Chapter Text
-- o -- O -- o --
Prologue
Her eyes opened in confusion, the remnants of that nightmare still running through her head. A bad dream that she wished was just that and nothing more. She'd been wishing for it since that night where they might have won, but at the same time, he lost everything that mattered to him.
Noe, Mon Cheri... - A sleepy voice murmured beside her, and she sighed. She had already woken her friend up again with her problems. "Were you dreaming about that day again?"
She could only respond with another tired sigh as she placed her hand on her forehead, remembering her dream and that moment as if it were yesterday and not how it really happened almost five years ago.
-- o -- O -- o --
No! Let's finish here and then we'll check things out,- he growled, staring into the blue eyes in front of him.
He ignored the furious glare on his face as he took it upon himself to look around; well, the situation didn't look good. Normally, it was just one curse bearer who bothered them and made things difficult, but this time, he could see almost four around them, fighting while holding the black-haired man's hand, eager to run to where the greatest danger lay.
He growled as he saw one of the cursed ones approaching and, holding the doctor like a potato, jumped to put some distance between them. - "Noe!" - he protested, annoyed.
For God's sake, couldn't the idiot still understand after so much that he was only looking out for him? One would think that after the whole disaster at the amusement park, after everything they'd been through together and...That, Vanitas would understand that he wasn't alone, that it was no longer necessary for the entire burden to fall on his weak, human shoulders.
He grimaced as his mind flashed back to that time, from the amusement park incident until now, the bastards seemed to have multiplied, leaving them in a situation where they didn't have a single free second, and obviously, it happened once. They were exhausted enough that he wasn't able to dodge a blow that almost didn't kill him, although that was preferable to the human next to him receiving the blow.
He wasn't sure what happened next, just blurry images and then silence. The human's frantic voice seemed to sound familiar to him from far away, and then a scent like no other, something so sweet, and his instinct took over, biting right where he'd been placed.
And by God, he'd eaten a lot of good desserts, but this was nothing compared to this. He groaned, clutching at the thing that was so good, and then his stupid ability activated...
A child who gave everything for others and whose father didn't even pay attention to him until the tragedy.
Again, abandoned and left to his fate by those who were supposed to have taken him in.
He'd already seen part of the whole thing with Moreau... But seeing and feeling it through Vanitas's eyes was a level he didn't think was possible for a being, human or vampire.
Leaving that hell and beginning to open up to a new family despite his doubts, only to lose him... He couldn't see much of it, only flashes of emotion and brief moments where everything seemed to be going well.
Until everything went to hell, he wasn't able to see more than brief fragments, as if something stronger than even his power was interrupting his vision, but he could feel everything...
I can feel the exact moment when the blue-eyed man's soul finally broke and decided that being alone and free couldn't hurt as much as this.
It was an impulse born of the clash of emotions that did the trick, pulling him away from the other's neck, and it was only a matter of seconds before his now more lucid mind connected the dots. Completely incredulous, and pushing down everything he had seen seconds ago, he looked towards the source of warmth between his arms. - "V-Vanitas?"
Y-Your h-hurt... a-already...?" - An alarm went off in his head when there was no sarcastic comment or frantic question about his obviously violated memories. Then he noticed the shallowness of the other's breathing, and that finally upset him.
He moved a few inches away from the smaller man and watched as the blood stained them both. There was a lot of it, too much of his, but that didn't matter anymore because his wound had closed to the point where it was no longer life-threatening. The problem was that he could smell almost as much Vanitas's blood spilled there as his own, and the human wasn't healing, and wouldn't heal as well as he himself, at least.
He hadn't protected him as well as he'd apparently thought, and to top it all off, he'd given him some of his blood to help him recover, an idiot human who thinks he's immortal! (He ignored the part of his mind that reminded him with images, trying to push the fact that it wasn't that Vanitas thought he was immortal, but that his own life meant so little to him...)
He stood up, holding the human's body as close as possible. He noticed the unconscious body lying nearby and nodded to himself; his mission was complete, at least. He heard a voice in the distance and felt relieved. - "Dante! We're almost here!" - He shouted, also running towards the Dhampir, hoping that he would help him with the human.
The orange-haired man looked at the black-haired man silently while being held like a damsel, and his altered expression seemed to think the worst, paling, he asked - "H-he...?
No! But you have to help me do something! - Once again, Noah felt like he was useless and couldn't protect those he loved (he loved Vanitas? Wasn't he supposed to dislike the black-haired man?).
