Chapter Four: I Can't Breathe Because of You
Pain.
He could feel it everywhere. His back, his legs, his arms. Nothing seemed to be able to escape the pain.
He laughed bitterly as he rubbed his bare chest.
Pain.
Something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Something he hadn't let himself feel in a long time.
Something he hadn't wanted to feel again.
Thank you, Spades.
Blood sank into his chair and sighed deeply before wincing in pain.
Ack... it would take awhile to recover from that. He sighed again. Perhaps he should take a hot bath and attend to his wounds first. Work could wait.
"It was just the perfect time for you to come! Not to mention bringing those two gatekeepers was good timing too."
Elliot's voice? Well, he would have had more time to reach the mansion before I did.
"Anyways, Blood just got some new books in earlier today. I thought you'd like to take a look at them, Alice."
Blood nearly jumped. Alice?! She's here with him?!
*T-tick, tock.*
Elliot! Don't bring her here! Not now!
*Doorknob turns then pauses.*
Blood sighed in relief. Maybe they weren't going to come in after all?
"Blood's not here now, but I'm sure he won't mind you reading them. I'd stay with you, but I better check on the twins again. They're probably slacking off again."
"Oh well, if he's not here-"
"I'm sure it'll be fine!" Elliot insisted.
"Well..."
*Light shove.*
"Ooof!"
*Click!*
Wonderful...
"B-B-Blood?!"
"Hello, Alice," he replied and crossed his arms.
She blushed and glanced away from him.
He raised an eyebrow. "What? You've never seen a man shirtless?"
"N-n-no! I mean um yes!" she stammered as her blush deepened.
Blood rose from his seat.
Alice let out a small gasp as she noticed the large gashes on Blood's torso. "Blood! W-what happened to you?!"
"Oh nothing," he answered casually.
She doesn't need to know.
"But you're hurt!"
"Does matter? I have work to do."
"You sound like Julius."
Blood's eyebrow twitched in anger. "Don't compare me to that clock-maker."
"At least he listens me from time to time unlike you!" Alice retorted.
"At least I declare my feelings unlike him!"
Alice coughed back a snort. "Your feelings?! If only you were clear about what they really were!"
"I could say the same for you!"
"My my my, what a heated conversation," a voice interrupted. "You're like a pair of lovers, and yet not."
Blood and Alice quickly glanced around the room.
Blood's eyes fell on the open window from which he had entered into his library several minutes ago.
He kicked himself mentally. Fool! You should have locked the window, mafia boss or not.
"Spades," Blood growled. "What do you think you're doing here?"
The knight laughed and pushed away the curtain he was hiding behind. "You know very well I wasn't going to let you escape from me that easily."
Alice gave Blood a questioning look.
Blood glanced at her. "Leave."
"But-"
"Leave!" he ordered.
*BANG!*
"I don't think so." Spades brandished his gun-sword. "Alice is coming with me."
Blood moved in front of Alice. "You can't take her."
"You have no power over her. You're not her lover, and she is not yours."
"B-Blood?"
He glanced at Alice through the corner of his eye. "I may not be now, but that can always," he grabbed Alice's wrist and pulled her close. "change now."
Alice's breath caught in her throat. What was going on?!
"Even if that happened, it doesn't change the fact that I am taking her." Spades aimed his gun-sword at Blood.
"Over my dead body!"
Spades smirked. "Your dead body would be nice, but I need you to be alive to tell the people of Hearts that I've taken their precious Alice. But I can make things painfully clear for you."
Blood glanced around the room desperately.
"Ah, looking for this?" Spades' smirk widened as he held up Blood's cane. "You dropped it by the window. Tsk tsk. You should've known better to face me when you can't even take down my brother."
"Your brother?" Alice asked aloud.
Spades frowned slightly. "Yes, my brother."
Alice bit her lip. "You're Keary, then?"
Spades and Blood gave her bewildered looks. "How do you know that?!"
Alice tried to keep calm as she replied, "I have my ways."
Spades narrowed his eyes at the outsider. "I see... This shall be very interesting indeed."
He pulled the trigger.
*Cough, cough! HACK! Cough!*
Nightmare gasped for breath. "It seems... *cough, cough* I've come too late."
