I'm sorry, I've been gone for ages. But I haven't forgotten, so here's finally a new chapter! I hope you'll enjoy reading it.
The next morning Lavi met Lenalee on the other side of the door, apparently sent forward by Allen, who, somehow, always seemed to know when he was about to wake up. Maybe it was one of those creepy things only black magicians could do.
"Good morning, Lavi, did you sleep well last night?"
Lavi returned the greeting and replied he had a good night before following her into the corridor on the way to the dining room. Suddenly he realized this was a perfect opportunity to get some more information.
"Lenalee, have you heard about what Miranda does at night?"
The maid looked at him in surprise. "Yes, of course. It's not like it's a big secret. Why?"
Lavi shrugged his shoulders, trying to act like they were just exchanging some little rumors. "Well, I just wondered why everyone would let her go out there all alone. It can be dangerous for a woman at night. Have you ever met this man she meets up with?"
"It's sweet that you're worried about her, but she's perfectly fine out there." She stopped in front of the door leading to the dining room and turned to him. "I did meet him and he's a fine man. His name is Marie and since he's blind he can lead her through the darkness as well as he could have in the light of the day. He's sweet and caring and I'm sure he'd do anything to keep her safe."
That would be good news to give to Allen, Lavi thought as he smiled to the maid. "That's a relief to hear. Thank you, Lenalee."
Lenalee returned the smile, then winked. "I bet Allen would be happy with the report."
Stunned at the reply Lavi kept staring at her as she made her way back through the corridor.
Just before she turned the corner she turned around, still sounding like she had to hold back laughter. "And tell him not to worry so much. Next time he can just ask me about it."
"I'm sorry, Lenalee saw straight through me." Lavi leaned against the desk after giving Allen full report on what he had found out. The maid had been right. The information had visibly calmed her lord's worries.
Allen laughed. "I should have known. She's much smarter than me. What did she say?"
"That you shouldn't worry so much and ask her instead."
The silver eyes warmed up at the comment. "Typical Lenalee," he answered with a gentle smile. "She's a good maid."
Lavi let his eyes travel around the study, again taking in every detail involving the magic practices that were obviously done here.
"So, Allen, why the leeches?" He ended at the jar with the disgusting black worms swimming through the murky water inside.
The boy looked up from his inner thoughts following his guest's gaze to the creatures. "They are very useful for a magician." He stood up, opened the jar and fished three of the animals out of it with skilled hands.
Lavi felt the muscles in his face tighten in dismay when his host dropped the things on the back of his own hand. "Aren't you scared they'll bite?"
"Of course they will." Allen laughed softly. "They are leeches."
"Then why would you take them out?"
"Because they don't only drink blood." He lifted his hand, showing the black worms which seemed to have attacked their prey already. The shining bodies contorted in waves, like they were swallowing mouthfuls of blood. "With my blood they suck out magical energy. It isn't enough to make me powerless now, but since I let them eat a bit of it regularly they become vast storages. As soon as anything happens and I'm desperately in need of the energy I can take it back."
"How?" Lavi didn't think he'd like the answer and Allen's paling face underlined that.
"I… have to eat them." The reluctance was clear in his voice.
There was just one good answer to this. "I'm glad I'm not a magician."
And to that Allen laughed. "Yeah, sometimes I wonder why I even try."
They stared at the creatures somewhat longer, then, apparently deciding it had been enough, Allen grabbed their tales and pulled them off, his fingers glowing faintly as if he was making them let go with his magic. After that he dropped them back in their jar and closed the lid.
"You'll never find a skilled black magician without leeches." Allen finished, taking a handkerchief out of a drawer to swipe the remaining blood from his skin. "They are very important."
"I see," Lavi replied. He traced the nerves on Allen's desk with a finger, before looking up to gauge Allen's mood.
The boy seemed calm and relaxed and for the first time he had a feeling their bond of trust might have strengthened enough to dare to ask a bit of a harder question. He felt that even if his host didn't want to answer, he wouldn't close up entirely anymore either.
"Say, Allen?"
"Yes, Lavi?" The boy studied his face, as if to try to predict what he was going to ask.
"You said we can't leave the house because you're cursed."
He could see Allen's face tighten, but the male waited out the entire question in silence nevertheless.
"I just wondered if the curse could be broken and if you knew a way for it or if I could help you look for a way."
The muscles on his host's face relaxed. He'd probably thought Lavi would ask how it had happened, but even if the male was very curious to that too, he knew better than to ask about that now.
Allen folded his hands and seemed to stare into the distance as he replied. "Curses can ever only be broken if the riddle going with it is solved." Suddenly his eyes cleared back up and he looked at Lavi, humor jumping back in them. "Have you ever heard how curses are broken in fairy tales?"
Lavi chuckled. "A true love's kiss?"
Allen nodded in agreement. "So since I can't figure out who my true love should be I just kiss everyone I meet. Think you're ready to have your turn?"
Even if he knew it was a joke, Lavi could feel his cheeks redden for a moment. "Sure you can handle it? I'm a true maniac when it comes down to kissing."
Allen laughed, leaning forward in his chair. "Who says kissing a black magician is the same as any other human?"
"Oh, now it sounds tempting." Lavi returned, leaning in too.
Their faces were so close he could feel Allen's breath touch his skin. His green eye looked straight into a silver one, now being able to make out the tiny blue and brown flecks that made it as impure as any human's eye. For a moment he wondered how far this joke would take them.
But then Allen let himself fall back in his chair, laughing. "If that had really been the case I'd definitely had kissed you just now." He strangled his fingers into each other, his serious mood returning slowly. "No, it doesn't involve a true love's kiss, but I'll tell you the riddle. The way to solve the curse is for someone to remind me of who I really am and solve that what caused it all by finding out what's hidden behind the curse. Or so Neah told me."
Lavi frowned. He was good at riddles, but this didn't sound like a regular one. He'd have to think of it more before he would be able to figure out its meaning.
"You look like you don't know the answer either." Allen tilted his head until he could gaze out of the little window in the corner. "To be honest I haven't told all my guests anymore. I don't think anyone will solve it. I've given up on getting my freedom back. I don't think I deserve it anyway."
"I'll think of it some more later," Lavi promised. "I've got three years for solving this thing, just leave it up to me."
He could swear he saw a little bit of hope spark back into the boy's eyes.
"Thank you, Lavi, but please don't break your head over it too much. I'm fine in here."
And that put another question on his lips. He didn't think it would be too much of a sensitive subject, so as he pulled his hand from the table, finally done tracing the nerves, he looked at Allen. "So, how long have you already been stuck in here?"
The boy's hands clenched around each other more tightly as a hint of pain passed over the young face. "As far as I counted this is the 35th year."
