Synopsis: Jack Vessalius and Glen Baskerville, a third rate noble and an illusive powerful Duke, are friends, or at least that is what Jack believed. But when a foreign nobleman took an interest in Jack, a dark emotion swelled in Glen and a tragic play took place. ..

A/N: Finally, i finished chapter 3 T_T around 19 pages long to my surprise and horror. I tried my best to keep the duo in character as the story moves on, and the rest of the characters that are showing up. After knowing the Will's true wish and Glen's thoughts in PH 63 and 64, man, i have to say Mochizuki-sensei! THANK YOU FOR SHOWING JACK AND GLEN AGAIN! T_T Jack is just so *gush* and Glen as usual being all hateful of the world *laugh* Truly, i do hope Mochizuki-sensei will show the beginnings of the 'friendship' btw the duo, especially how they first met, but i doubt so, as the main character of the story is our dear adorable Oz. And Leo, you are truly showing your sadist side with Jabberwock as your pet XD AHHHHH chapter 65! COME OUT SOON!

Alright, i shall end my rant here. Thank you to the reviewers for the wonderful reviews and encouragements, and i hope everyone will enjoy this latest chapter. Forgive my bad writing, though i realize i need to learn more vocabulary. I will do my best to improve myself. :)

And to all Muslims in the world, Happy Hari Raya!

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I don't own Pandora Hearts because if I did I will have known everything and cry in happiness and sadness. T_T


Light and Dark

A Pandora Hearts fan-fiction


Chapter 3 - The calm before the storm (2)


"Who... is it playing?"

A music box..?

A sad but beautiful melody was all he heard as he slowly trailed down the dark silent corridor, the tune captivating his senses.

And at the end, there… he found…


Pool of jade opened slowly as bright rays of sunlight swept in the modest bedroom, birds chirping outside the window on his right.

Jack Vessalius raised himself up from his flat position, long wavy locks of golden hair blanketed the bed. He placed a hand on his head, a headache hitting him lightly.

"Lacie…" The name of the melody in his dream rang out from his lips, a name that he had never heard from the mouth of his dark-haired friend for a long time. Jack smiled sadly to himself as he moved slowly out from the bed and into the bathroom where a set of well-pressed clothes were prepared and folded on the chair at a corner.

Glen…

The golden haired man recalled the relapse that occurred a few days ago and their rare dispute, his heart sank.

Though the two did not talk much after that and concentrate on other matters like gossips in Sabire and food (well, mostly it was him that did the talking and Glen just nodded or gave a two cent comments here and there), the fact that Glen still refused to open the burden of his heart to him still hurt deep down.

But, Jack knew he had been overconfident into thinking that the Baskerville would open to him that no other person could do. If Glen were to do so, how much he would be, bursting with pride in truly becoming a real friend with the said illusive man, like those friendships between two men that he read in novels his family collected in the library.

I have been… To think I am using this friendship as an ego boost… I'm an idiot…

Jack hit his head against the wall in the bathroom, an action he found him repeating for quite a while... his chest still hurting a lot since that day. The anger radiating from those violet eyes he saw that day chilled him, and he knew that the Baskerville would truly bring his whole family out from the face of the circle or even the world.

Oh god… what have I done…

He almost brought his family to a whole lot of trouble and Jack could not help but sighed once again at that thought as he went into the tub of warm steaming water, already prepared by Old Lia. His luck and life meter would deplete fast if he was not more conscious of his actions. At that thought, Jack gave a tight smile and sank down into the water.

I will wait...

wait for Glen when he is ready… Yes… to the day we can truly understand each other…

But…

Jade eyes closed and yet, the warmth of the water did not sooth his aching heart…


"Master Jack! Good morning," Gilbert greeted with an adorable smile as Jack, dressed in a bath robe, opened the bathroom door and smiled warmly at the two brothers.

"Good morning Gilbert, Vincent," Jack returned the greeting, taking the towel from the dark haired boy and arranged his long locks into a turban with the large towel.

"Perhaps I should by myself a turban one day, I look good in one," Jack laughed as he walked to his bed and plopped down, rubbing his hair with the towel. He looked towards the dark haired boy with a grin, "Do you think so, little Gilbert?"

"Y..you look good in anything you wear Master," Gilbert said shyly as he stood in front of his beautiful master, watching the long, damp golden hair cascade down from the towel, framing his master's face.

When his master was like this, Gilbert truly wondered if his master was a human, or an angel in the books that he read in the Vessalius library with Vincent. But if he said that to his Master, he would surely tease the boy.

"Thank you Gilbert. Though, I think you and Vincent will look absolutely adorable in a turban too. Like little Eastern princes! I should ask Father if we could get you some costumes, Mother will be gushing at the idea," Jack said with glee as he took in the look of horror on Gilbert's face at the thought of his master buying more clothes for them.

