My first time posting a fic here. :) I hope that you enjoy it. :) Comments and suggestions are appreciated. :) It's the first chapter of a mystery fic I am currently in the process of writing. I have never written a mystery fic before so this is something new for me and I hope I do a good job writing it. Beginning in chapter 2, Phoenix's POV is in italics, Edgeworth's is in normal text.
(This story appears on fanfiction.net)

I would like to submit this story to CR once it's finished. :)
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A/N: The title refers to an oubliette, "a secret dungeon with an opening only in the ceiling, as in certain old castles." (The definition I used for oubliette is taken from http://www.dictionary.com)
The word itself comes from a French word 'oblier' which means "to forget" and it definitely wasn't a place you wanted to be in. That's where the title comes from. :) Of course, there aren't any castles that I know of in the PW universe so I had to make up an oubliette of my own in a different place. :) I hope it works. :)
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Title: Little Place of Forgetting
Author: EdgeworthFanGirl AKA Tarma Hartley
Rating: PG 13, some language
Genre: Suspense/Romance
Status: not complete (serial)
Pairing: Phoenix/Edgeworth
Summary:Phoenix has been kidnapped and Edgeworth is desperately trying to find him before it's too late. Ema, Maya and Gumshoe, once they find out what happened, offer to help him in his search and the four race against time to find Phoenix. This question remains uppermost in their minds: is it already too late to save him and, for Miles, has he lost his love forever?
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Chapter 1: Into The Maelstrom

The first thing I was aware of was the darkness. Stygian, suffocating blackness surrounding me. The second was that I was in pain; my head throbbed insistently and I hissed through clenched teeth as I slowly began to move from my prone position on the ground. The third was that I was lying down on something uncomfortably hard that I could not identify as of yet.

I slowly lifted my arm and was surprised to discover that it stung with pain as well and was hard to lift. My eyes were slowly becoming accustomed to the blackness and it seemed like I was in some sort of underground room, near as I could tell. Maybe a basement of some sort, judging by the feel of hard dirt underneath me.

I had a hard time moving. When I moved even the slightest bit, every joint in my body screamed with pain, so I thought it best not to do so if I could avoid it.

'Where the heck am I?' I wondered, slowly lifting my hand to my eyes and rubbing them, 'and, more importantly, how did I get here?' Which led to another inevitable question: why?

I carefully concentrated in hopes of assessing the damage, if any and I was quite pleased to find there wasn't any significant harm that I was aware of save for the beginnings of a lump, making itself all too painfully known, on the back of my head. Anything else would really put a crimp in my legal career.

It was all rather...disconcerting, to say the least. I hadn't the foggiest idea where I was, how I came to be there or even who brought me here in the first place.

'What was the last thing I remember?' I thought, wincing at the pain shooting through my head. 'What was I doing?' I dimly remembered that I was supposed to be somewhere to meet with someone. But who? I couldn't remember.

A name kept hovering around the edge of my consciousness but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Like a phantasm, it stayed tantalizingly out of reach, just a little beyond my grasp.

There was something nagging at me; I wished that I could remember exactly what that was. I found that a mite aggravating. I supposed if I really put my mind to it I could figure out what the name that lay on the fringes of my memory was, why that was important and which person it was to whom the name belonged.

It was there..just on the tip of my tongue. If only I could reach out just a bit further...

A flash of bright, white light crossed in front of my eyes, accompanied by a stab of agonizing pain that felt like I had been struck in the side of the face with some hard object. I cried out, falling back down onto the hard-packed dirt floor, fresh pain searing throughout my body.

I gasped and twisted, writhing in almost unbearable agony, biting hard on my lower lip to keep from crying out. Oh, god, I hurt everywhere!

I heard a voice coming from somewhere up above me and it didn't sound very happy. It was a low voice, one that echoed with unspoken menace and one that was obviously put out with me for some reason I couldn't fathom.

"Now, Mr. Wright," it said chidingly, slowly making its way toward me. "You know very well not to do that." A deep sigh. "If you insist on continuing this rather vain and fruitless opposition, you'll end up just like she did." I could hear the voice coming closer. "And you don't want that, do you?"

'She? Who...is...she? What is this person talking about? Who are you and who is it that you're talking about? I don't understand.. Gods, my head hurts...'

A cruel chuckle and shuffling footsteps that stopped in front of where I was lying. I looked up trying, in vain, to make out the person standing in front of me in the darkness.

I could see a vague outline but nothing more and I couldn't tell if the person standing in front of me was male or female. The voice certainly gave nothing away.

"Tch. My dear Mr. Wright, if only you'd done as I had asked and come with me quietly, none of this would have been necessary. You have only yourself to blame for this, you know."

I could hear the voice coming ever closer and realized that, whoever it was, they were either bending down or kneeling on the ground.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Mr. Wright. It's entirely up to you." Another cruel chuckle emitted from it's lips. "I don't want to have to send you back to your lover in pieces; that really wouldn't be at all pleasant, now would it?" Deep, menacing laughter suddenly rang out. "Not only that but it really is rather messy and I would like to avoid that as much as possible." A protracted sigh soon followed. "It really does depend on you."

My head spun. 'Lover? What...lover? I don't have a lover. What on earth are you talking about...?'

Wait a moment. A name... That name, hovering just beyond me. Was that name my...lover's... name? I couldn't think straight through the fresh pain that flowed through me once more; it felt like my head had split open.

"Don't play with me, Mr. Wright," the voice hissed angrily in my ear. "I promise you that you will certainly regret it if you do and then what would your dear Mr. Edgeworth do with you dead, I wonder?" I felt rough fingertips draw themselves over the skin of my cheek and I instinctively shrank away from it.

Another burst of menacing laughter from the darkness; I really didn't like where this conversation was heading. Who was Edgeworth and why did that name sound so familiar to me?

I wished I could understand...

'Edgeworth...? Who...?' The thoughts were hazy and incomplete. I knew this name but I couldn't remember how or the face to whom it belonged. Everything was so fuzzy and out of focus...

"So pretty," the voice crooned above me, the unwanted caresses continuing; my skin crawled at the shape's every touch. "Such a pretty, pretty boy. You make such a beautiful pair, you and Mr. Edgeworth; so perfect together..."

High-pitched giggling followed that last statement and I felt a chill creep up my spine. "I wonder what he will do to ensure your safe return, hmmm?"

I was dimly aware of hot breath on the side of my face; I tried not to wince at the shape's sour-smelling breath as it drifted past my nose. "Maybe, just maybe, we may even be able to strike a deal to ensure that you're returned alive and well...and in one piece." Loud, raucous laughter rang out all around me. "You'll be the prize."

My blood ran cold at these words, a shudder ripping through my body. I felt a closed fist crash into the side of my head, which sent another burst of pain coursing through me.

A thin scream escaped from my tightly clenched lips and tears flowed down my cheeks. I curled up into a tight ball, whimpering in pain. 'Gods...stop. Please, stop...'

"Don't make me angry," the voice hissed again, the words spit out in a staccato manner, each word dripping with venom. I vaguely wondered why. "That would be a very, very foolish thing for you to do." I could hear his teeth grinding together, the terrible, gnashing sound sending chills up and down my spine. " I would have to hurt you and that isn't what I want to do."

The voice seemed further away now and I belatedly realized that the speaker had stood up. "I never wanted to hurt any of them but they made me. They made me hurt them! I didn't want to but...they...made...me!"

Hurt...them? Did this mean that this person killed other people? It certainly sounded like it. And what exactly did this person mean by "I didn't want to hurt them but they made me?" Truthfully, I didn't want to find out.

I retreated back into silence which seemed to mollify the shape somewhat. The pain in my body only seemed to increase. When I lifted my arm once again, I was quite surprised to hear the clinking of chain links and felt cold metal biting into the skin around my wrists and waist.

'What the...?'

It was at this point that my fogged brain came to understand that I was chained to a back wall which spread out behind me, iron manacles circling my wrists and waist tightly with enough chain attached to both that I could move for a limited distance.

And, while I had no idea exactly what was going on as of yet, who it was had taken me to this godforsaken place or even the face to whom the name that kept nagging in the back of my head belonged to, one inescapable truth did become unmistakably clear in that instant.

I was in serious trouble.

And so was 'Edgeworth,' whoever he was.

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Last edited by EdgeworthFanGirl on Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:43 pm, edited 13 times in total.

What's the word I'm looking for here...

Oh yeah. AWESOME!!

Well, I gotta say, I'm actually worried for poor Phoenix! And Edgy... I seriously sped up the pace of my reading in an attempt to find out who the antagonist was, I was that intrigued. I could also really feel the fear that Nick was experiencing. And you kept him in character, despite the unusual setting! After all, Nick always stays calm at first... XD

There is only one thing that I would change, were I the author:

Well, IMO, the repetition of the words 'hovering' and 'consciousness' come a little to close to one another, which I couldn't help but notice amongst the otherwise impeccable writing. Not that it ruined the story or broke the flow or anything. It was just a rather unusual occurrence for such a lovely piece of fiction, that's all. :)

You've got my attention. Can't wait for more! 8D

D'OH! Thank you for pointing that out, D-Berry! I completely missed it. I'll definitely fix it posthaste. Thanks again!

I'm glad that you're enjoying the story thus far. :)

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I am enjoying this, too. Read it last night and I was grinning ear to ear. ..Damn. I wanted to see who's the antagonist. Ah well. I''ll be a good boy and wait. XD

Take your time with the future chapters. This sounds like a tedious story you're plotting so far. Mystery stories aren't that easy. I'm plotting 3 at once. Bad mistake on my end. DX

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I also can't wait for more!!

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Thanks Mori & Syrus!

Here's chapter 2. It does need some more work, granted, and I'd like to tighten things up a little more.

I'd really appreciate feedback so I have an idea of where the weak points are and how I might change them; I have an idea of where some might be but there may be others I've missed.

On to the story! :)
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Chapter 2: Friends, Lovers... Connections?


October 16
7:30 P.M.
Miles Edgeworth's Office

I sat in my chair, looking quietly out the window into the darkness beyond. The cup of tea that I had been enjoying sat almost as an after thought on my desk, my face cupped in my hand.

There was something about dark Fall nights that had often depressed me in the past-not that I would have admitted it at that point in time, to myself or anyone else-and still had an uncomfortable effect even now.

I didn't really know why that was but I suspected that it had its roots in the DL-6 incident when I was trapped, along with my father and Yanni Yogi, in the elevator during an earthquake.

I pushed that uncomfortable thought out of my mind as quickly as I could; the last thing I needed was another reminder of my father's death. I had much happier things to think of instead of revisiting the long dead past.

I looked at my watch again for what seemed to be the hundredth time that evening. 7:30. Where was he?

With a sigh, I lifted the cup to my lips, taking a small sip of the hot, fragrant liquid, savoring the tea's delicious aroma and taste as I swallowed, placing the cup gently back onto the saucer.

Leaning back, I closed my eyes, reveling in the sweet and soothing flavor as it coursed down my throat, warming me inside and lifting my spirits. It was something that I had always enjoyed doing and, more often than not, was enough to calm me no matter what kind of day I was having.

'I suppose he's gone off to his office to finish up some last minute things before he comes over for our date,' I thought, reaching over absently and picking up the half-full tea cup, a crooked grin on my face, 'that would be just like him.'

