This takes place right after Ema meets with Miles the first time at the concert. It just didn't fit with the flow of the story, but Daryan is pretty amusing here!


The young woman returned Corvin's dark look as she approached him.

“So, I didn't realized you smoked.” Ema stated as they found their seats again.

“What, does it matter? It's not hurting you is it?” Corvin's voice had an edge that Ema didn't recognize. He was flipping a lighter between his fingers.

Ema opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it when the lights went down. She spent the rest of the concert glancing over at Corvin, wondering what brought on the sudden attitude change.

When the lights finally went up, Ema stood up and started to walk out, but Corvin grabbed her wrist a little harder than he meant to, and she grimaced at him. He loosened his grip, but didn't let go.

“I...ah...listen Ema,” He started, running his hand through his hair. “I'm sorry about that earlier. This is... ah...going to sound really stupid...but...”

She furrowed her brow at him. “Go, on.” She said softly.

“I...guess I was a tad bit jealous...of Miles...of the fervor that you found him with today.” A dull spot on his boots suddenly gained his interest as he looked down.

“C-Corvin? Jealous?” Ema's free hand flew to her mouth in surprise.

“Heh, I guess that doesn't really sound like me!” He resisted the urge to kiss her hand and instead let go and gestured for her to move toward the exit.

A cool breeze greeted them as they exited the building and Ema pulled her cardigan closer to her. She turned to see Corvin lighting up a clove and rolled her eyes. He held it up to her in offering. She shook her head. He shrugged and took a long drag and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Corvin felt her tense as he whispered into her ear.

“I really am sorry.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him. He had a sexy smirk on his face that made her heart flutter. She was about to smile back when a smack on his back interrupted her.




“Man, you guys need a room!” The man belonging to the voice was tall, with shifty blue eyes and black hair that was styled into a crazy pompadour with a white tip. He had on dark blue jeans and a tight navy blue t-shirt under a bizarre patent leather jacket that had a shark pattern on it.

“Daryan Crescend!” Corvin exclaimed as he shook the others hand and slapped his shoulder at the same time. “You of all people know better than to sneak up on me like that!” Corvin winked.

“Ppshhaw! You don't have the reflexes anymore.” Daryan then gestured with his chin toward Ema. “Who's the babe?”

Corvin snorted. “The 'babe' as you so delicately put it, is Ema Skye.”

Ema held out her hand for Daryan to shake, and, instead of shaking it, Daryan kissed the back of her hand.

“Are you from the States?” Ema asked noting no accent.

“As American as apple pie! But I'm a world traveler now!” Daryan winked at her. “Klavier finally got his shit together and graduated early. He's studying law, prosecution I think. He finally applied himself and decided to write some songs and now we are promoting ourselves over here!”

“I bet his brother had some influence in the whole law thing.” Corvin took one last drag and flicked the clove away. “What about you? What about your whole international business thing? I thought you wanted to be a corporate lawyer or some uppity-shit like that?”

“Man, that was uppity! I am working on getting into international affairs in L.A. Someday, you'll be seeing me on those waves...” Daryan was mocking surfer moves when Ema interrupted.

“L.A. ?! That's where I'm from!”

“Ha ha! Well, babe, watch out cuz I'm gonna be coming out there in big Crescend style!” Ema and Corvin threw each other confused glances.

“I suppose you need roadies?” Corvin rested his elbow on Ema's shoulder as he lit another clove. She crossed her arms, slightly annoyed.



Daryan's phone suddenly rang and he drug it out of his pocket. He cursed at it.

“Yeah, listen, call me or Klavier, I know you have the number, I need to talk to you about that! Later.” He winked as he walked off.

“Wow! He's ah, interesting.” Ema stated as they walked towards Corvin's car. “Who is Klavier, by the way?”

“Heh, interesting doesn't start to describe Daryan.” Corvin held up his car keys and deactivated the alarm on his car, then held to door open for Ema. He leaned up against his car and finished his clove as he told Ema about Klavier Gavin and how his family turned out law prodigies. He had met Klavier briefly when Daryan dragged them to Germany to study there for a year.

Ema's flashback in the taxi...I wanted to keep moving forward with the story, and the flashback was hindering the whole forward movement of the fanfic!

Ema sighed deeply and leaned her forehead against the cold window of the taxi. She had been living in Los Angeles for about a month, and she already missed Paris. She missed the beautiful spring days that would lead into warm summer nights staying up late chatting with Corvin... She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold the tears back to no avail. Ema didn't think it was possible for one human to cry so much. Of course, she never thought that love would hurt so deeply.

Corvin came away from the fall with only a few broken bones and a coma.
Ema used her studies and her part-time job as a distraction from Corvin being in the hospital. It was hard seeing him laying oh so still on the bed, machines beeping, tubes sending various medications and sustenance to keep his brain and body alive. Ema could only imagine what was going on inside his mind, if anything. She took her grief and anger out on anyone and anything that would take it from her, until one day, she took it all out on herself. A year after the accident, a delivery of Stargazer Lilies had arrived at Ema's doorstep. Shocked and amazed, she almost refused it, but her curiosity took over. She set them on the kitchen counter and made herself some tea, trying to scientifically explain how Corvin could send her flowers in the state that he was in. Corvin was the only one that knew about her love for that particular flower, and it gave her goosebumps to stare at the blushing flowers. Suddenly her emotions boiled over. All the frustrations and denial and anger was directed at the flowers and the vase, which she took and crushed against the kitchen wall. She grabbed the flowers and ripped them apart, then grabbing whatever whole pieces of vase that were left, crushing them against the wall, cutting her hands. It wasn't until Ema saw the red splotches on the wall that she noticed her hands were bleeding. She ran into the bathroom and ran her hands under the bathtub faucet.

Two hours later, Miles and Lana knocked on Ema's door, only to find that it was slightly ajar. Lana knew Ema wouldn't just leave the door like this, and Miles gave her a curious look as he slowly opened the door all the way. He heard the sound of running water, and in the fading daylight they saw the remnants of flowers and a vase, and the bloodstains on the wall.



“Ema!” Lana cried out as she followed the sound of the running water. Miles sspotted the card that came with the flowers out of the corner of his eye and bent to pick it up and read it.

“Ema, Happy Anniversery, I love you and I will see you this evening. Corvin.”
Miles stared at the card for a moment, wondering if this was someones idea of a sick joke, when he heard Lana cry out again. He ran to the bathroom to find Ema rocking back and forth in her bathtub and she was soaking wet to the bone.

“Help me get her out,” Lana said. They grabbed her arms and lifted her out of the tub. “Towels are in the hallway.” She stated and Miles grabbed several. He left the bathroom as Lana dried Ema off and changed her clothes.

“Lana,” Ema said weakly as she let her sister dry her off. “He sent me flowers, on our anniversery...I miss him...How can he send me flowers?”

“Shh...” Lana took her shirt off and then her pants and dried her off. “I know it hurts and I don;t know how he can send you flowers when he's in the hospital.” She pulled a shirt over Emas head and kneeled so she was eye-level with her little sister. Lana gave her a small comforting smile as she rubbed her cheek.

“H-he really w-was t-t-the B-blackB-b-bird killer w-w-asn't he?” Ema asked through chattering teeth.

Lana hesitated. She had sat Ema down and explained all of Corvin's history, who he had killed, and a weak reason why. What no one had clarified to Lana was if Corvin had really pulled the trigger on his father or not. She had an inkling of a thought that he had, which would give him motive to kill everyone involved in his faters death, including his own sister. However, there was something fishy about the whole Engarde killing and other random killings that didn't fit into the big picture. She had known Corvin from their visits to Paris every summer, and he seemed like a good sweet kid. That never meant squat. She had seen pictures of Matt Engarde during his trial, and he also seemed like a good kid. Lana knew there was something different about Corvin, the look in his clear blue eyes was always pained, no matter how big he smiled.

April 19th, 2016
Los Angeles, USA
The evening before Apollo's first trial



Ema let out an exhausted sigh as she lowered herself into the bubble-bath she had drawn for herself. She glanced up at the small window above her head. Ever since she entered her apartment earlier that evening, she had the distinct feeling she was being watched. She tried to keep the feeling at the back of her mind as she went through her evening routines, but it wouldn't go away. She called Phoenix, who couldn't talk long, since he was expecting Kristoph to join him at work for dinner. He told her to put on some loud music and just ignore the feeling, at least that's what he did when he got that feeling. “Course,” He added. “It could just be Trucy watching him making sure he didn't touch her stuff!” Ema started to ask who Trucy was, but he interrupted her saying he had to go, his visitor was there.

So there she was, sitting in her bathtub, contemplating the last couple weeks and trying to get the nagging paranoia out of her head. 'Maybe thats what it is,' Ema thought. 'Just simple paranoia. My friends have been following me around...' She thought about how anywhere she would go, she seemed to be mysteriously accompanied by either Gumshoe, Maggey, Phoenix or Klavier. Kristoph even showed up at the cafe she had chosen for lunch. Ema thought she had escaped everyone by choosing this particular out of the way cafe. She found she was wrong when she got up to leave and saw Kristoph at the other end, drinking tea and reading the paper. After their conversation at the Borscht Bowl, she was tempted to go over and give him a piece of her mind for following her. But, after a few seconds of observing him, he didn't seem to know she was there. Ema left the cafe, the hair on her neck standing on end.

Her phone startled her forty minutes later as she was drying herself off.

“Good evening Miles,” Ema said after looking at the I.D. “How are you?”

“Very well, Ema,” The voice...was feminine? Why was Lana using Miles's phone? “How are you?”

“Sis! So good to hear your voice! Why are you using Miles's phone?”



“I ran out of charge and someone broke into my car and stole everything while I was in France, visiting Sola.” Lana explained.

“Oh, that's terrible.” Ema somehow wrapped her self in her towel and kept the phone locked between her ear and shoulder. She started brushing her hair as she continued. “They stole everything? I didn't think that area of Paris was known for crime?”

“It's not, that's why it's highly unusual, and the police held me a day over, so I could fill out paper work and prove I wasn't pulling some sort of sham.” Lana cleared her throat. “I think Miles had someone steal my stuff so I would be away a day longer. I know how you like your alone time!” Ema could hear Miles protest in the background as she laughed.

“I still don't understand why you two just don't get married. You've been living together forever it seems!”

“Miles has some paper work and technicalities and blah blah blah...I think he just has cold feet!” Ema could hear the amusement in Lana's voice.

“Sheesh,” The younger sibling stuck her tongue out at her reflection as she put her hair up in a ponytail. Who did she have to look good for anyway? She updated Lana on her life, or lack thereof these days and was about to comment on Phoenix, when she flipped on the light to her bedroom and saw it, laying plain as day, on her blue bedspread; The Rook card staring out at her with its knowing eyes. The blood froze in her veins and she hurriedly said goodbye to Lana. She heard a slight tapping noise and wondered if it was her heart pounding in her chest. Trying to get her breathing under control, she heard the tapping again, only louder this time. Ignoring her phone which was buzzing with Lana calling and tripping over herself in her delirium, she made her way to the living room and confirmed that it was someone knocking at her door. A harsh Brooklyn accent greeted her as soon as she opened the door.

“Hey, I'm lost can I use your phone? ” The mail-boy/Corvin was standing on her doorstep with a small backpack on his back dressed in khaki cargo shorts and a black shirt with the Gavinners logo on it. She groaned at his shirt as he took a double take at her. Ema looked down at herself. She forgot she was in a towel, and quickly hid herself behind the door. “Ema?!”

“Listen, er...”She snapped her fingers as he chuckled at her.

“Why can't you ever remember my name?” He shook his head. “ It's Robert, or Rob.”

“Ahh yes, sorry.” She was flustered at her own lack of memory. “Listen, Rob, this isn't a good time, I-”

“Hey, you don't look so well, in fact you look like you've seen a ghost!” Rob went on to say something else as Ema went through the list of people to call in case of emergency. Phoenix was busy, Klavier was over on the East Coast, and Gumshoe probably was pacing, waiting for the newest addition to his and Maggey's family to show his face. How ironic that everyone that had been watching her so closely, she couldn't get a hold of tonight.

