Chapter 11
Fakir slams the stack of paper on his desk, breathing sharp, edged by rage. Hunched over raking his fingers through his hair, he stared down at the paper, at the mechanically pen words what he refused to think about. He had assumed disaster an Uzura's warning, a tragic ending from which he wouldn't be able to salvage. Never did he imagined, what he read would be the outcome, and it made him furious.
"Drosselmeyer!" He shouted for the dead author as he paced over scraps of papers that blanketed the floor.
Fakir could feel the world around him stop, before he heard the voice of the dead author. "What's the matter, my boy." Drosselmeyer's smiling visage appearing in the dark claustrophobic room.
Fakir met the dead man's grin with a scowl "are you." His words died out, not believing what he was about to ask.
Drosselmeyer's grin widened to bear all his teeth "um sorry didn't hear you say that again?" his voice teetering on laughter
Narrowing his eyes Fakir growled slamming his hand the stack of papers "Are you planning this." He pressed down the papers "to be a happy ending?" He looked the dead author in the eye.
Releasing a short laugh, he answered "Course! I'm not someone trick pony you know." He continued to give an unwavering smile.
"But, why?!" Fakir looked at him with utmost confusion, Drosselmeyer the king of tragic endings willingly writing a happy ending.
"Because it easier to end, the hero wins the villain dies. It simple, and what all we need to put the pesky characters to rest." The dead man answered as if it was his plan from the start.
Fakir narrowed his eyes, anger pulling down the corners of his mouth "and you're using Ahiru to do that why?"
Drosselmeyer held up both hands, his eyes wide "Hey don't look at me that way." He answered slowly "I didn't intend for her to get this tangled in the story, Tutu wasn't supposed to be such major force either."
"Then why!" Fakir snapped a growl reverberating in his throat.
"Don't get angry with me, isn't this what you wanted? For that little duck to be a real girl with her own thoughts and dream." The mocking tone in Drosselmeyer voice made the young man's head throbbed.
"Don't you dare blame her for this!" Fakir swung out of the phantom author only for the grinning man to disappear at the last second. The hard blow from Fakir's fist cracking the wall, as he panted from the sudden exertion.
He closed his eyes as the sting of guilt dripped over him "I'm so selfish." He said into the empty room. He had her, even though she was a duck she was his. Now she was going to disappear for real, and it was going to be his fault.
Just like what happened to his mother and father.
With another rush of fiery rage, he slammed the contents of desk blanking floor in an extra layer of papers. Couldn't, wouldn't let Ahiru leave him or die by his words. Setting down, he began to scrawl on the remaining papers on the table.
He won't lose her, and could only hope that his friends would forgive him.
The streets felt cold as Ahiru waddle through fog. She could make out tall buildings in the blanketing gray, but of course every would be tall when you're the size of a duck. Her steps quicken hearing drums in the distance.
"Uzura" Ahiru quack hastily, moving faster flapping her wings to reach the tiny puppet.
Her speed increased a door from one of the buildings opened casting out a rectangle of warm light.
"I'm here zura." Ahiru's heart fluttered hear Uzura's voice, seeing her round doll-like face.
A wash of anxiety flooded Ahiru as the green haired turned away from her, and went marching inside the opened door.
"Wait!" Ahiru quacked loudly flying to the door, her legs barely an inch off the ground.
She smacked head on, hard into stone the door tightly shut.
"Uzura let me in!" She cried, hitting the ground, frantically searching for the door without stretched wings.
"This way." a soft feminine voice called to Ahiru through the fog.
She turned the voice "What?" Ahiru quacked softly, seeing bright ghostly light dancing along the streets.
"You have to go this way." The voice cooed Ahiru down the road, street giving way to uneven stone then to grass that whipped around her wildly.
Just ahead of her the light modeled into the silhouettes of an elegant woman. The other worldly visage stood or rather floated over a black mirror smooth lake. Ahiru intent on following the light making her way over to the water's edge, then stopped herself seeing the reflection in the dark water.