Thus revitalized, I leaned back and waited for Phoenix to arrive, a smile upon my lips. I couldn't wait to see him again; it had been far too long since our last Date Night back in July and I was looking forward very much to our night out together.

'I wonder if we'll have snow soon?'

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It seemed like hours had gone by in this Stygian underworld but it couldn't have been more than half an hour or so since I'd been put here. The thought of simply pulling the chains that were attached to the manacles from the back of the wall had occurred to me but I realized in a short time that this wouldn't do me any good.

The manacles held strong and sure and I soon gave up the fruitless endeavor of trying to pull them out of the wall from which they were solidly ensconced. I sighed in frustration and sank prone once again, my fist pounding the hard ground beneath me.

'What was the point of it all?' I thought in despair. 'I don't know who this person is or what they want, much less why I was brought here.' My head started to throb once again and I closed my eyes, wishing that it would go away.

In the course of a few minutes, my life was turned upside down and inside out by person or persons unknown and I found that to be damnably unfair; I'd complain about the unfairness of it all if I knew who to complain to.

I felt tears prick my eyes and I did my best to try and keep them back as well as the self-pity I could feel welling up in me; neither would do me any good right now.

I was in a terrible situation and I needed to think of a way to extricate myself from it though, on the face of it, it was clear that escape from here at the present was definitely not a possibility.

It was still all a mystery to me and I wished I could sort out my muddled thoughts; half remembered images, blank faces and voices kept up a steady stream in my consciousness though I had no idea who any of these people were but one thing seemed consistent–they all were connected to me, somehow.

That was the only thing clear to me at this time, but I couldn't help wondering who they were and what their connections to me were. That they were important was very clear, but the why of it was not.

I had to keep thinking, to keep the line of questions going. I had to find out who these faces were; maybe, just maybe, these faces out there were missing me, perhaps they were even looking for me. I could always fall back on that hope, but I needed to know who these people were and why they were so deeply embedded in my consciousness.

The shape-this is the name I had given to my abductor since I couldn't tell for sure, given the relatively brief time and on account of the Stygian darkness inside my prison, if it had been a male or female-had said something about my supposed lover, someone named Edgeworth, who would, presumably, do anything for my safe return.

I turned that bit of information about in my mind for a little bit, slowly digesting it and only stopped when I could no longer bear the ache it caused in my head.

It was, at this point, a wasted mental exercise since I was no closer to discovering WHO Edgeworth was, WHY he was important to me, and HOW I was connected with him. Were we, as the shape insisted, really lovers or was that just a ploy?

If so, for what purpose? What could the shape possibly gain by it if it wasn't true? My head hurt from the implications.

I didn't know all the answers but the questions themselves kept coming in an seemingly unending flow as I laid my head back down on the ground, unable to bear the pounding in my head any longer.

'What was going to come of this?' I wondered again and, as I closed my eyes, a terrible thought came into my mind. 'And will I survive it?'

I definitely didn't like the direction this was going.

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8:30 PM

It was now 8:30 and Phoenix still hadn't arrived. I was worried by this time since he'd never been late on a date night before. I tried going over in my mind all the places where he might possibly be, wondering again why he hadn't called. Normally, when he was running late, he would always call to let me know.

'Where is he? Why hasn't he called? This isn't like him to miss Date Night!' Frowning, I stood up and started to pace back in forth in front of the window, peering out every few minutes into the pitch black darkness. What was I hoping to find or, for that matter, see?

I was trying not to, but I had to admit at this point I had crossed the line from concern to outright worry. Something had to be wrong or he would have been here by now.

Knowing him as I did, intimately and otherwise, he would have at least called to let me know, not wanting to worry me. This was what kept nagging at me; the lack of a call. This was completely out of character for Phoenix.

I paused in my pacing before the window, looking out into the inky blackness of this cold October night, my brow creasing with worry.

'Where are you, Phoenix? Where ARE you?!'

Pacing the floor relentlessly wasn't the answer so I reluctantly sat back down behind my desk, pouring myself another cup of tea. I jerkily lifted the cup to my lips, my shaking hands spilling some of the tea on the saucer.

Cursing softly, I held the tea cup as firmly as I could in my hands, my thoughts wandering as I looked out of the window once again. 'Where are you? What's keeping you?'

No answer was forthcoming from the night.

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The ringing of my cell phone a few minutes later was enough to jolt me from my reverie and I nearly dropped the tea cup on the floor in my surprise. I did manage to save it and set it on my desk without any further problems. Or any further affront to my dignity.

'I swear I'm going to kill that man if he doesn't have a good excuse for being late!' I thought grumpily as I fished in my jacket pocket for my cell phone. 'He should have called and let me know he would be late, damn his hide!'

I flipped open the phone and pressed the talk button. I had meant for my opening words to be calm and rational but what came out of my mouth was anything but.

"Wright, where the hell are you?!" I practically yelled into the phone, anger coursing through me. "If you were going to be late, you could have at least called to let me know!! Get your backside over here now or I'll–"

I stopped as a grating, though uneasily familiar, voice chuckled on the line.

"How quaint, Mr. Edgeworth," it said chidingly with a hint of malicious humor that chilled me to my marrow. "I have your lover and all you're doing is yelling." A droll chuckle emanated on the other end of the line. "What do you think your precious Mr. Wright would make of that if he knew, Mr. Edgeworth?"

I stopped cold on those words, a chill quickly spreading through me. 'Where have I heard that voice before..and why is it so familiar to me? I'm not certain that I heard him right but did he just say he...has...Phoenix?'

"Who is this?" I asked coldly, trying to suppress the fear I could feel starting to spread through me. The voice sounded familiar, somehow, which only increased my concern level; I didn't like the tone of voice nor the voice itself with it's cold and calculated menace.

Whoever the voice belonged to on the other line said that he-I was sure it was a male voice-had Phoenix and I didn't like the implications in that sentence. It was anything but benign.

"Let's just say that I am your.." A slight pause. "...Nemesis...Mr. Edgeworth and leave it at that. For now." Another droll chuckle; my fingers tightened around the cell phone until my knuckles turned white and sat down quickly, my legs threatening to give out beneath me.

Nemesis.

Avenger. Distributer of Divine Justice. Retribution.

My mind spun. 'Avenger?' I thought in confusion, my eyebrow raising. 'Avenger...for what, exactly? What is he talking about? What is going on?! Where is Phoenix?!'

I didn't know the answers to the questions racing through my mind and this bothered me greatly. Something was very wrong: the phone call coupled with Phoenix's being really late was really worrying. Slowly, it was starting to add up and I didn't like the direction it was heading in.

The caller said that he had Phoenix; was he bluffing or did he mean what he said and really have Phoenix, holding him against his will? It made terrible sense and I had a really bad feeling about this.

"I don't believe you," I said coolly, trying to control the wave of panic that threatened to engulf me, "you're bluffing."

'God, I hope so! I hope this is nothing more than a really bad joke by a petty colleague seeking to settle a score although I can't imagine for the life of me why any of them would stoop so low and do something like this.'

"Now, now, Mr. Edgeworth," that irritating voice said, a laugh bubbling up from his invisible lips, "I didn't go to all of this trouble just to try and bluff you. I really do have your lover and, if you wish to have him returned to you in one piece and very much alive, you'll do as I ask."

I winced at the biting and menacing tone of that last sentence. "I really do have your lover and, if you wish to have him returned to you in one piece and very much alive, you'll do as I ask." I realized, in that moment, that this wasn't a joke and the caller meant every word he said; any doubt had all been swept away.

The harsh truth of the matter made itself all too clear to me in that instant. The caller really did have Phoenix and he had threatened to kill him if I didn't cooperate in whatever game it was that he had in mind. I didn't have a choice in the matter. I wasn't about to gamble my lover's life on it, a fact that the caller was all too aware of. Just how he knew was a mystery.

'Damn it.'

"I'm waiting..Mr. Edgeworth," the voice from the other end snarled, bringing me back to the present. "I really don't like to be kept waiting, as you should well know. I have the upper hand here as I am sure you now realize and I fully intend to use it if you force me to."

I bit my lip. 'As I should..know? What do you mean? I don't even know you! How do you know me?!'

I'm sorry to say that I lost my temper at that point, my fear and anger bubbling over.

"Damn you to hell, you miserable bastard!" I screamed, standing and clutching the side of my desk with my hand since I still wasn't too steady on my feet. "If you harm him I'll–"

"You'll do what, Mr. Edgeworth?" the voice asked mockingly, taunting me. "Find me? I wish you luck! Hunt me down? I don't think so...not if you want your precious Mr. Wright back alive and in one piece." There was another pause while I trembled with suppressed rage, trying to force myself to calm down.

'He's right, damn him! I can't do anything without endangering Phoenix! What am I going to do?!'

A satisfied grunt sounded on the other end followed by another dry chuckle. "I see you finally understand, Mr. Edgeworth, in just how precarious a position you really are. I hold all the cards and I will play them as I see fit. However, one question does remain: what will you do to make sure that Mr. Wright is safely returned to you?"

I gritted my teeth. I was in a no-win situation and I knew it.

"What do you want?" I hissed, scrunching my eyes tightly shut.

"Now you're being reasonable. I like that, Mr. Edgeworth. You can plainly see that further resistance is detrimental to your interests, not to mention mine as well." A small sigh resonated at the other end. "You see, 'A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.' "

I raised an eyebrow at the literary reference.

"Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," I said, "but I hardly see what this.." I stopped cold, understanding rushing over me. "You wouldn't..!"

The voice laughed. "Of course I would, Mr. Edgeworth! You know very well I would which is the only reason you're even continuing this conversation with me. You know I have your lover and you will do what it takes to get him back safely, wouldn't you?"

'Damn you. You know I would, without a second thought.'

"Yes," I said, swallowing hard, my voice barely above a whisper.

Another droll chuckle came to my ears. "Excellent! Now we can negotiate, Mr. Edgeworth." The voice sounded very happy and I marveled at the quick switch in mood that the caller had, wondering briefly what it was that had caused the change. "You're very wise and I commend you for your prudence."

"Cut your blathering and get on with it!" I snapped, my temper ragged from fear and worry, "and stop wasting time! Tell me what you want!"

"Temper, temper, Mr. Edgeworth!" the voice cat-called while I grimaced with annoyance at my helplessness. "Remember–I control whether or not you see your precious Mr. Wright again and you would do well not to make me angry. If you do, something just might happen to your precious lover that you don't want to.." The voice trailed off again as my eyes widened with horror.

'My god, he's serious! He's really serious!'

"I am very serious, Mr. Edgeworth," the voice continued briskly, "and I will do what is necessary to prove to you just how serious I really am." He paused again for a moment to let this sink in. "Now, to business. I have what you want and you have what I want. It seems logical to me that we should effect a trade, should we not?"

"A..trade?" I asked dumbly, unable to believe my ears. "What kind of trade? What do I have that you could possibly want?"

A slight pause followed that, to me, seemed to stretch on for hours. "Respect, Mr. Edgeworth," he spat angrily and I could feel the seething rage in those words bubbling just under the surface. "Respect that rightfully belonged to me which was given to you!"

My brow furrowed at the vehemence and anger in those biting words, trying to remember, if I could, who the caller was. He was familiar and I wished I could remember where I'd come into contact with this individual.

'Wait! That...voice... I remember now!'

