Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters besides a blonde hair girl named Lillian.
Rant- Sorry for the late update, I went on spring break to Florida and I loved every second of it! I'm back to regular updates now, and I hope you guys are still enjoying the story. I wonder if you guys like Lillian so far, I'm sure people are uncertain of her connection within the story. I'll say this much she's veeerryy loosely based on certain characters from the original Alice in Wonderland.
Chapter 7- The complications known as women, and blood ties are easily forgotten when other obligations become the focal point in one's life
"Explain to me one more time on what exactly I'm supposed to be doing," Jack inquired the platinum blonde hair girl hovering nearby lazily. She was hovering through the air on her back and kept trying to stifle a yawn. When he inquired for the third time a more-detailed explanation, other than let's save Lacie, Lillian turned her head to shoot him a cynical glare before rolling away from him.
Jack had half a mind to float over to her and shake the teenager until she paid him attention. He questioned if she suffered from mood swings because what happened to that charming girl from a few minutes prior? The Abyss could drive a saint nuts and Jack wanted to scream until his lungs burst and his throat grew sore.
Frustration was only a fragment of his problems right now.
He huffed and threw his arms up, "Look the sooner you answer my question then the sooner I'll stop pestering you for an answer."
"I beg to differ," he heard her grumble under her breath. He could feel his jaw clench and unclench as he tried to hold himself back from strangling the girl.
He flipped his golden braid off his shoulder and placed a weary hand against his forehead. She was being so compliant earlier and now she was giving him sass for no other reason than to be a pain. Why were women such difficult creatures to comprehend?
She released a moan before finally swinging herself up into a sitting position; she assumed the position of someone seated in a chair with her feet dangling in the air.
"Listen carefully Jack, your approach methods of reaching Lacie haven't exactly been fruitful correct?" Lillian asked sardonically.
Jack gave her a blank expression before shaking his head slowly in a somber manner. Just use body language to answer her, don't strangle the child, and ignore her audacious behavior at the moment.
"That's because you been approaching the matter wrongly, you should be-" Lillian jerked her head back and whirled around staring at the darken sky. Jack's eyebrows rose in confusion. What in the world had unsettled her now? As if to answer his question partially, she kept staring at the ceiling with a frightened expression and he noticed she seemed to be listening for something. She seemed very agitated and kept staring up in horror at what he couldn't ponder.
Jack tilted his head to stare at her in confusion he could her muttering over and over, "No, this isn't how it's supposed to go."
"Lillian?" he asked in a concerned tone. For some reason, seeing the girl look so frighten and worried unnerved him since she seemed like the type to handle problems in an aloof manner.
She turned to look at him, and stared at him as though seeing him for the first time, her eyes were huge and she kept nibbling on her lower lip.
She released a croak, "Oh, Jack…"
The person addressed felt his spine stiffen, he was unsure about whether or not she was about to burst into tears. However, her eyes were dry, but her lip was now trembling. Jack was uncertain if he should comfort the girl or try to seek out whatever was the issue that was so unnerving first. Since he still held some power over B-Rabbit then he could easily decimate whoever was causing the problem.
While he wanted to take out whoever or whatever was causing this strange girl to become so anxious since it could grow more problematic, he could tell she needed to be calm down first. Plus, he needed an explanation before jumping into the fray of things.
He floated over to her and placed his hands on her small shoulders, which continued shaking. She was deadly cold and he wondered if she was an animate corpse brought back to life through the powers of the Abyss. She gazed up at him with those emerald eyes that now held terror and despair instead of the playfulness from earlier.
She shuddered and said in a strained voice, "Oh, Jack."
He lost his balance slightly when she yanked ahold of his green overcoat and leaned her head into the clothing. She began heaving, and seemed to be putting a lot of effort into not bursting into tears. He was reminded of a small child who had lost their parents and was trying to put forth an act of bravery, while internally they were falling apart. At first, he awkwardly stared down at her uncertain on what to do in this situation. But when he could hear her choking as she continued fighting back tears, he placed a hand gently on the back of her head and one on the back of her shoulders. He held her against his stomach and tried to soothe her.
He recalled the time when he was reunited with Lacie; he had latched on to her and held her firmly against his chest as though she would disappear at any given moment. Her red eyes stared at him with wonder and uncertainty.
And now these emerald eyes stared at him with a silent plead for tenderness. Internally, he felt strange as though his hollow heart was recalling what it was like to feel human. Over a hundred years and not once had he shown anybody affection or tenderness, just manipulation and cruelty.