“Ema,” Rob/Corvin was almost nose to nose with her. “Did you hear me? Can I use your phone?”

Ema drew in a sharp breath and looked at him with confused eyes. The last time Corvin had seen that look in her eyes was when she used to wake up lost and frightened from her nightmares. However, Corvin knew exactly what had Ema shaken up this evening, and so far his plan was working. He had only managed to sneak into her bedroom. In order to carry out any future plans, he needed to see the rest of her apartment. What better way to gain her trust on an evening when no one was available to help her than to pose as someone lost.

“I promise I won't bite and I'm not gonna rob ya.” He winked at her. “You sure you're okay?”

Ema rolled all the possible scenarios in her head and she knew where her mace was, just in case. As creepy as he was, he was a nice guy, and she couldn't get over his resemblance to Corvin. She sighed and unchained the door. Corvin smirked to himself as he walked in.

“Listen,” She started as she handed her phone to him. “No funny stuff, and I will catch you if you steal anything. I'm going to go change into...something decent.”

“Heh, funny stuff...” He mumbled.

Ten minutes later, Ema emerged from her bedroom, ripping up the Rook card.

“Did you get proper directions?” She asked as her trembling hand reached out for her phone.



“I did.”He regarded her carefully. “Thank you.” As he returned her phone, his hand lingered on hers. “You sure you're okay?”

“Yeah, I...uh, I'm fine.” Ema said, quickly pulling her hand away. She hadn't felt sparks like that since... “Do you have a ride or a taxi coming?”

“Ah, yeah I do, they're not gonna be here for another half hour.” He said. Ema invited him to sit and they chatted well beyond the half hour. In fact, the more conversation she held with Rob, the more comfortable she felt around him. So much so that when her phone rang three hours later, she yelped.

“Ahh...you're ride never came...” She commented before she answered her phone. Rob shook his head.

“Detective Ema Skye?” The voice was official and deep on the other line. Ema had never been called by her official name before today. Gumshoe's paternity leave started a week ago and Ema used that week to catch up on paperwork. She had gone out on the field for her first time today, but it was only for a short time. An easy case that Miles would've scoffed at, Ema thought.

“Yes, that's me. What's wrong, Chief Barker?”

“Do you know a Phoenix Wright?” The chief asked.

“Oh,” Ema was not expecting that name to come up. “Yes, I do...is everything alright?”

“No, I'm afraid he's been arrested on suspicion of murder.” The chief paused as he read from his files. “The murder of Shadi Smith. Does that name ring any bells?”

“What!? Murder, but Phoenix would never...” Ema started pacing, and Rob stood, not meaning to listen to her conversation, but he knew that Phoenix had been playing poker at his uncle's club, and murder was never good for keeping up appearances.

“I know, Ema, but he's the only one we have right now.” The Chief continued. “Since he is a friend of yours, I can't let you investigate this one, however, I can let you put your insight in on this. If you can come down to the Borscht Bowl as soon as you can, I would greatly appreciate it.”

“U-um, uhhm yes,” Ema stuttered. “I'll be down.”

“Murder?” Rob gave her a dark look when she finished her conversation.

“What? Yeah, my friend that I told you about that plays poker was arrested on suspicion of murder.” Ema's thoughts were spinning, and she realized that she needed to change out of the comfortable pajamas she had chosen earlier. She ran into her bedroom, and yelled out to Rob, “Hey, do you want to come with me since you are studying investigative science and all?”

Corvin/Rob's own thoughts were spinning out of control. Where was his uncle during all of this? He agreed to go and they grabbed a taxi.



Lana told Ema there would be days like this. What Lana failed to mention was the fact that the days like this extend themselves as long as possible. She glanced at her watch and groaned. Three A.M. She should have been sleeping. Instead she was at the Borscht Bowl, unofficially investigating the murder of one Shadi Smith. Ema shook her head. 'Could this guys name be any more inconspicuous?' she thought to herself, as she observed the man. Something about the whole scene didn't sit right with her, however, she didn't have all the details yet.

Suddenly the unique smell of cloves assaulted her senses. For the umpteenth time that evening her heart stopped as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs to the Hydeout.

“Hey Ema, listen I -” He stopped at the doorway and chuckled at her. “What is your deal tonight? Did you see another ghost? The ghost of Shadi Smith?” He made creepy noises and gestured with his hands. When he saw that Ema wasn't smiling, he stopped. “C'mon, loosen up, buttercup.” He put his arm around her and he felt her freeze up. “Sorry, I didn't mean to-”

“Do you smoke cloves?” She interrupted him.

“I..ahh...heh, yeah,” He looked away. 'Damn the bad habits that won't die!' Corvin/Rob thought to himself. “But I was outside and I was making an important phone call.” He held her phone out to her. “Here's your phone back!”

“What the hell!” Ema checked her bag. Sure enough it was gone. “How'd you do that?”



“You just need to keep track of your stuff better!” He shrugged and stepped closer to her. “You should also carry a gun. Better protection than that empty can of mace you keep.” He started to walk away. “I've gotta get going, Ema. Thank you for the enlightening evening.” He looked back at her and winked. She stared at him, mouth agape.


“Phoenix,” Ema said when visiting hours finally started. “Can you please tell me whats going on?” She lowered her voice. “You didn't do it did you?”

“Of course not!” He smirked at the young woman. “But I have an idea who did, and I think it would be in your best interest to attend the trial today.”

“Okay, but can you at least give me a hint about what's been going on with you lately. You've been so aloof and well, frankly I don't like this Phoenix that I see before me.”

“Ema,” He ducked his head. “You have to understand that the old Phoenix never went away, he just hasn't had anything to be passionate about lately.”

Ema sighed. She was too tired to argue or yell at the man. She rubbed her eyes and they chatted a few more moments until the guard announced that his trial was starting shortly.

“Is everything okay with you?” Phoenix regarded her carefully. “You look exhausted. And after receiving the calls that I did from Lana and Miles, I'm worried about you!”

Ema narrowed her eyes. “What calls did you receive?”

“They just said they were really worried about you and to keep an eye out for you and anyone that could be harassing you.”

“Ha! That's a joke!” She thought about the irony of last night and how there was no one to get a hold of, and yet, Rob shows up at her doorstep... She shook her head. “Listen, I'm fine. They're just paranoid over something that happened so long ago... anyway, I'll get going. Maybe I can slip in a five minute nap before your trial!” As she got up to leave, Phoenix threw her a look of concern that went unnoticed.

July 6th, 2025
Los Angeles, U.S.A.
The Day Before the Gavinners Concert w/ Lamiror



Klavier was having a bad day, and Ema was receiving the brunt of it. She had somehow become his errand girl for the day, and she was not happy about it, considering she had her own work that was piling up on her desk, plus a side investigation she was doing for Phoenix. She didn't realize how exhausted she was until she sat down at her desk that afternoon and tried to make sense of the disaster area that had become her desk. She hadn't been sleeping well lately, and her paranoia had gotten worse. Ema hated having to keep all her curtains closed in her tiny apartment, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. And now it extended into her work. She stole a quick glance around and found a couple of interns typing away in their cubicals and one of the other prosecuting attorneys talking with Chief Barker. Klavier was in his office talking on his cell phone and flipping through paperwork on his desk, not even paying attention to her. She blew out a puff of air and shook her head.

“Ema, you have a piece of mail that arrived late.” Rob had suddenly appeared before her desk as she started at his presence.

“Wha-” She yelped. “I swear, you must have been a ninja in your former life! Where the hell did you come from anyway? You weren't here a minute ago.”

“Heh,” Rob chuckled. “I like to think that life is one big surprise to be discovered. Anyway, I have this package for Klavier, Mr. Imafreakinrockstar, Gavin.” He held up a rather large package and Ema chuckled at his statement as she scrutinized the envelope that Rob had thrown onto her desk. It had no return address.

“Mail boy! I've been waiting for that package! Bring it over here, ja!” Klavier called from his office door.

Rob rolled his eyes and Ema followed, forgetting about her letter, as he walked over to the prosecutor's office.

“It's been a popular package.” He said as Klavier took it from him and set it on his desk. Ema bit off a piece of snakoo and peered at the package. “Daryan seemed to be interested in it as well, kept askin' me about what was in it. I'm surprised he didn't follow me up here.”

“Well, he should be interested, ja? This beautiful instrument is the third star of our show tomorrow. Will you grab my guitar case over there?” Klavier gestured to the corner of his office as Rob went to grab it. “Oh by the way, Rob, I hear you're pretty good at the drums?”

“Ah, er yeah...” Rob blushed slightly as he handed the other the case.

“Good, I need a drummer for tomorrow's concert. I don't usually sub at the last minute, but I'm going to trust Ema's instincts on this one and take a chance on you. I will fire you instantly if you screw things up, ja.”

'Asshole', Rob thought to himself. Then aloud, “Yeah, I understand.”

“Klavier, where is Borginia?” Ema said as she read the address.

“A tiny country in northern Europe.” Klavier stated as he carefully placed the vacuum packed guitar in the case then locked it. Ema and Rob both noticed the cutesy key chain he had, both for separate reasons. “It's a beautiful country. I'm surprised Corvin never mentioned it to you, ja? He fell in love with everything about that place.”

Neither Ema nor the prosecutor noticed Rob flinch when he heard his real name. Klavier was right. He did love Borginia, he was going to take Ema there on their honeymoon...

“Oh, one last thing Fraulein,” Klavier dug through his paperwork and produced two tickets which he handed to a scowling Ema. “I need you to deliver them to Apollo and Trucy, bitte.”

Ema growled and grabbed Rob's hand on her way out of the office.

“You're a diva Klavier, and this is the last thing I'm doing for you today!”





“Uhh...” Rob was still dazed, thinking about Borginia. “Where are we going, Ema?”

“Shh...I'm calling Apollo right now.” The young woman said as she punched the main floor button on the elevator and dialed a number on her phone. Rob watched her as he fidgeted nervously. It was getting harder and harder for him to be in close company with Ema without revealing his true identity. But he kept his sisters words in the forefront of his thoughts.

“Alright!” Ema exclaimed after she hung up. “High quality vodka here we come.”

“Huh?” Rob threw her a confused look as the elevator came to a stop. He stepped out quickly. “What are you talking about?”

“Am I that bad that you can't be in an elevator with me?” Ema had her hands on her hips and was tapping her foot. “You were a nervous wreck the whole time in...” Her eyes widened as she stepped out before the door closed on her. “You're afraid of elevators aren't you?”

“I-I ... no! I'm ...ah claustrophobic...yeah, that's it...” He shoved his hands in his pockets and started to walk off. Ema caught up with him.

“Heh,” She chuckled and shook her head. “Who'd have known, a tough guy from New York, claustrophobic...”

“Yeah, well, don't let the harsh accent fool ya!” He flashed her a smile that almost made her heart melt, then continued. “You never answered my question, where are we going?”

“Ahh, yeah, the Borscht Bowl to drink good vodka and watch Apollo loose his ass in poker to Phoenix!” Ema said with a huge grin on her face. She didn't notice that Rob wasn't following her any more.

“I don't think that's a good idea.”

She turned around. Why was everyone trying her patience today?

“We're just going to have one drink.” She sighed as she walked up to him and touched his arm. “I promise.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. He clenched his jaw and his fists as his self-control was being tested beyond all boundaries. He bit his lip as he smiled and nodded at her.

But it wasn't the vodka he was worried about. It was running into his uncle with Ema in tow; would he act irrationally? With every aspect of his life under a microscope, Corvin could feel himself coming closer to a breakdown everyday.


His question was answered twenty minutes later when they arrived at the Bowl. Konstantin greeted them right away, with no sign of surprise or acknowledgment. In fact he treated Ema like she was part of the family. She introduced Konstantin and Rob, not knowing, of course, that they already knew each other. Rob played along. As Ema asked the gruff Russian where her friends were, Rob spied Olga out of the corner of his eye and glared. She unknowingly hindered and helped their plans; she helped send Kristoph to jail. Their original plan was to send Phoenix to jail for the murder, with Olga's and Shadi's help. But Kristoph got in the way and killed Shadi, and sealed his own fate and kept him from talking. Olga was not only working for Shadi Smith at the time, but Konstatin kept Olga on staff after she served her time. She was a waitress up above and below she helped Phoenix as a dealer. Phoenix didn't trust her much, but she was bringing in the customers just as much as he was, so he didn't complain.