He shivered before knocking on the door. "Julius?"
*Knock, knock!*
"Julius!"
"You may come in," was the muffled reply.
Nightmare sighed and let himself into Julius' office.
Julius glanced up from his work. "Hello, Nightmare."
Nightmare nodded as he took a seat. "Julius. I came as soon as I could. You know I have a hard time traveling back and forth between Clover and Hearts."
Julius pursed his lips slightly.
Nightmare sighed again. "I tried to stop him."
*Clunk!*
"You tried to what?"
"Stop Spades! What? You think I'd just let him do what he wants?"
Julius coughed. "Well no. But *ahem*you cannot just stop him that easily."
Nightmare gave Julius a sulky look. "Then why don't you try?"
"I... I cannot leave my work."
A small smirk appeared on Nightmare's face. "Not even for Alice?"
Julius glared at him, but the caterpillar merely grinned back at the clock-maker.
"Don't you think it's time you took a step forward, Julius Monrey?"
*T-t-tick tock.*
Ace clutched at his chest suddenly.
*T-t-t-ick...*
He grimaced. My... heart.
-"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiieeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"-
Ace straightened and glanced around as another scream echoed through the woods.
Wait... wasn't that Alice's voice?!
Ace looked around again. "Alice!"
He frowned deeply. What is going on here?
The Ace of Hearts started toward the scream.
The Amusement Park? No... Alice wouldn't scream like that over just a ride. The Clock Tower? No, no. She wouldn't be in danger there.
The knight furrowed his brows.
There was no time to that out. He just had to find her and make sure she was all right.
I'm coming, Alice!
"Are you ready, Blood? It's time to play."
Blood glared at the dark knight as his cane transformed into a gun. "I'm always ready to play."
Spades laughed. "We'll see who wins this round, won't we?"
"Watch your back," Blood warned.
Spades laughed again. "No, my friend. You should watch yours."
*Bang, bang, bang!*
Spades deftly dodged Blood's bullets.
"Your aim has improved quite a bit since we last met."
Blood shot at Spades again. "And your dodging seems to have improved as well."
Spades blocked a few bullets with his sword and smirked. "But now, I won't be needing to dodge anymore.
Blood sent another glare at Spades. "What do you mean by that?"
"You'll see." The knight winked at him. "Oh, you'll see all right."
A bright light shone into Blood's eyes causing him to take his eyes off the Ace of Spades.
"You should never let your eyes get distracted during a fight," Spades suddenly whispered in Blood's ear.
Blood turned to face the knight only to have a searing pain across his chest.
"Agh!" He clutched at his bleeding gash and glared at Spades. "So that was what you meant by 'seeing'," he spat and sent more bullets at the Ace.
Spades just laughed. "Perhaps it was and perhaps it wasn't."
Blood's hand shook with anger as he shot at Spades once again.
"Still not done?" Spades asked and dodged the bullets. "As to be expected from a mafia boss I suppose, but I'm afraid we can't continue this game much longer. Tell me where Alice is."
"Never."
The knight frowned slightly. "Never, eh? Well I suppose I can just get her whereabouts from your last words." He licked his sword. "Time to taste your blood, Hatter."
Blood clenched his gun tightly and aimed at Spades. "We'll see, won't we?"
That... had been too close.
Blood panted heavily and pulled himself through the window and into his office.
He had been foolish to "play" with Spades. He should have known better than to fight an Ace. He shook his head and stumbled over to his chair.
Alice... it was all her fault.
He slowly pulled of his shirt to check on his wounds.
Ugh. They were worse than he thought.
He clenched his eyes shut. Oh the pain!
Wait... pain?
Blood winced.
No... He didn't think it was best to move now.
"B-B-Blood?!"
Alice?
"You're hurt!"
Obvious isn't, Alice? he thought.
"You're like a pair of lovers, and yet not."
Spades!
"Alice is coming with me."
No! You can't take her! Blood tried to yell.
"BLOOOOOD!"
Blood grimaced again.
"Boss?"
"A-Alice..."
"Um Blood?"
"BLOOD!" three voices screamed.
Blood's eyes popped open as he jumped and winced in pain. "What?"
Elliot and the Bloody Twins sighed in relief.