"I'm kidding Gilbert. Do not look so horrified," the man laughed, his eyes filled with mirth. Teasing his servants was definitely a task he had enjoyed dearly. Once satisfied that his hair was decently dry, he looked to Vincent who nodded and came closer, a brush in hand.

"Master, after breakfast, will you be going to the Baskerville mansion today?" Vincent questioned, taking the locks and started gently untangling the golden hair. At the thought of the Baskerville Duke, Jack's smile strained as the memory of that day resurfaced once again. The man looked to the window where a gloomy sky graced the land of Sabire, to the direction of the Baskerville Mansion.

"… No. Not today," Jack smiled softly and the two brothers looked at him surprised.

"I will stay at home again. After all Glen had been busy lately…" Jack gave a weak smile to his two small servants, "and I have many tasks to do lately... How about we spend today again at the workshop?"

Jack grinned sheepishly as he recounted in his mind all the requests he had received from his father's associates and even the ladies in the circles asked of him, which he had never started on some of them. After all, most of the days, he had been in the Baskerville mansion hanging out with Glen, and if he had strength left at night, he would head down to his small workshop to do a little of the requests. There was no deadline since the owners were not in a hurry to have them, but Jack preferred to do a good and decent job without taking too much time. Besides... his heart told him to stop playing at the Baskerville mansion for now...

I will have to apologize to Alice later for my absence in the next visit.. Jack thought sadly, before looking to the two boys with a grin in place.

"There are a couple of pocket watches left to be fixed and I will need some assistance once again. Is that alright with you two?"

The two brothers gave a brilliant smile at that. Another day with their master, what could they not ask for. Though their master's continued stay in the Vessalius Mansion for the past few days instead of bouncing to the Baskerville Household made the boys worried. A knock on the door made the three males turned to the sound and Old Lia's voice was heard.

"Master Jack, there is a package for you waiting in the sitting hall. Your father requests your presence once you are appropriately attired."

Jack's heart thumped.

A package?

Again?


"This is the fifth rose sent here isn't it..."

"Father…"

"Let's see what Jack says when he is here…"

The members of the Vessalius household all stared intently at the single stalk of brilliant blue rose, wrapped with a beautiful white velvet patterned paper and a green silk ribbon, sitting innocently in the arms of Old Lia, who shifted uncomfortably at the staring.

"I'm here, Mother, Father. Good morning everyone!" Jack, all presentable in his casual attire, entered the room with quick steps. Vincent and Gilbert followed behind, their faces displaying curiosity of the package.

"Jack, it seems your secret admirer has sent you a gift once again," His mother informed, as Old Lia went to Jack and gently place the fragile present into his hands.

"I see…" Jack gave a small smile as he examined the blue rose with the usual curiosity given to the previous roses sent to him. Gentle fingers caressed the texture of the blue rose and jade eyes softened. "Is there any note that comes with it?"

"None, Young Master," Lia replied and Jack gave a sigh at the answer, feeling perplexed at these anonymous, continuous gifts that were sent to him these past couple of days, not that the youngest Vessalius minded of course. It was flattering to know someone was attracted to him and… complimenting him with gifts like how he himself would do if he saw an attractive woman, like the beautiful young lady he saw in the bakery a few weeks ago. Though, not to this extreme.

"Lia, can you leave us for the moment? Take Gilbert and Vincent to the Dining Room with you. We will head there for breakfast in a few minutes." Duke Vessalius looked to the old maid and Lia gave a nod before gently tugging the two small servants out of the living room. Jack saw the worried faces of his servants and gave an assuring smile.

Once the three servants were gone, Rai and Orphile took their place beside Jack as their father and mother sat down on the plush couch.

"Jack."

Jack flinched as his fingers tightened their hold around the stalk of rose.

"Be at ease Jack, your father is not reprimanding you dear," His mother laughed as she looked to her solemn husband, "stop scaring our dear boy."

"..Jack, what do you think of this?" Duke Vessalius raised his left hand to Jack, a gloved finger pointing to the blue rose. Jack looked down at the rose.

"What… do I think of this, Father?" Jack repeated, unsure of what his father was implying on the roses. Since after the Reinworth's ball five days ago, that lavish bouquet of blue roses that appeared in his life with that anonymous note, each day he was greeted with a single stalk of the same velvet blue rose. All he had of the roses were curiosity.

After all, to have someone deliver such beautiful and rare roses to his house every single day without fail, it felt really good, stroke his ego honestly. Ever since that day he had always wondered who was the sender. When he questioned Old Lia, who saw the messenger a couple of times, she refused to answer the youngest Master and evade the topic. So Jack made a couple of investigation of his own after… that dispute with Glen, to take his mind off of things for a while.

