Alice assumed she’d have a lot of time on her hands while on leave from her job—it was the only thing she did with her days. But before she could get anxious over the impending restlessness, Blood came to her. He visited her guest room the very next time period after her injury.
He carried a stack of books in his arms, his medicine box balanced on top of them. “You seem guilty about taking time off from your job,” he commented as he swept into her room. “So here.”
Her eyes widened. She turned from her place by the window.
“Did you…bring those books for me?”
“No, I enjoy carting them around for no reason,” he drawled. “How’s the arm?”
Alice quickly walked over to a chair. Unlike Blood’s quarters, her room didn’t have couches—just a few scattered chairs. But when she tried to carry one over, Blood caught her by the shoulder.
“Just sit down,” he told her, pushing her into the chair herself. “The injured shouldn’t wander around carrying things.”
He dropped the books onto a nearby desk, then dragged a chair closer to hers. He gripped her wounded arm as he sat down.
Did he intend to change the bandage himself? He looked so serious…and he hadn’t brought a maid.
She figured his initial treatment was just an urgency thing, but now there was no blood dripping down her arm. For a man that busy to come to her room for a routine check-up… She was a little baffled, honestly.
Maybe her question showed in her face, because Blood’s eyebrows knit together.
“What?”
She squirmed a little. “Uh…a wound like this is nothing to you people, right? Did you come all the way here to…check on my health?”
She’d wanted to ask if he was worried about her, but in her panic, the words came out differently. And she didn’t want to seem…conceited.
“True,” Blood answered as he unwound her bandage. “We wouldn’t worry about something like this. But you have no replacement, and you were hurt protecting me.”
“You didn’t need my protection, though. I actually gummed up your plan.”
Blood gave a low chuckle. “Then consider it chivalry,” he answered, “for a man to take responsibility at a time like this.”
She grimaced. “I’m not stupid enough to expect chivalry from a Mob boss.”
“I’m hurt you think so little of me. I may be Mafia, but I have a sense of responsibility, thank you. When a powerless woman takes a bullet meant for me, I feel bad.”
He carefully laid a medicinal gauze pad over the wound. Alice felt a chill leak from it through her skin, down to the bone. But unlike last time, it didn’t hurt.
His hands were just as gentle.
“I should probably tell you,” she said as he worked, “I didn’t try to protect you because you’re my landlord right now. I just…didn’t want to stand there and watch you get hurt.”
“I know. And I’m not trying to repay you as your host or as someone who owes you his life.” He glanced up. “I’m doing this because I want to. So give me that, at least.”
Alice finally closed her mouth. “Okay,” she mumbled.
She had to admit, she really enjoyed the new comfort she felt around him. Sitting in that room as he bandaged her arm felt…relaxed. Like how she and the old Blood would get together just to read in silence.
The memory dragged her eyes to the pile of books. “So…what did you bring me?” she asked.
“Mystery novels and some travelogues. When you’ve gone through them, I can send more, but the next Survey Meeting will probably be starting by then.” His forehead creased, and frustration twisted his mouth into a wry smile. “Ah, the Survey Meeting. Dammit—I’d blissfully forgotten about it for a moment.”
Alice tried not to smile. “I wonder what will come first,” she mused aloud. “The meeting, or my wound healing up?”
Alice had never really figured out the flow of time in Wonderland. The random occurrences of daytime, evening, or night didn’t even last the same length of time. The periods could end quickly or stretch forever.
But Blood seemed to interpret her comment very differently. “I hope you don’t need to attend with a scar,” he drawled. “Always a shame to see that on a lady’s smooth skin. At the very least, I’d like a scar with a more pleasing…shape.”
He drew his lips near her arm again, almost a tease, and low-level panic twisted her stomach. She tightened.
“Stop it,” she blurted.
Blood shot her a dissatisfied look, then sat up straight to face her.
“Don’t be shy,” he drawled. “You were on intimate terms with the other Blood Dupre.”
“I told you, our relationship…wasn’t like that.”
He didn’t reply. Those blue-green eyes bore into her.
Another tremor went through her body, like it had when he’d moved to kiss her arm again. It wasn’t fear…it was some other feeling she couldn’t pinpoint.
Alice started to speak quickly, her words almost a babble.
“Besides, you’re not…the same guy as that Blood. You’re not as nonchalant as he was, and you seem like you’re in more danger…”
She’d always felt a languid self-possession in the other Blood, along with something else she couldn’t define. A certain…humanity?
Blood’s face clouded over slightly. “Are you saying I can’t handle myself?”
“Maybe a little? Ugh, how can I put this…” Alice averted her eyes. “I know you’re really independent, but there’s something that makes me worry about you. Makes me want to help you. At least, right now.”
“……”
Blood suddenly stood, the medicine box tucked under his arm. He let out a breath.
“I’m done with the bandage,” he said evenly. “I hope it’s healed by the Survey Meeting. What a pain.”
Alice frowned, a little uncomfortable with his sudden shift in attitude. “I guess that’s true,” she agreed. “And it’ll probably be ugly, too.”
Maybe I insulted him. She watched him turn his back on her and march for the door.
Elliot nearly crashed into him as he burst into the room.
“Blood! Sorry to bother you, but I needed to check something with…” Elliot’s face darkened as he noticed Alice. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Alice bristled. “This guest room was assigned to me,” she snapped. Don’t take your problems out on me, she added silently.
“It doesn’t concern you,” Blood said in the same flat tone. “We have work. Move it, Elliot.”
Looking perturbed, Elliot left the room so Blood could follow.
“Blood…?” she called.
He didn’t turn back. The door slammed shut behind him.