Chapter 8

-A jealous Blood-

As she woke up Alice found Dee and Dum laying next to her and again wondered why both didn't wanted to go to their own room. Elliot - who had later joined them - tried to drag them away but refused to go and clinged to Alice so there was no other option than let them stay.

But now they were still clinging to her although Alice tried to get away. Somehow she slid down and escaped their arms before standing up. She looked at the table from the last... night. Right now it still was night although the time loop had changed again. Alice took on her Roman sandals and while looking at them she decided that it was time to get new clothes. Since she came here she was running around in the same clothing. It wasn't that bad, after all the others did the same, but she had got the blood of the faceless guy on her clothing and was happy that no one noticed it.

Letting the twins sleep in her bed she went out of the room. Because it was night there weren't many servants of Blood around, the most were cleaning so Alice didn't cared about them seeing her going out.

Alice didn't hurried this out since she knew that she wouldn't be in danger when Elliot or the twins would see her.

While she was in town she met her sister who looked in surprise at her but then she smirked.

"Long time no see." Josie said as Alice grinned when she came closer.

"Yes, three time loops occurred since the last time we saw each other." Alice said and Josie nodded. She titled her head and looked at her sister.

"You know, all these people here are talking about one of Jaberwock's most skilled men being found dead, or better said his clock." Josie said. Alice remembered the faceless guy who had tried to capture her yesterday and wondered if it really was one of Jaberwock's most killed men, after all he didn't showed it. Seeing Alice's expression Josie smirked again.

"You have done that?"

"He tried to abduct me, I only have defensed myself." Alice replied and Josie shook her head.

"Still, try not to attract attention since the Jaberwock is here. He's a dangerous man, more than both Jokers." She said and sigh but then she looked at he younger sister. "Besides, what are you doing here?"

"I need new clothes. This has some blood on it." Alice said, pointing at the blood on her skirt and top.

"Then watch out. This is not the military clothing which you could get dirty and blood-splattered how much you wanted." Josie said and grabbed Alice's wrist. "Come, I'll be nice and buy you some clothing."

With this she pulled Alice into a clothing store with high quality clothing. Alice looked through the clothes while Josie only talked with the saleswoman. As Alice could hear Josie asked her if she knew something about Jaberwock. It was a trait she had got used to when possible danger was, to inform herself. Alice found a cute cream-colored dress with a dark red ribbon underneath the chest. It was as long as her current skirt and was sleeveless. Alice found it good but she didn't wanted to run around like that and with the dress in her arm she found a black bolero and then went to the shoes. She took a pair of black boots with dark laces.

"Found anything?" Josie appeared behind Alice and looked at the clothes.

"Yeah." Alice said and her sister pushed her to the changing cubicle while telling her to take something to sleep, too since she shouldn't sleep in the clothes she was wearing. So Alice changed her clothes and took a dress for sleeping and put it on under the dress.

"Better?" Josie said as they were outside again and Alice nodded.

"But what should I do with these?" She held her old clothes in her arms and Josie took them. Mumbling some words they suddenly begun to burn and disappeared into ash. Alice narrowed her eyes as she saw that, feeling jealous over her being able to use magic while Alice wasn't able to use it.

"Stop glaring at me like that." Josie said and patted Alice's head, something she did when they were younger. Josie had always did it when Alice had pouted or sulked or had been angry and it made Alice feel nostalgic, being happy that she was with her sister here.

Then suddenly the two bumped into Jericho who seemed to be surprised to see both, too.

He invited both for a drink and they accepted it.

It was the first time she heard anyone calling Josie the assassin's woman and sniggered, causing her elder sister to rub her fists in Alice's temples in embarrassment.

Then the Dodo informed them about Jaberwock's organization and laughed about one of his most skilled men of the organization having been killed although no one knew who did it, except of Josie and Alice of course. Then they talked some about that what had happened in the last few days and about Jabrwock's realm. Jericho seemed to knew quite a few of things and Alice noticed him being tired and told him to sleep. Jericho insisted on watching out if he wasn't vanishing and waking him up if he would.

