"Oh, no...I was just approaching her so I can get close to her older sister. Lorina is the real deal, don't you think? Beautiful, kind, and she can do anything! I'm not saying that Alice can't do anything, but Lorina can do everything better...Alice is just a stepping stone."
And that's when the treasure chest is chained shut and drowned into the bottom of despair.
To Build Walls
On the second day, Alice is early, so she can catch up with the bus, and that means it's James' job to fulfill Lorina's unreasonable demands to stalk the school bus with the family's mustang.
"Why is it my job to fulfill your unreasonable demands, anyway?" James angrily asks, stopping beside the bus when the light turns red. Alice is standing in the bus, and can't see them through the crowds.
Lorina turns to James and pulls off her shades. "Because you're not doing anything until your lectures begin at noon, why else?"
The second Liddell sighs. "Lorina, why aren't you going to college anyway? Edward's job is enough to cover up our tuition," James grumpily asks again.
Lorina rolls her eyes. "I don't need going to college—I want to take care of you and your siblings, James. There's nothing else I want,"
The dark-haired man carefully chooses his words. "Then what are you going to do when all of us go on our separate own ways? Who are you going to take care of?"
Lorina flinches, and in instant, she looks up to the bus and her gaze softens at the sight of Alice.
James hits his head onto the driving wheel.
'Of course, she'll be taking care of Alice! Who am I fooling?'
~.X.~
Alice gets off from the bus last, putting one of her headset into her ear and begins to turn on her music. She then notices a boy is coming towards her, but then checks her left and right just to make sure.
"Hey, Alice—remember me?"
Lorina rips today's newspaper that she brings for no reason, and has to suffocate herself from screaming in wrath. Blood Dupre confidently walks up to her little sister with a smug smile on his face.
Alice blinks once and then scowls. "I...wonder..." she twitches and her fingers shivers, trying to stop herself from clawing the guy's face.
Blood chuckles. "What, you forgot already?"
"I don't know what I just forgot," Alice deadpans, but she's still shivering with an uncertain murderous aura. "Although I must wonder why one wish to acquaint your face with a fundamental item used in building walls..."
Translation: I don't know why, but I want to hit your face with a brick.
Blood drops a cold sweat, keeping his calm, smug smile, despite he can't help but flinch a little. Lorina sighs dreamily at her sister's words.
'Ah, Alice! I guess we all do share our mother's classiness!'
The raven-haired boy tilts his head and approaches her even more. "You don't know why? Really? But...you really don't remember me?" he then pauses and his face turns grim for a reason.
A reason which goes along the line with; I guess you only remember my brother.
A reason that Lorina realizes.
A reason that freaks her out.
"Heh," Blood scoffs with a smirk, "I guess you only remember Cha—"
'I CAME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALL...! I NEVER HIT SO HARD IN LOVE...! ALL I WANTED WAS T—'
James flips in his driving seat, and the two teens turn to the mustang in shock. James frantically turns off his music player, and glares at the woman hiding behind the bushes.
'Why is she holding my player's remote!?' James screams in his mind, and flustered as Alice narrows her eyes on him.
"James, what are you doing here?" Alice asks.
Lorina lets out a relieved sigh as James tries to find a way to explain his presence. She grips James' music player's remote angrily.
'Alice already forgets about Charles! That stupid brat shouldn't be reminding my precious sister of that mongrel!'
"I...I was just—Edith," James quickly thinks up of something. "Edith wants a picture of the Lewis High's boy...H-Hey, you mind me taking a picture?" he quickly asks Blood, holding up his smartphone.
Blood raises his eyebrows and smirks. "Sure thing...any specific pose?" he snickers, and both Alice and James stare at the raven-head in disgust.
Blood keeps his snicker, but can't help and thinks; 'Okay, I'm sorry. Don't stare at me in disgust,'
James took a picture of Blood just to get on with his lie and soon, he's already driving off after saying a hasty goodbye to Alice. Blood hums, seems curious.
"Ho, your brother looks like he's having a lot of time..." he comments.
"Nah, he's going to college, and it starts at noon," Alice explains with a small smile. She then turns to Blood again warily. "So yeah, what were we talking about?"