Vanitas hates it when doctors or anyone touch him when he's like this, seriously. He'd rather lie down until he can get up than bandage himself up alone and without anyone else or die," Dante growled, looking directly at him as they both left the place. - But let's do what I always do when things go this badly. I took him to our doctor. He knows both vampires and humans, and well... It works well on Dhampirs, the same with him.
Vanitas is human,- he recalled, confused.
"Ugh, the first time it ended like this and I thought of taking him to a human healer. Don't tell him, he doesn't know I'm taking him... I'm supposed to bandage him myself and all that shit," - I mumbled the last bit belatedly. - "The guy didn't know what to do, that he should take him to Altus to have my real vampire friend checked out because he only treats humans."
Not for the first time, Noah found himself cursing the shitty doctor.- "He didn't know what the fuck was going on, and I still don't know what the hell is going on with him. It's not like it's easy to ask him." - That was true. If Noah had any idea what was going on, it wasn't exactly because the youngest told him directly. - So, with no options left and the idiot dying, I took him to our doctor. He treated him and left him well enough for me to throw him on the bed to wake up on his own.
"You know Vanitas better than I thought," - Noah said after a while. - "...By the way, how long have you known him?"
I ran into him once when he looked even smaller. I don't know how old he really was, but it must have been... About 15...? - Dante replied as he guided him across the rooftops toward his destination. - Look, there we are. You leave him with him. The man doesn't ask questions and doesn't care about much either. He's practically kept by Marquis Machina to take care of the Dhampirs who work with him. He patches him up, and before he even thinks about waking up, we'll take him away. You tell him you paid me to bandage him up.
Why would I have to tell him that? - he asked, confused, and then remembered it was Vanitas they were talking about. - He's fine.
Believe me, for everyone's sanity, tell him that. Don't ever let the thought cross his very active mind that, at some point, I could or did things for him out of the kindness of my heart or anything like that occur to me, - the orange-haired man instructed before knocking on the door of the modest dwelling.
It wasn't more than a few seconds before the door opened and an ordinary man walked out. He only had to look at the bloody mess they both were to let them in. "Lay him down there," he ordered after leading them through the hallways to what Noah recognized as a well-stocked office with several clean beds.
"You... Are you a Dhampir too?" - Noah asked, curious and uncomfortable, still looking around to hide his gaze from the human who was most likely being healed against his will.
"Yeah... Do you have a problem with it, vampire?" - Noah blinked at the obviously passive-aggressive tone.
He blinked in confusion. - "I-It's not that... I-I just..."
"How do you see it?" - Dante's group interrupted the awkward moment quite opportunely. - He's an idiot who's oblivious to everything, don't pay attention to him, he's not like other vampires.
Well, anyway, he'll have severe anemia from the blood loss, but he can take care of it himself. - The man said after a moment of silence while he worked. Noé just nodded, promising himself that he wouldn't let the black-haired man hurt himself like this again.
How much do we owe you? He'll pay. - Dante growled, pointing at the white-haired man, who was already ignoring the conversation and checking on the black-haired man, who seemed to be breathing a little better.
Noé just wanted to go to the hotel that almost felt like a home with his partner. - I don't care if you pay me or not. If I tell the Marquis who I treated, he'll pay me double.
.... And more or less why is it that...?
Dante, we'll sort out the payment later. Right now, I just want to go and get some rest together - God only knew how much Noah needed that. Besides, his newly acquired memories of his partner seemed to be trying to emerge from where he'd pushed them, causing him to just want to hug the younger boy until he erased all of that from his mind.
Honestly, Noah didn't pay attention to anything else. It was only when he was in his hotel room, with the blue-eyed boy safe and breathing, that he was able to relax. He took one last look at the boy lying on his bed before deciding to get all the blood off himself.
Now in more comfortable and clean clothes, and after a more thorough examination of his almost-healed wounds, he noticed the younger boy again, who was still wearing his bloody clothes... He should change him; his exposed torso was bandaged, and a bath wouldn't be possible, but... His arms still had dried blood on them, as did his pants, and his gloves (which he had avoided being removed throughout the entire process).
His cheeks turned slightly red at the thought of undressing him, but he had to do it, right? Maybe Vanitas would be angry when he woke up, but it didn't matter; it would be good for his health... Right? He took a deep breath, making up his mind, and without understanding his reactions, he searched for the clothes he knew would be most comfortable among his companion's things.