It was her, the human her! Staring back With the shock and confusion she felt. Checking her body and the reflection, Ahiru confirmed that she was a human girl again. Why didn't she notice 'till now?
Looking back at the spectral light she asked "who are you?" in the back of Ahiru mind, she knew it was Tutu, but she had to be sure.
The glowing woman light intensifies abruptly shattering into a flashing star burst. Ahiru covered her eyes, but it was too late, her eyes watered from the sudden impact of light. For several moments, she blinked as she recovered from the assault, Ahiru was in awe at what she saw across the lake. On the other side of the lake was a castle that glittered with gold and glass, perched on a lush green hill it was unreal sight. The water at that end of the like was a pristine royal blue that lapped the shore so gently.
Ahiru glance around the world around her, with its still black water and fog making so blink and gray she couldn't see the sky. It felt so wrong to be in such a stark empty world. She shivered stepping away from the stagnant inky water, she didn't want to alone in this awful place.
Some strange electric sensations swam down her back, as arms encircled her in a warm embrace. "Shh." Corvin's voice soothes pulling her closer "I know it must hurt, relax, relax."
Ahiru opened her mouth to speak, yet didn't utter a sound feeling his fingers lace with her.
Corvin body brushed against her "is it that they're gone or they're happy." His voice turning an octave quieter.
She stared out at the gleaming palace across the water. 'Who is he talking about?' She thought, her mind turning as murky as her surroundings.
She looked up ever so slightly, Corvin's grip tightened around her "It must hurt, to be abandoned, to be so alone." Ahiru shook at his tone, it was off more hateful than soothing "It's okay, it okay, I know the feeling." he lifts an arm stoking her hair absently.
A thought rippled through Ahiru, and she moved out of his hold. For a moment, she wished she could be a duck once more, just long enough to paddle herself across the water.
Then she noticed Corvin's hand still interlaced with hers "We can be as happy, just like them." His voice a like sunshine in its own right.
Ahiru stared at the heavenly vision across the water, then to Corvin, then she asked "How?"
He pulled her back, hand cupping her face in a not quite hold "You know how." He lens closer a thumb brush the corner of her mouth "Trust me it will be so easy." A bright light engulf Ahiru's sight before the prince could explain, sensations of the world around changing rapidly as if pushed.
Then she opened her eye, waves of relief and disappointed to find her in the spare bed in Ente's room. She had no memory turning back into a girl after her experience as Tutu, nor returning to hear room. Her head sank into the pillow glimpses of dream bleeding in and out, Allard's and Corvin's words mixing into each other.
Ahiru looked up as pink haired roommate's a shadow cast over her. "Good morning." Ente smiled tiredly at her.
Ahiru sat up slightly "Hi." Her voice sounded softer than usual.
Ente moved over to sit at the edge of the bed "Did you leave the dance early? Didn't see you there after you dance with that really cute guy."
Ahiru sank back to laying down "I guess." She said, unsure how to explain without sounded insane.
A concerned look modeled Ente's face "did something happen?" she asked.
Sudden embarrassment flooded Ahiru "No!" she squealed covering her face in sheets
Ente let out a muffled laugh "Hey it okay, I get rejected by my crush all the time." She patted Ahiru.
Ahiru poked her head out cheeks red. "It's not like that." She pursed her lips 'yet.' Apart from her mind whispered, she made a plan. If becoming Corvin's princess would save her friends and put an end to the story, shed do it. Only if she couldn't find another way.
"Okay." Ente hopped off the bed moving to closet "now get out of bed, we I need to take you to class."
Ahiru nodded moving slowly to suitcase and getting dressed the best she could. Her hair seeming to not want to go back into a braid let alone a bun. After some minutes of stumbling around and asking each other for help, the duo was able to get out the door. Ente quickly showed Ahiru trough class rooms and interconnecting halls and wind ways, before abruptly shoving Ahiru into the room her class had gathered in.
