Disclaimer: Pandora Hearts and all its characters belong to Jun Mochizuki. I'm only borrowing them for my twisted plot and I'm doing it purely for fun. All titles are quotes from Blaqk Audio songs.

Author's note: This is an "alternate universe" story, so don't expect B-rabbit the chain destroyer or something. Actually, don't expect to see any chains, they completely didn't fit. Also, there's Kevin Regnard, not Xerxes Break, just so you know, so no candy obsessions or typical Break-ness.

So now: read and enjoy. And review! I love reviews!

Ch. 1: Born for this

It was the last day of school before the summer holidays. The day was beautiful: sunny and warm, inviting to sit under the tree and read a book until the carriage came to pick him up and take him home. Elliot Nightray was looking forward to the summer, even if the next year would be his last in Lutwidge.

The book long forgotten on his lap, Elliot wondered about his life after school. As the heir to the Nightray family, he would have to study politics and diplomacy, which would be infinitely boring. He would be required to marry a lady of appropriate standing for the future Earl, which wasn't exactly something he was looking forward to either. Was there any good side of growing up?

Of course, learning politics and diplomacy would only be a question of time, since Elliot was both intelligent and talented. Finding an appropriate wife would not be an issue either: if he was to trust his father, there were at least three families that expressed their interest in marrying their daughters to the handsome, blue-eyed and blond-haired Nightray heir. He had yet to meet the girls in question, even though there was a good chance they attended the same school as he did.

'Anybody home?' asked rudely the voice of Leo Baskerville, Elliot's best friend at school and the cousin of the future Duke Baskerville, Elliot's future lord. He looked at the dark haired boy, whose violet eyes were gleaming mischievously. 'We were wondering if we should let you sleep here or if you want to go home,' he added, extending his hand to help Elliot get up.

Leo's "we" included, as always, Oz Vessalius and Edward Sinclair. Together with Elliot, they formed a tight group of friends, thanks to Leo's and Oz's continued efforts, despite the history of mutual dislike that separated their families. Edward was the same age as Elliot, that is to say sixteen, while Oz and Leo were both fifteen. Well, Leo would turn fifteen next week, which was an occasion for a huge party.

The two blonds were smiling at Elliot as he allowed himself to be pulled up by Leo. They were all dressed in more casual clothes, instead of the white school uniforms, making Elliot feel a bit out of place between them.

'Leo was just telling us about the party next week,' Oz informed him with his trademark smile. 'Oscar wrote that Ada has been bugging him about it for three weeks already,' he added with a laugh. Oscar and Ada were Oz's siblings. Oscar, the oldest son of Duke Zai Vessalius, would eventually inherit the title and become the biggest enemy of Duke Baskerville, to whom Elliot and Leo would eventually pledge their allegiance.

Elliot was still unsure how it was possible that he and Leo were on speaking terms with Oz, considering the history of their families. However, both Leo and Oz insisted that it was a stupid situation and required change. Elliot didn't think they would manage, even with the help of Jack, the second of the Vessalius children, who was tenaciously clinging to Lacie Baskerville, Leo's mother.

'Apparently Emily is the same,' Edward told Oz. 'She's thrilled, because it's the first party she is ever going to,' he added. Elliot wasn't exactly looking forward to the company of the six-year-olds, but he had to admit that both girls were very cute. Plus, Alice, eight years old and the youngest of the Baskerville children, would be happy to have them there, which, Elliot supposed, was the reason as to why they were invited in the first place.

'I just realised,' Oz started, as they walked across the perfectly-maintained lawn, towards the main building of the school. 'Elliot is the only one, who doesn't have a younger sister,' he finished, while Edward asked how Elliot managed to get so lucky.

'I don't think that not having siblings is lucky,' Elliot pointed out with irritation. 'Besides, for all the time I have spent with Alice, she's almost my younger sister as well,' he added. It was true. Because his father and Leo's uncle, Oswald, cooperated closely, Elliot ended up spending many days in the Baskerville mansion. When he was younger, he played with Leo. Afterwards, more kids arrived and Elliot and Leo ended up taking care of Alice and Oswald's two adopted sons, Gilbert and Vincent.