A few moments later, a memory that I had forgotten many years earlier surfaced. With it, came the terrible realization that, not only did I know now who the caller was, but I also remembered very clearly where I had seen him before.

'No..no, it can't be! It CAN'T be!'

My face went white as I realized just who it was on the other end. Someone who had haunted my dreams for months in my early years as a Prosecutor and who I hoped I'd never see again.

It was Kaine Mayhew.

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Last edited by EdgeworthFanGirl on Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:49 pm, edited 8 times in total.

Chapter 2 was also very good!

But you did repeat the phrase "...direction this was going in." a couple times, but I guess it's a good phrase, so that's why, lol.

Anyway, can't wait for more!

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Let me hurt the kidnapping sonofabitch. Cmon, just a little. Maybe a couple of 'rounds to the legs, one in the arm...

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@Syrus: Thanks for the input! I did make a change in Phoenix's P.O.V. of the repeating phrase. :) I'm very glad that you're enjoying the story thus far.
@CI: Don't kill him yet! I need him for my story! ;) JK. Thank you for your input! (I take it my villain is appropriately villainous?)

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Ooh I'm loving this. Mystery stories are great, love the tension in your writing. I love it, it keeps you wanting more. I'm already like, HEY, WHO THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE MYSTERIOUS VOICE?! QUIT HURTING PHOENIX!

GO Edgey!! Go save him!

Good Job...can't wait for more.

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Thank you very much for your input and I'm glad that you're enjoying the story thus far. :) I was worried-at first-that I had let the emotion run a bit too freely but that doesn't seem to be the case which is good.

Thanks again!

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Phoenix Wright goes gothic! Fantastic! I've come over all Northanger Abbey :)

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Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it thus far.

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I like reading your / fan fiction it's always good. My favorite is All things being equal words can't describe how well you show that this couple can work out it's too bad that this pair isn't cannon in the game.

So you have a new bad guy kidnap Phoenix I thought it could have been myself just joking!

I thought Miles wouldn't give in to the kidnapper that easily though maybe try to stall for time or ask if Phoenix is still even alive before giving in to his demands I forget that he doesn't want to provoke the kidnapper least something bad happens to Nick. I won't be surprised that when they catch him that Edgeworth is the one that prosecutes Kaine Mayhew and personally gets him a guilty verdict.

Looking forward to your next chapter of both All things being equal and Little place of forgetting.

Thank you very much for your comments and input! I really appreciate it. :) I'm glad that you're enjoying this story and All Things Being Equal as well.

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I really enjoy the "crossover" and "in the style of" fics on here - the Stephen King one that someone wrote is awesome too. I have studied loads of literature but truthfully I don't think I could pull one of these off so I am hugely impressed by others doing so. I may set myself a writing exercise to see if I could - maybe a Jane Austen crossover would be funny - I could so see Edgeworth as Mr Darcy :)

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Now that would definitely be something I'd like to see: A PW/Jane Austen crossover. (Edgeworth as Mr. Darcy, in particular, sounds very interesting.)

Speaking of crossovers, there's a PW/Hamlet crossover fic on ff.net that I particularly like-Hamlet is one of my favourite Shakespearean plays so, not only do I have my favourite play being featured, I also have it crossed-over with PW. How great is that!
It might not be your usual PW fare, admittedly, but it definitely is different. :) Hmmm....PW through History. I'd like it.

Thanks again!

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Kind of like Blackadder, but sexier :)

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Absolutely!

Hmmmm....there just might be some fics in that. PW Throughout History! That would be neat! And fun. :)

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hi thar mrs. EFG, I just wanna say this fanfic is awesome, although I don't rly like the P/E pairing. I always check this topic just in case you've updated the story. XD

Ya, that's it. lol. Bye XD

Thank you very much!! I'm glad that you are enjoying the story.

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Chapter 3 Up! Sorry for the double post and the length of time it's taken me to finish this chapter. RL is busy as all get out with Christmas activities (Tree decorating, present wrapping and, on Thursday, cookie baking!) and writing-among other things-so I don't get on much. At any rate, I hope that you enjoy Chapter 3! Comments and suggestions are appreciated and welcomed. :)
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Chapter 3–Let The Game Begin

Phantom voices, phantom faces swim in my memory, hazy and indistinct, floating behind my closed lids, so close I could reach out and touch them. Who are they? What are they doing in my mind? Do I honestly know these hazy, half-remembered figures?

I have the uneasy feeling that I do, although I wish I could remember how and why they're relevant to me. Friends? Perhaps they are, or conversely, maybe they're...closer? The shape said the one named Edgeworth was.

I wished that my head didn't hurt so much. It made thinking very difficult, that throbbing ache was an ever present reminder of my captivity and a most depressing one, at that. I needed to figure out who these people were.

I flexed my arms slowly, the chains clinking ominously as I did so. I sighed as I gingerly rolled over onto my back, my arm lying across my eyes.

How did I get into this mess? I wondered, feeling my strength slowly draining away. It certainly was depressing.

Time had ceased to mean anything to me here. Every minute, every second felt the same deep inside this dark abyss.

Here in the darkness, I had no idea how long I'd been imprisoned; it could have been days, for all I knew. Everything was the same and I knew nothing of how much time had passed.

Questions flowed through my mind in a steady stream, a ceaseless parade of inquiries & thoughts that were ever present in the back of my head. I also rolled onto the still tender knot that was on the left side of my head, bringing another stab of sharp pain through my skull.

I cried out, rolling over onto my right side, stars dancing behind my closed lids. My hands clenched into fists, my lips pressed tightly together as I tried to stifle another cry of pain threatening to burst from me and curled up into a tight ball.

How long will this go on? I thought despondently, tears rolling down my cheeks, wishing with all my heart that I was anywhere but here.

Who was it I had been going to meet and why was I meeting this person there? Why did I have these mental images of roses, beautiful grey eyes and a card? Maybe the shape was right. Maybe I did have a lover.

I wish I could remember...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Kaine," I breathed softly, my mind racing. Of all the people from the past I had wished fervently never to see again, he was at the top of the list.

He chuckled nastily on the other end. I could have sworn that I detected amusement in his voice, my heart dropping in the general direction of my feet.

"So you do remember me after all, Mr. Edgeworth," he remarked blandly, his voice heavy with irony. "And here I thought that you'd forgotten."

I wish I had.

"Now that we have that firmly established and the re-introduction complete, down to business," Kaine said, his voice steadily lowering into a hostile hiss. "You owe me restitution for your crimes against me..." He paused for a moment. "...And against my brother."

What?! Crimes against you and your...brother?! Is this some kind of joke?!

My eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" I demanded, my mind whirling with possibilities. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

I was very afraid at this point. This lunatic had Phoenix, I had no idea what he was talking about and the last thing I wanted to do was set him off.

He had made it very clear that if he were hindered in any way, that he would hurt Wright and I took him at his word.

"Of course you do, Mr..Edgeworth," Kaine repeated, enunciating every word he spoke with such venom I belated wondered why he was so angry at me, "you..took..away my respect!! You took away my respect! You took away the respect that should have been mine in the first place, you damn...prosecutor! And you killed my brother!!"

I trembled as I heard him literally frothing at the mouth in rage, swallowing hard. Oh God, I thought desperately, please don't let him hurt Phoenix! He can do what he wants to me, just don't let him hurt Phoenix!

I had to calm him quickly or else.

"You're right," I interrupted in the middle of his angry rant, hoping this would calm him down but I was at a loss at how to address the second part of his outburst since I had no idea what he was talking about. "You're...right. I took the respect you should have had. I was wrong."

I hated myself for the lie even as it passed my lips, hoping desperately that it sounded at least passably believable.

This was serious; I now knew the person I was dealing with on the other end of the phone wasn't at all sane and any further denial would probably anger him to the point where he was likely to carry out his threat.

That was the last thing I wanted to happen.

Silence on the other end. I was beginning to wonder if I'd read him wrong when I heard Kaine reply, in a very suspicious tone of voice, "You...admit...it?"

He sounded very surprised though undertones of rage were still faintly present underneath. I'd thrown his equilibrium a little, just enough to buy me a little time.

"Yes," I replied, closing my eyes. "I admit it." I hoped this would work.

"Well, well, this is certainly a surprise, I will own," Kaine continued after a brief pause layered with a hint of malice and, thankfully, didn't address the second part of his rant. "But one I am pleased with. You acknowledge that you've wronged me which means that you have the intelligence to recognize your mistake. I applaud you!"

I hate sarcastic people, I thought to myself, careful not to express this out loud.

"Now, then, as much as I am enjoying our little chat, it's time we got down to business."

About time.

"You see, Mr. Edgeworth," Kaine said, any hint of anger absent replaced with clear pragmatism. "I have a little proposal for you. And, I am sorry to say, refusal is not an option."

A chill ran down my spine.

"No," I said resignedly, "it isn't." I sighed. There was no way around it. "What is it you propose?"

"A little game between us, Mr. Edgeworth," he said practically. "You and I in a battle of wits to the finish."

I don't like the implications of that.

And what is the prize if I win?" I asked.

"Your dear Mr. Wright will be returned to you unharmed. I give you my word."

I dreaded the next question but I needed to ask it.

"And..if I lose?" I could hardly get the words out.

Kaine's voice became hard and a shudder ran through me at his next words. "Then you will never see him alive again. I also give you my word on that."

I lowered my head, rubbing my eyes with my fingers.

"Do we have a deal, Mr. Edgeworth?" Kaine asked again, with a hint of impatience.

"Yes," I said at last, unease plain in my voice. "We have a deal."

I hope you can forgive me, Phoenix. I had no choice... I don't want to lose you; I couldn't bear it.

"Very wise of you, Mr. Edgeworth," he remarked maliciously, a hint of triumph in his tone, "very wise, indeed. Now, then, let the game begin."

I started.

"Wait!" I cried out, panic clearly in my voice. "What do I have to do? What are the rules? You haven't told me they are! I don't know what you expect me to do in order to play!"

"The rules, Mr. Edgeworth?" A pause and then a nasty little giggle. "There really are no rules except this one: You do what I tell you and find what I tell you to find. That's all." A smothered chortle. "It's very simple, really."

"All right," I said, "when and where do I start?"

"Why, right now, of course Mr. Edgeworth," Kaine stated forcefully, "now the hunt will begin!" He sounded excited at the prospect. "Oh and Mr. Edgeworth?"

"Yes?" What else does he want?!

"I would advise you not to contact anyone for help in this game or I promise you Mr. Wright will pay dearly for it."

I clutched the phone tightly in my hand.

"What do you mean if I contact anyone for help you'll hurt Phoenix?" I asked, my voice ragged. "If you hurt him, I swear I'll-"

"I'm not interested in what you will or will not do, Mr. Edgeworth," Kaine said blandly and, for some reason, it struck me that he sounded bored with my outburst. "You will adhere to the rules of the game. If you don't, Mr. Wright will pay dearly for it as I have already said. How much more clearly do I have to state it?"

I forced myself to calm down. Outbursts of temper wouldn't help in this situation and it might put Phoenix in unnecessary danger, something I wanted to avoid as much as I could.

"You've made yourself perfectly clear," I said soothingly, hating myself for it but seeing the dire need for it all too clearly. "Just tell me what I have to do and where."