Caching herself from falling flat on her face, Ahiru turned back to watch pink haired Ente dart off. Turning back to the room she had been thrust into, wich was spacious despite her classmates milling about. The walls covered in mirrors which looked vaguely familiar to her. She looked back at the others in the room, everyone wore a somber if not anxious expressions, the atmosphere heavy with collective displeasure.
"What's up with everyone?" Ahiru walked over to her friends trying to stretch out, their face somber and eyes unfocused.
Pike let out a mournful sigh before looking at her "Every one's nervous about the teacher." She said before turning downcast.
"What's wrong with Mr. Cat?" Ahiru leaned closer not understanding.
"You mean Mister Arima." Lillie gave a sarcastic tone.
Ahiru blinked at the unfamiliar name "Who's that?"
"Only the world's most award-winning choreographer, and the most brutal as well." The lines of worry deepening on Pike's face.
"Why is he our teacher now?" Ahiru questioned, unsure why was being switched out with basically a celebrity.
Lillie tilled her head to her giving Ahiru a half-smile "where you not paying attention last night? The school's teachers got switched, because of fairness or something." she gives a half-hearted pat on her back.
Ahiru looked at her friends shaking her head "I think you guys are over reacting, I'm sure mister Arima is really just normal person."
The doors to the classroom slammed open drowning any encouragement in Ahiru's words. Turning her to the door, she could see a, thankfully human, yet massively imposing man stomping into the room. With sharp eyes the color tree bark, and slicked back clay colored hair and completed a face bearing an all to serious expression.
"To the wall now!" He barked loud with no emotion present in his words.
Everyone startled by the command made their way to a reflective wall.
The man watched with a stern gaze, pacing up and down the room until everyone was still and quiet "I'm Mr. Arima, and I'll be your dance instructor for the short time we have." He stared at the class as if he was forced to look at rotten meat.
The opened up, softer this time "Hello?" a woman's voice filled the select space.
Ahiru turned her head slightly to the door to the woman entering. 'Tutu!' Her mind jump instantly, seeing the tall woman with salmon hair and large aqua colored eyes.
The woman smiled as she walked in, Corvin close beside her looking us confused Ahiru "Sorry I was late honey, but I found this cutie." She let Corvin join the class against the wall "and he's was a part of our class."
Mr. Arima gave a tired sigh "Class, this is my wife Tatiana, she will be helping with getting you lot to pull off an acceptable performance." His eyes darted over to Corvin "You sir, are late!" He stooped the young man staring at him scornfully.
"I got lost." Corvin stepped over to the man " I didn't have anyone to show me around."
Arima's face scrunched up, then point over Corvin "Wall." He said before straightening and walking down the line of student evaluating each with cold finality. He gave a brief cough talking once more "Now we have under two weeks to short you all out, and train you to put two winning performances." He visibly cringed, then rubbed the bridge of his nose "From to stories which are terrible even for the armature that wrote it!"
Looking up from his hand, Mr. Arima quickly turned to Ahiru startling her and the surrounding classmates. "You!" he moved to stand directly in front of her as she failed to take a step back.
She pointed to herself nervously "me?" she asked as student other side of her lend away.
"Yes, Plié now." He stepped back giving to the whole floor and the attention of the class to her.
Ahiru walked as calmly and carefully as she could, the stern weight of Arima's gaze on her skin. Once she was a safe, but a respectable distance away she took the proper position and bent her knees.
Arima gave an audible grunt, as he studied her blankly "Pirouette." Ahiru suppressed a shiver at her curt tone.
Ahiru spun carefully on one foot, rotating slower than she wanted. She became deeply self-conscious when her new teachers gaze fell on her feet, clear displeased that she wasn't on full point.
"Attitude." He narrowed his eyes at her, waiting his body rigid.
