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Chapter 4:

-In Wonderland-

Location: White Castle; Alice's room

Time: Morning

When I opened my eyes, I had almost forgotten where I was. I smiled and tossed the covers off of myself. I changed into a cloud blue dress with a white ribbon acting as a belt around my waist, and black flats. I walked to Ginny's room, but she was already gone. 'Julius' I thought. I left the Castle and started toward the clock tower.

-In Wonderland-

Location: Clock Tower Plaza

Time: Morning

"Alice!" Ginny smiled at me from a cup of coffee. "How did you sleep?" She asked turning back to the coffee.

"Pretty well, I didn't know where I was when I woke up." I sat in a chair next her and watched her stir. "What are you doing?"

"Weren't you listening last night?" She looked at me with a raised eye brow. I shrugged. "Well, if you were listening, then you would have heard me offer Julius to help him out around here. You know, I like it here. I'm making Julius his coffee. So, what are you doing today?"

"I thought I might go to Hearts Castle. I had a dream about Queen Vivaldi last night. I feel like I might remember some more stuff if I go see her." I told her.

"What happened in the dream?" She asked, losing focus from the coffee.

"It was this time when I had tea with her and we talked for hours and hours." I smiled. "It was always fun talking to Vivaldi." She nodded.

"Well, you have fun. I'll see you later. I have to get this coffee, to Julius." I smiled. Ginny loved working with Julius. I was so happy for her.

"I'll come back when it's night again." I said to her. She nodded, picking up the coffee and taking it into Julius' office.

-In Wonderland-

Location: Forest

Time: Morning

I walked through the forest; there was only one path to get to Hearts Castle, so this won't be hard. It was at that moment I heard rustling in the bushes. I turned toward the bushes. Suddenly, someone stepped out of the bushes knocking me over. The person quickly grabbed me around the waist to hold me up, so I wouldn't fall over.

"Careful there," he said while catching me. "Sorry, did I scare you?" I looked up at his face. I recognized him.

"Ace!" I threw my arms around his neck. Ace was a knight at Hearts Castle. Whenever I visited Vivaldi, I would see Ace. He was a good friend. "I missed you so much!"

"Yeah, are you ok?" He asked removing my arms from his neck.

"Yeah, I fine." 'Why was he in the bushes?'

"Can I ask you something? Do you know where the Clock Tower is?" Ace asked.

"It's right over there." I pointed over to the Clock Tower.

"Hey, yeah, I was closer than I thought."

"Are you looking for Julius?" I didn't know Julius and Ace were friends.

"And you know Julius! We're buddies him and I." 'That's weird. Ace knows I'm friends with Julius' I thought. "Stuff happened, so now I have to stay at the tower for a while." I bet Ginny won't like Ace interrupting her private time with Julius. Still though, Julius really can't take a hint. Ginny could walk in the room naked and he wouldn't get her point. "So, where are you going?" Ace asked.

"Hearts Castle,"

"Really, I'm a knight at Hearts Castle." 'Yeah, I already knew that' I thought. "But if you go alone, the soldiers might not let you in. I can guide you there if you like."

"Would you really? But you have an appointment with Julius."

"I think I still have some time before then. Really, it's no trouble."

"Thanks, I really appreciate that."

-In Wonderland-

Location: Outside of Hater Mansion

Time: Morning

Ace and I had been walking for a while and I felt like I was getting farther from Hearts Castle. "Ace," Ace turned around to look at me. "I thought the castle was in the other direction." He got a big grin on his face.

"Nah, it's this way. No worries," Ace turned back and kept walking. I felt like this area was familiar. I looked up and saw the top of Haters Mansion.

"Crap! This is Hater Mansion." I was still worried about what happened last time.

"Wait a second, maybe you're right . . . weird. But we're still good. I think we can get to the castle if we cut through here." He pushed through the gate and continued to walk in. 'Where are the Gate Keepers?'

"Not you again, Ace!" I whipped my head around to see Elliot March. "Those brats are slacking again. What makes you think you're welcome here? Huh, Alice!" He said looking at me. He was obviously still worried.

"Wait, Alice as in Alice, Alice?" Ace looked at me. I sighed, he didn't recognize me. "When did you get back?"

"Alice, I'm so sorry about earlier. I didn't know it was you." Elliot said. I turned back toward him.

"It's ok Elliot, you're not the only who hasn't recognized me." Elliot took a breath of relief. I smiled at him, same old Elliot; he had always been so sweet. Elliot smiled back at me, but then he looked up at Ace and his face fell.

"Anyway, Ace, are you finally here to face the Hater?" Elliot asked Ace.

"No, why? We're just headed for the Hearts Castle." Ace looked Clueless.

"Son of a- you've got the direction sense of a blind lemming!" Elliot had a face palm moment. 'Huh' I thought. "This is our territory! The only thing past here is the mansion! How many times do I have to tell you that?" Elliot screamed at Ace.

"Did I go the wrong way, again?" Ace had a big smirk on his face while he scratched the back of his head. 'That explains why I found him in the bushes' I thought. Suddenly, I felt Ace push me away as a bullet cruised between us.

"If you don't ever want to get lost again then don't dodge!" Elliot screamed, holding up his gun.

"But that's dangerous. You could hit Alice." Ace said, still with that smirk on his face. 'Ok that was hitting below the belt.' Elliot was such a sweet heart, he would never purposely hurt me. I remembered once when I was little, about 6 or 7 maybe, Elliot accidently pushed me into a fountain in the Hater's Garden. He cried, begging for my forgiveness even though I never yelled at him. I only petted his rabbit ears and kissed his forehead. I told him nothing he could ever do would make me angry with him.

"Shut up!" Elliot yelled taking another shot. Ace pushed me out of the way of the bullet.

"Alice, go to the shade of the trees!" Ace screamed to me. I ran to take cover.

"Eyes over here, Space case!" Elliot's gun was only an inch away from Ace's face. "Dodge this!" 'He's so close! Ace is gonna-' Ace dodge the shot and pulled out his sword and nicked Elliot's neck. "I guess I should've expected this from a Knight of Hearts. I'll be more careful." They started up on a huge fight. 'Someone's gonna get hurt!' I thought, '. . . maybe me!'

"Somebody stop them!" I screamed into the air.

"Well, well . . . someone's making trouble for Alice again." The fight stopped, both Ace and Elliot turned. "Are we forgetting who makes policy here?" 'Blood Dupre'! "Elliot we've already talked about this."

"But Ace- argh!" Elliot was pissed. "This is all his fault! He can't keep his sorry ass from wandering in here!"

"Just show him the way and safe a few bullets, honestly." Blood said keeping a cool head.

"I've tried that! He just keeps coming back and it's driving me insane!"

"Elliot! I haven't assigned you anything a half-wit couldn't do." Blood said to him. Elliot slumped over in defeat. Truthfully, that hurt me too. I never knew Blood could be so cruel. "My apologies, Sir Knight, please forgive the rudeness of my subordinate."

"No worries, it's not like I'm mad. And he didn't actually land anything, so we're good." Ace got that smirk on his face again. Elliot let out a sigh trying to hold in his anger.

"At any rate, it's true that you shouldn't wander around here." Blood said. "Elliot and I will guide you to the castle." Blood then turned and walked toward me. "Now miss Alice," I could hear my heart thumping. "I keep putting you in dangerous situations, don't I? I'm very sorry. It won't happen again." He held out his hand for mine, but I was still scared. "Please believe me." I looked into his eyes, His beautiful, loving eyes. He was still Blood, no matter the guns or harsh language, he was still the Blood I knew and loved. I finally took his hand and smiled at him. He smiled back his classic smile.

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