Such a beautiful bird
It's a shame to keep it caged, isn't it?
Lavi kept silent as his mind went numb. He left the infirmary without turning back and he ignored the surprised Komui when he passed by him in the corridors. There was a pang in his chest that wasn't there before, and it made Lavi afraid of what it actually was and what it really meant. His feelings, emotions, and thoughts were all in turmoil with one another, draining the heartless Demon Lord out of his energy. Locking himself in his personal chambers, Lavi slumped down and closed his tired eyes to sleep for a couple of days. Or weeks. Damn… How did things get so complicated…
After several days, Allen was already up and walking. He was fully recovered of his injuries, but Miranda couldn't erase the scar Allen had received on his back. So, if one would catch Allen shirtless from behind, they should be able to see a large star-shaped scar located just perfectly between his left and right wing. Allen didn't mind it whatsoever; since the scar did not hinder his wings' movements nor did it irritate him in any way. He was just glad to be out of the sick room and stretched his recuperated body with his open wings.
"Hey, looks like somebody has the good-to-go card!" Komui greeted Allen with a mocking grin and a friendly wave. Allen greeted the demon back out of politeness, thankful of Komui and his other demon friends that aided him all this while. While he was practically under house arrest in the infirmary, Komui and Lenalee came to visit him on some days when they weren't bombarded with demon business. Kanda only came by once in a while, just to update the bedridden Allen on the reconstruction of the Black Order clan. Krory came by together with Reever and Johnny; the guards telling Allen with worried tones that Lavi has not left his chambers ever since he brought the sick Allen in.
"You should've seen his face when he carried you in, Allen," Krory recalled with a serious look on his face, "I've seen bloodthirsty demons my whole life; but never before have I seen Lavi acting so satanic before,"
So that was how the determined Allen had decided to bring Lavi out of his miserable shell, by hook or by crook. He was looking for Lavi's personal chambers (that location was still under his list of 'castle-hunting rooms') when he came across Komui. Just the person I need!
"Do you know where Lavi is now? I want to thank him," Allen enquired after greeting the second-in-command with a cheerful smile.
He only got a mysterious look in return as Komui led the way without answering the question. Influenced by his insatiable curiosity, Allen followed the demon like a lost lamb.
But Allen's curiosity morphed into confusion as the older demon led them into one of the deeper parts of the large library. Komui casually took out a scroll from one of the oval shelves and leaned on a chair with a carefree stance, though the position didn't fool Allen one bit. Komui's eyes were looking everywhere but him, his shoulders were straightened and his demon wings were as stiff-sharp as knives on edges. Allen had no choice but to be patient as Komui took his time to gather his thoughts and think of his words.
"Allen," Komui sighed. His body language showing Allen that whatever had made Komui hesitant of speaking was now gone and it left an exhausted demon behind. Allen didn't like the depressed tone of the constantly-jubilant demon's voice; Komui sounded defeated.
"Allen," Komui licked his lips as he finally made contact with Allen's wondering eyes, "what do you know about curses?"
Allen stiffened as his face showed a deep frown, his wings curled up around his body for the first time since ages ago as proof that he was uncomfortable with the sudden topic, "I believe that I know curses pretty well myself, Komui… What're you trying to say? Is Lavi alright? Is that why he's locked himself up in his room?!"
Allen's frantic questions made Komui shake his head in amusement, "Calm down, Allen. I'll tell you, but you must promise that you cannot tell anyone!"
Allen nodded his head in eager agreement as he dropped his cool façade to show a serious face. Komui snorted when he saw Allen's intense stare. This is really not the time to think that Allen looks cute! Komui cleared his throat as he opened the scroll's seal and showed the contents to Allen. There were moving painted pictures on it, the demonic writing was strange to Allen, who scrunched his nose while trying to interpret the meaning of all this.
Komui saved the trouble by pointing at a picture of two great, terrible demons that seemed to clash in mortal combat with the other. One looked all too familiar as Allen detected the tinge of wild red hair. Komui spoke while the pictures moved accordingly, like a showcase especially for the angel, "A long time ago, Demon Lord Lavi and Demon Lord Malcolm fought in a war against each other; one wanted ultimate power and the other one fought for family, but neither wanting to give up. The war raged on for centuries in Hell,"
Then Komui showed Allen the picture of Malcolm above a fallen Lavi, the victorious Demon Lord cackling in printed silence, "Until one day, Malcolm had enough. Using forbidden magic, he casted a curse onto Lavi. But even with the presence of the curse, Lavi gathered enough power to seriously injure Malcolm and his army. Malcolm retreated deep into his territory, swearing vengeance on Lavi's head. From that day onwards, Lavi carried the curse inside him, and it's killing him every second,"
"A curse? What's the curse all about?" Allen asked, his eyes searching for anything related to the spell that Lavi was suffering under.
Komui shook his head solemnly as he rolled up the scroll, trying to find the words to speak, "It… Is something that all demons dread the most.. The curse simply means that: if Lavi doesn't learn how to love, he will die,"
True to his innocent nature, Allen tilted his head in mild puzzlement as he defended the Demon Lord, "but Lavi loves his clan! He loves Lenalee, and you, and everybody else here,"
"No, Allen, not that kind of love. The kind of love that Lavi needs to break his curse is a different kind of love; the type that requires sacrifices and requited feelings…" Komui scratched his head in frustration, "but we can't truly love somebody else. Because you see; demons are heartless,"
Allen's wings fluttered furiously to betray Allen's nervousness, his angelic face turning into blushing bright red, "W-We shouldn't just give up! Lavi is your Demon Lord and your friend, right? I'll try my best to find a cure too!"