"Very well, " Kaine replied smugly on the other end, as if this was the answer he was expecting all along. "Your first assignment will be to find something left at various places where Mr. Wright has been." Menacing laughter. "It should be easy for you, Mr. Edgeworth. It may be that it is too easy, perhaps, for someone of your great intellect but it will be interesting watching, nonetheless."

What?!

"Wait. What do you mean 'watching'? You'll be watching me?!" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Of course! Did you think I wouldn't be?" He laughed again. "I have to make certain you follow the rules of the game to the letter so naturally I'll be keeping you in my sight."

I should have known he would be. I should have known he wasn't about to make this easy for me.

"You're wasting valuable time, Mr. Edgeworth," Kaine chided with no small amount of satisfaction, "you'd better get started. The night is young and you have a certain place you must be in the time I allot to you."

"Where do you want me to go first?"

A thoughtful pause. "I want you to go to the place inspired by this poem that I am sure you and Mr. Wright are very familiar with:

"My life closed twice before its' close-
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me.
So huge, so hopeless to conceive
As these that twice befell. Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell."

My heart constricted within me at the words. It was a poem that Phoenix and I both loved by Emily Dickinson. It wasn't a love poem, per se, but it express the deep feelings that we had for each other.

I squeezed my eyes tightly shut.

"Mr. Edgeworth?"

"Yes?" I could barely get the words out over the lump in my throat. I blinked away a tear that threatened to spill from my eye; this was not the time to grieve. I still had time to save Phoenix but I I had to be very careful in the way I chose to go about it.

"It isn't wise to waste any time that you can't afford to lose, Mr. Edgeworth. You'd best get moving or...." His voice trailed off and I didn't need him to finish since the implication was all too clearly stated. It was a bare threat and one to be taken seriously.

"I will, dammit!" I hollered as I reached for my black trench-coat and struggled to put it on which was a bit difficult to do when your mind isn't on what you're doing. "Just...don't hurt him."

"I won't..unless you force my hand, Mr. Edgeworth." Kaine sighed again with what I took to be mild exasperation, like a parent would with an incomprehensive child. I wondered if that was how he saw me. "It really is up to you. You're free to make any choice you want though Phoenix will be made to pay for any wrong choices you may happen to make."

Smug satisfaction echoed in his words and I wondered again why and what grudge that person had against me to lash out at me like this by targeting Phoenix. This wasn't a random act; it was calculated and personal.

"I suggest that you think long and hard about every move you make since your lover's life depends on it." Loud laughter once again. "You have one hour so I suggest you make the most of it, Mr. Edgeworth. I don't suspect it will be too hard for the Demon Prosecutor to do but then, you never really know, do you?"

I didn't bother to reply since I was already on my way out the door and halfway down the hall, snapping my cell phone closed and putting it in my pocket. I thought about where this poem would lead as I pounded down the flights of stairs two at a time, not pausing to take a breath. I didn't have any time to waste and I didn't want to put Phoenix into any danger I could possibly avoid.

I raced down the last flight of stairs and ploughed through the door to the Prosecutor's office building, nearly skidding on some slushy snow that had accumulated some time previously.

I managed to catch myself in time before I fell and kept my balance as I ran out of the parking lot, around the corner and along the sidewalk leading down the Main Street. My lungs burned as I ran down the slushy sidewalk, little flakes striking my face as it began to snow again. I wasn't aware of anything save the clue that I had been given.

Where would that place be? I wondered as I ran down the street, skidding to a stop at the crosswalk and waiting until it flashed "Walk", then racing across the street.

I received my fair share of strange looks from passerby who probably wondered where I was going in such a hurry and why it appeared that I was trying to break my neck running down the slushy street like that. I ignored them as I ran, my mind working to sort out the clue I had been given.

What connection is between the poem and a place where Phoenix has been? On the surface, it didn't make any sense and my mind worked this over and over without a firm conclusion. I bit my lip in frustration at the seemingly endless contradictions this statement seemed to have.

It shouldn't have been difficult to try and figure out-evidently Kaine, casting himself in the role of Nemesis, thought I could figure it out relatively quickly, without any real trouble-but I was having trouble thinking, that awful worry over the fate of my beloved driving out all other thoughts and considerations.

It all made terrible sense and I marveled anew at how clever and dangerous Kaine was for he put Phoenix's fate in my hands; what actions I took or didn't take made all the difference. Damn him!

Think, Miles, think! I thought heatedly as I continued my race down the sidewalk. You don't have ANY time to waste; Phoenix's life depends on it!

I gritted my teeth as I skidded to a stop at the corner, sitting down hard on a park bench; I had to stop for awhile to catch my breath and couldn't run any further.

I thought hard but seemed no closer to a conclusion that made any sense than when I started. I groaned in frustration and put my head in my hands; this was all so surreal I couldn't believe it was actually happening.

If anyone had told me a few years back that something like this was possible, I would have thought they were crazy. My world was an orderly one and things like this simply didn't happen in that world; this illusion, like so many others in my life, was shattered on the cold winds of reality.

It was happening. Kaine, who apparently knew me well enough to be able to talk to me with some degree of familiarity and follow my every move, had taken the one I loved more than anything else in the world in order to get back at me for some reason I could neither fathom nor understand.

Now I was drawn into this madman's twisted game of hide and seek and I had to figure out what the clue he'd provided me with meant... and soon.

I didn't want to think of the consequences of my failure to do so since he had spelled it out quite clearly what would happen if I didn't play by his rules, God only knowing when those rules would change. I knew this type very well since I had prosecuted cases that involved this type of offender before..and the results weren't at all pleasant.

I had come across some of the most loathsome criminals in my years as a prosecutor in this type of crime: abduction of a loved one or lover to get back at the people they thought had slighted them. It didn't matter if there was a reason or not, what mattered was that they thought they were fully justified and that was the fuel for their burning desire for vengeance.

Shrugging off that uncomfortable train of thought, I turned my attention to the situation that confronted me in the present. Right now, I had to think of a possible location that fit the clue. Dickinson's poem was a love poem and what place would be tied to that emotion?

As this thought went through my mind, I happened to look up and saw a happy couple coming out of the flower shop down the street, the woman chatting excitedly to her companion who looked at her with rapt attention.

They were holding hands and looked very happy together; despite the bitter chill in the air this evening and the snow slowly accumulating on the ground, both were relaxed and seemingly without a care in the world.

She had a bouquet of roses in her hand and, every so often, I saw them exchange loving looks which cut me to the heart.

Seeing the bouquet the woman held in her brought back a memory from not so long ago when Phoenix and I were first starting our relationship. What heady days those were! Though there were some problems that did crop up six months into the relationship, we had worked through them and had come through strong and secure in the knowledge that we really did want to be together.

My lips curved into a secretive smile as I thought of Phoenix and the first time I had ever bought him flowers. It seemed so silly at the time-our relationship was really at its earliest stages back then-but he liked flowers so I thought I would buy him some.

It really was a spontaneous purchase-I was coming back from lunch at my favorite Italian restaurant-and, passing by on the way back to the Prosecutor's Office, I happened to see that there was a flower shop a couple of stores down the street. I decided, on a whim, to buy him some flowers since I knew that he liked them. I'd wanted to do something special for him for no reason other than it pleased me to please him.

I was very embarrassed at the time-and the odd looks I received from the florist and some of the store patrons certainly didn't help when I dictated what I wanted out on the card. I couldn't wait to leave the premises-but he had evidently loved them, going into joyful and excited exclamations that I swore could be heard all over the building.

I had made a mental note at that point to never give him flowers again at work but, for all the slight annoyance and some embarrassment it caused from the inquiring looks from people who passed by my door, I was secretly pleased that he was so happy. All the discomfort I'd felt while I was at the florist's evaporated and was all but forgotten.

I wonder if he knew that?

The thought came unbidden and my somewhat settled mood vanished in that instant, bringing me back forcefully to the ugly present and the terror I was trying so hard not to let overrun me. I'd made such a fuss about it at the time but, honestly, I didn't really mind, in spite of the irritations.

I looked up at the gently falling snow, filled with regret. I wonder if he ever knew that?

I forced my mind back to the business at hand. I was so deep in thought I didn't notice when the couple from the flower shop passed right by me on their way down the street. It was just as well; to see their happiness would only bring back forcefully the heartache I felt so deeply and wished to avoid.

A soft sound suddenly broke through my consciousness and my body reacted accordingly. I jerked my head up and, in that moment, I saw the glint of something lying at my feet in the accumulating snow.

I bent over and picked it up. My eyes narrowed slightly when I was able to take a good look. It was a small silver ring.

Now how did this get here? I thought with surprise, turning the delicate filigreed silver piece over in my fingers, marveling at its delicately scrolled roses and vines that encircled it. It was a beautiful ring with exceptionally detailed scrolled artwork.

Its a beautiful piece of work but who does this belong to? And what does it mean?

I looked at the ring in my hand closely with amazement; the scroll work was evidently done with exceptional skill and was the work of a master craftsman; of this, I had no doubt.

There seemed to be an inscription on the inside of the ring itself which was difficult to read where I was sitting in the soft light given off by the street lamp behind the bench.

I stood up and walked into the soft light, holding it up to my eye. I hoped I would be able to read what was inscribed there and pondering what this could be. Was it a key to the mystery of the clue? Was it a distraction or, worse, a trap?

The last one did have some merit since I didn't know who had left it in the first place or why. Could it merely be a coincidence? I doubted it. There was just something about the manner in which it had been delivered that made me think it was a deliberate action, and not accidental.

I squinted hard and looked at the inscription; bit by bit, I was able to make out what was engraved on the inside. It read: "Love is a spirit of all compact of fire."

I stood there for awhile, reading and re-reading it until I was sure of what I had read. I was familiar with the quote: it was a love quote from William Shakespeare.

But what did the quote, the ring and the engraved roses and vines have to do with each other? There has to be a connection somewhere. You have to find out what that is.

I thought for a little while longer, mulling over a dozen different possibilities in my mind, giving serious consideration to some and impatiently excluding others.

Wait a minute.

Like a bolt from the blue, I had the answer I was so desperately searching for. It all made sense when I put the clues together! I rapidly went over the evidence in my mind: the roses...the love quote.. What was the common denominator that tied these together?

It was... love! Love was the answer!

I had one part of the puzzle. Now I had to figure out the second part: What places could Phoenix gone to in the recent past that dealt with love? I thought a little more.

The flower shop!!! That's it! That's the answer! It's the flower shop!

I placed the ring in my pocket, leapt up from the bench and raced down the street to the flower shop. When I came at last to a skidding halt, I looked down at the ground and my breath caught.In front of the store, lying forgotten in the snow, was a bouquet of roses with a gold colored envelope attached, its soft, red petals dusted with snow, Queen Anne's lace tucked in between the roses.

I stopped short as I looked at the lonely bouquet, marveling that it hadn't been trampled in all the time it had been lying there; it had been a busy evening downtown as was evident from the many overlapping footprints in up and down the sidewalk.

I was surprised to see the flowers looking so fresh. By the accumulated snow on them, they had been here for awhile. That inevitably brought up another question as I stood there looking down at them: why didn't anyone else notice them? They were out in plain sight, after all, in a place that no one could logically miss.

It's almost as if someone wanted me to find it...

Sobered by that thought, I slowly bent down and picked up the bouquet, keeping a close eye on it as I did so as if I was expecting some kind of trap.