Out of all the high nobles in Sabire, the Baskerville and the Reinworth were definitely out. Nightray, needless to say, was out. For Raymond would never spend even a single amount of bronze buying even a piece of bread for him. That dark haired Nightray would say, "Don't even think of begging, because I would not open my doors to you."

But Jack knew otherwise. Raymond would help him… just like that time he rescued a cat from the tree for Jack after much persuasion. A friend.

And the rest of the nobles he met so far during balls, he just could not think of anyone there who would do such a deed for him, or with the wealth capable to spend on such gifts on a person as lowly ranked as he.

"All I can say is… I am extremely flattered of these gifts from this person Father, be it from a man, or a woman… But I do not have a hint on the identity of that person…"

"I see…" Duke Vessalius gazed at Jack thoughtfully. "But one thing I can tell you Jack for sure, it is that your admirer is a male."

Silence.

"… then my hope of a beautiful widowed noblewoman as my secret admirer has gone down the drain," Jack laughed weakly, though his father's thoughtful gaze never left him.

"Honestly, I am not surprise of this truth," Orphile smirked before looking to Rai, who nodded.

"Father, may I speak?"

Duke Vessalius nodded to his second son, who took a step forward.

"What have you found Rai?"

Rai adjusted his spectacles and placed his gloved hands behind his back, standing straight at attention.

"The messenger that had been sending the roses thus far, I have been investigating. Unfortunately, I do not know the origins of the sender as yet, but the passer bys who have frequented the road outside our mansion had seen the exterior of the carriage that was used. A sketch was made, a rather crude one by a boy who saw it."

Rai handed a piece of paper to his father, who examined the drawing.

"I will be approaching the carriage craftsmen in Sabire, especially the ones frequented by the noble families. I will inform you when I have anything."

Duke Vessalius passed the paper to Orphile, who looked at it and shook his head. The eldest handed the drawing to Jack, who examined it curiously. Jade eyes traced each stroke of the sketch, the pool of emeralds searching and an image flashed in his mind.

"..I.. saw it before…"

The family turned to Jack in surprise. A sheepish smile bloomed on the effeminate face as the man rubbed his neck at the attention he was getting.

"It is familiar… I think I saw such a carriage before during some of the balls held by our associates, especially the recent Reinworth's ball. But though, honestly, I might be wrong."

The rest of the men looked at each other while Jack brought the blue rose close to his chest. The youngest gave a soft sigh at the situation caused by his gift.

"Father... I will be careful on who I associate with from here on, if that reassures you."

Duke Vessalius was about to say something when his wife gave a sharp nudge on his side.

"Oh love, lets stop all these speculations for now, especially on a gray morning such as this. I'm sure this secret admirer of our dear rose will not bring harm to him through these gifts."

Jack looked to his mother gratefully, who gave a soft assuring smile. The duke gave a sigh and stood up, taking his beloved's gloved hands. His mother gracefully rise from her place, her peach colored casual gown flowed down to the floor.

"Indeed my dear, I apologize. Come my sons, we shall start breakfast. After which, Orphile, you shall accompany me in a visit to the Garisa Household to discuss a business venture. And Rai, please look through the accounts so far and report back to me of anything by nightfall."

After seeing the nods on his two sons' heads and a glance to his youngest, he guided his wife out of the room, leaving the three men alone.

"But seriously Rai, A kid's drawing?" Orphile exclaimed, taking the piece of paper from Jack's hand and waved it in front of Rai.

"There are no other people who can draw them out by seeing it once. That boy happened to see the carriage a couple of times during the past few days, a reliable source I assure you, dear brother." Pushing up his glasses, the brown haired man snatched back the paper and carefully folded it before putting it in his coat pocket.

"Reliable source huh?" Orphile snickered as he smacked Rai on the back. "Make a copy at the Sabier Press and pass it to me. I will ask the circle of any information. You know how gossipy the women are."

"…understand."

The golden haired man stood between the conversations and was amused.

"I don't understand all of this, Rai, Orphile. Is it that important to find the identity of my secret admirer with such fervor?" Jack asked with amusement.

The two older men looked at the emerald eyed man but said nothing.

"Rai, Orphile?"

"Ahhhh~" Orphile exclaimed loudly, before stretching his arms in the air and giving a pat on his youngest brother's shoulder, "It must be nice to receive roses, isn't it Rai?"

"Indeed Orphile," Rai nodded as he too gave a pat on Jack's shoulder and with Orphile, left the room, leaving the golden haired man in the room, dumbfounded.

"What's going on?"

Beyond the walls, several dark clouds gathered...