As Ema started downstairs, she called for Rob, but Konstantin stopped him, saying that he wanted to give the boy a tour. Ema's brow knit with confusion, but she let it go, and continued downstairs.

“You do realize I could set everything into motion and destroy everyone you know and love, right now?” Konstantin spoke in perfect Russian with a dark look on his face.

“I realize that.” Corvin replied in perfect Russian. “This wasn't my idea, she had an errand to run and she grabbed me to go with her. I had no choice.”

“We all make our own choices, son. Once you realize this, the world is your oyster.” Konstantin shifted his weight and crossed his arms.

“Yes sir.” Corvin answered as he looked away.

“Boy, you and your sister have made me very proud, don't ruin everything that we've worked for. Listen to me carefully,” Corvin froze, and his world suddenly became focused on what Konstantin had to say. “I need you to set everything in motion tomorrow at the concert. It's planned out perfectly. Daryan makes a great pawn to use at my disposal. I'm sure that the Gavinners will have their original drummer shortly, if they can find him.”

Konstantin was cut short by a gasp in the shadows. The doorway to the kitchen was swinging slightly, as his eyes narrowed at the motion.

“Hmm...Looks like I have someone else I need to take care of as well.”

“How was the tour?” Ema's sweet voice brought Corvin out of his trance as the older gentleman turned toward her.

“He's a very astute young man, maya devochka. You have made a good friend in this one.”

“Ahh...thanks, sir.” Ema smiled and blushed slightly.

“We should get going,” Rob smirked. “I've got some sets to practice before tomorrows concert.”

I hope that everything is clear...I would hope that you know that Corvin and Rob are the same person...I have just taken to calling him Corvin, but keep in mind, that only a handful of people know. At this point however, Ema has a distinct feeling that this person is Corvin, as will be made clear in the next part. I'm sure she would be smart enought to figure out that Rob is Corvin, but remember, she still grieves over Corvin, and has blocked out some of his memories. And Klavier, well, he's too caught up in his own ego and his own problems to worry about Rob...until he makes a visit to Daryan's cell....but that's all in the future...I've tried to stick to Turnabout Serenade as close as I possibly could. I realized that Ema couldn't return to the crime scene as soon as she could have, because Daryan needed to move the bodies. I was going to put Corvin in the situation to help heim move them all the way (because seriously, how the heck did he move the bodies by himself, and not get caught?) but, well, read on!

July 7th, 2025
Morning of the concert


“Yeah, I'll make sure I get the keys and I'll make sure Ema is there, somehow.” Daryan snapped his phone shut. He was pissed at Konstantin, and at himself for agreeing to do the Russians dirty work. However, if he didn't need the money so bad, he wouldn't be involved. After hearing what kind of ties that Corvin's family had, and the kind of money he could make from selling the cocoon, all of his morals had gone out the window. He paused before going into the building that housed Klavier's office. Ema was such a good person. Could he really do this? Klavier would stand up for him, if it came down to it, he was certain.

The smell of cloves made him stop halfway up the stairs. The last person he knew that smoked cloves was...

He found Rob leaning against the brick ally wall smoking and talking in hushed Russian. Daryan wasn't fluent, but he knew enough to be dangerous. He knew the mailboy looked familiar and the lighting of the alleyway proved his theory correct.

“Corvin,” Daryan called as he crossed his arms smugly. The boy turned his head and his eyes widened. He considered running, but he knew Daryan would catch him. He said something into his phone and hung up. He started walking towards Daryan.

“How'd you figure it out?” He asked as he took a deep drag of his clove. Corvin looked at the detective skeptically.

“I had a feeling about you ever since I met you. You are quiet on your feet, you have no concrete history, your appearance is completely interchangeable. You are the perfect assassin. I'm actually kinda jealous.” Daryan paused. “Plus, not many people smoke cloves anymore. Has Ema figured you out yet?”

“No, and I'd like to keep it that way.” Corvin looked away. “So, now that you know, are you going to tell her and the world?”

“It's tempting. Your uncle has quite the way of intimidating and influencing people. If I didn't need the money so bad, I wouldn't agree to anything.” Daryan licked his lips. “Your secret is safe with me. Plus after tonight, I'm not gonna give a rats ass what you do. Just make sure that everything goes down smoothly tonight, you got it. I know what your uncle has up his sleeve, and if your plan gets in my way, I will make sure you and your uncle go down in flames!”

“Heh, Daryan,” Corvin chuckled darkly. “Always one for drama.” He stepped closer to the dark haired detective. “You have nothing to worry about my friend. That cocoon is all yours. Just like Ema will be mine!” He glanced up at Daryans hair then whispered into his ear, “We will be rich beyond our wildest dreams after tonight, my friend.” He gave the hair a long stroke before he turned to walk into the building he had been leaning against. Daryan glared at him, then followed him in.


July 7th,
One hour before concert time.


“Fraulein, please, I need you.” Ema never heard Klavier so desperate. They were standing in the Gavinners dressing room. “All you have to do is snoop around and make sure nobody comes down here.”

“Klavier, I haven't been to a Gavinners concert, or any concert since that incident. I don't think I'm ready for this.” Her expression was as desperate as Klavier's voice. He regarded her carefully as he sighed.

“Ema, I realize how hard even being inside a concert hall is for you.” He touched her cheek. “But you have to put all of those dark feelings in the past. There is no one here that'll get hurt, I promise.”

Ema almost died looking into his ocean-blue eyes, his touch was electrifying.
She closed her eyes and sighed. “I'll do this, but only for myself, not for you Klavier.” She lied. It was mostly for him, but she wasn't going to admit that.

“Klavier, you're wanted on stage..” Rob burst into the room and saw Klavier's hand on Ema's cheek. He bit his lip as the jealousy and anger started to boil in his veins.

“Thanks,” Then to Ema, he said, “You'll be okay down here, Lamiror's agent is down here as well, and he's huge!”

She shook her head. “Go, before I pelt you with snakoos.”

“What was that all about?” Rob asked after Klavier left the room.

“Nothing, I-I...I've had bad luck at concerts that's all.” She gave him a half-smile as he took her in his arms. She was surprised at first, but it felt so good to be held, that she gave in and wrapped her arms around him. 'Do it, take her down now, it's the perfect opportunity. You can have everything you want...' He fought the voices in his head. He couldn't do it, he couldn't hurt Ema, not like this, not at another concert.

“Thank you, I needed that.” She smiled at him sweetly after he let go of her.

“You're welcome, and there's plenty more where that came from.” He smiled back as the P.A. Came on announcing the members to the stage. “Gotta go!”

“Good luck!” She called after him. As she stood in the doorway, a movement at the end of the hall caught her eye and she went to investigate. She was close to the fire exit that was at the end of the hallway and she sensed someone there.

“Hey, who's there?” Ema gasped at the voice behind her as she turned and saw a large man standing in front of Lamiror's dressing room.

“Oh, my, you must be Mr. LeTouse?” She had her hand over her heart as she walked over to him.

“Yes, who are you?”

“I'm sorry, I'm Ema Skye, detective for the 1st precinct homicide division.” She held out her hand. “Klavier called me here because something of his was stolen earlier.”

“Ah, yes, nice to meet you.” The man said in a deep voice as he shook her hand. “I'm sorry I startled you earlier. There was someone sneaking around here and I thought you were that person.”

“I thought I saw someone just now myself,” Ema gestured to the end of the hallway. “But no one was there. I think our overprotective senses are on overdrive right now.”

“Well, I will help you keep an eye out, Ema, however right now, I must help Lamiror get ready for the concert.”

“Thank you.”



'Damn that was the perfect opportunity.' Nikita cursed herself. She had Ema at the perfect spot at the end of the hall. However, Corvin did as well, and she would have words with him later.



Second Act


Ema was certain she saw Daryan come down toward the dressing room. She would recognize that hair anywhere. She had become restless and decided to go backstage to listen to the rest of the first act. Now that the second act was just beginning, Rob was still on stage and Daryan was no where to be found. Ema's investigative instincts were on overload as she examined the hallway and looked in at the Gavinners dressing room. When she found nothing out of place there, she walked over to Lamirors dressing room and found it locked. Frowning, she tried again, still nothing. She gave up, thinking that the siren kept her dressing room locked for security reasons. Then it occurred to her, where was LeTouse? Just as she was about to turn around, she was knocked down by a large leather clad person.

“Ouch, what the hell?” Ema yelled as she rubbed her head and stood up. She ran to the backstage area, and saw Daryan setting up for the next set. He glanced over at her nervously. She bit her lip, could it have been him?



“My heart fell into my stomach when I heard the gunshot,” Ema told Rob twenty minutes after finding LeTouse dead in the dressing room. She was on-stage questioning the band members and Rob happened to be the last one. “And seeing the body...I know I'm supposed to be professional, but I almost lost it.” He pulled her into another hug. Her hair smelled of lilies as he let go of her quickly. She gave him a confused look and was going to ask him what was wrong, when she was interrupted by Klavier and Daryan arguing backstage.

“Ugh, and then there's these two. Klavier is seriously pissing me off.” She scowled. “I should be getting back to the scene. Thank you.” She rested her hand on his shoulder.

“For what?” Rob asked, clenching his teeth to help his self-control.

“For listening to me when you have no idea what's going on. My silly fears are going to be my undoing some day.”

“Well, I'm sure they are justified. Whatever happened must've been pretty bad. You'll tell me when you are ready. I understand.” He gave her a smile that rivaled Corvin's and kissed her on the forehead. “Go, before the two ego maniacs see you away from the crime scene.”


Because everyone had been ordered to stay in the stadium, Corvin's patience was wearing thin as he paced the backstage opposite of where Klavier and Daryan were arguing. Their plans had failed, and Konstantin was going to be very upset. Corvin tried his phone, but there was no reception.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Nikita snuck up on him and smacked him upside the head. His first reaction was to grab her and throw her down. He caught himself from hitting her when he realized who she was.

“You know better than to sneak up on me like that, sister.” He stated as he held his hand out. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“I was counting on your assassin reflexes to be rusty, since it seems you can't even carry out a simple plan!” Nikita said angrily and refused his hand as she got herself off the ground and brushed herself off.

“It was foolish to even plan anything at this concert. Klavier would've found out and had us arrested immediately.”

“Not if you had gotten her out in time. Klavier would have had the worst day of his life, with his precious Ema missing and the murder of LeTouse. By the way, that was very sloppy work.”

“What are you talking about?” Corvin crossed his arms as he regarded his sister carefully.

“With LeTouse...All that blood, and a .45 caliber? Really Corvin? I thought I knew you better than that!” Nikita swept her long black hair into a ponytail as she spoke.

“That...wasn't me...He was dead before I got to him...” Corvin said slowly as he turned. He saw Daryan talking animatedly with two other people he didn't recognize and Klavier. “I wonder...

“Then who the hell is making our night a living hell besides you?”

“Goddamned Daryan Crescend, that's who.” Corvin saw Daryan take off and he followed him with his sister not far away, careful to keep themselves out of sight. So careful, in fact, that Nikita tripped over Ema, who was on her hands and knees, in the auditorium, scouring for clues.

“Eek,” Nikita rolled gracefully into the shadows.

“Ema?” Corvin helped the young woman to her feet. “What are you doing?”

“I'm investigation, what the hell are you doing, and who was that?” She gestured to the shadows as she tried in vain to see something.

“Who was...who? I'm the only one here Ema.”

She bit her lip. “I could've sworn I heard and saw someone...” She walked closer to the shadows but Corvin grabbed her.

“Don't...there's no one there.” He said, a little too stern. She gave him a confused look, then looked down at her arm.

“Ouch, Rob...you're hurting me...let go.” Corvin let go quickly as he apologized. Meanwhile, Nikita ran off to the dressing rooms to hide.

“See I told you, no one there.” Corvin said smugly as Ema returned a couple minutes later.

