Chapter 19: Revelation

The faint sound of rattling chains echoed within his ears as slowly, Lavi felt his vision steadily return, and he looked around, being left with a horrifying expression as he froze where he was laid upon the ground. They were no longer within one of the bedrooms, but a strange room with blackened walls, and a damp floor that caused him to sit up, and look at his hands, which were splattered deep red, indicating that the room was splashed in blood. Finally the stench of it reached his nose, and he covered his face, gagging as he heard the sound of the others present, and looked around the room, noting Kanda off to the side, chained to the wall not far from Choji, Timothy, Link, and Krory. His gaze looked everywhere for Allen, and eventually he found him breathing shallowly in the corner of the room, a strange red wire-like thread wrapped about his limbs, torso, and throat, seeming to keep him paralyzed where he rested.

"Hey! Everyone alive?" he asked as the others looked to him.

"Beaten near death? Yes, but we are alive." the red-head looked to Allen.

"What about -" Link glanced to the white-haired teenager.

"He's lucid, but not in good shape. I'm not sure what those strings are," he stated.

"Allen! Hey! Can you look at me and -" Lavi was jerked to the ground, looking down he noted the chains on his legs, keeping him from getting to far, and then looked to the others.

"We were ambushed, and that bitch beat the hell out of us, and then chained us up before dragging Lenalee and Miranda off somewhere," Kanda pointed out as the Bookman growled, getting up as he turned his attention towards Allen again.

"Did she take our weapons? Choji pointed towards a wooden chest in the center of the room.

"They're inside that chest. But we can't get out of these damn chains," he stated as Lavi looked to the others.

Kanda was in rough shape, seeming to favor his right side which indicated his ribs were broken, meanwhile Link seemed to have a head wound that was still bleeding profusely. Timothy was nursing an apparently broken hand, Krory appeared to have a dislocated shoulder, and Choji's leg was broken badly. Taking that into account, Lavi assessed his own injuries as he realized that his vision was a bit spotty, and he felt unbalanced, meaning he most likely had a concussion; however, when it came to Allen, Lavi couldn't help but consider his strange behavior. It appeared as though he was indeed awake, slightly listing from side to side or forward a bit whenever he moved, his breathing shallow, and his skin possessing an unhealthy pallor to it. The red-head tisked, noting that Desdemona had most likely done something that would affect Allen's body and therefore would weaken both his Innocence, and his other latent abilities.

"We need to get out of the chains, find the girls, and get the hell out of this house of horrors!" Lavi stated.

"That's all fine and good, but how are we gonna do that when we're in no condition to fight, let alone we can't bust out of these chains with our Innocence, so what do you have in mind?" a single green eye looked around the room as Lavi started padding himself down, searching for a dagger he kept on himself. Feeling down into his boot, a grin came to his face before he pulled it out, and began to pick at the lock on his chains, finding a great deal of resistance.

"Terrific, even the brains of the operation can only think of picking a rusty lock with a blade," Timothy said glumly as Lavi glanced around.

"Just let me try!" he continued to work, heartrate increasing as he thought of their situation.

There were three technical options to get out of their situation, but none of them were easy. The first, was to pick the locks on their chains, cut the wires on Allen, and try and recover him, and their weapons before looking for the girls; however, by the looks of the locks, they were to rusted to be opened with a small knife, and it would take too long. Their second option was to attempt kicking the walls in or prying the chains from the wall, and yet as Lavi attempted that he was met with a terrible rush of luck as he realized that the walls were dark due to blood stains and aged tapestry, and fabric wallpaper, but were genuinely solid stone behind it all. With his first two options out of the running, his gaze settled upon Allen, taking in his appearance once more before he tensed.

"Son of a bitch! I'm sorry Allen, this is all I can think of!" he thought, wincing, causing Kanda to raise an eyebrow.

"Hey! Baka-Usagi! What are you doing?" Lavi took in a deep breath.

"The only choice I have. Hey! Allen! Wake up!" the others looked to him.

"Lavi! I already told you! He's barely lucid! You won't be able to wake him up! Besides, that thread is probably keeping his Innocence deactivated!" Link scolded as Lavi gritted his teeth.
"Allen! Dammit! Wake up! You've gotta open your eyes!" Choji gave him a glare.

"He can't help us! Just -" the red-haired Exorcist glowered.

"HEY FOURTEENTH! GET YOUR ASS UP ALREADY!" the white-haired Exorcist flinched.

"Lavi!" the hammer-wielding Bookman took in a deep breath, proceeding despite Krory's panic.

