/Disclaimer/ I don't own Pandora Hearts.
This is my first attempt at a PH fic, so I hope you all like it. ^^
1.
Walden's Crest: school for boys, the most renowned institution for young nobles. It taught strict manners and tedious hours, it's said they come out changed men. Though, I couldn't gather why I was here. I wasn't of dignified blood, or anything close to that. My appearance was shabby at best, and words always seemed to come out wrong when I spoke. The lot of them would see right through me almost immediately. I just wanted to go back to the manor, and continue with the chores, but then, I rightly couldn't, could I? What sort of lord bans help work from the help? It hurt my head putting my brain through this much torture, and at this rate I knew I'd never be happy. I'd been sent to Walden's Crest by my lord, the head of the Nightray dukedom, and it wasn't a cheap ride either. All of his sons went here, and now I was to join them and mingle with the royalty of our nations? All of these overwhelming expectations piled on top of one another to set up as an intimidating mountain to climb, though as if these standards weren't enough to make me cry, the size of the school itself was. Everything was so elaborate and brilliant, much larger than my masters' home, and it scared me. I'd never find my way around, and even if I did, I'd be late to every class for at least a month.
All of my worries, and plunders in to the unknown set me in to a bout of hyperventilation. I could feel the tears start to streak my face, but I was too frightened to hide from anyone. You would think that I'd be so used to these types of stressful situations, though they never ceased to make me tear up. Mentions of stacks of papers to write, and tiresome lectures had me huddled in the corner of the wardrobe sobbing for days. I was self hating – therefore it was hard to akin to anything else. It was difficult to find the content side of things; the pleasant days with sun-drenched skies had died with the face of my previous master.
Oz Vessalius: the heir of the Vessalius family, the next to take charge so to speak. Seven years ago I had been taken in by his family, and cared for under the serventry. They had found me wandering, and injured with no previous memories of how I'd gotten there. All I knew was my name but master Oz, he gave me so much more – he gave me a life, will, and a reason to live. "Protecting master Oz is supposed to be my job!" …It was something that I had used to say all the time to him, before he truly understood what I meant, and how true those words were when I spoke them.
It was late at night when I really did prove the words that I'd been speaking for nearly a year to the day. Oz had been particularly hyper that evening so he'd requested that I sneak in to his room to play with him.
Of course, I did as my master requested, although I could already feel the painfully warm smack of Mrs. Kate. He was hot, and insisted that I open up the windows to let fresh air in, which also caused a tremor of fear to shoot through me. Though master Oz consoled me by saying we we're up on the fifth level of the home, so there was nothing to worry about. He was right too; the breeze did feel nice, especially just lying with my special person on the bed after a long day of work. I remember him speaking to me.
"Gil, you're my only servant, but you must be only mine, you hear?"
I was in that sort of blissful state where you didn't really want to speak, but rather just relish the moment, so I had mumbled back to him.
"Mhmm."
He had gotten up at this point and proceeded to crawl on top of me. Master Oz stretched my cheeks, grinning evilly. I remember crying out for him to stop, but knowing him – he refused to.
"Say it Gil, or I'll fetch Ada's kitten."
"M-Master Oz, I'm yours! I'm your servant forever!"
He was satisfied finally, and was lying beside me once again. It was quiet, I don't understand why I didn't hear the small clinks of boots on the windowsill, or the scuffs as the man moved across the wooden floor with a heavy movement. But when I opened my eyes, all I saw was black. I couldn't make out a face, because he really was dressed from head to toe, all black. The long cloak that adorned him really frightened me, so I had reached to take master Oz's hand. His emerald eyes locked on the man in front of us, but he wasn't as terrified as I. His hand dug in to his trousers pocket, and came out with a sharp blade. I wasn't able to suppress a cry, because it was shocking that master Oz had kept that sort of thing with him all day. We were still for a moment, and the air continued to drift in through the open window. It ruffled our hair and the cloak of the man, so much so that I caught a glimpse. A horrid glimpse that I wish I'd never seen. Before I could relate what I'd seen to Oz, he'd sprang forward, ready to dig the dagger in to the not-so-unknown man. I had to do anything to protect my master, especially from hurt, so I did the only thing that I was physically capable of doing. I jumped in front of the man, preventing the knife from digging in to him.
"Master Oz, stop he's your-"
The pain of the knife was a lot worse than I had thought it would be. I still bore a large scar from where my previous master had marked me. It tainted the pale flesh across my chest, and it was hideous. I was thankful that it was easy to keep hidden from sight though. I reached up to graze lightly across the coat of my uniform with my shaking fingertips, but harshly hit the ground. Someone taller than me brushed past, mumbling an insult as he went. Obviously people lacked the manners that were taught here. That bloke would get what he had coming to him from the professors I'm sure.
I retrieved my belongings that had been scattered due to the run-in, and hurried to find the main office. I knew that it'd be around the first floor somewhere, but I wasn't sure when I'd find it. Knowing me, it could take hours. Two left turns, and one right led me straight in to a dead end. The odd thing was, there was a single empty desk sitting at the far end of the otherwise empty hall. Timidly, I continued my path towards it, until I could gently knock on the wood.
"Umm, Excuse me. I'm lost, could someone please help me?"
I called out, as politely as I could, though the undertone of awkwardness seeped in as well. It was no use calling out to someone who wasn't there. What would Master Oz do if he could see me now? –No, he'd probably pull a mean prank on me, and make me cry again.
"Do you need something?"
A creepy voice called from under the desk, making me leap backwards three feet and fall on my rear. I clutched at my suitcase with a death grip, and tried to calm my nerves. I sucked in a large breath of air before climbing to my feet for the second time that day.
