Oh yay, I finally updated… Took me long enough, yes?

Anyway, now we get a little insight to Allen's past and the real dirty work begins with the Earl and the Noahs. Fun? Maybe for the villains, of course. Allen and Lenalee would disagree.

On to chapter nine!

Cursed Wings-Chapter 9

~No More Mr. Nice Earl~

***

Allen stared in shock, his mind racing with a swarm of questions and disbeliefs over powering his ability to speak. "A… a sorcerer?" He finally croaked. "My real father… was one of you?"

The Earl grinned. "Yes, Allen, he was one of us~. We called him the musician, for his spells seemed to sing whenever he'd cast them~. Quite powerful, I must say, but very meddlesome~. So much so, that we had to eliminate him immediately."

Allen's eyes widened, his teeth bared in rage such as he had never before felt. "So you… you also killed my real father? And then you murdered my Uncle?"

"But we didn't kill you, dear boy~," the man waved him off as he spoke. "And you're what we need at this very moment~."

The prince glared. "I don't have any powers…"

"Oh, but you do, Allen~," the Earl's eyes gleamed wickedly as he watched the white haired boy step back ever so slightly. "Think, dear Prince, think~. There have been times in which you have done things, things that you simply passed off for luck, or chance~. Things you can now look back on… and know that you were the cause for such effects."

It was as if a trance had come over him, but Allen slowly began to recall the incidences the Great Sorcerer spoke of…

It had happened so quickly. The four children were on Kanda's balcony, for some reason or another. It was windy, that day. He was confident that he could prove himself to Kanda, ignoring Lenalee's cries, scoffing at Lavi's warnings, and completely disregarding Kanda's jeers that he was a fool for trying. He could prove to them all that he could balance himself on the ledge standing up. It wasn't that narrow, but it certainly was blustery…

And suddenly the prince fell. It has happening so quickly, but Allen's mind was slowing the seconds to minutes. He saw the other children's daces moving further and further up and away from him, the little princess's screams echoing with the wind as he plummeted down the to the castle grounds. All he could do was stare at the sky, stare at it, stare at it… before the darkness claimed him.

"A-Allen!" The young prince's eyes opened slowly, his father's worried face coming to view. "Oh Allen, thank heavens…"

"Father," the boy whispered, blinking. "What happened?"

A long silence followed his words.

"You fell," Allen's eyes flicked to the other end of the room where Kanda stood, watching him with a strange look in his eyes. Beside him, Lenalee was sniffing and rubbing her eyes, but also held him with an odd gaze.

"Well, yes, that's obvious," Allen tried to joke.

"You slowed down."

All eyes flew to the doorway where the Great Scribe and his apprentice were observing the scene impassively. Allen had never seen Lavi look so grave. He repeated himself. "You slowed down before you hit the bottom. I saw you. So did Prince Kanda and Princess Lenalee."

Allen blinked at him, taking in Lavi's serious tone and eyeing Lenalee and Kanda's astonished faces. He shook his head. "How... is that even possible?"

"It doesn't matter now," Mana interjected, embracing the child tightly. "You're safe, Allen. That's all that matters."

The prince hugged his father back. He honestly didn't remember actually slowing down before passing out. But somewhere in the boy's mind… He did recall a song…

"Do you understand, now~?"

Allen's eyes focused back to the present. The Earl was back in his throne watching him with that infuriating grin still covering his face. The prince didn't answer, so the man laughed again. "I take it you realize what lies within you… The capabilities you have~."

Again, Allen would not budge. Outwardly he glared the Earl down, but within, he couldn't understand why this was happening to him. Why his father… Mana… never told him.

"I can help you control it~."

Grey eyes flicked up in surprise as the Earl leaned back on his throne comfortably. "I can teach you things you never dreamed of~. Together, Allen, we can master and control your abilities~. Think of what we could accomplish~! Maybe even bring your father back to you…"

The boy's breath caught in his throat. Bring father… back?

