Chapter 2

A/N: So all of you know, these next few chapters are all flashback. And further more, I'm sorry to all of you who noticed my slight grammar mistakes. What can I say, I'm not perfect. Also, this is purely fan made. I do not own any characters related to the books, besides the ones I made up in this story.

I stood in front of the serpiente nest wanting nothing more than to go in and never come out. I spent a lot of time with the serpiente, doing as they do. Mother always said I was more serpiente than avian, and that was disgraceful. I sighed and turning around to leave, except I ran into a serpiente and we both stumbled to the ground.

"In so sorry," I apologized getting up. I helped him up and he smiled at me.

"It's not a problem," he said. "What's your name?"

"Diana," I answered.

"That's a pretty name, mine's Urban," he said. Guilt suddenly overwhelmed me. Urban was the name of the serpiente that was attacked before former princess Oliza was kidnapped. "Is something wrong?" I bent down on one knee and bowed my head.

"Urban, I hope to apologize for my cousins' actions against you by offering my service." I looked up, his expression shocked and confused.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"My cousins are the ones who attacked you before princess Oliza was taken," I explained. His expression changed to anger and I bowed my head again.

"Get out of here Diana, I do not want your service," he growled. I nodded and stood up. I was about to walk away, but my illness took affect. I fell to the ground with my eyes closed, but I wasn't entirely unconscious. I expected Urban to leave me there, but instead I felt myself being lifted into the air.

"Wha-" I began, but was asleep before I could say anything else.

… … … … …

I woke up dazed. I couldn't remember what had happened. I looked around and saw I was in the nest with Urban sitting next to me.

"Water?" he offered. I shook my head and sat up. "Are you alright?" I nodded, still a little groggy. "What happened?"

"It's a condition I have. How long have I been unconscious?" I asked, hoping it was only an hour or less.

"Almost a half a day. I have to admit, you scared me," he replied. I cursed under my breath and stood up. "Are you well enough to be moving around?"

"Truthfully, no, but I really must get home," I admitted slightly off balance. Urban stood up and grabbed my arm to keep me steady.

"If you know you shouldn't be up, then you should lay down." His tone was gentle and caring, but I still shook my head.

"You don't understand, my family hates your kind," I said.

"Do you?"

"Of course not. If there's anyone I hate, it's my mother." I covered my mouth with my hand. He used his hand to remove mine from my face. "I shouldn't have said that."

"What happens when you move right away after you faint?" he asked changing the subject.

"Usually I pass out from exhaustion," I replied softly. He nodded and picked me up. I was still slightly tired so I didn't protest. "Mother is going to be angry at me."

"Well, I'm not going to let you hurt yourself," he said placing me back where I was. "Do you have any idea as to when you black out?"

"No, it comes suddenly without warning," I explained trying to devise a plan to get out of here. I sighed and looked around. That's when I spotted a familiar face. "Marus!" I shouted. The raven looked over at the source of the sound of his name.

"Diana?" he question walking over. I nodded, hoping he would be able to take me home. "What are you doing here? Your mother is going to have a fit."

"I know, but I passed out before and he won't let me go," I said desperate to get home.

"I'll take you home," Marus sighed. "It wouldn't be wise for you to stay here for much longer."

"Can you explain to me why that is?" Urban asked.

"Later, right now she needs to get home," Marus replied. He scooped my up into his arms and took me outside of the nest. "Pretend to be unconscious," he ordered as he made his way to my home. I nodded and closed my eyes. After a while I unintentionally fell asleep.