Ahiru blink for a few seconds trying to figure out what he wanted. Judging by Arima's growing agitation she was running out time to remember. She started to stand on one leg moving into an arabesque, checking around to see if she was doing it correctly. Then bent the knee of the leg, she had been positioned behind her, so the elevated foot would be pointing down.
"Hold it, hold it!" The teacher began to circle her, as she tried to focus on the maintaining her pose.
After a long minute of being inspected, Ahiru's concentration wavered. Making wobble ever so slightly her breath caching as Arima completed his circuit around her.
With his back to her, Ahiru could see his face fully of anger in the mirror "awful, just appalling! How did you ever get this far?"
Ahiru couldn't find the voice to answer him, and stood shocked along with the feeling of disappointment.
"Now come on dear, don't be rough with her." Tatiana finally spoke up sounding heart-broken by her husband's behavior "isn't this the same girl you were praising last night?" the woman put a comforting hand on Ahiru's shoulder.
The teacher turn his back to the line of students, yet could bare to make eye contact with his wife "yes, but, she wobbled." Arima sounded as embarrassed as a young child.
The Tutu look-alike giggled "I remembered that I wobbled the first time I had to performed for you." Her voice a sing-song.
Arima's face turned red as a beat "W-what was totally different!" The line of students snickered as the implications of the grand choreographer word.
"Sure, it is." Tatiana rolled her eye voice as sweet as ever, then turned to the class with a passive expression "now let's get started!" she clapped loudly.
Thus, by that clap began a nightmarish class, Arima using his stern words like whip. Though after being reprimanded from his wife he detracted his quips way from Ahiru, aiming for Corvin more often than not. Which gave James a content smirk on his face, even when it resulted in receiving his own verbal lashings. Tatiana during the rigorous practices had taken the older students along with the students from the special class to do her own lessons.
Ahiru to stay focused on what was going on around her, but her mind flutter here and with. Thoughts of the story and future plans drowning out her focused. She blinked hearing the voice of Femio, squeaky in response to an all to honest critique from the well rewarded choreographer.
Arima burred his face in his hand at Femio's theatrics "what's it." He clearly irritated, then turned his head up "everyone can I have your attention?"
Ahiru looked up it was the first her time her temporary teacher didn't use a stand offish toned on the class.
He gave a sharp stare "I'm take a break, get out, be back here in two hours or there will be consequences." He waved his hand signaling the class to leave.
Ahiru stood where she was, she didn't know the school or even Silver Staff all what well. She moved to a crowed gathering around Tatiana, so many girls face a light with admiration.
"are you ever going to perform again?" A girl from the grouping crowd asked, to the Tutu looking woman.
The woman frowned sighing as she answered "Like I said, it's taken me too long to recover from my accidents." There was a sound of displeasure released through the crowd "I'm too weak and out of practice to dance professionally ever again." Tatiana looked up seeing Ahiru in the onlooking group "Hello." The woman waved to her
Ahiru felt flustered being noticed "um sorry, there's somewhere I need to be." She slid herself out of crowd, and rather embarrass out of the class room.
Once she was dressed, Ahiru walked around the hall unsure what to do. Looking ahead of she saw Corvin standing at the end of the hall giving an air of casual confidences, and was looking right at her. She stopped images from her dream and the night before, making her consider turning around and going off somewhere else. She didn't even try, seeing Corvin walk right to her making it clear that he'd seen her.
"How are you feeling?" She asked wanting to be the set the conversation first. Apart her deeply nervous almost terrified of what Corvin might say.
Corvin stopped his approached, taken aback by her words "what do you mean?" He tilled his head at her question.
"Mr. Arima was very harsh with you in class." She explained watching his face for a reaction.
Corvin's expression soften as his blue eyes went distant "of course, he is I was late and that's an awful first impression to make for a new teacher."
"but it's still not okay." She sighed, then jumped inwardly as he to a slowly took a step to her.
He smiled as he focused eyes back on her "you're so sweet Ahiru, but I'm used to being a verbal punching bag." His voice was soothing, with an uncomfortable finality that made Ahiru chest twist.