The Earl held out his hand to Allen. "All you have to do is say yes~."

Allen's hand shook and extended toward the old man slowly. Tears fell from his eyes as he paused just before shaking on it. He drew the hand back and whispered in a dangerous voice. "I'll die first, before I ever join forces with you."

The Earl regarded him with that ever-leering face of his before he grinned wider. "So be it~."

***

In one of the many dreary rooms of the Earl's castle, Lenalee stared out of a tiny window unsettled and anxious. Her thoughts wandered to Allen and how the Earl seemed anxious to talk alone with him. For some reason, memories of her most recent nightmare emerged and distressed her. What was going to happen? What did the Earl truly want from them, particularly the prince? So lost within her thoughts she was, that she didn't notice a presence float through the door and smirk behind her until he spoke.

"You seem a bit troubled, Princess," Tyki chuckled as Lenalee gasped and turned around. He glanced at his hands and examined his fingers in a bored tone as he continued. "Anything I can help you with?"

The girl's eyes narrowed. "Where's Allen? What does your master want from him?"

"I've delivered the boy safe and sound to the Earl. They have… business to discuss."

"And what sort of business do you imply?" She inquired.

"Nothing that concerns you, my dear," Tyki laughed, walking closer to her and smirking. "In the mean time, you and I have other matters to attend to, do we not?"

"I already told, you I will not consent to marry you!" Snapped Lenalee.

"And why not?" Tyki asked lightly, feigning surprise on his face. "What do you wish to hold out for?"

"...I have found love. That's all I need."

"Ah, yes," Tyki snorted, sitting on the bed and folding his arms over his legs leisurely. "The young scribe boy… Wonderful choice, I must say. Tenacious, handsome, intelligent. However," Tyki took out a tobacco roll and lit it, taking a puff before glancing back at Lenalee. "That union is unacceptable."

"That will not stop us now," Lenalee glowered. "He has agreed to take the vow, agreed to go against all he's worked to become. I have chosen to do the same. Too long have we followed the laws of our society, and too long have we denied our feelings. Prince Kanda and Allen as well." Lenalee turned away from him and folded her arms, staring out across the lake once more. "I will wait for him."

"Interesting as that story may be," drawled the lord, tossing the roll into a tray and stretching with a yawn. "Fairy tale endings simply don't apply to this situation. You are a princess, and even if he does break the spell, which I can assure you he won't, your futures can never be as one. The boy and his princely lover are the same."

Lenalee said nothing, eyes following the ripples in the water below as Tyki stood up to slide beside her and whispered in her ear. "But with me, my dear, you would maintain status and gain power you could only dream of possessing. I am a Lord, after all. And I can tell you now Lady Road truly loves young Allen. She so desires to be his queen." His breath tickled her ear and Lenalee froze up. "And I may not be able to love you, but I can still satisfy your needs. The emotional, the financial, the physical…"

Lenalee pulled away from the hands touching her shoulders and rounded on Tyki with a sharp slap. She huffed in disgust up at him. "How dare you… How dare you think I could care less about any of those things! Like it doesn't matter whom I'm with so long as he can provide! You're only doing this so that your father will rule the lands legally. It will never, I repeat, never happen!"

Tyki sighed and touched his cheek, advancing to her once more. "Be that as it may… your stubbornness isn't making this any easier on any of us, let alone you and that boy. Resistance is futile, my dear. Eventually one of two things must happen."

The girl gasped as he took hold of her arm and pulled her to face him. Lenalee struggled, but Tyki tightened his grip, with a smirk. "First off, you either give in willingly, accept that we have the upper hand on this matter. Or…" He chuckled. "We force you to yield to our commands… As I have stated, we don't intend to kill you, princess. We need you alive… But that doesn't mean we can't break you down a bit to make you acquiesce to our demands."

"Let me go," whispered Lenalee, struggling harder.

