Perfidy

Onesmartcookie78 & Zeldagirl367

Summary: Only one person ever caused him to falter in his loyalty to William. Only one person made him waiver; made him doubt who he had sworn himself to – her. If only he could convince her that he wasn't gay. OC/Dantalion/William/Sytry Follows manga.

Disclaimer: We only own Maeve. Seriously. Don't sue.


Perfidy

Per∙fi∙dy (noun): The act of betraying someone or something; an act or instance of disloyalty; treason


"'If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.'" I read, but the words seemed completely ridiculous and utterly incomprehensible; the idea that Catherine's whole universe revolved around Heathcliff, and she would be lost without him... That was just unbelievable. What kind of woman needed a man? I didn't.

Oh, I guess I should tell you my name before I start going on about my own personal philosophies; I'm Maeve Catriona O'Reilly, but everyone calls me "Marcus". Why? Because I may or may not be cross-dressing to gain entrance to an elite all-male boarding school...

What?

It's not my fault society expects me to marry someone in a year or so and then start pumping out children. Unfortunately for society: I. Don't. Care. What. Society. Thinks. End of story. I wanted to learn. I craved knowledge, I desired something different in life than what would be provided for me because of my gender. And since my uncle is far too intoxicated to notice anything (the man couldn't tell the ceiling from the floor) and I had no female figures in my life, I took up dressing like a man so that I could do what I liked.

Politics? I had read everything in the papers that I could about them. It would be unseemly for a man to be behind on the latest happenings.

School? I attended London's finest; Stratford Academy, where I was practically guaranteed a spot in either Oxford or Cambridge.

Love life? Who cares?

I had books, and knowledge is power.

Which is probably why I was so angry when William Twining took the top spot in our class... again.

"Congratulations, William!" Isaac cheered, his red hair bobbing up and down as he swayed in excitement. I seethed.

"It was only natural," William said dismissively, albeit arrogantly. "It would be an embarrassment to the Twining family name if this kind of test worried me."

Especially since me beating you would mean you losing to a girl.

Isaac's eyes widened in hero-worship. "Oh!" He clapped. "You're always so composed!"

I scowled. I was second. I hated being second! Twining didn't even have to work to receive good marks, whilst I slaved away in the library all day studying, only to be rewarded with subpar grades. I had half a mind to go over there and smack his smug little face in.

That, of course, wouldn't do. Being that I harbored a particularly large secret, it was best for me to stay out of the limelight. Even getting second place was attracting enough attention.

"What are you talking about! Of course God exists!" Isaac proclaimed for all the hall to hear. Could he be any louder? I rolled my eyes. Who cared if God existed? All that mattered was my life. Not the possible life of a supernatural being. "Angels, demons, trolls and elves exist, too!"

I brought back up my copy of Wuthering Heights, covering my "are you an idiot" look. Seriously, though, the boy needed help. Angels and demons and God... ridiculous. And yet, I was still reading this book...

I rose to my feet as more people began crowding the notice board, all of them praising Twining excessively... my gut clenched, and my hands balled into fists.

I need to make Twining lose focus. I need to be number one, just once. Just once in my life...

But for now, number two would have to do; the holidays were here, and that meant suffocating loneliness as I stayed in solitude at the school, whilst everyone else went home.

I guess I'll just finish my homework and get started on the material for next term. Books make better friends, anyways...

I glanced at the cover for Wuthering Heights.

And it wouldn't kill me to read this, too.


I slogged through the course work for break, and then the books that I knew I didn't need to have read for the next few months, and then, finally, I found that blasted book again. There was something about it that just begged me to finish it. To read all that it had to offer, to absorb the information and learn a lesson...

Ridiculous.

"'May she wake in torment!' he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. 'Why, she's a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there — not in heaven — not perished — where? Oh! you said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer — I repeat it till my tongue stiffens — Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you — haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always — take any form — drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!'"

"Ghosts," I muttered to myself, laughing quietly in the silence of the library. "Ghosts and demons and angels... why would Isaac ever believe this nonsense?"

Because it's not 'nonsense'.

"But it is. This is so unrealistic," I disagreed with the voice.

You will not dismiss it so easily when you experience it.

"I won't, because none of this is real." And I slammed the book shut.


"Be quiet!" shouted our professor as he stood in front of the chalkboard, ready to teach. I acknowledged him drolly; it wasn't as though I had been talking and goofing off. "Ah, today, I'm going to introduce a new transfer student."

How boring.

"Transfer?" Twining murmured from my right, his chin propped on his hand. He didn't sound particularly interested, nor totally unintrigued. His voice was neutral.

Isaac, however, over-dramatised the occurrence, as per usual: "It's quite unusual for someone to transfer around this time."

"Come in, Huber!" the professor called toward the door.

Maybe he'll hate Twining as much as I do and we can conspire to get rid of him, together. Or not. I don't really socialise enough to gain new friends, do I...?

Then something unexpected happened; the same second the transfer walked in, Twining's face went a fascinating shade of puce; his mouth twisted; his eyes were wide and wild; and he looked ready to rip someone's head off.

