Chapter 13: Rose Blood
{Bookman's Room: October 8th 1887, 6:33am}
The old scribe settled himself at a table in the clean – yet fairly messy – room while General Cross stood off to the side and waited, while Allen and Lenalee sat at the table with Bookman. The man had two black folders out on the table, causing a sense of unease to settle into the two Exorcists' systems as they watched the aged scribe hum in thought before looking between the two of them. General Cross kept himself quiet as the man assessed the two of them before sighing as he shook his head in defeat. The two Exorcists seemed clearly unsure of what that was supposed to mean; however, the man was perfectly happy to clear it up for them.
"It seems nothing changes with youth. The two of you will have quite the time dealing with Komui...I wish you the best," Bookman said.
"I think we'll need it..." Allen sighed in defeat, showing off his fangs to the scribe, who was quick to move towards him.
"If I may...open your mouth a bit again, please," he said. Allen did as the man asked and the scribe reached out to pull the boy's lips clear of his teeth as he took in the changes to his teeth in questioning. Allen kept a fairly annoyed look upon his face as Bookman hummed and then stepped away, causing the boy to lick his lips before looking to the man.
"What's wrong?" the scribe said nothing as he resumed his seat and looked to them.
"It would seem you've fully turned...I will address some physiological requirements for your kind soon; however, I first wish to speak to you on what I have uncovered about your parents," Bookman stated.
"Please...what did you find?" crimson-gold eyes looked to the man in a pleading manner and the man sighed.
"Interesting eyes...it suits your heritage...Noah and Vampire hybrids aren't very well documented...when you've fully recovered your memories, I would like to inquire a few details to you," he said.
"I don't mind, but...please...Bookman, I need to know what you found." Lenalee grasped the boy's hand under the table, hoping to bring him comfort while the scribe went about informing them of the things he'd found.
"Very well, I will cut to the chase then. Yes, Allen, your parents worked for the Black Order...and yes, both of them were indeed killed by the Millennium Earl," Bookman confirmed.
"I see...what else did you find?" the man took in a steady breath.
"It would seem that your information from your memories weren't incorrect on many factors. Both of your parents weren't merely supporters of the Black Order: they were Exorcists..." General Cross smirked as Allen and Lenalee looked at the man with surprise.
"My parents were Exorcists...then is that why I'm..." the man nodded.
"It has been proven that children of Exorcists can be highly compatible with Innocence. Most likely, your parents being high-level Exorcists made the chances of conceiving a child compatible with the Innocence higher. You are a result of that, a child who was born with Innocence inside their body..." Lenalee looked to Allen with faint fear in her eyes.
"But parasite-types don't live long, so...how is it that..." she felt worry unfurl inside her as Bookman looked to them.
"It would seem that your genetics have increased your lifespan by a great margin. The type of Innocence you have would have typically claimed your life in your mid-late twenties at the rate you have been going...but you aren't only a Noah, but a vampire...creatures who are typically immortals...which I suppose you have inherited, judging by your left eye, the point to your ears, and your fangs," Bookman explained.
"Immortal...that makes sense I guess...it explains how I kept surviving all of those hits and attacks that should have killed me..." General Cross huffed.
"Hybrids are three times as durable as humans and most purebloods. For some reason, a hybrid is far more superior than something that is pure or full-blooded. You are an exception to the matter because of your enigma in nature...biologically, you make no sense, yet here you are," he said. Allen narrowed his eyes.
"You're more of an offense to nature than I am, ash-tray bastard..." Bookman smiled faintly as Lenalee shook her head.
"So, what does this have to do with his parents? Asked Lenalee.
"Rather simple. If Allen Walker's parents were both Exorcists, but one a Noah and another a Vampire...that means that his existence proves our prior theories incorrect: humans aren't the only ones capable of wielding Innocence. Do you know who your mother was?" Allen looked to Bookman at that.
"Her name was Sara Melody Walker..." the man nodded.
"Yes, but her maiden name was Sara Melody Traverse. She was an Exorcist with a parasitic-type Innocence made from her hair that resembled butterflies. They could turn into wings that allowed her to fly, and in addition, they allowed her to create blades from the wings. She was quite skillful, and she was a vampire..." General Cross sighed.
"That was something we were aware about from the get-go. It was only covered up when the Liverrie family decided that they wanted to make it seem that God had chosen to create a pure army. They didn't like acknowledging that a vampire could be an Exorcist," he stated.