"What happened?" Elliot asked,
Blood frowned and managed to sit up on his bed with some help with Elliot. "Where's Alice?"
Elliot and the twins glanced at each other. "Um... that's what we wanted to ask you."
Blood's frown deepened as he furrowed his brow. "He took her."
"Who?"
"The Ace of Spades," Blood replied voice full of bitterness. "He took her."
"Ace of Spades? Why would he want Alice, Boss?"
"I... I don't know."
The twins looked at each other sadly. "But if Alice onee-san is with the Ace of Spades, that means she's going to the Country of Spades and we won't get to see her!"
Blood grunted as he managed to get onto his feet.
"Hey Blood? Are you sure it's a good idea to get up right now?" Elliot asked, voice full of concern. "You're wounds are looking pretty bad."
Blood pushed Elliot aside and headed for the door of his room. "I'm fine."
"Where are you going, Blood?"
The mafia boss glanced at his workers. "To get Alice."
Something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Peter White could feel it in his bones.
Alice!
Should he go to her or stay and fulfill his duties?
He shook his head.
Something wasn't right and he had to be there for Alice, HIS Alice.
He quickly bounded out of the Castle of Hearts. His rabbit ears twitched slightly.
Where should he check first?
The Clock Tower?
The Amusement Park?
The Hatter Mansion?
Peter wrinkled his brow.
Blood Dupre was always give poor Alice trouble. And he was the one who brought her back so something had to be up at his place.
Peter frowned deeply.
To the Hatter Mansion.
"Ah, finally made it somewhere!" the Ace of Hearts said with relief. "Question though, is Alice here?"
Hearts frowned as he looked up at the Hatter Mansion.
Would Alice be here?
And if she was... why did she scream like that?
Hearts glanced around. Where in the world were those gatekeepers?
"Ace! I should have known you would be apart of this!"
Heart turned around in surprise. "Peter! What brings you here?"
The knight gave the rabbit a goofy grin.
Peter shot him an evil look as his pocket-watch changed into gun. "Where is she?!"
"Where's who?" Hearts asked innocently.
"ALICE!" the rabbit yelled as he sent a downpour of bullets toward Hearts.
Hearts easily missed them. "I don't know where she is."
"Liar! Where is she?!" the rabbit practically screamed in pure anger.
"AHEM!"
The Ace of Hearts and Prime Minister both twirled around to face an unhappy hare.
"What are you to doing on Blood's turf?" Elliot demanded, ears twitching angrily.
"To see Alice," Hearts replied cheerfully. "I thought she might be here."
"I'm afraid she's-"
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER?!" Peter White screamed while shooting randomly. "I'LL KILL YOU ALL IF YOU DON'T TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!"
"Calm down, rabbit," a voice behind Elliot advised coolly.
"Blood!"
Peter sucked in some air in an attempt to calm himself.
"So where's Alice?" Hearts asked, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked at Blood.
Blood sent an icy glare at Hearts. "Alice has been kidnapped."
Peter lost it. "KIDNAPPED?! WHO DARED TO KIDNAP MY ALICE?!"
Hearts sighed. "Shut up, Peter, and let Blood finish."
But Peter couldn't hear the knight. He was too busy ranting and raving over "his" Alice.
Hearts rolled his eyes. "If only someone could shut that rabbit up... Anyways, who kidnapped Alice?"
"Spades," Blood replied coldly.
Hearts' eyes widened slightly. "Spades did?"
"Yes... If you'll excuse me." Blood roughly brushed past the knight.
The hare glanced at Hearts before hurrying after his boss.
"Wait!" Peter stood in front of Blood and narrowed his eyes at him. "Where do you think you are going?"
"To get Alice."
"Not on your life! No one is going to touch my Alice, except me!" Peter roared.
"There is no rule saying that. I don't have to listen to you."
Hearts quickly moved over to the Hatter and rabbit. "I'm going to look for Alice too."
Blood snorted. "You'd get lost before you ever reached the Country of Spades."
"And I will never let you touch Alice, you perverted knight!"
Hearts cracked a small grin. "Oh ho! You want to fight, rabbit?"
Elliot bit his lip. "Um guys? I don't really think this is the time to be fighting."
"Shut up, rabbit!" Peter yelled.