'Older brothers are not so fun either,' Oz pointed out. He was the only one who was not the oldest of the children in the family and often complained about what Oscar and Jack could do and he couldn't. 'Although at least there's always somebody else to blame, when things go wrong,' he added and launched into a summary of the time when Jack dared him to climb a particularly tall tree.

'If I didn't know better, I would have thought he wanted to kill you,' Elliot muttered when Oz said that he'd spent a week bedridden as a result of a concussion. He didn't like Jack and he knew that the other three knew that as well. He liked Oz, who was always happy and helpful and looking at the bright side of life. With Jack, however, the very same qualities seemed exaggerated, grating Elliot's nerves whenever he was forced to sit at the table with the grown-ups.

After school I will always have to sit at the table with the grown-ups, he thought, ignoring the discussion between his friends for the moment. Yet another annoying part of growing up, his mind supplied bitterly. The end of school marked the entrance into the grown-up life and in one year, he would be expected to take up his place in the society. He wondered if Edward regretted it as much as he did, but there was no time to ask, because they arrived at the main courtyard, where the carriage bearing the Nightray emblem was already waiting.

'See you guys next week,' he said as the driver came up to tell him that his baggage was already taken care of and they were ready to leave. They exchanged brief good-byes and he climbed into the carriage, ignoring the guard inside and telling the driver to leave immediately.

As the only child of Earl Bernard Nightray, Elliot was constantly surrounded by guards, except at school, where the security was provided for all the students. He knew that, as the only son of Baron Sinclair, Edward also had some guards following him. They both complained about that after every school break, much to the annoyance of Leo and Oz, who claimed to be bored by the topic. Privately, Elliot thought that they were a bit jealous, because neither of them would inherit the title. Oz had two older brothers and, his father being old and sick, it seemed like a matter of months before Oscar would become the Duke. Meanwhile, although Leo was the oldest in the Baskerville family, it would be his adopted cousin, Gilbert, who would become the next Duke.

Gilbert will also be going to school after the summer, Elliot thought, looking through the window idly. It made him feel weirdly old to think that the black-haired boy was already ten. He could still remember the surprise when Leo, at that time ten himself, had introduced Gilbert and Vincent, five and four, respectively, as his new cousins, adopted by Uncle Oswald. Elliot still wasn't sure why the Duke of Baskerville adopted his heir, but it seemed to be a tradition. Oswald and Lacie were also adopted children of the previous Duke.

Outside, the lush, green forests surrounding the Lutwidge Academy gave way to golden fields of wheat and barley. Elliot knew that they would be eventually replaced by farms, before the carriage would pass through a couple of villages. It was nearly a full day drive from school to the Nightray manor in the outskirts of Reveille.

I should profit from daylight to read, he thought, closing his eyes for a moment. Last night's unofficial good-bye party was quite an experience. Not that he approved of this kind of pass-time activities, he thought, frowning. He should have gone to sleep earlier or refused the party entirely. It made him so tired and father would surely wonder if there was something wrong…

'Young master?' Elliot heard the voice calling him. With a small groan at the stiffness of his neck, he opened his eyes, realising that it was night and the carriage was stopped. The door was open and the guard was looking at him carefully. 'Are you awake, young master?' he asked.

'Have we arrived?' Elliot asked back, stretching his sore muscles. Once again he made the grave mistake of falling asleep in the carriage. Would he ever learn?

'Indeed,' the guard said, the tiniest of smiles flickering across his lips. Elliot scowled at him and left the carriage. Another guard greeted him outside, together with the butler of his father.

'Good evening, young master,' the butler said with a polite bow. Elliot nodded at him, replying with a "good evening James". 'Young master's father is busy with a guest and sends his deepest apologies to not be able to greet you tonight,' James added.