"Because of James?" Ahiru asked
Corvin's lips tightened as he shook his head "Not really." he answered somberly "let just say I'm the black sheep in my family, and they'd make sure I knew that."
Ahiru looked way, she had intended for the conversion to get so personal "I'm sorry."
With quick movement Corvin grabbed her shoulder, then let her go as she looked back up to him. Letting his hand drift down her arm "don't be, you did nothing wrong." His fingers hang a breath away from her hand "Ahiru, there's something import we need to discuss."
Ahiru's cheeks tinted red, having more than just a clue of his intentions "Really? about what?" she fought to keep her breath and voice even.
Corvin gave the barest of smiles, fingers fully lacing with hers "come with me." He whispered eyeing to the other students in the hallway.
Ahiru nodded failing to fight the blossoming color on her face. She was then pulled ever so gently outside, Corvin's grip so light she could easily slip out. He led down a path at them some distance way from the main building of the school. Ahiru looked ahead, the path lead to a small glass build in a middle of a grassy area, beautiful glass building stood "Is what a greenhouse?" She asked and Corvin's grip around her hand tighten.
He looked at her, a smile on his "Yes, I found it on the way to class." He led her inside with more agency.
The air inside the green house was warm, but not entirely unpleasant. Flowering trees placed in large ornate pots, as vines and flowers swaying gently as they opened the door. The light from the glass coming down in beams creating tiny spotlights on the floor.
Corvin led her over to a small stone beach placed snuggly between two trees "Here, sit." He said gently, letting her sit down before him.
Ahiru looked around, they were alone in the green house, yet the thin glass walls around her help curve her nervousness. She looked to Corvin seeing how he didn't immediately began to speak. He was gazing up at tiny blooms the tree beside him eyes unfocused, expression unsure and worried.
He looked down at her for long moment, as if searching for something. "Remember what I asked of you back at our home school?" he asked finally making eye contact.
Ahiru nodded unable to vocalize her answer, now knowing what he really meant by his request.
Corvin sighed softly then looked at his hands "I never found the one. I-I lost the locket as well." His blues eye went cold "If you wondered."
Ahiru traced her pendent, she wasn't sure how to answer him. She just knew too much from her events as Tutu, she moves slightly as his icey stare raked into her.
Corvin's expression melted into one of pain "Sorry, it's hard to find the right words." He gently took her hand "Do you remember what else if I said that day?" he gave a light squeeze and Ahiru could detect fear in his words.
Ahiru wanted to lie, say that she hadn't remembered just to quell the fear and pain in his eyes "You can't feel love, or happiness." She gave the answer, the thought made her want to find another end to the she too deeply entangled in.
His gaze turned downed cast "I lied." he sounded ashamed "mostly."
Ahiru slipped her hand out of his in shock 'Why? Then what did James mean?' she asked her as Corvin looked at his empty hand with a guilty expression.
"It's not that I can't feel, it's just I'm scared to." He balled his hands into fists, unable to look her in the eye.
Ahiru stood up, suddenly wanting distant between her and him "The acting?" she asked, but was unsure if she could even trust what he would say.
He hunched over shoulders heaving "I told you about my family troubles, they're always reason I have to wear a mask over my heart." Glimmers of tears dripped from his face. "Parading with false feeling to save my own."
It hurt her to see Corvin cry, and cautiously moved a little closer.
Corvin looked up his eyes filled with tears "Don't want to act anymore, I don't want be afraid of my feelings"
Ahiru knew in that moment Corvin wasn't lying; he look lost, hurt in a away familiar to her. His mask was breaking and underneath was something as variable, a baby bird push to soon out of nest.
She kneeled down pulling him softly into a hug "Don't be afraid, let me help you." she honestly didn't know how to help him, but it felt like the right thing to say.