“I guess.” She conceded, rubbing her arm. “I-I've gotta get back.” Then started walking to the siren's dressing room. Corvin watched her disappear around the corner, then turned and headed back toward the stage. What he saw there made him chuckle as he witnessed Daryan hoisting the giant LeTouse onto the stage

“Daryan!” He called and Daryan almost dropped the guitar in his hands.

“What the frick are you doing? You almost made drop my precious Geeter.” Daryan's gray eyes flashed with anger.

“Geeter?” Corvin asked as he saw Nikita emerge from of the backstage door. She quickly hid herself when she noticed that Daryan was by his side.

“Yeah, that's my baby. I'm sacrificing her for money for a better guitar, get it, Corvin?” His face was inches away from Corvins as he poked his shoulder for emphasis. He turned and went back to arranging the guitar on LeTouse. Corvin was still for a second, trying to control the anger building up inside him. He should have taken care of Daryan when he had the chance. Now with this elaborate set-up, he had the feeling that Daryan was taking care of getting himself thrown in jail for a long time. He smirked at himself as he grabbed an unconscious Machi and set him on the stage.

“Er, thanks...” Daryan said as he arranged Machi. “Poor kid, doesn't stand a chance.”




July 8th, 2025
10am

As soon as everyone was released from the stadium, Nikita and Corvin rushed over to the Borscht Bowl where Olga told them their Uncle was conducting a “business meeting” of sorts, in the Hydeout. The siblings waited in the restaurant, as a nervous Olga went to hide in the kitchen.

“I bet that place hasn't been used for that in years.” Corvin stated as he sat in front of the piano and plucked out a couple of notes.

“Argh, it's so frustrating how you can be so calm. Konstantin is going to chew our asses out, and you sit there and play the piano like nothings happened.” Nikita was pacing and as the meeting adjourned, the men started emerging from the Hydeout. They were dressed in dark suits and very clean cut and broad shouldered Nikita glared at them as one of them gave her a smirk and another called her something very dirty in Russian. She started to go after him, when her uncle's voice boomed over the restaurant.

“Nikita!” She froze as Corvin stopped playing the piano and looked up. As soon as all the men but two were gone, Konstantin grabbed Nikita's arm and dragged her to sit on the piano bench next to Corvin.

“Why is it that I don't have Ema in my possession right now?” He said angrily, in Russian. “Why is it that I'm not calling one Miles Edgeworth over to the states to finish our plans?” His voice escalated as he suddenly slapped Nikita across the face. She yelped and Corvin stood up. Konstantin blocked his upper-cut and grabbed his throat. “You listen to me carefully boy. I want Ema in my possession in the next twenty-four hours, or I'll have both of your heads up on that wall for display. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, sir.” Nikita squeaked out between sobs.

“Well, son?” He shook Corvin as he managed to voice something incoherent. Konstantin let go of Corvin as he fell to his knees, his hands rubbing his throat and coughing. Nikita started to comfort him, but Konstantin hit her so hard she fell off the bench.

Something inside Corvin snapped as he went for Konstanin with all of his anger as he got off two punches before being dragged off by the two men that had been standing by the door. After a minutes of struggling, Corvin gave up when Konstantin grabbed his face.

“Now listen to me very carefully,” The uncles voice was smooth and Corvin went into a trance. “I love you like my own son, but you are getting harder and harder to control. You are just as stubborn as your father, but you remember what happened to him after he lost control. I would hate to see you get yourself caught in a situation like that.” He let go of Corvins face and Nikita sniffed. Konstantin grabbed her roughly and stood her up. “Now, you will have Ema here in my possession no later than twenty-four hours.” He paused as one of the gentlemen cleared his throat.
“Waht
“Sir, you might want to wait. She's in the middle of an investigation and I don't think that would bode well with your plans.”

“Ah, yes, thank you Ian, clever boy you are.” Konstantin patted the man on his shoulder, then turned back to Corvin. “ I will give you until the end of the week to have her here. That trial won't last more than a couple of days. Do you understand me, Corvin?” He didn't move but Nikita nodded her head, and the older gentleman clenched his jaw. “Do you understand me Corvin? I need Ema here, at the end of the week.” The boy finally shook his head. “Looks like these two need some work. Gentlemen, please, do your thing, I will be back later to check on them.” Konstantin straightened his suit jacket and walked out of the club. The two men dragged Corvin and Nikita downstairs.

In the meantime, Olga overheard everything from the kitchen and as soon as everyone was gone from the main floor, she quietly tip-toed out to the restaurant and pulled out her phone.

“The plan is being put into action, you should receive a phone call soon.”

“Good, thank you.” The voice on the other line said. “How is Ema?”

“I don't know.” Olga said. “She seemed fine when she was here a couple days ago.”

“Was she with anybody?”

“Yes, with Corvin.”

“Brave...”

“What?”

“Nothing, listen to me. I need you to contact Phoenix and I need you to set up a poker game, with someone, anyone, I don't care who. He needs to be in the vicinity when the plan goes into effect.”

“I will do that, Mr. Edgeworth...” She paused. She heard a muffled cry come from the basement and she almost flew out of her skin. “Sir, I...”

“What is it, Olga?” Edgeworth asked when Olga stopped.

“I-I...don't think it's safe here anymore.” Olga had started crying.

“Olga...what's going on...”

“S-Sir, I think they are being tortured.”

“What!? Who?” Edgeworth panicked.

“The siblings, Konstantin was just here and he...” Olga froze as she heard someone coming up the stairs. Not wanting to risk being seen, she ducked and ran out the front door. The gentleman came upstairs just in time to see the front door closing. He growled and turned back downstairs.

“Olga!” Edgeworth was practically screaming into the phone. The woman caught her breath after running two blocks.

“Edgeworth, sir,” She manged between puffs of air. “I'm afraid of him. He's gotten very ill-tempered and he's taken no mercy on the siblings.”

“Olga, I...” Edgeworth paused. Knowing everything he did about their family history, he felt sorry for Corvin and Nikita. They didn't deserve any of what they were going through; being innocent pawns in the dirty game of revenge and illegal trade that Konstatin was involved in. “Olga, if things start to be too overwhelming for you, tell Phoenix everything that is going on. I didn't want to drag him in on all of this, considering he has his own problems to deal with, but he will understand.”

Olga sniffed and thanked him as she hung up. Too scared to go back to the club, she decided to walk through People's Park to clear her mind.

Edgeworth's mind however was on one single person. The one person that was brave enough to survive murder and her sister's heartbreaking trial. He knew in the end that someone was going to die, and someone would be left with a broken heart.

Another reason I wasn't going to include it, was the themes involved in this part. There are some very questionable actions in this. I DO NOT condone violence of any nature, but it has somehow leaked into my fanfiction and I have made the desicion to leave it in. In other words, proceed with caution.

Corvin's head was pounding and his limbs were heavy. He was so disoriented he wasn't sure if he was laying on his back or his stomach. He wasn't even sure he was laying down. The last thing he remembered was...being threatened by...his uncle...his father...who? It was all a blur. Even breathing was a chore. He tried to roll his head, but it was stopped by something soft. Breathing in a familiar scent, he opened his eyes and was greeted by a cloudy image of a woman with pale skin and raven – hair...raven-hair...his sister? His sister! She appeared to be unconscious and hunched over him. He tried to lift his hand to touch her face, but his muscles wouldn't cooperate and hot white pain shot through them when he tried. Corvin groaned and rolled his head the opposite direction, and was face to face with a picture of a what appeared to be a happy family...

“All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”*

A scene played out in front of his eyes...

Three-year old Corvin ran into his mothers arms as the strange black car pulled up their drive. He had never seen such a fancy car before. All the windows were dark, so he couldn't see inside. He could feel his mother shaking as his older twin sisters, Nikita and Nadja clung to their mothers skirt.

“Mama,” Corvin buried his head in his mothers neck. “What's happening?”

“Mama,” The twins said in unison. Then Nadja asked, “Who is that, mama?”

“That person,” Their mother paused and took a deep breath as the chauffeur got out of the car and opened the back passenger side door. “That person is your...fa-...uncle...” She stuttered as a very tall, raven-haired man emerged from the car. He was dressed very fashionably in a black pin-striped suit with a dark maroon tie and black dress shirt underneath. His silver and black sunglasses covered the steely blue eyes that were the trade-mark of the Rasputin** family men.

“Lillith,” The man's voice seemed to rumble as he spoke in perfect Russian. “It's very good to see you again.”

“Da, as it is you, Konstantin.” Lillith answered in just as perfect Russian. The man put his hand gently on the boys head and looked into a reflection of his own clear blue eyes.

“He is going to be a handsome man someday. I would expect nothing less from these genes.” Lillith bit her lip as he knelt to take in the twins. “Ahh...they have their mothers beautiful clear green eyes, and their fathers raven-hair. Do you know how perfect you two young ladies are?” The twins giggled as their mother took a deep breath to stop herself from expressing her anger at his comment.

“I will make sure that your room is set up proper and ready for you.” She started to turn toward the house, but was stopped by Konstantin's rough grip on her arm. The girls had run up onto the porch already and she looked at him wide-eyed. Corvin could feel her distress and whimpered as he tried to bury his head further into his mothers neck.

“Does Fyodor know?” His voice was soothing and for a moment both Corvin and Lillith were entranced. “Does little Corvin know the truth about his real father?”

Lillith broke her reverie immediately. She set a reluctant Corvin on the ground and he clutched onto his mothers skirt.

“You forget, your tricks do not work on me, Konstantin.” She said in a low voice as she held her arm up and revealed a bronze engraved bracelet under her long-sleeved blouse. Konstantin also spied a bruise, fresh it seemed, maybe from that morning. The truth always hurt, and in this family, that was no exception. “I come from a family of seers that go back centuries further than your crazy ancestors.”

“I see,” The man pushed his glasses up his nose. “You've finally accepted your Gramarye heritage. Was it Fyodor that pushed you into that?”

Lillith flashed him a dark look as she put her arm down. “I will see that your room is ready.”

Two years later...

When Corvin woke and found that his father had left without their morning hug, he was heartbroken. They had a morning ritual that he loved. Corvin always ran up to his father and Fyodor would lift and flip the boy over his shoulder and then ruffle his dark hair.

“Never forget who you are and that your mom and I love you.” His fathers voice would rumble with happiness and the twins squeals would join in as they would run into the room, dressed in their uniforms for school. Fyodor would then flip the boy back over and take each of the porcelain faces in his hands and kiss their rosy cheeks. “Same with you girls! Now, lets get you to school.”

However, since their uncle moved in, the morning rituals and hugs and kisses that their father would share with the children seemed to be coming less frequently.

Now, he stood with his ear at the closed door of his fathers office, listening to what he thought was his father screaming at his mother. As he listened closer, he realized it was his uncle's more refined Russian, and that terrified him more. The next sound he heard confused him. It was crying, but where was it coming from? He slowly made his way down the hall to where his sisters shared a room. He peered in and saw Nikita bending over Nadja, who was laying in the fetal position on the fluffy pink rug that was at the foot of their beds.

“What happened?” Corvin asked with an edge of panic in his voice as he entered the room.

“I'm n-not sure,” Nikita said, her eyes were red from crying. “I-I remember uncle standing b-between our beds and he was staring at us, m-mumbling something about selling beautiful people...th-then he said something else and...” She trailed off and fell to her knees cradling Nadja in her tiny arms. It was the first time Corvin noticed that Nadja's eyes were open and staring out at nothing.

“The n-next thing I remember,” Nikita continued between sobs. “I-I'm still on my bed, but N-Nadja was here, and uncle was...was putting on his jacket and l-leaving the room.”

Corvin's five-year-old mind wasn't sure what to make of everything, but he was sure it wasn't good. He reached out and smoothed Nadja's hair and then dropped to his own knees as he hugged them both.

Suddenly, he was being dragged by his collar out of the girls room and he saw Nikita's terrified face.

“If I EVER catch you in the twin's room again,” Corvin's heart was beating a hundred miles an hour as Konstantin yelled at him. Corvin was calling his sisters names, but his uncles voice carried over his crying. Konstantin suddenly let go of him and he dropped on his knees. “I will make sure you regret it the rest of your life.” Konstantin walked briskly out of his room as the young boy started to sob. He heard the slamming of the front door and his father's voice.