A black large piano stood in the middle of the dimly lit room. Red heavy curtains covered all the windows, putting the room in complete darkness except of the small glows from the lit white candles. Dripping wax flowed down in gentle waves onto the sliver holders as a single note was played.

A lone figure, sitting in front of the piano, gently placed slender fingers on the keys. Pool of violets looked to the high painted ceiling and the man closed his eyes.

A chord.

A breath.

A bar.

Laughter.

A Beat.

Footsteps..

A chorus.

A dance…

Glen opened his eyes, glassy and unfocused. Fingers caressed each key with such gentleness as the tempo, light and jovial, entered into the symphony of notes. Crescendo, Decrescendo. Joy… and then… sadness.

The light on his pale face flickered greatly as the body moved to the gaining pace of the music, the heavy dark robes draped around the Baskerville's shoulder shifted and sank to the floor in a soft thud. Unnoticed, the dark haired man played on, his eyes closed shut as his body flowed into the music he was creating on the spot, his soul moving under the melody.

Emerald eyes flashed past his vision as fingers left the keys, the music stopped and hanging in the air. His eyes moved down, and looked at his fingers that paused, thin lips twisted to a small frown.

How many days had it been since Jack stopped coming to the Baskerville mansion…

A soft tune was played on the keys slowly. Dejection. A breath was heard as some of the candles extinguished from the lack of wax.

"Jack…"

Violet eyes looked to the ceiling once again as Jack's raging pair of emeralds returned to his mind once more. For the past five days… the younger Vessalius did not find him.. when he said he would.

Because of that incident…

..have you decided to be distanced from me… Jack?

A shudder of breath. A memory surfaced.

"…So, I will drop in next time?"

Jack smiled weakly at the secret entrance Glen opened in-between the piano room and a library. Glen reached out and let his gloved hand lightly caressed the golden hair and tanned cheeks. The warmth beneath his touch was gentle and addicting to the senses, his soul lapping them up hungrily and something shifted in the pool of violets as he gazed at Jack.

But upon noticing Jack flinching at his touch, the Baskerville let down his hand within a second and nodded in reply.

"Jack, as i said... You need no permission… My mansion is always opened to you… and you alone."

A soft laugh filled his ear and somehow, the older man felt relieved.

"I see…"

The Vessalius stepped inside the entrance and the door closed slowly, the golden man never leave his eyes from the dark haired man as darkness enveloped him.

"You better head back and finish your paperwork like a good Duke you are… till the next visit, Duke Baskerville.." Jack said, grinning. But Glen's breath stopped when he saw the saddened smile that graced on his 'friend's lips before the door closed off fully without a trace.

Silently, the dark haired man raised his gloved hand and let his fingertips pressed against the cold walls of the secret entrance, searching, pondering, feeling… the Vessalius's name at the tip of his tongue, but no word was said.

The Baskerville just stood there, violet pools gazing at where the younger man disappeared into until Fang came to search for him…

Glen, closing his eyes, stood up from the black piano and closed the cover, before picking up his fallen cloak. With a flick of his finger, the remaining flames of the candles were blown away by a strong gust of wind.

Feathers filled the air as the huge form of Griffin stood behind his master, letting a roar of accomplishment loose, nudging his head against the hair of the Baskerville.

Maaaassster, your heeart is waveriiiinng…

Whispered Griffin, its large eyes staring at the back of its master.

Those jaaaaade eeyes haaass undooone you...

"Return back to the abyss, Griffin," Glen softly ordered as Griffin bowed its head and disappeared from his sight.

Yooouu…

Who booorre the naaame of Glleeen Baaskervillee and hooold power of uuuuussss chaaaaaiins…

Neeevvveeerr foooorrggeeett…

neeeveeerr...

foorgeeeeet…

...


In the tall tower in the middle of the Baskerville forest, a lone girl dressed in a pink lace gown with flowing ribbons was dancing in the middle of her large bedroom. Cold eyes of the dolls sitting in the rows of high shelves surrounding the walls of the room, looked down at their dancing mistress.

Her white dainty shoes made soft light sounds on the marbled floor as she did a twirl and another. Long brown hair flowed with each movement her body made, as violet eyes closed, immersing in the melody she was humming to herself.

Lacie… The tune Jack's watch played when he braided her hair.

A sad, nostalgic and beautiful melody…

"Oh Cheshire," Alice said as she stopped in her track, turning to her beloved black cat that had been trailing her movement. "It's been a while since Jack last visited us… I wonder what is wrong."

Cheshire meowed and Alice laughed at his answer. The girl scooped up her cat and cradled him in her small arms.

"You are right dear Cheshire, and Jack promised that he will return again soon. Perhaps, this time he will tell us more of the wonderful tales of Sabire and teach us more tunes to play… and dancing!