"Yea dammit! I know you can hear me! Look me in the eye Fourteenth! I know Allen has those powers now, but it's just like your kind to hang back in case something bad happens! You need to wake him up! We need his help!" Link gave Lavi a terrified look.

"Have you lost your damn mind Bookman?! What if you actually do call that monster back?!" Lavi leveled him with a cold stare.

"You wouldn't put your son in danger, would you? Neah?" Allen's body flinched again, seeming to attempt too move, but still being to weak. However, Lavi didn't notice the startled looks on the others faces at his words, or how Link shifted away from the white-haired boy while Lavi struggled to his feet.

"Wake him up! Do you hear me!" Lavi snapped as he looked around.

"LAVI SHUT THE FUCK UP! DON'T TRY AND BRING THAT MONSTER BACK DAMMIT!"

"The blood around us is dead… but if I…" Lavi tightened his grip on his dagger.

"Hey, if you ain't there Neah… then I have no choice. Allen, this breaks my promises, I'm sorry, but it's important," Lavi stated as he grabbed the knife, and dragged it across his forearm, drawing forth a large amount of blood.

"Lavi! What are you doing?!' the red-haired Exorcist looked towards Allen.

"Getting us some help," he stated as the others looked to where the white-haired teenager was as he shifted in his current position, and slowly lifted his head, eyes shining, pupils retracted as Allen took in a few shaky breaths, moving against the red wires as he started wriggling against them.

"L-Lavi…" the red-head smiled.

"Good to see you awake, looks like she put you through hell," he mentioned as Allen looked down.

"This is…Striga Thread… fuck… I've gotta get this -" the cursed Exorcist stilled glancing towards where Lavi was, noting the blood on his arm, dripping down his fingertips.

"Allen, I know what's going through your mind right now, but I need you to put that mind of yours to use, and focus on what you're doing, okay?" he said as the others took note of the sudden curl of anxiety in the red-haired Exorcist's voice.

"Lavi… we're in a very bad situation right now…" Allen stated, eyes wide, his expression showing panic, which was uncommon for him, and unnerved the others.

"No fucking shit we're in a bad situation! The room is full of rotting blood, the girls are kidnapped by that psychotic bitch, and we've all been injured. Get your shit together moyashi!" Lavi swallowed around the tight knot in his throat.

"Kanda, that's not the thing he's talking about… look at him," he said, anxiety pumping through his body as the others looked to him. Krory being the closest could see Allen struggling to get onto his knees as he glanced up at him through his bangs, breathing out to reveal sharpened fangs that caused the other Parasitic Exorcist to recoil in shock.

"Allen… you're… not…" the white-haired Exorcist took in another breath.

"This is… probably going to hurt… Link? Can you get Lavi's knife… and cut the strings?" he asked, breath somewhat raspy as the blonde inspector looked to Lavi.

"I… I suspect I am able too." the white-haired Exorcist nodded.

"Good… Lavi… I need you to keep talking… if I start to break I'm not sure what I might… end up doing," he warned as the red-head tossed the knife to Link who took it carefully and started to cut at the strings.

"What do you mean he needs to keep talking to you?" glowing eyes glanced towards Choji.

"Link… cut my legs free first. Do not cut… my arms free until I say so." the young man paused.

"Walker, this isn't time for you too -" predatory eyes turned to him.

"Unless you want me to rip your throat open, you will do what I say!" everyone in the room froze.

"What did you… just…. say?" Allen hissed, the sound unnatural.

"Dammit! Just do as I say, and I'll explain everything once this is over!" he snarled, bearing his fangs as Link slowly nodded his head.

His heart pounded against his ribs as he steadily cut through the bright red string that bound his charge's legs before noting that the gashes on his legs still bled, oozing dark red liquid as he moved to cutting it off his waist, and then his throat. Once that was done, the others could see that the cuts were not life threateningly deep, at least under normal circumstances. Allen's wounds were deep enough to draw blood that consistently spilled forth, meaning that the injuries were not likely to cease bleeding soon, and to make matters worse, there were many of them, and they were exposed to potentially diseased, and rotting blood. Link looked to Allen, as Lavi informed him of what he knew so far, and what they would have to do next, ignoring his still bleeding arm as he did so until Link moved to cut the strings on his arms.

"Wait!" the blonde stilled.

"Walker, you're the only one who can break these chains and get us out of here with your Innocence," Link stated as Allen shook his head.

"I won't be able to… use my Innocence right now. I'm burned out… I need you to… get me… blood…" the blonde froze as the others did as well before realization came to him as he looked at the white-haired individual before him.