"You really are beautiful," Tyki murmured pleasantly, eyes moving to stare her up and down. "I can see why that boy would abandon his duties just for a chance to be with you. Just to be near you like this…"

Lenalee gasped and tried to turn her head away, But Tyki's free hand caught her chin. "But I don't want to shatter you just yet… I like to take these things slower on women. Prince Allen on the other hand-"

"You leave him alone," Lenalee hissed. "Don't you dare hurt him!"

"Prince Allen is also quite beautiful. Yet he is also a man. He can handle a little rough and tumble, wouldn't you agree?"

The princess's eyes squeezed shut as she felt him draw near, but opened when he suddenly let go as the door opened.

"Awww, that was getting good, Tyki!" whined Road, leaning against the door frame, giggling. "But the Earl's done with Allen now. He sent me up to get you."

With a snap of her fingers, Allen's body appeared on the bed. The prince's body remained still save for the steady rise and fall of his chest. Lenalee shoved Tyki away from her and hurried over to shake Allen gently. "Allen! Allen! Are you all right? Open your eyes!"

"He's merely asleep, Princess," Road giggled, tip toeing over to the girl and placing a soft peck on her cheek. "Join him."

No sooner did Road kiss her did Lenalee's eyes roll back and she slumped onto the other side of the bed. Tyki fixed his robe and smiled down at the sleeping royals before exiting with Road. "Sweet dreams, majesties."

***

"Well, that went rather well, don't you think?" Cyril smiled up from his desk and glass of wine as the Earl entered the room and sat in a large armchair near the fireplace. Tyki and Road close behind.

"If you call kicking, squirming, reluctant royal brides threatening bodily harm to you well, then yes, it went swimmingly," Tyki sighed, brushing off his coat and handing it to Lulubell. He walked over to snatch the glass from his brother's hands, taking a large sip. "That girl is very feisty. The boy's not much better."

"But no matter what they do, I'm always one step ahead~," chuckled the Earl as he rested his feet on the leg rest in front of the chair. The twins cackled at their master's words rolling on the floor in front of him and Tyki sniffed in amusement.

"On the other hand," Road pouted leaning on the arm of the chair and looking at the fireplace with a sigh. "That prince and the apprentice scribe seemed very serious about taking those vows."

"Very true, my dear, very true~," the Earl grinned, though his voice sounded far less cheerful. "Their vows can potentially ruin everything I've fought to regain over the last seventeen years, and I cannot allow it~."

"But how are we to deal with them?" Lulubell spoke up. "The red haired one is under the protection of the Scribes. If we were to kill him off, they'd surely be displeased. He knows much of the history of the current legacies."

"And King Tiedoll is well practiced in defending himself from sorcerers," Cyril added, leaning on desk. "His captain, Lady Klaud, is a skilled practitioner of the craft. And their ally is Captain Cross Marian and well..." He chuckled. "We know how troublesome he has been in the past."

The Earl considered all of them for a moment. After a few seconds pause he nodded. "Then we must use the vows against them~."

He was given several blank looks in reply. All the Noah seemed to have the same question on their minds, but it was David who spoke up. "What do you mean, Earl? What about the vows?"

"Hi hi," chimed in Jasdero leaning his head over his twin's shoulder. "The vows?"

"Yes, yes, dear children~," chuckled the old man. "We'll get Prince Kanda and the scribe boy to pledge their love to the wrong prince and princess~."

Tyki blinked. "And how precisely are we going to do that?"

"Well first off," the fat sorcerer hopped off his chair and grinned. "I need two volunteers~."

Immediately, David and Jasdero's hands flew up. "Us, Earl! Pick us!"

"Hi Hi, pick us!"

"Oh my, how eager we are~. Very well, then~. You two shall be the bait~!"

The twins whooped and dance around in a circle, before the last part hit them. They froze and stared at their leader in uncertainty replying in unison. "Bait?"

With a wave of the Earl's hands, the two boys were suddenly engulfed in a gust of smoke. The other occupants of the room shielded their eyes as David's voice called over the commotion.