He pulled her closer almost holding her to his chest "The more I where the mask, the more envious of those who don't." his tone shake with pent up loathing and pain "Those how get to laugh, cry and even love so openly." His whole body shuttered against her "Maybe that why I'm draw to you, so pure, open."
She rested against him letting regain what composer Corvin could. His word had made her chest tightened, and heart flipped. 'this is why Corvin wants a princess.' She blushed at her realization, making her relax in his hold. 'He trust's me, I want to trust him.' She closed her eyes and as she tried to remembered the times when Corvin wanted to be this open.
Her mind jumped to when he signaled a murder of crows down upon James, for angering him. Then the crows whisked him away after Lady Butterfly took away the locket he had repaired. Opening her eyes she said crows blanketing the grass around the green house, staring at them through the glass like some sort of revers bird cage.
"Why are you shaking?" Corvin whisper his voice low and sore.
She pulled away from him feeling her body shake out some internalized fear "Ahiru?" Corvin gave her a quick squeeze of resistance before letting her go.
She got on her feet, heart pounding in her ears as she answered him "I'm sorry, give me a moment please."
His looked at her with an eye redden with tears "Okay, take your time." He said in a soft tone, as he tried to give an understanding look. Longing he showed her instead made her want to wrap him up in a hug, to tell him everything was fine. She walked away, even though it hurts she needed space to think.
Crows hopped about and cawed furiously as she left the green house. Making her walk turn into a sprint as she ducked inside a building filled with unsuspecting students. Ahiru knocked into several of them as she moved down the hall, trying to sooth her beating heart. She had gotten hurt when she tried to navigate The Prince and the Raven on desires and feelings alone, she need to be sure that giving herself to Corvin would benefit everyone.
Her heart froze as the sound of clinking metal, intermixed between the chatter of students. Looking ahead she was it, being bounced and kicked down the hall was Corvin's locket. The one he intended to give to the one who'd be his princess, the one who could suppress his desire for revenge.
The locket skidded by her foot sliver chain waving about like a child caught in a river. With a quick shaky movement, she picked it up, and quickly moved to the side of the hall. Ahiru held the locket in one hand, it felt so fragile and heavy in her grasp. Her fingers traced the locket brushing the dark red gem in the center. She looked up and down the hall the deep want to try on the piece of jewelry, a warm mix of curiosity and deep seed temptation.
'putting it on for a little while wouldn't hurt.' A thought not quiet her own slivered across her mind, as she slowly took off her pendent. 'Maybe wearing it will give Corvin an honest smile.' Her mouth tiled upward as she looked at two pieces of jewelry.
Something hard slammed into her side the necklaces becoming dislodged from her grasp, in a spilt reaction managed to hold on it one "Oh my gosh, Ahiru!" the that'd object slammed behind her squealed hugging in a death hold.
Ahiru watched Corvin's locket fall out of her reach, skidding across the hall."Wha!" her angry word died in her throat seeing wavy brown hair and vivid red eyes staring "Rue!" she gasped in shock, blinking just to make sure it wasn't an illusion.
Rue gave her a frightened look "Where are we?"
"An art school in…" Her answer faded as the full impact the situation kicked in "Why are you here?!" Ahiru's hair stood on end.
"I don't know we woke up and thankfully you remember me." Rue looked honestly confused "and your human again!" Student in the hall stopped at her outburst "Let's continue this outside." Rue quickly lead her to an exit on the opposite side of the building.
Ahiru quietly slipped back on the golden pendent back on her neck, disheartened that she had lost the locket. Worry stared to fill her, Rue had said 'we' which meant she didn't appear in this world alone
Stepping outside Rue moved quickly a more secluded court yard. Looking ahead Ahiru saw a familiar figure siting on a bench, with golden eyes and white fluffy hair.
"There you are, find anything." He stood up opening his arms up for a hug.
Rue ran into his arm with no shame as, Ahiru watched "Yes! Thankfully." Rue cried into his shoulder.
The prince of the finished tale turned and looked at Ahiru "Hey Ahiru, we've missed you." He gave a heartwarming smile.
