GRIFFIN'S POV
I hardily laugh as I see little gurl latch fingers around tail, eagerly chewing on fluffy tuft at end. She teethe very much since Joker and Mock Turtle leave. It very cute how she try to hurt me.
"No, no little gurl! You watch fight now, yes? It is entertaining." I purr, tilting her chin towards the bloody massacre in the field. This is very exciting match. Best of the warriors are fighting monstrous, man eating plants that can spit flesh devouring acid at the gladiators. So enthralling!
"You no like this?" I ask, concerned as she turns back to tail and bites. I heavily sigh and kiss little gurl's forehead. She is so small in claw, I swear half of time I will break her. It make me nervous.
"Are you ready?" A gladiator ask, looking over little gurl. I breathe out smile and stand, waving hand over crowd. A hush immediately follow, stopping fight.
"No more fight until I return, comrades! I am very eager to see end!" I shout in booming voice, demanding all to pay heed. Gladiators in arena bow as nets from overhead are dropped. Good. Now I no miss fight.
"Are you sure you must go to the festival? Mock Turtle and Joker are not here." The gladiator ask. I smirk and tap gladiator shoulder.
"It fine, comrade! As a Holder of Role, I must go, no?" I hum, cradling little gurl in arm.
"But what about Mock Turtle and Joker?" He pesters. I roll eyes, tempted to strong hammer him but, like good man, resist. He is good fighter.
"They are not in Wonderland so why rule affect them?" I say, watching his face fall confused. A booming laugh vibrates throat as I slap back. "It is fine, comrade, fine! No think on it, comrade."
"Ba!" Little gurl cries, snatching finger. I smile and tickle little gurl stomach, ears flickering as little gurl trills. Little gurl pulls my claw close, numbly chewing on hand. Little gurl must feel hungered.
"You there. Dress little gurl in kimono." I hum, handing little gurl off to servant. She bow and retreat, softly kneading little gurl's hair.
"Why bring her too? She is very weak!" A gladiator warns. Eyes roll over to gladiator as tail flicks, annoyed.
"Enough." I finalize, watching fear paralyze faceless lips. He question me one time too many. A snarl builds up in chest before I lash out, biting throat out with teeth and spit it to side. Servant utters small shout, covering little gurl eyes as I toss aside faceless. He annoy one time too many.
"Clean this." I huff, licking off blood from lips. A few servants bow in respect, dragging off body. That gladiator annoying. Just like faceless who took over time changes ago, and stole name. I want to watch them burn for what they done. Joker think they dead, but I know better.
Faction still alive.
‡
GRAY'S POV
"So let the festival commence!" Master Nightmare shakily says as he widens his arms just as we had rehearsed. I make a sharp nod from the back of the crowd signaling that he can leave if he wants to. Master Nightmare immediately ducks out of view and hops towards me like a little kid.
"Gray! Let's go enjoy the festival!"
"Yes, yes." I breathe out a smile watching his enthusiasm ignite from seeing so many fun games to play. Technically, this isn't a Role Holders event. It's only a festival set up in town, free for anyone to attend. Although why a Role Holder wouldn't attend is beyond me. Master Nightmare darts between stands like a little kid, taking in all at once the bright lights. Even during the festival there are still people that want to kill him. Although he would be able to sense if they were planning anything.
"Hey! Hey! This looks like ... fun ... ," Master Nightmare's face pales to a sheet of paper as he stumbles back for a moment. My eyes flash as I slide a knife into my hand, stepping up beside him to see his horrified astonishment.
"Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!" A large group of people chanted in a large circle. I take a peek inside the group spying Ace and Griffin each holding a barrel of alcohol over their heads, eagerly drinking down the heavily loaded alcoholic beverages. Ugh. Such blatant displays of idiocy are repulsive. I hope they get a hangover that kills the both of them.
"S-S-So much alcohol BLARG!" Blood dribbles down Master Nightmare's chin as he looks away from the scene, covering his mouth.
"Here, Master Nightmare." I heavily sigh, guiding him away from the stomach wrenching scene.
"Ugh ... I-I think I need to lie down ... ," he chokes out, becoming nearly limp in my arms.
"Please walk yourself, Master Nightmare." I heavily sigh, slinging his arm over my shoulder.