Everything became a blur as Corvin suddenly found himself crouching under the sink. Then his mother's voice above everything else...

“It was Konstantin...”



Present day...


Corvin woke in a cold sweat, repeating his mothers words. He drew in a sharp breath as he was suddenly aware of the pain that had taken over his body. Corvin squeezed his eyes shut and moaned.

“Corvin...”

“Mother...” Corvin's eyes flew open and the green eyes of his … mother?...no Nikita, greeted him. He found that he was still in her lap and attempted to move his limbs. A shot of white hot pain struck him as he cried out.

“C-Corvin...I can't h-help you...” She said between sobs. “I can't move my arms...”

Corvin took a couple deep breaths to try to calm his nerves and his pain.

“I can't...either...” He said as he slowly opened his eyes.

“W-What happened t-to us?” Nikita had lifted her head. “Why a-are we in the Hydeout?”

“I don't know, I don't remember...”

“Corvin!” A frightened look fell over her beautiful features as she looked around at her surroundings. Konstantin had changed the layout of the Hydeout since the murder of Shadi, adding a small loveseat, which they were sitting on. However, what Nikita spotted was two chairs that had straps and chains on them...she looked down at her wrists and saw that she had marks on them. Corvin's did as well, and she relayed the scene to him. “Oh...C-Corvin, what the hell happened to us?”

Corvin didn't answer, as his mind had wondered to the past again...





Corvin was nine when he walked in on Konstantin cleaning his guns. His father was at work and his mother had taken the girls shopping for their birthday. Konstantin had been so focused on his guns, he'd forgotten Corvin was still at the house. For the most part, he followed his brother's house rules, (one being, no guns in the house because of the children) as to not draw any unwanted attention to himself or his brothers family. He knew, however, that if he were to follow the family traditions, that the house rules had to be broken at some point. The perfect opportunity raised it's head on that faithful day.

The young raven haired boy stared in awe as his uncle showed him the ins and outs of a gun. When Corvin finally held it in his hand, the gleam in his eyes was unmistakable, and Konstantin knew that Corvin was going to be a natural assassin, just like he had, and like his father before him...

Over the next couple years, Konstantin took the young man under his wing, and taught him everything he knew about being an assassin. Corvin's father had no idea about this and Konstantin took every precaution to keep it that way. Until another fateful day when Corvin turned twelve...



Present day...

Nikita watched helplessly as her brother talked and whipped his head back and forth in his dream. The pain had diminished into a dull ache and Nikita had the feeling back in her arms, but her legs were still immobile. Sweat had started to form on his forehead, and Nikita wiped away the dyed red hair that had stuck there. She hated the fact that he had to dye his hair. She missed his long black hair; it reminded her of a sweeter, brilliant Corvin. Konstantin suddenly came bursting in the room with the two gentleman from before following close behind.

“Nikita,” He said gently, almost mockingly as he walked up to her and cradled her chin in his hand. “My beautiful, sweet Nikita...” His grip tightened and she started to protest. He put a finger on her lips and said, “Listen to me closely...” She froze. Suddenly, her uncle was the most important person in the room right then. “I no longer need your services as an assassin. Even though you are one of the best female assassins, you will prove more profitable in another way.” He leered at her as he turned her face to look at her profile. “You have your mother's beautiful youthful genes, too bad she's not alive to see how tantalizing her daughters turned out to be.” He turned her head and bent to whisper in her ear, “You will be sold as a slave to a very rich man who has what I need, and I need guns, more than I need you.” He straightened up and ran his thumb along her jawline. “Do you understand me Nikita?” She nodded listlessly.


Past tense...

Twelve-year-old Corvin was so dazed and confused when he received a text from Nikita, stating that he needed to get out of school and come home any way he could. He pulled his black sweatshirt closer to him as he walked faster to get to his house and out of the cold Russian air. Corvin walked into the kitchen and right into the middle of a screaming match.

“...that Corvin is your son, he lives in MY house and he will follow my rules.” Fyodor was pointing his finger at Konstantin and yelling in broken Russian. Lillith gasped when Corvin walked into the room. His father opened and closed his mouth like a fish gasping for water, trying to find the right words. He threw a dark look at his brother.

“You will regret all of this Konstantin, I will make sure of that. Lillith, I...” Fyodor bit his lip then turned and walked out of the room, not even looking at Corvin.

Lillith tried to hold back her sobs, to no avail as Corvin looked at her then to his uncle, then back again.

“Wh-What's going on?” Corvin asked in fluent Russian.

The woman started to run out of the room, but Konstantin caught her in an iron grip. She cried out in pain as she fell to her knees.

“Mama!” Corvin ran over and tried to pry his hands off of her, but was met with a grip on his face. He tried to fight, but gave up as soon as Konstantin started to speak.

“You should learn the truth and since my brother and your mother are too coward to tell you, I will tell you myself. I am your father Corvin, not Fyodor.” Lillith cried out again and tried to reach out to Corvin. Konstantin let go of Corvin and grabbed the bronze bracelet around her wrist and proceeded to yank it off. The young boy was too shocked to react and as soon as the bracelet was removed, it was tossed into the corner of the kitchen where it broke into a thousand tiny little pieces. Lillith crumbled to her knees in a sobbing mess. “I sent you and Lillith to live with this family until I could settle my own affairs. I was hoping that my brother would be smart and tell you the truth. But I used that to my advantage. Now I see the fear and the anger in your eyes, boy, and I know you will make an excellent assassin. I have taught you well, but there is more to learn.”

“No, please...he's just a little boy...” Lillith cried out.

“Now, you will listen to me carefully, Lillith.” The woman suddenly looked up at the tall man as if he was the most important person in the world. Corvin swallowed hard as he slowly started to back away. “You will no longer interfere in my affairs. I no longer have a need for you.” Corvin's breath caught in his throat as everything suddenly went in slow motion. The glint of the gun as Konstantin pulled from behind his back, the cocking of the gun, his mother crying, and red...

Then Konstantin said the most important words Corvin ever heard, “Corvin, listen to me carefully...”

Time suddenly meant nothing to Corvin. His mother was cradled in his arms. His tears blurred his vision, his throat hurt from crying for so long. He never felt so much pain, never felt so alone. He loved his mother with all of his being, and now she was dead. All because of that monster...

“Good, and as soon as I have Ema in my possession, she will turn a high profit as well. I knew my boy Corvin had good taste in women.” Konstantin called for Olga as he observed the troubled look on Corvin's sleeping face.

The gun was in his messenger bag. It was a gun that Konstantin gave him.

He carefully laid his mother down.

The gun was light in his grip as he followed the cries of his sisters down the hall.

“It looks like this round of serum and electro-shock, is taking it's toll on my handsome assassin.”

Konstatin had them each tied to separate chairs and there was video equipment and other technical equipment everywhere. Fyodor was yelling at his brother and gesturing wildly with a gun in his hand. Corvin had his own gun pointed at them waiting...

“He will soon learn the truth about his past in his dreams.”

“How dare you?” Fyoder suddenly trained his gun on Konstantin. “How dare you use my daughters as your toys. They are people, not things to be sold. You are an evil man, and I cannot claim you as my brother anymore. You have become as crazy as Grigori** himself.”

“You are a coward, Fyodor! This is our life! This is what we do!”

“Where the hell is Olga?” The large Russian snapped his fingers at one of his assistants and they started to exit the room to look for her...

Corvin cocked his gun as everyone turned to look at him. The twins whimpered. Fyodor had a terrified look in his eyes.

“My...Corvin...what the hell do you think you are doing?”

Konstantin pulled his gun out and shot Fyodor in the head.


Present day...

Corvin suddenly flew out of Nikita's lap, ignoring the pain, and focused on the rage and anger from the dreams that he was forced to have.

“You!! You killed my father!” He yelled as he lunged at his uncle with the fury of a wolf. Konstantin's assistant's reached their boss before any major damage was done. They both held a barely manageable Corvin, who was thrashing about.

“Nice of you to join us, my son.”

Okay, to clear things up a little, towards the end, the sentences in bold are present day Konstantin. This whole scene was meant to represent Corvin drifting in and out of a drugged haze. Everything that was happening in the present was being incorproated into his dreams. Konstantin is involved in human and weapons trafficking and everything came to a head the day that Corvin's "parents" were killed. This is the actual events of that day. The vision that Corvin had in an earlier chaper are what Konstatin brainwashed him to have. Miles Edgeworth and the Gavin's involvement will become clear in a future chapter. I apologize if it's all kinds of confusing, I originally had no intention for the plot to get so involved. If you have any questions or are completely confused please PM me and I will be happy to clear anything up! I promise, more Klema and more Phoenix in future chapters!

July 11th, 2026
Los Angeles, USA



The trial of State vs. Machi and the Gavinners concert had taken its toll on Ema. She was exhausted, both mentally and physically. This morning, she was waiting for Klavier to get back from the penitentiary and visiting Daryan and Kristoph. She was just as shocked, if not more, than everyone else about the outcome of the trial. She liked Daryan, and he could be a hot head, but the rest of the band was the same. 'Speaking of the rest of the band,' Ema thought to herself as she rested her head in her hands, 'I wonder what's going to happen...'

“Ema,” Corvin said softly, twenty minutes later, trying not to startle her, to no avail. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.”

She sucked in a sharp breath and blinked up at Corvin. “Oh... I... hi Rob! Uhh... I didn't mean to drift off.”

“Heh, you've got some...” Corvin reached out and softly wiped one corner of her mouth.

“Oh, good grief!” She blushed slightly as she rummaged through her bag for her little mirror. As soon as she passed her own inspection, she realized that Corvin was staring at her.

“Did I miss something?” She asked.

“Uh, oh, no!” He nervously shuffled his feet and picked up a pen from her desk. “Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. I'm just worn out from the concert and Klavier making me errand boy for the Gavinners, since his lead bassist decided to waste his career in jail.” He started to flip the pen between his fingers, but stopped immediately when he saw the look on Ema's face. Like she had seen a ghost.

“Ema, are you alright?” He waved a hand in front of her face.

“Yeah, I should get back to work.” She said distractedly as she shuffled the paperwork around on her desk. Corvin rested his hand on hers. A spark ran up her arm and through her body... no one had been able to do that since...Corvin. She swallowed hard.

“You need a break, you look as exhausted as I feel.” Her tired blue eyes met Rob's dark brown almost black eyes and for a second, nothing in the world seemed to matter but the two of them. She shook her head and cleared her throat.

“Yes, you're right, this paperwork is giving me a headache,” She took a deep breath, and realized that his hand was still on hers. Ema opened her mouth to say something, but was rendered temporarily speechless.

“Good, it's almost lunchtime,” He said suddenly.

“Ja, and you are interrupting Fraulein Detectiv and her paper work,” Klavier seemed to appear out of nowhere, as he clapped a hand on Corvin's shoulder and winked at Ema. Corvin's jaw twitched in anger, and a dark look came over his face. “So I suggest you go have lunch and leave the good Detectiv alone!”

Ema threw Klavier an angry look.

“Ugh, Klavier, I'm not in the mood. I need a break.” She stood up and grabbed her bag then linked her arm through Corvin's. “Let's go before the glimmerous fop gives us more crap to do.”

“Ema,” Klavier called as he snapped his fingers to some in visible beat.

“What!?” She turned and stared daggers at the prosecutor.

“Be careful.” Ema gave him a concerned look when she saw the sadness in his eyes. She stumbled out of the cubicle farm as Corvin dragged her out of the door.



“What was that all about?” Corvin asked after they had sat down for lunch.

“I don't know,” Ema sighed heavily. “I'm tired of his subtleties. I just ignored it.” She rolled her eyes and changed the subject. “Have you heard any rumors amongst the band about what they're gonna do?”

“Nope,” The other cracked his knuckles nervously. “Just that they hate that Daryan pulled the crap that he did.”

Ema laid a careful eye on Corvin, trying to gauge his reaction to this conversation. “And you...how do you feel about Daryan?”


“I think he's an arrogant ass for trying to pull what he did. Only thinking of himself.” He nervously drummed the table. “Pppfftt...if he needed the money so bad, he could've borrowed it.”

“I didn't realize you two knew each other that well.”