Oh… I wish Jack could just stay here and not leave at sunset…"

Jack…

The girl let Cheshire jumped down from her arms and she walked slowly to the one window that had changed her life.

How many months has it been… four? Five? Alice wondered with a small smile on her pink lips as she recalled that one fateful day.

It was around late noon when she looked out from that window to see the same glimpse of the world outside her room. Unable to leave this tower that was her home since they were born, the man named Glen Baskerville, her keeper, refused to tell them why they were kept here. She always believed that it was because the people outside these thick walls hated them for what they were, but Alice believed otherwise.

Ethereal, beautiful and dark…

That was what she thought of her keeper who rarely showed his presence to them, not that they minded. She was always afraid of that man… though Alice never minded his presence in the room. The same violet eyes like hers, was always cold, emotionless, yet with specks of beautiful golden lights in them.

And when those pair of eyes looked to her or her sister, they would harden and yet… there was a sense of loneliness within it that she felt.

An enigma he was, this silent keeper of hers.

Other than him, she did not see any more beings like her in her entire life… only her friends and Cheshire as her company and Alice within these walls, a life of normality that would go on till Alice passed on from this world.

Until that one day. A shout. A groan. Curiosity.

She looked down and there, her violet eyes rested upon the most beautiful person she had ever seen in her life, like the princess and prince she saw in illustrations of her fairy tale books. A golden man, whose hair was covered with leaves, bright emerald eyes that seemed to filled with such vibrancy and… life.

As emerald met violet, her breath was taken away…

From then onwards, hers.. no, both of their lives had changed.

Alice laughed as she recalled the time when Jack, together with Glen, first met her inside this very room.

"So this is the charming adorable young lady that you have been telling me about," The golden man grinned happily as Alice looked to Glen in surprise at the entrance. But the dark haired man ignored her gaze, fixing his cold violet pools at the bubbly shorter man who was approaching her from the curtained entrance.

Finally seeing the golden haired man in the light right before her, the girl's breath was taken away by his beauty.

"Good day Alice! Let me introduce myself. I am Jack Vessalius, Glen's best friend," Jack greeted with a beautiful gentle smile and bowed, causing the young girl to blush prettily. She curtsied awkwardly, her first for a long, long time though her mind raced at the information she had received.

Best friend? Glen's?

"M..Mister Vessalius…Welcome to my room," the younger girl greeted back shyly as Cheshire stood in front of her, hissing at the 'intruder'. Jack laughed, a beautiful low alto sound, and kneeled on one knee so that their eyes are at the same level.

"Call me Jack, dear Alice. Mister Vessalius makes me sound so old. I am pleased to meet you."

Alice's face reddened further and Jack grinned at the adorable scene in front of him, looking down to Cheshire who was all tensed. The man reached out to her cat, but Cheshire bare his teeth and was ready to attack him.

Alice noticed and chastised him.

"Cheshire, don't! It's alright. Jack is a guest."

Upon seeing Cheshire loosing his stance at her words and moving closer to her, the Vessalius was in awe. "A knight in shining armour is he not? Cheshire… it's a beautiful name. Such a wonderful bond you have with your pet."

Alice smiled brightly at the praise and her heart leaped. "Cheshire is my dearest companion, he has always been watching over me since I had him. Without him, I will truly be by myself in this room."

At that, emerald eyes softened and the Vessalius turned to the Baskerville who stood in the darkness watching the scene before him.

"Glen, stop standing over there and come here. Your skin will grow paler further if you don't stand in the light once in a while," Jack said, motioning with a gloved hand for the taller man to come to them. But Glen just stood there silently, and Jack frowned visibly.

"Glen-"

"Jack it's alright," Alice said smiling, hugging Cheshire tighter at the younger man's action. She knew that Glen did not like her. She and her sister both accepted the fact without question. But the Vessalius frowned further at her answer.

"Nonsense! You should have heard how much Glen talked to me about you, about the clothes you like and the books you enjoyed. He is just shy in being this close to a charming lady like you," Jack rebutted with a wide grin on his face, but Alice's violet-red eyes looked at him in disbelief and surprise.

Glen? Talked about her? Shy? Her mind worked furiously at that few words revealed.

Jack laughed once again and went to Glen. "Come on, to think you only been watching her from afar instead of interacting with her. Not that I'm surprised. But from here on, the three of us will get to know each other better and share many things together… won't we Glen?"

As Jack continued on of what the three of them could do together, he reached out to grab the Baskerville's gloved hand and pulled the stoic man out from the darkness and to her. Seeing her keeper not saying a word of protest of the man's action made her be confused further of her keeper.

The dark haired man, tall and towering, stood before her and Alice shivered at the cold violet eyes that finally looked at her. Jack gave a sharp jab at the side with his elbow, causing the two to look at the younger man. One in surprise and the other, emotionless.