He started with the easiest, his hands slightly trembling. He took off the first glove and left it behind. But when he went to the next one, he noticed with a frown how the mark had spread even further than he thought... Hell, he couldn't see it well because of the bandages, but the mark seemed to be running down the covered shoulder.
Mechanically, he continued his work as fear invaded him. He remembered the vision of Vanitas's brother as he completely lost control... That... Would it happen to his companion? The younger man had said that if he had to choose, he wished that...
He remembered Louis asking the same thing, he remembered how his teacher had killed him in front of him, and his mind conjured a similar image in his head. Except the protagonists were him and that incomprehensible human in bed, him... He couldn't let things end like this.
All this time he'd worried about protecting the bearers of the curse so they wouldn't end up like his dear friend Louis, but right now he realized that... If they continued down the path they were on, he was dooming the human, maybe not today... Not tomorrow, but...
His chest tightened at the thought that it was only a matter of time. Right now, even his body was rewriting itself, changing in ways no one had a clue about, and he couldn't do anything to stop it. One day, his body wouldn't hold out any longer...
One of the memories of the boy's younger brother assaulted him, the boy bleeding from every pore as the life drained from him. The Vampire came up with the idea that could save them, and Vanitas refused... Although in the end, it didn't help much. Here they were, both marked, and with death merely buying them both some time.
There had to be a way to truly heal him, to reverse everything that scientist had done to him, or else stop it... He should... He breathed, determined, giving himself the mission to find a solution... Vanitas couldn't die, he wouldn't allow it!
His work was over, and now the younger brother didn't look so devastated; in his soft pajamas, a little bigger than him, he actually looked adorable (he hadn't thought about that). He didn't understand the impulse that compelled him to lie down next to the boy and move him gently until his head was lying on his chest, he could feel his soft breathing against his skin and for some reason he didn't understand this felt too good.
He didn't have the energy to analyze all of this, to analyze himself, so he just let it be and, clinging closer to the warm body against him, let himself fall asleep.
He woke up hours later with an abrupt movement. He didn't want to, but he forced himself to open his eyes, remembering how he had fallen asleep. He looked at the dark-haired man, now awake and panting, clutching his chest, where he remembered one of the bloodiest wounds he had ever had, and which he had surely injured when he stood up abruptly.
"What are you doing in my bed?" - Vanitas asked, still panting, staring at him, blushing up to his ears, his usual scathing tone completely absent.
"You shouldn't have moved like that. You're still quite hurt," - he scolded softly, sitting up and trying to get the other to lie down again. - "Go back to bed, Vanitas, it's early."
"Hurt...?" - he asked, still touching his chest, then his eyes opened in horror and something else he couldn't detail, he seemed to forget the previous seconds and his wound to kneel over his semi-recumbent body - Noe!
The truth is, he wasn't a morning person; he was tired, and all he could think about was going back to sleep just like he was before. So he let the other open his pajama top and examine his skin with his bare hands, probably looking for wounds. - "Does something hurt?"
"No, your blood healed me, well..." - Shit, maybe he shouldn't have said that like that.
Instantly, the younger seemed to remember that, and where his blue eyes had been full of life before, they were now two empty glaciers, as if his soul had left his body, and only an abyss remained inside that body - "What did you see, Noah?"
He was pretty sure that whatever he said had to be thought through, it had to be something that wouldn't make the younger man truly disappear from his life... For real this time. But Noah couldn't lie; he could only hope to handle this as best he could... He could no longer conceive of a life without him for some reason. - "Vanitas, no..."
Noah, it doesn't matter, you can go." - Noah froze; he didn't understand where that was coming from... But the other's completely blank voice left a knot in his stomach.
Vanitas, What do you mean, leave? - he asked seriously. - "Didn't I tell you last time that I wouldn't leave?"
Not last time... You didn't know, last time... You only saw Mikhail's memories, and he's not very smart... Just as he doesn't know much about me,- he muttered. Noe wasn't liking how this was going. - But now you... How are you still here? I thought that as soon as you saw all that, you'd run to your little vampire friend and never want to see me again.
Vanitas, I've already told you, nothing's going to make me free you from me,- I growl loudly, hoping it'll sink into that thick head of yours. - You're insufferable, hateful, and determined to make everyone hate you... But I can't hate you.
No... You don't even like me. You've told me that, several times. - Noe has never hated himself so much now. - Noah, if you feel some stupid guilt because I hurt you, then forget it. You can pack up your things and leave. You're not obligated to be with someone as horrible as...