"Why was he saying that?" Alice asked as he finally went to sleep.

"He's called The man already dead. That's why he probably thinks that he will disappear someday." Josie replied, drinking the coffee. These two stayed until Jericho woke up and thanked them for watching out for him as both begun to leave.

Josie then insisted Alice to visit Nightmare and Boris since they wanted to see her and Alice then went with her.

Nightmare and Boris seemed both to be happy to see Alice once again and Gray introduced himself to Alice.

He then made hot cocoa for all and Josie told her that Gray wasn't good in cooking at all but his coffee and hot cocoa was really good.

Alice spent then some time with her sister, Gray, Nightmare and Boris. Nightmare invited Alice for a drive with his train to see if it was better than in the other world. But Alice refused because of the time loop changed the night to forenoon.

She tried not to attract attention just like Josie said as she returned. By the gate she met Dee and Dum who pouted while looking at her.

"Sis, where have you gone?" Dum asked and Alice gave them a wry smile.

"Sorry. I've visited the White Queen." She said while both twins put their arms around hers.

"You have to go with us then." Dee said and both smiled but were interrupted by Elliot.

"You won't go anywhere." He said. "You two have to work."

"You're not our boss, you stupid hare!"

"What?!"

Elliot grabbed his gun but Alice put her hand on his.

"Don't!" She said. "You two have to work, right? You should better not leave it aside."

All three looked at her and sigh.

"All right." Elliot said and went off then, letting his ears hanging. Even the twins went back to work but sulked because of Alice won't spend time with them. She promised to do something with them once they have finishing time and then went off.

Alice went to Blood's room and found him there by his desk. As she enter the room he looked up and a little smile appeared on his lips.

"Good to see you, Milady. I started to get bored." He said and Alice only made a grimace while she went to one of the bookshelves, taking out the book she was reading some time loops ago. She still didn't liked it that Blood thought of her as a toy when he was bored and with a slightly angry face she sat down on the couch and opened the book.

Blood instead watched her and after some time of silence he begun to speak.

"So, Milady, where have you been the last time loop?" Blood asked looking with curiosity over the sheets of paper in his hand to her. Alice looked confused up from the book she was currently reading.

"The last time loop? I went to the White Queen and we bumped into Jericho and went then to the train station..." She said but shut her mouth when she saw him glaring at her.

"You have been the whole time loop with them?" He growled and Alice quickly shook her head.

"Well, mostly with my sister." She said but Blood's expression grew darker.

"Alice, please come here." He said, putting down the documents and his pen. Blood lean back and crossed his arms before his chest, looking angrily at her. Having a bad feeling about this Alice closed the book and put it aside as she stood up and slowly made her way to the Hatter. Once she was close enough he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. Alice expected to land in his arms but instead she landed with her back on the desk while the documents flew aside to the ground. Blood lean then over her, pinning her wrists with one hand above her head while glaring down on her with a jealous look in his blue eyes which sparkled with anger.

"Seems like I have to teach you to whom you belong." He hissed and before Alice could do anything to escape his arms he pressed his lips onto hers, causing her to hold her breath. When he noticed that she was pressing her lips together Blood paused the kiss only to lick over her lips but Alice still refused to open her mouth although she didn't knew why she was doing that. Probably his sudden behaviour was making her feel uneasy. Furrowing his brows Blood let go of her wrists only to grope her breast, letting her slip a sqeak of surprise. Using the chance the Hatter slipped his tongue in causing Alice to moan in surprise. While her tongue was teased by his she felt a shiver running down her spine as he pulled her arms around her and pressed her to his chest. Feeling slowly getting dizzy by his neverending kiss she grabbed onto his collar, having the feeling to lose consciousness soon. Being trapped between the hard wooden desk and the infamous Mad Hatter Alice tried to make the best out of it while her head was spinning and her face was flushed in a deep crimson color. Slowly Blood pulled away with a satisfied grin while his ears had turned red for a bit and he stroked through his raven-black hair.