Howard Link had always known Allen Walker was an unusual person. From his extreme abilities with his Innocence, to his charismatic, and at times wicked personality, to the bonds he formed with those around him, it seemed as though this strange being sought a means to possess something he hadn't before, or at the very least, cling to what he could have for now. Allen had appeared to him as a person who had just been given a bad hand in life, and it had no end in sight. Orphaned, taken in, beaten, abused, and then loved only to lose it, and be traumatized, cursed, and put through torturous training. He had found a place amongst the Exorcists of the Black Order, and it had been narrowly snatched away from him due to an encounter with a Noah that he never talked about outside that the individual had destroyed his Innocence, but it had managed to reform itself into what was now known as Crowned Clown. However, the Ark had divulged to many questions, and left many believing he was turning into the Fourteenth Noah, whom they had been lead to presume was the enemy. It was only thanks to Cross's intervention that Allen wasn't executed. And now, Link looked at the young man before him, in pain, wounded, and sickly looking with those mismatched eyes gazing at him in hesitation, and uncertainty as he took in a deep breath.

"You're not human… are you? Not even half," Link stated.

"I'm…" the blonde sighed.

"Give me the details later, but for now, just answer my question," he told the boy before Allen swallowed, and Link noted how he seemed to struggle in doing so.

"No, I'm… not human… I never have been." the inspector nodded.

"That's all I wanted to know for now," he answered as he cut his hand carefully holding it out.

"W-What are you -" Link kept himself calm.

"Tilt your head back some," he said. The others watched as the inspector held his bleeding hand over Allen's mouth and dropped the blood there, causing the white-haired Exorcist to narrowly shy away from it as Link noted the discomfort before sighing as he held his hand out.

"Link, I'd be careful if I were you!" the blonde nodded.

"I'm aware, but if he's weakened, we will not be escaping." he remained calm, letting the injury pool the blood in his palm as Allen grabbed his arm, and started to lap at the blood, being cautious and slow as he tried to keep his focus and not bite. As he did this, Link noted that the blood flow of the injury was increasing, resulting in him observing in curiosity before he felt a faint sense of vertigo at which point Allen looked to him, and pulled back steadily swallowing the blood in his mouth before moving back to lick the wound, causing Link to flinch as he noted the bleeding stopped almost immediately.

"That's…" Allen looked down.

"Link, please cut the strings off my arms," he said as the blonde nodded, and did so, causing the boy to shift as he tried to get himself comfortable, and pulled his sleeve on his normal arm up, and the others noted the cuts beginning to seal up.

"Oh my…" red, and gold eyes looked upwards.

"If I feed, then my healing increases. Atop that, if I feed a lot, then my energy will be fully restored," he explained as Lavi smiled.

"You've got some color back in your face, so that's a good sign! A bit more and you'll be back to one hundred percent! Get Link out of his chains and then I'll give you some more blood. I've got a bleeding arm over here," he laughed as Allen nodded.

Though still somewhat unsteady, the white-haired Exorcist did as suggested, and quickly grasped the chains, and broke them with a swift jerk, finding himself thankful for his above average strength. Link thanked him, and began to work on finding a means to open the chest where the Innocence weapons were placed. As he did that, Lavi had his chain broken, and then offered his wounded arm to the other who silently thanked him, and then felt the blood being licked up, the wound partially closing with Allen's focused intentions towards recovering himself and healing his comrade at the same time. As Link finally managed to get the chest open through a series of bashing the lock with what he had around the room to do so with before tossing the weapons to the others, who quickly activated their weapons before helping Timothy as Allen checked to be sure Lavi was well enough to move due to the amount of blood he'd lost. The others remained back as Lavi looked around, and then moved to push Allen behind him, somewhat startling the white-haired teenager as he looked to his friend before Lavi took in a deep breath, noting the enmity in everyone as Link assisted Choji in standing.

"Okay, there's a lot going on right now, but you've gotta let us explain." Kanda narrowed his eyes.

"You knew about all this?! That he's not one of our kind?" Allen gritted his teeth.

"Maybe I did! But he's still Allen!" Link looked to the others in the room.

"There's no time for this! We've got to start looking for Lenalee, and Miranda," he stated bluntly as Choji tensed.

"How can we be sure he's trust worthy? I mean he's dangerous, right? Some kind of monster." Allen swallowed nervously.

"Maybe I am to some people, but I'm also an Exorcist, and I have a reason to fight alongside you. I'll be certain to tell you everything once I'm given the chance. Right now though, we've got to find the girls," he promised, bowing his head slightly as the others eased somewhat.

"If you don't keep that promise, I won't hesitate to gut you!" Lavi stepped in front of his friend again.

"And, if you try that I'll be sure to get between you, and so will Lenalee," Lavi warned.