"No! Vanitas, listen to me," - he shouted, now agitated. - "If it's true, I was able to see most of your memories, and I can assure you that there's no way I find you unpleasant. I can swear to you that there's nothing abhorrent about you, and I can affirm that you are the kindest being I've ever had the fortune to meet.
From the beginning, - he continued, just as the other seemed to vehemently disagree with his words, which will remain engraved in his memory once and for all, - "you took care of and did everything a child should do. I never saw anyone play or do anything like a child, and yet I never saw you being cared for... Damn it, I was always curious about your real name, not one you borrowed, and you know I noticed!?
Your father and everyone in that place always called you a child, right? They never even bothered about it. What did they think? That you were just there!? - Noe knew that getting angry about things that had already happened was pointless, much less getting angry at the youngest, but right now he couldn't help it.
He was halfway ready for a scathing comeback, a kick from the bed, and the younger boy attacking even with his injuries, but none of that came, there was only a blank stare... Tired of life despite his young age, - "... It's m-my fault that m-my mother and f-father died, if I hadn't..."
NO! It was your mother's decision to have you, and your father died by his own decision. You were just a child who needed someone there!" - he asserted vehemently. - "The church only took advantage of your pain and made you... Ronald will listen to me!"
Roland had his hands full with Astolfo, who was suicidal, stupid, and easily manipulated," - Vanitas suddenly commented, seeming to suffer a complete depersonalization of the convert in question. - "It's my fault, really. Charles noticed him when he realized I didn't care about his stupidity and told Ronald to train him... I would kill vampires because I hated them. I didn't give a damn about their God nonsense, and neither did the church.
.... Charles? - I asked for the name I didn't recognize.
You'll meet him someday if we keep going the way we're going." - Noé frowned at the obvious attempt to change the subject.
Vanitas, none of what happened to you was your fault. Moreaus is a despicable creature, and yet you stayed because you didn't want other children suffering like you, - he assured with a serious look. Memories flooded back, and he only wanted to cry for that child who didn't deserve any of that. - You were a victim of everything he did to you. You could never be unkind to him for what that man did to you."
...I killed Luna, I killed him with my own hands, and..." - He stopped him, placing his hands on his cheeks and looking into those blue eyes sternly.
I didn't see that moment. There's a kind of darkness covering it, but I could feel the same thing as you... and... Vanitas, you were still a child. You were scared and sad, so sad, and no child should ever feel that way. - His hands caressed the other's cheeks as he spoke. - I only saw parts of that life, but I can tell you that the vampire of the Blue Moon was right... You're a good person, and I'll tell you that until I convince that thick head of yours.
N-Noe, no...- The same impulse that compelled him to sleep hugging the younger man possessed him right now, forcing him this time to join their lips in a shy kiss that drew a gasp from the other.
The other's small hands tremblingly reached up to grab his unbuttoned pajama shirt as emotion seemed to return to him, blushing up to his ears and his eyes tightly closed. Spurred on by not having been rejected, he grew more confident, and one of his hands reached down to grasp the small of his waist and pull him against him, leaving him sitting on his lap with his legs almost open.
His other hand moved up to entangle itself in the black locks of hair, and he felt a warmth in his chest at the slight trembling. Who would have thought that the young man who kissed Jeanne in front of everyone that time would look so shy about a kiss right now?
He remembered the vampire, and his mood soured. - "Vanitas, sorry, shouldn't we... Jeanne," - he said, pulling away slightly; for some reason, his body refused to separate itself from the black-haired man any further.
Jeanne, what? She doesn't love me, she only needs blood, and we have chemistry. She couldn't love me, I'm... - Vanitas said, finally stopping at her reproachful look. She seemed a little more here with him... Although another part of her still seemed very far away, miles away from this place. - I suspect she's cursed, but she can't tell me, and if I don't know what she really has, I can't do anything but control her bloodlust with my blood
"And you? Do you love her?" - he asked, slightly afraid of the answer.
Noe, I don't know what love is. I've already said that, haven't I? "- he complained with a sigh - but I can't love her, she... She deserves someone good, someone who will be with her much longer than I can give her.
Vanitas, look at me. - One hand was still on her waist and the other returned to her cheek to force him to look at her directly. - I don't really know what love is either, but... I'm sure when I say that I'm not going to free you from me. Besides, from now on, I'll start looking for a solution to this.
