Bonjour, or should I say, Bonsoir my dearest readers! :) I am pleased to present you with another chapter of Haunting Memories, brought to you especially by the author herself. Before we begin, I would just like to request ten seconds of time from each of you; PLEASE REVIEW! Seriously, an author really wants to know what you are thinking of their work, and a review really tells all. So, here's the deal. *IF I CAN GET THREE MORE REVIEWS ON HAUNTING MEMORIES, I'LL PUT UP THE COMPLETELY TYPED OUT 8TH CHAPTER OF THE SERIES IMMEDIATELY!* Sounds good? Excellent! But until then, you better get your review on!
Disclaimer: I am not the owner of anything Heart no Kuni no Alice, with the exception of my beloved OC's. :)
Serena felt as if she literally had to tilt her head ninety degrees in order to completely see the full fledged image of the tall man. He was certainly big, but only vertically, and had a very built and defined structure. His eyes were a beautiful violet shade, withholding much more innocence than the man's stance acknowledged. Atop his head was a thick jumble of carrot red hair, which fell to his shoulders in orderly waves, as well as a pair of mousy brown rabbit ears. Yet another animal hybrid of Wonderland, Serena thought in amusement. Julius seemed anything but amused though.
"What business do you have with Serena, Elliot?" Julius interrogated almost threateningly. This brought Serena's attention back to the mysterious man's gun. Just what was Julius thinking? Speaking like that to a man with a weapon at hand was completely idiotic.
"Cool it, Julius-"
"Boss would like me to collect her. So, we'll be going now."
Elliot launched forward for the defenseless girl, only to be stopped by the forceful hand of Julius whom had made his was in front of the girl and had took it upon himself to form his own weapon from a nearby wrench. Elliot snorted. "Oh, so the pathetic clock maker is going to stop me?"
"You know exactly what I can do to you," Julius warned fiercely, though his voice remained as strained and weary as it usually sounded. Elliot fired a threatening warning shot in response, a taunting grin curling the edges of his lips.
"Likewise."
At this, there was incredibly gunfire, only because Elliot was firing randomly and mercilessly towards the mortician. Julius dodged each bullet elegantly, moving around the room as if to the choreography of an elegant dance. Serena understood one thing at that moment, and it was that Julius was not going to fire his gun unless it were a life or death situation. Serena knew that she was no longer supposed to interact with anyone, but what choice did she have? Let Julius get shot? No, she would have to go with the rabbit.
"Fine, I'll go!" Serena shouted angrily over the warfare, though without any sort of acknowledgement. "Hello, I said that I am going to go with you! Julius, I'm going with the rabbit, okay!"
No response, which only further infuriated Serena.
"Yo, fur ball, shut the damn gun up and listen for a second!"
That was more like it. Everything grew silent. The only sound of life remaining in the room was the heavy breathing of the opponents. Julius looked even more drained than usual, which was seemingly impossible at first, and Elliot on the other hand looked incredibly distraught with irritation. Not once did he even lay a scratch on the damned mortician.
"Thank you," Serena murmured, allowing the men to recollect themselves. "As I was saying, I am agreeing to go with you Elliot. But in return, you not allowed to harm Julius, and you are to permit me to come back to the clock tower this evening. Understand?"
Though Julius appeared completely awestruck by Serena's sudden and impulsive decision, Elliot was surprisingly quite satisfied with the deal at hand. "Of course, Serena. But I can't make any promises about your returning to the clock tower tonight. That's up to Boss, unfortunately."
Serena began to think this through. She wasn't even supposed to be leaving the clock tower anyways, but to leave and perhaps not return; that wasn't something that she could easily agree too.
"Deal or no deal?" Serena asked, referring back to her own terms. She couldn't allow Julius to be worried sick about her all night, never mind piss off the mysterious game maker any more than she already had by the hare's arrival. Elliot would have to let her return to her confinement afterwards.
"Fine, deal," Elliot huffed, his ears slumping in defeat. He knew that Julius would not tolerate his presence any longer, nor would the boss happily forgive his lateness. The boss appreciated punctuality.
"Serena-" Julius tried to stop the young girl, but was caught in his words when something happened a bit to suddenly for the modest man. Serena gently hugged him around the waste, a hug that was both firm and reassuring. She whispered something about a promise of safely returning into the man's ear before exiting with an embarrassed Elliot, leaving Julius to bask in a pool of worry about his foreigner. My foreigner? Julius questioned himself nervously, readdressing the words he had used in his mind. This young girl really has gotten to me, hasn't she.
Serena anxiously picked at her dress as she made her way through the woods with her newly acquainted guide, Elliot March. He certainly was an odd fellow, always so embarrassed by the youth's unfiltered words. The two already had developed an interesting relationship. Serena would say something, without thinking, and Elliot would turn a shade redder than he had been at the previous comment.
