi's class and you nodded."

"But I was..." Serry knew there was no point. He'd got her good and she was stuck with it. 'Damn,' she thought angrily. 'God, doesn't he remember the last time I tried teaching that class? There was almost bloody murder...'

"Well, from your silence, I assume you have no more arguments. You will start tomorrow." And with that, he left.

Five minutes later...

"Can you believe that jackass! I mean, really, I know I wasn't listening, but come on!" Serry wined to the others. Rett and Eiji were sitting in a corner and Serry heard Rett say, "Yeah! I have noticed that!" Serry shook her head in despair.

"Well...at least it's only one more month before the students are let out for break," Mill said, trying to comfort her. Beryun just sat and listened, like she always did.

"You don't understand! They did all that to Rett in one week! Just give them a month with someone they hate and it'll be a freaking bloodbath or something!" Serry cried.

"Why do they hate you?" Mill asked. At the same time Eiji, like he always did, asked a dumb question, "Did you insult Legolas, or something?" Rett laughed and Beryun shook her head in shame. Serry threw a shoe at him. Her aim was true and it nailed him right in the face. "Ow! That really hurt!" he yelped.

"Well, it all started with my first room mate," she began, answering Millenear's question. "You see, she was elven, and I no idea that she had a... 'problem' with fire. I mean...really...who would've guessed? Fire is a silly thing to be afraid of...right?"

"What did you do?" asked Eiji.

"Well, I...how to put this...um... She had some dolls...and, well... I guess she called them 'Barbies'...stupid things... She asked me to play 'dolls' with her and I thought...well...you know...a certain type of dolls," Serry tried to explain. Beryun was shaking her head (she knew what Serry meant) while the others just looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean?" inquired Mill.

"Well...I have dolls, but not these 'Barbies.' They are more like...um...magic dolls." She was still getting blank looks. "I think most humans call them 'voodoo dolls' nowadays. But since I'm not a vaudun priestess... Anyways, my idea of 'playing' happened to involve a few flames and...Well...she freaked out, which caused me to accidentally set her skirt on fire and well...you can just guess what happened afterwards." Serry shrugged. They looked like they understood now...sort of anyways. 'Why me?' she wondered silently, then added sourly, 'I wonder if Remi's having as much fun as I am...'

In Draconia...

Desh couldn't take it anymore. 'If these people don't leave me alone I swear I'll...' He took a deep breath, trying for a calmer state of mind. He failed. Another servant came in, this time carrying clothing. All the others had been coming and going with tables, chairs, water jugs, stuff on trays that he didn't know what to call... It was endless. A woman approached him. Even if he hadn't been able to scent her fear, he would have been able to tell by the constant shaking of her dove gray wings. It was beginning to annoy him. She spoke haltingly, "S-sir? Everything is ready. P-please f-follow me."

"Uh...what is ready?" He honestly didn't have a clue. Desh had tried to stay out of the way.

"Y-your bath, sir." The woman waited in silence. Desh tried to hold it in, he really did but...an animalistic growl made it past his clenched jaw. The woman shrank back from him. He sighed. "Please just leave," he stated quietly. "All of you. Take the rest and leave." The woman wasted no time in obeying. 'I'll kill Remi! So help me God! She just left me here with no explanations or anything! I don't have a fucking clue what's going on, damn it!' His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the large door.

"What!" he snapped loudly.

"The queen has instructed that you be brought to her within one hour, preferably after you have cleaned up," came the answer. Desh sighed and assented. 'Now what...?' He went into the bathroom.

Meanwhile...

"You must stay, Reminsha. You have obligations to your people!" the old monarch stated firmly. Remi couldn't believe what her uncle was suggesting. 'I can't stay... I have work to do! We still need to save the world for the Mother's sake!' She kept her thoughts to herself out of respect for her uncle. He continued, "And another thing, you must marry, you n—"

"WHAT!" Remi yelled, finally not able to just sit quietly anymore. "I must do no such thing! I don't want to marry some random guy I've never even seen! And don't tell me it won't be like that! I know for a fact that it will be!" She realized that she was leaning heavily on the table between them. They had been discussing what she had been doing for the past four years, and she still didn't know what had brought on the turn in the conversation but here it was.

"Reminsha—"

"No! I won't do it! I still have things to do, uncle!"

Her uncle sighed. "Fine we shall discuss it later." Remi wanted to tell him there just might be a chance of that when...well, never actually. He studied her intently then said, "You don't look well, niece. Go rest. You haven't had as much time as would like to recuperate." Remi nodded and left without saying goodbye. She was angry and she wanted him to know it. As she closed the door of her suit, she thought, 'I hope Desh is getting along alright...'

Thirty minutes later...

Desh was escorted to a courtyard where Remi's aunt was waiting. The ground was paved with stone and there was a small fountain bubbling in the middle of it. The full moon lit the entire expanse, allowing him to get a good look at the older woman. She had silvery hair and pale gold eyes. Her wings were a pure, swan's white. She was sitting on a stone bench, gazing at the water making ripples as it met the pool under the fountain's spouts. She looked up as he approached and motioned for him to sit next to her. Somewhat surprised, since everyone else wouldn't come near him, he took her up on her silent invitation. They both sat quietly for a few more minutes.