With this man, I wouldn't put it past him, I mused, turning the bouquet over and over, looking at it from all angles over every inch. He's capable of almost anything.

Satisfied now that it was just a bouquet of roses, I reached out and took off the envelope, wondering what part this had to play in Kaine's twisted game.

I held it in my hand as I walked back down the street to the bench and sat down, pulling my trench-coat tightly around me. It was a bitter night that was steadily becoming more so as the night progressed since I could feel the cold through my black gloves but this was only a passing annoyance.

I held the key to this mystery surrounding this clue in my hand but I was hesitant to open it; it's almost as if I could sense that what the envelope contained bode ill for me. I pushed these thoughts away with a gesture of impatience, angry at myself for letting my emotions get the better of me. How those colleagues who disparaged me would laugh if they knew!

Never mind that now, I chastised myself sternly, giving my head a hard shake. We've got other things to think about at the present. Let's get on with it; we don't have any time to waste if you want him returned to you alive!

I put the bouquet gently on the bench beside me and held up the envelope to the soft light flowing over me from the overhead lamp. It was gold colored and written on the front in beautiful calligraphic script using black ink were the words "For Miles, With Love, Phoenix."

Oh my God! I nearly dropped the card in my surprise and horror, my hands trembling. This bouquet..Phoenix...bought me...this bouquet! It was a gift for...me! He...knew that Phoenix bought this for me... He knew where Phoenix had been... He...

I felt sick at the implications and the callous way that this had been brought firmly home to me by someone who knew it would hurt. There was no mistake about it; there never had been. And I should have seen it coming.

I forced myself to calm down and proceeded to open the envelope with trembling fingers. I was very upset and this revelation shook me much more than I cared to admit, Kaine knowing exactly where to strike that would inflict the most pain.

He was clever and very dangerous if my conversation with him was any indication. He was in control and he knew it while I had no other choice but to go along with it. And he knew me very well.

I pulled out a cream-colored card bordered by entwined roses and vines. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I thought of the silver ring in my pocket. It was the exact same design!

I felt my heart sink, my hands falling bonelessly into my lap. Kaine, my Nemesis, was devilishly clever and his scheme even more so. He had obviously planned this out for quite some time, years probably.

This was no act of a disinterested party or merely a random occurrence; this was cold-blooded and calculated, the act of someone with a deep and abiding grudge against me.

I looked down at the card in my hand, tears welling in my eyes as I read what was written on the front of the card:

"My life closed twice before its' close-
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me.
So huge, so hopeless to conceive
As these that twice befell. Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell." -Emily Dickinson

I stopped reading for a moment until I got myself under control. Our poem was on the front of the card in the same beautiful script as the outside of the envelope.

I opened up the card and read this next:

"For Miles, whom I love so much. You are the best part of my world and I love being with you.
I just want you to know that I love you and I cherish you more than I could ever hope to say so I trust that these roses will tell you just how important you are to me.

All my love, Phoenix."

I didn't care who saw me. I wept.

---

It has been two days since Phoenix was kidnapped by Kaine Mayhew and Miles is on the ragged edge, worry over his beloved's fate furthermost in his mind. Things are about to go from bad to worse as Phoenix will be on the receiving end of a madman's fury...
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Teeny tiny spoiler from T&T. I think. I haven't played the game for so long I can't remember but, just in case, I thought I'd give the warning anyway. Violence and mild language.
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Chapter 4. At last! Seven months-off and on-of work to get this finished and I am so relieved its finally DONE!! I hope you enjoy it! :) As always, comments and suggestions are appreciated and welcomed!
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Chapter 4: Moon & Shadows

October 18th
4 P.M.
Miles Edgeworth's Office

"...You see, Mr. Edgeworth, I have a little proposal for you. And, I am sorry to say, refusal is not an option."

"...The rules, Mr. Edgeworth?" A pause and then a nasty little giggle. "There really are no rules except this one: You do what I tell you and find what I tell you to find. That's all." A smothered chortle. "It's very simple, really."

"You are free to make any choice you wish but remember: he will pay for any wrong choices you might happen to make..."

Kaine's ominous parting words echoed in my head as I stared at the paper that I held in my hand. I had read-and re-read-it a thousand times or more, it seemed, but I still couldn't fully grasp the printed words on the page. I felt like I was disconnected from reality, in the throes of a living nightmare that I couldn't wake from.

My fingers slid into my left hand pocket, tightening around the ring I had tucked away. From the night that I had found it lying at my feet as I sat on that lonely bench under the street light, it very rarely left my person. More often than not, I held it tightly for strength, the quote inscribed on the inside a source of some comfort for me. It wasn't much but it was something.

Swallowing hard, I took it out, turning the silver piece slowly in my fingers. I felt my eyes begin to tear up as I closed them, bringing the cool silver to my lips and placing a gentle kiss on it before I returned the ring to my pocket with a fervent wish that he be brought back to me, alive and unharmed.

I'll save you somehow, Phoenix. I promise.

The more I thought of our last conversation, the more I wondered just exactly how Kaine was able to keep track of my movements, how he knew what I was thinking and how he knew what I was planning on doing.

It was raining heavily this afternoon and the dampened gloom did nothing to repair my funereal mood as I read the paper I held. I had too much on my mind and, if the former wasn't already bad enough, I also had to contend with a continuing lack of sleep, both of which were taking their toll on me. I hadn't had a decent sleep in two days and I knew I couldn't continue on in this manner for much longer.

If I broke down-at this point, I was afraid that I would-then Phoenix would be lost to me forever. I couldn't let that happen! I had to play Kaine's game and I had to play it well; with Phoenix's life on the line, I couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

What was galling to me personally was that I had plenty of connections that I could call on in order to provide manpower to search for Phoenix but, even as the thought impressed itself in my mind, I knew it would be a lethal move. Kaine had said, quite clearly, "I would advise you not to contact anyone for help in this game or I promise you Mr. Wright will pay dearly for it."

Knowing Kaine as I did-although I wished that I had forgotten him-I knew, without question, that he would keep his word to the letter. He may have been one of the most disturbed criminals I had ever had the misfortune to go up against, but he was not a liar. If I made a mistake...

I cut that thought off ruthlessly, quelling the panic I could feel start to rise in me. I would beat that miserable bastard at his own game and would, in the process, save the life of the man I loved; I just had to be very careful in how I went about it. One thing still puzzled me at this point: how did Kaine know what I was doing?

There has to be a reason why he knows what I'm up to, I just wish I knew what it was! I bit my lip, staring blankly out of the window in my office for a moment or two before my gaze turned back to the paper I still held in my hand. Is he watching me?

"Mr. Edgeworth?" a familiar voice said hesitantly from my elbow and I slowly looked up from the paper I was reading, my eyes red rimmed and sore from both lack of sleep and weeping. Ever since that terrible day two days earlier when Phoenix had been snatched from me by Kaine to be the pawn in his sick game of hide-and-seek, not a day went by when I wouldn't break down.

The truth was that my nerves were slowly being worn down to the nubs with worry over the fate of my beloved. No doubt that rotten man already knew-although how was the operative word of the moment-that my emotions were summarily out of control and no amount of struggle was proving to be sufficient to bring them fully to heel.

No doubt that was the other part of his plan, I reflected bitterly, my fingers involuntarily clenching, crumpling the corner of the paper I held in my hand. I'll kill that miserable bastard if he harms even one hair on Phoenix's head! I'll hunt him down if I have to!

"Mr Edgeworth!" the voice said again, louder this time and accompanied by a relentless tugging on the sleeve of my jacket that I violently shrugged off.

"WHAT?!" I snarled, whirling around in my seat to see Miss Maya Fey take a few steps backward, alarm clear in her dark brown eyes, her hand flying upwards to cover her mouth. I clenched my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to calm down.

Damn it! I've never lost control this badly before! What the hell is wrong with me?! I felt my hands shaking and made a considerable effort to quell the tremors I could no longer hide. I can't let him get to me like this; Phoenix's life depends on it!

"I'm... I'm... sorry, Miss Fey," I said quietly, my hand trembling noticeably as I set the paper down on my desk, rubbing my sore eyes with my fingers. "I... didn't mean to snap at you like that. I'm... sorry."

"That's all right, Mr. Edgeworth," she said, her voice full of compassion and understanding. "I can't really blame you for feeling edgy... err..." A blush rose in her cheeks as her mouth snapped shut with embarrassment.

"Never mind," I said quickly, smoothing over the unintentional pun on my last name since I'd heard it all before. I managed a sickly smile that, I sincerely hoped, would do the trick although she looked back doubtfully at me and was doing her best to hide it. "It's been my unofficial nickname for many years and I've gotten quite used to it."

Not really but I had to calm her down somehow.

I rubbed my eyes tiredly. "What can I do for you, Miss Fey?"

"I came to ask you if you had seen Nick anywhere recently," she said, her mouth set in a grim line, worry clouding her eyes. "I haven't seen him in two days so I... thought that you might know where he is."

Her eyebrow raised the slightest bit and, while I couldn't quite decipher the enigmatic look on her face, it somehow struck me that she seemed to be blaming me for something, that she thought I might be keeping something from her.

I bristled. "If I knew where he was, Miss Fey, I would have told you a lot sooner than this," I snapped angrily, my temper already frayed past the breaking point. As my hands began to tremble uncontrollably once again, I bit down hard on my lower lip, a muffled gasp of pain torn from me, drawing blood from the wound. It was a welcome respite from the ceaseless worry I now lived with twenty-four hours a day.

It's not as if I would keep anything intentionally from you, Miss Fey, particularly if it concerns the safety and well being of the one I love! I ground my teeth in frustration. I don't play games like that!

It seemed as if Phoenix‘s assistant was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, if her fidgeting was any indication yet her eyes still held that accusatory gaze to them. “I figured you would, but still… I…”

I glared at her. "I don't engage in playing games of any sort, mind or otherwise, Miss Fey, and I would appreciate it if you would keep your suspicious thoughts to yourself!" I balled my free hand into a fist. "I don't know where he is and, if I did, don't you think I would have told you?!"

She stepped back, her face a vivid example of warring emotions playing out on her face: anger, worry, fear and, at the last, sincere contrition.

So I was right. This, of course, didn't make me feel any better. What does she think I'm made of? Marble?!

"I'm... sorry, Mr. Edgeworth," she said hesitantly after a few minutes of tense silence, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "You're right; I should have known that you wouldn't keep anything like this from me. You know how much I worry about Nick. He's like a brother to me and..." She hesitated a moment. "...I can't help but worry. He wouldn't stay out of touch without telling someone and I'm desperately afraid that something has happened to him."

Something has, I thought despondently to myself, looking at the floor and unable to meet her eyes. And I don't know what to do. I can't do anything that will endanger him but...

"Miss Fey," I said quietly, "there's something that you do need to be made aware of."

How am I going to tell her that Phoenix is being held captive by a madman from my past, that he's threatened to kill him if I don't cooperate in playing his twisted little game? How am I going to tell her that my hands are tied, that I don't want to do anything that will give Kaine any reason to harm him?

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat so large it threatened to choke me. How do I tell her about how helpless I feel? How can I explain to her the amount of danger he's in if I get any outside help to pull him out of this? How can I tell her that I'm engaged with an unseen enemy who knows my every move though God only knows how?