He ignored the resulting tremor as his hand ran over the mark on her arm. - "I won't let you go, Vanitas. Haven't I told you that together we can achieve anything we want? Trust me when I tell you that we will find a solution, we will defeat Charlatan and cure you. We will live many years together, Vanitas.
Noah... - he'd never seen Vanitas look so vulnerable like he was right now. He could feel his chest pounding at how absolutely adorable he looked. - P-please don't make p-promises that...
When have I ever broken a promise? - he asked with a soft half-smile before bringing his lips back to the other's and feeling them shyly reciprocate.
.... Well, Noah didn't need to finish remembering that, and especially what they did afterward, not when the bastards were still around and Vanitas wasn't helping matters. It was true that in the month since then, Vanitas had been more... Gentle, to put it mildly.
He let Noah snuggle up to him at night, and perhaps the event had repeated itself again on a night where the raven-haired man seemed strangely sensitive, or several times if he was more honest with himself. There were also strange scenarios where Vanitas seemed kinder, baking his favorite things and even going to nice places with him.
Of course, when they were alone, he seemed twice as bastardly and insufferably around the others. He seemed to be instantly ready to insult you, and he was more surly than usual with practically anyone who wasn't himself. Noé was confused by this behavior and even more confused about the two of them.
All he knew was that a visit to Domi was necessary, one where he would explain what had happened between them (censuring the fact that she knew about Vanitas's past) and ask her where the relationship lay between them. He was sure his friend knew more about these things than he did; right now, he'd just let his impulses take over, and this wasn't the time to be analyzing his confusing relationship with the dark-haired man.
It had been Dante and Dominique who, in a strange alliance between them, discovered the important movement in Altus Paris. They didn't know exactly what it was, only that Charlatan had been bold enough to break into the Royal Palace, where they were both aware that Queen Faustina's body was—her body, that is—and Vanitas was sure that couldn't be good.
And apparently it wasn't just Naenia; there were several cursed vampires in the area preventing them from advancing. Noah had a terrible feeling, to be honest; it was very strange not to have encountered any Guards until now... Or perhaps Naenia had cursed them all, and these were the ones attacking right now.
Either way, he wouldn't let the human go alone. They'd end up here and then go see what the hell was going on together. - "Vanitas, if I let you go, aren't you going to run away?" - he asked, annoyed. He needed to do more than run away.
No! I'd rather cure these pests of their curse first and not have to worry about them following us! - He grunted, rolling his blue eyes in boredom.
Noé nodded more calmly and turned to the cursed vampires. He was preparing to immobilize one and give the human some space to work when he felt it. There was a strange pressure on his neck, and suddenly his body was no longer his own. Against his will, he moved toward the dark-haired man and held the other's wrist again... Only this time, in a grip that he was sure would leave bruises on the white skin, judging by the pained expression that crossed his features for a second.
I thought better of it, go see what's up and I'll entertain these guys while you get back." - Noe didn't recognize his words, what was coming out of his mouth... It was anything but what he wanted! - "This whole trip was designed to destroy Charlatan, right? That's the only goal."
... Noe, what are you...? - "What the hell was he saying? And why the hell did he squeeze his hand even more?"
"If we can finish Charlatan right now, then it's all over, right? There'll be no more bastards, and we can all get back to our own." - Noah needed to shut up himself. There was a strange look crossing the dark-haired man's face, one he hadn't seen in a while and didn't like... He needed to get his body back under control. He didn't know what was going on, but he had to find out. - "Come on, Vanitas, you're supposed to be the one who thinks practically between the two of us."
Iro, as if the younger boy still had that strange, unmoving look on his face. He seemed to be thinking about something, and he couldn't... He couldn't have done that! It was true that he was sometimes a bit rough with Vanitas, pushing and pulling him around, but he'd never pushed him as hard as he was now. He'd never hit him until he was practically bouncing off the wall in front of them. - "I told you to go!"
Normally, Vanitas would be insulted, yelled at, or hit, and Noé would have preferred it if he did. It gave him time to break out of the spell that was beating him down and explain himself. But the younger boy just stood up without looking at him and walked away, exactly the way he didn't want him to go. It wasn't until he could no longer see the dark-haired man that the grip on his neck loosened, and he breathed as if he hadn't been breathed in all that time.
He stood up, his body shaking, and still recovering, he tried to run to where he had seen Vanitas disappear. He needed to get to him... The feeling he had previously had only gotten worse with time, and now he was far from Vanitas... - "Noe!" - he heard the familiar voice and stopped. He looked back, noticing Jeanne and Luca arriving. Strangely, this was a danger zone. What was the boy doing here?