Blood then notices something behind Alice, right in the bushes, and he actually recognizes that something—that someone. Lorina Liddell, Alice's older sister! And she's currently making a gesture of slicing her own neck with her hand.
"Ah—uh, I...hey, what's your favorite tea? Darjeeling? Earl grey?" Blood quickly catch up on the hints, fearful of his life and changes the topic. "I was just wondering,"
'Why is that old hag here!?' Blood groans mentally.
Alice crosses her arms and begins to think. "Actually, I like green-tea. Why? Wait, I know! Ace told me that you're a tea-geek, aren't you, Blood?" she guesses with a smug grin, and Blood chuckles.
"Heh, the word 'geek' does not match my graceful appearance, don't you think?" he gracefully asks in return crossing his arms as well. And then flinches when he sees her expression. "Why do you always stare at me in disgust when I'm on my utmost charm?" he smiles nervously.
Alice scoffs and walks away. "Whatever, class is starting."
Blood is going to follow, but then he senses Lorina's sharp glare on him, and freezes in his spot. He takes a deep breath and calmly approaches the bushes and Lorina stands up when knowing Alice won't see.
The two glares at each other coldly.
"Why hello, it's been quite a while, Blood Dupre," Lorina smiles politely and tilts her head. "How are you?"
Blood smirks back calmly. "And if it isn't Lorina Liddell. I'm fine, thank you." He then glances to Alice who just entered the building. "I wonder if you know why Alice doesn't recognize me—or my similarity to Charles?"
Blood has stepped on a landmine as he watches Lorina emitting an evil, demonic, murderous aura, her kind smile can't even surpress those intentions. He can only keeps his smile while trying not to run.
"Please do not say such a disgraceful taboo in my presence, child," Lorina tries to hold herself, laughing and shivering in wrath. "Has that son of a b—scoundrel fall into death?" she can't even say it as classy as usual when Charles' name has been mentioned.
"He's...unfortunately is alive and well," Blood answers calmly, though sweat is rolling down his neck. "Despite he can't help but be traumatized by the way you refused his proposal three years ago," he clears his throat awkwardly.
The two remembers exactly how Lorina rejected Charles, who just dumped Alice after saying to Blood that Alice is just a stepping stone.
Three years ago...
Lorina smiles, smiles really kindly, yet she's emitting the murderous demonic evil aura that makes her a dark beauty.
"Excuse me...?" Lorina tilts her head, all the while keeping her smile. "You are requesting me to be your life's companion? Oh, no, then where does that leave my poor, precious little Alice? Oh, no...no, no," she giggles and shakes her head. "How can you not recognize her positive qualities? My goodness! You must be a lower life form with weak comprehension skill." She laughs shivery and clasps her hands. "I'd wish you to rethink it again, Charles, however, now that I've known your true person, I find it hopeless and can only see how you're such a son and heir of a mongrel bitch, and I wish you to leave and fall into despair—oh no! My poor Alice, you're very stupid, Charles!" Lorina shivers in wrath and grits her teeth. "What are you going to do about my sister's broken heart, you immoral scoundrel?"
Translation: What? Me, being your wife? What the hell have you done with Alice? No, shithead! Are you a blind bat who can't see her goodness!? Damn! You're a fucking scum and shrimp-brained! It's too late now, you son of a bitch, I hope you die. Oh, my poor Alice, you fucking idiot, Charles!
Thus, Blood saw Charles experiencing in first-hand, the demoness' legendary right hook.
Lorina and Blood nod in unison with a calm smile. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," Lorina quotes straight of Charles Dickens.
"Although, I can't help but think that she's forgotten about us," Blood sighs, looking genuinely sad despite his smile. Lorina raises her eyebrows in suspicion.
"Oh, Alice was miserable," she sighs. "I thought she'd never see the sun anymore, locking herself in the room for a week, playing games and watching anime..."
'I don't understand what part is miserable when she's just turning into a reclusive for a week,' Blood mentally deadpans. His eyes widen at realization.
"Wait—she's an otaku, now?" he deadpans in disbelief, but Lorina nods proudly.