"Why did you want to talk to me?" Desh finally asked.

The woman was silent a little longer then said, "I know you have questions, Deshwitat. I am giving you the chance to ask them."

"Any question?" he asked. The woman nodded regally, like the queen she was. 'Well...I guess...' He looked at the pool and said, "Why do your people hate my kind?"

"It wasn't this way. Draconians used to have a treaty with the vampire lords of long ago, but then..." she trailed off. "I won't trouble you with a history lesson, but the treaty was violated and a long vendetta began. No one is sure what exactly happened, or who broke the agreement but it doesn't seem to matter. It was never forgotten."

"Oh..." Desh whispered. He moved on. 'What else do I really want to know? What will Remi probably not tell me?' He thought a little bit, and knew the answer. "Do you know what she dreams about? Remi, I mean."

Her eyes fastened on his face, intent, surprised. "She hasn't... Oh, I suppose she wouldn't, knowing her." She sighed and turned back to the fountain. "What do you know about past lives, Deshwitat?" The question caught him so off guard, he had no response. She continued, "Nothing? Well then, let me explain. Draconians believe that your soul, after you die, returns to the Darkness, our origin and afterlife, if you will. We also believe that your soul can return to this world in another body and that, sometimes, you can retain memories from that past life. Does this help you any?"

"No." Desh was trying to find the point of her lecture, but wasn't seeing it.

"I guess I shall have to spell it out for you then. Remi's dreams are of her past life. She dreams of who she was and who she used to know. The dreams are the most powerful memories that her spirit remembers, usually meaning that they are particularly violent or sorrowful. For her anyways." She had gone back to looking at him. 'Who...?' Desh wondered to himself. "Anymore questions, Deshwitat?" He shook his head, trying to process the new information. "Try talking to her. I have a feeling that she will tell you what she has refused to tell us."

"What might that be?"

"Who she was, Deshwitat. Just remember, that was who she used to be. She isn't that person anymore." With those final words the Queen stood and took off into the night. Desh decided to take her advice. 'I wonder where her rooms are..?'

The rope slid down around her neck, its coarseness painful against her clammy skin. The crowd jeered and called for her, and Danube's, death. The gallows creaked as the wind made the ropes swing. Suddenly, there was an explosion, but she didn't get to see its cause as the trapdoor under her feet gave way and—

"AHH!" she yelped as she woke. Tears were forming in her eyes as she thought, 'I didn't ask for this, damn it! I don't want to remember!' She took a shuddering breath and sat up, pulling her knees into her chest and wrapping her arms around herself. She stayed like that for a few minutes and would have done so longer when she felt a presence in the room with her. She was out of the bed and on her feet in a flash.

"Relax," a familiar called, "it's just me."

"Desh! Don't sneak up on me like that!" she yelled angrily. "And what are you doing in here!"

He walked out of the shadows by the balcony. "I just had an interesting conversation with your aunt about reincarnation. She told me to ask you about the finer points, especially concerning your case. In fact, she was positive that you tell me about your past life."

'Darkness take it! Why would she do that? Unless...' she sighed. Her aunt was up to something...again. "Did she really?" she said out loud as she walked past him onto the balcony. She leaned against the railing as she tried to collect her thoughts. 'Be cool, Rem. Just stay calm...' He followed her.

"Well? I'm waiting," he prodded.

"I..."

"If you tell me you don't know, I can promise you'll hurt for a long time."

"Thanks for the encouragement," she responded sarcastically.

"You talk in your sleep you know."

'Crap,' she thought. "I...do? Um...what do I say?"

"This and that, but in the cave I distinctly heard you say 'Danube.' There is no chance in hell that it's not the same one that me and Rett knew three hundred and fifty years ago."

"Mother Night and may the Darkness be merciful," she whispered. 'There's no way to talk my way out of this...I guess I don't have much of a choice.' She looked down and away from him. "I..." She stopped as he turned her manually to face him. He tilted her chin up so that she was looking at his face, not he floor. He looked at her expectantly. "I have a feeling you have already guessed," she stated quietly.

"I would rather you tell me."

The tears she had choked back after waking came flooding back. Her vision blurred and she told him, "Lil-Lilith Servino," she sobbed. "My name was Lilith Servino..." She closed her eyes and tried to move out of his grasp, but he tightened his grip on her chin slightly, but not hurting.

He said nothing for a few long minutes, then, "Open your eyes, Remi." She couldn't tell anything from his voice. He sounded very neutral. She obeyed his command...and found his face very close to hers. Her breath caught and...

BANG!

Remi jumped back, blushing, and looked at the doors, which had been flung open. The girl that she had brought back with her to the palace from the city was standing in the door way. It was the same girl that had helped Desh earlier by distracting the guards and giving him directions. Remi had decided to take the girl in. 'I think her name is...Alexiosh...'

"MOTHER NIGHT! I'M SOOO SORRY PRINCESS! I JUST...THEY TOLD ME... I'LL COME BACK LATER!"

Alexiosh left at lightning speed, but even before her and Desh were alone again, Remi had also taken off into the moonlit night. She beat her wings strongly, hoping the wind would cool her flaming cheeks.