I softly inhale feeling the rims of my nose considerably tingle from the musky scent. Alright which of my brother's, drowned in cologne, couldn't make it to their own bed and passed out in mine? I nuzzle my head into the pillow and take another whiff, puzzled by the smell. Hn ... who's cologne is this? I don't recognize it.
A high pitched whine watches my attention as I reach over, patting the top of a furry head.
"Seien sie still, seien sie still, Jaiden ... ," I murmur, trying to salvage what is left of my sleeping escape. And now I have to go to the market because those hounds of brother's devoured everything in the fridge, drop by the bank because the money they gave isn't valid ... here ...
Everything falls silent in my busy mine as I feel Jaiden swiveling around and between my legs, stepping on and around me as he makes loud, high pitched whimpers. Wait, wait wait wait-! I shoot up in the bed and fling the covers back, staring at the moving lump hidden under the covers before a cone headed Jaiden pokes his head out and crawls out of the fabric net.
"Jaiden, oh goodness Jaiden-!" I cry, mortified as I spy the bandages and sling around his left front paw. He's hurt! How did he get so hurt?! He happily hops over to me and immediately pushes his head into the crook of my neck, begging for some attention and love.
"Oh, Jaiden, Jaiden what happened to you?" I softly ask, gently petting what isn't covered by the bandages. What happened to his harness and bags? Those contained his leach, tags, and other things. I hold his cheeks kiss his forehead, listening to his happy but strained pants as he paces back and forth in his excitement. He cheerfully lays against me as I rub his side, looking around the unfamiliar room. The colors of the walls look familiar but where is this? Paintings on the walls catch my interest the most as I eye them with unease. Am I back in the Art Museum?
A soft knock on the door makes my heart leap into my mouth with nervous anticipation. I am at the Art Museum b-but where exactly am I? This is a different room that I was in before.
"Y-Yes?" I call after a moment of silence.
"May I come in?" A polite voice asks.
"Yes?" I say, wondering for a moment why he asked permission to do so. The door swings open, showing the broad back of the tall man with a mug in each hand before he turns into the room and lets the door shut. My mind falls utterly blank as the most handsome man I've ever seen enters the room. His hypnotically bright blue eyes drift over the bed, spying the covers and sheets kicked clear off the mattress in a crumbled mess before darting back to me with a toothy smile.
"I'm glad you are awake, Miss Avery. I've brought some coffee," his deep, suave voice says as he approaches. My throat tightens as my heart skips a few beats, aching as I watch this man hold out the coffee for me. O-Oh my goodness this man is gorgeous! I sit in shock, unable to utter a sound even as Jaiden bumps and tries to nuzzle against me with the sharp rim of the plastic digging into my arm.
" ... Miss?" He asks, staring for a little bit. I see his thoughts on my sanity drop with his cool smile as he sets the coffee on the stand beside me. "Take your time waking up. I will have someone bring you a change of clothes." He says before walking out, taking a sip of his own coffee and shutting the door behind him. T-Those eyes, those shoulders and l-legs, his legs-!
"Oh my goodness he's gorgeous!" I shout in my complete and utter shock, feeling my face burn up with embarrassment. M-My goodness, his back, h-h-his broad, super broad-! An-And strong forearms, and so many muscles a-and-! My jaw remains slack as I try to recollect my dashed thoughts, hardly noticing Jaiden licking my cheek for attention.
I shake my head clear before hopping out of bed, recognizing the same room I was in before. I-I must look like a wreck right now! The bathroom door flies open as I hop inside, adjusting the fake glasses and staring at my reflection. Oh dear I look like I was just in the ring with how my hair is flared around my head.
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Okay … okay, I just need to get a handle on myself right now and not get distracted by his toned body. Even though he could probably life a wheelbarrow of dirt and throw it like nobody's business with those back and arm muscles of his. A little shiver crawls up and around my shoulders as I sip on my coffee, focusing on the man sitting at his desk.
The comfortable and welcoming red velvet chair in front of Jericho Bermuda's desk offered a perfect place to sit in as I watch him drink his own while sitting rather formally behind his desk. But why is he so silent? Jaiden whines and nudges my knee again, still seeking for more attention before I relent and rub his ear, watching him sit against the chair and lean on my folded legs. His tail swings back and forth as he pants with clear pleasure and happiness wriggling in his little doggy mind.
