Alice scoffed a laugh at Blood’s suggestion, teasingly pushing him away. “No way. I need my blood more than you do, you’re gonna have to find some other neck.” She gestured in front of them, suggesting he had the pick of any passersby he could possibly want. A vampiric buffet.
She sighed. “It definitely is a relief. But it’s almost strange, now, being… not strange. I really am just a nobody again.” Now Alice laughed again, a little self-derisively. “Hopefully you won’t be bored of me now that the novelty of having a beating heart will wear off.”
Though, she couldn’t say that was a true fear of hers. At least, not one at the forefront of her mind. Alice had spent enough time with Blood now that they were certainly friends.
Still, it was difficult to resist doubting herself.
“I think so too,” she mused. “I have no idea what a place like this has to offer. It’s like being back at square one.” Alice still had that weird glass bottle with her, but she had no idea how it was supposed to work here. Or would it be the same? “I can’t say I don’t miss some of the others back in Wonderland… Elliot, the twins… Maybe it’s selfish, but I’m glad you came with me.”
When he was shoved his expression morphed into a pout. In his mind, this was her brushing off his words as a simple meaningless flirtation. His first reaction was to rebuke what she said, but on second thought it was silly to get invested in this vampiric fantasy. But, then she began being self-deprecating again. He let her finish, but he rose from his slouching position, because he didn’t find it very funny.
“I see you’ve come to find yourself cozy with my family. A long road from where you initially started, young lady. I’m glad you think so highly of us. It’s the highest praise I could hope for.” He turns to look directly at her. “It would be amiss of me not to correct you on something, however.”
“Your beating heart isn’t the reason that I enjoy your presence. Whether or not you’re an Outsider has never forced me to like you, despite what that worm might tell you. If that was all I cared about, I’d have gotten bored a long time ago. But I haven’t.” Besides, it sickened him to think that the rules stated he had to like someone. He didn’t have to do anything except play the game. His choices were his own. “I rather despise the idea that everyone must love an Outsider.” He scowls.
I didn’t want to be one of them.
He certainly didn’t love everyone from that world. Most sickened him. He also wasn’t in the habit of keeping people around that annoyed him. He’d already excommunicated his grave digger and shot another man in the head for sullying his tea party.
“You’re just different, sweetheart. You may not see it yourself, but I wouldn’t trade a day with you for anyone else. Even disregarding territory wars, I’m very particular about the company I keep and am difficult to impress. Yet, here we are.” He smirks. “Two unlikely acquaintances.”