"Stupid dresses, they're just ridiculous! I mean, if a girl wants to have sex with a man so badly, why doesn't she just ask him? I mean, dressing in this frilly uncomfortable filth is just a waste of time, even if the boys do like it. What do you think about dresses, Elliot? Do you think that they are a turn-on or something? I don't, especially the really big ones that make you look like a damned pastry. Then of course, there's also the really skimpy ones that I was mentioning before. Those are just horrendous. I guess that the one I'm wearing isn't half bad, but then again, all dresses are terrible, so this one must be too. Leather is my preference. What do you think Elliot? Does it look terrible on me?"
"N-No, it looks, fine," Elliot mumbled, his face now resembling the scarlet petals of a nearby rose bush. Serena decided to stop talking at that one. She didn't know how much more the single man could handle without completely falling apart in embarrassment. Then again, she now understood and had his weakness to her advantage in case something were to go wrong that evening.
Wait… evening?
"Elliot, what time is it?" The girl suddenly burst out, breaking her personal vow of silence. Elliot looked up into the sky, his eyes clouded in mystery.
"Good question," he admitted. "Time is sort of irregular here."
"But Elliot, part of the deal was that I would be back to the clock tower by evening!" Serena explained a bit to excessively on the volume level. Elliot shifted nervously on his feet. How was he supposed to deal with this young girl without getting in trouble with the boss?
"Yeah but remember, you also agreed to go to the mansion with me," the hare pitched in anxiously, his mind settling on the fact that he may have to take the girl by force.
"That was only if you agreed to my terms! And one of my terms involves heading back to the clock tower now, so if you'll just excuse me-" Serena stubbornly turned her back toward the mentally distraught man, leaving him to only react on impulse. "I'll go another time, okay?" Without time to think nor hesitate, Elliot launched his arms out towards Serena and pulled her up and over his left shoulder. Serena was now flailing as if a delirious madwoman, wanting to break free from his unmatchable strength. Unfortunately, the hare was about double her weight in muscle capacity, and only held intensions of getting her to the mansion.
"Elliot, let me down! I hate being lifted!"
"Serena calm down, please! I just need you to meet with boss just this once, and than I can take you back to the clock tower!" Elliot begged, though it only required him little strength to hold the girl firmly at him shoulder. He obviously was at the advantage in this situation, but Elliot wasn't exactly knowledgeable when it came to dealing with teenage girls. Serena kicked harder, finally managing to nail the hare directly in the stomach. "Hey, watch it!"
"Just put me down, and I'll go to the damned mansion, okay?" Serena fired, her cheeks boiling in absolute fury. Elliot sighed, finally agreeing to set the girl back down at her feet. She looked back up at the violator with narrowed brows, trying at her best to appear as thoroughly irritated as she felt.
"Sorry about that. I just need you to cooperate… please?" Elliot was practically on his knees pleading the girl, hands clasping her shoulders in hopes of her acceptance. Serena eventually nodded her head in acceptance, finally agreeing to go along with the rabbit's plan, but not happily.
"Fine," she spat, arms crossed in disapproval. "But only a quick visit. I'd like to be back by sunrise at the latest."
The mansion was large and beautifully decorated in a gorgeous array of dazzling red roses. Guarding it was a hardly professional set of gatekeepers, both of which were sprawled lazily before the metal gates with disinterested expressions. The two were seemingly identical twins, though their uniforms were of opposite colors. At the sight of Serena, one of the brothers sprung to life, followed by the other whom had been falling asleep a moment before. They each held a giant poleax threateningly at their side.
"Look brother, it looks like the Newbie Hare brought us some fresh meat!" The boy dressed in blue pointed out excitedly.
"You're right, brother! We'll finally be able to try out our newest treasure!" The brother in red exclaimed as he beamed towards their prey in a deadly manner. Serena gulped nervously as the two youthful boys gradually enclosed on her, but Elliot protectively shielded the girl, denying the boys any further access to her.
"What do you two think you're doing! Boss had me bring Serena here! Do you want a pay deduction!" Elliot warned the boys forcefully, but neither of them seemed to be affected by the superiors dangerous tone.
"Stupid Newbie Hare, you can't trick us! Now hand over the trespasser!"
"Don't worry, it shouldn't hurt too badly, lady. We'll try and make it as clean as possible, huh brother."
"I agree. It should be quick and painless."
Serena was now backed completely against the gates of the mansion, Elliot's body being the only border between life and death. Elliot had grown several shades whiter than normal, perhaps in apprehension of his boss's reaction to a dead foreigner. The girl decided that she'd probably need to stand up for herself at that moment for the sake of both herself and the hare. She probably owed the man big time after the torture she had put him through that evening on their ventures toward the mansion. Besides, if Elliot couldn't put a stop to them, than she would have to herself.
"Enough."
Before Serena could step forward, the figure of a tall man stood before her, his hands gripping the hair of both twins with authority. The young girl looked him up and down, unable to comprehend what she was seeing until he once again spoke.