So adorable, Komui inwardly chuckled. Truth be told, he was relieved that Allen wanted to help Lavi. He had expected the cute angel to up and leave Black Order clan because there was nothing to gain from curing Lavi, considering the fact that Lavi had been treating Allen like trash all these while… Until recently, of course. He was thinking about that for quite some time and he failed to catch Allen's suggestion.
Allen stood up squarely with perfect conviction in his eyes, "I've got it: I'll just go back to the Church of Angels,"
"NO! You can't!" Komui shrieked out in panic. There was no doubt of what would happen if Allen left the castle. Lavi would tear everyone and everything apart from the inside out, starting with him! But he couldn't tell Allen that! Unthinkably, Komui pointed at Allen's magical shackles as a poor excuse.
Allen only shrugged the concern away for later as he talked to the panicky demon, "look, the Church of Angels have a library bigger than this one; And in that library, I can at least understand the language written in the books!"
Komui stood his ground, however. His wings sharpening themselves from behind him as he commanded the younger angel with brotherly sternness, "No, Allen, you cannot do that, "
"Can't do what, Komui?" A deep voice echoed from behind them both, freezing their conversation with efficiency.
Komui cursed at himself as he turned around with a false smile on his scared face. The Demon Lord was obviously in a bad mood, as if one misfortunate would make Lavi bite someone's head off. His bottled-green eye was twinkling with mischief, but Komui knew stealthy danger when he saw one. "Lavi! What a surprise! Hey, since you're outside, maybe you can help me with my work!"
Allen swooped between both demons and declared to the grumpy Lavi with resolution, "I'm planning to go back to the Church of Angels," he made sure to keep eye contact with the stiffened Demon Lord.
Inner Komui face-palmed himself when he saw the change in Lavi's posture. The second-in-command wanted to speak, but his throat suddenly felt too dry and there were no words coming from his parched tongue. He felt the atmosphere turned hotter and hotter each second as if he was falling into the pits of Hell itself. Then, the coldness came back with a vengeance. His spine tingled with the refreshing scent of peppermint and cool ice. The two opposing forces were battling it out as both angel and demon stared down each other.
Lavi's black wings subtlety sharpened themselves as he stood before the unmoving angel, "Why?" was the only word Lavi can trust himself to speak without losing his violent temper.
Allen's own white wings curled themselves around his strong arms but not his entire body yet, his demeanour never wavering in their spirit of willpower, "Because-"
His eyes caught Komui's mad jumping behind Lavi. No! Don't, Allen! No!
"B-Because…" Allen hurriedly thought of his explanation and straightened his backbone with challenge in his eyes, "Because I want to go home,"
"No," was Lavi's instant answer as he folded his arms across his chest.
Allen threw his hands in exasperation as he tried to reason with the stubborn demon, "Why can't I go back? You have your clan here and I have nobody. You didn't even tell me the reason why you're keeping me trapped here and there's absolutely nothing for me to do here!"
Lavi growled as he felt his blood boiling at the impossible angel, "You're here because I said so," he waved his hands around the area, "You got Lenalee and Kanda to accompany you. You have the privilege of learning our language even though you're an angel and you've got access to all our facilities here without question. Look at our library, for instance!"
"Yes, your library is magnificent; but it's not enough!" Allen raised his voice now, his wings hardening their protection while Lavi's own was sharpened to the edge. Allen just wanted to scream at the insufferable demon! "You have books on countless of spells and curses! But I have books that can cure those spells and curses if you would just. Let. Me. GO!"
Lavi stopped his thoughts as he growled threateningly at Allen for the first time, "Allen…. What do you mean by curing spells and curses?"
Oops.. Oh no! Allen was caught off guard as he saw the Demon Lord about to lose his wrath on him. Steeling himself, Allen talked in a calm but quick voice, "My Church has about a million books on medicine and cures for curses. I'm sure that there is something-"
"What makes you think I didn't try all of those so-called cures?!" Lavi's demonic voice cursed out, his black wings lashed at thin air with pointed feathers, "Stop being so naïve! There is no cure for this curse and you are not getting out of here!"
Allen's wings hardened completely now, covering his body like solid wall as he started begging with shining eyes, "then why should I stay here? Please, Lavi, let me help you!"
Allen flinched instinctually when he saw Lavi's outstretched claws reaching for him, but the Demon Lord changed his target in the last second and broke the side shelf into pieces. Books scattered on the ground and the breaking sound of woods creaking was evident in the once quiet library.
Lavi's demonic voice rumbled lowly for the angel to hear, to note that his threat was not without weight and his power was not without reason, "You are not going anywhere, Allen. That's an order, ym drow si WAL!"
Allen's such a pretty little thing and it's a crying shame that he's trapped in a golden cage, isn't it?
Hullo in the weekend! I'm predicting that I'll be busy next week, so i'm uploading this new chapter for you guys early! I do hope that you're enjoying this little chapter, I had fun writing Allen and Komui's conversation. I can almost picture Komui jumping frantically behind Lavi hahaha There's no new information I can offer you guys this time, since all other new info is saved for the next future chapters. So you'll just have to wait it through, sorry!
Again, I'm really ecstatic to read all your comments. They made my whole dreary day all the more cheerful! Keep it up, they do a great job in providing me motivation and inspiration! Other than that, I wish you excellent days till we meet again! ;D