"I apologize for surprising you this morning. I understand this is a rather odd meeting," he begins after a few minutes of complete silence. I can only hope he wasn't staying silent so I could finish my gawking. I can't imagine he could have missed it but then again, who would want a 'giraffe lady' liking them? A sigh slips past my lips as I let it go, trying to enjoy the moment and get out of him what I can about Jaiden.
"Yeah … it did startle me," I honestly answer, not wanting to sugar coat it, "sorry," I tack on, more so mentally for finding them all so suspicious, "but what happened to my dog?"
"Ah, yes … well, unfortunately we had an intruder the other Night here at the Museum. Jaiden found him and began fighting with him but before I could get there he was already injured. I apologize for the mishap," he says, genuinely apologetic as he glanced at the dog and drank more of his coffee.
"Is everyone safe?" I ask, seeing a puzzled gleam in his gorgeous blue eyes.
"Not on my end but unfortunately it was Jaiden who took the worst of it," Jericho admits. My gaze travels to his shoulders, noticing them a little tense and his fingers more than firm on the cup's handle. Is he worried I will blame him for what happened? Jaiden lets out a bark, making us both jump a little and break up the tension as he whined, shuffling in place and trying to get me to pet him some more.
"I see … it's a good thing no one else got hurt. I'm glad he hasn't forgotten his training at least," I sigh with a smile, rubbing his ear, "good boy." I say, deciding looking away from him would be in my favor of concentration. Ah~ I'm such a sucker for powerful muscles. How could I not admire all the hard work someone has put into their body?
"He has been trained?" Jericho asks, seeming surprised as he again looks the dog over.
"Yes. He's actually a retired Police dog," I admit, rubbing the back of Jaiden's neck, "both him and my other dog are trained Police dogs. They were my brothers and are both retired, though Jett, the other dog, had to retire early." I explain, worried about Jett. It's killing me that I have no idea where he is and here I am just sitting in front of this drop dead gorgeous bundle of muscles sitting in front of me.
"A Police dog?" He asks, seeming confused, "what is Police?"
"Yes, a Police dog," I answer, now confused at his confusion, "you don't know what Police are?"
"I'm afraid I don't, really. What are they?" He asks. I pause in my rebuttal to ask what is wrong with his head before remembering that this is a whole different country somehow that I've been thrown into. Ooh~ this is all just too strange.
"Well, law enforcers really. They keep the peace within the citizens and try to prevent crime from happening like with drugs or gangs. They're employed by the government and city to stop crime," I explain, noticing his bright eyes tighten ever so slightly. How in the world am I supposed to explain everything a police officer does so easily?
"I see. So he, your brother and Jaiden, would be in place to prevent crimes from happening in your town," he summarizes, "interesting. A foreigner's world is much different from this one," he notes with a throaty chuckle.
"Well, yes normally he would. But he has a new one now he is training. Jaiden and Jett were his previous dogs but they are both retired, or out of the line of duty. But the dogs don't know that," I say, continuing to succumb and baby Jaiden some more as he set a paw on my knee to try and get more of my attention, "so they often get in trouble without a handler nearby."
"Well, that's rather interesting," he says with a smile, sipping his coffee, "here in Diamond Country things are run rather differently," he explains, seeming hesitant to continue.
"How so?" I ask, thinking about my walks through Town before realizing I hadn't seen any authoritative figure at all in the streets.
"If you wish, I can explain perhaps in better detail than the young incubus would," he offers, leaning back in his chair with a pleased smile.
"Oh, please do. He explained it all but there was so much at once I didn't get all of it." I admit with a frown.
"I will be as simple as I can, then. Here in Diamond there are areas known as territories. There is Town, Diamond Castle, Train Station, Hatter's Mansion, Graveyard and Museum. The territories of the Graveyard and the Museum are my own territories. Diamond Castle is run by the queen of Diamond, known as Lady Crysta who has her right hand man, the Prime Minister Sidney Black, operating everything to ensure events and proceedings go by smoothly. The Train Station is run by Nightmare who I know you've met. The Hatter's Mansion belongs to a self proclaimed young mafioso by the name of Blood Dupre and his second in command, Elliot March, and his gate keepers known as the Bloody Twins, or rather Dee and Dum." He explains, setting his empty mug down and folding his fingers as he waited for her to let everything soak in.
"Okay … so, there six territories with people known as Role Holders over each of them, right? And those with eyes are Role Holders." I proudly add, at least remembering some of what Nightmare's scattered speech explained.