She looked at me in surprise. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath.

Just tell her the truth and get it over with. She deserves that much. I looked at her and noticed that her face had gone very pale; it's almost as if she knew what I was going to tell her wouldn't be pleasant and she was steeling herself for the blow.

I slowly got up from my seat to bring around another chair for her to sit in. "Sit down, Miss Fey," I said as kindly as I could, indicating with my hand the chair that now sat beside me before I took my own seat. "Please..."

With a worried frown she did so, her clasped hands lying on her lap. I noticed that they were trembling slightly and she was doing her level best to hold them still without any discernible success.

I don't want to do this since Phoenix's life could be put in jeopardy but... she deserves to know the truth. God... this is so hard!

"Mr. Edgeworth?" Maya asked a few minutes later, breaking the unbearable silence. "Would you tell me just one thing?"

"If I can, Miss Fey," I replied honestly, gathering up my courage. "What is it?"

"Is Nick in some kind of trouble?" Her worried eyes locked on to mine. "Some... bad... trouble?"

As good an opening as any...

I nodded slowly, my face reflecting the anguish I felt.

"Yes, Miss Fey," I answered quietly, visibly wincing at her gasp, her eyes wide with renewed fear and worry. "He is."

As briefly-and gently-as I could, I explained what had happened two days earlier. An old adversary of mine had returned to extract revenge from me by kidnapping Phoenix. That I had no idea where my old enemy was but he evidently knew my every move-though I was at a loss to explain how-and I had no other option or choice other than to agree to his terms by playing his twisted version of "hide-and-seek." Kaine would have killed him without a second thought and without pity had I refused.

"And that," I concluded unhappily, frowning as I felt the sting of tears welling up behind my eyelids, "is where we stand right now." I looked at her. "I wish I could say this is all a bad dream but it's not. Phoenix is in grave danger and I don't know what I can do to try and extricate him from wherever Kaine is holding him prisoner without him finding out. Every move I make, he knows about. I just don't know how."

Maya had been pale before but now she was as white as a sheet. She swallowed hard and attempted to regain her composure but I could see that she wasn't taking the news at all well, despite her brave posture.

She looked like she was on the verge of tears and I couldn't really blame her for feeling the way she did; besides myself, Maya was the second person closest to Phoenix and I knew that she was deeply concerned about him. As was I.

And why shouldn't she? He's one of the closest people to family she has besides her cousin, Pearl.

I hated feeling helpless and I hated admitting to myself that there wasn't anything I could do in the present situation except to wait for Kaine to contact me again for the next part of his 'game.' As I could plainly see, Maya felt the same way and we sat in silence for some time, each wrapped in our own private misery.

When I saw the unshed tears in her eyes, I reached into my pocket and took out a white handkerchief which I handed to her without a word; she took it gratefully and dabbed at her eyes.

"Mr. Edgeworth?" She spoke quietly.

"Yes, Miss Fey?"

"Isn't there anything we can do?"

I shook my head. "No. I'm not willing to take the chance. Kaine is watching me somehow and I don't want to put Phoenix in any danger I can possibly avoid."

Such a comforting response, Miles.

"I can't just sit here and do nothing!" she cried, anguish plain in her voice, her hands twisting the handkerchief in her fingers until I thought that the fabric would be rent asunder with the violence of her pent up emotions. "I... we... have to do something!"

"And what would you suggest?" I grated angrily, waving my hand around in agitated circles. "Do you have any idea what will happen if Kaine even harbors the slightest suspicion that I'm up to something?! Have you even thought of that, Miss Fey?! It's all I think about!"

My hand clenched into a fist and crashed down hard on the top of my desk, causing Maya to jump out of her chair with a squeak of surprise. It hadn't occurred to me at the time that I might have frightened her but I was too emotionally distraught to take much notice. I rose to my feet and began pacing back and forth like a caged animal, frustration and worry rising to the surface.

"Do you have any idea of just how dangerous Kaine Mayhew is?! He's insane, Miss Fey! Do you have any notion of just exactly what that implies?!" I stopped and took a deep breath before continuing my relentless pacing. "He's a loose cannon and that makes him unpredictable. That alone is enough to make him dangerous but he's also a genius which makes him even more of a threat!"

I stopped my pacing and looked her straight in the face. "He will kill Phoenix if I don't do as he says, you can count on that! Which is why I don't want to push him any more than is absolutely necessary!"

She didn't say a word as I pushed on. "I know the man; you don't! How do you think I feel, Miss Fey?! How do you think I feel knowing that there isn't anything I can do to rescue the man I love without putting him into jeopardy?! That man knows exactly what I'm doing, though I'll be damned if I know how he does! If I make one wrong move..."

I swallowed hard, my throat constricting as I turned to face the window, my hands clenching into tight fists at my side. "...If I make one wrong move, Phoenix will die, Miss Fey! Is that what you want?!" I pressed my forehead against the chilly windowpane, not wanting her to see the tears spilling down my cheeks like rain.

"No, Mr. Edgeworth," Maya said quietly, in a very subdued voice, as the reality of the situation slowly began to sink in. "That isn't what I want." She hung her head. " Nick's like family to me and I'm worried about him. If he's in trouble, I just wanted to see what I could do... if there was anything I could do to help."

"There isn't anything anyone can do at this time, Miss Fey," I replied dully after a few moments of silence. "My enemy is too well informed about my movements and I don't want to take the chance of him finding out what I'm doing."

I turned slowly to face her, emotions warring on my face, tears glistening on my cheeks.

"I can't place a price tag on Phoenix's life, do you understand that, Miss Fey? If anything ever happened to him because of something I did..." I couldn't continue and quickly turned back to face the window. By her silence, I had the feeling that she understood.

I was still standing at the window when Detective Gumshoe, accompanied by Ms. Ema Skye, came into my office.

--------------------------------------------------------

Time passed slowly down in the abyss. It was so dark I could barely see the hand I held in front of my face, a dim, faint, white outline was all that I could see. It reminded me all too well of something that was dislocated, that had no firm foundation, disconnected from the world at large and floating around in the swollen underbelly of the universe.

It felt so... surreal... and completely removed from everything, including humanity.

I sighed as I lowered my hand which was quickly swallowed by the encompassing darkness around me, my spirits sinking along with it. I had no idea how long I'd been in this godforsaken place–it felt like an eternity although I knew very well that it wasn't-and, as I lay down on my right side, I tried to console myself with the thought that it couldn't reasonably have been longer than a few days at the most.

Then again, I thought despondently as I turned over onto my left side, tears welling up behind my closed lids. Who knows how long it's been? Time means nothing here in the dark.

The mental images of the roses, a card and those beautiful grey eyes had been coming much more frequently as of late and I was aware of the dim stirring of memory in the back of my mind that I found very disturbing, yet intriguing at the same time.

I knew these images, somehow, were familiar to me but try as I might, I was still having trouble connecting the three together. I was dead certain that these made a coherent whole but exactly how to put them together was still evading me at this point.

Bits and pieces of memories were slowly flooding my mind and I closed my eyes once again, letting them come into my head unbridled by anything other than a mild curiosity to who-or what-they belonged.

There were smiling faces that I instinctively knew were my parents, looking down at me with pride and love, mouthing words that I couldn't hear or understand but I sensed that they were proud of me. There were more faces milling around behind them but they were so encased in shadow that I couldn't make them out clearly but, again, I knew that they were connected with me.

Could they have been... relatives of mine? I wondered, my brow furrowing slightly, ignoring the slight ache the action caused me. They must have been if they're all crowding so closely around my parents. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to will myself to remember. Where were we and what was the occasion? Obviously, it was a happy one... but what was it?

Childhood memories of a time long, long ago quickly replaced those of my parents and I remembered a sleepover at a friend's place, the name Larry flashing in and out of my consciousness. I reasoned that this Larry must have been this particular friend's name but why did I have such a sour yet resigned distaste for this name? And what did the words that were trickling into my mind mean: If something smells, it's usually the... something. It didn't make any sense to me.

More memories came flooding in. I remembered a time from my childhood where I received my first kiss-under duress, I do admit, at least at first-with a beautiful man-child with grey hair at this sleep over. I somehow knew that he was a ... friend... of mine but I still couldn't place his name. Who was this beautiful boy and why was I kissing him?

What was even odder-at least from my point of view-is that I didn't seem to really... mind kissing this man-child even though there were three young girls who were more than willing-and wanted very badly to do so-but I refused them out-of-hand, saying that girls were icky and I didn't want girl-cooties on me.

It was cruel, I knew, and I did regret it later on but at the time I wanted nothing more than to get them away from me and this was the only way I had to get them to leave me alone.

I hadn't really wanted to kiss the grey haired man-child-or maybe I did and I hadn't wanted to admit it openly-but in the end I did and pressed my lips rather reluctantly against his. From this conspicuous beginning, I soon found that I didn't want to stop!

Surprisingly enough, if the memories were to be believed-and, at this point, there was no reason to believe otherwise-this exquisite man-child didn't mind kissing me, either, although he was just as reluctant as I at first.

What did this all mean? I rolled carefully back onto my right side, tucking my arm underneath my head and cradled it gently, making certain not to touch the still-sore knot on the other side of my head. Why were these memories all coming back now in such an overwhelming tide? Who was this beautiful child and what link did he have with me? Something more than friendship bound us together, if the memory of our first kiss was any indication.

I paused a moment while I digested this information. And do I know him now?

This was the last coherent thought I had before an uneasy sleep claimed me, dreaming of the grey haired man-child and I embracing in the moonlight...

------------------------------------

Detective Gumshoe spoke first.

"Uh... am I interrupting something, pals?" he asked sheepishly, noting the strained and unhappy looks on both of our faces while Ms. Skye stood as still as a statue beside him, her eyes wide with uncertainty.

I sighed loudly and he visibly blanched. "No more than usual, Detective," I said tightly, turning back toward the window, grasping my upper arm tightly. "What do you want and why are you and Ms. Skye here?" I really wasn't in the mood for company and it was plain in my tone.

Gumshoe's face went white and he looked helplessly at Ms. Skye who was doing her level best to disappear into the background as she slowly slid behind him.

"For God's sake, Detective!" I snapped, whirling to face him, my mouth twisted into an angry snarl, both Ms. Skye and Gumshoe taking a few steps back. "I'm not going to dock your pay! Just tell me what it is you want... better yet, I want to know why you're here with Ms. Skye. If you can't tell me that, then get the hell out of my office!"

For several minutes, both Gumshoe and Ms. Skye stood there in shocked silence before the detective turned an accusing look on Maya.

"What did you say to him to get him all riled up like that?!"

"Me?!" Maya squeaked in surprise, her voice full of indignation. "I didn't say anything!"

I pressed my fingers against my forehead as Maya threw Gumshoe a dirty look before they began arguing, their voices becoming louder as they exchanged heated words for the next ten minutes; Ms. Skye, meanwhile, was doing her level best to appear interested in the philodendron I had on the windowsill. It would have been quite amusing if I wasn't so emotionally distressed.

I looked at the ceiling. What did I ever do to deserve this?!

"You must have! You two were the only people in the room when-"

"How is his bad mood my fault, Detective?! He's usually never in a good mood, anyway!"

"Hey! Watch what you say about Mr. Edgeworth, Miss Top Knot!"

