Twisted Wonderland: The Seven Treasures

Twisted Wonderland & The Scars of a Ruler-Part 5

  "Hey Vil!" Leona called out in the hallway, making the Pomefiore Housewarden turn.

"What do you want, Leona?" Vil asked. "I have less than 10 minutes before the next bell rings and I need at least 7 of those minutes to check and refresh my makeup."

"I need a curse," Leona said. "And I figured you were the best at those, given your signature spell."

"Why do you want a curse?" Vil inquired. "You do understand that my spell is extremely strong and can not be broken without meeting the conditions I give it?"

"Yeah yeah," Leona replied. "Look. I'm not gonna tell you why I need it, only that I need it by tonight."

"...Very well," Vil said. "Keep your cryptic answer and tell me what kind of curse you're looking for."

"A sleeping curse."

"I hope you're joking," Vil said. "Not something to immobilize your opponents during Spelldrive?"

"Nope. I need an apple with a sleeping curse on it, with the condition that it'll end once the sun fully rises." Leona explained.

Vil raised an eyebrow. "That's rather specific..." he said, extending his wrist out to the side before dropping it. "But very well. I will have Rook deliver the apple to you at dinner. I hope that's to your liking?"

"Perfect," Leona said. "Thanks."

He turned away and started walking away but Vil called out. "Oh Leona?" He asked.

"Yeah?"

"I do expect some sort of compensation for this," Vil said. "Nothing quite like what Azul would charge of course, but if I think of something..."

"Sure," Leona said. "Not like it's gonna be anything horrible. When you figure it out, let Ruggie know and he'll tell me."

"Sounds like we're in agreement."

Leona didn't reply to that, simply waving behind him before heading back down the hall.

"Now I gotta figure out how to keep Cheka quiet till that apple arrives," he muttered. "How am I gonna do that?"

"Leona!"

Looking over his shoulder, Leona frowned. "Ruggie? What're you doin' here? I told you to go to the infirmary and get your bruises looked at."

"Yeah..." Ruggie said, putting his hands on the back of his head. "I ran into hyena Ruggie. He vanished and the bruises vanished."

Leona turned fully now. "So now there's only one Ruggie?" He asked.

"Should be," Ruggie said, dropping his hands. "Oh, I can watch Cheka for you. Let's say...ten marks an hour?"

"And how're you gonna skip outta class to watch my nephew?" Leona asked. "You've seen how much of a handful he can be."

"Please," Ruggie said. "I've watched so many of the kids in the slums that I can handle any kid."

"...Fine," Leona said. "Make sure no one else knows he's here. Got it?"

"Sure thing!" Ruggie exclaimed, running past Leona to head for the Hall of Mirrors.

~~~~~

Later, at dinner, Leona leaned on the wall in the cafeteria, his eyes closed as he dozed.

"Ah, Roi du Lion!" Rook's voice broke through the darkness Leona had cultivated. "I have brought the item you requested from Vil."

"Great," Leona said, opening his eyes. "Give it."