"Jeanne!" - he called hurriedly, then grimaced as the curse bearers were quickly killed by the woman. Vanitas could have saved their lives if it weren't for whatever had happened to him, although he couldn't do anything about it now. Besides, there was something he had to do right now. - "Vanitas just ran ahead of him. A second ago I s-felt like..."
He stopped at the new presence arriving. The red hair and the stern expression in those golden eyes made him freeze with a kind of nervousness he didn't understand. For some reason, Lord Ruthven gave him a feeling he didn't understand. - "What are they doing in the Palace?" Because I imagine that if you're here, that human is nearby.
Vanitas - he emphasized the name. Perhaps at first, it didn't bother him, but right now, it didn't seem right to him that they were treating his companion less just because he was human, when he was doing everything to help them. - "He just left. I need to get to the Jeanne."
The woman looked at the indicated place and gave him a strange look - "Surely he went that way? Noah, it's not possible he's passing by there."
The redhead frowned at him - "Tsk!" I'll go see myself, and if that human...
Noe also went ahead. He had to make it clear that neither of them was there to cause harm (which they never did in the first place) and that he would also go check on the black-haired man, but he couldn't. A sound like fabric ripping sounded, and the room seemed to drop two degrees. Ruthven's expression was already sour, but now it seemed as if he were staring right in front of him at what he despised most in life.
Noah looked at the person who had arrived, confused and nervous. He didn't understand what he was doing there. - M-Master
My dear Mon Chaton, it's a pleasure to see you here too - he greeted, smiling as always, his heterochromatic gaze scanning the crowd until it settled on the red-haired man - I would be happy to greet you with the same enthusiasm, but I'm afraid I've come to inform you how disappointed I am in you... You have only one task for the Kingdom, and you've failed."
"I haven't failed any of my tasks," - the redhead defended himself. Noe didn't understand anything and just wanted Vanitas here. - "The queen's safety is my priority, and if you get out of the way, I can go see what's going on."
"Oh, but Ruthven, if I'm already here, then you're totally unnecessary." - Noe only wanted to go where the younger boy had gone, but with his teacher right there in the middle, he didn't think he could. - "Besides, I don't want to believe that you actually thought you could put a curse on my student and I'd never realize it. If you really thought that, then you're even stupider than I thought." I imagined
This time Noe looked at the redhead, his eyes wide open, and beside him, both the child and the woman were also staring at the man in surprise. - "Uncle, what is he saying? Why would you put a curse on Noe?"
I don't know what he's talking about, but don't pay attention to him, Luka. This man's twisted games are quite well known, - the man hissed, sounding more annoyed by the second.
Feigning dementia and ignorance is a crude tactic for getting out of trouble. Although I can't complain. In the end, you helped me, and I must thank you - Luka continued searching for an answer from his uncle, while Noah could only stare at the redhead, the cogs in his head working to find the solution.
"You... A while ago my body wasn't mine. I forced Vanitas to go to that place, but it wasn't me, I couldn't do it," - he commented to the air, slightly horrified at the thought. A memory surfaced, one he didn't know existed until just now, as he thought of it. - "That time he bit me, no... I didn't remember, but you did something to me, and I didn't remember until now."
"Uncle, what did you do to Noe?" - added the boy, looking disappointed and annoyed.
"Jeanne, Luka shouldn't be here," - Ruthven growled at the girl.
"I am Grand Duke Uncle. If there's trouble in the Palace, it's my duty to come and see you as second in line - the boy cried, filled with annoyance - and I can't leave until you explain to me what's going on here!"
"Noe also wanted to know this memory... Why had the man done that? What did he gain?"
Light suddenly burst forth, a blue light, as if thousands of stars had formed constellations and covered the Palace in that beautiful color. Noah had never seen anything like this. This was undoubtedly the power of Vanitas, but... But it had never been so great. The light and power seemed to cover the entire Palace, leaving them speechless.
And just as it arrived, the always beautiful light began to mutate, transform, and darken into a pitch-black darkness. A tightness made them all uncomfortable; Jeanne even gasped, clutching her chest while the others grimaced in discomfort. And along with the uncomfortable sensation, another, stronger one joined in, forcing the woman to her knees. Noe recognized it from the time Naenia had been forced to stabilize herself.
I think our dear queen is calling me, and I can't be so impolite as to keep her waiting," - the blond man with odd eyes commented with an even wider smile.