"I like your heartbeat, Alice." He said and then bend towards her again and pressed his lips on her neck, sucking the skin.

Alice was too speechless to say anything but she knew what he was doing and tried to get him off but Blood was too stubborn and caught her hands with his. So she focused on his heartbeat instead and noticed surprised how his ticking heartbeat was calming her down.

"So Alice, to who do you belong?" Then Blood asked, his lips pressed on her neck. His hot breath was tickling her and she thought over teasing him and saying that she belonged only to herself but she was afraid that he would go further than only kissing her and groping her breast to open her mouth.

"I... I only belong to the infamous Mad Hatter." She said as he raised his head to look at her. "To you, Blood Dupre."

Not knowing why she answered instead of slipping out of his arms her face turned deep red as he grinned satisfied.

"That was the correct answer." He said as he lowered his head and pressed his lips onto hers, this time Alice opened her mouth and let him in while responding his hot kisses. She never thought she would fall in love again but Blood proved the opposite although she didn't knew why she actually fell in love with the Hatter.

"Don't even dare to let others hit on you or touch you like I do. You only belong to me and no one else, understood?"

Alice's eyes grew bigger as she heard that and she chuckled.

"Blood." She muttered as his lips were close to hers. "Are you jealous of me spending time with the other role-holders?"

Blood winced as she said that and stopped, only to look perplexed at her.

"Maybe I am." He said and let go of her hands as he finally pulled away totallyand sat down back on his office chair.

"But will tell you something, princess; if you'll let others touch like I do I will go further than kissing. So know your place." He smiled mischievous as Alice face flushed in a deep crimson when she went down from the desk. Trying to ignore these mixed feelings she picked up the scattered documents on the ground, trying to escape the awkward moment as she heard Blood chuckling in amusement. Alice pressed the back of her hand on her lips, still feeling Blood's on them.

She gave him back the documents and turned around, trying not to think over what had happened.

She was sure that now her heart was bumping loud in her chest, causing her to realize that the Hatter was twirling her around his little finger. But to think that he could get jealous made her want to laugh although she knew it wouldn't be a good idea.

Instead she looked at him and Blood looked up to her, grinning.

"Do you except more, princess?"

First Milady and now princess? Alice thought surprised but she shook her head.

"N... no, thanks." She said embarrassed and tried to leave the room as Blood grabbed her hand and prevent her from leaving.

"What is it, Blood?" She asked and looked around nervously. But he only looked with interest at her.

"Princess, let's go out."

"But you have to do work. Shouldn't you first do work and then enjoy yourself?" Alice asked.

"How commendable." Blood replied and stood up, not letting her hand go. "But I prefer to do it the other way round. Like this it's funnier."

Alice opened her mouth to say that the way he's doing it is false but he silenced her with another, brief kiss, but good enough to starle her for a moment.

"Listen, princess; I'm a bad man and want you to stay forever with me, even when you're hurt or sick. You won't get away from me." He said and Alice felt her cheeks grew hotter at his sudden possessiveness. He then slowly bent forward and his lips once again met hers, his arms embracing her.

Again I'm under his spell... Alice thought as she kissed him back, enjoying the feelings of his lips on hers. She would have never believed to end with him like that and wondered how it will be if he remembers her again. Alice scared the thought away as she pulled her arms around his neck. But suddenly his hands slid down and he grabbed the hem of her dress. Realizing what the Mad Hatter was up to Alice quickly pulled away.

"H... hey! What are you doing?!" She shouted embarrassed, her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen from the kiss.

"What? I thought we'll go a step further." Blood said and Alice shook her head.

"I prefer to go out with you then." She said, her embarrassed face causing Blood to smile. He then gripped her wrist.

"It's decided then." He said, putting on his hat and walking out, dragging Alice behind himself.