Yes, the time for my first multi-chapter story has come! Strangely enough, the multi-chapter I planned for weeks to upload first and worked on for a month or so got replaced by this, the idea I came up with two days ago. Weird. Yes, my OC is in this story and no, I'm not sure who she'll be paired with, if anyone at all. (As I said I just came up with this not long ago) Comments and constructive criticism are welcomed!
Cookies for anyone who knows where I got her sister's names from!
Disclaimer: If I owned Pandora Hearts, Break would have pushed Vincent off the balcony and just snatched away the antidote. Anyone with me? :D
Looking out the side of the carriage, I watched the never-ending line of trees continue to pass. Why did this event have to be hosted all the way out here, so far away from Carrington? It was a pain having to make the bumpy hour-long trip in a carriage. I understood that it was convenient for uncle, but definitely not for me.
I fiddled with the edge of my blue-grey dress between my index and middle fingers, reciting the plan in my mind. I was to be uncle's eyes and ears, to watch two particular men at the Rainsworths' party. He only gave me their names and the fact that they were members of Pandora, he told me he would point them out to me when I arrived. Xerxes Break and Vincent Nightray. Of course I knew of the Nightrays, they were one of the four dukedoms, but where Vincent fit into anything, I hadn't a clue.
I broke from my thoughts when I felt something cold and firm skim under my fingertips. My little sister, Edith, must have put something in one of the folds of my dress again. She did that just to mess with me. Last time, she decided it would be a good idea to put a few candies in there so I could find and enjoy them later. A pleasant surprise, right? Not for my older sister when I had to explain why there was melted chocolate on the inside of my clothes. Let's just say she wasn't very pleasant.
I pulled out the silver chain with a small mirror attached to the end of it. Now I knew it wasn't Edith who had placed this in there. The only person who knew about my chain was Lorina, my older sister. She wasn't the type to worry, so why did she feel that I needed my chain? I'd never used her before, nor would I ever if I could help it. If I used her, my worst nightmares would become reality, I would be recruited to Pandora. The truth is, I hated fighting, with a passion. If I joined Pandora, I would have to fight. I shuddered at the thought.
The carriage halted, "Miss Barma, we have arrived," I heard the driver call to me from outside. I quickly shoved the mirror back inside my dress as the door slid open. A man, around the age of thirty, stood on the other side of the opening. I could tell he wasn't the driver, though.
He extended his hand to help me out, "Adele, correct?"
I took his hand and stepped down from the edge, "Yes sir. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name," I tried my best to keep my manners in-check, reminding myself that this was an important event.
"Liam Lunettes, I am an attendant to your uncle. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. If you would follow me, Duke Barma is awaiting you," His voice was shaking as he said the last sentence. Why was he so nervous?
I followed Liam though the large doors that lead into the main room of the estate. The walls were a light cream color and the floor was a marble that reflected the chandelier above us like a mirror. Two sets of stairs wrapped around the room, leading to a door on the second level. A group of musicians had just filed into the back corner of the large room. To say it was breathtaking was an understatement.
We entered the doorway at the top of the staircase and walked down the long hallways of the Rainsworth household. It was much bigger than it appeared from the outside. Just as my feet felt that they were going to give out from the amount of walking, we stopped in front of a door.
He opened the door for me and gestured for me to enter. "Please do enjoy yourself tonight, Miss Barma," Liam whispered as he took his leave.
When he shut the door behind him, I decided an answer was unnecessary and turned to my uncle who had been eying us since we entered. "Good evening, uncle," I greeted, taking the seat across from him.
He set down his fan on his lap and responded, "Good evening Adele. I hope you didn't forget our plan?" How could I? He had sent three letters to my house about it. The first an invitation to the event with the details of our plan, the second a 'reminder' and the third was a carefully worded threat that if I didn't come, there would be consequences.
I let a soft (fake) smile play on the edges of my mouth, "Of course not. Now please tell me the rest of the details."
He laid out two photographs on the table in front of us. He pointed to the left photo, a blonde man. "This is Vincent Nightray, and this," he moved his hand to the one on the right, "is Xerxes Break."
Vincent looked strange as it is, one wine red eye and one golden, but Xerxes looked laughable. Purple clothes with a white overcoat and...was that...a doll on his shoulder? It took all my self-control to keep myself from bursting out in laughter.
Duke Barma saw my terribly suppressed giggles as I looked at the photo of Break and added, "Would you laugh like that if I told you his chain is the Mad Hatter?"
I looked up at him as if he had three heads, "This guy contracted the M-Mad Hatter? Are you serious?" Even I knew the Mad Hatter.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Touche. "If Xerxes contracted Mad Hatter, what did Vincent contract?" I questioned, looking to the photo on the left. I expected to hear March Hare. I was under the impression that they were partners or something of the like. Boy was I wrong...
"Vincent contracted Yamane. Though his chain isn't strong," You could say that again. "you shouldn't underestimate him."
At that moment a soft knock on the door sounded and uncle gave them permission to enter. A petite girl in a maid's uniform entered and bowed her head, "Lady Cheryl Rainsworth requests your presence immediately, Duke Barma."