"You watch your mouth, you big, dumb gorilla! And stop calling me Miss Top Knot!"

"Hey, there's no need to get personal, pal!"

This is getting us nowhere.

-----------------------------------------------

To my dismay, any other memory involving the grey-haired man-child was hazy and indistinct but the feeling I had was that we were more than just friends. I began to wonder if we really were lovers, as the shape kept insisting we were and I wasn't inclined to doubt him as I had been in the beginning. Killer the shape most certainly was; liar, the shape was definitely not.

What would be gained by falsehood? The shape had reasons for kidnapping me and, while I had as of yet no firm idea of what those reasons were, they appeared to be something that involved the mysterious Mr. Edgeworth. And I, in some as of yet indiscernible way, was involved with the said Mr. Edgeworth.

Could it be...?

This is the conclusion that I came to not too long ago-there really wasn't much else to do in this blasted darkness except think and I had done quite a bit of it since I had been imprisoned here. I only stopped when the pain in my head became unbearable.

That shape also hated Mr. Edgeworth for some reason was very clear as well, given that he went into a frothing rage at the mere mention of his name when he had come to my prison to gloat after I was first chained down here. I stayed very still and quiet when he went into these rages or I was liable to come out with bruises or worse when he turned his fists on me.

He'd already done so the very first day I was in this place and I resolved not to give him any reason to do so again; his chilling words about not "wanting to hurt me like he did the others..." stayed uppermost in my mind so I was remained quiet and still whenever he was in the dark with me.

The rusty creak of the metal door opening interrupted my thoughts and I froze in place as I heard the ladder being pushed over the side, whistling through the air and clanging hard on the ground.

The resulting rumble sent a fresh burst of pain slicing through my skull and I groaned, rolling over onto my right side and covering my eyes with my hands in order to avoid the slash of bright light that cut through the darkness.

I heard someone climbing down the rungs, a soft voice echoing in the dreadful silence. The crunch of the hard ground beneath told me clearly that someone-I assumed it was the shape-had come to pay me a visit, a most unwelcome event from my point of view.

What surprised and chilled me was that there was another soft voice in addition to the first in the darkness, murmuring words I couldn't make out. I felt fear clawing up into my throat as I scrambled up from my prone position on the ground and pressed myself against the wall in the furthest corner of my prison, trying to make myself as inconspicuous as I could.

There were two sets of footsteps coming toward me, the hard crunch of the ground beneath their feet steadily approaching while I mewled in terror, pawing helplessly against the rough wall behind me in a panic-stricken but futile effort to dig into the wall to hide before sinking helplessly to my knees, breaking into a cold sweat and panting hard with exertion and fear.

"Ah, Mr. Wright," a familiar voice said in a chillingly pleasant tone of voice, "so we meet again." The shape sighed as the other set of footsteps stopped in front of me and I winced as a light, from what I suspected was a flashlight, shone directly into my face and temporarily blinded me. "I regret to inform you that Mr. Edgeworth has broken one of the rules of the game and, I am sorry to say, you will have to pay for his transgression."

I blinked as I heard a soft giggle emanate from the person in front of me, hearing the unmistakable click of a switchblade being opened. I moaned in terror as I tried to lose myself in the shadows only to be grabbed roughly by my collar, dragged backward and pulled up, my feet kicking helplessly in the air.

A soft chuckle made me open my eyes and I was forced to stare into the sadistic face of my soon to be torturer, a rather handsome looking man with a cupid mouth and emerald-green eyes that sparkled with sick glee, a predatory sneer spreading over his features.

I moaned in horror as I saw the evil glint of the blade in the dim light, my eyes wide open, struggling fruitlessly to escape the emerald green-eyed man's iron grip. I noted, with growing horror, that it amused him to see my terrified eyes following the glint of the blade as he moved it slowly back and forth in front of my face.

"It's time for payback," he said softly, bringing the blade up to my cheek and pushing it against my skin. I moaned in pain as the sharp point entered my flesh and felt a trickle of blood emanate from the wound. "You'll pay in full for what Mr. Edgeworth has done." He smiled a sadistic, satisfied smile as his face moved closer to mine. "Time to die, Mr. Wright..."

He pushed the blade deeper into my skin, a scream of agony wrenched from me as he pulled upward...

---

Miles Edgeworth is in quite a quandry: should he accept the help that Gumshoe, Maya and Ema are offering or shouldn't he? He initially refuses but, as they all refuse to back down once their minds are made up, he backs down and reluctantly agrees to let them help. However, unknown to any of them, there is a shadow lurking close by who makes off at once to tell his evil Master of their plans. It's payback for them but danger to Phoenix...

Chapter 5 is the the transitional chapter in the story and what happens to Phoenix will be revealed in the next chapter. I called this chapter "Payback" for the revenge that Kaine and Umbrae will take out on Phoenix in chapter 6 which is foreshadowed here. They really are a sick twosome, aren't they?
The file that Miles is looking at will become important later on.

I hope you all enjoy it and, as always, comments and suggestions are appreciated and welcomed! :)

Teen, PxE, Violence.
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Chapter 5-Payback


"ENOUGH!"

The sheer volume of my voice was loud enough to cut through the rising crescendo, Miss Fey and Gumshoe both snapping their mouths shut although they continued to glare daggers at each other and Ms. Skye continued to pretend that she was interested in my plants.

Now that I have their attention...

"Forgive me if I interrupt this ongoing shouting match," I said sarcastically, crossing my arms over my chest and giving both Gumshoe and Ms. Fey a withering look noting, with great satisfaction, that they at least had the decency to look embarrassed. "You still haven't told me why you and Ms. Skye are here and I would appreciate an explanation, Detective... if you can keep from insulting Miss Fey for two minutes!"

I gave the good Detective a sharp glare as he flushed guiltily and looked at the floor, a part of me quite pleased he wasn't able to meet my gaze. After some moments of tense silence, I was surprised to hear Ms. Skye's composed voice from across the room as she answered the question.

"You asked him to look up some things in the law library for you and I decided to accompany him," she said calmly, walking over to me and handing over a large file folder. "We came by to drop it off."

That's right. I had asked him to do that yesterday. I'd completely forgotten all about it.

My eyebrow rose as I took the folder and, laying it on the flat of my left hand, I opened it, leafing restlessly through the papers it contained. I could feel Ms. Skye's, Detective Gumshoe's and Ms. Fey's curious stares as they watched me in silence.

A few minutes later I put the folder on the top of my desk, an exasperated sigh fluttering from my lips as I clutched the side of my desk, my knuckles turning stark white. It was more than I could have reasonably hoped for and I shouldn't have been surprised, but still...

I expected too much. I should have known that something would go wrong.

"Mr. Edgeworth?" I heard Ms. Skye's concerned voice ask as she walked up to me but I couldn't find the strength to lift my head. "Is something the matter?"

I shrugged off the hand she put on my shoulder, stood up straight and walked over to the window. I rested my forehead against the cool glass, looking out into the stormy night, wondering if my life would ever return to normal and if this nightmare would finally end.

Ms. Skye flinched but made no comment as she slowly stepped back, standing once more beside Gumshoe and Ms. Fey, the three of them watching me in silence.

It occurred to me, belatedly, that I might have hurt Ms. Skye's feelings by my brusque response to her offer of comfort but I couldn't think of the repercussions right now. I had to concentrate on how I was going to get Phoenix back safely which wasn't an easy thing to do since I wasn't really in any shape to be of much help nor could I offer any. I hated feeling so helpless.

"Everything is wrong, Ms. Skye," I said bitterly, still looking out the window into the black, unsettled night. The storm that had been predicted for our area had broken in its full fury and I winced as I heard the crash of thunder and the sizzle of lightning. The lights in my office flickered and dimmed as the wind howled outside, the rain coming down in sheets and clattering against the window.

I stood there in silence, looking dejectedly out the window into the wild night, repeating over and over in my mind: Where is he at? Is he all right? Is he afraid of the storm? Is he...? I wish I knew how he was doing...

"Mr. Edgeworth?" Ms. Fey asked once again, breaking into my thoughts.

I sighed inwardly.

"Yes?"

The girl's persistent. I'll give her that. I wasn't sure if this was a compliment or an expression of annoyance.

"If you need help, we're here to help as much as we can. We want to help you. Why won't you let us?"

I took a deep breath, shaking my head stubbornly."There isn't anything anyone can do, Miss Fey. I thought I had already made that perfectly clear to you earlier. If I do..."

"That's just it, Mr. Edgeworth," Maya interrupted quickly. "Kaine is on the lookout for what you will do... not us."

WHAT?!

I whirled to face them, my skin a pasty white. I couldn't believe what I had just heard! They wanted to help... me? They wanted to help? They wanted to be put in harm's way to help me?!

No! I can't let them do this!

"You can't be serious! You have no idea who it is you're up against! I can't... I can't... I won't let you put yourselves in danger like this! You'll be easy targets!"

I was desperate. How could I convince them that this idea was suicidal enough to make them give it up? There was no way I was going to allow them anywhere near this but I wasn't sure how I was going to convince them otherwise since they looked as if their minds were made up already at this point.

I have to convince them that this is ludicrous and that they shouldn't even be thinking of attempting it! If Kaine gets his hands on them... I shook my head violently. That's something I don't even want to contemplate!

I took deep gulps of air in order to steady my already frazzled nerves; I had to be calm when I said what I was about to say. If I agreed to this insanity and one of them got hurt-or worse-I would never forgive myself. I already had too much blood on my hands and I didn't want any more deaths on my conscience, particularly when I could have done something to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

I straightened up to my full height of five foot ten, crossed my arms over my chest and glared down at the trio who stood there in front of me, their expressions clearly defiant.

They aren't about to make it easy for me, are they? Well then, I'll present them with the Demon Prosecutor and force them to give up this foolishness. I closed my eyes and took another shaky breath. I can't have them getting involved and then have someone get hurt. I couldn't protect Phoenix-my heart constricted in pain but I forced myself to ignore it-and I'll be damned if I'll let the same thing happen to them on my account! One kidnapping on my conscience is more than enough. I couldn't bear three!

"Under no circumstances can I permit you three to become involved in this. Kaine Mayhew is not a man to be treated lightly and I can neither guarantee your safety nor any assistance should something go terribly wrong. For that reason, I cannot let any of you get involved in this."

I put up a hand to quell the words of protest I could all but see forming on their lips as I spoke.

"No argument! I cannot and will not, in good conscience, send any of you out to tangle with an insane monster the likes of Kaine Mayhew! He's too dangerous to even consider trifling with! Believe me, if you fall into his hands..." I stopped for a moment before I continued. "...and he finds out that you're connected with me, I might as well be signing your death warrant because he will kill you, without a second thought."

I gave them all a hard look, one that I hoped would finally deter them from their crazy proposal; it appeared, at least initially, to do just that since I saw them exchanging worried frowns and conversing in low tones.

Good, I thought with satisfaction as I saw the various exchanges. They're thinking about this logically and, once they do, they will realize that this enterprise is much too dangerous a matter for them to involve themselves in-

"Mr. Edgeworth, Sir?"

"Yes, Detective?"

- and that my only real concern is for their safety-

Gumshoe pointed to the thick folder on his desk. "Is there any information in that file that we need to know about before we begin?"

-and that Kaine is not someone to be...