"Oh stop with that look Glen. You have frightened dear Alice with that face of yours," Jack reprimanded, pointing a finger at Glen's face and Alice gasped, fearing for the younger man's life. But Jack looked undaunted.

"Don't you know how many people are intimidated by your 'oh I am almighty anti social duke Baskerville' look? If not for that, you would have many friends around you by now! Even your mansion is so gloomy because of your gloominess. I wonder how Fang and the rest handle with such dullness!"

All she could hear was silence as Jack and Glen stared at each other, emerald against violet. Alice's heart twisted in fear at the thought of this… fight happening between her keeper and his guest because of her. But she could not do anything to resolve this. But what happened next changed her entire world.

Glen sighed.

Glen, her keeper, SIGHED! A deep one at that!

"Jack, if a 'friend' is as what you have shown me these past ten months… one is more than enough for me."

Alice looked at Glen with her small mouth opened, surprised at the dark haired man's reply but closed it back when cold violet eyes turned to her from the corner of his eyes.

"Eh?" Jack looked to his friend stunned of what he just heard.

"And Fang and the rest of the Baskerville members had not complained about it either, so you need not wonder for them."

"You… No… pfft!" Jack laughed heartily, clear and melodious laughter filling the entire place, and the whole room seemed to brighten up in her eyes.

Alice had never felt so warm hearing such a sound in this room. How could one person change the atmosphere of this place to one of happiness and warmth with his presence?

"Hahaha… I do not know if I should be flattered or be insulted from your words Glen," Jack said, his reddened face held a breathtaking smile, solely for Glen. Alice saw her keeper's ice violet pool melted gently at the sight of that smile and her heart thumped.

"And besides Fang and the rest can never complain to you, their master! Lotti especially. I'm sure if you just gave a small smile to them, they will faint from the beauty!"

"They will not faint, Jack.. Stop fooling around in front of Alice when you said you wanted to meet her," The taller man sighed once again and the smile on the younger man's face gentled and his cheeks radiant from the conversation.

A friend… was this how a friend should be between people? Alice wondered at the scene before her.

She read all the books that were kept in her room and she came across the word 'friend' a couple of times. Men and women could become 'friends' with each other. Even animals too. That was why, Cheshire was considered a friend… no, best friend to Alice. But to be a friend with another flesh and blood… like Glen and Jack…

Could she ever experience this bond those two had shared?

Jack turned to her and the young girl stopped her thoughts, blushing at the bright smile the emerald eyed man was directing to her.

"See! Glen is not all that scary, isn't he?" Jack winked and Alice smiled openly for the first time and she nodded.

"Then Mister Jack-"

"Jack, Alice."

Alice's pale face turned pink once again. "Jack, erm… can… can you be my friend too?"

Jack looked at her in surprise whereas Glen's violet eyes widened at the girl's request.

"Of course Alice! Why, when we introduced each other, it is the start of our friendship," Jack grinned and reached out a gloved hand to hold the girl's smaller hand.

"And with Glen, the three of us will make many memories together."

Together..

With those words, her world changed and built itself around this single man, making many memories like he said he would. Her lone keeper, under the persistence of the younger man, too joined in some of the activities they did, and she began to see Glen in a different light. Her world had never become so wonderful… each day had new excitements, new teachings by Jack and a chance to know this golden man better… Her heart grew warmer with each visit and she never desired more than to see Jack once again through the entrance, his beautiful smile beaming solely for her.

Jack…

Jack…

Alice looked to the same bush that Jack fell into that day and giggled at the memory. Glen, her keeper, though cold and silent, gave her Jack to be with her. That, in it made her understood that the man did not dislike her as much as she thought.

But… she hated the Baskerville.

For keeping her here, instead of allowing her to go outside with Jack, and also knowing more of Jack than she could ever knew. Yes… she hated him, for making her to be the Intention and not a human girl like her sister… She only wanted to be a normal girl to spend all her time with Jack and see the world that Jack seen and promised to bring her… instead of having to return to the Abyss...

That cold and lonely place… filled with much reds and blacks..

She paused in her thoughts and turned to the clock, realising it was closer to dinner. Her heart sank.

That man is not coming today my dearest sister.

"Why don't you call Jack by his name, Alice?" Alice replied out loud as she walked to a bookshelf and took the thick book of fairy tales out.

I will only say it when he visits. After all, we are one of the same body. Since you had called him Jack, I have to say his name too right?

Alice frowned visibly. "But you liked him too don't you? I know you are."

He still doesn't know of me when he visits, I shall not be 'friends' with him until he comes to know of my existence. Besides he is like an idiot, preferring to climb trees and jump into puddles… He even knows things that only females will do. Like sewing and gossiping. His idiocy could be transmittable.