"Them again? Why hasn't anyone put a bullet in those bastards' heads already?" Allen's vicious statement had Lenalee slightly uncomfortable.
"They work for the Vatican...if they started dying..." the boy's form bristled.
"So? After what Malcolm C. Liverrie did to you and then tried to do to the rest of us...I can't see why we associate with them anymore..." Bookman hummed.
"The Noah of Song was a far more peaceful Noah...but do not be mistaken, Lenalee...despite all of those factors...and that the original Fourteenth Noah was fine with aiding the Exorcists...they all harbor a dark side that can be dangerous to those who awaken it," he stated as Lenalee watched Allen as he took in a deep breath.
"Rein it in, kid. That Noah blood of yours is gonna get you hurt otherwise." a sharp glare was given to Cross.
"Shut up, knobhead...I don't need a lecture on control from someone like you," Allen stated as he looked to Bookman.
"Shall I continue?" the boy nodded.
"What did you find on my father?" Lenalee stared at him.
"Allen...what are you..." realization settled upon her at that moment.
"The Fourteenth Noah was my biological father...Neah Walker...he...passed his power to me so that I could stop the Earl from taking over the Ark...it was reconstructed inside to favor our hometown...so it wouldn't scare us when we were small..." Allen smiled faintly as if he was remembering something.
"Allen, I get why you didn't tell anyone...it makes sense that you got his abilities because of that, I guess..." Bookman nodded.
"Your parents were quite the oddities at the Order. A vampire and a Noah both wielding Innocence and fighting Akuma. They were on the same team and fell in love...you do you remember your siblings, I suppose?" Bookman asked.
"Zephyr and Rosalie...they were a few years older than I was..." the scribe nodded again.
"Yes, your parents married and had three children in total. However, the fact remains that Exorcists are still required to combat the Akuma and other Noah. From what I gather, this means that your father, the Fourteenth, chose to hide you and your siblings away inside the Ark to keep the Millennium Earl from finding you...eventually, though, your brother was discovered to be an accommodator, thus, he was taken to the Order and trained. From the records I found, he was quite the gifted warrior...much like his parents and his younger brother..." Allen smiled a bit.
"I remember him a bit...he was a good person...but...what happened to him?" Bookman looked to the records and flipped them open. The image showed a dark-haired youth in his early twenties standing with a whip at his side.
"He was murdered shortly after your parents were killed. The Earl sent another Noah to do the job; I kept this record aside from the other Exorcists only because I found the circumstances of his death rather strange..." Lenalee frowned.
"How so?" she asked.
"The Innocence wasn't destroyed..." General Cross caught the two teenager's attention at that.
"How come you know so much about this?" Allen questioned.
"I was around when your folks were here, I remember them pretty freaking well. Remember what I said a week ago? I know who and what you are, Allen Night Walker, so don't forget it..." the boy rolled his eyes.
"That's your middle name?" Lenalee asked. The boy nodded.
"Yea...but anyways...Bookman, what is it that you're not saying? Is something wrong?" the scribe took in a deep breath.
"These are your parents' files...please look at the information present carefully."
Allen and Lenalee read through the files closely, shifting through the information on Sara and Neah as if it was critical details that could change the war – naturally, neither of them could be certain of whether or not that was a possibility or not – nonetheless, their attention was fully taken in until Allen paused and looked to the side as if confused momentarily by something as Lenalee looked to him in concern. Bookman remained silent, as did Cross, who sighed as Allen picked up the file away from Lenalee and read it again before pausing once more. Lenalee frowned, but didn't speak until the boy snapped the paper shut and looked down as he took in a series of deep breaths. He wanted to be told it was incorrect, only because it didn't make sense: at least, not completely. However, just like with everything before today, something told him that it was right.
"These files are...they're..." Allen stopped speaking.
"The files are dated back over a century ago..." Bookman said. Lenalee felt her eyes grow wide.
"A century? How?" General Cross sighed.
"Let me explain this...vampires have the ability to live for thousands of years, if not longer. Sara herself was around a hundred by the time Neah and her got married. The records were put in a hundred and ninety-eight years ago...back when they were still just Exorcists and didn't have a family together...Neah being a Noah also had an extended life span...so...if you put those two together...what do you think you get?" Cross asked.
"I don't know..." the man stepped a bit closer until he was next to Allen.
"You get what you are, a Verix...a hybrid with unnaturally long life. Your chances of death are about as great as the Millennium Earl going on a diet," Cross stated as Allen laughed just a bit.