The corner of my eye twitched as Gumshoe's question slowly bored its way into my conscious mind.

Wait... what did he say?!

"What did you say?" I hissed angrily, narrowing my eyes until I was looking at the good detective through evil little grey slits. Gumshoe swallowed hard and, though his eyes were fearful, the voice that came out was strong and determined.

"Yes, Sir," he repeated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other but refusing to back down. "I said: Is there any information in that folder that we need to know before we start?"

I gritted my teeth. They can't be serious, can they?! Haven't they listened to anything I just said?!

"Detective... " I began again, exasperated, but I was immediately cut off in mid-sentence by Ms. Skye.

"We know what the risks are, Mr. Edgeworth," she began, her voice low and controlled but earnest as she met my gaze directly. "And we also have a good idea, from what you've told us, about how dangerous this enemy of yours is but... shouldn't it be our decision to make?"

She took a deep breath and continued while I stared at her, unable to believe what I was hearing. "To tell you the truth, I'm scared but I owe Mr. Wright a great debt of gratitude and, if I can help him in any way, I should because... it's the right thing to do!"

The right thing to do?! My God, does she have any concept of what she's letting herself in for?! Do any of them?! If something happened to them... God, how can I make them understand?!

I opened my mouth once again but immediately snapped it shut. If the determined looks on the faces before me were any indication, there wasn't anything I could say that would dissuade them. It was finally clear that they had already made up their minds and there was nothing I could do that was going to move them. I could argue with them until I was blue in the face but it still wouldn't make a bit of difference nor would it change their minds.

I sighed, resigning myself to the inevitable. "All right," I said at last after a few minutes of silence that was broken by whoops and squeals of joy from the trio in front of me. "Since you all seem determined to put yourselves in harm's way and nothing I've said to any of you seems to make the least bit of difference, you've won your case."

I pointed to the file on my desk and they all rushed over to crowd around it.

"Everything you need to know is in there. Read it and re-read it. This man is dangerous and I want you all to be prepared for the worst. I also want you to promise me that, if things go wrong, that you get out." I gave them a hard look to impress upon their minds that I was deadly serious. "Immediately."

They all nodded their assent and began chattering among themselves as they opened the file and began to read. I felt a chill go down my back and I glanced briefly at the door before turning my attention back to the trio clustered around my desk.

I couldn't help but feel I was sending them to their deaths but I tried to console myself, as I walked slowly to a column beside the door and leaned tiredly against it, that I had their assurances if something went terribly wrong that they would get out. I trusted their solemn promises and it was with a sense of renewed hope that I looked up at the ceiling.

Phoenix, I promise you we'll do everything we can to try and find you. I didn't want them to get involved but they've committed themselves and nothing I say can dissuade them, no matter how many times I repeated how dangerous Kaine is. It doesn't make any difference; they're determined to put themselves on the line to help you.

A brief, fluttering movement caught my eye for a moment and I turned back toward my office door, my eyes narrowing. I thought, for a moment, that I had seen something but, as I didn't see anything more menacing than an empty hallway, I chalked it up to my imagination.

It was probably just a shadow, I thought, closing my eyes, immersing myself in the chatter and banter going on around me. I opened my eyes a moment later and looked at the ceiling once again. We'll bring you home Phoenix, I promise. You'll be brought home safe and sound, back into my waiting arms and we'll take up our life together from where we left off.

As it turned out, I should have been more concerned about that shadow I thought that I had seen flitting by my office door. It was that shadow who betrayed our intentions to his Master and, as he had promised, Phoenix was made to pay dearly for it.

–o-

A figure slowly walked out of the Prosecutor's Office, greeting people coming into the building politely before moving on. For all intents and purposes, he looked like one of a thousand people coming in and out of the building and he was careful not to attract any undue attention to himself. That would not serve his purpose or Kaine's.

The thought of Kaine brought a dreamy look into his eyes and a soft smile to his lips, his fingers softly caressing his cheek, imagining that it was his beloved touching him, a soft moan escaping from him at the very thought, his eyelids fluttering with pleasure.

Kaine had left very specific instructions of what he was to do and he was proud to have accomplished every task with flawless perfection. All had gone smoothly, as he had suspected it would, and now he was going to contact Kaine and report his success.

He picked a park bench in the city municipal park two blocks away that was tucked behind a thick copse of trees and sat down, pulled out his cell phone, flipped it open and dialed a number with quick, efficient fingers.

He put the phone to his ear, tapping his right foot impatiently on the cement block where the bench stood, occasionally nodding a greeting to those who passed by-secretly wishing that they would leave him alone and let him be about his business-and drumming the fingers of his right hand on the bench's slightly rusted iron-wrought arm rest.

His eyes narrowed slightly as it continued to ring, nettling him greatly. He wasn't aware of any plans to the contrary and he wondered why Kaine was taking so long to answer the phone when he normally picked up after two rings. All kinds of scenarios presented themselves in his mind and none of them were comforting or pleasant ones.

He had worked himself into a near seething rage when Kaine at last picked up, most of his anger quickly disappearing as he heard his beloved's voice grating over the line.

It's about time you picked up! he thought grumpily, shifting slightly on the bench to seat himself more comfortably, ignoring the odd stare he received from an elderly woman who passed by.

"Kaine Mayhew speaking."

"Kaine?" The indignation in Umbrae's voice was thick enough to cut with. "It's about time you picked up! What were you doing?!"

A muffled chuckle on the other end didn't mollify Umbrae that much; he was annoyed and the tone of his voice made no bones about it.

"Now, now, Umbrae," Kaine said soothingly, in an attempt to mollify his irritated cohort. "You know I wouldn't be up to anything without telling you first. I was merely visiting with Mr. Wright, that's all." Kaine chuckled again, a nasty edge to it. "He's being most uncooperative yet again so I thought that we might teach him a little... lesson, you could say, in cooperation?"

The emerald-green eyed man's lips curved into a sensual, cat-like smile.

"Really? Do I get to join you and have a go at him as well?"

"Of course, my love. It wouldn't be enjoyable or nearly anywhere as fun without you." Kaine's voice lowered into a sensual purr and Umbrae trembled, his fingers tightening on the phone until his knuckles turned white.

Kaine always had this effect on him, even in their youth. "It wouldn't do, after all, to start without you now would it?" His voice hummed with raw emotion, causing Umbrae's lips to tremble in a quiet moan; Kaine always knew exactly what to say to make his thoughts falter and body heat with desire and wanting. " I wouldn't do it without you, my lovely shadow..."

"Mmmm... I really love hearing you say that, my dearest," Umbrae replied breathily, his voice catching slightly when Kaine chuckled dryly on the other end. "I can't wait to see you again..."

"Nor I."

Kaine had been a part of Umbrae's life since he was a child and they'd been lovers since he was sixteen. This really hadn't gone down well with either of their families but they remained silent on this issue, with Kaine and Umbrae continuing to enjoy a close romantic relationship unhindered by the blatant disapproval of both sides of the family.

In retrospect, as for whether or not their relatives approved, neither Kaine nor Umbrae really cared what their relatives thought or whether or not they approved. They were, in terms of blood relations, second cousins, but this really didn't matter to them since their respective families kept well away from them and left them alone.

In spite of the warm emotion they were sharing, it was time to get back to business and return to the matter at hand.

"And, after that very pleasant interlude, it's time to get back to business," Kaine said briskly while Umbrae agreed, albeit very reluctantly. "Any news?"

"Yes, I have," Umbrae said happily, his face lighting up with glee. "You were right, Kaine. Miles Edgeworth did solicit some outside help to try and assist him in finding his lover."

"I expected as much. Who are they?"

Umbrae looked down at his notes.

"Detective Richard Gumshoe, Ema Skye and Maya Fey," he replied, checking his notes again to make sure that he had the correct names and satisfied when he saw that he had the names right, his lip curling at the "Dick" instead of "Richard" in Gumshoe's name. Nicknames were most distasteful to him since he failed to see their point. "They have some kind of file that deals with you, I think, since Mr. Edgeworth did say to read that file and re-read it."

Umbrae paused a moment, chewing on his lower lip thoughtfully. "He seemed very reluctant to accept their help but he was finally brow-beaten into it since they wouldn't back down. Is that a violation of the rules that he agreed to abide by?"

"Yes, Umbrae, it is," came the dangerously quiet voice on the other end and Umbrae had a distinct feeling that Kaine was not happy, not that he could blame him. The rules had been clearly spelled out to Mr. Edgeworth and people who refused to play by them annoyed him so Umbrae could completely understand his lover's irritation with this breach of trust on Mr. Edgeworth's part.

Kaine's irritated sigh came over the line. "He was warned about the consequences of his actions and now he's about to learn firsthand that I keep my word." Silence reigned for a few moments while Kaine regained his composure, Umbrae waiting patiently. "Good work, Umbrae."

"Thank you, Kaine."

"Were you seen?"

Umbrae thought a moment. "I don't think so; if he did, he must not have thought it was worth investigating or thought that it was just his imagination." Umbrae laughed. "He might have thought that he was seeing shadows!"

Kaine laughed heartily at the pun on his lover's name; it never once failed to amuse him in all the years that he and Umbrae had been together.

"I think you're right," he said after the general merriment had died down and silence resumed. "At any rate, good work Umbrae. You have done well, my sweet little shadow..."

Umbrae positively preened at the compliment.

"Is there anything else you wish me to do, Kaine?"

"No, Umbrae. You have done all that I have asked of you and you have done well. Come back to HQ and we'll both have a word with Mr. Wright. Together."

Umbrae definitely liked the thought since he was in possession of a new switchblade that he had purchased it recently and it hadn't, as of yet, been blooded. This would be the perfect opportunity to do so and enjoy the "interrogation" with his beloved Kaine by his side.

"It sounds like a wonderful idea, Kaine," he said approvingly, his tongue slowly running over his lips until they glistened. "A wonderfully and wickedly delicious idea. I'll be there as soon as I can." He giggled as an after thought came to him. "Don't start without me!"

Kaine laughed. "Don't worry, my little mite. I wouldn't dream of starting without you. It's been so long since we've worked together that I'm actually happy to have this chance to do so once more." He sighed. "Although I'm sure that Mr. Wright will most likely not feel the same way."

"I dare say not," Umbrae agreed. "But, as you say, Mr. Edgeworth brought this upon himself when he broke the rules and, as per agreement, Mr. Wright will pay the penalty." He smiled hungrily. "I'll be there soon. Love you."

"I love you, too, Umbrae. See you soon."

Umbrae pushed the "talk" button once more and the phone line disconnected. He sat there for a moment before he closed the cell phone and put it in his pocket. He stood and quickly walked out of the park, heading east.

He couldn't wait to try out his new switchblade and, in an off-hand sort of way, he was also grateful to Mr. Edgeworth for giving both himself and Kaine this chance to work together again. It had been far too long since they had last hunted together, about four years in fact, if memory served him correctly.

His cupid-like mouth twisted into a caricature of a smile as he waited at the corner for the light to turn green, thinking of all the fun that he and Kaine would have when he arrived at HQ for their joint visit to Mr. Wright...

Umbrae shivered with pleasure at the very thought. He couldn't wait!

"Thank you, Mr. Edgeworth," he murmured as he crossed the street and disappeared into an alley two streets over, a sadistic smile slowly creeping over his face. "From the bottom of my black little heart, I thank you."

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