"Please forgive me, young miss. May I invite you into my mansion for some tea? Consider it as an apology for these two's unacceptable behavior."
This man was the proud owner of the divine estate before her. "My name is Blood Dupre. It is pleasing to finally meet you, young lady." Serena could have known the second she met those emerald green eyes that Blood was the boss she had already heard so much about. His air, his stance, his smooth, honey-glazed tone; it was all of complete and utter confidence. This man was clearly one of high stature and authority, as well as easily the owner of the huge mansion.
"Yeah, sure. Uh, thanks."
"Of course. Dee, Dum, Elliot, do join us, will you?" Blood suggested generously towards the two previously mistaken gatekeepers and a proud Elliot, whom had successfully fulfilled his boss's wishes. Blood smirked to himself as he led his group through the front gates of his glorious estate, basking in his grand feelings of power and control. Just as he had planned, the little foreigner was brought directly to him by his loyal servant. Now he would wind the girl right around his finger, just as he had every other oblivious outsider with his undeniable and influential charm.
Unfortunately, for Blood's sake, the man had no clue of what type of girl he was dealing with.
"Sick, this stuff is nasty~"
"Excuse me, miss?" Blood asked irritably, his eyebrows narrowing in disapproval.
"Possibly the sickest thing I've ever put in my mouth- Elliot, give me some of that cake! Even rabbit food could be better than this garbage!" Serena shouted across the table as she dramatically wiped the surface of her tongue with the clean fabric of an unused napkin. Blood rolled his eyes at this, where as the twins were rolling across the ground in hysterical laughter. "Black tea is disgusting!"
"Hey, it's not rabbit food! Rabbit's eat carrots, which clearly, this is not! This is a carrot dish, Serena. Right, boss?" Elliot explained in defense of his delicious pastries, which in his eyes had absolutely no relations to something of which an actual rabbit would eat.
"Shouldn't you be a little more respectful toward your host, young lady?" Blood suggested threateningly. Serena snorted humorlessly in response.
"Shouldn't you feed your guests something that won't permanently destroy their appetite?"
"Black tea is hardly as you are describing it."
"You ought to take another sip, Blood. Maybe you missed that foul taste of shi-"
"Idiot bunny, give us back our treasure!"
"Not until you hand me back those carrot cupcakes!"
The entire scene was a complete nightmare. Blood and Serena had been at it for several nonstop minutes, while the twins were beginning to fling multiple sugary snacks at Elliot, whom had taken hold of both poleaxes in response. Things had been going smoothly for the first thirty seconds or so of the midnight tea party, but as soon as Serena tasted the unfamiliar taste of Blood's beloved beverage, things went directly downhill.
This outcome was not entirely unexpected, partially because both Serena and Blood were strongly opinionated people, as well as equally stubborn and intolerable of disagreement, as well as because the twins had had a very uneventful week and were in need of some action. Sadly, Serena wasn't exactly familiar with the hatter community when she agreed to partake in the tea party. Then again, she hadn't had much of a choice at hand.
"If you have such a problem with my tea, then why don't you just leave my mansion right now?"
"Gladly!" Serena spat in response of Blood's rude insisting of her departure. Slamming her tea cup as loudly as she could manage against the cold surface of the dining table, Serena rose from her chair furiously and stormed fiercely away from indecent hatter. Heck, if he hadn't decided to take her disliking of the tea so personally, everything could be going happily and smoothly. But no, he had to be a complete, moody jerk, and verbally attack her because of a single personal opinion. In her eyes, it was completely and inexcusably ridiculous.
Blood, on the other hand, couldn't help but develop bittersweet feelings towards the girl as he walked her angrily storm away into the night. Yes, she had sincerely insulted him in ways that he would never be willing to tolerate. But on the other hand, she had a nerve to her that he couldn't help but find interesting. Perhaps this foreigner would be more than just a little toy to play with again. Maybe like that one other outsider from several cycles back.
"Elliot, go ahead and lead her back to the clock tower. We'll be collecting her again the next morning for her permanent stay. Do you hear me clearly?"
"Uh, sure Blood," Elliot agreed as he flew to his feet with a mouth full of carrot ice cream. "I'll just be on my way then."
You're an interesting one, I'll admit. Blood thought to himself as the hare scurried of into the darkness after the severely pissed off outsider. I don't think that I'll be able to let you slip that easily. The fun ones don't come around too often anymore.
What do you all think of that sexy asshole Blood? Yeah, I'm certainly more of an Elliot fan (he's just soooooo adorable! x3) But I'm willing to tolerate the hatter for all you Blood fan's out there! Anyways, it looks like I've gotten everyone into the story but her highness Vivalde (This story is based off the manga, since I've never played the games). Soo, pahlease pahlease REVIEW! READ MY NOTE UP TOP, AND YOU WILL SEE THE GRAND REWARD!