"Yes. Just as I am the Role Holder of the Museum and Graveyard, anyone you meet that has eyes will be a Role Holder of some sorts."
"I see … oh, you forgot some people. What about Ace and Gray? They have eyes so aren't they Role Holders too?" I ask, watching his eyes widen a bit.
"Yes they are. You've met Gray Ringmarc?" He asks, sounding alarmed which makes me stiffen a bit.
"Why, yes. I had a … well, a run in with him at the Train Station." I say, seeing him lean back in his chair.
"So the Griffins are on the move, eh?" He mutters so quietly under his breath I hardly catch it before he takes up my attention again, "yes, both of them are Role Holders but they aren't tied to a specific area. Well, Ace is but he continues to wander and neglect his duties," he explains, "Ace is the knight of diamond, servant of Lady Crysta. As for Gray Ringmarc, he is a particularly difficult and dangerous individual." Jericho explains with troubled eyes, making me hesitate to ask why.
"Um … so what kind of Role Holder is he if he doesn't have a territory?"
"He is mostly a mercenary but more than that he is a highly trained assassin. He works for anyone that will pay him the amount he wants and his prey never gets away," he explains, sounding grave in his tone.
"So, as for Gray, or actually just in general, there is no sort of law enforcement to stop him?" I ask, still shocked that no one has tried to stop him in any way. And what about that other man, Dupre, a mafioso? How is no one trying to stop him? Most mafia hide underground if they are known but it sounds like he's out in the open.
"There are no law enforcers here, really, and already I can tell your laws that you used to abide by do not reflect here in Wonderland. Our laws are dictated by our Roles here in Wonderland so even if there are law enforcers to stop what you may consider to be illegal or morally wrong they wouldn't be able to stop the Role Holders from performing their duty. So really if those law enforcers existed they would be breaking the law of Wonderland themselves," Jericho says, seeming almost entertained by the idea of law enforcers and the complications that would bring on.
"I-I see … so strange," I say, continuing to rub Jaiden's ears much to his humming delight, "so, these territories … what are their relationship to one another?" I ask, wondering why he took that sort of tone towards Blood Dupre. Eek … the name alone sends shivers down my spine. What mother names her child Blood?
"Ah, you're catching on," Jericho says with a light smile, "without these 'law enforcers' like you are used to, the territories fight against one another to gain more land and leverage for themselves. All of the territories are involved in this fight besides the Town which is completely neutral. The Train Station is part of it as well but as I'm sure you've seen, it's been degraded over time and more and more damage is brought to it than the time changes can fix," he says with a smile, "I do not want to drag you into the politics of Diamond but I do heed you to be careful of where you stay and what territory you choose to live in."
"I see … well, I've been staying at the Train Station mostly," I uneasily admit, "but all of the territories are fighting? Is it just for money?"
"Mostly to expand business and have control over a certain area of interest. But often some of use take an area to bother the other territories," he says with a light chuckle, "but that is about as much as I can explain about the politics. Now-,"
A hard rap on the door made him pause before looking up past her.
"You may enter," Jericho orders as I look back and spot a man in a suit come in with paperwork.
"Excuse me Don, but these papers need your approval for the new order of tombstones," he explains while walking over to the desk and handing the papers to him.
"Thank you. You may leave now." Jericho curtly says, taking the papers and setting them on his desk.
"Yes Don. Would you care for some more coffee?" The faceless man offers before taking the empty mug.
"That sounds excellent." Jericho says as he shuffles the papers together and glances over them until the man leaves. Their words echo in my mind as I rehearse their conversation just now and what he said earlier about the mafia.
"Jericho, Don is a mafia term, isn't it?" I ask, feeling a slight shiver rivet up my spine. There's no way he could be part of the mafia, he's way too nice!
"Yes it is. I am the Don, or head, of the Bermuda family." He calmly states, carefully watching my reaction. I stay completely silent, feeling my voice stuck in my throat as I look down at Jaiden to distract myself. He's a mafioso too. Is that why so many people were angry with me in Town? Because they thought I am with the Bermudas? … Ooh~ I'm in trouble alright. "Are you alright, Avery? Do you want some more coffee?" He offers, calm and collected as he let me gather my thoughts.
"Um … no … not uh, not really. Although I, uh, really should be going. I need to go back and check on Nightmare, you see," I say as I stand up, tense and anxious. Would he try to stop me by force? His smile fell slightly, clearly a little sad but he kept up his lips well.