"Jack is not an idiot, he is very skilled in many things unlike men in the books or those fools who fell into the Abyss… Jack is different," Alice countered and she went to her chair, pouring herself a cup of water and another to Elma, her countess doll who was sitting silently opposite her.

"Enjoy Elma," Alice smiled but when she looked to the blue rose that was resting in the table vase, her lips twisted down.

Ahh.. That rose, you still kept it. That man did say he received it from someone right?

"… a secret admirer," The girl reminded as she reached out for the rose and brought it out of the vase. The blue velvet petals still looked a seductive blue, and remained fresh from the water she gave to it in the vase.

"Jack said he had a lot of them, and gave me one. He was supposed to teach me how to press the rose into a bookmark the next time he visits... but till now…"

Heh, a lot of them huh.

*laugh*

That is one avid pursuer to sent that man roses each day. That man is rather popular, not that I am surprised dear sister. I'm sure you understand the attractiveness of that man's effeminate beauty…

Men and women beyond this room are pulled to him like bees to the scent of a flower... wanting him to be in their beds, to touch him… to feel him…

"Quiet…"

Even our dear Glen is attracted to him, now, don't deny that too. From all the books you have read in this room, I'm sure you understood the meaning behind those violet eyes each time we see our keeper gazed towards that man… I'm sure he befriended us because Glen told him to-

"QUIET!"

Cheshire jumped at her scream and came closer to her, meowing.

Alice breathed unsteadily and her violet eyes turned eerily cold. Her head was tilted downwards like a puppet and her body became motionless for a moment before a giggle was heard. Taking the top of the rose by her hand, she crushed the petals and let go, seeing the crushed petals dropped down to the marble floor, staining it with patches of blue.

A smirk formed on her lips as she stood up and went to open the wardrobe at one end of the huge room in large steps. Cheshire became tensed and started hissing loudly, his fangs baring.

The girl turned to the cat and grinned wickedly, "Oh don't worry dear Cheshire, your dearest Alice merely retreated to where she belonged, in her denial and growing jealousy of people who are attracted to that man. She should realise that man can never belong to her even if she begins to understand her love for him. Love… that brat is becoming in love with that idiot!"

With that, Alice laughed loudly and began to undress the pink gown and wore a dark maroon dress with black shoes. Standing in front of the tall mirror beside the wardrobe, she adjusted her gown and her fringe and groaned in relief.

"Now, I feel more comfortable. Each time I return, I still have to act like her whenever that man visits. Now… what I should do at the meantime…" Alice thought aloud as she went to a drawer and opened it, taking out a tin of chocolates.

"Perhaps I should ask that man to bring more meat from Sabire when he visits the next time, especially the one at this store he brought once under my order. That man will make a wonderful manservant to bully, doesn't he, Cheshire?" Alice asked, not looking at the silent cat for a response as she popped open the lid and started eating the chocolate.

The girl leaned against the nearest wall and looked to the one entrance in her room, slowly savouring the chocolate in her mouth.

The day that man passed through that door and realized of her existence, what would his reaction be?

Shocked? Surprise?

Or both?

Her body shivered in a tantalizing way. With each visit, her anticipation of him finally understanding the truth behind 'Alice' grew and made her days in this cage far more enjoyable than ever. Alice laughed darkly. Raising her left hand to her vision, she smirked.

"My body is the thread that connects with that brat who is in the deepness. One but yet two. We are 'Alice'… made from one soul who borne us… Each time she surfaced, I will be pushed back into my subconscious, but yet I see everything she sees until that brat was unable to remain in my body any further. Until the time she was able to again…"

Her other sister…she was always pure in her emotions. Mad… or crazy was another word she described that brat, and two faced, especially around that man, Jack Vessalius. Not that she herself cared.

Whatever those people, the Baskerville or Glen wanted to do with that brat, as long it did not involved her, she would not bother.

Violet eyes narrowed. Oh… she knew of the sacrifices the Baskerville and the royal family had been giving to the Abyss, or the illegal contractors who tried to fulfil their chains' contract by sacrificing. That brat told her everything, including her love of raining red, its beauty in her own abode in the deepness.

Oh, if only that Man could see the true face of that brat...

Would he be disgusted with her? Would that brat cry and kill him? But… she would have lost a very good manservant now would she? He was by far the only being she was granted contact to the outside world… by that keeper.

Glen… she had never liked him, though that brat insisted now he was otherwise after the few visits he accompanied with that man. Besides, as long as he kept on supplying the things she wanted to the tower, she had no qualms of this cage she was kept in or of his relationship with that man, whether they were best friends or even lovers.