'Don't be proud about that!'
The woman notices his irritated look, and smiles. "It's better this way. She's closed her heart from pain, and with me by her side, I'll never let anyone hurt her again." She looks at Blood coldly. "Including you, Dupre. I think she's beginning to remember when she looks at your face. I prefer that she not remember Charles at all. Oh, what a curse it is that you also go to this school..." she sighs melodramatically, and Blood also wishes to strangle the woman.
He smirks at Lorina confidently, and she narrows her eyes on him.
"In contrast with my older brother, I'm not a foolish blind bat who can't see true beauty," Blood says calmly. "Unfortunately, Charles and I do share a similarity; we're both bad guys...and a bad guy takes what he wants."
Lorina chuckles darkly. "I accept your challenge, Dupre. I do not approve of you, and never will do—I will stop you when you're trying to reach her with your forceful methods, at any costs," her hands clench on her sides.
Blood keeps smiling. "Alice is like a heroine to me; I'll take what I want, even if it kills me," he eyes Lorina coldly and turns away. Of course, Lorina will try and stop him, but he will get Alice no matter what. This time, there's no Charles, and Alice will finally see him.
Lorina smirks and turns to the school building. "Another one with inferior complex," she sighs. "I have to admit, he gets over it better than Alice does,"
~.X.~
And having the role of mother, or at least the responsible person in charge of Alice Liddell, Lorina has the upper hand on her plan of 'Get-Blood-Away-From-Alice'. Thus, the Biology teacher must find himself once again, in an encounter with the terrifying woman.
"I'm requesting a change of class assignments for Blood Dupre," Lorina asks with her kind smile.
And Lincoln replies with the same kind smile. "No can do, miss~ Now get out,"
The beautiful woman looks down and pouts, shivering. "Why...is it not possible?"
Lincoln twitches at the unreasonable woman's question. "You're not Dupre's mother—you don't have the authority to submit such request, although you can make a request on behalf of Alice Liddell." He explains, trying to maintain his patience.
Lorina stiffens, and smiles nervously. "B-But that will make Alice suspicious, thus she will find out that I've been—"
"Stalking," Lincoln offers.
"—protecting her at school...and...and..." Lorina's smile disappears into a frightened look. She shivers and grasps her face. "...She'll...hate me...!"
The picture of her precious Alice scowling in wrath; "Lorina! Don't stalk me! I'm not a baby! I don't need you!"
"No!" Lorina gasps, and slams her hands to Lincoln's desk. "Please, sir, change Blood Dupre's class assignments!"
Lincoln groans. And they're back to square one.
~.X.~
Since Alice is taking Calculus as her daily subject—which coincidentally is the same situation with Blood Dupre, apparently, she will be meeting Vivaldi and Blood everyday. Currently, this isn't something specific for Alice, but for Blood, on the other hand, it's like an 'Once per Day Chance on Hitting on Alice Liddell'—like those Once-per-Day stuff in online games, you know?
However so, after half an hour sitting with Blood who always throw his smirk to her, Alice becomes restless and raises her hand in the middle of Vivaldi's explanation on Limits.
"Yes, Liddell—anything you'd like to share for the class?"
Alice feels the stares she gets from the entire class, and a really interested stare from Blood, so she walks up to the female teacher.
"I have a personal thing to share to you, Miss Crims," Alice says and gestures for the woman to lend her an ear.
"Oh, of course, please," Vivaldi leans in.
"Can I either have a brick or a different seat?" Alice asks.
"I find getting a different seat is reasonable, but have a brick?" Vivaldi looks incredulous, but then notices the glance Alice is giving to Blood Dupre.
"I don't know why, but I feel like if he always bloom into a bright sun in every turn I take on his path, I'd wish to literally acquaint his face with the famous fundamental item to build walls. Repeatedly."
Translation: If he keeps smiling at me whenever I turn his way, I'd like to hit his face with a brick.
Vivaldi turns away and holds herself from laughing, and can't help but shivering in mirth. It sounds interesting to see what the new student will do if she refuses her request, so that's what's going to happen.