"Yes please, I'm looking for the registration office. Today is my first day, and I don't have my schedule yet."
A lean man appeared from behind the desk, and he gingerly set a small puppet where a cup of coffee would go. He looked at me through a pair of glasses, and his beady red eyes broke out a sweat across my forehead.
"Well, this is the registration office. We don't get many middle year transfers… ah. Gilbert Nightray, is it?"
I stiffened at the last name; I'd never been given one, until now apparently. My head nodded on its own accord, and I stepped forward to take the sheet of paper that was being offered to me. The lavender haired male snatched the paper back and out of my reach before I could grab hold of it. He held it above my head, and lent in close to my face.
"My name is Xerxes Break; if you'll be needing anything else, please feel free to find me."
After retrieving the paper from the disturbing office man, taking one glance at my paper had me completely lost. I'd managed to make it up the first two flights of stairs, where simple wooden flooring was abandoned and red velvet carpet took its place. The walls were finished with a fine gold trim that I'm sure wasn't noticed by many. The cost of this building alone sent shivers down my spine. At the end of each hall a tall stain glass window stood, reflecting small shapes of light on to the carpet, where they entertained with a dance.
Everything here was brilliant and filled with elegance. I was afraid to touch anything, because I knew for sure I'd owe a small fortune. The paper told me where my room was located, and that the classes weren't in this wing of the building, but the left. It wasn't mandatory for me to attend classes on my first day, so as to settle in, but I didn't necessarily want to give off the vibe of someone that didn't care to attend if it weren't mandatory.
I was starting to feel wary of wandering down empty hallways for the entire first day, so I decided that picking up the pace might be what was best for now. My feet began to carry me down the halls at a faster speed, a more hurried, frantic one at that. I must have looked like a fool, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. My room was somewhere on this side of the building, that's for sure, and I wasn't going to give in and find someone to show me...or at least I hoped that I wasn't going to. I couldn't help but feel like I should be tiptoeing around the school because it seemed too fragile. How could something so fragile be so immense and intimidating?
"OH!"
I'd expected to collide to the floor the third time that day, but I didn't. I met something warm, and by something I mean a person. It had to be a person, because it felt like a person. I had probably startled them beyond belief. I was guilty, and probably already made an enemy on my first day.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
I blurted out, with my nose practically touching the ground. I felt useless the moment I heard a chuckle. Slowly I raised my head until I saw who I'd hit.
"Eliot?"
He smirked down at me, and foolishness blemished across my face in a blush.
"As useless as ever, Gilbert."
My mouth fell in to a frown, and I helped myself up. He sighed, taking my paper from my hands, and reading my room number aloud.
"17C?"
I rubbed at my head, and nodded slowly, stepping up to stand beside him.
"It's this way. I'll show you."
I decided to follow Eliot, since there wasn't anyone else that I could. He was possibly the only person that I knew here. Of course Sir Nightray's other sons attended, though I'd never really met them. Eliot was someone that I had spent at least a year or two with. He was quiet, and an avid reader, though he did tend to get angry easily. It wasn't a pretty scene, and I always made sure to be out of sight whenever he happened to be set off. He had been sent off to school six months ago, when the year actually began.
"Gilbert what are you doing here?"
"I…I was sent here by your father."
His brows furrowed at the mention of his father, but he continued his steps.
"Seems suspicious. Anyways, this is 17C."
Eliot handed me my paper, and turned to walk off down the hall. I quickly dropped my suitcase, and followed after him. Hearing my footfalls behind him, he stopped.
"What is it Gilbert?"
I blinked, I had completely forgotten my reason of following after him, and so I made something up.
"I just…wanted to thank you."
He frowned at me, before turning back and continuing his walk. I heard him mumble something soft, but I wasn't sure what it was. I'd told myself it was a 'you're welcome,' but it really cold have been anything. I felt miserable, and wanted to be away from this school, and all the strangers who inhabited it. It was all so scary, and it had me wishing for the past once again.
I missed master Oz, and the days I'd spend with him. I missed the small fire that kindled in my chest when I saw his eyes glint with mischief. I missed the pranks he'd pull on me – even if they had left me crying at the time. I still wanted him back, he was my only reason. The only reason I had to keep going and push through every obstacle that was put before me. I may have lost him that night, but I would find him again.
Everything had gone wrong that night on. I couldn't remember where the man had gone, or where Master Oz was when I awoke from my sleep. My wound was a lot deeper than I had previously thought, but I didn't care. All I asked for was Oz, where he was, how he was, what he was doing. I had expected him to be there when I awoke, but he wasn't. The serventry just shook their heads, and continued on with their work. Everyone was ashamed, and it took me far too long to realize that they were ashamed of me. I couldn't protect master Oz, and it was my entire fault that he was gone.
I wasn't able to stay at their manor any longer, I was a hindrance, and everyone detested me. That was when I left – I was twelve then. Still just a boy, but the emotions that I felt weren't something any child should have to feel. Abandonment, Worthlessness, and Suffering. It got me thinking of how terrible Oz must have felt, and if he was even still alive. I'd wandered after that, until I was taken in by The Nightray household four years ago.
My eyes were suddenly heavy with all the reminiscing, and what I wanted at this very moment was rest. I took hold of my luggage once more, and peeled off the key from the paper. The door was heavy, but it opened easily. The room was clean, but it wasn't a single. I'd be sharing with someone, though they weren't in – obviously out for class at the moment.
The bed was soft, and clean to my relief. I set my luggage on the floor, because I couldn't bring myself to unpack just yet. Everything seemed so surreal, I was almost sure that someone would come for me to take me away and back to sweeping floors before I had the chance. They didn't come, and I finally managed to fall asleep in the shadowy foreign bedroom.
Thoughts?c: