Chapter 11: Blood's Obsession

Surprisingly, Alice made it through the week without getting beat up by Boris's gang or Blood's lackeys. It was quiet…. Too quiet, even for Alice. Ever since the bathroom incident with Boris, Alice tried her best to avoid the punk-boy in the hallways and in class. But, her efforts to avoid him were unnecessary as Boris avoided Alice.

"I guess I should head home now," said Alice. She sat in her now empty classroom after staying after school for a few tutoring lessons.

Just as she was finished packing up her things, someone opened the door.

"Julius!" Alice smiled as she greeted the gloomy president.

Julius felt his cheeks warm as he heard Alice call his name. "Want me to walk you home?"

Alice walked towards Julius and clasped his hands.

"PLEASE."

Alice was still wary of walking home by herself after that terrible experience with Blood breaking into her apartment. She would usually enter her apartment through the side stairs instead of the main stairs in the front, but there were camera's following her everywhere she went. Well, cameras she didn't know of.

Usually black cars would be parked nearby the apartment and one of the days, Alice had to sleep at the 24 hour convenience store to avoid those cars.

Basically, Alice was at her breaking point. She needed some help.

"How was your day today?" Alice asked Julius.

Julius, still looking straight ahead, answered. "Same as always. You?"

"Hmm… surprisingly peaceful. Well, this whole week at school has been peaceful. But I'm not so sure what Blood is thinking…." Alice murmured.

Julius gave her a worried look. "Is Blood bothering you still?"

"Oh no, not recently…. Besides…" Alice's voice trailed off and suddenly, noticed the same black car that was parked in front of her apartment a few days ago.

"Um… Julius…. Can we drop by the bookstore near downtown? I think I need a few more study materials for math," Alice became a bit nervous.

I don't want to bother Julius with my problems… he's already helping me out at school and he also kept my secret about being a girl…

Julius raised his eyebrows. "Okay, I'm fine with that."

Alice pulled Julius's sleeve and quickly dragged him to the nearby train station. They got off the train and were finally at the bookstore.

"Which math book did you need?" Julius asked.

Alice thought of something quick. "A calculus workbook."

Julius nodded his head and went to the other side of the bookstore.

Alice peered around and sighed. Good… nobody's following us….

Alice whipped her head around too quickly and she found herself facing a wall. To be more specific, someone's chest.

Alice looked up and her heart sank.

"Blood."

"How rude of you to drop the honorifics Liddell," Blood sneered as he leaned forward in front of Alice's face. Alice couldn't help but blush and started to back up.

"I-I mean Blood-senpai," Alice's voice was tiny.

"Alice, did you need the calc one or two workbook?" Julius walked around the bookshelf and saw Blood confining Alice to the corner.

Julius covered his mouth, realizing that he just used Alice's name instead of Aaron's.

"Sorry, wrong person," Julius muttered.

Blood turned around and smiled eerily. "Hello Mr. President. How are you today?"

Julius kept a poker face. "Good. Just looking for someone."

"Might I ask who that someone is?" Blood's voice made Alice shiver. Julius, still keeping his poker face, answered.

"My cousin. She's visiting and I don't know where she went." Julius's lie sounded somewhat convincing, but not convincing enough for the devious Blood.

Blood chuckled. "Hmm… that's not the answer I was looking for." He turned back to Alice. "I was looking for your sister and it seems like Mr. President is associated with her. Isn't that right?" He pointed at Julius who felt himself go pale.

"What are you talking about?" Alice asked, using her deepest voice as possible.

Blood pushed his finger against Alice's forehead. "I'm talking about Alice. Why was Alice with Mr. President last Saturday?"

Blood had surveillance on Alice almost 24/7. The only surveillance he couldn't get was inside the apartment. No, that was too ungentlemanly. But it was fine hacking into public surveillance systems and having his private task force from the mafia stock Alice and Aaron once outside.

Indeed, Blood was out to get Aaron and Alice and both had no idea why.

"What?"

Blood pushed Alice against the end of the bookshelf while Julius stood behind, not knowing what to do.

"I saw your sister and him together on Saturday. Might I ask why your sister hasn't promised me that date yet?"

Blood's mood drastically changed from a somewhat nice guy to a somewhat scary guy. But all Alice could think about how much of a bastard he was.

"Get off! Her business is none of your business!" Alice tried to push him off, but it didn't work. Alice made eye contact with Julius and mouthed get out of here.

Julius shook his head and stepped forward.

"I suggest that you take your arm off of Aaron," warned Julius.

Blood looked at Julius with curious eyes. "Why should I? After all, school is over, so your duty is finished here."

Blood violently shoved Julius away and continued his harassment on Alice. "Now, let me ask you again. Where is Alice?"

Julius got off the floor and pulled Blood away from Alice. "Blood, stop."

Just as Blood raised his hand to hit Julius, another person intervened.

"Hey, fighting is not cool at all guys."

"Ace!" Alice felt a slight feeling of relief as she saw the happy-go-lucky guy grab Blood's hand.

"Are you okay Julius?" asked Ace. J

Julius nodded his head.