'Who's the guest?' Elliot asked, walking towards the manor. The Nightray family was reputed for doing the dirty work on the behalf of the king, in cooperation with the Baskervilles. There were not many who came with social visits, yet fewer whom Elliot's father would prioritise over greeting his only son.

'Duke Baskerville,' the butler replied. Elliot stopped and glared at the butler. Was the man making fun of him? Duke Baskerville never came to visit his father. It was always the other way around. 'I assure you, young master, that Master Bernard was just as surprised. It was not a planned visit.'

'I see,' Elliot muttered. James followed him into the manor and down the corridor towards Elliot's bedroom, informing him about small things like dinner that night or the plans for the following day. Apparently, father arranged archery lessons for him, thinking that they would greatly compliment his sword-fighting skills.

A couple of minutes later, Elliot was walking down the corridor to the dining room, this time alone. He stopped when he heard a conversation and flattened himself against the wall, quietly making his way to the closest door, which happened to be his father's daily office.

'Is there no mistake?' asked his father's voice. He sounded agitated, or possibly excited. It was difficult to tell, but the sound of footsteps suggested that he was pacing. Somebody was at least and Elliot couldn't imagine the Duke pacing.

'There is no mistake,' replied the calm and controlled tenor of Oswald Baskerville. 'I have talked with Baron Sinclair and his description is detailed enough.'

'Could he be lying?' Elliot's father suggested and the pacing stopped. 'Could he have somehow found out about the, ah, item, and be fabricating its existence to gain profit?'

"The item"? I shouldn't be listening to this, Elliot thought, I really shouldn't. Yet, he didn't move, curious about the mysterious item. He wondered if asking Edward would help or if it was a secret.

'It is too dangerous a game,' Duke Baskerville replied. 'He would not risk losing everything for the little profit he can gain.'

'Little profit?' Earl Nightray asked. 'Are we talking about the same item, Oswald? Because I know that this can give him more than he owns now,' he added. Elliot felt his eyes widen at the statement. What could possibly be so valuable? Baron Sinclair, while owning less than either of the men in the office, still had quite a fortune himself.

'Money is not everything, Bernard,' said the Duke in a mildly scolding tone.

'I didn't mean gaining money, but power and you know it very well,' Elliot's father replied in a tone that Elliot had never heard him use towards the Duke.

'He would also be risking not only his life but also the lives of his wife and children, should too many people find out about the item,' Duke Baskerville pointed out calmly. 'Roman Sinclair is not a person who would gamble on a lie, when the stakes are that high,' he added. Unwillingly, Elliot wondered if the Duke was a person to gamble like that.

'It is flattering that he came to you with that, instead of going to Vessalius,' Elliot's father muttered after a pause. 'It is convenient that your nephew has invited young Edward and Emily to his birthday party.'

'Yes,' the Duke agreed. 'I have already told Baron Sinclair that he should accompany his children and we shall meet then. I just wanted to let you know in person, because this is too valuable an item to risk a messenger,' he added and two sets of footsteps approached the door. Elliot ducked into the shadows, hoping that they would be too distracted to notice him.

'Will you not be staying for dinner?' his father asked, opening the door to the office and letting the Duke pass first. The latter smiled slightly.

'Leo is just back from school and Lacie will have my head if I miss the dinner tonight,' he said in a tone of a caring uncle, rather than the cold and calm tone he was using until now. 'I trust that Elliot would appreciate your undivided attention tonight as well,' he added.

The answer of Elliot's father was too quiet for him to hear and half lost in the sounds of their footsteps, as they made their way down the corridor. He briefly contemplated sneaking into the office to look for clues, but discarded the idea. If that "item" was so precious that the Duke came to the manor himself, then they wouldn't have left anything out that might lead a potential spy onto the trail.

Curiosity eating him alive, Elliot made his way towards the dining room. There was one good thing about growing up, he realised: soon this kind of affairs will not be kept secret from him.