Hmm?

I didn't understand why a tall bloke with parted dark hair made Twining angry, but I could use that to my advantage, now couldn't I?

"My name's Dantalion Huber," said the transfer, sparkles (?) floating in the air next to his face as he gave a charming smile. No, I take that back – smirk. "Pleased to meet you! I hope we get along."

Dantalion? So it begins.

Oblivious to Twining's sudden temper tantrum and my continued confusion over the voice that was making itself known again, the professor continued: "Huber is quite intelligent. He seems to have been home schooled due to his poor health."

Really? He looks fine to me.

You bet he does.

What the hell?

Twining's hair fell over his eyes, a dark aura clouding his features. If he had looked enraged before, he was now at that scary in-between of calm and cold hard fury.

The mystery deepens.

"Twining," the professor called out, causing him to sit upright. "As student supervisor, you'll be taking care of him."

Oh, this will be good.

"Wha…" Twining was practically quivering now, looking like he wanted to protest, but torn between his precious duties as school prefect and whatever personal offence he had taken to this stranger.

Unless they're already acquainted?

Now there was an idea.

Maybe this "Dantalion" can tell me how to make Twining react like that…

But what happened next made my eyebrows raise in understanding. Dantalion gave Twining a wicked smile, and said, "This is my first time attending school. Please take care of me."

"I love you, so please let me take care of you."

"No. I hate you."

Is Dantalion homosexual? And he pulled the moves on Twining? And now Twining is uncomfortable because he fears ruining his family's name with his forbidden love toward another man?

This is too good to be true.

All I have to do is make sure Twining is too distracted by Dantalion to worry about his grades... and going by their blatant sexual attraction to each other, it shouldn't be too hard to do.

Although, that does mean spending more time with Twining the prat and Isaac the idiot...

Worth it.

The plan was a go.


After classes, I went outside with Wuthering Heights clasped in my hands, wondering how to push Twining and Dantalion into a relationship without being too obvious, or too subtle.

I shook my head and stalked over to a secluded tree, pulling myself up high in the boughs of it, content to be alone and not have any work to do for once.

Of course, I would get in massive trouble if one of the prefects found me like this...

"If he loved with all the powers of his puny being, he couldn't love as much in eighty years as I could in a day."

How pathetic.

Don't worry, for you, the love goes the opposite way.

Leave me alone!

"HEY!" the grating voice of Twining assaulted my ears, sudden enough that I jerked and almost fell out of the tree.

Damn you, Twining.

"EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON!"

Who is he talking to?

I tilted my head down, hoping to see the unfortunate victim to Twining's presence. Black hair, neat collar, shined shoes and perfectly pressed blazer?

Dantalion.

"Watch what you say, William," Dantalion warned, his arms crossed over his chest. The gesture showed off the light muscles in his arms. Undoubtedly, Dantalion was trying to attract William right now.

Does that make me a voyeur?

Don't be ridiculous. Dantalion doesn't feel like that about William.

Sure he does.

"Who do you think paid your school fees?" Dantalion was saying, his eyebrow raised.

Oh, does that mean Twining is broke now? How juicy. I suppose if this plan fails, I could always resort to blackmail...

"Wha – it can't be!" Twining proclaimed, though his voice was soft and lacking any conviction.

Dantalion just grinned at him. "Don't worry, that doesn't mean I made it with magic." Right, because magic doesn't exist... "I just sold some treasure that belonged to a human I made a deal with... She said her name was Cleopatra or something..."

It's official; Dantalion is made for Twining; he's exactly Twining's type, which is to say he's just as much of an idiotic believer in the supernatural as Isaac, but more attractive!

You're an idiot.

No, you are.

"Though if you choose me," Dantalion said, his voice rather unseductive, despite the sexual undertone. "I don't mind cancelling your debt." Damn, is he trying to blackmail Twining into a relationship with him?

"WHO WOULD BE INDEBTED TO A DEMON?!" Twining screeched. I covered my poor ears, but the damage was done; I'd never be able to hear again.

"You don't know when the other demons that are aware of your existence will make contact." Huh, not deaf after all... wait, demons? "I've decided to stay with you until you promise to chose me."

"Please, choose me, not him!"

"I love you, but he has to come before you..."

"Bastard!"

Looks like I don't need to convince Dantalion that Twining is the man for him... I only need to convince Twining. Dammit, that means I have to talk to him in order to persuade him!

Twining was sweating, clearly aroused by the idea of Dantalion pursuing him. But then he grabbed Dantalion by the collar and shrieked: "DON'T MAKE THE DECISION YOURSELF! I'M NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS OPPRESSION!"

Does that mean Dantalion likes it rough?

I could tell you, if you'd like to know. I could even show you.

Ehh, no thanks, that's weird.

"Hmm?" Dantalion purred. "Don't worry, I'll make you well aware of my merits from now on, William."

He's definitely going to openly seduce him after this, isn't he...

Does the thought disturb you?

I thought for a minute. No.

Why did it feel like I was lying?

Twining walked away.