“We don't,” He shrugged. “But he's a cool guy, plus the band seemed pretty tight knit, I think the other band mates would've loaned him the money.” He paused and took a drink of his water. “So, what are you doing this evening?”

“Oh wow,” She said surprised at the sudden change of subject, as she twirled her straw in her iced tea. “Well, I've got to finish up all the paperwork and file the evidence from the last case...Oh, I also have a small project I'm working on for my friend Phoenix.”

“No, I meant after you're done working,” He paused. “Do you ever stop working?”

“I, well,”Ema chuckled, then stopped and thought about it. She had been working a lot lately.

The waitress brought their lunch and their conversation was temporarily forgotten.



“You should call me if you don't burn yourself out on work tonight.” Corvin suggested as they were walking out of the tiny cafe. He hadn't meant to but he had stepped close enough to Ema that he could smell her shampoo, or her perfume, or whatever it was that she wore that made her smell absolutely divine to him. He paused quickly to orientate himself. The electro-shock that he had been through the last couple days had brought back parts of the old Corvin, before the fall, and everything about Ema was driving him insane with lust.

“Yeah, I wish I could just say screw it and leave it all for tomorrow, but with all of these new laws, I have to have that evidence and that paperwork filed before tonight at midnight, and I'm not even halfway through...are you okay?” Ema had turned to face him and found him with what looked like a pain filled expression on hes face. He suddenly took a deep breath.

“I'm fine,” He rubbed his temples. “Just a migraine coming on.”

“Heh, looks like I'm not the only one that Klavier's overworking!” She touched his arm and he suddenly stepped back.

“I-I should go,” He started to take off, then turned and called, “Call me, I'll be better by tonight, we'll have a good time, I promise!”

“Umm...Okay! Bye!” She shook her head as she waved at him.



July 11th, 2026
10:19 pm
Outside the courthouse...

“She never called...” Corvin was pacing in the rain looking at his phone. “Why hasn't she called.”

He finally made the decision five minutes later to walk inside the building to find her. He went up to the cubicle farm that housed her desk. It was completely dark, save for the light in Klavier's office casting crazy shadows over the room. He paused at her desk and peeked over his shoulder to make sure Klavier wasn't watching him. Corvin noticed that the mysterious letter that he had dropped off a week ago had been halfway opened and one corner of a card of some sort peeked out. He slowly took it out and discovered that it was a Rook card.

Something inside him snapped when he saw the Raven staring out at him, and he knew he had to protect Ema, at all costs. His plan had to be revised. Instead of taking Ema to the Hydeout, he would take her someplace safe, that no one would even think of looking for them, not even Konstantin.

The click of Klavier's door opening brought Corvin out of his reverie and he quickly ducked under Ema's desk. He could hear the jangle of keys as he carefully slipped around the desk, and, while still crouching, made his way quietly to the door that led to the 'in case of fire' stairs. He peeked over the desks and saw that Klavier was on his phone and not paying any attention to his surroundings. As quietly as he could manage, Corvin cautiously opened the door and somersaulted through to the stairs. Not having any idea where they were going to lead him, he took the stairs down two, sometimes three at a time. He paused when he arrived at what he hoped was the parking level and peered through the window in the door. Too dark. Opening this door proved a little more nosier; however, what he heard on the other side, made him smile. Ema's ring tone. He followed it and the light that was coming from a room five doors down on the left. Peeking into the room, he found Ema in a very deep sleep. He called her name softly, and when she didn't stir, he walked up to her and softly pushed her hair from her peaceful face. He couldn't count the time he had watched her fall asleep in his arms in Paris. Now, seeing her like this, was almost bliss to him.

“Ema...Ema...”

The young woman jerked awake at the sound of the man's voice whispering her name.

Corvin jumped into the shadows.

Ema blinked and tried to orient herself as she gazed over her surroundings. Something cold on her arm grabbed her attention. She squinted as she inspected the left sleeve of her white lab coat. Groaning, she realized she had slumbered so hard that she drooled. As she wiped the side of her mouth with her fingertips, it dawned on her that she had dozed off at work; something she had never done before. As Ema tried to loosen the kinks in her neck, she spied the time on the clock on the far wall of the lab: 10:54 She blew out a sharp breath and panicked. The time of her last entry was 9:41. She lost so much time already on this case, mulling over every detail trying to find something she missed. 'That's what caused me to fall asleep in the first place.' Ema thought to herself. Her phone suddenly vibrated in the pocket of her capri pants and she stretched to dig it out.

Corvin watched as she cursed her phone and threw it down on the table. He stood. Her phone went off again and she cursed once more.

“Ema...” He called when a movement caught his eye. Klavier was standing at the doorway and Corvin quickly ducked back into the shadows. Corvin silently cursed as he watched them exchange an awkward kiss and watched Ema as she stuck her tongue out at a retreating Gavin. Corvin contemplated how he was going to get out, and found his perfect opportunity when Ema sat back down on the tall chair she had fallen asleep in and gathered her papers. He silently slipped out of the lab, and went up to the street level to wait for her.

Thirty painstakingly long minutes later, Corvin watched from his perch on the second level of the parking garage as Ema exited the building. He watched her as she cursed the rain and ran across the street into the garage. He couldn't remember her being so negative before, but this was a completely different Ema than the one he had known before the fall. This Ema was cynical and short-tempered. The Ema he fell in love with was sweet and optimistic...

Corvin's reverie was broken by the rumble of Klavier's hog coming down to the first level of the parking garage. He hated the fact that Ema could be falling for this blond German pushover of a prosecuting rock-star. His uncle, Karsten Gavin was the one that pushed him into the prosecuting attorney gig. Klavier was lucky to be alive at all. Killing Karsten was the biggest relief, at the time. Karsten Gavin was the prosecuting attorney that had put Corvin behind bars when he was twelve for the murder of his father. Konstantin had seen to it that Corvin spent a dutiful amount of time in jail, not wanting to flaunt his families money or power. Konstantin also saw to it that the attorney who had originally sought to put him behind bars for the murder of his brother, was assassinated, and by Corvin's hand.

The raven-haired man shook his head to get himself orientated and watched as Ema hopped onto the back of Klavier's flashy motorcycle and drove off. He hopped off his perch and called Nikita to come pick him up.

“Do you remember the plan, Corvin?” She asked him in her sickeningly perfect Russian after he got into her car thirty minutes later.

“Of course,” He played along. He was glad he wasn't as weak minded as his sister. He wasn't sure where he got the willpower all of a sudden to resist the current efforts of Nikita and Konstantin to brainwash him, but he was glad for it. “I am to wait at People's Park for one Phoenix Wright to walk through on his way home and have him witness one murder, committed by one person, namely me.” His tone took on a sarcastic note, but Nikita didn't notice. “When he calls the police, he'll also call Ema, who he won't get a hold of, and then he'll try Klavier, who by a stroke of ingenious luck is with Ema.”

“Very good!” Corvin swore he could see her eyes sparkle. He just wanted to grab her and shake her out of the 'spell' she was under. He loved Nikita, even though she was only a half-sister, he loved her just as much as if she was whole. He bit his frustrations back. Until he had his hands on Ema and she was safe, any deviation from the plan, Konstantin would have both of them killed in a blink of an eye.

“I'm going to drop you off at the park now.” Nikita said as she pulled over. “Konstantin wants to get this rolling as soon as possible so he's closing the Club early. Phoenix should be walking through within the hour.” She paused and looked at Corvin with her clear green eyes. She put a hand on his face. His mother flashed before his eyes. “I love you Corvin, please be careful.” He stared at her incredulously, as her gaze began to waiver and her brow furrowed, but only for a fleeting moment. Corvin could have had her. He licked his lips and nodded.

“Yes, Nikita, I love you too, and you be careful as well.”




He sat on a park bench and lit a clove.

He waited for the blue cap to appear.

As he waited his mind began to wander to the past, wandered to the good times he had with the Gavinners. To the happy and intimate times with Ema. To the times with his mother that were stolen from him...

His rage consumed him, and when he saw Phoenix enter the other end of the park, he snapped. He pulled out his gun and started firing on anybody that was close and in range. Tears burning his eyes and the gunshots ringing in his ears, he ran off laughing out loud at what he had just done.



“Corvinus Pavlova-Rasputin-Konstantinov!” Corvin cringed at Nikita using his patrimonial formal name. “Where the hell are you? I thought the plan was crystal clear to you? Konstantin is furious, and we are lucky to have our heads!”

He had had his phone held at arms length and her voice carried clearly. He was sitting in a car he had broken into and observing the crowd that had gathered at People's Park. Ema was sleeping restlessly in the passengers seat. It was a breeze getting her out of her apartment, but it was hell waiting for Klavier to get out.

“There's been a change of plans Nikita, and if you work with me, we can have everything and freedom. I will not let our uncle enslave us, or Ema.” He responded fervently.

“Corvinus,” Nikita said through clenched teeth. She was sitting in her own car on the other end of the park watching as Klavier made his way to the crime scene. “This path of human life that you have torn through the park better serve a greater purpose than to piss me off. I have to do damage control now and dig deep into my forensics classes and lie to these people about being a detective!” Nikita grabbed the investigators I.D. she had forged and got out of her car.

“Well, good luck with that my dear Nikita,” Corvin's voice was dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, and have fun with Mr. Glimmerous Fop. His ego is bigger than uncles, and that's saying a lot.”

“Wait, how do you know...” She said as she looked around the park for him.

“Nikita, I have been watching you ever since we came to America. Almost as closely as Konstantin watches you.” He lied, and flashes of what he had seen on the video tapes that his uncle had made of the twins went before his eyes, like a sinister slideshow. His pent up frustrations and anger were about to boil over as he took a deep breath to control his emotions. “I have to call our dear prosecutor now and let him know his pretty princess has been kidnapped. Have to follow the plan you know.” He smirked as he hung up.


Ema groaned then blinked to try to open her eyes. The familiar voice had woke her and as she squinted her eyes, it seemed she was looking out of a vehicle onto a park. Red and Blue lights blurred her vision as she tried to focus on a crowd of people at the far end of the park.

'Wait, this isn't right, I'm supposed to be in my bed, at my apartment...' Her head felt like it was stuffed with a bowling ball as she tried to turn it to face the drivers side of the car. All she could make out was the outline of the man.

“Who...wha...what ish goin on?” Her mouth wouldn't cooperate as she tried to form the sentence. She thought she saw the man turn his head toward her.

“I-I c-can't see.” She managed to say.

“Oh, Ema,” He touched her cheek, and she felt a familiar shiver that she had become so familiar with every time Corvin touched her.

“C-Corvin?” She squeaked out weakly.

“I've been away from you for so long, I had to become someone I hated, just to get close to you,” He ran his thumb along her jawline and all she could get out was a whine as he clamped his hand over her mouth.

“Now, you must be very quiet, love, we must call Klavier and let him know that his princess has been kidnapped.” He said as he punched a number into her phone.


“Hello, Klavier! How's that murder scene treating you?” He smirked at her.

“Who is this? Where is Ema?”

“Oh Ema's fine...for now. Oh and you know me very well...I've been to several of your concerts and you and Ema have run into me several times at your office. But I now have Ema locked away safe from harm.” Corvin pressed his hand harder onto her mouth. The drugs he had given her were starting to wear off, as she started to put up a small fight.

“Wha-...Who the hell is this? What kind of psycho are you?” Corvin could just barely see Klavier pacing from his vantage point.

“Klavier, you should be thanking me for keeping our precious Ema safe from a serial killer, although, at this point, the serial killer is the least of your worries, as you will soon find out.”

“What the hell do you want?”

“Ah, yes that's the fiery Klavier that I remember! Listen to me very carefully, Gavin and nobody else will get hurt.” Corvin cleared his throat.

“I'm listening.” He watched as Klavier stopped pacing. Ema moaned loudly and her head fell forward.

“Our pretty little Ema, has been targeted to be kidnapped and sold for trade for an underground human trafficking and sex trade. Now, I have her safe, and we can keep it that way, if you promise to cooperate. Oh and there will be a prosecutor landing here in L.A. In a few hours. You will meet him at the airport, no exceptions.”

“How will I know...” Klavier started to say.