Any aberrations she felt melt at that smile "I've missed you guys too." She smiled tears welling in her eyes.
Rue looked up from Siegfried's shoulder, eye widening with unknow realization. "Ahiru can please tell us what's going on here." To wasn't a question, but a command typical of a newly made princess.
Ahiru blinked before telling them what she knew, minus a few details. She did want to deal with the after math of her explaining plan to prevent Corvin's revenge fantasy coming true or Mytho reaction to Corvin reasons. Now what her friends where here, Corvin's wicked desire's where a breath away from becoming all to real.
"I can't believe it's happening again." Rue hissed her face drowning in suppressed fear.
The prince rubbed the arm of his princess, yet lines of worry shadowed her eyes "it going to be okay, will get through this." Ahiru shifted embarrassed that she was watching such a scene "is that all you know?" Siegfried turned to her as if sensing that she was withholding information.
"Everything I know for certain." it was true, she could be sure that Mytho could killed Corvin's parents.
A shivered snaked up her spine at the prince's next words "those names you mentioned they seem familiar."
Ahiru nearly screamed as she looked over Siegfried's shoulder, James stood several feet away giving the group a deadly glare. She stepped away shakily breathing rappid and shallow as she a saw the golden sword in his hand, she looked at the worried faces of her friends.
A quack was born and died in the back of her through as strong slender arms encircled her, and pulled her tight against a toned chest "There you are Ahiru!" Corvin's voice cooed loudly, his demeanor different form when he sulked in the greenhouse "who are you talking to?"
Ahiru watched James snarl then slowly retreated as Rue and her prince stared with expressions she couldn't name.
She looked up nervously before speaking "Corvin? This Rue and." She looked for help in the prince's golden gaze.
Move Rue behind him the prince confronted him "I'm Mytho." He slimed extending a hand to Corvin, who reluctantly released Ahiru "Nice to meet you." He shook Mytho's hands his face passive, tone of chillingly civil.
Rue looked look between the two males "He's like your twin." She smiles nervously trying to make light of what seemed to be a precarious situation.
Corvin's gaze didn't move from Mytho, as the cawing of crows cracked like distant thunder "Not really." He shrugged his hands out of Mytho's full disconnected from the two. Then turned to Ahiru, eye's steeling over with his suppressed emotions.
As the silent stretch on she began to nervous, if one wrong word was spoken from ether party it would be all over. "They're just friends." Ahiru look up at him with apologetic innocents "They came for a short visit that's all."
Covin's features melted to the one of sadness he'd worn in the greenhouse "Come back to the garden when you can, I know we're not done." He lends in whispering to her, then quickly kissed her cheek. He then straitened up walking way like nothing happened, blood rushed to Ahiru's cheeks her heart a galloping house in her chest at Covin's actions.
"Ahiru!"
Rue's hash voice bright her, unwelcomely back to the moment. "W-what?" She looked at her two friends embarrassed, the looks they gave her making her more uncomfortable.
"How could you not feel evil coming off him." Mytho looked at her worried and a little disappointed.
Ahiru blinked and shook her head radially "What? no!" She knew that Corvin's intents didn't really point turn north, but evil, she couldn't justify that way of thinking.
"I can clearly feel the dark power of The Raven seeping out from him." Rue statement was a whine tortured by her own memories.
"That doesn't mean he's evil." Ahiru looked back in her memoires, when her friends where distorted by The Raven's power. Corvin wasn't like that, she was sure of it!
"Ahiru, Ahiru!"
She didn't listen to them, as Ahiru cupped her ears and stormed off not wanting her opinion to be changed. Ahiru he started run not wanting to think, now that Rue and Mytho she felt the pace of the story speeding up like runaway train. What would happen if they tried end the story, would she become a duck again? Or would she just disappear?
The hands covering her ears moved to her face, as continued to move blindly as she cried. Ahiru in her distressed retreat, she tripped and let herself fall. She waited for her body to smack down on indifferent ground and curl up her life as human now fully out of control.
