Author's Note: This chapter was a pain to write but damn did I enjoy it. Hope you do too. Kudos to Return of the King, various comics and friends for their input and inspiration.

Chapter Five: Acts of Angels and Men

He was frail, this child of demons, so frail that a for a moment, Remus Lupin was tempted to kill him in his sleep. Remus stared at Mordred for a long time: watching the feared and hated Black Prince writhe in pain and fitful sleep. He found himself thinking of Kaiya, for what wasn't the first time in the four years since her death. He thought of RJ too and of the life that had been stolen from him. There had been times when the pain was almost bearable, and times when he could go through entire days where his mind caught Kaiya and RJ only four or fives times. But those days were few and fast fading.

Now all Remus' mind seemed to catch and settle on was Kaiya and RJ, and others he had lost.

"I know that look."

Remus inhaled at being caught in his musings and looked through the dim candlelight, till his eyes found Mordred's murky wine colored eyes. Mordred was breathing through his mouth now, and his bare chest was exposed and wet with sweat and pain. Remus' eyes lingered on the Prince's hale body, over the chest where there beat a callous heart; a heart undeserving of life.

Remus swallowed down his hatred again, and found it harder to bury it. He looked away, towards the door and willed for Amissa to return. "Oh?"

"Yes," Mordred said, "Eoin use to say it was the look of a fool." Remus rose to his full height, more on impulse and anger. Mordred laughed at him. "Yes," The Black Prince continued. "He said that those who lost everything made the best drones. They could adopt a cause and go to their deaths never asking the most important question…"

"And how many "fools" followed you to their death, Bastard Prince?"

"My army." Mordred began to cough violently, screaming out in pain and motioning to a small glass of water Amissa had set near his reach. Remus crossed quickly, picking up the glass and holding it to his chest. It was a small, petty victory, but it was his. Mordred looked up at him, but admitted no defeat. Instead he swallowed down the pain, and met the wolf's eyes again. "I was a Prince. I do no regret doing my duty!"

Remus sneered at him, "You still don't get it, do you? You're no Prince; you're a copy, a mimic. Your father was a hero, even as Prince. Those who fought under his command had respect, had honor. You're a parasite, like Peter, a lesser son of greater fathers. The world- those in it and the causes fighters hold dear, mean nothing to you. And now…when you die, and you will die, I'll make sure of it…no stars will be seen, heaven won't fall silent and the nightmare will be over." Mordred licked his dry lips. Remus saw, in the deepest parts of Mordred's eyes, a slight youthful tremble of fear, a realization of the truth. Another victory soothed Remus' heart and for a moment, he felt lighter.

"Remus?"

Remus turned, and smiled at Amissa. He walked closer to her and reached down to kiss her cheek. At the last moment, just as he knew she would, Amissa moved, and their lips met. Remus lingered there for a long moment, savoring her touch, her smell and the sound of her heart as it pounded a little harder in her chest. His hands found her swollen belly, and for a moment, he savored that sensation too: the warmth of a new formed life resting peacefully.

And for a moment, Kaiya and RJ didn't hurt as much.

"Why were you in here?" Amissa asked, her knowing eyes meeting his fearlessly. Remus had learned a long time ago that Amissa knew more then ever hinted to and he had to mind his actions and reactions around her: especially when hiding things.

"Just making sure he wasn't dead." Remus said truthfully. "I don't likethe smell."

"I'll take that." Amissa said, taking the cup from Remus hands and avoiding his gaze. "Thank you for watching over him. I got it now."

It was a dismissal. Remus knew it, and he wouldn't buck it. Not this time. He gave her a small nod and kissed her forehead before leaving.

Stopping for a moment before he made his way to his study, Remus found himself looking out into the forests that hid Moon Manor from the rest of the world. There was a bone white moon shining from behind clouds and cold. But it was not full. Not yet.

There was still time.

Remus was not a pragmatic person. He didn't believe in shades of gray, or in circumstances changing what is profoundly right or wrong. He was never one to accept lies-even to himself-or pretend to be blind to what he saw but didn't like. Now this is not to say, Remus viewed himself as virtuous man, a righteous one, or even someone holier and displaced in this world of grays and injustice. He was simply an honest man.

And as an honest man, Remus knew whatever actions he took in this next hour would forever change the rest of his life. He had a good, comfortable life now, and in one swoop, with this one action, Remus was well aware that everything could, and more likely would be altered by what he was now planning to do.

But Remus was an honest man and he could not be blind to injustice. He just hoped Amissa would forgive him, he knew Severus never would.

It had been the Tribunal's official findings that information laundered, transported or handled by the information broker Saint Michael had drastically altered or swayed as many as 36 separate Hecate missions although evidence could only be gathered on eight. The real number was widely believed to be much higher but Michael's contacts were deeply entrenched and impossible to track. Critics of the Tribunal said they wished to blame St. Michael for every military snafu from Rio Hecate's mutiny to the Compound's mole whose actions resulted in the death of Auror Apprentice Matthew "Billy" Moore, and his family. They had asked why Hecate Compound failed to launch an internal investigation during this time. The Tribunal counted saying that regardless of Rio's indiscretions, it had been incomprehensible to suspect a Kaga Companion capable of such rampant treason.

