Chapter 9

Enjoy~~~

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Arthur hesitantly drew his blade and Alistair smirked, he knew his little brother wouldn't be as eager as Dylan to strike him. Arthur had always been the gentle one with the pets and sewing.

"Come on little brother, show me what you've got?"

He was fast, Alistair barely had time to block before the second blow came.

Hah, looks like he underestimated Arthur. Little brother isn't so little any more.

"Woah! You're awesome Art!" whooped Leon from the sidelines. Alistair still wasn't sure what to make of the chineese boy, he was smart and loyal but would he be able to fit in? Their family was pretty weird...

Dylan definitely wouldn't like him. Dylan never liked Arthur' friends though, he almost mauled Francis (Alistair secretly cheered him on- he and the Frog had dated for a while and it had ended messily) but Leon seemed decent...

"Eyes on me brother dearest" snarked Arthur, disarming the red head and pinning him to the floor.

"Damn Art, you've gotten fast" chuckled Brandon, he was leaning against the doorway of the mansion's practice room. Leon was rather wary of the red head, apparently he and Alana were pranksters and nobody was safe when they were on the prowl.

"Where's lanney?" asked Arthur, nonchalantly letting Alistair up.

"I dunno, probably out front greeting the guests. Speaing of which, mum wants us ready." shrugged Brandon with a grin and Arthur groaned.

"I swear she holds these events just to humiliate us." said Arthur miserably.

"It's not that bad" said Leon reassuringly.

"Thanks Leon, I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here and I had to mingle with idiots all night" replied Arthur with a dramatic sigh.

The four of them left the practice room and headed for the stairs, none of them wanted to change into their costumes (minus Leon) but their mother was very... Persuasive.

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Arthur came out pouting, he wore a long green robe an Leon wore a matching red robe.

"...Me and Arthur match" he said with a small smile. Arthur blushed adorably and Leon sniggered.

"Aye, so do me and Brandon" chuckled Alana.

She wore a green Victorian ball gown with her hair braided down her back and a tiara.

"Well you do look fabulous" he smirked.

"Thank you darling" she snorted, curtseying.

"It's time to face the music" called Brandon. Arthur burst out laughing at his older brother in a top hat and tails.

"Oh god you look ridiculous!"

"Shut up Arthur, you're wearing a dress" hissed Brandon, turning red to match his hair.

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Leon froze when he saw his step mother across the room.

"What is she doing here?" he spat, clinging onto Arthur's sleeve.

"I have no idea" replied Arthur with narrowed eyes.

"She's not on the guest list" came a voice from behind.

"Vlad! So glad you could make it!" beamed Arthur, hugging the vampire.

"Wouldn't have missed it for the world" replied Vlad bearing his teeth in a smile.

Arthur signalled Alana, who left a crowd of Clan heads and glided over.

"What's up" she asked quietly.

"Lady Wang's here." said Arthur, narrowing her eyes at the women in a kimono stood next to Kiku.

"She's not on the guest list" frowned Alana.

"I know." replied Arthur, glaring when their eyes met across the room.

"I'll get rid of her" Alana said eyeing the women distastefully.

"Don't cause a scene" he warned.

"Too late~" she smirked, sashaying in the lady's direction.

"This'll be fun to watch" chuckled Vladimir.

Arthur simply sighed through his nose and linked with Leon, squeezing his arm in a gesture of support.

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"Lady Wang!" said Alana in a loud but cheerful voice, Kiku knew that tone and quietly slipped away before his step mother noticed.

"Oh er Miss Kirkland, lovely too see you" said Lady Wang.

"Your Ladyship, who invited you this evening?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business girl" she replied, looking at Alana as if she was something she had stood in and some of the Guests were beginning to stare.

"Do you even know who I am" asked Alana looking hurt and very very innocent.

"I don't see why I should child, run along back to mummy" she sneered.

Lady Wang didn't even know the Princess of the Kirkland Clan's name. Most of the Guest's were surprised Alana hadn't challenged her to a duel or that Brandon hadn't rushed to her defence.

Kirkland' didn't take kindly to being looked down on.

"Need some help my lady?" asked a scandalised older relative.

"Councilman, what a pleasant surprise!" said Lady Wang, trying to push in front of Alana, thinking he had come to help her.

"Yes, I would agree if only your name was on the Guest list and you hadn't disturbed my poor niece's evening" replied the Councilman coldly.

"Your niece Councilman?" asked Lady Wang suddenly realising that she should have checked who she was talking to and turned to chastise Kiku- only to realise he wasn't even there but was across the hall with her Ex Step son and the next head of House.

"Yes, Miss Wang. This is Alana Kirkland, I believe she is older than you and the name you will know her by is the Emerald Magician. She is Master Arthur's older sister and the Queen's firstborn daughter. Alana is also the youngest member on the council."

"Uncle, you needn't go so far," chuckled Alana.

"Nonsense Alana, I already knew this was your intention from the start- you wouldn't have paid this Hag any attention otherwise."

"Now Lady Wang, would you kindly leave the premesis? You have overstayed your welcome. However your son is welcome to stay as long as he likes" said Alana in a sweet voice.

Lady Wang stormed from the room looking humiliated and Alana sighed in relief.

"That was quite a show darling"

"Mother!" beamed Alana, hugging her warmly.

"I didn't know you had it in you" smiled her Uncle.

"Ah, you did most of the work" she said sheepishly.

"And you didn't zap her to Africa" said her Uncle dryly.

"Come on! That was one time and I only intended to send him to his bedroom" she sulked.

"At least now that dreadful women is gone" sniffed her Majesty.

"Indeed mother, now if you will excuse me I need to go back to Arthur and Leon" she curtseyed before dancing across the room proudly.

"She's really grown up" said her uncle fondly.

"I wonder if Arthur has too..." murmured the Queen with a gentle smile.

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