Alice released a sight of frustration and sipped her tea. She had felt betrayed by and after arriving at the Hatter Mansion and receiving a room, had promptly released her pent up anger and confusion on her pillow, pulverizing it in her anger. She had been so tired from crying that when she had awakened from her deep slumber after crying herself to sleep that she could no longer recall why her friend had asked her to leave, only that it was no longer safe for her.
"Is something on your mind, Alice?" Blood said with a hint of a smirk as he sat at his desk, finishing some paper work.
Alice felt a light blush stain her cheeks in both frustration and slight embarrassment of allowing her mind to wander for longer than it should. "I'm still a little confused about Julius's behavior last night." She admitted.
"What'd he do to ya?" Eliot said from the couch opposite of her.
"He didn't do anything to me," Alice said defensively, "He was just really… out of character."
Blood and Eliot exchanged a glance before Blood released a sigh and set down his quill and motioned for Alice to sit in the chair across from him. He opened a drawer of his desk and pulled out an old and worn leather book. "I'm not sure if it will help, but this book is a record of every game and every role holder since the first game; it also reveals a few more reasons that we despise the Mortician and the Worm." He opened it to the first page and slid it over to Alice. "Look." He instructed. Alice hesitantly lifted the book to stare at the figures the Hatter indicated on the worn out parchment.
A young boy, still on the border of childhood and being a teenager, stared back with cold silver-blue eyes and short blue hair stared back at her, piercing into her soul. She was amazed at the emotions the photo revealed just from his eyes. Hate, betrayal, loneliness, fear, anger, all kinds of negative emotions. Next to the first boy was a younger, paler one that looked ready to be sick at any moment.
Julius Monrey and Nightmare Gottschalk, she guessed.
"Look at the others," The hatter instructed and tapped the book impatiently. Alice turned the page and stared at it, then began to flip through the pages, amazed at how Julius and Nightmare were slowly aging.
"How many years are between each game?" Alice said as she stopped and stared at a picture before turning the page again.
"In your time, about five to ten years in between," Blood said bitterly.
Alice continued to flip through the pages until she reached the present day picture.
"You see why else we hate the Clockmaker and the incubus?" Blood growled, practically spitting in hate. "He and Nightmare have been in charge of these games since the beginning. They don't talk about why they continue it, but when asked why they don't end it they only say, 'kill the Game Master, end the game'."
"That makes them sound suicidal." Alice pointed out with a grimace. "So does that mean you're going to kill them?" She said in alarm.
"No," Elliot replied in disappointment. "As much as I'd like to, we couldn't even if we tried. Those guys may look weak, but they can take a bullet straight to the heart and their clocks won't stop ticking, I bet they wouldn't even be scratched!" Elliot said miserably.
"Well that's no creepy," Alice muttered to herself sarcastically. "Do you know why?"
"They're the Game Masters, that's why. The only way for them to die is to be replaced." Blood said casually.
"How many Game Masters are there?"
"Depends on who you ask, Alice; some will say three, some two, others say one if they haven't encountered Julius or if they haven't encountered Nightmare. But honestly, I don't give a rat's ass. If I can ever manage it, I'll take out whatever Game Master I can!" Elliot growled in rage.
"Easy Elliot, remember what happened last time you tried to tangle with a Game Master?" Blood pointed out, clearly meaning when he was imprisoned by Julius and Ace.
Alice had tuned them out as soon as Elliot had answered her question, thinking and wondering why they fact that no one knew exactly how many role holders there were disturbed her so much. She felt like she knew the answer, but she had no proof. Then something occurred to the Outsider. She flipped back to the first picture and counted the Role Holders. There were thirteen, one more than was needed. She pointed at the extra woman and stared at her.
The woman was about Alice's age with honey gold hair and green eyes like a lush forest after a rainfall. She wasn't very tall, about average for her age. Her skin was lightly tanned, just enough to catch almost any man's eye. Alice supposed she was beautiful, but she didn't know the standards for beauty in that time. "Who is she? She looks like she's an extra Role Holder."
"Press your index finger to her face," Blood instructed. Alice did so and released a gasp of surprise as the picture flashed white and disappeared before slowly changing to a biography on the woman, she read it out loud.
"Micrurus, formerly known as Angelina Sariah, was born in what is now known as The Hatter's Territory. Micrurus's parents and heritage are unknown. Micrurus is the third youngest Role Holder next to Nightmare Gottschalk and Julius Monrey." Alice finished and stared at the page for a long moment.
"It doesn't say what her role was!" she growled in irritation.
"Alice," Blood said and cut her off before she could begin a rant. "Night is here and I suggest you get some rest." He said. "Come, I'll escort you to your room." He stood and offered her his hand.
"Do you mind if I borrow this?" she said and took his hand as she stood.
"Go ahead, I haven't had a need for it since I spread Mary's name." He said with a smirk. Elliot snickered from behind them and stood to follow.