"That is a bit of an improbability...but..." Lenalee met his gaze.
"How old are you, then?" she asked. Cross laughed.
"About a hundred and seventy-nine by now, if I'm counting right. You were born around the early seventeen hundreds...o'nine, if I remember correctly..." Allen narrowed his eyes.
"How the hell do you know? If you knew my parents, that would make you older than I am!" he snapped.
"Right you are...I'm around two hundred and fifty now. Kid, I got some curses of my own...do you think Maria didn't come with a hitch? She did...Carte Garde is a spell, you see; it forces the bearer of the song to put a stopper in death, if you will. I carry the lyrics to the song upon this rosary here...Maria and I have been stuck together for a long time..." Allen narrowed his eyes.
"Great, you're a permanent thorn in my side," he said in annoyance. Cross rolled his eyes.
"Damn straight...now, on the subject of Miss Li, here..." Bookman nodded.
"I request that you not tell anyone else about this situation. If word got out about Walker's condition and his past...it could be a fairly brutal situation," he stated. Lenalee swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Allen? Are you okay?" the boy took in a steady breath.
"So, my parents were Exorcists, my father a Noah and my mother a vampire...they joined the Order, met, got married, had myself and my brother and sister, then they proceeded to continue their lives as Exorcists for the most part...but the Earl caught up with them and killed them? Why? Sure, my dad was a traitor, but..." Cross looked at Bookman.
"There were and still are some suspicions about who has the Heart of Innocence...the two main candidates at present are Lenalee and yourself...however, judging from the circumstances...we have near full belief that you, Allen, may be a greater candidate..." Allen tensed.
"Why? Is that..." Cross nodded a bit solemnly.
"Yes, we believe that because you were born an Exorcist...is the reason why the Earl suspected you being the bearer of the Heart. So, your folks did their damn hardest to keep you and your siblings hidden...in the end, it got them killed, and when Rosie was left with just you, she erased your memories and de-aged you to protect you from the Earl. You were in your late teens when this happened...I would say around seventeen or so...I remember meeting you at that point. You had a lot of attitude with you, but...you were a good kid...had a lot of insane bullshit happen to you because of some things, but other than that, you weren't a bad person...that day when I found you in the cemetery...you were different from the child I had met. Meek, afraid, broken, and hollow inside...I thought you would die before too long. Yet here you are, stubbornness returned and a set of fangs to prove it," he stated.
"This is so confusing..." Bookman smiled.
"When you remember more, I believe it will make sense. Now, Allen, I need you to keep record of any and all details you remember of your life prior to your sister hiding you with the magic she worked. If you begin to recall those events, you may be able to help this war more than you previously thought..." Allen looked to him.
"How?" Lenalee took his hand again.
"Because you may know who the Heart of Innocence is...and the Millennium Earl's weaknesses because of your father and his abilities being passed to you..." the boy took in a deep breath.
"I'm keeping record of everything already...I'll continue to do it...okay?" Bookman nodded.
"Thank you...now, I believe breakfast is in order...shall we take our leave?" he asked.
"That sounds like a good idea...Thank you, by the way...Bookman.." the man nodded once more.
"Think nothing of it."
{Dining Hall: 7:20am}
Allen paced anxiously near the entrance of the dining hall in a corridor with Lenalee standing near him. She watched the boy as he continued about his behavior as he thought a few details over. The boy wasn't worried one bit about the information he had been told about his parents – in fact, he seemed rather glad to know what he did now – but he also bore the complications of having to keep these truths away from the others. The panic he was facing right now, though, had little to do with the secrets or the lies the two of them would have to conjure up to keep one another safe: it was his appearance in and of itself that he was concerned about. It may have seemed trivial to many, but Lenalee did understand his worries. The point to his ears was one thing, but the sharp canines and his eyes were the biggest concerns they both had. Lenalee had learned on the way here that his eyes were a permanent change due to his first intake of blood – a genetic trait that he inherited from his parents – and that he had used contact lenses to cover it up until now.
"Admittedly, I get why he's worried...they're going to ask questions, and while General Cross's excuse will work...at some point...Allen's going to have no choice but to tell the others the truth..."
Lenalee brushed off the black long-sleeved dress she was currently wearing as she looked to the boy before she reached out and grabbed his arm. Crimson-gold eyes looked to her in faint startlement before she smiled and placed a gentle hand upon his cheek to reassure him as he took in a shaky breath while she tried to let him know that he didn't need to worry so much. Allen nodded slowly, silently apologizing for panicking like he had as she grasped his hand momentarily before looking towards him.