"Unfortunately, you have to bear it, my little one," Vivaldi giggles and pats the new student's fluffy hair. "It's just twenty minutes until you can get away from my suggestive-faced little brother, so hang in there,"
Alice blushes, eyes wide. "He's your brother!?" she exclaims in shock, and Vivaldi has to turn away, hiding her laughter when the whole class laugh at Alice's outburst.
Blood smirks at the newfound fact that the new student is actually asking about him. Alice glares at him, realising how she'd probably blow his ego even bigger. When their eyes meet in the distance, there's that spark!
'Did her eyes gleam when they meet mine?' Blood smirks wider, feeling that he just trumped her.
'Grrr...must...not...claw...face...' Alice shivers, holding herself, hands clenching on her sides in endurance.
Vivaldi smirks at this strange development. What is this interesting feeling she has about her two students? No, more like...Vivaldi feels like she just finds something to turn her little brother into her play thing.
'It seems I've finally found it,' she chuckles silently, crossing her arms. Her eyes gleam in amusement. 'I've got the trump card for Blood!'
~.X.~
It should've been a peaceful dinner in the Liddell's household, until Alice lets out a sigh, Lorina looks at her in concern, and everyone stares at Lorina with their guard on. Except Edward, being the dense of the family, keeps shoving the onion soup into his mouth—the current case he's handling makes him hungry.
"What's wrong, Alice?" Lorina asks.
Alice taps her fingers with a frown on her face. "Lorie...have you ever feel like hitting a guy's face with a brick?"
'It must be about Charles' little brother.' Edith perks up.
'Must be about that disgusting brat at her school that looked familiar for some reason.' James sips his beer.
'All the time, my dear.' Lorina answers in the back of her mind as she forces a wry smile. 'You have no idea, my precious sister.'
"My goodness, Alice. Did someone do something unfavorable to you?" Lorina asks, feeling worried. After all, she didn't stalk Alice today, since she's too busy arguing with the damn Biology teacher.
'Did that Blood finally did it!? Did he grope her!? Did he hit on her!? DID HE ASK HER OUT!?'
Alice doesn't seem to notice, but her other siblings have to keep their plates and glasses on the table, as Lorina begins to shiver in paranoia. The girl sighs.
"He didn't do anything, really. I just feel like it...Like...really want to hit his face with a brick..." she stares at her hands, they are shivering. "Such an intense unreasonable hatred—I don't even know him! Lorina, why is this happening?"
"Alice, look!" Lorina takes out a DVD case. Alice lights up immediately and gawks at the DVD.
"Junjo Romantica! I want!" the second Liddell daughter begins to exclaim like a puppy, already forgetting about her intense desire of hitting Blood's face with a brick.
Edith and James shiver at the sight of Lorina's 'angelic' smile as she bribed Alice with yaoi DVDs to make her forget about boys.
'Poor Alice. Her fate's been sealed.' Edith thinks solemnly as she hangs her head for a moment of silence.
'I guess now we all know who's not getting married.' James shrugs and continues to eat.
Edward narrows his eyes upon noticing something on the DVD case. "Hold it, Lorie! That's a pirated DVD! You can't show that stuff around a lawyer!"
Lorina frowns in guilt. "Oh, I have no idea..."
"Oh, whatever you big hypocrite!" Alice snatches the DVD and hisses at her eldest brother. "Whenever we missed an Attack on Titan's episode, who's the first one running to the computer to find a torrent?"
Edward flinches and slams a fist to the table. "I-I bought the box sets afterwards!"
"Meager excuses. The defense rests."
"Fine, not guilty. Never bring it up again." Edward sulks in defeat while Alice raises her glorious pirated yaoi DVD in victory.
Lorina smiles again, sharing her sister's happiness. She'd do anything to make Alice forgets about Charles Dupre. She'd use everything to build walls around Alice's heart to protect it from despair. Lorina will take any measure. Anything!
Including turning the already-hardcore-otaku into a fujoshi.
Aw man. I'm so hung up with this story. I never knew Lorina is such a fun character to write! I also like to write the other Liddells, and I think I'll love Alice in this one. So yeah. Quickly review if you want update.