"So, you'd side with someone who isn't even human?" the red-head shook his head.

"Humanity is subjective. Right now in my eyes, Allen is more human than the person threatening him when he's putting so much on the line just by promising to tell you the truth," he stated. Link stepped forward.

"Please, let's put this aside for now. I must ask though, Allen, is there any means for you to be able to help us find Desdemona?" the white-haired Exorcist crossed his arms over his chest, thinking momentarily as he tried to figure out what he could do. Taking their current situation into account, Allen suspected restraining himself wasn't quite required of him any longer. Sighing, he rotated his shoulders, stretching just a bit as he looked around the room before cracking his knuckles a bit.

"I can definitely do something about it, but you've got to promise me that if Desdemona comes after us that you won't get between myself, and her. Let me handle her," he stated.

"You're the same, aren't you?" unmatched eyes looked to Timothy.

"Not quite. She's just one half of what I am. I also happen to have the power of a Noah. Which coupled with me being an accommodator for Innocence, will give me a distinct advantage against her in a fight," Allen explained with a faint smile.

"Then… what are we going to do to get out of this room?" the white-haired Exorcist pressed a hand against the wall.

"We're going straight to her. I can smell her nearby…. and before you ask, my senses are about five to six times stronger than a humans. Atop that, Lenalee, and Miranda are with her… I can't tell the state they're in other than the fact that they are alive. So, Lavi, if you could break down that wall right here, that'd be great," Allen said as the red-head Book man grinned, holding up his hammer.

"With pleasure!"

Allen and the others stepped back, preparing themselves to fight as Lavi busted the wall down. At this point, the attempt to follow rules, or avoid her and take their original plan into motion was dispelled in favor of getting their friends back, taking the Resonance Score, and then destroying this factory. There wasn't any hesitation as the group surged forward, minds focused solely upon following one another's lead to where they needed to go. Allen stepped forward, focusing on how he wanted to do this as he closed his eyes, focusing on Lenalee's scent as it was the one he was the most familiar with. Taking in a deep breath, he caught the sweet aroma of flowers that the girl possessed and nodded to himself briefly.

Gathering the attention of the others before departing through the walls that Lavi tore down as the faint stenches of burning oil and tar caught their attention, and the shadowy creatures surfaced. Kanda made quick work of them, as did Timothy, and Krory while Link kept the path clear with Allen and Lavi's assistance. They worked swiftly, all knowing that should they not rush to where the cursed Exorcist was leading them, Lenalee and Miranda could very well not leave the house alive. Taking that into account, Krory picked up Choji, and started running to keep up with the others, which the other Exorcist thanked him for as they ran down the twisting corridors, and through walls that Lavi busted down.

Allen kept tracking the overly sweet scent that Desdemona possessed as they drew nearer to her, and he began plotting how to best handle the Vampiress. His memories of the past were still far to scattered for him to collectively state that he knew how to combat another Vampire; however, he could state that he felt confident in his abilities to at the very least disable her long enough for them to find the Resonance Score, and proceed to end this mission before things got worse. Shaking his head a bit, Allen refocused on what he was doing, and looked around before glancing to the others as they ran down another hallway, and he motioned for them to come closer as he crouched, placing his left hand upon the floor.

"Alright, she's below us. Here's the thing, we need her to tell us where the Resonance Score is, so she has to stay alive, but we can't leave anything to chance, understand?" he muttered as the others nodded.

"You do know the problem will be making her talk right?" crimson-gold eyes narrowed.

"I can manage it. However, I will admit our main focus needs to be ensuring everyone leaves this mission alive," Allen stated as Lavi looked around them.

"So, do you have a plan?" Kanda huffed.

"Judging by your expression, the only plan you have moyashi is to go down there, get the girls, and let you beat that bitch into submission," he mentioned as the white-haired Exorcist gave him an annoyed look.

"Even if I had a plan it won't be that simple with Desdemona around. She's notoriously dangerous, and won't be easy to combat or handle in general. That's why I want you to let me handle her." Krory frowned.

"Because you, and her are the same? Isn't that right, Allen?" the other swallowed thickly.

"Unfortunately, I am." Choji shook his head.

"But if she's as much of a threat as you think she is, then we should help you!" he stated only for Allen to shake his head.

"No! You'd only be getting in the way if all of you attempted to help me." Timothy frowned, looking at the others.

"Allen, you don't have to fight her alone," he told him as the white-haired Exorcist gave him a small smile, placing his hand atop his head.

"I appreciate that, I really do Timothy… but… between myself, and all of you, I am the stronger individual. A normal human attempting to defeat her… honestly… you'd have a better chance fighting a Noah." the others flinched while Kanda frowned.