"I'm fine…"

"Oh, how nice. A knight in shining armor for the two of you," sneered Blood. "Don't tell me, there's another person to help you." Blood pulled his hand away from Ace.

"Hmm… I don't think there's-" Before Ace could finish his sentence, Blood threw a punch at Ace's face, causing him to stumble to the ground.

"Ace!" Alice hurried to the brown haired lad and made sure he was alright.

"Ouch… that really hurt," said Ace as he rubbed his right cheek.

"Blood, violence isn't the answer. Just leave Aaron alone," said Julius.

"Oh, do you want to be next?" But before Blood could even do anything, Elliot walked in on all the commotion.

"Blood?" Elliot walked to find all four of them getting ready in battle positions.

"Elliot, we're leaving." Blood relaxed his shoulders and coldly pushed Julius away. Blood walked out the bookstore without doing anything to them.

"H-hey! Wait for me!" Elliot ran after Blood. He looked backed and glared. Julius finally let go of his breath and sighed.

"Great…Ace, you okay?" Julius knelt down next to Ace, who propped himself against the wall.

"It's all good. Just a small bruise," he said. He gave Julius a cheeky smile which made Julius smile just a bit. Alice looked at Julius with wide eyes.

"You smiled!"

"Huh?" Julius looked at Alice with confused eyes.

"Um… nothing…." Alice's cheeks were a bit flushed after pointing that out. She looked at the pair. For some reason… they seem like really good friends, even though I've never really seen them hang outside of school before.

"Alice, I'll take you home now," said Julius as he stood up.

"JULIUS." Alice gave him an angry look.

"Alice?" Ace looked up at Alice. "But that's Aaron. What are you talking about Julius?"

Julius was flustered and tried to cover up his mistake. "Er… I mean… um…."

Ace gave a wicked smile and looked at Alice.

"Hello, Alice."

Alice groaned inwardly and scolded Julius.

"You ruined it, Julius!"

Somewhere in a black car…

Bzz… Bzz… "Alice, I'll take you home."

….. "You ruined it, Julius!"

Blood replayed the video on his tablet again.

"Blood, do you want us to do anything to Aaron on Monday?" asked Elliot. The sleek, black car drove away from the bookstore and headed towards the Hatter mansion.

Blood chuckled to himself. "No need to do anything, Elliot." Blood pondered for a moment and took back his words.

"Actually, I want you and the twins to keep an eye on Julius and Gray. If you have to, you can use the mouse."

"Roger that," affirmed Elliot.

Blood looked out the window and watched the scenery go by.

"Alice Liddell… 'Aaron' is Alice."

"Thanks for taking me home…. Julius…." Said Alice.

"What about me?" asked Ace. He held a frozen package of peas against his right cheek.

"You didn't really take me home… you just followed us!" Alice said. The three of them were inside of her apartment living room.

"But I saved you both!" reasoned Ace.

Alice sighed. "I guess so... thanks Ace." Ace gave a big smile and proceeded to explore Alice's humble home.

"I'm really sorry again Alice. I… I won't talk to you in school then," said Julius. After explaining everything to Ace, it seems like Alice had more things to worry about.

"You don't have to go so far Julius. Just…. Just don't call out my name."

Ace wandered about the apartment as Julius and Alice conversed. As Ace wandered about he noticed a small piece of paper underneath the empty cage of Bandy.

"Alice~ I think this is for you," said Ace. He brought the note to her.

"I didn't notice this when Blood broke into my apartment…" stated Alice. Julius looked at her with big eyes.

"What?! He broke in?" exclaimed Julius.

Alice quickly answered before Julius could say anything else.

"Don't worry…. I'm fine and I'm alive… that's all that matters," said Alice. She read the note.

Alice,

Your brother is a very interesting person. But not as interesting as you. If you want your cat back, then call me and go on a date with me. We can talk more about your 'situation' as well. I'll be waiting.

-Blood

(xxx) 464-4891

Alice dropped the note.

"This is so stupid," she deadpanned.

Julius picked up the note and read it.

"Are you really going to go out with him then?"

Ace read the note as well.

"It seems like you have an admirer Alice!" Ace crushed the note and threw it in the trash bin.

"Hey! I need that number," Alice said as she fished the note out of the trashcan.

"I thought you said it was stupid," said Julius. He didn't like the idea of Alice hanging out with Blood.

"But… he said he would talk more about my situation… and I would get my cat back," explained Alice. "I think that's worth the risk… anyways… I doubt he would hurt me. Probably Aaron though."

"What situation?" asked Julius.

"It's nothing," said Alice. Ace leaned behind Alice and played around with her hair.

"I think she's the one, Julius," said Ace as he blew into Alice's ear. Alice smacked Ace's arm and pushed him away.

"Stop that."

"What do you mean?" asked Julius.

"She's the one! The girl at that fancy party!" said Ace. "Alice Liddell from Liddell Corporation."

I forgot... how many people know her secret? Julius, Ace, Blood... and I think Nightmare already knows but doesn't say... Gray has a feeling... or he knows I think... and Boris thinks he likes Aaron who's actually Alice. Okay... cool. :D Things are getting more complicated for Alice. What's gonna happen to her? :O

Thanks for reading and please review! ~Seo Hyunee