A need to push the girl away was strongly tugging at the back of his mind, but his conscience reminded him that this girl was showing him a kindness forlorn to him and a way to rescue Lacie.
"Lillian," he asked gently, "what's wrong?"
A few tears streaked down her face and she gently took a small hand to wipe away the falling liquid from her eyes. He absently began rubbing the back of her shoulders in a soothing rhythm to calm her down. When he realized what he was doing he stopped.
Just what was this girl and why was he treating her with a kindness he hadn't shown to others in a century?
When she wiped away the marks signaling she had been crying, though her pale skin held more color now after crying, she composed herself and fixed Jack with that determined look he had seen earlier in their encounter.
Though he could still detect a hint of sadness in those determined eyes…
"Jack, it's…it's about Lacie…"
Just hearing his beloved's name and the sadden tone Lillian referred her in made the young man tense. "Lillian?"
"Jack," Lillian continued, ignoring that had addressed her," as you are already aware there has been a state of shock after the realization of the past events from Sablier and how you are not the so-claimed hero everyone believed you to be."
Jack's heart thumped slower and he awkwardly swallowed when he noticed her emerald eyes shot him a look of judgment and anger. Apparently, she was not going to be a devout follower of his as planned. So despite her agreement to help him Lillian did not approve of his past methods after-all.
She seemed understanding of his logic, but that did not necessarily mean that she had approved of them.
Her voice was heavy with sadness, "Well, several changes have occurred within Pandora and the Dukedoms now. There has been a shift in the power of balance and currently the Baskervilles are ruling over the other lot."
Of course, the Baskervilles would issue a complete takeover while everyone was lost in the confusion. They were crafty bastards to begin with and when they confirm their targets have hesitated they spring like a snake to the oblivious rabbit. And once they sneak their teeth in there is no escape.
A silence lingered and he looked up to see Lillian gazing at him in expectancy, he jumped. He was so absorbed in his lingering hatred towards the Baskervilles he had failed to realize Lillian was looking for confirmation that he had been paying attention. He nodded.
She continued, though with an edge to her voice, "The Glen from the past, Oswald, has completely taken over the mind of the boy once known as Leo, the current chosen Glen of this era."
Oswald, my old friend, you plan to get in my way once more? Jack dully noted with sadness, it seemed him and Oswald was meant to stand on opposing sides no matter the century or circumstances.
Oswald, I've even allowed myself an opportunity to live within the Abyss and I still have not found Lacie. Why can you not allow me the opportunity to make that precious girl happy after years of suffering under the tyranny of the Baskervilles and their sick traditions?
"As of now, he is issuing a complete takeover of Pandora and is changing everything from within the system. And one of his first orders-"
Lillian halted and took a sharp intake of air; she fisted some of her orange dress layers. Something else must had occurred for her current reaction.
She released air she had been holding slowly and meticulous, before continuing in a detached manner suddenly, "One of his first orders is to execute Black Rabbit, in order to hinder that boy from preventing him from his overall goal."
Jack quirked an eyebrow, the B-Rabbit doll was strong enough to handle itself so he was uncertain as to why she was showing such distress. He responded, in a manner as though he was stating the obvious, " The B-Rabbit is hardly an issue to fret over, that boy and his friends are strong enough to handle those goons trust me. I've kept a close eye on him for the past twenty-five years, while he is clueless and rather naïve he has an admirable ability of staying alive despite being cornered by death itself."
She began shaking her head with a raw energy he hadn't seen from her yet, "No, no, no. Listen to me."
"Fine, tell what is that pivotal Baskerville follower's overall goal, maintain peace and all that other crud?" he responded humorlessly.
He was growing slightly agitated because he was supposed to be finding Lacie, and was supposed to be guaranteeing her safety, not indulge in this girl's silly squirms and frets.
Lillian continued, "Jack, why he wants to execute B-Rabbit is to prevent the chain from allowing him to travel to the past… in order to destroy Lacie and prevent her from ever existing."
A pregnant silence followed and all that could be heard was the sharp intakes of air as Jack battled his lungs to breath properly.
The Bastard plans to murder his flesh and blood once more! Nonsense I won't allow it! I'll make certain he'll never be allowed a second chance at hurting her that pathetic excuse of family.
Apparently, familiar ties meant nothing to Oswald despite his prior beliefs. Flesh and blood meant less to him than carrying on titles and obligations?