In other words, the thought of such brutal betrayal never seemed possible.

And now, as Severus watched Erised Hecate scour the remains of her family's home, one word was running through his mind. "Why?"

The creature once called St. Michael turned upon being addressed, and tilted her head. She had been deep in thought again, trapped in an internal dialogue. She blinked away her thoughts and inhaled. "What?"

"Why?" He repeated, simply and softly. "They say you sold us all out, even Billy and Dora…if it's true, I want to know why. It's a simple question isn't it?"

She was to her feet, flexing her gloved hands as if she was physically releasing anger. That was new, Severus thought. Kaga, especially the Malone family, never allowed their personal feelings to interfere with their everyday lives. Severus wondered for a moment if it was act, but quickly dismissed that idea. Ari was never one for intrigue and subterfuge. He had to force himself to remember a second later, she was a spy. Inwardly he grunted, acknowledging her treason would be hard for him. He still didn't believe it.

Maybe that's why he needed to understand it.

"How can you ask me that?" She demanded; her voice was barely above a whisper. "You, who left us, how can you accuse me of betrayal?"

"I left after the fact. They say you…you were selling us out from the beginning." He was picking a fight. He knew it was unwise. But he didn't care. He was ranting again but he desperately needed the answers she could offer. He needed something real again, needed something to center him and keep him from thinking about Mordred and this diversion was as good as any. "I don't…understand what happened to make you betray us. Especially because we were so damn good together." He smiled bitterly. "The squad. Sydney, and Jude, and Billy and us…we were so good together, all of us. There wasn't anything that could tear us apart, right? I didn't dream that up, it was real it happened, didn't it? Or was it…just an illusion. I mean, was it ever...real?"

She was staring at him hatefully, but she turned away, to inhale and calm down. "It was real."

"Then why did you betray us?"

"Listen to me very carefully, Bela, you don't have to believe me but listen to me. I never betrayed the squad."

"Ari, we have proof…"

She met his eyes, and for a moment, he saw the glimmer of the woman he had known, the one he had thought he loved. "I never lied to you, or the squad and I won't now. I did not sell you out."

"Then what do you call it?"

"I was trying to protect you." She turned away, back to the burnt remains of the rooms. "From this." She licked her lips, trying to form words and she looked afraid.

"I don't understand."

"Mordred is hiding from more then just Aeacus Croix. There are wheels within wheels involved here, Bela. Monsters bigger and stronger then anyone you've ever faced."

"I'm not afraid of that."

"You should be." She told him, flatly. "Especially if you are still looking for answers concerning what happened twenty years ago. It's all connected. Remember that. If you want to understand what happened then, and now…you'll have to see the connection and believe…" She trailed off.

"Believe what?"

"Everything."

Severus bowed his head. He was getting a headache. "I'm going to have to go the Hecate, to get some things, and tell Sind to where I'm going."

"Sind?" Ari asked, arching a brow. The Kaga's demeanor froze a little, as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Who's Sind?"

Snape met her eyes. "My fiancée." It didn't sound so bad once he actually put into words.

Ari's expression never changed. "Aha, well I guess this means it's the end of the line for me."

"What?"

"You said yourself, I'm a wanted criminal. Do you think I could just stroll into Hecate unnoticed." She tiled her head. "Unless of course you wanted me to meet you somewhere."

"How do I know you'll show up?"

"I gave you my word."

"Forgive me if I don't believe the word of a spy." Snape said as he reached down and pulled a knife from inside his coat. "Give me your hand." Ari complied and Severus slit her palm, just slightly. She recoiled and stared at him, angrily. It was an old dagger, one Ari recognized as once belonging to Severus' long time lover Jack the Ripper.

"What was that for?"

"Insurance." He gave her a look. He held up the knife. "This blade contains a poison that is currently running through your veins. It takes two days to kill and I hear it's a rather painful, bitter end. It also takes twelve days to properly brew the antidote. An antidote, I have ready."

Ari's eyes grew wide as she clutched her hand. "You son of a bit…"

"If you want the antidote, you'll meet me at Lethe Hall." He took a beat to add emphasis. "You do remember where it is, don't you?"

"How do I know this isn't a bluff?"

"If you think it is, don't show up and see." He told her simply. He turned to leave and for a moment wanted to smile at her, just like old times. Instead he bit it back and nodded to her. "I'll see you tonight." He turned to leave. "Do not be late."

Ari watched till he disappeared and then let her hand fall. She knew, even if he wasn't bluffing, the poison would not kill her. Nothing could kill her for the simple fact that she was already dead. But still, for a moment, she seriously considered walking away from this. Severus could not succeed in this mission, and she feared that her actions would only help him. She had already revealed too much. But left unsupervised, Snape might achieve his mission. Then her Master would not be pleased. No. For good or bad, she would have to stay with him till the end.

Like an Angel.