Yes...That Vessalius could be the latter..

No man or woman could bring out such a warm expression out from that stoic, menacing man except for that idiot.

Violet eyes hardened at the memory that she saw through her sister's eyes, of cold violet eyes looking at golden whenever the younger man was looking towards her...

A special existence to Glen...

And now… to that brat.

Alice popped another chocolate in her mouth and she looked to the clock. Six o clock. Good, at least this confirmed that Man would not be coming once again and she needed not do those disgusting acting of that brat.

She was about to move to her bed to relax and perhaps read a couple of books till she fell asleep when she felt a cold chill running down her spine. She turned quickly to the entrance and there stood her keeper, Glen Baskerville.

Young violet eyes widened at the sight of the dark haired man.

"… Good evening, Glen."

"…"

Alice remained tensed, as Glen walked in heavy steps to her tea table, and saw the blue petals on the floor. Cheshire looked up from his basket and remained at attention, watching the Master picked up a petal and studying it.

"Was… Jack here today, Alice?" her keeper questioned, his eyes never leaving the petal and she raised an eyebrow.

Alice shook her head slowly and his violet eyes narrowed.

"This blue rose was given by Jack."

"Yes... four days ago," was her only reply. Glen did not say anything else, examining the rose petal and the rest of the fallen petals on the floor.

After a long silence, Alice's patience grew thin and she was about to open her mouth to ask for a reason for his rare appearance, but the older man just turned to the entrance, his bellowing cloak sweeping the marbled floor beneath it, walking away from her.

Just like that?

He leaves? Small fists clenched as a frown formed on her face.

Only with Jack, that he would make a trip here, only with Jack…

The girl's eyes widened and a giggle bloomed out of her rose petal lips, a crescendo.

The sound resonated throughout the room as Alice began to laugh loudly, clutching her stomach.

"I see! Now, I see…" Her voice exclaimed as bright pool of violets turned to her keeper who stopped in his track, his back facing towards her.

"Jack did not come to find you for the past few days," Alice smirked, "and I was thinking why you have come to visit the tower that you rarely graced with your presence alone. No… I knew it. It is not for us, never for me or that brat.

But to see if Jack has chosen us instead of you to turn his smiles to."

The young girl tilted her head back and laughed further.

"Oh Glen Baskerville, keeper of the Abyss, I have never seen you fret over another being like this. Is it because that man had you wrapped around his little finger with that golden beauty of his? Or is it that delightful sun kissed skin that you had touched for so long, began to soften your heart of stone -"

"Jack.. is a 'friend'."

Intense violets locked to hers and her body froze immediately, like a mouse caught in a snake's gaze.

"Jack is a best 'friend' of mine, Alice… It will do you good.. if you stop this before you say something that you cannot take back. Even if your existence is special to us… to me… I will not hesitate to punish the two of you.."

Alice glared, but the fire burning in those violets was doused by the deathly coldness in his eyes.

"Do you understand, Alice?"

Alice's body shook as she unconsciously took a step back and bit her bottom lips hard. After a moment of silence, the girl nodded her head slowly and looked to the floor with resentment. Without a second glance, Glen turned and walked towards the entrance.

Alice clenched her hands.

Heh… Best friend huh…

Heated violets burned the back of the man and she smirked.

"IF that man is your BEST friend," Alice voiced out, "Then why Glen, did he not tell you of the blue roses… but to that brat? Or this secret admirer of his who had sent him such beautiful and rare roses, my dear keeper?"

Her smirk widened at seeing the stoic man paused abruptly in his last step out of her room, the room becoming abruptly colder. But she did not let that stopped her. No... how could she missed out on this one chance to make that accursed stone mask of that bastard keeper break before her eyes. She had the right to, for being locked here like a bird in a cage by this man. But, to think that idiot was the weakness of this cold-hearted being! How delightful was this truth revealed to her.

"A secret!" the girl sang mockingly, violet eyes shining as she continued on, "A secret! A secret! Vessalius has a secret that he did not tell Glen… And perhaps he has more secrets that he has never told to his dear beloved friend. What will you do? Oh… what will you do, Keeper of the Abyss? Hahaha…"

Glen did not say anything and left the room, leaving the singing and laughing girl behind. As the laughter grew fainter, darkened violet eyes burned brightly in the darkness, a strange bubbling emotion was brewing rapidly within him. Only a name resonated in his mind..

Jack.


Somewhere in the dark alleys at the outskirts of Sabire, a woman's scream was heard. On the cold muddy ground, a pool of dark crimson grew beneath the motionless pale body, mustard colored hair fanning beneath it. Droplets of rain began to fall.

More…

More…

A breath.

Where can I find more…

A giggle.

Gold… and emerald…

More…

Kill...