The memory of Lacie smiling at him uncertainly came to his mind, her gaze was vacant and she gave him a small, wistful smile as though she shouldn't be smiling with him like this. During that time, he couldn't understand why she had looked so sullen and why that smile did not exhibit any warmth to it. And now he knew years later, Lacie did not believe that she should be enjoying herself so close to death. He remembered feeling disturbed by the vacancy in her eyes on that day when she gazed at him, the lifelessness in those ruby eyes scarred his soul because he could recall a time when he possessed those similar sadden eyes. He had made a pact a long time ago to not allow her anymore opportunities to have such a sad expression.
And now hundred years later, she was alive somewhere in this realm, and Oswald planned to not allow her the opportunity to live a happy life once more? No, he wouldn't allow it, if he had to recreate an entire world just for her to remain safe by the Abyss' will he was ready to damn himself another century to do it.
To hell with his soul, he was already damned as it was, but he wouldn't wish the same fate on Lacie twice.
Jack snatched Lillian's shoulders and dug his fingers into her flesh unintentionally, she yelped from the pain. He bellowed at her small frame, while shaking her, "What do you mean by he's trying to prevent her from existing? Does he plan to murder her once more? She's his sister for God's sake, how many times does the bastard plan on sentencing her?"
Lillian sighed mournfully, "But according to Glen, he is simply carrying out his duties for the greater good."
"Greater good pfft," Jack remarked scornfully floating back and forth in what resembled a pace, "please explain to me in what logic does a person follow that requires them to murder their own family and then claim it's for the greater good?"
"But Jack, can't the same be said for you?" Lillian crossed her arms and fixed Jack with a steady gaze.
That halted his air pacing, "I beg your pardon?"
Still giving him that steady gaze, she replied earnestly, "You were willing to sacrifice the world for one woman and claim it was for a good cause. How are either of you any different?"
Jack was caught off guard by her directness, and remained quiet as he tried probing his intellect for a way to prove he was the better person than Oswald. But the more and more he reasoned were good answers, the more he realized they sounded like empty excuses.
Finally, he settled on one that was not laden in lies, he said sternly, "Everything I did was to make the woman I loved happy."
"And his reason was to make certain society remain peaceful and blissfully unaware of the dangers surrounding them, so where are the differences?" she countered.
Now he could feel himself becoming absolutely livid with her demands for explanations, she was surely testing him as some part of her adolescent drive to annoy the older man. But her words continued to plague his mind- How are either of you any different?
It shouldn't have bothered him so much, but the more he lingered on about it, the more he realized- he really didn't have an answer that was satisfactory.
Jack could feel his lip quiver back into a snarl, baring his teeth at her like fangs, "It just is different Lillian, now shut up and help me find a way to stop this idiocracy from occurring."
Lillian clucked her tongue and tossed some of her swaying hair behind her shoulder, Jack fixed her with a heated gaze as her clucking reminded him of that old croon from earlier, "And please, don't ever do that clucking sound again it grates on my nerves."
She shot him a look of annoyance before saying, "Fine then, let us continue in searching for Lacie-"
Her breath hitched again and she clasped her chest as though she had received a stab to the heart, he sighed, "What happened now?"
"The one know as Gil has made a new contract with Raven and he has managed to save Oz, the B-Rabbit. But they're being chased relentlessly and someone I don't know has halted them, I'm uncertain but I have a bad feeling about this…"
She opened her mouth to say more, when Jack's hysterical laughter cut her short, her eyes widen as the man before her clenched his head and his body trembled. That strange demonic laugh of his, that was oddly quite hauntingly beautiful at the same time, halted her breathing
"Look we need to get going, I know of a way to help her Jack, but you have to come with me-"
"No, I think it's time I make another grand appearance, I can't have my doll being destroyed this soon, "he remarked dauntingly. Lillian's body stopped hovering, as her eyes widened in alarm, she didn't know what he was up to, but it was something not good. She could tell.
"Wait Jack, don't!"
She lunged for him, but he sidestepped her and she flew past him, when she swerved around he was smiling at her chillingly, his body slowly flickering away. She attempted to snatch on to him one more time, but he was already gone, leaving the parting words, 'Don't worry Lillian, I'll be back soon enough, I just need to take care of some matters up-top first."
A shiver ran down her spine as to how he was planning to handling these matters.
Rant: Hope you're enjoying, because of a falling grade and finals coming up my updates will be slower, but nonetheless I haven't grown bored of either story. Please review, I really got shaken up from my grade drop from one small careless mistake, and I just want to see that people are still enjoying themselves so that I can be happy knowing fans might/might not be enjoying this story still. Anyways please review and thanks!