“I will call you in an hour with instructions. Make sure you are alone and away from your...friends. I have someone watching every move you make, so don't do anything funny, like try to find me because you won't be able...”

“Let me speak with Ema.” Klavier interjected.

“You don't want to do that. It'll make everything that much worse when you realize you can't ever see her again!”

“Let me speak with Ema!” Klavier's voice was dripping with anger as he clenched his jaw. Corvin paused and looked over at Ema. He poked at her shoulder and her head shot up.

“Klavier wants to speak to you.” He held the phone at her ear.

“Who....where am I?” She said groggily.

“Ema, listen to me carefully. What do you see around you?” Klavier was slightly relived to hear her voice.

“Mmghnnn...Klavier...where am...I...I can't see...” The phone was jerked suddenly from her ear.

“What...what have you done to her, you sick...”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk...yelling is so unbecoming of you, Klavier, you'll ruin your singing voice! Although I hear you won't be using it for a while.” Corvin chuckled as he thought he heard Klavier squirming. “I will call in an hour. For Ema's sake, don't be on your phone.” With that Corvin ended the conversation. He looked over at Ema who was wavering in and out of conscientiousness and touched his hand to her face. She gasped and mumbled something then passed out again.

“Now the real games begin.”

I really didn't want to put the bracelet in, but it was the only thing I could think of to use that would help Lillith from constantly being brainwashed by Konstantin. So, no you aren't utterly confused...I might have opened myself up to an excuse to sontinue with this particular fanfiction...

I'm gonna keep my comments under a spoiler tag until everyone has had a chance to read the story. It's going to be weird not having these characters to write about anymore. However, I think I made it easy for myself to say goodbye. I know that sounds weird and all, but I was attatched to Corvin...and writing that scene...that might have been one of the harder things I've had to do in a long time. At any rate, I hope the epilogue isn't too cheesy, I wanted to end on a happy note. Thanks to all who have stuck by me in my bouts of writers block. Everyone will get personal thank you's later. I'm very sleepy, no pun intended. I am excited to share this with you, so I will shut up!

“I'm sorry for your friend. Did you get any hints from the tone of his voice or any background noise that would give him away?” Nikita tried her best to act concerned for Klavier. However, it was her brothers whereabouts that she was concerned about now. Klavier shook his head dazed. He tried to get the GPS app on his phone to track Ema's phone, but there was no signal from her phone to be received.

“Mr. Gavin?” Apollo's voice broke his reverie as everyone turned to look at the young lawyer. He was kneeling over the closest victim. “There's something on this body that...well, looks like it doesn't quite belong there.”

Klavier squinted his eyes and started walking towards Apollo as he put his phone in his pocket. He froze when he saw the Raven staring at him from the Rook card that was sitting over the victims heart.

“What the hell is-” Klavier was cut off by a gun to his temple. He watched as Apollo, wide-eyed started to react, but was stopped by one of the CSI's that was 'examining' the closest body.

“Now, Klavier,” Nikita's menacing voice came from behind the gun as she circled around him to face him. His hands were suddenly and forcefully held behind his back by an unseen person. “You will listen to me carefully. I think you understand that this is not your typical serial killing. I also think you understand the meaning behind that card, and you will do exactly as I say, or Ema's future will not be a happy one.”

“What is the meaning of this?” Klavier heard Phoenix's voice behind him and then heard the cocking of a gun. Klavier clenched his jaw as he held Nikita's gaze. She had beautiful Jade green eyes that were familiar. Where had he seen those eyes before...

“Now that we have this crime scene secure, we will wait for the phone call from my brother...” A realization hit Klavier, hard, as the events of the last 8 years washed over him. It was Corvin he had just talked to on the phone, and he had Ema...but why? He was suddenly hit upside the head by Nikita's gun, just hard enough to bring him out of his reverie.

“Wake up, rock-star. Did you just realize what the hell happened? Did you just realize that you've been played your whole life by a talented musician, one that killed your uncle and befriended you? Life just took on a whole new meaning didn't it asshole?” Nikita's voice was full of venom. Klavier's mouth went dry as her words hit him like a speeding car. Phoenix was struggling against his captor and Nikita walked over to him and shoved the gun between his eyes. He stopped immediately.

“And you,” A sick grin came over her pretty face. “Oh so clueless as to what was happening at the Borscht Bowl.” She ran the gun along his jaw as he turned his face away. “Did you realize that the very place you were playing your precious game of cards with your precious Trucy, dirty deeds were afoot...”

“What...Trucy...Oh my god, if you so much as lay a hand on her...” Phoenix started struggling again, as his captor tightened his grip and started to twist his arm. The dark-haired man cried out in pain as Nikita signaled him to stop. She got very close to him and said, “Trucy is just fine. It's amazing how trustworthy that little girl is.” Phoenix squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw. She stepped back from the man and the twisted grin returned to her face. “I find it amazing that you, of all people, would trust Olga after all this time. She's been a good little player, and she will prove to be a good little assassin after we get through training her.” Nikita turned back to Klavier. “Hell, maybe Ema could be a good assassin as well.” Klavier stiffened as she pressed her body against him. “No, a cute girl like her will make more money on the market...”

“I think you forgot to mention how your precious Uncle Konstantin tried to sell you and your sister on the underground market.” Everyone turned around at the voice. Miles Edgeworth was standing next to one of Nikita's cronies, a gun held to his head. Lana was standing a few feet away, her gun aimed at Nikita. They were suddenly surrounded by a troupe of Police officers.

“Miles...but how?” Nikita's expression of surprise mirrored everyone's as she spoke. Miles suddenly knocked the cronie on the side of the head with his gun and he crumbled like a rag doll to the ground. Slowly, he walked up to Nikita, and as he circled her, raised his gun to her eye-level.

“Maybe it was you that shouldn't have put their trust in Olga.” Miles stopped when he was at her temple, and cocked his gun. She gasped. “Where is Ema?”

“I-I don't know...” She stuttered in Russian and shrugged.

“I'm going to ask again, Nikita!” Miles raised his voice and took a step closer so his gun was now pressing into her temple. She flinched. “Where is Ema?”

“I...I don't...kn-know....” She managed to squeak out when a beeping sound came from Klavier's pocket. Miles was so wound up that he pointed the gun at him.

“Whoa, Miles...easy...” He said as he dug in his pocket for his phone. Miles pointed his gun back at Nikita as Klavier held up his phone, “I know where Ema is located.”





The cold night air pricked at Ema's skin as Corvin carried her from the car into Sunshine Stadium and she shivered. She tried to move her limbs, but they were so heavy, and she was so tired. She couldn't see anything with the blindfold over her eyes, which caused her to panic as she squirmed in his arms.

“E-Ema, it's okay,” He struggled with her squirming, however she stopped as soon as she heard his voice. That accent...

“C-Corvin...” She said, her voice raspy and her throat burned. “Corvin...is, is it r-really you?” Her breathing elevated and she tried to move her head to no avail. She was suddenly laid down on something hard as Corvin took off his jacket and laid it under her head. “C-Corvin, I can't m-move...I-I can't s-see...I'm scared...”

Corvin ran his hand softly and slowly along her face to get the hair out of it and to sooth her. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and hold her forever. But, his plan wasn't complete. He decided to take off the blindfold.

Ema blinked, trying to focus on the man that she thought fell to his death. Instead who she saw in front of her was a blurry version of Rob.

“You...you're not C-Corvin...why do you s-sound like Corvin?” She tried to focus more when it hit her and she gasped. Those eyes....the unmistakeable shade of clear blue, the eyes that Ema used to get lost in. The eyes that held so much pain...the eyes that would lead to certain destruction...

“Ema, it is me, Corvin.” He reached out and caressed her cheek. “I brought you here to keep you safe.” His hand fell to her shoulder, then slowly over her heart.

“I...You...died...fell at the concert...” She blinked some more and again attempted to move her arms. Her right arm moved just enough for her to rub her eyes.

“I only died in spirit Ema,” Corvin's hand felt heavy, but warm on her chest as he moved it over her breast, then slowly down to her waist. She gasped as he pulled her close and she felt his hot breath on her cheek. “I'm here now, and I can be here forever for you...if you want me...” His lips brushed her cheek and ghosted by her lips.

“I-I...you...were gone...s-so cold...lying on th-that hospital b-bed...” She was trembling as he nibbled her ear.

“But I'm warm now,” He whispered in her ear, his Russian accent came back full force. Ema drew in a deep breath and froze as he said his next words. “Ema, I'm here to keep you safe...”

“Safe? Safe from...what? Who?” Ema grunted as she tried to lift herself up on her arms and sit up. She was shaky, but she was almost there when Corvin suddenly flicked his wrist and a card appeared in his hand. Her eyes focused just enough to see a Raven staring out at her. As panic surged through her brain, Ema's thought process became scrambled.

“Ema, listen to me carefully.” He said smoothly. She gasped and stilled. Her vision suddenly became clear, and the only thing that mattered in the world was Corvin. He hesitated. He didn't want to brainwash Ema, but it would be the only way he would be able to get through to her.

“Ema, I need you to be very cooperative and do everything that I say in the next few hours. There are people after you and you won't be able to get away without my help. My uncle, Konstantin, will be coming to find you, as well as Klavier Gavin...”

“Klavier...” Ema breathed. She broke his gaze as she continued to speak. “He helped m-me tonight... he g-gave me a r-ride home...”

“No, Ema, listen to me!” He said loud enough for his voice to echo throughout the stadium. She looked up at him with a start. “Klavier is only interested in himself. He has no interest in you,” He cupped her face in his hand. “Otherwise he wouldn't have left you alone tonight.”

Ema's bottom lip started to tremble as she started to say something...”I-I loved you...C-Corvin...” Then she fainted.

“Damn,” He swore under his breath. Suddenly a loud noise off to the left of the stage caught his attention as he quickly scooped Ema up in his arms and ran stage right.




Klavier drew in a sharp breath as the door slammed shut faster than either he or Phoenix could stop it. They looked at each other briefly as Klavier reached around and drew the gun from the waistband of his pants. Not the most comfortable place, but it worked in a pinch. Phoenix drew a gun from his own waistband and they nodded at each other. They made their way to the stage through the stadium seats. Klavier was the first one to spot Corvin's balled up jacket and he laid his hand on it when he approached it.

“Still warm,” He stated in a barely audible whisper and gestured with his head. “You go left, I'll go right.” Phoenix nodded and quietly took off.

Klavier watched him disappear into the right wings as he thought about how Edgeworth intimidated Nikita into telling him where her uncle was. He remembered the terror in Lana's eyes for her sister, yet how calm she was on the exterior.

He started when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out enough to see that it was Ema's phone. He was going to take a chance and not answer it. He wondered if Corvin knew about Edgeworths whereabouts as he flattened himself along the wall leading to the dressing rooms. For a split second he thought about going back to the stage and taking the passage above the vents. However, he knew he wouldn't be quiet enough.

When Klavier made it to the first dressing room, he pressed his ear to the door. Silence greeted him as he let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He licked his lips and tightened his grip on his gun. The next dressing room was the one that was usually reserved for the Gavinners when they held their concerts there. He put a shaky hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath to steady himself.

He held the gun in front of him as soon as he opened the door. Corvin had been sitting on the couch that was in the room, until Klavier entered the room and he flew off the couch, his own gun pointed at the prosecutor. Klavier had to take a double take at him to make sure it was Corvin. The eyes...

“Klavier, nice to see you again,” Corvin said, as every nerve in his body vibrated, but he managed to stay perfectly still.

“Corvin...” Was all Klavier could manage to say.

“I'm surprised to see you so soon, however you are a smart man, I'm sure with Nikita's help, you've figured everything out.” He paused and looked back at Ema, who had moaned. “I hope you've realized that your uncle was in the right place at the wrong time, an opportunity I couldn't pass up you might say.”

“But you aren't the one who pulled the trigger on your father...” Miles had briefly told everyone Corvin's family history and the truth behind everything, after taking Nikita into custody.

“Heh, minor details...”