He stood up and headed for the door but stopped halfway, "Adele, I wouldn't want to make you wait. If I don't return in a few minutes, please head to the main room and go about on your own." I could see his grip on his fan tighten as he followed the maid from the room.
I sat in silence for a few minutes, processing everything I just heard. "Mad Hatter...Yamane.."
"All you need to do is take this necklace and enter the big door in the basement. That's where you find the candy stash, I swear. I'll meet you down there when I'm done," Lorina whispered, handing me the small mirror on the silver chain. It was a bit big to be a necklace, but if my sister said it was, it had to be.
I nodded quickly, running from the study and down the halls of the Barma estate. I couldn't believe they had a whole secret stash that we didn't know about. I could've sworn Lorina and I'd searched every part of that place many times. That must be why we weren't allowed in the basement, the adults wanted to take all the candy for themselves!
I was torn from my memories by the sound of my stomach growling. That's right, I rushed out of the house before I could eat dinner today. They had food at fancy parties, right? I hoped so.
Standing up and leaving the room, I headed back to the party. I was able to retrace my steps easily, finding my way back to the almost-full main room. The band was playing and, to my delight they had set up a table of food.
While making my selections, I noticed something odd. There was barely any meat. I'm not a big meat person, so I didn't really care, but compared to the amount taken from other the other types of food, it was indeed strange. I thought I was over-analyzing things until I saw the girl sitting at the table across from me. Her plate was piled high with various types of meat. How could she eat that much?
The boy sitting across the table from her didn't seemed very surprised, though. "Alice, why didn't you leave a little extra for everyone else? I don't think you're the only person here that wants some," He chuckled.
Alice looked up from her drumstick, "What good would that do me? Anyways, if they want more meat, they can go out and get some. This meat is already mine." She looked back to her food once again, the way a hunter would eye its prey.
A few minutes later I finished and decided it was time get down to business.
I searched around for a bit, trying to find any sign of them that I could, but neither of them were anywhere I looked. After searching the rose bushes in the garden for a third time, I decided to take a break and trudged back inside. How was I going to face uncle knowing that I didn't catch a glimpse of either of them?
When I entered the room, wallowing in self-pity for my upcoming reprimand, I could sense something was definitely wrong. Everyone was quiet and gathered around one spot. I made my way through the crowd, dishing out 'excuse me' and 'sorry' so many times the words had lost all meaning. What I saw when I neared the center of the almost-circle was the last thing I'd expect.
A dark purple hole, a gateway to the abyss presumably, was being pried open from the abyss' side. The large hands belonging to an unidentified chain.
Why...How had an abyss gateway manage to open up here? I could tell this wasn't going to be good, and my suspicions were confirmed when it was forced to open fully. A chain that I recognized by the name 'Daddy-Long-Legs' emerged from the abyss. I find that chain to be quite idiotic, seeing as it emerged where it was practically surrounded by contractors.
Within seconds, the owners of the Bread and Butter-fly and the Mock Turtle had already summoned their chains and were holding back the spider-like creature while those without chains fled. I attempted to flee as well, but paused when I heard a faint voice.
"Exit through the side garden," it murmured. I had heard this voice before, but where? Putting that aside, I followed the order. All I had to do was get away. It didn't matter how.
I opened to double doors to the side garden as quickly as I could manage. I gasped as I saw two familiar figures.
I approached the door, suddenly becoming reluctant. Maybe I should wait for Lorina. We can go in together. No, I can't wait for her. She'll just think I was being a chicken for no reason at all.
I pulled open the door and peered into the blackness inside. I would have to go farther in to get to the supposed stash. I stepped inside as the door slowly closed behind me, leaving me in utter darkness.
On the ground lay Liam, barely conscious. Kneeling down next to him was Xerxes Break. Those two weren't the first priority, though.
Across from them stood yet another opening to the abyss and another chain. The Jub-Jub Bird flew just above the gateway, its talons smeared with blood.
Usually, I would have left it up to Break, but seeing that he wasn't much better off than Liam, I probably shouldn't let him summon his chain. Even if it wasn't the Mad Hatter, he would collapse before it could strike.
I couldn't go forward, but I couldn't go back either, Daddy-Long-Legs was there. So there was only one option left. The one I dreaded the most.
I clutched the mirror and thanked Lorina under my breath for putting it there as unfamiliar purple flames surrounded me.
For the first time, Joker stood behind me. At least I didn't mess up the summoning part.
Two crimson fans appeared in either of her hands, contrasting with her shadow body and clothes. She gave a sly grin before flinging the fans at the chain, one then the other. Halfway to the bird, the fans touched, creating a rope-like substance, then split around the bird, confining it.
The bird tried to struggle against the ropes, but failed.
The bells on Joker's ankles chimed as she glided over to the bird and unsheathed her sword, making long gashes on its torso. I turned away, I was too faint-hearted to bear the rest.
With a loud screech, I heard the chain hit the ground. Had I really done it? No, this was no time for celebrating. I still had Liam and Break to tend to...
Everything slowly went dark, and I lost consciousness.
Well, what did you think? Please R&R! I really appreciate it!