"Ba! Fish! Fishy fishy fish fish!" I glance over to a little black haired girl in a kimono, smacking her little pudgy hands against the glass.
"Hey, hey now little girl don't do that. Where are your parents?" The man at the stand asks, glancing around for some frantic parents. I heavily sigh. What stupid parents leaving their child unattended like this. The little girl loudly huffs before turning around, spying a shiny bottle cap on the ground with her bright green and light blue eyes. Ha~ it will be troublesome to care for Master Nightmare and the child at the same time-
"Jackie!?" Master Nightmare shouts, immediately perking up. The breath catches in my throat as my head whips back, spying her hopping like a bunny over to the bottle cap before picking it up. She examines it for a moment before opening her mouth.
"J-Jackie, what happened to you?" I ask, flabbergasted at the sight. She's been turned into toddler! When did this happen? My teeth grind together in seething anger as Master Nightmare hurries over to her, quickly pulling the bottle cap out of her hands before she chokes on it.
"No! No no no!" She shouts, lightly thumping her tiny fists against Master Nightmare's leg. I quickly drop down beside her and scoop her up, brushing off some dirt down her front where she had obviously taken a fall.
"She's bleeding." Master Nightmare observes, twisting her leg up to reveal both of her scraped up knees.
"Where in the f*** is Joker?" I icily hiss casting a deadly eye over the crowds. I'm sure they know about this. So why did they abandon her?!
"Blarg!" Master Nightmare heaves over a nearby bush, getting to his wobbly feet. Master Nightmare was right. Joker is not fit to have Jackie for a lover, or any woman. The second I see him I'm going to drive a knife right through his throat-!
"ACK BLARGGG!" Master Nightmare again heaves into a nearby bush before I quickly cover my thoughts, holding Jackie against me.
"Let us leave, Master nightmare." I say, touching his shoulder. He shakily nods and leans against me for support as he wavers back and forth, clearly on unsteady feet towards Clover Tower.
‡
"I disagree with Jackie's decision to stay with Joker. Look at what's become of her!" I cry, gesturing over the girl running in circles, making a plane's motor engine sounds.
"I agree. They clearly cannot make her happy. And, while she is here in Wonderland, they are going to remember her and she them." Master Nightmare says, deep in thought as Jackie trips and falls flat on her face. I quickly come to her side, watching as she gets up without a tear in her eye and stares at a scrap on her wrist.
"But I can't send her back. Not now." Master Nightmare's eyes narrow painfully as he lightly thumps his hands against his forehead. Why not? Why can't she return home? My eyes soften as I study Master Nightmare. He tends to hold things close to his clock, not even reaching out to let others suffer the truth he knows. My cheek twitches into a smile. In that sense, I would have to say he's the strongest Role Holder of them all, making difficult decisions for the better good of everyone.
"It is far too difficult to explain. For now, we can only watch her and try to find a serum for her." Master Nightmare heavily concludes as he walks out behind his desk, crouching down in front of her.
"So, Gray, I order you to go find a cure while I play with this little cutie~!" He trills, his true nature revealed as he playfully holds her hands and bounces them up and down. She trills with laughter before dancing off, holding her arms straight out and proceeds to make airplane engine noises with her mouth.
"I'm gonna get you~!" Master Nightmare childishly cries as he chases after her, copying her airplane mode as he hops along the room.
I heavily sigh at their childish mood, spying Griffin wobbling off into the woods with at least four gladiators trying to hold up the larger man. I hope you suffer in the coming time changes with drinking that much alcohol. Or, better yet, get alcohol poisoning for all I care.
"Over here!" Master Nightmare cries, leaping over the couch. Jackie goes around the large obstruction, chasing nightmare around the room while delightfully trilling. I breathe out a smile. So that's it. He wants to get off from paperwork. I heavily sigh and stare over the large stack of paperwork. It can wait. Right now the most important thing is finding a cure for Jackie's current state.
I only hope that what Joker is doing right now is of the most sire importance because, if not, I'm going to slaughter him.
"Blarg-!"
"M-Master Nightmare!"
‡
Oh no! Baby Jackie has been set loose in Wonderland! I wonder what's going to happen now? 10 REVIEWSto find out~