"Are you telling me you're expecting us to leave you behind while we escape?" he questioned.

"If that's what it takes, then -" the samurai whacked Allen over the head with the blunt side of Mugen. The group remained startled somewhat as the Japanese Exorcist glowered at the wielder of Crowned Clown before huffing in annoyance.

"Our task is to get the Resonance Score, and get the hell out of here! If you stay behind and are captured or killed not only do we lose the only person who can read the Resonance Score, but we also lose yet another Exorcist!" Allen gave him a somewhat startled look.

"K-Kanda?" the dark-blue haired man continued to glare at him.

"We played this leave one behind game in the Ark, and all of us nearly died. This isn't going to be a repeat of that. Got me moyashi?" Allen sighed, smiling just a bit.

"Nice to know you actually do give a damn. Well, regardless, even if you do help me in the fight against Desdemona, I need you to focus on keeping anything she may -" a sudden sound of creaking caught everyone's attention as laughter began to fill the air. The group looked to one another as the floor abruptly opened up, and they fell through the gap, startling them as they prepared for whatever would await them at the end of this fall.

{Basement Area: Unknown Time}

Dark eyes opened to the dim, cold basement as Miranda found herself looking around in anxiety as her eyes adjusted to the dark where she could finally see what appeared to be human limbs hanging in odd areas meshed with crates filled with large doll eyes of various colors, and dresses hung up neatly upon the walls with wigs held in place upon stands. She shifted, and glanced to the side, seeing Lenalee resting there next to her, chained in place to the wall much like she was. Maneuvering slightly, Miranda started to nudge the black-haired Exorcist before noticing that the girl was rousing at long last. Amethyst eyes blinked open, and Lenalee started to momentarily panic as she realized that only Miranda was present with her.

"W-Where are we?" the German woman shook her head.

"I'm not sure… but I also don't know where the others are," she stated.

"Then we need to get out of here, and -" a giggle came to their attention, and then the faint clack of heels as the two women looked to see Desdemona standing there, a sweet smile upon her face.

"Oh my, it would seem that my two guests have finally awoken. How pleasant," she stated, setting down the bowl she had in her hands.

"Where is Allen and the others?" Desdemona narrowed her eyes as she looked to Lenalee.

"You must be the girl who has most recently captured his heart. Such a shame," she stated as the two women remained tense.

"Shame? What are you talking about?" the woman's jewel-toned eyes glistened as she smiled.

"Ah, he must not remember that piece of his past. Indeed, it makes sense that even if he were to recall such a significant detail, he would refrain from divulging the details to you. Quite humorous that someone whom he seems to love was not told the truth," she stated bluntly as Miranda frowned.

"What are you talking about? Allen would never lie to Lenalee!" the Vampiress smiled wider, showing her fangs.

"As he did not lie to those of the Black Order on whom he is? That Allen is the son of the Fourteenth Noah, that he happens to be a Vampire such as I am? Or, perhaps that he lives in consideration that the Innocence he wields is more than it appears, and he does indeed know it. Please, do entertain me whether or not I have missed any significant details." Miranda stared disbelieving of the things she had been told as Lenalee narrowed her gaze.

"Whether those things are true or false…. even if he's lied or not to me… I don't care!" Desdemona grabbed Lenalee by the throat, causing her to choke.

"You childish girl, you haven't even begun to comprehend what a being such as he has endured. Allen Walker never told you about Eva, did he? How they were close friends, and fell in love so many years ago… and how he shunned me for my differences towards his own behavior. Thus, I elected to make him suffer. Eva perished by my hand, slaughtered before his eyes and forced to devour her blood. Sorrowful, is it not? That I will make you into a pretty doll for him to look at as he remains here forever," Desdemona said as she released Lenalee who took in a series of deep breaths whilst Miranda looked to the girl.

"Lenalee!" the Chinese Exorcist shook her head.

"I'll be fine." the Vampiress chuckled.

"Oh, indeed you shall. Once I have remade you into my dolls. I suspect Allen and your friends should be arriving soon. All of you shall make such lovely dolls! I cannot wait!" she stated happily as she turned to begin preparing her tools, the two women beginning to panic internally as Lenalee closed her eyes tightly.

"Allen, please hurry!"

{.…}

Oh I, I want to go back to believing in everything…..

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Author's Note: So, we're getting to the end of the Desdemona Arc, and we should be getting prepared to head into the next arc afterwards as I want to try, and get this story finished like I should have back in 2016. Sorry guys! But, I hope you enjoy the story and keep going through all the ones that connect to it. See you in the next chapter.

Sincerely,

ShadowDragon94.