You're not going to that place, monster, I'm the Queen's Guardian and I'm the one who must... - the shudder that ran through the redhead at the sideways glance he received was evident.
I thought I told you that your presence here is no longer necessary. You can leave and take the young man with you. Mon Chaton, I'm sure you're waiting for news from the Heir of Azul, right? You can stay here if you like." - With that, the man turned and began walking down the hallway.
Noé remembered, as if it were a nightmare from which he couldn't wake Louis, his master killing him without remorse, and now Vanitas joining that fantasy, dying cruelly at his master's hands. His feet moved on their own, desperate to follow his master, and suddenly he bumped into something. Where there had once been a hallway, he could now see a sort of half-translucent black wall.
"Noe, that's a blood barrier. Only those related to the queen can enter. As Grand Duke, I allow Uncle Ruthven to enter under certain conditions," - Luka explained, approaching and taking his hand as it frantically pounded on the wall that had appeared.- "Further ahead are the queen's chambers, and where her body has been kept since she became a cursed woman. It's the most secure place of all to keep the secret."
And if only you can pass... How did Vanitas get through?! Or the Master!? - Noe asked, watching the wall disappear.
"As I said before, the barrier and security are intact. I haven't neglected any of my duties," - the redhead growled, placing his hand and making the wall appear. - "If they got through, it was because they did something."
"Uncle, you still have to explain to me what you did to Noe," - the younger man demanded, glaring at the man.
The idea was for Naenia to finally disappear, queen and all, and if she could also take that annoying human like her book, all the better - he snarled, his golden eyes glaring at everyone - the Senate had it in place, so we spread the rumor that the two of them would come and we would arrange something to crown him King once and for all when he reached the right age. Even the Queen's Beasta, together, proved incapable of destroying that thing, and a lie like this has a short lifespan.
But Noe didn't care about any of that, not right now when worry was eating away at him - Vanitas never hurt anyone; you had no right to plan everything to hurt someone who would never hurt you!
No, he hasn't, but he can and he might... Do you know how many vampires exist who can control others? Even I could have, if I wanted to, simply bit it and now I have access to that cursed book - Noe didn't want to hear it; he just wanted them to leave the black-haired man, who hadn't done anything to anyone present, alone - "He's a danger and we must..."
Suddenly, the walls returned to what they had been before, the blue-black tint disappeared, and Noah needed to get in there to get his human out. All of this could wait until he had him back safe and sound in his arms. - "Monsieur Luka, could you let me in? It's urgent that I get into that place."
Noe, you don't meet the conditions, you're not part of the Senate, and neither are you... - everyone stopped as soon as two pairs of footsteps began to be heard coming from the hallway. They tensed, waiting, and the first thing that became visible was a thick, flowing blonde hair. The red and black dress stood out little in the decor, but it was obvious to everyone who it was.
Ruthven seemed to paled several shades the instant she recognized her, and Luka seemed surprised, though Noah simply couldn't pay attention to the presence of the Queen, healthy and seemingly in her body as if nothing had happened. His eyes were fixed on the blue book in her master's hands.
He felt like he wasn't breathing as they both approached, first the Queen, and behind her the much taller figure of the Formless One, holding an easily recognizable blue book, and by God, he couldn't yet see its bearer anywhere. No one seemed able to say anything; the queen's red, bored eyes seemed to scan them all before turning to the man behind her. - "Who are all these?"
"A traitor to the Senate," - he introduced amusedly, pointing with his cane at the red-haired boy, - "the Grand Duke, a boy who isn't very decisive." - The boy seemed to want to say something, but Jeanne's hidden hand stopped him. - "That's your Bourreau, and this last one here is my dear student, Noé Archiviste."
"Archiviste...?" - Noé bit his lip. The urge to yell at his teacher for answers was too great, but the oppressive presence of the queen wouldn't allow it. And it seemed everyone was in a similar state, because no one seemed capable of saying anything. He also didn't like her curious gaze on him. - "Get them all out of my Palace. I don't want anyone, guards, servants... I don't want anyone here. Only if you wish for your student to stay can you do so."
Everyone watched as the queen disappeared down another corridor at a brisk pace, and Noé turned to his teacher, his fury overflowing. - "Vanitas, where...?!"
Mon Chaton, the queen has left me a mission, but since you're impatient - I felt it, I sensed she didn't want to hear it, but I still had to - the heir, as beautiful as his mother, was able to do what Azul couldn't in his time: clear Queen Faustina's true name, and even more wonderful, how Naenia had been the one who corrupted all names... Through her, he cured every incipient curse and those already cursed, giving freedom to those who couldn't be saved and recovering those who could have a life.