Elliot's vein popped. "I'm not a rabbit!"
Blood hissed through his teeth. "Just let me through, Peter."
"Not on your life!" Peter shrieked. "No one is going to find Alice except me!"
"Well then, I guess there's no choice but to fight." Heart put his hand on his sword.
"You're all going to die!" the rabbit roared.
The role-holders readied their weapons. Their eyes darted around, waiting for the next move.
*Bang!*
The fight was on.
"Put me down!" Alice cried as she pounded her fists on the dark knight's shoulders.
"No can do!" the knight replied cheerfully.
His sing-song voice caused her to shudder.
He is creepier than Ace back in the Country of Hearts. she thought.
"Why can't you put me down? I can walk!"
"It'd be best for me to carry you across the border."
"Why?" Alice demanded.
Spades chuckled. "Because I said so, dear Alice."
Alice shuddered again.
Spades smirked slightly. Good. She's scared. Things are going exactly the way I want it to.
"W-What do you want with me?"
The knight gave her no reply.
She bit her lip. "It's because I'm an outsider, isn't?"
"Perhaps and perhaps not, my dear Alice," Spades replied coyly.
Blood panted heavily and clutched his chest as he glared at Peter and Hearts. If only he wasn't facing both of them at the same time! Peter would be easy to take on by himself, but Hearts on the other hand would be much harder. But there was one comfort for him, they seemed to be suffering as much as he was. Oh they might not have injuries like he did, but they were feeling the same pain of being out of breath and exhausted.
In a moment... just one moment, they would all regain their breath and start everything all over. And there would only be one victor.
"You ready?" Blood managed to gasp out to Elliot.
His friend merely nodded.
Peter got onto his feet. "Be prepared to die this time."
Hearts sniffed a laugh. "You need to be prepared to die."
Soon, they were all back on their feet, ready to fight once more.
They aimed their guns at each other, fingers itching to pull the trigger.
"What is this?" a voice called out.
Peter and Ace slowly lowered their guns. "Queen Vivaldi..."
The Queen gave them disgusted looks. "What are you doing?"
Peter frowned. "I could ask you the same thing."
Vivaldi huffed. "You do not need to now what is our business."
Blood allowed his gun to change back into his cane. "What do you want?"
"We wish to know what is going on here." Vivaldi's eyebrow twitched slightly with anger. "We wanted to see Alice, but it seems she is not at the Clock Tower."
"She's been kidnapped," Hearts volunteered.
Vivaldi gasped. "Kidnapped? By who?"
"Spades," they all replied.
Vivaldi frowned deeply. "Then why are you men just standing here for? Go after him!"
"I was!" Peter defended himself. "But," he waved his hand toward Blood, Hearts, and Elliot, "they got in my way!"
Vivaldi's eyebrow twitched again. "Does it matter? ALL of you go together!"
"WHAT?!" they all cried out in surprise.
"You heard us! All of you go fetch her back!"
"Your Highness! You can't possible think that it is safe for them," Peter pointed at Blood and Elliot, "to accompany Alice on her return!"
Vivaldi sent a warning look to the rabbit. "It will be safer for her to be guarded by all of you than one Spades."
"She has a point. Spades is an accomplished knight like myself." Hearts cracked a small grin. "You couldn't defeat him by yourself, Peter."
"Like you could either!" the rabbit retorted.
"Silence!" the Queen commanded. "Whether you like it or not, ALL of you are going to the Country of Spades."
"Since when did we have to listen to you?" Blood asked.
Vivaldi glanced at the Hatter. "Because we said so. And we are sure you don't want to lose Alice."
Blood clenched his fists. "Fine... but only this once am I working with you two." He sent a glare at Peter and Hearts.
Hearts nodded.
Peter sighed. "All right... we'll do it."
A small smile played on Vivaldi's lips. "Good."
The four role-holders had barely begun their little "trip" when night suddenly fell upon the Country of Hearts.
"Of all times for it to become night!" Peter complained.
"We'll just have to camp out then," Hearts said cheerfully as he began to pull out equipment out of nowhere.
Blood frowned. "We should keep going!"
A gentle hand rested on his shoulder. "Blood, you need to rest. I'm sure Alice would want you to rest a little before rescuing her."