"H-Hey! What's happening!?

"Hi Hi! It's smoky!"

Within a few moments, however, the smoke cleared and in it's wake were two familiar figures dressed in black. Though those figures no longer looked like David or Jasdero. They stared at each other then jumped back screaming.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Road promptly began to laugh, falling into the Earl's chair in mirth. Tyki's brow twitched, part of him amused, the other part highly disturbed. Lulubell looked no better, but Cyril clapped his hands in delight.

"How splendid, Earl! They look just like the real thing."

"We look fucking ridiculous!" David snapped, but he now looked like the white haired prince from the scarred eye to the marred left arm. He blanched. "Uhg, I even sound like him, too."

Next to him, his brother was exploring his new female appearance with child like curiosity. "I feel… soft, hi hi." He twirled his long black hair, traced his neck, and groped his front with a wide grin. "I feel really soft, hi!"

"H-hey, let me see that!" David demanded groping at the other and nodding slowly. "You're right… they are soft."

"I… I think I might want to kill you two a little," Lulubell groaned, her face in her hands. "I really just might."

"Please, allow me," Tyki droned, looking mildly disgusted. "That is just so incredibly... wrong. You two haven't a clue."

"But Earl," David as Allen spoke up, releasing his hold. "What's the point of us being the Prince and Princess? What'd you want us to do?"

"Isn't it obvious, silly," Road intervened sitting up. "You two are going to pretend to be Allen and Lenalee at the ball!"

They both stared for a moment in disbelief until Jasdero tilted his head. "So that mean... we have to get hit on by boys, hi hi?"

"…Oh fuck, forget this!" David turned to the Earl pleading. "Earl, please change us back! I don't want to play a guy begging another guy to... to... ah I can't even say it!!!"

"But my boy, it's only for a few hours~," the eldest of the sorcerers grinned. "Besides, you just have to fool them long enough for them to make the vows."

"What happens then?" Tyki inquired. "What will making the vows to the wrong people do?"

The Earl's face contorted into a wicked smile. "If they make their vows to the wrong people… Allen and Lenalee shall die."

David and Jasdero looked at each other, then smirked and nodded back at the Earl, "Count us in! I'm tired of dealing with those annoying little bitches."

"Hi hi!" chuckled Jasdero in Lenalee's voice which somehow sounded even more frightening then usual. "Birdies go bye bye!"

Tyki smiled. "And after that?"

The old man beamed. "Well, after that we finish the rest of those meddling fools off ourselves. The young Prince, the Kings Tiedoll and Komui… If those scribes interfere we shall have to destroy them as well~."

"And Cross?" Lulubell queried.

The Earl simply smiled. "Eliminate him~."

Tyki smirked. "Now that is more like it."

"I really wish Allen didn't have to die, though…" Road sighed. "I really like him."

"Oh sweetie, I know," Cyril walked over to his sister and embraced her. "But if he refuses to use his power to aid us, he must be destroyed. Surely, you understand."

"We can always find you a new doll," Lulubell offered.

The smallest of the Noah considered this and nodded. "I understand. Family first."

"That's my girl~," cooed the Earl, patting her head and chuckling. "My, my, it feels good to be back in power~. I dare say, we've been far too lenient with these nobles for far too long~!"

"No more mister nice guy, then?" Tyki asked snickering.

"Indeed~," cackled the sorcerer merrily. "Indeed~…"

And done! Oh, I am so tired right now…. Seriously, I'm exhausted.

So how do you all think this is turning out? Are my twists too ridiculous, or are they tolerable? Your criticism is always welcomed if done constructively :)

The Noah… Hope they weren't too OOC here. I do worry about that terribly when writing villains. Well, writing anyone, for that matter… Next chapter we get to see more Cross! I love writing him. He's so much fun!

Anyway, short author's not today, but as stated before, I'm really tired -_-;; Sleep is a beautiful thing for me right now.

Till next chapter!