"It's going to be fine, you'll see. I won't let them turn you away...I doubt that they will, anyways...so don't worry...Allen, these are people you've trusted with your life. These changes aren't going to do anything more than show you how greatly you can trust them," she said. He sighed.
"If only it were that easy. Regardless...Lenalee, we'll be fine...this just means that things are going to be a bit shaky for a while...but...thank you..." she raised an eyebrow.
"What for?" the boy leaned down and kissed her cheek, causing her to blush.
"For being supportive...for just being at my side when I need you to be...that's more than enough..." he let go of her hand and started to walk away as she felt herself flushing a bit before she found herself giggling just a bit.
"Did he really just do that?"
"Lena?" violet eyes looked to crimson-gold ones.
"Y-Yea?" he held out his hand.
"You coming?" she nodded.
"Right behind you..."
The dining hall was slightly full, but mostly with a few stray finders and a couple of the Exorcists as they waited for Jerry to go about his routine of dishing out their orders as quickly as he could. Allen and Lenalee had walked into the room, talking a bit as they waited for Jerry to come back to the window. Despite the faint worries, Allen seemed to be relaxing as he spoke to her and they talked about the information found on his parents. It was a relief, Lenalee felt, for Allen to know that he had remembered who his parents were correctly and that the person responsible for their deaths was accurate. The fact that they were stepping closer to his past and helping him remember meant that the boy had a chance of finally piecing everything together. Lenalee smiled and laughed a bit as he suddenly stated something about remembering a moment with his brother and a day when they were chasing a rabbit in the garden at home when he was very young.
Their conversation continued even as they finally go to the window before they were interrupted by a shout. Flying around the corner at top speed was none other than Lavi Bookman as he jumped at Allen, who nearly fell over when the older teenager lunged at him. Kanda huffed while the others slowly came in behind him in questioning as Allen struggled under Lavi's weight. Lenalee shook her head and laughed a bit as she looked at the boy beneath the red-haired Exorcist. Allen groaned in frustration, not liking that he had very little control on his strength and that he was still weak from his body not being used to the differences in his biology. At a base, he was as strong as an average human unless he focused and decided to unhinge his strength receptors in his brain, which allowed him to use the strength, speed, and agility of a vampire; however, he was still working on those details and had thus far failed to do so effectively.
"Lavi! Get off!" the Bookman in training laughed.
"General Cross took us off leave and said we have a mission coming up! You changed your mind, didn't you?" he asked. Allen gave an annoyed sigh as he flopped back onto the ground.
"I didn't know that Cross decided to tell you..." Allen huffed as Lavi jumped off of him finally, before he got up.
"Note to self, speak to the new Grand General about not informing his apprentice about changes to the team that he is kind of the head of...a warning would have been nice, but that hapless bastard wouldn't grant me that even if I begged...which I won't do..."
"Nice of you to change your mind, moyashi," Kanda said as he stepped towards him. Allen narrowed his eyes.
"For the last fucking time! My name is Allen!" the samurai rolled his eyes and looked at the boy.
"Yea, well..." the man looked him over and Allen crossed his arms over his chest as he glared.
"What?" Lavi swallowed, turning pale.
"You...um...your eyes...and...teeth..." Allen gave him a withered look.
"Yea, just noticed, did you? Took you long enough, with you jumping on me and everything..." Lavi looked down in faint displeasure at the statement while Lenalee shook her head.
"Can I take your orders? Oh! Allen! I love your eyes! They're gorgeous...is that from the Noah blood?" asked Jerry in his typical flamboyant attitude.
"Yea, it is...most of the appearance change is from that...my teeth included...though why...I'm not exactly sure...but...oh, well...I'm glad Lenalee isn't the only one who thinks these changes aren't terrible..." Jerry shook his head.
"Awh, it was nothin', sweetheart. Now, I know what your order will be, so tell me, what will the rest of you be having?" he inquired.
The others gave their orders and went to their table, talking and most of them taking in the changes to Allen's appearance in stride. Timothy thought it was interesting and picked on Allen about it for quite a bit before he told him to calm down. At that point, Lavi, Krory, Miranda, and Choji were scrutinizing the changes, which left Allen feeling a bit tense as he watched them. Lavi then proceeded to glance him over once more before taking a bite of the oatmeal he'd ordered and then he swallowed before grinning.