Noah didn't care about any of that; he just wanted to be told where his companion was. - "Where's Vanitas? Because you have his book!"
His dear younger brother had already told me about this, since the book was rewriting them and the poor thing was only human. I can't even imagine how hard it was for him to accomplish this, which not even Azul could achieve. - He continued calmly, as if Noah didn't feel everything was falling apart around him. - After performing such a kind act, his body couldn't take it anymore. He attacked the queen, who was recovering, and she only defended herself."
"Did she d-defend herself?" - he asked, half-delusional. He didn't want to believe it. It had to be a lie.
"Don't worry, Faustina isn't cruel, especially since she knew he had helped her." - Noe didn't want to believe it. It's just that what his master was insinuating couldn't be true. - "He loved him too, you're aware of that."
Vanitas wanted me to do it, that if it came to that, I'd be the one to do it, - he murmured, already feeling tears welling up. He couldn't... This couldn't be.
But you're not capable of doing it, Mon Chaton, not even if the one you love most begs you to do it - Noé felt like he couldn't breathe - and we don't want to repeat that painful moment after Louis's death. I don't want to see sweet Dominique try to dye her hair black and her eyes blue this time for you. So this was kinder, where you couldn't see him and suffer the same, Mon Chaton.
He didn't know when Jeanne took him by the hands while the same girl looked just as devastated as him and dragged him, the child very close behind her. He didn't know the path they took; he only watched when they arrived at their home, where Dominique was standing with a worried expression.
He knew it: he was just a useless crybaby who couldn't protect anyone. Louis died in front of him without anything he could do. Dominique suffers every time because of him, and Vanitas... He himself pushed Vanitas to that place. He should have resisted Ruthven's curse, but he was so weak that he couldn't even do that. As always, all I could do was cry after I had lost everything.
-- o -- O -- o --
Noe was aware that continuing to think about that moment years later, he'd already gone over everything he could despite the pain, only made him feel more like a failure than he already did. He could have done so many different things...
He could have resisted the curse and had his human close by, protecting him. He could have done more... He could have spoken less to everyone and just pounded on that damned barrier until it somehow broke... Even afterward, he could have snatched the Book of Vanitas from his master. Who knows what he can do with it? He was aware that Misha was still in his possession.
Vanitas couldn't be happy with him, letting his loved ones down, even in death. Always so gullible and idiotic, until that time, there was even a part of him that trusted his master, who thought the man would bring the human back, even if he was hurt.
Noe, stop thinking about that even now it continued to bother his loved ones. Dominique, seeking to reassemble the broken pieces of his heart, had gone with him to the human world, where she had lived all these years.
Although it could also be because Altus, ever since the queen returned, had been in a state of disarray, and neither of them had the energy to deal with the feelings involved - I know, but... I can't help but think that I could have done so many different things, and then he'd still be with me.
Noe, what happened is what had to happen; there was no way to avoid or prevent it - she said, seeking to reassure him.
She looked at the nightstand beside her, a blue leather-bound book with the title "The Memoirs of Vanitas" in black. There, Noah had written down all the adventures he'd had with his companion, in a way that never forgot any detail of it over the years. Also because, in a twisted way, he still wanted to fulfill the mission his master had entrusted to him.
He picked it up, wanting to lose himself in it. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine he was there. Or he could imagine it wasn't Dominique at his side, but a dark-haired man with spectacular blue eyes. His master had read it at some point, and he'd taken the opportunity to ask where his human's book was, where his human's younger brother was, and many other things.
But he got no response, just the book back and a compliment on an excellent job. He said he was an excellent judge of character and didn't blame him for falling in love with the dark-haired man, who, just like the vampire from whom he inherited his name, was a brilliant and beautiful being.
He didn't like the comment at all, but like many times in his life, there was little he could do before his teacher disappeared. - "Noe, I know it hurts, but... I didn't know him well. In fact, he seemed like a horrible being, but after listening to you, I think I can assure you he wouldn't like you like this. He wanted you to be happy.
Yes, I know. That was one of the reasons he preferred solitude... He didn't want to hurt anyone when he left," - he murmured flatly. He knew he had to make an effort.
He owed it to Vanitas. He had to be happy for both of them, even if it was extremely difficult.
-- o -- O -- o --