Blood sighed deeply. "I suppose you're right, Elliot."
Elliot gave Blood a small smile. "I'm sure she's all right."
"I hope so..."
"The tent's ready!" Hearts called out happily.
"To think I have to sleep with a perverted knight and two members of the mafia," Peter grumbled as he crawled into the tent.
Hearts shrugged and opened the flap for Blood and Elliot. Blood grunted while Elliot nodded his thanks. Hearts pursed his lips slightly before also entering the tent.
"Everyone comfortable?" he asked.
"As comfortable as one can be in a tent!" Peter complained from inside his sleeping bag.
"All righty then. Good niiiight," Hearts sang softly as he turned off the lamp.
Within seconds, they all could hear Peter's soft breathing.
One asleep, three left.
Hearts carefully crawled over to his sleeping bag that was between Blood and Peter.
*Snort, shooooo... Snort!*
Elliot's ears flopped in time to his snoring.
Two asleep, just two left now.
Hearts yawned and curled up into his sleeping bag.
*Zzzzzzzip!*
Hearts stiffened slightly.
Did Peter wake up?
"Ngh..."
No, Peter didn't grunt like that. It must be Blood.
"Ugh..."
Hearts frowned slightly. What is wrong with him?
He carefully peeked out of his sleeping bag.
Blood had taken off his shirt.
Hearts raised an eyebrow. So it was just his shirt bothering him. He was about to scoot back into his sleeping bag when something caught his eye.
A large gash.
Hearts frowned again.
There was only one sword he knew of that could make a gash like that.
Spades.
Blood grunted softly again before lying back down.
Hearts clenched his eyes shut and scooted quietly back into his sleeping bag.
Just go to sleep! he thought crossly.
Blood grimaced and grunted again. "Ngh..."
Hearts sighed through his nose.
This was going to be a long night.
But soon, it was three asleep and only one more to go.
Sleep. It just wouldn't come!
Blood stared up at the tent's ceiling.
If only he could sleep...
He grimaced. "Ngh."
The pain in his back just wouldn't leave him alone!
But it wasn't just that pain, his lungs felt it too.
He had overexerted himself and now he was paying for it.
He closed his eyes and tried to take a deep breath.
"Ngh!"
He winced.
It's all your fault, Alice. Because of you, I can't breathe normally anymore. You're hurting me in so many ways right now.
Author's Note: Another update! :D Yay, I'm on a roll! School has kinda slowed down for a bit so I've been able to work more on this story teehee. This update is especially for FallenAngelVamp! You inspired to post another chapter! Thanks so much! TTwTT
Oh I had the Ace we all know referenced as "Hearts" throughout this chapter to prevent confusion with Spades. ^^;; I'm probably going to have to do that to future chapters too (except ones that don't have Spades mention maybe).
Aaaand this chapter was inspired by a line from the song "Beautiful Target" by B1A4.
One more note! XD Please please please go onto my profile and vote for which story you'd like me to finish first. It really helps me out. :) I'd really appreciate it if you guys voted. I understand if you can't but it doesn't hurt to ask, right? Here's to hoping! *cheers!*
(Heh heh... I noticed some typos so I fixed those. ^^;; Next time, I'll do a better check-up job before posting. Sorry guys!)
Author's Response to Reviews:
FallenAngelVamp- This chapter certainly was so interesting that it saddened me that it was at a cliffhanger. I am glad that you updated. I was wondering when were going to update. So Spade, Ace, Blood also Vivaldi were childhood friends. So interesting. Honestly, i love Blood and Ace. My two most favorite character. Then adding Spade... interesting that I might die out of loving this story/plot. I hope more shocking and suspense news will happen. Like Spade almost using Alice as a hostage, Blood ready to shoot, Ace coming about... See the suspense yhur putting me in? :D please update.
Aw I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter aaand I hope this chapter wasn't tooo much of a cliffy. ^^;; My apologies buuut it can be sooo much fun to do a cliffy every once in awhile. I'll do my best not to do it again though for your sake! Ah, I love Blood and Ace too! They're definitely two of my favorite characters. I hope you enjoyed this chapter aaaand btw the little kidnapping part was especially for you! ;) Thanks soo much for that idea. ^o^