"You have elf ears..." Allen felt as if he was going to find a brick wall to ram his head into at that point.
"Haha...yes, I have elf ears...what's so funny about it?" he asked.
"They suit you...ya know? Because you're so spritely..." Allen began to wonder how often he was going to feel the desire to run into objects during this week or potentially throw people out of windows: whichever one came first, he wasn't particularly unpleased by the notion.
"I am not a sprite! What's with people and them constantly making jabs about how pixie-like I am! I'm not that short!" he stated in an irate manner.
"You look very elvish, small nose, full lips, delicate features, bright eyes, and now your ears...so yea...maybe not a pixie because I don't see any fairy wings, but definitely elvish." Allen rolled his eyes.
"So...the eye color is from the Noah? Including the red eye?" Choji inquired. Allen nodded.
"Yea...not that I'm distinctly surprised by any of that...the Noah are some pretty odd creatures..." Lavi nodded.
"You got that right...seems that you're quite the odd-ball, huh?" Allen gave him an annoyed expression.
"Thanks a lot...bunny pirate..." Lavi frowned.
"Oh, come on! That's not fair!" he said.
"All's fair in love and war..." Lavi groaned.
"Someone get the rouge beansprout off my case, would ya?" Kanda huffed again.
"Do it yourself, baka-usagi..." Miranda smiled as she listened to the playful banter before turning her gaze to Allen.
"Jerry was right, your eyes are very pretty. They suit you, almost as much as the silver color of your eyes used to..." Krory looked him over and smiled just a bit.
"You kind of look like a vampire," Allen tensed at the Romanian man's words.
"A vampire? I didn't think of that one..." Allen laughed a bit while he looked to the scene of the others watching him.
"Kro, you're just saying that because you look like a vampire. Though to be honest, I don't want those teeth anywhere near me, okay? Allen?" Lavi stated. Allen grinned in a way that showed off his fangs.
"Maybe I should use you as a chew toy the next time you insult me and decide to mock me about my height...that could always work..." Lavi slumped down to where the top of his head was the only thing visible.
"You don't mean it, do you?" Allen laughed.
"No...eat your breakfast, baka-usagi..."
"Not you, too!" the others laughed as Lenalee gave Allen a confident smile.
It wasn't a perfect system to operate on, but for the time being, they supposed going about things as if they were normal was their safest bet. Taking in a deep breath, Lenalee continued on with her breakfast, listening to the conversation of the others around her while she kept close to Allen, being thankful that she had somehow gotten close enough to him to give him the moral support where he would need it. With a smile upon her face, she continued her conversations with the others while Allen felt some of his fears ebb away while the others accepted the changes. It was only when Howard Link showed up that Allen got the chance to freak the inspector out by coming up behind him. The man let out the most unnaturally girlish scream of shock as the others laughed and Link began to berate Allen for his behavior while the boy just continued to smile. It wasn't perfect, but for now, it was okay.
{….}
Totus desiderabilis...
{…...}
Author's Note: So, Allen learned more about his family and his past. I know some of it seems a bit sketchy right now, but don't worry, the full details will be revealed in due time. For the time being, allow me to clarify the basics:
1. Neah is Allen's biological father, and yes, he was an Exorcist. This was because Neah defected from the Earl's side and showed himself to be far different from the other Noah. The Noah of Song, in my mind, should be a pure memory, rather than the darker side like the others.
2. Sara, Allen's mother was also an Exorcist, even though she was a vampire. This is because, like Neah, she was different from others of her kind.
3. It is heavily theorized at this point that the reason the Earl wanted to kill Neah and Sara wasn't just because of Neah's betrayal, but because one of their children, most likely Allen, could be the Heart of Innocence.
4. Allen was born around a 179 years ago, which would have been around 1709 in this world.
5. Cross does bear a curse because of Carte Garde. The Rosary around his neck bears the lyrics and spell linked to Maria and Carte Garde, which basically cursed him to live an unnaturally long life akin to Neah and Sara; however, he is his typical self as he just blatantly said the truth and didn't honestly care.
6. Allen's bloodlines do make him a bit of an oddity; however, because of his heritage, the effects of his Innocence is pretty much non-existent. Lucky him, huh?
Well, I hope that cleared up some things, if you have any questions, please PM me so I can answer them accordingly.
Sincerely,
ShadowDragon94.