Disclaimer: I do not own any of AAR's characters. However the plot line and some of the characters are mine.
A/N: I want to say thank you to those that have read and reviewed my story! I am really sorry that it has taken so long for me to get this chapter posted! Thank you to Dark Fox, radiofreechick, Destany Mitchell, Wolfkeeper989, and Amanda, I appreciated your reviews very much. Hopefully this chapter, while short will give you something to read and enjoy and I hope to be able to update more frequently from now on. I already have chapter three written and four is started. I hope to have them posted within the next few weeks if my schedule allows it! Again I am so sorry for how long it has taken for me to update and I am grateful to my readers who have been patient these past few months.
Chapter 2: Glimpses of the Past
I walked into the Market Place. It was no longer the calm peaceful place that it used to be. The serpentine merchants that once walked the grounds were no longer there, they had fled long ago. It had been so long since I had seen a serpentine walk with an avian. Three years. It has been three long years since we have lived in complete peace. While Vasili could not destroy every last bit of peace we had created, he destroyed enough. We had not yet gone back to open warfare, but we were so far from comfortable around there kind.
My life has steadily progressed downhill for three years. Vasili has ruined everything; the damage seems almost beyond repair. Xavier, my dear son, has become feared among the avian people, and I can no longer look upon his small face. I do, however, have two beautiful twin daughters. Mara and Maya will one day make fine queens.
My guard no longer consists of those that I trust. Rei, Erica and Gerard were banned not long after Vasili took control. The raven Harlan was named the new leader of Rei's flight. He is one of the only left from Rei's original flight. But I cannot trust him. While I do not love Vasili, I do trust him to keep mine and my family's best interest at heart. The court now almost completely answers to him; I hold almost no power whatsoever. However, Vasili rules well. He has helped us understand that our alliance with the serpentine was a joke, that they would have turned on us had we not acted when we did.
When I was finished with my walk through the market I was joined by Harlan. We stood in a long silence before either one of us talked.
"Milady Sharde, your pair bond would like to speak with you directly." I know my face would hide my surprise at this request. Only a few times over the last three years has he wanted to talk to me directly. I quickly said my goodbyes and left.
While Harlan knew that he wouldn't be allowed in the room while Vasili and I conversed he would not leave me without a guard. We both flew to the top level of the keep and changed shape outside of the door.
I looked to Harlan and knocked on the door. I picked up on the quiet sound of raven changing to human and then the sound of footsteps approaching the door. I was anxious and opened the door, expecting Vasili to be directly in front of me. Instead I was met with a blinding flash of white light. Once I could see again Vasili was standing in front of me. He had an agitated look on his face when he saw Harlan and an angry tone when he next spoke.
"Sharde, get in here. I need to speak with you" He looked to my guard next. "You, leave, your queen will not be in need of your protection here." I could tell now would not be the time to push Vasili so I dismissed Harlan and walked father into the room. I began to feel dizzy and took a seat on the couch. Vasili turned from the door and looked at me, worried.
"Sharde, whats wrong? You don't look well." My head was spinning. Something was very wrong. Vasili left me alone to get some water for my head. As at once I felt like my head was spinning. The pain I felt was so great. The last thing that I remember before the world went black was a gentle face with red garnet eyes.