"I understand. Please know that you are more than welcomed to come by and visit. I'm sure you have an awful lot to understand. Allow me to escort you to the door," he says as he gets up from his chair and comes around the side. I slightly flinch, looking down at his outreached arm for me to take. Scary … but I shouldn't decline him.
"Um, thank you," I hesitantly thank, feeling my blood burning from the connected arms. Even as a Don I think his body is ridiculously attractive. Ah~ I'll bet one punch to the chin from him will knock the guy into next Tuesday. As cool as that is I need to get out of here. This whole building is full of people probably packing guns.
"Here you are, Miss Avery," Jericho politely says, stopping by the door and letting my arm go with a dazzling smile on it face. Jaiden happily trotted past me and down the stairs, walking in circles and waiting for me.
"Thank you, Jericho," I say, unsure of what to do. What would a lady normally do after finding this out? Shake hands goodbye or wave? No, I can't wave we're too close together. Before I can think of a suitable goodbye gesture he gently takes my hand and kisses my knuckle.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Avery. I look forward to our next encounter," he politely smiles.
"Oh, uh, yeah, same here," I sheepishly say with an awkward half wave and twitchy smile before quickly turning around as Jaiden started barking. I let out a sigh, thankful for his distraction, "Jaiden, Jaiden, nein, hier!" I order as I quickly reign him in and grab at his shoulders before realizing his harness is still gone. Shoot. It's better to come back later and ask about his harness than right now. "Hier, Jaiden, hier," I gruffly order in a low voice, watching him more than happily plod along beside me as I walk away at a quick pace before letting everything crash down on me at once.
Seriously, seriously what is wrong with me? I didn't even ask how in the world I got to his place when I woke up and now I need to find pain medicine and dog food for Jaiden who's probably starving. But where am I going to get the money for that? No, no before that I need to go and make sure Jaiden gets settled in with Nightmare before going off and looking for Jett. Poor thing, he must be either terrified or off terrorizing children. But as long as he has his muzzle on it should be fine.
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BLOOD'S POV
"Whoa! Look at him go!"
"He's like a bullet!"
"Ha ha, he's so cool!"
My tea grows colder as I watch the bloody twins run rampant around with the Doberman in the gardens. The dog is lean and fast, dodging their axe attacks and getting in a good bite here and there before dodging their gunshots. I mildly wonder if all foreigner dogs are this cunning and fast or if perhaps Wonderland affected the canine somehow. No matter. This little show here is already boring me.
A heavy, bored sigh escapes my lips, rather annoyed with the March Hare. Where is he? He should have been back by now with that Avery woman. A few servants informed me that they had in passing seen her heading for the Train Station some time ago. She better not be planning to stay there if she knew what was best. After all, the Train Station is in the middle of changing hands. And if such simple information was collected by servants passing by a flower shop how in Wonderland has Elliot not closed in on her yet? Utterly useless.
"Master Dupre, the negotiators are here now." A servant announces in a quiet voice.
"So soon? They act as though their partners are still alive," I sigh before standing up, setting the tea onto the small table. Since those Griffins are here I might as well humor myself with their presence. Ridiculous, a faceless faction trying to overtake the Hatter family. It's so obvious to see through their over all plan that it's boring to even bother trying to participate in it at all. A soft padding of paws draw my eye back slightly, watching the dog walk by my side with an alert presence and attentive ears. What is this ever strange attachment this canine has made towards me? Not that it really matters, at least it makes things more interesting for whenever its owner gets here. Will it choose me over her? The thought makes a light laugh slip out of my throat as I lean over slightly, rubbing its head.
"Good boy," I bluntly state, heading towards the Mansion while ignoring the rather loudly complaining twins.
"Awe~! Come on, boss let us play with him some more!" Dum complains loudly, walking up behind and grinning with his eyes on the dog.
"Yeah! He's fun!" Dee agrees, reaching down and petting the stiffly walking dog on the head. Without warning the dog freezes with a deep growl resonating in his chest. I likewise come to a brief stop, casting the canine a glance as the twins happily march on ahead. Now what's gotten under his fur now-
A mind blaring glare of light with a searing heat blasted through the Mansion, followed by swift ringing and utter darkness.
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Hey Chickadees! Finally caught a free weekend from college work so fingers crossed I can pump out some more chapters for you all who have been waiting WAY too long!
10 REVIEWS for the next chapter~