Yet, she never met the ground, strong arms encircled as her body went lax with fatigue "Shh." The soothing from her dream whispered to her "I know it must hurt, relax, relax." The arms tighten around her protectively, as she sobbed.
"it's okay, it okays, I know the feeling." Corvin stroked her hair as she looked up at him.
Ahiru buried her face in his shirt; unable to justify that he had any relation to the awful monster that devoured hearts. Corvin wasn't a minion of despair, he was something else, something she couldn't piece together.
"Why do all you friends treat you so harshly?" He tilled his head, his blue eyes soft and concerned.
"They don't." She looked away, a part of her mind believing she had overreacted.
He stopped playing with her hair and frown "Could you please look at me?" her stoked her cheek as she complied "Please stop these tears, I don't like them at all." He rubbed at tear stains.
Ahiru shuttered as Corvin probed herself on her feet and began to walk with him, she knew where their destinations would be. 'I'm not ready.' She told herself, but a part of her rebelled against it; apart of her want to take the chance to no longer be alone. With a short swallow, she saw green house in the distance, along with hundreds of crows. Liquid black eyes staring at them like onlookers in a wedding procession.
"They won't hurt you, I promise." Corvin lean into her the arm he had around her tighten around like a serpent's coil.
She continued with him, walking past silent crows. 'I'm don't dissever this, there has to be another way.' The rational part of her beg, as the part traitorous part of her fought and squirmed to be heard.
Corvin pressed his hand against the glass door "let's go inside." He waited for to agree with him.
She blinked trying to keep her mind clear then nodded and took a deep breath. Corvin opening threshold the warm area of greenery of and fragrant plants.
Corvin let go of her looking at her with a vunerbel look "Ahiru, please dance with me." He extended his hand to her smiling.
She took it, convinced one more dance between him wouldn't hurt. Ahiru place her hand in his, then began to move with him. Even with the hundred pairs of eyes watching them through the glass, she worries herself about how clumsy or unprofessional she may be.
The dance began as simple pas de deux, Ahiru letting her body flow to Corvin's gentle prompting. The dance evolving to something beyond the skill she thought only Tutu was capable of. She felt all the worry that had filled since the night before dripping away with each perfect move. Corvin lends to her, lips brushing against her ear as he breathed words that mad her shutter.
Her heart was pounding deeply in her chest as she drinks in his words, confestion that made apart of melt . "I want to try." Her eyes teared up, her mind at war with what she wants and the goal of doing the right thing "I really do." It felt like surrender when she spoke.
Corvin pulled back to look her in his eyes, and smile. "Then that's all I'll ask of you." He held her passively, pressing his forehead to her.
Ahiru closed her eyes letting out a sigh. The emotion and physical fatigue of the day officially took hold and she drifted asleep in Corvin's embrace.
"Ahiru!" Rue screamed as she pushed the glass door open a mere crack. "Look at me Ahiru! Wake up please!" she released another wale in to the maelstrom of wind within the greenhouse, before being sealed out by a gust of wind. She turned back Siegfried, her true love, for guidance.
He looked back from his constant defending from the consent nipping and scratches of the crows that tried to pull them away. "find another way in!" He shouted swinging out destroying another wall of flesh and feathers.
Rue nodded feeling around the glass panes as it watched her. The one Ahiru call Corvin watched he with an amused contentment as a vortex of black feathers swirled around him. Its princely façade was thin, barely existing in its eyes, if Rue could wash away that ice blue dye from them she could confirm the monster underneath. Corvin looked at Ahiru with an expression that made Rue smack the glass, making the him grip her friend like a child's toy.
Corvin nuzzled Ahiru, his lips pressing against neck, before tightening the violent wind around them, leaving the greenhouse abound.
(AN: Long chapter, don't know how close the end this is. Yet, this seems like a good stopping point for a while.)