“Minor de- Corvin, your whole life could've been different because of that one detail, you let your uncle brainwash you because it was easy, because it took the pain of losing your mother and fath-”

“Shut up!” Corvin yelled. Klavier had slowly encroached on him, backing him up to the couch next to Ema. “How can you know how I feel?! How do you know what its like to live with the pain of losing your parents?! Tell me Klavier?!!”

Klavier watched as Corvin's shell was slowly cracking. He was shaking and one single tear managed to escape his eyes. The blond spoke as calmly as he could, keeping his gun trained on Corvin, unsure of his motives. “Because I've been there Corvin. I've felt that same pain, the pain of watching your parents die right in front of you. The pain of having your family taken away from you. The pain of watching your friends make mistakes and you can't do a damn thing about it. Corvin you broke Ema's heart in France, I don't think there's any hope of mending it now.” Klavier tried to reach out and grab the gun from Corvins hand, but he jerked away and Klavier took several steps back.

“I really don't think you wanna do that.” Keeping his gun on the prosecutor, he reached over and pulled Ema into a sitting position.

“Corvin, lets talk through this, you don't have to be under your uncle's thumb anymore...” Klavier took a couple steps forward.

Corvin suddenly pointed the gun at Ema's head as she made a strangled noise.

“Don't come any closer. If she can't be mine, then she won't belong to anybody.”

“No Corvin you-” The raven-haired man suddenly threw Ema's blindfold off as her hands flew up to her face. Corvin shoved the gun into her temple and cocked it. A gasp escaped her scratchy throat.

“Don't...come any...closer...” Corvins voice was tense and almost, strangled. Ema tried to look up at him, but found that he had a good chunk of her hair in his hand and her movement was restricted.

“Please Corvin, you don't have to...”Klavier had taken a couple more steps forward when Corvin exploded.

“STOP!!” He shook poor Ema's head as his voice cracked. “Don't make me kill her!!”

“C-Corvin...” Ema managed to squeak out.

“Ema its going to be alri-”

A gun went off.

Klavier's blood froze as everything went into slow motion. Corvin's body fell like a leaf in the wind to the ground.

Everything was silent.

Ema's sobs sounded far away and all Klavier could focus on was Corvin's body lying very still on the ground.

“Klavier!!” Ema's arms were suddenly around Klavier's neck as everything was suddenly thrown into fast forward.

“Oh god, Ema!” Klavier exhaled as he held onto the girl tightly. They stayed that way for what seemed eternity when another gunshot was heard in the distance. Klavier pulled away first.

“Phoenix...oh god...” The blond grabbed Ema's wrist and ran out of the dressing room.

“What about Phoenix?” Ema's voice was scratchy and her throat felt like sandpaper.

“He's in the left wing...I didn't think anybody was here...” Klavier said breathlessly as they crossed the stage.

“What is going on?” Ema had a barrage of questions, however that was the only one that formed coherently in her mind.

“Stop!” A voice called from the seats. Klavier did just that as Ema ran into his back throwing him off balance for a second. He squinted out and thought he saw a dark figure with silver hair.

“Miles!” Ema tried to yell, but it came out as a strangled cry.

A loud noise from the left wing caught their attention as they all ran in that direction.

Miles was there first and burst in on a stand-off of sorts between Phoenix and Konstantin; Phoenix had a gun pointed at Konstantin as he had his hands thrown up in surrender. They both looked at Miles incredulously.

“Ahhh...Miles Edgeworth. You are early.” Konstantin commented in his thick Russian accent.

“I'm here to stop you from corrupting any one else.” Miles said darkly. Klavier and Ema burst in just then and Ema gasped at the sight of Konstantin.

“The beautiful Ema Skye, but where is your sister? Surely Miles wouldn't have traveled to the states with out her?” Konstantin mocked.

“Lana...” Klavier took a protective stance in front of Ema.

“Leave Lana out of this, she has nothing to do with this.” Miles growled.

“But surely she knows the ugly truth of your involvement in the trial of one young Corvinus Pavlova-Rasputin-Konstantinov?”

“My involvement has nothing to do wi-”

“It has everything to do with this!” Konstantin's voice boomed throughout the stadium. “Why do you think I kept you in Germany for so long? If you had just let the system take over, and not interfered, everything would have gone as planned, and we wouldn't be here!”

“Corvin was innocent! I wasn't going to let the system swallow up another bright young man!”

“That's always been the problem with Manfred von Karma, he could never keep his children in check. You could have been a great prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, you and your sister, but she was too strong – willed. If only Manfred had brought you two to me earlier, I could have turned you into a great man. You and Karsten were easy to manipulate. I put Karsten in that trial just in time, or else you would have ruined the image of the prosecuting office with your weak witnesses and weak presentation. He thinks he prosecuted the whole trial. Too bad you had to go snooping around, Miles. Too bad the truth means so much to you You are lucky to be alive Miles Edgeworth. Karsten had to suffer for your pursuit of the truth.” Konstantin's words lingered as everyone stared incredulously at Miles.

“Too many people have suffered because of you.” Miles brought out his gun. “It's time to break the chain.”

“What are you going to do now, Konstantin? You are surrounded.” Phoenix stated holding the gun steady in front of him. The large Russian's laugh was guttural as he spoke.

“Wrighto,” Phoenix cringed at the nickname. “You don't think I didn't come here without a back up plan? Don't think I didn't live with a Gramarye and didn't learn a thing or two...” With a dramatic wave of his arm and a puff of smoke, Konstantin was gone. Phoenix and Klavier ran into the smoke, but too late.

“I have the building surrounded, he's not getting very far.” Miles stated as he put his gun away.




Ema stared blankly at the red and blue police lights as the morning sun broke through the clouds that had formed over Los Angeles. She was sitting in the back of an ambulance, with people attending to her, but none of that mattered. What she had witnessed tonight would be etched in her mind forever.

“Ema,” Lana said quietly as she wrapped a blanket around her. Sitting beside her, Lana put her arm around her sister. “Ema, I'm so sorry, I wish I could've been there for you. I wish...” Lana started to quietly sob.

“Lana,” Ema choked out. Everything about her was sore and exhausted. She was even too tired to cry anymore. “I love you.” Lana held her tightly. In light of recent family dynamics, she felt like never letting her go.

December 14th, 2026
Los Angeles California
Edgeworth's Playa del Rey Beach house




Ema gazed happily at the reflection in the mirror in front of her of the friends that surrounded her. Lana was putting the finishing touches on her makeup as Sola carefully placed the veil on Ema's beautifully styled hair, courtesy of Sola.

“I'm so happy you could make it Sola!” Ema beamed at the older woman.

“Oh honey, I wouldn't miss this for the world!” Sola exclaimed in her thick French accent. She put a hand on Lana's shoulder as she smiled up at her. “I also couldn't pass up an opportunity to spend time with an old friend.”

“I'm going to go check on things out on the beach.” Lana sniffed. Ema's brow furrowed as she watched her sister walk out of the spare bedroom of Miles Edgeworth's beach house. Sola turned Ema in her chair to face her.

“Ema, I...words cannot express how happy I am to be giving you away. I love you and your sister like you were my family.” The young brunet watched as Sola's eyes started to get misty. “Family is something to be treasured...especially now...”

“Oh, Sola,” Ema brought her in for an embrace. “I'm so sorry about...” She swallowed. It was still hard to even say his name. “I wish things could be different, but this is right. Everything about us...just feels right.”

Sola pulled away and fussed with Ema's hair. “Honey, I predicted you two would be together the instant he kissed your hand way back when in France!”

“Oh Sola, ever the romantic!” Ema teased as Trucy peeked into the room. Ema gestured her in.

“Oh Ema...you're beautiful when you're not grumpy!” Trucy's hands were held up to her face.

“Trucy,” Ema laughed at the young girl. “I'm not always grumpy...am I?”

“Ema, Phoenix sent me in, because he wanted you to have something borrowed.” Trucy handed Ema a small jar that was as big around as a quarter.

“What...is it?” Ema asked as she held it at eye level.

“Fingerprinting powder in a jar small enough to keep with you!”

Ema's bottom lip trembled as she scooped Trucy up in a hug. Trucy yelped.

“Tell him thank you so much! And thank you for coming in Trucy!” The young magician gave her her signature goofy grin and turned to leave almost knocking over Lana who was just coming back into the room.

Ema gazed at herself in the mirror. She wore a simple white sheath dress that hugged her at all the right places. She had baby's breath weaved into her hair and into the gossamer veil that hung around her shoulders. Lana wrapped her arm around Ema and Ema rested her head on her shoulder.

“You look so beautiful, Ema.”

“I know, you've told me several times.” Ema smirked. Sola busied herself with something on the other side of the room.

“Ema, er, I have something...” Lana reached into her pocket and brought out a velvet box. Ema's eyes went wide as she gasped. “This was grandmas. Mom wanted you to have it when you got married since I got the ruby.” Lana opened the box and inside, sitting carefully on a bed of grey velvet, was a bright silver ring, with a twinkling sapphire.

“Oh...it's so...” Ema had no words to express as she carefully put it on her index finger. She grabbed Lana in a tight hug.

“Okay,” Lana sniffed again as she parted first. She smoothed out any wrinkles that had occurred in Ema's dress. “It's time. Are you ready?”

Ema's heart started pounding in her ears. Her mouth suddenly got dry and she started to see stars.

“Ema!” Lana helped her into a chair as Sola brought her some water.

“This is it! I'm really doing this...I'm getting married... and to HIM...of all people!” She said after taking a large gulp of water.

“You're not getting cold feet are you?” Sola rested her hand on Ema's shoulder.

“No, I just...there was a time where he annoyed every fiber of my being...and now I can't imagine living without him.” Ema paused to take another drink. “We've been inseparable the last six months, like we were afraid of losing each other. And now...”

“And now let's go!” Lana said excitedly as she grabbed Ema's simple bouquet of daisies and her own. She gave Ema a peck on the cheek and led them out of the room and through the large beach house.

“Lana is so lucky to have such a rich man with good taste!” Sola whispered into Ema's ear as they paused at the large glass door that led to the beach. The majority of the back of the house was covered with picture windows that were covered with curtains so Ema wouldn't be able to see the décor of the beach until she went outside. She told everyone that she just wanted something simple. But no one was having it.

Ema smiled up to Sola nervously as she heard the wedding march being played on violins.

The view that greeted Ema as she stepped out was unlike anything she had ever seen. The bridal path was covered with an a silver and white awning. Each pole that held up the awning was covered in daisy chains and streamers that waved in a small breeze. Lana was a few steps ahead throwing rose petals down on the raised platform. Gumshoe and Maggey were sitting on the side and their 8 month old son was sitting on Maggey's lap. Maya and Pearl Fey, whom Ema had just met recently, were sitting on the other side. Pearl gasped and blushed at the sight of Ema as she smirked and blushed herself. Phoenix was sitting next to them. Klavier had asked him initially to be the best man, but he refused, saying that he felt Apollo was a better fit. Members of the Gavinners were sitting up near the front. A dark haired man made Ema do a double take. There was no mistaking that charming smile and devious eyes. Daryan Crescend. Klavier had made amends with him and pulled some strings so he could be here. Ema bit her lip so she wouldn't cry.

Her eyes settled on the group ahead of her. Apollo looked dapper in a white cotton button down shirt and casual khakis that were rolled up to his knees, like he had been playing in the sand. He smiled at Ema. Because of the informality of the wedding, they had asked Edgeworth to preside over the vows. He stood up straight behind his podium, and for the first time in forever, he had a relaxed smile that reached his grey eyes that were behind thin wire glasses. He had sat down with Klavier for a half a day talking about what had happened.

Sola and Ema paused, as Sola squeezed her hand gently and bussed her on the cheek. She then stepped to the side and Ema's gaze drifted toward Klavier. His golden hair was meticulously styled in it's usual drill style, but that was the only thing usual about him. He was donned in a loose cotton dress shirt, similar to Apollo's, except with an intricate design of his signature 'G' weaved into it. He had khaki casual pants on that were not rolled up, but he was barefoot. But what really caught Ema's eye, was that he was with out his glimmer. The large 'G' pendant that he usually wore around his neck was gone. She smiled up at him and he smiled his dazzling smile back. His eyes were the color of the ocean on a clear sunny day and Ema knew, that those were the eyes that she wanted to spend forever gazing into.